Commentary: To secure peace with Iran, Washington must end its cycle of broken promises

Xinhua) 08:25, April 10, 2026

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

History has shown that military force cannot deliver lasting peace; only political solutions grounded in dialogue and mutual respect can do so. The success of future negotiations will depend on whether the United States demonstrates sincerity and abandons reliance on coercion.

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-Iran ceasefire and two-week negotiation window offer a rare chance for de-escalation, but history shows the real challenge is not starting talks, but sustaining trust -- and on that front, Washington's record remains deeply questioned.

Explosions have continued across parts of the Middle East following the announcement of the temporary ceasefire. While the cessation of hostilities is welcome, it is only the beginning of a long journey toward enduring peace.

Rebuilding trust remains the foremost challenge. The United States' unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal -- formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 -- followed by the reimposition and expansion of sanctions, dealt a major blow to mutual confidence.

More recently, military actions carried out during periods of diplomatic engagement have reinforced Tehran's distrust of Washington. Such episodes highlight a persistent obstacle to meaningful progress.

Bridging differences will not be easy. Apart from the deep distrust between the two sides, Iran's proposals and Washington's previously outlined plans reveal stark divergences in priorities and expectations.

This gulf in priorities underscores a deeper structural challenge: the absence of mutual confidence in the integrity and purpose of the negotiating process itself. Without credible assurances that diplomacy is pursued in good faith, even the most carefully drafted proposals risk being overshadowed by suspicion.

To move beyond entrenched positions, the United States must view negotiations not as arenas for strategic maneuvering. When negotiations are treated as tactical tools -- to buy time, shape the strategic environment, or consolidate leverage -- rather than as genuine pathways to resolution, they risk becoming hollow exercises.

More importantly, the United States must refrain from using force, or the threat of force, as a bargaining chip to extract concessions.

History has shown that military force cannot deliver lasting peace; only political solutions grounded in dialogue and mutual respect can do so. The success of future negotiations will depend on whether the United States demonstrates sincerity and abandons reliance on coercion.

The current ceasefire provides an opportunity -- but only that. Once the door to peace and reconciliation is opened, it should not be easily closed. Though the road ahead is rough, steadfast commitment to diplomacy offers hope that this conflict, which should never have occurred, may one day reach its definitive end.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China calls for de-escalating tension as Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue

Xinhua) 16:20, April 10, 2026

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China calls on relevant parties to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic channels, and exercise calm and restraint to de-escalate the situation, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday.

The U.S.-Iran ceasefire arrangement should put an end to the war and restore peace and stability in the region, Mao said at a regular news briefing in response to reports that Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The United States has admitted 4,499 refugees since October 2025, and all but three were from South Africa, according to figures released by the Refugee Processing Center. The numbers reflect a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy under the Trump administration, which has largely halted broader admissions while prioritizing a narrow group of applicants.

The three non-South African refugees admitted during that period were from Afghanistan. Most of the rest were Afrikaners, a white minority group that President Donald Trump has said faces discrimination. The current intake contrasts sharply with the final full fiscal year under the Biden administration, when approximately 125,000 refugees from 85 countries were resettled.

Shortly after returning to office, Trump suspended most refugee admissions, including for applicants from conflict zones, while introducing a pathway prioritizing Afrikaners and "other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination," according to administration statements. Officials have framed the shift as a matter of national security and humanitarian focus.

"The U.S. position on this humanitarian initiative has not changed," a State Department spokesperson told the BBC.

The approach has drawn criticism from the South African government, which disputes claims that white citizens are subject to systematic persecution. President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected assertions of a "genocide" against white farmers, calling them unfounded. Data presented by South African authorities indicates that violence in rural areas affects multiple groups, not a single racial category.

The policy has also contributed to rising diplomatic tensions between Washington and South Africa. Disagreements over domestic policies, including land reform and affirmative action, have further strained relations, alongside public remarks by U.S. officials supporting Afrikaner resettlement.

At the same time, reporting from Reuters suggests that some white South Africans who previously emigrated to the United States are reconsidering their move. Some cite cost-of-living concerns and safety perceptions in the U.S., while others point to family ties and lifestyle preferences as reasons for returning.

The concentration of refugee admissions among a single nationality marks a departure from long-standing U.S. practices, which have typically prioritized applicants from a wide range of countries based on humanitarian need.

Originally published on Latin Times
10 April 2026 17:29 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Reports about imposing fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are speculative and lack official confirmation, Irans Supreme Leaders representative to India, Abdul Majid Hakim Ilahi, said in comments to TASS, AzerNEWS reports.

This has appeared in the news and on social media, but there has been no official statement from Iran that ships must pay for passage. These are only rumors, he stated.

Ilahi also indicated that Iran plans to reopen the strategic waterway once hostilities conclude, referring to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the worlds most critical maritime chokepoints for global energy supplies, and any disruption or policy shift affecting transit has significant implications for international markets and regional stability.

As the United States and Iran prepare for talks in Pakistan, Israel continues to bombard Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least 300 people and injuring 1,150 during nationwide strikes on Wednesday.

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that if the US chooses to "crater its economy" by allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "kill diplomacy" by failing to adhere to the ceasefire, that would be Washington's "choice." He added, "We think that would be unwise but are prepared for it."

Netanyahu has announced that instructions have been issued to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon, while Israeli media reports the Israeli defense minister stating that "the war will not be stopped."
10 April 2026 21:45 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem called on Lebanon's government on Friday to stop giving "free concessions" to Israel, as both sides are expected to begin negotiations in Washington next week, AzerNEWS reports.

In a message to the Lebanese public, Qassem said the group would not accept a return to "the previous situation" and stressed that Israel had been "surprised by the defensive capabilities" of the resistance. He added that the Israeli army, acting "out of desperation," continues to issue threats and carry out attacks to mask "its inability on the ground."

Qassem insisted the "resistance will continue until the last breath."

His comments come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said talks with Lebanon would start "as soon as possible."
10 April 2026 22:16 (UTC+04:00)

Belgiums port of Antwerp has been blocked following an oil spill, resulting in significant disruption to operations, AzerNEWS reports.

The spill occurred during whats known as a bunkering operation, when fuel is supplied to ships. No large vessels can enter or leave the port due to the spill, according to the port authority.

Antwerp is among Europes biggest ports, critical for container handling and import and export of vehicles, according to its website. DP World, which has operations in Antwerp, referred questions to the port authority. MSC Mediterranean Shipping didnt immediately comment.

The port is also home to major European refineries operated by ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies.

A canal - which the port authority says is still open - can be used by those refiners to move oil products by barge out of the immediate Antwerp area. ExxonMobil confirmed its operations arent affected.
10 April 2026 22:51 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

European airports could face jet fuel shortages within three weeks if trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz are not fully restored, AzerNEWS reports via Anadolu Agency.

The Financial Times, citing a letter from Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) to European Commission officials, reported that the group warned the bloc about dwindling jet fuel reserves across the sector.

The letter said airports in Europe could face a systemic shortage of jet fuel unless trade through the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal within three weeks.

Following the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war on Feb. 28, disruptions to maritime traffic through the strait have severely affected supplies of around 15 million barrels per day of crude oil and 5 million barrels per day of refined petroleum products passing through the chokepoint.

Supply constraints have pushed jet fuel prices in Europe to record highs, more than doubling from pre-war levels.

According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, the global jet fuel index rose by 110%, from $99.4 per barrel on Feb. 27 to $209 on April 3.

The cost and insurance and freight (CIF) price of jet fuel in Northwest Europe also climbed to $216.9 per barrel.

According to data compiled by Anadolu from S&P Global Commodity Insights, the Middle East supplies around 177,000 barrels per day of jet fuel to Northwest Europe, 31,000 barrels to Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, 100,000 barrels to Africa, and 17,000 barrels to Asia.

Another 34,000 barrels of jet fuel from the region pass through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, most of it destined for Egypt.

Regions such as Europe, which rely heavily on jet fuel supplies from the Gulf, remain among the most vulnerable to any prolonged disruption.

As the supply squeeze deepens, some airports in Italy have already imposed jet fuel restrictions, while several airlines have warned that summer operations across Europe could be at risk if the war continues.
10 April 2026 17:56 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

US Vice President JD Vance set off for talks with Iranian representatives in Pakistan on Friday, telling reporters he was hoping for a "positive" outcome but warning Tehran not to try and "play" the US delegation, AzerNEWS reports.

"We're going to try to have a positive negotiation," he said before take-off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive."

Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and opposed to the prospect of sending US troops into open-ended conflicts, has distanced himself from the US-Israeli war against Iran over the past month. But he's returned to lead the US delegation in Islamabad this weekend.

He didn't take any questions from reporters but said US President Donald Trump "gave us some pretty clear guidelines" on how talks should go, without elaborating.
Ireland's globalist government has piled fuel taxes and carbon taxes on its citizens to further the UN and European Union's "Net Zero CO2" climate alarmist agenda. With fuel prices soaring from the Iran War, the Irish people are finally fed up in a big way with these outrageous taxes. They are taking to the streets in huge numbers in protests. Truckers and farmers are blocking highways. They have essentially shut down the country for the last two days and say they intend to escalate. The government has called in the army with armored vehicles.

https://joehoft.com/ireland-is-rising-up-about-explode-government-brings/

This is a reminder of the "yellow vest" protest movement in France, also over "climate" taxes on fuel. The massive protests went as far as burning government buildings as huge crowds shut down the country in protest of the taxes. At one point, President Macron had a hellicopter on standby outside the presidential palace in case he had to flee. Ultimately, Macron waved a white flag and abolished those taxes, and they have stayed abolished.

And it also should be remembered that Swiss voters recently rejected climate taxes by an overwhelming landslide in a referendum.
After it was confirmed that South Korean actor Kim Seon Ho would be in an upcoming tvN drama, fans and internet users went crazy with anger.

The actor will be in a new show called "God Bless The Assemblyman" (unofficial title) that is based on a popular web novel. This week is when filming is set to start. The cast, which includes Kim Yoon Seok, Ryu Kyung Soo, and Ahn Eun Jin, has already read the first script.

Star Today reported that the drama is about a powerful member of the National Assembly who dies and then comes back as a ghost. He teams up with a low-ranking civil servant played by Kim Seon Ho, who is an unlikely pair. They work together to deal with political power struggles in a story that mixes fantasy and politics.

Kim Seon Ho plays the role of Cha Jae Rim, a 9th-grade civil servant with the ability to see ghosts. This odd ability forces him to partner with the ghost of a deceased politician, thus putting him in a battle for supremacy at the National Assembly.

While this concept may be appealing, the report on the casting list has renewed the criticisms of Kim Seon Ho's past. As reported by Koreaboo, the news that he would be participatingespecially since filming was about to startcaused a lot of negative reactions in online communities.

A lot of the backlash comes from people still being angry about the actor's past problems, like the recent one with the National Tax Service, which he apologized for and paid more money for. People who don't like him have asked if he is right for the part of a public official.

People on the popular online forum theqoo were very clear about how angry they were.

Users shared strong reactions to the casting decision. "Damn it, not my favorite web novel!!!" Other commenters echoed similar disappointment. "I want a refund for the novel." Some responses were more pointed in their criticism. "He really had to go ruin it for everyone, huh?"

A number of users questioned the casting choice directly. "I don't get it. Why aren't they replacing him? Setting aside the past controversies... He even had tax issues exposed. Does he really fit a public official role?"

Additional comments reflected skepticism toward the industry. "Why does he keep getting cast? Who's backing him?" Still, not all reactions were negative, with a few expressing anticipation. "Oh this looks fun, I'm looking forward to it."

The mixed but mostly negative response shows that there is still a divide among fans about Kim Seon Ho's return to big projects. Some people still support him, but others are still questioning his role in big productions.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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BURLINGTON, Vt.  A former Stowe resident who was facing potential death penalty sentences in the fatal shooting of two Massachusetts men has accepted a plea bargain that will result in consecutive life terms in prison.

Theodore Theo Bland, 30, most recently of Burlington, had pleaded not guilty in federal court in December to eight felony charges in his latest indictment, including the killings of Jahim Debo Solomon, 21, of Pittsfield and Eric E White, 21, of Chicopee on Oct. 12, 2023.

Their bodies were found about two weeks later in the town of Eden in nearby Lamoille County, about a mile apart.

The U.S. attorneys office in Vermont, which had received approval from the Justice Department in Washington to seek the death penalty, has now taken that option off the table.

Under the 13-page plea agreement filed Thursday, Bland admits to causing the deaths of both Solomon and White. Both charges carry life sentences.

He also admitted to carrying a gun during a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive life sentence, the plea agreement states.

Bland has also agreed to plead guilty to four other felony gun and drug charges, court records show. They include two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute the drugs.

He also agreed to admit to possessing a gun while dealing drugs, records show.

No date has been set for the change-of-plea hearing before Senior U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III in Burlington, Vt.

Bland had been scheduled to have a status conference in May.

Vermont News First initially reported in December 2023 that Bland was the main person of interest in the double homicide. The story, which appeared in multiple newspapers in Vermont and Massachusetts, was based on Vermont News Firsts own investigation, interviews and court records.

The government later used that VNF news story as a court exhibit in seeking Blands detention pending trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Turner, in his notice seeking the death penalty, wrote that the government was prepared to show several intent factors justifying it. They include that Bland intentionally killed the victims and intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury that resulted in their deaths.

Turner also noted that an aggravating factor is Blands prior criminal record involving use of a firearm.

Bland comes from a well-known Stowe family, including his father, Richard Bland, a lawyer and former member of the town School Board.

The double homicide is part of a complex interstate drug trafficking ring. At least eight people have been charged in U.S. District Court as part of the case investigated by the Vermont Drug Task Force, state and Morristown police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Other, less involved individuals have been charged in state court.

Correction: This story was updated to correct Theodore Bland's age: He is 30.
Following my recent story on the annual Pittsfield Boy Scout Government Day in the 1950s and 1960s, I received many notes from baby boomers who were active in scouting at the time.

In addition to recollections of the unique experience learning about city operations, readers recalled their troop meetings, camporees, the boy scout camp, learning many skills, receiving awards, participation in community activities and much more. Several asked me to write more about the history of Scouting, baby boomer scouting in the Berkshires and what happened to the Boy Scout movement in the years after their participation.

In the post World War II years, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) had become the nations premier youth organization, emphasizing self-reliance and honor as well as providing many hands-on skills for the future adulthood.

Baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 could join Boy Scouts at age 11 in the years beginning in 1957. Youngsters could join a troop often sponsored by a church, temple or another community organization. Scouts could learn and demonstrate skills to earn the ranks of tenderfoot, second class and first class. Then they could earn merit badges required for Star, Life and the highest award of Eagle, before becoming the age of 18.

More than 100 million Americans have been Boy Scouts, including such national leaders, dignitaries and celebrities as Martin Luther King Jr., President Gerald Ford, President William Clinton, Neil Armstrong, Bill Gates, Sam Walton (Walmart founder), Steven Spielberg and Richard Gere. Not only were these men Boy Scouts, but all were among the 4 percent of Scouts who achieved Scoutings highest rank of Eagle.

Robert Baden-Powell, a British cavalry officer, is known for being the founder of the Boy Scouts movement. In the summer of 1907, he organized a weeklong camp on Brownsea Island in Southern England. He brought 20 boys from different social backgrounds to participate in a week of activities organized around camping, observation, woodcraft, chivalry, lifesaving and patriotism.

Based on this experience, Baden-Powell wrote a manual called "Scouting for Boys" to teach youth outdoor skills, citizenship and leadership. With the publication of the manual in January 1908, the Boy Scout movement began and grew rapidly. In fact, in 1909 a Scout rally was held at the Crystal Palace in London and it was attended by 10,000 Scouts.

Boy Scouting also began to spread in many countries throughout the world. Within five years Boy Scouts had become popular in Canada, Australia, India, China, throughout Europe and, of course in the U.S. The original manual written by Baden-Powell served as the basis of future handbooks used throughout the world and for the edition (fifth) of the "Handbook for Boys" that baby boomer Scouts used in the 1950s and '60s.

Boy Scouts began in the U.S. in February 1910 when Chicago publisher William D. Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America in Washington, D.C. The story goes that in 1909 Boyce was in London and got lost in the citys fog.

He was approached by a young Boy Scout who helped him find his way. The Scout refused a tip, explaining that he was doing a a good turn, which has been the Boy Scout slogan for over 100 years. The Boy Scout movement grew just as rapidly in our country as it did overseas.

The very first presence of Boy Scouts in the Berkshires was in Stockbridge in 1910 with the introduction of a troop led by psychiatrist Dr. Austen F. Riggs. This was nine years before Dr. Riggs founded the nonprofit Austen Riggs Center in 1919.

Within a few years Scouting spread throughout the Berkshires with troops established in the major cities and towns. On Feb. 1, 1913, all the troops from Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Dalton, Hinsdale, Williamstown, Lanesborough, Lenox and Lee, held the the first get together of Scouts from Berkshire communities.

This gathering was held at the Pittsfield YMCA and included an afternoon of scouting activities in the Ys gymnasium, swimming in the pool, a banquet and then two hours in the evening of reports and stories led by Scoutmasters. Annual meetings, campouts and other collaborative events continued in the next few years.

Then in 1916 the participating communities raised $5,000 to establish a Berkshire Council of Boy Scouts and hired a paid director. In the baby boom years of the 1950s and '60s, the Berkshire Boy Scout Council was located in the Central Block on North Street and then moved to the United Way building on Wendell Avenue.

The executive chief of the Scout organization was William Dyer, who oversaw the coordination of Scout troops throughout the county.

Under Dyers leadership, the council oversaw numerous camporees for as many as three days and scheduled twice a year. These events were held in such locations as Camp Russell on Richmond Pond, Pittsfield State Forest, Mount Greylock, Windsor State Forest and Beartown State Forest.

As part of the camporee program, troops competed in several dozen activities as fire starting, knot tying, nature scavenger hunts, physical fitness challenges, etc. Guest speakers talked about woodlore, community participation and other relevant topics.

Long hikes and campfires were also parts of each program. Scouts were responsible for pitching tents, creating camp areas and preparing meals. Camporees had as many as 700 Scouts with troops participating from all over the Berkshires.

I went to several camporees and looked forward to the experience. Some were challenging as they occurred during rain and frigid weather. One memorable experience in the late 1950s was when a member of our troop came down with the rare illness of scarlet fever.

All 15 members of the troop had to take 50-cent penicillin pills for 10 days as a preventive action. The camper recovered well and everyone was fine. I still kid my good-natured friend about this camporee when we see each other annually.

Other activities I recall in the 1950s and '60s included our troop taking an overnight canoe trip in the Adirondacks with troop leaders and several parents. All troops did community service projects such as helping clean parks, doing fire prevention work, and volunteering at social service agencies.

Troops often held fundraisers to support attending the Scout camp. Scouteramas were also held where Scouts got to demonstrate their skills to the public. One of the largest was in 1962 when 1,200 Cub and Boy Scouts participated in the event at the Allendale Shopping Center.

In addition to exhibits and demonstrations, Scouts took part in competitive activities for awards. Norman Rockwell attended this event with an art exhibit of his works. He also took part in the ceremonies.

The most popular of all local Scout activities in the Berkshires was Camp Eagle, the Boy Scout camp. In the summer Scouts could attend the camp for a week or more either as an individual Scout or with his entire troop.

The camp, under the supervision of Chief Dyer, was on October Mountain. After considering a number of other locations for a new camp, in 1946 the Berkshire Boy Scout Council took over the site of what had been the location of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp from 1933 to 1940.

The council improved the property by adding a dining hall, an infirmary and nine campsites for tents on platforms. In the 1950s and 60s, other areas of the camp included a water front on the camps Felton Lake, a nature area, a parade field, a half dozen Adirondack shelters for camper lodging, a rifle range and an administration building.

Three log cabins were the only original structures from the CCC days and were initially used for staff lodging. The counseling staff, mostly of senior scouts, had a designated area of two person tents also on wooden platforms.

The camp provided a great opportunity for Scouts from all over the Berkshires to meet members from other locales and to experience outdoor skills, receive awards, work together, learn about first aid and life-saving, and much more. Many campers, including myself, went on to become counselors in the camp during and after high school years. (I was director of nature studies in 1962. Among teaching about flora and fauna, I had the unique responsibility for caring for a resident hen and goat for the summer season!)

At one point in the baby boom years nearly every town and city in the county had at least one troop with Pittsfield once having more than half of 50 Berkshire troops. In 1968, The Berkshire Eagle reported that Scout numbers reached an all-time high in the Berkshires.

There were over 3,000 total Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in the county. However, by 1969 Boy Scouting in the Berkshires began a decline. This was partially the result of a merger of the Berkshire Boy Scout Council with councils in Franklin and Hampshire counties and the closing of Camp Eagle.

Camp Eagle had been the target of off-season vandalism plus the cost to run the camp also became a problem. The new council used the Boy Scout camp in Chesterfield for the scouts from the three counties. Over the next 50 plus years Boy Scout participation in the Berkshires continued to decline.

Today, data from a newer Western Mass. Council (covering Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties) reports the only active Berkshire County troops are in Hinsdale, Williamstown and Windsor; none in Pittsfield.

In 1972 Boy Scouts participation nationally hit a peak of nearly 5 million members. But in the years to follow, the Scout population began to decline. Today, the number of Scouts in the U.S. is just over a million.

The steep decline in membership has been due to a number of factors. From the 1970s through the 2000s competition from other popular activities like sports, packed family schedules, introduction of computers and high-tech innovations have adversely impacted participation in Boy Scouts.

Many families saw the traditional Boy Scout teachings as having less relevance in todays world and others felt they had higher priorities on how to spend their time and money. In 2014 the national organization took a major step to end discrimination of Scouts based on their sexual orientation.

During the next six years over 400,000 Scouts from families of a major religious organization opposed to this change in policy withdrew from Scouting. In 2019 the national organization allowed girls to join Boy Scouts and officially changed its program name to Scouts BSA.

More recently the name became Scouting America. But the most striking blow to Scouting was the highly publicized litigation by former scouts who were victims of sexual abuse by their scout leaders. With 82,000 claims, a settlement of $2.46 billion was reached in 2022.

My (positive) experiences of the way Scouting was in the Berkshires back the '50s and '60s are history, but still great memories. The problems scouting has more recently encountered present tremendous challenges for the future.

The organization has a lot of work to do to get back on track to meet the goals established over 125 years ago by Robert Baden Powell. And that is through responsible leadership, to build desirable qualities of character, citizenship and personal fitness in young people and teach responsibility, patriotism and high ideals.

Jim Shulman, a Pittsfield native living in Ohio, is founder and backer of the Berkshire Carousel and the author of two volumes of "Berkshire Memories: A Baby Boomer Looks Back at Growing Up in Pittsfield." If you have a comment about this story, please write the Berkshire Eagle at letters@berkshireeagle.com and if you have a memory of a Berkshire baby-boom landmark, business or event you'd like to see in a column, write Jim at jesjmskali@aol.com
The School Committee and administration are considering which path would be more educationally and fiscally sound: Pouring more than $5 million into the school, or sending Morningside students  with resources following them  to classrooms with walls and doors.
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Kim Yong Gun, a veteran actor from South Korea, has talked about how his family, including his oldest son Ha Jung Woo, reacted to the surprise addition of a new baby when he was in his mid-70s. The comments have brought back interest in the actor's personal life and his thoughts on getting older, being a dad, and getting help from his family.

On the April 6 episode of tvN STORY's "Table Tales," host Lee Young Ja discussed a clip that had already aired in which Kim spent time with his young grandson. The conversation shifted to Kim's youngest child, born when he was 75 years old.

In an honest answer, Kim said that he is actively involved in raising his youngest son. He said, "I actually have another child to play with," referring to the boy.

The actor thought about how challenging it is to be a parent later in life while talking about raising his older sons, actors Ha Jung Woo and Cha Hyun Woo.

He talked about how hard it is on his body to take care of a young child at his age. "Now I'm the one running after him. It's hard to keep up and play together... I had a child so late in life, and at first, it was very difficult."

Kim also talked about how his older sons reacted, including what Ha Jung Woo thinks of his much younger half-brother. Kim said that both of his sons were understanding and supportive.

He told them what they said to help. "My eldest and second sons told me, 'Father, think of it as a blessing.' That gave me strength. After all, what did the child do wrong?"

The actor stressed how their perspective helped him accept what had happened and move on in a good way. Koreaboo's coverage highlighted the family's support, noting that Kim's emotional adjustment significantly depended on the sons' reactions.

Kim also said that he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his youngest child because of his age. Reports from Xportsnews also talked about how he felt about time and being a father.

He talked about how his priorities have changed. "I want to see him as much as I can, even if it's just one more day. So now I even go to kids' cafes. Before, I worried about people whispering or giving me negative looks."

He went on to talk about how he feels about how people see him and how much time he spends with his family. "But now I just wish I could spend more time with him. That's how I feel. I think I don't have much time left. Whenever I can, I video call him, or I wait for him after daycare. That makes me happy."

In 2021, it came out that Kim had a child with a partner who was 39 years younger than him. This was the first time people knew about Kim's late fatherhood.

Initially, the situation garnered significant public attention and resulted in a legal dispute, which eventually reached a resolution. Later, Kim recognized the child and put him on his family's registry.

READ MORE: Ha Jung Woo Recalls What It's Like to Debut as Shin Min Ah's Ex-Boyfriend


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Protests against fuel prices entered their fourth day

Fuel supplies for ambulances are under increasing pressure

Details of public transport delays and cancellations can be found here

Checkpoint set up at protest camp outside Oil Refinery in Cork

The Defence Forces "remain on standby" to assist gardai in clearing heavy vehicles from blockades

Meetings between Ministers, protestors, and representatives from affected sectors have concluded for the day. They will reconvene on Saturday

9:45pm

The head of Fuels for Ireland said the situation regarding stocks at forecourts nationwide is "very, very grave".

Around 500 of the country's 1,600 filling stations are out of petrol and diesel.

Chief executive of the group Kevin Mc Partlan said different parts of the country are feeling the impact of shortages.

Speaking to Newstalk, he said: "Galway was most hit first, so there's a particular concentration around there.

"Cork city got really bad panic buying 48 hours ago. The contagion came to Dublin and the east coast yesterday.

"So, the panic buying is now driving this as much as the actual problem of distribution."

Meanwhile, Sean O'Neill, Director of Corporate Communications for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, is urging everyone to leave plenty of time if they are heading to Dublin Airport in the next while.

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"There are alternative routes, but it'll be the local access roads," he said.

"If there's any positive it's the fact that the traffic levels are down today, so there should be availability on the local access roads to work around the M50 disruption. But please build in plenty of time."

9pm

A Government commitment for a substantial package of measures on fuel costs has not persuaded protesters blockading key parts of the country to desist, after a crunch meeting ended on Friday evening without measures finalised.

The talks between the Government and recognised national representative bodies are set to continue seeking a resolution on Saturday, but protesters who were locked out of Fridays engagement said absolutely nothing had changed for them.

Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the protest which has blocked Dublin citys main thoroughfare since Tuesday, said he was absolutely devastated that nobody from that action or similar blockades elsewhere in the country had been invited.

Mr Duffy said it was appalling there had been no resolution to the meeting as thousands of farmers, truckers and other business people were concerned about going out of business.

The official bodies represented at the meeting included the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).

Additional reporting PA.

7pm

Ministers Martin Heydon, Darragh OBrien, Sean Canney, Noel Grealish, Timmy Dooley and Michael Healy-Rae, have finished their meetings with national representative bodies from the agricultural contractors, farming, food, transport, and freight sectors.

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Ministers said that a significant and enhanced support package, in addition to the 250 million already allocated, is being "finalised in detail to alleviate the burden on impacted sectors".

Ministers said they understood the "seriousness of the situation" and the pressures being experienced by farmers, contractors, and transport operators.

Ministers stressed that constructive engagement with stakeholders will continue over the weekend and will reconvene again on Saturday to finalise the details of the response.

They reaffirmed their intention to bring proposals to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

Earlier, the Tanaiste said the Government is showing good faith by signalling further supports for businesses, as he appealed to fuel protesters to step back from the brink.

Simon Harris told RTE News: The economic damage that this blockade is doing to the country is real.

Im hearing from small businesses across the country running low on supplies.

Im hearing from our health services about cancer treatments that cant go ahead, missed hospital appointments, home healthcare that cant get out.

We are at a very dangerous economic moment. Were showing good faith here, engaging intensively on a significant and substantial package.

He added: This country has adequate fuel supplies, but we cannot get those fuel supplies to key parts of our economy and society because of the illegal actions of some  the protest, the blockade, needs to end.

6.45pm

Protesters blocking access to fuel depots and an oil refinery are causing significant economic damage to Ireland, the Tanaiatse has said.

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Asked why protest spokesmen were not allowed entry into a Friday meeting between Government and recognised industry bodies, Simon Harris said: The position of the Government has been crystal clear from day one.

We engage with the democratically-elected representative bodies, and many of them are in the room today, and also we cant have a situation where were engaging with people who are blockading key parts of our country.

Were trying to come up with economic solutions at the same time while blockades are causing significant economic damage to Ireland.

6.03pm

Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing at the Galway Docks, said their aim is to get this diesel brought under control, because the way its going there now we wont be able to keep going.

Theres no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning, he said.

Theres four lorries still sitting up there in the depot, and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.

And while were after hearing there now, just from Dublin there now as well. I dont think theres going to be any step down from any protests across the country.

5.43pm

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) met again to assess the current and potential impacts of blockades on the transport network, and the consequent effects on the provision of vital services.

Over 100 fuel stations are currently out of supply, with the number potentially rising to 500 today. The NECG heard that there are approximately 1,500 fuel stations nationwide.

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Fuel supplies for emergency response vehicles, including those of the National Ambulance Service and fire services, are under increasing pressure as a result of the blockades.

The NECG heard that from today, fire services across Ireland have had to put in place contingencies to manage the restricted availability of fuel.

Fire services will cease non-essential activities, and responses to non-life-threatening call-outs will be restricted in order to preserve fuel.

The HSE is advising people who missed appointments due to the disruption to contact the relevant service that they had their appointment for, and they will be facilitated with getting another appointment quickly.

5.40pm

Northern Irelands political leaders have urged Keir Starmer to act decisively and without delay to help people suffering due to rising fuel costs in the region.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have written to the UK prime minister urging him to bring forward a package of support measures.

They have asked the Government to look at reducing fuel duty, targeted support for hauliers, farmers and small and medium enterprises, and a comprehensive cost-of-living support package.

In a joint statement, ONeill and Little-Pengelly said they were deeply concerned about the escalating pressures facing families, workers and businesses as fuel and energy costs continue to rise.

5.10pm

The following Dublin Bus services have been cancelled.

142 - 16:35, 16:50, 17:05 and 17:35

P29 - 17:00,17:20 and 17:40

51D - 17:15

69X - 17:45

X1 - 16:50, 17:30, 17:50 and 18:30

X2 - 15:30, 16:15 and 17:10

41X - 17:00, 17:15 and 17:30

X27 - 16:12, 17:11, 17:30, 17:50

33X - 16:15, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00

33D - 17:45

X31 - 16:30, 17:00, 17:30

X25 - 16: 14,16:39, 16:50, 17:07, 17:15 and 17:22

X32 - 16:45, 17:15

X28 - 16:50, 17:30

X30 - 16:50, 17:25

39X - 16:55, 17:25

4.43pm

A Fine Gael TD has said he believed, as a result of conversations he had with senior people within the government, that protesters would be facilitated at a meeting with ministers on Friday afternoon.

Speaking on RTE's Drivetime, Peter Roche said he travelled to the Department of Agriculture in Dublin, where the meeting is being held, with some of the protest spokespeople.

He said there was a general consensus that one, if not two, of them would be allowed to attend the meeting as part of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) delegation.

However, he said the names of the people who ultimately were decided upon were not on the list and access was prohibited.

Roche said his attempts to contact senior ministers fell on deaf ears in the last half-hour before the meeting.

He said he spoke to a minister who was at the meeting who said it would be against all the rules and guidelines of the Dail and the department for the protesters to join the meeting.

He said this was a great source of disappointment to him.

4.00pm

Fuel protesters at Galway Docks have said there will be no step down from any protests.

Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing out at the site, said: Theres no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning.

Theres four lorries still sitting up there in the depot and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.

And while were after hearing there now, just from Dublin there as well, I dont think theres going to be any step down from any protests across the country.

Asked if he was planning to stay out on protest, he said: Yes, and thats what were hearing from everyone and from everyone else around the country as well.

Asked about the risk of having vehicles damaged if they are forced to be removed, Paul Greaney, a builder from Athenry, said: Thats the risk, if they want to try and pull us out, theyre going to have a job. Its not going to happen.

3.29pm

Protestors at Whitegate in Cork have stopped a fuel tanker from entering the refinery.

Over 100 demonstrators are blocking the street in Whitegate, after two full tankers left the refinery under Garda escort around an hour ago.

Gardai are stopping the protestors from surrounding the truck.

3.20pm

Access has been restricted to Irelands oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in areas such as Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick.

It has raised concerns over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.

Government leaders have condemned the protests as wrong, and said the fuel blockades were holding the country to ransom.

The Defence Forces remain on standby to help gardai remove blockades at critical infrastructure, which includes fuel depots.

Gardai have confirmed they are at the scene of an incident in Whitegate, Co Cork on Friday morning.

A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port said they would allow feed and five loads of fuel to be transported to frontline workers and hospitals, after allowing chemicals needed by Uisce Eireann through their blockade on Thursday.

3:00pm

Protestors have been turned away from a meeting between the Government and agriculture bodies  saying they were told their names would be on the list.

The Government had indicated they would be allowed join talks if they were part of the national groups delegation.

Five people, who have been a part of the protest, attempted to get in the door of the Department but were turned away.

After discussions outside, protestors Donal Byrne and John Dallon said the blockades and slow moving convoys will continue because their voice isnt being heard at the table.

Protests will continue until demonstrators get a result, Dallon said.

2.48pm

The protesters have a number of mixed messages, the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association has said.

Heading into a meeting with the Government at the Department of Agriculture on Friday afternoon, Ger Hyland was asked what messages the protesters had requested he deliver.

He said: Theres a number of mixed messages. They have their asks going into the meeting and itll be discussed inside in the meeting. Im not going to pre-empt anything.

He added: I hope by this evening, we might have some sort of a resolution, or an end, or something that maybe can take these people off the streets and the roads.

He said he felt apprehensive, adding there is a lot riding on this meeting.

The stakes are massive for both the country, ourselves, for the people thats on the protest, he added.

2.38pm

Gardai say they have now secured the entrance to the Irvine Oil refinery in Whitegate in Cork.

Oil trucks have been seen entering the facility as torrential rain is falling on over one hundred protestors.

A convoy of at least 22 Garda vehicles from across Cork have arrived to support the operation.

Gardai have been seen blocking protestors' vehicles with metal fences.

2.25pm

Luas Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. This is due to on going travel restrictions around O'Connell Bridge.

Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only.

All Red Line services are operating normally.

There are several routes closed on the M50.

There is a Full Road Closure in place. Location : M8 J10 - CAHIR (NORTH) - Direction Southbound, Slip N24 to M8. Expect delays! #TIITraffic@GardaTraffic @LiveDrive pic.twitter.com/IIjnHolLVf  TII Traffic (@TIITraffic) April 10, 2026

The M8 between J11 and J10 northbound is closed, and Southbound, Slip N24 to M8.

2.20pm

Minister of State Timmy Dooley said it was up to representative groups to decide who attends a meeting with Government ministers on Friday.

He said: We have made it very clear that the representative groups we have been working with will pick their delegations.

It is not for us to dictate.

Representative bodies are bringing, I understand, two representatives, we are not involved in deciding on their behalf.

The minister also said he welcomed co-operation from protesters to garda at the Whitegate refinery in Co Cork.

He added: We all accept the right in any democracy to peaceful protest.

There is a big difference between a protest and a blockade.

It is very clear to me a blockade cannot be tolerated for any length of time.

We are seeing forecourts without fuel. We are being told ambulances and emergency vehicles will not have access to fuel in a short period of time.

1.55pm

Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the largest representative body for the retail industry in Ireland, has today warned that retail trade has fallen by up to 50 per cent in some areas as fuel blockades continue to cause severe disruption across the country.

Footfall in urban centres including Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick has fallen by approximately 50%, with retail trade down between 30 per cent and 50 per cent, the sharpest single-day decline many retailers have experienced. Consumers are limiting journeys to essential trips only, and discretionary in-store spending has, in the words of one member, fallen off a cliff.

We are hearing from members and from their delivery partners that they are now looking at logistical rerouting, prioritising goods deemed essential, and rationing fuel across their fleets. This is where we have arrived, not as a result of fuel price increases, but as a direct result of the disruption being caused to logistics across the country and to fuel supply.

1.44pm

Ireland is on the precipice of turning oil away from the country, Micheal Martin has said.

Speaking on RTE radio on Friday afternoon, the Taoiseach said the blockading of ports and a refinery by fuel protesters was unconscionable.

He said somebody else could buy oil that is on a tanker off the coast of Galway if it can not dock.

Asked if Ireland is at risk of losing all its oil supply, Martin replied correct.

It is unconscionable, its illogical, he said

1.17pm

Courier company DPD has suspended deliveries in Ireland on Saturday due to the fuel protests.

In a statement on their website, the firm said: Due to ongoing fuel protests and the operational challenges they are causing, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our services in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, 11th April.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

1.05pm

Kevin McPartlan, CEO for Fuels for Ireland, has warned it would take up to one week to restore normal fuel supplies at forecourts.

"Even if these protests ended today and everything was fully unblocked, the consequences would not end today. It would still take up to a week before forecourts were operating close to normal again, and in some cases recovery could take longer.

"Once a disruption of this scale takes hold, there is no instant reset. Stocks have to be rebuilt, deliveries rescheduled and normal distribution patterns restored across the network.

"If current conditions continue, there could be up to 500 forecourts out of fuel by tonight.

"This is now a national fuel distribution issue. It is no longer confined to one area. The longer this continues, the greater the risk to motorists, businesses and essential services right across the country.

"Fuels for Ireland wants to make clear this is not an actual shortage of fuel in the Irish market. The immediate problem is a serious supply disruption. Fuel is there, but it is not moving normally through the system because key infrastructure and distribution routes have been blocked.

"That means we are now close to widespread no-fuel conditions at forecourts, not because the country has run out of fuel, but because the supply chain is being prevented from operating as it should."

12.40pm

A Government trade mission to Canada scheduled for next week has been cancelled due to the ongoing fuel protests.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and four other Cabinet Ministers were due to make the trip to build trading relations in the country.

Given the ongoing uncertainty about the state of protests and fuel supply, the mission has been postponed.

12.35pm

The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) has confirmed it will attend this afternoons meeting at Government Buildings in relation to the concerns around fuel prices.

David Conway, chairman of the organisation, said bus and coach operators are facing mounting cost pressures, compounded by service disruptions and rising fuel costs.

The CTTC reiterates that it is not involved in the fuel protest and hopes to see it concluded swiftly to alleviate these pressures and to keep Ireland moving, Conway said.

He welcomed the opportunity to engage with Government ministers on Friday and next week.

During these meetings, the CTTC will bring forward practical solutions to support commercial bus and coach operators during this period of sustained cost pressure, he said.

12:00pm

The Transport Minister says he isn't going to dictate who can attend a key meeting of stakeholders to discuss the fuel protests.

Darragh O'Brien says a new package of measures to ease the burden on hauliers, farmers and transport operators is being worked on.

Some protesters say they have been invited to that meeting, though that has been denied by the Department of Agriculture, which is hosting the gathering at 2pm.

O'Brien says he isn't going to get into hypotheticals when asked what would happen if protesters turn up anyway.

"I am not going to dictate who is part of each ot those delegations. What I am going to say, for us to move this on and end this situation, the blockade needs to end now.

"What has been said by some of the spokespeople for some of the protesters they said if a discussion were to happen, the blockades would end.

This is extremely serious. This can stop now, today, and it should, and let us to continue negotiations in good faith.

We recognise the fact that the impact of the price hikes that we have seen due to a global situation.

11:55pm

Cancer patients at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin have experienced extreme delays getting to appointments amid national fuel protests.

Some cancellations have also been reported.

Oncologist John Crown said very sick people are upset, frustrated and confused by the situation.

Dr Crown told Newstalk: "A lot of patients are wondering 'what did I do to deserve this? Why should my treatment be cancelled? Why should I be waiting an extra three hours in an already stressful situation of dealing with cancer?'

"I kind of am a bit sympathetic to that point of view."

11:15pm

Gardai have set up a checkpoint at the protest camp outside the Irving Oil Refinery in County Cork.

It follows around 40 minutes of discussions between protesters and gardai earlier this morning.

Several Garda cars and public order unit vans have arrived at the scene in the past twenty minutes.

It appears a large number of gardai are now on the scene here and have set up a checkpoint.

Its not yet clear what, if any, action the gardai intend to take.

10.32am

The government is due to announce a package of measures on Friday to reduce inflation, a minister has said.

Enterprise minister Peter Burke was speaking on RTE radio's Today With David McCullagh on Friday morning.

He said there would be a response from the government to rising prices since the outset of the war in Iran.

Burke said: Hopefully today we will have news on that.

I do believe we will have news on that, in terms of an intervention that will reduce inflation, that will try and reduce the price of groceries on the shelves for our consumers, for vulnerable people buying them.

Burke also said the Tanaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is working with EU colleagues for flexibility on excise duty rules.

He said European directives limit how much excise duty can be reduced and Ireland would need permission to go below those thresholds.

He also said there may be state aid implications for other measures the government is looking at to help the haulage and agriculture sectors and said the Tanaiste is working, navigating through those barriers, trying to ensure that we do get a package.

10.24am

Nursing Homes Ireland has been invited by Minister of State for Older People and Housing Kieran O'Donnell to a meeting to discuss ongoing issues facing nursing home staff caused by fuel shortages reported around the country.

"NHI appreciates the Ministers invitation and will continue to engage cooperatively with the Government, and all relevant Stakeholders, to ensure there is no disruption to the continuum of care provided to nursing home residents nationwide," a Nursing Homes Ireland statement said.

The organisation called on the government to implement "more immediate measures to support all essential workers' access to fuel, espcially areas of the country where public transport is limited and fuel shortages are most acute.

"As the current energy and fuel crisis continues, it is vital to ensure the inclusion of all nursing homes (public, private, and voluntary) in the development of the emergency plans and additional energy supports currently being developed by Government and the Office of Emergency Planning," it said.

10.11am

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan has welcomed findings of a report published by the CCPC on Friday which found no breach of competition or consumer protection law on how fuel prices have been set in Ireland.

The CCPC examined fuel prices in light of "recent geopolitical developments," namely the war in Iran and the wider Middle East.

The report directly addresses concerns around price gouging or anti-competitive behaviour, McPartlan said.

"The report also confirms that the recent increases in fuel prices were driven by significant rises in international wholesale costs, rather than decisions taken by companies operating in Ireland.

Alan Healy: Even if the fuel price protesters go home, the problem won't Read more Economy

"In fact, the report makes clear that prices at Irish forecourts rose by less than the increases observed on global markets," he added.

"Ireland is part of a global fuels market - we are a price taker, not a price setter.

"We recognise the very real pressure this has placed on households and businesses. As acknowledged by the CCPC, there is a level of distress and concern among consumers, and we absolutely recognise that.

"The cause of high prices is global market conditions, which are outside of the control of Irish fuel retailers.

10.04am

Fuel protesters have added to their demands to lift disruptive demonstrations across the country amid confusion over a crucial government meeting.

A spokesman for the demonstrators said that protests would continue, but they are letting more fuel out on Friday, as some forecourts risked running dry after days-long blockades of major supply depots.

The protesters want the Government to commit to further action to combat rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran.

Government leaders have condemned the protests as wrong and not in our national interest, and said the fuel blockades were holding the country to ransom.

Government ministers have said they cannot engage with disparate groups carrying out protests, and encouraged them to engage with existing representative groups.

A meeting between several ministers and 10 farming, haulier and business groups is to take place on Friday afternoon.

Although it is understood there are no fuel protesters on the list of attendees, protesters have suggested they were invited to the breakthrough meeting.

Fuel protest spokesman James Geoghegan said Fianna Fail TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend on Friday, and that he, another fuel protester spokesman, John Dallon, and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.

Connelly rang into Newstalk while on a train to say he had not invited him to the meeting, and that he had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is among the groups meeting with government on Friday.

Geoghegan said that even if a meeting is held, the protest would continue on Friday despite their pledge to call off demonstrations if the government agreed to meet them.

The protesters had also added to their list of demands: along with the removal of the carbon tax from green diesel and the price of fuel to be capped, they want oil exploration off the west coast of Ireland to begin, and the Dail to be recalled on Friday.

He said: We will be looking for the Dail to be recalled this evening or tonight. It has to be rubber stamped.

9.40am

A number of new protests are after kicking off on a number of mainline motorways through Co Kildare, according to Sarah Slater.

The M4 new protest has left Kilcock heading for Dublin, approaching Intel Junction.

The M7 new protest has left Junction 9a Millennium Naas heading for Dublin, a queue rapidly building with this one approaching Johnstown Junction 8.

The M9 new protest is at a crawl northbound after Castledermot, approaching Athy Junction, while the N81 is also suffering tailbacks after Blessington heading for Tallaght.

9.22am

Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council for Roads Gabriel Hynes confirmed that the council is already feeling the effects of the fuel crisis, Sarah Slater reports.

He said the local authority currently has between a week and ten days of fuel supply available, with demand at its highest due to peak roadworks season.

In relation to fuel we roughly have a week, maybe 10 days supply, he said. Were at the peak of our roadworks programme, so demand at this time of the year is at its peak as well.

Hynes also revealed that fuel prices have increased by around 30 per cent since January, significantly affecting operational costs.

We have 250 vehicles approximately operating, so we have a significant fuel demand, he said.

9am

A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port in Co Limerick has said they would open the port today for feed and for five loads of fuel for frontline workers and hospitals.

Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, Neilus OConnor said protesters had let chemicals needed by Uisce Eireann through their blockade on Thursday.

Asked if the protest would end if they had a meeting with Government, he said: We will wait until we see the results of that meeting, and then well decide where we go from there.

8.44am

Representatives of fuel protesters said they will join a meeting of farmers groups with government on Friday afternoon.

Despite the protesters saying the demonstrations would be lifted once government met with them, spokesman James Geoghegan said they would continue.

Geoghegan said they want the carbon tax on green diesel to be removed and the price of fuel to be capped.

He said Fianna Fail TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend Leinster House on Friday, and that he, spokesman John Dallon and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.

Connelly said he had not invited him to the meeting and that he instead had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is attending the meeting with government on Friday.

Its not over yet for the simple reason we dont trust the government at this stage, Geoghegan said.

We had several meetings yesterday, we had several meetings during the night, we had several meetings this morning  I got, I think, two hours sleep last night  and the word coming back from the ground is after the way Micheal Martin disrespected everyone, he is not to be trusted ever again.

We have actually reduced the protest, we are allowing out more fuel today, we have lifted some of the blockades off the ports.

8.22am

Gardai have said that critical deliveries left Rosslare Europort overnight after positive and constructive engagement with local protestors during the fuel demonstrations.

An Garda Siochana posted on social media showing a number of trucks and lorries being escorted from the port by a Garda car.

(1/2) An Garda Siochana has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety. pic.twitter.com/Dn32JrJhzz  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) April 10, 2026

The force wrote: An Garda Siochana has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.

8.18am

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has offered to act as an honest broker between fuel protesters and the Government, its president has said.

Ger Hyland was speaking on RTE radio's Morning Ireland on Friday morning as widespread disruption caused by the demonstrations continued into a fourth day.

On Thursday night, a spokesperson for the Dublin city blockade appeared on RTEs Prime Time and claimed protest participants would be attending a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for official national representative bodies.

Later a Government spokesman said it had agreed to meet official representatives, adding, Who these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.

On Friday morning, Hyland said the Government had extended two places at that table to our association.

He said he had put forward two people from the IRHA but it is up to the Government who goes to a Government meeting, I cant decide who I bring in, who I want.

Hyland said he had contact with the protesters through intermediaries and is available to meet demonstrators before the meeting, and if the protesters are happy he would bring their concerns with us into Government.

8.11am

Over 100 filling stations have now run out of fuel, and that number could multiply rapidly today if blockades continue.

The head of Fuels for Ireland has said it is a significant number, and it could reach up to 500 if there is no improvement by the end of the day.

It comes as blockades at the countrys main depots and only oil refinery in Co Cork continues on Friday morning.

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan told Newstalk that panic buying is making things worse, and is encouraging people to "keep their heads.

"I know that last night we were around about the 100 forecourts figure, which bare in mind that we have 1,600 forecourts in the country, its a fairly significant number, and also its quite regional, so there are kind of black spots in parts of Munster and in the west, where its particularly difficult just because thats where the fuel depots that have been blockaded are based," McPartlan said.

8.05am

Fuel protests are causing disruption for motorists on a number of national roads on Friday morning.

The M7 remains closed at Portlaoise in both directions, while the M8 northbound from Cashel to Cahir is also blocked by protests.

In Limerick, the M7 is blocked at Annacotty in both directions, and the traffic delays are backing up to the Limerick tunnel, while the M18 in Co Clare is blocked at Dromoland.

Sections of the M9 northbound also remain blocked.

8am

Dublin Airport have issued a passenger advisory for those travelling to and from the airport on Friday due to the protests.

Passengers have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys due to the protests causing traffic disruption on roads approaching the airport, and have been asked to use live traffic apps to identify the quickest and best routes.

 Passenger Advisory: 8am Passengers travelling to/from Dublin Airport this morning are advised to allow extra time for their journey due to protest activity causing traffic disruption on some roads approaching the airport, including the M50. Passengers should use live traffic  Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 10, 2026

It comes after people were photographed with luggage walking alongside heavy traffic on the M50 on Thursday as they tried to make it to the airport.

People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublin's M50 Northbound, due to vehicles taking part on the third day of a National Fuel Protest against rising fuel prices. Photo: PA

7.53am

There are two full road closures along the M50.

The road is closed northbound at Blanchardstown after Junction 6, as is the Southbound route between Junction 3 at the M1/M50 Interchange and Junction 4 Ballymun.

For more information on road closures, visit here.

7.41am

Dubin Bus has warned on Friday morning that due to the ongoing fuel price protests, it is experiencing ongoing severe service disruptions and delays resulting in a number of services being cancelled or diverted.

A full list is available on the Dublin Bus website.

#DBSvcUpdate Road closures remain in place this morning as a result of a protest. We are experiencing service disruptions across the Dublin Bus network, please allow additional travel time. More details here:https://t.co/DjkxMSErwr  dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) April 10, 2026

Meanwhile, Dublin's north and south quays are open for traffic as normal, but O'Connell Street bridge remains closed to traffic.

The Luas Green Line is still not operating between St Stephen's Green and Dominick.

Services are only operating between Broombridge and Dominick, and between St Stephen's Green and Brides Glen, due to the protest.

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 9, 2026

7.35am

Protesters close to Rosslare Europort were served with a Section 8 of the Public Order Act by gardai on Thursday night.

Gardai in the village of Kilrane over a loudspeaker issued a warning to protestors that they had to leave the area and failure to do so in a peaceful and orderly manner would lead them to possibly being arrested and conviction liable to a 1,000 fine or a six-month prison sentence.

The garda added: I would just urge you all to please peacefully remove yourselves from the area," Sarah Slater reports.

Many of the protesters retorted by saying: The people of Ireland say no.

The incident was recorded by scores of those gathered.

Local Aountu councillor Jim Codd said there were extraordinary scenes in Rosslare. The Government has it in their power to stop this now, Codd said.

Meanwhile, in Co Kilkenny numerous filling stations have reported that they have no fuel left following a surge in motorists panic buying.

Service station locations include Thomastown, Goresbridge, Slieverue and Kilkenny city.

6.50am

Fuel supplies at more forecourts are under threat of running dry as a days-long blockade of major supply depots continues.

They want the Government to commit to further action on fuel costs.

A spokesman for the protesters said some participants may attend a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for national representative bodies, with a coalition spokesman saying who the official groups bring is a matter for them.

Their widespread action enters a fourth day on Friday with demonstrators facing a reaction from An Garda Siochana, which said it was entering an enforcement phase of its response  accompanied by support from the military.

Social media footage late on Thursday showed gardai warning protesters they could be arrested if they did not peacefully disperse from an area near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

Calling in the Defence Forces against fuel protesters is a huge strategic error Read more Opinion

The Governments intolerance of the action escalated on Thursday, with Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan and Defence Minister Helen McEntee stating that the Defence Forces remain on standby to assist gardai in clearing heavy vehicles from the blockades.

Protesters have restricted access to a major oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick.

It has raised concern over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.

A leading industry representative warned that the number of forecourts running dry would get much, much worse from Thursday evenings position of affected service stations being in the low double digits.

Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said panic buying has absolutely taken hold and warned that real significant life-death problems are going to be caused with fuel supplies to emergency service vehicles under threat.

Irelands emergency planning group echoed the comments with serious concern, saying there may be an impact on availability for some vital services, supply chains and public transport.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) said Irelands overall fuel supplies remain robust and resilient but said the obstruction of key routes from ports is threatening the provision of animal feed supplies, fertiliser and other vital materials, resulting in potential animal welfare issues and a threat to livelihoods in the agriculture sector.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said the disruption is causing people to miss medical appointments and is impacting the provision of home care and critical care, such as dialysis and cancer treatment.

The HSE also warned that the blockades could disrupt the time-sensitive delivery of key medicines and medical devices.

6.35am

Fuel price protesters have secured a meeting with Government Ministers, according to an organiser of the demonstrations, who pledged to continue disruptions for a fourth day on Friday.

One of the organisers, James Geoghegan, claimed negotiators will join a meeting at Government Buildings on Friday afternoon, alongside the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association.

It comes after forecourts across the country ran low on fuel as protests and blockades continued to cause widespread traffic disruption on Thursday.

Speaking on RTEs Prime Time on Thursday night, Geoghegan described the meeting as a breakthrough.

He said the protest had been pulled in off OConnell Bridge and word had gone down to release kerosene from fuel depots.

But he said there would continue to be disruption.

We have a list of demands going into Government tomorrow.

A Government spokesman said late on Thursday that it had agreed to meet official representative bodies.

However, the spokesman said: Who these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.

The spokesman said Government had already introduced the most substantive measures anywhere in the EU on a per capita basis, but added: We have been clear that these measures were introduced with flexibility to adapt our response, if required.

That work remains ongoing and will continue tomorrow as we engage with the national representative organisations.

Government respects the rights of groups to take part in a peaceful protest but cannot stand by when blockades are (taking) place at our countrys refineries and fuel depots.

It is not helpful to working people, their families and is harmful to our economy.

Additional reporting: PA
A Nigerian man who claims he is one of 10 identical brothers has pleaded not guilty to obstructing his deportation in the first prosecution of its kind in the State.

Sam Okwuoha (28) was charged following an investigation by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

The alleged "decuplet" claims his arrest is a case of mistaken identity, which led to him being charged under section 8 (1) (a), (2) and 9 of the Immigration Act 1999. He has been in custody on remand since March 10, following the alleged offence four days earlier.

He is accused that at Dublin Airport, "being a person in respect of whom a deportation order was signed on 06.01.2026 under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 by the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, did obstruct or hinder a person authorised by the said Minister namely Detective Garda Graham Dillon to deport you from the State pursuant to the order while the said person was engaged in such deportation".

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The man, who had previously lived in Dublin, replied, "I am not the person" when charged and bail was denied.

He appeared again before Judge Alan Mitchell at Cloverhill District Court on Friday via video link, confirming he was contesting the case.

Judge Mitchell recorded the not guilty plea, and adjourned Okwuoha's case until Monday, for mention only, to schedule his hearing date.

He was remanded in continuing custody.

The charge is a "summary only" offence, dealt with at the District Court level, and punishable by a maximum 12-month sentence and a fine of up to 2,500.

During his prior court appearance, the accused repeated his claim that "I am not the person named on the charge".

"It is the first time we have ever used it," GNIB Detective Garda Dillon had advised the court. It was alleged that officers attempted to remove the accused from the State, "and the removal had to be aborted due to his behaviour".

The judge asked the GNIB detective if it was a new kind of charge or had ever been prosecuted before: the officer responded, "It has not been prosecuted before. I suppose the level of resistance is unusual".

At the first appearance, on March 10th, the officer said he had a "lengthy list" of bail objections, adding that "we attempted to deport this man and he obstructed the deportation".

Ireland Palestinian who fled atrocities spared jail for carrying knives and resisting arrest in Dublin Read more

A barrister who earlier represented the accused said Mr Okwuoha maintained he was not the person named in the charge. Detective Garda Dillon disagreed, "We are 100 per cent confident," adding that it had been confirmed by legitimate authorities.

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His barrister had informed the court that his client maintained to be "one of decuplets", 10 children from the same pregnancy.

Counsel had said Okwuoha maintains he had nine identical brothers and that he "swapped places with his brother and came to Ireland".

The detective believed Okwuoha would not appear in court if granted bail, and that he had a bench warrant history for failing to attend proceedings in the State and for "giving different names, using different dates of birth and identities".
Fuel demonstrators at Galway Docks have said there will be no step down from any protests across the country.

Tractors line the bridge at the harbour, where cars and buses are being permitted entry and exit, but no fuel trucks have been allowed to pass since Tuesday.

The fuel depot in Galway City is one of three sites, alongside the countrys only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, and Foynes depot in Co Limerick, that are responsible for providing fuel to roughly half of Ireland, according to an industry expert.

Protesters take part in a blockade at Galway Docks in Co Galway (Claudia Savage/PA)

Some service stations have already run out of fuel as nationwide protests entered their fourth day, with concerns the number may rise if the sites are not open soon.

Despite rain and severe winds, protesters at the docks in Galway on Friday were in high spirits, and expressed their determination to keep pressure on the Government.

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A metal unit set up near the site dispensed tea, coffee and cocktail sausages, while fires were lit in oil drums.

Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing at the site, said their aim is to get this diesel brought under control, because the way its going there now we wont be able to keep going.

Theres no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning, he said.

Worker Eoin Delaney (third from right) joins protesters taking part in a blockade at the docks in Galway Docks, Co Galway (Claudia Savage/PA)

Theres four lorries still sitting up there in the depot, and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.

And while were after hearing there now, just from Dublin there now as well. I dont think theres going to be any step down from any protests across the country.

Asked if he was planning to stay out on protest, Mr Delaney said: Yes, and thats what were hearing from everyone and from everyone else around the country as well.

He added: Everyone is probably exhausted, and no-one wants to be here more than the next man.

But you know, its just the reality of it.

Its the sad reality of it that were going to have to keep going and stay here.

Construction workers Paul Greaney (right) and Frank Burke at the fuel protest at Galway Harbour (Claudia Savage/PA)

Paul Greaney and Frank Burke, two construction workers, were also battling the heavy winds to show their support, saying that taxpayers are being crippled.

Mr Greaney said: Were just being gouged everywhere.

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And its not just diesel. Its not just trucks and tractors.

Its in the hardware, its in the grocery shops, its everywhere.

Mr Burke said: New couples trying to rear families and whatnot, like its ridiculous.

Its awful unfair.

Both expressed support for a price cap on fuel while the war in the Middle East is impacting supplies.

An Garda Siochana has been monitoring the protest action across the country and officers were present at blockades, with three to four Garda cars stationed in Galway on Friday afternoon just beyond where the demonstrators were stationed.

Protesters take part in a blockade at Galway Docks (Claudia Savage/PA)

Representatives from the protesters directed traffic across the bridge into and out of the harbour.

The Defence Forces have said they are on standby to assist with the removal of heavy vehicles engaging in blockades of critical infrastructure.

Asked about the risk of having vehicles damaged if they are forced to be removed, Mr Greaney said: Thats the risk, if they want to try and pull us out, theyre going to have a job.

Its not going to happen.

Mr Burke said: A lot of the Guards would be country boys as well so they know well there.

Ireland Fuel protesters comments deeply disturbing, Taoiseach says Read more

Mr Greaney added: And at the end of the day, and I hope Micheal Martin sees this, were paying his wages and were paying all their wages.

We pay for the hospitals, we pay for the Guards, we pay for everything.

So just enough is enough.
A former rickshaw driver who fled atrocities in Palestine and required four gardai to secure his arrest in central Dublin has been handed a suspended sentence for carrying knives.

Mahdi Kmail (34) was convicted at Dublin District Court of weapons and obstruction offences on August 31st and December 5th, 2025.

Judge John Hughes noted the ex-kitchen porter had taken six bench warrants before his hearing went ahead.

He rejected Kmail's account that he had been accused of drug dealing after he handed a flower to a woman because she noticed his keffiyeh scarf and said, "Free Palestine".

But gardai stated, "that he was acting in an erratic fashion and they believed he was screaming at members of the public". The prosecuting officer contended he was shouting about Israel and that country's military, the IDF.

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Judge Hughes imposed a six-month sentence but suspended it in its entirety on the condition that Kmail does not reoffend for two years. He must also remain on supervised probation and complete a course of psychological therapy.

Kmail, of Castlewood, Celbridge, Co Kildare, had 11 prior convictions for speeding and other documentary motoring offences resulting in fines.

He had pleaded not guilty, claiming that on the second occasion at Burgh Quay, he had the knife in his bag to gut fish, and a screwdriver and scissors for home maintenance.

Garda Jack Bradshaw challenged his claim that he had informed him that there was a knife wrapped in his bag. The officer told him it was discovered post-arrest, during a search at the garda station.

The garda gave evidence that the accused never mentioned a fishing trip. He also rejected Kmail's claim that he could not understand what was going on.

CCTV

The defence argued that there must have been CCTV in the area, and the prosecuting garda testified that he did not check because he was already aware that security cameras did not cover the location.

Kmail claimed gardai accused him of selling drugs after he gave the woman a flower.

Questioned further by Garda Bradshaw about his fishing trip alibi, he conceded that it had happened several days beforehand, but he kept the knife wrapped in his bag for safety.

In response to the resisting arrest accusation, he maintained he was trying to understand what was happening and was beaten. He had a Stanley blade in his pocket when he stopped on the earlier date.

Imploring leniency, defence barrister Paul Larkin Coyle said his client had suffered trauma in Palestine and left to get away from atrocities in his homeland, had worked after arriving in Ireland and had no addiction issues.

Counsel asked the judge to note there was no allegation that his client brandished anything. However, the judge highlighted that Kmail had been caught twice, and on each occasion, he did not disclose to gardai that he had knives.
The Defence Forces have been put on standby to assist with clearing blockades outside some of the countrys major fuel depots.

With the nationwide fuel protests entering a fourth day on Friday, here is an explanation of some of the key points.

Petrol and diesel prices on Thursday at a service station in Co Kildare (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

What is the reason for the protests?

The cost of petrol, diesel, and marked gas oil (green diesel) has soared as a result of the war in the Middle East and impacts on supplies out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Currently, filling stations are selling petrol for around 193.9 cent, while diesel is available for around 218.9 cent.

Protesters say the Government needs to take action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

A man sits in a tractor wheel as vehicles are parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Who is behind them?

Several distinct but coordinated protests manifested on Tuesday and have largely been organised through social media channels and messaging apps.

One Facebook page with almost 60,000 followers states that it is made up of professional drivers, farmers, and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

John Dallon emerged as one spokesman for the Dublin protest (Brian Lawless/PA)

It has been difficult to single out specific organisers for the nationwide effort.

In Dublin for example, participants have been reluctant to identify an organiser but several spokespeople have emerged  often under the proviso that they have little influence over the actions of their fellow demonstrators in the capital or other locations.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan (Niall Carson/PA)

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan claimed on Thursday that protesters are being manipulated by outside actors who want to advance their own political measures or really want to damage our country.

Representative bodies recognised by the Government including the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association are not officially involved in the protest.

Vehicles on the M50 Northbound (Brian Lawless/PA)

What do they want?

The haulage operators and professional drivers want reductions in the cost of fuel, with differing solutions offered.

Some have called for the price to come down through cuts of excise or measures like reductions on carbon tax or VAT.

Vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Others want a cap on fuel prices (with different rates quoted across protest sites) while the war in the Middle East is impacting supplies.

Protesters have also sought commitments from senior Government figures that they will meet representatives to hear their concerns, often as a prerequisite for any dispersal of a blockade.

An ambulance drives past vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

What areas have been impacted?

The protests have seen widespread disruption on Irelands major motorways as participants engaged in slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages across the initial three days of action.

Dublins city centre was also brought to a standstill on multiple occasions as tractors blocked the busiest routes around the capitals main thoroughfare OConnell Street.

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Others blocked the countrys only oil refinery at Whitegate, Co Cork as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes in Co Limerick  with the three sites responsible for providing fuel to roughly half the country, according to an industry expert.

Protests have been organised at other sites, including near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublins M50 Northbound (Brian Lawless/PA)

There have been manifold effects of the combined actions including some filling stations running out of petrol and diesel, concerns over the availability of fuel to emergency-service vehicles, and members of the public missing scheduled medical appointments.

Concerns have also been raised about time-sensitive delivery of key medicines as well as the availability of water-treatment chemicals and the vital farm supplies such as animal feed.

Traffic disruption on Dublins M50 ring road, which feeds access to the countrys largest airport, also saw some passengers walking in the hard shoulder with their luggage.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking to the media (Brian Lawless/PA)

What has been the Government's response?

The Government said it is aware of the cost-of-living pressures arising out of the war in the Middle East and senior ministers have said the concerns of protesters have been heard.

Two-and-a-half weeks ago, it signed off on a 250 million package of measures to reduce fuel 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.

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It saw an effective reduction of 17 cent for petrol, 22 cent for diesel, and five cent for green diesel  but the savings were largely eroded as the war waged on.

Senior figures have appealed for protesters to call off their action, stating that their concerns have been heard and that the protest had now gone too far by causing damage to the wider public.

Vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

An Garda Siochana has been monitoring the protest action across the country and officers were present at blockades.

On Thursday, the force said it would enter an enforcement phase of its response to the disruption, after Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Whitegate blockade was an act of national sabotage.

The Defence Forces are on standby to assist with the removal of heavy vehicles engaging in blockades of critical infrastructure.

Government leaders and relevant ministers had not accepted requests to meet with protesters by Thursday evening, instead stating that the best approach was to engage with recognised representative bodies.

OCallaghan expressed concern over the message it would send that anyone who blockades critical infrastructure could expect a meeting with Government.

The Defence Forces are on standby to use heavy-duty recovery trucks capable of towing large vehicles (Defence Forces/PA)

What is likely to happen next?

Organising groups have vowed to continue the protest on Friday and, if not carrying through the weekend, stated they intend to return to action when the Dail returns to session on Tuesday.

An industry expert has warned that the number of filling stations running dry is going to increase if longer blockades of the major fuel suppliers continue.

Gardai next to vehicles parked on OConnell Street (Brian Lawless/PA)

With the knock-on impacts that entail, pressure will increase on Government and State authorities to respond.

Ministers and An Garda Siochana have urged protesters to end the blockades or face the full rigours of the law 

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Participants have said they will not move until their concerns are heard by Government  or they are forced away  with gardai instructing demonstrators to disperse from a protest near Rosslare Europort late on Thursday.

Representative organisations are due to have a meeting with Government on Friday, with the possibility of protesters also attending if they are brought by official groups.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has taken a short  and happy  break as she hosted veteran British rock band Deep Purple in Tokyo as a longtime admirer.

Welcome to Japan Oh I cant believe Deep Purple are here, she said as she walked into a guest room at the Prime Ministers Office with open arms and a smile to welcome the band members.

I have always admired Deep Purple.



Sanae Takaichi greets Deep Purple at the Prime Ministers Office (Yuichi Yamazaki/AP)

Youre my god, Ms Takaichi told drummer Ian Paice, presenting him with a set of Japanese-made Tama drumsticks she had signed.

Youre a drummer, we are friends, he told her.

Ms Takaichi is a noted hard rock and heavy metal fan and was an avid drummer in her college days.

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She explained her history as a Deep Purple superfan for more than half a century. At primary school, she was already listening to Machine Head, the bands 1972 album featuring hits like Highway Star and Smoke On The Water.

In junior high school, she played the keyboard in a Deep Purple cover band, then as a university student she switched to drums, she said.

Nowadays, when I have a fight with my husband, I play drums on Burn and put a curse on him, she joked.



Sanae Takaichi (third left) with Deep Purple members Don Airey, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Simon McBride (Yuichi Yamazaki/AP)

She has previously cited Burn as one of her favourite songs, saying it clears my mind.

The bands courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japans first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East and rising prices at home.

I express my deepest respect for you for making rock history and continuing to take on new challenges and producing even more compelling music today, Ms Takaichi said, wishing them a successful tour, beginning on Saturday in the Japanese capital.

She did not forget to do her work as prime minister and stressed that promotion of cultural content is one of the key areas of the growth strategy for her government.

I hope Deep Purples performances starting tomorrow will excite fans across Japan and serve as a powerful force in promoting the long-standing Japan-UK cultural exchanges, she said.
On Joo-wan, a South Korean actor, has talked about his marriage to Minah, giving fans a look into their relationship just a few months after their private wedding.

On the next episode of the variety show "Jeon Hyun-moo Plan 3," On will be a guest on a food-themed trip to Daejeon with host Jeon Hyun-moo and content creator Kwak Jun-bin. On April 10, MBN and Channel S will show the episode.

The cast of the show started off with some lighthearted banter as they talked about where they would be going on their trip. Jeon started the conversation by making fun of the city's bad reputation. "This is Daejeon, the city someone called a 'boring city' last time."

Kwak was surprised by what the person said. "Did I say that?"

As Jeon told them where to go for their first meal, he kept making jokes. "For the first meal in Daejeon, the 'fun and delicious city,' go to a restaurant that makes you think, 'Seriously, you're eating this?'

When he got an unexpected clue, Kwak made a funny comment. "What? You're not talking about eating magpies, are you?"

Read more: Minah & On Joo Wan to Marry After Quiet Relationship

In the lively setting, On Joo-wan joined the cast and, of course, everyone started talking about him because he had just gotten married. Spotvnews says that the actor got married to Minah in a private ceremony in November and has been getting used to being married since then.

During the conversation, Jeon asked On how it was being a newlywed, which led to an honest answer. "It's been three months since you got married (as of the recording date), how is it?"ut thinking, showing that he was happy. "It's so good."

Jeon looked curious and a little jealous when he heard the answer. "Do you really love it so much?"

According to reports from Naver, On kept telling Minah about his daily life and how happy he was to be with her.

The publication also pointed out that his comments showed a loving and warm relationship between the two, which drew in viewers who were looking forward to the broadcast.

The episode is likely to show not only food experiences in Daejeon but also personal stories from the cast. For example, On's life as a newlywed will be a big part of the show.

Every Friday at 9:10 p.m., "Jeon Hyun-moo Plan 3" airs. It has a mix of travel, food, and honest conversations between its guests.

Read more: Girl's Day Member Bang Minah Signs Contract with A-List Agency SM C&C
Former US vice president Kamala Harris has said she is actively considering another presidential bid.

She made the comments during the National Action Networks annual convention, where more than a half a dozen Democratic 2028 presidential prospects appeared hoping to make inroads among black voters.

I might. I am thinking about it, Ms Harris told Rev Al Sharpton after he asked directly whether she was going to run again for president in 2028.



Kamala Harris speaking to Rev Al Sharpton (Angelina Katsanis/AP)

The Democrats next presidential primary season will not begin in earnest until after Novembers mid-term elections, but this weeks conference showcased a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded competition.

For now, at least, there is no clear early favourite. But there did appear to be a favourite at Rev Sharptons conference.

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Ms Harris, the nations first black female vice president and the Democrats presidential nominee in 2024, earned the only standing ovation and the largest crowd of any other 2028 prospect this week.

Some in the audience interrupted her remarks with chants of run again.



Kamala Harris made the comments at the National Action Network convention (Angelina Katsanis/AP)

Rev Sharpton noted that Ms Harris earned more votes in her losing 2024 campaign than even former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history, he said.

Ms Harris has raised the possibility of another presidential bid before in the 15 months since she left office, even as some in the party have shifted their focus to a new generation of Democratic leaders.

The convention line-up this week featured, among others, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois governor JB Pritzker, Maryland governor Wes Moore and Kentucky governor Andy Beshear.

I know what the job is and I know what it requires Kamala Harris

Most of them were asked about their 2028 intentions, but Ms Harris was the most explicit.

Three times she repeated, Im thinking about it, when Rev Sharpton asked her about a 2028 White House run.

I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States. I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the situation room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires, Ms Harris said.

She continued: I am thinking about it in the context of who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people. Thats how Im thinking about it. Ill keep you posted.
Disgraced British peer Peter Mandelson is facing a fine of up to 300 (345) after he was pictured urinating in the street.

Kensington and Chelsea council confirmed it is seeking to issue a fixed-penalty notice to the former Labour grandee over the incident in Notting Hill, west London, last November.

Public urination carries a maximum fine of 300 within the borough, which can be reduced to 150 if paid within 14 days.

A fixed-penalty notice is not a criminal conviction, but it can show up on the police national computer.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea confirmed it is looking to fine Mandelson, as first reported by The Sun newspaper.

The incident came after Lord Mandelson was sacked as the UKs ambassador to the US last September (PA)

A spokesman said: We are looking to issue a fixed-penalty notice but need to obtain a suitable address.

Photos published in the UK Daily Mail appear to show the peer relieving himself after a late-night visit to former Tory chancellor George Osbornes Notting Hill home last November.

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He apologised at the time, claiming he had been stood up by two Uber drivers and kept waiting in the street for half an hour and was bursting.

The incident came after Mandelson was sacked as the UKs ambassador to the US last September over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.

World Melania Trump denies links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in public statement Read more

Scotland Yard has since launched a separate, criminal investigation into allegations of misconduct in a public office after Mandelson was accused of sharing sensitive information with Epstein during his time as business secretary in 2009.

He was arrested in February and released under investigation.

Mandelsons legal team has been approached for comment.
A 45-year-old man has been arrested after a baby girl died as a result of a dog bite.

Cleveland Police said the three-month-old died in the Dormanstown area of Redcar on Thursday.

Two dogs destroyed following the incident, which also left a woman with an arm injury, were not a prohibited breed, the force said.

The arrested man was detained on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, and was later bailed pending further inquiries.

The force said police were called to reports of concern for a child at a property on Hardale Grove shortly after 1:30pm.

A spokesman said armed officers destroyed one dog on the street.

Another dog located at the property was recovered but has since been destroyed.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward (PA)

The spokesman said: Both dogs were assessed by a specialist officer, and they have been deemed not to be a prohibited type of dog.

An investigation into the girls death is ongoing and, at this stage, officers are treating it as a result of a dog bite.

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A woman, aged 31, suffered an injury to her arm as a result of the dog bite and received treatment at hospital.

Chief Superintendent Rachel Stockdale said: Our thoughts continue to be with the childs family following this tragic and distressing incident.

I want to take this opportunity to request that their privacy is respected during this difficult time.

There will continue to be a scene in place at the property alongside a visible policing presence as the investigation is ongoing.

I encourage anyone who has concerns to please speak to an officer.

We are also appealing to anyone with information, mobile or doorbell and dash cam footage to get in touch.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said three ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and one duty officer were dispatched to the incident.
Nigel Farage took aim at Keir Starmer, branding him the most unpopular prime minister in living memory, as he unveiled Reform UKs slogan for the upcoming UK local elections.

The party will be repeating its mantra of Vote Reform. Get Starmer out up until voters in Wales, Scotland and parts of England head to the polls in May.

Reform UK has topped opinion polls in Wales, alongside Plaid Cymru, where the Labour Party has been in power since the Senedd was established in 1999.

Several opinion polls also suggest Reform could take second place in Holyrood, with the SNP remaining the frontrunner.

Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday, Farage told reporters: If we achieve anything like our potential, I do not believe Starmer will still be prime minister at the end of May.

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This is the most unpopular prime minister in living memory. Without doubt, the least patriotic prime minister in history.

Nobody else can do this  the Conservatives are not even in the race, Greens might hurt them in the big cities  but we can.

We can, if we get enough people to vote Reform, get Starmer out.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Asked why the slogan focuses on the prime minister, as opposed to a Reform policy, Farage told reporters the upcoming elections are in some of Labours strongest areas in the country, and the offering that he gave the country back in 2024, frankly, has been ignored completely.

He added that Starmer has done many things that I believe are injurious to the country.

On his own partys record, he said: We have majority control of 10 county councils. Were a year in. We have saved a lot of money. We have kept our council tax rises lower than anybody elses.

Im saying to people, if you want real change  it isnt going to come from anybody else but us.

Asked about Starmer saying he was fed up with bills going up in the UK because of the actions of Putin or Trump, Farage said: Im fed up by the last Conservative government putting net zero into law and Ed Miliband  despite the global crisis that were in  refusing to change course.

Of course, if Putin does stuff, if Trump and Israel do stuff, it affects us. No doubt about that, but its what were doing here.

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With the highest industrial prices in the world, with deindustrialisation on the most extraordinary scale, a huge amount of self-inflicted harm, I would suggest the Prime Minister looks closer to home.

June from Wigan is the winner, along with her entire street!



A Reform UK government will scrap green levies and save you 200.  pic.twitter.com/MoniyszjKS  Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) April 9, 2026

At the launch, Farage also said he is not the least bit worried his party broke electoral rules after it conducted a competition to win free energy bills for a year.

In a video posted on X, Farage and Reforms Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick could be seen handing a large cheque for 1,758 to a couple in Wigan on Thursday.

Reform UK said it had been cleared by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

Speaking at Romford Market later on Friday, Farage said he was feeling very bullish about the elections on May 7th.

Were trying our hardest. Were going for gold. Do you know what? Were going to surprise all of you, he added.

Farage admitted Reform UK is not a completed product ready to win the next general election, but added: Our progress is rapid.
Ukrainian military personnel have shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president described the operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons used by Russia in Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky made his first public acknowledgement of the operations on Wednesday in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Friday.

He said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced, battle-tested interceptor drones.





This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defence system that can actually work, the Ukrainian leader said.

Ukraine took part in the defensive operations before the tentative ceasefire in the Middle East was reached by Iran, the US and Israel this week.

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Mr Zelensky did not identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defence systems. He previously said 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.

In exchange, Ukraine is receiving weapons to protect its energy infrastructure, along with oil, diesel and, in some cases, financial arrangements, he said.

He added that the agreements would bolster Ukraines energy stability and described the partnerships as something that would be marketed as Kyiv seeks to formalise and expand its defence export role.

We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our countrys resilience, he said. This is far more than simply receiving money.



Iran has used Shahed drones in the Middle East (Alamy/PA)

The disclosure comes amid concerns that conflict in the Middle East could divert western military support from Ukraine, particularly air defence supplies.

But Mr Zelensky said that partners were continuing to supply missiles for Patriot systems, adding that a new batch had arrived in recent days and Ukraine was working with all partners to ensure its air defences remained in place.

He warned that the coming spring and summer would be difficult for Ukraine, with growing political and battlefield pressure as the United States turns to domestic politics and elections.

He also said he had urged US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv, noting the offer came before the ceasefire in the Middle East.

I told them, Come to us, and then go to Moscow. Lets hold a trilateral meeting in this format, he said. They were receptive to this, but as we can see, they decided they cannot be far from their president right now.

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He said it remained unclear whether the envoys would still visit Kyiv or whether talks would take place in a third country. On the substance of discussions, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing proposals on security guarantees to present to the US and expressed hope that diplomacy would move forward.

The US-led talks have made no progress on key issues in Ukraine, and Washingtons attention has switched to the Middle East conflict while the Russian and Ukrainian armies remain locked in battle on the 800-mile front line.



A Sting interceptor drone (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Separately, Mr Zelensky said he expects western allies to restore full sanctions on Russian oil, warning that any easing could allow Moscow to sustain its war effort and offload key energy assets.

Moscow has been profiting from a surge in global energy prices, brought on by damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf and Irans blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for global oil supplies.

Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian energy sites to cut oil revenues as prices rose and US sanctions eased. Mr Zelensky said partners had urged Kyiv to scale back attacks during Irans disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, but he argued Russian oil has a limited impact on global markets.

I wont say who asked us to do this. But partners did ask  its a fact. They asked at different levels, from political to military leadership.

Mr Zelenskyy also said Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce.

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We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly, Mr Zelenskyy wrote on X. People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well.





We sent our military experts to the Middle East, including specialists in interceptor drones and electronic warfare. We demonstrated to some countries how to work with interceptors. Did we destroy Iranian shaheds? Yes, we did. Did we do it in just one country? No, in several.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 10, 2026

Mr Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Mr Putins move as a humanitarian gesture, but said Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its longstanding demands  a key sticking point that has prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement.

Mr Peskov also confirmed that Mr Putins envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is in the United States for meetings focused on economic issues.

He noted that Mr Dmitriev is conducting the meetings within the framework of a group on economic issues that he has led, adding that he is not involved in the talks on the war in Ukraine and his trip doesnt mean the resumption of the talks.

Mr Dmitrievs visit to the US comes just before the termination of the 30-day sanctions waiver for Russian oil.
US vice president JD Vance will depart on Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran after Donald Trump tasked him with finding a resolution to the conflict.

Vance, the member of Mr Trumps inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict, has long been sceptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended war.

The vice presidents visit to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad comes as a tenuous, temporary ceasefire appears to be on the precipice of collapsing.

The chasm between Irans public demands and those from the US and its partner Israel seems irreconcilable.

Vance is joined by US President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who took part in three rounds of indirect talks with Iranian negotiators aimed at settling US concerns about Tehrans nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes and its support for armed proxy groups in the Middle East before Mr Trump and Israel launched the February 28 war against Iran.

The White House has provided scant detail about the format of the talks  whether they will be direct or indirect  and has not provided specific expectations for the meeting.

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But the arrival of Vance for negotiations marks a rare moment of high-level US government engagement with the Iranian government.

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the most direct contact had been when President Barack Obama, in September 2013, called newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Irans nuclear programme.

Almost immediately after the White House and Iran announced a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday evening, the sides found themselves at odds over the terms of the truce.

Iran insisted that an end to the Israeli war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon and the Israeli operations there continued.

The US, meanwhile, demanded that Iran make good on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic had closed the critical shipping waterway in response to Israels intensifying attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

(PA Graphics)

Trump on Thursday night said Iran was doing a very poor job of allowing oil tankers to pass through, writing on social media: That is not the agreement we have!

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Vance, Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have always been collaborating on these discussions and said Trump was optimistic that a lasting deal could be reached during the two-week ceasefire.

President Trump has a proven track record of achieving good deals on behalf of the United States and the American people, and he will only accept one that puts America first, Kelly said.

On Wednesday, Vance dismissed speculation that the Iranians requested that he join the talks, telling reporters: I dont know that. I would be surprised if that was true. But, you know, I wanted to be involved because I thought I could make a difference.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Kaiser builds $45.6M war chest on steady Vic,Tassie gold output Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Murray Ward April 10, 2026  3:58pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Kaiser Reef has capped off a productive March quarter by significantly bolstering its balance sheet and maintaining a steady flow of precious metals from its multi-asset Australian operations. The company reported total gold production of 5,534 ounces, helping drive its closing cash position to a healthy A$45.6 million. Kaiser Reef reported a cash balance of A$45.6M and gold production of 5534 ounces for its March quarter. The operational performance was spearheaded by the Henty gold mine in Tasmania, which contributed 5188 ounces of gold and a handy 4810 ounces of silver during the three-month period to April. Meanwhile, the Maldon gold project in Victorias historic golden triangle chipped in 346 ounces of gold as the company continues to ramp up its processing capabilities.

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We head into the June quarter with a fully funded balance sheet,and a gold price environment that continues to generate strong returns. Kaiser Reef managing director Brad Valiukas Beyond the production figures, Kaiser made significant strides in its capital management, shrinking its gold loan by 312 ounces to 728 ounces, a net reduction of A$2.2M. The company also made final gold deliveries to clear its hedge program with Auramet, worth A$3.7M. Additionally, it settled the final 150-ounce payment on its loan to Catalyst, originally tied to the acquisition of the Henty gold mine, delivering a net impact of about A$1.1 million. In effect, Kaiser has cleared the decks and now has full exposure to the booming current gold price going forward. Kaiser Reef managing director Brad Valiukas said: We head into the June quarter with a fully funded balance sheet, clear operational priorities at both assets, and a gold price environment that continues to generate strong returns.

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At the Henty underground operation, underpinned by a 199,000-ounce ore reserve and a 400,000-tonne-per-annum processing plant, the company is focused on extending the mine life. At the same time, Kaisers Victorian operations at Maldon saw a strategic lift after the company moved to a second shift, doubling throughput capacity at the mines 200,000-tonne-per-annum processing plant. With ample low-grade mill feed available, management expects the project to move towards a self-funding model, supporting ongoing high-impact exploration. Kaisers dual-asset strategy aims to leverage established infrastructure across two Tier-1 jurisdictions. The companys total mineral resource estimate currently stands at 5.42 million tonnes grading 3.59 grams per tonne(g/t) for 625,000 contained gold ounces. In Tasmania, Henty weighs in with a hefty 4.11Mt running at 3.32g/t for 438,000 ounces of gold. In Victoria, the Union Hill mine at Maldon hosts a robust mineral resource of 1.31Mt grading 4.4g/t gold for 187,000 ounces. Additionally, a substantial surface stockpile at Union Hill containing 570,000 tonnes at 0.48g/t gold is in place to provide immediate mill feed. Kaiser looks to have its tail up. With a hefty A$45.6 million war chest and the handbrake finally off its gold price exposure, the company appears to be in a prime spot to capitalise on the booming gold price.

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Punters would do well to keep a close eye on Maldons growing throughput numbers as it doubles capacity. Meanwhile, with grades likely to improve in the coming quarter at Henty, Kaiser could be in for a golden finish to the financial year. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Bulls N' Bears

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BusinessCompaniesAir travel Zoom meetings at 35,000 feet: How superfast Wi-Fi is changing flying Chris Zappone April 10, 2026  10:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The on-board experience of commercial aviation is getting a makeover. But its not the seating or the food; its the internet. With superfast Wi-Fi being rolled out on some flights, passengers are now holding Zoom meetings and playing low-latency video games at 35,000 feet. Already, expectations around on-board internet are changing. I understand some like not having Wi-Fi and having disconnect time, but to me, being able to fly and work during the day is super helpful, posted one passenger on a frequent flyer forum. United will soon roll out Wi-Fi for flights to and from Australia. Chris Zappone Though on-board Wi-Fi is not new, the coverage and speed offered by Elon Musks Starlink represents a step change from whats available elsewhere. Download speeds range from 25 to 220+ megabits per second, with many users experiencing over 100 Mbps, fast enough for high-definition movie streaming, gaming, voice calls or even, well, Teams meetings.

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Qantas and Virgin already offer Wi-Fi, albeit at lower speeds. (Virgin notes that its high-speed internet has average typical speeds between 5-15 Mbps.) Jetstar is offering Wi-Fi on its newly refurbished Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. A Qantas spokesperson said the airline is working with Viasat to improve international Wi-Fi coverage. Typically, on-board internet is only reliable over land, where ground stations complete the internet signal between the satellite and planes. Both Starlink and rivals such as Viasat rely on satellites which provide the signal to planes equipped with antennas, which then transmit to a ground station. But Starlinks fleet is more numerous (over 10,000 small sats), travelling in low Earth orbit, while Viasats relies on a handful of larger, more powerful satellites at a more distant orbit. Latency  the delay between a camera capturing an event and the event being displayed to viewers on a screen  is lower with Starlink, making for more consistent use. The blanketing of high altitudes with a Wi-Fi signal gives a level of coverage that existing systems struggle to provide. And that struggle has been a point of tension for customers and airlines alike.

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Its been a huge sore spot for the whole industry for many years because Wi-Fi was always spotty, Uniteds CIO Jason Birnbaum said, aboard a recent United flight that featured Starlink. And now, if you can have consistent, high-speed Wi-Fi across all your devices for free, its just a game changer. Starlink, a division of SpaceX, relies not on several large satellites in a distant geosynchronous orbit (at about 35,800 kilometres from Earth), but a network of nearly 10,000 small satellites in low Earth orbit (at about 550 kilometres). Basically, there is less distance for the signal to travel. Australians flying to and from Hawaii can already find Starlink on Hawaiian Airlines free of charge. Before conflict in the Middle East threw a spanner in the operations of Gulf carriers, Emirates and Qatar Airways had both moved rapidly to equip their planes with Starlink.

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Air New Zealand provides Wi-Fi on domestic flights, with an international Wi-Fi rollout in progress on Qantas. Passengers can use their own devices to browse the internet and send emails. But theyre not allowed to  nor would they be able to  make calls or stream content. Qantas provides uses the service Viasat on 100 aircraft out of its 135-plane fleet. With the rollout on United, there will be more capacity for this kind of high-speed in-flight internet usage across the Pacific. Uniteds vice president of digital, Grant Milstead. Chris Zappone

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Itll be free across all classes, all cabins, said Birnbaum. United flies as many as 52 weekly round trips from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide from October to March. Because United is introducing Starlink to new fleet types, it must also get additional government certifications for each application. Depending on the pace of the FAAs certification, Starlink will begin to appear on Uniteds 777s and 787s serving Australia in the second half of the year. This means that on those flights across the Pacific, Australian passengers can say goodbye to digital isolation, as well as the spotty, intermittent coverage common across existing carriers.

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Some flyers, however, appreciate the mind space that comes with being temporarily cut off  or freed  from the internet. Related Article Air travel Airline says put on your headphones or get off the plane Starlink has already proven popular in Australias regional centres, where remote communities have struggled to find inexpensive and reliable internet connections. Grant Milstead, Uniteds vice president of digital, told journalists before the flight that the company envisions what our customers might do with Starlink. They might watch live sports. They might be the most productive employee theyve ever been. So far, United has seen customers put a live offer in on their first home. Weve even had customers vibe-code [guiding AI assistants to write code] to start the website of their first business, and customers leave voice memos for their children, of them singing a lullaby to put their kids to sleep on board.

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While making calls on mobile phones on planes is prohibited by FAA rules for fear of causing instrument interference, the flight  which departed Los Angeles and flew up the coast to San Francisco before a gentle U-turn back  permitted journalist to live-stream conversations. The prosect of a cabin full of web-based callers presents another factor for flight: passenger comfort in an enclosed space. Perhaps because of the prospect of all this in-cabin chatter, United in February changed its contract of carriage to permit the removal and possible ban of passengers who play audio or video from devices without headphones. Starlink, which, reflecting Musks sci-fi inspired worldview, requires users to agree to clauses on the future governance of Mars, also enhances the speed of information available to the planes flight deck. Chris Zappone flew as a guest of United. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureBooksLiterature prizes From courtrooms to distant spacecraft: The Age Book of the Year shortlists announced Kylie Northover April 10, 2026  12:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Twelve books have made the shortlists for this years entries in The Age Book of the Year awards. Judges for the fiction prize, author and critic Bram Presser and essayist and critic Beejay Silcox, said the six novels that had made their shortlist capture the vitality and range of contemporary storytelling, bringing together powerful collaborations, writers deepening their craft and flashes of wild ambition. The fiction books on the shortlist are: Salvage by Jennifer Mills

Fierceland by Omar Musa

The Immigrants by Moreno Giovannoni

A Piece of Red Cloth by Leonie Norrington, Djawundil Maymuru, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs and Djawa Burarrwanga

Out of the Woods by Gretchen Shirm

You Must Remember This by Sean Wilson

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While the novels move between ghost stories, family histories, eco-dystopias and ancient allegories, the judges said they all shared a similar focus, and at the heart, each of these books circles the same enduring question: what care do we owe one another? In these pages, it feels more urgent than ever. Jennifer Mills speculative fiction Salvage has been nominated for the fiction Book of The Year. The judges found the collaborative fiction of A Piece of Red Cloth to be an utterly unique, exhilarating literary symphony drawn from many thousands of years of oral tradition; Fierceland a work of virtuosic prose that soars ... with unbridled energy to its own propulsive beat; Salvage a marvel of speculative eco fiction that bucks tired tropes and draws you into its shifting realms of consciousness; Out Of The Woods timely and urgent, asking important questions about war, responsibility and the lines we unwittingly cross in passing judgement; You Must Remember This an honest, tender and painfully accurate portrayal of dementia told with heartbreaking honesty, and The Immigrants a brilliantly crafted work that is both deeply specific and universally relevant. The judges for the non-fiction section, author, reviewer and mission director of Caritas Australia, Michael McGirr, and The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald Canberra bureau chief Michelle Griffin, both praised the resilient practitioners of the endangered craft of non-fiction writing, especially in a time where some might rely on AI for factual research. Some of the information found in these pages might be lurking online, although I suspect a lot of it isnt, wrote Michael McGirr. What AI cant provide is the satisfaction of a beautifully constructed narrative, one which answers important questions in the mind of the writer. A writer is not a content creator. They are pilgrims of sorts, following a quest. I am grateful for the sheer existence of these books and the urgency that keeps writers kicking into the cultural wind.

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The non-fiction shortlisted books are: Blue Poles by Tom McIlroy

Red House by Kate Wild

A Womans Eye, Her Art by Drusilla Modjeska

The Shortest History of Australia by Mark McKenna

Gutsy Girls by Josie McSkimming

Mr and Mrs Gould by Grantlee Kieza Josie McSkimmings memoir about her sister, poet Dorothy Porter, was praised as brimming with love. John Slaytor They praised Tom McIlroys superb account of the painting that caused a public uproar, in which he serves his story with patience and care; Josie McSkimmings memoir about her sister, poet Dorothy Porter, as brimming with love; Kate Wilds account of the killing of young Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walkerby a white police officer as a story that takes readers deep into a story that has echoes from the past and reverberations into the future.

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Related Article Review From a sentient vacuum cleaner to Dolly Parton: 10 new books They found Drusilla Modjeskas examination of the lives and art of European modernist women as having the storytellers confidence and a painters eye for the actual work of making art; Grantlee Kiezas biography of naturalists John and Elizabeth Gould as a window to gaze upon another time and place and Mark McKennas The Shortest History of Australia a triumph not just of concision, but also of thematic rigour. The 45th Age Book of the Year winners each receive $10,000, courtesy of the Copyright Agencys cultural fund, and the winners will be announced at The Athenaeum Theatre on May 7 as part of the opening night of this years Melbourne Writers Festival. Last year, Lech Blaines Australian Gospel won the non-fiction prize and Rodney Hall won the fiction award for his novel Vortex. The Age is a festival partner. The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
The messages indicated the start of a process in which they will be subpoenaed to give evidence for the prosecution in the Supreme Court of NSW. Their testimony will be about what they knew of allegations that Roberts-Smith had executed , or ordered the execution, of five Afghan prisoners and civilians.

Now they will be bound by something else.

These were men who had passed the rigorous physical and psychological testing to join Australias most elite fighting force, the Special Air Service Regiment. Then they served in Afghanistan with Roberts-Smith  the nations most famous soldier.

The messages came from the special war crimes investigation agency, the Office of the Special Investigator , and their recipients were former and serving soldiers or their lawyers.

They went to about two dozen men, all over Australia. Some were on friendly terms with each other. Others were not. Some hadnt exchanged words for years. But all were bound together by a shared history they can never shake.

At noon on Tuesday, less than an hour after Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney Airport, investigators from the most secretive federal crime-fighting agency in Australia sent out a series of co-ordinated messages.

McSweeney was on the run after escaping from Boggo Road Gaol and Barnett had been warned that he would shoot cops to avoid capture.

In 1991, Barnett was a Queensland detective who received a tip-off that a heavily armed and violent criminal, Harold McSweeney, was hiding out in the Toowoomba area, west of Brisbane.

OSI head of operations Ross Barnett has never been to war. But he has been shot.

But an investigation by this masthead has pieced together some of these details by speaking to more than a dozen military sources, including some once close to Roberts-Smith.

The story of how the OSI has built its strongly contested case will emerge in time as the court case proceeds over the next two years or so.

Former war crimes prosecutors say that, in the absence of other evidence, the case against Roberts-Smith will stand or fall on the testimony of these men.

In December 2020, his career took a big step in a different direction. Barnett, who appeared in a press conference alongside Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett on Tuesday to announce the war crimes prosecution against Roberts-Smith, was appointed to recruit and oversee detectives working for the newly established OSI.

Ben Roberts-Smith, pictured outside court last year, is on remand in Sydney, charged with five counts of war crimes-murder.

Barnett eventually rose to deputy commissioner of the Queensland Police, then head of the anti-corruption unit for the states horse-racing industry.

He got me once in the hip and missed a couple more times, so it was my lucky day. It was a very violent time and that was our job  not going after McSweeney was not an option because simply, if we didnt capture him, there would have been more armed robberies, and he would have shot an innocent member of the public.

Vision from the scene filmed shortly after the shootout shows a bleeding Barnett on the footpath.

Medics help Ross Barnett, then a Queensland detective, after he was shot by jailbreaker Harold McSweeney in 1991.

We found him ... We rammed his car into a parked car in the street, Barnett told a reporter a decade ago. We unfortunately ended up side by side with him in the drivers seat, and I was in the passengers seat ... he just started shooting.

If cops tend to lean conservative, Stock is among them. After he left the state police, he served as a high-ranking border force officer combating people smuggling and drug trafficking.

One senior role went to Matt Stock, another former Queensland homicide detective described by former police colleagues as like a dog with a bone when investigating.

His first step was to start recruiting experienced homicide detectives around the country.

But law enforcement colleagues say that, on his appointment, he quickly grasped the enormity of his task.

Barnett has never explained what drew him to the role. Apart from the grim-faced press conference on Tuesday, he has given no interviews.

The office was established by then-prime minister Scott Morrison to probe the credible information uncovered by the Brereton inquiry into war crimes that about 20 SAS soldiers may have executed several dozen civilians and detainees in Afghanistan.

But law enforcement sources familiar with the OSIs work have stressed that much of their tasks have involved throwing out cases after exhaustive investigations failed to produce enough compelling and corroborating eyewitness testimony.

The alleged war crimes at the centre of this investigation had been exhaustively investigated before, by journalists at this masthead, during a defamation case after Roberts-Smith brought to try to prove his innocence, and by Brereton, the then deputy inspector-general of the ADF in his own inquiry between 2016 and 2020.

We cant go to that country, we dont have access to the crime scene  we dont have photographs, site plans, measurements, the recovery of projectiles, blood spatter analysis  we dont have access to the deceased, theres no post-mortem, therefore theres no official cause of death, theres no recovery of projectiles that might be linked to weapons that might have been carried by members of the ADF.

The joint OSI-AFP inquiry, which on Tuesday led to five war crimes-murder charges being laid against Roberts-Smith, was always going to be different from a state-based homicide investigation.

These prosecutions needed to pass the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt, and to convince a jury of that.

So, cases based on circumstantial evidence or surmise were rejected. Former SAS medic Dusty Miller, who had an injured Afghan taken from his care by an SAS soldier and executed out of sight, was one of these. Two years of exhaustive investigation by the OSI found no direct witness, and therefore no prosecution could follow.

Cases involving the fog of war or split-second decisions were also quickly shredded.

Barrett made this clear at the press conference when speaking of the counts against Roberts-Smith: It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan.

The fog of war applies to none of the five war crime-murder allegations faced by Roberts-Smith.

It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed and were under the control of ADF members when they were killed, Barrett said. And under Australian and international law, these people should have been allowed to live.

Perhaps ironically, one of the most straightforward confirmations of how these laws apply was made by Roberts-Smith himself  when he testified in his failed defamation case that every member of the SAS, including himself, knew it was a crime to shoot dead a PUC, or person under confinement.

Executing a prisoner, he confirmed, would not only be a grave crime, but it would disgrace the Australian Army and the nation for which he fought.

Even as Roberts-Smith uttered his words as a witness in 2021, however, he was emerging as the OSIs key target.

An exhibit in Ben Roberts-Smiths failed defamation case, showing the village of Darwan. The X marked with B and an arrow is said to be the cliff from which a villager was allegedly kicked by Roberts-Smith. He denies the allegation.

As he spoke, the OSIs exhaustive process of elimination was at work. Breretons inquiry had implicated Roberts-Smith in at least 11 summary executions  all of which the soldier denied. In the defamation trial, the newspapers alleged six killings, and proved four to the civil standard.

On Tuesday, the OSI announced five charges. One of these was an allegation that remains unproved after the defamation judge declined to order the key witness to answer questions that might incriminate himself; another was one that was simply not raised in the defamation case.

Sources who have had dealings with the OSI investigation, but who are not authorised to speak publicly, said each of the five charges was underpinned by eyewitness testimony of SAS soldiers who were at the scene  or in the cases of executions allegedly ordered by Roberts-Smith, the witnesses were the people who actually participated in them.

The other key concern of those who oppose these charges is the time that has passed before getting to this point. As former prime minister Tony Abbott wrote in a Facebook post: After doing their best to serve our country, dozens of former special forces soldiers should not still be in limbo years later because of ongoing investigations that have only resulted in charges in two cases.

One of the reasons for the delay is Roberts-Smith himself. Prosecutors were reluctant to move against him until the defamation case was entirely done, including through the full Federal Court appeal and the High Court. That process concluded in September last year.

The stickler for detail who made all the difference

War crimes, of course, can be prosecuted at any time.

In 1990, a former Nazi soldier, Ivan Polyukhovich, was put on trial in Adelaide for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine in 1942 and 1943. He was acquitted by the South Australian Supreme Court in 1993.

The prosecutor in that case was Mark Weinberg, KC, who went on to become a senior judge and Commonwealth director of public prosecutions. In late 2020, Weinberg was appointed by Morrison to head up the OSI.

Multiple law enforcement sources say Weinbergs OSI has taken elaborate pains to make sure its work will withstand the rigours of a trial.

His first challenge was to avoid the mistakes that had plagued an earlier AFP probe into Roberts-Smith.

Mark Weinberg, KC, ensured the case was watertight.

That investigation collapsed in 2021 over fears it had inadvertently been tainted because it had used some evidence obtained by Paul Brereton while he was using royal commission style powers that allowed him to force former soldiers to answer questions.

Sources close to the investigation say that, to avoid the AFPs possible legal missteps, the OSI created a sterile corridor under which teams of lawyers reviewed every piece of Breretons evidence and quarantined anything that was problematic.

That left a vastly reduced trove of information for Barnetts and Stocks investigators. Nevertheless, they came out hard, looking to firm up the allegations. Multiple SAS insiders who spoke to this masthead, including some who described dealing with the OSI, said detectives took witness statements and returned multiple times to gather more details.

Some found this frustrating  they had already helped the AFP and they had been questioned by Brereton. Some had been on the stand in the defamation case. But the seriousness with which the OSIs detectives were approaching the task won over many.

Still, the years wore on. Some detectives left to other tasks, leaving edgy witnesses to meet and get to know new investigators.

Weinberg, meanwhile, was a stickler. He had lost the Polyukhovich case, which featured multiple witnesses about years-old events in a faraway country. He was aware of the potential shortcomings of witness testimony. Weinberg was the lone dissenting appellant court judge in George Pells initial unsuccessful appeal against his child sexual abuse convictions. Weinbergs conclusions that the victim accounts of Pells crimes could not support the jurys guilty finding was ultimately backed by the High Court, who quashed the convictions.

Over and over again, driven by Weinbergs fine-grained attention to detail, the OSIs pace was slowed to dot is and cross ts.

Last year, the eminent jurist became gravely ill, slowing down proceedings again. As witnesses got frustrated, they started venting to colleagues  theyd taken huge risks to speak out, and perhaps nothing would ultimately come of it.

According to the sources, the OSI investigators began assuring them that the effort would not be in vain and that, by the end of the first quarter of 2026, Roberts-Smith would be charged.

What comes next

At the end of last year, Weinberg retired as the special investigator. His legacy, though, shows through in the charges laid against Roberts-Smith.

One alleged killing at a place called Chinartu was found by the judge in the defamation case to be proved on the balance of probabilities. However, it is not included in the prosecution.

The Whiskey 108 allegations, however, one alleged murder by Roberts-Smith of a prosthetic-legged man, and another that he allegedly ordered to blood a new soldier, are backed by three separate eyewitness accounts.

So, four days ago, Ben Roberts-Smith was finally arrested and charged. It happened just six days past the OSIs promised first quarter deadline.

One well-placed source suggested investigators might have waited to arrest Roberts-Smith in NSW because they wanted access to a wider and more diverse jury pool. Roberts-Smith, who clearly knew this was coming, might have preferred a jury in a more conservative state, either his original home of Western Australia or his adopted home town of Brisbane.

Former war crimes prosecutor Graham Blewitt, who took part in the 1990 Nazi prosecution, told this masthead and 60 Minutes he expected the case to take until 2028 to reach its conclusion.

Meanwhile, as Roberts-Smith spends the weekend in Sydneys Silverwater prison, the OSIs investigators continue their work. As Barnett made clear at the press conference, other investigations remain ongoing.

Sources say the joint investigation is open to more witnesses coming forward on the Roberts-Smith charges. A number of other SAS soldiers  including some of Roberts-Smiths co-accused  also remain under active investigation for their own alleged crimes.

We might be hearing much more from them before a jury is empanelled, and before those two dozen SAS witnesses are required to make their appearance before a Sydney court.

Read more on Ben Roberts-Smiths arrest:

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Exclusive NationalNSWCrime Woman accused of hospital hammer attack terrorised neighbours, locals say Perry Duffin April 10, 2026  3:55pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A woman accused of smashing her relatives skull in with a pink-handled hammer as he lay in a Sydney hospital bed had terrorised neighbours at her harbourside home including hacking at a door, locals say. Viki Graham, 46, allegedly approached her 63-year-old relatives bedside at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, drew a hammer, and bashed it into the right side of his forehead just after midnight on Thursday. Viki Graham, 46, allegedly smashed her relative, 63, on the head with a hammer as he lay in bed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital saying he stole my brothers ashes. Facebook The man remains in a critical condition in hospital. Graham lived, until her arrest, in a waterside unit provided by NSW Housing in Balmain.

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On Friday morning, the quiet Trouton Street was crawling with detectives who were going door to door interviewing Grahams neighbours. It was not the first time they had paid such a visit. Detectives combing the street outside Viki Grahams unit in Balmain a day after her alleged hammer attack on a relative in hospital. Oscar Colman Detectives In Balmain on Friday morning. Viki Grahams relative remains in a critical condition in hospital after her alleged attack caused a seizure and stopped his breathing. Oscar Colman Police were called, in 2022, after Graham allegedly terrified the elderly neighbour who lives directly above her.

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A local said Graham had damaged the older womans door. This was very scary, the local said. The door to a neighbours unit which locals say Viki Graham damaged in 2022. Oscar Colman There was an older woman in there, about 80 years old, can you imagine? The door, one flight above Grahams unit, shows heavy scars in the wood.

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Court records show Graham had never entered a plea to the charge of intimidation, stalking, or harassment. She was convicted in her absence, fined $880 and placed on a two-year apprehended violence order to protect the neighbour. Viki Graham has various items outside her Balmain unit including stacked pieces of beds and luggage as well as this chainsaw. Oscar Colman Still, one local, who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for their safety, was shocked by Grahams latest alleged attack. The local said Graham had been a difficult neighbour, who had salvaged downed signposts from the streets and hauled them in to the courtyard of the unit block.

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I saw her carry this down here, one-handed, about a year ago. I can barely pick it up. She is powerful, the local said. The signpost, with concrete still clinging to one end, weighs at least 50 kilograms. There are many such pieces of debris collected by Graham and stacked at the unit block. A neighbour said Viki Graham salvaged this downed signpost from the street. Oscar Colman Inside a cupboard, the local said, she had stacked pieces of beds and luggage, a chainsaw and a carpet knife. On Thursday, the court heard she had only a minor history with the law, and nothing since 2022.

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Graham had allegedly called out, after attacking her relative in his hospital bed on Thursday, that he had stolen my brothers ashes. Police had said they were investigating whether an estate dispute was at the centre of allegations that Judge Judith Sweeney described as gratuitously violent and unprovoked. Graham asked the judge to release her from custody, on bail, because she had anxiety and a sore arm. She also claimed to have worked at the Cat and Fiddle Hotel in Balmain. But the pubs management said they had not heard of Graham since taking over the business about three years ago.

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Related Article Updated

Crime Stole my brothers ashes: Woman allegedly smashes relatives skull with hammer in hospital bed Sweeney refused to release Graham to bail, saying there was nothing that could ease the risk she posed to the community. Back at Grahams residence, the local said he believed Graham did not hold a job at the pub, and questioned even if she had allegedly attacked her hospitalised relative over her brothers ashes. Shes a liar, and an alcoholic, the local said. We all know that about her.

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Graham will remain in custody until her next appearance in June at least. She is charged with one count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum 25 years in prison if found guilty. The NSW Police homicide squad remains on stand-by in case her relative dies. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
Prince Harry being sued by defamation by charity

Prince Harry is being sued for defamation by a charity he co-founded in Africa, in honour of his mum Princess Diana.
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Police have charged a man for allegedly using stolen fuel cards to make off with more than a million dollars worth of diesel in a year-long crime spree.

Phillip Forest Litfin, 48, allegedly used the cards at unmanned diesel depots at Parkinson, Bundamba and Karawatha to steal $1.1 million worth of fuel between December 2024 and December 2025.

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Police allegedly found evidence of the thefts at a property in Greenbank, south-west of Brisbane, on March 24.

Body-worn camera footage provided by police showed large tanks stacked on top of each other on what appeared to be a rural property.
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NationalVictoriaCity life One graffiti vandal cost Melbourne $178,000. The council wants its money back Cara Waters April 10, 2026  3:55pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The City of Melbourne is trying to recoup money spent cleaning up graffiti from the vandals themselves, and says one prolific tagger alone caused $177,885 in damage and clean-up costs. The council has in its sights graffiti taggers known as Yomp, Q Bee and Bruege and has been assisting police with prosecutions. Lord Mayor Nick Reece in the City of Melbournes CCTV camera control room, which the council is using to track graffiti taggers. Alex Coppel The councils pursuit of the taggers follows ongoing legal proceedings against the Jack Gibson-Burrell, who has pleaded not guilty to allegations he caused $700,000 in damages with distinctive cartoon graffiti tags of Pam the Bird across Melbourne. Council papers published before next weeks council meeting claim Yomp has contributed to 34 tags at an estimated cost to the City of Melbourne of $4920.

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The council is seeking a compensation order as part of two criminal proceedings being brought by Victoria Police against Yomp and Q Bee. The council papers state it has also assisted police in relation to the high-profile and high-cost graffiti vandal Bruege, who it says has contributed to 1712 tags at an estimated cost to the council of $177,885. Related Article Courts Accused Pam the Bird vandal headed for trial in $700,000 cartoon graffiti case One of Lord Mayor Nick Reeces election promises was to force taggers to pay for damage in the City of Melbourne and potentially to be part of the team cleaning it up. The council papers indicate the City of Melbourne is unlikely to pursue its own cases against taggers, but instead will seek compensation in proceedings brought by Victoria Police.

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We said we would crack down on graffiti vandals, and we are, Reece said. The message could not be clearer: if you spray, you will pay. Reece said the council was using its CCTV camera network, including new camera technologies, to help identify vandals. If you are up to no good, you are more likely than ever to be caught, he said. The estimated cost and resources required to pursue civil proceedings against alleged graffiti vandals is expected to range between $10,000 and $100,000.

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This will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis, the council papers state. Every year the City of Melbourne spends about $1 million on repairing criminal damage caused by tagging and graffiti. Related Article City life Watch the birdie: Is that creature named Pam art or an affront? The council papers note the complexity and costs associated with pursuing graffiti vandals through civil proceedings. The City of Melbourne cannot take civil action on behalf of a private property owner, only in relation to council-owned land or assets.

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The council needs to be able to know and locate the offender and prove who made the mark through witnesses or security cameras. Taking civil proceedings will be resource-intensive and costly for council, the papers state. Swinburne graffiti expert Dr Stephen Glackin said people often did not notice the slow growth of graffiti until there was a big bust such as in Pam the Bird, which brought it to public attention. He said pursuing costs from graffiti vandals, whom he refers to as writers, could act as a deterrent but was also likely to be an expensive exercise including not only court costs but also the time to build the evidence base to the quality that a court would accept. Most writers know that theyre not going to get much more than the slap on the wrist, he said. Magistrates dont like putting people who do tagging or do big pieces into incarceration. They dont see it as appropriate, even though some of these people do hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage.

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Glackin said there had been examples of costs being pursued against graffiti vandals, such as two men who graffitied No war on the Sydney Opera House 20 years ago being ordered to pay $150,000 in clean-up costs. If [the City of Melbourne] can line up all the ducks, then it will go a long way to reducing incidents of graffiti, as it will have direct and strong impact on the offender, he said. Victoria Police was contacted for comment.
Prime minister's fuel-focussed Singapore visit

Chief political correspondent reports from Singapore and the refinery hub of Jurong Island as the prime minister travels to shore up Australia's fuel supplies.
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InspirationPeru Seven spectacular highlights of the worlds largest river Sue Williams April 11, 2026  12:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The almighty Amazon River flows from the heights of the snow-capped Andean Mountains and rushes through Peru, Brazil and Colombia before pouring into the Atlantic Ocean, 6400 kilometres away. The Peruvian section of the Amazon is easier to get to, with a huge diversity of wildlife and all sorts of boats to explore, from local ferries and cargo boats all the way up to the ultra-luxurious small ship, Aqua Nera. 1 Be amazed by the Amazon itself The stunning Amazon. iStock The worlds largest river by volume of water with about 20 per cent of the globes total freshwater  and not a single bridge. Its a stunning sight. Unlike Brazil and Ecuador, Peru is the source of the river, and it changes dramatically with the different seasons. In the dry, its between one and five kilometres wide, much narrower than in the other countries, but in the wet it can end up as broad as 50 kilometres in stretches. Cruising on the river, with those glorious sunrises and sunsets, gives the sensation of it being a living, powerful force, pulsating with wildlife and with Indigenous communities along its banks. 2 Wish on a pink dolphin

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Its a thrill to spot a pink dolphin. Getty Images Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Pink dolphins seem as mythical as unicorns, but they do exist, and nowhere else in the world in as great a number  estimated at several thousand  as in the Peruvian Amazon. Its such a thrill to suddenly spot one of the endangered mammals  which have, astonishingly, even bigger brains than humans  alone or in a small pod, and see the flash of a pink back or belly as they roll (they dont leap like marine dolphins). Lots of legends have grown up around them  that they can shape-shift into handsome men at night and impregnate young women wandering too close. But maybe the myths help protect them  3 Glide through a flooded forest Into the forest. iStock The Peruvian Amazon can rise 30 metres in the rainy season, and is also fed by melting Andean snow-caps. Its various water levels make it fascinating all year round. In the dry, visitors can go on long walks through the rainforest, marvelling at the cornucopia of creatures  furry, slimy or just plain scary  and in the wet, its almost ethereal, floating past thickets of treetops in an aquatic forest, until reaching not-so-dry land. Parts of Perus protected ecological wonderland, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, are dubbed the jungle of mirrors; surrounded as they are by water reflecting both greenery and sky, it can be difficult to judge where the earth begins.

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4 Join the big chill with a sloth Sloth in the Amazon, just hanging around. Alamy Amid all the wildlife on the river  including the fabulous macaws, hummingbirds, butterflies, caimans, piranhas, howler and spider monkeys, boas, anacondas and tarantulas  sloths are a favourite wonder. Just quietly hanging upside down from tree branches, theyre slow, gentle, ancient, and perfectly adapted to their environment, moving at minimal speed, a bit like koalas, to preserve energy. They can sleep 10 to 15 hours a day and only descend to the ground once a week. To scientists, they remain a marvellous mystery. 5 Visit an Indigenous village The riverside village of Belen. iStock

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There are more than 50 different Indigenous groups in the Peruvian Amazon, living in splendid isolation along the riverbanks, in homes often built largely from the mud, eating fish, using medicines made from rainforest plants, and with a culture centred on the water. The ship, Aqua Nera, stopped off in the tiny settlement of Lisboa with passengers greeted by local children, delighted with gifts of books, pens and paper  and mystified by toy koalas. It can be a rare privilege to experience such a richly traditional community. 6 Be intrigued by Iquitos No roads in  Iquitos, Peru. iStock Iquitos is the jumping-off point into the Amazon, and what a place! Its the largest city in the world to be inaccessible by road (only by boat or plane), and it has a fascinating history, with Jesuit missions in the 1700s, then rubber barons from the 1880s building some splendid landmarks. On the river are the stilted houses of Belen, where locals drop in on each other by canoe during the wet season. There is also a teeming market. 7 Be baffled by two rivers running side-by-side

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Its a natural phenomenon that beggars belief. Near Iquitos, at the confluence of the River Nanay and the Amazon, theres a clear line between them, with the former black and the other light brown. The separation comes from the amount of sediment in each, the pace of the flow and their different temperatures. Its similar to the division between the Rio Negro and the Amazon at Brazils Manaus, but more compact. Aqua Expeditions small luxury ship, Aqua Nera, has 20 cabins and 40 crew on four- and eight-day itineraries from $US5130 ($7435) a person, based on double occupancy. Early booking discounts available. LATAM flies from Sydney to Santiago, with connections to Lima and then Iquitos.

See aquaexpeditions.com; latamairlines.com; peru.travel The writer travelled as a guest of Aqua Expeditions. See aquaexpeditions.com
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WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Vance warns Iran not to play US as he departs for peace talks Alisa Odenheimer , Sherif Tarek and Eltaf Najafizada Updated April 11, 2026  1:07am ,first published 6:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Jerusalem/Cairo/London: US Vice President JD Vance has warned Tehran not to play the US as he departed for Islamabad for negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran. Were looking forward to the negotiations. I think its gonna be positive. Well, of course, see, Vance said as he boarded Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan. If theyre gonna try to play us, then theyre gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive. Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press before boarding Air Force Two on Friday. AP Vance said US President Donald Trump had given them some pretty clear guidelines for the talks. Trump has demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, raising pressure on Tehran before the talks to turn a fragile ceasefire into lasting peace.

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The truce remains shaky. Kuwait has reported large-scale drone attacks on vital facilities overnight into Friday and it has accused Iran and its proxy groups of violating the ceasefire announced by Washington and Tehran this week. The war has killed thousands of people and damaged energy infrastructure across the oil-rich Persian Gulf. US and Iranian delegations are set to meet in Pakistan on Saturday, when shipping through Hormuz  which handled about a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas before the war  will be a central sticking point. Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonourable, some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have! Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday (Washington time). Youll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran and, to me, it makes no difference, either way. The US president also warned Iran against charging fees on tankers going through Hormuz. Donald Trump has warned Iran against charging fees on tankers going through Hormuz. AP

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Traffic through the strategic waterway has come to a standstill since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28 and there has been little sign of a meaningful pick-up since the truce began. Lebanon, where Israel is fighting a parallel war against the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia, remains another flashpoint. Iran has said the US bears responsibility for halting the fighting there, while US officials say the country wasnt part of the ceasefire accord. Still, Trump said he was optimistic about a deal with Iran. The US president described Irans leaders as much more reasonable than their public comments would suggest, in a phone interview with NBC News. He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was going to low-key it with airstrikes on Lebanon, after the two leaders spoke by phone on Wednesday.

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Loading Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants, are a clear violation of the ceasefire that will render the planned peace talks meaningless. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator, initially said the truce included Lebanon, before US and Israeli officials stated the opposite. Related Article Middle East at war Lebanon is not Hezbollah: Alines message to the world as Netanyahu turns his fury on Beirut Netanyahus decision to open direct talks with Lebanon pushed down oil prices on Thursday, as the US agreed to host a meeting next week to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations involving Israel and Lebanon, according to a US State Department official.

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But the Israeli leader also reiterated his position that the ongoing attacks in Lebanon were not part of the US-Iran ceasefire deal. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut, as shipowners await clarification on its status. Traffic is still a tiny fraction of pre-war levels, despite state media reporting that Irans Ports and Maritime Organisation had published two safe routes for shipping. Irans new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father was killed in the early days of the war, said in a statement on Telegram that Iran will definitely bring the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new stage, though it was unclear whether he was referring to previous Iranian demands to retain control of the waterway that the US has rejected. Khamenei also reiterated that Iran wanted war reparations  a likely non-starter for US negotiators. A bulldozer clears rubble from a Beirut building destroyed in an Israeli strike. Getty Images

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The geopolitical developments sowed fresh doubts about the prospects for a long-term deal to end a war that has engulfed the Middle East. The US and Iran appeared to pause most strikes after fighting continued in the region on Wednesday. But on Thursday evening, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said fresh strikes had been carried out by Iran and its proxies. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the countrys armed forces had not launched drones or missiles at any country since the ceasefire began, according to Press TV. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war Have Trumps outlandish threats proved successful? Well find out in two weeks, or tomorrow Saudi Arabia, where a key oil pipeline was attacked a day earlier, has lost more than half a million barrels a day of oil output capacity because of Iranian strikes, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

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Strikes on a pumping station serving the vital East-West Pipeline this week crimped daily throughput by 700,000 barrels, the agency said. Oil prices jumped towards the end of Thursdays session on news of the drop in production capacity. Brent traded about 1 per cent higher at almost $US97 a barrel in early London trading on Friday. Asian stocks rose, extending their first weekly gain since the conflict began. Investors were cautiously hopeful before the weekend negotiations. Israels campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon risks undermining the negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US was responsible for fulfilling its commitments to stop the war in all areas, including Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the US is responsible for fulfilling its commitments to stop the war in all areas, including Lebanon. Getty Images

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Israels military on Thursday told residents in eight Beirut neighbourhoods to leave ahead of strikes, after a major operation that killed more than 300 people the previous day. With only sporadic attacks reported in Iran and across the Middle East, international attention shifted towards Lebanon, where Israel revived its campaign against Hezbollah after the militant group started firing rockets across the Israel-Lebanon border at the start of the war. The Lebanese group  founded in 1982 as a reaction to Israels occupation of the countrys south  was inspired by a revolution in Shiite-majority Iran three years earlier. It evolved into Irans most powerful proxy, helping it deter enemies and expand its influence across the Middle East. Editor's pick Royal family How a young Queen Elizabeth spoke to the world through her wardrobe Its Irans most important ally in a network of affiliated groups that includes Yemens Houthi rebels and Hamas in Gaza.

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Hezbollah and Israel previously engaged in a full-blown conflict for about two months in 2024 before a tentative ceasefire in November of that year. The Lebanese government has pledged to disarm the militant group, but it hasnt succeeded. Hezbollah has refused. The war in the Middle East has claimed more than 5500 lives, according to governments and non-governmental agencies. More than 3600 people have been killed in Iran, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates, while more than 1700 people have died in Lebanon, the government says. Israel said it has killed more than 1400 Hezbollah militants, including 200 on Wednesday. Israel has reported about three dozen deaths, and a similar number have been killed across Gulf Arab nations, government reports show. Thereve also been several dozen casualties in Iraq. Thirteen US troops have been killed, according to US Central Command. Bloomberg, 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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By Claudia Savage, Press Association

Fuel demonstrators at Galway Docks have said there will be no step down from any protests across the country.

Tractors line the bridge at the harbour, where cars and buses are being permitted entry and exit, but no fuel trucks have been allowed to pass since Tuesday.

The fuel depot in Galway City is one of three sites, alongside the countrys only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, and Foynes depot in Co Limerick, that are responsible for providing fuel to roughly half of Ireland, according to an industry expert.

Protesters take part in a blockade at Galway Docks in Co Galway (Claudia Savage/PA)

Some service stations have already run out of fuel as nationwide protests entered their fourth day, with concerns the number may rise if the sites are not open soon.

Despite rain and severe winds, protesters at the docks in Galway on Friday were in high spirits, and expressed their determination to keep pressure on the Government.

A metal unit set up near the site dispensed tea, coffee and cocktail sausages, while fires were lit in oil drums.

Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing at the site, said their aim is to get this diesel brought under control, because the way its going there now we wont be able to keep going.

Theres no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning, he said.

Worker Eoin Delaney (third from right) joins protesters taking part in a blockade at the docks in Galway Docks, Co Galway (Claudia Savage/PA)

Theres four lorries still sitting up there in the depot, and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.

And while were after hearing there now, just from Dublin there now as well. I dont think theres going to be any step down from any protests across the country.

Asked if he was planning to stay out on protest, Mr Delaney said: Yes, and thats what were hearing from everyone and from everyone else around the country as well.

He added: Everyone is probably exhausted, and no-one wants to be here more than the next man.

But you know, its just the reality of it.

Its the sad reality of it that were going to have to keep going and stay here.

Construction workers Paul Greaney (right) and Frank Burke at the fuel protest at Galway Harbour (Claudia Savage/PA)

Paul Greaney and Frank Burke, two construction workers, were also battling the heavy winds to show their support, saying that taxpayers are being crippled.

Mr Greaney said: Were just being gouged everywhere.

And its not just diesel. Its not just trucks and tractors.

Its in the hardware, its in the grocery shops, its everywhere.

Mr Burke said: New couples trying to rear families and whatnot, like its ridiculous.

Its awful unfair.

Both expressed support for a price cap on fuel while the war in the Middle East is impacting supplies.

An Garda Siochana has been monitoring the protest action across the country and officers were present at blockades, with three to four Garda cars stationed in Galway on Friday afternoon just beyond where the demonstrators were stationed.

Protesters take part in a blockade at Galway Docks (Claudia Savage/PA)

Representatives from the protesters directed traffic across the bridge into and out of the harbour.

The Defence Forces have said they are on standby to assist with the removal of heavy vehicles engaging in blockades of critical infrastructure.

Asked about the risk of having vehicles damaged if they are forced to be removed, Mr Greaney said: Thats the risk, if they want to try and pull us out, theyre going to have a job.

Its not going to happen.

Mr Burke said: A lot of the Guards would be country boys as well so they know well there.

Mr Greaney added: And at the end of the day, and I hope Micheal Martin sees this, were paying his wages and were paying all their wages.

We pay for the hospitals, we pay for the Guards, we pay for everything.

So just enough is enough.
Ellen O'Donoghue, Michael Bolton, Eva Osborne, and Sarah Slater

Protests against fuel prices entered their fourth day

Fuel supplies for ambulances are under increasing pressure

Details of public transport delays and cancellations can be found here

Checkpoint set up at protest camp outside Oil Refinery in Cork

The Defence Forces "remain on standby" to assist gardai in clearing heavy vehicles from blockades

Meetings between Ministers, protestors, and representatives from affected sectors have concluded for the day. They will reconvene on Saturday

9:45pm

The head of Fuels for Ireland said the situation regarding stocks at forecourts nationwide is "very, very grave".

Around 500 of the country's 1,600 filling stations are out of petrol and diesel.

Chief executive of the group Kevin Mc Partlan said different parts of the country are feeling the impact of shortages.

Speaking to Newstalk, he said: "Galway was most hit first, so there's a particular concentration around there.

"Cork city got really bad panic buying 48 hours ago. The contagion came to Dublin and the east coast yesterday.

"So, the panic buying is now driving this as much as the actual problem of distribution."

Meanwhile, Sean O'Neill, Director of Corporate Communications for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, is urging everyone to leave plenty of time if they are heading to Dublin Airport in the next while.

"There are alternative routes, but it'll be the local access roads," he said.

"If there's any positive it's the fact that the traffic levels are down today, so there should be availability on the local access roads to work around the M50 disruption. But please build in plenty of time."

9pm

A Government commitment for a substantial package of measures on fuel costs has not persuaded protesters blockading key parts of the country to desist, after a crunch meeting ended on Friday evening without measures finalised.

The talks between the Government and recognised national representative bodies are set to continue seeking a resolution on Saturday, but protesters who were locked out of Fridays engagement said absolutely nothing had changed for them.

Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the protest which has blocked Dublin citys main thoroughfare since Tuesday, said he was absolutely devastated that nobody from that action or similar blockades elsewhere in the country had been invited.

Mr Duffy said it was appalling there had been no resolution to the meeting as thousands of farmers, truckers and other business people were concerned about going out of business.

The official bodies represented at the meeting included the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).

Additional reporting PA.

7pm

Ministers Martin Heydon, Darragh OBrien, Sean Canney, Noel Grealish, Timmy Dooley and Michael Healy-Rae, have finished their meetings with national representative bodies from the agricultural contractors, farming, food, transport, and freight sectors.

Ministers said that a significant and enhanced support package, in addition to the 250 million already allocated, is being "finalised in detail to alleviate the burden on impacted sectors".

Ministers said they understood the "seriousness of the situation" and the pressures being experienced by farmers, contractors, and transport operators.

Ministers stressed that constructive engagement with stakeholders will continue over the weekend and will reconvene again on Saturday to finalise the details of the response.

They reaffirmed their intention to bring proposals to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

Earlier, the Tanaiste said the Government is showing good faith by signalling further supports for businesses, as he appealed to fuel protesters to step back from the brink.

Simon Harris told RTE News: The economic damage that this blockade is doing to the country is real.

Im hearing from small businesses across the country running low on supplies.

Im hearing from our health services about cancer treatments that cant go ahead, missed hospital appointments, home healthcare that cant get out.

We are at a very dangerous economic moment. Were showing good faith here, engaging intensively on a significant and substantial package.

He added: This country has adequate fuel supplies, but we cannot get those fuel supplies to key parts of our economy and society because of the illegal actions of some  the protest, the blockade, needs to end.

6.45pm

Protesters blocking access to fuel depots and an oil refinery are causing significant economic damage to Ireland, the Tanaiatse has said.

Asked why protest spokesmen were not allowed entry into a Friday meeting between Government and recognised industry bodies, Simon Harris said: The position of the Government has been crystal clear from day one.

We engage with the democratically-elected representative bodies, and many of them are in the room today, and also we cant have a situation where were engaging with people who are blockading key parts of our country.

Were trying to come up with economic solutions at the same time while blockades are causing significant economic damage to Ireland.

6.03pm

Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing at the Galway Docks, said their aim is to get this diesel brought under control, because the way its going there now we wont be able to keep going.

Theres no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning, he said.

Theres four lorries still sitting up there in the depot, and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.

And while were after hearing there now, just from Dublin there now as well. I dont think theres going to be any step down from any protests across the country.

5.43pm

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) met again to assess the current and potential impacts of blockades on the transport network, and the consequent effects on the provision of vital services.

Over 100 fuel stations are currently out of supply, with the number potentially rising to 500 today. The NECG heard that there are approximately 1,500 fuel stations nationwide.

Fuel supplies for emergency response vehicles, including those of the National Ambulance Service and fire services, are under increasing pressure as a result of the blockades.

The NECG heard that from today, fire services across Ireland have had to put in place contingencies to manage the restricted availability of fuel.

Fire services will cease non-essential activities, and responses to non-life-threatening call-outs will be restricted in order to preserve fuel.

The HSE is advising people who missed appointments due to the disruption to contact the relevant service that they had their appointment for, and they will be facilitated with getting another appointment quickly.

5.40pm

Northern Irelands political leaders have urged Keir Starmer to act decisively and without delay to help people suffering due to rising fuel costs in the region.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have written to the UK prime minister urging him to bring forward a package of support measures.

They have asked the Government to look at reducing fuel duty, targeted support for hauliers, farmers and small and medium enterprises, and a a comprehensive cost-of-living support package.

In a joint statement, ONeill and Little-Pengelly said they were deeply concerned about the escalating pressures facing families, workers and businesses as fuel and energy costs continue to rise.

5.10pm

The following Dublin Bus services have been cancelled.

142 - 16:35, 16:50, 17:05 and 17:35

P29 - 17:00,17:20 and 17:40

51D - 17:15

69X - 17:45

X1 - 16:50, 17:30, 17:50 and 18:30

X2 - 15:30, 16:15 and 17:10

41X - 17:00, 17:15 and 17:30

X27 - 16:12, 17:11, 17:30, 17:50

33X - 16:15, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00

33D - 17:45

X31 - 16:30, 17:00, 17:30

X25 - 16: 14,16:39, 16:50, 17:07, 17:15 and 17:22

X32 - 16:45, 17:15

X28 - 16:50, 17:30

X30 - 16:50, 17:25

39X - 16:55, 17:25

4.43pm

A Fine Gael TD has said he believed, as a result of conversations he had with senior people within the government, that protesters would be facilitated at a meeting with ministers on Friday afternoon.

Speaking on RTE's Drivetime, Peter Roche said he travelled to the Department of Agriculture in Dublin, where the meeting is being held, with some of the protest spokespeople.

He said there was a general consensus that one, if not two, of them would be allowed to attend the meeting as part of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) delegation.

However, he said the names of the people who ultimately were decided upon were not on the list and access was prohibited.

Roche said his attempts to contact senior ministers fell on deaf ears in the last half-hour before the meeting.

He said he spoke to a minister who was at the meeting who said it would be against all the rules and guidelines of the Dail and the department for the protesters to join the meeting.

He said this was a great source of disappointment to him.

4.00pm

Fuel protesters at Galway Docks have said there will be no step down from any protests.

Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing out at the site, said: Theres no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning.

Theres four lorries still sitting up there in the depot and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.

And while were after hearing there now, just from Dublin there as well, I dont think theres going to be any step down from any protests across the country.

Asked if he was planning to stay out on protest, he said: Yes, and thats what were hearing from everyone and from everyone else around the country as well.

Asked about the risk of having vehicles damaged if they are forced to be removed, Paul Greaney, a builder from Athenry, said: Thats the risk, if they want to try and pull us out, theyre going to have a job. Its not going to happen.

3.29pm

Protestors at Whitegate in Cork have stopped a fuel tanker from entering the refinery.

Over 100 demonstrators are blocking the street in Whitegate, after two full tankers left the refinery under Garda escort around an hour ago.

Gardai are stopping the protestors from surrounding the truck.

3.20pm

Access has been restricted to Irelands oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in areas such as Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick.

It has raised concerns over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.

Government leaders have condemned the protests as wrong, and said the fuel blockades were holding the country to ransom.

The Defence Forces remain on standby to help gardai remove blockades at critical infrastructure, which includes fuel depots.

Gardai have confirmed they are at the scene of an incident in Whitegate, Co Cork on Friday morning.

A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port said they would allow feed and five loads of fuel to be transported to frontline workers and hospitals, after allowing chemicals needed by Uisce Eireann through their blockade on Thursday.

3:00pm

Protestors have been turned away from a meeting between the Government and agriculture bodies  saying they were told their names would be on the list.

The Government had indicated they would be allowed join talks if they were part of the national groups delegation.

Five people, who have been a part of the protest, attempted to get in the door of the Department but were turned away.

After discussions outside, protestors Donal Byrne and John Dallon said the blockades and slow moving convoys will continue because their voice isnt being heard at the table.

Protests will continue until demonstrators get a result, Dallon said.

2.48pm

The protesters have a number of mixed messages, the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association has said.

Heading into a meeting with the Government at the Department of Agriculture on Friday afternoon, Ger Hyland was asked what messages the protesters had requested he deliver.

He said: Theres a number of mixed messages. They have their asks going into the meeting and itll be discussed inside in the meeting. Im not going to pre-empt anything.

He added: I hope by this evening, we might have some sort of a resolution, or an end, or something that maybe can take these people off the streets and the roads.

He said he felt apprehensive, adding there is a lot riding on this meeting.

The stakes are massive for both the country, ourselves, for the people thats on the protest, he added.

2.38pm

Gardai say they have now secured the entrance to the Irvine Oil refinery in Whitegate in Cork.

Oil trucks have been seen entering the facility as torrential rain is falling on over one hundred protestors.

A convoy of at least 22 Garda vehicles from across Cork have arrived to support the operation.

Gardai have been seen blocking protestors' vehicles with metal fences.

2.25pm

Luas Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. This is due to on going travel restrictions around O'Connell Bridge.

Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only.

All Red Line services are operating normally.

There are several routes closed on the M50.

There is a Full Road Closure in place. Location : M8 J10 - CAHIR (NORTH) - Direction Southbound, Slip N24 to M8. Expect delays! #TIITraffic@GardaTraffic @LiveDrive pic.twitter.com/IIjnHolLVf  TII Traffic (@TIITraffic) April 10, 2026

The M8 between J11 and J10 northbound is closed, and Southbound, Slip N24 to M8.

2.20pm

Minister of State Timmy Dooley said it was up to representative groups to decide who attends a meeting with Government ministers on Friday.

He said: We have made it very clear that the representative groups we have been working with will pick their delegations.

It is not for us to dictate.

Representative bodies are bringing, I understand, two representatives, we are not involved in deciding on their behalf.

The minister also said he welcomed co-operation from protesters to garda at the Whitegate refinery in Co Cork.

He added: We all accept the right in any democracy to peaceful protest.

There is a big difference between a protest and a blockade.

It is very clear to me a blockade cannot be tolerated for any length of time.

We are seeing forecourts without fuel. We are being told ambulances and emergency vehicles will not have access to fuel in a short period of time.

1.55pm

Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the largest representative body for the retail industry in Ireland, has today warned that retail trade has fallen by up to 50 per cent in some areas as fuel blockades continue to cause severe disruption across the country.

Footfall in urban centres including Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick has fallen by approximately 50%, with retail trade down between 30 per cent and 50 per cent, the sharpest single-day decline many retailers have experienced. Consumers are limiting journeys to essential trips only, and discretionary in-store spending has, in the words of one member, fallen off a cliff.

We are hearing from members and from their delivery partners that they are now looking at logistical rerouting, prioritising goods deemed essential, and rationing fuel across their fleets. This is where we have arrived, not as a result of fuel price increases, but as a direct result of the disruption being caused to logistics across the country and to fuel supply.

1.44pm

Ireland is on the precipice of turning oil away from the country, Micheal Martin has said.

Speaking on RTE radio on Friday afternoon, the Taoiseach said the blockading of ports and a refinery by fuel protesters was unconscionable.

He said somebody else could buy oil that is on a tanker off the coast of Galway if it can not dock.

Asked if Ireland is at risk of losing all its oil supply, Martin replied correct.

It is unconscionable, its illogical, he said

1.17pm

Courier company DPD has suspended deliveries in Ireland on Saturday due to the fuel protests.

In a statement on their website, the firm said: Due to ongoing fuel protests and the operational challenges they are causing, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our services in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, 11th April.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

1.05pm

Kevin McPartlan, CEO for Fuels for Ireland, has warned it would take up to one week to restore normal fuel supplies at forecourts.

"Even if these protests ended today and everything was fully unblocked, the consequences would not end today. It would still take up to a week before forecourts were operating close to normal again, and in some cases recovery could take longer.

"Once a disruption of this scale takes hold, there is no instant reset. Stocks have to be rebuilt, deliveries rescheduled and normal distribution patterns restored across the network.

"If current conditions continue, there could be up to 500 forecourts out of fuel by tonight.

"This is now a national fuel distribution issue. It is no longer confined to one area. The longer this continues, the greater the risk to motorists, businesses and essential services right across the country.

"Fuels for Ireland wants to make clear this is not an actual shortage of fuel in the Irish market. The immediate problem is a serious supply disruption. Fuel is there, but it is not moving normally through the system because key infrastructure and distribution routes have been blocked.

"That means we are now close to widespread no-fuel conditions at forecourts, not because the country has run out of fuel, but because the supply chain is being prevented from operating as it should."

12.40pm

A Government trade mission to Canada scheduled for next week has been cancelled due to the ongoing fuel protests.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and four other Cabinet Ministers were due to make the trip to build trading relations in the country.

Given the ongoing uncertainty about the state of protests and fuel supply, the mission has been postponed.

12.35pm

The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) has confirmed it will attend this afternoons meeting at Government Buildings in relation to the concerns around fuel prices.

David Conway, chairman of the organisation, said bus and coach operators are facing mounting cost pressures, compounded by service disruptions and rising fuel costs.

The CTTC reiterates that it is not involved in the fuel protest and hopes to see it concluded swiftly to alleviate these pressures and to keep Ireland moving, Conway said.

He welcomed the opportunity to engage with Government ministers on Friday and next week.

During these meetings, the CTTC will bring forward practical solutions to support commercial bus and coach operators during this period of sustained cost pressure, he said.

12:00pm

The Transport Minister says he isn't going to dictate who can attend a key meeting of stakeholders to discuss the fuel protests.

Darragh O'Brien says a new package of measures to ease the burden on hauliers, farmers and transport operators is being worked on.

Some protesters say they have been invited to that meeting, though that has been denied by the Department of Agriculture, which is hosting the gathering at 2pm.

O'Brien says he isn't going to get into hypotheticals when asked what would happen if protesters turn up anyway.

"I am not going to dictate who is part of each ot those delegations. What I am going to say, for us to move this on and end this situation, the blockade needs to end now.

"What has been said by some of the spokespeople for some of the protesters they said if a discussion were to happen, the blockades would end.

This is extremely serious. This can stop now, today, and it should, and let us to continue negotiations in good faith.

We recognise the fact that the impact of the price hikes that we have seen due to a global situation.

11:55pm

Cancer patients at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin have experienced extreme delays getting to appointments amid national fuel protests.

Some cancellations have also been reported.

Oncologist John Crown said very sick people are upset, frustrated and confused by the situation.

Dr Crown told Newstalk: "A lot of patients are wondering 'what did I do to deserve this? Why should my treatment be cancelled? Why should I be waiting an extra three hours in an already stressful situation of dealing with cancer?'

"I kind of am a bit sympathetic to that point of view."

11:15pm

Gardai have set up a checkpoint at the protest camp outside the Irving Oil Refinery in County Cork.

It follows around 40 minutes of discussions between protesters and gardai earlier this morning.

Several Garda cars and public order unit vans have arrived at the scene in the past twenty minutes.

It appears a large number of gardai are now on the scene here and have set up a checkpoint.

Its not yet clear what, if any, action the gardai intend to take.

10.32am

The government is due to announce a package of measures on Friday to reduce inflation, a minister has said.

Enterprise minister Peter Burke was speaking on RTE radio's Today With David McCullagh on Friday morning.

He said there would be a response from the government to rising prices since the outset of the war in Iran.

Burke said: Hopefully today we will have news on that.

I do believe we will have news on that, in terms of an intervention that will reduce inflation, that will try and reduce the price of groceries on the shelves for our consumers, for vulnerable people buying them.

Burke also said the Tanaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is working with EU colleagues for flexibility on excise duty rules.

He said European directives limit how much excise duty can be reduced and Ireland would need permission to go below those thresholds.

He also said there may be state aid implications for other measures the government is looking at to help the haulage and agriculture sectors and said the Tanaiste is working, navigating through those barriers, trying to ensure that we do get a package.

10.24am

Nursing Homes Ireland has been invited by Minister of State for Older People and Housing Kieran O'Donnell to a meeting to discuss ongoing issues facing nursing home staff caused by fuel shortages reported around the country.

"NHI appreciates the Ministers invitation and will continue to engage cooperatively with the Government, and all relevant Stakeholders, to ensure there is no disruption to the continuum of care provided to nursing home residents nationwide," a Nursing Homes Ireland statement said.

The organisation called on the government to implement "more immediate measures to support all essential workers' access to fuel, espcially areas of the country where public transport is limited and fuel shortages are most acute.

"As the current energy and fuel crisis continues, it is vital to ensure the inclusion of all nursing homes (public, private, and voluntary) in the development of the emergency plans and additional energy supports currently being developed by Government and the Office of Emergency Planning," it said.

10.11am

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan has welcomed findings of a report published by the CCPC on Friday which found no breach of competition or consumer protection law on how fuel prices have been set in Ireland.

The CCPC examined fuel prices in light of "recent geopolitical developments," namely the war in Iran and the wider Middle East.

The report directly addresses concerns around price gouging or anti-competitive behaviour, McPartlan said.

"The report also confirms that the recent increases in fuel prices were driven by significant rises in international wholesale costs, rather than decisions taken by companies operating in Ireland.

Alan Healy: Even if the fuel price protesters go home, the problem won't Read more Economy

"In fact, the report makes clear that prices at Irish forecourts rose by less than the increases observed on global markets," he added.

"Ireland is part of a global fuels market - we are a price taker, not a price setter.

"We recognise the very real pressure this has placed on households and businesses. As acknowledged by the CCPC, there is a level of distress and concern among consumers, and we absolutely recognise that.

"The cause of high prices is global market conditions, which are outside of the control of Irish fuel retailers.

10.04am

Fuel protesters have added to their demands to lift disruptive demonstrations across the country amid confusion over a crucial government meeting.

A spokesman for the demonstrators said that protests would continue, but they are letting more fuel out on Friday, as some forecourts risked running dry after days-long blockades of major supply depots.

The protesters want the Government to commit to further action to combat rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran.

Government leaders have condemned the protests as wrong and not in our national interest, and said the fuel blockades were holding the country to ransom.

Government ministers have said they cannot engage with disparate groups carrying out protests, and encouraged them to engage with existing representative groups.

A meeting between several ministers and 10 farming, haulier and business groups is to take place on Friday afternoon.

Although it is understood there are no fuel protesters on the list of attendees, protesters have suggested they were invited to the breakthrough meeting.

Fuel protest spokesman James Geoghegan said Fianna Fail TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend on Friday, and that he, another fuel protester spokesman, John Dallon, and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.

Connelly rang into Newstalk while on a train to say he had not invited him to the meeting, and that he had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is among the groups meeting with government on Friday.

Geoghegan said that even if a meeting is held, the protest would continue on Friday despite their pledge to call off demonstrations if the government agreed to meet them.

The protesters had also added to their list of demands: along with the removal of the carbon tax from green diesel and the price of fuel to be capped, they want oil exploration off the west coast of Ireland to begin, and the Dail to be recalled on Friday.

He said: We will be looking for the Dail to be recalled this evening or tonight. It has to be rubber stamped.

9.40am

A number of new protests are after kicking off on a number of mainline motorways through Co Kildare, according to Sarah Slater.

The M4 new protest has left Kilcock heading for Dublin, approaching Intel Junction.

The M7 new protest has left Junction 9a Millennium Naas heading for Dublin, a queue rapidly building with this one approaching Johnstown Junction 8.

The M9 new protest is at a crawl northbound after Castledermot, approaching Athy Junction, while the N81 is also suffering tailbacks after Blessington heading for Tallaght.

9.22am

Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council for Roads Gabriel Hynes confirmed that the council is already feeling the effects of the fuel crisis, Sarah Slater reports.

He said the local authority currently has between a week and ten days of fuel supply available, with demand at its highest due to peak roadworks season.

In relation to fuel we roughly have a week, maybe 10 days supply, he said. Were at the peak of our roadworks programme, so demand at this time of the year is at its peak as well.

Hynes also revealed that fuel prices have increased by around 30 per cent since January, significantly affecting operational costs.

We have 250 vehicles approximately operating, so we have a significant fuel demand, he said.

9am

A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port in Co Limerick has said they would open the port today for feed and for five loads of fuel for frontline workers and hospitals.

Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, Neilus OConnor said protesters had let chemicals needed by Uisce Eireann through their blockade on Thursday.

Asked if the protest would end if they had a meeting with Government, he said: We will wait until we see the results of that meeting, and then well decide where we go from there.

8.44am

Representatives of fuel protesters said they will join a meeting of farmers groups with government on Friday afternoon.

Despite the protesters saying the demonstrations would be lifted once government met with them, spokesman James Geoghegan said they would continue.

Geoghegan said they want the carbon tax on green diesel to be removed and the price of fuel to be capped.

He said Fianna Fail TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend Leinster House on Friday, and that he, spokesman John Dallon and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.

Connelly said he had not invited him to the meeting and that he instead had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is attending the meeting with government on Friday.

Its not over yet for the simple reason we dont trust the government at this stage, Geoghegan said.

We had several meetings yesterday, we had several meetings during the night, we had several meetings this morning  I got, I think, two hours sleep last night  and the word coming back from the ground is after the way Micheal Martin disrespected everyone, he is not to be trusted ever again.

We have actually reduced the protest, we are allowing out more fuel today, we have lifted some of the blockades off the ports.

8.22am

Gardai have said that critical deliveries left Rosslare Europort overnight after positive and constructive engagement with local protestors during the fuel demonstrations.

An Garda Siochana posted on social media showing a number of trucks and lorries being escorted from the port by a Garda car.

(1/2) An Garda Siochana has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety. pic.twitter.com/Dn32JrJhzz  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) April 10, 2026

The force wrote: An Garda Siochana has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.

8.18am

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has offered to act as an honest broker between fuel protesters and the Government, its president has said.

Ger Hyland was speaking on RTE radio's Morning Ireland on Friday morning as widespread disruption caused by the demonstrations continued into a fourth day.

On Thursday night, a spokesperson for the Dublin city blockade appeared on RTEs Prime Time and claimed protest participants would be attending a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for official national representative bodies.

Later a Government spokesman said it had agreed to meet official representatives, adding, Who these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.

On Friday morning, Hyland said the Government had extended two places at that table to our association.

He said he had put forward two people from the IRHA but it is up to the Government who goes to a Government meeting, I cant decide who I bring in, who I want.

Hyland said he had contact with the protesters through intermediaries and is available to meet demonstrators before the meeting, and if the protesters are happy he would bring their concerns with us into Government.

8.11am

Over 100 filling stations have now run out of fuel, and that number could multiply rapidly today if blockades continue.

The head of Fuels for Ireland has said it is a significant number, and it could reach up to 500 if there is no improvement by the end of the day.

It comes as blockades at the countrys main depots and only oil refinery in Co Cork continues on Friday morning.

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan told Newstalk that panic buying is making things worse, and is encouraging people to "keep their heads.

"I know that last night we were around about the 100 forecourts figure, which bare in mind that we have 1,600 forecourts in the country, its a fairly significant number, and also its quite regional, so there are kind of black spots in parts of Munster and in the west, where its particularly difficult just because thats where the fuel depots that have been blockaded are based," McPartlan said.

8.05am

Fuel protests are causing disruption for motorists on a number of national roads on Friday morning.

The M7 remains closed at Portlaoise in both directions, while the M8 northbound from Cashel to Cahir is also blocked by protests.

In Limerick, the M7 is blocked at Annacotty in both directions, and the traffic delays are backing up to the Limerick tunnel, while the M18 in Co Clare is blocked at Dromoland.

Sections of the M9 northbound also remain blocked.

8am

Dublin Airport have issued a passenger advisory for those travelling to and from the airport on Friday due to the protests.

Passengers have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys due to the protests causing traffic disruption on roads approaching the airport, and have been asked to use live traffic apps to identify the quickest and best routes.

 Passenger Advisory: 8am Passengers travelling to/from Dublin Airport this morning are advised to allow extra time for their journey due to protest activity causing traffic disruption on some roads approaching the airport, including the M50. Passengers should use live traffic  Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 10, 2026

It comes after people were photographed with luggage walking alongside heavy traffic on the M50 on Thursday as they tried to make it to the airport.

People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublin's M50 Northbound, due to vehicles taking part on the third day of a National Fuel Protest against rising fuel prices. Photo: PA

7.53am

There are two full road closures along the M50.

The road is closed northbound at Blanchardstown after Junction 6, as is the Southbound route between Junction 3 at the M1/M50 Interchange and Junction 4 Ballymun.

For more information on road closures, visit here.

7.41am

Dubin Bus has warned on Friday morning that due to the ongoing fuel price protests, it is experiencing ongoing severe service disruptions and delays resulting in a number of services being cancelled or diverted.

A full list is available on the Dublin Bus website.

#DBSvcUpdate Road closures remain in place this morning as a result of a protest. We are experiencing service disruptions across the Dublin Bus network, please allow additional travel time. More details here:https://t.co/DjkxMSErwr  dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) April 10, 2026

Meanwhile, Dublin's north and south quays are open for traffic as normal, but O'Connell Street bridge remains closed to traffic.

The Luas Green Line is still not operating between St Stephen's Green and Dominick.

Services are only operating between Broombridge and Dominick, and between St Stephen's Green and Brides Glen, due to the protest.

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 9, 2026

7.35am

Protesters close to Rosslare Europort were served with a Section 8 of the Public Order Act by gardai on Thursday night.

Gardai in the village of Kilrane over a loudspeaker issued a warning to protestors that they had to leave the area and failure to do so in a peaceful and orderly manner would lead them to possibly being arrested and conviction liable to a 1,000 fine or a six-month prison sentence.

The garda added: I would just urge you all to please peacefully remove yourselves from the area," Sarah Slater reports.

Many of the protesters retorted by saying: The people of Ireland say no.

The incident was recorded by scores of those gathered.

Local Aountu councillor Jim Codd said there were extraordinary scenes in Rosslare. The Government has it in their power to stop this now, Codd said.

Meanwhile, in Co Kilkenny numerous filling stations have reported that they have no fuel left following a surge in motorists panic buying.

Service station locations include Thomastown, Goresbridge, Slieverue and Kilkenny city.

6.50am

Fuel supplies at more forecourts are under threat of running dry as a days-long blockade of major supply depots continues.

They want the Government to commit to further action on fuel costs.

A spokesman for the protesters said some participants may attend a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for national representative bodies, with a coalition spokesman saying who the official groups bring is a matter for them.

Their widespread action enters a fourth day on Friday with demonstrators facing a reaction from An Garda Siochana, which said it was entering an enforcement phase of its response  accompanied by support from the military.

Social media footage late on Thursday showed gardai warning protesters they could be arrested if they did not peacefully disperse from an area near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

Calling in the Defence Forces against fuel protesters is a huge strategic error Read more Opinion

The Governments intolerance of the action escalated on Thursday, with Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan and Defence Minister Helen McEntee stating that the Defence Forces remain on standby to assist gardai in clearing heavy vehicles from the blockades.

Protesters have restricted access to a major oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick.

It has raised concern over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.

A leading industry representative warned that the number of forecourts running dry would get much, much worse from Thursday evenings position of affected service stations being in the low double digits.

Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said panic buying has absolutely taken hold and warned that real significant life-death problems are going to be caused with fuel supplies to emergency service vehicles under threat.

Irelands emergency planning group echoed the comments with serious concern, saying there may be an impact on availability for some vital services, supply chains and public transport.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) said Irelands overall fuel supplies remain robust and resilient but said the obstruction of key routes from ports is threatening the provision of animal feed supplies, fertiliser and other vital materials, resulting in potential animal welfare issues and a threat to livelihoods in the agriculture sector.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said the disruption is causing people to miss medical appointments and is impacting the provision of home care and critical care, such as dialysis and cancer treatment.

The HSE also warned that the blockades could disrupt the time-sensitive delivery of key medicines and medical devices.

6.35am

Fuel price protesters have secured a meeting with Government Ministers, according to an organiser of the demonstrations, who pledged to continue disruptions for a fourth day on Friday.

One of the organisers, James Geoghegan, claimed negotiators will join a meeting at Government Buildings on Friday afternoon, alongside the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association.

It comes after forecourts across the country ran low on fuel as protests and blockades continued to cause widespread traffic disruption on Thursday.

Speaking on RTEs Prime Time on Thursday night, Geoghegan described the meeting as a breakthrough.

He said the protest had been pulled in off OConnell Bridge and word had gone down to release kerosene from fuel depots.

But he said there would continue to be disruption.

We have a list of demands going into Government tomorrow.

A Government spokesman said late on Thursday that it had agreed to meet official representative bodies.

However, the spokesman said: Who these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.

The spokesman said Government had already introduced the most substantive measures anywhere in the EU on a per capita basis, but added: We have been clear that these measures were introduced with flexibility to adapt our response, if required.

That work remains ongoing and will continue tomorrow as we engage with the national representative organisations.

Government respects the rights of groups to take part in a peaceful protest but cannot stand by when blockades are (taking) place at our countrys refineries and fuel depots.

It is not helpful to working people, their families and is harmful to our economy.

Additional reporting: PA
PETROL stations across Carlow have run out of diesel and petrol as those protesting at increased fuel prices have blocked major oil terminals, preventing trucks from leaving terminals to deliver petrol and diesel. Staff at petrol stations are unsure when deliveries will be able to get to them as the protest entered its fourth day.

EMO XL petrol station in Pollerton is out of diesel and is expected to run out of petrol later this (Friday) afternoon.

Mohammed Hassan, the supervisor of EMO XL petrol station in Pollerton told The Nationalist that: We put in an order two days ago and theres been no response. Obviously, you know, the blockages and everything. We will probably get it on Monday if everything goes on time. Last night (Thursday), petrol stations across Carlow saw long queues as people attempted to fill their cars up before fuel ran out.

Mohammed said that yesterday evening the queue for petrol from EMO XL petrol stations stretched to a butchers in Graigue.

Like EMO XL, Centra petrol station in Ballon ran out of diesel yesterday and had placed an order for more but has no idea when to expect delivery.

Drive petrol station in Leighlinbridge ran out of petrol and diesel yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

We were meant to have petrol and diesel delivered this morning, but it didnt come with all of the protesting going on, a worker at Drive petrol station in Leighlinbridge said.

OTooles petrol station in Tullow also ran out of diesel yesterday and have a bit of petrol left. A worker told The Nationalist that their station has been incredibly busy and that they have no idea when they might get a delivery of fuel.

Were not really sure what the story is. We just have to wait and see how it goes, a cashier at OTooles said.

The only petrol station that The Nationalist spoke to who did not expect to run out of petrol and diesel any time soon was Inver in Bagenalstown. A worker said that there were long queues as people panic bought fuel last (Thursday) night; today (Friday) the station is busy, but does not have long queues.

Local opinion about the fuel protests is mixed.

Micheal Purcell, the Carlow county chair of the Irish Farmers Association told The Nationalist that while he has immense sympathy for the hardships they are facing, he would tell those protesting to go home.

Its causing a lot of inconvenience and a lot of stress with everyone because its hard to deal with the way things are going. You have the hospitals, you have healthcare workers being affected by it now. Micheal hopes that commonsense will prevail after representatives from different interest groups, including the IFA, met with the taoiseach and the minister for agriculture this (Friday) afternoon.

The Lemon Grass Cafe in Rathvilly shared on their social media that they had gifted protesters sandwiches, drinks and biscuits.

A spokesperson for the cafe said that they decided to support the protesters as they are showing up for the country. Theyre up there doing it and losing out on their livelihood for the week or two days or whatever. We just thought we would support them. Simple as that. Andy Cowman, the owner South-East Freight, also supports the protesters. The protesters are 100% right in what theyre doing because the government wont listen. Andy said. Everyone is at breaking point, its going to put companies out of business. Our diesel bill has gone up 40% in the last couple of months.

Our local politicians, theyre all great people when theyre looking for votes, but theres none of them to be seen now. Andy estimates that 80% of the people who work in his industry are out protesting. While he supports the protesters, their actions are having a big impact on his business.

Were near enough out of fuel at the moment. Weve enough for probably two more days, Andy concluded.
NOVONIX Limited, Chattanooga-based leading battery materials company, on Friday announced that the U.S. Government has certified its Riverside project in connection with the $103 million in tax credits previously allocated under the U.S. Governments Section 48C Advanced Energy Project Credit Program.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said, This certification from the Trump administration is the latest vote of confidence in a mission that has always been bigger than politics. I'm proud that building America's critical mineral supply chain begins right here at home, in Chattanooga, Tennessee."

The decision "reflects the U.S. governments confidence in NOVONIX, affirming the Company's role as an essential partner in establishing a domestic synthetic graphite supply chain that underpins America's long-term energy and economic security," it was stated.

This is another significant milestone for NOVONIX and show of support from the U.S. Government, as we continue to scale our U.S. manufacturing footprint, said Mike OKronley, CEO of NOVONIX. We are focused on delivering a reliable, domestic supply of high-performance synthetic graphite to support the growing demand for battery materials in North America.



NOVONIX will receive the $103 million of tax credits when it places its first 11,000 tpa of production in service, provided that occurs before April 7, 2028. These tax credits can be sold to a third party.

The company will continue to advance engineering, materials development, and financing activities for the project and will provide updates as key milestones are achieved, officials said.
The Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road, invites the community to participate in the interactive Yom HaShoah Experience commemorating the Holocaust next Thursday from 5:30-7 p.m.Individual remembrance candle lighting, viewing of John Pregulmans Holocaust Survivor Legacy Photography Project from KAVOD, and an interactive childrens center for those fifth grade and older are all part of the event.A museum-style video room will highlight survivor stories from the Tennessee Holocaust Commission.At 7 p.m., local rabbis will conclude the event with the Shoah Kaddish and brief remarks from the rabbis.There is no cost to attend this event, however registration is requested at jewishchattanooga.org or federation@jewishchattanooga.org.When hate starts with words and moves into action, horrific violence occurs. The Yom HaShoah Experience is designed to remind us of the consequences of hate while providing a hopeful education experience, said Michael Dzik, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation.This event is made possible in part by KAVOD and the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, in addition to donors to the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga."KAVOD was created in November 2015 in Memphis to help Holocaust survivors in the United States live the remainder of their lives comfortably and with dignity. KAVOD partners with Jewish Family Service and other Human Services organizations across the United States that work with survivors. The mission of the Tennessee Holocaust Commission is to educate Tennesseans about the history of the Holocaust, seeking to remind citizens that prejudice, hatred and violence, as manifested in the Holocaust and other genocides, leads to the destruction of a humane society," officials said.For more information call 423-493-0270.
At the request of 10th Judicial District Attorney General Stephen Hatchett, TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Cleveland.

Preliminary information indicates that around 12:00 a.m. officers with the Cleveland Police Department responded to a call regarding a subject with a gun in the 3900 block of Adkisson Drive NW in Cleveland. When officers arrived, they located Danny Davis, 52. For reasons still under investigation, the situation escalated. Davis brandished a weapon and then pointed it at an officer. Two officers responded by firing their weapons, striking Davis. Davis was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. None of the officers involved were hurt.

TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBIs involvement.

The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
photo by CFD photo by CFD photo by CFD Previous Next

Chattanooga firefighters made an aggressive, methodical attack on an East Brainerd house fire Thursday afternoon.

Red Shift companies responded to the 900 block of Lindsay Avenue, near Graysville Road, at 2:44 p.m. on a reported residential fire. Prior to the CFDs arrival, a Good Samaritan who was passing by spotted smoke coming from the home. He stopped and assisted a disabled resident out of the burning structure, then called 911.

Once on the scene, CFD units found fire coming out of the garage. Firefighters launched an interior attack and rotated in and out as they made progress on combatting flames, which spread to the attic.

By 3:18 p.m., the fire was out. The American Red Cross will be assisting two displaced residents. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Squad 13, Squad 7, Squad 1, Engine 21, Ladder 21, Engine 21, Engine 6, Ladder 6, Battalion 2 and Battalion 3 responded.

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A Chattanooga Police Department chaplain has been charged with threatening his estranged wife with a knife.

Gregory Scott Collins, 60, was arrested for aggravated assault.

He has been placed on suspension.

His wife said they have been experiencing marital problems and are in the process of a divorce.

She said her husband has become increasingly confrontational and made threats toward her.

She said he accused her of being involved with another man while they were still married and of taking their daughter to this individual's house. She said the accusations are not true and that she has only talked with the individual, who is an employee, about business-related matters.

The wife said she has multiple videos of Collins threatening her and calling her derogatory names.

An investigator viewed a seven-minute video in which Collins was holding a knife and manipulating it during most of the video. Toward the end of the video, he referenced applying to the East Ridge Police Department, pointed the knife at her, and said, "You cannot say anything to anybody, understand?"

The woman said she would have filed the police complaint earlier, but was in fear for her life and had to get to a safe place to do so.
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Delegates gather at the Global Methodist Church General Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, September 2024. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Global Methodist Church

The Global Methodist Church has moved to challenge a Nigerian court decision in an ongoing legal dispute with the United Methodist Church over registration status and control of church resources.

At a press conference held Tuesday at McBride Global Methodist Church, Bishop John Pena Auta announced that the denomination had filed an appeal with Nigerias Court of Appeal in Abuja and requested an injunction to halt enforcement of the lower courts ruling.

Auta said, We read the judgment of the Court and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the rule of law and due process, adding, As a law-abiding body, we respect the judicial process and remain confident in the justice system.

He also stated that the GMC remains fully within its legal rights to continue its activities and use of its properties, urging members to remain calm, prayerful, and steadfast during this period.

Calling for restraint, he added, We strongly advise all members and supporters to remain law-abiding and refrain from any form of confrontation or actions that may disrupt public peace or bring the name of the Church into disrepute.

He continued, The leadership is committed to pursuing all lawful means to seek redress and justice. We urge everyone to stay peaceful, focused, and trusting in God as we navigate this process.

The legal dispute follows a ruling issued last month by High Court Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission to reverse a decision that had renamed the United Methodist Church in Nigeria as the Global Methodist Church in Nigeria.

In the same ruling, Egwuatu directed Zenith Bank to restore control of denominational accounts to the UMC and emphasized that church members must adhere to established denominational rules on affiliation, which the court does not have authority to override.

For years, the United Methodist Church has faced internal conflict over issues such as same-sex marriage and the ordination of noncelibate homosexual clergy, disputes that ultimately led to significant division within the denomination.

While attempts to revise the churchs governing rules had repeatedly failed, disagreements over enforcement contributed to the departure of thousands of predominantly conservative congregations by 2023.

At the 2024 General Conference, delegates voted to remove the contested language, a decision that prompted many African churches and leaders within the UMC to reconsider their affiliation.

In Nigeria, not only are same-sex marriage and homosexuality illegal, but the national government also prohibits citizens from being active in LGBT advocacy organizations.

In July 2024, Bishop John Wesley Yohanna claimed that a specially convened session had approved a move to leave the UMC and align with the GMC. However, other Nigerian UMC leaders disputed that assertion, maintaining that only a minority faction had supported the departure.

Tensions over control of church property and identity have also contributed to periodic violence in the region, including clashes at Banyam Theological Seminary in February of last year.
Gas & Glory charity event hosted by Overcoming Believers Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. | Photo credit: Facebook/ Overcoming Believers Church

As fuel costs continue to rise globally, a church in Tennessee recently stepped in to help by providing free gasoline to hundreds of local drivers.

Overcoming Believers Church in Knoxville, which has about 1,500 members, hosted its Gas & Glory outreach event on Saturday at a nearby Thumbs Up Exxon station.

During the event, volunteers assisted approximately 400 vehicles, each receiving $20 worth of gas at no cost. In addition to fuel, participants were given free T-shirts, children received candy, and drivers were invited to attend Easter Sunday worship services.

Karen Swint, a spokesperson for the church, 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.

She added that this years outreach was the most successful so far, explaining that the church has continued to refine the event each year with better organization and added efforts to engage attendees, including offering prayer, games and assistance such as jump-starting vehicles while people waited.

Swint also emphasized the ministrys spiritual purpose, saying the event helped share the Gospel and adding, People need to see us be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

Citing Matthew 28:19, she continued, The Bible tells us to Go and make disciples, and added, I truly believe this is the best way to do [it]. We are to be doers of the Word, not only hearers or speakers.

The church website describes itself as a dynamic ministry wholly committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, stating that 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.
Home News 20 Christians killed during village attack in Nigeria, residents say

Gunmen described as Fulani terrorists raided a village in central Nigeria on Thursday night and killed at least 20 Christians, area residents said.

The assailants attacked Mbwelle village, near Bokkos town in Plateau state at about 9 p.m., they said.

An attack is currently ongoing in my village, Mbwelle, Moses Kefas told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in a text message. Twenty members of our community have died, and seven of them are members of my family.

Kefas identified eight of those slain as church elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Luck Titus Dakus, Habila Istifanu Dakus, Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus and Innocent Barnabas Makwin.

Bearice Lucky Dakus sustained severe injuries from gunshot, he added, and many other residents are missing.

Many Christians in the village are still not found as of Friday morning, 10 April, Kefas said.

Resident Polycarp Gomwus described the assailants as Fulani terrorists.

This is an unprovoked attack by Fulani terrorists  20 Christians were killed without provocation, he told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. What a sad reality Christians are forced to live with daily.

Resident Faith Ayuba called for prayers for Gods intervention.

Please lets pray for Christians in Mbwellen village, which is under attack by Fulani terrorists. Lord, please intervene, Ayuba said.

Two other residents, Benita Simon and Felix Kasha, also said 20 Christians were killed in the attack.

Jos attack

In the southern part of Jos, Plateau state, Fulani herdsmen on April 3 killed three Christians, sources said.

The assailants raided Gyel Gero in Jos South Local Government Area at about 7 p.m. on Good Friday, said area Pastor Nansen John, saying the area is being targeted and attacked by Fulani gunmen, and they have killed three Christians. Lord, how long shall we endure this suffering and persecution?

Pastor John identified the slain Christians as Luka Sandu Pam, 36; Samuel Davou, 38; and Deme Saidu, 35.

He said the assailants arrived on motorbikes.

The incident, which occurred on Good Friday, a day Christians were reflecting on the death and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, has thrown the community into mourning, Pastor John told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

Resident Jessy Jay described the assailants a Fulani herdsmen.

There has been another terror attack in Gyel community of Jos South Local Government Area carried out by Fulani herdsmen, she said. The attack has left three Christians in our community dead. These terror attacks are becoming one too many. When would these mass killings and mass burials end?

Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom areas have recorded over eight mass burials of Christians killed by terrorists within just five months, Jay said.

Police spokesman Alfred Alabo said in Jos that the Divisional Police Officer of B Division, Bukuru, led a patrol team to the area shortly after receiving a call that evening.

And as part of proactive measures to safeguard lives and properties, the Commissioner of Police has directed the immediate enforcement of a statewide ban on night grazing and night mining activities, Alabo said in a press statement.

The attack comes on the heels of a March 29 terrorist attack on the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos, where more than 28 Christians were killed.

More Christians were killed in Nigeria than in any other country from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025, according to Open Doors 2026 World Watch List. Of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith during that period, 3,490  72 percent  were Nigerians, an increase from 3,100 the prior year. Nigeria ranked No. 7 on the WWL list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

In the countrys North-Central zone, where Christians are more common than they are in the North-East and North-West, Islamic extremist Fulani militia attack farming communities, killing many hundreds, Christians above all, according to the report. Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the splinter group Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), among others, are also active in the countrys northern states, where federal government control is scant and Christians and their communities continue to be the targets of raids, sexual violence, and roadblock killings, according to the report. Abductions for ransom have increased considerably in recent years.

The violence has spread to southern states, and a new jihadist terror group, Lakurawa, has emerged in the northwest, armed with advanced weaponry and a radical Islamist agenda, the WWL noted. Lakurawa is affiliated with the expansionist Al-Qaeda insurgency Jamaa Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, originating in Mali.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
Home News 60% of Americans harbor 'unfavorable' views toward Israel: Pew survey Antipathy toward Israel spiked to 70% among those aged 18-49

A new Pew Research Center survey released this week found that 60% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of Israel amid the ongoing war in Iran, though a majority of Jewish Americans and white Evangelicals continue to hold generally positive opinions of the country.

The survey, conducted March 23 to March 29 among 3,507 U.S. adults, found that the unfavorable views of Israel rose by 7 percentage points since last year and jumped by nearly 20 points since 2022.

Among those who harbor unfavorable views toward Israel, 28% described theirs as "very unfavorable," marking a 9-percentage point increase since last year and nearly three times the number who expressed such a view in 2022.

More Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents held unfavorable views, with 80% overall expressing unfavorable views. Republicans and those who lean toward that party were more positive at 58%, though the survey observed that the 41% of Republican or Republican-leaning voters who are unfavorable also increased since last year.

Antipathy toward Israel was more pronounced among younger people. Broken down by age groups, 70% of those aged 18-49, including 57% of Republicans in that age bracket, have an unfavorable view.

Religious views and race seemingly played a major role in determining respondents' views of Israel, with Pew noting that "Jewish Americans and white evangelical Protestants have mostly positive views of Israel, at 64% and 65%, respectively."

White non-Evangelical Protestants were 39% positive toward Israel, Roman Catholics were 35%, black Protestants were 33% and the religiously unaffiliated at 22%. Only 4% of Muslims held a positive view.

The survey also found that distrust of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spiked among Americans, with approximately six in 10 people  or 59%  saying they have "little or no confidence" that he will "do the right thing regarding world affairs."

The survey noted that the number of those questioning Netanyahu this year marked an increase of 7 percentage points since 2025 and almost 20 points since 2023.

While 56% of the American Jews surveyed have "little or no confidence" in Netanyahu, 52% of white Evangelical Protestants remained confident in his handling of world affairs.

The Pew survey reflects broad trends found in similar polls, such as one from NBC News last month that found support for Israel has declined among all age groups since 2023. The sharpest decline took place among those aged 18-34, almost two-thirds of whom expressed a "negative" view of the country.

In what NBC described as a "sea change" regarding voters' opinions on the topic, the poll of 1,000 registered voters conducted from Feb. 27 to March 3 found that 63% of voters under age 35 have a negative view of Israel, compared to just 13% who have a positive view and 23% who hold a neutral view.

A seismic shift also appears to be taking place among young American Evangelicals, and the number who support Israel and see it as crucial to the End Times had been steadily declining even before the war in Gaza, according to a series of surveys in the 2023 book Christian Zionism in the Twenty-First Century: American Evangelical Opinion on Israel.

Experts who spoke to The Christian Post in 2024 had differing explanations for such a trajectory, ranging from the antisemitic influence of cultural Marxism in American universities to greater exposure to Christian eschatological views that deviate from premillennial dispensationalism, which emphasizes the role of modern Israel in the latter days.
Home News All our neighbors: Baylor University greenlights liberal event in response to TPUSA rally

Baylor University has approved a request for an on-campus event featuring progressive activists to be held in response to and on the same day as a Turning Point USA rally.

Called All Our Neighbors, the event is scheduled for April 22, the same day as a previously approved TPUSA tour stop at the prominent Baptist university in Waco, Texas.

As an academic institution, Baylor University is committed to ensuring open dialogue and the robust exchange of ideas and perspectives, a spokesperson for Baylor said in an emailed statement to The Christian Post Thursday evening, explaining that allowing the event was part of the universitys commitment to intellectual diversity.

We hold this commitment along with an obligation to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment within a caring Christian community. The University worked with the student organizations to align the event with institutional policies and procedures.

All Our Neighbors is being overseen by a coalition of five campus organizations, including Baylors NAACP chapter, Baylor Democrats, Hearts for the Homeless, Students Demand Action, and Texas Rising.

Scheduled speakers for the event include Kelley Robinson, president of the national LGBT activist group the Human Rights Campaign; Paul Raushenbush, an American Baptist minister and president of Interfaith Alliance; and Greg Garrett, a Baylor professor and columnist for Baptist News Global.

Garrett made headlines last year for his public affirmation of homosexuality and transgenderism, and support for a $643,000 grant to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in churches.

For its part, BNG reported Wednesday that the All Our Neighbors event is believed to be the first time Baylor has allowed an openly gay Christian advocacy speaker on campus for such an event.

This is in reference to Robinson, who identifies as Catholic and is the first black lesbian to serve as president of the LGBT activist group. She is also in a same-sex marriage.

In 2019, the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor hosted an event featuring Justin Lee, an LGBT-identified Christian advocate and author, as part of the universitys Conversation Series.

Last month, The Baylor Lariat reported that the campus chapter of TPUSA was hosting a tour stop for the national organizations This is the Turning Point Tour on April 22.

That event is expected to feature Trump Organization Executive Vice President Donald Trump Jr., Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan and conservative commentator Benny Johnson.

The TPUSA tour event has received pushback from some on campus, with the Lariat editorial board publishing a piece last month expressing concern that the rally was an institutional endorsement of divisiveness.

If Baylor is to take its own stated commitment to civil discourse seriously, it must ensure that no single perspective  particularly one known for its polarizing rhetoric  dominates the conversation at the expense of others, noted the editors in a piece printed before the All Our Neighbors event was greenlit.

A campus community is not strengthened by moments that divide it into opposing camps. It is strengthened by shared commitments to truth, charity and to one another.
Home News Joel Osteen praises Kanye West as having heart for God, heart to do the right thing

As popular rapper and music producer Kanye West, known professionally as Ye, continues to face criticism for his past antisemitism, which he has apologized for, megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, says he believes he has a heart for God and a heart to do the right thing.

Osteen, who hosted West at his church in 2018, where the artist declared himself a formidable servant of Jesus, told Logan Paul and Mike Majlak in an episode of their top-ranked video podcast Impaulsive, released on YouTube Wednesday, that he would love to reconnect with him and help in any way he could.

I had no contact with Kanye or Ye before he came on his spiritual journey, and that was back, like you said, in 2018 or so. So, he wanted to talk, and we talked several times on the phone. We met several times, and I found him  I can just tell you what I know  he was as respectful and kind and sincere as can be, Osteen said when asked about the rapper.

Yes new album BULLYrecently debuted at No. 1 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and he recently made $33 million in two nights, at a record-breaking concert at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, last week, where 80,000 people reportedly showed up to see him.

The SoFi shows are part of a new comeback tour for the rapper following a rash of antisemitic behavior, including the production of his controversial Heil Hitler song in 2025. His apology came in the form of a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal in January, and he blamed his actions on his bipolar diagnosis.

"Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain," West, 48, wrote.

At the time, the focus was on the visible damage  the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed, he explained. Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised. It wasnt properly diagnosed until 2023. That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis.

Osteen acknowledged Wests struggle with his mental health in the interview and stated that the antisemitic version of the rapper was not the Ye that I knew.

And so I pray for him. I pray for him often because I know his heart, and I know he's a good man, and I believe that he loves God, Osteen said. It's just sometimes you can maybe get a little off course. So I don't know where he's at. I wish I could speak to him again, but it's been a time. We need to pray. I need to pray for him.

When Majlak suggested that Osteen should reconnect with West, he responded, Id love to do that.

I don't know where he (Ye) is. He seems like he's at a different place.  But  I believe he has a heart for God and a heart to do the right thing, Osteen said.  We all have issues, but sometimes it's stronger in people [who are] fighting some mental battles. And just in general, not just with him. Mental illnesses are real, and they can throw you off, but I believe you can be healed and you can be restored.

Despite his apology, West has been banned from entering the United Kingdom to perform at the Wireless Festival this summer. The festival has since been canceled as a result. West is also scheduled to perform in several other countries this year, where he is facing varying degrees of pushback.

Both Paul and Majlak then discussed the manner of Wests apology and suggested perhaps a more personal apology presented by the rapper might be more effective in placating his critics. Still, they also raised concerns about cancel culture and where the line should be drawn, and pointed out that several Jewish members of their team attended Wests Sofi Stadium concerts.

I'd love to help in any way I can, Osteen said. I don't know if I have that influence with him, but I'd love to help in any way I can.
Home News Man says Jesus sent him 'back to Earth' after cardiac arrest at church

A 90-year-old man who suffered a massive cardiac episode and collapsed at First Congregational Church in Branford, Connecticut, says Jesus told him it wasnt his time and sent him "back to Earth" as church members stepped in to keep him alive on Easter Sunday.

The best way to remember is I go up into Heaven and Jesus looks at me and says, Hey, Walter, it is not your time, back to Earth, and thats when I ended up waking up, Walter Gay told WTNH.

First Congregational Church Pastor Joseph Perdue told CT Insider he was outside the church saying goodbye to people around 11:15 a.m. when Gay collapsed in the main foyer.

The condition he was in when we started CPR, he wasnt breathing, he was turning blue, there was no pulse, Perdue recalled. None of us expected him to make it.

A nurse, two nurse midwives and a physician assistant who were at the church when Gay collapsed all jumped in to administer CPR. Perdue also sent a teen church employee to grab an automated external defibrillator (AED), which the church received in January, according to WTNH.

Within just 30 seconds or so of his collapse, medical personnel had started CPR, and within one minute, they had hooked up the AED, and the AED immediately said to shock him, Perdue explained.

Members called 911, and first responders took about 10 minutes to arrive. Laurie MacLeod, a certified nurse midwife at Yale New Haven Hospital who was walking out of church at the time Gay collapsed, told CT Insider she believes it was the AED that made all the difference in keeping him alive.

Gays daughter, Carolyn Claussen, a medical doctor in New Hampshire, told the publication that her father and his wife, Betsy, are very active and independent. When she got the call from the emergency room about her fathers cardiac arrest, however, she did not expect him to survive.

No offense, Dad, I really thought 100% I was coming to say goodbye to you. I was not expecting to walk into the emergency room and see you ask me what I was doing there, so that was a nice surprise, Claussen told her father.

Claussen said her father has underlying congestive heart failure and had lost his short-term memory. For about the first day after the cardiac episode, she had to repeat what happened to him.

Dr. Tamara Samardzic, co-director of the Stepdown Unit at Yale New Haven Hospital, told WTNH that Gays recovery since his cardiac emergency has been incredible.

His mental status is at baseline, which is incredible. I know the family is super happy, and everyone is amazed that this is how it turned out, she said. This is certainly not what we see, especially on this unit.

Both Perdue and Claussen suggested that Gays recovery may be an Easter miracle.

We cannot escape the metaphor, Perdue said. The whole point of the Easter homily was looking for evidence of the small resurrections all around us, the way that God is helping our community in the ways that we can participate in what God is doing in order to make the lives of our neighbors better.
Home News Nuns caring for cancer patients challenge NY LGBT law forcing them to 'violate' beliefs on sex

Catholic nuns who have cared for terminally ill patients in New York for over a century have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state law they say forces them to violate their religious beliefs about sex and gender identity.

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne operate Rosary Hill Home, a 42-bed facility providing free care to terminally ill cancer patients nearing the end of life. In an April 6 complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the sisters claim that the state is threatening to shut them down unless they violate their Catholic faith.

The lawsuit names Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and officials from the New York State Department of Health as defendants, all in their official capacities. The Catholic Benefits Association, which advocates for the conscience rights of Catholic employees, is supporting the sisters in this case.

According to the lawsuit, the sisters received three Dear Administrator Letters  the first in March 2024, a second in October 2024 and a third in January 2025  from officials acting on behalf of the New York Department of Health.

The letters alerted the sisters of their obligation to comply with New Yorks LGBTQ Long-Term Care Facility Residents Bill of Rights, which requires the religious sisters to assign patients rooms based on their chosen gender identity instead of their actual sex, "even over the opposition of the roommate."

Staff are also required to use a patient's chosen pronouns, even when the patient is not present, to create communities affirming patients sexual preferences, to accommodate patients desire for extramarital relations, and to post notices affirming compliance with these requirements.

The law also mandates that long-term care facilities must ensure their staff undergo cultural competency training indoctrinating them in these practices and in gender ideology, the complaint adds.

These requirements violate the sisters religious beliefs by compelling them to act against central, unchangeable and architectural teachings of the Catholic faith, the lawsuit argued.

It would contradict the teachings of the Bible concerning Gods creative sovereignty, contradict reason and truth, and betray our sacred obligation not to knowingly harm other persons, particularly the most vulnerable, the complaint continued. The implications are so much greater than whether to utter the words he or she. Indeed, to demand that a Catholic deny anothers sex is to require him or her to affirm another religious worldview.

In response to an inquiry from The Christian Post, a New York State Department of Health spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.

The spokesperson did state, however, that the New York State Department of Health is committed to following state law, which provides nursing home residents certain rights protecting against discrimination, including, but not limited to, gender identity or expression.

Hochuls office did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

The complaint also noted that the state statute appears to exempt certain institutions, which it argues shows favoritism to one religious group over another.

While the mandate includes no general religious organization exemption, it does include a religious exemption narrowly tailored to protect the Church of Christ, Scientist and its affiliates, the lawsuit noted.

The mandate exempts facilities operated by the Church of Christ, Scientist, but the exemption does not apply to Catholic or other religious organizations.

Without an exemption, the Catholic nuns face imminent fines and license revocation if they continue their current religious practices, with the complaint noting that the sisters have not complied and do not intend to comply. Their injury is therefore immediate.

The legal filing asked the court to declare that the mandate violates the First and 14th Amendment rights of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and Rosary Hill Home and their respective agents, employees and clinical contractors.

The document also included a request that the court prohibit the defendants from enforcing the mandate against the plaintiffs for the duration of the lawsuit.
Home News Megachurch suspends Pastor Brian Tome after horse whip investigation

Brian Tome, the founding and senior pastor of Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been suspended for one month after church leaders independently substantiated an allegation that he used a horse whip on a man who visited his church office more than a decade ago.

The investigation is complete and has substantiated the original account of the community member who shared his concerns with us, including corroboration from a third-party witness who was not previously known, the Crossroads Church Spiritual Board announced in a statement Thursday.

While Brians actions may have been intended in humor, they were inappropriate and not above reproach. Were thankful for the community member who came forward and shared his experience and participated in the third-party investigation. Were praying for and offering support for everyone who has been impacted, the church added.

Tome was suspended from his duties last month after he was accused of whipping and rubbing the mans crotch with a riding crop during an encounter in his office in 2015, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Crossroads co-founder Brian Wells said in March that church leaders first learned of the incident in 2024 when a male church member told a staff member about it. The member reported that he observed a riding crop that had been given to Tome as a gift in his office and asked him what it was.

Tome responded by picking up the crop and stating, Oh, yeah? You like that? then whipping and rubbing the mans crotch with it. When Tome was informed of the mans allegation, he immediately and very appropriately recused himself from any investigation, according to Wells. He also told the staff member to contact the churchs board.

The board reviewed the allegation and discussed its findings with Tome and his accuser. According to Wells, the board officially admonished Brian to be mindful of the weight of his words, his actions, and the need to be above reproach.

It was assumed that the matter was settled, Wells said, but last month the church member contacted the board and expressed frustration with what he felt is a lack of objectivity in the process. Thats when the church decided to conduct an independent investigation despite having no new information about the incident.

In its statement Thursday, the Crossroads Church Spiritual Board further noted that in addition to the 2015 incident, the past six weeks have highlighted concerns about Brians leadership style and its impact on staff culture, particularly where it falls short of the Kingdom culture we seek to embody.

To foster a community of accountability, truth, and repentance that leads to redemption, church officials said Tome will be suspended for one month and will also take an additional four months off to undergo a season of repentance.

Brian will be experiencing a one-month suspension followed by a four-month extended leave during which he will take part in appropriate steps of repentance and reconciliation. Brians response to these steps has been incredibly encouraging, the board said.

Over 30 years, weve witnessed and benefited from Brians best and seen him own and grow through his mistakes. He hasnt been perfect, but hes been faithful, and we are grateful. We love him, respect him, and are for him wholeheartedly.

Tome is expected to share more about his repentance and reconciliation with the congregation over the April 11- 12 weekend.

In a personal statement, Tome said he realized over the past month that he had a problem with inappropriate humor.

Over this past month, Ive also realized that I havent just had problems with inappropriate humor, including this incident that has been reviewed. For that, Im sorry, and I want to apologize publicly to this individual who came forward and others who may have been impacted. Ive also not been creating a leadership environment for many on our staff to thrive. Ive been driven too much by results and have too often not reflected the model of Jesus, he wrote.

I ask your forgiveness for too often allowing my flesh to overrule the Spirit in how Ive used my words. God is doing a good and yet painful thing in me. Im thankful for our Board serving tirelessly in a way that is making me and our entire church healthier.
Home News Treasury will provide guidance on Johnson Amendment following court ruling

The Trump administration plans to issue new guidance to churches and religious organizations about their rights to make political statements and endorse candidates as a longstanding provision of federal law restricting their ability to do so continues to face litigation.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced its intention to publish new guidance on the application of the Johnson Amendment to religious organizations. Referring to language in the Internal Revenue Code, the Johnson Amendment governs the tax-exempt status of corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes.

The Johnson Amendment clarifies that such organizations can only maintain tax-exempt status as long as they do not participate in, or intervene in ... any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.

The National Religious Broadcasters and Intercessors for America joined two churches in filing a lawsuit in 2024 alleging that the Johnson Amendment, passed in 1954, is unconstitutional.

While the Internal Revenue Service agreed last year to allow pastors and religious organizations to endorse political candidates without fearing loss of their tax-exempt status, a federal judge ruled last week that the agreement violated federal law. The forthcoming guidance from the Trump administration reflects this development.

Religious liberty is foundational to our Constitution, and the freedom to practice ones faith openly and in community is central to the American story as we celebrate 250 years of independence as a nation this year, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Treasury and the IRS will provide additional guidance to houses of worship that reflect these ideals and uphold the First Amendment.

The Treasury Department said that the forthcoming guidance will "provide clear, administrable standards for houses of worship" that touch on "how the law applies to certain communications within the context of religious services. The agency did not specify when the new guidance would be released, only that it would come later this year.

Litigation surrounding the decades-old provision of the Internal Revenue Code will continue. Plaintiffs are expected to appeal last weeks decision, handed down in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker, a Trump appointee, ruled the proposed relief could not be approved under the Tax Anti-Injunction Act and the Declaratory Judgment Act (DJA). He cited court precedent to argue that the DJA prohibits courts from providing declaratory relief with respect to federal taxes."

Subject-matter jurisdiction is determined by the nature of the claims and parties in the operative complaint, not by consent during litigation, wrote Barker. The DJA and AIA apply here because plaintiffs claims are in respect to taxes and seek to restrain the threat of tax collection or assessment based on certain activity.

The plaintiffs in the litigation describe the longstanding federal law as a violation of the Free Speech and Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Even before reaching the agreement with religious organizations that the federal court struck down, both of President Donald Trump's administrations have sought to eliminate the Johnson Amendment for nearly a decade.

As a first-time presidential candidate in 2016, Trump vowed to repeal the Johnson Amendment if elected that year.



After he won the election, Trump issued an executive order vowing not to unfairly target churches and religious organizations for political speech. However, an effort to repeal the Johnson Amendment in the U.S. Congress failed.
Home News EEOC sues Calif. trucking company for not allowing driver to attend church

A California trucking company that scheduled a Christian driver to work on Sundays, forcing him to quit, has been sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for allegedly violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Blue Eagle Contracting, Inc., a Grass Valley bulk mail delivery contractor for the U.S. Postal Service, is alleged to have violated federal law by failing to return the Christian employee to a weekday shift so he could attend Sunday morning church services, the EEOC stated in an April 3 lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, when the driver was hired in September 2022, he told his supervisors at the company that he needed to attend church on Sundays as part of his Christian practice, and they scheduled him to work a weekday delivery route between Reno and Tonopah, Nevada.

After several months with the company, a co-worker unexpectedly resigned, and the Christian driver volunteered to work a Sunday morning shift until a replacement was hired for the weekend shift. When the replacement was hired, however, the lawsuit alleges that the Christian driver was kept on the weekend shift despite his complaints, and the new hire was assigned the weekday shift.

Christopher Green, district director for the EEOCs San Francisco District Office, said in a statement, Employers are bound by federal law to explore a range of possible accommodations to ensure that employees retain their right to freely exercise their faith.

The situation eventually forced the Christian driver to resign from the company after his supervisors failed to accommodate his Christian beliefs. According to the EEOC, the trucking companys conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from failing to accommodate the religious practices of their employees, absent undue hardship.

Employers are required to comply with federal law to prevent discrimination based on religion, senior EEOC Trial Attorney Mariko Ashley said. To force employees to choose between exercising their religious beliefs and their livelihoods, absent undue burden on the employer, violates the law and the EEOC will hold employers accountable.

Just last month, the U.S. Department of Labor launched a new website for its Center for Faith, with resources for Christians and other Americans who might have faced religious discrimination in the workplace. The move fulfilled a portion of President Donald Trumps executive order that created the White House Faith Office and Centers for Faith within each federal agency.

Through the Center for Faith at the U.S. Department of Labor, faith-based organizations can maximize their participation in grant funding opportunities and minimize regulatory burdens, according to the website. The center also works to engage faith organizations to defend religious liberty and lift up individuals through the dignity of work and self-sufficiency; and to combat anti-Christian, anti-Semitic bias, as well as all forms of religious discrimination.

Americans should not face discrimination in the workplace because of their religion. Our new Center for Faith website offers helpful guidance for American workers and faith organizations interested in competing for grants at the Department of Labor, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. Thanks to President Trump, Americans right to religious freedom is more protected than ever before.
J.D. Vance Warns Of Far-Left Threats In Budapest, U.S. Abortions Rise, Texas Church Hero Stops Armed Man

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:46 06:46

Top headlines for Friday, April 10, 2026

Vice President J.D. Vances warning against communism during his speech in Budapest, new data showing U.S. abortion rates on the rise, and the quick action of a Texas church security team that stopped an armed man carrying a revolver and over 100 rounds of ammunition.

00:11 JD Vance shares love of Jesus, warns against communism in Hungary

00:58 91K telehealth abortions in pro-life states in 2025: report

01:49 Joshua at Sight & Sound blends spectacle with message of mercy

02:35 Church child care director arrested for defrauding $500K

03:28 Global Methodist Church appeals Nigerian court ruling

04:21 Gun wielding man arrested at Texas church planned to kill pastor

05:11 Christian song wakes up Artemis II astronauts on day 6 of mission
Home Opinion The question Jesus didnt correct: Why the book of Acts keeps Israel at the center

One of the quiet assumptions shaping much of modern Christian theology is that Israel has been spiritually eclipsed. The Church, we are told, sometimes subtly, sometimes explicitly, has replaced Israel as the focal point of Gods redemptive purposes. Israel belongs to the past; the Church belongs to the present and future.



And yet, the book of Acts refuses to cooperate with this assumption.



If we allow Acts to speak on its own terms: historically, geographically, and biblically, it presents a far more integrated vision. In Acts, Israel remains central to the Kingdom of God, not as a rival to the Church, but as the covenantal and geographic stage upon which Gods redemptive drama unfolds, past, present, and future.



A question Jesus did not correct



The interpretive key appears immediately after the resurrection.



Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6).

This question matters far more than many Christians realize. These are not confused outsiders. These are resurrected-Christ-trained apostles, men who have spent forty days being taught by Jesus about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). If anyone should have had their theology corrected by now, it would have been them.



But Jesus does not rebuke them.



He does not say, You misunderstand  Israel no longer matters. He does not say, The Church is now the true Israel. He does not say, There will be no future restoration of Israel.



Instead, He responds: It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority (Acts 1:7). In other words, the expectation is correct. The timing is not yours to know.



This exchange stands as New Testament proof for the continuation of the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament that God will restore Israel. Jesus affirms the premise of the question while withholding the schedule. The Kingdom will be restored to Israel, but according to the Fathers sovereign timetable.



The ascension locks geography into the future



Acts immediately reinforces this truth through the physical, geographic details of Jesus ascension.



Jesus ascends into Heaven from the Mount of Olives, just east of the old city of Jerusalem, the same ridge long associated with Israels prophetic future. As the disciples stand staring into the sky, two angels deliver a statement that permanently anchors Christian eschatology to a place:



Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).



This is not poetic language. It is a directional, locational promise.



Jesus ascended bodily, visibly, and geographically from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. The angels declare that He will return in the same manner. This aligns seamlessly with the prophets of Israel, particularly Zechariah, who foretold that the Lords feet would stand on the Mount of Olives on the day of His return (Zechariah 14:4).



For Christians, this is decisive.



We do not believe Jesus will return to London. We do not believe He will return to New York. We do not believe He will return to Rome.



We believe He will return to Jerusalem.



Acts refuses to spiritualize the Second Coming. The same book that launches the global mission of the Church also insists that history will culminate in a very specific place. The Kingdom of God may expand to the ends of the earth, but it resolves in Israel.



The Kingdom moves outward but never away from Israel



Jesus commissioning statement confirms this pattern: You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

This is not merely a missions strategy. It is a theological map.



The Gospel does not bypass Jerusalem; it begins there. It does not abandon Judea; it spreads through it. It does not erase Israel; it extends from it.



Acts presents a Kingdom that expands outward without ever severing itself from its covenantal and geographic center.



Pentecost: A Jewish event with global implications

Pentecost reinforces the same truth.



It occurs in Jerusalem. On a Jewish feast day. Among Jewish pilgrims from the nations. With Peter preaching from Jewish Scripture. Proclaiming a Jewish Messiah.



Far from announcing Israels replacement, Pentecost confirms Israels role as the launching point of Gods end-time purposes. The nations are not saved instead of Israel, but through Israels Messiah, in Israels city, according to Israels Scriptures.



The apostles never preach Israel out of the story



Throughout Acts, the apostles consistently affirm Israels covenantal identity.



Peter proclaims that Jesus fulfills the covenant God made with your fathers (Acts 3:25). James, at the Jerusalem Council, quotes the prophets to show that Gentile inclusion does not negate Israels restoration but accompanies it (Acts 15). Paul preaches the Kingdom while affirming the hope of Israel, not dismissing it.



Gentiles are welcomed fully into the people of God  but Israel is never described as rejected, displaced, or obsolete.



The Church needs Israel to understand itself



Acts presents the Church not as a replacement for Israel, but as a participant in Israels story.



When Christians disconnect from Israel, the Bible becomes abstract rather than geographic, the Kingdom becomes spiritualized rather than embodied, and Gods promises become conditional rather than covenantal.



If God can permanently abandon Israel, the Church has no assurance that it will not one day be abandoned as well.



A future still anchored in Jerusalem

Acts begins with a question about the restoration of Israel and follows it immediately with a promise about the return of Jesus to the same place from which He ascended.



The Kingdom has been inaugurated but not completed. The Church has been commissioned but not enthroned. Israel has been regathered into the story but not yet fully restored.



Acts leaves the story open because history itself is still moving toward its appointed climax.



The Kingdom of God has a past rooted in Israel, a present expressed through the Church, and a future that, according to Jesus and His angels, returns to Jerusalem.



Acts does not allow us to choose between Israel and the Church.



It demands that we honor both, under one covenant-keeping King who ascended from Jerusalem, and who will return there again.
Sweltering air blanketed cities across Europe, Asia, and North America in early 2026, with thermometers climbing past 42C (108F) in places like Madrid and Delhi, triggering widespread red alerts and school closures. These prolonged blasts signal rising temperatures 2026, driven by global warming effects that load the atmosphere with excess heat from decades of emissions. From parched fields and dying reefs to overwhelmed hospitals and strained power grids, the fallout underscores a deepening climate shift.

What Causes Heatwavesand Why 2026 Feels Different

Heatwaves brew when persistent high-pressure ridges lock in warm air masses, stifling cooler breezes and allowing surface temperatures to soar unchecked for days or weeks. Urban environments worldwide amplify this "urban heat island" effect dramatically; dense concrete jungles, traffic exhaust, and minimal green space can jack up local readings by 5-8C compared to nearby rural areas, turning sidewalks into griddles after dark.

However, global warming effects elevate these natural patterns into unprecedented monsters. Oceans, which have absorbed roughly 91% of excess heat from human-induced emissions since the 1970s, now act as massive reservoirs that release stored warmth precisely when summer peaks hit. Early 2026 weather bulletins documented heatwaves stretching 50% longer than 20th-century averagessome lasting three weeks straightdirectly fueled by this oceanic amplification.

Climate models from the IPCC paint a clear picture: Every incremental 0.1C rise in global averages stacks the odds for extremes, making "once-in-a-century" events commonplace. Disrupted jet streams, wavier and slower due to twice-as-fast Arctic warming, stall these high-pressure systems over continents, creating vast "heat domes." For instance, a March 2026 event over the U.S. Midwest mirrored Europe's deadly 2022 spell but burned hotter. Statistics show tropical and subtropical heat events have tripled in frequency since 2000, slamming agriculture, water supplies, and urban infrastructure with relentless force.

Heatwave Impacts and Climate Crisis Health Risks Explained

The heatwave impacts of 2026 extend far beyond discomfort, rippling through ecosystems, economies, and human societies in compounding ways. Wildfires ignite and spread with ferocious speed; Australia's ongoing 2026 blazes, already rivaling the 2019-2020 Black Summer in scale, burn hotter thanks to drier fuels and windier conditions. Crops bear heavy losses toowheat fields across North America's Great Plains and Europe's breadbasket regions wilted under sustained 40C spells, slashing yields by 15-20% according to USDA and EU farm reports, which threaten food prices worldwide.

Economies stagger under the weight. Surging air conditioning demands overload electrical grids, causing rolling blackouts from California to India; Europe's 2025 heatwave alone tallied 90 billion in direct losses from lost productivity, crop failures, and emergency responses. NOAA's 2026 projections forecast global damages exceeding $200 billion, exacerbated by disrupted shipping lanes and tourism shutdowns in Mediterranean hotspots.

Health systems face the sharpest climate crisis and health risks, with heat emerging as a silent killer. Core threats break down like this:

Acute dangers: Heatstroke overwhelms the body's cooling via rapid organ shutdown when core temperatures exceed 40C; dehydration thickens blood, spiking heart attack risks by 30%.

Heatstroke overwhelms the body's cooling via rapid organ shutdown when core temperatures exceed 40C; dehydration thickens blood, spiking heart attack risks by 30%. Chronic effects: Ground-level ozone surges in hot, stagnant air, worsening asthma and COPD; prolonged kidney strain hits diabetics hardest in humid zones.

Ground-level ozone surges in hot, stagnant air, worsening asthma and COPD; prolonged kidney strain hits diabetics hardest in humid zones. Vulnerable stats: Seniors over 65 and outdoor laborers see 40-50% higher hospitalization rates, per hospital data; WHO tallies 450,000 global heat-linked deaths in 2025, with 2026 on track for 500,000+ amid aging populations.

Mental health suffers quietly. Nighttime temperatures rarely dipping below 28C disrupt deep sleep cycles, breeding chronic fatigue, irritability, and heightened anxietystudies link this to a 20% uptick in heat-related mental health calls. Indirect heatwave impacts compound the crisis: Coral reefs bleached to 60% mortality in Pacific and Indian Ocean surveys, collapsing fisheries; rural-to-urban migration surges as farmland turns unlivable, straining megacity resources.

Steps to Tackle Rising Temperatures 2026

Effective preparation weaves personal vigilance with community infrastructure and bold policy moves. NOAA data proves early action slashes mortality by 80%; here's a numbered guide to proven strategies:

Monitor and plan daily: Tune into national heat index apps or serviceslimit outdoor activity from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., aim for 3-4 liters of water intake, and eat light, hydrating foods like fruits. Cool your immediate space: Dampen skin with cool cloths, position fans over ice bowls for evaporative chill; invest in energy-efficient AC or reflective window films to cut indoor heat gain. Build community resilience: Advocate for neighborhood shade trees, public splash pads, and designated cooling centers in libraries or malls; volunteer for grid-support programs during peaks.

Scaling up, green urban retrofits directly counter global warming effects. Strategic tree canopies and "cool roofs" lower street-level heat by 3-5C, as seen in trials across Singapore and Los Angeles. Renewables deliver reliabilityrooftop solar endured India's punishing 2025 blackouts, powering essentials when fossil grids failed.

Policy levers accelerate change: Aggressive emission cuts through reforestation, electric vehicle mandates, and carbon pricing. The IPCC warns that halving CO2 output by 2030 could slash rising temperatures 2026-style risks by half, buying decades of stability. Tech aids tooGoogle DeepMind's AI now forecasts heat domes 10-14 days in advance with 90% accuracy, enabling timely evacuations and resource shifts.

Everyday actions add up. Opt for biking or public transit over cars, reduce red meat to curb methane, and support local clean energy initiatives. These layered defenses turn vulnerability into adaptability.

Casual nod to sources here: IPCC's latest AR6 report lays out the emission-heat link plainly. NOAA's climate dashboards track global rising temperatures 2026 shifts. WHO's heat-health trackers highlight death trends.

Building Resilience Against 2026 Heat Extremes

As rising temperatures 2026 rewrite weather norms, heatwave impacts and climate crisis health risks spotlight the path ahead. Cutting emissions halves the odds of worst-case extremes, per mounting data. Cities from Sydney to Stockholm pioneer adaptive measures like urban forests and smart alerts, proving resilience works. Track reliable weather services, trim your carbon footprint, and back green policiesthese steps fortify against the heat's growing reach.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes heatwaves to worsen in 2026?

High-pressure systems trap heat naturally, but global warming effects make them longer and hotter by raising baseline temperatures. Oceans release stored heat from emissions, and disrupted jet streams stall weather patternsIPCC models show events now last 50% longer.

2. How does climate change intensify heatwaves?

rising temperatures 2026 stem from a 1.2C global rise since pre-industrial times, making extremes 5x more likely. Arctic warming slows winds, creating mega-heat domes over continents like Europe and North America.

3. What are the main heatwave impacts?

Heatwave impacts include crop losses (e.g., 15-20% wheat yield drops), wildfires (Australia's 2026 blazes), blackouts, and $70B+ global economic hits. Ecosystems suffer coral bleaching and migration surges.
By sebra, Adobe

A first-tier tribunal has upheld the regulators decision to stop a convicted criminal from becoming a trustee at a charity which runs arts projects in prisons.

The Charity Commission refused Lee Gary Browns waiver request that would have seen him hold a non-executive leadership role at East London Metropolitan Opera (ELMO).

In 2018, Brown pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of attempted rape of a child under 13 and one count of sexual assault of a child under 13.

He was sentenced to four years in prison but released two years later, subsequently volunteering for the Howard League for Penal Reform (HLPR), which then referred him to ELMO in 2023.

Brown worked as a research fellow from June 2022 and became an operations coordinator in September that year at HLPR, serving as a volunteer adviser at ELMO.

In 2023, Brown was introduced by HLPR to ELMOs trustee board but due to his conviction had to apply to waive his automatic disqualification.

A year later, the regulator refused Browns waiver given the serious nature of his offences, public trust and confidence considerations, citing an inadequate ELMO risk assessment.

In the commissions skeleton argument to the first-tier tribunal , the regulator also took issue with the lack of an open recruitment process.

Victoria Holt Eze, ELMO chair, admitted her charity had not considered how to protect Brown, who has autism, from being manipulated into similar or different offending, or how to mitigate this.

Dr Halari, who produced a psychological report on the appellant, stated: Brown does not have a good enough understanding of what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate relationships.

He struggles to understand and respond to social cues and others emotions and intentions.

Andrea Coomber, HLPR chief executive, confirmed to Civil Society that it had supported an employee through the tribunal process.

[We] believed it to be an important issue for judges to consider, Coomber, who acted as a witness for Brown at the tribunal, added.

ELMO naive in supporting trustee bid

The judge said in their tribunal report that ELMOs support of Brown, while lacking a full risk assessment, showed naivety despite being well-intentioned.

It became apparent in oral evidence that ELMO has not meaningfully engaged with an assessment of risk to the charity including reputational risk, the tribunal report reads.

ELMO was also found to have relied heavily on the recommendation of HLPR, a larger charity, and subsequently received no guidance on the waiver process.

Their assessment of risk is not robust and was limited to a singular consideration regarding the risk of reoffending, the tribunal report reads.

Brown and the two charities placed significant weight on his disabilities to reduce culpability for prior offending without considering how this may give rise to future risk in a senior or trustee position, the report states.

Despite rejecting the appeal, the tribunal acknowledged Browns passion for the charity sector.

We express the hope that he will continue the clearly valuable work he provides to the sector both as an employee of HLPR and as a voluntary advisor to ELMO, its report states.

Brown will be able to seek a review of the indefinite notification requirements in 2035.

ELMO declined a request for comment.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Scouts

The Charity Commission is assessing concerns at the Hereford and Worcester branch of Scouts after approximately 200,000 was allegedly stolen from the charity.

The charity was forced to cancel a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to Canada after it became apparent that the money that would have been used to fund it was missing.

A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft by West Mercia Police after the charity revealed that the money had been taken from charity funds. However, he has since been released.

A Charity Commission spokesperson said: We are assessing concerns raised in the media regarding an incident of alleged fraud at Hereford and Worcester Scouts.

In line with our guidance, this was reported to the Commission as a serious incident by the Scouts Association, and we expect the charity to keep us updated of any developments.

Children and parents had fundraised much of money

Parents and children belonging to the Hereford and Worcester Scouts had been fundraising since January 2025 for the trip, which was set to take place in summer 2026, it is understood.

In a letter to parents, as reported by the Worcester News, the organisation said an urgent review of leadership, planning, and compliance for the trip had uncovered the missing money.

The letter said: It also became clear that there had been significant theft from charity funds from a local charity account set up specifically for trips, with funds earmarked for the Canada trip.

We believe this has been in the region of 200,000 and has occurred over an extended period of time.

Unfortunately, as confirmed prices from suppliers began to come through in February and early March, it became clear that the final costs of key elements, particularly the Haliburton part of the trip, were far higher than the reasonable estimates used to plan the expedition.

Andrew Thorp, the UK Scouts' deputy public relations lead, said: As soon as we became aware that something was wrong with the operation of this expedition, we submitted reports to both the police and the Charity Commission regarding suspected missing funds.

We continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing police investigation. At this stage, it is important to note that Hereford and Worcester Scouts has committed to covering any missing charitable funds so that young people and their families are not disadvantaged.

We had previously been asked not to share details of the fraudulent aspects of this matter to allow the police to carry out their investigation. As this remains an active police investigation, we are unable to provide further information beyond this statement at this time.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson told Civil Society: On Friday 9 January we received a report of theft from the Hereford and Worcester Scouts association.

A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and has since been released under investigation.

An investigation is ongoing.

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,
Winfield Transport deposited waste at a site in Cornwall which was operating illegally

Environmental charities will receive a share of 28,500 after three companies in the south west of England breached waste regulations.

The Environment Agency sanctioned Winfield Transport, Ranjit Farming and Gwella Contracting Services over a failure to comply with waste regulations.

All three firms have agreed to invest in local projects through an enforcement undertaking, with the money going to the Woodland Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust.

In agreeing to the sanctions, all three waste companies have put in place measures to ensure full compliance with regulations in the future.

Haulage company Winfield Transport agreed to pay 14,000 to the Woodland Trust and the Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) after depositing waste at a site in Cornwall which was operating illegally.

Over 10,000 tonnes of household, demolition and hazardous waste, including asbestos, were found at the premises.

Winfield Transport, which was responsible for deposits of waste soils and stones between July 2022 and February 2023, has reviewed its procedures and provided refresher training to staff.

Gwella Contracting Services will pay 8,500 to the Woodland Trust after storing asbestos waste at its Exeter and Bristol branches in 2024 without holding a required permit.

The company agreed to carry out a full audit of waste policy and operations, and provide environmental awareness training in company inductions.

Ranjit Farming agreed to pay 6,000 to Devon Wildlife Trust after failing to comply with tonnage limits at its farm near Newton Abbot.

The company has put in place enhanced record-keeping to keep track of how much material has been delivered and when.

A spokesperson for WRT said the charity carefully considers any enforcement undertaking before deciding whether to accept it.

In this case, there was no resulting river pollution linked to the waste disposal error, and we were satisfied that the funding could be directed into a clear, evidence-based restoration project with direct environmental benefit, they said.

The 7,000 accepted by WRT immediately helped deliver river restoration works in the Draynes Valley, Cornwall, where partnership working with Fowey Rivers Association is helping to recover vital headwater habitat for salmon and trout by working to improve the stable gravel and cobble habitat needed within the upper River Fowey catchment for salmonid spawning.

This is exactly the kind of outcome we want to see from this mechanism: funds being turned into practical action on the ground, with lasting benefits for river health and fisheries.

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,
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In February, the San Antonio Express-News broke a story that quickly became national news: Tony Gonzales, a Republican congressman from Texas, had an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, an aide who died by suicide after setting herself on fire. The fallout was significant. Gonzales initially denied the relationship. Last month, he admitted to it and dropped his reelection bid.

The story had been months in the making. After Santos-Aviles died, in September, Bayliss Wagner and Nancy M. Preyor Johnson, a pair of Express-News reporters, heard rumors of the affair but could not immediately confirm them. What followed was the patient, persistent work that is the foundation of great local journalism: earning trust in the community, building sources, and pursuing every lead. Its frustrating at the beginning, because it was difficult to get information, Preyor Johson told me when I spoke to the duo this week. Its no secret that journalists are not trusted, right? And so you start there. You start not even at zero. You start below that. And you have to build that relationship.

Their work paid off. Since their initial story, they have produced a series of follow-up scoops, including the first interview with Santos-Aviless estranged husband and the disclosure of explicit and uncomfortable text messages between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles. On Monday, Wagner published new reporting: that Gonzales pressured a different staffer for sex and nude photos in 2020, years before his affair with Santos-Aviles. The hundreds of text messages obtained by the Express-News reveal that Gonzales may have a pattern of pursuing sexual relationships with subordinates.

Gonzales is still in Congress, and this activity happened while he was under our noses. Its so important that people know what happened with Regina and the kind of behavior that was going on so much earlier, Wagner said. Preyor Johnson told me that their priority is to keep the focus on the victims. Looking at Gonzaless social media, hes just moving on, she said. Granted, we know that there is an end date here for him, but he continues, and Regina wasnt able to continue that way.

Last week, more than sixty protesters gathered outside the offices of the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the most widely circulated newspaper in the region. They held signs and large photos of three recently fired columnists: Jim Shaw, Joan Brickner, and Jack Zaleski.

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The crowd braved a cold, snowy day to register their disappointment with the Forums recent dismissals, which they believe were politically motivated. Lyn Dockter-Pinnickone of the organizers of the protest, and a member of a local community group called BadAss Grandmas for Democracytold me that she was horrified when she learned the writers were being let go. Theyre moving more and more toward silencing voices of journalists that do not agree with the administration, she said, of the Forums leadership.

The recent decision to let go of three of our freelance opinion columnists was strictly a business decision based on data and feedback from our readers, Bill Marcil Jr., the CEO of Forum Communications, said in a statement when I reached out for comment. He added that he plans to write a column on the topic next week. The problem doesnt really appear to have been about money, however: Earlier this year, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Forum Communications bought seven newspapers, putting the number of media outlets under its ownership above thirty-five. Brickner, who was the Forums only regular Black columnist, was being paid just seventy-five dollars a week.

When you are aware of who owns the newspaper, its not exactly a surprise, because they are very conservative, Brickner said. But I thought that they would be more evenhanded than that. Zaleski, who was the Forums editorial-page editor for more than thirty years, is also skeptical: They say it was a business decision to bring some more balance to the pages, which is peculiar in my estimation, because the balance was there before this happened.

Shaw wrote for the Forum for twelve years and was voted Best Newspaper Columnist in the area eight times. He was shocked when he got the news. I just couldnt believe it. Thered been no indication from anybody that they didnt like what I was doing, he told me. I know that Bill Marcil Jr. has been telling people that one of the reasons I got fired was because I write too much about Trump. The columnists were not given an official reason for their dismissals. However, they share one thing in common: each had, at times, been sharply critical of Trump and his policies. They said that after Trump was reelected, they received an email telling them to avoid writing about national subjects without a local focus. The message was unmistakable, especially with the timing of it, Shaw told me.

The decision to let the writers go has sparked backlash on social media, and the Forum has received letters critical of the move. Some readers have canceled their subscriptions. Dockter-Pinnick said she ended hers after twenty years; another woman at the protest had canceled hers after sixty-two. Its so sad, Dockter-Pinnick said. It means that fundamentally whats happened is the community has lost faith in that organization to represent a free and independent press.

There is some good news: all three of the columnists plan to keep writing and have fielded offers from other local outlets. Shaw published his first column for KFGO, his new home, yesterday. The headline: Im Back and I Have a Lot to Talk About.

Rosa Maria Carranza has spent decades working in child development, most recently caring for toddlers at an outdoor Spanish-immersion preschool she cofounded. In 1991, Carranza fled El Salvador during the countrys civil war. Now sixty-seven, she lives in Oakland, under temporary protected status, which allows people from countries deemed unsafe to live and work in the United States. Over the years, she has paid taxes and contributed tens of thousands of dollars into Medicare and Social Security. But a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will soon make her, along with an estimated hundred thousand other lawful immigrants, ineligible for Medicare.

In a piece published by El Timpano in collaboration with KFF Health News, Vanessa G. Sanchez, a senior health equity reporter, profiles Carranza to illustrate the human cost of the Trump administrations immigration policies. El Timpano is a civic media organization serving and covering the Latino and Mayan immigrant communities in the Bay Area. Its like getting slapped on the face after more than 30 years working for the system here, Carranza told Sanchez. And in return, this is what we have now.

Carranza will be stripped of her health insurance coverage by January 4, 2027. She also fears losing her legal residency, which could mean detention or deportation, since the Trump administration tried to end temporary protected status for Salvadorans during his first term. The stress and uncertainty have left her with insomnia and anxiety. This is like a horror movie, a complete nightmare, Carranza said. This is not how I imagined getting old.

Hat tip to Riddhi Setty for the Forum story. If you have a suggestion for this column, please send it to laurelsanddarts@cjr.org. We cant acknowledge all submissions, but we will mention you if we use your idea. For more on Laurels and Darts, please click here. To receive this and other CJR newsletters in your inbox, please click here.
Firefighters inspect destruction at a site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 3, 2026. The war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran has spread across the Middle East, threatening to plunge the global economy into chaos, with Lebanon and Gulf energy exporters dragged into the conflict.

Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose Friday, though a fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran keeps investors on tenterhooks with oil prices remaining volatile.

The conflict in the Middle East, now in its second month, led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and traffic continues to be largely restricted via the crucial energy waterway despite the ceasefire.

Tehran had said it would reopen the strait as long as all attacks on the country were halted, according to a statement from its foreign minister. Media reports said that Israel had also agreed to the ceasefire. That followed U.S. President Donald Trump pausing attacks on Iran on Tuesday.

Trump said Thursday that Iran "better stop now" if it was charging fees to oil tankers for allowing them passage through the strait, while Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, charged the U.S. on Wednesday of violating the ceasefire agreement.

The West Texas Intermediate gained 1.72% to $99.55 per barrel as of 3:40 a.m. ET. Brent crude rose by 1.80% to $97.65 per barrel.
BEIJING  China's ties with countries such as Iran and Russia have raised expectations of a bigger diplomatic role, but Beijing remains focused on protecting its own domestic interests, including global exports.

That stance underpins Beijing's circumspect acknowledgment of reports that it pushed Iran toward this week's temporary ceasefire. A New York Times report cited three Iranian officials as saying China played a role, while AFP cited U.S. President Donald Trump.

China has made "active efforts" to end the conflict, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday, when asked by the press about the reports. She emphasized that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had made 26 phone calls to representatives of countries including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Iran since the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28.

But Beijing stopped short of confirming direct mediation.

China called for an "immediate stop" to military operations after U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran in late February. When asked on March 3 about Iran's counterattacks, China's Foreign Ministry did not mention Tehran specifically, urging instead for "all parties" to prevent the conflict from spreading.

"What Beijing did is not really about direct intermediation," said Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"What Beijing did is, more precisely, broker[ed], facilitated the ceasefire," she said Friday on CNBC's "The China Connection. "From that perspective there's nothing [that has] changed with regards to Beijing's foreign policy. It does not mean Beijing is becoming more active."

Instead, she noted Beijing is concerned about the risk of a global downturn from the war that would hurt its export-oriented economy.

Net exports contributed to about one-third of China's GDP last year, despite heightened U.S. tariffs, leaving its economy exposed to disruptions in global trade.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned Thursday that global growth would slow even if the ceasefire holds, citing lingering uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz.
TOPSHOT - A television shows the meeting between Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, at a restaurant in Taipei on April 10, 2026.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, Kuomintang party chair, in Beijing on Friday, the first encounter between Xi and a sitting Taiwanese opposition leader in nearly a decade.

In a readout released by Chinese state media, Xi said Beijing "welcomes any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations." That's according to a CNBC translation of the statement in Chinese.

Xi also reiterated that 'Taiwan independence' is the primary threat undermining stability across the Taiwan Strait," calling on party leaders on the mainland and Taiwan to oppose "separatism and foreign interference."

Cheng took the helm last October of the largest opposition party at a time of rising military and political tensions with the mainland. Her trip to Beijing came as the KMT seeks to position itself as a viable interlocutor with the mainland ahead of Taiwan's 2028 presidential election.

The tone of Beijing's official readout marked a meaningful shift, said Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. "The message reduces the risk of military conflict across the Taiwan Strait and is beneficial for both mainland China and Taiwan," Zhang said, adding that it signaled Beijing's preference for a peaceful approach to cross-strait relations.

In the statement, Xi reiterated that the mainland and Taiwan share an ethnic and cultural identity that political differences cannot sever, while stressing that the "One China" principle remains the non-negotiable basis for any engagement.

The Chinese leader called for broader economic, trade and cultural exchanges, vowing to deepen "political mutual trust" and keep communication channels open.

The meeting comes ahead of a planned visit by U.S. President Donald Trump in May, where he is expected to meet Xi to discuss a broad swath of issues, including trade, fentanyl flows and Taiwan.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and regards the matter as an internal affair, a position it has used to push back against what it characterizes as interference by Washington and its allies, including Japan.

Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party said Cheng has misrepresented Taiwanese public opinion in her trip to China and accused the KMT of undermining national security.

Cheng described her trip to Beijing as part of a strategy of "deterrence through dialogue," pledging that her party would seek to resume broad cross-strait exchanges, including tourism and political engagement, if it returns to power in 2028.

The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the shared rejuvenation of people on both sides of the strait," Cheng said during the meeting with Xi, according to Taiwanese local media. Beijing and Taipei should work on building sustainable mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation, she said, adding that both sides should move beyond political confrontation to prevent a war.
Gold's conventional role as a portfolio risk management tool has been brought into question following a dramatic six-week period for commodity prices, according to Morgan Stanley  but its analysts see value elsewhere. The value of the precious yellow metal plummeted alongside most global asset classes at the outbreak of the Iran conflict. Gold remains roughly 7.8% down over the last month at $4,731.775 as of 6:02 a.m. ET on Thursday after a ceasefire-induced rally. "Gold is really acting like a risk asset and not really like a safe haven," Amy Gower, metals and mining strategist at Morgan Stanley, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Wednesday. "Normally, it should be a diversifier in your portfolio, and that's just not really been happening at the moment." Gower conceded it is "normal to see a bit of weakness in gold" after a shock, as investors rush for liquidity, but she noted that prices are increasingly vulnerable to trades from large holders like central banks and ETFs. By contrast, silver "has had real reasons to rally" according to Gower, with the metal having added almost 150% over the last 12 months. "You had multiple years of [supply] deficits, and in precious metals, these deficits can stay hidden for a little while. When the financial element of that trade came through last year, there just wasn't enough to go around," she said. "The solar story has also been a big part of this, [with a] huge explosion in silver usage." However, silver has fallen more than 11% over the last month and, at its current spot price of around $74 per troy ounce, it is well below the peak of above $100 seen in January. The move above $100 that we saw in January felt harder to explain on fundamentals alone; that is where that speculative element comes in, Gower said. "But what we are seeing is some real demand shifts now. Some of the large silver jewelry producers are looking to move away from silver towards things like platinum-coated jewelry. Price and volatility is driving a bit of a demand response." The aluminum story Gower is particularly bullish on aluminum, which has seen its price rise sharply over the last month as markets feared a supply crunch linked to disruption in the Gulf . Aluminum is up by around 10.4% since the Iran war began, at $3,452.8 per tonne. "The story was already good. We had China saying it was no longer going to grow its aluminum supply [and] huge amounts of electricity [demand]," the strategist told CNBC. "[With the growth of] AI and data centers and that appetite for electricity, aluminium smelters are competing but they're just not able to pay those same rates. So we already had a very tight market. Everything that's happened in the last month adds to that story." "We've actually now lost about 4% of global aluminum supply. And the thing with aluminum is it's not quick to turn back on," Gower said, noting that if the conflict ended tomorrow, or if we see some demand shock, aluminum could still be fairly well supported.
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The Trump administration is increasingly on a collision course with the European Union over Big Tech fines. Google , Apple and Meta are contesting fines from the EU over violations of the bloc's antitrust and competition laws, which total over 6 billion euros, or $7 billion, since the start of 2024. They're an increasing bone of contention, as both companies and the White House say the fines reflect the bloc's hostility to innovation, while the EU tells CNBC that its tough line is getting companies to make decisions that benefit consumers. Six fines have been imposed since 2024: March 2024 : Apple fined 1.84 billion under antitrust rules for abusing its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps.

: Apple fined 1.84 billion under antitrust rules for abusing its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps. November 2024 : Meta fined 797 million under antitrust rules over practices benefiting Facebook Marketplace.

: Meta fined 797 million under antitrust rules over practices benefiting Facebook Marketplace. September 2025 : Google fined 2.9 billion under antitrust rules for anti-competitive practices in its advertising technology business.

: Google fined 2.9 billion under antitrust rules for anti-competitive practices in its advertising technology business. April 2025: Apple fined 500 million for failing to comply with "anti-steering" obligations . Meta fined 200 million under the Digital Market Act for requiring users to consent to sharing their data with the company or pay for an ad-free service.

Apple fined 500 million for failing to comply with "anti-steering" obligations Meta fined 200 million under the Digital Market Act for requiring users to consent to sharing their data with the company or pay for an ad-free service. December 2025: X fined 120 million under the Digital Services Act for breaching transparency obligations. "All companies doing business in the EU are accountable to the European people and should respect the rules meant to protect them," a Commission spokesperson told CNBC, adding that fines would only relate to the conduct of firms' operations in Europe that breach EU rules. Donald Trump's administration takes a different view. It's stepped up its criticism of the bloc, accusing it of over-regulating its tech firms and jeopardising Europe's ability to benefit from the rise of AI.

watch now

U.S. administration interventions

In February, Trump signed a memorandum stating the U.S. would consider tariffs to "combat digital service taxes (DSTs), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies." Fines against U.S. companies are the biggest source of friction on the economic relationship between the EU and the U.S., Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth Jacob Helberg told journalists last week, Reuters reported. It's not a new point of tension; Helberg also said that the EU had fined U.S. tech companies more than $25 billion in the past two decades. "If the European Union is going to participate in the AI economy...They're going to need data centers, data and access to the United States AI hardware stack, and you can't overregulate and move the goal post on regulations and hit companies with huge fines," U.S. ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder told Ian King on CNBC's "Europe Early Edition" on March 27. When approached for comment on how EU Big Tech fines were impacting U.S.-Europe relations, a U.S. Department of Commerce spokesperson referred CNBC to a November interview with Secretary Howard Lutnick. "Let's settle the outstanding cases," he told Bloomberg. "Let's put them behind us."

Europe fights back

There's a difference in opinion on the other side of the Atlantic. "Fines imposed under EU competition law, the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act serve, first as a penalty for breaking EU laws, and second as a deterrent to ensure that those EU laws are respected, both as a deterrent against re-offending for the company in question and to deter breaches by other market operators," a Commission spokesperson told CNBC. Europe is treading a line between being reliant on U.S. tech firms for much of its digital infrastructure  though governments are attempting to diversify tech suppliers and develop sovereign alternatives  and ensuring those companies adhere to its rules.

Fines are a "last resort" when attempts at an amicable outcome fail, the spokesperson added. Many changes had been achieved without fines, they said. Apple allowed competitors' connected devices like smartwatches to work more seamlessly with iPhones after the EU launched formal proceedings in March 2025 under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) without resorting to a fine, the Commission spokesperson added. When asked to comment, Apple pointed to previous statements, saying that the DMA discourages innovation, weakens privacy protections, delays or degrades product launches and increases security risks. It did not comment on the EU claim that it had changed its processes in response to the DMA proceedings.

Fines
Oil tankers and gas tankers were affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a global energy crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East.

The question now: Could Iran be pushing for a new normal in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes?

However, energy markets reflected a less optimistic reality, with oil climbing as access through the Strait of Hormuz appears to remain restricted.

Wall Street traded on the promise of peace Thursday, lifting U.S. equities on the back of a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Iran.

Hello, this is Dylan Butts writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open.

Stocks extended their rally on Thursday as investors remained optimistic that the fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran could hold, even as key details of the agreement remain unresolved.

Energy markets, however, signaled less optimism. U.S. crude surged above $100 during the session as it became clear that Iran was still limiting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the pause in its conflict with the U.S.

That view was reinforced by the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., or ADNOC, who said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz was not opened to ship traffic.

"This moment requires clarity," Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber wrote in a social media post. "So let's be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open. Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled."

Oil prices later pulled back from session highs after Israel agreed to negotiate with Lebanon "as soon as possible." Israel's military campaign in Lebanon against Iran's ally Hezbollah has emerged as a central fault line in Washington and Tehran's deal.

Still, the exact status of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to remain a focal point in negotiations. The Financial Times reported that Iran plans to make shipping companies pay tolls in cryptocurrency to pass through the strait.

Responding to those reports, President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Iran "better stop now" if it's charging oil tankers for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, his top economic advisor, Kevin Hassett, said that getting even one oil tanker through the strait would provide a "huge chunk of what's missing" amid a global supply crunch.

However, in a development that could trigger further oil disruptions, a critical Saudi Arabian pipeline to the Red Sea has been reportedly attacked by Iran, cutting its throughput.

Governments are stepping up contingency measures. Japan is reportedly considering releasing about 20 days' worth of oil reserves as early as May.

In Washington, a notable development underscored the broader geopolitical backdrop. A recent government filing has revealed a plan to automatically register American men aged 18 to 26 for a U.S. military draft by December, almost a half-century after compulsory registration for that age group became law.

Beyond geopolitics, major developments have been occurring in the world of big tech.

Meta recently released Muse Spark, its first new AI model in over a year, as it looks to generate returns on its massive investment in Scale AI co-founder Alexandr Wang in June.

It comes after Anthropic announced a powerful new model that will roll out to a select group of companies as part of its new cybersecurity initiative called Project Glasswing.

 Dylan Butts
The White House last month warned staff in an email not to make prediction markets bets related to the Iran war, a Trump administration official confirmed Friday.

The warning came amid increasing concern about insider trading on prediction markets such as Polymarket after a series of suspiciously timed trades around the Iran war, and on the U.S. ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the March 24 email to White House staff.

That email was sent a day after President Donald Trump announced a pause in hostilities in a post on the social media site Truth Social.

In the 15 or so minutes before that post, there was a flurry of unusual activity on oil and stock futures markets. More than $500 million in crude oil futures trades were made in that narrow time window, Reuters reported.

Two Democratic senators, in a letter Friday to the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said the same pattern appears to have recurred Tuesday, "in the hours before President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran  an announcement that sent oil prices down approximately 15 percent."

On that day, "traders placed an approximately $950 million bet on oil prices falling," Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island wrote in a letter asking CFTC Chair Michael Selig to open an investigation into the unusual trading.

"This pattern raises serious questions about whether there has been recurring misappropriation of material nonpublic government information and about the extent to which individuals inside or outside the government have acted on such information," Warren and Whitehouse wrote.

On Wednesday, Rep. Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, sent a separate letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins and Selig requesting a federal insider trading probe.

"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 with CNBC on Wednesday.

"The only plausible answer to that question is an insider trader," Torres said. "Any other alternative is a statistical impossibility."
U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before boarding Air Force Two for expected departure to Pakistan for talks on Iran, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., April 10, 2026.

The speaker of Iran's parliament warned Friday that scheduled negotiations to end the war with the United States cannot begin unless Israel halts attacks on Lebanon and unless the U.S. releases Tehran's frozen assets.

Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued that ultimatum after an American delegation led by Vice President JD Vance flew to Islamabad for talks with Iran, which reportedly will include Ghalibaf and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Ghalibaf's conditions strain Iran's already fragile two-week ceasefire with the U.S., which began Tuesday.

"Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations," Ghalibaf said in an X post.

"These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," he wrote.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Iran continuing to block most shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The strait is the world's most vital shipping route for oil. Before the war, 20% of the world's crude was transported through that passage.

Earlier Friday, Vance told reporters he thinks the negotiations will be "positive," while warning Iran not to "play us."

In addition to Vance, the U.S. delegation for the talks includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and advisor, according to the White House.

"We're looking forward to the negotiation," Vance said. "As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand."

"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," he added.

"So we're trying to have a positive negotiation. The president ... gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we're going to see."
My top 10 things to watch Friday, April 10 1. We're tracking for a tame open this morning. Oil prices are down marginally. The March consumer price index report rose 0.9% for the month and 3.3% on an annual basis, in line with expectations. That captures the Iran war-driven spike in oil prices. Vice President JD Vance is headed to Pakistan for peace talks with Tehran this weekend. 2. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported big numbers overnight. First-quarter revenues were up 35% from a year ago. March alone saw a 45% jump. Will it be enough to allow Nvidia shares to break free and join the sainted club of memory stocks? Taiwan Semi is Club name Nvidia's go-to manufacturer. 3. Melius Research's Ben Reitzes raised his price target on Intel for the third time this year, going to $75 from $58. Kept buy rating. Just this week, Intel announced a partnership with Elon Musk for his Terafab project and an expanded collaboration with Google on data center CPUs. It's also reportedly in talks with Amazon for advanced packaging services. CEO Lip-Bu Tan has returned Intel to greatness. 4. UBS downgraded ServiceNow to hold from buy, saying its previous confidence that the automation software maker was better positioned to withstand AI disruption than peers has weakened. This had been UBS' only buy-rated application software stock. Now analysts are throwing in the towel despite shares already down 41% year to date. I knew someone would break ranks. 5. The divergence this week between hardware winners and software losers has been remarkable, and we need to get used to it . Software analysts at Citi don't see a lot of catalysts for the group either, so they downgraded the likes of DocuSign and Veeva to buy from hold. Also took their price target on hold-rated Adobe to $253 from $287. 6. Club name Nike was downgraded to hold from buy at Piper Sandler. Price target to $50 from $60. Stock in the low $40s. Analysts said the company needs more innovation to fill the void created by selling fewer of its classic shoes like Air Force 1s. They're also worried about saturation in athleisure and tough comparisons for its running business. Do we admit a mistake and move on? 7. Bank of America lowered its Procter & Gamble price target to $167 from $171. Analysts trimmed fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings estimates due to increased costs of oil-derived materials used in packaging and product mixes. P & G is our safety stock. Can't give up on safety. BofA also trimmed its PT on Colgate-Palmolive to $102. Kept PG and CL as buys. 8. Robinhood got a price target cut at Citizens to $155 from $180. Analysts cited a slowdown in crypto. Kept buy. Was this stock always just a crypto play? Robinhood did get a government endorsement in the Trump Accounts gambit . Morgan Stanley is less optimistic, cutting its price target to $95 from $147. Maintained hold. 9. Goldman Sachs resumed coverage of medtech company Becton Dickinson with a neutral rating and a $167 price target. The company completed the spin-off of its biosciences and diagnostic solutions business in February. I thought the restructuring would help the stock. Not so far. 10. Power utility Southern Company got a price target increase to $114 from $107 at Citi. Analysts see more upside and kept their buy rating. The call is definitely right. The U.S. needs way more electricity with the boom in AI data centers. Southern is the grid. I also like Sempra , AEP , and Entergy . Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Elon Musk's xAI, now owned by SpaceX, is facing a new legal challenge from environmental groups in Mississippi, where the company plans to build a massive, methane gas-burning power plant in the town of Southaven.

Nonprofits including the NAACP, Young, Gifted & Green, and the Safe and Sound Coalition want Mississippi to revoke the permit that the state's environmental regulator granted to xAI last month allowing it to build the plant. Members of the groups live near xAI's local operations.

The power plant will "worsen the region's ongoing ozone problem," the groups' lawyers wrote in a petition filed to the state on Thursday, and result in "significant increases of pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and, relatedly, fine particulate matter," that would harm air quality and threaten the health of residents.

Musk's company obtained the permit from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality on March 10, enabling it to install 41 natural gas-burning turbines permanently in DeSoto County, Mississippi, in order to power its nearby data centers.

XAI currently operates a data center called Colossus 2 in Memphis, Tennessee, just across the state line, and is building out a new facility dubbed Macrohardrrr in Southaven.

Musk, the world's richest person, is counting on the Memphis area to serve as the backbone for xAI's buildout, as he tries to compete with OpenAI, Anthropic and Google in the booming AI market. SpaceX acquired xAI in February in a transaction that values the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, ahead of what's expected to be a record IPO in the coming months.

Across the U.S., communities have grown concerned about the financial and environmental risks associated with the buildout of the power-intensive infrastructure that underpins AI models and the apps and services that work on top of them.

Represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, the groups opposing xAI's development argue that the company, via its local subsidiary MZX Tech LLC, and the state's regulator didn't use accurate pollution estimates while considering the power plant.

They also say xAI wasn't required to use the cleanest possible turbines or purchase environmental offsets, and that local stakeholders were cut out of key meetings, while government emails revealed the regulator was rushing the process under pressure from xAI.

The authorization that xAI obtained is known as a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit  a federal air quality standard that applies to significant sources of pollution like utility-sized power plants. Such permits are typically granted after years of correspondence between the Environmental Protection Agency, state regulators and the public.

Representatives for xAI didn't respond to a request for comment. The MDEQ told CNBC by email on Friday that it had received the groups' "request for an evidentiary hearing regarding the permit," and that xAI would have the chance to join the proceeding as a party.

WATCH: SpaceX valuation 'encouraging'
A woman walks past a digital screen displaying news of USIran peace talks along a road in Islamabad on April 10, 2026. Farooq Naeem | Afp | Getty Images

Delegates from the U.S. and Iran are set to enter talks in Pakistan on Saturday, as major disagreements threaten to undermine the fragile two-week ceasefire. Already, Tehran has accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire and put negotiations at risk, as the IDF continues to attack Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing over 300 people there on Wednesday. Though Lebanon was mentioned in the original ceasefire framework drafted by Pakistan, the U.S. and Israel maintain it was not included in the deal. This key difference of opinion threatens to torpedo negotiations. Peace in Lebanon is not clearly included in the U.S. 15-point plan, but it is explicitly referenced in Iran's 10-point plan. But Lebanon is not the only sticking point between the two sides. Differences also remain in who will control the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the future of Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities.

War in Lebanon continues

Announcing the ceasefire on Wednesday, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X that fighting would pause across the region  including Lebanon. Israel was quick to challenge his assertion, insisting that the reprieve would not include its northern neighbor, proceeding to carry out its heaviest bombardment of the country in decades on Wednesday. Iran responded by warning against further attacks, writing on X that its allies form an 'inseparable' part of the ceasefire, and that violations carry 'explicit costs and STRONG' responses. "The Israeli government is not keen to see any rapprochement between the United States and Iran, and the war in Lebanon is one of the main cards that Netanyahu has in destabilizing any peace efforts," Maziyar Ghiabi, director of Persian studies at the University of Exeter, told CNBC's Squawk Box Europe on Friday. In an attempt to prevent further attacks on Beirut, the Lebanese government reiterated its call to enter direct negotiations with Israel, an offer Netanyahu has since accepted. The Lebanon front is likely to figure in discussions in Islamabad, as its inclusion in an end to regionwide fighting remains an open question.

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Control over Hormuz

The question of who controls the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route for oil and gas, is yet unresolved. Iran wants to retain full control over the passage and charge a fee on vessels transiting through the Persian Gulf, using the proceeds to fund the country's reconstruction. It is demanding that shipping firms pay tolls in cryptocurrency in exchange for safe transit, the Financial Times reported Wednesday morning. Trump, on the other hand, said the ceasefire hinges on "the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," in an X post on Tuesday. 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. Such a move would upend decades of free access to the strait as an international waterway, forcing shipowners to pay large fees or avoid the route entirely. Control over the strait is Iran's "biggest" leverage, Amrita Sen, founder of market intelligence platform Energy Aspects, told CNBC's "Access Middle East" on Thursday. "I don't think that tolling is something that will be accepted by the GCC, by Oman, or by any of its neighbors," she said. "That's very, very difficult to swallow, but generally speaking, this is a leverage I don't see Iran giving up."

On nuclear enrichment

Another stumbling block is the fate of Iran's nuclear enrichment program. Iran's nuclear chief said on Thursday that the country's enemies' demands for zero enrichment were "wishful thinking." The Islamic Republic's 10-point peace proposal includes the "right to enrichment," a demand that was swiftly shut down by Vice President JD Vance. Though Iran has pledged to end its nuclear program, it is "unlikely" they will give up their stock of enriched uranium, according to Sanam Vakil, MENA director at Chatham House. "If President Trump obtains guarantees that Iran will allow inspectors back into its nuclear facilities, or what remains of them, and that Iran will down blend this enriched uranium, those will be wins," she told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday. "A verifiable, controlled nuclear deal is ultimately something he [Trump] can sell to the American people." Ultimately, the disagreement on key building blocks of the ceasefire agreement may prove a shaky ground on which to hold talks for a long-term settlement of the conflict.

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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with major U.S. bank CEOs this week to discuss the possible cyber risks raised by Anthropic's Mythos model, CNBC confirmed Friday.

The bank heads were already in Washington, D.C., for a Financial Services Forum board meeting when a special gathering was called on Tuesday to discuss Mythos, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named in order to share information about a confidential matter.

The CEOs had a dinner early in the week when they were called to meet at the Treasury Department, one of the people said. JPMorgan' s Jamie Dimon was the only major banking CEO who could not attend the meeting, they added.

Bank of America 's Brian Moynihan, Citigroup 's Jane Fraser, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Morgan Stanley 's Ted Pick and Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf were all in attendance, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the meeting.

Bloomberg and the Financial Times were the first to report the meeting with bank executives.

The Federal Reserve declined to comment to CNBC. The Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment.

The surprise meeting between the bank chiefs and the two most powerful federal monetary regulators was a signal that the advanced capabilities of AI are a top concern in the Trump administration and could threaten the foundation of the U.S. financial system.

Earlier this week, Anthropic rolled out the new artificial intelligence model, Claude Mythos Preview, in a limited capacity due to concerns that hackers could exploit its capabilities.

Banking giant JPMorgan Chase was among the initial launch partners for the cybersecurity initiative, known as Project Glasswing. Other partners include Apple , Google , Microsoft and Nvidia .
A man was arrested for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home and then threatening to burn down the artificial intelligence company's San Francisco headquarters on Friday, police said.

An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the attack in a statement and said, "Thankfully, no one was hurt."

According to a post on X from the San Francisco Police Department, officers responded to a fire at Altman's North Beach residence after a suspect threw an "incendiary destructive device" at his home at around 4 a.m. The device caused a fire on an exterior gate and the suspect fled on foot.

About an hour later, officers responded to a man threatening arson at the AI company's office, recognizing the person as the same suspect from the attack at Altman's home, according to the statement. Officers arrested the 20-year-old male suspect, with charges still pending.

"We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe," OpenAI said in its statement. "The individual is in custody, and we're assisting law enforcement with their investigation."

In a post on his personal blog on Friday, Altman addressed the attack and shared a photo of his family, writing that he "underestimated the power of words and narratives." He said it has been an "extremely intense, chaotic, and high-pressure few years," and he called for de-escalation of the "the rhetoric and tactics" within the AI industry.

"A lot of the criticism of our industry comes from sincere concern about the incredibly high stakes of this technology. This is quite valid, and we welcome good-faith criticism and debate," Altman said. "I empathize with anti-technology sentiments and clearly technology isn't always good for everyone. But overall, I believe technological progress can make the future unbelievably good, for your family and mine."
Here are the names making headlines in midday trading. Chip stocks  Big chip plays surged as investors snapped up semiconductor companies instead of software. Marvell jumped nearly 7% and headed for a third consecutive positive session. Broadcom and AMD each added 4% and 3%, respectively. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) rose 1.7%. Fair Isaac  The credit scoring service dropped more than 12%. Barclays cut its 12-month price target to $1,950 from $2,400 while keeping an overweight rating, according to FactSet. Organon  The New Jersey-based drugmaker focused on women's health that was spun off by Merck jumped 24%. India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has decided to offer $12 billion for Organon, the Economic Times reported . Sun Pharma said the story was "speculative in nature" and declined further comment. Texas Pacific Land -- The Texas landowner gained 9%, a day after the death of Horizon Kinetics CEO Murray Stahl sent shares tumbling nearly 16%. Horizon Kinetics is the largest shareholder of Texas Pacific Land and Stahl sat on TPL's board. Palantir Technologies  The defense tech stock traded off its session lows after President Donald Trump touted Palantir in a Truth Social post. "Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment," he wrote. "Just ask our enemies!!!" Palantir is still heading for a nearly 14% decline on the week , however. Shares were last down nearly 2% on the day. Cybersecurity stocks  Shares got hit again as investor fears of AI threatening cyber infrastructure and disrupting cybersecurity companies' business models reappeared. Akamai Technologies sunk more than 13%. Palo Alto Networks was off more than 6%, Zscaler declined 3%, while CrowdStrike tumbled 4%. Coherent  Shares of the photonics company jumped7 %. Coherent received a couple of bullish reports from analysts this week, with JPMorgan lifting its price target to $300 from $245 and maintaining an overweight rating on the name. The company and its peer Lumentum are both beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence revolution and both have investments from Nvidia . ServiceNow  The software company fell 7% after a downgrade from UBS from buy to neutral. UBS previously said ServiceNow was relatively better positioned to adapt to the AI era than other software companies but said its confidence in that view has weakened. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing  Shares jumped 2% after the company reported record revenue in the first quarter. Revenue was up 35% year-over-year, totaling 1.13 trillion new Taiwan dollars, or $35.6 billion. CoreWeave  Shares rose more than 12% after the company announced a multi-year agreement with Anthropic. The agreement will support Anthropic's Claude model, with compute as part of the deal coming online later this year. CNBC's Michelle Fox, Scott Schnipper and Darla Mercado contributed to this story. 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.
Check out the companies making the biggest moves premarket: Lumentum Holdings , Coherent  Lumentum shares jumped 5% after its CEO told Bloomberg that the optical and photonic producer's products are booked through 2027, amid the artificial intelligence buildout. Shares of Coherent, another photonics company, were up 4%. Both companies have investments from Nvidia . ServiceNow  The software company fell 1.5% after a downgrade from UBS from buy to neutral. UBS previously said ServiceNow was relatively better positioned to adapt to the AI era than other software companies but said its confidence in that view has weakened. Palo Alto Networks , CrowdStrike  The two cybersecurity stocks bounced back on Friday after a major sell-off on Thursday after faith in a partnership between these companies and AI giant Anthropic around its new Claude Mythos model faded. Palo Alto and CrowdStrike both rebounded more than 2%. Sandisk , Western Digital  Mizuho reiterated its outperform rating on the memory and storage group, and raised its price targets on several names. Sandisk, the best performing stock on the S & P 500 in 2026, rose nearly 3% after Mizuho hiked its price target on the stock to $1,000. Western Digital rose more than 1.5% on its price hike from the bank as well. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co .  Shares jumped 2.5% after the company reported another record revenue total in the first quarter. Revenue was up 35% year-over-year, totaling 1.13 trillion new Taiwan dollars, or $35.6 billion. CoreWeave  Shares rose more than 4.5% after the company announced a multi-year agreement with Anthropic. The agreement will support Anthropic's Claude model, with compute as part of the deal coming online later this year.
This report is from this week's The Tech Download newsletter. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. The past week has seen some progress, albeit uneasy and stilted, being made towards ending the Iran war. A two-week ceasefire was agreed on Wednesday, and while it looks fragile, hopes of the conflict approaching a close are prompting analysts to look ahead and assess its longer-term impact on the global tech sector. Exports of helium, a key material in chipmaking and other manufacturing processes, have already been significantly curtailed by the fighting, and some European companies have faced delays to semiconductor deliveries from Asia due to flight path disruption. Experts have also warned a prolonged conflict would throw uncertainty over future data center and AI infrastructure projects in the region. Now, analysts tell me that a month-and-a-half of conflict in the Middle East has damaged its reputation as a place to invest and could see some backers look to put cash elsewhere in the world. Local investors with deep pockets could help bolster tech projects in the region, though, and longer-term it still boasts attractive conditions for international tech companies and investors, not least due to its cheap energy and availability of land.

People wave Iranian flags while attending the funeral of Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy alongside others killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran at Enghelab Square in Tehran on April 1, 2026. AFP | Getty Images

Reputation damage

The conflict is likely to weigh on near-term investor confidence in the region, Michael Field, chief equity strategist at Morningstar, said. "For many countries, it has been a reminder of the need to prioritise national security, which will reduce cross-border investment." AI data center builds could also slip down the priority list for countries directly affected by the conflict, Simon Lapthorne, senior research analyst at Rathbones, told me. "Wars inevitably increase uncertainty, hitting confidence and investment decisions well beyond the region itself," he said. But the impact on tech projects in the Gulf is more about timing than demand disappearing altogether, Lapthorne added. Attacks on data centers in the Middle East will make it harder for countries to become major AI centers running workloads from customers in other regions, but AI demand within the region should continue, Ian Fogg, tech industry analyst at CSS Insight, said. "Business cases for AI investment will likely narrow to focus on AI workloads that originate in the region and benefit consumers and businesses in the GCC area," he added. While Mehdi Paryavi, CEO of think tank the International Data Center Authority, told me he expects some companies to diversify investments towards other regions like Europe, Latin American and Asia-Pacific, he added that the "reality is that the Middle East region is too rich in resources to be ignored." The huge spending power of often state-backed local investors in the region will also likely persist. "I would expect local sovereign wealth funds to continue to commit to capital expenditure projects within the region, and these will be supportive," said Paul Markham, head of global equities at GAM Investments.

Wider impact

Outside of the Middle East, repercussions from the conflict are likely to still be felt in the tech sector for some time. "We are yet to see the full impact of higher energy prices on the global economy because of economic lags," said CSS Insight's Fogg. Energy price rises will likely affect consumer demand for technology products as disposable spending is impacted. Data center operators, which see significant spending each year go towards energy, could also be hit by price hikes. Others point to continued fallout from the helium shortage as a worrying trend. "Helium isn't a major cost driver, but any supply disruption could quickly become a constraint on chip production, with knockon effects across a huge range of industries," said Lapthorne. For now though, as the U.S., Israel and Iran continue to struggle to find common ground, industry watchers can only speculate and hope the conflict comes to a swift close. Markets will likely remain volatile until a definitive resolution is found. Only time will tell when or how that might happen.

Latest updates

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 AI company, as a lawsuit challenging that sanction plays out. Meta debuted a new major AI model on Wednesday, its first since the costly hiring of Scale AI's Alexandr Wang nine months ago, as the Facebook parent aims to carve out a niche in a market that's being dominated by OpenAI, Anthropic and Google. AWS teams are working around the clock to keep Middle East services up after drone strikes, CEO Matt Garman told CNBC on Tuesday. OpenAI's Stargate project in the U.K. is being paused, with the company pointing towards the cost of energy and the country's regulatory environment. Meta committed to spending an additional $21 billion on AI cloud infrastructure from CoreWeave on Thursday.

Stock of the week

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Intel stock has surged this week.
TD Cowen is initiating coverage on four crypto treasury firms  public companies that make it their job to buy and hold crypto to increase shareholder value. Almost a year ago, these companies were the newest mania in crypto at a time when investors were chasing returns during a bitcoin price slump. Dozens of companies rushed in positioning themselves as the next Strategy , and often beyond bitcoin and across a spectrum of crypto assets. To many, it was inevitable that most players wouldn't last, but those that survived and succeeded would become compelling long-term opportunities for investors. Now, TD Cowen has identified four, saying the subsector "merits specific focus." On Thursday it initiated coverage of Strive , Nakamoto Holdings , The Smarter Web Company (all bitcoin accumulators) and SharpLink (which invests in ether)  all with buy ratings. It also reiterated its buy rating on Strategy, the pioneer of the bitcoin accumulation strategy. "These companies best represent a nascent industry sector, with operating activities that add meaningful value to investors as well as their respective underlying digital asset ecosystems," analyst Lance Vitanza said in the note. "We believe the sector is likely here to stay and could command increasing investor attention over time." Each of the stocks is down more than 50% in the past six months amid the macro-driven downturn in crypto asset prices. Investors anticipate prices will recover, however, an expectation supported by signals of institutional appetite for crypto, such as Morgan Stanley launching its own bitcoin ETF, MSBT , this week. TD Cowen sees more than 100% upside potential in Strive and SharpLink, about 200% in Smarter Web and more than 300% in Nakamoto. Compared to exposure through spot or ETF holdings, there's amplified upside potential in treasury companies, according to the firm. They grow the amount of crypto held per share over time, utilize institutional leverage that individual investors typically can't access, reinvest operating cash flows back into the business and take advantage of self-reinforcing growth loops (also known as the "flywheel effect"). "Digital assets are transitioning from speculative instruments into foundational components of the global financial system," Vitanza said, with bitcoin as digital gold and ether as digital picks and shovels that could facilitate the tokenization of $100 trillion of financial assets. "Rather than viewing bitcoin and [ether] exposure solely through either spot holdings or exchange-traded products (ETPs), we argue that well-run [digital asset treasury companies] may deliver superior long-term exposure." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
CEO of Palantir Technologies Alex Karp attends the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 15, 2025.

President Donald Trump lauded Palantir in a post to Truth Social on Friday as the artificial intelligence software stock plunged 14% for its worst week in a year.

"Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment," Trump posted on the social media platform. "Just ask our enemies!!!"

The U.S. military is reportedly utilizing Palantir's AI-powered Maven Smart System platform to identify targets in the Middle East, tied to strikes on Iran that began in late February. Palantir counts on the government, including the Pentagon and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for more than half of its U.S. revenue.

Over the years, CEO Alex Karp vocally supported America's military and equipping warfighters with the best possible tools. Despite previous critiques of Trump and past donations to President Joe Biden's campaign, Karp has backed the new administration and its policies.

Karp regularly defends Palantir when the company is criticized for providing tools used to surveil immigrants and Americans. His outspoken support of Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas also led some employees to leave the company, he previously told CNBC.

In October of last year, Palantir communications chief Lisa Gordon called the company's political shift toward the Trump administration "concerning" in an interview at an event hosted by The Information. The video was quickly removed from The Information's YouTube and social media pages.
Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week questioned leading tech CEOs about the security of artificial intelligence models and how to respond to cyber attacks before Anthropic released its new Mythos model, CNBC has learned.

The meeting occurred over the phone, according to two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the event was private.

One of the people said that Anthropic's Dario Amodei, xAI's Elon Musk, Google 's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Microsoft 's Satya Nadella, CrowdStrike 's George Kurtz and Palo Alto Networks ' Nikesh Arora also participated.

The tech CEOs met to discuss the security posture of large language models and safe deployment, according to the person. Officials also discussed how to respond if models scale in favor of attackers, they added.

An Anthropic official declined to comment on the meeting, but told CNBC on Friday that the company has been in touch with senior officials about cybersecurity in recent weeks and has made itself available to support "the government's own testing and evaluation of the technology."
Kevin Warsh, Fellow in Economics at the Hoover Institution and lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, speaks during the Sohn Investment Conference in New York City, U.S., May 8, 2017.

An expected Senate hearing on the nomination of Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair has been delayed, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC on Thursday evening.

Warsh had been set to appear before the Senate Banking Committee on April 16. That won't happen, but the hearing is still expected soon, the person said, requesting anonymity as the details have not been made public by the committee.

The committee's rules require that it give a week's notice before the hearing is held, and the panel first needs to collect paperwork from the nominee, including financial disclosures. The banking committee has yet to receive Warsh's paperwork, according to three people familiar with the Senate process.

The committee has not formally noticed the hearing. The deadline for doing so was Thursday. Punchbowl earlier reported the delay to Warsh's hearing.

Warsh's finances may be especially complicated. He is married to Estee Lauder cosmetics heir Jane Lauder, whose net worth is estimated at $1.9 billion, according to Forbes.
When voters in the forthcoming Hungarian election assess the current government, its record on internet security will not be one of its proudest achievements.

An analysis by open source investigation organization Bellingcat has revealed that the passwords for almost 800 Hungarian government email accounts are circulating online, many of them associated with national security. These breaches in security are not down to high-tech attacks but rather are the result of poor email hygiene among government employees. The security leaks were widespread: 12 out of 13 government departments were affected.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans administration likes to present itself as firm protector of Hungarian borders, resisting foreign interference, but this doesnt seem to apply to its computing prowess. Among those whose details were revealed were an officer responsible for information security and a counter-terrorism expert.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA)  More than 40 people, including members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), were killed on Wednesday evening in a drone strike on a social gathering in Kutum, North Darfur, according to Sudanese media reports
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Two people smugglers who ran a 'Tripadvisor' travel service for illegal immigrants from a Welsh car wash have been jailed.

Migrants would leave reviews on social media on videos filmed inside lorries or boats for the journeys arranged by Dilshad Shamo, 43, and Ali Khdir, 42.

The pair smuggled about 100 migrants to Europe weekly for two years via planes, boats, lorries, taxis and cars.

Iraqi-born Shamo and Iranian-born Khdir made a turnover of 1.8million in just six months secretly running the operation out of the car wash in Caerphilly.

Recorder of Cardiff, Tracey Lloyd Clarke, told them: 'You were both the organisers of a large and sophisticated network which enabled the successful illegal movement of a very large number of migrants from Iran, Iraq and Syria into and across Europe.

'You provided that service to almost anyone who was prepared to pay your fees.'

She added: 'You were friends and operated the Fast Track Car Wash on Pontygwindy Road in Caerphilly.

'You were both involved in trafficking individuals - that is people smuggling - for financial gain. Those people were predominantly from Iran, Iraq or Syria.

'Migrants paid, often thousands of pounds, to be trafficked by you and many other by various routes.'

Migrants would leave reviews on social media on videos filmed inside lorries or boats for the journeys arranged by Dilshad Shamo, 43, and Ali Khdir, 42

Migrants in a video filmed in 2022 when they were in Romania during their journey across Europe

Shamo (left) and Khdir (right) in a surveillance picture taken by NCA officers

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The smugglers moved people from Iraq, Iran and Syria through the EU to Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, France and Britain.

The duo, who lived and worked legally in Britain, ran the operation using a Middle Eastern money-transfer system called Hawala banking.

They offered migrants a multi-tier service, with higher fees for premium modes of transport.

And they encouraged their customers to rate the journeys in videos including one in which a man sat at the back of a lorry gives a thumbs up after being asked how his route was, and a another involving an Iranian family smuggled to Europe who shout: 'God bless you, we are very grateful.'

In another video, a migrant says: 'Lorry route agreed with knowledge of the driver; here we have men, women and children - thank God the route was easy and good.'

Further footage shows men smiling to the camera as they pointed to at least a dozen other migrants travelling on a boat.

Derek Evans, NCA branch commander, said Shamo and Khdir ran the illegal business 'like a travel agency'.

Shamo, an Iraqi national, pictured in a police mugshot

Iranian national Ali Khdir worked alongside Shamo to move people from Iraq, Iran and Syria through the EU to Italy, Romania , Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany and France

'It's like Tripadvisor, they were rating their service within that community,' he added.

The 'platinum' tier cost between 10,000 and 25,000 and would provide migrants with a fake passport and air travel.

The second highest tier, the 'gold' service, came with transport via ship for between 8,000 and 10,000, while the bronze service for between 3,000 and 5,000 involved travel on a lorry or dinghy across the Channel.

The pair are thought to have transported thousands of people across Europe, making enormous profits.

Mr Evans said: 'Our long-running investigation showed Khdir and Shamo were working around the clock to orchestrate the movement of migrants across Europe. We believe they smuggled more than 400 people in a period of just six months.'

Fast Track Hand Car Wash in Caerphilly, South Wales, which was used as a base for Shamo and Khdir to smuggle people

Very little of the profits have been recovered, as the processing was done through the Hawala system.

'So, most of that money is still in Iraq or Kurdistan,' Mr Evans said.

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.

Shamo and Khdir were each jailed for 19 years and told they must serve at least 40 per cent of their sentence behind bars.
Banjul, Gambia (PANA)  Gambia-s President Adama Barrow on Friday underscored the central role of security in national development, warning that illicit drugs undermine progress, destroy communities and threaten peace and stability
The most radical thing an American can do right now is feel good about their country.

In a month of historic firsts, US special ops soldiers carried out the most daring rescue operations in a generation and an American-led crew aboard NASA's Artemis traveled further from Earth than any other human beings in history.

The nation shrugged.

A news cycle passed. The internet moved on. There was no sustained national moment of pride, just the low, constant hum of a country that has forgotten how to celebrate its wins.

I've been sitting with this, trying to understand it. What I keep coming back to is not as simple as a failure of patriotism or a collapse of national character. It is something more specific and more insidious: we have been conditioned to be joyless.

I can speak to this with some candor. Having spent a decade building The Daily Wire, one of the most successful conservative media companies in the country, I know what the business model looks like.

There are two ways to build an audience: give people something worth believing in, or give them something worth being angry about.

The latter is faster, cheaper and far more addictive.

Having spent a decade building one of the most successful conservative media companies in the country, I know what the business model looks like (Pictured: Jeremy Boreing is host of The Jeremy Boreing Show and co-founder of The Daily Wire)

In a month of historic firsts, US special ops soldiers carried out the most daring rescue operations in a generation and an American-led crew aboard NASA's Artemis traveled further from Earth than any other human beings in history

Outrage triggers the same dopamine pathways as does reward. But like any easy high, the thrill dissipates and becomes more difficult to recreate, leaving the user chasing.

Soon, mild outrage stops scratching the itch. The content must get darker. The stakes must be made to feel bigger. The enemies, more menacing. And over time, the audience is poisoned, slowly but thoroughly.

As a result, Americans' ability to feel proud has atrophied.

How else do you explain the lack of spontaneous celebrations after an F-15E weapons officer - a decorated Colonel, badly wounded and alone in Iran's Zagros Mountains with IRGC forces closing in - was miraculously rescued?

Consider the political dissonance of the moment.

Republicans hold the White House, the Congress and a majority of state governments. By every conventional measure, for a conservative, like me, this should feel like forward motion. Instead, a significant portion of right-wing media is methodically working to ensure that its audience remains miserable.

Why? Because fighting the Left or so-called Republicans-In-Name-Only is much easier than building the future. It keeps people paralyzed, consuming content and dependent on the dealer for their next hit.

Even well-intentioned commentators drift toward peddling despair. And, of course, not every commentator is well-intentioned.

The modern media industry has turned misery into a product. I call it the Grift Industrial Complex and Tucker Carlson is one of its most eloquent practitioners. His method is worth noting: he curates guests who voice the dark conclusions he wants you to reach, then sits back as a kind of sophisticated amplifier.

In one of his recent episodes, Carlson had comedian Dave Smith compare America to the Roadrunner cartoon: 'You run off the side of the cliff, but you're still in air for a moment and then you look down.'

President Trump addresses the operation to rescue an American airman downed inside Iran

The modern media industry has turned misery into a product. I call it the Grift Industrial Complex and Tucker Carlson is one of its most eloquent practitioners

It's a memorable image, framing American culture on the verge of free fall. And like a cartoon, it doesn't reflect reality.

The United States remains the world's largest economy by a margin no rival is close to closing. Unemployment is near historic lows. The southern border, declared unsalvageable two years ago, is under control. For the first time in history, American scientists used CRISPR gene editing to save a baby's life last year with a therapy that was designed specifically for him. A country in free fall does none of these things.

Self-loathing used to be a distinctive characteristic of far left politics - but no more. The reactionary right has gotten into the act, as well. And this is where the damage becomes irreversible and the risk existential.

A man who believes his country is finished doesn't fight for it. He doesn't build anything. He believes he has no agency and comes to blame others for every failure. This man gives his allegiance to whoever promises a new order, or even just revenge against the old one.

A subset of professional blackpillers understand this - despair makes you easier to control.

Happiness is, as conservative commentator Dennis Prager often says, a moral obligation. The pursuit of happiness is one of the great motivators of human innovation and growth. And joy is a bulwark against tyranny, making it the first thing that a demagogue must destroy.

Despair dealers would have you believe that pride in your country is naivete. That to honor your nation is to ignore all its flaws. But joy is not the denial of reality  it is a judgment about it. It is the belief that what is right is more powerful than what is wrong and that a better world is still within grasp.

Unashamed national pride holds a society together when it starts to feel like the 'center cannot hold.'

America is capable of great things. Our astronauts went deeper into space than any who came before them. Our soldiers did something that seemed impossible to bring their brother home.

That so many of us cannot feel pride, that so many have been so thoroughly trained in contempt that genuine joy reads as weakness, is one of the more terrifying aspects of modern life.

A nation that cannot celebrate its victories will not recognize its defeats until it is too late.

Jeremy Boreing is host of The Jeremy Boreing Show, creator of The Pendragon Cycle and co-founder of The Daily Wire
Even a few short years ago, the prospect of Britain appearing irrelevant on the global stage would have been unthinkable.

But as Keir Starmer drifted aimlessly around the Gulf this week, it was painfully clear that our great nation is now little more than a bit player in the geopolitical arena.

The war on Iran has put a sharp focus on Sir Keir's inglorious role in consigning Britain to the margins.

His dithering response at the outbreak of hostilities won him no admirers  and has not gone unnoticed in the friendly Middle Eastern states he visited in recent days.

Yet whether by accident or design, the Prime Minister was downgrading our international standing long before the conflict started.

Nowhere is his disastrous record more apparent than in the shameful neglect of our Armed Forces.

Despite being repeatedly warned of the need to reverse low levels of defence spending under successive governments, Sir Keir's response has amounted to little more than staggering indifference.

Thanks to his lack of interest, our vastly diminished military strength has resulted in humiliation in front of the world over the past six weeks.

Keir Starmer (pictured) undertook a Gulf tour aimed at bolstering the ceasefire in the Middle East war but it was painfully clear that our great nation is now little more than a bit player in the geopolitical arena

It was ten days into the Iran war before HMS Dragon  the only Royal Navy destroyer deployed to date  set sail for the eastern Mediterranean on a mission to protect British airbases in Cyprus.

Yet, in an embarrassing development revealed in the Daily Mail earlier this week, it had to be docked at an undisclosed location to undergo repairs.

That isn't even the worst of it. Would a PM with even a smidgen of respect for either the office he holds or the nation have allowed a situation where the Navy was reduced to asking Germany for the loan of a warship?

Yet that happened only last month.

Our depleted defences are also increasingly a cause for concern on the domestic front. It now seems to be almost routine practice for Russia to send spy submarines and sanctioned oil tankers into British waters.

Yet despite much huffing and puffing from Starmer and his Defence Secretary John Healey, there is no sign that the threat of dire consequences is causing Vladimir Putin any sleepless nights.

Nor is it just in the military sphere that Britain is finding itself left behind. With the rapid expansion of the AI sector, there are untold opportunities for bright and talented youngsters to get involved in a genuine global revolution that will transform everyone's lives in the years ahead.

But British graduates and school-leavers risk missing out on those opportunities due to energy costs and red tape linked to the Labour administration's demented pursuit of Net Zero.

Mr Starmer (left) arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as part of a two-day visit to the Gulf region

As industry giant OpenAI halted its Stargate UK project this week, Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith remarked: 'Ed Miliband's suicidal policy has just cost us another huge investment.'

Of course, the history books show that Britain is no stranger to standing alone. When we squared up to the evils of the Nazi empire in the early days of World War Two, it was under the stewardship of brave and principled leaders.

Then we were alone but with a singular determination and purpose.

Today we are alone, lost in a sea of dither and delay under a Prime Minister whose defining characteristic is his lack of belief in anything at all.
Concerning new data names the nine NHS hospital trusts where excess patient deaths have been reported over the past year.

Figures released by NHS England yesterday show that some trusts recorded more than 30 per cent higher patient deaths than expected between December 2024 and November last year.

The annual report compares the number of deaths expected at each trust with the actual number recorded over the period.

It includes patients who died in hospital as well as those who died within 30 days of discharge.

The NHS stressed that the figures are 'not a measure of quality of care' and instead 'should be viewed as a 'smoke alarm' which requires further investigation'.

However, records show that four of the same trusts had also been flagged for higher-than-expected deaths in a previous release of figures.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  which is comprised of Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Clifton Hospital  had recorded deaths 31.9 per cent above expected levels.

A total of 2,355 patients died either while in the trust's care or within 30 days of discharge, compared with an expected figure of around 1,785.

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The second highest death rate (30 per cent above expected levels) was recorded at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, where there were 1,820 deaths against a projected 1,400. All but five of these deaths occurred at Medway Maritime Hospital.

This was followed by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, where deaths were 28.8 per cent above expected levels, with 1,900 deaths compared with 1,475 expected.

In total, 118 trusts were analysed in the latest figures, with around 7.6 per cent overall classified as having higherthanexpected death rates.

Worryingly, four of the trusts flagged as 'smoke alarms' in the previous data - between December 2023 and November 2024 - also appear again in the latest figures.

They are County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, East Cheshire NHS Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, and Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

Death rate percentages increased from the last figures for all of these trusts except East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which saw a slight decrease.

Overall, of the 118 trusts included in the data there were 286,000 recorded deaths, a slight drop from the total of 288,000 recorded in the previous figures.

Damningly, the trusts with higherthanexpected deaths also rank among some of the worst performers in the NHS league table, which assesses 134 trusts against key performance targets.

As well as recording the highest percentage of deaths above expected levels, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  ranked 106th in the table  has been engulfed in controversy in recent times.

It was revealed last year that six of its medical staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital were sent to prison for serious criminal offences in the space of just two years. That tally did not include a consultant at the hospital who was found by a tribunal to have raped a woman at his home.

Elsewhere, at Medway NHS Foundation Trust  which sits 116th in the league table  a report last year revealed that frail A&E patients were 'told to soil themselves' because there was noone to take them to the toilet at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Healthcare inspectors visiting the hospital found bedbound patients faced waits of more than 50 hours with no access to wash facilities, leaving some 'sitting in their own faeces'.

Meanwhile, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust  95th in the rankings  were criticised by a coroner last year for having a 'culture of defensiveness' after a baby died due to 'gross failures' in 'basic medical care'.

James Adeley criticised the Trust after an inquest into Ida Lock, a baby who died a week after birth as a result of a serious brain injury caused by poor care at the hands of midwives.

Mr Adeley pointed out 'multiple missed opportunities' for 'enhanced care' during the baby's birth including a 'wholly ineffectual' and 'incompetent' resuscitation.

The senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen noted similarities with criticism pointed at the trust a decade ago after hearing evidence of a 'deep seated and endemic culture of defensiveness in respect of maternity incidents'.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust is the lowestranked trust on the NHS league table among those with higherthanexpected death figures.

The trust is currently ranked 133rd, having moved up one place from the bottom of the table, where it sat last year.

Patients at its main hospital have previously complained about conditions, describing how 'everything cracks' and claiming the A&E department 'stinks', while others said lying beneath the ceilings felt like being under a 'death trap'.

Which NHS trusts had higher deaths than expected? Trust name % of patient deaths higher than expected Deaths Expected deaths Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS FT 31.9% 2,355 1,785 Medway NHS FT 30% 1,820 1,400 University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS FT 28.8% 1,900 1,475 East Cheshire NHS Trust 28.6% 900 700 County Durham and Darlington NHS FT 28% 3,320 2,595 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS FT 27.5% 1,600 1,255 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 24.1% 2,550 2,055 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 21.1% 2,900 2,395 University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust 18.7% 4,350 3,665

The NHS said in their release of the latest report: '[The figures are] not a measure of quality of care. A higher than expected number of deaths should not immediately be interpreted as indicating poor performance and instead should be viewed as a 'smoke alarm' which requires further investigation.'

'Similarly, an "as expected" or 'lower than expected' SHMI should not immediately be interpreted as indicating satisfactory or good performance.'

They also stated that the figures for the trusts should be 'interpreted with caution' as there was a 'high percentage of invalid diagnosis codes'.

While the majority of trusts recorded deaths in line with expectations, eight reported fewer patient deaths than expected by the NHS.

These were Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust recorded the largest reduction, with 2,155 deaths compared with 2,995 expected  a decrease of around 28.1 per cent.

This was followed by Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, which recorded 1,155 deaths against an expected 1,565, representing a 26.2 per cent decrease.

In third place was Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where deaths were 24.8 per cent below expected levels, with 1,695 deaths compared with 2,255 expected.

Approached for comment on the latest figures, a spokesperson for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said: 'This relates to a data validation issue that we have been working to resolve and is not connected to any clinical concerns.

'Our SHMI figure has been decreasing since its peak in May 2025 and we are now in an improved position.'

Rebecca Martin, Medical Director at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, said: 'A key factor affecting our SHMI results is the clinical coding backlog we were experiencing at the time.

'This means the coding of many patient's episodes of care were not fully included in the results. This has underestimated patient complexity and their diagnosis, which means this data cannot be confirmed as accurate. We have been using other data sets to monitor quality of care and levels of mortality during this period.

'We acknowledge that this backlog should not have been allowed to grow. We have now rectified our backlog and have sufficient capacity in place to keep pace with our coding work. This will allow all episodes of care to be fully coded and included in SHMI going forward. As this data is retrospective it will take some time for all care to be reflected in our data.'

A spokesperson for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'Mortality indicators do not measure avoidable deaths or quality of care, we consider them alongside a wide range of other quality and safety information to identify where improvements may be needed.

'The way we record deaths, whilst aligned with national guidance, makes our mortality appear higher than expected which currently mean the figures do not provide an accurate picture. We are currently working with NHS England to correct that.'

Dr Alison Davis, chief medical officer at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We are committed to understanding and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to a higher-than-expected mortality rate.

'We are taking action by strengthening care for frail patients in and out of hospital, preventing patients deteriorating while in hospital, improving pneumonia and sepsis care, and acting on learning from deaths.'

Many of the trusts are believed to have reported coding concerns to NHS England.

All of the NHS trusts with higherthanexpected death rates have been approached for comment.

It comes just days after it was revealed that strikes by junior doctors have cost hospitals 3billion  as they walked out again this week for the 15th time since 2023.

Health chiefs burn through 50million a day when medics walk out, as they are forced to cancel procedures and pay consultants up to 313 an hour to cover for their junior colleagues, now known as resident doctors.

The 3billion total could pay for 1.5million operations, 15million outpatient appointments or 75,000 nurses for a year  or be used to build three new hospitals.

Tuesday's walkout started at 7am and is due to last six days. The doctors are striking in pursuit of a 26 per cent pay rise  on top of the 28.9 per cent they have received over the past three years.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Monday accused the British Medical Association of 'sapping the health service of vital funds', urging the union to call off the strike and 'put the needs of patients and the country first'.

He said the walkout had been timed to cause 'maximum disruption, at a cost now running into the billions'.

His comments echo a warning by NHS England, which said strike action immediately after the Easter bank holiday weekend will put a 'significant strain' on services.
A vulnerable teenager was left stuck in a busy NHS A&E department for more than 70 days after social services failed to find a suitable placement that could meet her 'complex' needs.

The girl, who has not been named, remained inside Queen's Hospital in Romford, east London, after her council-arranged care placement broke down and no alternative accommodation could be secured.

Court documents later revealed she was kept under constant supervision in a windowless room within the emergency department for more than two months while authorities attempted to find somewhere for her to be moved to.

A High Court judge described the situation as 'intolerable', raising serious concerns about how children with severe behavioural and mental health difficulties are being cared for when placements collapse.

The teenager is understood to have had complex needs, including self-harming behaviour and aggression, which meant she could not be moved to standard paediatric wards or mainstream children's homes.

In effect, she was deprived of her liberty while remaining in a hospital environment never designed for long-term care.

The case has highlighted growing pressure on the care system, with A&E departments increasingly being used as a 'place of last resort' for children with no suitable placement available.

Health chiefs said the situation reflects a wider shortage of specialist children's homes, secure units and mental health beds, particularly for young people with mental health issues and behavioural problems.

The teenage girl stayed at Queen's Hospital in Romford, east London (pictured)

Matthew Trainer, chief executive of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust, said cases like this are 'unacceptable and distressing'.

He said: 'Several young people have experienced long waits for the right support in A&E. It's unacceptable and distressing for both patients and our staff, and something we've been discussing for several years.'

He added that the trust had previously seen another child spend 44 days in A&E after a placement could not be found, describing these as among the longest delays experienced.

Hospital bosses are working with councils and mental health services to try to reduce delays and secure more appropriate placements.

Specialist accommodation for children in crisis is meant to include regulated children's homes, enhanced foster placements or secure units for those posing risks to themselves or others.

However, chronic shortages in provision mean options are often extremely limited, particularly for teenagers with complex behavioural needs.

A dedicated mental health space for children has been opened at Queen's Hospital, but it has capacity for just one patient.

Separate NHS data from the North East London Integrated Care Board has warned that emergency departments are increasingly being used when children's placements break down, particularly where neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions are involved.

Clinicians say prolonged stays in A&E can significantly worsen conditions, as the environment is noisy, overstimulating and lacks the specialist care these children require.

The case comes amid wider concerns about NHS emergency care capacity.

A recent survey by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine found A&E departments are operating at more than double their intended capacity, with thousands of patients forced into corridors, waiting areas and other unsuitable spaces.

On one snapshot day, more than 7,000 patients were being treated in departments designed for fewer than 3,000, while some individuals waited days - or even weeks - for a hospital bed.

Doctors warned that delays are now so severe that some mental health patients have waited more than two weeks for admission.

Experts say that without urgent expansion of specialist children's services and improvements in hospital discharge capacity, the situation is likely to deteriorate further.
America's fertility rate has fallen once again to a new record low, official data shows  marking the third consecutive year it has plummeted.

Provisional figures from the CDC revealed the general fertility rate dropped to 53.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 in 2025, down from 53.8 the year before.

It was a one percent fall in 12 months, and marked a 23 percent drop from 2007, the most recent peak, when the fertility rate was 69.3.

Last year saw about 3.6 million births, a one percent drop from 2024 and down 16 percent from the 4.3 million births registered in 2007.

Experts told Daily Mail that the new data told a 'striking story', and showed that more women were waiting longer to start having families.

America's fertility rate has been in decline since 2007. Experts initially blamed the Great Recession of 2008, saying economic uncertainty led many to put off having children.

But even as the economy initially rebounded, the decline continued.

Experts say continued economic and financial instability, as well as an increased focus on schooling and career have led people to delay having children, have fewer children or not have children at all.

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In the CDC's release, the provisional data suggested that the fertility rate's decline was driven by a drop in the number of teenage pregnancies. It also showed that more women are having children later.

Among those aged 15 to 19 years, births dropped seven percent in 2025 to 11.7 per 1,000 women in the age group. Among those aged 18 to 19 years, they fell 11 percent to 21.9.

Among women aged 20 to 24, births dipped six percent to 52.5.

Women aged 25 to 29 experienced the fourth-largest drop, four percent, to 85.6 births.

But for those aged 30 to 34 years, who had the highest fertility rate overall, births ticked up three percent to 96.2 births per 1,000 women in that age group.

Among 35- to 39-year-olds, they rose two percent to 55.1.

There was also a record-high fertility rate among women aged 40 to 44 - 12.8 births per 1,000 women, up one percent from 2024.

For 45- to 49-year-olds, births remained at their record high for the age group of 1.1.

Dr Elizabeth Cherot, the chief medical officer at Unified Women's Healthcare, told Daily Mail: 'This week's CDC data tells a striking story.

'There were roughly 710,000 fewer babies born in the US last year compared with the peak in 2007, a decline in the general fertility rate in less than two decades. That's a fundamental shift in how Americans are thinking about family.'

Provisional CDC data shows that Americans are having fewer children (stock image)

She added: 'The broader fertility decline is complex.

'Women aren't having fewer children in a vacuum. They're making deeply personal decisions shaped by economic pressures, career considerations and questions about the kind of support they'll have if they do choose to start a family.'

The CDC has yet to release its total fertility rate estimate for 2025, or the number of children per woman.

For a population to remain stable, this should be at 2.1 children per woman.

In 2024, it was 1.6 children per woman. It has been below the replacement threshold since 2007.

Polling in recent years has indicated that the proportion of adults who say they never want to have children has grown, while many couples plan to have fewer children than in previous generations.

A Pew Research Center study published last year found that, on average, men and women aged 20 to 39 years planned to have 1.8 children. In 2012, the figure was 2.3.

Overall, about three-quarters of men and women said that they planned to have at least one child.

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That was down from about 90 percent in 2012.

Political leaders are warning of dire consequences if the population decline continues.

The White House proposed offering a $5,000 'baby bonus' to every US mother after she gives birth and President Donald Trump has worked to make the fertility treatment in vitro fertilization more affordable to make it accessible to people who want to have children.

Elon Musk - who has 14 children with four different women - called the decline 'the biggest threat to civilization' and has warned it 'will lead to mass extinction of entire nations.'

Vice President JD Vance has also claimed that 'our people aren't having enough children to replace themselves.

'That should bother us.'
Ben Sasse's face is so bloodied that people think he's been struck with acid or electric shocks, the former senator claimed this week.

The truth, however, is that Sasse's appearance is the result of an experimental treatment he is undergoing to fight his terminal cancer diagnosis.

The 54-year-old father-of-three, who represented Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in mid-December  and given just four months to live.

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the deadliest forms of the disease because 13 percent of patients do not live longer for five years. For those diagnosed at stage 4, like Sasse, barely three percent survive this long.

Now, it has been 99 days since his diagnosis, and Sasse says, although he never planned to 'die in public,' he feels he ended up with a 'calling to die.'

As part of his battle, he is undergoing treatment with daraxonrasib, a drug that can treat pancreatic cancer by disabling proteins that drive tumor growth.

The drug has shrunk his tumors by 76 percent so far, but he knows that it will probably not save his life, as he said tumors keep emerging in new places, describing treatment as like playing 'Whac-a-mole'.

While the pill has kept the cancer at bay for now, it comes with a nasty side effect that prevents his skin from regrowing, causing him to bleed in places all over his body  including on his face.

Sasse is shown above on a broadcast for Focus on the Family podcast in March this year

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In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, he said: 'I did not decide to die in public. I obviously ended up with a calling to die.

'In mid-December, I got a three- to four-month life expectancy, and I'm at Day 99 or something since then, and I'm doing a heck of a lot better than I was doing at Christmas.

'But even at three to four months to live, you have to redeem the time. There's only so many bits of unsolicited advice I can give my children.'

He added: 'I didn't like the idea of my 14-year-old son not having a dad around at 16. I didnt like the idea of my daughters, who are 22 and 24, not having their dad there to walk them down the aisle. I felt a real heaviness about that.

'But Ive continued to feel a peace about the fact that death is something that we should hate. We should call it a wicked thief.

'And yet, its pretty good that you pass through the vale of tears one time and then there will be no more tears, there will be no more cancer.'

Sasse was a senator from 2015 to 2023 and was well known as an independent conservative voice within the Republican party.

He was also a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, being one of the seven Republicans who voted to impeach him over charges of insurrection.

In 2023, he stepped back from politics to become the president of the University of Florida, saying he wanted to pursue a different model of civic reform.

Health-conscious in his 50s, he would take part in sprint triathlons - multi-course races where contestants complete a swim, bike ride and run in under two hours.

Sasse, a senator for Nebraska until 2023, was a prominent independent conservative voice in the Republican party. He was also a critic of President Donald Trump

But in October last year, he began to experience a 'ton of back pain.' At first, he blamed it on his 45lbs weighted vest or thought it was because he pulled a muscle.

When the pain continued to worsen, however, he saw his doctor who ordered a battery of tests and a full-body scan.

Forty-five minutes after the scan, doctors called him to say his torso was 'chock-full' of tumors and diagnosed him with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Ben Sasse, 54, has opened up about his battle with stage four pancreatic cancer. He is shown above with a bloodied face, which he said was the result of experimental treatment

Pancreatic cancer begins as a growth of cells in the pancreas, an organ behind the lower part of the stomach that makes enzymes to help digest food and hormones that help manage blood sugar.

It is one of the most feared cancers in America because, in its early stages, its symptoms  such as a dull headache, intermittent indigestion or unexplained fatigue  are vague and easily dismissed.

This means that often, by the time the disease is finally diagnosed, it has spread and become much harder to treat, making the cancer a death sentence.

Patients may be treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, but if the cancer is too advanced, these will likely only delay the disease rather than cure it.

About 67,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer every year, while more than 52,000 die from the disease.

Overall, just 13 percent of patients survive for five years or more after their diagnosis. Among those diagnosed at stage four, like Sasse, only three percent live for five years.

Once largely considered a disease of older adults, most commonly affecting people over 65 years old and particularly those with diabetes or obesity, doctors say it is now rising among young people.

Sasse said that when he was diagnosed with the cancer, doctors said his body was riddled with tumors

Sasse is pictured above, left. He said he does not believe the experimental treatment will clear his cancer

Sasse said that when he received the diagnosis, doctors told him he actually had four other cancers in addition to pancreatic: Lymphoma, cancer of the white blood cells, vascular, cancer of the blood vessels, lung cancer and liver cancer.

Doctors said these were triggered by the pancreatic cancer spreading in the body, and causing cancer in other areas. His original spinal pain that pushed him to go to the doctor was caused by pancreatic tumors that were pushing on his spinal column.

He said: 'So, it was pretty clear that we were dealing with a short number of months.

'I said, I believe we're all on the clock. We're all dying. So, this is not the scariest thing to me. [But] I have kids out of the house  our daughters are 24 and 22. But our providential surprise, our boy, is a decade younger. I was immediately thinking about Melissa [my wife], my best friend of 33 years.'

Doctors initially offered him chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, but said they were not confident these would be successful.

Sasse has not said whether he received any of the treatments, but said that shortly after his diagnosis, he was looking for a clinical trial to join.

Within two weeks, he had been accepted into MD Anderson Houston's trial for the drug daraxonrasib, which has been designed specifically to treat some forms of pancreatic, lung and colon cancers.

In its phase 1 trial, patients receiving the drug who had pancreatic cancer survived for 13.1 and 15.6 months on average. This was longer than the 7.4 months longer than among patients who were treated with the current standard medications.

He is now in Houston up to two days a week for the treatment, and receives it orally, with doctors monitoring for side effects.

Besides the bleeding skin, he said he is also suffering with constant pain and regular nausea that often causes him to vomit.

He said his face typically feels 'nuclear' and like it is burning and is in the pharmacy every day seeking medications to ease the side-effects.

Although the drug has reduced the size of his tumors, he said that doctors tell him that because there is already so much cancer across his body, it is unlikely that the drug will be able to cure the disease and save his life.

He did not give an updated prognosis, but said that after starting the treatment he has felt 'better than I deserve'.

He said: 'Death is terrible. We should never sugarcoat it. It is not how things are meant to be.

'But it is great that death can be called the final enemy. It's an enemy, but a final enemy.

'And then, there will be no more tears.'
With thoughts of her upcoming wedding foremost in her mind, Rebecca Waller initially shrugged off the crushing pain that suddenly hit her upper back during a work call on a Friday afternoon in January this year.

She tried to continue the call - I didnt want to be rude and hang up, but the pain got worse and worse, says Rebecca, 27, who was working from her home in London that day.

After the 30-minute call, I really didnt feel well and needed to lie down. I had pins and needles going through my arms.

My hands started curling and I couldnt hold a glass of water. I knew something was seriously wrong.

I called my fiance, James, but could barely speak. I thought I was going to die.

James, who was at his home ten minutes away, immediately called for an ambulance and ran over - arriving just as paramedics pulled up. They found Rebecca on her bed, clutching her chest, writhing in pain and saying she didnt want to die.

The paramedics encouraged Rebecca to breathe slower.

They said I was having a panic attack, so I believed them, she recalls.

Rebecca Waller was planning for the future with her husband-to-be James when she suffered a spinal stroke

The stroke, which happens when signals between the brain and the spinal cord are disrupted, left Rebecca paralysed from the neck down

But it didnt make sense to me. Im not an anxious person and I wasnt stressed at work. If anything, Id never felt more happy and relaxed - James and I were due to get married and wed booked the wedding venue the day before.

Rebecca began hyperventilating again and ran to the bathroom, where she vomited  the last steps she ever took, as suddenly she became unable to move, paralysed from the shoulders down.

For almost two hours, paramedics tried to get her to move herself, unaware of the severity of her condition.

Rebecca says: I wanted to move but my body just wouldnt, it was like it lost connection with my brain.

More paramedics were called to help lift her, and Rebecca was carried into a wheelchair and taken to Charing Cross Hospital.

It was only after scans that doctors discovered the terrifying truth.

Rebecca had suffered a spinal stroke  this is where blood flow to the spinal cord is suddenly blocked, depriving nerve tissue of oxygen, explains Dr Steve Allder, a consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health clinic in Harley Street, London (and previously for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).

Spinal strokes are less common than strokes in the brain - but can be equally serious, even more so in some cases, often carrying a higher risk of long-term mobility challenges.

In Rebeccas case, doctors deduced that a tiny fragment of cartilage from her spine had chipped off and blocked the blood flow.

The shock of this was unbelievable, says Rebecca.

One moment I was planning invitations for our wedding next summer [2027], the next I was lying in intensive care, paralysed.

I could only move my neck and had a tiny twitch in my right arm. Everything else below my shoulders was frozen.

She adds: The first days were a blur. I think I was in denial at first and part of me hoped that I would just wake up the next day and everything would be fine.

Three months on and Rebecca has sensation below her shoulders but cannot feel temperature or pain - and cannot move her arms, let alone walk.

It still doesnt seem real, she says.

With a spinal stroke, signals between the brain and the spinal cord are disrupted, which leads to a rapid onset of neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, or paralysis below the affected spinal level. The nerve cells become damaged or die, so the muscles are no longer getting messages from the brain.

Rebecca and James had gotten engaged while on holiday in Greece after meeting each other nine years earlier

In Rebeccas case the blockage was high in her spine but doctors had no idea what had happened to cause this  she hadnt fallen or had any trauma to that area.

Other risk factors for a spinal stroke are similar to those for brain stroke, such as furred-up arteries and blood-clotting disorders. Certain infections, such as shingles, and inflammatory conditions can also damage or inflame blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the spinal cord, says Dr Allder. When the vessels are inflamed or damaged, the passage of oxygen-rich blood is reduced or stopped, leading to nerve cell injury or death,' he says.

Dr Allder says symptoms typically appear suddenly. They may include severe, sudden back or neck pain, numbness or pins and needles in the arms or legs, loss of bladder or bowel control and sensory changes, such as difficulty feeling touch or temperature.

He adds: Spinal strokes are most often seen in adults over 50, particularly those with underlying cardiovascular risk factors or following surgery. It is very unusual for a young, healthy adult to experience one.

Spinal strokes are just as urgent as brain strokes and getting the right treatment quickly is critical to restore blood flow, limit nerve damage and improve the chances of recovery and prevent permanent paralysis.

Recognition of spinal strokes is generally low, even among healthcare providers. And some people delay seeking help, mistaking symptoms such as sudden back pain, weakness, or numbness for a minor issue like muscle strain or just backache.

Treatment focuses on restoring blood flow to the spinal cord. Dr Allder adds: This can include stabilising blood pressure and oxygen levels, blood-thinning medications if a clot is suspected  and in some cases, surgery to relieve pressure on the spine or treat problems with the blood vessels - such as a blockage - followed by intensive rehabilitation.'

Just how an individual is affected depends on the nature of the stroke. For instance, the signals controlling movement travel along different routes in the spinal cord, and some may be less damaged than others - which is why recovery can happen unevenly.

This explains why Rebecca has some sensation below her shoulders but cannot feel temperature or pain.

Dr Allder explains: Recovery is usually gradual and can continue for months to years. Most substantial recovery occurs within the first three to six months, but ongoing improvement is possible.

Rebecca was in intensive care for six weeks and is now in a rehabilitation centre.

She says: It takes a long time to get me into a wheelchair and outside, but Im moving slowly forward.

As part of her physiotherapy sessions, Rebecca is using electric stimulation applied to her hands, arms, back and legs to help reconnect the signals between her brain and her limbs.

My muscles are still there, but theyve weakened a lot after weeks in hospital, she says.

My nerves are confused and dont know where to send messages. The electric stimulation helps guide them, slowly teaching my body how to move again.

Her life is now a million miles from where it was three months ago.

Originally from Stockholm, Rebecca moved to London in 2019 and had been working in a fast-paced role helping companies find and recruit senior-level staff for the past three years.

When I wasnt working, I enjoyed exercising, going for long walks, socialising and just being outside.

Rebecca and James, also 27, met nine years ago but got engaged in Greece in September.

We climbed to the top of Mount Eros and James tricked me into taking a photo, while he got down on one knee, recalls Rebecca. He had to ask twice as I was so shocked!

The couple were about to move in together before her stroke, but now we need to find somewhere more accessible for me, for when Im finally discharged, says Rebecca.

She adds: I so want to be married to James, even more now that this has happened because its shown me how precious life is.

We might have a small family wedding first, as soon as Im well enough. But wed love a big wedding one day, so I can walk down the aisle in front of all our family and friends.

She adds: Doctors havent said I wont walk again and Im relieved they havent. They said its hard for them to give me a prognosis.

I could only move my neck and had a tiny twitch in my right arm. Everything else below my shoulders was frozen,' says Rebecca

Rebecca says she is more determined than ever to marry James and hopes she may be able to walk down the aisle

James has been by Rebeccas side every day. My parents flew in from Norway to see me and my sister visited from Stockholm, too. They were scared to see how affected I was and were relieved I was still of sound mind.

While the NHS has stabilised her and given her a foundation for recovery, Rebecca will need months of specialised neurological rehab - including intensive physiotherapy to rebuild strength and coordination, occupational therapy to relearn daily activities, and exercises to improve her balance and motor control - along with adaptive equipment and a full-time carer at home.

Stem cell treatments, aimed at repairing or supporting damaged nerve tissue, and other therapies may also be explored to maximise her recovery.

To give Rebecca the best chance to walk again, her sister Caroline set up a GoFundMe page, while Rebecca has also started sharing her story on Instagram.

I was scared to share photos of me looking so vulnerable, like my photos in intensive care, says Rebecca.

But 17 million people viewed my story in a week and the donations started flooding in.

So far over 180,000 has been donated and Im grateful for every single donation.

Rebecca has seen encouraging milestones.

She can lift her forearms slightly  though not enough to use a spoon, for instance, so she has to be helped to eat and drink.

On Easter Friday, which was exactly three months after my stroke, a few of my fingers on both hands started moving, she says.

Every tiny improvement feels like a victory and the wedding is my motivator.

Ive been told I should be able to leave the rehab centre in about four weeks time. For now, Im taking each day at a time. There are days when I get upset and cry, but my amazing support system helps keep me sane.

Rebecca says thinking about the future is the hardest part: It feels scary and uncertain. Id always imagined having children with James but that now seems very far away. Who knows if thats still something Im able to do in years to come?

I hope that I can - but I can only wait and see how my recovery goes.

To donate to Rebeccas fund, visit: gofundme.com/rebeccas-recovery-enxsx
Renoirs delectable 1881 portrait of two little French girls, known as Pink And Blue, hangs in the Museum of Art in Sao Paulo. Its the painting most beloved by visitors and is described by Catherine Ostler in her profoundly moving new book as a snapshot of Belle Epoque loveliness.

Elisabeth and Alice Cahen dAnvers

The two sisters were Elisabeth and Alice Cahen dAnvers: Elisabeth, seven, in the blue sash and Alice, five, in the pink one.

Their bright eyes and rosy-cheeked faces glow with health and peachy softness. Their well-brushed hair, ribbon hairbands, lacy dresses, matching socks and buckled shoes are redolent of the household they grew up in: a haven of wealth, good manners and French good taste.

There are enough unpleasant things in the world without us producing more was Renoirs justification for the (some might now say rather chocolate-boxy) way he painted portraits. As it happened, the girls parents Louis and Louise Cahen dAnvers didnt much like the painting. They were late to pay Renoir, and they hung it out of sight on the sixth floor of their grand Paris house.

I really give up with the Jews, Renoir said, while chasing payment. Casual anti-Semitism like that was rife. The Cahen dAnvers were a Jewish banking family, co-founders of what would become Paribas.

And, bubbling under the surface of the Parisian high life they embraced and shone in  the balls, races, polo matches, salons and acquisition of new Impressionist art  was an increasingly seething resentment of their wealth and success.

That anti-Semitism would spill out with the Dreyfus Affair of 1894, when a Jewish officer was wrongly convicted of spying: a gross miscarriage of justice. It would spill out again, in unthinkably vile ways, during the Vichy regime, in what Ostler describes as a shocking betrayal by France of some of its most loyal and generous supporters, in a dehumanising and toxic swamp of suspicion, judgment and envy.

It almost beggars belief that, 63 years after that portrait was painted, one of those girls  Elisabeth  would be loaded onto a cattle truck for Auschwitz.

The Renoir Girls

How on earth did that moment of pure innocence and beauty connect to the moment of bestiality when, aged 69 and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis so bad she could hardly walk, she was bundled on to that train of death?

With consummate skill and impressive research, Ostler tells the story. Reading the early chapters, when the Cahen dAnvers family were at the pinnacle of Belle Epoque high life, I felt I was inside an Impressionist painting, dazzled by colour and fun.

Describing Trouville in summer, she evokes the stripy tents, fluttering flags and white-horse waves on the choppy sea: a place of leisure and pleasure for the Haute Juiverie, as high-born Jews were known.

Scanning the social calendars of the time, she lists the names  too many names, sometimes  of le tout Paris who attended the balls, races, salons and society weddings. Like many wealthy Jews, the family longed to assimilate into French life, and one way of doing this was to buy new art, and to be patriotically French.

The two girls had an elder sister Irene, who was also painted by Renoir in the portrait known as Little Irene. She married Jewish banker Moise de Camondo, and they had two children, Nissim and Beatrice.

Nissim would fight and die for France during the First World War. Heartbroken, Moise bequeathed his house in Paris, 63 Rue de Monceau, to Les Arts Decoratifs, to become a museum for the nation in Nissims memory. The girls younger brother Charles inherited their parents glorious Chateau Champs-de-Marne near Paris, and also donated that to France between the wars.

As Ostler writes: If Moise de Camondo or Charles Cahen dAnvers thought such generosity might merit some form of gratitude on the part of France towards the family in future, they were much mistaken.

Well done, Alice, for marrying an Englishman, and thus being spared some of the horrors. She became a British Army wife, married to Charles Townshend, who had a disastrous time during the First World War.

His troops were besieged at the Siege of Kut and he was forced to surrender to the Turks: an embarrassing defeat. He never recovered, and died in 1924. But at least Alice was now British. When the Germans invaded France in 1940 she managed to get her half-French grandchildren onto the last freighter to depart from the west coast, just as the Germans moved in to occupy Bordeaux.

The Renoir Girls is available now from the Mail bookshop

Elisabeth had been baptised Catholic in 1897, which gave her an illusion of safety. Shed been married twice, to non-Jews, and divorced twice.

Her tragic mistake was to list her racial origin too accurately on the register demanded by the wartime government. My father and mother were attached to the Jewish religion, as well as their respective parents.

In this anodyne sentence, Ostler writes, lay her fate.

It so happened that the mayor of the commune of Juigne-sur-Sarthe, where Elisabeth lived in a cottage for the first four years of the war, happened to be a far-Right Petainiste  collaborating with the Nazis and very keen to do their bidding.

Irene had the presence of mind to lie about her antecedents. She claimed that her maternal grandparents from Trieste had been born Catholic. She survived the war, and some of her living descendants think she and her daughter, nicknamed Pussy, did so by collaborating with the Nazis to save their skin: disgusting people, as one family member said to Ostler.

This gives us a glimpse of the resentments and suspicions that still fester inside French families, over 80 years later.

Elisabeth was arrested on January 26, 1944 and bundled into the back of a Gestapo car with a suitcase. She arrived at the holding camp, Drancy, two months after Irenes daughter Beatrices children Fanny and Leon, aged 21 and 24, had been deported to Auschwitz. Beatrice was the next to go, on convoy 69. Then it was Elisabeths turn: she was on convoy 70 out of the 77 which took about 77,000 French Jews to the death camps, 100 people crammed into each windowless carriage.

Ostler imagines her waiting on her crutches to board the bus to Bobigny station and the train for Auschwitz, where she would be murdered on arrival (if she didnt die of suffocation, thirst and fright on the 57-hour journey: no one can quite be certain).

As a survivor of one of those journeys wrote: The last vision of a civilised world vanished at Bobigny station. Hell began.
THE SHADOW OF THE OBJECT by Chloe Aridjis (Chatto & Windus 16.99, 192pp)

The Shadow of the Object is available now from the Mail Bookshop

Aridjis is a virtuoso of the gorgeously written art novel that somehow seems to go nowhere and everywhere all at once.

The recipe isnt always successful  but this time it is.

Flora, who polishes silver at a London jewellery shop, has her hand bitten by the family dog while visiting her parents in Mexico.

Laid up in hospital there, she befriends an elderly German toy collector, soon to die  a turn of events that plunges Flora into a relationship with the dead womans son back home in London.

Cue a digressive and symbolically rich meditation on the nature of storytelling, sparkling with zany detail while also haunted by the spectre of the Holocaust.

Our interest ultimately lies less in the story Aridjis tells than in her immersive phrase-making and the space it opens for contemplation.

NO SUCH THING AS MONDAY by Sian Hughes (The Indigo Press 14.99, 240pp)

No Such Thing As Monday is available now from the Mail Bookshop

Hughes, 60, made the Booker longlist in 2023 with her first novel, Pearl, a 20th-century coming-of-age tale which drew on a medieval poem to explore the fallout from postnatal depression.

Her new novel, set in the West Midlands, plumbs similar emotional terrain to unspool a brutally harsh tale of exploitation and survival, glinting with gallows humour to sustain us through grim lows.

The protagonist, Steffie, is a fiftysomething woman working as a dry cleaner when the death of her ex-convict father uncorks a flood of trauma as she searches for her long-lost sister to tell her the news.

Abuse, poverty, addiction and prostitution are among the trials itemised in a series of poignant episodes dating back to Steffies 1970s girlhood. By the end, the redemptively sunny finale feels more than hard-earned.

ON THE CALCULATION OF VOLUME IV by Solvej Balle (Faber 12.99, 208pp)

On The Calculation of Volume is available now from the Mail Bookshop

With three more still to go, this is the fourth instalment in a Danish philosophical puzzler about a bookseller trapped in a recurring cycle of the same mid-November day.

One of the joys of the series is how Balle ever more ingeniously complicates the premise. The drama of the narrators initial confusion has given way to recognition that her crisis is shared by growing numbers of people gathering together around Europe.

Holed up in a villa outside Bremen, her own cohort forms a rota for chores and holds meetings to discuss their plight. For the reader, the peculiarity of the predicament is a gateway to considering everyday mysteries of consciousness, as Balles so-called loopers brainstorm ways to order their disrupted experience of time.
An employee has detailed the moment she almost 'died' from laughter when she overheard her boss's excruciatingly awkward chat with his cat after he forgot to mute his Zoom call.

The woman was on a work call when she noticed her boss casually start talking to his cat, named 'Mr Whiskers'.

'My boss forgot he wasn't muted,' she said in a Reddit thread, titled: 'Overheard my boss in a Zoom meeting and I'm dead.'

'Dude says to his cat, "Mr. Whiskers, you're the only one who gets my vision".'

However, the cringeworthy conversation didn't end there.

'Then he proceeds to rant about how "Jenkins in accounting is a spreadsheet goblin who's tanking my vibe",' the uncomfortable employee said.

'I'm SCREAMING.'

The post sparked more than 400 comments, with many mortified but laughing hysterically at the boss's foot-in-mouth moment.

An employee has detailed the moment she almost 'died' from laughter when she overheard her boss's awkward chat with his cat after he forgot to mute his Zoom call (stock image)

'I am crying,' one said, laughing.

'This is pure gold,' another suggested.

'I hope this is true! And if so, I would want to be friends with your boss,' one shared.

'This made my day. Thank you,' one shared.

Another asked: 'Are you hiring? I'd be there screaming alongside you, co-worker.' The employee joked: 'Drop your resume and a cat treat and you're hired.'

Many suggested the boss came across as a 'nice person', especially because of how he acted around his cat.

'I love this, so freaking much. I also think your boss must be a decent human if he talks to Mr Whiskers like that and named him Mr Whiskers,' one said.

'This is pretty funny. I wouldn't even be p***ed if I was Jenkins, would just sign all my emails off as the Goblin. If that is the level of a boss s*** talking to his cat about work b***s***, he and the cat need to be treasured. Seems like a cool environment,' another added.

But one pointed jokingly pointed out: 'Having the cat does imply "super villain". I've seen some James Bond and Austin Powers films, so Im kind of an expert.'

One person thanked the employee for her story, saying: 'Thank you for sharing spreadsheet goblin. I am an accountant working with a lot of spreadsheet goblins and they will forever more be known as the spreadsheet goblins on Monday.'

However, one cat owner knew how embarrassed the boss may have felt after they did something similar during a Zoom meeting.

'I did this - everyone heard my "Sweetie Happy Kitty" song,' they said.

Meanwhile, one woman shared: 'My husband teases me because I whisper if I need to say something even when I'm muted with the camera off... this is why.'

Elsewhere, others shared their amusing and awkward stories about what happened when they were on Zoom.

'I was zoomed in to a funeral, as were several others. One person got up and went to the toilet while their camera and sound were still on. It was uncomfortable to watch. And hear,' one recalled.

'I have a colleague who has multiple pugs and the dogs spend the day under their desk. The soundtrack of snoring, snuffling, groaning, congested and obstructed-breathing sounds that accompany Zoom calls with them is absolutely hilarious,' another shared.

'I got way too comfortable at a job talking s*** on mute. One time I started losing my s*** because my boss was talking about irrelevant s***. I popped off at the mouth and realised I wasn't muted. Recovered pretty quickly, turned it into a question then apologised for raising my voice. Super embarrassing but my co-worker told me I recovered well,' one recalled.

The woman was on a work call when she noticed her boss casually start talking to his cat, named 'Mr Whiskers'

One tech employee was horrified when he realised he had forgotten he was still sharing his screen with his team, including the CEO, as the next colleague began their segment.

'The next person started speaking and I, of course, started scrolling Reddit. Not just any old Reddit, but something like "maliciouscompliance" or "techsupportfromhell",' he explained.

'After a good five minutes the CEO sent me a chat and told me I was still sharing my screen. I could have died.

'It was the CEO, company founder, and a bunch of others. No one mentioned it in that five minutes and no one ever mentioned it to me after either, but man.'

Join the discussion Whats the most unforgettable thing youve overheard on a work call, and how did you handle it?

Many shared simple ways they avoid facing the same embarrassing mistake.

'When I'm on a Zoom, I assume everybody will hear me even if I'm muted. That should really be a popular rule-of-thumb. Alas, people do this all the time, it's almost like they secretly want everybody to know,' one said.

'I was in a Zoom where a co-worker thought she was on mute and everyone heard her mocking another colleague. Gotta watch out for that stuff. Even when your screen indicates you're muted, you might not be. That has happened to me albeit I wasn't saying anything embarrassing at the time,' another warned.

'Never trust the mute, lesson everyone eventually learns the hard way. Same way I learned to proofread my emails before sending. I had meant to type: "I'll take a look at the start of my shift." Instead it was "start of my s***". It was sent to my boss's boss,' one added.
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA)  Twenty-seven Libyan representatives from key state institutions, legal bodies and civil society convened in Tunis on 27 March for the fifth meeting of the Expert Committee on the Legal Framework for Missing Persons, jointly supported by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
After weeks of preening and outfit preparation, glamorous racegoers amped up the style stakes today as they descended on Aintree for Ladies Day at the three-day Grand National Festival.

Pulling out all the stops in thigh-skimming frocks, plunging necklines and sheer ensembles, revellers put their best fashion foot forward as they competed to take home the coveted best-dressed award on the second day of the event.

And they certainly gave judges a tough task, arriving in a flurry of precarious heels, statement hats and dramatic dresses.

Early arrivals at the Merseyside racecourse set the bar high, putting on a glamorous display in figure-hugging lace outfits and colourful fascinators.

Joining punters today was the King's niece Zara Tindall, and her daughter, Mia, 12, who both brought a touch of elegance to the occasion in smart suits. They arrived alongside Zara's husband, former rugby ace Mike Tindall.

More than 150,000 spectators are expected over the three-day festival, with the showpiece Grand National taking place tomorrow afternoon. Around 250million is expected to be gambled on the race.

Organisers at the Jockey Club said crowds on the first day at Aintree topped 28,000, up 22 per cent on last year, while Ladies Day usually attracts more than 45,000 fans.

Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, the festival takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come 'dressed to feel your best'.

And while Cheltenham is all about the tweed country looks, Aintree is its more risque cousin - and the looks on display this morning certainly lived up to that assessment as many fans opted for mini dresses and off-the-shoulder frocks.

A lady in lace! A racegoer poses with her friend as she showcases her stylish blue, plunging gown as they arrive at the second day of the Grand National festival

A royally good day out! Zara, Mia and Mike Tindall on Ladies Day of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026

Zara and Mia enjoyed a playful moment with one another as they were spotted at the races

Elsewhere, Mike also enjoyed a tender moment with his wife Zara, as they watched the races

Two stuninng racegoers upped the glamour as they enjoyed a day at the races in flowing frocks

All about the glitz and glamour! Two friends put on a very dazzling display as they attend the Grand National festival

Flashing the flesh! A woman stuns in a daring dress, featuring a thigh-skimming hemline and a billowing skirt

Say cheese! A group of ladies strike up a pose as they attend the second day of the Grand National festival

Posing up a storm! Two racegoers enjoyed a day out, with one wearing a glamorous pink dress while another donned a red fascinator

The girls partied up a storm at the event - sporting goodie bags with free drinks

Racegoers enjoyed the festivities on Ladies Day this afternoon - animated as they took in the equestrian action

The visitors were all smiles as they took in the action, sporting glamorous gowns

Commanding attention in their racy numbers, revellers went all out in figure-hugging dresses, sheer attire and lacy looks as they flashed the flesh for their big day out.

Fancy dress is also allowed as long as the costume isn't offensive or derogatory.

Yellow appeared to be a theme of the day, as glamorous spectators brought the sunshine in off-the-shoulder frocks and halterneck dresses.

Meanwhile, one guest today donned a sleeveless, body-hugging white frock with a sheer train, and another opted for a yellow lace gown.

A third glamorous racegoer sported a tight scarlet gown while a fourth brightened up the grey skies in a glittery pink dress.

It comes after one glamorous racegoer revealed on TikTok how she had started her beauty appointments as far back as March to make sure she looked her best for the second day of the Grand National festival on Friday.

Georgia Williamson, from Cheshire, shared the very strict itinerary she laid out, including making time for everything from lip filler to a spray tan and even a 'debloat schedule'.

On 5 March, more than a month ago, she had a lip filler appointment - and the following day, got her hair dyed and extensions put in.

One racegoer kept warm with a foil blanket as the festivities got underway

Drinks flowed as the celebrations continued - and revellers entered party mode with spirits high

The party kept going, with racegoers getting into the spirit as they danced and posed for photos

The racegoers got into the festivities with some drinks in hand - and got into party mode

Cheers! Revellers toasted their drinks as the partying got underway - sporting glamorous dresses

Spirits were high throughout the day and revellers enjoyed drinks and dancing

Thousands of stylish racegoers descended on Aintree Racecourse - and continued to party throughout the day

One racegoer donned a mini dress as she partied away at Aintree as the spirits were high

As racegoers enjoyed the drinks, celebrations slipped into party mode and some were even dancing

Racegoers enjoyed a day at the races, sporting lace gowns and daring mini-dresses

Racegoers at Aintree sported their finest frocks for Ladies Day today - and enjoyed partying the day away

Racegoers partied up a storm at Aintree; passing around a bottle as they enjoyed the day turn into party

The drinks were aplenty on day two of Aintree today - as revellers continued celebrations

The good mood was heightened by bottles of bubbly which was being passed around by revellers

The glamorous revellers enjoyed dancing as they sipped on drinks throughout the night

Racegoers indulged in selfies at the event this afternoon - and held onto a spare pair of shoes

Pastel pinks were also joined by darker hues - including deep purple frocks and chic black gowns

The Ladies Day arrivals were marked with loud patterns, bold colours and daring hemlines

Getting the party started! A racegoer celebrates while at the Grand National festival

Racegoers went for figure-hugging silhouettes for the day - sporting goodie bags with drinks

Racegoers donned glamorous dresses with plunging necklines - and accessorised with hats

One man donned a sleek red coat as he enjoyed day two of Aintree - along with a dapper blue suit

Along with loud colours and daring prints, there were also gravity-defying statement hats

Hat's the spirit! A racegoer showcases her very flamboyant headpiece as she attends the second day of the Grand National festival

Aintree revellers sported butter yellow ensembles as the Ladies Day festivities turned into a big party

As the drinks flowed, the dancing got started and revellers partied the day away

Many at the event opted for figure-hugging pastel ensembles and posed up a storm for photos

Blue, pink and white were popular colours for the event - with many choosing flowing silhouettes

Perfectly in step! There were also some midriff-baring ensembles at the event

Off the shoulder dresses were a popular pick - often teamed with slingback heels

Statement heels were as much of a priority as other elements - with some also sporting blazer dresses

Pretty in pink! A racegoer puts on a classy display in a full-length gown with cape detailing

Thrice as nice! Three ladies showcase their glamorous ensembles as they arrive for Ladies Day

Hat's amazing! A racegoer shows off her outstanding headpiece, covered in elegant roses

Upping the style stakes! Ladies put their best fashion foot forward today in an effort to win the best dressed award

Time for a quick snack! A woman enjoys a bite to eat while at the Aintree races today

The long and short of it! A racing fan dons a polka dot dress with a mini hemline, while her friend opts for a foor-length look

Working it! Three racegoers show off their fashionable attire as they attend Ladies Day

Cheeky! A woman pulls an animated face as she poses for the camera

All smiles: One punter looked to be having a great time as she cheered with her hands up

Think pink! Looking effortlessly elegant, two racegoers dress in the same shade to attend the races

Ready to party! Four friends dressed to impress look delighted as they arrive at the races

Strike a pose! A group of friends show off their different ensembles while at Aintree

Girls just want to have fun! A group of glamorous ladies pose up a storm in their chic outfits

Flower power! A woman wears a flirty rose embellished slip dress with a matching red hat as she joins her friend at the races

Pulling out all the stops! A radiant group of racegoers dress in all their finery for Ladies Day

Hat's something! Statement hats were the order of the day for many racegoers

Time for a photo: A racegoer poses for a selfie while at the Grand National festival

Spot on! A woman puts on a stylish display in a white and black polka dot skirt

It's all about the hats! Statement headpieces were one of the big trends spotted at the races today

Effortlessly elegant: Two race goers put on classy display as they attend Ladies Day

Making a statement: Racegoers wear vibrant, bold hats for the second day of the festival

Then, a few days later on March 13 Georgia began her skin prep by getting a facial. Next, the influencer revealed how she has been 'taking care of business' this week - ahead of today's festivities.

On Tuesday, she got a manicure to make sure her nails were in top shape; and the day after was filled with another flurry of treatments.

Wednesday saw Georgia waxing, shaving and exfoliating, moisturising, getting yet another facial and popping on a collagen face mask.

The day before the races was similarly jam-packed. Georgia had her eyebrows done at 4pm, and then a pedicure at 4.30pm. At 5pm, she booked in a spray tan, and made sure she made time for some exercise with an upper body workout at 7pm.

She also got through a myriad of other chores, such as going to the shop for drinks and swinging by a cash machine, making sure her portable charger was at full battery, whitening her teeth, steaming her outfit and packing a bag for the day.

And today, Georgia's day started at 5.45am - where she woke up and 'had a peppermint tea'.

At 6am, she scheduled in washing her hair, and half an hour later, began doing her curls. She had another peppermint tea at 6.45am, and then moved onto make-up at 7am.

By 8am, it was time to get changed - before having another peppermint tea - and then setting off on the bus at 8.30am.

Bold colours and loud patterns were a common occurence at the event

One racegoer was glamorous in a floral flock with a thigh-baring slit

Lace and tulle were popular choices at Ladies Day - for both dresses and hats

One reveller wore a striking scarlet gown, teamed with a matching hat

Many of the revellers opted for butter yellow ensembles

There were also many pale pink ensembles - along with more understated black and white looks

Long flowing gowns with cinched waistlines were popular

Other guests braved risks of colder weather with shoulder baring ensembles

A selection of revellers opted for lace and loud patterns

One woman sported an all-green outfit - topped with a white blazer

The ladies were summer ready in flowing frocks on the day

Gorgeous in gold! A woman wows in a dazzling ensemble as she arrives at the Grand National festival

it wasn't only women that went all out for Ladies Day! This man made a statement in a pink suit

A selection of guests also enjoyed floral patterns in both clothing and hats

Another reveller opted for a sleeveless dress with a thigh slit

Blooming lovely! Some racegoers opted for floral ensembles for Ladies Day at Aintree

A woman takes a break from watching the racing action

Matchy-matchy: A stylish duo sport coordinating ensembles as they attend Ladies Day

Radiant in ruffles: A racing fan opted for a daring dress, featuring a thigh-high slit and a plunging neckline

Perfect in prints! A woman puts her best fashion foot forward in a vibrant patterned number

Police at the second day of the Grand National festival at Aintree

It appears the myriad of peppermint teas are all part of Georgia's 'debloating' mission, which also had a separate schedule.

It included having a walk after Thursday dinner, drinking three peppermint teas on Thursday afternoon, and then doing exercises on the stair master and her upper body.

The festival, which this year takes place from Thursday April 9 to Saturday April 11, is one of the biggest events in the global sporting calendar.

It is also broadcast live to a television audience of around 800 million people worldwide.

The Grand National on Saturday, known as the 'people's race', includes 30 fences to over two laps, making it the longest horse race in Britain.

Following the withdrawal of last year's winner Nick Rockett on Thursday, 2024 champion I Am Maximus is likely to go into Saturday's race as the favourite of the 34 declared runners.

The Willie Mullins-trained thoroughbred won the feature race two years ago and came in second to stablemate Nick Rockett last year.

He is aiming to be the first dual winner since Tiger Roll, who won back to back Nationals in 2019.
Chelsea Delgado was obsessed with having perfect skin.

As an influencer and self-confessed skincare junkie, the 33-year-old used to spend hours poring over her complexion and any imperfections.

When a small bump popped up on her nose, she was powerless to resist the temptation to pop it.

She was oblivious to the fact that in doing so, she naively waded into a dermatological danger zone known as the 'triangle of death'.

It's the area which spans from the bridge of your nose to the corners of your mouth and tampering with it can put you at risk for a serious medical emergency.

Picking or bursting a pimple that crops up in this area can put you at risk of severe infection or Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis - a blood clot in the brain's venous sinus that could lead to a stroke or meningitis if untreated.

'I woke up the next morning and my nose - up to the corner of my eye - was completely swollen,' Delgado said.

Not only was her face swollen, but the inflammation had spread to another pimple.

Influencer Chelsea Delgado recently had a painful and frightening experience with the 'triangle of death'

Delgado ended up with a swollen nose and eyes after popping a pimple on her nose

Delgado was alarmed but decided to give it a day to see if the swelling would go down. It only got worse.

The pimples on her nose became filled with pus, and her nose was even more swollen, all the way to her eyes.

'One of my eyes looked smaller than the other because it was so swollen, it was starting to put pressure on my eyes,' Delgado told the Daily Mail.

She also described a 'throbbing' feeling on the tip of her nose, where the popped pimples had been.

Because her face had continued to swell, she rushed herself to the doctor, where she was given a seven-day course of antibiotics.

It was there that she finally realized what had happened to her.

She was stunned, as many are, to learn that such a danger zone existed.

According to Texas-based, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Frank Agullo, it's a risk everyone should be aware of.

'Normally, veins have valves that prevent blood from flowing backward into different regions,' Agullo explained to the Daily Mail.

The 'triangle of death' extends from the bridge of your nose to the corners of your mouth

'I woke up the next morning and my nose, up to, like, the corner of my eye was completely swollen,' Delgado told the Daily Mail

'However, veins in the region just behind the triangle of death lack valves, so when a person pops a zit and causes an infection deep within the skin, bacteria can travel up into the venous system, eventually into the brain's cavernous sinus, leading to [further] infection.'

The plastic surgeon said that while millions of people around the world pop pimples without having any problems, there is still a small risk.

According to Texas-based, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Frank Agullo, the 'triangle of death' is certainly not an 'urban myth'

'The risks of infection spreading into the sinus region, where blood flows back to the brain, are low but come with significant danger if they happen,' the doctor said.

He shared that infections that cause Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis usually occur in only 0.2 to 0.5 per 100,000 people each year in the United States.

'Doctors estimate mortality for infection at this level ran as high as 100 percent before antibiotics were widely used.

'And despite treatments that work today, the disease remains a medical emergency that leads to stroke, blindness or meningitis if symptoms go undetected and untreated,' Agullo told the Daily Mail.

'Most cases now come from major sinus infections or dental abscesses, not just a single zit.'

Thankfully, Delgado was able to avoid some more serious complications - but the situation still scared her.

'I was panicking, wondering if I was going to have a brain issue,' she recalled.

The dots on her nose became filled with pus, and her nose was even more swollen, all the way to her eyes

Because her face had continued to swell, she rushed herself to the doctor, where she was given a seven-day course of antibiotics to be taken twice daily

Luckily, her doctor told her that because she doesn't have any pre-existing conditions and she had started antibiotics quickly, everything should be okay.

'Lesson learned,' Delgado said. 'I even saw a little pimple coming up above my lip, and I was like, "I'm not touching that."'

Delgado said while the pain and swelling went away after three days, she is still currently left with oozing scabs from the picked pimples and is finishing up her course of antibiotics.

The influencer also shared a piece of her experience in a TikTok video posted to her page in the aftermath. She received dozens of messages from people who have had the same experience - or worse - with the triangle of death.

'A lot of people said that when it happened to them or their partner, that it would turn into a staph infection,' she told the Daily Mail. 'People were in the hospital for weeks on end.

'Just those little innocent ones, if it's in that zone, you never know what you're going to wake up to.

'In a sense, I got lucky where I took action quick enough that I didn't end up in the hospital, but really scary stuff.'

Instead of squeezing, Agullo recommends patients cover their blemish with a hydrocolloid sticker - also known as a 'pimple patch' - or apply skin topicals like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

The influencer shared a piece of her experience in a TikTok video posted to her page in the aftermath and received dozens of messages from people who have had the same experience - or worse - with the 'triangle of death'

He also suggested using a warm compress on the area.

But if you have picked at a pimple in the dreaded triangle, Agullo told the Daily Mail that you must 'monitor the area.'

'Look for signs that could put your life at risk: a fever and headaches that worsen suddenly, swelling, redness and protrusion of your eyes, blurred vision, difficulty moving your eyes or extreme sleepiness, confusion and unresponsiveness,' he said.

'If you suffer any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately to ensure proper treatment can begin.'
On a family holiday in India, I was asked that question yet again: When are you going to get married and have babies?

I was 38, and by this point my friends and loved ones had been asking me the same thing for nearly 20 years.

In turn, I kept telling them the same thing: that I have never wanted children. But while I had an exciting career as a travel writer, owned my own home in Berkshire and relished my independence, they persisted in assuming something was missing from my life  a family.

Friends who had become mothers would smugly inform me, Youll change your mind.

It was infuriating, not least because my own mother tells me I was just six when I first told her I never wanted babies.

And so when I returned home I made yet another appointment with my GP to repeat the request I first made aged 16: I wanted to be sterilised.

And this time, after more than a dozen previous attempts over the course of 22 years, I wasnt going to be fobbed off.

Now 49, every year on January 7 I celebrate what I call my independence day. Thats the date when, 11 years ago, I finally underwent the procedure to tie off my fallopian tubes.

Sabi Phagura says friends and loved ones had been asking the same thing for nearly 20 years: 'When are you going to get married and have babies?'

We might be living in an age of equality, but when it comes to a womans right to make decisions about her own fertility, the medical profession is sorely lacking.

I have no doubt if a single man asked for a vasectomy he wouldnt have been patronised like I was through my teens, 20s and early 30s, treated like someone who couldnt possibly know her own mind.

Why didnt I want to become a mother?

While you may find it shocking, from my perspective, I genuinely wonder why women do want to become mothers.

It seems to me a mans world alters very little when he becomes a parent, but a womans life is irrevocably changed. Mothers lose their agency, get overlooked at work, and are constantly stressed.

Quite simply, I value my freedom and independence more than any benefits a child might bring me.

And I have always known that if I did fall pregnant I wouldnt think twice about a termination. Its why I wanted to be sterilised  because I didnt ever want to get myself in that situation.

Im not an outlier either; today, one in five women in their 40s arent mothers. While most of my friends respect my perspective, others still tell me youd make a great mum Sabi! or youll regret it! Not to mention, youll end up on your own.

But Ive never regretted it and of the four serious relationships Ive had, none has ended because I didnt want children. If anyone were to call off a relationship over the issue of having children during the early days of dating, it would be me!

Though people assume, particularly when it comes to women, that if you want love and marriage then of course children must follow, Ive never seen why building a life with someone shouldnt just be about the two of you. Rejecting the idea of motherhood is not the same as rejecting intimacy.

In any case, becoming a mother is no guarantee that adult children remain in your life. Many women are estranged from their offspring, some children sadly do die before their parents and others make new lives overseas.

My decision isnt because I hate children; I have four incredible nephews who I adore, but even they have never triggered maternal feelings in me.

Nor is it based on any negative experiences in my own childhood. In fact I had a very loving upbringing, and my parents are still together after 55 years. I still enjoy a close relationship with all of my siblings, too.

Dad grew up in the Punjab and came to England at 17, with mum joining him three years later. They went on to have four children: my two older sisters, me, and my younger brother. Both of them showered us with affection.

My fondest childhood memories include all of us lining up on the sofa after bathtime with Mum, when Dad would tenderly plait our hair.

'Ive never seen why building a life with someone shouldnt just be about the two of you  rejecting the idea of motherhood is not the same as rejecting intimacy,' says Sabi

But while my mother always seemed so calm, from about six I began to notice that most other mums were always so stressed.

Whether it was at the temple where we went each weekend, or in the shopping centre, Id see mothers screaming at their children for misbehaving.

Yet when I was young as 12 people would tell me youll get married and have babies when youre older. Id recoil in horror  why would anybody want that!

When my oldest sister got married at the age of 18, I knew that she would be trying for a baby soon afterwards, I was 14 at the time, and the idea of having to follow in her footsteps one day was terrifying.

By now Id started my periods, a monthly trial that I hated. And so I announced to my friends that as soon as I was 16 I was going to the doctor to get fixed.

Back then I didnt have the correct medical terminology to describe sterilisation, or understand what it entailed, which is blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes using clips, rings or heat.

The procedure  which is called tubal ligation or laparoscopic sterilisation  is considered permanent. Reversal surgery exists, but isnt guaranteed to work.

The family GP looked at me in disbelief when, aged 16, as Id promised myself, I told her I didnt want to have children and please could she point me in the right direction. She flat-out refused to entertain the idea, telling me No, youll change your mind.

At 18, I moved to Leicester to study politics and journalism at university. Focusing on my studies, boys  and a possible future pregnancy  werent on my mind.

But at 21, when I started to become interested in dating, I knew I needed to think about the wider consequences. I was very careful about using contraception.

I had my first serious boyfriend at 22 and I was upfront with him about not wanting children; indeed, I told him on our first date. He was somewhat speechless, but that was just because  as a young man  fatherhood wasnt on his radar yet, so even the idea of it came as a shock.

We were together for three years and throughout my 20s, every year around my birthday, Id see a GP about getting sterilised.

The changing cast of doctors at the surgery meant that each year I had to explain my position to someone new  and every time Id get told I was too young, that Id change my mind. Though Im an intelligent and articulate woman, they seemingly couldnt believe that I actually understood the implications of what I was asking. By my late 20s I had a masters degree too, yet the GPs would speak to me like I was stupid.

I find it hard to believe a man would have been treated in the same manner. And its depressing that, still, people act as if carrying a child is a womans main purpose in life  and that to reject motherhood somehow makes you a terrible person. When a man says he does not want children, it is treated as a mere life preference; if a woman says the same it instantly becomes a debate.

Even at 38, when my GP finally, reluctantly, agreed to refer me to a gynaecologist  the first time a doctor had done anything beyond the initial consultation  it was only after delivering a doom-laden lecture about how I could regret it.

She pointed out that I would probably stay fertile into my 40s  but that was exactly why I wanted the procedure, rather than continuing to rely on contraception well into middle-age. It strikes me as illogical that doctors would recommend that a woman like me takes hormone-altering medication for years, if not decades, rather than simply doing an operation to render me infertile  something that happens to all women in time anyhow.

In fact, I find it particularly ironic that all the doctors I saw acted as if I was being somehow careless about my fertility  when in fact my desire not to have children had made me far more careful when it came to sexual relationships over the years than many others are.

A month later, in November 2014, I went to the gynaecologists and the gatekeeper nurse still tried to dissuade me.

I dont know how many different ways I told her I didnt want children  but I stuck to my guns.

It was only after an hour of verbal combat that she finally relented, saying: You are determined to do this, arent you?

Yes, yes, I bloody was!

When the appointment came through with a date for two months later  this is one operation it seems there is not much of an NHS waiting list for  I decided to keep it a secret; I didnt want anyones advice or comments.

I wasnt worried about upsetting my parents, though  they are among the few who have always accepted my decisions. They told me that as a child I was headstrong and they knew perfectly well Id do what I wanted as an adult.

Yet even when I arrived at the hospital, two different nurses and a doctor came to see me, saying, You know you can change your mind.

One nurse even asked me, as she took me to the operating room, how many children I already had. That question summed up everything I had been battling for years: the belief that a woman is only permitted to make a choice about her fertility after fulfilling her duty to have children, rather than on the basis of her own certainty.

Needless to say, when I came around after the operation, there were no feelings of regret, only elation.

Yet while my parents and sisters were accepting once I told them, one friend refused to speak to me for a while afterwards, saying I shouldnt have got sterilised as I would make a great mother.

But Im not ashamed. My life is infinitely better for not having children. I have the freedom to travel, my life is my own, and I dont feel Ive missed out on anything. Ive never referred to myself as childless or childfree, because I feel those labels dont apply to me  I just am who I am, and choosing not to have children does not define me.

And, just as those with children feel entitled to tell me Im wrong to not want children, Ive never felt the need to temper my views around mothers.

In my years dating since being sterilised, it usually comes up on the first date due to men asking whether I already have children.

'I had an exciting career as a travel writer, owned my own home in Berkshire and relished my independence,' writes Sabi, pictured in Chihuahua, Mexico

My reply was always No, and since Ive been sterilised, its staying that way.

Most guys laugh nervously, but generally theres a lack of curiosity or judgment. Whereas when I first tell another woman, theyll continue to prod for more information.

Some ask why I did something so drastic to my body  at which point Ill tell them to avoid having an abortion in the event I did ever fall pregnant. Usually they stop prying after that.

I would still love to get married one day  Im surrounded by good marriages, including my parents  so I remain hopeful that one day it will happen for me, and Ill walk down the aisle to my Mr Right.

But even though I live alone Ive never felt lonely. Im turning 50 in three months, but I feel nothing but positive about the future. In fact, Im looking forward to going on another holiday to India  solo this time  to celebrate myself and all Ive achieved.

Now, when I tell people I chose to be sterilised, some still gasp  but thats their issue, not mine.

And whenever Im out  be it in the supermarket, a restaurant or the theatre  and I see women looking distressed, miserable and struggling to control their children, I know that this was the right decision for me.
The distinct sauce is still sold at major supermarkets for $3.20

A supermarket condiment that was once an Aussie barbeque staple has received an unexpected outpouring of praise from shoppers  many of whom had no idea it still existed.

One foodie sparked the discussion by sharing a photo of themself holding a bottle of Eta Original Barbecue Sauce in an online forum, asking: 'Anyone else swear by this Aussie BBQ Sauce?'

The simple question quickly ignited hundreds of enthusiastic replies.

'That sauce is the underrated GOAT of BBQ. It puts all other sauces to shame,' one reply read.

'It's the OG BBQ sauce,' agreed a second.

'It's un-Australian to use any other barbecue sauce,' another chimed in.

Another declared the sauce was 'the absolute GOAT, and staple, of Aussie condiments'.

This 375ml sauce, which comes in a distinctive dark red plastic bottle with a textured base, yellow lid and yellow writing, is currently sold at both Woolworths and Coles for $3.20.

An Aussie shopper shared a simple post praising ETA Original Barbecue Sauce, and it quickly ignited an outpouring of nostalgia from other fans of the condiment

Many replies in the Australian nostalgia online discussion agreed that seeing the unique bottle instantly brought back childhood memories of an era when it was 'a staple at most Aussie BBQs'.

'This was at every BBQ if you were having a sausage sizzle,' read one reply.

'On every damn table at every BBQ we had or went to as a kid,' another agreed.

'It was the only BBQ sauce of my childhood,' added a third.

Although the sauce is still readily available in major supermarkets today, the photo of it dredged up long-held family memories for many Aussies.

'My nan introduced me to it in the 70s and it's still going strong today,' read one reply.

'This was the only BBQ sauce my grandma bought  brings back golden memories.'

Another fan recalled the 'sticky residue' on the lid and the way the 'bottle heats up' when left outside, resulting in it pouring out 'eight times more than you wanted'. Their verdict? 'Everything about it is great.'

Aussies fondly recalled that the sauce was a staple of BBQs in their childhood. Many were surprised to learn it is still widely available in supermarkets, priced at $3.20 at Coles and Woolies

One person summed it up: 'Our childhood in a bottle.'

The sauce's distinctive sweet, tangy and smoky flavour was cited in several replies  with many also sharing their favourite serving suggestion for enjoying it.

'A sausage sanga covered in this stuff with onions off the BBQ hotplate... Legendary!' one person replied.

'Back when $5 worth of hot chips from the shop could feed a family, you'd unwrap the paper, squeeze out a puddle next to the chips and it became a free-for-all,' another recalled.

'White bread, three slices, a liberal application of sauce: the perfect after-school snack,' another reminisced.

'Just put some on my bacon and egg roll this morning,' said one current fan.

Some shared that they like to use the sauce in cooking for dishes like buffalo wings or bolognese mince, and many agreed it's best simply dolloped on a homemade burger.

Not only was there huge passion for the sauce itself, but many insisted it was far superior to other supermarket barbeque sauce brands.

Many sauce fans offered serving suggestions for using the sauce - with a number citing it as the perfect addition to a homemade burger

'It puts all other BBQ sauces to shame,' insisted one person.

'This is the only brand I'll buy. It's top tier,' said another.

'I'm not brand loyal with most things, but I am with this OG,' added a third.

'No other sauce is permitted in my home,' said one, half-jokingly.

It wasn't just the distinctive flavour that garnered praise but also the memorable bottle design  especially the signature basket-weave etching on the base.

'The basket makes it look very fancy,' read one reply.

'I liked feeling the textured basket mould on the bottom of the bottle. It was soothing to me,' another laughed.

'I have overseas family who request "the sauce in the basket bottle" in care packages!' another shared.

Replies to the online discussion shared how they liked to add the barbeque sauce into cooking, as well as use it as a finisher on dishes

One reply joked about the Aussie BBQ favourite and its 'fancy' bottle: 'And they say we have no culture. This is culture.'

While many people had fond, nostalgic memories of the sauce, some were surprised to learn that it's still widely available in major stores to this day.

'Didn't even realise they still made it. Haven't had this sauce since the early nineties.'

Replies from those in the know explained that these days it's far outnumbered by bigger sauce brands, so you have to look closely to find it on the shelves.

However, there was one major design flaw that always baffled fans of this sauce: the wide-neck bottle opening.

'Wish it wouldn't pour so much out at once,' commented one person, while another agreed that 'not having a squeeze top is begging for disaster'.

But one sauce lover shared a 'hack' that appeared to resolve the issue, much to the amazement of other long-time fans.

'If you want a good hack, put the lid from a Kewpie mayo on this bottle and you have perfect squeeze distribution,' they revealed.

The replies were astounded: 'You have just changed my life,' wrote one, while another added, 'Are you kidding  that is an amazing hack!'

For at least one person, though, the "Russian roulette" amount of sauce pouring out from an Eta Barbecue Sauce bottle was all part of the experience.

'What do you mean? Whatever amount comes out of that bottle is the perfect amount.'
MS NOW's Joe Scarborough predicted a post-apocalyptic future for his old party on Friday's 'Morning Joe.'

The former Florida Republican cited Donald Trump's approach to the war in Iran while making the grim assessment.

Scarborough guessed that growing 'blowback' would skirt right around the 79-year-old and instead impact the party he left in 2017.

'As Aristotle would say, it's going to be a real sh*t-show, and its going to be ugly,' Scarborough joked of the purported post-Trump reality.

'Did Aristotle say that? 'Maybe it was Socrates?' the host riffed - before being scolded for by cohost Mika Brzezinski for swearing.

'I mean, Donald Trump will be building libraries and golden statues, and hell be off flying across the world,' Scarborough also said.

The congressman-turned-commentator claimed Washington Republicans would be the ones left to pick up the proverbial pieces.

He also predicted a pronounced drop-off in Republican voters come 2028, citing word from frustrated 'friends' who voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough - a former Florida Republican - predicted a poor future for his old party post-Donald Trump on Friday's Morning Joe

He guessed that growing 'blowback' would skirt the 79-year-old and instead impact the party

'I do expect a lot of them to stay home,' Scarborough said, dismissing the idea that such citizens would suddenly vote Democrat.

'But they're not going to go out and vote for this party either,' he explained.

Scarborough himself left the party to become an independent following Trump's first election win.

Months before, Scarborough penned an op-ed for the Washington Post that demanded Republicans 'dump Donald Trump' as their presidential candidate.

'A bloody line has been crossed that cannot be ignored,' Scarborough wrote at the time. 'Donald Trump has left the Republican Party few options but to act decisively and get this political train wreck off the tracks before something terrible happens.'

Earlier that year, the MSNBC host was accused of going easy on the Manhattan billionaire during interviews.

He once said pundits who failed to acknowledge the mogul's success are 'jackasses.'

'Its always against Trump,' the former Geb Bush aide told Mark Halperin in April 2017.

'As Aristotle would say, it's going to be a real sh*t-show, and its going to be ugly,' Scarborough - seen here with cohost Mika Brzezinski - joked, nearly a decade after swearing off the Republican party in 2017. He is now an independent

'The jackasses who have been doing this for nine months should stop embarrassing themselves. Its getting really, really old.

'Whats insulting to me is you cant state politically obvious things, right, without people saying, "Youre in the tank for Trump," or, "Youre supporting Trump." No, no, no,' he fumed at the time.

'But there have been a lot of flat-earthers out there for nine months right now, whove been writing stories in the mainstream media that Donald Trump will never win. "Hes a fool, hes an idiot." When it looks like he could win, "hes Nazi, hes a fascist."'

The former Geb Bush aide's tune changed over the course of that year, following months of Trump rhetoric.

Trump criticized Scarborough for 'bad ratings' in a June 2016 X post after a Morning Joe episode where the latter took issue with one of Trump's statement.

At the time, Trump questioned the ability of a Mexican-American judge to oversee a lawsuit against him.

'Donald, guess what, Im not going to support you until you get your act together, Scarborough said at the time. 'Youre acting like bush-league loser, youre acting like a racist, youre acting like a bigot.'

'Until youprove to me youre not a bigot and you dont take my party down in the ditch, you dont have my endorsement.'

'Dont use Hillary Clinton as an excuse, as your blank check to say racist things about [a judge] born in Indiana. No, Donald, you dont get to play it that way,' he said.

Trump entered the 2016 race as a Republican after several party affiliations switches since the 1980s. He won a whirlwind race where many counted him out as a political outsider.

At the time, Trump pledged to put a 'stop' to foreign wars - a stance he maintained for his following two campaigns, during which billed himself as being 'America first'.

The US and Israel, meanwhile, began strikes on Iran on February 28. The conflict entered its 42 days on Friday, three days after a fragile-14 days ceasefire agreement was reached.

The arrangement is set to last for two weeks, during which Iran's activity in the Strait of Hormuz will be scrutinized, Trump said.

The waterway between Iran and Oman - through which a fifth of the world's oil flows - has been blocked since the conflict began.
MS NOW's Jen Psaki caught an acute case of the giggles while reacting to Melania Trump's speech about Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday.

Psaki, 47, said she saw the speech as 'bananas' and 'self-important' at the top of her primetime show, The Briefing.

She also cast doubt on several of the first lady's claims - joining MS NOW costar Joe Scarborough in doing so.

First, the former Joe Biden press secretary let out a laugh, though, relishing in what she saw as Melania 'single-handedly reignit[ing] the whole Epstein scandal.'

She then cued a clip of the first lady saying, 'Good afternoon. The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,' immediately after taking the podium.

Another laugh from Psaki followed as the clip cut.

'I mean- well, good afternoon to you, Melania Trump!' she said, before recalling her mindset when she watched the speech live.

'I was like, what is happening here? And I was thinking, am I hallucinating? What the hell is going on? Whose idea was this? I had lots of questions.'

Jen Psaki, 47, said she saw the speech as 'bananas' and 'self-important' between laughs during Thursday's installment of her primetime show, The Briefing

'Good afternoon. The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,' Melania said as soon as she took the podium at the White House Thursday afternoon - an assertion Psaki found funny

'I mean, I guess one possibility is that its a sign the war really is going that badly,' Psaki said, as figures like Megyn Kelly, Jimmy Kimmel, and Fox & Friends' Ainsley Earhardt also speculated about the address's true meaning.

'Another is that they are trying to get ahead of a story that a reporter is working on. I guess well learn if thats the case soon enough. Who knows?' Psaki guessed.

She went on to lay out more of what was offered up in the seemingly impromptu speech.

'The first lady went on to denounce what she described as false smears against her, citing numerous fake images and statements on social media and saying she wanted to clear her good name,' Psaki said.

'From what exactly?' she asked, before acknowledging suspicion surrounding the sudden appearance.

'Because again, the unavoidable question on everyones mind was why now? Why at all? Why ever?'

Melania, meanwhile, maintained she and her husband only attended the same parties as Epstein 'from time to time' due to 'overlapping' social circles during the speech.

She also said that a 2002 message to Ghislaine Maxwell - Epstein's only convicted accomplice - 'cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence' in the footage.

'I mean, most people hearing her remarks probably had never even heard any of the so-called lies she was responding to,' Psaki said, citing MS NOW reporting that suggested White House staffers were also blindsided by the speech, which itself was based on word from a White House official.

Psaki said that she herself found that 'a little hard to believe,' citing remarks from Melanias 'spokesperson' to the 'The New York Times' late Thursday that were later amended.

The Times report noted that the rep later said it was not clear the president was aware of the topic beforehand. He told MS NOW reporter Jacqueline Alemany personally that he was not.

'But I mean, regardless of who knew what and when they knew it inside the White House, nobody on the outside was betting that the first lady would give a surprise speech on Jeffrey Epstein,' Psaki continued.

She noted the venue as well, and how it echoed the visuals of the presidents primetime address to the nation about Iran the week before.

'And having worked in multiple White Houses and been a part of preparing for many of these formal speeches, I can tell you where you give a speech is basically a signal of how important you think it is,' Psaki said.

'And let me just tell you, Melania was exuding self-importance this afternoon.'

'[L]et me just tell you, Melania was exuding self-importance this afternoon,' Psaki said at a point, before casting doubt on the first lady's claim that she 'never had a relationship with 'Epstein'

She went on to play another clip of the first lady where she reiterated, 'To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, [Ghislaine] Maxwell', before offering one last parting shot.

'Well, a relationship can be a flexible term, I suppose.'

Kelly, the following day, wondered on her show 'Why would she do this?'

'Like, everyone knows, in PR, once the storm has passed, you don't do anything to bring it back upon you.'

'And that's why some people are speculating, was this meant to distract people from Iran?'

'Did they use Epstein to distract from Iran and Iran to distract from Epstein, and then Epstein once again to distract from Iran.'

Like Psaki, Kelly let out a laugh as well, admitting, 'I have no idea.'

Kimmel, on his late-night show, theorized, 'She must really hate him. I dont know how else to explain it.'

Earhardt, meanwhile, started a Friday Fox & Friends segment by asking the first lady's top advisor, Marc Beckman, why the address was called in the first place.

'People are questioning the timing of this,' she said.

Scarborough wondered why Melania was 'bringing up something that obviously the president doesn't want brought up' on Friday's Morning Joe.

Both Beckman and the first lady said the reason for the address was to direct attention to the plight of Epstein's victims.

'We still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth,' she said, calling on Congress to hold a public hearing for victims to testify under oath.

The first lady's denial, meanwhile, comes a day after the Justice Department announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi would not appear for a subpoena before the House Oversight Committee on April 14.

The subpoena addressed her handling of the DOJ documents about Epstein, following fierce bipartisan backlash.

Rep. James Comer, the Republican Chair of the Oversight Committee, issued the subpoena after joining Democrats in pledging to investigate the DOJ for its handling of files related to President Trump missing from recent administration releases.

The DOJ told the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday its subpoena for a closed-door deposition with Bondi was moot because it sought Bondi's testimony in an 'official capacity as Attorney General'.

She was removed from office last week. Comer has yet to withdraw the subpoena.
Images generated by artificial intelligence are fuelling a new wave of insurance fraud, as customers use them to make false claims for items that never existed.

Insurance giant Admiral says it detected a 71 per cent rise in fraudulent insurance claims last year, amounting to 86.8million in motor, home and travel claims.

This has been driven by some of its customers using AI to generate realistic photos to exaggerate or fabricate claims, it said.

It shared some of the most shameless examples of these images with This is Money.

In one case, a customer submitted an AI-generated image of a watch on their wrist, telling Admiral it was stolen while they were waiting at a bus stop.

AI was used to generate a diamond-set gold watch, below, although the image did not appear realistic and the customer could provide no other evidence that the watch existed.

Fake: AI was used to generate an expensive-looking, diamond-set gold watch

Another fraudster used AI to add different registration plates to the same picture of a damaged Land Rover.

This was relatively easy for Admiral to spot because the culprit used the same image to attempt claims on multiple policies, changing the numbers on the plate each time.

Nice try: Another fraudster used AI to change the registration plates on an image of a car

A Mercedes driver tried his luck with Admiral Insurance by using AI to doctor a picture of his car, making it appear damaged.

The insurance company's fraud team discovered that the shading in the damaged area wasn't quite right and concluded it had been fabricated.

Fraud: A Mercedes driver tried his luck with Admiral Insurance by photoshopping damage onto the back of his car

Found out: The insurance company's fraud team concluded it had been fabricated

Another brazen fraudster was caught lying when Admiral found the photos of the customer's 'broken' luggage on Google Images.

The customer had found an image of a broken suitcase in a stock photo library, and used this to support her claim that her suitcase was damaged by an airline.

And while these cases seem harmless, Admiral has warned that using AI to exaggerate an insurance claim could land you in jail.

Its research suggested that one in eight people have exaggerated an insurance claim in the past.

Fabricated: This customer used a stock image of a broken suitcase to support her claim

A quarter of Britons say they have been tempted to exaggerate a claim to get more money, and 27 per cent don't realise that exaggerating a claim constitutes insurance fraud.

Photos also show painfully obvious use of AI or Photoshop to fabricate damage to an insurance customer's shoes.

This customer told Admiral their upstairs neighbour had building works, and that this caused parts of the ceiling to fall onto their shoes.

Made up: Photos show obvious use of AI or Photoshop to fabricate damage to an insurance customer's shoes

Rumbled: The 'ceiling' part that had damaged the shoe was the same in every photo, revealing the images as fake

Closer inspection showed that the 'ceiling' part that had damaged the shoe was the same for every shoe and every photo  and the fraudster was quickly rumbled.

Jon Radford, head of intelligence, investigations and data services at the Insurance Fraud Bureau said: 'Insurance fraud might look like an easy way to try your luck, but the consequences are anything but.

'Anyone caught faces being placed on the Insurance Fraud Register, making it extremely difficult to get insurance in the future, not to mention the real risk of fines or even a criminal conviction.'

Sian Davies, head of financial crime prevention at Admiral added: 'We have experts in all our product teams who are skilled at detecting fraudulent claims and we work closely with the industry to spot emerging trends, including AI-driven fraud, so genuine claims can be handled quickly and fairly.

'If you're ever unsure about what to include in a claim, it's always best to ask.'
The hurried effort by Unilever to become a pure-play health, well-being and beauty outfit by offloading food operations to US ingredients group McCormick is not going well.

There is a big 7billion hit to the share price. A chunk of the empire  Hindustan Unilever along with Nepal and Portugal  is excluded from the transaction, adding complexity.

Investors in Unilever will end up owning 55 per cent of the offloaded food company to be run by McCormick.

But they are not getting any say on a deal which values key brands Hellmann's, Knorr and Marmite at a chunky $45billion (33.5billion).

Moreover, there is no obligation on Unilever to produce a circular outlining the exact details of the transaction, such as advisers' fees, directors' dealings and banking arrangements to shareholders.

Contrast this with the junior partner to the deal, McCormick, which operates under Securities & Exchange Commission rules in the US. It is required to conduct a shareholder vote and produce a large quantum of documentation.

Leaving a bad taste: The Hellmann's maker is looking to become a pure-play health, well-being and beauty outfit by offloading food operations

The technical reason for this imbalance of disclosure and shareholder democracy is that the trade is being constructed as a Reverse Morris Trust.

Under such arrangements, the company doing the spin-off avoids big tax liabilities if it retains a 50.1 per cent stake in the divested enterprise.

Financial consultants often argue that it is a mistake to let tax considerations alone drive transactions.

Advisers to the deal are seeking to convince shareholders that in combining McCormick's ingredients with Unilever's condiments they are creating something unique among food enterprises.

It is hard to square the enthusiasm for the combined entity, with Unilever's decision to ditch food on the grounds that it grows more slowly than health and well-being brands.

One understands why Unilever chief executive Fernando Fernandez is in a hurry. Under the watchful eye of Nelson Peltz, who we are assured is not a major factor in the deal, Britain's premier fast-moving consumer goods company jettisoned two chief executives, Alan Jope and Hein Schumacher, in less than a two-year period.

Fernandez is still flexing his muscles. Speaking at a Barclays fireside chat, he reportedly told Hindustan Unilever chief Priya Nair that he needs to make the Indian offshoot, which is responsible for 16-17 per cent of group income, 'portfolio fit' after losing ground to competitors.

Fernandez continues to buy bolt-on enterprises adding US vitamins brand Gruns, which makes gummies using green supplements. With all this happening, one might have expected some of the big beasts on the Unilever share register to want a say.

Blackrock owns 8.5 per cent, and one would think Terry Smith's Fundsmith, critical of Unilever in the past, would want more information about the underpinnings of the McCormick transaction.

They might also want to know about plans for running down the food stake, which is unlikely to happen until 2028. The Leverhulme Trust, keepers of the founding Lever estate with 2 per cent of the equity, and private investors, including this writer, deserve a say.

Blame for the absence of shareholder democracy is attributed to the Financial Conduct Authority in its rush to make British equity markets more competitive.

It is extraordinary that the biggest British corporate transaction of this year can be bulldozed through behind closed doors, with minimal disclosure to investors in Britain and across the globe.

Selling off food could well be the right decision. Depriving Unilever shareholders of the final word is a betrayal.
Fury has erupted as another council turns off street lights over night in a bid to save 270,000 - despite campaigners warning it puts more women and girls at risk.

Devon County Council has said the lighting will be switched off early or dimmed on a permanent basis across the county, after a year-long trial.

Officers said the move is saving the local authority around 270,000 a year and slashing annual carbon emissions by around 200 tonnes.

But councillors, MPs and campaigners have all spoken out against the initiative, which they said could leave women and girls at risk.

It comes after several other councils across the UK made a similar move, including in Cornwall and the London boroughs of Croydon and Havering.

More than 1,600 people have now signed a petition against cuts to lighting in Devon, making it the largest presented to the Liberal Democrat-led council in recent years.

Rose Lelliott, a Labour council candidate and Exeter resident, who started the petition, told the Daily Mail: 'As a young woman, I felt really scared about it myself.

'It feels pretty much like we're having a curfew put on us - because so many of us have experienced sexual harassment in the streets, walking home at night.'

Devon County Council has said street lights will be switched off early or dimmed on a permanent basis across the county, after a year-long trial. Pictured: File photo

But councillors, MPs and campaigners have all spoken out against the initiative, which they said could leave women and girls at risk. Pictured: Rose Lelliott, a Labour council candidate, who started a petition against the move, at a Reclaim the Night march in Exeter

Under the scheme, street lights in Exeter have been dimmed to 40 per cent output from 9.30pm to 12.30am, when they will be completely turned off.

They will then return to 40 per cent output from 5.30am to 6.30am.

But in market towns, lights are now at 40 per cent output between 8.30pm and midnight, when they are switched off.

Meanwhile, in rural parts of the county, street lights are dimmed to the same levels between 7pm and midnight, when they turn off.

In both kinds of areas, they then come back on at 40 per cent output from 5.30am to 6.30am.

Ms Lelliott said: 'It basically feels like these cuts are being made at the expense of our safety because it's quite a small saving, 270,000 a year, for a council.'

Devon County Council has approved an annual budget of 839million for 2026/27 - meaning these savings are only around three per cent of this sum.

She added: 'It's been a really important topic since Sarah Everard was murdered.'

The 33-year-old marketing executive was kidnapped, raped and killed by off-duty police officer Wayne Couzens in Clapham, south London, in March 2021.

The Angiolini Inquiry, an independent review commissioned after her death, stressed the importance of street lights in helping women feel safe.

The inquiry, conducted by Lady Elish Angiolini KC, noted better lighting sees a 21 per cent reduction in all violent crime, according to the College of Policing.

Ms Lelliott said: 'I want there to have been improvements from Sarah's death and I want us to have learned from that.

'I know that lots of women feel that way and this just feels like a step in completely the wrong direction.'

She continued: 'We should be learning the lessons from the strength of feeling and sisterhood that came from her death.

'Women coming together and saying, "We're sick of holding our keys at night in our hands because we're scared.

'"We're sick of finding the longer route home and not going down certain paths because they're dark".

'I was just so frustrated. It feels like the review was ignored really.'

It was of particular concern after the death of Sarah Everard (pictured), who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by off-duty police officer Wayne Couzens in Clapham, south London, in March 2021

Ms Everard was walking back alone from a friend's house on March 3, 2021, when she was spotted by Couzens (pictured). He is now serving a whole life tariff for her rape and murder

He drove her 80 miles into rural Kent, where he raped and murdered her, before burning her body and dumping her remains in a pond in the woods. Pictured: CCTV footage of Ms Everard from the night of her murder

Around hundred people gathered for a vigil (pictured) in London last month to commemorate the five-year anniversary of Ms Everard's death

The crowd (pictured) met on Clapham Common, which she passed on her way home, to remember her and all the women and girls whose lives have been taken by violence

'Women aren't going to go out if they feel like they're not going to be safe,' added Ms Lelliott, who works in London once a week and has now changed her travel there.

'I don't walk to work anymore because I know certain roads are going to have no street lighting or be severely dimmed to basically nothing.

'I choose to take a taxi because I don't want to risk something happening to me.'

Steve Race, Labour MP for Exeter, echoed her concerns, calling the council's move, which he raised in parliament last year, 'disappointing'.

Mr Race pointed out it is especially 'unfortunate timing' after the city was awarded the Purple Flag Award for safety at night just earlier this year.

National campaign groups have spoken out against the move too, pointing out research showing the disproportionate effect of darkened streets on women.

A YouGov poll from 2022 showed some 66 per cent of women feel unsafe walking at night at least sometimes - and 26 per cent feel so always.

Tanya Braun, director of external affairs at Living Streets, a pedestrian safety charity, said walking in the dark already feels 'scary' and 'off-putting' for women.

'It's disappointing to hear that something that does make women feel safer walking at night is being taken away,' she added.

'Curbing women's independence when it's dark, which doesn't have to be late at night - it can be early morning, late afternoon, early evening in winter - could be really damaging.'

Isabel Ryall, head of advocacy at Our Streets Now, said streetlights are also often necessary to police work to tackle sexual offences.

'If an incident is to take place, it can help with CCTV and identification,' she said.

'If something is to happen, then the evidence that may be there might not even be helpful in a situation if it's too dark.'

The Devon native, who works for the countrywide campaign to end public sexual harassment, also pointed out the especially rural character of the county.

'It wouldn't be like a city like London, for example,' she said.

'There's no bustling high streets in quite the same way in lots of areas. And that really means when those streetlights go off, there really will be no light.'

This year's lighting trial took place in Exeter, Abbotskerswell, Holcombe Rogus, Kingskerswell, Sidmouth, Ashburton, Barnstaple, Crediton and Honiton.

The council cabinet voted in February to make the changes permanent, after the pilot from April last year to this March.

When the local authority was approached for comment, Dan Thomas, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for highways, defended the scheme.

'There's been some confusion in the press and on social media about our decision [in February] to continue with our programme of earlier switch-off and dimming in parts of the county,' he said.

'That decision follows a carefully-conducted, year-long pilot in which we've monitored impact and residents' feedback.

'However, the city of Exeter has its own separate bespoke lighting regime, which recognises its unique nighttime economy and reflects feedback from earlier trials.'

Mr Thomas said the council worked closely with Devon and Cornwall Police and Exeter University Student Guild throughout the streetlight trial.

Specialist crime prevention teams contributed to the process, he said, which took into particular consideration violence against women and girls.

It was noted neither the police nor the guild raised objections in principle - and changes were made in any areas where concerns were identified.
The ex-wife of a 'powerful' Dubai prince has lost her battle for custody of their children and now faces coercive force from the citys police.

In a heart-rending video message released exclusively to the Daily Mail through her British lawyer David Haigh, Zeynab Javadli says the Dubai courts have ordered police to snatch back her three young daughters and deliver them to Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

After losing a final appeal earlier today she filmed and live streamed people she claimed were male and female police officers outside her house preparing to 'attack'.

In her video message she said: Im receiving UAE messages about bomb alerts and to seek shelter or stay inside for safety.

And at the same time the Dubai Courts are sending me notifications demanding I hand over my children or the Dubai Police will break into my house, arrest me and snatch my children away from me.

Sobbing she adds: This is my day today. Standing [at the window], watching and waiting for them to attack me at any time.

The court order states that she must return custody of the minors to Sheikh Saeed, and that coercive force may be used if necessary.

However, Miss Javadli claims a previous legal agreement with his uncle, Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a leading figure in British horseracing, gave her the right to keep the girls.

The ex-wife of a 'powerful' Dubai prince has revealed she has lost her custody battle with him over their three daughters in a heart-rending video

Zeynab Javadli and Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum with their eldest daughter Sana, pictured in 2018

Court papers released in November last year revealed the 34-year-old former international gymnasts case against Sheikh Saeed, a 49-year-old businessman and former Olympic clay shooter.

She alleged he caused their daughters distress and harm by leaving them without supervision, using inappropriate language, depriving them of sleep, and driving recklessly.

He countered that she refused to obey previous court orders and wants to keep the children away from him to instil Western behaviour that does not befit Muslims, citizens of the UAE, and members of the Ruling Family in particular.

Mr Haigh said Sheikh Saeed was a powerful nephew of Dubais ruler who had previously taken his daughters and held them against their will for forty days.

Zeynab has been held hostage in her own home since last November, too terrified to step outside for fear of arrest under warrants and travel bans, he said.

This isnt a safe country offering its residents protection, this is state-backed torment and torture.

Join the discussion What does this custody battle reveal about justice and human rights for mothers in Dubai?

Ms Javadli said the Dubai courts have ordered police to snatch back her children and deliver them to Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is pictured arriving at Royal Ascot on June 20, 2019

'Dubai has no human rights. The arrests of Westerners for simply reporting the truth about the missile attacks in recent weeks only prove it.

The case is the latest in a string of high-profile scandals involving princesses of the Dubai ruling family.

They include Sheikh Mohammeds former wife, Princess Haya, who fled the UAE seven years ago claiming she feared for her life.

Then in 2021 one of Sheikh Mohammeds daughters, Princess Latifa, posted videos claiming to have been drugged and held captive by her father in a villa jail after attempting to leave the country.

She later issued a statement saying she was living as she wishes.

The Daily Mail has contacted Sheikh Saeeds lawyer and the Dubai Police for comment.
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambian rights group, Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ), has strongly opposed proposed media regulatory instruments issued by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), warning that they pose a serious threat to press freedom and freedom of expression in The Gambia
A parish church magazine has been forced to apologise after a contributing poet left 'woke' readers spluttering over verses on illegal immigrants, benefit scroungers and fat people.

Until recently, few batted an eyelid at the work of Diana Hunt, which featured regularly on the pages of the Uplyme Parish News, a monthly freesheet for a village of 1,700 residents on the Devon-Dorset border.

Tucked between updates from the horticultural society and news from the bellringers of St Peter and St Paul Church, her poems were reliably a whimsical reflection on local affairs.

But the fragile sensitivities of the local readership were shattered when Ms Hunt recently took the unexpected decision to pivot into fiery political discourse.

Churchgoers flicking through March's edition found themselves confronted by a poem - 'Know It All' - taking aim at illegal migrants, benefits cheats and fat people who cannot afford to eat.

It went: 'From politics to climate change and other world events, to how much money in benefits to scroungers have been sent.

'There's always one who pitches up to say they can't heat their homes, they fail to see the irony as they clutch their expensive mobile phones.

'Then the great big fat ones who say they can't afford to eat, many could live quite easily on their body fat for weeks.

A parish church magazine in Uplyme, on the Devon-Dorset border, has been forced to apologise after readers were offended by poems on illegal immigrants and benefit scroungers

The first poem by Diana Hunt to raise eyebrows was called 'Know It All' and was published in the magazine in March

The following month, Ms Hunt submitted another poem along similar lines titled 'Broken Britain'

'Boat loads of illegals who are flocking to our land, possibly one woman to every 10 of man.'

Having warmed to her new subject, Ms Hunt followed it up with a poem called 'Broken Britain' for the April edition.

She wrote: 'The high street where drug users deal drugs in public places, they know there's no police around no need to hide their faces.

'Boat loads of illegals flooding to our shores, step this way for hotel rooms and benefits galore.

'What about the people already sleeping on our streets, not for them the promises of warm beds with clean white sheets.

'Everyone who's come that way the story's all the same, if it costs so much to get here why not come by plane?'

The backlash was immediate. With three complaints in his inbox, Robin Hodges, editor of the Uplyme Parish News for 25 years, had a crisis on his hands.

He soon apologised - accepting it was not an appropriate subject matter for a church magazine and promising to publish a statement addressing the controversy in May's edition.

Yet despite culling the offending editions from the church website and vowing to stop publishing Ms Hunt's poems with immediate effect, Mr Hodges insisted he was not censoring anyone.

He said: 'It was a lapse of judgement on my part which I regret, we are going to put something in the May edition.

'I have been in contact with Diana via email and she was really sad that people took it the wrong way.

'Maybe it was not the right thing to go into a church magazine, I take full responsibility for it and I don't blame her at all.

'It is not censorship, she was just sad that people took it the way that they did.'

A front page of the Uplyme Parish News, a monthly freesheet for a village of 1,700 residents on the Devon-Dorset border

Robin Hodges, editor of the Uplyme Parish News for 25 years, denied censorship despite culling the offending editions from the church website

The poems of Diana Hunt will not feature in future editions of the magazine, its editors have said. Pictured: The view from the church

It is understood that Ms Hunt wrote the poems as a 'bit of fun' and they were meant to be tongue-in-cheek rather than a reflection of her own opinions.

One of those who complained about her poetry was resident David Michael.

He said: 'There is no place in a Christian parish magazine for the sentiments expressed in the poem. I don't subscribe to the magazine, it comes free through the door each month.

'I read it merely to know what's going on in the community.

'People are indeed entitled to their own opinions and mine are that uncharitable poetry and sentiments don't have a place in a parish magazine.'

Another resident, Martin Satherley, posted online: 'Whether you agree with the author of the poem or not it's not something I personally would expect in a parish magazine.

'I guess it's not really the place to discuss highly controversial opinions or that type of life's experiences although I do respect the author's right to have those opinions.'

But others took to social media to defend Ms Hunt and her poetry. Lee Saunders wrote: 'Actively demonising and persecuting a member of your very small communityyou should be ashamed of yourself.'

Matt Harrington said the 'Broken Britain' poem 'sounds pretty true to me', while Paul Reader was quick to identify what he thought might be the real issue, writing online: 'Woke complained?'
Two Texas siblings are suing Carnival Cruise Line after they were attacked by unruly passengers last year, leaving the autistic older brother with a brain injury.

Aiden Chambers, 19, and his 12-year-old sister argue in the lawsuit that the security team onboard the Carnival Jubilee did not do enough to protect them from their attackers in June 2025.

They are now accusing the cruise line of negligence, claiming that they alerted security personnel of the threat posed by the unidentified young adult passengers, but no actions were taken before the situation escalated into a physical attack.

The siblings further claim in the lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Florida on March 31, that staff members onboard the 5,362-guest ship were not monitoring how much alcohol they were serving to the unruly passengers.

When the siblings were then enjoying themselves on Deck 9 of the Carnival Jubilee the night of June 20, 2025, they said they were verbally threatened.

The siblings argue they did not provoke the other guests, and believe they were targeted, possibly because Aiden is autistic.

As the situation then grew more tenuous, the siblings reported the harassment to Carnival's onboard security team, they said, but the crew members did not take any action to disperse the aggressors or protect the victims as they returned to their stateroom.

By the time the siblings reached their cabin, they were cornered, and Aiden bravely tried to shield his sister and his friends, but was severely beaten, the lawsuit says.

Aiden Chambers, 19, and his 12-year-old sister argue in the lawsuit that the security team onboard the Carnival Jubilee (pictured) did not do enough to protect them from their attackers in June 2025

He suffered injuries to his wrist, back and head, including a concussion, according to the suit.

Aiden's younger sister was also allegedly assaulted before she escaped into the stateroom.

The lawsuit then claims that security personnel did not arrive on scene in a timely manner, and later admitted they had not properly monitored the threat when the siblings were brought to the onboard medical center.

Under the cruise line's policy, security personnel must take statements, interview involved parties and witnesses and review surveillance footage when a report is made.

It is unclear how far security personnel had gotten in that investigation when the harassment escalated into physical assault.

The siblings 'suffered bodily injury, which caused and continues to cause them pain and suffering, both past and present, mental anguish, scarring, aggravation of pre-existing conditions, emotional distress and loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, disability, disfigurement and all other elements of damages allowed under General Maritime Law,' according to the lawsuit.

'Further, the Plaintiffs have incurred the cost of medical care and treatment, and will require medical care for the remainder of their lives into the future, all of which were avoidable, but for the Defendant's negligence in this matter,' reads the lawsuit, which demands the cruise line pay damages in excess of $100,000, including interest.

Lawyers representing the siblings argue in the suit that Carnival should have been aware of the risk of onboard violence based on past events, but failed to provide a sufficient security presence and monitor the alcohol intake of its guests.

In another incident last year, video footage showed a group of young cruisers throwing punches and knocking each other to the ground in an apparent brawl over chicken tenders

The lawyers note that Carnival Cruise Line has reported a total of 20 assaults onboard its ship resulting in serious bodily injury committed by passengers from January 1, 2024 through June 2025, when the incident with the Chambers took place.

'Notably, the passenger-on-passenger assault which is the subject of this action was not reported to the FBI, presumably due to not having met the threshold to be classified as assaults which resulted in "serious bodily injury."'

That 'demonstrates that although an astonishing 20 assaults undoubtedly occurred aboard Defendant's ships in the year and a half leading up to Plaintiff's assault, this number only represents the most severe of them.'

In another incident last year, video footage showed a group of young cruisers throwing punches and knocking each other to the ground in an apparent brawl over chicken tenders.

Security guards could be seen in the footage from the fight in August 2025 trying to intervene in that case, as one turned away from the fight and reached for his walkie talkie.

But as punches landed with shoes and phones flying across the floor, a bystander could be heard screaming: 'Where the f*** is security?'

Just a few months earlier, in April, Carnival banned 24 passengers who broke into a fight when disembarking the Jubilee.

The cruise line's Code of Conduct states that any guests who pose a danger to themselves or others risk consequences like detainment, early disembarkation and fines of up to $500.

'Guests may also be liable for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Carnival as a result of the detainment or disembarkation,' it says.

In a further attempt to curb some poor behavior from cruisegoers, Carnival has implemented a series of rules including a 1am curfew for cruisers under 17 without an adult over 21.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line for comment.
On the first episode of a gripping two-part series documenting Ukraine's new fibre optic drones, award-winning foreign correspondent Richard Pendlebury joins the elite Charter Brigade to become the first reporter to witness the 'wonder weapons' in combat.

Fibre optic kamikaze drones are inflicting heavy casualties on Russian forces along the Kharkiv frontline. What sets them apart from conventional attack drones is devastatingly simple, they cannot be jammed.

With the addition of a gossamer thin fibre optic cable running from the drone to its operator, the devices are completely unaffected by enemy electronic warfare systems.

While the cabling limits their range, the drones are piloted by specialist soldiers who live and operate from dugouts deep underground, launching deadly strikes before vanishing back beneath the earth.

Fibre optic kamikaze drones are inflicting heavy casualties on Russian forces. What sets them apart from conventional drones is devastatingly simple, they cannot be jammed

Award-winning foreign correspondent Richard Pendlebury joins the elite Charter Brigade to become the first reporter to witness the 'wonder weapons' in combat

Before meeting these pilots in their underground bunkers, Pendlebury explained what makes the drones so innovative.

He said: 'The Charter Brigade are at the forefront of the use of a so-called wonder weapon, the fibre optic kamikaze drone, which first appeared on the battlefield in the autumn of 2024.

'Ordinary first person kamikaze drones have dominated the Ukrainian battlefield for at least two years. They are controlled by radio signals, which can be jammed by an enemy's electronic warfare equipment.

'Fibre optic kamikaze drones are instead controlled by a thin cable attached to a pilot's handset up to 40 kilometres away. The signals which pass through it are immune to electronic jamming.

'They are like deadly kites, ones which, unlike ordinary drones, can lie on the ground and wait for a passing victim.'

Pendlebury spent days underground with three drone pilots, known only by their military call signs, Puma, the team leader, Kush and Umbrella.

Pendlebury spent days underground with three drone pilots, known only by their military call signs, Puma, the team leader, Kush and Umbrella

One of the drone pilots, Puma, shows Pendlebury how to construct a fibre optic drone, revealing another of the weapon's key strengths

The drone can be assembled in as little as 30 minutes, with the fibre optic cabling adding only 10 minutes to the normal build time

Their commanding officer told the reporter of a recent Russian push into Ukrainian territory to illustrate the lethal effectiveness of the new weapons.

He said: 'The last time we had Russian tanks here, it was on the 15th of May last year.

'Our side and their side were supposed to be negotiating. The next morning, the Russians launched a big assault in our direction. Six armoured vehicles, two cars and one cannon. All of it was destroyed by our drone units.'

One of the drone pilots, Puma, shows Pendlebury how to construct a fibre optic drone, revealing another of the weapon's key strengths.

It can be assembled in as little as 30 minutes, with the fibre optic cabling adding only 10 minutes to the normal build time.

This allows the unit to keep multiple drones on standby, ready to replace any that are lost or destroyed in combat.

'We keep a stockpile,' Puma said via a translator. 'We just need to attach a shell, then it's ready for a mission.'

Watch Pendlebury's full report from deep underground on the Kharkiv frontline by subscribing to the Daily Mail World YouTube channel.
A 28-year-old leftist barista is hoping to take the Congressional seat of a woman who took office the same year she was born.

Melat Kiros, a political novice, challenged Representative Diana DeGette in the Democrat primary for a seat she's held since 1997.

Kiros is a lawyer and PhD student but mainly works the counter at the Whittier Cafe in Denver as she challenges a Washington fixture.

She is modeling her run for office after New York City's Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Whittier's website shows numerous anti-Donald Trump and pro-Black Lives Matter posters on the walls.

In the heavily left-leaning district - the 68-year-old DeGette has won by at least 50 points in each of her last three races - Kiros has gained momentum and sent shockwaves through Colorado politics by nearly keeping DeGette off the ballot.

Kiros received 63 percent of the vote in the party's county assembly, in which delegates determine who gets on the ballot in Democrat primaries in Colorado.

DeGette got only 32 percent, just staying above the 30 percent line required to remain on the ballot, after having won the contest in each of her 15 prior primaries.

Both candidates agree that the assembly process doesn't mean much in terms of actual election turnout but Kiros believes her district is ready for change.

Melat Kiros (pictured), a political novice, challenged Representative Diana DeGette in the Democrat primary for a seat she's held since 1997

DeGette, one of the managers of Donald Trump's second impeachment, has held the seat for nearly three decades

'This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that Denver Democrats want a fighter  somebody who is actually committed to transformative change,' Kiros told The Denver Post.

Her key positions include the Bernie Sanders-backed Medicare For All, universal childcare and an arms embargo toward Israel.

She was even fired from a law firm after writing a blog post that questioned the state of Israel's legitimacy and criticizing a letter her firm wrote condemning antisemitism.

Kiros' anti-Israel rhetoric has continued in her campaign, where she drew heat for sharing a video on social media claiming that Democrats 'fellate Israel.' She defended herself by saying she doesn't endorse the language used.

The 28-year-old has also been critical of mainstream Democrats' reaction to the war in Iran.

In an Instagram video filmed as she walked down a street, Kiros denounced politicians who take contributions from the defense industry.

'The only way things change is if we make sure that our elected representatives aren't in the pockets of the military industrial complex,' she said.

In an interview with Reuters, Kiros criticized DeGette for twice voting against motions by progressive lawmakers to cut the Pentagon's budget in 2020 and 2021.

Kiros (pictured right) is a lawyer and PhD student but mainly works the counter at the Whittier Cafe in Denver as she challenges a Washington fixture with New York City's socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a model

Kiros is a lawyer and PhD student but mainly works the counter at the Whittier Cafe in Denver

'The greatest hypocrisy I'm seeing is these folks now saying we shouldn't be spending this money on war.'

DeGette's campaign did not respond to Reuters for comment, but in a March 5 statement she said, 'This war is costing at least $1 billion every day. That is billions of dollars that could go towards affordable health care and housing. I refuse to support this war.'

She could run into trouble given that DeGette, a sponsor of Medicare For All in the House, has been praised by someone Kiros sees herself as aligning heavily with in Congress: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

'She is one of the most powerful people in Congress on health care and Diana DeGette is a co-sponsor of Medicare for All. She believes in the guaranteed right to health care for every American. Thank you for electing her,' she said at a rally held with Sanders and DeGette in Denver last year.

DeGette was also one of the Democrat managers of the second impeachment attempt against Trump during his first term.

She argued that Trump 'lit the fuse' on January 6th that started the riot at the Capitol.

Kiros also faces a huge disadvantage in fundraising, with DeGette holding a nearly $729,000 to $204,000 advantage in terms of cash raised through the end of last year.

However, the radical barista believes that getting people involved and promoting herself as a fighter can help her win the June 30 primary.

'The thing that we need to do to win is to give people enough faith that getting involved will make a difference,' she said at a recent rally.

The winner of the primary will likely be a heavy favorite to retain the seat, which represents the city of Denver.
A Georgia college student died after he took a fatal fall while hiking with his sister in Connecticut.

William Cooper Gatch, 23, lost his life on April 6 at an unmarked trail in Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden.

An obituary stated that he had been hiking with his sister, Whitley, when he suddenly fell.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said in a statement that they received an emergency call around 11.45am that day.

'The hiker was found in the woods and unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at the scene,' it read.

Based on preliminary investigations, officials believe his death to be accidental, but the official cause has not been determined.

Gatch was a resident of Statesboro, Georgia and an Agriculture Education student at the University of Georgia in Athens.

According to Gatch's obituary, he was just weeks away from graduation. He spent his final semester student teaching at Madison County High School.

'There were many things William loved in life, but the two that encompass it all are his habit of piddling and compassion for others,' it read.

William Gatch, 23, died while hiking Sleeping Giant State Park in Connecticut on Monday

Sleeping Giant State Park is located 20 minutes outside of New Haven. It is known for sweeping views and popular trails

Gatch loved the outdoors and was often found fishing in his grandparents' pond after a long day at school or work.

'The outdoors was a place that calmed his soul and where he could find peace; a statement that maintains truth even for his final moments,' the obituary read.

'William was and will always be loved; may his memory be a blessing to all.'

According to his LinkedIn profile, Gatch held many jobs throughout his short life, including work as a landscaper, equipment operator, and even an employee at The Home Depot.

He was also a part of the Block and Bridle Club at the University of Georgia. The club held a memorial in his honor on April 8.

Gatch graduated from Southeast Bulloch High School in Bulloch County, Georgia in 2021.

Lifelong friends have already submitted an outpouring of love for Gatch via social media, with one saying, 'he didn't have a bad bone in his body.'

'He didn't know how to not help others. That was his love language,' the post read. 'He would stop anything he was doing to be a help to you or a stranger.'

'He was a consistent presence, always the same,' another added. 'He had a way about him that you always knew he was there.'

'He was a joy to know,' a third said.

Gatch was an Agriculture Education student at the University of Georgia and was expected to graduate in May

Gatch's sister, Whitley Gatch, was with him when he took the deadly fall. She studies Archaeological Studies at Yale University

Gatch's funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 1.30pm. The family has asked those who wish to contribute to donate to the Georgia Future Farmers of America Foundation.

Sleeping Giant State Park is located in Hamden, Connecticut, 20 minutes north of New Haven.

The 1,439-acre park is one of Connecticut's most popular hiking attractions, according to CT Parks. It boasts scenic views, hiking trails and popular fishing spots.

While the purpose of the siblings' Connecticut hike was unclear, Whitley studies nearby at Yale University.

Gatch was survived by his parents, Jason and Delena Gatch, and grandmother, Janice Cowart.

The Hamden Police Department, Hamden Fire Department and American Medical Response EMS responded to the incident.

The Daily Mail contacted the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the University of Georgia for comment.
The woman whose designer handbag containing a 2million Faberge egg was swiped from outside a London pub has been left 'very upset' by the theft, her mother has revealed.

Rosie Dawson, director of premium bands at Craft Irish Whiskey, was targeted by Algerian drug addict Enzo Conticello, 29, as she greeted a friend outside the Dog and Duck pub in Bateman Street.

Conticello had 'absolutely no idea' the bag contained a rare Faberge egg and watch which had been on display at an event earlier in the evening when he swiped it from the floor.

Conticello also took his victim's laptop and credit cards, which he used to buy himself a drink and cigarettes in a nearby Co-Op and Nisa Local.

Rosie's mother Leslie Dawson today told the Daily Mail: 'Rosie is very upset about it all. The story has gone viral.'

To this day the Faberge egg and watch, which belong to the Craft Irish Whiskey Company, have never been recovered and Conticello claims he 'gave them away'.

Speaking from the family's stunning detached riverside home near Exeter, Devon, Mrs Dawson said she 'didn't know' why insurers had only paid out 106,700 to the drinks company for the loss.

Both the egg and watch remain missing after the theft on November 7, 2024.

Rosie Dawson (pictured), whose designer handbag containing a 2million Faberge egg was swiped from outside a London pub, has been left 'very upset' by the theft

The Faberge egg (pictured) stolen by Algerian drug addict Enzo Conticello, who has been jailed for more than two years for the offence

Conticello (pictured) was sentenced for theft and three charges of fraud by misrepresentation

On November 20, a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods after the company that commissioned the egg and watch were approached with questions about the items' value - but Scotland Yard took no further action.

London has seen a spate of luxury thefts in recent years, with Algerian nationals featuring prominently among suspects ending up in court. Robbers usually operate as part of organised criminal networks, with items quickly exported for sale abroad.

Conticello was sentenced for theft and three charges of fraud by misrepresentation, after using bank cards to purchase cigarettes and other goods at supermarkets in the Soho area.

Prosecutor Julian Winship told the sentencing hearing: 'On November 7, 2024 at just before 10pm, [Ms Dawson] went to the Dog and Duck pub in Soho.

'She was outside the premises in the designated smoking area, she put her handbag on the ground in between her legs, and a few minutes later she noticed her handbag was no longer there.'

Southwark Crown Court heard Ms Dawson had the Faberge items in her handbag after she had taken them for display at a work event earlier that evening.

Inside the 1,600 bag was an emerald-encrusted Faberge egg and Faberge watch belonging to Ms Dawson's employers.

Also contained were a 1,500 Apple laptop, Apple AirPods, a 350 store voucher, keys, Ms Dawson's three bank cards, 200 worth of make-up, a Mulberry card holder worth 150 and 20 in cash.

Mr Winship said Conticello 'wanted to obtain some easy cash' and prosecutors accept he did not intend to steal the Faberge egg and accompanying watch.

Insurers have paid out 106,700 to the drinks company for the loss, but the prosecutor said there are only seven Faberge sets - containing a jewelled egg, watch, whisky bottle, cigars and humidor - in existence.

Three had been sold for between $2million and $3million each and the company was seeking similar amounts for the remaining four sets.

A walnut wood cabinet containing a bottle of 30-year-old whisky in its central compartment and the gold jewellery sold for $2.8million (2.1million) in 2024, prompting the firm to call it 'the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold.'

Asked by the judge, Ms Recorder Kate Livesey KC, what Conticello had done with the stolen items, Kate Porter-Windley, defending, said: 'He gave the bag to someone to purchase drugs.

'He was a cocaine addict at the time, I am pleased to say he is now eight months clean, but at the time he just gave the bag away.'

She said the Algerian had 'absolutely no idea' what the Faberge items were, adding: 'I confess I didn't know what the item was, I had to look it up myself.

'And it certainly wasn't known to Mr Conticello. He had absolutely no idea the value of it, none whatsoever.'

But the judge said: 'It's quite an extraordinary item, isn't it?'

Ms Porter-Windley replied: 'In fairness to Mr Conticello, who was sleeping rough, he simply didn't recognise it.

'These offences were committed in circumstances where it looks as though the defendant wanted to obtain some easy cash, and his usage of the cards suggests precisely that.

'He is not likely to be a man with any significant means at all.'

She added he felt 'genuine remorse' for his actions and 'does not want to be someone tagged as a bag snatcher. It's certainly not something he wants to do again'.

Conticello appeared in the dock today wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit, looking unsettled and with arms folded.

Inside Ms Dawson's 1,600 bag was an emerald-encrusted Faberge egg and Faberge watch belonging to her employers

Conticello was seen on CCTV yaking Ms Dawson's laptop and credit cards, which he used to buy himself a drink and cigarettes in a nearby Co-Op and Nisa Local

Prosecutor Julian Winship said: 'The Crown does not contradict he did not intend to steal the Faberge egg and Faberge watch.

'But the nature of this type of theft is that sometimes little value would be realised, sometimes a great value would be realised.'

The court was told the insurance company paid out 106,700 for the Faberge items, though a statement by its owners suggests they have sold for up to $3million as part of a full set, one of seven in existence.

Three 'bespoke emerald isle sets' previously sold for $2million, 2.8million, and $3million.

But Mr Winship added: 'The difference of value may not affect the outcome in this case as this is a high value theft.'

Passing sentence, the judge told Conticello: 'The basis of your guilty plea is that you were acting opportunistically.

'I accept the degree of loss was wholly unexpected when you took the bag.'

Quoting a statement by the victim, the judge referred to her 'particular shock and panic that a bag containing items of such value had been stolen.'

She noted the 'incredible stress' the theft had on Ms Dawson, adding: 'She had called the police almost every day since the incident.'

Conticello has two previous convictions for seven offences, the judge said, most recently for theft, attempted theft, and going equipped for theft on November 8 last year.

He was jailed for 27 months for the leading offence of theft, taking into account his 'knowledge and intention' and early guilty plea.

Conticello was also given a six-day jail term for his fraud offences, to be served concurrently.

The judge ordered no costs beyond the statutory surcharge, 'owing to your inability to pay it' following a 'long custodial sentence'.

Conticello remained emotionless during the sentence and only said 'yes' to confirm he understood the charges.

Detective Constable Arben Morina, leading the Metropolitan Police's investigation, said: 'Conticello thought nothing of helping himself to someone else's possessions  and he now faces a prison sentence as a result of his greed.

'This theft has had a significant impact on the victim, who was on her way home from a work event when she was targeted.

'The defendant never explained to the police what he did with the expensive jewellery. Our investigation to find the egg and the watch is ongoing and we'd urge anyone with information to contact us.'

Conticello, who was in custody and is also known as Hakin Boudjenoune, pleaded guilty to the offences in February.

After Conticello admitted the charges then, Judge Martin Griffiths told him: 'I expect it was probably quite a surprise to you when you discovered that egg.

'What you did with it, I don't quite know, but I expect we're going to find out.'

The court did not hear exactly how much the Faberge egg and watch were worth, but was told the items have a minimum value of $2.8million.

The court noted the 'incredible stress' the theft had on Mrs Dawson

The judge previously said he wanted to be 'certain' of the jewellery's value, adding: 'Unfortunately, you can't ask Mr Faberge, can you?'

Metropolitan Police detectives travelled to Belfast to arrest the suspect after the Police Service of Northern Ireland had detained him for an unrelated theft offence.

Officers continue to appeal for information about the missing items and are keen to hear from anyone who may have been offered them for sale or with information about their current whereabouts.
A new CNN poll revealed that Melania Trump has the lowest recorded approval rating of any American First Lady in the past 40 years.

Data guru Harry Enten was visibly stunned when he revealed the 'absolutely awful' numbers on air Thursday in the CNN/SSRS March 26-30 survey.

'Melania Trump breaking records in the way that you don't want to break recordshistorically awful,' Enten said.

'The American people really don't care for her,' he added.

Melania's abysmal ratings came just before she delivered an address at the White House, denying any connection with Jeffrey Epstein and his crimes.

Enten noted that the first lady's popularity had dramatically fallen between the president's first and second terms.

According to the data set analyzed by the Daily Beast, Melania had a +30 rating in May 2018.

The data point fell to just +3 in January 2025, only to fall even further to -12 after the March 2026 survey.

A new CNN poll revealed that Melania Trump has the lowest recorded approval rating of any first lady

'I've never been friends with Epstein,' Melania Trump said during an address at the White House on Thursday afternoon

At a similar point in their husbands' second terms, Nancy Reagan's approval sat at +50, Hillary Clinton's at +25, Laura Bush at +46 and Michelle Obama at +42.

'If we look at this historically, the worst ever, the worst ever at this point in term number two,' Enten added.

Even Jill Biden outperformed Melania in terms of approval ratings during just one term as first lady.

'She was above water as well,' Enten said of Jill Biden. 'So this is the worst at this point in a presidency as well.'

The poll's results have no connection with Melania's address, in which she clarified she is 'not Epstein's victim.'

'Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998,' she said Thursday.

The First Lady said she had seen 'fake images and statements' linking her to Epstein on social media for years, and urged viewers to 'be cautious about what you believe.'

'These images and stories are completely false. I'm not a witness or unnamed witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes,' she added.

CNN's Harry Enten compared Melania's numbers to 40 years of first lady's before her

Melania and Donald Trump both received blows to their approval ratings in recent months, according to recent CNN data

The announcement came as a shock, as there had not been recent revelations linking her to the disgraced financier.

Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges in August 2019.

He was convicted more than a decade prior for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Melania said she first met Epstein in 2000 and was unaware of anything untoward. He was not accused until years later in 2005.

Melania also addressed an email she had sent to Epstein's criminal accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, that was published in January.

She said that her response was to be polite, and it did not indicate a close relationship.

Buried in the tranche of more than three million Epstein Files is an email signed 'Love, Melania' that appears to be addressed to Maxwell.

The president told MS NOW he didn't 'know anything about' his wife's shocking remarks.

Donald Trump and his then-girlfriend Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000

A recent CNN poll suggested that Trump's own approval ratings were less than stellar.

March 2026 numbers showed Trump's rating for his handling of the economy had hit an all-time low at 31 percent.

Over the last year, Trump's overall approval also appears to have fallen from 39 percent to 35 percent.

Melania has frequently made headlines throughout his presidency for her controversial choices, though she often shies away from the limelight.

Her documentary, Melania: 20 Days to History, was released in January to much public scrutiny.

Per the Independent, Enten suggested this could have affected Melania's popularity.

'I think a lot of people saw it as political even if she didnt want it to be, and you could just see it here,' he said.

'This is real-world data. This is not just the polling data that shows the historic lack of appeal that she has for a first lady.'

The Daily Mail contacted the White House for comment.
Tony Blair's think tank has branded Labour 'too ideological' and called for Ed Miliband to back new oil and gas fields.

Ministers should have taken steps to protect the country from the volatility of energy prices caused by the Iran war, it says in a new report.

Backing the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields would help reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuel imports, the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) says.

It is the latest in a series of swipes at the approach of the Energy Secretary by the former Labour prime minister's think tank.

Last night, Sir Keir Starmer left the door open to Jackdaw and Rosebank being approved in the future.

Speaking in the Middle East, the Prime Minister said that oil and gas would be 'part of the mix for many years to come'.

He acknowledged that they were 'good for revenue, good for jobs' but said they wouldn't get people off the 'rollercoaster' of high energy bills.

It comes as ministers clash over whether Labour should restart oil and gas extraction or stick with the Energy Secretary's fixation on green energy.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is under mounting pressure to issue new licences for drilling oil and gas off the Scottish coast

Mr Miliband  who argues that Britain needs to rely on renewables over fossil fuels  is at odds with the Chancellor Rachel Reeves who thinks drilling is good for growth.

He is said to be considering approving the Jackdaw gasfield off Scotland though remains opposed to the oilfield Rosebank, which is thought to contain up to 300million barrels.

The TBI report argues that the UK should have taken steps to strengthen domestic supply and reduce its exposure to volatile global markets before the Iran war.

It says the UK is instead following a 'riskier' path of decarbonising the electricity system as quickly as possible and depending on imports of fossil fuels.

The paper  More than Clean Power: Electrification is the UK's Best Bet for Resilience  calls for a 'reset' of the UK's energy strategy while still meeting net zero goals.

It says that to address Britain's 'systemic energy crisis', the country needs greater electrification and cheaper power.

The report argues that the UK's approach is out of step with its global competitors and the country is falling behind as a result.

It points to countries such as China, the US and India where energy policy is focused on the supply of low-cost electricity to drive growth.

The only way to meet net zero goals by 2050 is through a more practical strategy focused on electrification and reducing costs, it adds.

Author of the paper, TBI's energy policy expert, Tone Langengen, said: 'Iran hasn't just been an energy shock - it's been a cost-of-living shock and a test of Britain's economic resilience.

'But the case for strengthening domestic supply and backing projects like Jackdaw and Rosebank was already strong  the crisis has simply exposed how vulnerable the UK remains without it.

'If the government doubles down on the wrong parts of the system, the UK will remain exposed to the same vulnerabilities.'

He added: 'The lesson from Iran is clear: the UK doesn't just need more clean power, but electrification, greater resilience and a more affordable system over time.

'Without it, households will face repeated price shocks, businesses will carry persistently high costs, and the transition itself will fail.'

A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We are taking action to bear down on the cost of living, including taking 117 off average energy bills this month and supporting de-escalation in the Middle East.

'The lesson of yet another fossil fuel crisis is the UK needs to get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and onto clean homegrown power we control.'
Firms will suffer unnecessary disruption from trade unions being given the right to visit workplaces every week, ministers have been warned.

Business leaders also accused the Government of failing to discuss the contentious issue with them before going ahead with the new rules.

Under the code of practice, another aspect of the workers rights bonanza designed by Angela Rayner, bosses have been told they must give unions weekly access to their offices, shops or factories either in person or virtually.

Employers must make space for the reps visits by moving chairs and tables around and should let them meet staff in areas such as canteens or staff rooms.

But bosses must not listen in to the conversations or demand to be told what was said, the draft code warned.

They were also advised it may be easier to hold digital access meetings to allow homeworkers or those who do night shifts to take part.

Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy at the British Chamber of Commerce, said: Smaller firms fear that plans to give trade unions new rights of access to their premises will damage productivity at a time when they are already under significant pressure.

Small firms rarely have dedicated HR teams or administrative support staff, so managing the process around access will be enormously burdensome.

Activists from the GMB trade union attempted to gain recognition from online giant Amazon

She added: Last year, during negotiations around the unfair dismissal qualifying period, the government committed to further tripartite discussion with business and trade union representatives. This was to ensure that key elements of the Employment Rights Act were introduced in a practical and manageable way.

But the lack of discussion around this issue, and a shortened timeframe on the consultation for the related code of practice, completely undermine that commitment. This is hugely disappointing.

Matthew Percival, CBI Future of Work and Skills Director, said: Granting every union a right to access every workplace on a weekly basis risks adding disruption and distracting employers from their core focus of creating jobs and delivering economic growth, with little benefit for workers.

And Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: Many retailers have constructive relationships with unions but allowing weekly access to multi-site workplaces would be disruptive to service for customers, with no clear benefit to employees.

A Government spokesman insisted: The UK's framework for industrial relations is outdated. The last government oversaw 2.7 million days being lost to strike action in 2023.

This government's reforms will bring relations between trade unions and businesses into the 21st century, helping achieve business growth, secure employment and increasing workplace productivity by resolving disputes sooner.
THE Scottish Greens were yesterday branded extremists who want to abolish prisons and legalise class-A drugs.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay launched a strongly-worded attack on the party, which formed a coalition with the SNP after the 2021 Holyrood election and current polling indicates could secure another influential position after next months vote.

It comes as Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer yesterday stood by one of his candidates who described herself as a prison abolitionist, saying she is one of their top candidates.

Although he refused to back her call for the complete abolition of prisons, he claimed jails are only needed for a small number of violent individuals who have committed such horrendous offences.

Asked during an interview whether he believes the Greens or Nigel Farages Reform UK are the most extreme party, Mr Findlay said: Its a tough question. I genuinely think the Greens, if you just look at some of what they are proposing.

Just this week, weve had a senior candidate who may well end up in Holyrood saying we should abolish prisons. That would mean murderers and rapists arent locked up.

It is their policy that heroin and crack cocaine should be effectively legalised, which would cause further devastation and drugs deaths in Scotland.

Mr Findlay also criticised the Greens support for withdrawing from Nato, saying it would put Scotland in grave danger. He added: So, I think the Greens actually win that contest.

On the campaign trail yesterday ahead of next months Holyrood elections:

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay hit out at the Green Party over prisons

Green Party co-leader Ross Greer stood by one of his candidates who described herself as a prison abolitionist

- Mr Findlay also demanded the accelerated upgrade of a series of key roads, including the A75 and A77 in south-west Scotland, during a visit to parts of Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

- John Swinney claimed widespread disruption to the CalMac ferry network was due to a perfect storm of annual maintenance and repairs, as he promised islanders up to 300 off their energy bills this winter

- Labour mocked Mr Swinney for hiding from the Press by taking a life-size cutout to SNP HQ so reporters could finally see him.

- Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth came under fire for holding an election campaign photocall to unveil a pledge to work with country legend Dolly Partons charity to provide young children with free books at a library which has faced closure because of SNP cuts.

- Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pledged a 100million emergency plan to cut household bills and petrol prices as the Iran war hits energy costs,

- Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole Hamilton said he would rather have an early election than prop up a failing SNP in the next parliament.

Kate Nevens, the Green candidate for the Edinburgh and Lothians East list seat, has faced heavy criticism for describing herself as a prison abolitionist who wanted to see the complete abolition of the prison system.

The charity worker, who is also ranked second on the Greens regional list for Edinburgh and Lothians East, insisted she backs the complete abolition of the prison system in Scotland.

But party leaders yesterday refused to condemn the remarks.

During a visit in Renfrew on Thursday, Mr Greer said: The Scottish Greens position is about making our communities as safe as possible.

Sadly, there will always be a small number of violent individuals who have committed such horrendous offences that they clearly need to be kept in prison.

The Scottish Tories also criticised the Greens for their policy that 'heroin and crack cocaine should be effectively legalised'

Greer also claimed jails are only needed for a small number of violent individuals who have committed such horrendous offences

Findlay also demanded the accelerated upgrade of a series of key roads, including the A75 and A77 in south-west Scotland

We can also acknowledge that the prison system is not working for huge numbers of particularly non-violent offenders, they come out of prison more likely to commit another crime.

Pressed on whether Ms Nevens, if she became an MSP, would be whipped to vote with the party line, he said: Every Green MSP that we elect will be elected on the basis of our manifesto.

That manifesto is focused on reducing crime and making communities safer through more use of these community sentences for non-violent offenders in particular.

Clearly, there will be a need to imprison those who have committed such horrendous, such violent offences, that they are a risk to the rest of the community.

He added: Kate Nevens is one of the top candidates that were running in this election.

She brings a wealth of experience from conflict zones around the world, where shes worked with women in particular to help them rebuild their lives and rebuild their communities. Thats the kind of experience we should want in the Scottish Parliament.

In an interview with the Press Association, Mr Findlay also accused the SNP of having a bitter streak of Anglophobia.

He said he disagreed with Reforms claim that Scotland was at breaking point, but added that uncontrolled mass migration was putting pressure on public services.

He said Reform cannot be trusted on the Union and argued it was not conservative.

Mr Findlay accused the SNP of wanting to turn everything into England is bad, and somehow everything is better in Scotland. He said: I think we are a proud family of nations. We are the United Kingdom - that is where our strength lies.

I find it so bad that so much of the SNPs nationalist politics is based upon a pretty bitter streak of Anglophobia, and I think we should have no place for that whatsoever.

A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: The daft and extreme policies that his party introduced and that he wanted Scotland to replicate hiked up bills for families all over Scotland and plunged tens of thousands of children into totally avoidable poverty.

Hes dragged his party in an increasingly extreme direction, shedding votes and principles every step of the way in a desperate bid to mimic Reform.

This election will make clear that the people of Scotland have had more than enough of him and his party and the destructive policies that they stand for.

Emma Harper, SNP candidate for Galloway and West Dumfries, said: Scots wont forget it was the Tories who crashed our economy while Russell Findlay cheered Liz Truss on from the sidelines.

Russell Findlays plans to slash support for children and disabled people to cut taxes for millionaires show that the Tories will never change.

While the Tories fight it out for fourth place at this election, the concern for Scottish voters is that Anas Sarwar will strike a grubby deal with Russell Findlay in his desperate attempt to gain power. It is telling that the Labour Party is the only party that Findlay chooses not to have a pop at.
Professor Belvisi joins from AstraZeneca, where she served as Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Respiratory & Immunology and built one of the most productive early R&D organizations in global pharma, including leading tozorakimab from preclinical research through Phase 3 investment decision  a program that recently delivered landmark wins in two pivotal COPD trials

Her appointment accelerates Ailux's evolution from AI-native biologics discovery into a fully integrated drug development organization, targeting first clinical entry by 2027

Professor Belvisi will lead Ailux's scientific strategy and new program development, and will establish and lead a UK research site to complement Ailux's Shanghai research capabilities.

SHANGHAI and LONDON, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ailux, an AI-native biotech company discovering and engineering next-generation biologics across multiple indications, today announced the appointment of Maria G. Belvisi, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer. Professor Belvisi brings more than three decades of industry and academic leadership in drug research and development, including nearly a decade at AstraZeneca where she served as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D. She will report to Alex Li, Chief Executive Officer of Ailux.

Ailux is an AI-native biotech company headquartered in Shanghai, founded within and wholly-owned by XtalPi (2228.HK), a global leader in building the AI & robotics infrastructure for life sciences and beyond. Ailux combines proprietary AI biologics platforms with a 30,000 square foot wet lab and a global team of approximately 150 across China, the UK, and the US. Ailux has collaborated with Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and UCB, and is advancing its internal pipeline toward first clinical entry by 2027.

Professor Belvisi joined AstraZeneca in 2017 and was accountable for the global Respiratory & Immunology R&D organization spanning approximately 500 scientists across the UK, Sweden, the US, and Spain. During her tenure she built and advanced one of the industry's most innovative and productive early R&I portfolios, with end-to-end responsibility from target identification through Phase 3 investment decisions. Most recently, tozorakimab  a potential first-in-class IL-33 antibody that she championed from early preclinical development through the Phase 3 investment decision  met its primary endpoints in both the OBERON and TITANIA trials in COPD. The results, announced last month, have been widely recognized as landmark for the field and potentially transformational for COPD patients.

Alongside her industry career, Maria has held a professorship at the National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London  a position she continues to hold today. During her time leading the Imperial research group, she trained more than thirty PhD students and published over 250 peer-reviewed papers. She also served as Research Director of the European Respiratory Society (20132016) and founded IR Pharma, a contract research organization serving major pharmaceutical companies in the respiratory space. In her new role at Ailux, Maria will also establish and lead a UK research site, further expanding the company's presence in one of the world's leading centers for biomedical research and innovation. She is a Fellow of the European Respiratory Society, the British Pharmacological Society, and the Academy of Medical Sciences, and was named one of Endpoints News' "20 Outstanding Women in Biopharma" in 2021.

"Maria is exactly the kind of scientific leader Ailux needs at this stage of our journey," said Alex Li, CEO of Ailux. "She has spent her career turning bold scientific hypotheses into medicines that reach patients  building programs from scratch, taking them through the clinic, and doing so at a scale that few have matched. We are building Ailux to go the full distance, and Maria's scientific leadership will be central to every step of that journey."

"What drew me to Ailux is the genuine integration of AI and biology  not AI as a tool applied to conventional drug discovery, but as a co-equal foundation for how programs are conceived and built," said Professor Belvisi, CSO of Ailux. "I believe Ailux's platform and team give us a real opportunity to originate first-in-class and best-in-class medicines, and I am excited to join the team and work together to build a global company that can deliver transformative therapies to patients."

About Ailux

Ailux is an AI-native biotech company headquartered in Shanghai and a wholly-owned subsidiary of XtalPi (2228.HK), a global leader in building the AI & robotics infrastructure for life sciences and beyond. Established as an independent operation five years ago with its own dedicated team, platforms, and pipeline, Ailux combines proprietary AI biologics platforms with a 30,000 square foot wet lab to discover and engineer next-generation biologics across multiple therapeutic areas. The company's global team of approximately 150 spans China, the UK, and the US, drawing on the distinct strengths of each geography. Ailux has collaborated with Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and UCB, and is now advancing its own pipeline with the first programs expected to enter clinical development by 2027.

SOURCE Ailux
Sir Keir Starmer has denied Iranian claims that attacks on its civilians are being launched from RAF bases.

The Prime Minister insisted he has only given US bombers permission to take off from Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Chagos islands for 'collective self-defence'.

He also condemned Donald Trump's threat to destroy the 'whole civilisation' of Iran - and even blamed him for soaring energy bills as the rift between the pair deepened still further.

In an interview with ITV's Talking Politics podcast during his trip to allies in the Gulf, Sir Keir was told that Iran's deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has accused US bombers of demolishing four residential buildings and killing dozens of people after taking off from a British base.

The PM replied that UK forces were only taking action 'in collective self-defence of British lives, British interests and of course our allies here in the Gulf' and that he had decided 'we would allow our bases to be used strictly for that collective self-defence'.

He insisted that 'our bases would not be used and are not being used for attacks on civilians'.

Pressed on the matter, Sir Keir said: 'We are monitoring that very clearly as you would expect- the principles are in place.

'Really clear about that divide- no offensive action, not joining in the war, of collective self-defence only and that our bases will not be and are not being used for wider offensive and particularly for offensive on civilians.'

Sir Keir Starmer speaks to aircrew before boarding a military aircraft in Abu Dhabi on Thursday

Asked about the US President's warning as the deadline for his ceasefire loomed that 'a whole civilisation will die tonight', Sir Keir said: 'They are not words I would use, ever use, because I come at this with our British values and principles.'

He also blamed President Trump as well as Russia's Vladimir Putin for the high prices paid by Britons for energy.

'I'm fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses' bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world,' he said Britain needed to be self-sufficient in generating power.

And he said Israel's strikes on Lebanon were 'wrong' regardless of whether or not they breached the ceasefire.

'That should stop  that's my strong view  and therefore, the question isn't a technical one of whether it's a breach of the agreement or not.'

Earlier the PM said that Iran must not 'hold the Strait of Hormuz to ransom' as the UK rejected the prospect of ships being charged to pass through the vital waterway.

As he visited Abu Dhabi on the second day of his visit to the Gulf, the Prime Minister vowed to allies that plans would be developed to restore freedom of navigation to the shipping lane now controlled by Tehran.

His Foreign Secretary also spoke out against the proposal made by Iran in its 10-point peace plan for it to charge a fee of up to $2million for each vessel travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Yvette Cooper said in a speech at the Lady Mayor's Easter Banquet on Thursday night: 'The fundamental freedoms of the seas must not be unilaterally withdrawn or sold off to individual bidders. Nor can there be any place for tolls on an international waterway.'

She told the BBC that the strait  through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquified natural gas passes  is a shipping route subject to international maritime law.

'Freedom of navigation principles apply and countries cannot simply hijack those kinds of international transit routes and unilaterally apply tolls.

'They cannot do that as part of the laws of the sea and the United Nations arrangements.'

It risks yet another clash with President Trump, who has said the plan for a so-called 'Tehran tollbooth' could be a 'joint venture' between the US and Iran, calling it a 'beautiful thing'.

He also demanded that NATO forces send warships to unlock the Strait of Hormuz within days or risk the US pulling out of the alliance.

Several diplomats were briefed on the President's ultimatum after he held talks with General Secretary Mark Rutte in Washington on Wednesday.

Rutte subsequently told European capitals that Washington is seeking 'concrete commitments' in the coming days, Der Spiegel reported.

The diplomats characterised the request as an 'ultimatum' and that the Trump administration made it clear that vague 'political pledges' are no longer sufficient.

It was unclear if the US is pushing for a formal NATO mission, or simply coordinated national deployments.

Mr Trump has continued to berate the alliance, calling it 'very disappointing', writing on Truth Social that they do not understand 'anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!'.
A woman reported missing by her husband who claimed she fell overboard while they boated in the Bahamas, has been branded the 'aggressor' in their marriage after a newly surfaced allegation of domestic violence.

Lynette Hooker, 55, plunged into the waters off the Abaco Islands while traveling with partner Brian Hooker, 59, on Saturday.

The couple have been married for more than two decades and spent the past four years as boat-life vloggers living on their yacht Soulmate.

Their blog paints a picture of two seemingly in love people who ditched their life in suburban Michigan for a happy nomadic life at sea.

But newly unearthed court documents reveal accusations of domestic violence in the couple's picture perfect marriage - with Brian's lawyer now branding her an 'aggressor'.

Police were called to the couple's home in February 2015 after an alleged violent altercation that saw both Lynette and Brian accuse each other of assault.

When probed about the alleged abuse, Brian's attorney Terrel Butler told the Daily Mail: 'I have not discussed this with my client yet, but to my understanding she's the only one that was charged in that incident.'

'I will say this [arrest] clearly changes the image that has been portrayed of him as being violent or an aggressor.'

Lynette Hooker was arrested for domestic violence at her Kentwood, Michigan home in February 2015, court records show

Lynette went missing in the Bahamas after falling overboard during a boat ride with her husband Brian on Saturday. She is said to have fallen from a dinghy as the couple were making their way back to their sailboat

Asked specifically if Brian had a history of violence, Butler reiterated that her client has denied the allegations of abuse.

'The facts speak for themselves,' she continued, speaking about the investigation into the alleged incident.

'Rest assured, if it had shown him being the aggressor there would have been some record of that.'

Brian was arrested on Wednesday in connection to Lynette's disappearance, throwing their marriage into public scrutiny.

Lynette's heartbroken daughter Karli Aylesworth also called for a full investigation into the tragedy after accusing Brian of having previously threatened to harm his wife.

But a deep dive into their relationship has revealed that the alleged spousal abuse is not one-sided.

Lynette was arrested in February 2015 on charges of assault and battery/simple assault after an altercation at their Kentwood, Michigan home that left Brian with a bloody nose.

He alleged that Lynette 'struck him in the face multiple times' while drunk, according to the police report obtained by the Daily Mail.

Lynette's heartbroken daughter Karli Aylesworth called for a full investigation into her mother's disappearance after accusing Brian of having previously threatened to harm his wife

Brian was arrested on Wednesday in connection to Lynette's disappearance, throwing their marriage into public scrutiny

Brian's attorney Terrel Butler, when asked about the 2015 incident, suggested that Lynette was the 'aggressor' in the couple's relationship

Brian, who was also intoxicated, was not arrested, despite Lynette having also accused him of assault during the incident.

The warrant against Lynette was ultimately denied after authorities deemed there was 'insufficient evidence as to who started the assault.'

The alleged altercation broke out after a 'highly intoxicated' Lynette became upset about an intimate encounter allegedly taking place upstairs, the police report said.

Lynette believed an individual named Jacob Hooker was 'fooling around' with an unnamed person in a locked room in the house, according to the filing.

She tried to open the locked door and struck Brian in the face 'four to five times' after he tried to calm her down, he told police.

He told police he 'had never been hit like that in a long time' and 'started to cry and became emotional,' the report said.

Officers noted that Brian had a red, swollen and bloody nose. Lynette had no visible injuries.

It is unclear how Jacob, who according to public records was 23 at the time of the incident, is related to the Hookers.

Lynette did tell responding officers that her children had locked themselves in a room upstairs, the report stated. She alleged Brian choked her and punched her one time as she tried to get in the room.

Brian Hooker said he last saw his wife fell overboard in strong currents and he 'lost sight of her'

Brian Hooker was arrested in the Bahamas on Wednesday in connection to Lynette's disappearance. He 'categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing'

Brian was arrested in the Bahamas on Wednesday. The Royal Bahamas Police said Brian he questioned 'on probable cause' and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife's disappearance.

He has not been formally charged.

Brian 'categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing' and is cooperating with authorities, Butler said in a statement.

Officials said the couple were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media.

On Saturday evening, they took out an eight-foot motorboat from Hope Town in the Bahamas, but only Brian returned.

He told authorities that his wife fell overboard with the boat keys as they were returning to their yacht 'Soulmate', causing the engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle to the shore.

In a statement to the Daily Mail earlier this week, Brian said he is 'heartbroken' by his wife's disappearance, describing the incident as a 'boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds.'

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,' Brian said. 'We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.'

Lynette and Brian had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan

The couple had been living on their sailboat Soulmate for the past four years and were vlogging their voyage from Texas to Michigan on social media

But Karli Aylesworth has tried to poke holes in her stepfather's story, claiming Brian only left her a voicemail about Lynette's disappearance three days after she vanished.

In the voicemail shared with CBS News and NewsNation, Brian is heard saying: '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.

'And uh, so they're, that's a, they haven't found her yet, but they're, they can now focus of all their efforts on in a smaller area, and they're still out there searching today. So I just wanted to update you and let you know.

'I love you. I'll talk to you later bye, bye-bye.'

Aylesworth has claimed Lynette and Brian's relationship was volatile and that they have a 'history of not getting along, especially when they drink.'

In an interview with Fox News, she detailed an alleged history of domestic violence in 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 the outlet.

'There has also been a history of domestic violence in that relationship, so I do believe something might have happened to her.'

Lynette was an experienced sailor and her daughter claimed it is unlikely she would 'just fall' off the boat

Karli Aylesworth, now 28, pictured on mother's lap in an undated photo

Aylesworth told NBC News that it is unlikely her mother would 'just fall' off the boat, saying she was an experienced sailor.

She also told WXYZ-TV she doubted her mother survived and was able to tread water that long, but hoped to find her to get closure.

Aylesworth has not responded to the Daily Mail's multiple requests for comment.

Butler said, in a statement, that Brian's denial of wrongdoing includes in particular 'the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth.'
An Australian muesli mogul says she is grateful to be alive after disturbing video captured the moment she nearly choked to death on a piece of steak.

Carolyn Creswell, the founder of Carman's Muesli, was hosting friends at her Gippsland home in November 2024 when the meat got stuck in her throat.

Her 30-minute battle to stay alive was captured on her home security cameras.

The mother-of-four was seen getting up from the dinner table and coughing on the patio before collapsing on the ground and splitting the back of her head open.

Her husband Peter tried the Heimlich manoeuvre, but when it failed he called an ambulance, with a friend staying on the line as he performed compressions for almost 30 minutes, a skill he learnt managing their kids' nippers program.

He told 9News of the horror he witnessed as his wife fought for breath.

'She was starting to go purple and I said "Can you breathe?" and then "Are you choking?" and she nodded and that's when I knew she was in trouble,' he said.

Paramedics arrived and Ms Creswell, 52, was airlifted to hospital with head injuries, nine broken ribs and a broken sternum.

Carolyn Creswell, who owns the global muesli empire Carmen's, spent a week in intensive care with broken ribs and a sternum after she choked on a piece of steak

Peter tried the Heimlich manoeuvre on his wife as she was choking. The entire 30-minute ordeal was caught on their home security cameras (pictured)

'Apparently it's not good CPR if it doesn't break a few things,' Carolyn said in an Instagram post recalling the near-death experience.

'Pete had only done his lifesaving training on mannequins before, but it really paid off when he needed it in real life.'

After a week in intensive care, the 52-year-old made a full recovery.

'It's a bizarre thing to be able to hear the stories. I've watched it over and over again to try and work out what I did wrong,' she said.

'I'm grateful every day and I'm so grateful to still be alive and still be a mum to my kids.'

Ambulance Victoria ALS Paramedic Trent Jackson removed the steak blocking Carolyn's airways with a laryngoscope, a device used to prop open an airway.

'I could see the end of the piece of steak, which I was able to grab onto with some forceps and extract it,' he said.

'Had another look and could see the tag end of another piece of meat pinched onto that one and pulled it out. It was a significant blockage, so a large piece of steak.'

Ms Creswell broke nine ribs during her husband's desperate attempts at CPR

She was airlifted to hospital after paramedics used a laryngoscope to prop open an airway

Join the discussion Should CPR training be mandatory for all adults given its lifesaving potential in emergencies like choking?

Ms Creswell said she wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for her husband's CPR efforts and advised Aussies to 'chew your steak very well'.

'Apparently, they told me in hospital it's always the steak,' she said.

Choking is responsible for more than 700 deaths in Australia each year.

It is often cited as the second leading cause of accidental death related to food.

Rates are highest among children aged 04 and adults over 65, with food the most common cause.

The highest hospitalisation rates for choking occur in infants under one year old.
Melania Trump walked briskly across the Grand Foyer of the White House. Her gait glacial, her face like thunder.

For once, the usually enigmatic First Lady appeared to have lost her famous cool.

As she took her place at a lectern, her eyes darted across the marble floor. She caught her breath and steadied herself.

For millions watching on TV, and the assembled media there in the room, the reason for this rare statement had been a mystery.

The White House had sent out a notice the previous day that she intended to make an appearance, but there was no hint that it would be a bombshell.

Intriguingly, her husband, President Donald Trump, had cleared his usually very public schedule, conducting all his Thursday meetings in private.

Melania, 55, dressed in a subdued business suit and standing between two American flags, began speaking in a voice that seethed with quiet fury.

'Good Afternoon,' she said firmly. 'The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.'

Melania Trump walked briskly across the Grand Foyer of the White House. For once, the usually enigmatic First Lady appeared to have lost her famous cool

She proceeded to deliver a jaw-dropping evisceration of anyone who had suggested false links between her and the late pedophile, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019.

As she spoke her rage was palpable and bubbled to the surface.

This was a very different Melania to the one America is used to, and those who have watched her closely for years saw a new steel in her demeanor.

In dozens of previous public appearances the First Lady has often appeared nervous, or uncomfortable, in the spotlight.

But White House insiders were struck by the force with which she delivered her carefully crafted speech.

It was, too, a sign of her growing authority within the White House which has seen her, increasingly, stepping into the media glare. She stood alone, commanding the hushed room.

Only once, as she spoke Epstein's name, her voice appeared to break.

When she mentioned online fake images of her with Epstein, she spat out the words with particular disgust. At times, she appeared to shake with indignation.

Her astonishing statement lasted 5 minutes and 40 seconds and left the media screaming for more details.

There appeared no doubt that this very public stand was one Melania had decided to make on her own initiative.

This was not a statement she was asked to make by her husband, White House officials, or communications gurus. It was one clearly close to her heart.

In addition to quashing wild and unfounded allegations about her links to Epstein, it demonstrated the power Melania wields behind the scenes within her husband's White House.

For her, everything else stopped. Even the issue of the Iran ceasefire took a back seat.

It was a sign, if one were needed, that she is now the second most important person in the administration, and her husband's closest confidant and adviser. And it demonstrated that, when she decides to speak publicly, she does so for a powerful reason.

As she glided out, the question of what that specific reason was remained hanging in the air.

In her statement, Melania said, 'I am not Epstein's victim,' that she had never had a friendship with Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and that Epstein did not introduce her to her husband.

She also set the record straight, that she was not a witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes, and that she had never appeared in any court documents relating to Epstein.

'I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims,' she added furiously. 'I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island.'

She lambasted 'mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals' for spreading 'false smears' on social media.

The overwhelming impression was of a famously private First Lady who has finally had enough of being a target of hate online.

For years, she has remained silent, but now she is determined there will be no more traducing of her reputation by trolls.

In her statement, Melania said, 'I am not Epstein's victim,' that she had never had a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein (second from right) or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell (right), and that Epstein did not introduce her to her husband

Her husband, pictured here during the White House Easter celebrations, was aware of this appearance

Those who had made unfounded and hurtful allegations against her in the past were publicly named and shamed.

'To date, several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize and retract their lies about me, such as The Daily Beast, James Carville and HarperCollins UK,' Melania said.

In October last year Carville, Bill Clinton's former strategist, known as the 'Ragin' Cajun,' apologized and withdrew parts of a podcast in which he discussed how Melania and Donald Trump met.

'After the episode, we received a letter from Melania Trump's lawyer,' Carville said at the time.

'We took a look at what they complained about, and we took down the video and edited out those comments from the episode. I also take back these statements and apologize.'

In her White House statement, Melania made clear that she met her husband at New York's Kit Kat Klub in 1998, as detailed in her memoir Melania, and that Epstein was not in any way involved.

Two months after the Carville incident, publisher HarperCollins UK also apologized over a book that repeated false claims Epstein was involved in the introduction.

At the time, the publisher said: 'We have, in consultation with the author, removed several passages of the book that referenced unverified claims about the First Lady of the United States.

'Copies of the book that included those references are being permanently removed from distribution. HarperCollins UK apologizes to the First Lady.'

Earlier in 2025, the Daily Beast retracted and apologized for a story with the headline 'Melania Trump "Very Involved" in Epstein Scandal: Author.'

Author Michael Wolff had told a Daily Beast podcast that Melania was 'introduced by a model agent, both of whom Trump and Epstein are involved with. She's introduced to Trump that way.'

Speaking at the White House, Melania said: 'My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success.'

However, the question remained why she decided to make such a public stand now, all three of those cases having happened last year.

It also came just as the President had finally appeared successful in moving beyond the Epstein controversy, which had dogged his administration for months.

Melania also called on Congress to hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Epstein's crimes.

'Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,' Melania said.

It also came just as her husband, President Donald Trump, had finally appeared successful in moving beyond the Epstein controversy, which had dogged his administration for months

Her astonishing statement lasted 5 minutes and 40 seconds and left the media screaming for more details

'Then, and only then, we will have the truth.'

Her calls for the issue to go back to Congress came after federal authorities have already released millions of pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

That law was enacted after months of public and political pressure that required the government to open its files on Epstein and Maxwell.

One point the First Lady was particularly keen to address was an email she sent to Maxwell in 2002, which was released by the Justice Department in January.

It began 'Dear G!' and ended 'Love, Melania,' and complimented the recipient on a magazine article about 'JE.'

'I know you are very busy flying all over the world,' it said. 'How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY.'

On Thursday, Melania made clear: 'My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence.

'My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a trivial note.'

As the dust settled, Democrats jumped on her comments about a congressional hearing, saying they agreed.

Congressman Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee that is investigating Epstein, called on the Republican chair of the committee, James Comer, to schedule a public hearing 'immediately.'

Whatever the reason for the timing of Melania's intervention - and it will surely be the subject of much speculation - one thing is certain. Her words today have ensured that the seemingly endless Epstein saga continues.
Ed Miliband's 'mad dash' to Net Zero has been blamed for an AI giant shelving a multi-billion-pound investment in Britain.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, said soaring energy prices as well as red tape were behind the decision to pause its Stargate UK project.

It leaves Keir Starmer's ambition to turn the UK into an artificial intelligence 'superpower' in tatters.

Critics said OpenAI's decision was the latest evidence of the burden crippling British industry and blamed Energy Secretary Mr Miliband's drive to abandon North Sea oil and gas in favour of wind and solar power.

'Industry has been warning about the damage from the UK's eye-watering industrial energy costs dominoes to fall.'

It comes as the Iran war exposes Britain's vulnerability to surging global energy prices, as a major importer of oil and gas.

Labour's painful windfall taxes on North Sea operators are blamed for making the situation worse by killing off investment in homegrown energy sources.

Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith said: 'Ed Miliband's suicidal energy policy has just cost us another huge investment.

'The UK has top AI talent and labs but ruinously high energy costs because of Labour's mad Net Zero agenda. If Labour let us fall behind on AI, Britain will lose even more jobs for young people.'

Ed Miliband has been blamed for an AI giant shelving a multi-million-pound investment in Britain, due to his 'mad dash' to Net Zero

Mr Miliband was on Thursday night under growing pressure to change course as the Tony Blair Institute  the former prime minister's think-tank  urged Labour to open up the Jackdaw gas and Rosebank oil fields in the North Sea to address the energy crisis.

And amid Labour splits over the policy, Sir Keir signalled his openness to the idea, telling ITV: 'I'm not fighting the principle. I want oil and gas to be part of the mix for many years to come.'

OpenAI's Stargate UK project, announced last September, formed part of a series of investments totalling 150billion unveiled during Donald Trump's state visit.

The company, led by Sam Altman, is best known for being behind ChatGPT, the world's most popular AI chatbot.

Its Stargate project involved the building of vast new data centres that house the computer chips which power AI.

Stargate UK, in partnership with US chip giant Nvidia and British firm Nscale, aimed to deploy up to 8,000 AI chips  which can carry out a huge number of calculations in a split second  by early this year, with the possibility to expand to 31,000 over time.

It was expected to be based across several sites in the UK, including in Cobalt Park near Newcastle upon Tyne.

The idea behind the UK project was that users such as public services, financial firms, researchers and national security operatives could run AI models on 'sovereign' infrastructure in Britain.

However, data centres are heavily energy-intensive. And industrial electricity prices in Britain are the highest in the developed world, more than double those paid by US manufacturers.

OpenAI said on Thursday it still saw 'huge potential for the UK's AI future', adding: 'We continue to explore Stargate UK and will move forward when the right conditions such as regulation and the cost of energy enable long-term infrastructure investment.'

Julian Jessop, economics fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, said: 'There was always a lot of hype around this particular project, but Ed Miliband's mad dash to decarbonise the grid was the final straw.'

It is the latest damaging blow to British industry under Labour, coming after UK pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca axed a vaccine plant in Liverpool and other global drug firms paused investments amid a row over medicine pricing policies.

And the Daily Mail revealed that Rolls-Royce could build a new generation of aeroplane engines outside Britain unless it received backing from the Government.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said OpenAI's decision was a 'damning verdict' on Chancellor Rachel Reeves' 'economic mismanagement'.

'Britain should be leading the AI revolution,' he said. 'Instead, Labour are delivering high costs and lost opportunity. The message to investors is clear: under Keir Starmer, Britain isn't open for business.'

Sam Richards, boss of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, said: 'OpenAI halting their flagship British investment is a stark warning: Britain is becoming too expensive to build in.

'You cannot deliver growth or become an AI superpower with some of the highest industrial electricity prices in the developed world.'

A spokesmand for Mr Miliband's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'These claims are highly misleading and ignore that through the AI Energy Council, we are already bringing together the likes of NESO, EDF, Microsoft and Google in solving the energy challenges of AI.

'Our mission for clean power by 2030 will get us off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices, to cut bills for businesses and households for good.'

A spokesman for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: 'Our AI sector has attracted more than 100 billion in private investment since the Government took office, with the sector growing 23 times faster than the wider economy last year.

'That is delivering the jobs and opportunities hardworking people deserve.

'Our focus is on continuing to create the right conditions for investment in the UK's AI and data centre infrastructure.

'We are continuing to work with OpenAI and other leading AI companies to strengthen UK compute capacity.'
A man has been charged with murder five days after his new partner died on a remote stretch of highway during a 2,000km road trip in the Northern Territory.

Christine Marshall Hunter, 27, was found dead with visible facial injuries on the Barkly Highway in the Avon Downs district on the morning of Easter Sunday.

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 6am following reports that a woman had stopped breathing and required medical assistance after the Jeep Cherokee she was travelling in 'allegedly hit a kangaroo'.

Ms Hunter, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, was unable to be revived.

Her 33-year-old partner was arrested at the scene initially for aggravated assault and has been in custody ever since.

NT Acting Commander Mark Grieve told reporters on Thursday that police had not yet obtained any evidence to support the man's claim that their vehicle collided with a kangaroo, causing Ms Hunter's injuries.

He also alleged that she had been assaulted in the early hours of Sunday and that police were treating her death as suspicious.

Later that same evening, Ms Hunter's partner was charged with one count of murder.

Christine Marshall Hunter, 27, was found dead with visible facial injuries on the Barkly Highway in the Northern Territory on the morning of Easter Sunday

A man has since been charged over Ms Hunter's death in the NT Avon Downs district

It is understood that the couple had been on a 2,000km road trip from south-east Queensland

He is expected to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Friday.

It is understood that the couple were in a new relationship and had been on a 2,000km road trip from south-east Queensland.

Police said that the couple left Gympie on April 1 and had passed through Ban Ban Springs, Emerald, Winton, Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Camooweal before reaching Barkly Homestead early on Sunday.

Police allege the pair were in a darkcoloured Jeep Cherokee parked by the roadside near Barkly Homestead, at the intersection of the Barkly and Tablelands highways, for four hours between 1.30am and 5.30am on Sunday.

It is a remote roadhouse on a 460km stretch of the Barkly Highway between Tennant Creek and the Queensland border town of Camooweal.

Ms Hunter's death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from shattered loved ones.

A fundraiser has been set up so her friends and family can repatriate her body to Queensland and give her a final farewell.

'This has completely broken me,' her teenage sister Jazmyne Le Cerf wrote online.

Police have appealed for information about Ms Hunter's suspicious death. Pictured is the Jeep Cherokee she was travelling in

Ms Hunter's heartbroken family are now demanding answers about what happened

'I never imagined I would be going through something like this or having to say goodbye to my sister so soon.

'Our family is still trying to process and understand everything that has happened. We just want answers, and in time, we hope for justice for her.'

One of eight siblings, Ms Hunter has been remembered as a loving and caring sibling.

'She had a very hard past, but no matter what she went through, she stayed strong and continued to care for others,' Ms Le Cerf added.

'She was funny, loud, protective, and had a way of making people feel safe and loved when they were around her.'

The family, who last saw her on March 30, are also trying to understand why Ms Hunter was 2,000km away from home in the Top End.

'She never told us anything about going there,' Ms Le Cerf said.

NT Police are working with their Queensland counterparts to determine the circumstances surrounding Ms Hunter's death.

Ms Hunter has been remembered as a loving and caring person who was loud and protective

A fundraiser has been set up so the family can bring Christine's body home

Police are still working to determine whether damage to the Jeep was recent or pre-existing.

Anyone who may have seen the vehicle or its occupants on or in the lead up to April has been asked to come forward.

Anyone with information or footage is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.
A secret Russian submarine mission into British waters has further exposed the parlous state of our Armed Forces, Labour was warned last night.

It emerged yesterday that the Kremlin had sent one attack sub and two spy submarines into the North Sea where they were able to observe vital undersea cables and pipelines serving the UK.

They were tracked by a Royal Navy warship and helicopters for a month before retreating, with sonar devices dropped to deter them from damaging the critical infrastructure.

But experts said the incident was yet another stark illustration of how threadbare the UK's military has become, following the fiasco over the lack of warships in the Mediterranean when the Iran war broke out.

In another embarrassment, Vladimir Putin sent a warship to escort sanctioned Russian oil tankers through the English Channel this week.

It has prompted renewed calls for the Chancellor to immediately increase spending on the Armed Forces to 3 per cent of GDP as well as publishing the long-overdue Defence Investment Plan.

Former First Sea Lord and Labour security minister Lord West said: 'We need to put the Russians under pressure and not take any nonsense, whatever it takes. And if they want to start a shooting match we should shoot back.

'If Putin is going to start sending submarines into our territorial waters that is a breach of international law. Essentially Putin is already at war with us in the grey zone, using cyber warfare, and he is pushing the boundaries elsewhere.

Vladimir Putin sent a warship to escort sanctioned Russian oil tankers through the English Channel this week

Pictured: This satellite image released by the MoD is of Russian naval base Olenya in the High North, along with their spy ship Yantar and specialist GUGI submarines before they departed port for UK waters

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'The Royal Navy needs to defend our waters. We need a bigger Navy and more defence spending. Apparently Rachel Reeves is against this. We need to shift to 3 per cent of GDP immediately and to 3.5 per cent by the end of this Parliament.

'All this jam tomorrow is no good. The threat is today. Investment is required now.'

Conservative defence spokesman James Cartlidge said: 'This situation underlines the failure to rebuild the Royal Navy. It also remains a failure of government for the Ministry of Defence not to have published the Defence Investment Plan.'

The covert Russian submarine operation in and around British waters was revealed by Defence Secretary John Healey at a Downing Street press conference. He said he was doing so 'to expose the continuing Russian activity that threatens us in the UK, and to highlight our constant readiness to respond'.

A Russian Akula class attack submarine was spotted entering international waters in the North Sea several weeks ago, according to the MoD. It was watched around the clock by Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans, RFA Tidespring and Merlin helicopters deployed by the Royal Navy alongside RAF P8 aircraft.

However, it was only acting as a decoy while mini-submarines from Russia's Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (known as GUGI) conducted 'nefarious activity over critical undersea infrastructure elsewhere'. GUGI specialises in underwater surveillance, sabotage and reconnaissance, and its mini-subs are believed have retractable arms that allow them to cut cables or even intercept them to allow Russia to monitor data flowing thought them.

The RAF and Navy deployed floating devices known as sonobuoys to track the Russian vessels while the British frigate covered thousands of miles and the aircraft flew for more than 450 hours in a month-long operation.

The attack sub 'retreated home' after being identified, Mr Healey said, but the two GUGI vessels that remained were left in no doubt 'that their attempted secret operation had been exposed' and they too have 'now left UK waters and headed back north'. There is no evidence they caused any damage to undersea cables or pipelines, he said, and he stressed that the activity was in the UK's 'wider waters'  which stretch deep into the North Sea alongside Norway  rather than close by shore.

Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia remained the 'primary threat to the UK and to Nato' despite the war in Iran

Addressing President Putin directly, the Defence Secretary said: 'We see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.'

He added that Russia remained the 'primary threat to the UK and to Nato' despite the war in Iran.

'When a crisis erupts noisily and dangerously, as it has done in the Middle East, I understand people questioning why all UK military assets and personnel have not been deployed to deal with it, but that is not in Britain's national interest,' he said.

He was repeatedly asked about the need to increase military spending more quickly and to publish the delayed Defence Investment Plan, but insisted that Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer were both committed to national security.

'We're taking the steps to rebuild the strength of our armed forces, reinforcing Britain's security and boosting Britain's economy and economic growth,' he said.

And he stressed that 'despite all eyes being on the Middle East', the military 'is also defending the homeland'.

In what will be seen as a veiled swipe at Donald Trump, Mr Healey said: 'By what we're doing, rather than by what we're saying, we recognise that while we've got responsibilities that we're discharging in the Middle East, we won't take our eye off Nato, we won't take our eye off defending and deterring on the northern flank, and we won't take our eye off the Putin threat.'

The MoD also disclosed further images yesterday of Royal Navy ships monitoring other Russian vessels close to the British coast.

In one image, HMS Somerset, HMS St Albans and a Merlin helicopter tracked a Russian tanker followed closely by what appeared to be a Kremlin warship.
Lebanon began peace talks with Israel on Thursday after the Israeli Defence Forces launched their heaviest strikes against Hezbollah terrorists this year.

Prime minister Nawaf Salam ordered his army to disarm the Iranian proxy group in the Lebanese capital Beirut and begin negotiations with Jerusalem.

The important development came after Israel killed 200 terrorists, rocked Beirut and blitzed more than 100 Hezbollah command centres across Lebanon.

The attacks, which killed at least 254 people, were the biggest since the Iran war erupted and angered the Lebanese government, Iran, and Pakistan, which brokered a ceasefire between Iran and the US.

Sir Keir Starmer described them as 'wrong' while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned they could 'destabilise the whole region.'

The US-Iran ceasefire agreed on Tuesday appeared to state that hostilities should stop between Israel and Hezbollah.

But Donald Trump denied this, and backed up Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying his conflict in Lebanon was a 'separate skirmish'.

Despite howls of outrage, with Mr Salam slamming the 'escalation of Israel aggressions,' Beirut responded by agreeing to talk about terms.

Lebanon began peace talks with Israel on Thursday after the Israeli Defence Forces launched their heaviest strikes against Hezbollah terrorists

Rescuers work to free a woman from a damaged building following an Israeli strike in Beirut

Mr Netanyahu said: 'Negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and... peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.'

A senior official told the Daily Mail that direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon will begin next week in Washington.

Meanwhile, President Trump said he was 'very optimistic' that a deal with Iran could be reached. He added: 'If they don't make a deal it's going to be very painful.'

He warned that the US military would remain in place to deliver 'lethal prosecution and destruction' of Iran if the 'shootin' starts' again before a deal is signed.

The talks between Lebanon and Israel mark an historic opportunity two decades after the Lebanon war between the IDF and Hezbollah ended with a peace agreement.

A UN mission was meant to prevent Hezbollah from arming and massing on the Israeli border, but failed to do so.

This allowed the terror group to grow, and following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, it fired missiles at Israel in support of its fellow Iranian proxy.

After many of its leaders were assassinated by exploding pagers in a covert IDF operation in 2024, Hezbollah began fighting in support of Iran on March 1.

Israel has killed 200 terrorists, rocked Beirut and blitzed more than 100 Hezbollah command centres across Lebanon

President Trump (pictured) said he was 'very optimistic' that a deal with Iran could be reached

But now Beirut appears to want to seize an opportunity of wider peace talks to work with Israel to disband the terrorist army  a remarkable turnaround for Mr Netanyahu, whose attacks across Lebanon were said to breach the US-Iran peace talks.

Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the ceasefire in the early hours of Wednesday and stated it applied 'everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY'.

Mr Trump said the terms were based on an Iranian ten-point proposal, with Tehran insisting that the first clause was a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Mr Netanyahu was cut out of the peace talks, and mediators told the Wall Street Journal he 'wasn't happy' because Mr Trump only called him shortly before it was announced.

Israeli officials were particularly upset about the planned inclusion of Lebanon in the agreement. However, on Wednesday, Israel and the US said the fight with Hezbollah was separate and yesterday the IDF launched Operation Eternal Darkness.

Defence minister Israel Katz described it as 'a powerful blow to Hezbollah,' and it was 'pleading for a ceasefire.'

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of a 'blatant violation' of the ceasefire agreement, and warned that Iran's 'fingers remain on the trigger.'

But while Mr Sharif 'strongly condemned' Israel's attacks, it appeared that Islamabad had managed to keep Tehran at the negotiating table, with talks due to start tomorrow.

His spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'Permanent peace will come, I think we will manage it.'

US Vice-President JD Vance is set to lead the US delegation in Islamabad at the start of two weeks of talks. It came as a statement attributed to Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, demanded 'blood money' for Iranian casualties.
As eccentrically Victorian as monocles, pith helmets and puttees, Gentleman's Relish has been a staple of traditional pantries since 1849.

The British anchovy paste  which is also known as Patum Peperium  has outlasted six monarchs and two world wars.

But owing to dwindling sales, the condiment has finally been discontinued after 177 years, with its manufacturer announcing that production was 'no longer commercially viable'.

The paste was created in 1828 by John Osborn, an English grocer who lived in Paris, from a mixture of anchovy fillets, rusk, butter and a secret selection of herbs and spices.

However, he didn't market it until 1849, when it was launched at the Paris Food Show.

To make it seem distinguished, he called it Patum Peperium, a sort of mock Latin for pepper pate.

The paste consists of around 60 per cent anchovy and is typically enjoyed spread on hot buttered toast.

Gentleman's Relish has ceased production after 177 years, owing to struggling sales

The paste, first conceived of deep into the Victorian era, is made mainly of anchovies, along with spices and butter

AB Foods, which acquired the manufacturing rights to Gentleman's Relish two decades ago, said: 'While this Victorian relish has a niche and loyal following, it sadly does not have wider commercial appeal and, despite our best efforts, retailer distribution has dwindled.

'With Gentleman's Relish no longer commercially viable and unable to secure a buyer for the brand, we regrettably stopped production earlier this year.'

James Bond author Ian Fleming was a fan, and would order the paste when dining at Scott's, the historic London restaurant, served on toast with scrambled egg  a dish known as Scotch woodcock.
A ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran appeared on the verge of collapse last night after Donald Trump accused Tehran of breaching their agreement - as missiles continued to rain down across the Middle East.

Just over two days since the US President announced a ceasefire in the six-week-old conflict it already seemed to be unravelling out of his control.

On Thursday there was still no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, having cited Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon as a key sticking point to maintain its grip over the vital shipping route.

Only a handful of vessels have passed through the Strait since the ceasefire was announced on Tuesday night, with the Islamic Republic reportedly demanding that shipping companies pay enormous tolls for safe passage.

Trump accused Iran of breaching the terms of the ceasefire by not allowing ships to transit the waterway, further casting doubt on the effectiveness of the deal.

'Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,' he wrote on his social media site on Thursday, adding: 'That is not the agreement we have!'

The post came after Iran's Supreme Leader released a statement demanding 'blood money' from the US and Israel after denouncing them as 'criminal aggressors'.

'We will undoubtedly demand compensation for every single damage inflicted, the blood money of the martyrs, and the diyah of the war-wounded,' Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in a message broadcast on Iranian state TV.

Donald Trump last night accused Iran of 'doing a very poor job' of allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite their ceasefire agreement

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei also released a statement demanding 'blood money' from the US and Israel, denouncing them as 'criminal aggressors'

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Choukine on Thursday

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

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to back down on its war against Hezbollah as he vowed to continue striking targets 'with force'.

The IDF has continued to launch attacks on sites affiliated with the terror group, which have also killed and injured civilians, with further strikes taking place in the Lebanese capital Beirut last night.

A State Department official announced that Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington as concerns grew over the how long the ceasefire would hold.

The talks in Washington are expected to be handle by the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, and by the Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, according to the person familiar with the planning.

It was not immediately clear who would represent Lebanon. The timing and location of the talks was first reported by Axios.

Netanyahu had earlier on Thursday ordered his ministers to seek direct talks with Lebanon, pushing for Iran-backed Hezbollah's disarmament.

But even as he spoke, Israel's military issued a new evacuation order for Beirut's southern suburbs.

The army later said it was striking Hezbollah launch sites in Lebanon. It also warned Israeli citizens that the militant group may expand fire 'in the coming hours'.

Netanyahu said: 'We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision and determination.

'Our message is clear: anyone who acts against Israeli civilians, we will strike them. We will continue to hit Hezbollah wherever necessary.'

Join the discussion Is this ceasefire already failing?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to back down on its war against Hezbollah as he vowed to continue striking targets 'with force'

First responders look for survivors at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Choukine last night

Emergency workers search under the rubble at the site of an IDF missile attack in the village of Habbouch

Iran has said Israel's ongoing attacks on Hezbollah violate the ceasefire agreement, while Netanyahu and Trump have said they do not.

Although Trump has already asked Netanyahu to dial back the strikes in Lebanon after more than 300 people were killed by Israeli strikes on central Beirut on Wednesday, according to its Health Ministry.

Israel has claimed the strikes targeted Hezbollah, which joined the war in support of Tehran.

The terror group has since launched retaliatory attacks on Israel after the terror group launched several missiles at Israel in the early hours of Friday.

It said it targeted Israeli military infrastructure in the northern city of Haifa in the late hours of Thursday.

The IDF said it had struck about ten Hezbollah launchers that fired rockets toward northern Israel in the evening.

In another escalation for the region, Iran was also accused of launching a drone attack that targeted Kuwait's National Guard, 'causing significant damage, without wounding anyone'.

Iran has not claimed responsibility for the strike, which marks the first attack reported in the Gulf on Thursday.

The Kuwait army had earlier said that its air defences were 'currently facing hostile drone attacks that have penetrated the country's airspace, targeting several vital installations'.

Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement the 'heinous attacks launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies' were a 'flagrant violation' of the country's airspace and a 'blatant breach of international law'.

They also 'undermine' the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran and 'constitutes a blatant challenge to the international community'.

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Elsewhere, Trump expressed concern over reports that Iran's military was charging tolls on tankers seeking to pass through the strait.

'They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!' he wrote on social media.

Only a trickle of ships have transited since the war began after several were attacked, and Iran threatened to hit any that it deemed connected to the US or Israel.

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told the BBC that Tehran will allow ships to pass through the strait in accordance with 'international norms and international law' once the US ends its 'aggression' in the Middle East and Israel stops attacking Lebanon.

The head of the United Arab Emirates' major oil company, Sultan al-Jaber, said some 230 ships loaded with oil were waiting to get through the strait and must be allowed 'to navigate this corridor without condition'.

The strait's de facto closure has caused oil prices to skyrocket - affecting the cost of gasoline, food and other basics far beyond the Middle East.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Historically, April marks the start of the European travel season for many Americans. However, Squaremouth, the nation's largest travel insurance marketplace, is seeing a different picture emerge this spring.

According to Squaremouth's data, Americans are reconsidering where they're traveling to, spending more than normal traveling within the U.S, and seeking extra protection for international trips.

A Deeper Look at Spring's Travel Trends

Travelers are choosing safer, more politically neutral destinations this year.

Countries traditionally viewed as politically neutral, such as the Netherlands, Ireland, and Norway, are seeing an increase in demand this spring.

In contrast, the UK, which has seen heightened scrutiny over crime concerns, and Iceland, whose decline may be a result of the broader geopolitical attention on its neighbor, Greenland, are falling in popularity.

Domestic trip costs are climbing for travelers staying closer to home.

Travelers who are choosing to stay within the U.S., rather than taking a European vacation, are spending significantly more on their trips this year.

Domestic trip costs for April and May have grown by 20% year-over-year, increasing from $4,290 on average in 2025 to $5,124 in 2026.

This data may suggest that Americans are investing the funds saved by staying in the states and putting them toward more elevated experiences closer to home.

European-bound travelers are prioritizing flexible trip benefits.

For those Americans heading to Europe, nearly 20% more researched Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage compared to last year.

CFAR allows travelers to cancel their trip for reasons not typically covered by standard policies, such as military action or airspace closures, government shutdowns, or fear of traveling, and reimburses up to 75% of their prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

Of the travelers interested in CFAR coverage for their European vacations, 26% did not qualify to purchase it because they missed the benefit's eligibility window. Typically, CFAR is only available for purchase within the first 21 days after a traveler's initial trip deposit.

Why Travel Insurance Matters

Whether traveling abroad or staying closer to home, the financial risk of canceling a trip has never been higher. With domestic trip costs up 20% year-over-year and an increase in events that fall outside standard cancellation coverage, like military action, airspace closures, and government shutdowns, Cancel For Any Reason coverage should be a serious consideration for any traveler this spring.

"The variety of global risks we're seeing right now is driving a lot of the interest in CFAR," says Chrissy Valdez, Senior Director of Operations at Squaremouth. "It gives travelers a level of flexibility that standard policies simply won't offer."

To compare policies and explore CFAR coverage options, visit Squaremouth.com.

About Squaremouth

Squaremouth is a trusted travel insurance comparison platform with over 20 years of experience. Known for its no-nonsense approach, award-winning customer service, and commitment to transparency, Squaremouth has helped more than 4 million travelers easily search, compare, and buy coverage. Squaremouth offers the largest portfolio of carriers and products in the U.S.

Contact

Lauren McCormick

Manager, Public Relations & Social Strategy

[email protected]

SOURCE Squaremouth
Edinburgh Council has suspended its plans to increase council tax on second homeowners by 300 per cent just eight days after announcing the change.

The Labour-run authority introduced the new bills on April 1 in a decision which leader Jane Meagher argued would help boost housing availability in the Scottish capital.

The announcement was however met with a wave of criticism from locals, with some blaming the Scottish National Party for affording councils the power to introduce uncapped tax hikes.

But the city council announced on Thursday that its controversial plans had been suspended.

It admitted that the introduction of the new premium 'required further work, including engagement with those affected and timing considerations'.

'Suspending the increase will allow the impact of the change to be further assessed to ensure it meets the Councils policy objectives,' the council added.

During the period in which the new regime was in motion, some homeowners reported having already been billed under the increased tax rate.

One person received an email on Wednesday notifying them of the reversal, according to reports, having already watched 1,430 leave their bank account.

Under the new regime, the owner would have faced a 17,240 yearly bill for their Band H property.

Edinburgh Council has suspended its plans to increase council tax on second homeowners by 300 per cent just eight days after announcing the change

Scottish Conservative housing spokesman Meghan Gallacher described Labour's flip-flop as 'embarrassing'

Join the discussion Should second homeowners face massive council tax hikes, or is this just punishing the wrong people?

Scottish Conservative housing spokesman Meghan Gallacher said of the council's flip-flop: 'Homeowners will be relieved that this eye-watering council tax hike has been paused, but this embarrassing U-turn exposes just how rushed and badly thought out this policy was.

'The confusion is the direct result of SNP ministers giving councils the power to impose these punitive premiums without proper planning or safeguards.

'This policy is not a solution to the SNP's housing crisis. The only way to address the emergency is to deliver the volume of new homes Scotland desperately needs, which the Nationalists have lamentably failed to do.'

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.

Some authorities in Scotland have fully embraced the uncapped powers, with Highland Council meeting Edinburgh's 300 per cent increase and Midlothian Council hiking to a 500 per cent premium.

Joanna Marchong, of the Adam Smith Institute, said Midlothian was only the latest council 'taking advantage of new powers to hit second homeowners 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.

Beyond Scotland, councils across the United Kingdom are reassessing their approaches to second home taxation amid concerns the hikes are harming local economies.

Rushcliffe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire has proposed plans to scrap its premium entirely while Pembrokeshire, west Wales, has twice reduced its charge over the last two years.

English councils are limited to a 100 per cent cap while Welsh authorities can increase their charge by up to 300 per cent.

The Daily Mail approached Edinburgh Council for comment.
He was involved in gang rang of teen in 2014

A convicted gang rapist remains on the run two days after he escaped a busy Sydney hospital to avoid being deported - as sickening details of his crimes emerge.

Michael Angok, 30, fled on foot from Bankstown Hospital on Wednesday morning after being transported from the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.

He had presented to the emergency department under police guard and was waiting to return when he made his daring escape shortly after 9.30am.

Some of Angok's discarded possessions were located several hundred metres away, as a massive manhunt was launched involving PolAir and the police dog unit.

He had been awaiting deportation after being convicted over his involvement in the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl at a western Sydney park in February 2014.

The girl was walking home alone through Doonside's Bill Colbourne Reserve when she was sexually assaulted by four males of African appearance.

One of the men assaulted the teen before pinning her to the footpath to allow the others to assault her over a 30-minute period, police said at the time.

The court heard that during the rape, there was talk about the four male offenders 'taking turns'.

A desperate manhunt for immigration detainee Michael Angok entered its third day on Friday

The convicted gang rapist escaped from Bankstown Hospital on Wednesday morning

Angok, then 18, was the second man to have sexual intercourse with the victim, which occurred while another offender put his penis in her mouth.

The court also heard that during the incident, the victim heard one of the men say 'give me a piece of that'.

The incident sparked reprisal fears and calls for calm from African and Pacific Islander community leaders, prompting police to take part in a unity walk through Blacktown and the local council to conduct safety audits of its parks.

Angok was arrested at a Doonside home a month later after police released CCTV of several men wanted over the disturbing attack.

In February 2016, Angok was convicted of four counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a person over 14 years and under 16 years and sentenced to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 45 months, with a two-year non-parole period.

He was released the following year and had been detained at Villawood for some time after his visa was revoked while behind bars.

It is unclear when he was expected to be deported from Australia.

In early 2019, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal upheld a decision to cancel Angok's visa, 'given the nature of the applicant's sexual offending against a minor in company of others'.

Michael Angok was one of four males involved in the late-night attack on the girl at the reserve

The judgement stated that Angok, then nine, arrived in Australia with his family on refugee visas in 2005 after leaving South Sudan. He has not departed Australia since.

It also detailed how Angok's police record as a minor involved incidents of violence, drug use and failure to comply with police instructions.

'Even taking into account the applicant's traumatic childhood and psychological problems, given the nature of his offences, the risk of re-offending and the serious consequences that repeat offending would have on the public, these factors, in the Tribunal's view, weigh strongly against the applicant and revocation of the cancellation decision,' the ruling stated.

When asked about his previous offences, NSW Detective Superintendent Brett Van Akker told reporters on Thursday he was unable to comment.

'He's well known to us,' Van Akker said. 'He has a criminal conviction and was awaiting deportation at the time.'

He also explained why police waited 24 hours to alert the public.

'We had to exhaust other opportunities yesterday to get that person into custody,' Supt Van Akker said.

'And we also don't want to alert the community to any real concern if we are able to bring that person into custody straight away.'

Michael Angok was waiting to be transferred back to Villawood Detention Centre when he made his daring escape from Bankstown Hospital shortly after 9.30am on Wednesday

The Australian Federal Police applied for and were granted an arrest warrant and a joint operation to locate Angok continues under Strike Force Tolquin.

His escape is the latest in a string of incidents at Villawood Detention Centre, operated by private prison contractor MTC.

Angok is described as being of African appearance, about 175cm to 180cm tall, of thin build with short black hair.

He was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, grey tracksuit pants and white 'croc' sandals.

Angok previously lived in the Blacktown area and could be using the public transport network to get around.

Anyone who sees Angok is urged not to approach him and to contact police immediately.
A second midwife has been charged with manslaughter after a newborn baby died during a botched home birth in NSW's Hunter region.

Jordan Michaela Holland, 28, was arrested and charged with manslaughter at Newcastle Police Station about 7am on Friday.

Police allege Holland was a privately practising midwife when she attended a home in Wallsend to assist a woman with a home birth on October 2, 2024.

The Branxton woman appeared in bail court on Friday via a video link from the cells at Newcastle Police Station and was granted bail under conditions.

The police prosecutor did not oppose Holland's release on the basis that she had never come before the court before, she had been subject to investigation since 2024, and she handed herself into police as pre-arranged.

It comes almost eight months after Italian-born midwife Oyebola Coxon was hit with the same charge over the home birth.

Police allege Coxon, 36, did not act upon signs of complications during the birth and requests by the mother to go to hospital, instead leaving her in labour for two days.

On October 4, the woman attended John Hunter Hospital where the baby was delivered by emergency caesarean. Six days later, the baby boy died in hospital.

Jordan Michaela Holland, 28, (pictured with her husband) was arrested and charged with manslaughter at Newcastle Police Station about 7am on Friday

She appeared in bail court on Friday via a video link from the cells at Newcastle Police Station and was granted bail under conditions

Police allege Holland was a privately practising midwife when she attended a home in Wallsend to assist a woman with a home birth on October 2, 2024

It comes almost eight months after Italian-born midwife Oyebola Coxon (pictured with her children) was hit with the same charge over the home birth

Following a police investigation into the death of the newborn, Coxon was arrested on August 14, 2025.

She was charged with manslaughter and grievous bodily harm and remains before the courts, having been granted conditional bail.

The conditions include that she must not act, practice or educate any person relating to any birth or pregnancy and surrender her Italian and Australian passports.

The Italian-born influencer midwife, has long posted on Instagram under the profile Mamma Informata to promote 'positive births'.

Coxon's trial is due to begin at Newcastle Crown Court on October 15.

More to come.
President Donald Trump unleashed on Democrats as he shared a horrific video of an illegal immigrant beating a woman to death with a hammer outside a gas station.

Rolbert Joachin, 40, a Haitian native who entered the United States in August 2022, is accused of bludgeoning a 51-year-old mother with a hammer, leaving her to die in the Chevron parking lot in Fort Myers, Florida at around 7.20am last Friday.

Joachin has since confessed to fatally beating the woman to death and is now facing charges including murder without premeditation, criminal mischief and damage of property over $1,000, according to the Miami Herald.

Trump shared shocking surveillance footage of the crime on Thursday as he hit out at the immigration policies that allowed Joachin to stay in the country.

The Haitian native had been ordered to be deported from the US in 2022, but the Biden administration granted him Temporary Protected Status, which expired in 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

'An Illegal Alien Criminal from Haiti, who was released into our Country by the WORST President in History, Crooked Joe Biden, and the Radical Democrats in Congress, just beat an innocent woman to death with a hammer at a gas station in Florida,' he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

'The video of her brutal slaying is one of the most vicious things you will ever see,' the president then warned.

Joachin could be seen (left) banging on a vehicle outside of the Chevron gas station last Friday

The victim exited the store to confront him when Joachin attacked

He went on to argue that Joachin 'was allowed to stay here because the Biden Administration granted him, and all Haitians, Temporary Protective Status, a massively abused and fraudulent program which my Administration is working to terminate, but Deranged Liberal District Court Judges are standing in our way.'

Trump then said he hopes the woman's death is 'enough for these Radical Judges to STOP impeding my Administrations Immigration Policies, and allow us to END THIS SCAM ONCE AND FOR ALL.'

'NEVER FORGET that Joe Biden and the Democrat Party turned the United States of America into a dumping ground, allowing Tens of MILLIONS of Criminals, Lunatics and the Mentally Insane from all over the world to our into our country, totally unvetted and unchecked through our wide Open Borders,' he continued.

'As I've said all along, if you import the Third World, you become the Third World, and that is what happened over the four years of Democrat control.'

Trump then claimed that if Democrats were to retake power in Washington DC 'they will immediately REOPEN the Border and allow America to once again be a Safe Haven for Criminals.'

'I don't recommend you watch this tape, because it is so terrible, but felt I had an obligation to put it up so that people can see what Democrats are protecting, and wanting to come into our Country, even now, after all we've been through,' he wrote, after promising to 'ensure quick and severe JUSTICE is served in this case.'

The horrifying footage shows a man, whom authorities have identified as Joachin, banging on a black SUV in the parking lot of the gas station - prompting the victim to exit the store and confront him.

When she then asked him what he was doing, Joachin could be seen striking her across the face, causing her to fall to the ground.

He then continued striking her as she lie face down.

President Donald Trump shared the shocking footage of his crime on social media as he hit out at the immigration policies that allowed Joachin to enter the country

The victim was later found by first responders not breathing and lying in a pool of blood around her head.

Those who knew the victim said her name was named Easmin, a mother of two teenage daughters who hails from Bangladesh, according to the Gulf Coast News.

Witnesses told police they had seen the man who attacked the convenience store employee smashing her car's windshield, and other gas station employees said they recognized the suspect.

When Joachin's photo began to circulate during a seven-hour manhunt for the suspect, authorities said at least four police officers recognized Joachin from prior incidents - including a detainment on March 24, when he was found to be in possession of a stolen backpack.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents then assisted Fort Myers police in the arrest, after which, officers said, he 'provided a detailed confession about the murder.'

Joachin will remain behind bars without bond ahead of his arraignment, scheduled for May 4

As part of that confession, Joachin said he went to the gas station 'specifically to kill the victim' and wore the same clothes as the day prior, so that she would recognize him, according to court documents obtained by the Naples Daily News.

He had been at the convenience store just the night before, when he demanded cash from the clerk, who would not give him the money, the owner and landlord of the D & D store where the bludgeoning happened told a Bangladeshi news outlet.

Authorities also said he had a knife in his other hand as he attacked the convenience store worker.

Joachin will now remain behind bars without bond ahead of his arraignment, scheduled for May 4.

In the meantime, ICE has issued a hold against Joachin and the Department of Homeland Security said he will be deported regardless of the case's outcome.
Midwife Jordan Holland spoke about the dangers of giving birth in hospital just three months before she was allegedly involved in the death of a newborn baby.

The 28-year-old was arrested and charged with manslaughter at Newcastle Police Station about 7am on Friday following an extensive police investigation.

Police say Holland was a privately practising midwife when she and a colleague attended a home in Wallsend to assist with a home birth on October 2, 2024.

They will allege in court that the midwives did not act on signs of complications or the mother's requests to attend hospital, after she endured a twoday labour.

On October 4, the mother attended John Hunter Hospital where her baby boy was delivered by emergency caesarean section. He sadly died in hospital six days later.

Holland fronted bail court on Friday morning and has since been released on bail.

The Daily Mail can now reveal Holland, who has a twoyearold son, became a privately practising midwife in 2023 and frequently shared her views on the benefits of home birthing compared with hospital births.

She even opted for a home birth herself after a series of 'shell-shocking' experiences while working as a midwife in a public hospital.

Midwife Jordan Holland, 28, has been charged with manslaughter after a baby died following a botched home birth in October 2024 (she is pictured left)

Holland and her husband Ryan married in 2022 and welcomed their son a year later

'From the moment I became a midwife and did my student year, I was just shell-shocked with the things I was seeing and it really cemented what I wanted for myself and what women deserve and how the system is failing them,' she told Positive Birth Australia's podcast in July 2024.

Holland, who graduated from midwifery in 2021, said she booked in her home birth just three days after she discovered she was pregnant in 2023.

She said her family and workplace had concerns after learning of her birth plans.

'My step mum, who is a paramedic and ICU nurse, [asked] what would you do if something goes wrong, and I was like, 'We have an ambulance obviously, that's what the system is there for if necessary',' Holland said.

'I wasn't really worried about giving birth or labour or pain or tearing... I was worried about actually transferring because I'd be going to where I worked and there'd be people that I know and what would they think.

'I had discussions with my midwife - obviously if required I would, but I wasn't going to transfer unless absolutely necessary - and she was comfortable with that.

'They've got all the gear that they need.'

Following the birth of her son, Holland experienced complications while trying to birth her placenta, with her midwives worried enough to call an ambulance.

Holland became a nurse in 2017 and later studied midwifery, while training in a public hospital

However by the time the paramedics arrived, she'd safely delivered the temporary organ.

Holland also spoke about her experiences working in a hospital in a submission to the NSW Parliament's Inquiry into Birth Trauma, dated August 1, 2023.

She described her work in a public maternity care facility as 'confronting, traumatic and barbaric'.

'These situations involve lack of informed decision-making for women, lack of education, withholding of information, coercive and manipulative discussions, physical abuse, lack of consent the list goes on,' she wrote in the submission.

'These situations I have been witness to have definitely cemented the choices I'm making for my own pregnancy care and birth.'

Holland, who gave birth to her son two months after the submission was received, said the fact that one in three women in Australia experience birth trauma was 'not good enough'.

'I feel helpless,' she said. 'I have driven home from work many times crying.

The baby boy was delivered at John Hunter Hospital (pictured) via emergency caesarean but tragically died in hospital six days later

Midwife Oyebola Coxon (pictured right) was hit with the same charge over the home birth

'There is a lack of debriefing around these scenarios that occur as well. Also I feel the issue is not at all recognised where I work. There was no recognition of birth trauma awareness week at work, no emails, no flyers etc

'I constantly reflect and wonder if becoming a midwife was the right decision, and quite frankly am not sure how long I will pursue it for.'

News of Holland's arrest comes almost eight months after Italian-born midwife Oyebola Coxon, 36, was hit with the same charge over the October 2024 home birth.

Following a police investigation into the death of the newborn, Coxon was arrested on August 14, 2025.

She was charged with manslaughter and grievous bodily harm and remains before the courts, having been granted conditional bail.

The conditions include that she must not act, practice or educate any person relating to any birth or pregnancy and surrender her Italian and Australian passports.

The Italian-born influencer midwife, has long posted on Instagram under the profile Mamma Informata to promote 'positive births'.

Coxon's trial is due to begin at Newcastle Crown Court on October 15.
In a bizarre twist to a quickly escalating investigation, the handcuffed husband of a woman who 'fell overboard' from their Bahamas love boat last night slipped into the water from a police transport vessel.

Brian Hooker, 59, fell overboard himself while being transported by the authorities.

He was rescued from rough water is now in the Rand Hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

Brian was arrested by police in the Bahamas on Wednesday after his wife, Lynette, vanished while sailing. He was detained on the Abaco islands five days after he returned from the expedition without her, claiming she fell overboard.

Authorities first interviewed Brian and released him, then brought him back in as a witness for further questioning.

He was later brought in for questioning a third time, as a suspect, according to his lawyer.

Brian Hooker, 59, fell off a boat and suffered from knee pain and abrasions on Wednesday

During the transport, Hooker was cuffed and rough conditions prevented him from being able to hold on for safety

Brian is being taken to Rand Hospital for further treatment and evaluation

The Royal Bahamas police said Brian was questioned 'on probable cause' and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife's disappearance, but he has not been formally charged.

The couple were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media, authorities said.

On Saturday evening, they took out an eight-foot motorboat from Hope Town in the Bahamas, but only Brian returned.

He told authorities that his wife fell overboard with the boat keys as they were returning to their yacht 'Soulmate', causing the engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle to the shore.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Brian Hooker said he is 'heartbroken' by his wife's disappearance, describing the incident as a 'boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds.'

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,' Brian said. 'We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.'

Brian's attorney said his client 'categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing' in his wifes disappearance, saying he 'has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.'

The couple's distraught daughter called for a full investigation into the tragedy after she said her parents went through 'prior issues' before her mother's disappearance.

Join the discussion Have YOU been following this mysterious disappearance - and what do YOU think really happened?

The Royal Bahamas police said Brian was questioned 'on probable cause' and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife's disappearance, but he has not been formally charged

Her husband, 58-year-old Brian Hooker, told the Royal Bahamas Police Force that they left around 7.30pm on an 8ft dinghy

The Soulmate, the boat belonging to Lynette and Brian Hooker

Lynette Hooker, 55, of Onsted, Michigan, fell into the Abaco Islands' water while taking a boat ride with her husband from Hope Town to Elbow Cay, on Saturday

Lynette Hookers mother, Darlene Hamlett, said following Brian's arrest late Wednesday that she was 'glad to hear' about the arrest, but declined further comment, saying she was seeking more information.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hamlett said she wants to hear more from her son-in-law about how Lynette vanished.

The couple had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan.

Online records gave Brian Hookers age as 58, and the reason for the discrepancy wasnt immediately clear.

'Im going to be interested in what he says, because I havent heard from him in almost two days,' Hamlett said.

'Our family grew up on water and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming.

'It would be a miracle if [shes rescued], but Im still counting on one,' Hamlett added.

On Tuesday, Lynette's daughter Karli Aynesworth called for a full investigation into the events leading up to her mothers fall.

Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth called for a full investigation into the events leading up to her mother's fatal fall

Aylesworth (pictured on mother's lap in undated photo)

'There have been prior issues brought to my attention, which may be important for any thorough investigation,' she 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.'

Aylesworth also told CBS that her mother is a seasoned sailor and swimmer, with over a decade of experience on the water.

She is unable to wrap her mind around how Lynette fell overboard and vanished.
Four British nationals claiming to be 'hikers' were apprehended by US authorities after allegedly sneaking into the country through remote woods connecting Canada to Maine.

Ali Mohammed Ali Abdullah, 18, of Liverpool, as well as Hameed Mohammed Nagi, Ibrahim Ayyub Khan and Mohammed Sultan Saleh, were taken into custody on April 3 after two astute maple sugar workers caught them walking along an unpaved logging path towards the US through the thick woods.

The four men initially claimed they did not realize they entered the US.

But they were caught on GoPro footage celebrating the moment they stepped on American soil, according to an affidavit filed on April 7 in the US District Court for the District of Maine.

'I can confirm you are now on US soil,' Saleh could be heard saying in the footage, according to the affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail.

Abdullah could then be heard asking, 'I'm on US soil?' to which Saleh replied by showing his phone screen with GPS coordinates displayed.

'Now we are in the US,' Saleh allegedly confirmed. 'We just made it baby.'

The four men are now charged with one count each of Entry Without Inspection, a misdemeanor offense that carries a maximum sentence of six months in federal prison and a $5,000 fine.

All four have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail, the Bangor Daily News reports.

US authorities apprehended four British nationals caught sneaking into the US through the woods in Maine on April 3. Border Patrol agents are pictured here talking at a marina on the Niagara River in 2013

Ali Mohammed Ali Abdullah, 18, of Liverpool, as well as Hameed Mohammed Nagi, Ibrahim Ayyub Khan and Mohammed Sultan Saleh were confirmed to be British nationals

The bust began when the two maple sugar workers heading into Canada spotted the four men, whom they described as appearing to be Middle Eastern, walking south, towards the US, on the Golden Road.

The so-called Golden Road is a 96-mile, primarily unpaved, private logging road in Maine that stretches to the Quebec border. There is nothing to see for the vast majority of it until the end, according to journalist Steve Robinson.

The sight apparently raised the maple sugar workers' suspicions, and they flagged down a Customs and Border Protection officer at the nearby St Zacharie Port of Entry at approximately 9.15am to alert them.

By 9.40, the workers returned to the US side of the border to report that a third man had told them that two men in a gray Nissan parked on the Golden Road were asking passersby for fuel and Wi-Fi so they could contact the people they were supposed to pick up.

At 10.13am, that same third man called authorities once again to report that the Nissan had turned up near his maple sugar shack at mile marker 80.

At that point, a Border Patrol agent and a Customs and Border Protection officer decided to load up their marked patrol vehicle and head south on the Golden Road.

When they then reached mile marker 90, the officers reported that they found fresh footprints in the soft dirt.

Then at mile marker 87, the officers found the four men trying to conceal themselves in the thick vegetation.

The men were apprehended at the US-Canada border (pictured)

'One of the four men was acting nervously,' Border Patrol agent Scott Hanton wrote in his affidavit, noting that he and the other officer took the men into custody without incident.

At first, the men claimed they were 'just going for a hike,' Hanton said, and told agents that they were British citizens.

They claimed they did not realize they entered the US, before agents found the damning GoPro footage as well as searches Saleh allegedly made that day including 'bangor from my location,' 'boston from bangor,' 'new york from Boston.'

He even allegedly searched: 'Is st zacharie border crossing still used the one near quebec golden road.'

After apprehending the four men, the two officers found the gray Nissan that the maple sugar workers described sitting near mile marker 80, out of gas.

Hanton said he and his partner then found two men inside, who identified themselves as US citizens.

But before the driver could fully exit the vehicle, the Customs and Border Protection officer saw him reach under the driver's seat, where a loaded 9-millimeter handgun was found.

At that point, the authorities took the two men into custody as well, in connection with what the affidavit described as 'a suspected alien smuggling event.'

Eventually, Hanton wrote, the passenger of the vehicle admitted that the driver had intended to pick up one of the four men - someone the driver said he dropped off in the same area along the Golden Road about 30 days earlier.

A forensic review of the driver's cellphone then uncovered text messages with an individual believed to be one of the four men, discussing expected arrival times and pickup locations.

It remains unclear why the men were allegedly trying to enter the United States, but records show Abdullah - who is identified as the lead defendant in the criminal complaint - was previously deported.

His application to extend his US visa was denied in March 2025, and he left the country that May, according to Robinson.

Canadian officials then recorded him arriving in the country on April 1, traveling on a UK passport.

'Law enforcement authorities are attempting to ascertain the purpose of his travel to Maine,' prosecutors wrote.

Meanwhile, Abdullah appeared in court on April 7 and waived his right to both a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, consenting to remain in federal custody ahead of his trial, which is scheduled to begin on June 3.

Nagi, Khan and Saleh also have related cases pending in the same district.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Customs and Border Protection for comment.
The four NASA astronauts on the historic Artemis II Moon mission delivered powerful messages to loved ones back on Earth as they prepared to embark on their journey home.

Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared heartfelt shoutouts to family and future space explorers on Thursday.

'I think its worth pointing out I learn as much, maybe more from you than you learn from me,' Hansen told his children.

'But the one thing I would remind you, and I think is worth reminding ourselves and other youth is that all you have to do on any given day is just get up and do your best and try to find joy in your day and try to contribute in a meaningful and positive way.'

The astronaut continued, saying that 'as humans, we put too much pressure on ourselves' to be perfect.

'If you look at what were doing out here, it is far from perfection, but we are getting it done,' he said.

The microphone was passed to Glover, who shared a touching message for his kids, one that also resonated deeply with the crew inside the spacecraft.

'As we are on our way back from this dream of a mission, your mom and I look forward to supporting you, chasing and catching your own dreams,' Glover said.

'We spent years coaching you, but we are very much in that transition to being cheerleaders and just rooting for you in life.'

The four NASA astronauts making their way as a part of the historic Artemis II Moon mission gave powerful messages to loved ones back on Earth

The team set off on April 1, marking humanity's first mission to reach the Moon since 1972

Your browser does not support iframes.

'And to the future citizens out there, the same sentiment applies,' Glover continued.

'I hope this mission is giving you something that you can take and put in your pocket, or in your heart and mind that you keep with you.

'But its not because we want you to see what weve tried to show you. Its because we want you to take this and build a vocabulary to explain the world to us.'

Wiseman expressed deep gratitude to his daughters and calling his familys support 'unbelievable.'

'I dont think they knew what this mission really meant when we launched, but they have learned through the outpouring of public support, their friends support and familys support,' he explained.

'Really, the world has come together. We have seen it and we have seen it through their eyes too.

'And it has been a very proud moment for me as their father to see the joy in their expression and the way they email and communicate when we have private conferences.'

Koch gushed over her nine nieces and nephews, thanking them for their letters and love: 'It truly touched my mission and I feel like you're here with me.'

'I love you and thank you for the amazing letters you wrote me, the amazing pictures you drew me,' Koch said. 'You had beautiful Earths and rockets, and they truly touched my mission.'

The team lifted off on April 1, marking humanity's first mission to reach the Moon since 1972.

It was the furthest space exploration mission undertaken in human history, coming 57 years after American astronauts first set foot on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

This monumental journey is expected to travel a maximum distance from Earth of 252,799 miles, beating the Apollo 13 record by 4,144 miles.

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission have begun their return journey to Earth after a successful 10-day flight around the Moon

Artemis II entered space just four minutes into its historic journey to the Moon as crowds of fans watched across Florida

Artemis II launched from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1 as one Southwest Airlines passenger captured incredible footage of the rocket soaring through the sky

Chris Pappas' video captured the clear blue skies, with only the plane's wing in view until a line of smoke was seen trailing behind the flaming rocket in the distance

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (left), Victor Glover (second left), Christina Koch (second right) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (right)

Join the discussion Does space exploration still inspire you?

The ten-day journey saw the astronauts launch into orbit and then separate their Orion spacecraft from the launch vehicle, break out of low-Earth orbit, circle the Moon and then return.

The historic flight is the first step in NASA's new multi-step to land on the Moon by 2028 at the earliest.

NASA has said the Artemis campaign is about laying the groundwork for future Mars missions, harnessing space's economic benefits and creating an enduring human presence beyond Earth.

It's alsoas is anything these days in the United Statesabout heading off China's own lunar land grab: Washington wants to remain in front of Beijing's own plans to put a man on the Moon by 2030.

But Artemis appears to be the opening step in a much more consequential infrastructure race that also pits Washington against Beijinga giant leap toward an extraterrestrial AI future.
The Queensland MP found dead in a Brisbane unit endured a series of devastating blows in his personal and professional life in the months before his death.

The body of Independent MP Jimmy Sullivan was discovered on Thursday night inside his Stafford apartment when officers attended the property for a welfare check.

Police will now investigate whether the 44-year-old had suffered a fatal fall.

His tragic end followed a tumultuous year for the politician who had been expelled from the state Labor party caucus amid personal issues and later splitting from his wife.

He broke down in parliament in May last year as he addressed his growing issues, while political rivals clamoured for him to resign after his move to the crossbenches as an independent.

Sullivan had moved out of his family home and separated from his wife Carolyn McAnally, less than two years after the couple welcomed their second daughter.

It followed reports of a domestic violence incident at the couple's home in the leafy suburb of Kedron, just hours after he was re-elected to parliament in October 2024.

The matter was later dismissed following a court appearance and Sullivan faced no charges.

Jimmy Sullivan (pictured with estranged wife Carolyn) was found dead in his Brisbane unit on Thursday night

In May 2025, Sullivan broke down in parliament as he opened up about his personal issues

The police probe was launched just two months after he and his wife had welcomed their second child, five years after their first daughter was stillborn at 35 weeks.

On his return to parliament in February 2025 after a lengthy absence, Sullivan thanked colleagues for giving him time and space to address his health issues.

'I apologise for my absence in recent sitting weeks, but I have been working hard in the community since my election,' he said.

'I thank the professionals - the doctors, nurses, allied health and support staff - at the Brisbane Private Hospital for their care and support.

'With their help, I am a better dad and a better husband.'

But just three months later, Sullivan was disendorsed and expelled from the Queensland Labor caucus for failing to comply with a return-to-work plan while he battled health and personal issues.

Multiple sources raised concerns about Sullivan's welfare and his drinking habits, the Courier Mail reported at the time.

The MP was seen drinking at a work event on the Labour Day public holiday, despite Sullivan having reportedly previously agreed not to do so.

Hours after Sullivan was re-elected to serve a second term in October 2024, police were called to a 'reported domestic violence incident' at his home in the leafy suburb of Kedron

Jimmy Sullivan was expelled from the Queensland Labor caucus last May for failing to comply with a return-to-work plan as he battled health and personal issues. He is pictured leaving parliament following the decision

'As far as I'm concerned, this is final,' Labor leader Steven Miles told reporters afterwards.

'He hasn't complied with that plan and as a result, we have sought caucus support to take this action.

'The support for this motion was unanimous, other than the member for Stafford, and has the effect of expelling him from the caucus.'

Sullivan made a hasty exit from parliament via a backdoor and hours later, slammed Labor's claims as 'completely untrue.'

'This is a cheap political move - one that is not just personally hurtful but also against the principles of our great party,' he said at the time.

'I complied with every requirement placed on me, and more, and that was articulated to the leadership team in detail.'

Sullivan said he had 'bled for Labor' since he was a teen and vowed to continue to represent his Labor branch members, despite being booted by the party.

He was forced to move to the crossbench and serve as an independent after he opted not to trigger a by-election for his seat.

The Stafford MP announced the safe arrival of his second daughter in August 2024, five years after the stillborn loss of his first child

Police are investigating whether the 44-year-old suffered a fall at his unit on Thursday night

Weeks later, Sullivan publicly broke down in parliament following relentless calls and an official motion by the Crisafulli government to resign as MP.

He was forced to address the incident at his home six months earlier as he slammed the 'disgusting' attacks against him.

'I used a word that we would describe in this place as unparliamentary - I swore,' he said.

'That is the basis of what those matters were about. That is why my legal team says that they have never seen a matter dismissed so quickly.

'There was no violence.'

He also opened up about his post-traumatic stress over the stillborn loss of his first daughter Francesca in 2019, triggered by the birth of his second daughter in August 2024.

'I obviously went into PTSD with the loss of our first daughter, and our beautiful (second) daughter could have been her twin. It set me off,' Sullivan said.

'I spiralled, I recognise that, and I put my hand up for healthcare.'

Sullivan paid tribute to his wife and late firstborn daughter in his inaugural parliamentary speech in 2020.

'The most important person I want to thank is Carolyn, my wife. I am so lucky to have you in my life,' he said.

Police are nor treating Jimmy Sullivan's death as suspicious

The MP paid tribute to his wife and first daughter in his inaugural parliamentary speech

'Your intelligence, beauty, humour and accomplishments in your own world cannot be appropriately captured here today.

'Can I simply say I love you and I am so proud to be doing this with you.'

He also opened up on the loss of baby Francesca Charlotte, or Frankie, at 35 weeks in April 2019.

'I said at her funeral that there may come a day when I can say her name without crying - obviously not yet - but there will never be a day that the thought of her and talk of her will not bring a smile to my face, pride to my soul and great joy to my heart that Frankie, the beautiful child that she was, brought such joy to this world already,' Sullivan said.

'Frankie is not the reason I believe in a strong healthcare system, although I passionately do but she is the reason I will try to contribute what I can to tackling this failing in the broader health system that has not seen a reduction in the rate of stillborns across the last two decades.

'Frankie is forever with me and continues to shape the person I am, including what sort of member I will be.'

The news of Sullivan's death sent shockwaves through both sides of politics and his community on Friday.

'Queenslanders will be shocked to hear of the sudden passing of Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan,' Premier Crisafulli said in a statement.

Jimmy Sullivan was first elected as the member for Stafford at the 2020 Queensland election

Join the discussion How should political parties support members facing personal struggles without sacrificing accountability?

'On behalf of all Queenslanders, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.'

A shorter statement from Opposition Leader Miles read: 'Our thoughts are with Jimmy's family, friends and community this morning as we all process this news.'

Sullivan followed in the footsteps of his father Terry, who also served as the member for Stafford from 2001 to 2006.

'Jimmy had two big loves; his family and his community. I would always get the family update whenever I ran into him, as he was so proud of them,' federal Brisbane MP and close friend Madonna Jarrett wrote.

'His second love was his local Stafford community which he was passionate about.

'While the past couple of years were not easy for him, I will always remember Jimmy as the caring, energetic and life-filled man I met all those years ago; not to mention his characteristic smile.

'He will be missed.'

A former lawyer and former Judge's Associate in the District Court of Queensland, Sullivan previously served as chief of staff to former attorney-general Yvette D'Ath.

He also previously worked in the office of US Democratic Senator Ron Wyden in Washington, DC.

A by-election for Stafford will be held at a later date.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Donald Trump pressured Israel to slow down attacks on Lebanon as the strikes threaten to thwart peace talks with Iran, as he keeps his eye on Iran's activities around the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump admitted Thursday that he'd told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'to be sort of a little more low-key' as Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff lead negotiations in Islamabad this weekend.

US officials are worried, however, that with the already fragile three-day old ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran, Israel's campaign in Lebanon could endanger those talks before they even get started.

Netanyahu said Thursday that he has authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon 'as soon as possible' aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbors.

A US official confirmed that talks between Israel and Lebanon on ending the current hostilities with Hezbollah will take place starting next week at the State Department in Washington.

The official offered no other details of the negotiations but a person familiar with the planning for the talks said they would be led on the US side by Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and on the Israeli side by Israel's Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter.

Lebanese officials are seeking an immediate ceasefire ahead of those talks, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Netanyahu has steadfastly claimed that Israel's battle against Hezbollah does not factor into the US' peace talks with Tehran.

Donald Trump continued to pressure Israel to slow down attacks on Lebanon as the strikes threaten to thwart peace talks with Iran , as he keeps his eye on Iran's activities around the Strait of Hormuz

Trump admitted Thursday that he'd told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) 'to be sort of a little more low-key'

'There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We continue to strike Hezbollah with full force,' Netanyahu said.

However, the Israeli prime minister held a phone call between Trump and Witkoff on Wednesday, according to Axios.

Witkoff reportedly told Netanyahu to 'calm down' the strikes in Lebanon and open peace negotiations.

'I spoke with Bibi and he's going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,' Trump told NBC News on Thursday.

Trump, however, is currently concerned that the fighting could affect his attempts to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The President made multiple Truth Social posts Thursday angry with the notion that Iran would start charging a toll on anyone trying to get through the Strait of Hormuz.

'There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait  They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!'

He then added: 'Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!'

Firefighters try to put out flames at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut

The White House supports reopening the strait as part of the ceasefire deal but says Trump opposes Iran's military, which continues to control the waterway, from seeking to raise revenue by charging tolls on passing ships.

US officials told WSJ that Trump is worried the Israel-Lebanon battle could allow Iran more leverage during talks.

The launch of direct peace talks between the neighboring nations is a significant achievement, though reaching an agreement will be difficult after decades of hostilities, Hezbollah's continued presence and longstanding disagreements over the countries' shared land border.

Lebanon's health ministry said more than 300 people were killed and more than 1,100 wounded Wednesday by Israeli strikes on central Beirut and other areas of Lebanon that Israel said targeted Hezbollah, which joined the war in support of Tehran.

Early Friday morning, Israel's military said it struck approximately 10 launchers in Lebanon that had fired rockets toward northern Israel on Thursday.

Israel also said Thursday it killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, an aide to Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem. There was no Hezbollah comment.

After declaring victory with the ceasefire announcement, both Iran and the U.S. have appeared to apply pressure on each other.

Semiofficial news agencies in Iran suggested forces have mined the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil that Tehran has closed. Trump warned that US forces would hit Iran harder than before if it did not fulfill the agreement.

Israel has rapidly escalated their attacks against Lebanon since the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire, killing an estimated 254 people with air strikes

Iran claims Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal with the US and is now threatening to abandon peace talks and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed unless Israel stops

Underlining Iran's continued control of the strait, a Botswana-flagged liquified natural gas tanker attempted to travel out of the Persian Gulf via a route ordered by the Revolutionary Guard, but suddenly turned around and headed back early Friday, ship-tracking data showed.

Questions also remained over what will happen to Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium at the heart of tensions, how and when normal traffic will resume through the strait, and what happens to Iran's ability to launch future missile attacks and support armed proxies in the region.

Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, sets off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

The vice president is joined by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who took part in three rounds of indirect talks with Iranian negotiators aimed at settling US concerns about Tehran's nuclear and ballistic weapons programs and its support for armed proxy groups in the Middle East before Trump and Israel launched the February 28 war against Iran.

The White House has provided scant detail about the format of the talks  whether they will be direct or indirect  and has not provided specific expectations for the meeting.

But the arrival of Vance for negotiations marks a rare moment of high-level US government engagement with the Iranian government.

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the most direct contact had been when President Barack Obama in September 2013 called newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Iran's nuclear program.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Vance, Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'have always been collaborating on these discussions' and said Trump was optimistic that a lasting deal can be reached during the two-week ceasefire.

Vice President JD Vance (pictured), who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, sets off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad

First responders search under the rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in the village of Habbouch, southern Lebanon

'President Trump has a proven track record of achieving good deals on behalf of the United States and the American people, and he will only accept one that puts America first,' Kelly said.

It's the highest-stakes moment thus far for Vance, who spent much of last year as more of a background player in the Trump White House, especially as others like Elon Musk and Rubio took turns as ever-present advisers for the president.

But Vance's portfolio is fattening fast, first with a mission to root out fraud in government programs at home and now to help solve a US war in the Middle East, where complicated doesn't even begin to describe things.

Vance, who served in the Iraq War while in the Marines, spent two years as a US senator and a little more than one as vice president, has little diplomatic experience.

On Wednesday, he dismissed speculation that the Iranians requested that he join the talks, telling reporters: 'I don't know that. I would be surprised if that was true. But, you know, I wanted to be involved because I thought I could make a difference.'

The White House has not detailed who will be in the negotiations besides Vance, Witkoff and Kushner, but Kelly said officials from the National Security Council, State Department and Pentagon 'will also play a supportive role.'

During early rounds of indirect nuclear talks with the Iranians before the war, Democrats and some nuclear experts questioned whether Kushner and Witkoff had enough technical knowledge.

The White House has not said whether the pair, whom Trump has entrusted with some of his most difficult negotiations since returning to office, had a nuclear expert with them for those talks.
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Australian taxpayers are due to foot the bill for police operations during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's tour of the country next week.

The couple's itinerary is understood to include stops in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

More than 35,000 people signed a petition in March demanding no taxpayers' money be spent on their upcoming visit.

But a spokesman for the couple responded to the petition, stating the trip would be privately funded and pinpointing how many Australians had not signed up.

He said: 'It's a moot point. The trip is being funded privately, so I'm not sure what this petition hopes to achieve.'

However, on Friday, police forces in Victoria and New South Wales confirmed they would be running public safety operations this month.

'The New South Wales Police Force will conduct an operation to ensure public safety is maintained during the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,' a spokesperson said.

'The operation will require some additional security measures throughout their stay in New South Wales, while minimising any disruption to the community.'

Australian taxpayers are due to foot the bill for police operations during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's tour of the country next week

Police forces in Victoria and New South Wales confirmed they would be running public safety operations this month

Police services will be focused on the events in which the public may possibly be involved, which will be part of the force's expenditure, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Victoria Police would not comment on the couple's tour but did acknowledge awareness of a major public event occurring this month when contacted by the Daily Mail.

'Police are aware two high-profile people are visiting Melbourne in a private capacity in April,' a spokesperson said.

'Police routinely assess events and visits and will deploy resources as necessary to ensure community safety.'

They added that Victoria Police does not provide comment on specific operational arrangements, and directed queries to event organisers.

The Daily Mail has contacted the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.

Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, previously visited Australia in 2018 when they were both senior working members of the Royal Family.

The couple had a police escort wherever they went, and also stayed at the Governor-General's residence, which overlooks the world-famous Sydney Harbour.

Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, previously visited Australia in 2018 when they were both senior working members of the Royal Family

Despite Harry and Meghan no longer representing His Majesty the King after they stepped back from royal duties and relocated to California in 2020, their trip Down Under appears to resemble a royal tour in many ways.

A leaked document seen by the Mail revealed that they will make joint appearances focusing on veterans and mental health, including a visit to a children's hospital and an Invictus Australia event on Sydney Harbour.

Meghan will also undertake a solo visit to a women's homelessness shelter, while Harry will attend an AFL club in Melbourne and a rugby union match in Sydney.

Harry is also expected to make a brief visit to Canberra without his wife.

The Mail is not disclosing specific details of dates and times outlined in the operational notes for security reasons.

Notably, the official four-day itinerary, starting next Tuesday, does not include Meghan's appearance at the 'Her Best Life' retreat at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney's Coogee Beach, which runs from April 17-19.

According to a source, this indicates that the Sussexes are keeping 'pseudo-royal' engagements separate from Meghan's latest commercial foray into the lifestyle world.

The document explained that Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, were travelling Down Under after being 'invited to Australia by a number of groups'.

The couple's new PR boss Liam Maguire stated the visit was being 'privately funded'.

It was also confirmed that the Sussexes would not be undertaking traditional 'walkabouts' - where members of the Royal Family greet their subjects in public - 'due to the security costs of keeping public order'.

Despite the itinerary closely resembling previous official royal engagements, fans may be disappointed not to see Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, in person.
Donald Trump has said the only reason Iranians 'are alive today' is to negotiate, ahead of peace talks in Pakistan.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US President said: 'The Iranians don't seem to realise they have no cards, other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate! President DONALD J. TRUMP'.

His remarks come as Vice President JD Vance today warned Iran not to try and 'play us' as he set off to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran.

The Vice President is leading Trump's delegation to Islamabad for talks with Iran on a possible end to the war in the Middle East.

But he warned his Iranian counterparts against underhand tactics. Speaking shortly before his departure to Pakistan from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Vance said: 'If they're gonna try to play us they're gonna find the negotiating team is not going to be that receptive.

'The President gave us some pretty clear guidelines.'

The White House has provided scant detail about the format of the talks - whether they will be direct or indirect - and has not provided specific expectations for the meeting.

Thank you for following our coverage tonight. This blog is now closed.
Keir Starmer warned Donald Trump against punishing Britain and other NATO allies for refusing to get involved in the Iran war today, saying the alliance was important to America.

The Trump administration has said it will 'audit' countries and hinted it could withdraw its military forces from those seen as being particularly unhelpful to the war effort, while rewarding those seen as helpful.

The latest move in the deepening Transatlantic rift came after Sir Keir Starmer aimed yet another jibe at the White House overnight.

After speaking to Trump about Iran last night the PM made a thinly veiled jibe about leaders who 'inflame' tensions and drive up bills in a Guardian article.

That followed an interview he carried out on a visit to the Gulf in which he admitted he was 'fed up' with bills going up in the UK 'because of the actions of Putin or Trump'.

This morning he said that being in NATO was 'is in America's interests' as 'a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been'.

Asked whether he had raised the president's threats to quit NATO during a call last night, Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'Do I think this will be a stronger European element to NATO? Yes, and I think we should step into that space.

'We're already doing it, which is why we're co-ordinating strategically with our partners in NATO.'

The US has 13 bases and some 10,000 air force and other personnel in Britain, and their withdrawal would have a major security and economic impact.

A USAF analysis in 2012 suggested that they contributed $1.3billion to the economy, including almost 200million in local employment.

A wider withdrawal of 80,000 troops from Western Europe would leave the continent at greater risk from Russian aggression.

It came as the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran appeared on the verge of collapse last night after Donald Trump accused Tehran of breaching their agreement - as missiles continued to rain down across the Middle East.

Keir Starmer said that being in NATO was 'is in America's interests' as 'a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been'

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In the latest move in the Transatlantic spat the US administration has reportedly threatened to withdraw military forces from countries seen as being unhelpful to the war effort

The US has 13 bases and some 10,000 Air Force and other personnel in Britain, and their withdrawal would have a major economic impact

Just over two days since the US President announced a ceasefire in the six-week-old conflict it already seemed to be unravelling out of his control.

On Thursday there was still no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, having cited Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon as a key sticking point to maintain its grip over the vital shipping route.

Only a handful of vessels have passed through the Strait since the ceasefire was announced on Tuesday night, with the Islamic Republic reportedly demanding that shipping companies pay enormous tolls for safe passage.

Trump accused Iran of breaching the terms of the ceasefire by not allowing ships to transit the waterway, further casting doubt on the effectiveness of the deal.

'Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,' he wrote on his social media site on Thursday, adding: 'That is not the agreement we have!'

The post came after Iran's Supreme Leader released a statement demanding 'blood money' from the US and Israel after denouncing them as 'criminal aggressors'.

'We will undoubtedly demand compensation for every single damage inflicted, the blood money of the martyrs, and the diyah of the war-wounded,' Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in a message broadcast on Iranian state TV.

No decision has been made on punishments linked to the audit, and the White House has not directed the Pentagon to draw up concrete plans for a troop reduction in Europe, a US official told Reuters.

But the discussions alone underscore how sharply relations between Washington and its European NATO allies have deteriorated in recent months.

After speaking to Trump about Iran last night the PM made a thinly veiled jibe about leaders who 'inflame' tensions and drive up bills in a Guardian article

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Choukine, on Thursday

They also suggest that a visit to the White House on Wednesday by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte failed to significantly improve transatlantic relations, which are arguably at their lowest point since NATO's 1949 founding.

The White House has publicly said that Trump has considered withdrawing from the alliance altogether. Removing troops from Europe would allow Trump to dramatically lessen Washington's security commitments on the continent, without formally withdrawing, a move that would test constitutional law.

This morning John Healey pointedly said how much the US had benefitted from UK permission to use its bases for defensive actions in the conflict.

'If you look, even in this current conflict, the basing permissions that we in the UK have agreed with the US have been invaluable to their military operations,' the Defence Secretary told a London conference.

On Thursday a Downing Street spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump from Qatar this evening.

'The Prime Minister set out his discussions with Gulf leaders and military planners in the region on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the UK's efforts to convene partners to agree a viable plan.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei also released a statement on Thursday demanding 'blood money' from the US and Israel, denouncing them as 'criminal aggressors'

'They agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution.

'The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible.'

Sir Keir earlier appeared to blame Mr Trump for rising bills alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling ITV's Talking Politics Podcast: 'I'm fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses' bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump.'

He added the ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must have 'toll-free navigation' as part of the ceasefire amid reports Iran wants to charge for passage.

Asked whether he viewed the critical strait as now being open, he said: 'There are a lot of things being said  they need to be tested' and that the UK's position is that 'open' means 'open for safe navigation'.

'That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through,' he told Talking Politics.

In a Guardian article overnight the PM reiterated his position that the UK should not join the war, adding: 'We act to reduce escalation, not inflame it.

'We work with allies, not alone. And we protect our security without losing sight of our economic stability.'
Oil tanker crews stranded in the Strait of Hormuz are suffering mental breakdowns with some refusing to sail even after it reopens.

Terrified sailors fear they are 'sitting ducks' as they remain trapped in their stationary ships for a sixth week while Iran retains control over the passage.

The reopening of the waterway, through which 20 per cent of global oil travels daily, is a crucial part of the two-week ceasefire agreed by Donald Trump and Iran.

But the Iranian regime has continued to block oil tankers transiting through the strait and has warned vessels they will have to pay a toll of up to $2million per journey or face destruction - dashing hopes of a swift reopening.

An estimated 2,000 ships and 20,000 seafarers have been trapped in the Gulf the beginning of the war, sparking an enormous surge in oil prices worldwide.

Paralysed by fear after witnessing neighbouring ships set ablaze by Iranian missile attacks, some crew members say they won't sail through the strait even if it does open in a development which could spell further crisis for the global economy.

One seafarer, stuck off the coast of the United Arab Emirates watched an Iranian missile strike a loaded Kuwaiti tanker, sparking a large blaze, while parked at a Dubai port last month.

They claimed 90 per cent of their crew will refuse to travel through the strait when it eventually opens.

Terrified sailors fear they are 'sitting ducks' as they remain trapped in their stationary ships for a sixth week while Iran retains control over the passage. Pictured: Tankers sit anchored in the strait

A new map released by Iran seemed to show areas of the Strait have been mined by its paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Pictured: Smoke billows from an oil tanker. Crew members on vessels are paralysed with fear and believe they are 'sitting ducks'

The worker said the threats of violence have caused an 'impossible' impact on their mental health.

They told The Guardian: 'Im in no mental condition to perform any intense task after all of this.'

The sailor also claimed one of their colleagues had suffered a 'mental breakdown' and is being checked on regularly.

'Ive no doubt that this particular issue, this mental breakdown, is happening [on tankers] all around us from the stress of this situation,' they said. 'Seafarer support [phone] lines are trying to help, but from the beginning we have all known that it would not be enough.'

They added: 'Any hope they may soon be free to leave had already evaporated, if it ever felt real at all.'

Ship worker representatives have described the 'mental toll' the threat of violence has taken and how sailors feel as if they are 'sitting ducks'.

There remains chaos and confusion over who will get long-term control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Islamist regime has kept the Strait to traffic despite the US President declaring a dramatic and decisive victory in the Middle East.

Iranian officials cited the ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran's Hezbollah allies for the move to shut off the Arabian Gulf which sent oil prices soaring and stock prices falling again.

Trump responded by threatening to green-light 'bigger, and better and stronger' attacks on Iran if a permanent deal isn't reached.

But he had earlier suggested the US and Iran could work together on a toll regime for ships that could reach $2million per vessel.

A new map released by Iran seemed to show areas of the Strait have been mined by its paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, seen as a threat to attack traffic if its demands are not met.

And Iranian officials have said tankers using the Strait would have to pay tolls in cryptocurrency of $1 per barrel.

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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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

The White House rejected the idea, only for Trump to later tell reporters it could be done as a 'beautiful' joint venture with America.

Charts dated from February 28 until April 9 were published by news agencies ISNA and Tasnim on Thursday, showing a large circle marked 'danger zone' in Farsi over the Traffic Separation Scheme.

This was the route ships used to take through the strait  a narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of all oil and natural gas traded once passed.

On Wednesday, Iran warned that oil tankers will be destroyed if they try to travel along the strait without permission, as it seeks to retain control over the passage during the ceasefire.

A radio message was broadcast yesterday by the regime to all oil ships in the vital waterway, saying: 'If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed.'

Even if the strait is reopened, 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.'

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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.'
Tony Abbott has blasted the Albanese government for not doing enough to help allies during the conflict in the Middle East.

The former Prime Minister said Anthony Albanese should be doing more to contribute to the efforts of the United States in Iran as US President Donald Trump attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's closure of the waterway, which facilitates up to 25 per cent of the world's seaborne oil trade, has caused a ripple effect of global fuel shortages.

'The only safe way for this war to end is for the Iranian war machine to be utterly destroyed,' Abbott told Sky News on Friday.

'Frankly, it is not too late even now for our government to make contact with the White House and say 'what can Australia do to help?'

'That's what I think every Australian Prime Minister would have done.

'America deserves our help (and) needs our help if it is to ensure freedom of navigation in this vital global chokepoint.'

A temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran has led to the Strait being partially reopened, but Abbott warned Iran may now start charging those who sail through.

Tony Abbott (pictured) blasted the Albanese government for not doing enough to help allies

Abbott said Albanese should do more to offer help to the United States during conflict in the Middle East (pictured, rubble is cleared in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 9)

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Abbott's comments were 'fundamentally ignorant'

He said that tolls by Iran on transport vessels would create a 'subsidy for terrorism'.

'It would mean our miners, farmers and truckers are forever facing absolutely extortionate amounts for fuel,' he added.

But Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has pushed back on Abbott's claims.

'I completely reject that assertion from Tony Abbott,' he told Sky News.

'And I think, in the context of the conversations that have been happening, I mean, Tony Abbott's view is fundamentally ignorant.

'In respect of the United States specifically, they have requested during the course of the last month for Australia to provide support to the nations of the Gulf.'

Marles also stated Australia has previously sent an E-7 Wedgetail plane to the UAE at the start of the conflict.

The fiery remarks came as Anthony Albanese made a last-minute trip to Singapore to sign a deal securing oil supplies for Australia.

It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with CEO at Singapore Refining Company, Eso Thomas) made a trip to Singapore to sign a deal securing oil supplies

The Prime Minister and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong inked the fresh agreement to continue trading large amounts of fuel and gas between the two countries on Friday.

The agreement stated the countries would 'make maximum efforts to meet each other's energy security needs' at a time when fuel prices have skyrocketed and many service stations face shortages due to the conflict in the Middle East.

More than a quarter of all fuel imported into Australia comes from Singapore, while Australia provides about one-third of the city-state's LNG supply.

Albanese said the agreement would safeguard energy security.

'It's vitally important that we coordinate our response to the global fuel crisis and cooperate so that both of our economies are more resilient,' he told reporters at a joint media conference.

'The conflict in the Middle East is a long way from our region, but every nation in our region is being affected by it.

'The best way to deal with this global crisis is, indeed, to work together as partners and as neighbours.'

The Singaporean prime minister dismissed the possibility of fuel exports being restricted if supply issues worsen in coming months.

'We do not plan to restrict exports. We didn't have to do so even in the darkest days of COVID and we will not do so during this energy crisis,' Wong said.

'I am confident that Australia and Singapore will not just get through the crisis, but we will emerge stronger and more resilient.'

Singapore is Australia's largest two-way trade partner in Southeast Asia.

The bilateral meeting followed Mr Albanese and Mr Wong signing a joint statement reaffirming Australia and Singapore's commitments to continue trading in energy.
A student could face a hate crime charge over comments he made comparing a Palestine activist's headscarf to a tea towel.

Self-professed 'non-Jewish Zionist' Brodie Mitchell, 20, was temporarily suspended by Royal Holloway, University of London, over the incident which took place at the Fresher's Fair in September.

Mr Mitchell made the comment regarding the university's president of the Friends of Palestine Society, Huda El-Jamal's keffiyeh.

Mr Mitchell, a second-year politics and international relations student, has said that Ms El-Jamal, who is of Palestinian origin, called him a 'wannabe Jew' and made reference to him not wearing a kippah.

The student, who describes himself on social media as having been 'cancelled', says that he made a joke in response: 'You're wearing a tea towel over your head'.

He was suspended by the university the following day while an investigation was carried out over nine weeks 'for alleged conduct that could be considered hate speech'. He has since been allowed to return to campus.

The incident was reported to the police as a hate crime, and officers officers have now submitted a file in the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will determine if any charges should be brought, it is reported.

'Non-Jewish Zionist' Brodie Mitchell, 20, (pictured) who is studying at Royal Holloway, University of London, is being investigated for likening Huda El-Jamal's keffiyeh scarf to a tea towel

The second-year student made the comments to Ms El-Jamal (pictured), the president of the Friends of Palestine Society

Mr Mitchell, a member of the campus Conservative Association, is also taking his university to court, accusing it of violating its contractual obligations to him.

He claims it will take him longer to complete his degree as a result of his suspension and that he lost seven weeks of teaching time.

A three-day High Court hearing will be heard in June.

At a pre-trial hearing last December, Mr Mitchell said that Ms El-Jamal had 'smirked and pointed at me, saying something like 'here's the wannabe Jew'' before remarking that he was not wearing a kippah.

'I began filming the interaction as I realised I didn't have any witnesses and said "You're wearing a tea towel over your head",' he said.

He added he considered his remark to be 'a fitting off-the-cuff retort to her pre-emptive racist and antisemitic attack on me and reference to her jibe about my lack of kippah'.

He has described his comment as 'poorly expressed and inappropriate' in an email to the university but argued 'it was only about politics, not about race or religion'.

Mr Mitchell says he is prepared to apologise to Ms El-Jamal.

Gemma White KC, representing Royal Holloway, stated in written submissions for a November hearing: 'The university's overarching position is that it plainly acted reasonably, proportionately and fairly in responding to the claimant's conduct in the way that it did.

'The claimant's right to free speech did not require it to treat his "tea towel" comment any less seriously than it did.'

Mr Mitchell is being supported in his bid by the Free Speech Union.

Dr Nick Barratt, the chief student officer at Royal Holloway, University of London, said: 'Following a formal complaint from a student who described being targeted with a comment from another student they found discriminatory and distressing  and which was reported to the police as a hate crime  the university was obliged to follow its established conduct procedures.

'The student at the centre of the conduct process has not denied the behaviour that was under investigation.

'No formal complaint has been made against the reporting student, and no evidence has been provided to support one, but we are clear that any such allegation would also be investigated.

'This case is about addressing conduct that was found to be harassment. For us, that means defending every student's right to a university experience free from discrimination.

'We respect the court process, and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that our actions were in line with our duty to protect students from harassment and discrimination.'

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: 'We received a report of a hate crime, and an investigation is under way.'
The Royal Navy has not seized any Russian shadow fleet tankers due to fears it could breach international law, it was claimed today.

Sir Keir Starmer announced last month that British troops would be able to raid sanctioned Russian vessels that pass through UK waters.

But to date, no Russian tankers have been seized in the Channel - including two vessels that were accompanied through the waterway by a Kremlin frigate on Wednesday.

Attorney General Lord Hermer has reportedly advised ministers that special forces or National Crime Agency officers could board the tankers.

It is understood no operations have taken place over concerns about breaching international maritime law.

This sets a high legal bar for a state to board a foreign vessel, with officials required to set out a legal case for each operation and prove that the vessel has evaded British sanctions.

However, a government source rejected the claims, saying: 'The Attorney General has been working alongside the Defence Secretary to step up action against Russian shadow fleet activity.

'They both recently convened representatives from Joint Expeditionary Force ally nations to discuss the legal framework for military action.'

The frigate Admiral Grigorovich was seen accompanying two 'shadow fleet' vessels past Britain's south coast on Wednesday (file pic)

It follows a separate report that one of the sanctioned Russian tankers that sailed through the Channel on Wednesday was carrying supplies for Putin's military.

Universal was spotted sailing west along the south coast alongside frigate Admiral Grigorovich and one other 'shadow fleet' tanker, with the Royal Navy only able to rustle up one support ship to monitor them.

Last month, Sir Keir gave approval for Britain's commandos to board and halt shadow fleet vessels as they pass through UK waters in an attempt to 'go after' the sanction-breaking ships 'even harder'.

But RFA Tideforce, an auxiliary tanker armed with only light defensive weapons, followed the three-ship flotilla past Dover without intervening.

Universal's cargo included oil, supplies and spare parts for the direct use of Russia's army, a Nato maritime security source told The i Paper.

The vessel was followed by Enigma, a second sanctioned Russian tanker sailing under a fake Cameroon flag.

Universal left a port near Saint Petersburg at the end of last month amid a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on ports in the region before picking up its warship escort in the Baltic Sea on April 2.

The Foreign Office sanctioned the ship in September for its role in exporting sanctioned Russian oil to fund Putin's war in Ukraine.

But the Nato source said the ship was carrying a more nefarious cargo including fuel, food, and spare parts for Russian military ships 'operating at a distance' from Ukraine.

They believe it was heading west through the Channel to escape Ukrainian military action in the Baltic. Pictures suggested it was not follow loaded, which may mean it was forced to leave prematurely to escape the attacks.

Moscow's shadow fleet is reported to be made up of more than a thousand ageing tankers.

A satellite image released by the MoD of a spy sub seen in British waters last month

They illicitly ship oil and other goods out of Russia by flying the flags of other countries, with the aim of evading sanctions imposed by the West since the invasion of Ukraine began.

Countries Finland, Sweden and Estonia have recently intercepted suspected shadow tankers travelling through the Baltic, but many have traversed the Channel without challenge.

Sir Keir has been branded 'all mouth and no trousers' on defence by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who hit out at his failure to adequately rearm Britain.

But yesterday, Defence Secretary John Healey claimed Russia's decision to deploy a frigate to accompany the Universal and Enigma tankers indicated the UK's approach was having an effect.

Answering questions after a Downing Street press conference which he used to reveal British armed forces had foiled a Russian submarine operation in UK waters, the Defence Secretary said: 'We've got a strong history as a country for sanctioning ships, individuals, and with allies.

'We've seen two things in the last year. We've seen over 200 of the Russian sanctioned shadow fleet put out of action and forced to anchor, putting more pressure on Putin's ability to fund his illegal war in Ukraine, and we've seen the oil revenues that Russia takes from the illegal trade drop by a quarter.

'But there's more we can do. As the Prime Minister has announced, we are ready. We have the military options, and we're ready to take action, not just in support of, but actually with allies, to interdict shadow fleet vessels.

'I would just suggest to you, if the action we've already taken, the action that the Prime Minister has indicated we're ready to take in addition, is making Russia re-route its shadow ships as it has, or escort its shadow ships with its own warships, then the stance, the military posture, the determined work that we've done, particularly with JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force) allied nations, is having an impact and making it harder for Putin to pursue his illegal oil revenues, coordinate and run his shadow fleet and fund his illegal war in Ukraine.

'And we aim with others to put more pressure in the coming weeks and months on that activity.'

Speaking at the London Defence Conference this morning, Mr Healey admitted he would like more money from the Treasury.

'Would I like more resources? Yes, I would. Every Defence Secretary would. Those [resources] will increase.

'Yesterday was an important reminder that while all eyes are on the conflict in the Middle East, the primary threat is rising Russian activity.

'Yesterday we exposed a failed covert Russian operation. We know Russia operates with deniability, we have seen in the Baltics cables cut by suspect vessels. Yesterday we said to Putin we see you, we are exposing you and if there is any damage then you have not got that deniability.'
BBC presenter Amol Rajan said he is considering re-locating his family to India because of the 'big problems' England faces.

The broadcaster, who was born in Calcutta, said he was 'very worried' about 'my country' - England - because it is no longer making history.

Mr Rajan, 42, said India was 'exciting and energetic in a way that Britain doesn't always feel' and planned to take his children there when they are old enough so they can decide for themselves where they want to live.

The University Challenge host has four children with academic Charlotte Faircloth, whom he married in 2013.

Mr Rajan is also a host of Radio 4's Today programme, a role he will leave in September to start his own company and 'jump into the great digital Narnia of the creator economy'.

He told Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast: 'I can't tell you how much I love my country, by which I mean England, but I'm very worried about it.

'I think we've got some big, big problems that need addressing, and one of the things is whether this is the best place for my four kids to grow up.

'My answer is that it is. But I would say specifically that I'm not sure whether it's still a place where history is being made.

University Challenge host Amol Rajan has said he is considering re-locating his family to India because of the 'big problems' England faces

'In the 1960s and 70s England is where history was being made.

'It had the extraordinary cultural effusion, the demographic dividend of the baby boomer years, relative peace.'

The former Independent editor continued: 'I've spent a lot of time in Silicon Valley, I wouldn't want to live there, spent a lot of time on the East Coast of America, I've chosen not to live there, spent a lot of time in continental Europe, Singapore, Poland's going through an economic miracle.

'But India is definitely somewhere where history is being made.

'India is the young country, 1.4billion people, it adds 1million people to the workforce every single month.

'It's extraordinarily exciting and energetic in a way that Britain, at the moment, doesn't always feel.

'I'd like [my children] to experience [India] and then make up their own mind. I want it to be their decision.

'My youngest is two and when she's a bit older and the long haul flights are a bit less perilous I would like to go to India frequently and invite my children to fall in love with the civilisation that's in their blood.'

Mr Rajan added that England was a 'wonderful country, a peaceful country' which had 'actually quite low crime'.

After his announcement in January that he would leave the BBC's flagship Today programme, Mr Rajan told Mr Brandreth he was 'rather down on the practice of journalism, if not the idea'.

He said he had 'had a really good time' in his career and 'been paid really well' but had 'made a habit of joining industries 20 years late'.

The Today programme has suffered from falling listener numbers in recent years, with 5.4million tuning in as of October, a decline of 363,000 on the third quarter of 2024.

The former Independent editor, pictured with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for his series Amol Rajan Interviews, will leave Radio 4's Today programme in September

Mr Rajan said he 'felt awkward complaining' about his time on the programme, but revealed he tended to present the bulletin, which airs from 6am to 9am on weekdays and from 7am on Saturdays, 'having not really been to bed'.

The broadcaster said it was the reality of having a young family and stressed it was 'still a privilege' to be part of the rotating presenter lineup, which also includes Americast's Justin Webb, former BBC political editor Nick Robinson, previous Woman's Hour host Emma Barnett and ex-News at One anchor Anna Foster.

Mr Rajan said he had taken 'four or five hundred' painkillers in recent years, partly because of his lack of sleep.

Last year, before an interview with a member of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), he said he took two codeine to deal with a headache.

'I was interviewing a member of the IDF - he's on the front foot, this chap, in defence of Israel's actions in Gaza,' Mr Rajan said.

'I remember, he was in the 8.10am slot, which is the premier slot, and 25 minutes before I felt like I had a woodpecker in my head and I took two codeine, that's sub-optimal.

'And I've probably taken four or five hundred painkillers over the last few years. I want to get away from that and I want to be fit and healthy and I want to sleep.'
Catriona Rowntree has shared the devastating news that her older sister, Lucinda, passed away on Friday morning following a long battle with cancer.

The Getaway host, 54, revealed in April 2023 that her sister had been diagnosed with stage four cancer that was 'apparently incurable'.

'I am heartbroken to share that my beautiful, big sister Lucinda, passed away today,' Ms Rowntree wrote on social media.

'Lucinda truly 'threw kindness around like confetti', everyone adored her.

'The apple of my parents' eyes, Lucinda went on to marry her first sweetheart, Johnno.

'Her health journey has seen our family experience so much kindness from others, thank you so very much, it's been treasured.

'I am just so sad to share that tonight, heaven has a new angel, our beautiful Lucinda.'

Lucinda, a mother of four, was forced to quit her job as a schoolteacher in Sydney's Upper North Shore after receiving the devastating diagnosis.

Catriona Rowntree has shared the devastating news that her older sister, Lucinda, passed away on Friday following a long battle with cancer

The Getaway host revealed in April 2023 that her sister (pictured) had been diagnosed with stage four cancer

Ms Rowntree paid tribute to Lucinda and her life with husband 'Jonno' and their four children

The Channel 9 presenter paid tribute to Lucinda and her life with husband 'Jonno'.

'They travelled the world together, Lucinda achieved her teachers degree, then settled down to focus on her one true love: her family of four children,' Ms Rowntree wrote.

'All agree (she is the) 'world's best Mum', Lucinda had a talent with children and even had a gift store named after her beloved daughter Daisy!

'Teaching has been her focus the last few years and equally all her students agree they've been blessed to have her in their lives.'

Ms Rowntree also praised the 'good people' at the charity Dreams2Live4, which makes dreams come true for people over the age of 17 who are living with terminal cancer.

Cancer Council 13 11 20

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
France's hard-right 'working class hero' Jordan Bardella has appeared to go public with an Italian princess girlfriend ahead of a potential presidential run next year.

The National Rally leader, 30, was pictured with Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, 22, in Corsica, in stage-managed images published by French magazine Paris Match.

The pair were shown strolling along a path on the Mediterranean island after the magazine said it had 'stumbled upon' them during a trip there.

The couple are reported to have first met at the Monaco Grand Prix last May, where Bardella attended with his father, a motor-racing enthusiast.

'Bardella posed for photos with the select few, whilst his gaze lingered on the beautiful princess sharing the VIP box,' Paris Match reported.

Born in 2003, Princess Maria Carolina is the elder daughter of Prince Carlo de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles, Duke of Castro.

The House of Bourbon des Deux-Siciles is a cadet branch of the Spanish royal family founded by Louis XIV's grandson Philip V of Spain.

The blonde aristocrat, who is fluent in six languages, attended Harvard and studied at the Istituto Marangoni in Italy, and moves in high circles.

Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies attends the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2025 red carpet during the Milan Fashion Week

Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), votes in the second round of the 2026 municipal elections in Vaucresson on March 22

In June 2024, she was photographed holding hands with Brigitte Macron at an event in Paris celebrating the 60th birthday of Stephane Bern, a French royalty watcher.

She was also invited to sit in the front rows near Francois Hollande, the former French president, and Trump at the ceremony marking the reopening of Notre-Dame in December 2024.

Donald Trump invited the princess and her family to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2018, and the family publicly congratulated their 'friend' on his re-election on Nov 6 2024.

In 2024, the princess told Tatler: 'I am still waiting for Prince Charming to come and serenade me with a guitar and a red rose. The position is still open, and I'm accepting applications.'

The relationship marks a striking contrast for Bardella, who was raised by his working-class mother on a housing estate in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis and has built his political brand on championing ordinary French voters.

His partner is the daughter of Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, and was brought up between Rome, Paris and Monte Carlo, part of a European royal lineage linked to the Bourbon-Two Sicilies dynasty.

The unlikely pairing has fuelled speculation in French media about how it could shape Bardella's public image as he positions himself for a possible Elysee bid.

Rumours had already been swirling after Bardella was seen with the duchess of Calabria and Palermo at high-profile events earlier this year, with images circulating in the French and Italian press in January.

Questioned afterwards, Bardella said: 'I do not wish for my private life to be discussed. It is my last bastion of freedom, and I intend to preserve it as much as possible,' before confessing to RTL that he was 'a happy man'.

Commentators were quick to interpret the latest pictures as a deft move by the social media-savvy politician to soften his image ahead of a likely bid for the presidency.

'It's one more step in building his image after a nationwide tour to promote his book,' said Philippe Moreau Chevrolet, a communications professor at Sciences Po.

'This is the beginning of a story that will be fed over time and will turn into a serial. Soon we'll be getting other covers about holidays and dinners in town,' he added.

Bardella was likely seeking to push 'a narrative that humanises him and reassures people about his ability to commit', he said.

'Will his voters buy into the fairy tale of the descendant of Italian immigrants who's dating a princess? Or will they say he's betraying us to join the jet set? We don't know.'

Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies attend the 'Bridgerton' Season 4 Paris World Premiere at Palais Brongniart on January 14, 2026

Left-wing lawmaker Alexis Corbiere decried what he called 'a new stage in the normalisation of the far right'.

Maria Carolina on her website presents herself as a model with humanitarian interests who was brought up between Monte Carlo, Paris and Rome.

She says she was home-schooled and speaks Italian, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.

Le Pen has since 2011 sought to distance what is now called the RN party from the legacy of her father who openly made antisemitic and racist statements. Bardella took over in 2022.

The RN became the biggest single party in parliament after Macron called snap polls in 2024, and it established a stronger footprint in local elections last month.

High-profile politicians have long turned to the pages of Paris Match.

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy gave the magazine an interview in 2007 before he was elected.

Francois Hollande also graced the front cover with his then partner journalist Valerie Trierweiler before he was elected in 2012.

A scandal erupted a few years later when another French glossy magazine said the president routinely hopped on a scooter to meet his mistress, actor Julie Gayet, whom he later married.

Macron and his wife Brigitte posed for Paris Match in 2016, before he was elected the following year.
Receives Highest Possible Scores in Eleven Criteria, Including Enrichment for Classification, Integrations, Innovation, and Roadmap; Announces Four New AI Security Capabilities at RSA Conference 2026

NEW YORK, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BigID, the leading platform for data security, AI governance, and privacy, today announced it has been named a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Sensitive Data Discovery And Classification Solutions, Q2 2026  an independent evaluation by Forrester Research of the ten most significant vendors in this market.

BigID was one of only three vendors placed in the Leaders category in the evaluation.

Highest Possible Scores in Eleven Criteria

BigID received the highest possible score  a 5 out of 5  across eleven evaluation criteria spanning current offering and strategy.

In the current offering category: cloud data source coverage, on-premises data source coverage, enrichment for classification, language support, tuning to improve accuracy, integrations, and secure-by-design commitments.

In the strategy category: innovation, roadmap, partner ecosystem, and adoption.

What the Independent Evaluation Found

The evaluation found that BigID's "impressive strengths in discovery across both cloud and on-premises data sources (including mainframe environments), blend of classification techniques and enrichment, superior tuning capabilities, and broad set of integrations enable the platform to cover numerous use cases  from compliance and information governance to AI security and governance."

Forrester also found BigID "engineered for performance and petabyte scale"  with "a solid vision of an autonomous governance engine" with "an excellent innovation strategy and well-defined roadmap of planned enhancements."

Forrester's take: "BigID is a compelling choice for multinationals, large organizations, and government entities with complex data environments and localization requirements."

Extending the Platform into the AI Era

The Forrester recognition coincides with BigID's announcement of four new capabilities at RSA Conference 2026, each extending the company's data security foundation into AI security and governance:

DLP Prism brings AI-powered, context-aware data loss prevention built on BigID's classification and enrichment layer. AskBigID GPT delivers natural language access to an organization's full data security posture. Agentic Access Governance provides visibility and control over what AI agents can access and act on across the enterprise data estate. Integrated Employee AI Governance addresses the growing challenge of sensitive data flowing through employee AI tool usage.

"Sensitive data discovery has always been the foundation of data security  but in the AI era, it's become the foundation of everything. AI agents don't respect policy boundaries they can't see." said DImitri Sirota, CEO and co-founder of BigID. "Our platform was built to make the invisible visible, at petabyte scale, across every environment an enterprise runs. Being recognized as a Leader  with the top score in current offering among all vendors evaluated  tells us we're building the right thing at exactly the right moment."

About BigID

BigID helps organizations connect the dots in data & AI: for security, governance, privacy, compliance, and AI data management. BigID enables customers to find, understand, manage, protect, and take action on high-risk & high-value data, wherever it lives. Customers use BigID to reduce their AI & data risk, automate security and privacy controls, achieve compliance, and understand their data throughout their entire data landscape: from the cloud, on-prem, and everywhere in between. BigID has been recognized for innovation as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer; named to the Forbes Cloud 100; the Inc 5000 for 4 consecutive years; the Deloitte 500 for 4 consecutive years; Market Leader in Data Security Posture Management (DSPM); and an RSA Innovation Sandbox winner.

Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester's objectivity here.

SOURCE BigID
Drivers in Ireland are panic buying petrol amid rising fuel prices and protests which have left petrol stations running dry.

Oil prices have surged enormously worldwide as Iran continues to choke shut the Strait of Hormuz and protesters have taken to the streets in Ireland to demand government intervention to lower fuel costs.

A litre of diesel in Ireland has risen to roughly 1.86 and around 1.66 for a litre of petrol and the army is on standby as demonstrators block roads, key fuel refineries and distribution hubs in an attempt to pressure the government into cutting excise duty and carbon tax.

Hauliers and agricultural contractors began a series of protests on Tuesday, which have grown from slow-moving convoys on motorways and restricted access to Dublin's busiest streets, to blockades of fuel depots that supply half the country.

Social media footage on Thursday showed gardai warning protesters they could be arrested if they did not peacefully disperse from an area near Rosslare Europort in County Wexford.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and Defence Minister Helen McEntee said the army 'remain on standby' to assist the police in clearing heavy vehicles from the blockades.

Protesters have restricted access to a major oil refinery in Whitegate, County Cork, as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, County Limerick.

It has raised concern over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.

Demonstrators in Ireland are blocking roads, key fuel refineries and distribution hubs in an attempt to pressure the government into cutting excise duty amd carbon tax. Pictured: Protesters blocking a motorway outside Dundalk

Drivers in Ireland are panic-buying petrol amid rising fuel prices and protests which have left petrol stations running dry

A leading industry representative warned that the number of forecourts running dry would get 'much, much worse'.

Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartland said 'panic buying has absolutely taken hold' and warned that 'real significant life-death problems are going to be caused' with fuel supplies to emergency service vehicles under threat.

Ireland's emergency planning group echoed the comments with 'serious concern', saying there may be an impacts on availability for some vital services, supply chains and public transport.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) said Ireland's overall fuel supplies remain 'robust and resilient' but said the obstruction of key routes from ports is threatening the provision of animal feed supplies, fertiliser and other vital materials, resulting in potential animal welfare issues and a threat to livelihoods in the agriculture sector.

Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) said the disruption is causing people to miss medical appointments and is impacting the provision of home care and critical care, such as dialysis and cancer treatment.

The HSE also warned that the blockades could disrupt the time-sensitive delivery of key medicines and medical devices.

Gardai say 'critical deliveries' left Rosslare Europort overnight after 'positive and constructive engagement with local protestors' during the fuel demonstrations.

Police posted on social media showing a number of trucks and lorries being escorted from the port by a car.

The force said it 'has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.'

Representatives of fuel protesters said they will join a meeting of farmers' groups with government on Friday afternoon.

Despite the protesters saying the demonstrations would be lifted once government met with them, spokesman James Geoghegan said they would continue.

Mr Geoghegan said they want the carbon tax on green diesel to be removed and the price of fuel to be capped.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Protests have grown from slow-moving convoys on motorways and restricted access to Dublin's busiest streets, to blockades of fuel depots that supply half the country

He said Fianna Fail TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend Leinster House on Friday, and that he, spokesman John Dallon and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.

Mr Connelly said he had not invited him to the meeting and that he instead had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is attending the meeting with government on Friday.

'It's not over yet for the simple reason we don't trust the government at this stage,' Mr Geoghegan said.

'We had several meetings yesterday, we had several meetings during the night, we had several meetings this morning. I got, I think, two hours sleep last night. And the word coming back from the ground is after the way Micheal Martin disrespected everyone, he is not to be trusted ever again.

'We have actually reduced the protest, we are allowing out more fuel today, we have lifted some of the blockades off the ports.'

A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port in County Limerick said they would open the port today for feed and for five loads of fuel for frontline workers and hospitals.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Neilus O'Connor said protesters had let chemicals needed by Uisce Eireann through their blockade on Thursday.

Asked if the protest would end if they had a meeting with Government, he said: 'We will wait until we see the results of that meeting, and then we'll decide where we go from there.'
A young woman who was born and raised in England has been denied re-entry to the UK over a recent change in immigration rules.

Natasha Cochrane De La Rosa, 26, holds a dual nationality and has previously been able to travel freely on her Spanish passport.

But on her return from her holiday in Amsterdam on Monday, she was not allowed to board her flight because she did not have the right paperwork to prove she was a British citizen - despite having a British birth certificate.

From February 25, a new immigration rule came into place whereby all dual nationals must use a valid British or Irish passport when entering England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

If travelling on a non-UK passport, dual-citizen travellers will need a Certificate of Entitlement and will not be eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or visa.

Unaware of the changes, Ms Cochrane De La Rosa has said she is now living through a 'nightmare' having been forced to fly to Spain where she is now battling the Home Office for re-entry.

She said that despite being born in north London, and then going to school, working and voting there, the Home Office has left her 'effectively stranded while trying to prove a citizenship status that I believed I had held all my life'.

'The UK is my home in every sense - and I feel overnight they have washed their hands of me,' the Client Success Manager told the Daily Mail.

Natasha Cochrane De La Rosa, 26, was born and raised in England but has been denied re-entry to the UK over a recent change in immigration rules

She is now living through a 'nightmare' having been forced to fly to Spain where she is now battling the Home Office for re-entry

'There is now a blurred and frightening line between what people are told their rights are, what the law appears to say, and how they are treated in practice.

'I feel abandoned by my own country. A system that can leave a British-born person stranded abroad, unable to return home without entering a maze of contradictory guidance and delays, is a system that deserves urgent scrutiny.'

Ms Cochrane De La Rosa added that she is at 'high risk' or losing her job because she is unable to return to the UK.

She added that there is a huge financial cost, living out of only a small bag from her girl's trip to the Netherlands to suffice for what could be up to six months of legal battles while stuck in Spain.

'I was also meant to start a medication when I got back from Amsterdam but now I'm trying to get that sent over but it's very expensive and takes forever because of the border delays with sending packages to the EU,' she added.

Ms Cochrane De La Rosa was forced to spend a 'terrifying' night alone in Amsterdam airport after she was confronted by immigration, who then organised a flight to Seville so she could stay with family in Spain.

'If I didn't have family in Spain, they would have left me effectively homeless in Amsterdam,' she said. 'Its absolutely despicable.'

She said that her 'family are beyond stressed out, they're scared, their terrified' and are frantically searching online for anything that can help her get home.

She said: 'I have a British birth certificate, payslips, HMRC documents, p45's, provisional British license, tax returns, bank statements - the list goes on - yet the authorities have decided that overnight this no longer is applicable.

'I have spoken to the embassy several times who can't help because I am not logged as a British citizen anymore.

'I have found myself shut out, displaced, and treated as though I do not belong to the country where I was born and have lived my whole life.

'What makes this especially disturbing is that the government's own published guidance says that someone born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000 will be a British citizen if, at the time of their birth, at least one parent was a British citizen - which is my own case.

'I was born in London in 1999. I was raised in the UK, went to school in the UK, built my life in the UK, and I have been paying taxes since my first job around 10 years ago.

'My father is British, my mother is an EU citizen, and most of my family life is in Britain, including my three younger sisters, parents, and wider family network.'

Ms Cochrane De La Rosa is one of 1.26million dual nationals currently living in the UK, according to the 2021 census.

She is also not the only person to have faced a similar issue returning to the UK after these new rules coming in to effect.

It was reported a 9-year-old boy was not allowed re-entry to the UK this month after he had gone on a holiday with his family to Italy.

David Toropu had been born and raised in Cardiff but authorities said there was no record of his UK residency since he was travelling on a Romanian passport, like his parents who have settled status to live in the UK.

Ms Cochrane De La Rosa said: 'I was completely unaware, no one I know knew about this rule change before.

'While I know I have a level of responsibility to be aware of entry and exit laws, there was very little to flag this to me beforehand - there was nothing on the airline website when booking tickets, I wasn't asked about it before boarding.

'And there will be many more dual nationals in the UK who have no idea that this could happen to them.'

She explained that one of her sisters was born in Spain who applied for settled status in 2021 and when Ms Cochrane De La Rosa had gone with her to do the same, she was told she did not need to apply because she would have natural citizenship thanks to being born in the UK.

'Its a paradox - before, I was too British to get the paperwork, and now I'm not British enough.

'It's criminal what they are doing, it's terrifying to feel like I don't belong where you have your roots.

'This system needs to be scrutinised - it is designed so poorly, and all comes down to whether a computer says no or not.

'I have lived and paid for this country my whole life and now don't hit a certain criteria, leaving me in some loophole without any help.'

After speaking with embassies and immigration lawyers she said her options are to wait three to six weeks as she tries to get an English passport which has a chance of being rejected on account of her parents being unmarried at her birth, per her legal advice.

The alternative is to apply for settlement, which takes three to six months, and still has a chance of being rejected on the basis of her parent's then-marital status, according to her lawyer.

Opting for an ETA, an electronic tourist visa for tourists, would equally be counterintuitive, as it suggests she therefore concedes to not being a British citizen.

Ms Cochrane De La Rosa had also applied for emergency travel documentation but this was denied on the basis her case did not meet the threshold requirements.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Since 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens need to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK.

'To prove citizenship and enter the UK legally, individuals can apply for a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement from abroad.

'Public information advising dual nationals to carry the correct documentation has been available since October 2024 and a substantive communications campaign about the introduction of ETA has been running since 2023.

'This requirement applies to all British citizens regardless of other nationality and is the same approach taken by other countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia.'
The Defence Secretary has admitted he would like more money from the Treasury to protect Britain as the country faces a new era of threats.

John Healey put pressure on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves the day after a sickening month-long Russian plot to sabotage British undersea cables was exposed.

In a demonstration of brazen contempt for British territorial waters, the Kremlin sent three submarines into the English Channel daring the UK respond militarily.

Vladimir Putins show of strength exposed the UKs chronic ship shortage as Britains only available destroyer HMS Dragon was in the Eastern Mediterranean.

While Healey insisted the government would spend more in future years, billions of pounds in additional funding are required today according to defence sources.

Speaking at the London Defence Conference this morning, Healey said: Would I like more resources? Yes, I would. Every Defence Secretary would. Those [resources] will increase.

Yesterday was an important reminder that while all eyes are on the conflict in the Middle East, the primary threat is rising Russian activity.

Yesterday we exposed a failed covert Russian operation. We know Russia operates with deniability, we have seen in the Baltics cables cut by suspect vessels. Yesterday we said to Putin we see you, we are exposing you and if there is any damage then you have not got that deniability.

Are we ready for conflict? Yes we are. I think what we set out yesterday demonstrates that. This was a month of operations involving 500 personnel, our pilots flew more than 450 hours, our frigates sailed 450 nautical miles and we combined with our allies, particularly Norway to call out Putins secret submarine operations.

I hope that is a reassurance to the public that we are not taking our eyes off Putin, or off the primary threat and that we have an Armed Forces displaying its capability to deter, track and to respond.

Royal Navy vessels HMS St Albans and HMS Somerset track the Russian vessel RFN Severomorsk on a separate operation as Defence Secretary John Healey admits UK was forced to respond to a pair of Russian spy submarines and an attack submarine invading the English Channel

But the Defence Secretary failed to provide a deadline for when the government will publish the long delayed Defence Investment Plan, a blueprint for spending on the military over the next ten years.

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is personally involved in efforts to complete the DIP but Healey was unable or unwilling to say when that will be.

The DIP was supposed to be published last year following the release of the Strategic Defence Review.

The Mail has exposed shortages in defence provisions as part of the its agenda setting Dont Leave Britain Defenceless campaign.

Not for the first time Healey blamed the hollowing out of the UKs armed forces by previous governments for the state of the services today.

He told the LDC he was dealing with issues that festered for 14 years of Conservative and Conservative-led coalition government. He told the audience when Labour left office in 2010 defence spending was higher than during the years of Tory administrations, that the army was bigger and that there were more ships.

He added: We will not fix these problems overnight but we are making a start. Under Labour there has been the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War and I hope that fives people the confidence and the certainty to make long term decisions.
A woman has claimed her church refused to baptise her because she was transgender.

Joann Carver, 73, joined the Lighthouse Church in Ely, Cambridgeshire, in April 2022 and asked to be baptised just over two years later.

But despite taking a pre-baptism 'alpha' course, Ms Carver - an actor who appeared in The Bill, Holby City and Doctors - was told in June 2025 that she could not take part when the other five participants were baptised.

A week later her partner, Hannah Davis, claimed a pastor told her Ms Carver could be baptised if she wore trousers and grew a beard.

Lighthouse Church did 'not recognise the characterisation of the pastoral conversation', a spokesperson told Metro.

The couple have since joined Renew Inclusive Church in Cambridge and Ms Carver was baptised on October 26.

She said the pastor told her she was living in sin with Ms Davis because she was a woman.

A church spokesperson said: 'As a Christian community we affirm the historic and biblical teaching that sex is biological and a good gift from God.'

Joann Carver said she was refused baptism at a Cambridgeshire church because she was transgender

Her partner Hannah Davis (right) was told Ms Carver would have to wear trousers and grow a beard in order to be baptised, she claimed

The pastor said he hadn't seen enough change in Ms Carver and when Ms Davis asked what would be required, she was told Ms Carver would have to wear trousers and grow a beard.

Ms Carver said: 'I had a tough life believing I was mad, and it was such a relief to come out.

'The Lighthouse Church do such a lot of great work. I just hoped they'd extend some of their generosity to me but they've left me feeling really, really hurt.

'I've barely been able to leave the house since they told Hannah I'd have to wear trousers and grow a beard.

'For over two years they made me feel welcome and within a week made me feel like dirt.'

She added: 'Lighthouse Church have made me feel inhuman and ashamed to be me.

'That was one of the lowest points of my life: I went home in floods of tears. I felt like I'd had a sledgehammer hurled at my head.'

Ms Carver said she knew from a very young age that she was female. She didn't enjoy boys' games and wanted to wear girls' clothing.

After coming out in spring 2017, she changed her name by deed poll in October that year.

She started hormone therapy a year later and had gender-affirming surgery in February 2022.

Ms Carver met Ms Davis, a member of the Lighthouse Church for 21 years, on the Pink Cupid app in December 2021.

'I was agnostic before my operation,' Ms Carver said.

'Hannah prayed for me throughout the procedure, and when I woke, I felt no pain, so I knew her prayers had been answered, and that's how I found God.'

Ms Carver said she became religious after her gender-affirming surgery in 2022

She has now joined a different church with Ms Davis and was baptised in October

After joining the church Ms Carver was asked to take the pre-baptism course and said she felt 'really hurt' when the other five participants were baptised at the end.

She put herself forward for baptism in June 2025, when the church asked for volunteers, and the head pastor asked her for a chat.

It was at this point the pastor raised concerns, she said.

After the refused baptism, the couple left the Lighthouse Church and joined the Renew Inclusive Church.

Ms Carver was baptised on October 26 and said it felt 'fabulous'.

'I'm still buzzing from it', she said.

The Daily Mail contacted the Lighthouse Church for comment.

A spokesperson previously said: 'In accordance with our calling as Christians and belief in biblical truth, Lighthouse Church welcomes all people and is committed to treating everyone with love, dignity, and respect as humans made in the image of God.

'We are aware of the concerns raised, but we do not recognise the characterisation of the pastoral conversation as described.

'Our leaders acted in good faith and with sincere pastoral intent throughout.'
A young mother was killed instantly after driving into the path of an HGV while checking her phone, an inquest has heard.

Chloe Lightfoot had been travelling home to Spennymoor in Durham on the morning of August 26 when her self-converted Citroen Berlingo campervan collided with a lorry on the A66.

The 33-year-old, who was mother to a young boy, had just finished a late shift at Britain's highest pub the Tan Hill Inn, where she slept after clocking off.

An inquest at Crook Coroners' Court heard the sales administrator and barmaid was over the drink-drive limit with traces of cocaine in her system when she pulled out at the junction with Rutherford Lane just after 8am.

But phone records also showed she had unlocked her device at the exact time of the crash - with investigators concluding this caused her to not spot the oncoming truck.

Speaking after the inquest, My Lightfoot's mother, Karen Hodgson, said: 'If one person might read this and think twice before using their phone or driving after doing drink or drugs the night before then I think that is an important message.'

The inquest heard the lorry struck her van, shunting it into the road and then onto a grass verge. Ms Lightfoot suffered fatal head and chest injuries.

The HGV driver Jonathan Robinson said in a statement that he was 'in shock' in the immediate aftermath of the collision.

Karen Hodgson said: 'Chloe loved life, she loved going to the Lake District. She was spontaneous, she was always on the go'

Ms Lightfoot was on her way home from the Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub, where she had slept after clocking off

He added: 'I sat in shock in my vehicle, I took out my phone to call emergency services, once connected I realised I had not been to check on the occupant of the van, so I hung up got out of my vehicle and made my way across.

'As I got to the vehicle, I could see the driver was a female, she was sitting in the driver's seat. I screamed, there were members of the public running up to come and help and I kept saying "I think she's dead".'

He added the time between spotting the vehicle to the crash 'seemed to be an instant.'

Another HGV driver at the scene, Mark Wilson, said: 'I believe there was not anything he could have done to prevent the collision.'

Assistant Coroner Leslie Hamilton concluded Ms Lightfoot's death was caused by a road traffic collision, contributed to by cocaine, alcohol, and phone use.

He added: 'She pulled onto the A66, realised as she entered that an HGV was coming, braked but was too late and the car had gone into the path of the HGV, due to her being impaired by the presence of cocaine, alcohol and her phone use.'

Ms Hodgson paid tribute to her daughter - who leaves behind son Jax, eight, - and thanked members of the local community for raising 26,000 to support Jax in her memory.

She said: 'Chloe loved life, she loved going to the Lake District.

Ms Lightfoot's friend Simone Goodchild said: 'Chloe was my best friend, she lit up every room she walked in, not just because of how beautiful she was but because her personality was so bubbly and witty.' The pair are pictured here together

'She was spontaneous, she was always on the go.

'She loved spending time with Jax, whether that was going to the Lakes. She had converted her van into a camper van, and they used to go to the Lakes nearly every weekend in the summer she could with him.

'She would get up really early in the morning to take Jax to see the sunrise, to the beach.

'She was a devoted mam but obviously struggled with finances and had to do two jobs, but she would do anything for her family.

'The money that was donated for Jax is now all safe and in a savings account for him. We just really want to thank anyone who had donated, and the Tan Hill Inn who doubled the earnings which made it reach over 26,000.'

The GoFundMe page was set up by Ms Lightfoot's friend Simone Goodchild.

She said: 'Chloe was my best friend, she lit up every room she walked in, not just because of how beautiful she was but because her personality was so bubbly and witty.

'She brought energy into every room, and she was just very funny. Everyone who met her instantly loved her.

'She is going to be missed very much. She was the person I would go to if I had a hard time, and she always made it better.'
A husband who drove his wife to jump to her death from a motorway bridge was caught on CCTV screaming abuse and trying to run her over in her tragic final hours.

Lee Milne, 40, was convicted of the culpable homicide of Kimberly Milne, 28, who died after being struck by multiple vehicles on the A90 in Dundee on July 27, 2023.

She had been subjected to 18 months of abuse at the hands of Milne, who was today jailed for eight years at Glasgow High Court.

Harrowing CCTV footage from the final hours of Kimberly's life captured Milne's aggressive behaviour directly before her suicide.

She was seen cowering from Milne while he shouted at her, clutching her head in pain and walking away as he drove his vehicle at her.

Kimberly resorted to hiding behind a wall to escape him and was seen trailing slowly behind Milne as he continued berating her in the moments before her death.

As the pair exited a supermarket, Kimberly could be seen holding her hand to the side of her head in pain while Milne screamed and gesticulated at her.

Other footage showed him driving directly at her and skidding past at speed, with only inches to spare.

They were later seen walking onto a flyover bridge, where Kimberly climbed the barrier of the overpass and jumped to her death.

Today Judge Lady Drummond handed down an 11-year sentence, which includes a three-year extended licence upon Milne's release.

Lee Milne, 40, was convicted of the culpable homicide of Kimberly Milne, 28, who died after being struck by multiple vehicles on the A90 in Dundee on July 27, 2023

Lee Milne, 40, was sentenced to eight years in prison today over his wife's death and various domestic abuse offences he had committed against her

Milne was captured on CCTV footage appearing to berate his wife shortly before her death at a Dundee supermarket

CCTV footage showed Kimberly exiting Milne's car in the hours before her death, before he would drive at her and skid pass with just inches to spare

In a victim impact statement, her family described Kimberly as 'a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt', and added they are 'devastated by her death'.

Members of Kimberly's family were in court for sentencing, as the judge said: 'Nothing I can do or say can bring her back or ease their grief.'

She said that by July 27, Milne had split up with his wife and she was 'having difficulties that day'.

Lady Drummond continued: 'Your response to her that day - driving erratically and at speed whilst she was in the car with you, shouting at her and throwing an item at her, acting aggressively and intimidating her - was further abuse carried out by you at a time when she was in a fragile state.'

The judge continued: '(She) reached a point of despair such that she climbed over the barrier of a road bridge and fell to her death.

'By the jury's verdict, you must bear responsibility not only for all of your abusive acts, but for causing her death.'

It is understood to be the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland.

A message sent by Kimberly to her sister suggested she had previously wanted to leave Milne, but he had threatened to harm himself if she did so.

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'How can I leave him if he's saying he's gonna do himself in without me?' she asked.

Her mother, Lynne Bruce, 54, gave a statement to police describing how Milne turned up at her home the morning after Kimberly's death and told her that her daughter was gone.

'I was woken up by Lee at my door. When I answered he said something along the lines of Kim has gone,' she said.

A witness told the court she had seen a man and a woman appearing to have an argument shortly before Kimberly's death.

She later saw the same couple outside a flooring store at the Kingsway Retail Park in Dundee, and described how the man was 'trapping' the woman against the wall.

At trial, Milne was also found guilty of a number of domestic abuse offences committed against his wife between January 2022 and July 2023.

These included physically and verbally abusing her, coercion, attempting to cut off her contact with friends and family, and controlling her finances.

On one occasion in November 2022, Milne got angry when she asked to be taken home and struck her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a wall, knocking her unconscious.

In May 2023, Milne seized her by the throat when she asked to be taken home, choked her and shouted at her, causing her to run to another room and barricade herself in with a table.

After forcing his way into the room he repeatedly punched and bit her, and threatened to hit her with a mirror that he then threw against a wall.

Kimberly was seen trailing behind Milne while he berated and gesticulated at her in the hours before her death

At trial, Milne was also found guilty of a number of domestic abuse offences committed against Kimberly between January 2022 and July 2023

Following his conviction, Nicole Ballingham, women's service manager at Dundee Women's Aid, who attended the sentencing in support of Kimberly's family, said the charity would have wanted a longer sentence for Milne.

'I'm so happy that he's been convicted of this crime and that he's been held accountable,' she said.

'We would have loved a longer sentence, of course, but happy with the outcome and justice for the family.'

She also praised the judge's recognition of the impact of domestic abuse: 'It's amazing to hear the recognition of the impact of domestic abuse and what it actually looks like, that coercive control, that abusive behaviour, that plays out over a long period of time and the impacts it can have.

'And to hear that being said in a court is crucial for raising awareness, understanding and making domestic abuse be taken seriously.'

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Kelly, of Police Scotland, said: 'Our thoughts are with Kimberly's family and friends following this verdict. They have dealt with her tragic loss with great dignity and hopefully this outcome will provide a degree of closure.

'This was an extremely complex investigation and involved very close work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to ensure that Lee Milne has been held accountable for causing the death of Kimberly.

'Our investigation found that his behaviour in the time leading up to Kimberly's death was truly shocking and placed his partner in such fear that she took a course of action to get away from him which led to her death.

'She was very clearly terrified of him on that night. It is a tragedy that she lost her life as a consequence.

'Our investigation also uncovered a series of domestic offences against Kimberly over an extended period of time, exposing him as a cruel, manipulative and violent man.

'Our officers are determined to ensure women and girls live free from violence and abuse. We are relentless in our focus on tackling domestic abuse. It will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable.'

Prosecutor Laura Buchan, Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Legal Director, said: 'This prosecution sought to answer a complex question  can a partner be held criminally responsible for the death of a victim who has taken their own life following a course of domestic abuse?

'Lee Milne physically and psychologically abused Kimberly Bruce and our evidence showed that this abuse was a significant contributing factor in her death.

'He deliberately and ruthlessly exploited Kimberly's vulnerabilities which makes him culpable for her decision to end her own life.

'His coercive and controlling behaviour escalated throughout the relationship. On the night that Kimberly died, his abuse was carried out in full public view.

'Our prosecution demonstrated how women can become trapped in relationships in webs created by an abuser.

'Today we are thinking of the family and friends of Kimberly who have suffered such a terrible loss and unimaginable trauma.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
An overworked property manager has won almost 400,000 after he racked up a staggering 827 unpaid holiday days over 25 years.

Mohamed Agelis requests for holiday were repeatedly refused due to pressure of work, a tribunal heard, so he agreed to be paid them instead.

The tribunal was provided with memos detailing requests between 1988 and 2002 which showed that in some years Mr Ageli took no holiday at all, while in others he took only a fraction of his entitlement.

A judge heard that after 25 years of work, he was owed an eye-watering 392,000 to cover a total of 827 days of unpaid holiday.

In what an employment tribunal judge described as an unusual case, Mr Ageli -  whose full name is Mohamed Moassadek Ageli and goes by the name Moss - also won 105,000 in compensation.

Watford Employment Tribunal heard Mr Ageli, 74, joined the Libyan-owned real estate management firm Sabtina Limited in 1987, initially as deputy managing director but then as commercial manager.

He worked in the company's offices in London and Milton Keynes.

Mr Ageli - whose full name is Mohammed Mossadek Ageli - originally started with 30 days of holiday a year.

Mohamed Ageli, who is a karate 'sensei', or instructor, realised that he would not be able to take holiday with the company and so it was agreed he would get paid for them instead

A tribunal heard it was agreed Mr Ageli would not need to take the unpaid holiday entitlement each year as it would roll over

Between 1987 and 1989 Mr Ageli took no holiday days because only himself and his PA were full-time employees and they needed to be working constantly for the company to function.

Between 1988 and 1996 he had 200 holiday days refused by the directors.

His holiday entitlement was raised from 30 to 45 days a year in 1996.

In 1998 Mr Ageli, who is a karate 'sensei', or instructor, realised that he would not be able to take holiday with the company and so they came to an arrangement to get paid for them instead.

He told the tribunal: "When it almost became the norm that holidays were difficult to have, I wrote to the non-resident managing director of (Sabtina), who was also the managing director of the parent company in Libya.

"I requested that, as and when required, I receive payment in lieu of unutilised holidays because of the circumstances of the company. The managing director agreed and signed the document.

"After years of doing this, it was agreed that there was no need to send any future paperwork for approval or denial and I simply kept a record of my holiday entitlement."

He described how he had got permission for the agreement with the company's owners and did not go behind their back to secure the payments even though it was in his power to do so.

He said: "(Sabtina) does not have a pension scheme for the employees, and both myself and my PA were saving the holidays we could not have for when needed or at retirement."

In both 2001 and 2004 he was paid 15,000 in lieu of holiday, showing that the agreement was indeed in place, but it was agreed that he would not need to take the money each year as it would roll over.

This agreement was in place for decades, with Mr Ageli giving up holiday in return for extra pay, but in May 2022 the board of directors was replaced.

These new directors demanded documentation from the manager and began slowly removing duties from him until he had no role at the company despite being an employee there.

In March 2024 he received an email telling him he was being fired for gross misconduct, with the director claiming he had talked to Mr Ageli about his conduct before but it had not been improved.

Mr Ageli, who earned 123,000 per year, immediately replied saying that this simply was not true and that he had not even been allowed to appeal against the decision, which he said was made with no justification.

He was also informed that he would not be paid for the 827 unpaid holiday days he had accrued since 1998 - which totalled 392,000.

The decision to dismiss him was upheld and Mr Ageli took Sabtina to an employment tribunal, where Employment Judge George Alliott agreed he had been mistreated by having his holiday pay withheld.

The tribunal ordered the company to pay the full amount of holiday pay owed as well as a total compensation from unfair dismissal for 91,490 and a basic award of 14,070.

The judge found that it was agreed between Mr Ageli and Sabtina that, with effect from the start of his employment, any unused holiday would be recorded and any unused entitlement would roll forward each year.

He added: I find that it was agreed between (Mr Ageli) and (Sabtina) that he would be paid for his holiday as and when needed or at the end of his employment.

"I find that (Sabtina) did not have a genuine belief that (Mr Ageli) had committed gross misconduct.

He said the company did not conduct a reasonable investigation or have reasonable grounds to conclude that Mr Ageli had committed gross misconduct.

"I find this because (Sabtina) was unwilling or unable to provide (Mr Ageli) with reasons for his dismissal shortly after he, in effect, asked for them, the judge added.

He said the dismissal was clearly procedurally unfair.

Sabtina Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Libyan Foreign Investment Company (LAFICO) which in turn is a subsidiary of the Libyan Investment Authority.

Mr Ageli, who instructs in full contact karate, met wife Anisa whilst he was at college in Hastings, East Sussex.

Mrs Ageli, 71, told the Mail her husband had been a 'very hard worker' but the firm's refusal to grant holiday requests resulted in the couple having to take separate breaks.

She added: 'I would have to go away on holiday with the children but without him.

'He was treated badly after working like that for them.'
A 12 year-old boy has died after being sucked into a jacuzzi filter at a hotel in Italy over Easter weekend.

The tragic incident occurred in the spa of the Duca di Montefeltro Hotel in Pennabilli, near Rimini.

Matteo Brandimarti was on holiday with his family when they decided to unwind at the hotel's relaxing facilities on Easter Sunday.

At around 10.30am, the boy became trapped in the hot tub with his leg sucked into the nozzle while the hydromassage function was active.

Matteo was trapped underwater for almost five minutes before being rescued by hotel staff who managed to turn off the main power supply and the jacuzzi pump.

Emergency services rushed to the scene where the child was found in serious condition and began performing CPR.

They managed to get his heart beating again, and subsequently called an emergency helicopter to transport him to hospital.

The 12-year-old was placed on life support equipment, but on April 9 he was tragically declared brain dead.

Matteo Brandimarti pictured with his father before the tragic incident

Pictured: The spa of the Duca di Montefeltro Hotel in Pennabilli, near Rimini

Investigators have said that Matteo remained underwater for long enough to cause cardiac arrest and severe brain damage due to hypoxia.

His life support equipment will now be switched off, according to local media.

The family's lawyer, Umberto Gramenzi, has said consent has been given by the boy's parents Maurizio and Nicoletta for organ donation.

It is possible that an autopsy will be performed on the boy's body for further understanding on his cause of death, according to local reports.

The Prosecutor's Office has now launched an investigation into involuntary manslaughter, currently without suspects.

The facility's pool and the surrounding area have been closed off for the past four days, and the investigation will continue.

Spresal, the workplace safety and prevention service provided by the Local Health Authority, has submitted a report on the condition of the hot tub system.

They are looking for irregularities in the design of the nozzles and vents, particularly the presence of the grilles protecting the devices.

After the tragedy, Matteo's father posted a photo of his son on Facebook where dozens of people flooded the comment section to express their condolences.

'Beautiful sweet soul ...may God hold you in his arms and always protect your parents,' one person wrote, while another added: 'So much pain is unjust.'
BAFTA has apologised 'unreservedly' after a racial slur was broadcast during this year's live awards show, as a review finds 'weaknesses' in plans for the event.

Tourette's sufferer John Davidson made headlines around the world when he involuntarily shouted the N-word at the film and TV ceremony in February.

Black actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, who starred in 2025 horror film Sinners, were onstage at the time to present the award for special visual effects.

The outburst was accidentally triggered by Mr Davidson's neurological condition, which causes him to sometimes shout expletives or offensive language.

BAFTA's board of trustees has now apologised to both the black and disabled communities over the incident.

The academy explained, in a statement released on Friday, the moment had led to 'unfair judgement' for the latter group.

The organisation said it had since commissioned an independent review, which found 'a number of structural weaknesses' in its preparations for the show.

The report, by consultancy firm RISE Associates, examined 'what happened and what must change'.

Tourette's sufferer John Davidson (pictured) made headlines around the world when he involuntarily shouted the N-word at the film and TV ceremony in February

Black actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo (pictured), who starred in 2025 horror film Sinners, were onstage at the time to present the award for special visual effects

It found flaws in the academy's 'planning, escalation procedures and crisis coordiantion arrangements'.

But the trustees added: 'It did not find evidence of malicious intent on the part of those involved in delivering the event. We accept its conclusions in full.'

They continued: 'We apologise unreservedly to the Black community, for whom the racist language used carries real pain, brutality, and trauma; to the disability community, including people with Tourette Syndrome, for whom this incident has led to unfair judgement, stigma, and distress; and to all our members, guests at the ceremony and those watching at home.

'What was supposed to be a moment of celebration was diminished and overshadowed. We have written to those directly impacted on the night to apologise.

'The review is clear that while this was not a failure of intent, BAFTA's planning and processes have not kept pace with its diversity and inclusion goals.

'We did not adequately anticipate or fully prepare for the impact of such an incident in a live event environment and as a result our duty of care to everyone at the ceremony and watching at home fell short.'

Disability campaigner Mr Davidson was present at the ceremony after biopic film I Swear, which documents his life, was nominated for several awards.

The BBC, which broadcast the event, was forced to apologise for failing to edit out his involuntary outburst.

It was audible on the version of the show streamed to on-demand service iPlayer for around 12 hours, after which it was removed from the programme.

An investigation by the broadcaster has since found it breached its editorial standards - and apologies have now been sent to both actors onstage and Mr Davidson.

The statement by BAFTA continued: 'Work is already underway to address the specific areas of improvement recommended in the review to reduce the risk of this happening again, namely around accessibility and inclusion planning, culture, and event communication and command structure.

'First, we are improving escalation processes and the chain of information sharing around our Awards ceremonies.

'Second, we are strengthening how we plan for and deliver access, inclusion and support at our events to adopt a broader intersectional approach so that the needs and experiences of all are properly considered in advance.

'Third, we are addressing any internal cultural gaps or lack of knowledge that may prevent BAFTA from meeting its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion across all our work.

'This work continues as a priority with the Executive Team reporting regularly on progress against all actions to the Board of Trustees.

'We are determined to learn from what happened, and to ensure inclusion and belonging for all is meaningful in practice as well as in principle.'

It comes after Mr Davidson spoke out against the BBC's failure to send their written apology to him directly, which was instead sent to him via a third party.

He told the Daily Record: 'The stress and upset I have had to endure has been shocking.

'I have only had a written apology passed on to me by a third party. That says it all really, does it not?'

Mr Davidson said the BBC failed to grasp the full human impact of decisions it made in its broadcast of the ceremony.

The BBC said it did not have contact details for the campaigner, who appeared in a documentary for the broadcaster in 1989.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'The BBC was keen to get our apology to Mr Davidson as quickly as possible following the BAFTAs.'

'Unfortunately, we did not have contact details for Mr Davidson, so we asked a mutual contact to pass our letter on.'

Mr Davidson previously said he had been sat with a microphone 'right in front of me' and that the BBC should have 'worked harder to prevent anything that I said'.

The corporation's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) said the inclusion of his accidental outburst 'was highly offensive' and had 'no editorial justification'.

But the ECU added the breach was 'unintentional'.

The review came after the broadcaster's outgoing director-general Tim Davie ordered a fast-tracked investigation, calling the moment a 'serious mistake'.

The BBC previously apologised to staff for failing to edit out the word.

But the Culture, Media and Sport committee wrote to Mr Davie 'seeking an explanation' for why the slur was in the broadcast.

They questioned how it had ended up in the edit 'in spite of a two-hour time delay' between the live event and its streaming to iPlayer.

In a response letter to committee 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.

Disability campaigner Mr Davidson was present at the ceremony after biopic film I Swear (pictured), which documents his life, was nominated for several awards

It found editorial standards were unintentionally breached by broadcasting the offensive term and 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.

The ECU described this delay as a 'serious mistake'.

'There was a lack of clarity among the team as to whether the N-word was audible on the recording,' the unit's report said.

'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 it accepted members of the production team monitoring the event in the outside broadcast vehicle 'did not hear or recognise the N-word'.

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 ten 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.'

The BBC was previously contacted for comment.

Mr Davidson said he ticked ten 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.

In the aftermath of the ceremony, Mr Davidson said he believed the BBC would have physically controlled the sound at the event.

He said: '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.'

Mr Davidson is Britain's most high-profile sufferer of Tourette's syndrome.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE by the late Queen for his campaign work in trying to raise better awareness and understanding of the condition.

He famously shouted out 'f*** the Queen' at the ceremony, which inspires the opening scene of the biopic about his life.

I Swear follows his life from the moment he first started suffering from Tourette's - soon after starting secondary school.

John's parents, David and Heather, played by Stephen Cree and Shirley Henderson, are both shown as struggling to cope with his worsening condition.

Mr Davidson has suggested the reason his parents split in the 1980s is because of the stress of dealing with his erratic behaviour.

His condition would see him swear, spit food and tic uncontrollably at the dinner table.

Writing in his memoir I Swear, My Life with Tourette's, on which the film is based, he wrote movingly about his childhood before his symptoms started, which he called the best years of his life.

At age 16, when little was known about Tourette's, he was the star of the 1989 groundbreaking BBC documentary John's Not Mad.

He was shown spitting fish and chips at his mother at home, while his father was seen finding it difficult to stay at the dinner table alongside him.

Mr Davidson has appeared in several follow-up documentaries throughout his life, becoming a 'nationally known ambassador for the Tourette's condition'.

He gives talks and puts on workshops for school pupils and teachers, and has organised an annual two-day residential Tourette camp for young people.

Campaigners emphasise 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 BAFTA ceremony - best leading actor and rising star for actor Robert Aramayo, who plays Mr Davidson, and best casting.
Americans are split over whether the US should quit NATO after allies refused to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll of 1,000 registered voters finds.

President Trump has ripped into NATO allies for doing 'nothing' to help secure Hormuz during his war on Iran - and has threatened to pull the US out of the alliance.

But voters are torn on whether the President should make good on his threat.

While 33 percent of all respondents say they would support leaving the alliance over the NATO-Strait standoff, 33 percent remain opposed to a withdrawal.

However, the data reveal a partisan divide: a clear majority of 57 percent of Republicans back the idea of pulling out of NATO if allies continue to withhold military aid in the Persian Gulf.

The 'Hormuz fury' has also sparked a debate over how to handle the economic fallout of the blockade. Four-in-ten (41 percent) of US voters see the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with fees for ships as a bad outcome overall.

The margin of error for the poll is 3.1 percent.

Trump's own approval rating has dropped three points, according to the Daily Mail survey, as voters remain wary of the war. Trump's approval rating stands at 43 percent, a slide from the last survey in late March.

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Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from the United Arab Emirates. According to a Daily Mail/JL Partners flash poll of over 1,000 registered voters, the nation is split on whether the US should withdraw from NATO following the refusal of other member states to contribute military support for reopening the Strait of Hormuz

The two leaders met after Trump ripped into NATO allies for doing 'nothing' to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid his war on Iran - and has threatened to pull the US out of the alliance

Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in October of last year

Rutte is greeted as he walks into the White House, as seen through a fence. Rutte said on Thursday that member countries are doing everything US President Donald Trump had requested to strengthen the military alliance, even if some were initially 'a bit slow' to provide support to the United States amid its war with Iran

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During a high-stakes encounter hours after a closed-door meeting with the President, the Daily Mail cornered NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte with several inquiries.

Rutte was asked Thursday by the Daily Mail whether he truly believes Trump will maintain America's commitment to NATO - and if he still views the President as 'Daddy'?

Through laughter, the politician tried to explain what he meant by 'Daddy'  saying it was a 'language problem' on his end.

'It follows me a little bit, I can assure you,' Rutte explained further, saying it weighed on him. 'You make mistakes, and this is when you are not a native speaker  sorry for that.'

Rutte said on Thursday that member countries are doing everything Trump had requested to strengthen the military alliance, even if some were initially 'a bit slow' to provide support to the US amid its war with Iran.

'Some allies were a bit slow, to say the least,' Rutte said. 'In fairness, they were also a bit surprised.'

A primary driver of Trump's low approval rating is his handling of the Middle East, particularly the war with Iran, the registered voters said

NATO leaders held. a two-day summit on June 24 and 25 in The Hague. According to a Daily Mail/JL Partners flash poll of over 1,000 registered voters, the nation is split on whether the US should withdraw from NATO following the refusal of other member states to contribute military support for reopening the Strait of Hormuz

A view of the vessels passing through Strait of Hormuz following the two-week temporary ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran on the condition that the strait be reopened

Rutte described a 'mindset shift' in Europe which he claimed was evidenced by the UK leading a coalition of countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump told Rutte that words from NATO allies are no longer enough - he wants action.

Writing on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said: 'None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!'

During his speech, Rutte heaped praise on Trump as he admitted Europe must step up its spending on the alliance.

He said: 'We must applaud Trump for his bold leadership and vision'.

France, Spain and other nations, however, agreed to help with an international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict ends.

Trump's frustration with NATO has been building. It deepened after Germany, France, the UK, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Finland deployed troops to Greenland in a show of solidarity against his attempts to acquire the territory.

NATO chief Rutte acknowledged the alliance is in 'a period of profound change' with no return to the status quo, while pledging that Europe would no longer be 'unhealthily reliant' on the US - and that America would have allies 'capable and ready, willing and able to defend' NATO's security.

But the bloc faces a stark reality: meet Trump's demands, or risk losing American backing in the future.
SCA-Certified Juni Brings Precision Engineering to the Pour-Over Coffee Experience, Debuting at World of Coffee 2026

SAN DIEGO, Calif., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cosori, the kitchen appliance brand known for precision-engineered products, today announced Juni, its first automatic pour-over coffee machine. Juni makes its debut at the World of Coffee Show (April 1012), marking the brand's entry into the specialty coffee category. World of Coffee attendees can visit Cosori at booth 738 for a live product demo.

Cosori Enters Specialty Coffee Space with Juni, Its First Automatic Pour-Over System

Juni automates the pour-over process through a precision brewing system that recreates the technique of a skilled barista  without the manual effort. The result is specialty-grade, on-demand pour-over, from a single cup to a full carafe.

SCA Certification & Quality Standards

Juni is a Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Certified Home Brewer, meeting rigorous standards for brew temperature, water volume, and extraction quality, including the Golden Cup Standard for optimal extraction yield.

Precision Engineering, Applied to Coffee

Juni is built on Cosori's decade-long foundation in kitchen appliance innovation. The brand's signature approach  translating complex culinary technique into reliable, repeatable performance  extends naturally into specialty coffee, one of the most precision-dependent categories in the kitchen.

Availability

Preorder information is available at Cosori.com. Additional availability details will be announced ahead of the product's launch later this year.

The press kit with images can be found HERE.

About Cosori

Launched in 2016, Cosori offers award-winning kitchen products with advanced smart technology. As long-time leaders in precision engineered products including air fryers, food dehydrators and more, Cosori has become a trusted and reliable option for families and individuals that want the best culinary products for their home. As part of the VeSync family of brands, Cosori has received global recognition for its award-winning, innovative designs, and has garnered millions of satisfied customers worldwide. Awards include Red Dot Design Award 2025, Newsweek America's Best Home and Garden Brands 2022, Future Innovation Homes & Gardens Innovation Award 2024, iF Design Award, German Innovation Award, and more. To learn more, visit Cosori.com.

SOURCE Cosori
The world stands at a terrifying crossroads as American and Iranian officials prepare to sit across from one another for the highestlevel direct negotiations between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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In a dramatic, lastditch effort to prevent the unraveling of a ceasefire hanging by a thread, Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling to Islamabad to face off against Tehran's battlehardened negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, is an infamous butcher known as the 'rooftop killer' who hurled students from the tops of buildings during protests in the late 1990s.

To many, the very presence of Vance to lead talks  rather than a traditional diplomat is a significant concession to this brutal leadership.

Noticeably missing from the diplomatic mission? The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

Jonathan Wachtel, global affairs analyst and former senior policy adviser at the US mission to the UN, called sending Vance 'a strategic error.'

'Elevating the talks to the vice presidential level raises the stakes unnecessarily and, worse, rewards this murderous regime's attempt to dictate who sits across the table. You never allow an adversary to choose your negotiating team.'

A White House official pushed back against reports that the Iranians requested Vance to lead the American team, calling it a 'clearly coordinated propaganda campaign.'

'It's utterly false and peddled to attempt to quash negotiations,' the official said. 'President Trump asked Vice President Vance to lead the negotiations.'

The world stands at a terrifying crossroads as American and Iranian officials, including JD Vance, prepare to sit across from one another for the highestlevel direct negotiations between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution

Qalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, is an infamous butcher known as the 'rooftop killer' who hurled students from the tops of buildings during protests in the late 1990s, ordered the shooting of demonstrators and bragged of beating others with batons

The Vice President boards Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan for talks on Iran

President Trump said Friday that Vance 'has nothing to prove.'

Despite Vance's longstanding skepticism of foreign intervention and initial doubts about targeting Iran, he has spent weeks quietly maneuvering to secure a permanent diplomatic agreement, according to two sources familiar with plans.

The push for a resolution comes at a crucial political juncture for the Vice President.

A Daily Mail/JL Partners poll of 1,000 registered voters this week found that Vance's approval rating has remained buoyant and has not been impacted by the recent conflict in the Middle East.

He retains a solid foundation, where nearly 50 percent of voters say they approve of the job he is doing. However, the poll also highlighted a 'readiness gap': 39 percent of Americans believe he is ready to serve as CommanderinChief, while 48 percent say he is not yet prepared.

After six weeks of devastating aerial exchanges that have seen Iranian infrastructure decimated and global energy prices skyrocket, the two old enemies are attempting to turn a precarious 14day 'pause' into a lasting peace.

This will be the ultimate test for the antiwar Vance, who said on Friday on his way to Pakistan that the President has some 'pretty clear guidelines' but thinks 'it's going to be positive.'

'If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith and extend an open hand, that's one thing If they're going to try to play us, they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,' Vance said.

But former US diplomat Brett Bruen warns that the Trump administration's past performance casts a long shadow over these talks.

'Details have not proven to be a strong suit for Team Trump. They brushed past them with most of their purported 'peace agreements' that were struck,' Bruen says. 'Yet, now engaged in their own war, they really matter.'

The very foundation of the peace summit is already crumbling under the weight of shattering contradictions.

At the White House briefing this week, press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained the latest: a tenpoint counterproposal that Iran sent to Trump earlier in the week was rejected and redone to match the White House's earlier 15point proposal, adding that they were given signs that they would turn over their enriched uranium.

At the White House briefing this week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained the latest: a 10point counterproposal that Iran sent to Trump earlier in the week was rejected and redone to match the White House's earlier 15point proposal, adding that they were given signs that they would turn over their enriched uranium

Despite his longstanding skepticism of foreign intervention and initial doubts about targeting Iran, Vance has spent weeks quietly maneuvering to secure a permanent diplomatic agreement, according to two sources familiar with plans

This will be the ultimate test for the antiwar Vance, who said on Friday on his way to Pakistan that the President has some 'pretty clear guidelines' but said he thinks 'it's going to be positive'

A cloud of uncertainty hung April 10 over the scheduled start of talks in Pakistan between the United States and Iran, with no announcement yet on the arrival of negotiators and both sides accusing the other of failing to properly implement a fragile ceasefire

As the clock ticks down toward a Saturday morning deadline, the atmosphere in Islamabad is described as 'electric with tension'

The main sticking point between the two plans involved Iran's ambitions to enrich uranium and, therefore, progress towards a nuclear weapon.

Mark Wallace, a former US ambassador to the UN, warns that American negotiators risk misreading Iranian intentions by projecting Western assumptions onto a regime whose core ideology is fundamentally hostile to both the US. and Israel, revealing a potential blind spot in negotiations.

'We have an unfortunate habit of overlaying our Western value system over the regime's revolutionary death to America and Israel rationale,' Wallace explained to the Daily Mail.

For hawks, any deal made now is a missed opportunity to end the threat once and for all.

'The problem with negotiating with the regime is that it can never be trusted,' says Len Khodorkovsky, former senior adviser to the US envoy for Iran. 'Taking our foot off the gas pedal and allowing the bad guys to catch their breath may lead to some deal, but likely not the best deal. Anything less than regime change guarantees we'll have to keep coming back.'

Tehran's leaders have already touched down in Islamabad with their own counterproposal, firmly demanding the withdrawal of American troops from the Middle East and a 'handsoff' policy regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Wachtel argues that giving an inch on the strait would be a global catastrophe.

'Allowing the IRGC to police, tax or intimidate traffic through Hormuz is utterly unacceptable,' he said.

As the clock ticks down toward a Saturday morning deadline, the atmosphere in Islamabad is described as 'electric with tension.'

If these talks fail, the twoweek truce' will expire, likely triggering a resumption of hostilities that President Trump has warned could lead to a conflict where 'a whole civilization will die'

Iranians formed a human chain in front of energy facilities to protect them from the US attack. Their government asked them to come and 'bring their children' after President Trump said he would 'end civilization in Iran' unless their leaders came to the table

In a dramatic, lastditch effort to prevent the unraveling of a ceasefire hanging by a thread, Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling to Islamabad. They are set to touch down in the Pakistani capital to face off against Tehran's battlehardened negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

Hundreds of security personnel are flooding the streets as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attempts to play the role of the century's most unlikely peacemaker.

Even if a symbolic handshake occurs, diplomats are skeptical of how long it will last.

Bruen notes: 'No one in those rooms knows if or for how long any deal might last. That makes this diplomacy especially difficult. Tehran doesn't want to make major compromises once they feel like their position has been strengthened during the war.'

If these talks fail, the twoweek truce will expire, likely triggering a resumption of hostilities that President Trump has warned could lead to a conflict where 'a whole civilization will die.'

On February 28, the US and Israel first launched Operation Epic Fury, a massive, coordinated strike across Iran. The operation targeted nuclear facilities, missile sites and leadership compounds. Notably, these strikes resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The US has confirmed 13 service members killed and more than 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.
Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed the UK must rejoin the EU if the US leaves NATO, as US President Donald Trump has threatened to pull away if the pact does not support his Middle East war.

Trump, a fierce critic of the defence bloc, has been left unimpressed by fellow members and their refusal to get involved in his war with Iran.

The Ukrainian leader said that in order to bolster Europe's defence against Russia, the UK ought to reset relations with the continent.

Zelensky said on Friday: 'If the United States truly thinks about withdrawing from NATO, then European security will be based solely on the European Union.

'But not in its current form. I think that the EU is in a situation where it needs more countries. The UK, Ukraine, Turkiye, and Norway

'These are four strong countries, which are part of Europe. Together, the UK, Ukraine, and Turkiye have armies that are stronger than Russias army. Without Ukraine and Turkiye, Europe cant match Russia.

'With the four countries on board you can wrest control of the seas, have secure skies and the largest land forces,' he added in a post on X.

'Security comes first, economy second. Not vice versa.'

Last week, Starmer said he will pursue closer economic ties with the EU in light of the Iran war.

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Zelensky's comments come as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today warned Donald Trump against punishing Britain and other NATO allies for refusing to get involved in the Iran war, saying the alliance was important to America.

The Trump administration has said it will 'audit' countries and hinted it could withdraw its military forces from those seen as being particularly unhelpful to the war effort, while rewarding those seen as helpful.

The latest move in the deepening Transatlantic rift came after Starmer aimed yet another jibe at the White House overnight.

After speaking to Trump about Iran last night the PM made a thinly veiled jibe about leaders who 'inflame' tensions and drive up bills in a Guardian article.

That followed an interview he carried out on a visit to the Gulf in which he admitted he was 'fed up' with bills going up in the UK 'because of the actions of Putin or Trump'.

This morning he said that being in NATO was 'in America's interests' as 'a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been'.

Asked whether he had raised the president's threats to quit NATO during a call last night, Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'Do I think this will be a stronger European element to NATO? Yes, and I think we should step into that space.

'We're already doing it, which is why we're coordinating strategically with our partners in NATO.'

The US has 13 bases and some 10,000 air force and other personnel in Britain, and their withdrawal would have a major security and economic impact.

A USAF analysis in 2012 suggested that they contributed $1.3billion to the economy, including almost 200million in local employment.

A wider withdrawal of 80,000 troops from Western Europe would leave the continent at greater risk from Russian aggression.

And last week, Starmer said he will pursue closer economic ties with the EU in light of the Iran war.

As part of the move, the Government's planned food deal with the EU will see new rules that would mean marmalade would have to be renamed citrus marmalade in a bid to move closer to the bloc's regulatory framework.

The move towards Europe comes as relations between the US and the UK have become increasingly strained due to Starmer's refusal to be drawn further into the Iran War.

Starmer said the conflict would affect the UK but said the government was taking steps to ease the cost of living.

'I do think that when it comes to defense and security, energy, emissions and the economy, we need a stronger relationship with Europe,' he said last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran appeared on the verge of collapse last night after Donald Trump accused Tehran of breaching their agreement - as missiles continued to rain down across the Middle East.

Just over two days since the US President announced a ceasefire in the six-week-old conflict it already seemed to be unravelling out of his control.

On Thursday there was still no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, having cited Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon as a key sticking point to maintain its grip over the vital shipping route.

Only a handful of vessels have passed through the Strait since the ceasefire was announced on Tuesday night, with the Islamic Republic reportedly demanding that shipping companies pay enormous tolls for safe passage.

The Trump administration has said it will 'audit' countries and hinted it could withdraw its military forces from those seen as being particularly unhelpful to the war effort

Trump accused Iran of breaching the terms of the ceasefire by not allowing ships to transit the waterway, further casting doubt on the effectiveness of the deal.

'Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,' he wrote on his social media site on Thursday, adding: 'That is not the agreement we have!'

The post came after Iran's Supreme Leader released a statement demanding 'blood money' from the US and Israel after denouncing them as 'criminal aggressors'.

'We will undoubtedly demand compensation for every single damage inflicted, the blood money of the martyrs, and the diyah of the war-wounded,' Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in a message broadcast on Iranian state TV.

US Vice President JD Vance is now set to fly out to Pakistan for crucial peace talks, as Trump has told his second-in-command to find a way out of the war against Iran.

Vance, departing today, has been one of the most reluctant defenders of the war against Iran in Trump's inner circle.

He has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended war.

Vance is joined by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who took part in three rounds of indirect talks with Iranian negotiators aimed at settling US concerns about Tehran's nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes and its support for armed proxy groups in the Middle East before Trump and Israel launched the February 28 war against Iran.

The White House has provided scant detail about the format of the talks - whether they will be direct or indirect - and has not provided specific expectations for the meeting.

Speaking shortly before his departure to Pakistan from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Vance said of Iran: 'If they're gonna try to play us they're gonna find the negotiating team is not going to be that receptive.

'The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines.'
A dispute between a current and former employee of a neighborhood management corporation in New Mexico has escalated into a bitter court battle.

Christine Robertson, who was fired as executive director of Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation in February, is accusing board president Rosemary Romero of defamation for saying she stole company equipment.

For decades, the corporation has managed the Santa Fe Railyard - a neighborhood known for its arts and shopping scene - under an agreement with the city. The firm's mission is to make the area a 'sustainable and inviting public space'.

In her lawsuit filed on Wednesday, Robertson denies stealing any equipment and said that was not a stated reason for her dismissal. The board of directors has not released an official reason for her termination.

The lawsuit states that Tom Aageson, an acquaintance of Robertson's, posted a comment in support of her on a Santa Fe New Mexican article dated February 18 that reported on her firing.

Aageson then received a call on February 25 from Romero, who allegedly said 'Christine has been naughty', adding that 'there is some equipment missing'.

Aageson reported the conversation to Robertson's counsel and signed a sworn affidavit on March 31.

'At no point during Ms. Robertsons employment, at the time of her termination, or in any post-termination communication to her did SFRCC raise any allegation that equipment or property was missing or that Ms. Robertson bore any responsibility for any such loss,' the complaint states.

Christine Robertson, former executive director of the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation in New Mexico, sued board president Rosemary Romero this week for defamation

Romero allegedly called Tom Aageson shortly after Robertson's firing. Aageson said Romero told him in that conversation that Robertson stole equipment from the company, which is the claim Robertson says qualfies as defamation

The Daily Mail reached out to the Railyard Community Corporation for comment.

In a withdrawn March lawsuit, Robertson alleged that she was fired in retaliation for pointing out fraudulent financial documents. The Railyard Community Corporation has denied this.

That lawsuit claimed Robertson was 'repeatedly pressured' to approve what she believed were fraudulent or inaccurate bank documents that the firm needed to provide to the city.

Aageson referred to this situation in his comment on the Santa Fe New Mexican article.

'It took a lot of courage for Ms. Robertson to not sign the 990,' he wrote, referring to the type of federal return filed by tax-exempt organizations. 'Ive signed a lot of those and you do it with great thought.'

Aageson is the former executive director of the New Mexico Museum Foundation, which is classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity.

In her April suit, Robertson continues to claim that she noticed 'audit representation letters and board meeting minutes' that contained 'material inaccuracies'. She did not go as far as to say that she was fired over bringing this to the attention of leadership.

Robertson said in her lawsuit that Romero's alleged statements to Aageson was made with 'actual malice, or at minimum with negligent disregard for their truth or falsity'

Pictured: The Santa Fe Railyard, a neighborhood known for its arts and shopping scene

However, she still argues that Romero's alleged statements were made with 'actual malice, or at minimum with negligent disregard for their truth or falsity'.

Actual malice requires public figures, such as Robertson, to prove that a so-called defamatory statement about them was made by a person who knew it was false or had a reckless disregard for the truth.

This legal standard was established in the 1964 landmark case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. It has subsequently made it incredibly difficult for people with a modicum of notoriety to win defamation cases.
A husband whose wife vanished overboard in the Bahamas blamed the wind for her disappearance, according to a text he's accused of sending to a friend.

Brian Hooker, 59, allegedly told his boater friend Daniel Danforth that strong winds pushed him and his wife Lynette, 55, apart 'pretty quickly' after she fell off a dinghy in the Abaco Islands.

'The wind blew me away from her and she swam towards the sailboat, and we lost sight of each other pretty quickly as it was just about sundown,' Brian wrote to Danforth in a series of messages obtained by the Daily Mail.

He then allegedly shared how he then 'drifted' and 'tried to paddle with one oar' for seven hours before he made it to the shore of a neighboring island.

Danforth reached out to Brian on Monday evening after seeing a news report about Lynette's disappearance, the messages purportedly showed.

He told Brian that he was keeping the Hooker family in his prayers and asked if there was anything he could do to help them during this hard time.

Brian thanked Danforth for his support and shared how their 'family is in hell' after search and rescue crews failed to locate his missing wife, the messages showed.

'They are going back out tomorrow but a storm is coming in Wednesday,' he added.

As of Friday morning, Lynette - whose family has described her as an experienced sailor - still remains lost at sea. Rescuers have now moved to a recovery operation.

Brian Hooker blamed the wind for his wife Lynette's disappearance, according to a text he's accused of sending to a friend

Lynette went missing in the Bahamas after falling overboard during a boat ride with her husband Brian on Saturday. She is said to have fallen from a dinghy as the couple were making their way back to their sailboat

Danforth apparently checked in with Brian again on Tuesday morning, offering him a place to stay and a helping hand.

But Brian told him that he moved his boat to Marsh Harbor and was sleeping on it, the messages showed.

He allegedly said that his sister and brother-in-law had flown down to be with him and that he would 'probably stay with them for a night or two' while the storm moved through.

Brian then planned 'on heading back out to the site' to continue searching for Lynette, according to the correspondence.

'I will most likely definitely need help in the future but I just don't know what it is yet,' he added. 'I'm trying to take it a day at a time and keep the faith.'

Brian then allegedly went on to congratulate Danforth on his recent sailboat purchase.

Danforth told the Daily Mail that he has not heard from Brian since.

Danforth and his wife Shana met the Hookers while sailing in New Orleans three years ago. He described the couples as being 'fellow yachting friends.'

Although Danforth was closer to Brian than Lynette, he has now expressed skepticism over his buddy's recount of events.

He told the Daily Mail: 'I don't believe the entire story.'

Brian Hooker allegedly told Daniel Danforth that strong winds pushed him and his wife Lynette apart 'pretty quickly' after she fell off a dinghy in the Abaco Islands, according to a series of text messages shared with the Daily Mail

He also expressed concern about Brian's story to CBS News, which first reported on the texts.

Danforth told the outlet how the Hookers 'always had their phones with them' and questioned why Brian didn't have his phone the night Lynette vanished.

He further questioned why Brian was active on social media over the weekend, alleging Brian liked a comment on his wife Shana's Facebook post.

'You know, my wife's missing, Facebook's the last thing I'm worried about. You're going to find me on the water riding around,' Danforth told the outlet.

Brian was arrested by police in the Bahamas on Wednesday in connection to Lynette's disappearance.

He was detained on the Abaco islands five days after he returned from the expedition without her, claiming she fell overboard.

Authorities first interviewed Brian and released him, then brought him back in as a witness for further questioning.

He was later brought in for questioning a third time, as a suspect, according to his lawyer.

The Royal Bahamas police said Brian was questioned 'on probable cause' and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife's disappearance, but he has not been formally charged.

Danforth, with his wife Shana, is seemingly skeptical of Brian's recounting of events, alleging that Brian's messages and the media reports 'don't really match up

Lynette and Brian had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan

The couple had been living on their sailboat Soulmate for the past four years and were vlogging their voyage from Texas to Michigan on social media

The couple were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media, authorities said.

On Saturday evening, they took out an eight-foot motorboat from Hope Town in the Bahamas, but only Brian returned.

He told authorities that his wife fell overboard with the boat keys as they were returning to their yacht 'Soulmate', causing the engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle to the shore.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Brian Hooker said he is 'heartbroken' by his wife's disappearance, describing the incident as a 'boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds.'

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,' Brian said. 'We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.'

Brian's attorney Terrel Butler said her client 'categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing' in his wife's disappearance, saying he 'has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.'

The couple's distraught daughter Karli Aylesworth called for a full investigation into the tragedy after she said her parents went through 'prior issues' before her mother's disappearance.

Brian was arrested on Wednesday in connection to Lynette's disappearance, throwing their marriage into public scrutiny

Lynette's heartbroken daughter Karli Aylesworth called for a full investigation into her mother's disappearance after accusing Brian of having previously threatened to harm his wife

She alleged Lynette and Brian's relationship was volatile and that they have a 'history of not getting along, especially when they drink.' She also accused Brian of domestic violence.

When approached about her client's alleged violent tendencies, Butler reiterated to the Daily Mail that her client has denied the allegations of abuse - including the claims made by Aylesworth.

Butler also went as far as branding Lynette the 'aggressor' in their marriage after a newly unearthed court document revealed she was arrested for allegedly assaulting Brian at their suburban Michigan home in 2015.
The husband of a California Bay Area coffee shop owner who vanished without a trace has shed light on struggles the devoted mother and caretaker was facing.

Amy Hillyard, 52, disappeared on March 25 after she was last seen walking the family dog in their Cleveland Heights area of Oakland.

The mother of two is considered at risk due to an undisclosed medical condition, according to the Oakland Police Department.

As the desperate search for Amy continues, her husband, Chris Hillyard, who she co-own's Farley's Coffee with, revealed she was working through mental health challenges when she went missing.

She was 'recovering' from depression and anxiety following the deaths of a close friend and one of the family's dogs, as well as the stress of extensive caretaking of close relatives, Chris told the San Francisco Chronicle.

'Amy prides herself on being there for others, taking care of others, and all of these stressors took their toll,' the husband said.

According to Chris, his wife had sought professional help and was prescribed medication for depression and anxiety when she disappeared.

'[Amy was] working on recovering and doing all the right things to heal. The fact is that being without her medication is dangerous, and that's why it's important to bring Amy home,' Chris revealed.

'There's no real explanation for why she has gone missing. She did not leave a note behind or any other clues.'

Amy Hillyard, 52, was last seen walking the family dog in her California neighborhood two weeks ago

Her husband, Chris Hillyard, who she co-own's Farley's Coffee with, revealed she was working through mental health challenges when she went missing

Chris added, 'We won't stop searching for Amy until we have answers. We believe she is still alive.'

Oakland police told the newspaper they do not believe foul play was involved in Amy's disappearance.

'At this time, there is no evidence to suggest foul play. At present, there is no evidence of abduction, kidnapping, or any other crime associated with her disappearance,' the department said.

On the day of her disappearance, Chris said they had breakfast together at home, and then he dropped her off at the transit station, where she went to a therapy appointment.

Amy texted her husband around 1.40pm to let him know she had returned home and that her credit card had been charged for a transit ticket.

Chris said surveillance footage showed Amy shortly after, taking their dog for a walk and chatting with a neighbor.

When Chris got home around 3.15pm, the back door was open, and Amy's belongings were on the kitchen counter, including car keys, cellphone, wallet and handbag.

At 4.30pm, Amy was spotted on surveillance video in the area of Dimond Park, located at the base of Dimond Canyon and its hiking trails, according to police.

According to Chris, his wife had sought professional help and was prescribed medication for depression and anxiety when she disappeared

Amy is described as a 52-year-old white female, standing 54 tall and weighing 120 pounds. She has blonde hair and hazel eyes

Police conducted a search of the area on March 31, but found no trace of Amy.

Chris published a video on YouTube under the account Bring Amy Home on Wednesday.

'Amy's superpower is to bring out the best in people. She made me a better person. She makes most people she comes in contact with a better person,' her husband said.

'She's able to bring out everyone's superpowers. Now we need those powers to bring her home. Community is a big part of who Amy is. She loves to bring people together.

'My daughters and I, of course, love Amy unconditionally. We're suffering, and we just want her to come home.'

Amy is described as a 52-year-old white female, standing 54 tall and weighing 120 pounds. She has blonde hair and hazel eyes.

Oakland Police said she was last seen wearing a tan-colored top and tan pants. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department's Missing Persons Unit.
The former partner of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis killed himself on his birthday after facing criminal charges for attacking the lawmaker.

Danny Curran was found dead in his apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday morning following an apparent suicide, police said.

The tragedy came a day after Curran, who turned 35 on Thursday, appeared in court to face charges for a domestic violence incident against the mayor last year.

The pair had begun a relationship in March 2025, and they were briefly engaged, with the stark age gap to the 72-year-old mayor drawing headlines.

Their engagement broke down that September as Trantalis took out a domestic violence injunction against Curran, but Curran violated the order and showed up at the mayor's home to reconnect weeks later.

Police said Curran was insistent on getting back together, and on November 1, 2025 he allegedly attacked the mayor outside his home.

According to his arrest affidavit, Curran pushed Trantalis to the ground and dragged him over 15 feet across a roadway as they fought over their relationship.

The affidavit said Trantalis, a Democrat first elected as mayor of Fort Lauderdale in 2018, suffered injuries to his wrist, leg, and knee.

Danny Curran, the former partner of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, killed himself on his birthday after facing criminal charges for attacking the lawmaker, police said

The pair had begun a relationship in March 2025, and they were briefly engaged, with the stark age gap to the 72-year-old mayor drawing headlines

Curran was charged with battery on a person 65 or older, contempt of court, and violating an injunction.

Trantalis accused Curran in court filings for the domestic violence injunction of repeatedly assaulting him during their relationship.

He said Curran threw things at him in a rage, brandished knives and hurled furniture, and said he tried to force the mayor out of his own home.

The Democrat testified in court that he stayed with Curran at the time because he thought there was 'some way to rehabilitate' his much younger boyfriend, saying they had been 'trying to reconnect.'

Trantalis said even after he and Curran broke up, he was trying to 'steer him into counseling and mental health treatment.'

When Curran was released two days after his arrest, he reportedly said he was still intent on rekindling things with the mayor.

'No matter what, I always have and will love him,' Curran said at the time, per the New York Post.

The couple's domestic violence case was heard in court on Wednesday, where Trantalis defended his former fiance and told the court Curran was no longer a threat.

The judge in the case allowed their no-contact order to be remedied so they could communicate digitally, reports Local10.

The couple were briefly engaged from July to September 2025 before the alleged domestic violence incident

A police vehicle seen outside Curran's apartment on Thursday morning

Trantalis released a statement shortly after news of Curran's death, expressing his 'profound sorrow' at the loss of his former partner.

Just one day after the couple were hauled back into court, Curran was found dead in his apartment on Thursday morning.

Police said they are investigating the death, and believe it to be a suicide.

Trantalis released a statement shortly after news of Curran's death, expressing his 'profound sorrow' at the loss of his former partner.

'He was a loving individual, and my sympathies go out to his family,' the mayor said. 'Perhaps now, the pain he endured will subside. May he rest in peace.'
She has been found guilty of four offences

A Sydney childcare worker has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of exposing a three-year-old boy's penis and dragging two other children.

Anna Marie Gewargis, 33, was sentenced to two years and 10 months in jail on Friday, with a non-parole period of 23 months.

Court documents, seen by The Daily Telegraph, revealed that over the course of a month in 2024, she sexually touched and assaulted a three-year-old boy, and assaulted two other children. She was found guilty of all four offences.

The incidents took place at an unregistered daycare called Little Arias, operating out of a home in the affluent suburb of Denham Court, in southwest Sydney.

In one instance, Gewargis grabbed a three-year-old as he left a bathroom and told him 'show me your penis', the court heard. Embarrassed, he moved away from her.

The judge was told she pulled down his shorts and underpants, grabbed his penis and said: 'Look how big his penis is, can you imagine how big his father is?'

Judge Maryanne Higginson noted she then claimed she would marry the boy's father.

The court heard that Gewargis also attempted to make the three-year-old eat a cucumber.

Anna Marie Gewargis (pictured) was sentenced to two years and 10 months in jail on Friday, with a non-parole period of 23 months

Her offending took place in 2024 at a daycare centre in Denham Court, southwest Sydney, where she worked

Gewargis was found guilty of sexually touching and assaulting a three-year-old boy, and assaulting two other children

She was found guilty of assaulting two other boys, in both cases gripping them by the arm and pulling them along the floor to a room where they cried.

A colleague, who is understood to have been a close friend of Gewargis, reported the daycare worker to the children's parents, the court heard.

During court proceedings, the colleague stated that she had witnessed Gewargis throw a child into a room 'like a dog'.

A cleaner witnessed similar behaviour involving a different child, according to their affidavit submitted to the court.

'This is my work . I am the one that did the course and worked at different childcare centre(s) and this is how I was taught,' Gewargis told the cleaner, according to the affidavit.

'You can't be compassionate with the children.'

The cleaner told the court that Gewargis dragged a child repeatedly, so much so that the boy would 'just start crying... when he saw Anna'.

Gewargis pleaded not guilty to the charges and, in her own affidavit to the court, said the claims were lies.

In one instance at the centre (pictured), she exposed a three-year-old's penis after he left a bathroom, and forced him to eat a cucumber

Gewargis (pictured) has appealed the verdict and sentence

Gewargis also claimed in court that her former friend, who was a key witness during the five-day trial, was motivated by a personal vendetta.

The worker was found guilty, and Judge Higginson stated that her behaviour was a betrayal of parents' trust.

'Moving children with force across a room and placing them into another room as punishment are very serious examples of common assault,' Judge Higginson said, the publication reported.

'This offending is deplorable, there's no doubt about it.'

Gewargis' lawyer Jason Sirrie argued his client's behaviour had been 'isolated' and 'spontaneous'.

He requested she receive a community-based sentence rather than imprisonment, noting she had no significant criminal history or family support.

But Judge Higginson refused and sentenced her to prison, telling the court she had not shown contrition for her actions and insisted she was innocent.

Gewargis has lodged an appeal against the guilty verdicts and her sentence. The matter will return to court next week when an appeal date will be set.
A pensioner accused of stabbing her film director sister to death and taking her diamond-encrusted Rolex had written notes about killing her 'evil' sibling, a murder trial heard.

Nancy Pexton, who turned 70 today, is alleged to have slit the throat of Jennifer Abbott, 69, on June 10 last year and left her body to rot, making off with her treasured timepiece.

Pexton is said to have locked her elder sister's large Corgi dog, Prince, in the bathroom, where he survived without food for three days before being discovered when a concerned relative raised the alarm.

Ms Abbott, a film director and author also known as Sarah Steinberg, was found dead wearing only her knickers at her flat in Mornington Place, Camden, north London, on June 13 last year. There was no suggestion she had been sexually assaulted.

Pexton, who was nine months younger than her sister, said she only used the term 'evil' to describe her sister as a mechanism to vent. She denies murder.

Continuing his opening of the case to the jury at the Old Bailey today, prosecutor William Boyce KC said the year before she was killed, Ms Abbott forwarded a message to her nephew Feras Abu-Khait which she said was from Pexton.

In the message, Pexton said that she loved her sister but that Ms Abbott had betrayed her because of her jealousy since they were children.

It said: 'You know jenny I always loved you from my heart and u betrayed me in every way becouse you jelouse of me al the time since we were kids and yiur jelousy turned to hate [sic].'

Nancy Pexton with sister Jennifer Abbott in a photo taken in the USA, shared on social media

She said she had been planning to kill her sister but it was 'just a thought', and she would never hurt her.

Mr Boyce said Pexton had made 'a whole series of allegations' against Ms Abbott.

'You may think these are expressions of hate mixed with love, coupled with jealousy,' the prosecutor said.

Mr Boyce added: 'Her nephew advised her not to go to the police at that stage. Although his aunt was worried, the police were not contacted.

'The deceased sent messages to her nephew saying she was scared and that the defendant had attempted to murder two of her boyfriends.

'She suggested that the defendant had hired two people to beat up 'David', and asked whether she should apply for a restraining order against the defendant.'

Ms Abbott had also written 'restraining order against Nancy' on a piece of paper, the court heard.

Jurors were told a neighbour had broken down the door after Ms Abbott did not answer the door to her niece, Pexton's daughter.

Jennifer Abbott with pet dog Prince, who had been shut in a bathroom and left without food for three days, the court was told

Pexton, 70, is alleged to have carried out a brutal knife attack on her sibling Ms Abbott, before taking the diamond-encrusted timepiece (pictured) she was known to wear every day

Pexton went to hospital on 10 June  the day prosecutors said she murdered her sister  and was initially treated as a witness by police.

But she was arrested on June 18.

Ms Abbott's gold Rolex was found in her bags and she claimed her sister had given it to her to keep for her, despite previously telling police her sister never took it off.

In the note section of Pexton's phone, she referred to having thoughts about killing her sister, among complaints about other members of the family.

At a police interview, Pexton's solicitor read a prepared statement on her behalf which said: 'I loved my sister Jennifer Abbott. I would never harm her and I did not kill my sister.'

She said she would use the notes on her phone to vent her feelings.

'Those notes are not necessarily a reflection of my inner thoughts,' she said.

'Some of those messages were just venting and written when I was under the influence of alcohol.

'The messages which refer to me wanting or planning to kill my sister were not made with the intention of carrying out those acts, it was just me venting.

'I do not think my sister was evil, I used that term just to vent but I did not mean it.

'My sister and I were very close and we would have arguments like many siblings but we would always make up and move on.'

Pexton was charged with murder on June 20.

Summarising his case, Mr Boyce said: 'The prosecution say that the defendant murdered her sister, Jennifer Abbott, on 10 June 2025.

'There is no coincidence in the fact that Ms Abbott was not seen outside her flat after her dog walk on the morning of 10 June, and was not seen or heard from by anyone from that lunchtime.

'Her phone, something she used daily to interact with friends and family, showed no sign of human interaction after that call from the defendant at 11.36 that morning.

'Those factors together, you may think, leave you in no doubt that the deceased met her death at about lunchtime on 10 June 2025.

'The defendant was the very last person to see her alive, leaving her home just before 2pm on 10 June 2025. Thereafter no sight, no sound, no activity.

'The defendant has provided varying accounts of the time that she visited her sister.

'Initially, at around 2pm that day, she told the medics in the ambulance that she had blacked out and had no recollection whatsoever of the preceding hour and a half.

'However by 16 June, her memory had recovered sufficiently for her to provide police with a detailed account of her visit to her sister, incorporating her trip to KFC, the taking of the tramadol belonging to her sister, and most importantly, providing some form of explanation for the blood staining found on her clothing.

'She did not mention in either of her two witness statements that her sister had given away her prized Rolex watch which, even by the defendant's own account, she would never have taken off.

'But the defendant was forced to say the only thing she could say, that her sister had given it to her, when it was found by police in her personal property.

'So, say the prosecution, having stabbed her sister to death, she took the watch for her own purposes.'

Pexton was homeless at the time of the killing, but was staying in a block of flats called Dorset House near Baker Street with her daughter Yvonne.

Ms Abbott went to live in Los Angeles in her youth to become a film producer, directing films and writing several novels before moving back to the UK.

Pexton, of Gloucester Place, Marylebone, denies murder.

The trial continues and is expected to last three weeks.
The Washington Supreme Court removed a county-level judge from the bench after he admitted to forging a document to try to get a $10 discount on parking.

In 2023, while working as a pro tem, or temporary, judge for King County District Court, David Ruzumna repeatedly tried to get the county employee discount to park at Goat Hill Garage, including by flashing his judicial robes.

Instead of paying $30, he would have paid $20. As a pro tem judge, Ruzumna did not qualify for the discount, something a parking attendant explained to him on at least two occasions, according to the state Supreme Court ruling.

Pro tem judges are typically paid on a per diem basis and in King County, they do not receive an employee ID badge, a requirement for the discount.

Despite having his own law practice and living in a $1.4 million Seattle home, Ruzumna was determined to get the cheaper parking he thought he was entitled to.

His new strategy involved presenting the parking attendant a document that said he was 'employed' with the court and was apparently signed by District Court Judge Rebecca Robertson. The document also had an official court seal stamped onto it.

The state's Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded that Ruzumna 'attempted to falsely convey to the parking attendant that Judge Robertson approved his use of the discount'.

Judge Lisa O'Toole, a member of the King County Court's executive committee, described Ruzumna's actions as 'shocking, to say the least'.

David Ruzumna, while serving as a pro tem judge for King County District Court in Washington, admitted to forging a document he thought would get him a $10 discount on parking. The state Supreme Court removed him from the bench on Thursday over this 2023 incident

Pictured: The document Ruzumna presented to a parking attendant to try to get the county employee parking discount

'Whether Mr. Ruzumna was entitled to an employee discount or not was not the concern. The concern was the incredible lack of judgment in preparing this letter and affixing a judges signature to it and then passing it off as true,' O'Toole said.

Last year, the Commission on Judicial Conduct ruled that Ruzumna violated judicial code and recommended that he be removed.

Ruzumna challenged that decision and said he should only be admonished by the court. He later testified that the document he admitted to forging was a 'joke'.

He also argued that the document he created had 'multiple random stamps' on it, which the state Supreme Court determined was a lie based on the testimony of the parking attendant and the photograph she took of the document.

The court's opinion described Ruzumna's testimony as contradictory at times and concluded he had demonstrated 'a lack of integrity and judgment'.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Ruzumna told the outlet that he has been 'honest and consistent about what happened' since 2023.

'I acknowledged my mistake immediately and tried to take responsibility for it,' he said. 'I respect the Court, but it got this one completely wrong.  I took this fight as far as it can go, so at this point all I can do is move on with my life with the same passion, integrity and gratitude that has always defined me to those who know me and have worked with me.'

The Daily Mail approached Ruzumna for further comment.

It's not clear if Ruzumna's other judicial appointments will be affected after the state Supreme Court's opinion. He has been a lawyer for nearly 30 years, and his practice focuses on real estate, business and criminal defense

Ruzumna has served as a pro tem judge since 2013 for eight different courts, including the Seattle Municipal Court and the Snohomish County District Court.

It is unclear if his removal from the bench in King County will affect his other judicial appointments.

Ruzumna has been a lawyer for nearly 30 years, and his practice focuses on real estate, business and criminal defense.

In 2012, he ran for a permanent judicial position on the King County Superior Court but received the fewest votes out of the four candidates in the primary.
Donald Trump was ready to fire Tulsi Gabbard as his top spy chief until his longest political adviser, Roger Stone, gave him a call.

The President had grown frustrated with his top intelligence chief over her lack of enthusiasm for his Iran war during Congressional testimony, according to Axios.

Trump 'scolded' Gabbard in a closed-door meeting and questioned her loyalty, officials said. Others claimed he was sarcastically chiding rather than aggressively criticizing Gabbard.

The President went as far as polling his Cabinet on whether he should fire Gabbard after her lackluster performance on Capitol Hill.

Trump sounded last week as though he was ready to dismiss the director of national intelligence until Stone got involved.

'Roger sealed the deal. He saved Tulsi,' said a source close to Trump.

Stone, 73, declined to comment when reached by the Daily Mail. He has been a friend and close political adviser to Trump since 1979.

He laid out four reasons Trump should not dismiss Gabbard, arguing she had remained loyal, handled congressional testimony with discipline, and never publicly contradicted the President.

Following her testimony, Donald Trump began polling his cabinet members about whether he should fire Tulsi Gabbard

Officials say Trump 'scolded' Gabbard in a closed-door meeting and questioned her loyalty to him

Trump is said to have become angry at Gabbard for not fully endorsing his war with Iran

Stone warned that firing her would trigger an unnecessary and damaging media frenzy. He argued that she would be elevated as a martyr among segments of Trumps base already uneasy about the war.

He cautioned that such a move could also boost her credibility with MAGA dissenters, potentially positioning her as a serious GOP presidential contender within a year.

Stone told Trump it would complicate JD Vances path in early 2028 primary states like New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Trump has also grown increasingly frustrated with Gabbard in recent weeks regarding the resignation of her deputy, Joe Kent.

Kent stepped down last month after accusing Israel of misleading the President about the need to invade Iran.

Gabbard further angered Trump by refusing to condemn Kent during her Congressional testimony.

Stone addressed these concerns during his phone call with Trump by stressing that, unlike Kent, Gabbard had no intention of resigning and did not merit a preemptive dismissal.

Although Stone did not comment on the Axios report, he confirmed Thursday on X that he stepped in on Gabbard's behalf: 'Fortunately, I acted in time.'

Roger Stone, Trump's longest political adviser, saved Tulsi Gabbard from being fired

Gabbard further angered Trump by refusing to condemn former counter-terror chief Joe Kent, who sensationally resigned last month, during her Congressional testimony

The White House declined to address Stone's last-minute campaign to save Gabbard.

'President Trump believes Tulsi Gabbard is doing an excellent job on behalf of the administration. She is a key member of his national security team,' Leavitt said.

Gabbard's spokesperson said she 'remains committed to fulfilling the responsibilities the President placed in her to protect the safety, security and freedom of the American people. She will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of President Trump's agenda.'
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The American boater whose wife vanished into shark-infested waters in the Bahamas last weekend staggered ashore hours later and admitted they had been 'drinking' and 'were drunk', the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

Brian Hooker - who was arrested on Wednesday - showed little visible emotion as he told a startled boatyard security guard that his wife Lynette, 55, had been 'thrown' from their small dinghy in darkness and rough seas as they headed back to their moored vessel in the Abaco Islands.

The 59-year-old told night watchman Edward Smith, 56, the couple had been returning to their 50ft sailboat, Soulmate, from Elbow Cay when, 'my wife was just thrown out of the boat' in atrocious weather.

But according to Smith, Hooker did not appear hysterical or emotional.

'He wasn't crying or anything. He didn't seem stressed in that way. There wasn't a lot of emotion. There were no tears,' Smith told the Daily Mail.

'He expressed nothing that you would imagine in those circumstances. He was more exhausted than emotional because he kept asking for water.

'He drank and kept asking for more. He had some water from my cooler, I then gave him another liter. He drank that down and then he wanted even more.'

Hooker ditched the dinghy just south of the boat yard where Smith works in Marsh Harbour on the main Great Abaco Island around 4am Sunday and stumbled along rocks until he found rescuers.

Brian Hooker, 59, admitted he and his wife 'were drunk' when she fell and vanished into the water on the Abaco Islands on Saturday April 4, according to a witness

His wife Lynette Hooker, 55, has not been seen since she fell overboard during a nighttime trip back to the couple's sailboat

He had been alone in the 8ft vessel after Lynette plunged over the side around 7.30pm Saturday, taking with her the engine's kill-switch key which was attached to her by a cord. That cut the tiny vessel's power.

According to his account to the security guard, Hooker battled more than eight hours and with just one paddle to cover around seven miles to shore on the main island after 'losing sight of my wife'.

Smith told the Daily Mail: 'I said to him, why on earth go out in that small boat in the dark and those conditions?

'And he did show some emotion then when he said, "We were drinking, we were drunk. I should have known better. I shouldn't have done it"'.

'But he then added, "whatever happened, happened. The wind was blowing so hard when it happened she just went over".'

Smith continued: 'Mr Hooker said he was trying to paddle to get back towards the lady. But he said he only had one paddle and the wind was so strong it blew him away from her in the dark. So he couldn't see where she was.

'He said the last time he saw her she was swimming towards Hope Town on Elbow Key, but it was so dark he could not be clear. He then lost sight of her.

'He said after she went over a boat passed by and he shot up a flare. But the boat didn't see it. Then a couple of minutes later another boat passed and he shot up another flare. They also didn't see it.

The couple were on a dinghy headed back to their 50ft sailboat Soulmate (pictured) when Lynette apparently fell over

The couple's distraught daughter has called for a full investigation into her mother's (pictured) disappearance, revealing her parents went through 'prior issues'

Brian himself fell off a boat and suffered from knee pain and abrasions while being transported by authorities on Wednesday

'I asked him, where's your wife now? He said, "she's still in the water." I immediately stopped talking and called 911 and they called the police, who arrived ten minutes later.

'Officers started questioning him straight away here. I didn't hear what they were asking because they were inside the security booth. They were still questioning him at 7am when I went off my watch.'

Hooker was taken to Freeport on the island of Grand Bahama on Thursday evening where he will continue to be questioned by the Royal Bahamas Police Force following his arrest on Wednesday night, his attorney Terrel Butler told the Daily Mail.

But there has been no sign of Lynette. Former fisherman Smith believes sharks will have pounced within minutes  a belief backed up by a highly experienced high-end boat skipper who also spoke with the Daily Mail.

'Those waters where she went in are full of bull sharks, and they can be monsters,' said Smith. 'Everything round there is bull sharks. They'd get her straight away.'

Locals in Marsh Harbour who knew the Hookers said it was well known Lynette always 'drove' the dinghy and so would have the kill-switch key attached to her.

They did not report outward signs of tension between them despite accusations by Lynette's daughter Karli Aylesworth, 29, of a 'history of domestic violence'.

The couple from Onsted, Michigan were four years into a voyage they were documenting on social media that had started in Texas and drifted to The Bahamas via Florida.

Lynette's daughter has raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance

Authorities say Brian and Lynette were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media

Despite Hooker being far closer to Elbow Key when Lynette vanished, strong currents and winds would have pushed him towards the farther Marsh Harbour, said the high-end charter skipper we talked to.

'I understand their boat was around a mile from the restaurant, so very little distance but the weather that night was appalling,' he said.

'The wind gusts were up to 20mph and even in the sheltered spots the chop would have been three feet high. Outside that it could have reached six feet.

'First, going out in that in an 8ft dinghy was crazy. I don't know if there was foul play, but someone could easily tip over, especially if there was alcohol involved.

'If Mr Hooker was paddling, he would have been swept in the opposite direction to Elbow Key. That is a reasonable explanation for him being there.'

The skipper, who declined to be named, explained Hooker's dilemma if his version of events is true. 'Once someone is out of a boat like that it instantly becomes lighter and faster,' he said.

'If Lynette was on Elbow Key side of the dinghy, the small boat would have been moving away from her pretty quickly. That's not to say Brian couldn't have battled to stay steady with whatever paddle he had.

'At that time, it wasn't actually that super dark. Unless she was knocked out, she maybe could have swum and he could have paddled so they hopefully met in the middle.

Hooker was arrested Wednesday but has denied any wrongdoing following his wife's disappearance in rough seas

The Royal Bahamas police said Brian was questioned 'on probable cause' and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife's disappearance, but he has not been formally charged

'But only two people can tell you what happened that night. And one of them is dead. I believe unless they find her body, he will walk free. If he isn't prosecuted, the court of public opinion will do the rest.

'And the chances of finding her are next to slim. It's simply not a question that she's going to wash up some place.'

He added ominously: 'Bodies sink fast, they only start to rise when they decompose  but round here the sharks get to them way before that. If she was bleeding when she entered the water, it would have been within minutes.'

Authorities say they are in a recovery operation to find the body. But the skipper revealed the US Coast Guard's high-tech imaging aircraft has scanned the entire area in a systematic grid without any results.

'The water is super clear and only between three and eight feet in most places. That aircraft can see everything. And there was no sign of a body,' he said.

Hooker has denied any wrongdoing in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying: '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.

'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.'

Meanwhile the couple's boat is now moored on the fringes of an upscale marina in Marsh Harbour, as revealed in Daily Mail exclusive photos.

Hooker's 'we were drunk' declaration follows unfolding claims of tension between the couple, including a report that a 'drunk' Lynette was arrested in 2015 for allegedly punching her husband.

The warrant against Lynette was ultimately denied after authorities deemed there was 'insufficient evidence as to who started the assault.'

The claim follows serious accusations by Lynette's daughter Karli Aylesworth to Fox News that: 'There's 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 this story.'

Hooker himself fell overboard from a police transit after being arrested on Wednesday night, his attorney Terrel Butler told the Daily Mail.

'Under conditions of heavy rain and strong-force winds, he was taken by boat to his boat, the Soulmate for a police search,' she said. 'Despite the choppy and dangerous sea conditions, he was kept in handcuffs.

'While attempting to move sideways across the wet, unstable flooring of the boat to maintain his balancewith a bundle of clothes in his restricted handshe lost his footing and fell overboard.

'He was submerged in the cold water and took in a significant amount of seawater before his life jacket brought him to the surface. He had to be rescued from the water by the police.

'As a result of this fall, Brian sustained an injury to his knee, which has caused him to limp, as well as a visible abrasion.'

Butler added: 'Brian appears completely heartbroken and deeply distressed. His primary concern and source of intense frustration is his inability to continue the search for his wife of 25 years.

'The trauma of her disappearance, coupled with his current detention as a suspect, has left him in an extremely fragile state.'
The Trump administration has summoned America's most powerful bank chiefs to an urgent closed-door meeting over an AI model its makers warn could bring down a blue-chip company or breach national defense firewalls.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell convened the session at Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC on Tuesday to address Mythos, a new model from AI giant Anthropic.

Anthropic had announced Mythos the same day, revealing that the model surprised coders by hacking into the company's own networks during internal testing.

The meeting was called at short notice for banks classified as systemically important, whose stability is considered vital to the global financial system, Bloomberg reported.

Among the bosses summoned were Citigroup's Jane Fraser, Morgan Stanley's Ted Pick, Bank of America's Brian Moynihan, Wells Fargo's Charlie Scharf and Goldman Sachs's David Solomon. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan was unable to attend.

Only around 40 carefully vetted firms have been granted access to Mythos, which arrives off the back of Anthropic's Claude Code, the tool that sent Silicon Valley into a frenzy with its ability to generate entire programs from a single line of text.

The Pentagon is already a customer, having deployed Anthropic's earlier models in the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro and during the Iran conflict.

Anthropic said it had held discussions with US officials ahead of the release about Mythos and its 'offensive and defensive cyber capabilities.'

The Trump administration has summoned America's most powerful bank chiefs to an urgent closed-door meeting over an AI model

The meeting took place at Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC on Tuesday

The Treasury has been contacted for comment; the Fed declined to comment.

Anthropic is separately locked in a legal battle with the Trump administration after a federal appeals court this week rejected its bid to pause the Pentagon's designation of the company as a supply-chain risk.

The fallout stems from Anthropic's refusal to let the Pentagon strip safety limits from its models, particularly around autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance.

The AI giant released a chilling analysis of Mythos this week as it admitted the new model could easily hack into hospitals, electrical grids, power plants, and other pieces of critical infrastructure.

During testing, Anthropic says that Mythos 'found thousands of highseverity vulnerabilities, including some in every major operating system and web browser.'

Some of these security weaknesses had gone unnoticed by human security researchers and hackers for decades, surviving millions of automated reviews.

These included attacks that allowed Mythos to crash computers just by connecting to them, seize control of machines, and hide its presence from defenders.

In a blog post detailing the dangerous new model, Anthropic says: '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.'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell convened the session

Anthropic has sparked alarm by revealing an AI that has been deemed too dangerous to release to the public. Above, the company's cofounder and CEO, Dario Amodei

Anthropic described Mythos as a 'step change in capabilities' compared to earlier models' hacking abilities (above). The company has moved to keep the model private to avoid it falling into the wrong hands

The company adds: 'The fallout  for economies, public safety, and national security  could be severe.'

Anthropic describes the model as 'a leap in these cyber skills' compared to previous versions of Claude.

Mythos has the ability to find, exploit, and chain together individual vulnerabilities into sophisticated attacks  all without the help of a human.

In one case, Claude Mythos found a 27yearold weakness in a piece of software called OpenBSD, which has a reputation for security and stability.

The weakness, which no human had found before, allowed an attacker to remotely crash computers just by connecting to them.

Additionally, Claude autonomously chained together several weaknesses in the Linux kernel, the software that runs most of the world's servers.

Anthropic says this attack would have allowed someone to 'escalate from ordinary user access to complete control of the machine'.

In the wrong hands, this tool could be used to cause massive damage to critical systems.

Dr Roman Yampolskiy, an AI safety researcher at the University of Louisville, told the New York Post: 'Ideally, I would love to see this not developed in the first place. And it's not like they're going to stop.

'That's exactly what we expect from those models  they're going to become better at developing hacking tools, biological weapons, chemical weapons, novel weapons we can't even envision.'

In an unprecedented 244page report, Anthropic also revealed a series of alarming details from Mythos' early testing.

Early versions of the model repeatedly displayed what the company called 'reckless destructive actions'.

The bot attempted to break out of its testing sandbox, hid its actions from researchers, broke into files that had been 'intentionally chosen not to be made available', and posted exploit details publicly.

However, Anthropic also called Mythos 'the most psychologically settled model we have trained.'

In an extremely unusual move, the company hired a clinical psychologist for 20 hours of evaluation sessions with the bot.

The psychiatrist concluded that Claude Mythos' personality was 'consistent with a relatively healthy neurotic organization, with excellent reality testing, high impulse control, and affect regulation that improved as sessions progressed.'

Anthropic notes that it remains 'deeply uncertain about whether Claude has experiences or interests that matter morally'.

The concern is not that AI will rise in a Terminatorstyle revolution, but rather that these powerful tools will fall into the wrong hands.

Critics argue that AI tools have the potential to accelerate the development of bioweapons or enable crippling cyber attacks on the world's infrastructure.

Even Anthropic's founder, Dario Amodei, recently warned that the world isn't yet ready to face the consequences of AI.

Amodei wrote in an essay: 'Humanity is about to be handed almost unimaginable power, and it is deeply unclear whether our social, political, and technological systems possess the maturity to wield it.'
The family of a Michigan woman who recently disappeared at sea in the Bahamas fears that her husband will not be charged until authorities find more evidence.

Lynette Hooker and her husband of 25 years, Brian Hooker, had been living out on their sailboat in the Caribbean when she vanished over Easter weekend.

Brian Hooker, 59, was arrested by the Royal Bahamas Police Force on Wednesday. Under Bahamian law, the authorities have four days to decide whether or not to charge him before they must release him.

Karli Aylesworth, Lynette Hooker's 28-year-old daughter, told The Detroit News that she was told on Thursday that police were questioning her stepfather.

Steve Hansen, Aylesworth's boyfriend, told the outlet that the family does not expect Brian Hooker to be charged 'unless they find blood on the dinghy or her body or some key evidence like that'.

'They just want to put pressure on [him] until they have something,' Hansen added.

In a statement through his attorney on Friday, Brian Hooker claimed that the rough water conditions caused his 55-year-old wife to fall overboard on April 4.

The pair were out at sea on the roughly eight-foot-long vessel while their main boat, Soulmate, was docked near Elbow Cay.

Lynette Hooker went missing in the Bahamas after falling overboard during a boat ride with her husband Brian Hooker on April 4. Brian Hooker claims she fell overboard from their dinghy as they were making their way back to their sailboat docked near Elbow Cay

Lynette Hooker's daughter Karli Aylesworth, 28, has cast doubt on Brian Hooker's version of events. She has pointed out that her mother is an experienced sailor, making it hard for her to believe she just fell out of the boat

Brian Hooker said his wife had the keys to the dinghy, which caused the engine to automatically shut down when she fell overboard.

In text messages he sent to a friend, he said that Lynette Hooker tried to swim back to the boat but that the wind separated them 'pretty quickly', CBS reported.

According to him, he had to paddle for hours until he reached Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at around 4am on Sunday. He alerted someone, who then called police about Lynette Hooker's disappearance.

Aylesworth has felt that her mother's disappearance has been suspicious since the beginning.

She has pointed out that Lynette Hooker is an experienced sailor and that it wouldn't have been like her to clumsily fall out of a boat, even in choppy waters.

She also found it hard to believe that her mother had the keys since her husband is 'always' the one driving.

In an interview with CNN, she questioned why Brian Hooker did not try harder to find her.

'Why wouldnt he drop anchor and look for her?' she asked. 'Why did he paddle the other way? If my significant other fell into the water, Id be freaking out and going after him.'

Lynette Hooker was arrested for domestic violence at her Kentwood, Michigan home in February 2015, court records show

Aylesworth (pictured with her mother and stepfather) said the couple often did not get along when they drank

Aylesworth also said there's 'history of him choking her out and threatening to throw her overboard'. Brian Hooker has denied this and insists he is not involved in his wife's disappearance

There is also a history of domestic violence between the couple. In February 2015, Lynette Hooker was arrested in Kentwood, Michigan, on charges of assault and battery/simple assault.

She was released because there was not enough evidence to determine who started the fight. Both of them were described as 'intoxicated'.

At the time, Brian Hooker said she 'struck him in the face multiple times', according to the police report. He was under the impression his wife was 'fooling around' with another man.

Lynette Hooker claimed that her husband had hit her in the forehead and choked her. According to the police report, she had no visible injuries, while he had a swollen and bloody nose.

Aylesworth has said her mother and stepfather have 'a history of not getting along, especially when they drink'.

And in an interview with Fox News, she said there's also 'history of him choking her out and threatening to throw her overboard'.

Brian Hooker denied Aylesworth's accusations in a statement to the Daily Beast. He has strongly denied that he had any involvement in his wife's disappearance.

His lawyer, Terrel A. Butler, added that he 'has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation'.

The US Coast Guard has opened its own criminal investigation and NBC learned on Thursday that the Royal Bahamas Police Force has requested American assistance.
Disturbing new photographs show the bloody wounds that the woman who allegedly fell overboard in the Bahamas is accused of inflicting on her husband during a past drunken rampage.

Lynette Hooker, 55, was arrested for domestic violence in 2015 after an alleged violent altercation with her husband Brian, 59, at their suburban Michigan home.

The alleged assault left Brian with a red, swollen and bloody nose, according to a Kentwood police report obtained by the Daily Mail.

Pictures captured by officers responding to the disturbance at the couple's Kentwood home show a solemn looking Brian with glossy eyes and flushed cheeks.

A streak of blood trailed down Brian's left hand, while large droplets were splattered across his right hand.

The injury to his nose was seemingly so gruesome that police redacted it with a large black rectangle in the files provided to the Daily Mail.

Brian told police that his wife 'struck him in the face multiple times' while drunk, the report said. Lynette also accused him of assaulting her, with officers noting that she had no visible injuries.

The newly unearthed report has raised questions about the couple's marriage, which Lynette's distraught daughter previously described as being 'volatile.'

When probed about the alleged domestic violence, Brian's attorney branded Lynette the 'aggressor' in their marriage and suggested that her client has been wrongly portrayed as an abuser.

Lynette Hooker was arrested for domestic violence in 2015 alleged assault that left her husband Brian with a red, swollen and bloody nose. The injury to his nose was seemingly so gruesome that police redacted it in evidence photographs provided to the Daily Mail

Pictures captured by responding Kentwood, Michigan police officers showed the bloody wounds that Brian obtained during the alleged assault

Lynette, described by officers as being 'highly intoxicated', was arrested at their home on February 1, 2015 on charges of assault and battery/simple assault.

The alleged altercation broke out after Lynette became upset about an intimate encounter allegedly taking place upstairs, the police report said.

She believed an individual named Jacob Hooker was 'fooling around' with an unnamed person in a locked room in the house, according to the filing.

She tried to open the locked door and struck Brian in the face 'four to five times' after he tried to calm her down, he told police.

Brian told police he 'had never been hit like that in a long time' and 'started to cry and became emotional,' the report said.

It is unclear how Jacob, who according to public records was 23 at the time of the incident, is related to the Hookers.

Lynette did tell responding officers that her children had locked themselves in a room upstairs, the report stated. She alleged Brian choked her and punched her one time as she tried to get in the room.

Brian, who police noted was also intoxicated, was not arrested, despite Lynette's allegations against him.

Brian, pictured after the February 2015 incident, told police that his wife 'struck him in the face multiple times' while drunk. Lynette also accused him of assaulting her, with officers noting in their police report that she had no visible injuries

Lynette and Brian were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media

The warrant against Lynette was ultimately denied after authorities deemed there was 'insufficient evidence as to who started the assault.'

When approached by the Daily Mail on Thursday about the alleged assault, Brian's attorney Terrel Butler said: 'I have not discussed this with my client yet, but to my understanding she's the only one that was charged in that incident.'

'I will say this [arrest] clearly changes the image that has been portrayed of him as being violent or an aggressor.'

Asked specifically if Brian had a history of violence, Butler reiterated that her client has denied the allegations of abuse.

'The facts speak for themselves,' she continued, speaking about the investigation into the alleged incident.

'Rest assured, if it had shown him being the aggressor there would have been some record of that.'

The Hookers have been married for more than two decades and spent the past four years as boat-life vloggers living on their yacht Soulmate.

Lynette, whose loved ones say she was an experienced boater, plunged into the waters off the Abaco Islands while traveling with Brian on Saturday.

Lynette went missing in the Bahamas after falling overboard during a boat ride with her husband Brian on Saturday. She is said to have fallen from a dinghy as the couple were making their way back to their sailboat

Lynette's daughter Karli Aylesworth, seen with her mother and stepmother Brian, claimed it is unlikely that Lynette would 'just fall' off the boat

Brian was arrested by police in the Bahamas on Wednesday in connection to his wife's disappearance.

He was detained on the Abaco islands five days after he returned from the expedition without her, claiming she fell overboard.

Authorities first interviewed Brian and released him, then brought him back in as a witness for further questioning.

He was later brought in for questioning a third time, as a suspect, according to Butler.

The Royal Bahamas police said Brian was questioned 'on probable cause' and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife's disappearance, but he has not been formally charged.

Butler said her client 'categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing' in his wife's disappearance, saying he 'has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.'

The couple were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media, authorities said.

On Saturday evening, they took out an eight-foot motorboat from Hope Town in the Bahamas, but only Brian returned.

He told authorities that his wife fell overboard with the boat keys as they were returning to their yacht 'Soulmate', causing the engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle to the shore.

As of Friday morning, Lynette - whose family has described her as an experienced sailor - still remains lost at sea. Rescuers have now moved to a recovery operation

Brian Hooker was arrested in the Bahamas on Wednesday in connection to Lynette's disappearance. He 'categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing'

But text messages Brian purportedly sent to a boater friend Daniel Danforth have revealed apparent inconsistencies in his story - with Brian first claiming that strong winds pushed him and Lynette apart 'pretty quickly' after she fell off a dinghy.

'The wind blew me away from her and she swam towards the sailboat, and we lost sight of each other pretty quickly as it was just about sundown,' Brian allegedly wrote to Danforth in a series of messages obtained by the Daily Mail.

He then apparently shared how he 'drifted' and 'tried to paddle with one oar' for seven hours before he made it to the shore of a neighboring island.

Danforth reached out to Brian on Monday evening after seeing a news report about Lynette's disappearance, the messages purportedly showed.

He told Brian that he was keeping the Hooker family in his prayers and asked if there was anything he could do to help them during this hard time.

Brian thanked Danforth for his support and shared how their 'family is in hell' after search and rescue crews failed to locate his missing wife, the messages showed.

'They are going back out tomorrow but a storm is coming in Wednesday,' he added.

Danforth said he checked in with Brian again on Tuesday morning, offering him a place to stay and a helping hand.

Brian Hooker allegedly told Daniel Danforth that strong winds pushed him and his wife Lynette apart 'pretty quickly' after she fell off a dinghy in the Abaco Islands, according to a series of text messages shared with the Daily Mail

Brian told him that he moved his boat to Marsh Harbor and was sleeping on it, the messages showed.

He added that his sister and brother-in-law had since flown to the Bahamas and he planned to stay with them for a few nights before continuing to search for Lynette.

Brian then went on to congratulate Danforth on his recent sailboat purchase. Danforth told the Daily Mail that he has not heard from his friend since.

Danforth and his wife Shana met the Hookers while sailing in New Orleans three years ago. He described the couples as being 'fellow yachting friends.'

Although Danforth was closer to Brian than Lynette, he has now expressed skepticism over his buddy's recount of events.

He told the Daily Mail: 'I don't believe the entire story.'

As of Friday morning, Lynette - whose family has described her as an experienced sailor - remains lost at sea. Searchers have now moved to a recovery operation.

In a statement to the Daily Mail earlier this week, Brian said he is 'heartbroken' by his wife's disappearance, describing the incident as a 'boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds.'

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,' Brian said. 'We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.'

Lynette and Brian had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan

Lynette's heartbroken daughter Karli Aylesworth called for a full investigation into her mother's disappearance after accusing Brian of having previously threatened to harm his wife

Brian's attorney Terrel Butler, when asked about the 2015 incident, suggested that Lynette was the 'aggressor' in the couple's relationship

Lynette's heartbroken daughter Karli Aylesworth has tried to poke holes in her stepfather's statement, claiming Brian only left her a voicemail about Lynette's disappearance three days after she vanished.

In the voicemail shared with CBS News and NewsNation, Brian is heard saying: '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.

'And uh, so they're, that's a, they haven't found her yet, but they're, they can now focus of all their efforts on in a smaller area, and they're still out there searching today. So I just wanted to update you and let you know.

'I love you. I'll talk to you later bye, bye-bye.'

Aylesworth has also called for a full investigation into the tragedy after accusing Brian of having previously threatened to harm his wife.

In an interview with Fox News, she referenced 'prior issues' in Lynette and Brian's marriage and claimed they had a 'history of not getting along, especially when they drink.'

'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 the outlet.

'There has also been a history of domestic violence in that relationship, so I do believe something might have happened to her.'

Aylesworth has not responded to the Daily Mail's multiple requests for comment.

Butler said, in a statement, that Brian's denial of wrongdoing includes in particular 'the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth.'
A Texas judicial candidate facing down a crucial primary runoff election is married to a registered sex offender who assaulted one of her relatives, court records have revealed.

Christina Montes, 44, is a Democratic candidate running for judge of County Court at Law No. 2 in El Paso.

Court records viewed by the Daily Mail showed that her husband, 44-year-old Juan Manuel Montes, is required to register as a sex offender for life.

Juan Manuel was charged with indecency with a child by contact and sexual performance by a child over a 2011 incident that involved a 12-year-old female, who according to El Paso Matters, is a relative of Montes.

Mr. Montes took a plea deal in 2013, and the charges were dropped in 2020 after he completed seven years of community supervision.

However, he is still required to update his information on the Texas sex offender registry four times a year.

Notably, the local newspaper found that the judge who approved the plea deal, 171st District Judge Bonnie Rangel, who is retiring this year, donated $150 to Montes' campaign.

Manuel Montes was also among a group of 'bounty hunters' working for the company 9ONE5 Bail Bonds arrested in 2018 after they were accused of kidnapping a woman and child in an effort to get a person on bond to turn themselves in, court records showed.

Christina Montes, 44, is a Democratic candidate running for judge of County Court at Law No. 2 in El Paso

Court records obtained by El Paso Matters showed that her husband, 44-year-old Juan Manuel Montes, is required to register as a sex offender for life

The charges connected to the kidnapping case were later dropped due to insufficient evidence, El Paso Matters reported.

Court records indicate that Mrs. Montes represented 9ONE5 Bail Bonds in a lawsuit over the incident.

Mr. Montes has an arrest record that dates back to 1998 for charges including possession of a prohibited weapon, robbery and forgery that were all dismissed.

Records state that the couple married in 2006, and according to Montes' Facebook page she is a mother of six.

The couple has been previously charged with contributing to non-attendance after the children acquired a significant number of unexcused absences at school.

Montes is also facing a lawsuit from her previous landlord of the building that housed her law office over breach of contact.

She obtained her law degree from the now defunct Whittier College School of Law in 2018, and passed the Texas State Bar in 2019.

She operates her own law firm, Montes Law Firm, which specializes in criminal, family and immigration law.

Pictures posted on Facebook showed the couple campaigning together at recent events (Mr. Montes pictured on right)

Manuel Montes was charged with indecency with a child by contact and sexual performance by a child over a 2011 incident involving a 12-year-old female relative of Montes'

Montes is a candidate in the May 26 Democratic primary runoff election for the judge of County Court at Law No. 2

There is no Republican running for office, and the winner of the primary will take office on January 1, 2027, and serve a four-year term.

The judge presides over misdemeanor criminal cases including DWIs, family violence, burglaries and prostitution.

Pictures posted on Facebook showed the couple campaigning together at recent events.

The Daily Mail contacted both Montes' for comment.
A small town in Colorado could be declared abandoned because its water system is on the brink of failure, after the mayor's resignation over bitter neighborhood feuds sparked the complete breakdown of the local government.

Hartman, Colorado, which is home to approximately 30 residents, has been without a Board of Trustees since January, and its mayor quit in November, The Denver Post reported.

While Prowers County oversees most of the town's functions, including law enforcement and road maintenance, Hartman is unique in having its own water system.

Without an operational government, the water tower has been neglected, and there is no one with the legal authority to pay for the repairs.

The water supply issues have existed for years, according to the Denver Post, and without a certified water operator to test the water supply, a boil order has been in effect since September.

Records obtained by the newspaper show that a 2025 inspection found bacteria common in animal waste in the water supply, and state officials hit the town with a $132,746 fine for a lengthy list of violations dating back years.

A 2020 state inspection found holes and corrosion in the tower's roof and ruled its condition as 'poor.'

State officials also believe that groundwater is seeping into the town's well, and have repeatedly directed the town to replace the tank and regularly monitor it.

Hartman, Colorado, which is home to approximately 30 residents, could be declared abandoned because its water system is on the brink of failure

Former Hartman Mayor Catherine Fernandez said she resigned in October because she could not take the feuding between neighbors

However, without a local government, there is no one to keep the pump running, and state officials believe the chlorine supply will run out before the power to the pump is cut off.

Former Hartman Mayor Catherine Fernandez told the Denver Post she resigned in October because she could not take the feuding between neighbors.

'You had families fighting with each other because they thought this person was going to do the town evil, they thought that person wasn't going to work well with the town, and it was a complete mess,' Fernandez said.

State officials sent a delegation to meet with locals in February to discuss the severity of the issue, but the town remained divided on what to do.

'We had a frank conversation about the realities and challenges they're facing. I don't believe they understood the severity, that they might run out of water,' said Maria De Cambra, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

State lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would make it easier for officials to declare a town abandoned.

The bipartisan bill would allow a county, landowner or registered elector in the town to apply for abandonment when a town has no board of trustees or clerk, is unable to hold an election, and operates critical infrastructure for delivering water to its residents.

Current law requires a town to wait five years before the secretary of state can deem it abandoned.

Without an operational government, the water tower has been neglected, and there is no one with the legal authority to pay for the repairs

The water supply issues have existed for years, and without a certified water operator to test the water supply, a boil order has been in effect since September

The proposed legislation would also provide $100,000 in grant funding to operate a town's water system while it is applying for abandonment.

Kevin Bommer, the executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, told The Denver Post the bill could be a significant step to addressing Hartman's problems.

'This bill represents the best opportunity for the very serious drinking water system issues in Hartman to be resolved,' he said. 'But there's no guarantee that will happen.'

Governor Jared Polis even wrote a letter to Prowers County leaders telling them that this new bill would give them the authority over the water system, the newspaper reported.

'If Hartman's water system continues to operate and somebody does gain authority to oversee it, the state would be willing to work with the ultimate operator to identify funding, including potentially the grant funding previously allocated to Hartman but not yet spent, for much-needed repairs to their water infrastructure,' Polis wrote.
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Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd will face a public parole grilling in a bid to be freed, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The Parole Board today announced that it had made a preliminary decision in the interests of justice to grant an application for the appeal to be heard in public.

There are now seven days for anybody - including the press and the public - to make representations regarding the application before a decision becomes final.

In theory, this can include applications against a public hearing. It is believed Shepherds lawyers argued that a public hearing would expose him to added pressure and he would be unable to give full evidence.

Parole Board chairperson Alexandra Marks said in a statement on its website: It is the Board Chairs preliminary view that it is in the interests of justice for the case to possibly be heard in public.

Ms Marks gave seven detailed reasons for coming to the conclusion including the serious and unusual nature of the offence.

She also considered that whilst on police bail Shepherd committed the offence of wounding with intent to cause serious bodily harm and absconded.

All representations in the case must be filed by midday on Friday, April 17. The Parole Board will then assess the statements and make a final decision.

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd (pictured) will face a public parole hearing in a bid to be freed, the Daily Mail can reveal

Charlotte Brown (pictured), 24, was thrown from Shepherd's boat when it capsized on the River Thames in December 2015

The case of Shepherd garnered national attention after the shocking details of the death of Charlotte Brown were revealed in court.

In December 2015, 24-year-old Charlotte had been on a first date at the Shard with Shepherd when they decided to take a speedboat down the Thames.

His trial was told that Captain Jack Shepherd was showing off by drunkenly zooming up the Thames in the defective craft he had bought to pull girls.

When he flipped the 14ft craft after hitting a submerged log, Charlotte was thrown into the icy waters in darkness. He was rescued but Charlotte drowned.

Rather than explain his actions, cowardly Shepherd went on the run to Georgia, and was eventually tried in absence in July 2018  when he was sentenced to six years in prison.

The Daily Mail launched an investigation to find him and successfully did so in January 2019. He was extradited back to Britain from Georgia in April of that year.

Months later, Shepherd was given a further four years for a vicious glassing attack on a barman at a Devon hotel.

Shepherd was freed halfway through a ten-year sentence for the manslaughter of Charlotte.

He was released in January 2024, but recalled to prison in September 2025 after breaching his licence conditions.

The Daily Mail reported at the time that he was arrested after a complaint on August 4 about his coercive and controlling behaviour and assault.

Reacting to his recall, Ms Browns dad, Graham Brown told The Sun: Hes back where he belongs.

Charlotte was killed when Shepherd took her on a high speed ride past the Houses of Parliament in his defective speedboat

The day after Shepherds second police interview on February 8, 2016, and nine weeks after the crash, he got married to his childhood sweetheart

Hes never shown remorse for his part in the death of my daughter. I think about her every day. The pain is never far away.

Ill never forgive him and still believe he poses a risk to females.

Brown believes his daughters killer has not served enough time behind bars for the crime and claimed he had never told the truth about what actually happened.

Shepherd had insisted that Charlotte was at the wheel when his boat hit a log and capsized near Wandsworth Bridge, implying that she was partly to blame.

But a witness on the balcony of a riverside flat challenged his story by saying she saw a single figure at the helm looking into the water, before the boat hit a pier.

Mr Brown told Sky News in January: Hes never said what really happened. What he has said conflicts with what we do know and what came out the trial.

The pure fact he took my daughter out on a speed boat at 10pm, without any life jackets, on a very dangerous stretch of the River Thames and accelerated up to 30 knots and then say it was her fault. This is his pattern of behaviour. This is what Shepherd did. Nothing what he said can be believed.

Charlotte, who lived in London, but grew up in Welling, Kent, was found to be only slightly over the drink-drive limit for alcohol after her body was recovered while rescuers said Shepherd appeared drunk.

His trial heard how he had bought vodka, before sharing two bottles of wine with Charlotte at the Shard and downing champagne on his boat which he had bought on Gumtree.

Mother Roz Wickens, 58, spoke to the Daily Mail in January 2025 about her continuing anguish over the loss of her daughter.

She said: I will continue to want to know what happened on the fateful night Charlotte was taken away from us, but I dont think I ever will.

Only he knows what really happened as Charlotte cannot speak for herself. But if he came out with anything now, I wouldnt know if it was true because of all the stories he has told.

JS will never tell the truth and I feel that the truth may implicate him further. He will never know or fully understand the true devastation he has caused me and my family.

Roz is certain that her daughter would never have driven a boat recklessly and believes that she was thrown out while he was showing off by performing a high speed manoeuvre.

Part-time delivery driver Roz of Sittingbourne, Kent, believes that he would have drunk far more than her daughter due to her relatively low alcohol reading, although police failed to breathalyse him on the night of the tragedy.

She said: We dont really know for sure what happened. I have got my gut feeling, but I dont know for certain. My feeling all along is that she fell out of the boat while he was driving, and he was left there.

He was seen alone in the boat by a witness when he seemed to be looking round for her in the water.

Roz added: My heart will always ache for the loss of Charlotte, but no matter what happens with the release of JS, nothing will bring her back.

Shepherd  a self-styled Casanova - got married to someone else just a day after police quizzed him about the accident that killed Charlotte.

Before being rescued he was heard crying to rescuers help me rather than us.

In an ITV documentary about the case, Detective Superintendent Chris Davis revealed a witness saw the boat before the crash.

He said: She remembered looking down from her flat, and she had only seen Jack Shepherd in the boat. She believed he was looking over [the] side of the boat. She couldnt see Charlotte.

The day after Shepherds second police interview on February 8, 2016, and nine weeks after the crash, he got married to his childhood sweetheart.

The killer and his wife had a baby, born less than a year after the death of business consultant Charlotte.

Aged 38, the web designer has now been given a chance for freedom again.
President Donald Trump has apparently leaned into the design theory that you can never have too much gold.

On Friday morning, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, Trump's longtime social media guru, shared a fresh video of the Oval Office.

With the song Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band playing, Scavino teased a new addition.

His camera zoomed over a coffee table decorated with the presidential seal, over Trump's model of his desired Air Force One and then over the Resolute Desk.

It then focused on a giant gold eagle statue.

The big bird will be visible over the President's shoulder when he is seated at the historic desk.

The eagle appears to be carrying a gilded version of the US Constitution, as 'we the people' can faintly be made out.

Scavino's only message about the Oval Office addition was 'good morning' and the inclusion of American flag, eagle and rocket emojis in the post.

On Friday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino shared an Oval Office video in which a large golden eagle statue made its debut

Scavino labeled the video 'Good morning,' including emojis of an American flag, an eagle and a rocketship

Since returning to the White House in January last year, the President - a real estate developer in his past life - has installed golden details everywhere.

The Oval Office is now covered in golden ornamentation.

Some critics suggested the gold decals were purchased from Home Depot.

In November, when Trump took Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham on a tour of the Oval Office, he pushed back on those claims.

'You know the one thing with gold? You can't imitate gold, real gold. There's no paint that imitates gold,' Trump said. 'So these aren't, like, from Home Depot.'

'No, this is not Home Depot stuff. This is not Home Depot,' Trump added.

Trump has also decorated the outside of the Oval Office with gold, creating his Presidential Walk of Fame, with gold portraits of the commanders in chief - and an autopen representing Joe Biden - and other gold ornamentation.

He is in the midst of a project to remove the taupe pavers beneath the Walk of Fame, replacing them with black granite, so they go better with the gold-and-white motif.

President Donald Trump's future ballroom is covered in gold - gold chandeliers, gold trim, gold floor lights, gold chairs, gold plates and gold candlesticks

And, of course, the most ornate structure on the White House grounds will eventually be the President's ballroom, if Trump gets his way.

Interior ballroom designs show gold chandeliers, lamps and trim, with the tables surrounded by gold chairs, dinner served on gold plates and lit by golden candlesticks.

The ballroom project continues to face legal hurdles, with a federal judge last week asking for construction to be stopped, as a National Trust for Historic Preservation lawsuit makes its way through court.

At the same time, the National Capital Planning Commission, the oversight board that Trump stuffed with his allies, approved the project to go forward last week.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that new renderings of the President's massive 250-foot triumphal arch show it is quite golden too.

The images show 'one nation under God' written in gold, a gold Lady Liberty statue on top of it and four gold lions surrounding the structure.
Rival Turkish barber shop workers who swung scissors and spanners at each other in a huge 'turf war' brawl on a busy high street in Wales have been spared jail.

Witnesses described a 'very violent gang fight' after workers from the Kurds Barbers in Newbridge, Caerphilly, travelled to nearby Blackwood to confront workers at the town's Marmaris Turkish barbers on February 13.

Marmaris barber Omed Pirot, 31, was planning to open another shop in Newbridge which was 'not well received' by staff at Kurds.

Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said women having their own hair done in a neighbouring salon screamed as the men fought up against their shop window.

An off-duty detective was having her hair washed at the Absolutely Fabulous salon and told hairdressers to lock the doors and dial 999.

Thirteen men were involved in the shocking brawl which saw four hospitalised, including one who was treated for stab wounds, though none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, police said at the time.

Officers recovered several pairs of scissors and other makeshift weapons from the scene.

Mr Gobir said: 'This case involved a large-scale disturbance in Blackwood town centre on a busy Thursday afternoon during which weapons were used.

Thirteen men were involved in the shocking brawl which saw four hospitalised, including one who was treated for stab wounds

'The violence seems to have stemmed from a feud between two barbers shops - those being Marmaris on the high street in Blackwood and Kurds Barbers 2.7 miles away in Newbridge.'

Footage of the brawl which showed the men fighting in the street, some armed with weapons, was shared on social media.

Cardiff Crown Court heard a number of people were injured, including one who suffered a stab wound that required stitches.

Mr Gobir said three cars were driven from Newbridge to Blackwood and parked up on the high street when violence started in the middle of the afternoon.

Mr Gobir said: 'The two factions then meet up on the street and a large-scale fight erupts.'

Witnesses described 'two gangs fighting one another' with weapons including spanners and scissors.

Omed Pirot, and Shahab Husseini, 25, denied violent disorder and affray but were found guilty after a three day trial.

Sardam Ebrahimi, 28, was cleared of the same offences.

Officers recovered several pairs of scissors and other makeshift weapons from the scene

Bryar Muradi, 28, Alan Karimi, 31, Adnan Mohamad, 30, Bave Hamed, 31, and Krmani Sadiq, 30, all admitted affray.

Judge Daniel Williams said: 'The violence stemmed from a feud between two barbers shops. One in Newbridge and one in Blackwood.

'Whatever its origin, there was no justification on either side for what happened.'

The judge said that after the two factions met up 'a disgraceful scene of public violence then took place - a pitched battle in the middle of the high street where members of the public, including children, were going about their daily business'.

Pirot and Husseini were given 18-month suspended sentences, ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and pay 600 costs.

The remaining defendants were given 15-month suspended sentences, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay 400 costs.

Speaking at the time, Gwent Police said: 'We're investigating two reports of violent disorder on Thursday 13 February, after officers were called to High Street, Blackwood, at around 2.45pm and High Street, Newbridge, at around 2.55pm.

'Four men were taken to hospital for treatment; three of them were later discharged while one remains receiving treatment.

'None of their injuries sustained by those involved in the disorder are believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.'
A former BBC producer has been found guilty of downloading child abuse images.

Dylan Dawes, 50, had more than 6,000 indecent images of children on his devices when they were seized by police.

Dawes denied having a sexual interest in children and said someone else may have used the devices.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the married father-of-three was arrested in 2022 after officers searched his home and found indecent images on four devices, including a hard drive, laptop and two iPads.

Dawes, who worked with presenters including Final Score host Jason Mohammad and comedian Rhod Gilbert, told the court he had 'fairly regularly' viewed 'adult pornography' but denied having downloaded indecent images of children.

Harry Baker, prosecuting, said the images had been found on four of Dawes's devices - which were sometimes left overnight at the BBC's Cardiff headquarters - and it was unlikely this was an 'unhappy coincidence'.

Judge Eugene Egan told the jury: 'The prosecution effectively said to you: "What are the chances of that?"'

Dawes joined the Corporation while living in London in 2000 and started his job at BBC Wales after moving to Cardiff in 2001, where he worked as a producer on radio shows and podcasts.

Dylan Dawes pictured arriving at Cardiff Crown Court after more than 6,000 indecent images of children were found on his devices

The images were found on devices which were sometimes left overnight at the BBC's Cardiff headquarters

While at work Dawes said he would not take his computer with him to the studio, instead leaving it at his desk for 'extended periods of time' where it was freely available to colleagues.

He had been on a family holiday to Disneyland Paris in February 2022 and arrived home in Canton, Cardiff, at around 1am. He was woken by police at 7am and taken for questioning.

After his arrest he said he was suspended on full pay and signed off sick with 'stress' - adding he did not investigate who else may have used his devices.

Dawes was one of hundreds of staff at the BBC Wales building in Cardiff, which opened in 2020.

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.'

He added that Dawes claimed he had loaned an iPad to a colleague 'for purely work-related purposes'.

During a police interview, Dawes gave 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.'

Andrew Taylor, defending, said Dawes was of 'good character' and described him as an intelligent man who would have known to dispose of any evidence rather than move images into the easily-accessible bin on his devices.

'He didn't get rid of it because he had no reason to believe that there was any imagery on his devices that was incriminatory,' Mr Taylor said.

Dawes will be sentenced on May 14 and has been bailed. He must also register as a sex offender

The court heard Dawes had 'no idea' how the images were downloaded and denied having used the search term 'jailbait', suggesting someone else may have accessed the devices.

Dawes, of Cardiff, was suspended from his job at the BBC after his arrest and is no longer employed by the broadcaster.

On Friday he was found guilty of three counts of possessing an indecent image of a child, and three counts of making an indecent image of a child.

Judge Egan said the jury had reached their decision 'on what they found to be absolutely overwhelming evidence'.

Dawes was bailed ahead of his sentencing on May 14 and must now register as a sex offender.
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A Sudanese man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants drowned trying to cross the Channel.

The 27-year-old was arrested at the Manston processing centre in Kent, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Two men and two women died as they attempted to climb on to a so called 'taxi boat' at Equihen-Plage, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Thursday morning.

The new people smuggling tactic, designed to avoid detection by French police, sees dinghies travel along the coast with just a driver to pre-designated beaches where migrants enter the water to climb onboard.

Two children were among those taken to hospital as a precaution after the incident and another person was treated for hypothermia.

Thirty-eight people were returned to the French shore after the incident south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais, but 74 migrants travelled on to the UK.

The arrested man remains in police custody, and The NCA is interviewing those who made it to the UK.

A large rescue operation was launched just after 7am yesterday, with onlookers seeing several bodies floating in the water

A tent was set up to handle victims of the incident in the northern coastal city of Equihen-Plage

Endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK is a new offence introduced as part of border security legislation earlier this year.

In January, an Afghan national, became the first person to be charged.

According to the Home Office, the offence is designed to stop more people being crammed into unsafe boats and would apply to those involved in physical aggression and intimidation, as well as anyone who resists rescue.

French government official Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, told reporters on Thursday the people who died were 'already quite far into the sea', adding: 'The currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away.'

The agency is helping French authorities with their investigation.

It came a day after French emergency services took part in a training exercise to practise dealing with migrants in the water at the same beach where the deaths happened.

Last week, two migrants died in a similar crossing attempt - thought to be the first of the year.

Craig Turner, NCA Deputy Director, said: 'Working with colleagues at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these four tragic deaths.'

Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: 'Crossing the Channel on often faulty and defective dinghies is immensely dangerous and puts lives at risk.

'Labour's weak approach which allows these crossings to continue is causing lives to be lost, and their unwillingness to take decisive action on illegal immigration is fuelling this crisis. Nearly 70,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel since Keir Starmer came to office  he doesn't have the backbone to do what is necessary.

'Stopping the crossings requires more than disruption on the beaches. It requires the swift removal of those who enter illegally so the incentive to make these dangerous journeys disappears.

'Ending illegal immigration requires real deterrence, and only the Conservative Party has a comprehensive plan to leave the ECHR and rapidly remove every illegal arrival within a week.'

Survivors of the incident were handed thermal blankets by emergency responders

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More than 5,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, according to Home Office data.

Britain is bracing for a 'bumper' summer of Channel crossings after Emmanuel Macron snubbed UK proposals for boats to be sent back to France.

Talks over a new migrant patrol deal were plunged into chaos after Shabana Mahmood pushed for Border Force vessels to be able to intercept boats carrying migrants in French waters and return them.

But Paris rebuffed the Home Secretary, saying the sovereignty of France's territorial waters was a red line and that British boats cannot enter them.

Despite this, the Home Office confirmed it was handing over another 16million of UK taxpayers' money to the French authorities for anti-crossing measures to remain in place for another two months while talks continue.

Critics said it showed Labour's plan for stopping the boats was 'shambolic' and 'in a state of collapse'.

They also warned of a surge in crossings if France and the UK fail to agree new terms on funding French beach patrols.

Home Office minister Mike Tapp said: 'Every death in the Channel is a tragedy. Our experienced law enforcement teams will continue working relentlessly with international partners to prevent these perilous journeys and bring those responsible to justice.

'Through our Border Security Act, officers now have stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt, intercept and take down the operations of criminal smuggling gangs who bring illegal migrants to our shores.'
An asylum seeker accused of raping a drunk woman on Brighton beach branded his friend 'an animal' after witnessing him spit in the alleged victim's face, a court heard.

Iranian-born Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, said he was 'disgusted' after watching Egyptian Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, grab hold the the woman's face and spit in her mouth.

He told the court: 'I pushed him and was swearing to him and told him: "You are an animal".'

He said he had never witnessed such unacceptable behaviour in his life and said watching it happen made him angry.

Ahmadi said he was so appalled by it that he later apologised to the woman for the actions of his friend.

Iranian Ahmadi and Egyptian-born Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, accused of repeatedly raping the woman, while Al-Danasurt allegedly filmed the attack and egged them on.

All the three men are charged with rape while Al-Danasurt is additionally charged with sharing intimate videos of the attack.

Hove Crown Court heard the alleged spitting incident happened after he and Alshafe had met the woman on the seafront after leaving a nightclub.

Karin Al-Danasurt, a 20-year-old from Egypt, allegedly spat in a woman's face after she was raped on Brighton Beach. He is accused of rape and is additionally charged with sharing intimate videos of the attack

Egyptian national Ibrahim Alshafe (pictured), 25, and Iranian-born Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, are also accused of repeatedly raping a woman on Brighton Beach

Ahmadi said they had met the 33-year-old woman after she walked up to them and kissed them both.

After kissing him he said the woman grabbed his genitals before doing the same to Alshafe.

He said she then suggested they have sex together and said something like 'Come to sex' before leading them across the road, down a ramp and onto Brighton beach.

He said the three of them were having 'consensual sex' with the woman behind a beach shack when Al-Danasurt turned up.

Ahmadi said they told Al-Danasurt to go away and after watching for a short while he walked off down the beach.

However, just minutes later, he returned with the torch on his mobile phone turned on.

Ahmadi told the court Al-Danasurt was laughing at them.

He told the court Al-Danasurt grabbed the complainant by the throat and forced her mouth open and spat in it.

Johnny Ray, defending, asked: 'How did it make you feel?'

Speaking through an interpreter, Ahmadi replied: 'I thought why are you doing that to somebody else. I was very angry.'

Mr Ray said: 'What did you do?'

He replied: 'I pushed him and was swearing to him and told him: "You are an animal".'

He said he stopped having sex with the victim and then walked back up the ramp and onto the promenade.

Hove Crown Court heard he was followed by the other two men and the alleged victim.

Ahmadi then told the court Alshafe and the complainant sat on a bench facing the sea and were 'kissing and cuddling.'

Mr Ray asked: 'Was [the complainant] doing that in consensual way?

Ahmadi replied: 'Yes.'

He said Al-Danasurt again spat on the alleged victim as she sat on the bench with Alshafe.

Ahmadi said: 'He repeated that again, what he did at the beach. He opened his mouth and spat on her.

'As soon as I saw that I pushed back at him and said "Sorry" to her. I pushed him with my hand then punched him to his shoulder and then I left and went to the other side of the road.'

He said that the complainant said goodbye to them by kissing both him and Alshafe.

The men are said to have filmed themselves getting ready for a night out before catching a bus into Brighton

After getting a bus back to their hotel after the alleged rape, the migrants are said to have filmed themselves having the barbecue in the hotel grounds

Ahmadi told the court: 'She kissed me and said: "Goodbye" and I left. Before I leave her I said: "Sorry, sorry".'

Mr Ray asked: 'What were you sorry for?'

He replied: 'Because of Karin.'

The court previously heard three short videos of the alleged rape - one 29 seconds in length, one 22 seconds and the last one eight seconds - were later recovered from Al-Danasurt's phone.

The jury were told Alshafe and Ahmadi arrived in the the UK by small boats in June 2025 while Al-Danasurt had arrived by the same method in September 2024.

All three men were staying at the Cisswood House Hotel, Horsham, West Sussex - a Home Office-approved hotel for those either seeking or appealing their asylum and immigration status.

Hove Crown Court heard the three men had got ready at their hotel before catching a bus into Brighton for a night out on October 3 last year.

They had first gone to Revolution Club before leaving in the early hours of the morning and going to the nearby Horizon nightclub.

The alleged rape happened after all three defendants and the complainant left the nightclub.

The woman - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - previously told the court she was barely able to stand after being separated from her friends when she left the club after 5am.

Earlier Hanna Llewellyn-Waters, prosecuting, told Alshafe he had used an abused the woman 'for his own sexual gratification' and treated her like 'trash'.

In cross-examination she told Alshafe: 'Let me tell you what the prosecution say happened on October 4. You had been knocked back by several women that night.

'You were on the prowl with your two co-defendants having been knocked back.

'The three of you settled on a woman who was entirely vulnerable. The suggestion by you she wasn't very drunk, may I suggest, is ridiculous.'

'You took her into the darkness and did what you wanted to her. You used and abused her for your own sexual gratification.

'You thought her vulnerability was funny. You left her in pieces. You slapped her face and enjoyed her being treated like dirt.

'To you she was trash and that night you were nothing more than a nasty little predator. A nasty little predator.'

All three men deny all the charges.

The trial continues.
BY late yesterday afternoon it was blindingly obvious that the fuel blockades crippling the country had ceased to be legitimate protests about energy prices and had tipped over into anarchy and sabotage.

Like most people, I have every sympathy with people whose livelihoods depend on the affordability of fuel, and can certainly understand why they believe the Government could do more to alleviate their pain  even if thats an entirely unsustainable demand.

But blocking the capitals main thoroughfares for three days in a row, and boasting about turning OConnell Street into a car park, felt less like an outpouring of frustration by people whod otherwise have been gainfully employed, and more like some recreational blackguarding by welfare-addicted layabouts with nothing better to do.

Tractors blocking Dublin's O'Connell Street this week

Barricading fuel depots and obstructing commuters is as valid an expression of discontent as the looting of Footlocker in November 2023. It is sinister, subversive and clearly orchestrated by shadowy forces with agendas profoundly at odds with the public good.

Right now, Iran is hanging teenagers who protested peacefully against that monstrous regime last January  lawful protest is essential and healthy in a functioning democracy.

But parking a truck on OConnell Bridge and walking away is not a legal act, especially in a city where your car will be clamped, and a swingeing fine imposed on you, if you overstay by five minutes at a parking space on any street in the capital.

Punishing your fellow citizens for circumstances entirely beyond the countrys control is no way to win support for your cause, and on the contrary is likely to harden public sentiment against it.

Nobody wants a Government that caves in to bully-boy tactics, and yet thuggish behaviour has been rewarded, rather than punished, in the past.

The then-tanaiste, Joan Burton, was trapped for several hours in a car by water charge protesters back in 2014, but instead of declaring those outrageous scenes to be a Rubicon that the malcontents had crossed, the Government instead rolled over and scrapped the charges.

More recently, they gave in to the farmers over the Mercosur deal, squandering valuable political capital in Brussels by voting against a free trade agreement which Ryanairs Michael OLeary, who is also a beef farmer, has argued will benefit this countrys agriculture sector in the long run.

At the time of the water protests, Joan Burton caused liberal vapours when she wondered how so many who couldnt afford a fiver a week for water could still stretch to expensive smartphones and tablets to film the protests  God forbid anyone should be expected to live without the latest technology, no matter whos footing the bill.

A similar sense of entitlement has informed much of the response to the idea of personal rationing to offset fuel price rises.

The Taoiseachs reasonable advice to drive slower so as to conserve petrol was scorned, even as speed-related road deaths spiral.

Motorists trying to get around the blockade on the M18 motorway

On radio last week, a motorist complained that hed been forced to car-pool with workmates to share fuel expenses, but how did it ever make economic or climate-conscious sense for colleagues heading to the same workplaces to travel alone in five- or even seven-seater vehicles?

Thats basically like hauling your three-piece sitting-room suite to work every day, and wondering why your commuting costs are high.

This is not Siberia. Nobody is going to die of hypothermia in April if we turn off the radiators a few weeks early, or expire from exhaustion on a walk to schools or offices.

Last week, former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan recalled the taste of petrol, from the oil crisis of the 1970s, when motorists siphoned fuel from their own cars to bail out strangers stranded by empty tanks.

We have more options these days, with remote working now a possibility that didnt exist back then, and increasingly sustainable and renewable energy sources  wind power was the stuff of sci-fi half a century ago  prove that we didnt entirely waste that particular crisis.

As Tanaiste Simon Harris has pointed out, our national finances are in a far healthier state than they were when the banks collapsed in 2008.

Common sense, resilience, obvious economies and, most of all, pulling together, as the motorists of the 1970s did, are the measures required to get us through this emergency.

But blocking other citizens from getting to their work, their studies or their hospital appointments under the guise of legitimate protest is a very ominous development indeed.

Charlie's Angels may have run headlong into danger... but the danger of looking your age? Not so much...

Angels Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd looking eerily youthful

Its all of 50 years since Charlies Angels first hit our screens  a sort of crime-fighting Spice Girls outfit, for those too young to remember  and three of the original Angels got together this week to mark the occasion.

Considering that Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd, who replaced Farrah Fawcett-Majors, have a combined age of 231, theyre eerily youthful, despite looking as though someone took their faces apart and put them back together in a hurry, and not necessarily in the right order.

Jaclyn, 80, hailed the show as ground-breaking because it was about women chasing danger instead of being rescued.

That seems to have been a hard habit for Joanna Lumley, who played their UK equivalent Purdey in The Avengers, to break: a thief who tried to nick the 79-year-olds car in London this week was chased from the scene by a dressing-gown-clad Joanna commanding him to f*** off.

How Meghan egged on the conspiracy theorists with THAT Easter family egg-hunt video

To mark the Easter celebrations, Meghan Markle released a video of her children Archie, six, and Lily, four, running through a meadow on an egg hunt at their California home.

At least, we have to take her word for it that they were her kids, since they were filmed from behind and their faces were obscured, to protect the privacy that the near-reclusive Meghan values so much.

Once again, the conspiracy theorists were out in force, with some wondering if the pair were twins since, despite the two-year age gap, they seemed to be the same height.

Meghan Markle released a video of her two children on an Easter Egg Hunt at their home

Still, given the irreparable meltdown in the Beckham clan, which estranged son Brooklyn has blamed on his parents relentless oversharing on social media throughout his childhood, its hard to blame any celebrity for wanting to keep their children out of the spotlight as much as possible. But if Meghan really wanted privacy for her family, then why release any images of the nippers at all?

I reckon its more likely that shes deliberately cultivating interest in her children with these teasing shots, so that she can eventually sell the first official pictures to the highest media bidder for a kings ransom.

Banned Kanye takes flight with festival millions

Kanye West, pictured with wife Bianca Censori, has been banned from the UK

Kanye West had already pocketed his $15 million (13m) fee for playing at the Wireless Festival in London before he was banned from Britain this week over his antisemitic antics. Hes described himself as a Nazi, released a song called Heil Hitler last year, and sells T-shirts emblazoned with the swastika, but has blamed his behaviour on bipolar disorder.

His erratic behaviour in the past few years, including trashing a 60 million house that he never lived in, seem to suggest a genuine mental health problem. Then again, there was little sympathy from many black celebrities for John Davidson, the Tourette sufferer who shouted the N-word at the Baftas in February, so sauce for the goose and all that.

Sources suggest West will refuse to refund his fee  not quite mentally disordered enough, then, to hand back $15 million without a fight?

How Michael O'Leary is lightening his load

Ryanairs decision to increase cash bonuses for staff who catch passengers with oversized bags seems to be paying dividends, Michael OLeary said this week. Even though the 2.50 that the staff get for ruining some poor sods trip is a fraction of the 75 charge, its been incentive enough to reduce the number of outsize bags dramatically.

The more people whinge on social media about being caught for the charge the better, he says, pointing out that the more PR you get, the more the numbers go down.

While its not like him to celebrate a drop in revenue, lighter planes mean less fuel, so it probably balances out. He boasts hes never been fined because Im the most compliant passenger ever, and having seen the RTE documentary Turbulence  he charged Tony Ryans aunt 3 for a drink  I reckon hed fire any employee who didnt penalise him for an outsize bag.

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary says the number of outsize carry-on bags is on the decline

These storm names sound like the cast of a soap opera

Ah, here. Weve only just seen off Storm Dave and now it seems that the next storm on the calendar is called Storm Eddie.

It is surely time to review the wisdom of inviting the public to suggest names for the annual alphabetical roll call of weather events, because theyre beginning to sound like the cast of a soap opera, or the guest list for a stag weekend.

At least Storm Chandra, which struck in January, struck a suitably ominous and unpredictable note, and even in real life youd give anyone called Eowyn a wide berth.

Still, they might not have had a great selection to choose from  whats the betting that at least half of the suggestions were Stormy McStormface?
Horrific footage in the sentencing trial of Athena Strand's killer led a Texas TV station to pause its broadcast as jurors were shown grisly images from her last moments.

The fourth day of the trial of Tanner Horner, 34, on Friday saw NBC Dallas Fort Worth temporarily end its stream when investigators revealed fresh evidence against the killer.

The broadcast was halted as jurors were played nightmarish audio and shown images from inside Horner's FedEx truck that he used to abduct the seven-year-old from outside her home in Paradise, Texas, in November 2022.

The evidence reportedly included excerpts from an hour-long video in which Horner strangled the girl to death, which the outlet opted not to share on its site.

It came after prosecutors also showed images of straps found inside Horner's truck after Strand's murder, including a bungee-like cord and a looping rope.

A forensic crime scene investigator took the stand on Friday, telling the court that a forensic test revealed a large amount of bodily fluids had been cleaned inside the truck.

Investigators did not specify what bodily fluids were found, but said they were believed to be from the moment that Horner strangled Strand to death.

Alise Amey, a crime scene investigator with the Wise County Sheriffs Office, added in follow-up testimony that when they found Strand's body, there were marks on her face 'consistent with the floor' of the van.

Horner was seen closing his eyes and bowing his head as much of the horrific evidence was displayed in the courtroom.

Tanner Horner, who has admitted to killing seven-year-old Athena Strand, closed his eyes and bowed his head as horrific evidence was shown in the courtroom during his sentencing trial. A Texas TV station paused its broadcast during some of the presentation

The seven-year-old was kidnapped and strangled by Horner when he was delivering gifts to her family home in North Texas in November 2022

Prosecutors also showed images of straps found inside Horner's truck after Strand's murder, including a bungee-like cord and a looping rope

Horner was set to begin trial this week and had previously pleaded not guilty before he abruptly changed his plea to guilty on the eve of the trial.

He is now facing a sentencing trial as jurors will decide if he should face the death penalty for murdering the seven-year-old.

Horner abducted Strand from her family's home in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022, as he delivered a box of Barbies to the residence. The toys were meant to be her Christmas present.

Strand was strangled to death by Horner in his truck, with her tortured last minutes captured by a microphone in his vehicle after he covered a camera inside.

Horner initially told police that he unintentionally hit the child with his truck before 'accidentally' killing her in a panic.

But his story soon unraveled when police found an image from his truck camera that showed Strand alive in the vehicle as Horner drove her away.

The horror evidence shown on Friday came after jurors were cautioned at the start of the trial by Wise County prosecutors that they would still be presented with all the gruesome details in the case, including the horrific audio of Strand's killing.

Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said: 'You are going to hear what a 250lb man can do to a 67lb child. And when I say it's horrible, I mean it.'

Horner is 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.

Forensic investigators said tests showed a large amount of bodily fluid was cleaned from inside Horner's FedEx truck, as they revealed marks found on Strand's face when her body was discovered matched those from the floor of the vehicle

Additional straps found inside Horner's van

Jurors were shown new images from inside Horner's FedEx van on Friday

Strand was abducted from her family's home in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022

The horrific audio came after jurors were shown separate footage from Horner's interrogation after his arrest in November 2022, revealing that he made an audacious request to enjoy a month with his son for Christmas in exchange for information about Strand's death.

The jury was told that Horner requested to have the interview with investigators, and he began the conversation by telling them: 'I imagine that you have, basically, a list and bullet points that you want to know from me.'

'There's only one thing in this world that I want,' Horner said. 'I want a month.'

He continued: 'You can't do that, I understand. Even if y'all have to put an ankle monitor on me, GPS monitor, check-ups with you.

'If you give me a month with my family, so I can have Christmas with my son, I'll tell you everything.'

Police told the suspect that his entitled request was likely impossible, as he was under arrest for the murder of the child.

'Either way, that's basically my price,' Horner responded. The request was not granted.

Horner was set to go on trial before abruptly pleading guilty to capital murder this week. He now faces a sentencing trial

Strand is filmed being driven to her death by Horner. He admitted the November 2022 murder in court on Tuesday, with jurors warned they must still endure graphic evidence of the little girl's final moments so they can decide if he should face the death penalty

In separate footage from Horner's interrogations shown on Thursday, it was revealed that the killer told police that his alter ego, named Zero, was the one who murdered Strand.

He described feeling detached from his actions as he strangled her to death, saying he was 'in the back seat watching everything happen, and Im kind of freaking out.'

Horner said he was under heavy stress for the six months that he worked as a FedEx driver and was suffering repeat mental breakdowns, and said it was around this time in the summer of 2022 when he started being his alter ego, 'Zero'.

'It started off as like, almost like a little devil on my shoulder kind of thing, you know what I mean?' Horner told police following his arrest.

'But then after a while, it just kind of turned into I was switching back and forth sometimes, like at times where I was stressed out, I would essentially switch, if that makes sense.'

He said he would often wake up in strange places and not remember how he got there, and said when 'Zero' took over he was 'in the back seat.'

Horner said that when he first encountered Strand, 'Zero kind of took over', and he began referring to his alter ego in the third person.

'He told her, 'Just get in the back of the van, we're going to go to the hospital,'' Horner said in his police interview.

He said he didn't kill Strand, but his alter ego did, saying: 'I didn't do it, but he did, and that's what fucks with me... I'm wondering who the hell's been in my head this whole time.'

Bodycam footage shown in court then revealed how Horner took the officers to search for Strand in a wooded area.

The jury was shown footage of Horner's arrest in Texas on December 30, 2022

Body camera footage showed how Horner led police to the wooded area where he tossed the little girl's body

Horner's alter ego 'Zero' directed officers to a cliff near a guardrail where they found Strand's naked body lying beneath the water, the court heard

After they failed to locate her, Horner told officers he was unsure of her exact location because of the callous way he dumped her remains.

'I just kind of tossed her in,' he said, adding, 'I don't know why y'all haven't found her yet.'

Horner, whose lawyers cited mental illnesses during their opening statements, only told officers the exact location of her body after they spoke directly to his 'alter ego'.

The killer presented as Zero multiple times throughout his two-hour-long interrogation at the jail.

'His demeanor, physical demeanor changes,' Texas Ranger Joshua Espinoza said on the stand. 'His head goes into a sideways motion. His eyes roll into the back of the head, and he pretends to turn it to Zero.'

Espinoza said that he knew to find Strand's body, he would have to 'play his game' and 'address him as Zero.'

Once the ranger spoke to 'Zero,' Horner directed them to a cliff near a guardrail and showed them where he had placed Strand's body.

Espinoza testified that he saw her naked body lying beneath the water.

The ranger then addressed Zero directly: 'I know Tanner didn't sexually assault this girl. I know Tanner didn't hurt this girl, but I know you did. Did you sexually assault this girl?'

'No,' Horner replied.

'Did you kill this little girl, Zero?' the detective asked.

'Tanner wouldn't do it,' Horner replied.

'Thank you for bringing me to her. Thank you for letting me get her home,' the detective said.

The trial continues.
Donald Trump has warned Iran that it should strike a deal within a day or he'll end the ceasefire and launch a new wave of strikes.

'We're going to find out in about 24 hours. We're going to know soon,' Trump told the New York Post after dispatching Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan to lead peace talks.

It's his latest salvo in a string of ultimatums against the Islamic Republic that has defined the President's handling of the war.

'We have a reset going. We're loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made - even better than what we did previously, and we blew them apart,' he said.

'And if we don't have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.'

The upcoming peace talks are expected to center on Trump's demands that Iran surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping.

In a Truth Social post later on Friday, Trump said the Iranians 'don't seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!'

Tehran, meanwhile, is pushing for immediate relief from US sanctions, continued control over the strait, and compensation for wartime damages.

'We're going to find out in about 24 hours. We're going to know soon,' Trump told the New York Post

The aftermath of an Israeli strike in Lebanon. Iran claims a ceasefire in Lebanon is key to peace talks with the regime and US

JD Vance is heading to Pakistan to meet with the Iranian delegation

Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that peace talks were not going well, accusing the US of already violating the terms of the ceasefire.

Qalibaf said two key measures previously agreed upon have yet to be carried out, including a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and the release of frozen assets.

Trump on Thursday pressured Israel to slow down attacks on Lebanon as the strikes threatened to thwart peace talks with Iran.

The President admitted that he'd told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'to be sort of a little more low-key' as Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff lead negotiations in Islamabad.

US and Israeli officials described Trump's phone call with Netanyahu on Thursday as 'tense', according to CNN.

An Israeli source said that Netanyahu believed if he did not immediately call for direct talks with Lebanon then Trump would simply declare a ceasefire on his behalf.

Shortly after the call, Netanyahu announced he would engage with Lebanese authorities in peace talks.

US officials are concerned that Israel's campaign against Lebanon could crumble the fragile three-day-old ceasefire before the peace talks even begin.

US and Israeli officials described Trump's phone call with Netanyahu on Thursday as 'tense'

The President's rising unfavourability appears to have been driven in part by surging gas prices after the strait's closure, with the national average climbing to $4.10 per gallon

According to the latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, American voters were 'relieved' that the President decided to take the off-ramp instead of escalating the war.

The survey found that 33 percent of voters view the deal as a good outcome for the United States, compared to 18 percent who see it as a bad one.

Another 28 percent of respondents said they feel neutral about the agreement, while 20 percent remain unsure, underscoring the public's mixed but measured reaction.

The President's falling approval appears to have been driven in part by surging gas prices after the strait's closure, with the national average climbing to $4.20 per gallon.
This is the moment a brave group of passers-by smash their way into a food shop engulfed by flames in a bid to rescue a man trapped inside.

The heroic group could be seen desperately attempting to prize open the security shutter with batons.

A furious fire could be seen burning through the gap as the men, as well as police officers, rushed to help the man inside Grocers Basket on Edgware Road.

And just seconds later, the man could be seen crawling through the small gap as another person helped drag him away from the inferno.

Police and a large group surrounded the 36-year-old, who was barefoot and covered in ash and soot in the aftermath.

Meanwhile, the flames crept up beneath the shutters and blazed against the storefront window in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The fire tore through the food shop as well as both the first and second floor flats above, as firefighters rushed to cool a potentially explosive gas cylinder inside.

A second video taken from further down the street showed droves of police officers and 40 firefighters descending on the scene.

The 36-year-old man has since been taken to hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the Met has said.

A heroic group of passers-by bravely levied up shutters of a food shop in a bid to save a man trapped inside

As the flames engulfed the shop and the flats above, the man, who was covered in soot and ash, managed to escape

Droves of police officer and 40 firefighters descended to the scene on Edgware Road in the early hours of Thursday morning

A police officer was also taken to hospital, and their injuries are also understood to be non-life-changing.

Officers found the shop engulfed in an inferno after they were 'flagged down' by members of the public, and called firefighters and the ambulance service at 3.36am.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: 'Most of the ground-floor shop and part of the first and second floors of the building were damaged by fire.

'Firefighters located a gas cylinder on the first floor and removed and cooled it to an ambient temperature as a precaution.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, incident response officers, an advanced paramedic and a clinical team manager.

'We also dispatched paramedics from our hazardous area response team. We treated one patient and took them to hospital. We also assessed one other person and discharged them at the scene.'

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'On Thursday, 9 April at around 03:45hrs, police on patrol were flagged down to reports of a fire on Edgware Road, Paddington.

'On arrival, officers discovered a shop on fire with a 36-year-old man inside and alerted the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade, who both attended.

'Police entered the building to rescue the man. He was taken to hospital and his injuries have since been assessed as non-life-threatening or life-changing.

'While rescuing the man, a police officer was injured and taken to hospital. His injuries have also been deemed non-life-threatening or life-changing.'

'The cause of the fire remains under investigation. There have been no arrests.'

The force has urged anyone with information to contact police on 101, quoting CAD902/09APR26.
Sentebale has accused it's co-founder Prince Harry of launching a 'co-ordinated adverse media campaign' which caused 'operational disruption and reputational harm' after filing a defamation action against him.

The charity, which helps young people with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, has launched a High Court lawsuit for libel and slander against the Duke of Sussex and his friend and former royal equerry Mark Dyer.

In a message issued by Sentebale's Board of Trustees and Executive Director, the charity claimed it had been subject to a 'coordinated adverse media campaign' conducted since March 25 last year.

Sentebale said this caused 'operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners' and also 'had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership'.

The campaign supposedly involved the circulation of 'false narratives' through the media, attempts to 'undermine' its relationships with staff and partners and forced a 'diversion of leadership time and resources into managing a reputational crisis not of the charitys making'.

Sentebale said it decided to take legal action to secure the protection of its operations and partnerships, adding the 'costs of doing so are met entirely by external funding and no charitable funds have been used'.

Harry responded to the allegations in a statement issued by a spokesperson on behalf of him and Mr Dyer. It said: 'As Sentebale's co-founder and a founding trustee, they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims.'

Prince Harry speaks at an event with Sophie Chandauka in happier times

Prince Harry founded Sentebale in 2006 in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana

Harry alongside former Royal Equerry Mark Dyer during the Sentebale Concert at Kensington Palace in 2016

Harry dramatically quit the charity's board last year following a bitter public feud with chairwoman Sophie Chandauka, whose leadership he described as 'untenable'.

Sentebale, which means 'forget-me-not' in the language of Lesotho, southern Africa, was co-founded by the prince in 2006. It has faced a funding crisis since his departure a year ago.

The row with Ms Chandauka began in 2024 when the Sentebale board challenged her over a 400,000 bill for consultants they said had brought little return.

She was asked to step down but instead complained to the Charity Commission, alleging bullying, misogyny and racism.

She accused the the duke of trying to 'eject' her through 'bullying' and 'harassment', which he denies.

After a probe, it found no evidence of bullying, but said there had been weak governance and criticised all parties for allowing an internal dispute to become public.

In March 2025, the trustees resigned en masse, blaming Ms Chandauka's 'almost dictatorial' leadership. Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, resigned as patrons, calling the situation 'untenable'.

The 41-year-old prince later called the breakdown in the relationship with Ms Chandauka 'devastating' and criticised her leadership, saying the consequences 'will not be borne by her, but by the children who rely on Sentebale's support'.

Public court records gave no details about the allegations in the lawsuit against Harry and Mr Dyer, who was also a trustee of the charity.

The charity recently slashed staff in the UK and Botswana in a bid to save 1million.

In August last year, four of the five employees based in the organisation's London office were made redundant, including its global head of finance and compliance.

Sources claim one in five staff in Botswana were also laid off, including the country director Ketlogetswe Montshiwa, and staff said they feared there was a 'significant cash flow problem'.

Published accounts show Sentebale ran through almost all its reserves as the row deepened in 2024. Monthly income fell by a quarter and the amount of cash in the bank fell from 1.5million to 207,000 by December 2024.
Critics of President Donald Trump are fuming at the Pentagon's plans to automate the military draft, a change the President ushered in by signing legislation in December.

Since then, Trump has ordered US troops into Venezuela to capture dictator Nicolas Maduro and has gone to war with Iran - despite pledging on the 2024 campaign trail that he would keep the country out of 'forever' wars.

So when the Selective Service System, the agency that handles the draft, submitted the 'automatic registration' rule change to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in late March, that raised eyebrows because now there's a war to fight.

'Starting in December, there will now be automatic registration for the U.S. military draft,' pointed out Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Charles Booker. 'On one hand, Republicans want to make it harder to VOTE.'

'On the other, they want your loved ones automatically registered to serve in an endless war overseas,' the former state lawmaker added.

Failed Democratic congressional candidate Qasim Rashid echoed the sentiment.

'Somehow automatic voter registration isn't possible - but automatic registration for the draft program is both possible and now required,' he posted to X on Wednesday. 'MAGAs don't want to make it easier for young people to vote - just easier for them to die in Trump's illegal wars.'

Rashid also noted that Trump's hardline immigration stance is reflected in the policy.

Critics of President Donald Trump are fuming at the Pentagon's plans to automate the military draft

President Donald Trump speaks about a mission to rescue a wounded American servicemember in Iran on Monday

'Any immigrant who doesn't register within 30 days of turning 18 can be criminally charged,' he said.

The rule itself is not new, but has attracted fresh scrutiny amid Trump's sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration.

The automatic draft registration provision was included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by Congress and signed by Trump in December.

Auto-enrollment of eligible men aged 18 to 25 is expected to begin in December 2026.

That does not mean the President is reinstituting the draft - it simply changes how men would be enrolled if one were ever called.

Under existing federal law, men turning 18 are required to register with the Selective Service System against the possibility of a military draft.

Americans have not been conscripted since Vietnam; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were fought entirely by volunteer forces.

None of which stopped Trump from raising the spectre of the draft to frighten voters away from his rival, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Two male and one female Army recruit are photographed participating in a fitness test

A group of basic trainees are photographed gathering in the woods. The December legislation changed the way draft eligible men would enroll but doesn't mean a military draft is coming

'Would anybody like to be drafted, in the audience?' he asked at a Las Vegas rally in September 2024.

'Because that's what they're doing. She's already talking about bringing back the draft. She wants to bring back the draft, and draft your child, and put them in a war that should never have happened,' Trump said.

The remarks were baffling enough to prompt a PolitiFact fact-check - Harris had never raised the military draft during the campaign.

'We have no idea what he's talking about,' a Harris spokesperson said at the time.
Russian cyberattacks on the UK increased by 1,586 per cent in a year after the UK backed Ukraine in the war, a report has revealed.

Moscow escalated its covert cyberwar against Britain and its Nato allies in the wake of their support for Kyiv, a defence think tank found.

The UK was singled out as the primary target for the majority of Russias attacks, according to the Henry Jackson Society.

After just seven recorded cyberattacks in 2022, Russian activity against Britain surged to 118 attacks in 2023, the latest year for which figures are available.

Spikes in activity were correlated with UK decisions to increase diplomatic, military and cyber support for Ukraine - strongly suggesting deliberate retaliation by Moscow, it found.

The UK was the sixth most targeted Nato country during the period studied, according to the report which uses data from the Cyber Peace Institute.

It found that two-thirds of Russian cyberattacks on Nato were concentrated on just eight countries, with the UK the primary target.

Russian hackers focused on crucial infrastructure, with 31 per cent of attacks aimed at transport networks and 27 per cent on public administration, it found.

Russian cyberattacks on the UK increased by 1,586 per cent in a year after UK backed Ukraine in war (stock photo)

In June 2024, a cyberattack on the Synnovis pathology laboratory - which provides testing services to NHS hospitals in London - disrupted more than 3,000 hospital and GP appointments, delayed a childs cancer surgery and led to the theft of sensitive patient data.

Security experts described it as one of the most damaging cyberattacks ever to hit the UKs healthcare system.

It found hostile cyberactivity was correlated with a visit by Ukrainian cyber officials to the UKs National Cyber Security Centre in January 2023.

Attacks also took place in March 2023 when a UK speech at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) described Russia as a cyber threat.

There was another burst of activity in May 2023, when Britain announced it would supply Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.

The report also warns that Russia is increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its cyber operations, making them more sophisticated and harder to detect.

In Ukraine, Russian cyber operations have shut down parts of Ukraines power grid, targeted hospitals and civilian infrastructure, and attempted to disrupt air-raid warning systems during missile attacks - actions the International Criminal Court has warned may amount to war crimes.

It calls on the UK and its allies to strengthen its defences against cyber attacks  particularly in transport, public administration and manufacturing, which account for the majority of Russian attacks on Britain.

It also calls for more intelligence sharing between allies and support for Ukraine, which is on the frontline of Russian cyber attacks.

And it urges the UK and its allies to prepare for further escalation from Russia as the war in Ukraine continues.

Michael McManus, the author of the report and the Societys director of research, said: This data shows Russias cyber operations are strategic and retaliatory, not random.

Cyberwarfare is now a central pillar of Russias confrontation with the UK and Nato. When Britain backs Ukraine, Russia responds with cyberattacks on transport, government and health systems. The scale of the surge in 2023 should be a wake-up call.
A San Francisco man was arrested early Friday after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's luxurious mansion.

The unidentified man, 20, threw the fire bomb and set an exterior gate on fire. The suspect quickly fled on foot shortly after 4am, the San Francisco Police Department said.

It was not immediately clear whether Altman, 40, was at home when this happened.

Altman owns the $27 million Lombard Street mansion in the Russian Hill neighborhood that includes a wellness center, infinity pool and a subterranean garage with a car turntable, as reported by The San Francisco Standard.

Less than an hour later, police were called to OpenAI's headquarters on 3rd Street after a man allegedly threatened to burn down the building.

Police recognized the man to be the same suspect from the incident at Altman's mansion and immediately took him into custody.

Charges were still pending as of Friday morning, police said. The attack remained under investigation.

An OpenAI spokesperson told the Daily Mail that 'someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters' but that 'thankfully, no one was hurt.'

Sam Altman's Lombard Street mansion was targeted in an alleged Molotov cocktail attack early Friday, according to San Francisco police

A photo of the unidentified man, first obtained by the San Francisco Standard, was caught by surveillance cameras

An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail that 'someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's home' but that no one had been injured

It was not immediately clear whether OpenAI CEO Altman, 40, was home at the time of the attack

'We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe,' a company spokeswoman told the outlet.

OpenAI added: 'The individual is in custody, and we're assisting law enforcement with their investigation.'

Images taken of Altman's house after the incident showed multiple security cameras.

The unidentified man was caught by surveillance footage and a photo showing him outside Altman's home was first obtained by the San Francisco Standard.

No injuries were reported after the alleged attack, San Francisco police confirmed.

Few details have been released about the incident so far by authorities, who only said their investigation determined that officers had 'probable cause to place a 20-year-old male under arrest.'

OpenAI employees were told that the suspect threw the Molotov cocktail at Altman's home around 3.45am, The New York Times reported.

The company said it would increase police presence around its offices following the firebomb incident.

OpenAI is best known for developing ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot that has quickly grown into one of the internet's most used and visited websites.

Altman has not yet commented on the Molotov cocktail attack.

A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department told the Daily Mail on Friday at 4.20pm ET that there were no further updates to provide about the incident.

Altman previously claimed in a 2024 lawsuit that his high-end San Francisco home was a 'lemon' that was 'plagued by instances of poor workmanship and defects'

Security cameras could be seen outside Altman's luxurious Russian Hill mansion, which was allegedly attacked early Friday

OpenAI's headquarters, which have previously been the site of anti-artificial intelligence protests, were also allegedly targeted by the unidentified 20-year-old man

In a 2024 lawsuit, Altman claimed that his high-end San Francisco home was actually a dud 'plagued by instances of poor workmanship and defects.'

The OpenAI chief filed a suit against the home's developer through a corporation, claiming he 'was misled into buying a $27 million lemon.'

An Architectural Digest tour of the mansion showed a separate wellness cottage and a garage with a 'turntable' for cars that emerges out of a 'Batcave' tunnel.

As a whole, the roughly 9,500-square-foot mansion includes five bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms.

The home spans an entire block on Lombard Street in the Russian Hill neighborhood.

The lower level includes a four-sided Norwegian stone pool, while the guest house features vaulted ceilings, a sauna and a steam room with custom stone benches.

A hot tub deck with an outdoor shower and splendid views of the city can be enjoyed outside.
Addition of prominent insurance recovery group fuels expansion of the firm's

national platform in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta

NEW YORK and NEW JERSEY, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- With the addition of a nationally recognized 12-lawyer insurance recovery group, Barnes & Thornburg  a national law firm with more than 850 lawyers in 26 markets  significantly expanded the suite of insurance litigation and risk management services that the firm's Insurance Recovery Group provides to its clients. The group builds on a solid foundation and tradition of the firm exclusively representing policyholders in coverage disputes and adds a strong East Coast presence to its existing Midwest and West Coast footprint.

"This sophisticated group joins us at a pivotal time as we execute on our vision to build on our national areas of strength and provide crucial, market-leading service to our clients," said Managing Partner Andrew J. Detherage. "This latest acquisition continues our strategic growth and success as a destination for high-level talent."

The insurance recovery team joins Barnes & Thornburg from Lowenstein Sandler and is led by partner Lynda Bennett, who will serve as co-chair of Barnes & Thornburg's Insurance Recovery Group. Partners Arthur Armstrong, Alexander Brown, Craig Dashiell, Rachel Hudgins, Eric Jesse, Jeremy King, and Heather Weaver round out the East Coast additions along with associates Alexander Corson, Madison Diaz, Michael Kleinman, and Madilynne Lee.

"I'm excited to join Barnes & Thornburg as co-chair of its Insurance Recovery Practice in the firm's New Jersey and New York offices. I'm especially proud that my team of 11 lawyers and two outstanding assistants have joined me in this next chapter," said Bennett. "Our team is now strategically based across our East Coast offices in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, with more growth ahead."

The group represents corporate policyholders in high-stakes insurance coverage litigation addressing leading edge coverage issues across a wide array of coverage lines. They help clients maximize their insurance assets and have secured billions in recoveries for D&O, RWI, Cyber, Product Liability, Environmental, Construction, Employment, Severe Bodily Injury and all other manner of liability claims. Likewise, Barnes & Thornburg is among a select few national law firms that exclusively represent policyholders and manage risk on behalf of clients.

"Our team is highly effective because we are a known quantity within the insurance industry and we understand how the market works. We have deep relationships with insurance brokers and are respected by our adversaries for being strategic and pragmatic," said Bennett. We are excited to join Barnes & Thornburg because the combination of our two insurance teams creates a coast-to-coast powerhouse of highly skilled coverage practitioners who will leverage the firm's national platform to serve our clients wherever they need us."

Bennett joins fellow co-chairs Lilit Asadourian and Kevin Dreher to guide this new team that now includes 50 insurance lawyers and places them across the country from Los Angeles to New York.

"This team's industry prowess is an incredible addition and asset for our clients. They are extremely knowledgeable about the global insurance industry and seasoned litigators when it comes to insurance coverage and bad faith matters," said Litigation Department Chair Randy Brown.

The addition of these 12 lawyers follows Barnes & Thornburg recently adding a 39-lawyer Public Finance and Infrastructure group to its Government Services and Finance practice and the associated opening of three new offices in Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix. With the addition of this insurance recovery team, Barnes & Thornburg has now welcomed 85 lawyers to the firm in 2026.

"We are excited for this powerhouse insurance recovery team to join our East Coast offices, particularly in New Jersey and Philadelphia where we have built a substantial presence since opening in 2022 and continue to scale our regional footprint," said Michael C. Zogby, managing partner of the firm's office in New Jersey. "Our new colleagues are not only renowned legal strategists but also proven leaders. Their deep roots in New Jersey and Philadelphia, combined with a prominent national profile, reinforces our commitment to excellence for our clients."

About the Partners

Lynda Bennett (New Jersey/New York) aggressively litigates, negotiates, and resolves complicated disputes on behalf of corporate policyholders. A "Band-1" Chambers-ranked attorney, Lynda has more than 30 years of commercial litigation experience and has secured billions of dollars in insurance recoveries for her clients. Lynda was named one of New Jersey's Best 50 Women in Business. Beyond her practice, she is a trailblazer in professional development, having founded her previous firm's Women's Initiative Network (WIN) and served as Past President of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association.

Arthur Armstrong (Philadelphia) focuses his practice exclusively on representing corporate policyholders in high-stakes insurance recovery matters. He represents privately held and publicly traded companies against primary and excess insurers to secure and maximize coverage under cyber, property, commercial general liability, directors and officers (D&O), errors and omissions (E&O), and other insurance policies. He has extensive experience counseling clients at all stages of an insurance claim life cycle.

Alexander Brown (Philadelphia) represents corporate policyholders in high-stakes insurance litigation in both state and federal court and has successfully represented his clients in some of the largest insurance recovery efforts. Brown also represents clients in other commercial contexts, including commercial contract disputes, as well as disputes involving TV and film, music, publishing, and likeness rights.

Craig Dashiell (New Jersey/New York) is a commercial litigator who focuses on resolving complex financial disputes between companies or between individuals over a wide range of matters, including breach of contract disputes and business divorce, as well as trusts and estates litigation with millions of dollars at stake. Dashiell also has extensive experience litigating insurance coverage disputes on behalf of corporate policyholders across a wide array of coverage lines.

Rachel Hudgins (Atlanta) represents corporate policyholders in high-value insurance disputes and complex claims, litigating in state and federal courts across the country, including U.S. territories. She is known for balancing litigation strategy with pre-suit resolutions. Rachel is also an active thought leader, frequently presenting at industry conferences and authoring chapters and articles for business and insurance publications.

Eric Jesse (New York/New Jersey) has advised corporate policyholders for over a decade on an array of insurance issues in mergers and acquisitions, claim disputes with insurers, and the placement and renewal of insurance programs. In particular, he has deep experience with several niche specialty policies, including representations and warranties (R&W) insurance, directors and officers (D&O) policies, and cyber insurance.

Jeremy King (New York) has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in recoveries for corporate clients in insurance coverage disputes and other civil litigation matters across the country. He regularly represents corporate policyholders seeking to maximize insurance coverage under commercial general liability, directors and officers, crime, property, cyber, and other types of commercial insurance policies.

Heather Weaver (New Jersey/New York) is an accomplished litigator who delivers successful outcomes for corporate policyholders in high-stakes insurance coverage and complex commercial disputes across state and federal courts. Her practice spans a broad range of coverage lines, including commercial property, commercial general liability, professional liability, cyber, crime, and product liability, positioning her as a trusted advisor for navigating the most challenging and high-exposure claims.

About Barnes & Thornburg

Barnes & Thornburg operates 26 offices across the United States, enabling more than 850 lawyers to serve clients nationwide. As one of the 100 largest law firms in the country, we provide seamless coast-to-coast coverage for high-stakes litigation, complex transactions and innovative IP matters. Our national reach and knowledge of local markets help clients conduct business confidently wherever opportunities arise. Visit btlaw.com.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Barnes & Thornburg LLP
The SNP squandered 6.2 billion in the last parliament - 3.4 million every day for five years - the Scottish Tories have revealed.

The Conservatives said the shocking sum was a result of idiotic and epic incompetence by Nationalist wastrels.

Leader Russell Findlay said many of the losses would worsen if the SNP return to power.

The waste includes ongoing problems with delayed discharge patients stuck in hospitals, fraudulent benefit claims, and the astronomic cost of replacing Glasgows Barlinnie jail.

Other failures to safeguard the public purse include 460 million blown on two overdue and over-budget CalMac ferries and 30 million on a ditched national care service plan.

Unveiling a giant receipt listing the SNPs folly as he campaigned in Glasgow, Mr Findlay said: John Swinneys SNP has thrown away at least 6.2 billion of taxpayers cash through their idiotic and epic incompetence.

This vast sum of squandered money could and should have been used to cut the taxes of hard-working Scots and improve broken public services.

All the while, these Nationalist wastrels decided to spend even more precious public cash on their desire to break up the United Kingdom.

Russell Findlay has accused the SNP of squandering 62.2billion over the last five years

Scots can bring an end to the SNPs disrespectful misuse of peoples money by voting Scottish Conservative on the peach ballot paper on May 7th to stop an SNP majority.

The Tory figures are based on over-spending by the Scottish Government and its quangos between 2021/22 and 2025/26.

They include 1.8 billion on failing to end delayed discharge, 1 billion for the new HMP Glasgow prison, an estimated 458 million in benefit fraud, 145 million on a botched census, 61 million on foreign aid, 20 million on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), 7 million on independence propaganda, 6 million on free mobile phones for prisoners, and almost 1 million fighting doomed court cases to defend gender reforms.

Then SNP health secretary Shona Robison vowed to eliminate delayed discharge in 2015.

It now costs Scotlands NHS at least 1.2million every day as around 2,000 patients are stuck in hospital despite being medically fit enough to leave.

Spending watchdogs recently calculated the 720,119 wasted bed days last year cost the health service a minimum of 440 million based on an average 618 per person per day.

The Tories also highlighted the improbably low levels of benefit fraud reported to prosecutors by the 7 billion a year devolved welfare agency Social Security Scotland.

The quango only reported around 30 cases between spring 2023 and late 2025, despite making an estimated 40,000 bogus payments worth more than 120 million over the period.

The UK Department of Work and Pensions estimates 2.2 per cent of all benefits payments are fraudulent.

SNP candidate Karen Adam said: The SNP will take no lectures on economic competency from someone who backed Liz Truss to the hilt as she crashed our economy. Scottish voters will never forget the damage the Tories inflicted on Scotland.

Unlike the Tories, Scotland has balanced its budget every year under the SNP and we will continue to manage the public finances prudently.

With just 26 days to polling, John Swinney will vow to revitalise Glasgow, on Saturday, if re-elected despite it being run by the SNP since 2017.

The First Minister will announce an urban development corporation for the run-down city centre, offer to pay the 1 million annual upkeep for the Clyde Tunnel to avoid charges for motorists, and confirm two GP walk-in centres.

SNP leader Susan Aitken has been repeatedly criticised for the chaotic state of Sauchiehall Street, rat infestations, litter build-up and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

Residents told the city councils own survey last year that it was like a war zone, and they felt ashamed of its filthy state, describing it as intimidating and a dump.

Mr Swinney said: Glasgow is one of Scotlands greatest economic assets - a cosmopolitan, thriving city, blessed with outstanding strengths and huge potential.

The plans I am setting out today honour Glasgows past and focus on the citys future.

Because unlike others who want to talk this great city down, I am clear that Glasgows best days are ahead of it.

The SNP is always on Glasgows side  and as First Minister I will do everything I can to make Glasgow flourish.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives will show their support at a Women Wont Wheesht protest at Holyrood on Saturday over SNP inaction in response to the landmark Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights delivered almost one year ago.

And Anas Sarwar will pledge a Scottish Labour government would help free up frontline NHS staff by tackling the mental health crisis with a new emergency response service.

The specialist support from paramedics, nurses and other mental health professionals should also avoid police officers being diverted from crime fighting to respond to crisis calls.

Mr Sarwar said: Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP.

Too many people in crisis are being let down.

Im standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

Labour candidate Paul Sweeney said Mr Swinney had a real brass neck to boast he was on Glasgows side when his party has completely failed the city over the last decade.

He said: For years, SNP ministers have treated Glasgow as an afterthought.

It is only now - four weeks out from an election - that Swinney is finally promising to act to clean up the SNPs own mess. People will not be fooled.
A woman was killed after taking 'full force' of a huge branch that had fallen from a decaying tree during an evening walk with her husband, an inquest heard.

Jen Higgins, 49, did not have time to react when the tree collapsed across the road onto the opposing pavement on Barlow Moor Road on August 20 2025.

Her husband Gawen Higgins, who was also injured by the beech tree, told Manchester Coroner's Court that his wife 'took the full force' of the branch.

He also added that his wife had 'no time to take evasive action' after they heard a 'loud crack' with a third of the tree's canopy falling to the ground.

'I was in a state of shock  Jen was on the pavement and not responding,' he told the inquest.

The beech tree, which had grown on privately owned land near the junction of Stanton Avenue, had been experiencing fungal decay.

And as a result, the tree's wood, which had not been pruned for at least 15 years, was 'almost like tissue paper', the inquest heard.

An off-duty nurse began CPR on his wife, with emergency services arriving mere minutes later. Despite their best efforts, Mrs Higgins died at the scene at 7.40pm.

'Jen died right there on the pavement, on a warm, pleasant evening,' Mr Higgins said, as he recalled 'a lot of diseased, rotten wood' on the ground, the BBC reported.

Jen Higgins, 49, died after being hit by a falling tree branch in Manchester last month

The fallen branch of a birch tree on Stanton Avenue in Didsbury which killed Ms Higgins

Mrs Higgins' cause of death was found to be multiple traumatic chest injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

Her husband was left with bruising and scratches following the incident on the walk with his wife and another couple.

Noel Nugent, a senior arboricultural officer at Manchester council, said the decay of the 'substantial branch' would not have 'been visible' before its fall.

He added that the 'particularly aggressive' fungus would have begun when the beech tree was 'cut back' and could have happened over 'years and years'.

The tree surgeon with 25 years of experience told the inquest that tree owners had 'a duty of care' to make sure their trees were safe, but not everyone could recognise the signs.

Karim Manssour-Dahbi, who had owned the land where the tree stood, said a general survey when he bought the property in 2020 had not highlighted any issues with the trees.

He said all seven trees on the grounds of his home appeared to be 'healthy with strong green growth', and expressed his condolences to Mrs Higgins' family.

Around 'four to five months' after he and his family moved in, he had hired a tree surgeon to trim the leaves as a 'shadow was not allowing the grass to grow'.

Since Mrs Higgins' death, Mr Manssour-Dhabu was ordered to have the remainder of the tree cut, and now only its trunk stands.

There was no Tree Preservation Order, and the beech tree was not situated in a conservation area, the inquest heard.

Assistant coroner Jennifer Swift concluded the PR boss's death was accidental, adding that tree owners were not required to look or inspect any decay.

'To me, this is nothing short of a tragic, devastating accident that occurred that day,' she said.

The part of the tree where the branch fell away can be seen next to the road

Ms Higgins was the founder and joint managing director of PR firm Carousel, which she ran with her husband, and had over 20 years of experience working on consumer PR and social media campaigns.

Following the inquest, her grieving husband paid tribute to his beloved wife, whom he wed in 2010, sharing her business success as well as her love for 'yoga, travel and walking'.

Her heartbroken family previously paid tribute to the 49-year-old in a statement which read: 'The family of Jen Higgins are heartbroken to confirm she lost her life in a sudden and tragic accident.

'She was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, and aunt  a vibrant and supportive friend to many; and a dynamic and widely respected member of the Manchester business community.

'You will no doubt empathise with the deep and profound shock we are feeling at this moment and ask for privacy while we grieve. A further statement will be issued when we feel able.'
A prominent Green candidate who wants to abolish prisons has said independence would see Scotland pay reparations to countries damaged through colonialism.

Kate Nevens, who is almost certain to become a list MSP for Edinburgh & Lothians East, also said shouting about Palestine was what I do most of the time.

And Ms Nevens, described by Green co-leader Ross Greer as one of his top candidates, admitted: I dont understand how local government works at all.

The Edinburgh North Eastern & Leith candidate, a former foreign policy expert, was speaking on the News Hub podcast.

Kate Nevens says an independent Scotland would pay reparations to countries for colonialism

She said independence was not coming up on the doorstep very much and just not peoples priority right now but she would love it to happen.

She said: As a small nation, we could start giving reparations to countries that we damaged through colonialism.

The comments, reported by the Times, emerged a day after Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay branded the Greens extremists for their justice policies, such as legalising hard drugs.

Tory candidate Sue Webber added: These remarks confirm how out of touch the Greens are with peoples real priorities.

Mr Greer has said some prisons will be needed, but defended Ms Nevens regardless.
They are normally welcomed by star-struck locals as the cream of Hollywood descend on Scots locations to shoot the latest blockbuster.

But a row has broken out over the filming of Amazons Highlander reboot, starring Henry Cavill and Scots actress Karen Gillan, on the Isle of Skye.

Filming has been taking place in Glen Nevis in Lochaber without any issues but on Skye  where its dramatic landscapes were used for the original Highlander  there is growing anger at the fact popular tourist car parks have been reserved for film crews.

Some of the areas affected are at Kilt Rock Mealt Falls, Old Man of Storr and a lay-by at Brides Veil  where a staircase-type structure near the picturesque backdrop has been constructed.

In most cases, half the car parks have been reserved between certain times on various days between April 15 and 17. But Bride's Veil car park will be shut off until April 21.

Locals and visitors have hit out on social media over the disruption that will be caused as the tourist season gets into full swing. Stephen Plant said: Why should a commercial entity have priority over tourists who have spent their time planning a holiday on Skye to visit iconic sites only to be told they cant go there because some film company has a right to film?

Surely the film company should work their schedule around times when tourists are less likely to be there.

Mel Crescent wrote: Great! I will be one of those tourists. Paid 700 for a cottage from next Wednesday for three days. Oh well, lets hope we still find lots to do.

Scots actress Karen Gillan stars in Amazons Highlander reboot, with filming taking place in some iconic locations in her homeland

Ilona Young added: Thank you for heads up. It is disappointing when you arrive somewhere after months of planning to go there, only to find out that it wont happen.

Having this knowledge allows me to add a Plan C. Patricia Mitchell sarcastically said: Tourists will love that, especially at the Storr, not!

But some welcomed the influx of the cast and crew, citing the economic benefits it will bring as well as the worldwide exposure for the island. Iain Cumming wrote: I think its brilliant and folk should stop whining.

Theres plenty other places to visit on Skye, theres more to this island than the Storr and the Quiraing. Youll get more bedlam at the Fairy Pools on a summers day than you will compared to these places being shut for a few days.

If a film company wants to highlight our beautiful scenery for the big screen and contribute to the local economy, as they frequently do, then let them crack on. Sick and fed up of this island being about tourism all the time.

Other cast members in the remake of the iconic film, which originally starred Christopher Lambert and Sir Sean Connery, include Russell Crowe, Djimon Hounsou, Dave Bautista, Marisa Abela and Max Zhang.

John Wick director Chad Stahelski is leading the project, which is a re-imagining of the 1986 feature about an immortal Highland swordsman battling for power in an age-old war.

Highlander was set to start filming in September 2025 but the schedule had to be delayed after Superman star Cavill suffered a leg injury in pre-production.

The Old Man of Storr car park will be closed for a period - sparking anger among some tourists

Film crew at Glen Nevis with the Highlander reboot again visiting some stunning locations

Hollywood-based actress Ms Gillan is also likely to be bringing her baby daughter with her.

The Inverness-born star and her husband, US comedian Nick Kocher, had Clementine in late 2024. In Highlander, she is taking on the role of the wife of Connor McLeod  played by English actor Cavill  the love of his life, who he meets while still a young man.

Skye has regularly been sought out by film makers.

Scenes for the Transformers movie  Transformers: The Last Knight  starring Laura Haddock, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mark Wahlberg, were also shot on the isle.

The Disney adaptation of Roald Dahls BFG, directed by Steven Spielberg, also featured parts of Skye.

Keanu Reeves 2013 film 47 Ronin had scenes shot near Neist Point, and the landscapes of Skye and Wester Ross had big screen exposure on Stardust, which featured Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro.

A Highland Council statement said: We cant share details of specific upcoming projects due to confidentiality, but we can confirm that the following car parks will be closed on the dates listed below and visitors should avoid these locations during those times.

Kilt Rock/Mealt Falls Car Park: 15th  17th April, Quiraing Car Park: 16th  17th April and Storr Car Park: 16th  17th April.
A prime parcel of land in sleepy Sundridge  in the heart of the Kent stockbroker belt  came up for auction last September.

The one-acre field in an area of outstanding natural beauty had a reserve price of 60,000 and attracted a flurry of bids, eventually going under the hammer for 167,000.

'We thought we could put the money to good use,' said John Evans, the tireless chairman of the parish council which owned the plot. His words were uttered with a weary smile. Who can blame him given the events of the past week?

For the auction's Lot 75 is now occupied by travellers who descended on the village over Easter, causing uproar in the community. Poor Mr Evans was unfairly blamed for selling the site to them  even accused by some of being part of a money laundering operation. The situation was made infinitely worse by unfounded rumours that the new 'residents' were part of an infamous clan jailed for forcing vulnerable individuals into slavery.

All this plus a confrontation with police when a static home loaded onto a truck became wedged in the country lane leading to the site, leaving the route impassable until the early hours of Monday.

Cue mayhem. Villagers arrived on the scene. Tempers flared. Police were called. Arrests were made  at least one arrest, anyway: the son of Mr Evans no less.

James Evans was carted off to a cell with his hands cuffed behind his back for telling two locals to ignore police requests to move their cars which were preventing the lorry entering the field, something that constituted 'obstructing an officer' apparently.

Remember, this is Sundridge (population about 1,200) where trouble of any kind is as rare as hen's teeth. Isn't it ironic, many might think, that the only person who ended up having his collar felt was a respected member of the community who runs his own landscaping business and who felt, rightly or wrongly, that the local constabulary was 'aiding and abetting' lawbreakers  the travellers  who were moving onto green belt land and carrying out work without planning permission.

Confrontation: Locals in the Kent village look on as a truck carrying the travellers' home gets wedged in the Kent lane leading to the site

The wider narrative, and a cautionary tale for towns and villages everywhere, is that what happened in this corner of Kent, on the outskirts of Sevenoaks where homes regularly command prices in excess of 2 million, is part of a tried-and-tested modus operandi.

The agricultural plot was one of three so-called 'land grabs' in three different counties  Surrey and Hertfordshire being the others  over the four-day weekend.

The timing was not a coincidence. Councils were closed over the bank holiday weekend and therefore unable to take any action to prevent planning rules being flagrantly flouted. Retrospective planning permission can be applied for building work in any case, including static homes on hardcore standings and human rights legislation ruthlessly exploited to avoid eviction.

This has created 'two-tier justice', according to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, which she has pledged to end by leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), if the Conservatives win the next general election.

Miles Martin Connors is the man who bought the land, Land Registry documents confirm. And he will be applying for retrospective planning permission, he revealed when he spoke to the Daily Mail.

'I just need somewhere to live with my family,' he said, a point reiterated by his wife Margaret, who added: 'No one else is going to live on this land, only me, my husband and my three children.'

Their two-bedroom static home is on hardstanding. Drainage pipes have been laid and a septic tank installed. Note that all this work was carried out over the Easter weekend, so there was no advance warning for residents.

But the family are living in a mobile home on the plot at the moment (there is also a caravan belonging to their daughter) because a temporary 'stop notice' was issued by Sevenoaks District Council on Tuesday requiring any unauthorised work to cease for up to 56 days which means their intended home cannot be supplied with electricity or running water.

Mr Connors has complied with the order but he  or at least his lawyer  knows this is a battle he will eventually win.

Why did the lorries and diggers move in on Good Friday of all days? It was down to the 'contractors', he insists, who told him they were 'available to do the work' and he was desperate to leave the site he was previously on in Tonbridge because of 'trouble' there and his wife's ill-health.

The static home and accompanying caravan in the stockbroker belt village of Sundridge in Kent

Not everyone in Sundridge will believe him. Furthermore, it was the 'contractors', said Mr Connors, who began ripping up hedges and undergrowth on the side of the narrow lane to free the lorry (transporting the static home) that particularly incensed residents.

'All I wanted to do is find a home for family,' he repeatedly stressed, and said his lawyer would appeal any enforcement action.

Unfortunately, the febrile atmosphere which ensued in the aftermath of the bank holiday disturbance intensified when Mr Connors became the victim of mistaken identity. Rumours spread through the village that he was the Miles Connors from a family of millionaire travellers jailed for a total of 18 years in 2012 for beating homeless drifters and addicts and forcing them to live in squalor and work for a pittance.

Same name, different person, according to our checks.

'Jesus Christ,' exclaimed Mr Connors when informed of the rumours. He said he knew of the other Miles Connors who, he says, gives travellers a bad name.

In fact, the Miles Connors who was imprisoned is 38. The Miles (Martin) Connors who is standing in the field he purchased is 45. Nor do they look like each other.

The rumours, however, and other misinformation, led to farcical accusations that the parish council was laundering money on behalf of the new owner which the authority addressed with a statement on its website.

'It is disappointing and unacceptable to hear false, divisive and potentially defamatory comment directed at members of the parish council,' it read. 'Councillors are volunteers who give their time freely and work tirelessly in the interests of our community.'

No more so than chairman John Evans himself. Nevertheless, at a hastily convened public meeting Mr Evans offered to resign.

'I told everyone that because it was my suggestion in the first place to put the land up for sale. I offered my resignation to the parish council. They flatly refused. I have subsequently received many emails of support from residents.'

Mr Evans said the sale  handled by auctioneers Clive Emson, frequently seen on TV's Homes Under the Hammer, and the parish council's own solicitors  was fully transparent and usual 'due diligence' was conducted, including money-laundering checks.

It's probably the first time, though, that 'money laundering' and 'parish council' have appeared in the same sentence.

Mr Evans explained: 'We have to obtain best value for the taxpayer. This is a legal requirement. Several people warned us that travellers would buy the land. But we are not allowed to discriminate.' The fallout from the sale has been volcanic, nonetheless. 'Everyone is reeling from last weekend,' said one resident, a businessman. 'The village is in shock.'

Someone else, who lives close to the field with his wife and two children, spoke for many when he said: 'I believe the family have worked in cahoots with the contractors [something Mr Connors denies] who supplied the lorries and the hardcore and moved in with military precision, breaking all planning guidelines.'

Cuffed: Local James Evans is led away by police for 'obstructing an officer' after telling two locals to ignore their requests to move their cars which were preventing the lorry entering the field

Almost everyone we spoke to was critical of the police response  especially James Evans, son of the aforementioned parish council chairman. He became embroiled in the commotion on Easter Sunday because it was near his parents' home and he wanted to find out what was going on.

After Mr Evans was arrested he spent more than an hour in a cell in Tonbridge where his handcuffs, which left painful marks on his wrists, were removed. He then had a further 90 minutes waiting to be interviewed, when, he says, he was not allowed to go to the toilet or offered a drink. 'One of my best friends is a traveller,' he said. 'I have nothing against travellers whatsoever. The only issue I had was the way the police dealt with it, threatening people with arrest. I was disgusted.'

His ordeal, which began shortly after 11am, finally ended with his release at 2pm pending further investigation, although no further action is expected to be taken.

Kent Police declined to comment on the arrest of Mr Evans. But Superintendent Elena Hall said she 'recognised the strength of feeling in the Sundridge community' and stressed the 'priority was to help unblock the road' in the safest way. 'To set the record straight,' she said, 'it wasn't to facilitate access for the HGV,' adding: 'Matters concerning private land ownership and access is a civil matter and not something the police have powers in regard to.'

Sundridge was not the only village targeted over Easter. So were Alfold, Surrey, and Flamstead, Hertfordshire. Three different locations but the same guerrilla tactics on land believed to have been purchased beforehand by the travellers. In Alfold, where house prices average 800,000, a convoy of 15 caravans pitched up on Thursday of last week on the stroke of 4.15pm, as officials at Waverley Borough Council clocked off for the bank holiday weekend.

Within hours hardcore, Tarmac, pipework, two septic tanks and fencing covered a field where horses used to graze. 'It was sophisticated and ruthlessly planned,' said a local who lives in one of the houses near the site.

The council acted swiftly. 'Stop notices were served on Thursday and again on the Friday,' it said in a statement. 'However, these appear not to have been complied with... the council are exploring all enforcement options.'

In Flamstead  at exactly the same time  12 diggers and bulldozers, followed by 12 caravans, moved into a four-acre field.

Residents had suspected the 'invasion' was coming, having seen people checking out the site and blocked entrances and exits to the land with farm vehicles, fences and even dug trenches  to no avail. They said their resistance was met with violent threats and abuse. 'It's a disgrace,' said a local who was there.

On Easter Sunday, Dacorum Borough Council obtained an emergency court injunction which was served on the site prohibiting further works from taking place. But no one in Flamstead, Alfold or Sundridge hold out any real hope of life returning to normal.

Why would Mr Connors, for example, have spent 167,000 on a field in Kent if he thought he was going to be evicted? Enforcement action, says Sevenoaks District Council, will be 'proportionate to any breach, taking account of Government guidance and legislation as well as local planning policies'.

Translation: the law is on the side of travellers.

Mr Connors will probably be granted retrospective planning permission because a shortage of authorised traveller sites across the Sevenoaks district means he and his family will be allowed to stay on human rights grounds  'respect for private and family life'.

'I can understand how people feel,' says Mr Connors. 'They think there are going to be more caravans coming but there isn't.'

Perhaps. But the truth is that in Britain 2026, travellers who choose a nomadic lifestyle take priority, it seems, over everyone else which, in too many cases, has resulted in criminality and anti-social behaviour.

As one elderly woman in Sundridge put it: 'The law is an ass and needs changing immediately.'

Additional reporting: Isaac Crowson and Tim Stewart
The Green Party successfully won a council seat from Reform UK on Friday, in a by-election sparked after the incumbent was jailed for 12 months.

The hard-left party took the Cliftonville ward on Thanet council, previously branded Nigel Farage's 'flagship' council, with a swing of 17 points.

Zack Polanski's party surged in the seat by 26.7 points, pipping Reform by just over five per cent.

The Tories came in third, while Labour slumped and nearly fell into single digits.

Mr Polanski's party pushed hard for the win, organising an 'emergency rally' on Wednesday on Margate seafront, with 'hundreds and hundreds' of supporters in attendance.

Following the victory, Mr Polanski mocked the Labour Party, after Dame Emily Thornberry launched the party's by-election campaign by claiming 'only Labour can beat Reform here.'

He added: 'Greens making a habit of taking on Reform - and winning! Robert Jenrick came to visit - as did Emily Thornberry. And their vote share both dropped.

'Huge congratulations to the entire Green Party team. People power wins the day once again!'

The Green Party's Rob Yates (left) successfully won a council seat from Reform UK

Mr Yates (Pictured) said that the surprise Reform defeat shows that the Green party are now the 'antidote' to Nigel Farage

The winning candidate, Rob Yates, said that the surprise Reform defeat shows that the Green party are now the 'antidote' to Nigel Farage.

He added: 'Twelve years ago Nigel Farage was parading down Cliftonville high street, and now we have turned it green.

'There is a huge appetite here to live with a politics of hope, empathy and local action, rather than a politics of division.'

A Reform UK spokesman insisted they had run an 'incredible, positive and professional campaign in the midst of challenging circumstances.'

However the party pinned their defeat on the Tories', arguing they would have prevented the hard-left victory had their right-wing rivals not stood.

They added: 'The overriding message from this result is, vote Conservative, get Green.'

The Green Party has surged in the latest polls, and speaking at his local election launch rally this week Mr Polanski promised to achieve a 'record breaking result' in the council votes.
Donald Trump last night warned Iran he was 'loading up the ships with the best ammunition' in case today's crunch peace talks fail.

The US President's threatening rhetoric came shortly after Vice President JD Vance jetted off from Washington for in-person negotiations with Iranian officials in Pakistan.

As he was boarding Air Force Two, Mr Vance said he believed the discussions would prove 'positive'. 'If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand,' he said. 'If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

'We're going to try to have a positive negotiation. The President gave us some pretty clear guidelines, so we'll see.'

However, Mr Trump was less positive, telling the Iranians they had 'no cards' to play following the US's devastating bombing campaign.

He posted on his social media account: 'The Iranians don't seem to realise they have no cards, other than a short-term extortion of the world by using international waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!'

The ceasefire announced by Mr Trump late on Tuesday has proven to be fragile, with various threats and conditions coming from both sides. One of the main sticking points in any long-term peace deal is likely to be the inclusion of Lebanon, which Israel has continued to pummel with missiles.

On Wednesday, Beirut said civilians were the main casualties in an operation that saw 100 targets bombed in ten minutes. At least 33 children were killed and 153 injured. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he believed that Lebanon, home to terror group Hezbollah, was not included in the peace deal.

Donald Trump on Friday said that 'the Iranians don't seem to realise they have no cards' left to play 'other than a short-term extortion of the world by using international waterways'

However, it emerged on Thursday that Mr Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff had ordered Mr Netanyahu  known as Bibi  to 'be more low-key' and 'calm down' on the strikes for fear of jeopardising negotiations.

'I spoke with Bibi and he's going to low-key it,' Mr Trump told NBC. 'I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key.'

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Force chief Eyal Zamir said Israel remained 'in a state of war', adding: 'We are not in a ceasefire. We continue to fight here [in Lebanon], this is our primary combat zone.

'In Iran, we are in a ceasefire, and we can return to fighting there at any moment, and in a very powerful way.'

The speaker of Iran's parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said a full ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets must happen 'before negotiations begin'. He said the two measures were agreed between the parties and 'have yet to be implemented'.

Mr Trump has said that he agreed a two-week, ten-point ceasefire plan with Iran, but the precise details are not known.

However, the full re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas passes, was 'non-negotiable', he said.

While some tankers have crossed the strait since the ceasefire, Iran is understood to be charging tolls in bitcoin of $1 a barrel, potentially amounting to 2.2million per ship.

Mr Trump had said they had 'better not' be doing this  but suggested that the US could enter a 'joint venture' with Iran and Oman to levy tolls.

In-person talks with Iran are due to start today in Islamabad, Pakistan, led by Mr Vance, Mr Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law.

JD Vance said while boarding Air Force Two on the way to talks in Pakistan that the US is 'going to try to have a positive negotiation' with Iran

Prior to the talks, Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's defence minister, tweeted that Israel was 'a curse for humanity'. 'While peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon,' he wrote in the since-deleted message.

'I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews [sic] burn in hell.'

Mr Netanyahu described the tweet as 'outrageous', adding: 'This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace.'

Meanwhile, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem called on the Lebanese government to stop giving 'free concessions' to Israel.

The two governments are due to begin negotiations in Washington next week.

'We will not accept a return to the previous situation, and we call on officials to stop offering free concessions,' Qassem said.
Keir Starmer has been forced to withdraw legislation that would hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after Donald Trump dropped his support.

The deal would transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius, while maintaining control of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base on a lease agreement for 99 years at a cost of $47 (35) billion.

The US President had initially supported the move, but changed his stance in January after warning it was an 'act of great stupidity'.

Trump had argued that giving away the islands was an act of surrender and warned the territory could fall into the hands of China, an ally of Mauritius.

But less than a month later, the US leader seemingly backed Starmer's deal once more, saying it was 'the best he could make'.

He added that the US could 'militarily secure' the base if the lease agreement 'ever falls apart'.

Following his comments, the bill underpinning the deal has been dropped from the King's Speech next month.

While the government stressed the deal is still the 'best way to protect the long-term future of the base', it acknowledged that it could not go ahead without Trump's backing.

Keir Starmer has been forced to withdraw legislation that would hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after Donald Trump dropped his support

Britain struck a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius, while maintaining control of the Diego Garcia base on a lease agreement for 99 years at a cost of $47 (35) billion

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch hailed the government's move. In a post on X, she said: 'If Keir Starmer's Chagos surrender now finds its rightful place - on the ash heap of history - it will be because Conservatives led the fight against it from day one.

'That it took so long is another damning indictment of a prime minister, who fought to hand over British sovereign territory and pay 35 billion to use a crucial military base which was already ours.

'Unlike Labour, we will always put our country first. We are the only party who can be trusted to stand up for Britain's interests abroad.'

Reform's Robert Jenrick said: 'If the Chagos surrender is dead, this is a great victory.

'One day there should be an inquiry into this shabby saga: the Ministers and officials, under Labour and the Tories, who tried to sell Britain out. Shameful.'

A government spokesperson said: 'Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US. Ensuring its long-term operational security is and will continue to be our priority  it is the entire reason for the deal.

'We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support.

'We are continuing to engage with the US and Mauritius.'

Trump talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House in August

The Government has stressed the deal is necessary to guarantee the future of the Diego Garcia base after an advisory International Court of Justice ruling in 2019 backed Mauritian claims to sovereignty over the islands.

Warnings have previously been made about the how the surrender would expose the islands to environmental damage.

Last year Labour's foreign affairs committee chairwoman, Dame Emily Thornberry, said that despite 'warm words' from the Mauritian government on the subject of conservation, the ecosystem around Mauritius itself has been substantially 'degraded'.

The UK government set up the Chagos Marine Protected Area in 2010, with patrols enforcing the no-take zone, and other activities to protect the unique habitats and rich marine biodiversity.

This legal status has always been opposed by Mauritius and was even ruled as illegal by a UN tribunal in 2015, which said it violated Mauritius right to fish there.
Nancy Pelosi became the latest lawmaker to condemn aspiring California governor and frontrunner Eric Swalwell after he was accused of sexual assault and misconduct by four women.

Swalwell's campaign hangs in the balance as aides flee his side and a growing chorus of voices speak out against him despite his staunch denial of the claims.

It comes after a woman who worked for two years for Democrat Swalwell claimed she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss.

She alleged that the married Swalwell raped her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent in 2019 and 2024. She was one of four women to make allegations against the aspiring governor.

Several Swalwell supporters have since renounced their endorsements of him and implored him to drop his bid to replace Gavin Newsom. Among the most high-profile voices was Speaker Emerita Pelosi.

Democratic leadership, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar also issued a statement calling for an investigation into the allegations.

According to a spokesperson for Pelosi, she called for the 'extremely sensitive allegations' to be 'appropriately investigated.'

'The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard,' she said.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi called on Eric Swalwell to drop out of the race to replace Gavin Newsom after a former staffer accused him of sexual assault which he denies

Representative Eric Swalwell, who is running for California governor, was accused of sexually assaulting a former staffer twice when she was too intoxicated to give consent. He's issued a blanket denial

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries released a statement alongside fellow Democratic leaders calling for an investigation into the allegations against Swalwell. Jeffries is pictured above at a press conference in March

'This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability. As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.'

Swalwell has issued a blanket denial of the accusations laid against him.

'Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to immediately end his campaign to be Californias next Governor,' House leadership said in a statement.

The statement said the allegations were 'unacceptable' and commended the women for speaking out.

The alleged victims also include social media influencer Ally Sammarco, who claimed Swalwell sent her nudes on Snapchat after they began chatting politics on X.

Another woman who claimed to have met Swalwell online alleged she awoke in a hotel room with him after a boozy night out with memories of being kissed and touched without her consent.

Politico then reported that at least four staffers on Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign have abruptly departed.

Rumors have swirled online for days that something discrediting about Swalwell was about to be exposed.

Swalwell suggested conspiracy when he pointed out that the allegations were released 'on the eve of' the June 2 primary in which he claimed to be 'the frontrunner,' though Real Clear Politics' average shows him trailing Republican Steve Hilton in the jungle primary.

'These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,' he said in a statement. 'For nearly 20 years, I have served the public - as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women.'

'I will defend myself with the facts and, where necessary, bring legal action,' he continued. 'My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.'

The Democratic congressman has been married to Brittany Ann Watts since 2016 and the couple has three children.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar called the allegations 'incredibly disturbing' in a statement

Swalwell, pictured above earlier this week, said the allegations against him were 'false and came on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,' he wrote in a statement

California gubernatorial candidate, Representative Eric Swalwell, lost several members of his staff as allegations of sexual impropriety were being revealed to the public on Friday

Politico reported that members of Swalwell's senior leadership team are already out the door, including Courtni Pugh, a strategic adviser who helped the Democrat get a boost among labor groups.

On Thursday night, Swalwell scrapped a town hall event with Representative Raul Ruiz, blaming illness.

Bracing for allegations to surface, his Democratic opponents had already started attacking the congressman, suggesting he's a hypocrite for slamming men like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose confirmation was nearly derailed by sexual misconduct allegations.

Others have withdrawn their endorsements and support of Swalwell just months ahead of the gubernatorial primary in June, including multiple senators.

'I have read the San Francisco Chronicles account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,' California Senator Adam Schiff wrote on X.

'This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.'

'Ive read the San Francisco Chronicles reporting and I take it seriously. What is described is indefensible,' Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego said.

'Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.'

House leadership called said the allegations were 'unacceptable of anyone' and commended the women for speaking out. Aguilar, Jeffries and Clark are pictured above speaking to the press in March

Representative Ro Khanna called for 'appropriate law enforcement investigations and House ethics investigations.' Fellow candidate Tom Steyer said Swalwell 'should be nowhere near any position of power.'

Representative Jimmy Gomez announced he was 'stepping down' from Swalwell's campaign.

'The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction or delay,' he said.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called on Swalwell via social media to 'withdraw from the governor's race and immediately resign from Congress.'

The California Teachers' Association retracted its endorsements as the California Federation of Labor Unions said it was 'acting urgently' to determine 'next steps.'

Even California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis said Swalwell 'should withdraw from the race.'

In light of the allegations, Representative Lauren Boebert announced that she would introduce a resolution that would censure officials for harassment.

'This behavior is disgusting and unbecoming of a Member of Congress. Its past time to answer for your actions you disgusting pervert,' she wrote.

Several senators withdrew their support of Swalwell following the allegations against him

Before the sexual assault allegations came out, Swalwell had appeared to be benefiting politically from another salacious story about him in the news.

Late last month, FBI Director Kash Patel was exposed for trying to resurrect an investigation into a suspected Chinese spy who laid a 'honey trap' and targeted Swalwell more than a decade ago.

Patel was trying to have documents released about the investigation.

The Washington Post first reported on the scheme, noting how highly unusual it would be for the FBI to release files from an investigation that didn't result in charges.

There was no evidence of wrongdoing on Swalwell's part.

What Swalwell had done is criticize President Donald Trump and serve as an impeachment manager amid the President's second impeachment, which revolved around his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

The Democratic congressman was also listed as one of Patel's 'government gangsters' in the FBI Director's 2023 book.

Once Swalwell's team caught wind of the story, his legal people demanded that the FBI halt any release of the documents and threatened to pursue legal action if the bureau didn't agree to do so, the Post said.

Appearing to be targeted by Trump's FBI chief gave Swalwell clout with some of California's Democratic voters.

The latest allegations, however, could tank his campaign.
Donald Trump said he might have handled First Lady Melania Trump's speech denying a connection to Jeffrey Epstein differently but said his wife 'had a right' to do it her way.

The President spoke on the phone with The New York Times following his wife's shock address on Thursday.

'Would I have done it that way? Perhaps not, perhaps, I don't know,' he said.

'I said, ''If you want to do that, you can do that.'' I said if she wants to do it  I didn't recommend it, but I said, I let it be her, I said, if you want to do it.'

Trump said the First Lady 'finds it very insulting' that there were rumors she was a victim of Epstein or friendly with Ghislaine Maxwell.

'She didn't meet me through Jeffrey Epstein. And I could understand her feelings. She had a right to talk about it, because the fake news covers her so inaccurately.'

Trump noted that they discussed whether or not she would make the speech 'for about two minutes.'

'It wasn't a big discussion. I had no problem. I thought she actually did a good job,' he said.

Donald Trump said he might have handled First Lady Melania Trump's speech denying any connection to Jeffrey Epstein differently but said his wife 'had a right' to do it her way

The President spoke on the phone with The New York Times following his wife's shock address on Thursday

President Trump said that regardless of what he thought about the address, he felt his wife was in the right to do it.

'I thought she had a right to talk about it. It doesn't bother me,' Trump added of the surprise speech at the White House entrance hall.

Trump added that he 'didn't know what the statement was but I knew she was going to make a statement.'

He added that bringing the story back into the news didn't concern him, saying: 'I never get upset.'

Melania made it clear that there were no links between herself and the billionaire pedophile.

'I am not Epstein's victim,' the First Lady stated during the address on Thursday afternoon. 'Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998.'

Trump and Melania met that year at the Kit Kat Klub in New York when the former supermodel was 28 years old. Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agency boss who is serving as Trump's special envoy for global partnerships, claims he introduced the couple. They later married in 2005.

'I've never been friends with Epstein,' she added.

'I've never been friends with Epstein,' Melania Trump said during an address at the White House

Trump and the financier chatting to Belgian supermodel Ingrid Seynhaeve at a Victoria's Secret party at Manhattan's Laura Belle club in April 1997

The announcement came as a shock, as there had not been recent revelations linking her to the disgraced financier, who the government says committed suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges in August 2019.

Melania also made the eyebrow-raising remark that Epstein did not work 'alone.'

'Several prominent male executives have resigned as the scandal became increasingly politicized. Though that does not amount to the executives being guilty. We still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth,' she said.

In a brief interview with MS NOW, President Trump said he didn't 'know anything about' Melania's statement ahead of time, adding 'she didn't know him,' referring to Epstein.

Melania appeared highly nervous during the speech and was shaking, largely looking down at her notes. The First Lady did not take any questions before walking away from the podium.

She claimed that though she and the President had overlapping social circles with Epstein, they did not have a relationship. She also said that she never associated with Epstein's criminal accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

She told the room that she first met Epstein in 2000 and that she was unaware of anything untoward. He was not accused of any crime until years later in 2005.

The First Lady said she had seen 'fake images and statements' linking her to Epstein on social media for years and urged viewers to 'be cautious about what you believe.'

Melania also addressed an email she had sent to Ghislaine Maxwell that was published in January, saying that her response was to be polite and it did not indicate a close relationship

'These images and stories are completely false. I'm not a witness or unnamed witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes,' she said.

'The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop,' the First Lady continued. 'My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation.'

In a surprising move, Melania called on Congress to hold hearings with victims of Epstein's abuse.

'I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors,' she added.

'First Lady Melania Trump spoke out now because enough is enough. The lies must stop,' Marc Beckman, Exclusive Senior Advisor to First Lady Melania Trump, told the Daily Mail of the timing of the shocking update.

'It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation,' he added.

Melania also addressed an email she had sent to Maxwell that was published in January, saying that her response was to be polite and it did not indicate a close relationship.
North Sky Communication, LLC allegedly failed to provide employees with accurate wages due to missed meals and break breaks. This allegedly resulted in violations of various California Labor Codes.

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According to the lawsuit filed, North Sky Communications, 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.

North Sky Communications, LLC allegedly required Plaintiff to work on their meal and break periods which should have been Plaintiff's off-duty meal breaks. Resulting in Defendant rounding the meal period time to avoid paying penalties to Plaintiff. As a result of their rigorous work schedules, employees were required from time to time to perform work as ordered by Defendant for more than five (5) hours during some shifts without receiving a meal break. Defendant violated Cal. Lab. Code  1194, 1197, and 1197.1 .

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The FedEx driver who abducted and murdered seven-year-old Athena Strand made an audacious request to enjoy a month with his son for Christmas when he was first arrested, his trial heard.

Tanner Horner, 34, was seen in footage played at his trial on Thursday being questioned after cops arrested him in November 2022, as they pressed him for the location of the child's body.

The jury was told that Horner requested to have the interview with investigators, and he began the conversation by telling them: 'I imagine that you have, basically, a list and bullet points that you want to know from me.'

'There's only one thing in this world that I want,' Horner said. 'I want a month.'

He continued: 'You can't do that, I understand. Even if y'all have to put an ankle monitor on me, GPS monitor, check-ups with you.

'If you give me a month with my family, so I can have Christmas with my son, I'll tell you everything.'

Police told the suspect that his entitled request was likely impossible, as he was under arrest for the murder of the child.

'Either way, that's basically my price,' Horner responded. The request was not granted.

Tanner Horner, 34, the FedEx driver who abducted and murdered seven-year-old Athena Strand, made an audacious request to investigators to be given a month to enjoy Christmas with his son when he was first arrested in November 2022

The seven-year-old was kidnapped and strangled by Horner when he was delivering gifts to her family home in North Texas in November 2022

Horner abducted Strand from her family's home in Paradise, Texas on November 30, 2022, as he delivered a box of Barbies to the residence. The toys were meant to be her Christmas present.

Strand was strangled to death by Horner in his truck, with her tortured last minutes captured by a microphone in his vehicle after he covered a camera inside.

Horner initially told police that he unintentionally hit the child with his truck before 'accidentally' killing her in a panic.

But his story soon unraveled when police found an image from his truck camera that showed Strand alive in the vehicle as Horner drove her away.

Horner was set to go on trial on murder charges this week and had pleaded not guilty, but he reversed his plea and admitted to the murder before the trial began.

Jurors are now hearing gruesome evidence as they decide if the FedEx driver will face the death penalty.

In separate footage from Horner's interrogations shown on Thursday, it was revealed that the killer told police that his alter ego, named Zero, was the one who murdered Strand.

Strand is filmed being driven to her death by Horner. He admitted the November 2022 murder in court on Tuesday, with jurors warned they must still endure graphic evidence of the little girl's final moments so they can decide if he should face the death penalty

Strand was abducted from her family's home in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022

He described feeling detached from his actions as he strangled her to death, saying he was 'in the back seat watching everything happen, and Im kind of freaking out.'

Horner said he was under heavy stress for the six months that he worked as a FedEx driver and was suffering repeat mental breakdowns, and said it was around this time in the summer of 2022 when he started being his alter ego, 'Zero'.

'It started off as like, almost like a little devil on my shoulder kind of thing, you know what I mean?' Horner told police following his arrest.

'But then after a while, it just kind of turned into I was switching back and forth sometimes, like at times where I was stressed out, I would essentially switch, if that makes sense.'

He said he would often wake up in strange places and not remember how he got there, and said when 'Zero' took over he was 'in the back seat.'

Horner said that when he first encountered Strand, 'Zero kind of took over', and he began referring to his alter ego in the third person.

'He told her, 'Just get in the back of the van, we're going to go to the hospital,'' Horner said in his police interview.

He said he didn't kill Strand, but his alter ego did, saying: 'I didn't do it, but he did, and that's what fucks with me... I'm wondering who the hell's been in my head this whole time.'

Bodycam footage shown in court then revealed how Horner took the officers to search for Strand in a wooded area.

The jury was shown footage of Horner's arrest in Texas on December 30, 2022

Body camera footage showed how Horner led police to the wooded area where he tossed the little girl's body

Horner's alter ego 'Zero' directed officers to a cliff near a guardrail where they found Strand's naked body lying beneath the water, the court heard

Horner was set to go on trial before abruptly pleading guilty to capital murder this week. He now faces a sentencing trial

After they failed to locate her, Horner told officers he was unsure of her exact location because of the callous way he dumped her remains.

'I just kind of tossed her in,' he said, adding, 'I don't know why y'all haven't found her yet.'

Horner, whose lawyers cited mental illnesses during their opening statements, only told officers the exact location of her body after they spoke directly to his 'alter ego'.

The killer presented as Zero multiple times throughout his two-hour-long interrogation at the jail.

'His demeanor, physical demeanor changes,' Texas Ranger Joshua Espinoza said on the stand. 'His head goes into a sideways motion. His eyes roll into the back of the head, and he pretends to turn it to Zero.'

Espinoza said that he knew to find Strand's body, he would have to 'play his game' and 'address him as Zero.'

Once the ranger spoke to 'Zero,' Horner directed them to a cliff near a guardrail and showed them where he had placed Strand's body.

Espinoza testified that he saw her naked body lying beneath the water.

Horner in court on Tuesday. His lawyers tried to blame his autism and exposure to lead as a child for Strand's murder

The ranger then addressed Zero directly: 'I know Tanner didn't sexually assault this girl. I know Tanner didn't hurt this girl, but I know you did. Did you sexually assault this girl?'

'No,' Horner replied.

'Did you kill this little girl, Zero?' the detective asked.

'Tanner wouldn't do it,' Horner replied.

'Thank you for bringing me to her. Thank you for letting me get her home,' the detective said.
For as long as I can remember, I've admired Queen Elizabeth II - her commitment to her country, her unwavering faith and, of course, her brilliantly colourful wardrobe.

So stepping inside Queen Elizabeth: Her Life in Style at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, felt particularly special.

Opening to the public today (April 10) and running until October 18, the exhibition brings together more than 300 pieces from the late monarch's wardrobe - over half on display for the very first time - and marks the centenary of her birth.

It is the largest exhibition ever dedicated to her fashion, spanning everything from wedding jewellery to a newly unveiled tiara, as well as treasured pieces from her childhood.

I can confidently say it's a true visual feast, with something remarkable at every turn.

When I think of Queen Elizabeth's style, I'm reminded of her signature use of colour - particularly in later life - alongside the exquisite evening gowns of her younger years and her iconic wedding dress.

Seeing the latter displayed in all its glory was a real highlight. Styled on a mannequin with her 13-foot silk tulle veil and satin sandals, and crowned with Queen Mary's Diamond Fringe Tiara, the ensemble is particularly captivating - inviting onlookers to pause and take in every intricate detail. It's even more breathtaking in person.

Created by British couturier Norman Hartnell for her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the gown carried deep symbolic meaning for a nation emerging from war. It was paid for using rationing coupons and became a powerful emblem of hope and renewal.

Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress is styled on a mannequin with her 13-foot silk tulle veil and satin sandals, and crowned with Queen Mary's Diamond Fringe Tiara

Created by British couturier Norman Hartnell for her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the gown carried deep symbolic meaning for a nation emerging from war

The duchesse satin design, inspired by Botticelli's Primavera, is exquisitely embroidered with floral motifs symbolising rebirth, including roses, jasmine and ears of wheat, worked in silver and gold thread.

It's adorned with 10,000 tiny pearls - reportedly imported from the United States by Hartnell's manager, who declared them at customs and paid the duty - which shimmer beautifully under the gallery lights.

A sweeping train completes the look, while a hidden four-leaf clover stitched into the skirt serves as a quiet token of good fortune - an intimate detail that feels all the more special up close.

Known for her meticulously coordinated wardrobe, Queen Elizabeth understood the power of fashion, often relying on bold hues to ensure she stood out in any crowd.

For more than 25 years, she collaborated with her Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser, Angela Kelly, to create outfits that were not only elegant but also carefully considered in terms of cultural significance and symbolism.

Many of her instantly recognisable coats and dresses are now on display, offering a reminder of the intention behind her public image.

Walking through this section, I gained a real sense of her personality and attention to detail. The floor-to-ceiling display of coats - spanning every colour of the spectrum - is complemented by more than 50 hats, from the turbans and berets of the 1960s and 70s to the sculptural 'flying saucers' of the 1980s and 90s.

Together with perfectly coordinated handbags, gloves and shoes, the display captures both the precision and subtle playfulness behind her wardrobe.

Known for her meticulously coordinated wardrobe, Queen Elizabeth understood the power of fashion, often relying on bold hues to ensure she stood out in any crowd

Many of Queen Elizabeth's instantly recognisable coats and dresses are on display, offering a reminder of the intention behind her public image

The floor-to-ceiling display of coats is complemented by more than 50 hats, from the turbans and berets of the 1960s and 70s to the sculptural 'flying saucers' of the 1980s and 90s

Visitors will also see garments worn at defining moments in the nation's history.

From the Coronation dress, which marked the beginning of a new Elizabethan era, to the Tudor-inspired ensemble worn for Prince Charles' investiture as Prince of Wales, each piece tells a story.

Outfits from the Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees chart the key milestones of Queen Elizabeth II's remarkable 70-year reign.

For the first time, her off-duty wardrobe is also explored, revealing a more practical side to her style - including impeccably tailored riding clothes, tweed suits and weatherproof pieces by Burberry, Angela Kelly and Hardy Amies - highlighting her appreciation for both craftsmanship and function.

It is equally fascinating to see the accessories that defined her signature aesthetic. Launer London handbags, silk headscarves, coordinated shoes and gloves, and transparent, colour-trimmed umbrellas by Fulton all speak to the consistency and care behind every look.

Visitors will also see garments worn at defining moments in the nation's history, including the Coronation dress

Outfits worn during her Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees are also on display, charting key milestones across Queen Elizabeth II's remarkable 70-year reign

One display includes the Mantle of the Order of the British Empire, designed for the monarch in 1952, and a Full Dress Tunic of the Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, worn during the Trooping the Colour ceremony between 1953 and 1986

What struck me most was just how early the monarch's relationship with fashion began.

The exhibition thoughtfully traces her style from childhood through to her first encounters with couture, offering a fascinating glimpse into how her signature look was shaped over time.

Among the highlights are charming pieces from her early years, including her historic christening robe, tiny ballet shoes and even a fairy costume.

I made a beeline for the royal christening gown, worn by 62 royal babies, which has never been displayed until now.

Made 185 years ago for Queen Victoria's eldest child, Princess Victoria, the gown was worn by successive generations, including Queen Elizabeth at her own christening in 1926.

Its display at The King's Gallery is especially poignant, as the site stands where the future Queen was christened before the chapel was destroyed in the Blitz.

Crafted from cream Spitalfields silk and Honiton lace by Janet Sutherland, Queen Victoria's dressmaker, the gown naturally became fragile over time. By 2004, Queen Elizabeth commissioned an exact replica, now used for every royal christening.

The original robe has undergone 100 hours of conservation by Royal Collection Trust textile conservator Cecilia Oliver ahead of display.

Among the highlights are charming pieces from Queen Elizabeth's early years, including floral dresses, tiny ballet shoes and even a fairy costume

Her christening gown, worn by 62 royal babies, has never been displayed until now

The Queen Elizabeth II Aquamarine Tiara and Burmese Ruby Tiara - both commissioned by the Queen and reflective of her own taste - are also on display, with the latter being shown for the very first time

The exhibition concludes with a spectacular display of evening gowns spanning the decades

Visitors can also see a handwritten note by Queen Elizabeth, listing some of the royal babies who wore the gown - a tradition begun by her grandmother, Queen Mary.

The note highlights the robe's importance as a treasured heirloom and symbol of continuity within the Royal Family, and it's deeply moving to see.

Nearby, beautiful gold lame dresses, made for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret by Jeanne Lanvin, are displayed with dolls in matching outfits.

Jewel-toned velvet coats by Norman Hartnell from the late 1940s reflect her transition into public life and the influence of the post-war New Look.

Alongside a spectacular central display of evening gowns, I was struck by the collection of jewellery spanning nearly every decade of Queen Elizabeth's life.

Among the highlights are deeply personal items given or loaned by close family for significant occasions.

Her wedding jewellery is particularly special: the Queen Caroline and Queen Anne pearl necklaces were gifts from her parents, while Queen Mary's Diamond Fringe Tiara - displayed publicly for the first time in almost 20 years - was created for her grandmother and lent to the young bride by her mother.

Elsewhere, more intimate pieces offer a glimpse into her personal life, including a bracelet designed by Prince Philip to mark their fifth wedding anniversary.

The Queen Elizabeth II Aquamarine Tiara and Burmese Ruby Tiara - both commissioned by the Queen - are also on display, with the latter shown for the very first time.

Throughout the exhibition, I felt I was given a rare glimpse behind the scenes of what it took to dress one of the most recognisable women in the world.

Previously unseen archival materials - from invoices and fabric samples to design sketches annotated in her own hand - offer a fascinating insight into how closely Queen Elizabeth II worked with her couturiers, and just how invested she was in every element of her wardrobe.

It's a rare and intimate portrait of a woman who understood the power of fashion better than anyone - and whose style legacy remains as influential as ever.
NASA's Artemis II astronauts will bet their lives on NASA's maths being right tonight, as they reach the most dangerous part of their mission.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the Orion module will make its final approach to Earth to mark the finale of its mammoth 685,000mile (1.1 million km) journey.

At around 12:33am BST, when the astronauts are just 76 miles (122km) of home, the service module which powers their spacecraft will detach from the crew capsule.

The team contained within  Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen  then face a 24,000mph (40,230 km/h) hypersonic reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

They will have only a threeinch shield to protect them from searing 2,760C heat  just under half the surface temperature of the sun.

To make things even more complicated, an intense layer of superheated plasma will form around the spacecraft, blocking radio signals and cutting off communication between the astronauts and mission control for several tense minutes.

'During the final phase of the Artemis II mission, there's no backup, no contingency, and no chance of escape,' said Dr Ed Macaulay, a lecturer in Physics and Data Science at Queen Mary University of London, in an article for The Conversation.

'The four astronauts on board will be depending on a few inches of resincoated silica to shield themselves from temperatures approaching half that of the surface of the Sun.'

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After surviving the most intense heat of reentry, two drogue parachutes will deploy to slow Orion to about 300mph.

Moments later, additional parachutes will release to further reduce the capsule's speed to under 20 miles per hour before it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean at 1:07am BST.

NASA officials have warned there is effectively 'no plan B' if the heat shield fails during reentry, which is widely considered the most perilous phase of the journey.

At a press conference this week, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said: 'In terms of what keeps me up at night, my blood pressure will be elevated until they're under parachutes in the water.

'There is no plan B there. That is the thermal protection system. The heat shield has to work.'

To make things even more nervewracking, the uncrewed Orion spacecraft used in the first Artemis mission sustained extensive damage to its heat shield.

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 soaring temperatures.

Engineers determined that gases which should have been vented harmlessly were trapped inside the material, creating cracks which caused large chunks of the heat shield to break away.

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. Pictured: The heat shield from the uncrewed Artemis I test

Artemis II crew members: Mission Specialist Christina Koch (L), Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (top), Commander Reid Wiseman (R), and Pilot Victor Glover (bottom)

NASA's grand finale: Key timings 12:33am: Crew module and service module separation 12:37am: Capsule fires engines 12:53am: Orion enters Earth's atmosphere Parachutes deploy 1:07am: Splashdown in sea off San Diego All timings BST on Saturday

To address the issue, NASA has planned a steeper reentry trajectory, pushing Orion through the atmosphere faster and reducing the amount of time it is exposed to high temperatures.

According to its calculations, this should ensure that the heat shield does not crack as much.

The time between reentering the Earth's atmosphere and landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego will be about 13 minutes.

'It's going to happen pretty quick,' mission flight director Rick Henfling said.

'It's very dynamic. Similarly to the launch environment, there's not a lot of time to react.'

Currently, the forecast off the Southern California coast looks mostly favourable for the splashdown, with conditions expected to be relatively calm. The navy's USS John P Murtha is en route to meet the capsule when it lands.

The last time NASA sent astronauts to the Moon was as part of the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

This 'test flight' has been a resounding success so far  with the only major issue being the onboard toilet, which has been onandoff limits to the crew since last week's launch, prompting them to rely on a backup system.

Uneven heating of the heat shield could cause parts of the Orion crew capsule (pictured) to reach dangerous temperatures

This image, titled 'Earthset', was taken from the far side of the moon and shows the Earth dipping beyond the lunar horizon

Some of the incredible photographs captured by the astronauts during their flyby include 'Earthset'  showing our home planet setting over the lunar surface.

As they sped closer to home, the Artemis II astronauts said they have barely started processing the extraordinary experience they shared.

'Human minds should not go through what these just went through,' mission commander Reid Wiseman said during a press conference from space.

'It is a true gift. And we have a lot that we just need to think about and journal and write, and then we'll get the full feeling of what we just went through.'

Pilot Victor Glover added: '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.

'I'm going to be thinking about and talking about all of these things for the rest of my life.'

NASA is seeking to return a crew to the moon by 2028, before China does in about 2030.
Scientists exploring the Weddell Sea in the Antarctic were in for a surprise after stumbling across a secret island in an area marked a 'danger zone'.

A 93strong team on board the Alfred Wegener Institute's (AWI) icebreaker, Polarstern, made the discovery after rough weather conditions forced them to seek shelter next to Joinville Island.

There, they spotted a strange brown landmass, which turned out to be a previously undiscovered island.

'On our route, the nautical chart showed an area with unexplored dangers to navigation, but it wasn't clear what it was or where the information came from,' explained Simon Dreutter, a specialist in underwater mapping at AWI.

'I scoured all the coastlines we had here in the bathymetry lab and went back to the bridge.

'Looking out of the window, we saw an "iceberg" that looked kind of dirty.

'On closer inspection, we realised that it was probably rock.

'We then changed course and headed in that direction and it became increasingly clear that we had an island in front of us!'

Scientists exploring the Weddell Sea in the Antarctic were in for a surprise after stumbling across a secret island in an area marked a 'danger zone'

After spotting the landmass, the team carefully steered Polarstern towards it, eventually coming within 150 metres

After spotting the landmass, the team carefully steered Polarstern towards it, eventually coming within 150 metres.

Using a drone, they were able to explore the island from above, confirming its surprisingly large size.

The island measures 130 metres long, 50 metres wide, and protrudes about 16 metres out of the water.

This makes it around the same length as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The experts are unclear why the island is marked as a danger zone on the nautical chart, but not as a coastline in other data sets.

'On the satellite images analysed, the island could hardly be distinguished from the numerous icebergs drifting around in the immediate vicinity due to its ice cover,' they added.

However, before the island can be added to maps, it must be named.

While the team are undecided on what to name the island, many eager fans have already thrown a number of suggestions in the ring on X (formerly Twitter).

Using a drone, they were able to explore the island from above, confirming its size. The island measures 130 metres long, 50 metres wide, and protrudes about 16 metres out of the water. This makes it around the same length as the Great Pyramid of Giza

The experts are unclear why the island is marked as a danger zone on the nautical chart, but not as a coastline in other data sets

A 93strong team on board the Alfred Wegener Institute's (AWI) icebreaker, Polarstern, made the discovery after rough weather conditions forced them to seek shelter next to Joinville Island

One user on X suggested: 'They should call it Eisberg.'

'It should be called Lummerland,' another added, in reference to the fictional, twomountain island from Michael Ende's children's book Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver.

And one joked: 'Bird Rendezvous Island'.

The news comes shortly after a secret islet appeared off the coast of Venice.

Previously, the islet, called Bacan, would only form in the summer months before being swept away by winter's storm surges.

But thanks to a new flood barrier this cherished refuge for touristshy residents has become a permanent fixture of the lagoon with its own flourishing ecosystem.

Measuring 250 metres long and 10 metres wide, the sandbank is covered with a layer of thick vegetation.

Bacan is now home to a range of marsh plants like samphire, rushes, native flowers, and small, saltresistant cedars called tamarisk.

With new roots holding the soil in place, the island has not vanished since 2020 when the flood barrier's operators were away on holiday during a winter surge.

However, even as residents celebrate the birth of a new beach, some experts warn that this could be a troubling sign for Venice's fragile ecosystem.
The bike bell was first created back in 1877.

Now, almost 150 years later, the simple device has been reinvented.

In a bid to improve road safety for cyclists, Skoda has developed a nextgeneration bike bell called the DuoBell.

The device creates a unique sound that can effectively bypass active noisecancelling (ANC) systems in headphones.

Trials with Deliveroo drivers found that pedestrians wearing ANC headphones had as much as five seconds longer and up to 22 metres more distance to react when the bell was activated.

'Bike bells have barely changed in 100 years, but the world around them has,' said Ben Edwards and Guy Hobbs from creative agency AMV BBDO.

'Skoda DuoBell is the firstever bell designed to cut through noisecancelling headphones.

'A clever analogue hack that outsmarts the AI algorithms inside them. It's one tweak that will make city streets safer.'

In a bid to improve road safety for cyclists, Skoda has developed a nextgeneration bike bell called the DuoBell

Trials with Deliveroo drivers found that pedestrians wearing ANC headphones had as much as five seconds longer and up to 22 metres more distance to react when the bell was activated

Skoda was inspired to create the DuoBell after noticing a spike in bikepedestrian collisions in London.

According to Transport for London, at least 335 pedestrians were injured in collisions with cyclists in 2025  with two suffering fatal injuries.

One contributing factor is the rise in the use of noisecancelling headphones, which reduce awareness of approaching cyclists.

To understand how to combat this problem, the car giant joined forces with acousticians from the University of Salford.

Dr Will Bailey, Head of Acousticians at the University of Salford, explained: 'Active noise cancellation is really good at blocking broad sounds.

'It detects sound and plays an inverted signal back to cancel it out.

'There are points where it's less effective. So we set out to find them.'

The researchers carried out acoustic tests, and identified a narrow 'safety gap' between 750 and 780Hz that consistently penetrates ANC filters.

The researchers carried out acoustic tests, and identified a narrow 'safety gap' that consistently penetrates ANC filters

The team reduced the thickness of the metal and added precision cuts, before tuning the bell to exactly 750Hz

How does the Skoda DuoBell work? The Skoda DuoBell is entirely mechanical, and is designed to ring out at two frequencies - 750Hz and 780Hz. This so-called 'safety gap' consistently penetrates filters in active noise cancelling headphones. During tests, the DuoBell was heard 22 metres earlier than a standard bell  and five seconds sooner.

'Testing hundreds of signals across six leading headphones, we found one at 750Hz. We call it the safety gap,' Dr Bailey explained.

Having discovered this gap, the team built the DuoBell around it.

However, this initially proved tricky.

Hugh Boys, Head of Hardware Development at Skoda, explained: 'The problem with creating a frequency that low is the bell has to be huge  not ideal for a bike.'

To overcome this issue, the team reduced the thickness of the metal and added precision cuts, before tuning the bell to exactly 750Hz.

To make the bell even more penetrating against ANC, Skoda added a second frequency of 780Hz  hence, the name DuoBell.

While you might think that this would require complicated technology, surprisingly this isn't the case.

Oliver Stefani, Head of Design at Skoda explained: 'Our bell is 100 per cent mechanical. It's a simple, analogue solution to a digital problem.'

Skoda joined forces with Deliveroo and took DuoBell to the streets of London, where it once again proved effective

To test it, Skoda first used a virtual reality scenario in which a cyclist approached a distracted pedestrian wearing ANC headphones.

Amazingly, the DuoBell was heard 22 metres earlier than a standard bell  and five seconds sooner.

'The difference between stepping aside and a serious collision,' Skoda pointed out.

Next, Skoda joined forces with Deliveroo and took DuoBell to the streets of London, where it once again proved effective.

Now, Skoda says it's working with 'partners' to implement the bell across London, and beyond.

It remains unclear how much the DuoBell costs or if it will be available for cyclists to buy directly  the Daily Mail has contacted Skoda for clarification.
The disappearance of a rocket scientist has taken a chilling new turn after it emerged she holds a one-of-a-kind patent tied to advanced US launch systems.

Monica Jacinto Reza, 60, was last seen hiking in the rugged San Gabriel Wilderness area in the Angeles National Forest on June 22 last year, at about 9.10am local time.

Several reports in the forum EISPIRATEN indicated that a man walking about 30ft ahead of Reza on the trail to the Waterman Mountain summit turned around moments later and discovered she had vanished without a trace.

According to those familiar with the hike, Reza was carrying a backpack believed to contain several liters of water when she disappeared.

New attention has focused on Reza's work as public records highlight her role in developing advanced aerospace materials linked to high-performance propulsion systems.

Records show she is the only surviving co-creator of a 2010 patent filed with Dallis Ann Hardwick, who died of cancer in 2014, for a specialized metal designed to resist burning while remaining incredibly strong under extreme heat.

She was also credited as a co-inventor of Mondaloy, a nickel-based superalloy later used in key components of advanced propulsion systems developed through US Air Force and NASA-backed research programs.

Reza spent decades working at Rocketdyne, later part of Aerojet Rocketdyne, a major aerospace contractor involved in government propulsion programs, while retired US Major General William Neil McCasland, who oversaw related Air Force research portfolios, also went missing in June 2025.

Monica Jacinto Reza, 60, was last seen hiking in the rugged San Gabriel Wilderness area within the Angeles National Forest on the trail to Waterman Mountain summit on June 22 last year

Records show she is the only surviving co-creator of a patent filed in 2010 with Dallis Ann Hardwick, who died of cancer in 2014, for a specialized metal designed to resist burning while remaining incredibly strong under extreme heat

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Reza and McCasland are among nine recent cases involving scientists with ties to aerospace, defense or nuclear research whose deaths or disappearances have drawn public attention.

Mondaloy was later used in the development of the AR1 rocket engine, a US-built system designed to replace Russian-made RD-180 engines previously used on United Launch Alliance rockets, part of a broader effort to reduce America's reliance on foreign propulsion systems.

Unlike older materials that were either strong but prone to burning or burn-resistant but weak, the alloy created by Reza and her colleague was designed to do both  remain durable while resisting ignition under extreme stress.

The metal is primarily made of nickel, strengthened with smaller amounts of cobalt, chromium, aluminum and titanium, allowing it to withstand the intense heat and pressure produced during rocket launches.

According to the patent, the material was intended for use in critical engine components such as turbines, ducts and fuel systems, where failure could lead to catastrophic damage.

Materials like Mondaloy are used in rocket engines that power launches carrying military satellites, missile-warning systems and other highly sensitive payloads into orbit, missions known as national security launches because they support US defense and intelligence systems.

Reza's work received funding and development support from the US Air Force Research Laboratory, which was commanded at one point by retired US Major General William Neil McCasland.

McCasland later went missing in June 2025, prompting a separate investigation that remains ongoing.

According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, McCasland was last seen speaking with a repairman at his home around 10am before his wife left the residence about an hour later.

Reza's technology helped create the AR1 engine, set to replace Russian RD-180 engines on United Launch Alliance rockets

US Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland, 68, who was in the UFO community, went missing in February after leaving on a hike near his New Mexico home

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When she returned shortly after noon, the house was empty, with his phone, prescription glasses and wearable devices left behind.

Investigators noted that his hiking boots and a .38-caliber revolver were missing and he was reported missing later that afternoon.

Search teams later discovered a US Air Force sweatshirt roughly one mile from the residence, though officials have not confirmed whether it belonged to McCasland.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed foul play in the case, and the investigation remains active.

Another mysterious case involves Michael David Hicks, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who died on July 30, 2023, at the age of 59. Officials have not publicly alleged foul play in his death.

Reports also highlighted the death of NASA scientist Frank Maiwald, who died on July 4, 2024, in Los Angeles at the age of 61. Authorities confirmed that no autopsy was performed and the cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Michael David Hicks was a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory prior to his death in 2023

Frank Maiwald (left) and Carl Grillmair had deep ties to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in California before both men died within the last two years

Maiwald had worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1999 and contributed to projects involving advanced satellite technology capable of scanning Earth and other planetary bodies.

Anthony Chavez, a former employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), disappeared on May 4, 2025. Police in Los Alamos said the search for Chavez, 79, remains ongoing with no new information released nearly a year later.

Since 2024, several additional scientists connected to aerospace research have died under separate circumstances.

Melissa Casias worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a long-running nuclear research facility, before disappearing on June 26 last year

Anthony Chavez was an employee at the Los Alamos National Laboratory until 2017. He disappeared without a trace in May last year

Jason Thomas was found dead after being pulled from a Massachusetts lake on March 17. He had been missing since December 12

Melissa Casias has not been seen since June 26 last year, when her family said she uncharacteristically decided to work from home, but was last spotted miles from their house walking alone without her wallet, phone or keys.

Casias, 54, was an administrative assistant at LANL.

The news came about astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, who was shot and killed at his California home on February 16.

The California Institute of Technology researcher had worked on major NASA-supported telescope missions, including the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and NEO Surveyor programs.

Those projects used infrared detection systems capable of tracking asteroids, technology that shares similarities with systems used to monitor satellites and hypersonic missiles.

Nuno Loureiro was leading efforts to create fusion energy, a form of clean energy that could upend the multi-trillion-dollar fossil fuel energy industry

While serving as commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, McCasland oversaw programs related to space surveillance and infrared tracking systems.

Two additional researchers in Massachusetts were also found dead in separate incidents. Nuno Loureiro, a scientist working on nuclear fusion research, was shot in his Brookline home last year.

Jason Thomas, a pharmaceutical researcher studying cancer treatments at Novartis, was later found dead in a Wakefield lake on March 17 after disappearing months earlier.

Authorities have not publicly linked the cases, and officials in several investigations have said there is no confirmed evidence suggesting foul play beyond the circumstances already reported.
NASA's Artemis II crew has successfully splashed down after their historic Moon mission, as the Orion spacecraft made a fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere Friday night.

The spacecraft reached blistering speeds of up to 25,000 miles per hour before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.

The four-person crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, wrapped up a ten-day mission that carried them around the moon and farther than any human had ever traveled into space before.

The journey marked the first time in more than 50 years that humans have traveled this far into space and viewed the lunar surface with the naked eye since the Apollo era.

During the mission, the astronauts also passed behind the moon, flying over the mysterious far side, often referred to as the moon's dark side because it permanently faces away from Earth. The historic flight also shattered a decades-old distance record set during Apollo 13 in 1970, when astronauts traveled 248,655 miles from Earth.

Artemis II surpassed that milestone by thousands of miles, setting a new distance record for human spaceflight.
Jonah Hill revealed he has married his Olivia Millar and had a second baby while in conversation with Martin Scorsese.

The 42-year-old actor casually said: 'And I have two kids now. The only thing that could separate me from my family is the editing room.'

Hill and Millar, daughter of 1980s supermodel Esme Marshall, were first spotted together in Santa Barbara in September 2022.

Big reveal: Jonah Hill revealed he married Olivia Millar and had a second baby with her during a conversation with Martin Scorsese; pictured April 6

Just months after their first known outing, in June 2023, they had their first child.

Later in the Scorsese interview, Hill also referred to Millar as his 'wife,' appearing to confirm their secret nuptials.

Referring to his new film Outcome, Hill said: 'I was saying to my wife, "He's seeing it over the weekend, so what if he hates it but already agreed to do it?"'

Millar has strong ties to the fashion industry, having co-founded Chasseresse, an online retailer, with her sister Raychel.

The duo launched the brand in 2018, with Chasseresse - meaning 'huntress' in French - focused on curating vintage, sustainable, and regenerative fashion.

Happy news: The couple pictured in June 2023

In addition to her role as co-founder, Millar frequently models for the brand's collections.

Before settling down with Millar, Hill dated a mix of high-profile relationships and quieter romances. In 2011 he was linked to The Office star Ellie Kemper.

Though their relationship was brief, it caught the attention of fans who loved the idea of the comedic duo being together.

Hill and Kemper, who were both on the rise in Hollywood at the time, seemed like a natural match, but their time together ended without much fanfare.

Top dog: Millar has strong ties to the fashion industry, having co-founded Chasseresse, an online retailer, with her sister Raychel

Hill was also romantically linked with The Bachelor contestant and model Ali Hoffman in 2014.

In 2016, Hill began dating All The Money In The World actress and model Camille Rowe.

However, after a couple of years together, Hill and Rowe split, with sources at the time citing their busy schedules and Hills increasing need for privacy as factors that played a role in their breakup.

In 2021, Hills relationship with surfer and law student Sarah Brady made headlines, though for less positive reasons.

More talents: In addition to her role as co-founder, Millar frequently models for the brand's collections

Brady, who dated Hill for several months, later accused the actor of emotional abuse after they split.

She publicly shared screenshots of text messages she claimed Hill had sent her, which some perceived as controlling and manipulative.

Hill addressed the situation publicly, acknowledging that he was seeking help and trying to better himself.
As the new tax year rolls in, many Brits might be assessing their finances for the next 12 months and thinking of ways to get more out of their money.

With high rental costs in the UK as well as taxes and other expenses, moving abroad to somewhere less pricey might seem tempting.

New research has revealed the best countries to relocate to in 2026 for low or no tax.

International health insurance specialists at William Russell looked into several factors including net salary levels, property purchase prices, rental costs for expats, and utility bills, giving each country an overall score out of 10.

1. Panama

Panama ranked as the best destination to relocate to for better tax rates

Located in Central America, Panama ranked first in the study and scored seven out of 10 overall.

The country has a territorial tax system, where foreign-sourced income is not taxed locally.

It's the perfect spot for those prioritising financial efficiency, cost of living and taxation - with property averaging at 1,753 per square metre and a one-bedroom apartment costs around 652 a month.

Paired with relatively low day-to-day expenses - around 580 is spent per person in living costs a month - it has strong factors to create financial stability. Although, the average monthly salary is 613.

The country's 'Pensionado' programme also provides a range of discounts that support overall affordability.

2. Bahrain

Bahrain, located in the Middle East, came second due to residents not paying personal income tax but still having strong earning potential

A small island tucked away in the Middle East, Bahrain placed second due to residents not paying personal income tax but still having strong earning potential.

Property prices average at 1,622 per square metre, or renting a one-bedroom apartment comes to just 552 a month.

Meanwhile, living expenses aren't too high either, at 609 per person - only a fraction of the average monthly salary of 1,674.

Bahrain scores 6.93 out of 10 overall.

3. Andorra

Although Andorra isn't completely tax free, the country still offers a good deal for residents

Although Andorra isn't completely tax free, the country still offers a good deal for residents.

Located in the Pyrenees mountains, the low-tax jurisdiction charges from zero to 10 per cent income tax, depending on how much you earn.

It also applies a value-added tax to goods and services sold in the country, instead of a sales tax, and this works out the be the lowest VAT in Europe, according to Andorra Guides.

Low tax rates paired with high income levels of 2,239 per month on average, Andorra is a great place for offering a strong chance of financial stability.

Monthly costs work out to be around 662 per person and rent is 858. Property price was one of the highest in the ranking however, at 4,001 per square metre.

4. Mauritius

A dreamy island country located in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius ranked fourth overall

A dreamy island country located in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius ranked fourth overall.

It has a 15 per cent flat tax and moderate island living costs - averaging at 439 a month, per person.

The monthly net salary works out to be around 537, meanwhile a one-bedroom apartment can cost 293.

Property prices are 2,285 per square metre on average.

5. Qatar

Qatar does not charge tax on personal income, capital gains or inheritance

Another Middle Eastern location, Qatar does not charge tax on personal income, capital gains or inheritance.

Monthly salaries are high at around 2,828 and expenses low at 678 a month.

The country ranked fifth overall and scored 6.4.

It does have one of the more costly average property prices however, at 2,907 per square metre.

Rent is also around 1,041 on average for a one-bed.

6. Malta

Elsewhere, Malta boasts a remittance tax system available to UK residents

Malta has English as an official language and a remittance tax system available to UK residents.

The country's tax residency scheme offers a flat 15 per cent tax rate on foreign income remitted to Malta, with no local tax on overseas income kept outside of Malta, according to Tax Advisory Partnership.

Capital gains made outside of Malta are exempt from tax, even if the proceeds are remitted to Malta.

With an average monthly net salary of 1,383 and low costs - around 670 a month - Malta is a good location for saving money.

7. Cyprus

From this year, Cyprus offers a 22,000 (19,061) annual tax-free income threshold for individuals - making it highly appealing to British expats

From this year, Cyprus offers a 22,000 (19,061) annual tax-free income threshold for individuals - making it highly appealing to British expats.

It comes out strong in the research, ranking seventh, and scores 5.99 out of 10.

The average monthly salary works out at 1,480 and expenditure is 750. Rent for a one-bed apartment averages at 679 and the average property price per square metre is 2,417.

8. Seychelles

Located in the western Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is not completely tax free but does offer a good deal

Located in the western Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is not completely tax free but does offer a good deal.

Made up of an archipelago of 115 islands, the country follows a residence taxation model.

Residents pay tax on worldwide incomes and non-residents are charged on local incomes.

Property is only 611 per square metre and the average one-bed rent is 670 per month.

Income works out at 608 a month on average, but expenses are around 775.

9. United Arab Emirates

Skyscrapers, luxurious shopping malls and year-round sun often draws people to the United Arab Emirates

Skyscrapers, luxurious shopping malls and year-round sun often draws people to the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE doesn't tax individuals on their person income, but does charge a five per cent value added tax on goods and services.

Average monthly salary is high comparatively, at 2,368, and expenses work out at around 713.

Property prices are 3,353 per square metre or 934 a month to rent.

10. Ireland

Ireland finishes off the top 10 with its 12.5 per cent charge for trading income

Under the Common Travel Area (CTA), UK citizens have the right to live, work, and retire in Ireland without requiring a visa.

The country has personal income tax of up to 40 per cent - but charges two rates of corporation tax.

There is a 12.5 per cent charge for trading income, and 25 per cent for non-trading income, such as renting for example, or income from an excepted trade.

Paired with a average monthly salary of 2,661 and estimated monthly costs per person at 868, Ireland rounds off the top 10.
With quaint houses, cobbled streets, a stunning coastline and bright blue waters, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is the heart of the Amalfi Coast.

One of Bulgaria's oldest coastal towns, this hidden gem is lesser-known compared to the beloved area and comes without the high price tag.

Sozopol mimics the riviera glamour of Amalfi - and boasts restaurants, beaches and far more budget-friendly prices.

Bulgaria has seen a significant tourism boom in recent years, with over 13.6 million foreign visitors in 2025 - a 2.7 per cent increase on 2024.

With incredibly low prices compared to other popular tourist destinations in Europe, but equally stunning scenery and beaches, it's easy to see why Brits are flocking to Bulgaria for their summer holidays.

Travel experts say Bulgaria is an excellent holiday destination for anyone looking for a budget break.

Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital & engagement at eurochange, said: 'Although Bulgaria has joined the euro, prices for things like food, accommodation and drinks are still particularly low compared to other popular holiday destinations like Greece, Spain and Italy.

'For example, you can expect to pay less than 2 (1.74) for a beer and around 10 (8.70) for a meal.

For sunshine and long sandy beaches, head to Sozopol in Bulgaria

You'd be hard-pressed to find a budget-friendly spot that brings to mind images of the Amalfi Coast quite this much

'And, Brits don't need to compromise on the beautiful scenery and beaches these popular hotspots offer.

'In fact, there are plenty of destinations in Bulgaria that are almost a "like for like" but at a fraction of the cost.'

Laura shared some of the best budget Bulgarian 'destination dupes' to visit this summer, with Sozopol ranking highly.

Similar to the Italian Amalfi Coast, the destination is ideal for a crowd-free summer holiday.

Laura said: 'This gorgeous coastal town has a really similar feel to the likes of Positano and Cinque Terre, in Italy's famous Riviera.

'Sozopol's old town is dotted with quaint wooden houses and cobbled streets that overlook the stunning coastline and bright blue waters.

'One of Bulgaria's oldest coastal towns, it is a less crowded alternative to nearby resorts like Sunny Beach, which makes it perfect for a relaxing cultural trip. Enjoy a delicious seafood meal in one of its many cliff-edge restaurants, which are also the perfect spot to catch the sunset.'

It's not the only Bulgarian paradise spot you should consider for your next break.

Sozopol is one of Bulgaria's oldest coastal towns

And without the crowds of popular getaways in Italy, it makes for a calmer break

Sinemorets and Veleka Beach have been compared to Greek islands including Zakynthos and Kefalonia.

Laura explained: 'Bulgaria's Black Sea coast is becoming increasingly popular, with very similar scenery to the likes of Crete and the Ionian islands.

'Here you'll find all the familiar traits of a Mediterranean holiday, including golden sands, turquoise waters, coves, and quiet historic towns to explore.

'Sinemorets is a relatively unknown area on Bulgaria's southern coast, but it's a hidden paradise. It has a striking landscape where the Veleka River meets the sea, with beautiful dunes and lush greenery. A sand strip separates the river from the sea, which means you can choose between fresh or salt water for a dip.'

And if you're keen to try the Portuguese Algarve but for less, head to Tyulenovo and Varvara.

Laura revealed: 'These secluded, rocky coastal villages sit on Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast, around 60km north of Varna.

'The landscape is rugged and dramatic, which means the coastline is dotted with beautiful caves, very similar to the ones you'll find in the Portuguese Algarve. It's the perfect spot for boat trips, kayaking, and diving.

'In July, the fields close to Tyulenovo village come to life with endless blooming sunflowers. Make sure you visit at sunset to capture some epic photos.'
SHANGHAI, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HOTEL & SHOP PLUS Shanghai organized by IM Sinoexpo concluded successfully at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from March 31 to April 3, 2026. Far beyond a conventional trade show, this flagship platform served as a crystal ball for the industry, previewing tomorrow's landscape across hotels, commercial properties, offices, and public spaces. Through an integrated value chain of "New Products  Competitions  Forums  Special Exhibitions," the event decoded the definitive roadmap for digital transformation, sustainable innovation, and experiential economy. Product launches delivered transformation tools. Competitions redefined service excellence. Forums ignited breakthrough thinking. Immersive exhibitions previewed the future of consumption.

Power Brands Unleashed

Spanning 210,000 sqm, the exhibition featured 2,000+ exhibitors and 135,682 visitors. International attendance rose by 25.84%, with 10,886 visitors from 176 countries, led by Russia, South Korea, Australia, Mongolia, and others, boosting the event's global influence. Highlights included innovative products and technologies from top brands like JOMOO, COSO, GREE, TCL, SIDEFU, GROUP GM, LIONKING, Laffey Electric, VINEKO, Guest Supply, ABSOLUTE LIFESTYLE, and more, redefining smart space solutions.

Driving Industry Transformation Through Innovation

The exhibition has shifted from "static displays" to "immersive experiences," capturing new consumer trends. Highlights include " Hotel Investment and Franchise Zone," the " Aroma Nest" for emotional and olfactory needs, the "PLC Technology Zone" for green solutions, and the "Gen-Pet Wonderland" for family inclusivity. The " Eastern Life Aesthetics" and "Super Hotel Mall" showcase scenarized artistic experiences, envisioning future hotels as "livable art galleries."

Global Minds, Local Impact

Industry leaders convened to discuss trends and share insights through keynotes, roundtables, and competitions. Forums like the China International Building & Interior Design Forum and Shanghai International Architecture Festival drove innovation. Notable speakers, including Lyu Huanzheng (goa), Chris Godfrey (HBA), and Cedric Jaccard (Avalon Collective), addressed topics such as "Spaces for the New Human Era," "Hotel Experience Design," and "Hotel Revitalization." Highlights included the Hotel Uniform Show and Housekeeping Competition, featuring uniforms that blend brand storytelling with embroidery and 3D tailoring.

Global Connections & Major Deals

The fair hosted over 500+ matchmaking sessions, linking 150+ exhibitors with 100+ global buyers from countries like Romania, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Cameroon, resulting in successful collaborations and large orders, with participants expressing high satisfaction.

Mark Your Calendars:

2026 Hotel & Shop Plus Shenzhen will take place from 1315 October 2026 at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Centre. 2027 Hotel & Shop Plus Shanghai will take place from March 30April 2, 2027, at SNIEC. Stay tuned for further event news! Explore more, visit our website: https://www.expohsp.com/?lang=en

CONTACT: Caroline Cao, [email protected]

SOURCE IM Sinoexpo
A Ryanair flight was forced to make an emergency diversion on its way to Manchester.

The Boeing 737 Max aircraft set off on April 24, 2025 from Venice with 191 passengers on board.

But the flight had to divert to London Stansted after pilots became concerned over a possible fuel leak.

A report published yesterday, April 9, by the Air Accident Investigations Branch looked into the incident and found: 'The non-normal checklist was not actioned fully, with the pilots deciding not to shut down the affected engine.'

During the flight, pilots noticed a fuel imbalance developing and a cross-feeding took place to help balance things again.

But as the journey continued, the imbalance got worse and it became apparent there was a fuel leak in the engine.

'The cabin crew did not observe any signs of fuel spray from the engine or strut,' the report states.

The rate of the leak meant if the aircraft continued to Manchester Airport, it would use all of the additional fuel available.

A Boeing 737 Max aircraft set off on April 24, 2025 from Venice with 191 passengers on board and was set to fly to Manchester

To avoid further issues, the plane diverted to Stansted Airport and land there instead, where it was met by fire crew.

Emergency services confirmed that fuel was in fact leaking from the right engine.

The report found the pilots had completed the fuel balancing process from memory and 'did not consider the possibility of a fuel leak' which officials conclude 'delayed diagnosis of the problem'.

When the leak was eventually confirmed they also did not complete the non-normal checklist fully which would have led to them closing down the leaking engine.

As a result, when the plane landed 'the use of thrust reverse with a fuel leak increased the risk of fire' because of fuel vapour being exposed to the hot engine.

A spokesperson for Ryanair told the Daily Mail: 'Ryanair fully participated in this AAIB investigation.

'The report issues no safety recommendations for Ryanair.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Ryanair for comment.

In another recent incident involving Ryanair, a plane became six minutes away from running out of fuel mid-air and an investigation was launched last year.

The flight was heading to Glasgow's Prestwick Airport from Pisa in Italy on October 3 when it issued a 'fuel Mayday' and made an emergency landing in Manchester.

It came as Storm Amy brought winds of up to 100mph, sparking transport chaos across the country.

The cockpit crew issued a 7700 squawk code, a general emergency alert.

The flight, operated by Malta Air on behalf of Ryanair, made several unsuccessful attempts to land at Prestwick before attempting a landing at Edinburgh Airport. This was also unsuccessful.

The plane then diverted to Manchester, where it landed safely, almost two hours after the first go-around at Prestwick.

The flight reportedly landed with just 220kg of fuel left in the tank, which is only enough for around five or six minutes of flying time.

The final reserve fuel is the absolute minimum amount of fuel an aircraft can have before it is deemed unsafe to remain in the air.

One passenger, Alexander Marchi, who arrived at his destination 10 hours later than planned, spoke to the Ayr Advertiser about his flight experience.

He said: 'After leaving late from Pisa because of a general strike and protesters invading the tarmac at the airport we were worried that we wouldn't get to Prestwick before the storm hit.

'Everything was fine until we started our descent. The plane was circling a few times before trying the first time but pulling up almost immediately.

'We were told we would try one more time or we'd have to go to Manchester. The second time it was a very bumpy ride and we almost reached the tarmac, but at the last minute we pulled up very sharply.

'We realised how bad things had been after seeing the images after finally landing at Manchester with almost no fuel.

'There was a lot of relief. People were wanting to get off and definitely were not up for flying any time soon.'

For the type of aircraft used for the Ryanair flight, a Boeing 737-800, the amount of fuel require cannot dip below 30 minutes of flying time.

A Ryanair spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'Ryanair reported this to the relevant authorities on Friday (3 Oct).

'As this is now subject of an ongoing investigation, which we are cooperating fully with, we are unable to comment.'
British Airways has announced it will cut some of its flights to the Middle East, instead favouring destinations such as India and Kenya.

As travel continues to be disrupted by the ongoing impact of war in the Middle East, the carrier will amend its schedule to adapt to the circumstances.

The airline said yesterday it will limit the number of flights to the Middle East once it resumes journeys in July.

It will also cut Jeddah in Saudi Arabia as a destination permanently from the end of April.

BA plans to resume flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital, in mid-May, and services to Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv on 1 July.

But it will reduce services to these destinations to one daily flight from July, and cut Riyadh services from two daily flights to one from midMay.

Instead, the airline will use the aircraft to add flights to alternative destinations.

Daily flights will be added to Bengaluru, India and Nairobi, Kenya.

British Airways will adapt its flight destinations to favour India and Kenya

BA will also increase capacity on its Delhi and Hyderabad routes.

These changes will continue throughout the summer season until October 24, with one Dubai service restarting on October 16.

A British Airways spokesperson said: 'Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, we have made further changes to our flying schedule to provide greater clarity for our customers.

'We're keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.

'Since the disruption began, we've helped thousands of customers return home, operated relief flights, and added additional capacity on key longhaul routes. We will continue to assess and introduce further flying where possible.'

It comes after British Airways last month cancelled all flights into Dubai until summer - blaming the 'continued uncertainty' and 'airspace instability'.

The airline previously announced it would also suspend travel to Amman, Bahrain and Tel Aviv until after May 31.

Travel has greatly been affected by the ongoing violence in the region.

The US-Israeli war with Iran, which escalated at the end of February, led to disruption and cancellations of some flights to Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

After more than a month of war in the Middle East, tens of thousands of reservations have been affected, while Europe has seen the world's biggest growth in hotel bookings - with average nightly room rates up a staggering 42 per cent.

The airspace closures, coupled with consumer sentiment when it comes to travel taking a hit, affected approximately 17,000 bookings,.

Travel agent Lastminute.com said war in the Middle East has impacted thousands of bookings, while holidaymakers are shifting towards alternative destinations like the Canary Islands and Sardinia.

It said the total volume of affected travel around the region is currently the equivalent of about a day and a half of its normal daily operations.
Benidorm is famous for its bright lights, all-inclusive hotels, and bargain pints.

But just minutes from the strip lies something you might not anticipate - a Roman landscape dating back more than 2,000 years.

Ancient roads still cut through the coastline, a military outpost overlooks the bay, and the remains of a full Roman city sit just a short journey away.

It's a side to the Costa Blanca hotspot that many visitors never see.

And it's an option that offers far more cultural experience than you'd expect from Benidorm.

First Choice has listed some of the top historical hotspots for travellers looking to uncover this cultural side of a classic Brits-abroad destination.

Tossal de La Cala offers a free-to-visit introduction to Benidorm's Roman past, with open access to the remains of a military outpost dating back to around 77 BC.

Set on a hill overlooking the coastline near the strip, the site features signposted walking routes and information panels, making it an easy and accessible option for visitors.

Benidorm, a favourite among Brits, also has a fascinating historical side

Tossal de La Cala offers a free-to-visit introduction to Benidorm's Roman past, with open access to the remains of a military outpost dating back to around 77 BC

Ancient roads still cut through the coastline, a military outpost overlooks the bay, and the remains of a full Roman city sit just a short journey away

For a more in-depth day trip, Lucentum (Tossal de Manises) is an ancient Roman archaeological site easily accessible from Benidorm, where visitors can explore preserved streets, baths, and defensive walls from a once-thriving city.

Entry costs just 3 (2.60), with discounted tickets available.

Travellers can also seek out sections of the Via Augusta near Altea and Villajoyosa, one of the longest roads in Roman Spain, still visible along parts of the coastline.

These sites, along with coastal discoveries including shipwrecks and amphorae, form a lesser-known network of Roman ruins along the Costa Blanca.

Today, guided heritage walks and coastal archaeology tours make it easier than ever to explore this hidden side of Benidorm.

Just two and a half hours from the UK, Benidorm enjoys early summer temperatures averaging around 20C in May, making it a reliable choice for sun and sea.

With more than just sun and sand hidden beneath the resorts, its historical side may even rival some of Europe's most notorious cultural destinations.

Rome may be famous for its landmarks, but it also comes with crowded streets, long queues, and higher day-to-day costs, especially in peak season.

Lucentum (Tossal de Manises) is an ancient Roman archaeological site where visitors can explore preserved streets, baths, and defensive walls from a once-thriving city

Today, guided heritage walks and coastal archaeology tours make it easier than ever to explore this hidden side of Benidorm

These sites, along with coastal discoveries including shipwrecks and amphorae, form a lesser-known network of Roman ruins along the Costa Blanca

Benidorm, by comparison, is far more affordable.

Pints cost between 2.50 (2.20) and 3 (2.60), compared with 6 (5.25) or more in Rome, while a three-course meal for two can be 25 per cent cheaper.

For a more authentic taste of the region, holidaymakers can ditch the British-style pubs and head for the Old Town's buzzing tapas spots.

Locals favourite La Fava serves a special 'Fava style' potato salad as well as Oxtail croissant with bull sauce and arugula.

Meanwhile Bar Mal Pas has a variety of authentic tapas dishes and specialises in seafood paellas.

But it's not just the local delicacies that are cheaper.

A three-night break comes in at almost 160 cheaper per couple than Rome.

For those planning a stay, Cuco hotel is a convenient base within easy reach of both the beaches and nearby Roman sites.

Its central location also makes it simple to explore the Old Town's authentic tapas bars or take a tram along the coast to uncover hidden Roman roads, and it's available with half-board for just 201pp.

Kevin Nelson, managing director of First Choice, said: 'Most people think of Benidorm as a party destination.

'But just minutes from the beach, travellers can explore Roman roads, ancient forts, and villas that few ever see.

'You can experience history during the day and still enjoy the sunshine and coastline; it offers a completely different perspective on the destination.'

While Benidorm may still be best known for its nightlife, its ancient past tells a different story - combining history, sunshine, and value, all just minutes from the strip.
Holidaymakers jetting off from London Stansted should brace themselves for travel chaos as strike action is expected to take place soon.

A whopping 97 per cent of ABM airport staff have voted in favour for industrial action after receiving a pay rise 'worth just a tin of beans a week to workers', according to Unite.

It works out at just one pence more on their hourly rates in the first year, and two or three pence more in the second year.

Members of the union have rejected the pay offer and many earn below the London Living Wage of 14.80 - some of the lowest paid at the airport.

Much of the company's pay rises have been a result of nationwide minimum wage increases brought in by the government, according to Unite.

Over 100 workers, including those who look after passengers with disabilities, will be participating in the strike and it is due to take place from April 17 to 20.

Staff members also argue they feel they are working under more pressure due to Stansted handling more flights and passengers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham slammed the pay rise and said: 'This is one of the meanest so-called pay rises imaginable.

London Stansted could be hit by travel chaos as over 100 airport workers prepare to strike on April 17

'Dedicated workers will have to work for an entire week just to buy a tin of beans.

'It is beyond contempt that a profitable company such as ABM is choosing to prioritise greed and exposing its workers to a real-terms pay cut.

'Our members at ABM will be fully supported by Unite throughout this dispute.'

Meanwhile, Unite regional officer Steve Edwards added: 'Any strike action and the resulting disruption is entirely the fault of ABM for putting profits over people.

'ABM could avoid this disruption but it relies on management coming back with a realistic pay offer that reflects the hard work our members do.'

An ABM spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We are disappointed that industrial action is to be taken given our constructive engagement with Unite the Union.

'We appreciate the dedication our team members put in every day to provide an outstanding travel experience for those with special assistance requirements.

'For that reason, we continue to negotiate in good faith with Unite the Union toward an agreement that's fair for our team members, clients, and stakeholders. It is not accurate to describe the proposal as a "pennies" increase. The offer we have proposed is a structured, staged pay increase over time, designed to provide an uplift to hourly rates.

The staff members voted in favour for the industrial action after receiving a pay rise 'worth one tin of beans'

'Our immediate priority is to limit disruption to the thousands of passengers with special assistance requirements who use our service every day at Stansted Airport.

'Through comprehensive contingency planning, we intend to continue delivering services throughout this period, with measures in place to maintain safety, operational resilience, and service continuity as far as possible.'

Holidaymakers heading to Spain may find themselves impacted by strike action too, and on the same date as Unite's.

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.

EuroWeekly reports the problems have been building up for several years.
Affordable British seaside holidays could soon be a thing of the past, as Butlin's boss warns a tourist tax could price out working-class families.

Already in place in Manchester, the government is now proposing to give city mayors and town officials the authority to charge a small fee for overnight stays in the form of a tourism tax.

It would apply to visitors staying at hotels, holiday lets, bed and breakfasts, as well as guesthouses.

But Butlin's chief executive, John Hendry Pickup, shared his take on how it could impact families across Britain on Good Morning Britain.

Hendry Pickup, who has been at the helm of the holiday park for three years, told ITV hosts Adil Ray and Ranvir Singh the tax 'feels at the moment that it's going to hit the people who can afford it the least, the most, and I don't think that's fair'.

He explained how he saw it as a ' UK tax on UK families going on UK holidays' and Butlin's breaks outside of school holidays usually come to around 49 for a family of four, for four nights.

But with the additional fee of 2 a night, for example, it works out as a '66 per cent tax on the people who can afford it the least'.

As for the impact it might have on Butlin's, Hendry Pickup insisted 'it won't make our business unsustainable, we're still full at the moment'.

Butlin's chief executive, John Hendry Pickup, shared his take on how the proposed expansion of a tourism tax in the UK could impact families across Britain on Good Morning Britain

Butlin's has three holiday parks across Skegness, in Lincolnshire, Bognor Regis in West Sussex, and Minehead in Somerset

However, he stressed that the tax 'makes it extremely difficult for people who are coming to spend time with us outside of school holidays'.

Butlin's is known for providing good-value breaks for families and has three sites across Skegness, in Lincolnshire, Bognor Regis in West Sussex, and Minehead in Somerset.

The beloved hospitality company is set to celebrate it's 90th birthday this weekend and a special break has been planned dedicated to marking the huge milestone.

Hendry Pickup argued it could force families to 'make a decision about whether they go on holiday or not'.

The government suggests mayors could use the revenue from the tax to invest the local area's transport and infrastructure.

In popular destinations across Europe, holidaymakers are charged 'tourism taxes', 'city levies' or 'eco-fees', often per night of their stay.

For example, tourists heading to check out the vibrant nightlife, colourful architecture and culture of Amsterdam are expected to pay 12.5 per cent extra on top of the cost of their hotel room - one of the highest visitor charges in Europe.

As for a tourist tax being introduced across the UK, Hendry Pickup argued: 'I think it depends upon what the purpose is in the first place, if you look at what happens with that type of levy in different European countries, they use it for different purposes.'

Hendry Pickup explained how the tax 'makes it extremely difficult for people who are coming to spend time with us outside of school holidays'.

He said it could force families to 'make a decision about whether they go on holiday or not'

He went on to note how in Barcelona, officials use a similar tax to tackle overtourism.

'We as an industry, the tourism industry in the UK, is already taxed at the highest rate of any of the major European economies,' Hendry Pickup continued.

The Butlin's boss told The Telegraph he felt the plans do not consider how other hospitality venues will be impacted.

He said: 'It is designed to target short stays like Airbnb and does not account for the variety of business models in the visitor economy.'

Concerns over how the tourism tax will impact people have previously been raised, and the commercial director for Business Travel Association recently revealed it could cost businesses more than thousands of pounds a year.

Andrew Clarke told the Daily Mail an additional charge could cause businesses to 'certainly consider their budgets'.

'We've got one client that's speaking to us on a regular basis that puts around 10,000 room nights into Aberdeen at an average room night of 150,' he said, explaining the company works in the oil and gas industry.

With this example, a seven per cent charge on 10,000 rooms in the Scottish city would work out at 105,000 a year.

'That's quite a significant increase on a corporate business's travel budget,' Clarke added.

Business Travel Association boss Andrew Clarke previously outlined how the additional charge could impact companies

As a result, other options like staying out of the city charge zones could be considered - driving business away from the centre.

'I think people will start to look at alternative options. Can I stay just outside the city centre and use taxis? What's the local transport situation like?' Andrew said.

But others have been much more positive about the proposals, and it was recently revealed a tourist tax on overnight visitors to London could raise more than 350million a year for the capital.

This is significantly higher than previous forecasts, which suggested such a levy could raise 240million annually.

The figure from Central London Forward (CLF), which represents 12 central London local authorities, is based on a three per cent levy on the cost of a room, whether a hotel or short-term let, according to BBC News.

The analysis shows the 12 CLF boroughs alone would raise 275million, with the remaining authorities yielding an estimated 77million, the BBC reports.

This has sparked calls from the central boroughs to retain half of the additional income to mitigate the increased cost pressures of tourism.

Westminster could raise more than 95million by itself, according to visitor estimates, with Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, and Tower Hamlets all forecast to bring in more than 20million annually.

It has not yet been decided how any money raised from a tourist tax in London would be split between City Hall and local authorities.
Summer holiday plans could be plunged into chaos with European airports facing jet fuel shortages in just three weeks as the Strait of Hormuz remains shut.

Jet fuel reserves are already running low and airports will be gripped by 'systemic' shortages of jet fuel if the passageway is not fully reopened by the end of the month, airport bosses have warned.

The strait, through which 20 per cent of world oil flows, has been choked shut by Iran since the start of the war six weeks ago.

Oil prices have surged globally as a result and sparked fears of a global economic crisis.

The reopening of the waterway was a key part of Donald Trump's peace deal with the Iranian regime.

But days later it remains blocked with Iran warning vessels they will have to pay a toll of up to $2million per journey or face destruction.

Now airport chiefs fear fuel rationing could be imposed within the EU and the peak summer tourism season could be affected with suppliers unable to guarantee fuel deliveries into May.

It could lead to the disruption of airport services which could risk 'harsh economic consequences'.

Summer holiday plans could be plunged into chaos as European airports face jet fuel shortages in just three weeks as the Strait of Hormuz remains shut

The strait, through which 20 per cent of world oil flows, has been choked shut by Iran since the start of the war six weeks ago

In a letter, reported by the Financial Times, the EU's transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas warned of 'increasing concerns of the airport industry over the availability of jet fuel as well as the need for proactive EU monitoring and action'.

It added: 'If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.'

It also claimed the upcoming peak summer season 'when air travel enables the whole tourism ecosystem upon which many economies rely' has exacerbated these fears.

No European countries have begun rationing fuel yet although fuel prices have spiked.

Some Asian nations including Vietnam have, with its national airline cutting 23 domestic flights per week to conserve fuel.

The increase in fuel prices could also see the cancellation of certain routes as they become unprofitable.

Polish airline LOT is reducing some services while US airline Delta said it would cut its capacity by 3.5 per cent.

Even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, the airline sector could still take months to recover - potentially putting holidaymakers' summer plans at risk.

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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.

He said this was because of lasting disruption from the war to oil refineries throughout the Middle East.

Jet tycoon Gediminas Ziemelis, the founder of Avia Solutions Group, 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.'
Alison Hammond has revealed she's already embraced her new Bake Off co-star Nigella Lawson, with the pair even enjoying a day out together.

The TV chef, 66, is set to join Paul Hollywood as a judge on the new series later this year after Prue Leith announced she was stepping down from the show.

Speaking ahead of filming this month, Alison has shared that she already loves Nigella's 'naughty' side, with the star no stranger to cheeky innuendos during her cooking series.

She added that Nigella has also already hit it off with co-judge Paul, and their partnership in the famous tent will go down a storm with viewers.

Nigella herself had previously admitted being daunted by the big shoes she had to fill, following two 'great dames' in Prue and original judge Dame Mary Berry.

Alison said: 'I went to meet her the other day. Oh my gosh, she's lovely. She's so nice. I loved her. She's everything and more than I thought she was going to be.'

Alison Hammond has revealed she's already embraced her new Bake Off co-star Nigella Lawson, with the pair even enjoying a day out together (pictured with co-host Noel Fielding)

She went on to tell The Mirror: 'She's a natural beauty. She's kind. She loves her family, but really quite naughty as well. I feel like she's a bit naughty.

'It's funny because she said she really got on with Paul. It was really lovely.'

Alison is set to star on the upcoming Channel 4 series Your Song, and recently confirmed that among her busy schedule she was approached to be the new host of Strictly Come Dancing.

However, the This Morning star admitted she turned down the offer as she's 'too busy,' and told Radio Times she's 'very happy' with her current jobs.

It was announced that Nigella would be joining Bake Off as Prue's replacement, with the star sharing her apprehension at landing the coveted role.

She said in a statement: 'I'm uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now. Of course it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement.

'The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a National Treasure  and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it.'

Before adding: 'I'm just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!'

The TV chef is set to join Paul Hollywood as a judge on the new series later this year after Prue Leith announced she was stepping down from the show

'I'm just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!'

Nigella has also received Dame Prue's approval, who said: 'I'm thrilled that Nigella is to experience brilliant Bake Off.

'She's sassy, fun and she knows her onions  and her croissants, cake and crumble.'

Prue later revealed she decided to leave the Great British Bake Off out of 'a desire to work less and play more'.

Speaking to The Spectator, she said: 'I have been dithering for years about when to stop judging The Great British Bake Off.

'When I joined nine years ago, I thought, since I was in my mid-seventies, that I'd be lucky to manage two years.

'At that age, my mother was deaf as a post and away with the fairies, believing her son was her father and that her cat was the one she'd had 40 years before.

'But my marbles stayed more or less in place and there seemed no good reason to give up a job I loved.

'Finally, though, the desire to work less and play more got to me. Bake Off and its offshoots such as The Great American Baking Show and even the Christmas specials are all filmed in the summer, which has meant I could never have a summer holiday.'
BBC Breakfast fans were left begging Naga Munchetty 'you have to stop!' as they accused her of bulldozing a guest in an 'embarrassing' interview.

Naga, 51, made a return to screens on the news programme yesterday alongside regular co-star Charlie Stayt to discuss the top stories across the UK and beyond.

While many of her fans were overjoyed to see her back on screens, one segment that saw the duo sitting down with Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey had some viewers up in arms.

As part of the BBC's election coverage, Ed, 60, was on hand to discuss some of the party's plans for the UK ahead of the vote, which takes place on May 7.

Naga and Charlie, 63, were quick to quiz the party leader on what will be done on the rising costs of living and soaring fuel prices following the US-Iran ceasefire.

Davey explained he is calling for the Chancellor to step in and support the public with a 10p cut to fuel duty, as well as 10% off rail fares and a 1 cap on bus tickets.

BBC Breakfast fans were left begging Naga Munchetty'you have to stop!' as they accused her of bulldozing a guest in an 'embarrassing' interview

As part of the BBC's election coverage, Ed, 60, was on hand to discuss some of the party's plans for the UK ahead of the vote, which takes place on May 7

But as he explained his point of view, he was soon appearing to clash with host Naga as the BBC Breakfast host kept 'interrupting' the MP as he spoke.

Charlie asked: 'Every politician has said that but how do you do it?' to which the MP explained: 'Well, it has happened in the past and we need the competition authorities to be really on this. It can be done and I think people really welcome'

Naga then jumped in: 'Well, the government is meeting with retailers. I mean, it's been reported and there was a rather fractures meeting with petrol retailers and fuel suppliers and the government is kind of putting that pressure on.

'Rachel Reeves has said "no, absolutely no to profiteering, and we will clamp down on this".'

Ed continued: 'You're right. So it can be done but what the government isn't saying is they're not gonna cut people's petrol prices and diesel prices.'

But Naga interjected again: 'Its not in their control, though.'

The MP continued on: 'It really is then under control. Their control over taxes. They could pass a S of what's called a statue institute, a bit of legislation next week and deliver these price cuts.

'So it's really in their control and that's why we are going to push them in Parliament next week, because I think people are really, really finding it hard at the moment and these extra rises in petrol and diesel prices have pushed'

Naga then interjected: 'Not everything, though, is it?' before the pair began speaking over one another as they tried to share their own viewpoint.

Viewers watching at home took to X, formerly Twitter, to complain about the segment, as they hit out at Naga for 'interrupting' people.

Naga, 51, made a return to screens on the news programme yesterday alongside regular co-star Charlie Stayt to discuss the top stories across the UK and beyond

One penned: 'Embarrassing..Naga trying to sound like she knows what shes talking about,' as another chimed in: 'Stop talking over your guests Naga.'

A third person added: 'You have to stop Naga interrupting people. He could barely get a word in - another one,' as a fourth said: 'Shut up, Naga.'

Naga Munchetty has been criticised for a brutal parting dig at Carol Kirkwood during the weather presenter's final appearance on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday.

Carol, 63, fought back tears in January as she revealed that she was leaving the Beeb in April, after more than 25 years with the broadcaster.

The BBC weather legend, who joined the team in 1997, waved goodbye to her co-stars on Wednesday's episode of the show.

During her last day in the studio, Carol chatted to presenters of the day Jon Kay and Sally Nugent, and was also joined by her co-stars Naga, Nina Warhurst, Peter Ruddick and John Watson.

Naga couldn't help but have one final jokey dig at Carol before she headed off, as the pair have been known to exchange humorous blows on our screens over the years.

After playing some of Carol's best bits, Naga jokingly told her: 'I am just waiting for the countdown for you to go!'

Naga Munchetty has been criticised for a brutal parting dig at Carol Kirkwood during the weather presenter's final appearance on BBC Breakfast

Everyone burst into laughter in the studio, but those watching at home weren't so impressed.

Taking to social media, some viewers wrote: 'Maybe Naga and Carol really didn't get on...'; 'Where was Naga Munchettys tribute to Carol Kirkwood amongst all the others on her last day presenting the weather on?'

Another said: 'Naga didnt do a pre recorded solo tribute like the other newsreaders did whove worked with her for years. Instead she tried her usual gotcha tactics to embarrass Carol.'

But one pointed out: 'Naga was there and gave her the Little Miss Sunshine picture.'

Naga continued: 'So here is a rare glimpse into me being lovely to you... So what do we call you? Not off-air! On-air. Little Miss Sunshine maybe?'

She continued: 'We've been seeing these VTs all day, tributes, we all think you're great, secretly. We know when we say to anyone "Carol is off", they go, "Oh my goodness. No!"

'You know the little Mr Men? What would we all be? Sleepy? Little Miss Sleepy? I think as Adam Hargreaves depicted, Little Miss Sunshine.'

The broadcaster then handed her a beautiful painting of the character.

Carol delivered her final BBC Breakfast weather forecasts after three decades on screen with the broadcaster - and left her fans emotional as she struggled to hold back tears.

She struggled to get her words out as she announced the news alongside co-stars Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, admitting she 'loves her job' but was keen to spend more time with her husband, police officer Steve Randall.

But the presenter appeared to hold it together as she delivered her final forecast, even as she was met with loving well-wishes in a VT from her fellow BBC co-stars.

Carol joined Sally and Jon in the studio for the last time, smiling for the cameras as she revealed what Britons could expect from the weather this week.

She also sat with them on the sofa at the end of her broadcast, where they thanked her for providing details for a 'few days ahead' so they could continue to have a 'Carol forecast' even after her departure.

Sally began: 'I don't know if you know Carol, but you have changed the way weather is reported on television in lots of ways, whether you're on the map or out on location, whether you're meeting our viewers...

'You've been broadcasting from massive events over the years.'

Carol went on to list: 'The Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon, the poppies at the Tower of London, Royal Ascot, there have been so many.'

The BBC then played an emotional VT from other stars at the BBC sending Carol their well-wishes, including Sue Barker, Vicky McClure, Paul Merton, Zoe Ball, Clare Balding, Chris Evans and Sir Chris Hoy.

A second tribute VT also featured Charlie Stayt, Louise Minchin, Sian Williams, Susanna Reid and Dan Walker gush over 'lovely, kind and caring' Carol.

The messages included telling Carol she was a 'ray of sunshine', 'great friend' and told her how she 'brought smiles to so much of the nation' as they predicted that audiences would 'really miss her'.

Sally and Jon also surprised Carol with a message from Canadian rockstar Bryan Adams, who thanked her for 'all the great weather reports over the years', leaving her in shock.

'That was lovely,' Carol gushed over the series of videos as it came to an end, adding: 'It's lovely to have made such brilliant friends, all genuinely lovely people.'

Jon then read out some of the messages sent in by viewers for Carol, who admitted they were emotional to wave goodbye to the weather presenter.

One wrote in: 'We're gong to miss Carol so much, she rarely misses Shetland in the forecast and we always appreciate that. We wish her all best wishes.'

A second said: 'I hope Carol enjoys her last shift at the BBC, she has been a steady presence for us in a chaotic world.'

And more wrote: 'Carol, thanks you for being a bright star on many a dull morning'; 'Your smile has brightened up every forecast no matter what the weather BBC Breakfast won't be the same without you'; 'Good luck Carol Kirkwood... she's a national treasure and BBC Breakfast won't be the same without her'; 'Best wishes Carol in your retirement'; 'You are an icon and I will miss you very much, sweet lady.'

Carol admitted it hadn't quite hit her that she was leaving the show, adding: 'I'm in denial, and I expect I will rock up on Monday...

'It's going to be weird, it's going to be weird not speaking to all our lovely audience, not seeing the crew both in front and behind the camera not just on BBC Breakfast but at BBC Weather.

'It's going to be different and I'm going to miss everyone horribly.'

The trio also looked back on Carol's career, from being a production assistant on BBC Breakfast before becoming the resident meteorologist for three decades.

Just before Carol waved goodbye to the show, she was joined by her husband Steve with a cake and a large bunch of flowers.

She concluded: 'I'm going to try and get through this. This is a forecast I've known for quite a while was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to present.

'After 28 years as a BBC weather presenter, tracking storms, chasing sunshine, and occasionally getting it completely wrong, I'm saying goodbye.

'When I first walked into this studio, I could never have imagined what was ahead. Back then the graphics were simpler, the maps were a bit clunkier and I had a lot less grey hair than this.

'But one thing has never changed, and that is the privilege and honour of being welcomed into your homes. Thank you for trusting me, be it telling you about heatwaves or snow, to big national events and the everyday question of: "Do I need to take a brolly?"

'You've been the constant in all of this, and I've never taken that for granted. I'm really going to miss you... I owe you all so much.

'This job has given me so much more than a career, it's given me memories, I'll carry them forever. Friendships I treasure deeply.

'It's time for a new chapter, a bit more time with Steve, and perhaps the luxury of watching the weather instead of presenting it. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives.'

Back in March, Carol explained: 'My last shift on air will be on April 1, and it's not an April Fools! I can't believe it's coming around so quickly...'

Joking about the final eight early starts she would have to endure before exiting the programme, Carol added: 'First thing I'll do is throw my alarm in the bin.'

'Oh it's going to be sad,' she continued. 'It's a really happy thing as well, but I'm going to miss you guys and everyone, the viewers as well.'

Carol broke down as she made the announcement that she was leaving, explaining that she 'loved her husband more than her job'.

The Met Office-trained star choked up as she said: 'So, I'm going to be leaving - and it's really hard, really hard for me to say this because I love my job.

'But it's great - I don't want to be coming in in my Zimmer frame and saying, "I can't reach the Northern Isles anymore!"'

Discussing spending more time with her husband, she added: 'We only got married a couple of years ago and we're like ships that pass in the night, so I'm looking forward to doing that.'

Carol had kept the news of her departure secret from everyone - including her friends and her colleagues at BBC Breakfast.

She added with a smile: 'I love my job, I've loved working at the BBC, but I love my husband more than my job.'

Turning to Sally and Jon, she added: 'I didn't want to get emotional but you two are my friends and I love you dearly.'

As Carol finished delivering the news, Sally held her hand and Jon reached for a box of tissues before both gave her a tight hug.

Sally joked: 'There's one important thing that we haven't mentioned, which is that you are going to get a lie in.'

Carol's BBC career has regularly seen her go above and beyond the use of a clicker.

She has memorably reported on sunshine and showers at Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot for BBC Breakfast, where she has been the main weather presenter since 2010.

And her sunny disposition has seen her laugh through the perils of live broadcasting, including being dragged to the ground by dogs on more than one occasion and laughing off a gaffe in which she called dog-walkers in Greenwich Park 'doggers'.

Carol began her BBC career as a production secretary and production assistant on, ironically, BBC Breakfast - and had no plans to become a meteorologist, leaving the Corporation for a time to work in consultancy.

She then auditioned for and underwent training at The Weather Channel in the US to become a presenter on its short-lived UK edition, before she trained with the BBC and the Met Office to join the Corporation full-time.

She joined the BBC Weather Centre in 1998, and quickly became a familiar face to millions on BBC News and BBC Breakfast.

Carol was joined by husband Steve on her final broadcast, surprised by cake and flowers

Her sparkling personality and endless on-screen charm has won her fans across the country, a collection of industry awards and wider recognition, including a place on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, where she reached week eight with Pasha Kovalev.

Born Carol MacKellaig, she wed property developer Jimmy Kirkwood before announcing that they were separating in 2008 after nearly two decades together.

The split left her crying between delivering forecasts - but, as she later revealed to the Radio Times, encouraged her to come out of her shell.

She told the magazine: 'I found myself when I got divorced. I started to do things and to think, "I'm not going to say no, I'm going to say yes!"

'I'm braver now. I've flown with the Red Arrows, jumped out of planes with the Red Devils. When I was younger I would never have done that because I'd have thought, "Too dangerous!" Now I think, "Oh, you've got to live your life!"'

She wed Steve in December 2023 at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire and the pair live together in Windsor.

She told House Beautiful magazine in July 2024: 'If he's at home, I'm happy. I don't need anything else. He's tall, handsome, kind, gentle, strong, funny, charming.

'He's a gentleman. He's good at cooking. I could wax lyrical about Steve forever.'

Carol had dropped hints that she might leave Breakfast last year - and in a written statement explained that leaving the broadcaster 'hasn't been an easy decision to make' but added it 'feels like the right moment to step away'.

She said: 'It's been an absolute privilege to bring you the weather every day. My job is something I've never taken for granted and I've loved every minute!

'From early starts and all manner of forecasts, I've shared it with incredible colleagues at BBC Breakfast, BBC Weather and programmes across the BBC. I'd like to thank them for their support and friendship which has meant the world.

'And to those watching and listening at home - thank you for all the kindness you have shown me over the years, being part of your mornings has been a joy.

'This hasn't been an easy decision to make, but it feels like the right moment to step away. I'll carry with me the most wonderful memories.'

Jonathan Munro, interim chief executive at BBC News and Current Affairs, said: 'Carol's contribution to BBC News and BBC Weather has been exceptional.

'From major national moments to the everyday forecasts that are such an important part of our audiences' lives, she has set the gold standard for our accurate, valued journalism - always delivered with an appropriately sunny outlook.

'She will be greatly missed by teams across the BBC. We wish her all the best for the future.'

Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
Olivia Cooke has recounted her embarrassment around meeting Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise - which even saw her pass out on set.

The House of the Dragon actress, 32, is among the guests on tonight's (April 10) episode of The Claudia Winkleman Show.

Also on the sofa is Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes, US actress Anna Faris and comedian Michelle De Swarte.

Meanwhile, Olivia explains how she came to meet Hollywood superstar Tom, 63, while filming the science fiction film Ready Player One with Steven Spielberg.

She says: 'I'd be wearing this very tight felt bodysuit with all these ping pong balls on it, helmet, four cameras, two lights, and we just kept getting...celebrity guests that were his [Steven's] pals.

'So George Lucas showed up one day, Taylor Swift, Tom Hiddleston.

Olivia Cooke appears on tonight's episode of The Claudia Winkleman Show - and recounts the embarrassing time she met Tom Cruise

Hollywood superstar Tom, 63, has starred in the popular Mission: Impossible franchise, as well as classics including Top Gun and Rain Man

'But we kept hearing whispers that Tom Cruise is going to fly his copter onto set.

'And then I was walking to set and the actor Ben Mendelsohn was walking past me and shaking his head to not go in.'

Olivia continues: 'And I walked in and everyone was quiet and whispering, and I said to my pal Josh, what's going on?

'He was like, 'Tom Cruise.' And I saw him walk across the motion capture room and I was like, No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

'Not [seeing me] like this. Not today and slid into my chair.

'And then I heard, 'Olivia, come meet my good friend Tom Cruise.' And I just blacked out.

'I came to, and I was, like, bowing to him looking like that and he was like, 'Great suit.'

'And I sort of ran away. And then I heard Steven going, 'Oh, come back.'

'And I was like, 'Not again!' I've already bowed. That's enough.' Oh, it was awful.'

Olivia also discusses the new series of House of the Dragon - including attending a premiere for the show in Paris.

She says: 'These premieres are the biggest, most extraordinary things that HBO put on for House of the Dragon and we were going to Paris for a premiere and we'd landed and I was in a car with my cast mate, and I looked outside and went 'Oh god, look at that big monstrosity that they've built', and Phia was like, 'Olivia, that's the Olympics!''

Addressing the red carpet aspect of premieres, Olivia says: 'Well, when you've got all those people screaming at you, my reaction is to want to cry or run away.

'Under my dress, my right knee is quivering, it can be quite scary. Anna agreed, saying: 'My first red carpet was in 2000 for Scary Movie, and it was only maybe 13 or 14 photographers, if that. But it felt huge, it felt confusing. There's always the feeling of imposter syndrome.'

Fellow guest Michelle, 45, chimes in with: 'I feel like it's just a necessary evil. You've got to do the red carpet to get into the venue to quaff the free champagne!'

Elsewhere in the episode, Anna, 49, discusses reprising her role as Cindy Campbell in the latest Scary Movie installment - and returning to it after almost three decades.

She says: 'Scary Movie was my first audition in LA. I couldn't believe I got the role.

'I was like, how many days do I have before I'm fired? I remember feeling so terrified feeling like I didn't belong.

Host Claudia Winkleman with guests Ralph Fiennes, Anna Faris, Olivia Cooke and Michelle De Swarte

'The movie became a big hit, and it defined the last 26 years for me. So, to revisit that whole franchise and feel like I own my place in itIt feels like I'm a big part of a huge thing and I feel honoured.'

Ralph, 63, who is dicussing his role in David Hare's play, Grace Pervades, also reflects on reprising his role as Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise.

He says: 'Well, I remember being asked the question would I reprise the part? And this was some years ago.

'And I said, 'yes, I'd love to.' But then, nothing's happened. I think that ship has sailed.

'But I tell you, Tilda Swinton was mentioned somewhere as being a contender, and I think she would be amazing. She would be fantastic!'

Furthermore, Michelle, who is back on tour with her new show The Afters, brings up her pet hate  people eating crisps during stand-ups and how she called out a very famous guest.

She says: 'It does my head in. And I was doing a gig, and someone had brought pistachios, so I just lost it, and I was like, 'what are you eating'?

'And she said, 'I'm eating pistachios'. I said, 'They don't sell them here'. And she went, 'No, I brought them from outside.'

'I said, 'Outside! You say you support the arts, and you brought the loudest nut from outside into the theatre where I speak!'

Michelle goes on: 'Anyway, I went off, and it got a laugh, and then after, this person came up to me, and was like, "Oh my God, you just absolutely flambeed Ruby Wax."

'And I was like, what? Because I couldn't see [the audience], and I'm a big fan of Ruby Wax, and she came and she was like, 'Oh, that was great.'

'And I was like, 'I am so sorry. I would shell the pistachios for you and put them in your mouth. Like, I love you. You're a legend.'

The Claudia Winkleman Show airs Fridays on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
Joanna Page has warned her upcoming Taskmaster co-stars that she can be 'ruthless' despite her 'sweet' appearance, saying she has 'no shame' in 'exposing' her true self on the Channel 4 show.

The Gavin And Stacey actress is starring in the new series of the hit gameshow alongside presenter Joel Dommett, writer Armando Iannucci, comedian Amy Gledhill and Hollywood star Kumail Nanjiani.

Joanna, 49, who is best known for playing Stacey Shipman for over two decades, joked that she 'majorly committed' for the series, which tasks celebrities to compete in a series of bizarre challenges where nothing is out of bounds.

Hosted by Greg Davies and Alex Horne, viewers watch on as the stars go head-to-head - before being judged on their performance by the duo.

And Joanna is ready to bring her A-game against her fellow famous faces in order to take home the title of winner during her show appearance.

Joanna told Metro: 'People think that I am very sweet and very nice and everything, but Im an actress. Im an Aries, very ambitious and pretty ruthless, and I throw myself into stuff.

Joanna Page has warned her upcoming Taskmaster co-stars that she can be 'ruthless' despite her 'sweet' appearance

Joanna, 49, who is best known for playing Stacey Shipman for over two decades, joked that she 'majorly committed' for the series, which tasks celebrities to compete in a series of bizarre challenges where nothing is out of bounds

'I dont have really any embarrassment or shame. Im used to completely exposing myself as an actress, so I can honestly say that I didnt hold back with anything.'

Hinting at the action viewers can expect to see, Joanna reveals there is one moment in the show where she pretends to be 'a furry animal'.

She added: 'I would have been more embarrassed if I hadnt thrown myself into it [and] made a fool of myself, because thats the point.

Last month, Channel 4 confirmed Taskmaster would be back on screens as the beloved comedy competition returns for series 21 tonight (April 9).

Aside from airing on Channel 4 from 9pm, worldwide viewers on Taskmaster's YouTube channel will be able to tune in from 10pm.

Previous winners include Bob Mortimer, Katherine Ryan, Rob Beckett and Noel Fielding to name a few.

Speaking previously to Radio Times, Taskmaster creator and co-host Alex Horne gave an insight into what to expect.

He said: 'There is a moment involving Kumail Nanjiani. I don't want to give much away, but he gives a lot away about what he does by himself in his hotel room. So that's what you've got to tune in for.'

Alex added: 'He surprised himself by what he revealed, and I was sat next to him, and it's a big moment. It's a never-before-seen Taskmaster moment.'

The Gavin and Stacey actress is starring in the new series of the hit gameshow alongside presenter Joel Dommett, writer Armando Iannucci, comedian Amy Gledhill and Hollywood star Kumail Nanjiani

Furthermore, he also revealed how a particular series 21 contestant ultimately surprised him, adding or Armando: 'He's a comedy legend and a very clever man, you'd think.

'Not on Taskmaster! It turns out Armando is an idiot, which is so nice to [know].

'I found him quite daunting to meet and work with, but within five minutes, you realise he's the same as everyone else. He crumbles under pressure,'

It comes after Love Actually stars Joanna and Martin Freeman enjoyed a surprise reunion on The One Show, 22 years after starring in the iconic film.

The pair famously starred as film stand-ins John and Judy who start a shy romance whilst stripping off for their jobs.

After sharing their delight at appearing on The One Show sofa together, both Martin, 54, and Joanna, 49, said it had been over 20 years since they last saw each other.

The duo joined a huge ensemble of actors including Martin McCutcheon, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy and Alan Rickman in the 2003 film.

Starting the show, host Alex Jones said: 'We cannot ignore that this is a reunion, a Love Actually reunion.

'We wont mention how the couple got together, the characters you played. But its nice Martin isnt it to be on the sofa with Joanna?'

Love Actually stars Martin Freeman and Joanna Page enjoyed a surprise reunion during Tuesday's episode of The One Show, 22 years after starring in the iconic film

The pair famously starred as film stand-ins John and Judy who started a shy romance together

Martin added: 'We were just saying, we havent seen each other for' before Joanna noted it had been '20 odd years.'

'Probably 20 odd years. We filmed it in 2002/2003,' the Sherlock star said.

Joanna said: 'I was getting married in 2003 so missed the premiere. So, I didnt actually see the film when it first came out. So yes 20 odd years ago.'

As the Gavin and Stacey star joked: 'I dont think weve aged at all,' Martin added: 'No, I think weve gone backwards.'

While Joanna spoke about her new BBC series Shift the Thrift, Martin was joined by co-star Molly Belle Wright to discuss their new murder mystery film Flavia.

The 2003 feel-good flick, featuring separate stories that eventually come together and unite everyone during the holiday period, has long cemented its status as a Christmas classic.

Director Richard Curtis has spoken about making the choice to axe two scenes - one featuring a lesbian couple, and another which is set in Kenya - for both duration and because they simply 'didn't fit' the movie.

One heartbreaking scene, which was lost, is between a stern headmistress, played by Anne Reid, who returned home from work to look after her terminally-ill partner Geraldine - actress Frances de la Tour.

After sharing their delight at appearing on The One Show sofa together, both Martin and Joanna said it had been over 20 years since they last saw each other

The couple are linked to Emma Thompson's character Karen, whose son attended the school where Anne Reid's character worked.

Recently, Richard revealed that he thought Love Actually was a disaster after he finished filming.

The director, 68, confessed that he was worried about the success of the film and almost gave up as he was editing it, believing it would never work.

The Four Weddings and a Funeral creator told the Radio Times: 'We thought Love Actually was a disaster for months while we were trying to edit it.'

The star director added: 'I only thought of setting Love Actually at Christmas halfway through the writing process. I was thinking, 'How can I squeeze all these stories to end at the same time?'

Richard also confessed that he finds it amusing now that people have such strong feelings towards one of his most famous films.

He told the publication that during his latest film, the animated Netflix offering That Christmas, the children complain about having to watch a 'boring Christmas film' and it turns out to be Love Actually.

Speaking of the filming he said: 'I assumed they'd take a clip from some stiff American movie of the 1940s or 50s like Miracle on 34th Street.

'So, I turn up on the day and it's the kids watching, as they say, the 'boring Christmas movie', and they'd stuck in Love Actually.'

Off the back of Richard's latest project, he explained that he realised all the films he makes are the same and was surprised when he noticed the similarities between some of his major movies.

Taskmaster returns tonight (April 9) on Channel 4 at 9pm
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Significant Losses In Hub Group To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

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Charlie Stayt was forced to apologise just seconds into interviewing Ralf Little on Friday's BBC Breakfast.

Actor Ralf, 46, appeared in the studio to chat to Charlie, 63, and Naga Munchetty, 51, about the theatre production he is currently starring in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Before the interview aired, meteorologist Matt Taylor shared the latest weather updates with fans live from the Aintree Racecourse for Ladies Day - which seemed to confuse Charlie a little bit back in the studio.

After his segment, Matt said: 'Back to you both!' to which Charlie replied: 'Thank you Ralf! Thanks very much...

'I said Ralf... Thank you very much, how confusing. Matt, I'll explain.

'Matt, thank you very much. Matt the reason I said "Thank you Ralf" to Matt is because Ralf is here! Okay?'

Charlie Stayt was forced to apologise just seconds into interviewing Ralf Little on Friday's BBC Breakfast

Actor Ralf, 46, appeared in the studio to chat to Charlie, 63, and Naga Munchetty, 51, about the theatre production he is currently starring in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Before the interview aired, meteorologist Matt Taylor shared the latest weather updates with fans live from the Aintree Racecourse for Ladies Day - which seemed to confuse Charlie a little bit back in the studio

Ralf chimed in: 'Sorry about that Matt.'

'Ralf Little is with us in the studio, Matt, I'm just trying to choreograph things, ' Charlie added.

'Apologies all round.'

Naga sarcastically added: 'It's quite unusual for Matt to be there and for us to have a guest here, it confuses Charlie...'

Ralf replied: 'It's confused everyone, it's confused me! We're all confused.'

Charlie joked: 'Let's clear it up. You're here...'

'Matt is there,' Ralf joked.

It comes after BBC Breakfast fans were left begging Naga 'you have to stop!' as they accused her of bulldozing a guest in an 'embarrassing' interview.

Naga made a return to screens on the news programme on Thursday alongside regular co-star Charlie to discuss the top stories across the UK and beyond.

While many of her fans were overjoyed to see her back on screens, one segment that saw the duo sitting down with Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey had some viewers up in arms.

As part of the BBC's election coverage, Ed, 60, was on hand to discuss some of the party's plans for the UK ahead of the vote, which takes place on May 7.

Naga and Charlie, 63, were quick to quiz the party leader on what will be done on the rising costs of living and soaring fuel prices following the US-Iran ceasefire.

Davey explained he is calling for the Chancellor to step in and support the public with a 10p cut to fuel duty, as well as 10% off rail fares and a 1 cap on bus tickets.

But as he explained his point of view, he was soon appearing to clash with host Naga as the BBC Breakfast host kept 'interrupting' the MP as he spoke.

Charlie asked: 'Every politician has said that but how do you do it?' to which the MP explained: 'Well, it has happened in the past and we need the competition authorities to be really on this. It can be done and I think people really welcome'

Naga then jumped in: 'Well, the government is meeting with retailers. I mean, it's been reported and there was a rather fractures meeting with petrol retailers and fuel suppliers and the government is kind of putting that pressure on.

'Rachel Reeves has said "no, absolutely no to profiteering, and we will clamp down on this".'

Ed continued: 'You're right. So it can be done but what the government isn't saying is they're not gonna cut people's petrol prices and diesel prices.'

But Naga interjected again: 'Its not in their control, though.'

The MP continued on: 'It really is then under control. Their control over taxes. They could pass a S of what's called a statue institute, a bit of legislation next week and deliver these price cuts.

'So it's really in their control and that's why we are going to push them in Parliament next week, because I think people are really, really finding it hard at the moment and these extra rises in petrol and diesel prices have pushed'

Naga then interjected: 'Not everything, though, is it?' before the pair began speaking over one another as they tried to share their own viewpoint.

Viewers watching at home took to X, formerly Twitter, to complain about the segment, as they hit out at Naga for 'interrupting' people.

One penned: 'Embarrassing..Naga trying to sound like she knows what shes talking about,' as another chimed in: 'Stop talking over your guests Naga.'

A third person added: 'You have to stop Naga interrupting people. He could barely get a word in - another one,' as a fourth said: 'Shut up, Naga.'

Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and is iPlayer.
A distraught Taryn Manning called her alleged female ex-lover Holliann 'Holli' Hartman last month to beg for help as she claimed she was bleeding and had lost a tooth due to an alleged altercation with her on-off boyfriend.

In audio exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail, the Orange Is the New Black alum, 47, can be heard crying over the phone and claiming: 'He kicked me last night.'

The man she was accusing is paparazzo Ricardo 'Rick' Mendoza, whom the Daily Mail exclusively revealed has been in a relationship with Manning since 2024.

'I did not! Oh my God, oh my God,' Mendoza can be heard saying - denying the allegations as he then accused the troubled actress of being intoxicated all day.

'Yes, you did,' Manning then insisted amid tears. 'My tooth is gone. Where did my tooth go? I'm in so much pain. He thinks I'm faking it.'

Hartman, 36, who was on the other line, demanded that Mendoza leave so that she could go and assist Manning, who continued to weep.

Manning then said there was 'blood everywhere and he's filming me naked. I'm so upset. I'm so embarrassed. My tooth is gone. I'm not going to throw anyone under the bus. I just want out of this situation.'

The Daily Mail has obtained exclusive audio of Taryn Manning sounding distressed and crying following an alleged altercation with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Ricardo 'Rick' Mendoza

The Daily Mail exclusively revealed earlier this year that Manning and Mendoza have been romantically involved since 2024

'Blood everywhere and he's filming me naked,' Manning can be heard claiming in the phone call obtained by the Daily Mail. 'I'm so upset. I'm so embarrassed. My tooth is gone' (This photo was not taken during this incident, but was posted by Manning via social media at another time)

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Hartman claimed she eventually made it to Manning's Palm Springs, California, property and took her to the hospital.

'We were at the hospital all night long, but of course she never pressed charges,' said the former makeup artist, who has been in Manning's life for over a decade.

Following the alleged incident, Manning herself claimed in a since-deleted Instagram video from March that Mendoza 'beat the c**p out of' her, ripped her lip and tore the ligament that connects the lip to the gums.

But in a statement to the Daily Mail, Manning denied that Mendoza ever attacked her.

'Any suggestion that Rick Mendoza has harmed me is completely false,' she told us.

'What is being referenced appears to come from moments where we were informally acting, rehearsing or recording material, which is something we regularly do.

'Any audio or footage taken out of that context would be misleading and does not reflect reality. Rick and I have been getting to know each other over time, and there is no truth to the claims being made about him.'

Hartman claimed she has been involved romantically on and off with Manning over the years, but Manning has denied the claim. Hartman also claimed those in Manning's inner circle have grown increasingly concerned since she started dating Mendoza.

'She used to pray and used to try to watch Jesus all the time,' Hartman claimed. 'Now she literally tells me "666" and "I've put a hex on you. Satan all the way." I mean, it's bad.

'She threatens my life now. She's not who she was back then at all.'

Hartman further alleged that alcohol dependency may have something to do with it.

'I don't know if it's the alcoholism that has rotted her brain, but it's really escalated,' she said. 'Rick pulls out the abuser in her so much so that she thinks that it's life now.'

Mendoza has denied Hartman's allegations and challenged her credibility.

Hartman alleged Manning has texted her using '666' and other demonic references

'I think Rick pulls out the abuser in her so much so that she thinks that it's life now,' Hartman claimed to the Daily Mail. Mendoza previously denied he has had any bad intentions with Manning

The Daily Mail has obtained text messages Manning purportedly sent to Hartman that appear to corroborate these allegations.

Manning also appears to have a history of exhibiting violent behavior.

In a recently leaked video, the 8 Mile star was seen physically attacking Hartman.

The Daily Mail has exclusively obtained a second video that shows Manning lunging at Hartman during a separate incident. Hartman denied ever striking back, but the clip does not show what happened before or after the lunge.

In an Instagram video posted last week, Manning dismissed Hartman as a 'random girl that was a fan that I befriended 18 years ago' whom she was trying to help keep off the streets.

However, the former makeup artist claimed their relationship is much deeper, alleging that they have been 'in love' in the past and got engaged in the fall of 2023.

Hartman claimed that Manning was going through a tough period at the time due to her public support of convicted rapist Danny Masterson. Hartman said that was when the actress allegedly told her, 'You really are always there for me' and popped the question.

The Daily Mail spoke exclusively to Hartman, who claimed she was once Manning's fiancee and alleged she took the actress to the hospital following an alleged dispute with Mendoza. Manning denied this version of the events

The Daily Mail obtained texts that seemingly show the two women repeatedly declaring their love for one another and planning their future together:

'Let's get married. Asap. My beautiful wife. I love you Holli,' Manning purportedly wrote.

Another read: 'My heart is exploding. Cause I love you so much it hurts. [You're] my baby angel. Let's get a baby.'

'I've always been under the impression that she's in love with me and this is what we're doing and this is what we're working toward,' Hartman told the Daily Mail.

'But it's literally been her excuse to have her cake and eat it, too. She doesn't care about not being with women. She just doesn't want to be tied down to one woman.'

Manning has not publicly put a label on her sexuality, and the Daily Mail reviewed texts she purportedly sent in which she denied that she was gay. However, Manning has been in a public relationship with actress Anne Cline.

In 2021, TMZ reported that Manning and Cline were engaged. Though, they reportedly split just two months after the proposal.

Text messages obtained by the Daily Mail purportedly show Manning allegedly referring to Hartman as her 'wife' and saying that she loves her

According to Hartman, Manning proposed to her in 2023 - but they have since called it off

Meanwhile, Hartman has seemingly been a constant in Manning's life.

Hartman told the Daily Mail she first met the actress in 2010 at one of Manning's concerts and they formed a strong friendship, bonding over their upbringings and music.

Hartman claimed the relationship then turned sexual - and, increasingly volatile - around 2012.

In October of that year, Manning was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault following a physical altercation with Hartman, who had been working as Manning's makeup artist and assistant.

Speaking about the incident for the first time, Hartman told the Daily Mail that Manning had met a man while out at a nearby club and then brought him up to their room at New York City's Dream Downtown hotel. Once inside the room, the two women allegedly got into a dispute over whether Hartman was jealous of the man.

'She lunged across the beds at me, started punching and hitting me,' Hartman claimed. 'The guy gets up to try to separate us, so now she has me pinned with her foot into my bladder... and I start peeing all over the floor.'

Hartman - who claimed they were both under the influence of alcohol and her prescribed Adderall at the time - alleged Manning then dragged her by her hair out of the hotel bathroom shower.

'I was just in the shower crying because I wanted to be alone,' Hartman claimed. 'She pulls me out by my hair, pulls me into the hallway, then she roundhouse kicks me in my face. She reaches her two fingers down to hook my eyes, so her fingernails scratched my eyelids.'

Hartman met Manning in 2010 and worked for the actress as a makeup artist and assistant

Photos obtained by the Daily Mail show Hartman's eyes with cuts and bruising

Hartman alleged she sustained injuries to her face after being assaulted by Manning in 2012

Hartman claimed she was able to run out of the room and asked the front desk for other accommodation - they allegedly did not provide one. She claimed she did not call the police until the following day when friends at a hair salon encouraged her to do so.

Manning was placed on six months probation and one day of community service, leading to her charge getting dismissed, according to news outlets. The case files have since been sealed, per the Manhattan Criminal Court.

The women remained in contact despite the volatility. In 2016, Hartman attempted to file a restraining order against Manning in Los Angeles for allegedly headbutting her, spraying Windex in her eyes and putting her in a headlock, per court documents obtained by TMZ.

Manning denied any wrongdoing via her lawyers at the time, and the order was denied because the incident took place in New York.

Hartman has also found herself in legal trouble over the years.

In 2023, she was arrested for allegedly stealing Manning's 2004 Chrysler Crossfire.

'I went to jail for the night on grand theft and luckily the female officer realized that this was same sex domestic violence - which, not a lot of people understand that just because it's two women,' Hartman alleged to the Daily Mail.

'So they processed me really quick because they could tell that I didn't steal the car. For over ten years, I've borrowed her second car because she lives in Palm Springs and I work in LA... and she didn't like the fact that I was trying to tell her how it was going to happen, so she filed it as stolen and I got arrested that same day.'

She claimed the district attorney never ended up filing charges against her.

Hartman claimed to the Daily Mail that she and Manning first became romantically involved in 2012 and have been together on and off for years. Manning has denied the relationship

In a recent Instagram video, Manning downplayed her ties to Hartman and claimed she was just a 'random girl that was a fan that I befriended 18 years ago'

Hartman claimed to the Daily Mail that she has grown distant from Manning ever since she became involved with Mendoza

Hartman claimed she dated Manning up until she began spending more time with Mendoza - adding they had remained in contact.

The ex-assistant claimed she recently tried to help Manning with work she needed done around the house - and that they got into a financial dispute over how much money Hartman was owed for her labor.

Over the weekend, the former makeup artist claimed to the Daily Mail that she was forced to be homeless after Manning said she could not live in her studio any longer.

However, both parties have since confirmed that they have squared away that debt.

Hartman told us she is speaking out against Manning, claiming she finally realized Manning 'doesn't have any goodwill' toward her.

'I want to be clear that there is significantly more context to this situation than what's being presented,' Manning told the Daily Mail in response to Hartman's allegations.

'There is a long and complicated personal history here, and over the years I have consistently tried to be supportive, including during very difficult and sensitive situations. At this point, it feels like I'm being pulled into something that is rooted in personal choices and the way those are now being handled.

'Many of the allegations being shared are inaccurate, taken out of context or part of a broader situation that is not being fully represented. Publishing one-sided claims without that context can be misleading and potentially harmful.

'This is a deeply personal matter, and I'm not willing to escalate it further in the press. My focus is on my work, my safety and moving forward in a healthy and stable way.

'Out of respect for everyone involved, I won't be expanding beyond this. She's been paid. So weird.'

In the text message above, Manning (who purportedly sent the gray messages) allegedly expressed frustrations over her career, writing: 'I can't just get a normal Job like you'

Manning, seen here on her hit show Orange Is the New Black, was arrested in 2012 for allegedly assaulting Hartman at a hotel room in New York City. The charges were dropped

Manning rose to fame in films like Crossroads, Hustle & Flow and 8 Mile

Concern for Manning has spiraled in recent years as a result of her disheveled appearance on social media and for going viral due to bizarre rants.

When the Daily Mail spoke to her in February, she denied having alcohol issues and touted her 'decades of consistent work, formal training and ongoing creative output as a signed artist.'

However, she admitted to struggling over her tumultuous relationship with Mendoza, whom she accused of 'harassing' her at the time and leaking nude photos of her on Instagram without her permission.

'He scares me, to be honest,' she told the Daily Mail.

At the time, Manning also denied that Mendoza ever physically harmed her.

'He's hurt a lot of women - not physically, but he's broken a lot of hearts,' she told the Daily Mail. 'He actually got me good, but I can't deal with him anymore.'

A text message exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail appears to show Manning's inner turmoil as she clings to her Hollywood career.

'So frustrating just want to be able to have some way to make money with my career and my history earning it,' she purportedly wrote in December 2023.

'I'm sure you would want that too but you wouldn't ever not get that I can't just get a normal Job like you.'
P.E Nation co-founder Claire Greaves has a new man in her life following her messy divorce from cinematographer Tim Tregoning and her nuclear falling-out with former best friend and business partner Pip Edwards.

The Daily Mail pictured the creative director arriving at Sydney Airport last Sunday as she picked up her boyfriend, British film producer Tom Butterfield, from the international arrivals terminal.

Greaves and Butterfield were all smiles as they shared a lingering hug at the gate before strolling off hand-in-hand with Tom's luggage in tow.

Looking smitten, mother-of-two Greaves beamed and giggled as the pair made their way towards the car park together.

The one-time activewear mogul looked typically stylish for the romantic reunion, sporting a brown suede jacket layered over a white top and ripped jeans.

She completed her look with brown sneakers, sunglasses and gold jewellery.

P.E Nation co-founder Claire Greaves has a new man in her life - British film producer Tom Butterfield - following her messy divorce from cinematographer Tim Tregoning

The Daily Mail pictured the Sydney-based creative director arriving at Sydney Airport last Sunday as she picked up Butterfield from the international arrivals terminal

Greaves and Butterfield were all smiles as they shared a lingering hug at the gate before strolling off hand-in-hand with Tom's luggage in tow

Butterfield, who is the co-founder of production company Culmination Productions, dressed for comfort in a khaki jacket, beige jumper and blue sweatpants.

The couple follow each other on social media but have not gone 'Instagram official' with their relationship.

Greaves and her ex-husband Tregoning quietly separated in 2022 after 11 years of marriage, but the news was made public eight months later, in January 2023.

At the time, Greaves told the Sydney Morning Herald the split was 'very amicable' and 'we still love each other'.

'We are co-parenting and he remains a great friend,' she added.

'Things change and that's just what happened for us, but we are getting through that with a lot of respect and support for each other.'

However, things took a turn in November 2023 when police slapped Tregoning - who worked on blockbuster movies such as Snow White and the Huntsman - with an apprehended domestic violence order on behalf of his former wife.

He was then charged with stalking or intimidating her with intent to cause physical or mental harm between November 1 and 3, 2023.

A smitten Greaves beamed and giggled as the pair made their way towards the car park

The one-time activewear mogul looked typically stylish for the romantic reunion, sporting a brown suede jacket layered over a white top and ripped jeans

She completed her look with a pair of brown sneakers, sunglasses and gold jewellery

Tregoning, who had the name 'Claire' tattooed on his ribs next to a heart and arrows, pleaded not guilty.

He was bailed to an $8million mansion overlooking Palm Beach and had to adhere to strict bail conditions.

He was not allowed within 100 metres of where Greaves lived or worked, and could not contact her, unless through a lawyer or agreed in writing and about contact with their children.

He was prohibited from assaulting or threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating Greaves, or recklessly destroying property or harming any animal that belonged to her.

In 2023, Tregoning was also slapped with a good behaviour bond after he was caught buying a $600 bag of cocaine from a dealer at Bondi Beach.

A court heard he had bought the drugs on the same day Greaves told him not to come home.

Despite that situation, she still wrote him a glowing character reference.

The court also heard Tregoning had undergone sessions with psychologists and psychiatrists to help deal with his depression and ADHD, which caused him to act impulsively.

Butterfield, who is the co-founder of production company Culmination Productions, dressed for comfort in a khaki jacket, beige jumper and blue sweatpants

The couple follow each other on social media but have not gone 'Instagram official'

Tregoning's legal woes continued as he subsequently faced court in January 2025 after sending his estranged wife Greaves an intimate image of another woman without her consent.

The photo, which showed the woman partially undressed in a hotel room, was sent alongside the message, 'Let's play, you started this,' during a dispute.

Tregoning later told police he sent the image as a tactic to provoke a response and get Greaves to engage with him.

The woman in the image was unaware it had been shared until months later, when Greaves informed her, prompting a police complaint.

Tregoning was subsequently arrested and charged with distributing an intimate image without consent, as well as stalking and intimidation.

The latter charge was later dropped, and he pleaded guilty to the image-related offence.

He also sought to have the matter dealt with under mental health provisions, citing conditions including ADHD and depression, but this application was rejected by the court.

Magistrate Scott Nash said the offence could cause significant emotional harm and stressed the need to deter similar behaviour, describing the non-consensual sharing of intimate images as increasingly prevalent.

Greaves and her ex-husband Tim Tregoning quietly separated in 2022 after 11 years of marriage, but the news was made public eight months later, in January 2023

In November 2023, police slapped Tregoning - who had worked on movies such as Snow White and the Huntsman - with an apprehended domestic violence order on behalf of his ex-wife

Greaves is best known as the co-founder of athleisurewear brand P.E Nation, but stepped down from the role in March 2024. After the shock move, rumours swirled that Greaves and her business partner Pip Edwards (pictured together in May 2018) had fallen out

Greaves and Edwards co-founded the brand in 2015 and turned it into a global business

However, the court took into account Tregoning's guilty plea, his apologies to both women, and his ongoing treatment.

He was ultimately handed a two-year conditional release order without a conviction, meaning he will avoid a criminal record if he complies with the conditions.

Greaves is best known as the co-founder of Australian athleisurewear brand P.E Nation, but she stepped down from the role in March 2024.

At the time, P.E Nation said in a statement that Greaves would be 'pursuing other creative endeavours' and taking her career in a new direction.

After the shock move, rumours swirled that Greaves and Edwards had fallen out.

The speculation gathered pace when Edwards later wiped all traces of Greaves from P.E Nation's social media, which meant deleting years of promotional material.

Edwards took over as the sole creative director after Greaves' exit, giving the brand an overhaul and relaunch, before confirming she too was stepping down in August 2024.

Since departing P.E Nation, Greaves has joined forces with Australian comedian Celeste Barber to launch makeup brand BOOIE Beauty.

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The ABC sitcom The Middle came to an end in 2018 after nine seasons, but the beloved series came incredibly close to continuing on with a spin-off.

Actress Eden Sher resurfaced this week and confirmed that a spin-off centered around her character Sue Heck was in development.

Unfortunately, the project was abruptly pulled when there was a 'huge regime change' at ABC and the executives that had previously championed The Middle were ousted from the network.

Sher, now 34, opened up about the spin-off on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, which was titled Sue in the City.

'It was set in Chicago and it was a few years in the future,' she explained.

'She basically finds this really run-down hotel in Chicago and she makes it her mission to save this hotel,' she continued.

The Middle star Eden Sher resurfaced this week (pictured) and confirmed that she was set to star in a spin-off series about her character Sue Heck living in New York

The spin-off focused on Sue as she moved to Chicago to work in a run-down hotel. (Sher pictured in 2018)

'And there's this cast of characters and Chicago is a little bit of a character.'

She also said that Brock Ciarlelli, who played her best friend Brad Bottig in The Middle, was going to live with Sue in the spin-off.

'It was about Sue living in the city! It had a little bit of a Kimmy Schmidt vibe, but it wasn't so dark,' she added.

Beau Wirick, who played Sue's husband Sean Donahue, was also set to pop up.

Sher said that she 'loved every second' of filming the pilot episode and was expecting it to be greenlit for a full season.

'I really liked it. It wasn't a perfect pilot but worse pilots have gotten on TV! There was so much potential,' she said.

Sher has continued to act since The Middle ended, most notably with a five-episode stint on Jane the Virgin in 2019.

She was last seen in the Hallmark Channel holiday film, A Keller Christmas Vacation.

Sher is still acting and most recently starred in a Hallmark Christmas film (pictured June, 2025)

The Middle, which also starred Patricia Heaton, came to an end in 2018 after 215 episodes

The Middle, which ran for 215 episodes, centered around a lower middle class family in Indiana as they struggled through the day to day realities of life.

The series notably starred Patricia Heaton, who previously spent nine seasons on Everybody Loves Raymond.

In December, The Middle star Pat Finn died at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer.

Finn was on The Middle from 2010 until 2018. He played the recurring character Bill Norwood.

Soon after the news broke, Heaton shared a loving tribute on Instagram.

'One of the finest and funniest human beings I know has left to be with Jesus,' began the Hollywood veteran.

She added, 'Pat Finn, whom most of you know as Bill Norwood on The Middle had been battling cancer the last few years. At the too-young age of 60, he leaves behind his sweetheart Donna and three children.

'He was adored by all who knew him, and he leaves behind a legacy of love, friendship, and wonderful comedy.'
A golden Hollywood icon known for playing Cinnamon Carter Crawford in the action TV series Mission: Impossible was spotted on a rare outing.

Emmy-winning Barbara Bain looked as fashionable as ever while grocery shopping in Beverly Hills on Thursday, where she appeared to be pushing her own cart and unloading her own purchases.

Wearing chandelier stone earrings with a red lip, Bain was a vision of style for her casual day of errands.

She threw on a white blazer, polka dot trousers and sharp footwear.

Now 94, Bain worked opposite her now ex-husband, Martin Landau, in the 60s television series that went on to inspire the Tom Cruise film franchise.

Mission: Impossible aired from 1966 to 1973, but Landau and Bain left at the end of the show's third season.

Golden Hollywood legend Barbara Bain was spotted making a rare outing in Beverly Hills on Thursday

An accomplished actress, Bain is the winner of three Emmy Awards for her role in Mission: Impossible, as well as a Golden Globe nomination in 1968

Bain starred opposite her then-husband, the late Martin Landau (pictured L), in the show

They then starred in the British-made sci-fi series 'Space: 1999' from 1975 to 1977.

Bain was married to Landau from 1957 to 1993 and shares two daughters with him - actress Juliet Rose Landau and Susan Landau Finch.

An accomplished actress, Bain is the winner of three Emmy Awards for her role in Mission: Impossible, as well as a Golden Globe nomination in 1968.

Bain's acting career dates back to 1958 but she first pursued a passion for dance.

She moved from Illinois to New York City and studied under the legendary Martha Graham before pivoting towards acting.

Bain has a lengthy and impressive resume that also includes a guest-starring role on an episode of Perry Mason in 1960.

She also played Dick Van Dyke's ex-fiancee in a 1963 episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show.

Other iconic titles Bain worked on include My So-Called Life, Murder, She Wrote, Moonlighting, and more.

Bain got her start as a dancer, moving from Illinois to New York to pursue her passion

The 94-year-old pushed her cart after unloading her groceries into her car

She looked as fashionable as ever with a white blazer and polka dot trousers

She wore a pair of snazzy perforated white shoes

She played Cinnamon Carter Crawford in the action TV series Mission: Impossible

Bain was on the show that went on to inspire the Tom Cruise film franchise

She has been acting since 1958 and is still active, lending her voice to the upcoming drama When the Voiceless Roar.

Bain has done more for her audiences than merely entertain them, with the star later revealing her role in Mission: Impossible inspired women to pursue an education.

'There wasn't a woman in that regard on television at the time. Young women were writing to me and saying: "I never thought of becoming a so-and-so, but because of watching you on Mission: Impossible, I'm going to get my degree,"' she told Classic Film TV Cafe in 2019.

'As the years have gone on, I have gotten a lot of comments like that. For example, I just received a letter from a woman who has retired from NASA and said that she was inspired to pursue her dream because of watching me on Mission: Impossible.'
Kim Kardashian reportedly made an eye-watering 11,000 mile round trip just to spend 24 hours with Lewis Hamilton.

The reality TV star, 45, is believed to have flown to London on Tuesday on her private jet to spend time with her beau Lewis, 41.

Kim is said to have departed Los Angeles on Monday evening and arrived in the capital the following afternoon, UK time.

After touching down in Farnborough, Hants, she was driven to F1 driver Lewis' 18million home in Kensington.

Sources close to the mother-of-four say her strenuous trip across the Atlantic is in a bid to keep their romance alive.

An insider told The Sun: 'Lewis and Kim are two of the busiest people in showbiz, but they are determined to do everything to see each other when they have any spare time.

Kim Kardashian reportedly made an eye-watering 11,000 mile round trip just to spend 24 hours with Lewis Hamilton (pictured in 2021)

Sources close to the mother-of-four say her strenuous trip across the Atlantic is in a bid to keep their romance alive

'Kim spent Easter weekend with her family and then had a photoshoot in Los Angeles on Monday morning, then flew across the Atlantic to see Lewis.

'They didn't have long together because she had commitments in the US to get back to, but it was quality time.'

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for both Kim and Lewis.

The day before Kim landed in London she and Lewis went Instagram official.

A reel shared by the Formula One driver on Monday showed Kim sitting shotgun of his bright red Ferrari while he was driving.

Lewis was driving around his race car at high speeds around the streets of Japan.

He set the video to the song Victory Lap by Skepta, PlaqueboyMax and FredAgain and wrote in the caption: 'HERE WE GO AGAIN. TOKYO DRIFT VOL. III.'

Near the end of the video, The Kardashian star could be seen sitting in the passenger seat and smiling widely after Hamilton showed off some of his driving tricks.

Kim recently traveled back to California for an extravagant Easter celebration with her family, but in late March, the pair were seen walking together in Tokyo.

They were first rumored to be dating in early February when they were seen on what appeared to be a romantic weekend trip in Europe.

They were reportedly spotted in the Cotswolds and later travelled from the UK to Paris.

That same month, they made a public appearance together and were spotted sitting together in the same VIP booth at the Super Bowl.

Join the discussion Is it romantic or irresponsible for stars to drop everything for whirlwind trips across the globe for love?

In early March, they enjoyed a luxurious trip together in Utah, and at the end of the month, the pair traveled to Tokyo alongside Kardashian's kids.

Kim reportedly brought along her three youngest children: Saint, 10, Chicago, nine, and Psalm, six.

A source previously said that the couple have an 'intense' relationship and added that her family 'adores' him.
Rebecca Gibney's recent ADHD and autism diagnosis has been a 'blessing in disguise', according to a new report.

Late last month, Rebecca announced she'd been diagnosed with ADHD and autism during an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly.

A source close to the Packed to the Rafters star, 61, told Woman's Day she had gone through a 'kind of metamorphosis' following her diagnosis.

'The diagnosis was a blessing in disguise as it helped make sense of so much  it was like a weight being lifted.'

They added that it had also been a blessing to Rebecca's husband of 24 years, Richard Bell, as it helped him 'understand a great deal more about her quirks'.

In the wake of her diagnosis, Rebecca revealed that she was stepping away from social media, and the publication reported that it was Richard who encouraged her to take a break.

Rebecca Gibney's recent ADHD and autism diagnosis has been a 'blessing in disguise' according to a new report

A source close to the Packed to the Rafters star, 61, told Woman's Day that she had gone through a 'kind of metamorphosis' following her diagnosis. Rebecca is pictured with husband Richard Bell

'Rebecca prides herself on being a survivor  and shes done a lot of self-work rebuilding from the horrors of her past, but Richard cant bear to see her confidence falter over a troll online,' the source said.

Taking to Instagram earlier this month, Rebecca wrote: 'Hello friends, it's time for a wee break from all things SM.'

'I've been spending way too much time staring at my phone looking at either bad news, products I don't want, snippets from people's lives that I don't know, and apart from the funnies - which we all need - I'm finding it all a waste of very precious time,' she continued.

Rebecca added: 'I have stopped fully living in the present and I need to reconnect with my hubby, my dogs and myself.'

She also expressed gratitude for the positive response to her recent ADHD and autism diagnosis announcement, but addressed some of the negative comments she received.

'Alas, there has also been a little backlash so I just wanted to say to the people that responded with 'get over it,' 'it's not cancer,' 'stop jumping on the bandwagon' and 'nobody cares' - just a wee word of advice,' Rebecca wrote.

'If you don't know the full story of someone's life - please don't make assumptions or fire off petty comments.'

Rebecca shared that much of her life had been marked by personal challenges.

'The diagnosis was a blessing in disguise as it helped make sense of so much  it was like a weight being lifted,' a source told the publication

In the wake of her diagnosis, Rebecca revealed that she was stepping away from social media, and the publication reported that it was Richard who encouraged Rebecca to take a break

'I have lived most of my life misdiagnosed with severe anxiety (45 years of it). I was raised in a home with extreme domestic violence and I have suffered depression, so to tell someone to 'get over it' is really not helpful,' she said.

'I share my story so that it may encourage others who might be struggling to know they are not alone.'

Rebecca concluded on a hopeful and personal note: 'So if you need me, I'll be by a river somewhere, walking the dogs, planting veggies with my hubby and talking to the trees. Be kind to yourselves and others. And I'll see you soon. Ish.'

It came one week after Rebecca revealed to The Australian Woman's Weekly that she had been diagnosed with ADHD and autism.

ADHD is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, while autism affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, behaves and processes information.

Autism is considered a 'spectrum' because the severity varies among individuals.

'It's been hard. It's been very emotional. I've cried a lot more in the last few months than I've cried in a long time, which I thought I'd gotten over as a woman over 60. I was like, 'No, I've got all that stuff sorted',' the Millionaire Hot Seat host said.

Rebecca found out about her condition while speaking to a psychologist due to struggles she faced after Dancing With The Stars earlier this year.

'Rebecca prides herself on being a survivor  and shes done a lot of self-work rebuilding from the horrors of her past, but Richard cant bear to see her confidence falter over a troll online,' the source said

'I'm still coming to terms with it because it's answered a lot of questions from my past - my panic attacks, my years of masking, which started obviously at a very early age,' she confessed.

'Masking' is when someone with ADHD or autism hides their natural behaviours and traits to fit in with others.

Rebecca is one of many Australian celebrities who have recently been diagnosed with ADHD later in life.

Mamamia co-founder Mia Freedman received her ADHD diagnosis at age 49, while actress Sigrid Thornton found out she had the same condition at 65.

Media personality Em Rusciano was diagnosed with ADHD and autism at age 43, while feminist author Clementine Ford discovered she had ADHD at 41.
California Schemin' (15, 107 mins)

Rating:

Verdict: An effervescent delight

You, Me & Tuscany (12A, 104 mins)

Rating:

Verdict: Cheesier than mozzarella

Effervescent is the best adjective to describe I Swear, which was my film of 2025. It has to be an eff-word, obviously.

It will do, too, for the cutely titled California Schemin', which is also rooted in Scotland and has the same irresistible warmth and story-telling vigour.

Like I Swear, California Schemin'  a tremendously assured directing debut by James McAvoy  is based on a true story: that of a Scottish hip-hop duo who called themselves Silibil N' Brains.

In the early 2000s they kept pitching themselves to London-based record companies, who refused to take them seriously, largely on account (it seemed) of their accents.

So they came up with a masterstroke, broadening their vowels and pretending to have arrived in London straight outta California, rather than Dundee. That made all the difference.

The film's own masterstroke lies in the casting. Samuel Bottomley and Seamus McLean Ross play, respectively, Billy Boyd ('Silibil') and Gavin Bains ('Brains').

Ross, incidentally, in a neat example of life overlapping with art, is the son of Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh of the band Deacon Blue, genuine Scottish pop royalty.

Bottomley is a Yorkshireman but, to my ears at least, sounds convincingly like a Taysider.

California Schemin' is rooted in Scotland and has the same irresistible warmth and story-telling vigour as I Swear (2025)

The cast of California Schemin' at the London premier in Leicester Square on Wednesday

They both give delightful performances, impeccably supported by Lucy Halliday as Billy's sweet but doughty girlfriend Mary.

In Dundee, Billy and Gavin are engaging scallywags working in telesales, but with dreams of hip-hop stardom.

McAvoy himself plays a record producer, on the lookout for 'the next Eminem'.

When auditions are announced, the pair travel gleefully to London. They know they have talent, and fully expect to be snapped up. Instead, condescendingly dismissed as the 'rapping Proclaimers', they return to Scotland, dejected but not defeated.

Billy applies his telesales logic: 'You've always got to give the customers what they want.' With that in mind, they resolve to try again, this time pretending to be Americans.

So now they are working on two acts  the hip-hop, but also the pretence. The latter definitely needs work.

They tell another record executive, played by James Corden, that they're from LA, and when he asks where, they mention the only place they know: Beverly Hills. Clocking his disbelief, they add a few desperate details. It's a very funny scene.

As they gain confidence and decide on a method-acting approach  'no more Scottish, even to each other'  California Schemin' begins to echo all those lovely impostor films, the likes of Tootsie (1982), Mrs Doubtfire (1993) and Catch Me If You Can (2002), even Some Like It Hot (1959). That's illustrious company.

The cast of the lacklustre romantic comedy (left to right) Aziza Scott, Rege-Jean Page, Halle Bailey, Marco Calvani, Lorenzo de Moor and Stella Pecollo

And in its funny, exuberant, tremendously likeable protagonists, it also reminded me a little of Bill Forsyth's eternal charmer Gregory's Girl (1980), which is never a bad thing.

Yet there's nothing derivative about McAvoy's film, slickly written by Elaine Gracie and Archie Thomson.

It tells a cracking story with terrific verve, and makes it impossible not to invest in these two pals; to rejoice for them once they start achieving their dreams  but also to fret for them, in case they are spoiled and soured, like so many before them, by the trappings of success.

Sure enough, the fun soon gives way to friction, because once they are scouted and sign a record deal, then go on tour, Billy's objectives and Gavin's begin to diverge.

The original plan was to get signed as Americans and then sensationally reveal themselves as Dundonians, ideally on The Oprah Winfrey Show, thereby exposing the shallowness of the record industry.

But success is seductive, and it depends on them pretending to be people they're not. So gradually, a comedy of deception turns into something much more profound, a story about authenticity. It's a feelgood film with real depth. I loved every minute of it.

The opposite was true of You, Me & Tuscany, a romantic comedy so lacklustre, so insipidly acted and feebly scripted that you can hardly believe it got made.

The director is Kat Coiro, whose 2022 romcom Marry Me was modestly enjoyable, but this is a cliche-driven dud.

Halle Bailey plays Anna, a would-be chef down on her luck in New York City whose encounter one evening with a dishy Italian called Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor) leads her inexorably to Tuscany and, via a series of silly misunderstandings, into the arms of Matteo's even dishier cousin Michael, played by Bridgerton's Rege-Jean Page.

He was once favourite to be cast as the next James Bond, so it's dispiriting to find him walking into the crosshairs of a proper panning.

As in the infinitely superior California Schemin', deception is at the heart of the story. In a parody of Tuscany, where absolutely everyone speaks English, Anna masquerades as Matteo's fiancee for reasons far too idiotic to explain.

The film's only solidity lies in the lovely Tuscan landscape. Everything else is hollow.

Also showing...

My favourite Jim Jarmusch film will probably always be the exquisitely melancholic Paterson (2016), which also features one of the all-time great canine performances, by an English bulldog called Nellie.

But the runner-up would have to be the splendid 1991 anthology Night On Earth, and his latest, Father Mother Sister Brother (15, 110 mins, ****), is constructed in the same intriguing way, with three separate stories linked both thematically and by tiny, almost superfluous details such as the phrase 'Bob's your uncle'.

That might sound a little weird, pretentious even, but Jarmusch is a clever writer and uses top-class acting talent (Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver and Charlotte Rampling, among others) to tell a trio of tales about quite different families and their situations, set in America, Dublin and Paris.

They all focus on the strained relationship between children and their parents: 'Shall I be mother?' asks an uptight novelist played by Rampling, preparing to pour tea.

'You might as well start sometime,' says her daughter (Vicky Krieps), snidely. That's the second story; the third one is about twins clearing their parents' Paris apartment after a plane crash. It's a slow-moving film, but never less than thought-provoking.

Undertone (15, 94 mins, ***) is a low-budget, supernatural horror film in which Evy (Nina Kiri), caring for her dying mother, begins to find unsettling parallels between her surroundings and the creepy-stories podcast she co-hosts.

It's a decent debut by writer-director Ian Tuason  at least until it gets carried away in the final act.

All films reviewed here are in cinemas now.
Amy Schumer looked thinner-than-ever as she arrived at the New York City premiere of the documentary film Lorne on Thursday night.

The comedian, 44, who has lost 50lbs using a weight-loss drug, modeled a pair of skinny blue jeans and a fitted pink T-shirt on the red carpet.

She layered up with a cropped pink sweater and slipped her feet into a pair of pink sandals.

Schumer's blonde hair was worn in a half up, half down style and she kept her makeup light and natural.

After getting in her solo shots, Schumer posed for photos with her Life & Beth co-star Kevin Kane, 49, who she also previously worked with on her show Inside Amy Schumer.

Lorne is an upcoming documentary film directed by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville about Saturday Night Live creator/showrunner Lorne Michaels.

Amy Schumer looked thinner-than-ever as she arrived at the New York City premiere of the documentary film Lorne on Thursday night

The comedian, 44, modeled a pair of skinny blue jeans and a fitted pink T-shirt on the red carpet

Slated for an April 17 theatrical release, the film features interviews from SNL superstars like Tina Fey and Mike Myers.

Schumer has been open about her dramatic body transformation, revealing last year which weight loss drug worked for her after she previously tried Ozempic.

In March 2025, she took to social media to share her positive experience with the diabetes and weight loss drug Mounjaro.

She praised the brand, adding that it worked for her better than its competitor Wegovy.

Schumer had previously revealed that Ozempic did not agree with her.

'Three years ago, I tried Wegovy,' she said online. 'I was puking, I couldn't handle it. I don't know if they've changed the formula, whatever.

'But anyway, I went on this Telehealth meeting with Midi Health, and it was cheap. I wanted to try it myself 'cause I wanted to recommend it to my friends who are nurses and teachers.'

She raved, 'My hair is fuller, my skin is better, I have more energy, I want to get down more, if you know what I mean  I'm talking about sex. So that's been great and Mounjaro's been great.'

She layered up with a cropped pink sweater and slipped her feet into a pair of pink sandals

Schumer's blonde hair was worn in a half up, half down style and she kept her makeup light and natural

After getting in her solo shots, Schumer posed for photos with her Life & Beth co-star Kevin Kane, 49

Schumer has lost 50lbs using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro

Schumer seen left in May 2024 and right in 2026

Schumer's noticeable weight loss also comes after she announced her split from husband Chris Fischer in December 2025. She filed for divorce in January.

The exes, who still 'love each other very much,' according to Schumer, share one son, Gene, who will turn seven in May.

Schumer wasn't the only famous comedian or Hollywood legend on hand for Thursday's premiere.

Orange Is The New Black star Natasha Lyonne hit the red carpet in an eye-catching black velvet frock just hours after she was allegedly removed from a Delta flight.

Page Six reported that Lyonne was asked to leave an aircraft bound for New York City after she failed to respond to flight attendant instructions.

She was reportedly scheduled to appear on The Drew Barrymore Show, which is filmed in the Big Apple, the following day but failed to make it.

The Orange Is The New Black star, 47, addressed the drama on Twitter where she hailed 'unpaid TSA agents' before sharing her regrets over missing Barrymore's show.

'My heart is with all the unpaid TSA agents at our airports,' Lyonne tweeted. 'Sure was looking forward to speaking honestly with @DrewBarrymore yesterday but guess wasn't in the cards.'

Orange Is The New Black star Natasha Lyonne hit the red carpet in an eye-catching black velvet frock just hours after she was allegedly removed from a Delta flight

Despite the alleged drama, Lyonne looked at ease as she posed for photos before heading into a screening room at Alice Tully Hall

Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman smirked for shutterbugs while rocking a chic leather blazer and black pants

The actress, who has starred on SNL for the last seven seasons, carried a woven red purse and styled her golden hair in effortless waves

Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson posed up in a stylish cream color-blocked cardigan, which he paired with silver chain necklaces and dark brown slacks

Both Fineman and Thompson posed for photos with Lorne Michaels himself as well as SNL newcomer Marcello Hernandez

Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost was also in attendance as he was seen standing beside Fineman in one group shot with Michaels

Lorne Michaels suited up for the occasion in a navy blue blazer, slacks and a pale blue button-up shirt

Despite the alleged drama, Lyonne looked at ease as she posed for photos before heading into a screening room at Alice Tully Hall.

Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman smirked for shutterbugs while rocking a chic leather blazer and black pants.

The actress, who has starred on SNL for the last seven seasons, carried a woven red purse and styled her golden hair in effortless waves.

Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson posed up in a stylish cream color-blocked cardigan, which he paired with silver chain necklaces and dark brown slacks.

Both Fineman and Thompson posed for photos with Lorne Michaels as well as SNL newcomer Marcello Hernandez.

Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost was also in attendance as he was seen standing beside Fineman in one group shot with Michaels.

Michaels suited up for the occasion in a navy blue blazer, slacks and a pale blue button-up shirt.

Late-night talk icon David Letterman sported a full white beard and a newsboy cap as he arrived at the premiere with his wife Regina Lasko.

Late-night talk icon David Letterman sported a full white beard and a newsboy cap as he arrived at the premiere with his wife Regina Lasko

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour wowed onlookers in a chic green leather jacket with a black fur-trim collar and a flowing white skirt

Diane Lane flaunted her seemingly ageless beauty in a plunging black top and a floral maxi skirt boasting shades of purple, red and orange

Steve Buscemi, 68, bundled up in a classic black peacoat as he graced the red carpet with his rarely-seen wife Karen Ho

Girls star Jemima Kirke showed off her wild side in a low-cut green leopard-print jumpsuit

2 Dope Queens star Phoebe Robinson flashed her toned abs in a black crop top and leopard-print pants

Numb3rs alum David Krumholtz strolled the event's step-and-repeat photo op in a red leather jacket and a brown plaid newsboy cap

2 Dope Queens star Phoebe Robinson flashed her toned abs in a black crop top and leopard-print pants.

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour wowed onlookers in a chic green leather jacket with a black fur-trim collar and a flowing white skirt.

Diane Lane flaunted her seemingly ageless beauty in a plunging black top and a floral maxi skirt boasting shades of purple, red and orange.

Steve Buscemi, 68, bundled up in a classic black peacoat as he graced the red carpet with his rarely-seen wife Karen Ho.

Girls star Jemima Kirke showed off her wild side in a low-cut green leopard-print jumpsuit.

Numb3rs alum David Krumholtz strolled the event's step-and-repeat photo op in a red leather jacket and a brown plaid newsboy cap.
Abbey Romeo and David Isaacman, the fan favorite couple from Love on the Spectrum, have reportedly ended their romance after nearly five years.

They were the longest-running couple on the series, having gone on their first date in July 2021 at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in front of reality TV cameras.

As recently as the fourth season, which dropped on Netflix last week on April Fool's Day, Romeo, 27, was seen saying 'neither one of us are ready to get married.'

Now however a source has claimed that their split was down to their differing timelines on when to move to the next stage of their relationship.

'They couldnt come to an agreement on when to get married. She was ready years ago, he still needed time,' said an insider who confirmed their split to the US Sun.

A different source close to Isaacman, 31, said the couple, who both have autism, had brought the curtain down on their love story, adding that 'he is doing very well.'

Abbey Romeo and David Isaacman, the fan favorite couple from Love on the Spectrum, have reportedly ended their romance after nearly five years; pictured last May

Romeo and Isaacman quickly became beloved by fans of the show for their heartwarming chemistry and the longevity and stability of their relationship.

Viewers were left in tears when Romeo wrote and performed a song for Isaacman about their romance, with a sweet nod to her preferring gummy bears to flowers.

She called him 'the milk to my Chardonnay,' referring to the fact he only pretended to participate in the wine tasting they went on and that he liked milk better.

As early as the second season, which dropped in May 2022, Romeo had been openly hinting at the possibility of their making their way down the aisle.

A year ago she remarked that she hoped she and Isaacman would get married at the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, in a joint interview for Buzzfeed.

However when the latest season of Love is Blind dropped last week, Romeo could be seen on one episode downplaying her ambitions to matrimony.

She remarked that neither she nor Isaacman was intent on exchanging vows at that stage, saying they regarded themselves as 'already married in our hearts.'

Romeo took the further step of saying: 'I dont want to be a divorced lady like my mom, so thats why I dont want to rush it, take my time to get married.'

They were the longest-running couple on the series, having gone on their first date in July 2021 at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in front of reality TV cameras; pictured 2022

A different source close to Isaacman, 31, said the couple, who both have autism, had brought the curtain down on their relationship, adding that 'he is doing very well'; pictured last May

Yet when their co-stars Tyler White and Madison Marilla got engaged during the same season, Romeo let slip: 'Hopefully were next!'

Romeo showered praise on Isaacman in a joint interview with her mother Christine that went public two weeks ago, for the podcast We Need to Talk.

'He says things that make me feel good,' she said when asked what she liked about him. 'He covers my ears when there's a certain noise I don't like.'

She also shared that the couple enjoyed visits to such locations as the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, Universal Studios and Disneyland.
America's #1 independent physician association appointed to advise CDC on federal immunization policy, bringing the voice of frontline doctors to the table

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independent Medical Alliance (IMA) has been named a liaison representative to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the federal panel that shapes vaccine recommendations for every American. The appointment, formalized in ACIP's newly filed charter, marks the first time a national coalition of independent, practicing physicians has held a seat at the table.

"For too long, vaccine policy has been shaped by voices far removed from the exam room," said Dr. Joseph Varon, IMA President and Chief Medical Officer. "Our members see patients every single day. We know what works, what doesn't, and what questions families are actually asking. Bringing that perspective to ACIP is a long-overdue correction."

IMA represents more than 12,000 independent physicians, researchers, and clinicians nationwide, including dozens of senior fellows spanning a wide range of medical specialties. Its members were among the earliest to challenge one-size-fits-all pandemic protocols, and the organization has since become a leading voice for restoring the doctor-patient relationship and rebuilding public trust in American medicine. Last year, IMA launched the Journal of Independent Medicine, a peer-reviewed publication focused on independent clinical practice.

"Restoring trust in public health starts with transparency and with listening to the doctors who actually treat patients," Dr. Varon added. "We're grateful for the opportunity to contribute, and we intend to bring rigor, independence, and common sense to every conversation."

Formerly known as the FLCCC, IMA has built a coalition of independent physicians, researchers, scientists, and healthcare providers united by a commitment to science-based, patient-centered care. The organization will host its annual conference April 1718 in the DallasFort Worth area, drawing healthcare professionals from across the country.

Learn more at IMAHealth.org.

About Dr. Joseph Varon

Dr. Joseph Varon is one of the nation's foremost doctors and gained fame during the pandemic for spending 715 straight days in full protective gear, treating COVID-19 patients as the Chief Medical Officer overseeing the ICU at Houston's United Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Varon's unit had the best survival rates in the country.

About the Independent Medical Alliance (IMA)

Formerly the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, the IMA has grown into America's leading organization of frontline doctors, healthcare providers, and researchers advocating for full reform of government healthcare agencies, including transparency on conflicts of interest, pricing and payments, drug and vaccine injuries, and other essential reforms to restore trust in healthcare agencies.

Contact [email protected]

SOURCE Independent Medical Alliance
Adrian Portelli may have been left cringing on Friday when a Block home he purchased in 2024 hit the market again - for six figures less than he paid for it.

The billionaire entrepreneur, 36, snapped up all five homes from the Phillip Island season, dropping $15 million on the luxury holiday compound.

And it seems he grossly overpaid for the properties, as their true value has now proven to be hundreds of thousands of dollars less than what he bought them for, according to Realestate.com.au.

House Four, built by former Queensland couple Kylie and Brad Baker, has been listed for $1.7-$1.85 million - $750,000 less than the $2.6 million Portelli originally paid.

The Cowes pad, which Portelli raffled off through his promotion platform LMCT+ in 2025, is currently being sold through Ray White Phillip Island's Jon Taylor.

'The conversation I had with the new owners was that The Block prices were just not the reality for our marketplace,' Taylor said.

Adrian Portelli, 36, may have been left cringing on Friday when a Block home he purchased in 2024 hit the market again - for six figures less than he paid for it

'I believe the price it has been listed for is realistic for what the market here is currently doing.'

Taylor worked on marketing campaigns for two of the other Cowes houses when The Block season 20 aired.

He said he has now been in contact with other buyers who were initially interested in buying Kylie and Brad's house but were vastly outbid by Portelli.

Offers for the home close at 5pm on May 11.

Daily Mail has reached out to Adrian Portelli for comment.

It comes after Portelli's Channel Seven reality series, My Reno Rules, finally got its release date.

The show, produced by MasterChef creators Endemol Shine, is set to rival Nine's The Block and will feature four teams of renovators competing on neighbouring rundown houses in Melbourne.

My Reno Rules will premiere at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 21 April on Seven and 7plus.

The billionaire entrepreneur snapped up all five homes from the Phillip Island season, dropping $15 million on the luxury holiday compound. And it seems he grossly overpaid for the properties, as their true value has now proven to be hundreds of thousands of dollars less

House Four, built by former Queensland couple Kylie and Brad Baker, has been listed for $1.7-$1.85 million - $750,000 less than the $2.6 million Portelli originally paid

Former The Block bidder Portelli will take an on-screen role in the troubled series, which has faced a series of setbacks.

The judges include design guru Neale Whitaker, founder of real estate buyers' agency Cohen Handler, Simon Cohen, and interior stylist Julia Green.

My Reno Rules will be hosted by Dr Chris Brown and insiders say he will be handling the role of MRR's anchor 'solo'.

The teams will compete as they renovate side-by-side homes purchased by Portelli, who will give them away when they're finished.

Portelli will monitor the progress of the rebuilds throughout the series.

Known as 'Mr Lambo', Portelli, a high-flying entrepreneur, has continually used social media to promote himself as one of the 'faces' of the series.

But insiders close to the troubled production told Daily Mail last year that Portelli's profile behind the scenes is nearly invisible.

According to a statement released by Seven last month, part of Portelli's role will be to 'manage' the show's 'live prize draw'.

The Cowes pad, which Portelli raffled off through his promotion platform LMCT+ in 2025, is currently being sold through Ray White Phillip Island's Jon Taylor

'The conversation I had with the new owners was that The Block prices were just not the reality for our marketplace,' Taylor said

Meanwhile, property titles reveal that it was Portelli who snapped up two old suburban homes in Melbourne's Bulleen, 15km from the CBD, for My Reno Rules.

The two homes, worth a total of $2.7 million, were purchased through Portelli's company Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, and were 'donated' to the show.

'That's Portelli's role so far - sponsor,' the insider told Daily Mail, adding that the filming was at that time yet to start at the Bulleen site because the original builder 'walked'.

The show was due to start shooting on September 26 last year, but began filming several weeks behind schedule.

The insider added that an earlier report seen in the media saying that the show's homes were not 'TV-ready' is false.

When Daily Mail approached Portelli and Seven for comment, a spokesperson confirmed My Reno Rules would start construction later in 2025.

'As part of the pre-production phase, there are continuing conversations with several builders,' they said in a statement.

Portelli officially turned his back on Channel Nine's The Block in July last year.

The entrepreneur, who spent millions of dollars snapping up houses over the last three seasons of the show, shared a post to social media revealing he was leaving the series for good.
Jesse Wood is expecting a baby with girlfriend Gemma Gregory 16 months after his split from Fearne Cotton.

The musician, 49, and the Made In Chelsea starlet, 40, announced the news in an Instagram post on Thursday.

Gemma showed off her blossoming baby bump in a crop top in a shot captioned 'incoming', before sharing another sweet snap with Jesse captioned 'made by these muppets'.

The reality star already has an 11-year-old son from a previous relationship, while Jesse shares two children with Fearne and two children with his first wife Tilly Wood.

News of another baby on the way may come as a surprise to fans, given Jesse recently spoke out about his financial woes amid his divorce from Fearne.

Jesse, who is the son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, gave a public glimpse of his struggles when he appeared in court on a speeding charge in January.

Fearne Cotton's ex Jesse Wood is expecting a baby with Made In Chelsea star Gemma Gregory - after it was revealed he's living on barely 1,000 a month amid divorce

Gemma showed off her blossoming baby bump in a crop top in a shot captioned 'incoming', before sharing another sweet snap with Jesse captioned 'made by these muppets'

The father-of-four candidly revealed how he was living on barely 1,000 a month and struggling for work since the breakdown of his 10-year marriage to broadcaster Fearne.

He told magistrates after admitting speeding on the A4 in West London: 'I was due to be employed in 2024 but it got delayed.

'At the moment I'm living off my savings and I am looking to get employment.

Company accounts also show that his business is deeply in the red and burdened with mounting debts.

Rekognition Sound Limited - of which Jesse is the sole director and shareholder - has just 10,943 in its bank accounts while owing 111,903 to creditors. Of that sum, 37,352 relates to bank loans.

Most recent accounts, covering the 12 months to the end of November 2024, show the company is 101,562 in the red - a sharp increase from 56,211 the previous year.

Despite his famous rock-and-roll lineage, Jesse also appears to have no property safety net to fall back on.

His former marital home in Richmond, south-west London, is registered solely in Fearnes name, meaning he has no legal claim to the 3.15million house she purchased in 2014.

The former couple share two children, son Rex, 12, and daughter Honey, nine.

Born into rock royalty, Jesse followed in his fathers footsteps by pursuing a career in music, carving out a living as a guitarist and working with various bands and projects over the years.

He has been a sometime guitarist for rock band Reef, as well as working behind the scenes on music-related ventures.

But whereas his father is worth 100million and lives in a 3million townhouse in Richmond, Jesse's own business interests have faltered.

In October 2025 he stood down as a director of Reef Band LLP, which channels cash from royalties and live performances. The last accounts for the partnership showed it was 710 in the red.

He had also previously resigned as a director of Tribe Festivals in 2022.

Jesses financial plight emerged publicly as he faced a possible driving ban, having already accumulated nine penalty points for previous speeding offences.

In court, he disclosed that his most recent tax return showed a 'very low' annual income of around 14,000.

Jesse was handed a six-month driving ban and ordered to pay 255 in fines after his vehicle was clocked driving at 27mph in a 20mph zone.

The revelations about California-born Jesses finances came amid a new chapter in his personal life as he moved on from radio DJ Fearne.

Fearne was his second wife, following a previous marriage to Katherine 'Tilly' Boone, 52, with whom he also has two adult children.

As Jesse shared his baby news, Fearne also shared a personal update, albeit less dramatic, as she showed off her new lighter blonde locks.

As Jesse shared his baby news, Fearne also shared a personal update, albeit less dramatic, as she showed off her new lighter blonde locks

Jesse was born into rock royalty as the son of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood who is worth 100million. Here he is pictured with his father and his ex Fearne Cotton in 2011

He went public with reality star Gemma last April, when she posted a sun-soaked photo of Jesse, captioned: 'Bloody love this one.'

Insiders said at the time that their relationship progressed quickly following the shock collapse of Jesse's decade-long marriage in December 2024, followed by Fearne's new relationship with Elliot Hegarty, a television director ten years her senior.

Ronnie Wood's ex-wife Jo Wood, who helped raise Jesse, said of the split from Fearne last year: 'I was shocked actually. I didnt expect Fearne to have a new boyfriend. And Jesse was devastated.

'But sometimes in life, you have to go through these things. It may be daunting at first, but every cloud has a silver lining. Nothing lasts forever. I hope Fearne will be very happy.

'Im sure Jesses going to be very happy. These things work out. Their time was up - they had to move on.'

Gemma is the London-born daughter of actor Paul Gregory, whose past boyfriends include Henry Brett, a captain of the England polo team.

Jesse, who previously dated the likes of Kate Moss, Kate Hudson and model Jasmine Guinness, has not spoken publicly in detail about his split from Fearne.

She, however, addressed it during an appearance on Lorraine last March, saying: 'Its all very amicable and the kids are doing great. I am in a very good place.'
His headline performance at Wireless might be cancelled, but the artist formerly known as Kanye West still managed to entertain a young audience of fans on Friday.

The versatile rapper's floundering career suffered another self-inflicted blow this week after the Home Office banned him from flying to the UK for a headline appearance at the Finsbury Park, London based festival in July.

Wireless 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.

But West, who now records and performs under the abbreviated moniker Ye, took the news in his stride on Friday by sharing footage of Chinese children appearing to sing one of his latest tracks in unison.

Taking to Instagram, the rapper posted a short clip of the assembled youths singing All The Love, a recent collaboration with Talkbox artist Andre Troutman, who duly reposted on his own social media platform.

A standout from West's newly released comeback album Bully, the song is yet to be released as a single.

His headline performance at Wireless might be cancelled, but the artist formerly known as Kanye West still managed to entertain a young audience of fans on Friday

West's association with the far east dates back to his childhood, with the rapper spending a year in China while his late mother Donda worked as a lecturer at Nanjing University when he was 10 years old.

The young students featured in his latest video are well known across social media for their word perfect performances of contemporary urban songs, among them the older West tracks Come To Life, Runaway, and Only One - his collaboration with Sir Paul McCartney.

Led by teacher Miho - whose posts have earned her 14,000 followers on Instagram - they have also performed tracks by R&B and rap artists Frank Ocean, Drake, SZA and Travis Scott, among others.

West's latest social media update follows confirmation of his UK travel ban and the implosion of Wireless Festival on Tuesday.

While beleaguered organisers were issuing an apologetic statement to ticket holders, the man at the heart of the controversy appeared to be nonplussed while visiting a comedy club in Los Angeles.

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, 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'

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.

West, who now records and performs under the abbreviated moniker Ye, shared footage of Chinese children appearing to sing one of his latest tracks in unison

The rapper 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 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.

'As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders.

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

Wireless Festival was due to be held at Finsbury Park in London, but has now been cancelled

'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.'

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.'

Wireless Festival announced it would be canceled as a result of West's travel ban on Tuesday

Actress Isla Fisher stepped out in London wearing a 'Curb Your Antisemitism' sweater on Friday - a play on hit show Curb Your Enthusiasm and an apparent message to West

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 Bradley Riches tied the knot with artist fiance Scott Johnson in an intimate ceremony in Maidenhead on Wednesday.

The actor, 24, who plays Lewis Barton in the ITV soap, celebrated his big day surrounded by famous friends including former CBB housemates David Potts and ZeZe Millz.

Taking to Instagram the newlyweds shared a sweet snap as they as they kissed in the grounds of the lavish Lillibrooke Manor before hitting the dance floor.

While Bradley looked dapper in a brown three piece suit, Scott opted for beige and the pair both wore matching carnations in their button holes.

The actor later posted a photo to his Stories as he partied the night away kicking his leg high in the air on the dance floor during the raucous reception.

TV's David continued to show off his newly slimmed-down physique as he and Zeze, which caught the eye in a pink blazer, enjoyed cocktails.

Emmerdale star Bradley Riches (L) tied the knot with artist fiance Scott Johnson (R) in an intimate ceremony in Maidenhead on Wednesday (Pictured last year)

Bradley, who appeared in Celebrity Big Brother back in 2024, captioned the post: 'Mr & Mr Johnston-Riches 08.04.26'.

Fans and famous friends were quick to share their congratulations in the comments, with Emmerdale co-star Laura Norton gushing: 'Ah hell yes!!!!' and Lisa Riley wrote: 'We love you so so so so muchcant wait to celebrate when we are home CONGRATULATIONS you belters'.

Traitors winner Stephen Libby said : 'Massive congratulations to you both! Yay for love' while Dragon's Den's Sara Davis added: 'huge congrats!'.

While branding himself an artists on social media Scott most recently staged his own played titled Boy Meets Girl? at The Other Palace Theatre in London.

Bradley revealed in an Instagram post back in 2024 that Scott popped the question on holiday.

Sharing a gallery of photos, the loved-up couple seemed happier than ever as Bradley kissed Scott's cheek as they stood inside a heart made out of rose petals.

The reality star held out his hand showing off his ring as they stood on a balcony overlooking the ocean and mountains during a lavish getaway to an unknown location.

The actor, 24, who plays Lewis Barton in the ITV soap, later posted a photo to his Stories as he partied the night away on the dance floor during the raucous reception

the couple celebrated his big day surrounded by famous friends including Bradley's former CBB housemates David Potts and ZeZe Millz

Taking to Instagram the newlyweds shared a sweet snap as they as they kissed in the grounds of the lavish Lillibrooke Manor (pictured)

Fans and famous friends were quick to share their congratulations in the comments, with Emmerdale co-star Laura Norton gushing: 'Ah hell yes!!!!'

Bradley and Scott pictured together earlier this year

Bradley gushed: '08/04/2024 ErmYES! I never thought Id find someone whos gets me and loves me for me. I have always struggled connecting my emotions in relationships and then Scott Johnston came.

'I felt safe and accepted and most importantly loved. I love you endlessly'

Ekin-Su wrote: 'Congratulations to you both,' while presenter AJ Odudu added: 'Omg CONGRATULATIONS'.

Bradley found fame playing James McEwan in the Netflix series Heartstopper, and his co-stars including Bel Priestley, and Robbie White also wrote Congratulations.

Bradley is best known for portraying James McEwan in the hit international Netflix show, Heartstopper.

Bradley's role was quite small in the beginning of the smash series, however by the second season his storyline grew substantially.

During this time, his character developed a crush on bookworm Isaac Henderson (Tobie Donovan), who was struggling to juggle their relationship alongside accepting his asexual identity.
Binky Felstead has been publicly called out by a bakery owner for seemingly asking for a free cake for her son Wilder's third birthday in exchange for an Instagram post.

Reshmi Bennett, 42, who owns luxury cake business Anges de Sucre in London, has previously hit headlines over her fury at influencers requesting free cakes.

And her social media is full of posts from the baker making it clear she does not accept 'exposure' as payment.

But it seems her message was missed by Made In Chelsea star Binky - whose personal assistant asked Reshmi to make a cake for her youngest son Wilder's third birthday.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Reshmi shared a collection of screenshots showing Binky's team requesting a 'gifted' yellow train cake with an 'Instagram post collaboration' in return.

Reshmi went as far as to make a spoof GoFundMe page asking for donations of 1.4million for the cake - in reference to celebrity Binky's huge online follower count. She is also thought to have a net worth of 1.4million.

Binky Felstead has been publicly called out by a bakery owner for reportedly asking for a free cake for her son Wilder's third birthday in exchange for an Instagram post (Binky and Wilder pictured in September)

Reshmi Bennett, 42, who owns luxury cake business Anges de Sucre in London, has previously hit headlines over her fury at influencers requesting free cakes

Initially when Reshmi shared the screenshots she had redacted Binky's name from the emails - but ultimately named the star in a later post.

A representative for Binky told the Daily Mail: 'This was a standard contra enquiry from Binky's PA, offering social media exposure in exchange for a birthday cake.

'Binky was not directly involved in these email exchanges, and is currently away on a family holiday. We completely understand that this type of collaboration is not for everyone and respect the decision to decline.

'It is, however, disappointing to see a private and friendly enquiry shared publicly, and contra deals like this are widely used within this industry and usually mutually beneficial.'

The original form request sent to Reshmi's business read: 'Yellow train cake! We would also be interested in collaborating [redacted] who has 1.4million Instagram followers.'

In response to the request, Reshmi shared she had tried to convert it into a sale as she asked for the client's budget, post code and image references.

But Binky's team pushed back, replying: 'Thanks for your message. Would you be interested in collaborating on the cake? As in the cake would be gifted in exchange for a story on [redacted]'s Instagram?'

Rather than opting for a 'sassy' response - which Reshmi said would be her typical approach - she instead expressed her disappointment and referenced Binky's 'wealth' before suggesting it would be a better look for the reality star if she paid.

Binky's team replied saying she had made 'a valid point about optics' and would speak to the star before coming back to Reshmi on whether they were happy to pay.

It was at this point that Reshmi took to Instagram to share screenshots of the communication between them.

She then received a 'disheartened' email from Binky's team after they had seen her post - where they insisted the goal was never to 'grab a free cake'.

They added: 'Binky's Instagram content is hugely focused around her children and she gets a lot of engagement from this sort of content so it can often have a very positive effect on businesses in terms of giving them exposure to audiences they may not be able to reach normally.'

Reshmi's social media is full of posts from the baker making it clear she does not accept 'exposure' as payment and does make free cakes for celebrities

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Reshmi shared a collection of screenshots showing Binky's team requesting a 'gifted' yellow train cake

Reshmi went as far as to make a spoof GoFundMe page asking for donations of 1.4million for the cake - in reference to celebrity Binky's huge online follower count

Binky's team pushed back when Reshmi tried to convert the request into a sale, replying: 'Thanks for your message. Would you be interested in collaborating on the cake?'

Rather than opting for a 'sassy' response - which Reshmi said would be her typical approach - she instead expressed her disappointment

Binky's team finished the email by apologising for getting in contact as 'this sort of partnership is not appreciated by you' and insisting they meant no offence.

Following the reply from Binky's team, Reshmi created the GoFundMe page with an AI-generated Made In Chelsea-inspired yellow train cake.

She wrote on the post: 'We recently received a lovely request from the team of Binky Felstead for a very special cake - a yellow train creation for her soon-to-be 3-year-old son.

'We were genuinely thrilled. Children's cakes are some of our favourites to make, and this one sounded like a joy and that too for such a popular reality TV star. However, there was just one small hiccup the proposed payment method was an Instagram story.

'Now, we completely understand that times are tough, especially for influencers. Binky may well have had to rearrange a sponsored Dubai holiday at short notice and instead travel to the US to spend Easter with her family under much duress.

'We were also reassured that her 1.4million followers are highly engaged, especially when her posts feature her children because, as we all know, the internet is such a wholesome place with absolutely no creeps at all.

'Unfortunately, our energy supplier is very old fashioned and continues to insist on being paid in actual money rather than exposure or engagement.

'We did try to explain, but they simply will not accept Instagram tags as legal tender.

'So, in the spirit of collaboration, we thought we'd appeal to Binky's 1.4 million followers.

'If each person contributed just 1, we could create the most incredible yellow train cake imaginable and also keep our energy supplier happy.'

Binky's team replied saying she had made 'a valid point about optics' and would speak to the star before coming back to Reshmi on whether they were happy to pay

It was at this point that Reshmi took to Instagram to share screenshots of the communication between them

Following the reply from Binky's team, Reshmi created the GoFundMe page with an AI-generated Made In Chelsea-inspired yellow train cake

Binky is far from the only star to have asked for free cake in exchange for engagement.

Back in 2023 Catherine Tyldesley ended up cancelling her 40th birthday party after being 'blindsided' by online backlash surrounding a fierce row over free cake.

The former Coronation Street star had hired party planners NVRLND to manage the do, but they caused controversy by asking an independent bakery to make a large birthday cake, a smaller birthday cake for Tyldesley's husband plus 100 cupcakes for free.

The company told Rebecca Severs of Three Little Birds Bakery that payment for the order would be 'in the form of promotion', but she hit back at the PR and declined the offer, saying her staff 'can't feed their kids with exposure on Instagram.'

Rebecca, from Keighley, shared a Facebook post with a screenshot of an email exchange between her bakery and the PR company which represented an unidentified 'well-known' celebrity asking for a cake for a 40th birthday party in September.

They also requested 100 cupcakes and an extra smaller birthday cake for her husband.

The founder of Three Little Birds Bakery wrote: 'This poor celebrity apparently can't afford to pay people for their products and services. Spare a thought! What happened to women supporting women.'

In response, Catherine shared a video saying: 'Utterly bizarre. I don't really know what to say. I mean I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving.'

Starting the video, the actress said: 'Cake gate! WHAT!'

'So I had no idea those emails were being sent. I'm not working with the lovely Ok magazine on anything that I'm aware of and NVRLND are an amazing company.

'They've supplied me with performers in the past;. They're insane and they've been completely misrepresented in this matter.'

She went on to brand the scandal 'utterly bizarre' and suggested Rebecca was 'seeking exposure' with her Facebook post sharing the email.

The email from the celebrity management team, which was posted on Facebook by Rebecca this week, read: 'We are organising a 40th Birthday Party for a well-known celebrity on the 1st of September 2023 in Manchester.

'In return for being a supplier for the event, payment would be made in the form of promotion on their socials with over 700K followers, as well as promoted on OK Magazine.

'They will be crediting all the suppliers on these platforms.'

It continued: 'The party has a guest list full of celebrities and industry people from tv/film and music, so loads of work would come from it.'

Back in 2023 Catherine Tyldesley ended up cancelling her 40th birthday party after being 'blindsided' by online backlash surrounding a fierce row over free cake

Rebecca Severs, from Keighley, won praise for her response to a company asking for a free birthday cake for Catherine

The email claimed to be from the management company of a 'well-known celebrity' who was having a 40th birthday party

Rebecca emailed the company back, explaining that she would be declining the 'very generous offer'

The email went on to outline that the birthday theme has been designed with 'pinks, sparkles and a touch of flamingos'.

They then requested one birthday cake with the theme 'camp as tits', as well as 100 cupcakes.

Finally, they asked for another, smaller, birthday cake because 'it's actually her husband's birthday that day and we wanted to surprise him.'

In return, the small bakery would be rewarded in the form of promotion on their [the celeb's] socials with over 700k followers, as well as promoted in OK Magazine, while the party promised a guest lists full of celebrities and industry people from TV / film and music, so loads of work would come from it.

Rebecca did not know it was the former Strictly star and mum-of-two she would be providing for but it mattered not.

In a statement, Leeds-based event management firm NVRLND said its email had been completely misconstrued.

Founder Victoria Eames said: NVRLND contacted Three Little Birds Bakery to offer them the opportunity to collaborate with one of our clients to cater for a party.

As part of the collaboration, our client would cover all of Three Little Birds Bakerys expenses and costs in exchange for social media content and local and national exposure for their business. To confirm, NVRLND are also retained on the same expenses-only basis.

We selected Three Little Birds Bakery to collaborate with a view to support a local business and help them grow.

Our aim is to connect small local businesses with the opportunity of growth and the possibility of a full diary which is what we have experienced when working on past collaborations. We would never expect any business to be out of pocket and nor would our client.

Our email communication to Three Little Birds has unfortunately been completely misconstrued.

Due to contractual obligations, we are unable to comment on the identity of our client.
Film and fashion took centre stage on Friday as Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep attended the Shanghai premiere of their eagerly anticipated new film, The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Both were in attendance as China's largest city hosted the latest red carpet event on behalf of the forthcoming sequel, which launches in cinemas across the United Kingdom and United States from May 1.

Looking radiant in a sweeping feathered evening gown and perspex heels, Hathaway, 43, inevitably commanded attention as she addressed the audience after posing for a series of photos alongside her glamorous co-star, 76.

Streep claimed her own share of the spotlight in a tasteful blue satin dress, accessorised with distinctive pieces from CINDY CHAO jewellery, and heels from Alexandre Birman.

Hathaway may well have been relieved that much of the attention centred on the film, rather than her increasingly youthful appearance - with unwanted speculation trailing the actress from one promotional commitment to another over recent months.

Despite never confirming any cosmetic procedures, her youthful appearance has consistently led to speculation from fans and plastic surgeons.

Film and fashion took centre stage on Friday as Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep attended the Shanghai premiere of their eagerly anticipated new film, The Devil Wears Prada 2

Speculation reached fever pitch after fans claimed she looked like she was in her twenties rather than early forties, with many suggesting she'd had 'tweakments' such as Botox, fillers or a 'ponytail lift.'

Hathaway has never said anything to suggest she has gone under the knife, though in 2008 she stated she felt pressure to be 'cookie-cutter beautiful' when she was younger and had even considered a nose job.

Two years later the actress insisted she would never get Botox because she liked her face to 'reflect a personality' and wanted to keep the same smile she had as a child.

She has continuously declined to speak about any procedures she has or has not had done, previously insisting to Vogue France that asking about surgery is 'an extremely intimate question'.

But Hathaway added that she has no judgement towards those that do opt for cosmetic surgery, stating: 'Whatever means they find to not live crushed by shame or a lack of self-confidence... I say bravo.'

Asked about her youthful looks again during a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, the Princess Diaries star insisted she did not 'discuss medical information'.

She did credit her radiant complexion to her decision to stop drinking alcohol and using products from Shiseido, for which she is a brand ambassador.

But the Hollywood icon confessed to the publication that despite her enviable looks and figure, she still has days of struggling with her body.

'Some days you look in the mirror and you're just like, "Not bad,"' she said. 'And some days you look in the mirror and you're like, "What?" And I was having a "What?" day.'

'And you know how you have your aspirational swimsuit that you keep around, just in case you have a good day? And then you have your swimsuit that's got you no matter what? I accidentally packed the aspirational swimsuit.

'Which I then had to wear on a "What?" day. So, I'm ready to have this great day with my family. And I am going to be in front of strangers, and people have phones. And all of the things.

Looking radiant in a sweeping feathered evening gown and perspex heels, Hathaway inevitably commanded attention as she addressed the audience

She may well have been relieved that much of the attention centred on the film, rather than her increasingly youthful appearance - with unwanted speculation trailing the actress from one promotional commitment to another over recent months

Despite never confirming any cosmetic procedures, her youthful appearance has consistently led to speculation from fans and plastic surgeons

'But my family is waiting for me. And I looked and I just went, "What?" And then I looked again and I said, "You are 43." And looking at a 43-year-old body, I was like, "Nice."

'When I was expecting to see something that I am not, I felt insecure. But when I actually looked at what it actually is, I was okay with it. I think you realize that worry should be reserved for the really big stuff.'

And despite still having those brief moments of insecurity, Anne said that she's enjoying being in her 40s and finds that her happiness has only increased as she's gotten older.

She said: 'I think that very often, conversations about aging presume that the first part of life is the happiest and the most fulfilling, and I don't necessarily think that's true. I wasn't expecting to find another gear at 40.'

Asked about her youthful looks again during a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar , the Princess Diaries star insisted she did not 'discuss medical information'

The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Hathaway, Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci as they dive back into the cutthroat world of high fashion - but this time with a modern twist

The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Hathaway, Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci as they dive back into the cutthroat world of high fashion - but this time with a modern twist.

Early plotlines suggest Streep's fashion editor Miranda is grappling with the decline of traditional print media while facing off against Blunt's Emily Charlton, now a powerful executive controlling crucial advertising dollars.

The sequel will also introduce a host of new faces, including Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu and Justin Theroux.

And with the original 2006 film raking in over $300 million worldwide and becoming a bona fide cult classic, fans are buzzing to see the sequel bring back the glamour - and a whole new dose of high-fashion drama.
Lisa Rinna risked the ire of Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet this week as she and husband Harry Hamlin recreated the couple's racy viral vacation snaps.

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 62, was clearly having a bit of fun as she posed in a bikini while a shirtless Hamlin, 74, did his own thirst trap on the beach.

'Having the time of our lives,' Rinna captioned her Instagram post.

Rinna, the mother of nepo babies Delilah Belle and Amelia Gray, did her best imitation of the 28-year-old makeup mogul as she posed with a dreamy expression, her short dark hair slicked back from her face.

Meanwhile, Hamlin flexed his biceps as he posed in a pair of black swimming trunks.

Last month, Jenner and Chalamet, 30, set the internet on fire when they both shared photos from their tropical beach holiday.

While the couple were not pictured together, eagle-eyed fans spotted the similar white sand, blue-green water and rock formations in the background.

Lisa Rinna risked the ire of Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet this week as she and husband Harry Hamlin recreated the couple's racy viral vacation snaps

Rinna's spoof drew gushing responses from the likes of Jenna Dewan, Lindsay Lohan and Carmen Electra.

The actress' Traitors co-stars Maura Higgins, Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski also showed their appreciation for Rinna and Hamlin's creative photography.

Rinna's model daughters couldn't resist getting their two cents in with Delilah Belle writing, 'Oh my God,' and Amelia Gray posting, 'LMAS,' short for 'laughing my a** off.'

Fellow Housewives star Dorit Kemsley commented, 'You two,' alongside a pair of fire emojis.

Rinna and Hamlin have long been considered a popular power couple in Hollywood since their marriage in 1997 with their good looks and family life.

When they met, he was the big star known for LA Law and Clash of the Titans and Rinna was admittedly awed by his fame.

'I was kind of freaked out, to be honest, because he was such a big star at the time,' she said in a conversation at 92NY on February 26 for her book You Better Believe Im Gonna Talk About it, per People. 'He was on LA Law. He'd been married to Nicolette [Sheridan] and it was overwhelming. So I didn't see myself in that league.'

The revealing beach photos posted by Jenner from a tropical vacation last month went viral

Within hours, Chalamet shared photos from the same remote beach getaway

The LA Law alum and the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star (pictured on March 15) have long been considered a popular Hollywood power couple

In her new memoir, You Better Believe Im Gonna Talk About It, Rinna confirmed that their 'sex is still great' and that the foundation of their relationship is built on a deep mutual trust (pictured on March 30)

Rinna must be a fan or at least entertained by the spectacle created by Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet's global romance (the couple is pictured on March 15)

In her new memoir, Rinna confirmed that their 'sex is still great' and that the foundation of their relationship is built on a deep mutual trust.

'I don't ever worry about Harry. I am not jealous. He's not jealous. I always thought the affair rumors were so strange because that was certainly not something I ever even contemplated. I would be shocked if I found out he was having an affair.'

Earlier this year, she acknowledged that marriage takes 'a lot of work.'

Speaking on the Dinner's on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson podcast, Rinna shared, 'We're human, and I think it's super important to show your humanity.

'Where I am in my life right now, I think it's really important for people to hear that it's not easy to be married for all these years. It's not easy to raise a family anywhere, let alone Hollywood, California.'
Aubrey Plaza has been pictured with her partner Christopher Abbott for the first time since announcing their pregnancy.

The White Lotus star, 41, and Girls actor, 40, are expecting their first child together - one year after the shock death of Plaza's estranged husband Jeff Baena by suicide.

On Thursday, the parents-to-be were photographed celebrating the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman at the show's opening night afterparty at Katz's Deli in New York City.

The couple put on a cosy display as they posed inside the dimly-lit hotspot, with Plaza beaming with joy as she cuddled up to her partner.

Plaza's bump was not photographed however she did reveal it during a dog walk in the Big Apple the day prior.

The baby, whose gender has not been revealed, is due in the fall.

Aubrey Plaza has been pictured with her partner Christopher Abbott for the first time since announcing their pregnancy as they attended the afterparty for opening night of the Broadway revival Death of a Salesman

Plaza's bump was pictured for the first time during a dog walk in New York City on Wednesday

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

'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.'

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.

People first reported that Plaza was expecting a child with Abbott, with a representative for the actress confirming the news to the outlet; pictured 2023

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.

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).

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; pictured 2020

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 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.

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

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.

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.'

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 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.

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'.

Abbott is best known for playing the on-off boyfriend of Allison Williams's character Marnie on Lena Dunham's influential HBO comedy Girls

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 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.

In Black Bear the pair played dual roles as actors and directors trying to shoot a film in an eerie, isolated lake house

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.

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.'
Jennie Garth shared how she finally forgave her ex-husband Peter Facinelli after he filed for divorce following 11 years of marriage.

The 54-year-old actress - who revealed that she had a stint in rehab after their split - opened up about the topic in her upcoming memoir I Choose Me: Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose, And Embracing Reinvention.

Garth and Facinelli were married from 2001 until they announced their separation in 2012. Their divorce was finalized the following year and the former couple share three children: Luca, 28, Lola, 23, and Fiona, 19.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum explained how she was able to positively move forward after the end of her marriage during an interview with People.

'I don't know, there was a weird switch where one day I just said, "I don't want to carry this anymore. I have done this for long enough."

'"It's impacting my relationships with other people. It's impacting how I feel about myself. I've got to let it go. I've got to forgive him,"' Garth recalled.

Jennie Garth, 54, shared how she finally forgave her ex-husband Peter Facinelli after he filed for divorce following 11 years of marriage; seen in March in L.A.

Garth and Facinelli were married from 2001 until their divorce in 2013 and share three children: Luca, 28, Lola, 23, and Fiona, 19; former couple seen in 2010 in NYC

The star admitted that after she did so, it had been 'the most freeing thing in the world.'

The mom-of-three continued, 'I'm sure it's hard to hear as a woman going through [divorce], or really in the belly of the beast to hear me say it's like a switch that you have to flip, but it is.'

Garth further expressed that holding onto the pain from the split was preventing her from being happy.

'It has nothing to do with the other person,' the actress said. 'It has everything to do with you preserving yourself, your life and wanting to move forward and wanting to be happy.

'Because you can never be happy when you're holding onto that fear, that attachment to the anger and the resentment. It's just self-sabotage.'

Now, Garth shared that she has reached a 'happy ending' in her life over a decade after her divorce.

'It's weird. My whole life has been things just coming at me: fame, responsibilities, children, marriage, divorce, marriage, divorce.'

She continued, 'I've just been swimming and trying to keep up and really doing the best I could do without any training,' before adding that there is no 'instruction for life.'

The star admitted that after she forgave her ex, it had been 'the most freeing thing in the world'

'It's weird. My whole life has been things just coming at me: fame, responsibilities, children, marriage, divorce, marriage, divorce,' the star said; seen in March in Texas

It comes just days after Garth also revealed that she underwent a stint in rehab after her divorce from Facinelli.

In her memoir - which hits shelves later this month on April 14 - she recalled needing to get her stomach pumped after heavily drinking and taking pills.

And following time at The Canyon at Santa Monica, the actress learned how to stop self-medicating.

'I spent a good amount of years being hurt, sad, just tormented by it, and it eked out into all aspects of my life,' Garth expressed to People in an article published 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.'

Two years after her divorce from Facinelli was finalized, Garth tied the knot with Dave Abrams.

However in 2018, the pair filed for divorce - but reconciled the following year.

Garth and Facinelli have since developed a positive co-parenting relationship and friendship over the years.

In her memoir - which hits shelves later this month on April 14 - she recalled needing to get her stomach pumped after heavily drinking and taking pills after the split; Garth and Facinelli seen in 1998

Two years after her divorce from Facinelli was finalized, Garth tied the knot with Dave Abrams; the pair seen above

Back in 2024 during an episode of her I Choose Me podcast, the actress reflected on her co-parenting relationship with the Twilight alum.

She stated, 'That's what Peter and I ultimately wanted more than anything was to have our friendship back and be able to co-parent in a healthier way because we had been doing it all wrong for a while.

'The girls are so happy and there's just a big weight off my shoulders. That's a conflict I don't need to carry anymore.'

And while talking to the New York Post in 2023, Facinelli explained, 'I always feel like as long as the parents, the co-parents, are getting along and we're happy, the kids are happy.

'You know what I mean? It's when nobody wants to choose sides. No, they love mom and dad equally.'

The actor previously told Garth on her I Choose Me podcast that they had been 'codependent on each other' during their marriage.

Facinelli also expressed, 'I didn't have a lot of choices - it was just a part that I felt like I was good at playing, but I hadn't formed me.

'You had already formed you, so there was a codependency there where it was like, I don't know my choices, I don't know what I like and don't like.'

Back in 2024 during an episode of her I Choose Me podcast, the actress reflected on her co-parenting relationship with the Twilight alum

Along with opening up about the effects of her divorce in 2013, Garth also gets candid about fame, suffering miscarriages and her IVF journey in her I Choose Me memoir; seen in 1991

Facinelli then told Garth, 'I had to rediscover who I am.'

He has also moved on in his love life and became engaged to Lily Anne Harrison in 2020. The couple share son Jack, three.

Along with opening up about the effects of her divorce in 2013, Garth also gets candid about fame, suffering miscarriages and her IVF journey in her I Choose Me memoir.

She is also kicking off a book tour on April 11 in Boston and will make other stops in cities such as NYC, Saint Louis and Los Angeles.
Taylor Frankie Paul has revealed how she has been coping with the fallout of her on-going domestic violence scandal as she shared a teary-eyed selfie.

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was scrapped after video of her hurling chairs at ex Dakota Mortensen in 2023 was released in what has evolved into a massive legal battle.

The controversy has played out publicly, with Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, both accusing one another of violence and receiving temporary protective orders against each other.

Now Paul is getting through the ordeal with the help of poignant gifts sent to her before the scandal broke.

In an Instagram post published Thursday, Paul revealed how she has been comforted by gifts that have 'been essential for me through this specific time.'

'Just want to say THANK YOU to those that have all helped carry. Nothing but gratitude for these gifts given by different people at different times that have been essential for me through this specific time. Thank you to every message, meal, gift, call, prayer, and support of any kind sent. There is the human side of this and then it gets to a point of it being miraculous when you start to see it from a bigger lens.'

Taylor Frankie Paul shared this tearful selfie as she revealed how she had been coping with the aftermath of her domestic violence scandal

The post began with a photo of Paul, sitting in her car with tears welling up in her eyes and her hand covering her mouth. 'It's miraculous that every essential or reminder I've needed was GIVEN through people,' the selfie read.

The photos included a picture of a Starbucks beverage she purchased with a comforting message from the barista reminding her she is 'loved.'

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star also appears to be leaning into her faith, showing a photo of Jesus Christ that appeared to have been a housewarming gift from her mouth.

She also is now working through a book given to her last year that was presented to Paul to provide her with 'peace and comfort through the good and bad days'.

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.

She also described several times in which he allegedly acted violently towards her. Paul also included alleged screenshots of text messages and pictures of bruises that she claimed to have incurred during disputes with Mortensen.

Last month, Mortensen was granted a temporary restraining order against Paul after he characterized her as an 'immediate threat' to his safety.

Paul's history with domestic violence has come back to haunt her just days before her season of The Bachelorette was set to debut.

A personalized message on her Starbucks cup brought her comfort

Paul also appears to be leaning into her faith

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.

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.

A book she received in September was given to her to provide 'peace and comfort through the good and bad days'

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.

Paul has been de-stressing with the help of tea and bubble baths

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was scrapped after video of her hurling chairs at ex Dakota Mortensen in 2023 was released in what has evolved into a massive legal battle

'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.

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.

ABC made the decision to pull the plug on Paul's season of The Bachelorette after the video was released

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.
STOCKHOLM, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon will release its Interim Report for the first quarter on Thursday, 23 April 2026, at approximately 08:00 CET. President and CEO Anders Svensson will present the results during a live webcast and telephone conference at 10:00 CET.

Webcast:

The webcast will be streamed here.

Telephone conference:

Anyone interested in participating in the Q&A session following the presentation must register here.

Upon registering, each participant will be provided with a personal PIN and dial in information via email. Access to the telephone conference will be available 10 minutes prior to call start time.

All presentation material will also be available for on-demand viewing on the Company's website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Tom Hull, Head of Investor Relations, Hexagon AB, +44 7442 678 437, [email protected]

Anton Heikenstrom, Investor Relations Manager, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 26, [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/hexagon/r/invitation-to-presentation-of-hexagon-s-interim-report-on-23-april,c4331948

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/387/4331948/4026232.pdf Invitation to presentation of Hexagon's Interim Report on 23 April

SOURCE Hexagon
Amanda Bynes has lost more than 30 pounds with the help of weight loss drug Ozempic and continues to shed pounds as she prepares for her music comeback.

The What a Girl Wants star, who turned 40 on April 3, displayed her thinnest silhouette to date as she picked up an iced coffee at Starbucks in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Bynes was casually clad in white camisole top and heart-patterned slacks, both of which allowed glimpses of her slimmed down physique.

Last year, she revealed she had dropped almost 30 pounds after using Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes drug that is all the rage in Hollywood due to its significant weight loss side effect.

Bynes shared a photo of herself to her Instagram Stories in December 2025, writing, 'I usually don't like paparazzi pictures bc I was 180lbs but now I've lost 28lbs on ozempic! I'm down to 152lbs. I know I still look big but this photo is really inspiring to me!'

Functional nutritionist Monica Partier recently told the Daily Mail the former Nickelodeon star seemed to be losing weight weekly, which has made her overall weight loss even more dramatic.

Amanda Bynes displayed her thinnest silhouette to date as she picked up an iced coffee at Starbucks in Los Angeles on Thursday

The 40-year-old has lost more than 30 pounds with the help of weight loss drug Ozempic and continues to shed pounds as she prepares for her music comeback

'She appears about five pounds thinner than she did last month, which means her weight loss drugs are really working for her, so I would put her overall annual weight loss at 35lb and guess she is a size 4,' Partier told the Daily Mail.

'Not all weight loss medications work that well, it really depends on the drug and the person - sometimes it is not a match, sometimes it is,' she said.

'Clearly, the drugs Amanda is using are a good fit. She also looks healthy with glowing skin, which suggests she is eating right. And because there is no extra skin on her arms or around her neck, she is likely working out often to tighten up as she loses weight.'

'It looks like she is doing all the right things, Partier added.

The former actress appeared to be calm as usual during her outing ahead of the release of Girlfriend, her first new song in years, on Apple Music and Spotify on Friday.

Earlier in the week, the former Amanda Show star offered a bit of insight into what fans could expect from the track, telling E! News, 'My inspiration was a lot of EDM, as well as rap.'

Bynes signed with the Create Music Group label, who have worked with the likes of Jason Derulo and Deadmau5, and she collaborated with rapper Fenix Flexin on the song.

In a statement, the label revealed, 'GIRLFRIEND blends melodic rap with EDM-inspired production, creating a catchy, high-replay record with a smooth West Coast bounce. Built around a strong hook and confident, flirt-heavy energy, it's designed for repeat listens and wide playlist appeal. Featuring Fenix Flexin, it taps into a familiar L.A. sound while staying fresh and accessible.'

The What a Girl Wants star was wearing a white camisole and heart-patterned slacks that showed off her recent transformation

Bynes showed off a fuller frame while out and about in Los Angeles in August 2025

A year ago, the former teen sensation joined OnlyFans as a way to connect with her fans but added she 'won't be posting any sleazy content'

Bynes quit show business over a decade ago due to numerous personal problems, including addiction and mental health battles

The former Nickelodeon mainstay was a massive star from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s (pictured in 2009)

Back in February, Bynes, who previously released rap track Diamonds with then-fiance Paul Michael in 2022, revealed that she and Flexin were working on a 'straight fire' collaboration.

Bynes has focused on various art projects in recent years, including an art show and clothing pop-up back in 2024.

A year ago, she also joined OnlyFans as a way to connect with her fans.

She told her Instagram followers at the time, 'Disclaimer: I'm doing onlyfans to chat with my fans through dm's. I won't be posting any sleazy content. Excited to join.'

Bynes quit show business over a decade ago due to numerous personal problems, including addiction and mental health battles as well as a conservatorship that ended in 2022 after nearly nine years.
Fiona Phillips appeared happy and carefree in a rare social media snap as her husband Martin Frizell thanked fans for asking after her.

The former GMTV star, 65, was only 61 when she was told she had developed the disease, a progressive, incurable brain disorder that causes a decline in memory, thinking and behaviour.

In the four years since her diagnosis, Martin has been fighting for an improved government policy to support people with Alzheimer's and their families.

In a post on Instagram, Martin, who quit his job at ITV in 2024 to help care for his wife fulltime, said she still enjoyed 'simple pleasures,' alongside a snap of her enjoying a Magnum ice cream during a walk.

The producer shared he was asked about Fiona while travelling to Scotland while touring his This Much Is True Crime podcast show

He wrote: 'Very touched by many nice comments from folk asking about Fiona whilst Im on our short Tartan Noir Scottish tour so heres a picture of what shes up to in my absence - shes changed Magnum flavours!

Fiona Phillips appeared happy and carefree in a rare social media snap as her husband Martin Frizell thanked fans for asking after her

In a post on Instagram, Martin said she still enjoyed 'simple pleasures,' alongside a snap of her enjoying a Magnum ice cream during a walk

'This was Fiona out in the London sunshine this week and Almond has been replaced by the white chocolate version. Simple pleasures but a highlight of the day.'

Many of Martin's followers offered their well-wishes in the comments, including: 'Wonderful to see Fiona out and about . You are an amazing husband;

'So lovely to see Fiona enjoying the sunshine, her the book was so moving; Lovely photograph of Fiona enjoying the sunshine; Aww so nice to see you out and about Fiona.'

Martin recently opened up about the 'wretched' effects of his wife's ongoing battle, as he took to Lorraine to call for the government to do more to find a cure for the disease.

He sat down with Lorraine Kelly on her self-titled show to issue an update on how Fiona was doing after she was diagnosed.

Martin quit his position at ITV after 10 years in charge to be 'around much more' for wife Fiona in 2024 - and helped write her memoir, Remember When.

Opening up on her worsening condition, Martin said that he had battled 'slipping into a depression' as he cared for Fiona, and watched her 'slip away'.

He told Lorraine, sharing a new image of Fiona, taken yesterday (February 10): 'She doesn't remember Valentine's Day, she doesn't remember Christmas now, she doesn't remember New Year's.

'It's wretched... not just for her but for the family as well.

'She's still there, but day by day, we can see it slipping away - and just to sit there and see this person who was, as you know was the most dynamic, bubbly, and had so much pride in how she dressed and what she did - it's just a loss of dignity...

'People do ask, "Are you okay?" and I used to say, "It's not me, don't worry about me", but I am conscious that I've never been a depressive person but I can slip into that.

'My respite is work, I've gone back to broadcasting, and podcasting... but I still feel guilty, I feel guilty being here [away from Fiona].'

Martin went on to reveal the ways he could see Fiona fighting her worsening condition, praising her for being a 'stubborn woman'.

'I don't want to give the impression she's some sort of basket case as she's very much with us, she still is the worlds' most stubborn woman, and she's still around the house,' the broadcaster continued.

'We play her a lot of Rod Stewart, when she was a reporter she interviewed him and they became friends, he called her Doris - and I think she's a contender for Rochelle and Marvin Humes' The Hit List because she can do all the tunes.'

Martin hit out at the government for not doing more to find a cure for the disease - and hit out at Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting.

The former GMTV star was only 61 when she was told she had developed the disease, a progressive, incurable brain disorder (pictured with Martin in 2016)

Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP. Symptom Checklist

He noted that since Fiona's book was published in July 2025, he had not noticed 'anyone speaking' about Alzheimer's.

He hit out: 'Since I last spoke about her book, nobody has spoken about Alzheimer's. Wes Streeting - where is he on this? There's been nothing.

'One of the first things Wes Streeting did when he came in was, there were targets for diagnosing Alzheimer's - but he cancelled those.

'All the charities and all the experts are saying, "why have you done that?" Cancer gets sometimes as much as ten times as much funding as Alzheimer's and Dementia.

'[I wish she had been diagnosed with cancer] because there's drugs [to help]. When she was first diagnosed she was put on the same [medicine] as her mum 20 years ago.

'There's new American drugs but they won't pay for it due to "cost benefit analysis".'

There have been some 'lovely' messages from celebrities that Fiona and Martin knew through work.

'Out of the blue I received a message for Fiona... from Kate McCann [the mother of Madeleine McCann, who was abducted in Portugal in 2007].

'She remembered that she was a warm, bubbly and capable lady. Kate was sure those attributes must have stood Fiona in good stead.

'I didn't realise until I read the letter that Kate McCann, herself a doctor, had spent almost ten years in [NHS] Memory Services, largely drawn to it because of her dad, who also had dementia.'

When Martin read Fiona the 'very long letter' Kate had written, she remembered Madeleine and her eyes welled up.

For a moment, the Alzheimer's fog lifted and she was back as the GMTV presenter and sympathetic mum. She'd met the McCanns several times and was the first to announce Madeleine's disappearance on GMTV.

Then the clouds came back and the memory went away as quickly as it had surfaced. The old Fiona who'd appeared for a moment was gone.

This admission comes after Martin revealed the one thing you shouldn't say to someone with dementia after GMB star was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

In one of the final chapters of the book, Martin shared the biggest learning he has gleaned from his wife's illness, and it's advice that anyone with a loved one struggling with a degenerative brain condition can benefit from.

He wrote: 'The experts say you are not supposed to challenge someone with Alzheimer's when they're saying things that are completely wrong, but it's very difficult when you are in that moment and you are just desperately hoping you might be able to get through to them.

'What am I supposed to say when she says: "You're not my husband!"?

'Obviously it's not nicebut I don't feel hurt by it because I know that isn't Fiona talking: it's the illness that has taken her mind.'

Martin continued that the most important thing to do when involved in a back-and-forth with a dementia patient is not to say 'no'.

He believes that it's best to keep up rapport  even if it's uncomfortable  to stay connected.

He said: 'The textbooks say to never argue with a dementia patient.

'Although, even before the illness you could never win an argument with Fiona, so we play along,' he continued.

The couple live with their two sons, Nathaniel, 26 and Mackenzie, 23, who also have to entertain their mother's terrifying delusions  one of which required Martin to pretend that he has smuggled his wife away from her parents.

He told This Morning: 'Fiona and I leave as if I am taking her home.

'We walk around the block as she loudly proclaims, "I'll never forgive you for tricking me," and passers-by stare; then we are back home again, where she goes in and greets Mackenzie as if she hasn't seen him for days.'

Despite seeing the diagnosis coming as his wife became increasingly withdrawn and anxious, Martin said when it finally came it was 'awful'.

'You realise that there are around 70,000 people who have early-onset Alzheimer's and there is not a lot of help out there,' he added.

'As a family we are just kind of left to get through it and at some point we will need more support but there's just nothing really.

'You become kind of invisible', he told the Telegraph in a recent interview.

'If you mention the word Alzheimer's or dementia, it brings it to the front and it's upsetting because she knows the way it's going,' he also wrote in the book.
Joseph Duggars financial troubles were laid bare in a jailhouse phone call with his wife, as the couple discussed selling off their possessions to cover mounting legal fees.

Among the growing list of expenses was his $600,000 bond, after he was arrested on March 18 over allegations he molested a nine-year-old girl during a Florida vacation in 2020.

In the call, Duggar and his wife Kendra could be heard scrambling to raise cash, including by offloading vehicles, a pressure washer, a waterproof tarp and a wood splitter.

The couple also discussed enlisting Duggars brother Jed to help move some of the items.

'Maybe Jed [Duggar] can help us sell that one truck that we havent sold,' Duggar said in the call obtained by USWeekly.

Kendra indicated Jed had 'already' handled the truck by putting it 'on the lot,' as the pair shifted focus to what else they could sell off to bring in immediate cash.

Joseph Duggars financial troubles were laid bare in a jailhouse phone call with his wife Kendra, as the couple discussed selling off their possessions to cover mounting legal fees

In the call, Duggar and his wife Kendra could be heard scrambling to raise cash, including by offloading vehicles, a pressure washer, a waterproof tarp and a wood splitter

She went on to explain that Jed had been exploring selling off more of their belongings, including one of Josephs trailers.

He was thinking about selling your trailer and some other things, Kendra said.

So we need to talk about maybe next time, if you want to talk about selling some of the other things.

Joseph appeared on board with the idea, pointing out that they had more than one trailer to begin with.

So probably just keep that one with different tools I have and get rid of the rest, he said.

Kendra also raised concerns about an outstanding payment, explaining they had struggled to verify the amount they were told they owed.

We tried to search for the exact number that they sent, and we couldnt find that exact number, she recalled. I do need to pay Gale. I need to write him a check at some point.

The couple also discussed enlisting Duggars brother Jed to help move some of the items

Kendra also raised concerns about an outstanding payment, explaining they had struggled to verify the amount they were told they owed

Joseph then questioned whether the balance was $3,200, though Kendra clarified it was actually $6,200 - a figure he immediately disputed.

Thats what Jed said. Yeah but that doesnt sound right, Kendra responded.

'Hes like, We need to call them and get proof. So we havent paid him.

The couple appeared unsure who needed to be paid, with Kendra questioning if Gale was the right contact as Joseph outlined what he believed they owed - $3,200 to a construction company and $600 to a structural engineer for work on their damaged home.

The phone call leak comes after Duggars attorney Al Sauline revealed Duggar is feeling 'nervous, anxious, and worried' about what lies ahead, speaking to TMZ about the mounting stress.

According to the lawyer, Duggar is on edge due to the uncertainty surrounding the case, as he has 'no idea what evidence Florida prosecutors have' and wont be allowed to see it until formal charges are filed.

Sauline also revealed that the defense team is grappling with a chaotic mix of conflicting evidence and rampant speculation.

This makes it nearly impossible for them to separate fact from fiction, per Sauline.

The couple appeared unsure who needed to be paid

Sauline also emphasized to the outlet that the defense teams top priority is ensuring Joseph is treated fairly throughout the legal process.

Despite the mounting pressure, Joseph and his team continue to stand by his not guilty plea.

The lawyer also revealed that Duggar has 'good family support' since his release back to Arkansas on a $600K bond this week, which is helping him stay in 'good spirits' during such a challenging time.

However, its unclear which family members are offering support, as his father Jim Bob Duggar slammed his sons 'terrible decisions' in a letter sent while Joseph was in jail.

Jim Bob, 60, sent an email to his son while he was being held at an Arkansas detention facility before being extradited to Florida.

'You have made some terrible decisions, but God has already forgiven you if you have asked him,' he wrote, according to People.

He urged Joseph to 'accept the situation' and warned him that he will 'most likely deal with major consequences for several years to come.'

Jim Bob also emphasized that both he and his wife, Michelle, still 'love' Joseph, but made it clear that he faces 'a long road ahead.'

In a striking message, Jim Bob added, '[Y]ou can also point people to Christ even through the time youre in jail and prison.' He also referenced a Biblical figure, sharing, 'David in the Bible royally messed up, but he repented and became a man after Gods own heart.'

He concluded the letter by assuring Joseph, 'God is not finished with your life' and promised, 'well keep praying for you.'

Days before the letter, Jim Bob and Michelle publicly addressed their sons arrest for child molestation charges.

Meanwhile, some of Josephs siblings have also spoken out, including his brother Josh, who is currently serving a 12-year sentence for possessing child pornography.

Jana and Jessa Duggar, two of Josephs sisters, have also made statements.

Jana took to Instagram Stories on Thursday, condemning her brothers actions as an 'unacceptable wrong.'

'We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the situation involving my brother, Joseph,' she wrote. 'This news came as a shock to us, as we had no prior knowledge before it became public.'

Duggar's father Jim Bob Duggar slammed his sons 'terrible decisions' in a letter sent while Joseph was in jail; (Jim Bob and wife Michelle seen above in 2010 )

Jana continued, 'Our hearts are with the child who has been harmed  this is a grievous and unacceptable wrong. We continue to pray for the victim and for justice to be carried out.'

Jessa, in turn, shared her own heartfelt message on Instagram, expressing, 'We learned, along with the rest of the world, of the heartbreaking news involving my brother, Joseph, and we are deeply grieved.

'Our hearts ache for this innocent young girl and the harm she has suffered. This is a profound wrong, and we know it grieves the heart of God, who cares deeply for children and the vulnerable.'

She concluded, 'We are lifting her up in prayer, asking for comfort, healing, and justice.'

The incident involving Duggar occurred in 2020 in Panama City Beach, Florida during a vacation, according to authorities.

'As the vacation continued, he also asked [the victim] to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket,' officials said. 'During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim's underwear and grazed her genitals.

'Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs. The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.'

He was also charged with lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, officials said.

Two days after Duggar's arrest, his wife Kendra was taken into custody on March 20 - but released later the same day after posting a $1,470 bond.

Kendra faces four counts of child endangerment and four charges of false imprisonment.

In a series of jail phone calls, she told Duggar that she was not with their children after her arrest.

Duggar and Kendra tied the knot in 2017 and are parents to four young children, ranging in ages from three to seven.
Natasha Lyonne has finally addressed her removal from a Delta flight earlier this week.

The 47-year-old actress took to X (formerly Twitter) to finally offer up an explanation as she blamed the incident on taking a sleeping pill while also revealing that she ended up being detained by controversial US government agency ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Lyonne was reportedly asked to leave an aircraft bound for New York City late Tuesday night after she failed to respond to flight attendant instructions.

She wrote on the microblogging site on Friday: 'Indeed, I took a Lunesta once seated, to ensure some shut eye on the Delta One red eye flight to NYC.

'Boarded seamlessly with just a backpack and sneakers, eager for a nap.'

She was scheduled to appear on The Drew Barrymore Show, which is filmed in the Big Apple, the following day but failed to make it.

Natasha Lyonne (pictured in New York City on Thursday) has finally addressed her removal from a Delta flight earlier this week

The 47-year-old actress took to X (formally Twitter) to finally offer up an explanation as she blamed the incident on taking a sleeping pill while also revealing that she ended up being detained by controversial US government agency ICE

Lyonne continued by explaining: 'Plan was to be bushy tailed & beauty rested, as I was meant to head straight to glam for a slot with our beloved @DrewBarrymore, upon landing.

'Was looking forward to seeing Drew & an in depth convo, but I guess ICE had other plans & I was detained instead. Sign of the times, I guess.'

Airports nationwide are reporting historic wait times for security amid a severe shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers due to a partial government shutdown and ICE agents have had a presence in the last few weeks at the travel hubs.

Lyonne concluded her message by expressing her gratefulness for TSA workers as she wrote: 'Thanks for all the love and support. Never had a problem with @Delta or @TSA before. Heart is with our unpaid @TSA workers. [two beating heart emojis] Apologies to any travelers who were delayed.'

However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied that ICE detained the actress.

'Neither ICE nor TSA escorted or detained Natasha Lyonne,' a DHS spokesperson shared in a statement with TMZ on Friday.

During the incident, the actress was said to have appeared 'out of it' as she prepared to depart Los Angeles on Tuesday, hours after attending the season three premiere of Euphoria in Hollywood.

She eventually made it to New York City as she appeared on the red carpet of documentary Lorne in the Bronx on Thursday night.

The incident comes three months after Lyonne revealed she had suffered a relapse after being sober for nearly 10 years.

Lyonne was sitting in first class and still in some of the clothing she wore at the premiere when the drama began, according to Page Six.

Lyonne was reportedly asked to leave an aircraft bound for New York City late Tuesday night after she failed to respond to flight attendant instructions, hours after attending the Euphoria season 3 premiere on Tuesday

The actress is said to have appeared 'out of it' before being kicked off the Delta flight bound for New York (stock image)

The staff were eventually able to retrieve her laptop and the plane taxied onto the runway before it returned to the gate, where a Delta staffer boarded to speak to Lyonne.

'Maam, do you need medical attention?' the employee reportedly asked Lyonne. 'Maam, I need you to come off the plane. Do you need help with your belongings?'

'Where are we?' she was heard asking.

'Were still in LA. The plane hasnt gone anywhere,' they said. 'The plane is not going anywhere until you come off it.'

According to Page Six, Lyonne 'coolly shushed' the staffer before heading towards the bathroom and coming out snacking on a bag of pretzels.

She departed the plane obediently after her luggage was removed.

The captain later revealed they had dealt with a passenger who was unable to follow 'basic commands' as they addressed the more than hour-long delay for travelers waiting to get to New York.

'We have a passenger who, for whatever reason wouldnt follow some basic commands We had a passenger who didnt seem up to the task tonight, so thats why they were asked to be booked on another flight,' the captain reportedly said.

'I do apologize for the inconvenience, but we will get you to New York as quickly and as safely as possible.'

Earlier in the evening, Lyonne had shocked fans when she walked the red carpet flashing her braless bust in a mesh top, as she plugged her role in Euphoria. Above, with Brian Grazer

She eventually made it to New York City as she appeared on the red carpet of documentary Lorne in the Bronx on Thursday night

The Daily Mail contacted representatives for Lyonne for comment earlier this week but did not immediately hear back. Delta declined to comment.

Earlier in the evening, she had shocked fans when she walked the red carpet flashing her braless bust in a mesh top, as she plugged her role in Euphoria.

The incident comes three months after she revealed she suffered a relapse.

'Took my relapse public, more to come,' Lyonne told her 545,000 followers, who showered her with support.

'Thanks, boss  for the grace, etc.,' the actress wrote in response to one bolstering comment. 'Sending love back your way. May become a pothead or a nun. TBD.'

Lyonne didn't give an exact time frame of when the relapse occurred or how, but she stressed that 'recovery is a lifelong process.'

'Anyone out there struggling, remember you're not alone,' her written message continued on Saturday, January 24.

'Grateful for love and smart feet. Gonna do it for baby Bambo. Stay honest, folks. Sick as our secrets.'

The incident comes three months after Lyonne revealed she had suffered a relapse after being sober for nearly 10 years - pictured April 7

A witness observed Lyonne being given instructions by multiple flight attendants, and the actress was reportedly dozing off during the mishap. She was heard telling flight attendants at one point: 'Ah! You scared me!'

The Orange Is The New Black alum added: 'If no one told ya today, I love you. No matter how far down the scales we have gone, we will see how our experience may help another. Keep going, kiddos. Don't quit before the miracle. Wallpaper your mind with love. Rest is all noise and baloney.'

To one devotee, she wrote, 'Love ya back,' and to another, she confided, 'We need better systems and to end shame  bill the Sacklers and stilettos or something but don't @ me for getting honest.'

She was referring to the notorious Sackler family, known for owning Purdue Pharma, which developed the highly addictive pain medication OxyContin and amassed billions from its sales.

Last year, the company was forced to cough up a $7.4 billion settlement for its role in the current opioid epidemic.

In March, she offered an update on her sobriety journey: 'Proud to report this kid is doing a whole lot better & back on her feet,' she posted to X.

Lyonne, who completed rehab in 2006, previously spoke about her downward spiral into drug and alcohol addiction in a candid interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2012.

'Spiraling into addiction is really, really scary,' she said. 'Some things have a very A-to-B scientific effect. Like, alcohol is a depressant. Cocaine is a stimulant. And then: Cocaine plus heroin is bad! That's the point of my story, that's the moral. Coke plus heroin equals speedball. And speedball equals bad, you know?

'It's weird to talk about,' she said at the time. 'I was definitely as good as dead, you know? A lot of people don't come back. That makes me feel wary and self-conscious. I wouldn't want to feel prideful about it. People really rallied around me and pulled me up by my f***ing bootstraps.'

The New York City native took to social media in January saying she felt better after her relapse

She was heard telling staff after apparently getting startled at one point: 'Ah! You scared me!'

Lyonne was making headlines in the early to mid-2000s but not the nice kind: a drunk-driving arrest, a run-in with a neighbor resulting in a court appearance, hospitalization for hepatitis C, a collapsed lung, infective endocarditis and later open-heart surgery to correct damage done.

In 2006, at age 27, she checked into an inpatient rehab for treatment for her drug and alcohol abuse.

'Eventually, I made it through those dark nights of the soul,' Lyonne told The Times in 2024.

Lyonne has seen a career resurgence in her 40s, and recently she has shifted her focus away from starring roles to directing, writing and producing, such as the 1980s-set boxing film Bambo.
The Inbetweeners is reportedly finally set to return to screens after 16 years, after its creators signed a multi-million pound deal with Netflix.

The beloved E4 comedy last aired in 2010, and was followed by two cinematic films in 2011 and 2014, but is now set to go 'international' with this new project.

It was reported in October that creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley had struck a new deal with production company Banijay UK to work on a new project about the famous four friends.

However, at the time it was unclear what the project would be, and now a deal is reportedly being finalised for a movie that will be released on the streaming giant.

It's hoped that the comeback will feature all of the original cast, as well as Emily Atack, who played Charlotte 'Big Jugs' Hinchliffe.

A source said: 'Inbetweeners fans will be thrilled and relieved because when talk of a reboot emerged last year, there were fears it might not turn out to be a telly project.'

The Inbetweeners is reportedly finally set to return to screens after 16 years, after its creators signed a multi-million pound deal with Netflix

They went on to tell The Sun: 'Netflix have been keen to make the project happen partly because its enjoyed a bit of a renaissance since old episodes aired on the streaming service and introduced a whole new generation to the show.

'The deal is on the cusp of being fully rubber stamped, with discussions still happening about production timelines, storylines and cast.'

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Netflix for comment.

The Inbetweeners famously starred Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison as the four school pals.

Back in October, The Inbetweeners' creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley confirmed that plans are underway to bring back the iconic characters for a fresh chapter, after signing a deal with production giant Banijay UK.

'It's incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends),' they said in a statement.

It was thought the project could involve a new TV run, a film, or even a stage adaptation, with talks already underway about how to reboot the cult favourite.

Banijay's chief executive, Patrick Holland, told The Sun he was 'delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of The Inbetweeners with them'.

It's hoped that the comeback will feature all of the original cast, as well as Emily Atack, who played Charlotte 'Big Jugs' Hinchliffe

He added: 'They have an infectious creative vision for the brand which will resonate with audiences old and new.'

The company said the deal 'unlocks the rights and potential to bring The Inbetweeners back for new audiences across a range of platforms including film, tv and stage'.

Joe revealed previously that the cast were eager to return.

He said the group had stayed close friends and would 'jump at the chance' to work together again.

Speaking to a podcast he said: 'We're all still around. We're all still in each other's lives. We all still like each other.

'And if it was something that came up, I think we would want to do it.'
The husband of a Michigan woman who disappeared from a boat in the Bahamas slipped off a boat during a police transport, his attorney said.

Brian Hooker, 59, fell overboard and suffered from knee pain and abrasions on Wednesday, attorney Terrel Butler said.

During the transport, Brian was cuffed and rough conditions prevented him from being able to hold on for safety, Butler added.

The 59-year-old is being taken to Rand Hospital for further treatment and evaluation, Fox News reported.

Brian was arrested by police in the Bahamas on Wednesday after his wife, Lynette, vanished while sailing aboard a boat near the archipelago.

He was detained on the Abaco islands five days after he returned from the expedition without her, claiming she fell overboard.

From Witness to Suspect

Authorities first interviewed Brian and released him, then brought him back in as a witness for further questioning.

He was later brought in for questioning a third time, as a suspect, according to his lawyer.

The Royal Bahamas police said Brian was questioned 'on probable cause' and was taken into custody as a suspect in connection with his wife's disappearance, but he has not been formally charged.

The couple were experienced sailors who had been traveling together for more than a decade, often documenting their life at sea on social media, authorities said.

On Saturday evening, they took out an eight-foot motorboat from Hope Town in the Bahamas, but only Brian returned.

He told authorities that his wife fell overboard with the boat keys as they were returning to their yacht 'Soulmate', causing the engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle to the shore.

Unpredictable Seas

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Brian Hooker said he is 'heartbroken' by his wife's disappearance, describing the incident as a 'boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds.'

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,' Brian said. 'We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.'

Brian's attorney said his client 'categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing' in his wifes disappearance, saying he 'has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.'

The couple's distraught daughter called for a full investigation into the tragedy after she said her parents went through 'prior issues' before her mother's disappearance.

Lynette Hookers mother, Darlene Hamlett, said following Brian's arrest late Wednesday that she was 'glad to hear' about the arrest, but declined further comment, saying she was seeking more information.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hamlett said she wants to hear more from her son-in-law about how Lynette vanished.

The couple had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan.

She Grew Up on the Water

Online records gave Brian Hookers age as 58, and the reason for the discrepancy wasnt immediately clear.

'Im going to be interested in what he says, because I havent heard from him in almost two days,' Hamlett said.

'Our family grew up on water and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming.'

'It would be a miracle if [shes rescued], but Im still counting on one,' Hamlett added.

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.

'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.'

Aylesworth also told CBS that her mother is a seasoned sailor and swimmer, with over a decade of experience on the water.

She is unable to wrap her mind around how Lynette fell overboard and vanished.

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Oil tanker crews stranded in the Strait of Hormuz are suffering mental breakdowns with some refusing to sail even after it reopens.

Terrified sailors fear they are 'sitting ducks' as they remain trapped in their stationary ships for a sixth week while Iran retains control over the passage.

The reopening of the waterway, through which 20 per cent of global oil travels daily, is a crucial part of the two-week ceasefire agreed by Donald Trump and Iran.

But the Iranian regime has continued to block oil tankers transiting through the strait and has warned vessels they will have to pay a toll of up to $2million per journey or face destruction - dashing hopes of a swift reopening.

An estimated 2,000 ships and 20,000 seafarers have been trapped in the Gulf the beginning of the war, sparking an enormous surge in oil prices worldwide.

Fear grips crews as Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens

Paralysed by fear after witnessing neighbouring ships set ablaze by Iranian missile attacks, some crew members say they won't sail through the strait even if it does open in a development which could spell further crisis for the global economy.

One seafarer, stuck off the coast of the United Arab Emirates watched an Iranian missile strike a loaded Kuwaiti tanker, sparking a large blaze, while parked at a Dubai port last month.

They claimed 90 per cent of their crew will refuse to travel through the strait when it eventually opens.

The worker said the threats of violence have caused an 'impossible' impact on their mental health.

They told The Guardian: 'Im in no mental condition to perform any intense task after all of this.'

The sailor also claimed one of their colleagues had suffered a 'mental breakdown' and is being checked on regularly.

'Ive no doubt that this particular issue, this mental breakdown, is happening [on tankers] all around us from the stress of this situation,' they said. 'Seafarer support [phone] lines are trying to help, but from the beginning we have all known that it would not be enough.'

They added: 'Any hope they may soon be free to leave had already evaporated, if it ever felt real at all.'

Ship worker representatives have described the 'mental toll' the threat of violence has taken and how sailors feel as if they are 'sitting ducks'.

There remains chaos and confusion over who will get long-term control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Islamist regime has kept the Strait to traffic despite the US President declaring a dramatic and decisive victory in the Middle East.

Danger zone map raises alarm over Hormuz shipping

Iranian officials cited the ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran's Hezbollah allies for the move to shut off the Arabian Gulf which sent oil prices soaring and stock prices falling again.

Trump responded by threatening to green-light 'bigger, and better and stronger' attacks on Iran if a permanent deal isn't reached.

But he had earlier suggested the US and Iran could work together on a toll regime for ships that could reach $2million per vessel.

A new map released by Iran seemed to show areas of the Strait have been mined by its paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, seen as a threat to attack traffic if its demands are not met.

And Iranian officials have said tankers using the Strait would have to pay tolls in cryptocurrency of $1 per barrel.

The White House rejected the idea, only for Trump to later tell reporters it could be done as a 'beautiful' joint venture with America.

Charts dated from February 28 until April 9 were published by news agencies ISNA and Tasnim on Thursday, showing a large circle marked 'danger zone' in Farsi over the Traffic Separation Scheme.

This was the route ships used to take through the strait  a narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of all oil and natural gas traded once passed.

On Wednesday, Iran warned that oil tankers will be destroyed if they try to travel along the strait without permission, as it seeks to retain control over the passage during the ceasefire.

A radio message was broadcast yesterday by the regime to all oil ships in the vital waterway, saying: 'If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed.'

Even if the strait is reopened, 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.

Tankers flee Strait amid fears truce wont hold

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.'

Share your thoughts with us in the comments
Barron Trump is the latest famous face to wade into the beverage business  and the brand's first product is set to launch next month.

The 20yearold son of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump is listed as one of five directors for SOLLOS Yerba Mate, according to state business records in Florida seen by the Daily Mail.

The company is registered in both Florida and Delaware, according to The Palm Beach Post.

The Palm Beachbased company recently announced on LinkedIn that its canned Yerba Mate drinks were coming in May 2026 in both pineapple and coconut flavors.

For those unfamiliar, Yerba Mate is a traditional caffeinated tea found in South America, made from the yerba mate plant.

SOLLOS Teases Packaging

In recent years, its popularity has grown in the US, especially the Guayaki brand, which can be found in major retail stores like Whole Foods and CVS.

The brand posted a teaser of the packaging in the LinkedIn post, which showed its signature 12pack floating on a surfboard in the ocean.

The can features yellow and baby blue stripes, with the brand's orange sunburst logo stamped on the front.

The two founders of the company are Spencer Bernstein and Stephen Hall, who both attended the same Florida high school as Barron, Oxbridge Academy.

SOLLOS' website is currently under password protection, where curious consumers can sign up for their newsletter.

Many people have been surprised that Barron, who is currently a sophomore at New York University's Stern School of Business, has decided to move into the food and drink space given he previously expressed an interest in real estate.

Barron's business venture comes as sources recently revealed that the 20yearold is looking to 'make his mark.'

Source Says Barron is Interested in Property Development

'Barron has inherited his father's interest in making money and a name for himself, and is well on the way to becoming an entrepreneur,' the insider told People in March.

'He is smart, focused and resourceful. He is always looking for areas that interest him and is quite ambitious for such a young age.'

Dishing more details on what his plans entail, the outlet reported that Barron has set his sights on property development.

'Barron is interested in developing real estate in areas where he sees growth, especially keeping up with trends of younger buyers,' a source close to Barron socially said.

The move will likely 'impress' his father  but a separate political source noted one key difference between the pair.

'Barron is a carbon copy of his father, yet he is blessed without the elder's brashness,' the insider said. 'He is more like his mother with a European aloof and quiet sophistication.'

Source Describes Barron As Different From His Siblings

But Barron  who is 12 years younger than his closest halfsibling, Tiffany Trump  is reportedly also different from the other Trump children.

'He is different from the other Trump children in the sense that he is sort of a loner,' one source shared.

'Growing up in the public eye and not necessarily feeling comfortable in it has made him stronger within himself, and at the same time, is driving his ambition. It's an interesting combination.'

Barron was born and raised in New York City and attended school there until 2017, when his dad took office for his first term.

At the time, he was the first boy since John F. Kennedy Jr. to live in the White House in more than 50 years.

In mom Melania's new documentary, which premiered in theaters in January and is now streaming on Amazon, she gushed about how much she just loved her only son.

Melania Trump Praises Son Barron in Documentary

In one scene, as she and Donald Trump are sitting in the car together, they talk about Barron, who the President says that he has 'cute conversations' with.

'I love him,' Melania says, as she adds that her son is an 'incredible mind.'

Of course, after Trump was elected, it was revealed that the teen had a big part in his father's campaign, especially when it came to recommending podcasts and YouTube shows for him to appear on.

During the film, she also briefly shared that Barron is 'very confident' and that she wants him to live his own life and carve his own path.

It's a Man's World by James Brown plays in the background, while shots of him at the inauguration parade appear on camera.

However, Barron is the only child that's spoken about during the movie.

Melania does not say a word about her four stepchildren  Don. Jr, 48, Ivanka, 44, Eric, 42, or Tiffany, 32, during the 90minute spectacle.

Jesse Ventura calls for Barron Trump to enlist in military

WWE legend and ex-Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura has called on Donald Trump to send his son Barron to war, while labeling the President a 'draft-dodging coward.'

Ventura, who recently stated his belief that Trump faked the assassination attempt he survived back in 2024, urged 20-year-old Barron to do what his father 'didn't have the courage to do' and fight for his country amid America and Israel's war with Iran.

Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the Vietnam veteran, 74, said when asked for his thoughts on the Iran conflict: 'There's a simple thing as a leader, and you know this having been in the military. Trump wouldn't know it because he's a draft-dodging coward. But anyway it's this: a war is justified if you're willing to send your kids. Because how can you send somebody else's kids to a war if you won't send your own?

Read the full story here
A convenience store chain frequented by Joe Biden and beloved for its loaded sandwiches, burgers and hearty breakfast treats is set to expand its fan base.

Sheetz, which launched in Pennsylvania in 1952, is planning a major expansion with 100 new locations across the Midwest, as part of a $1 billion investment.

The company is focusing heavily on Indiana, following in the footsteps of rival Wawa. Its first outpost in the state is expected to open in 2027, with specific locations and timelines to be announced as development progresses.

'Over the past several years, we have received a significant number of inquiries from Indiana residents who want to see Sheetz in their communities,' said president and CEO Travis Sheetz.

'This momentum has been reinforced by the enthusiastic response to our unique offerings in new Midwest markets.

'It is an exciting time for Sheetz, and we look forward to giving customers everything they need in one stop, creating quality jobs and being a positive force in the Indiana communities we serve.'

Since opening its first Ohio store nearly 30 years ago, Sheetz has steadily built a presence across the Midwest.

The chain has added more than 25 locations in western Ohio in recent years, including in the Dayton and Toledo areas.

Convenience store chain Sheetz, frequented by Joe Biden and beloved for its loaded sandwiches and hearty breakfast treats, is set to expand its fan base

In 2024, the retailer entered Michigan and expects to operate nearly 20 stores in the state by the end of 2026.

Currently, it operates over 830 convenience store locations across seven states: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and Michigan.

Later this year, Sheetz will also open a new state-of-the-art food preparation and distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, to support its growing Midwest footprint.

Sheetz operates as a hybrid between a convenience store, fast-food restaurant and fuel stop, with most locations paired with large gas stations and designed for quick, 24/7 service.

It has built a loyal following thanks to its made-to-order menu, particularly its customizable 'MTO' sandwiches, breakfast burritos and its cult-favorite 'Shmuffins' - breakfast sandwiches served on English muffins.

The chain is also known for its extensive drink selection, including milkshakes, cold brew coffee and self-serve soda stations.

Its approach has drawn comparisons to Buc-ee's, another cult-favorite chain that has redefined the gas station experience.

While both brands have expanded the traditional model into destination-style stops with high-quality food and strong customer loyalty, Buc-ee's is known for its travel centers and massive fuel forecourts.

Sheetz, by contrast, focuses more on speed and round-the-clock accessibility, geared toward everyday convenience rather than long-haul travel.

The chain has built a loyal following thanks to its made-to-order menu, particularly its customizable 'MTO' sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and its cult-favorite 'Shmuffins' - breakfast sandwiches served on English muffins (stock image)

Sheetz operates as a hybrid between a convenience store, fast-food restaurant and fuel stop, with most locations paired with large gas stations and designed for quick, 24/7 service

Sheetz's approach has drawn comparisons to Buc-ee's, another cult-favorite chain that has redefined the gas station experience

News of Sheetz's expansion comes as competition heats up across the grocery and convenience sector.

Trader Joe's, for example, is continuing its own growth push, with plans to open new locations across multiple states as it capitalizes on demand for lower-cost, private-label groceries.

The cult-favorite chain, founded in 1967, is planning to open more than 20 new stores in 2026 - including at least 17 already confirmed across 12 states.

New locations are set to land in cities including Paso Robles and Anaheim Hills in California, Spokane Valley and Seattle in Washington, Oswego in Illinois, West Orange in New Jersey, Lafayette in Louisiana and Herriman in Utah.

The grocer has already opened two stores in 2026 - one in Miller Place, New York, and another in Hamden, Connecticut.

Trader Joe's added 34 locations in 2024 and a further 43 in 2025, taking its nationwide footprint to more than 600 stores across 43 states.

Other regional players are also racing to expand, underscoring a broader shift as retailers look to capture new customers in fast-growing suburban and Midwestern markets.
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more

Millions of Americans racing to meet the April 15 tax deadline this coming Wednesday could be walking straight into a costly trap - even if they think theyve done everything right.

A little-known change at the US Postal Service means your tax return could be marked late by the IRS even if you mailed it on time - in effect bringing the deadline forward.

Thats because Uncle Sam judges your return by the postmark date and not the day you drop it in the mailbox. The IRS considers any tax return with a postmark dated April 15 or earlier to be on time.

But new USPS rules say that postmark isnt guaranteed to reflect the day you send it -meaning a return mailed on April 15 could end up officially late. That could trigger steep penalties.

E-file.com The online filing destination makes it easier and cheaper than ever, with no paperwork needed. Just bring your filing forms and watch the online magic happen. Right now with code SAVE28 you can save 20 percent on federal tax filing software at E-file.com. *Coupon code applies to federal software only, it cannot be combined, and must be used at the time of payment. Shop

Until recently, you were more or less guaranteed to get a postmark on the day you sent a piece of mail, but because of the Postal Service changes, thats no longer true.

Last December, the Postal Service warned that customers should expect delays between when they drop off mail and when it receives a postmark - up to one day or more, in some cases.

That means if you waited until April 15 to mail your tax return, you might not get a postmark until a day later - or more. The IRS late filing penalty is typically 5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month - or part of a month - that a tax return is late, capped at 25 percent of the total unpaid tax.

'The core issue is that taxpayers assume the day they drop a return in the mailbox is the day it gets postmarked,' Joshua Youngblood, an IRS enrolled agent, told CNBC. 'That has never been guaranteed, but it matters more now than ever.'

Last December, the Postal Service warned that customers should expect delays on postmarks

IRS enrolled agent Joshua Youngblood

In the current tax season through March 27, the IRS had received 88.4 million tax returns, of which 1.6 million were not filed electronically.

Fewer and fewer Americans file their tax returns via the US Postal Service - last year less than 7 percent of tax returns were sent by mail - and most use online tax filing services like TurboTax.

Since 2021, the Postal Service has been modernizing operations to save money and boost efficiency.

A key change has been to consolidate mail processing from nearly 200 local centers to just 60 regional facilities, as well as reducing the number of dispatches between processing facilities and local post offices.

As a result, its much more common for mail to be postmarked with a delay of a day or more after mailing, creating new risks not just for tax filing, but also elections and legal deadlines that depend on postmark dates.

When the IRS receives a tax form after a deadline, the postmark date determines whether the submission is considered timely, and whether late filing or late payment penalties may apply.

Filing tax returns on time means you avoid late fees and other penalties.

Be aware that you can request a tax filing extension - which also must be received by the IRS before the April 15 tax day deadline - even if you cant pay some or all of the taxes you owe.

Join the discussion Should taxpayers face hefty penalties if delayed postmarks make their on-time returns look late?

Last year fewer than 7 percent of tax returns were sent by mail

Fill out IRS Form 4868 to request an extension of time to file your income tax return.

You can file the form using an online tax platform or send it by mail - but be mindful of the delays discussed above, as the extension must have a postmark dated no later than April 15.

The extension will let you file your return by October 15, 2026.

Be aware that this only extends the time you have to file your return without penalties.

A tax extension doesnt extend the time to pay a balance due, although most taxpayers have their tax withheld from paychecks throughout the year.

Since the beginning of the 2026 tax season, the IRS has refunded more than $221 billion to taxpayers - up more than 13 percent from the total amount refunded one year ago.

At $3,521, the average tax refund amount is 11 percent higher than last year, according to the latest IRS update on tax season 2026.

The IRS has received 88.4 million individual returns, out of about 164 million expected through the April 15 deadline.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- It is with great sorrow that we confirm the loss of three members due to injuries sustained in the Gray's Ferry project in south Philadelphia.

Our hearts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this unimaginable time. We are working closely with Local 401 to ensure that every available resource and support is available for those affected.

At this time the families have requested privacy and respect as they grieve. Please honor this request.

Iron Workers International will not be making any further statements due to the ongoing OSHA investigation.

The Iron Workers Union (IW) represents 120,000 ironworkers in North America who work in construction on bridges; structural steel; ornamental, architectural, clean energy, and miscellaneous metals; rebar; and in fabrication shops.

SOURCE Iron Workers Union
A trendy coffee chain in California has been criticized by customers over a decision to remove pride flags from all of its locations.

Philz Coffee, a specialized coffee chain founded in San Francisco, is facing backlash from employees and customers, who say the choice has made them feel 'unsupported'.

A petition launched by employees a few days ago states that the recent decision to remove Pride flags from stores has left many team members and customers feeling 'confounded and unsupported'.

'The pride flags within the stores hold deep meaning and value to both staff and visitors, symbolizing that these locations are safe and welcoming spaces for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,' the petition says.

However, Philz CEO Mahesh Sadarangani says the move is intended to make the Bay Areaborn cafe chain more welcoming to customers.

'Our longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged,' Sadarangani said in an emailed statement to SFGATE.

'We are working toward creating a more consistent, inclusive experience across all our stores, including removing a variety of flags and other decor. This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are,' he continued.

Critics online have different theories as to why the flags have been removed.

Philz Coffee, a specialized coffee chain founded in San Francisco, is facing backlash from employees and customers

A petition launched by employees a few days ago states that the recent decision to remove Pride flags from stores has left many team members and customers feeling 'confounded and unsupported'

A pride flag is displayed behind the counter inside a Philz coffee shop in Emeryville, California

'Philz sold out to private equity in August of last year, that's why,' one wrote on Reddit.

In 2025, the company drew headlines when private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co. acquired it for $145 million - an event that also led to dozens of early employee-investors losing their stock options.

Another said: 'Yeah their coffee sucks but this banning pride flags will not go over well - boycott incoming - maybe they need to look up what happened to Target.'

Target made a similar move in early 2025. The retailer faced backlash after scaling back some diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and Pride-related merchandise, a move critics described as part of a broader 'anti-woke' shift aimed at appeasing certain customer groups.

'Mahesh Sadarangani is making a really s**tty decision and it's bound to backfire, I have no idea what he's thinking,' a person who claimed to be an employee posted on Reddit.

One customer did not mince their words: 'Their new 'consistent experience' consistently sucks. The old 24th location was so cool with the murals, the music, the thrifted couches, the cool baristas, the community vibe. It felt fun. I used to just chill in there. New Philz has none of these things. It feels like a McDonalds.'

Founded in 2003 in San Francisco's Mission District by Phil Jaber and his son Jacob, Philz built its reputation on custom-made coffees and a cozy, homey vibe. Today, Philz operates more than 60 locations across California, with shops extending as far south as Orange County and the Inland Empire.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Philz for comment.
Honoring Dr. Robert Montgomery with inaugural 2026 Luminary Award; recognizing NYC metro-area hospitals with the Legacies Award

NEW YORK, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveOnNY will host its inaugural Luminaries & Legacies on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM at 22 Vanderbilt, 335 Madison Avenue in New York City. The event will bring together leaders from across the organ donation and transplant community to recognize exceptional collaboration, celebrate innovation, and reflect on the shared mission of saving and improving lives through organ donation.

LiveOnNY will host its inaugural Luminaries & Legacies on Thursday, April 16, 2026, bringing together leaders from across the organ donation and transplant community to recognize exceptional collaboration, celebrate innovation, and reflect on the shared mission of saving and improving lives through organ donation.

The event will recognize Robert A. Montgomery, MD, DPhil, the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery, chair of the Department of Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, as the inaugural LiveOnNY 2026 Luminary. Dr. Montgomery is honored for his enduring influence and visionary leadership in advancing innovation, equity, and access across organ donation and transplantation.

"Dr. Montgomery's contribution to both the communities of New York and the world at large is immeasurable as a humanitarian, leader, researcher and physician and we are honored to present this recognition to him," said Leonard Achan, LiveOnNY President and CEO. "His work reflects the best practice of collaboration, scientific vision and a deep moral commitment which has enabled more people to live fuller, healthier lives."

During the evening, LiveOnNY will present the 2025 LiveOnNY Legacies Award to hospitals in the New York metropolitan region, recognizing their measurable impact in advancing organ donation and their collaboration in honoring the wishes of donor heroes.

The 2025 Legacies Award recipients include Garnet Health Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, South Shore University Hospital, a Northwell Health facility, Stony Brook University Hospital, and Westchester Medical Center.

In addition, select individuals from those hospitals will receive the LiveOnNY Donor Champion Award, the organization's highest honor recognizing unwavering dedication to advancing organ donation and supporting donor families.

"Luminaries & Legacies is an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary dedication and impact that make organ donation possible," said Achan. "Every day, hospitals, clinicians, and advocates across our region work tirelessly to honor the gift of life and bring hope to the thousands of patients waiting for a transplant."

Proceeds from the event will support the LiveOnNY Foundation, which advances programs that strengthen organ donation awareness, support donor families, and invest in the next generation of healthcare leaders through initiatives such as its annual scholarship program for students pursuing careers in health and human services.

To learn more about the event and how to purchase tickets, click here.

ABOUT LIVEONNY FOUNDATION

The LiveOnNY Foundation supports education and awareness of the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation and programs benefitting both donor families and transplant patients through their journeys.

ABOUT LIVEONNY

LiveOnNY is a federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) committed to honoring, saving, and transforming lives through organ and tissue donation. Established in 1978, LiveOnNY collaborates with more than 100 area hospitals, providing support to donor families and transplant recipients. The OPO serves a diverse population of 13 million people of New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, and Rockland counties. Recognized as one of the nation's top-performing OPOs, LiveOnNY and the people of New York have increased organ donation by 85% over the past five years. To learn more, visit LiveOnNY.org

SOURCE LiveOnNY
Fast-Growing Brand Builds on U.S. Momentum and Recent UK Launch as New Ownership Opportunities Emerge

HOUSTON, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As pet owners enter peak grooming season, Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers is expanding into new U.S. markets to meet rising spring demand for convenient, at-home pet care. The growth builds on the brand's recent international debut in London, marking a significant step in its evolution from a fast-growing national service to an emerging global player.

New markets include Frisco, Fort Worth, Katy and Galveston, Texas; Sarasota and Tampa, Florida; Martinsburg, West Virginia; and London, UK. These locations reflect increased demand in high-growth suburban and metropolitan areas where pet owners are seeking convenient, service-based solutions. Each market operates under a local owner-operator model, allowing Lucky Dog to scale while maintaining a personalized, community-focused experience.

Spring is the busiest season for pet grooming, driven by shedding, allergens, and increased outdoor activity. At the same time, more consumers are shifting toward on-demand services that reduce travel and simplify daily routines. Lucky Dog meets that demand by delivering professional, one-on-one grooming to customers' driveways, eliminating the stress of traditional salons for pets and owners.

"Our expansion into new U.S. markets and recent launch in London reflect the growing demand for a more convenient, personalized approach to pet care," said Edris Yousefi, founder of Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers. "We're building a brand that can scale globally while still delivering a consistent, high-quality experience at the local level."

The company's growth is fueled by consumer demand and a rising number of entrepreneurs entering the mobile pet care space. Lucky Dog has groomed more than 75,000 dogs nationwide and continues to expand into both established and underserved markets, creating new opportunities for local ownership.

Pet owners can visit www.luckydogmobilegroomers.com to schedule services. Entrepreneurs interested in ownership opportunities can learn more at www.luckydogmobilegroomers.com/own-a-lucky-dog.

About Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers

Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers is redefining the pet-grooming experience by bringing professional, compassionate care directly to customers' driveways. Backed by pro groomers, personalized care, and convenience, Lucky Dog is taking its tail-wagging experience nationwide. With more than 75,000 dogs groomed, 1,000+ five-star Google reviews, and a rapidly growing U.S. presence, the brand continues its mission to make grooming easy by bringing care right to your home.

SOURCE Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mighty Distributing is pleased to announce the transition of its Orlando, Florida franchise to Vaden Distribution, LLC, doing business as Mighty of Orlando. This marks the third Mighty franchise awarded to Vaden Automotive Group, representing a continued expansion of their operations within the Mighty system.

"We can't thank the Vaden Automotive Group enough for their commitment to Mighty," said Josh D'Agostino, President and CEO of Mighty Distributing System of America. Post this Mighty of Orlando

Vaden Automotive Group, headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, operates 14 automotive dealerships across Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia, as well as Hilton Head, South Carolina. The organization brings extensive automotive and operational expertise to the Mighty system, positioning the Orlando franchise for continued growth and success.

The newly awarded territory includes seven counties in Central Florida, along with the northern portion of Brevard County, representing the greater Orlando market. Vaden Distribution will acquire the existing Orlando franchise from Step One Automotive Group. This strategic transition allows Step One Automotive Group to focus on its core market in Pensacola, Florida, while enabling Vaden to expand Mighty's presence in Central Florida.

Operations will continue from the existing warehouse facility in Sanford, Florida, ensuring a seamless transition for customers and partners. To support ongoing performance and long-term success, Mighty Franchise Success Team member Luke Yockey will provide operational support and strategic guidance throughout the transition.

"We can't thank the Vaden Automotive Group enough for their commitment to Mighty," said Josh D'Agostino, President and CEO of Mighty Distributing System of America. "They continue to invest in the Mighty System, and are now bringing their extensive knowledge in the automotive industry to the Orlando market. We know their leadership will strengthen Mighty's position and enhance our customer service in Central Florida."

With an established dealership network and a proven track record of operational excellence, Vaden Automotive Group is well positioned to expand Mighty's footprint and deliver increased value to customers throughout Central Florida.

About Mighty Distributing System of America

Mighty Auto Parts, a division of Mighty Distributing System of America, is headquartered in Peachtree Corners, GA. For more than 60 years, we've supported a network of 100 franchised distributors across 44 U.S. states and five international markets. Mighty partners exclusively with automotive professionals, providing unparalleled local service, expert inventory management, and comprehensive training. Our broad range of OE-quality underhood and undercar parts, chemical products, lubricants, and shop supplies continues to attract independent repair shops, quick lubes, tire centers, and new car dealerships nationwide and internationally. Learn more at www.mightyautoparts.com.

Follow Mighty Auto Parts online:

Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Instagram

SOURCE Mighty Distributing System
Nevada patients empowered to compare prices, save on care, fight surprise bills

LAS VEGAS, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PatientRightsAdvocate.org (PRA) introduced the Nevada Hospital Price Finder, empowering Nevadans with free access to all available Nevada hospital prices so they can compare options before care, prevent overcharges, and have recourse for surprise bills. The new online tool allows patients, employers, unions, and researchers in the Silver State to search for hospital prices by location, procedure, and code at NevadaHospitalPrices.org.

"The Nevada Hospital Price Finder gives all Nevadans free access to upfront healthcare prices, protecting them from overcharges and enabling them to seek the best care at the best prices," said PRA Founder and Chairman Cynthia Fisher. "This tool empowers Nevadans to spot wide price variations, seek affordable care, and benefit from financial certainty. We encourage all Nevada healthcare consumers to use it before receiving care to compare and save. We thank every elected leader who stood up for patients' rights to upfront prices."

Last June, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed into law A.B. 343, sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Yeager, which codified federal price transparency requirements for all Nevada hospitals and authorized compliance monitoring and enforcement. The governor co-hosted a press conference with PRA this morning to announce the Nevada Hospital Price Finder at his office in Las Vegas.

A.B. 343 went into effect on January 1, 2026. As the bipartisan legislation made its way through both chambers of the Nevada Legislature, Nevadans negatively impacted by surprise hospital bills and hidden fees voiced their support for enforcing price transparency, including patients like Ed Rinne and Michael Baker.

Ed Rinne (Sparks, NV): "Going to the hospital shouldn't be like stepping into a casino. You shouldn't have to place blind bets on your health and hope the house doesn't clean you out."

Michael Baker (Henderson, NV): "Upfront prices protect patients from overcharges and allow us to shop for affordable care. They create competition that will put downward pressure on costs  just as in every other economic sector. Armed with this information, patients can finally shop for lower-cost care and enjoy financial peace of mind. Employers can steer workers to high-value treatment and keep premium costs down. Health care can begin to resemble other consumer industries."

About PatientRightsAdvocate.org

PatientRightsAdvocate.org (PRA) is a leading national healthcare price transparency organization dedicated to ushering in systemwide transparency through advocacy, testimony, media, legal research, and grassroots campaigns. PRA believes that the availability and visibility of actual, upfront healthcare prices will greatly lower costs for patients and employers through a functional, competitive healthcare marketplace.

SOURCE Patient Rights Advocate
STOCKHOLM, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska has signed a contract with an existing client to construct a tech facility in USA. The contract is worth USD 142M, about SEK 1.3 billion, which will be included in the US order bookings for the first quarter of 2026.

Work will begin in April 2026 and is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2028.

For further information please contact:

Daniela Arellano, Communications Director, Skanska USA, tel +1 -213-317-4977

Andreas Joons, Press Officer, Skanska AB, tel +46 76 870 75 51

Direct line for media, tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skanska/r/skanska-constructs-tech-facility-in-usa-for-usd-142m--about-sek-1-3-billion,c4332944

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/95/4332944/4029742.pdf 20260410 US tech facility

SOURCE Skanska
SAN DIEGO, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that the Stellantis class action lawsuit seeks to represent purchasers of Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA) common stock between February 26, 2025 and February 5, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Captioned Harman v. Stellantis N.V., No. 26-cv-02839 (S.D.N.Y.), the Stellantis class action lawsuit charges Stellantis and certain of Stellantis' top current and former executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Stellantis class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-stellantis-class-action-lawsuit-stla.html

You can also contact attorneys Ken Dolitsky or Michael Albert of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Stellantis engages in the designing, engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of automobiles and light commercial vehicles, engines, transmission systems, and mobility services worldwide.

The Stellantis class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to Stellantis' opportunity to capitalize on a growing electrification market and its potential for earnings growth while also minimizing impact and risk from strategic restructuring charges and macroeconomic fluctuations; (ii) Stellantis' confidence in the electrification market or otherwise defendants' faith in Stellantis' ability to capitalize on such growth was misplaced; and (iii) Stellantis would ultimately see earnings slide through repeated guidance reductions despite efforts to minimize the potential of any impact until it manifested on Stellantis' doorstep, resulting in significant restructuring charges far above and beyond the realm of what defendants caused the market to expect.

The Stellantis class action lawsuit further alleges that on February 6, 2026, Stellantis announced a "Reset[ of] its Business to Meet Customer Preferences to Support Profitable Growth," further disclosing that the "reset of Stellantis' business resulted in charges of approximately 22.2 billion . . . including cash payments of approximately 6.5 billion, which are expected to be paid over the next four years." On this news, the price of Stellantis common stock fell more than 23%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased Stellantis common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Stellantis class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Stellantis class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Stellantis class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Stellantis class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder rights litigation. Our Firm ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report, recovering more than $916 million for investors in 2025. This marks our fourth #1 ranking in the past five years. And in those five years alone, Robbins Geller recovered $8.4 billion for investors  $3.4 billion more than any other law firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world, and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

Ken Dolitsky

Michael Albert

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
The global destination for collectible watches and jewelry establishes its first

new market location in the Los Angeles area under The 1916 Company name.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 1916 Company, the global destination with 110 years of heritage in collectible luxury watches and fine jewelry, announces the opening of its newest showroom in Manhattan Beach, California. Located at Manhattan Village, the Southern California location is the first new market The 1916 Company has entered since its formation  and its 25th location worldwide.

The 1916 Company opens at Manhattan Village in Manhattan Beach, California; the company's first new market entry since its formation and its 25th location worldwide.

The showroom spans 5,800 square feet, bringing together dedicated environments for Swiss watch brands  Rolex, Breitling, De Bethune, Panerai, and Tudor  and an expansive jewelry offering, alongside spaces conceived for discovery, conversation, and genuine hospitality.

At the heart of this new location is a 1,350-square-foot Rolex space, meticulously designed to embody the elegance of the Rolex aesthetic, while allowing guests to enjoy a bespoke and personalized experience.

Manhattan Beach marks the West Coast debut of the 1916 Collector's Lounge. Home to Rolex Certified Pre-Owned watches and The 1916 Company Pre-Owned Collection, the lounge presents an extensive selection of collectible timepieces in a relaxed, conversational setting  mirroring the Collector's Lounge experience found across The 1916 Company's locations in New York, Miami, Switzerland, and Asia. As a proud partner in the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program, The 1916 Company offers clients access to an exceptional range of pre-owned Rolex timepieces both in store and online, backed by the confidence of Rolex's exclusive certification.

"Manhattan Beach represents something we've been working toward for the last two years," shares John Shmerler, CEO of The 1916 Company. "We're bringing The 1916 Company to a market that has long had a deep culture of collecting and a genuine appreciation for craftsmanship  and one that deserves a destination shaped by that. Our new store reflects the full breadth of what we do: exceptional new and pre-owned collections, independent watchmaking at the highest level, and a jewelry offering built around the character of the community. At our core, we're a company founded on relationships  with our clients, our brand partners, and the places we call home. We're here for the long term, and we're looking forward to earning our place in the South Bay."

High Horology by The 1916 Company

Woven into the showroom is the High Horology area, anchored by De Bethune and designed to bring independent watchmaking to a wider audience of collectors. Rotating presentations of watchmakers from across The 1916 Company's network will ensure the space remains a living showcase of contemporary horology. At opening, featured maisons include Daniel Roth, Gerald Genta, Greubel Forsey, and Bianchet, in addition to De Bethune.

A Jewelry Offering Shaped by the West Coast

The jewelry assortment reflects the design-driven character of the West Coast, introducing several brands new to The 1916 Company's network alongside established names in fine jewelry and diamonds. Manhattan Beach marks the company's first retail partnership with Jade Trau, Jenna Blake, and Melissa Kaye  three designers working in expressive, wearable fine jewelry. These collections are complemented by exclusive pieces by The 1916 Company, along with collections by Arzano, Etho Maria, Future Fortune, Hoorsenbuhs, Norman Silverman, Nouvel Heritage, Phillips House, Rahaminov, Roberto Coin, Spinelli Kilcollin, Zoe Chicco, and more.

"One hundred and ten years in, the way we connect with our clients hasn't changed; every visit, every conversation, every relationship matters," says Melanie Chud, recently appointed President of Retail of The 1916 Company. "Manhattan Beach is an opportunity to bring that to a new community, with a space clients can explore at their own pace, and the kind of personal service and care that's hard to find elsewhere."

The 1916 Company's Manhattan Beach showroom is now open at Manhattan Village, Monday through Saturday, 10am  6pm, and Sunday, 12pm  5pm. A calendar of exclusive watch and jewelry events will soon follow, as The 1916 Company brings its 110 years of heritage to the South Bay.

ABOUT THE 1916 COMPANY

The 1916 Company is the world's leading destination and global community for collectible luxury watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned designer handbags. Comprising more than 20 boutiques and Collector's Lounges in important watch markets worldwide, The 1916 Company brings together the legacies of WatchBox, Govberg Jewelers, Radcliffe Jewelers, and Hyde Park Jewelers to offer a curated selection of timepieces  both new and pre-owned  by the most respected watch brands, a dynamic media platform, and the support of trusted client advisors. The company maintains a deeply integrated relationship with De Bethune, serving as the brand's majority investor and primary point of distribution across the United States, Switzerland, and Asia.

www.the1916company.com

PRESS CONTACT

The 1916 Company, Caroline Kallman Joffe | [email protected] | +1 717 951 2259

Images available for download: HERE

SOURCE The 1916 Company
New Tampa Bay area location will host grand opening celebration Friday, April 24

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the U.S, today announced the opening of a new medical cannabis dispensary in Lutz, Florida on Saturday, April 11.

The dispensary will host a grand opening celebration on Friday, April 24, featuring specials, discounts, and partner giveaways.

"Providing high-quality products in a welcoming environment is central to our mission," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "We are thrilled to offer patients in Hillsborough County convenient and compassionate care as part of their wellness journey."

Trulieve Lutz, located at 24408 SR-54, will be open 9 a.m.  8:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.  8 p.m. on Sundays, offering walk-in and express pickup service.

The new dispensary will carry a wide variety of popular products including Trulieve's portfolio of in-house brands such as Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Roll One, and Sweet Talk. Customers will also have access to beloved partner brands such as Alien Labs, Bellamy Brothers, Binske, Black Tuna, Blue River, Connected Cannabis, DeLisioso, Khalifa Kush, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, Seed Junky, and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.

Across Florida, Trulieve offers home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup. Veterans receive 20% off every order when they show their military ID, and all first-time guests are eligible for a 60% new customer discount at any Florida Trulieve location. For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Instagram or Facebook.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with established hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, anchored by cornerstone markets in Arizona, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Driven by a core mission to expand access to cannabis, Trulieve serves customers with innovative, high-quality branded products and exceptional experiences. With scaled operations in attractive markets and targeted expansion through its hub strategy, Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.

Facebook: @Trulieve

Instagram: @Trulieve

X: @Trulieve

Investor and Media Contact

Christine Hersey, Chief Corporate Affairs and Strategy Officer

+1 (424) 202-0210

[email protected]

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Home Mortgage (UHM), a high-growth independent mortgage banking company with a world-class culture, announced it has been named a 2026 Top Workplace by USA TODAY. This is the sixth year in a row that Union Home Mortgage has received this award.

"I'm very proud that Union Home Mortgage has been recognized again this year by USA TODAY, and I am so grateful for the culture we have built within the company," said Bill Cosgrove, CEO of Union Home Mortgage. "My goal for Union Home has always been for our culture to stand out among others in the mortgage industry, and this shows us that we're on the right path. It's only possible because our incredible Partners work together each day, show up as their best selves, and live by our motto of 'Promises Kept.' to help more people achieve the dream of homeownership."

The Top Workplaces program, issued by Energage since 2006, recognizes top organizations with 150 or more employees for their commitment to fostering a workplace environment that values employee listening and engagement. Over 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in this survey, with winning organizations chosen solely by authentic employee feedback collected through the survey.

"Earning a USA TODAY Top Workplaces award is a testament to an organization's credibility and commitment to a people-first culture," said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. "This award, driven by real employee feedback, is more than just a recognition  it's proof that your employees believe in the organization and its leadership. Job seekers and customers look for this trusted badge of credibility and excellence. It signals a company that values its people, and that kind of culture resonates in today's competitive market."

Union Home Mortgage prides itself on culture and employee experience. The company maintains several internal training programs, career pathing, and employee educational resources. The company's headquarters outside of Cleveland, Ohio feature an onsite gym, cafeteria, and training centers for both in-person and virtual education.

For more information about starting your career at Union Home Mortgage, visit www.uhm.com/careers.

About Union Home Mortgage

Union Home Mortgage Corp. (UHM) is a high-growth, full-service retail, wholesale, and consumer direct independent mortgage banking company with branches across the U.S. in 48 states + D.C. UHM is an in-house loan servicer offering world-class customer service through high touch communication & technology. A privately held family business, with a collaborative culture that stands out in the mortgage industry, UHM Partners (employees) are guided by a Code of Conduct that emphasizes respect, open communication, and accountability. All these principles translate to industry-leading customer retention and satisfaction. Some honors include being a Six-Year USA Today Top Workplace and a Ten-Year Northeast Ohio Top Workplace.

About Energage

Making the world a better place to work together.

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 20 years of culture research and the results from 30 million employees surveyed across more than 80,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

SOURCE Union Home Mortgage
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An event which will see more than 70 supercars travel around parts of Ireland to raise funds for charity, will set off from Moneymore next month.

Run by a Donegal man, Keith 'Bear' Gamble, the Bear Run 74 has raised over 250,000 in five years.

Taking place over the May Bank Holiday weekend, Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, the run typically features a lineup of 74 high-performance vehicles, including exotic supercars like Lamborghinis and Ferraris, as well as American muscle cars.

This time, the group chose to raise money for the BUMBLEance Children's Ambulance Service.

It will start on the Friday in Moneymore and they will leave at 2pm. The cars will drive to Lifford in Co Donegal and arrive at 5pm. Saturday would then kick off again at 9am from Ballybofey, with the show expected to pass through Donegal Town around 11am and do a lap around the Diamond.

Afterwards, the entourage will proceed to Ballinalack, Co Westmeath; Tullamore, Co Offaly; Portlaouse, Co Laois, before stopping up for the night on Kilkennys Main Street. On Sunday, the procession will start in Kilkenny before going through Wicklow at Kilmartin and Ashford and will finish off at Lawlors Hotel in Naas, Co Kildare at 5pm.

The Mayor of Donegal Town, Anna Gallagher, met with the Lifford native and founder of Bear Run 74, Keith 'Bear' Gamble.

She expressed that she was delighted and is looking forward to welcoming all of them to Donegal Town and said: This incredible supercar road trip has raised massive funds for so many outstanding charities.

READ NEXT: Fuel protest organised to take place in Co Derry

The Bear Run 74 is in memory of Bears late father, Josie, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 74 from cancer. Josie used to do a lot of charity work, and Keith wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps.

This is to keep his name alive, Keith said. He raised 40 grand for charity over the years, and I told him that Id beat his figure! This is what its about: keeping his name alive and helping people.

The fundraiser, which began in 2021, has raised over 267,996 altogether for many different charities and toy appeals for children in hospitals, including Foyle Down Syndrome Trust, Donegal Hospice, The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, Toy Appeals & Local Hospitals, which have delivered over 7,000 toys to childrens wards at locations such as Letterkenny University Hospital, Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry and Knockavoe School in Strabane.
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There was a massive turnout for a slow-vehicle protest that took place in Donegal on Thursday evening.

The protest took place on the 20km stretch from Bridgend to Manorcunningham in solidarity with fuel protesters in Dublin and was organised by Joey Lyle from Lyle Agri in Moville and assisted by Mark Hegarty, a Burt native residing in Bridgend.

We never expected so many to come and show their support, Mark tells DonegalLive. A lot of people in the north-west wouldnt have been in a position to make it as far as Dublin, where there have been protests, so we wanted to show our support locally. There was a massive turnout. It's good to see people stand together."

The return trip ordinarily would take 30 minutes, but on Thursday, having set off at 7pm, some of the protesters didnt make it back to Bridgend until well after 10pm.

The front of the cavalcade had made it past Newtowncunningham, whilst those at the rear had still to depart Bridgend, with the traffic line taking almost 45 minutes. An Garda Siochana, who were notified of the event beforehand, observed the peaceful protest, with traffic so heavy that it was later decided to continue the protest into the Dry Arch Roundabout in Letterkenny.

Mark admits the protest was hastily arranged, following the government's decision to call in the army to remove heavy vehicles blocking fuel depots.

We feel as though the government turned its back on the people of Ireland by calling in the army, Mark adds.

They should not have done that. At the moment, everyone is suffering because of this. Its not a matter of left or right; were all suffering. We emphasised that the intention was not to block the roads and to make sure that those who needed to pass, like ambulances, etc., got past.

Many stations are currently charging around 1.90 for unleaded and 2.10 for diesel, compared to 1.73 for unleaded and 1.72 for diesel in February. Home heating oil rose from 500 for 500 litres before the conflict to 900 today.

"The protests are now being blamed when the fact is there is now a reluctance to purchase, as the ceasefire means that production will drop, so suppliers are holding off," Mark adds.

The Government is now set to meet with representative groups of farmers, agricultural contractors and the haulage industry later today to discuss the ongoing crisis. The protesters say they want the carbon tax on green diesel removed and the price of fuel capped.

Donegal TD Padraig MacLochlainn of Sinn Fein, who was one of those who attended the protest and in Bridgend before the announcement of the meeting was confirmed, said: You can see his huge response here all around us, he said. [Taoiseach] Micheal Martin needs to get off his high horse, and he needs to engage with these affected farmers, hauliers, school bus transport operators, homeowners, and people who have been affected by this crisis. They haven't gone far enough, they haven't listened, and they need to stop threatening people and need to act.

I'm proud to stand with these ordinary hard-working people here in Bridgend. They're heading for Manorcunningham, and I'm proud to stand with them. Micheal Martin, get off your high horse and start to stand by these people and come up with a response that fits their needs.
A Limavady woman has praised the compassionate care of Foyle Hospice, and stressed how it gave her the chance to be a daughter again during her fathers final days.

Just days before Christmas, Amy ONeills family were left devastated when her father Ernie was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.

According to Amy, her family could not have coped without Foyle Hospice, whose `incredible support helped bring comfort during the most difficult time of her life.

I cannot stress enough how amazing this service is within our community, said Amy, who is a former FUSE FM Ballymoney DJ and Co-owner of Causeway Bowls.

Foyle Hospice allowed me to simply be a daughter to my dad again, taking away the stress of caring for him. It completely changed our experience, and I know his final days would have been very different if he had remained at home or in hospital.

Before his diagnosis, Ernie worked as a self-employed IT Technician, and was well-known throughout the local community.

READ NEXT: Coleraine Future Town Fund: 20m 10-Year Vision and Regeneration Plan Approved by UK Government

My dad was always a big strong man, but he became so frail before he died, explained Amy.

However, he took everything in his stride and fought through it.

She continued: He was very settled and comfortable at Foyle Hospice. The staff were always so friendly and amazing. Unfortunately, my daddy couldnt eat and I remember the chef telling him how they could take special requests and make him anything he wanted. Daddy really enjoyed the vanilla milkshakes!

My daddy had spent a long time in hospital and hadnt been outside for quite a while. One day, he asked the nurses if he could get some fresh air. Although he was bed bound, they didnt hesitate - they opened the patio doors and wheeled his bed outside. He was able to enjoy the beautiful views and watch the horses in the field nearby. Its a moment that will always stay with me.

However, the care was not only offered to my dad but extended to us as a family  the nurses were always helpful and lovely, even asking myself and my mum if we had eaten and would offer us tea and coffee. We felt like we were being supported just as much as my dad. It was very special and I will never forget that.

Amy explained that her family were offered access to an apartment at Foyle Hospice, enabling them to remain close to her father and avoid the stress of daily travel.

She continued: The apartment was exactly what we needed. It had its own shower and kitchen, and it made everything more manageable for us. We used it during the day and were able to be with my dad in his room at night, allowing us to spend precious time together."

Following Ernie's death, on August 2 2024, Amy began to receive adult bereavement counselling, which is one of many services offered at Foyle Hospice, after the death of a loved one.

She explained: The counselling has really helped me. I didnt cry for months after my dad died, but Ive learned that its okay to feel and express those emotions. Its reassuring to know Im not alone, and having someone to talk to has made a big difference.

Amy continued: I would just like to thank everyone at Foyle Hospice who cared for my father and supported my family. I have experienced first-hand what it is like and I would recommend it to anyone  the care is fantastic. We are so grateful to everyone involved and I know that my dads last days would have been so different without the care of the amazing Foyle Hospice.
The leader of the Greens in Northern Ireland has travelled to Scotland to join campaigning for the Holyrood election.

With less than four weeks to go until voters go to the polls, Mal OHara teamed up with Ross Greer, co-leader of the Scottish Greens.

Mr OHara said he was delighted to join Scottish Green activities across Edinburgh and Glasgow over the weekend.

The politician, who travelled to Scotland with a number of Green councillors from Northern Ireland, added: Across the UK, Green parties are surging. Record polling and record memberships because we are offering a clear message of hope which is clearly resonating with people.

Whether in Belfast, Dublin, Cardiff, London, Edinburgh or Glasgow  only the Greens represent that ambitious vision and our interconnected relationships on these islands.

He added that while the Scottish Greens and Northern Irish Greens are distinct parties, the organisations are united by shared values and priorities  including lowering bills, facing down the far-right, fighting the climate crisis and ending inequality.

Mr Greer said it was great to have Mal and his team join us in Scotland this weekend.

He added: I am proud to be part of a movement that is growing across these islands and beyond.

Mals leadership has been crucial to growing the Green Party in Northern Ireland. We are keen to learn from that and work with him to deliver record Green results across our nations.

Im looking forward to campaigning with Mal and to returning the favour next year by heading to Northern Ireland to help them to secure a record result in the next Stormont elections.
State-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cables (BSCPLC) has warned that internet services will experience slowdowns or disruptions from now until Monday due to repairs being carried out on the SEA-ME-WE-5 subsea cable.

In a statement released on Wednesday, BSCPLC said that the SEA-ME-WE-5 consortium would conduct fault repair maintenance on the cables S1.5.1 shunt from Thursday evening (April 9) local time to the morning of April 13.

During that time, the repair work will impact circuits routed between Singapore and SEA-ME-WE 5s landing station in Kuakata, which may result in slower internet speeds or partial service interruptions, BSCPLC said.

BSCPLC added that service on Bangladeshs other international subsea cable route, SEA-ME-WE-4, will continue as normal.

However, SEA-ME-WE-4 provides only a third of Bangladeshs international subsea cable capacity at around 800 Gbps, compared to roughly 1.7 Tbps on SEA-ME-WE 5. A break on the same route in 2024 heavily impacted internet services in the country, highlighting the need for Bangladesh to install more international capacity.

BSCPLC  which is a stakeholder in both subsea cables  is also a member of the SEA-ME-WE 6 cable consortium, but that systems ready-for-service date has been pushed back to 2027.

The Bangladesh Private Cable System (BPCS) consortium announced plans in September 2024 to construct a privately-owned 1,300-km subsea cable connecting Coxs Bazar to the Campana-owned UMO subsea cable that runs from Myanmar to Singapore, giving the country another 45 Tbps of capacity.

In December last year, BPCS contracted Nokia to supply submarine line terminal equipment for the project, which is tentatively slated to be ready for service in the second half of this year.
Operator Telecom Namibia and regulator the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) have officially entered into a strategic partnership.

Described as a milestone event, the partnership marks the commencement of Phase 2 of the Universal Service Fund (USF) project, a critical initiative designed to bridge the digital divide in Namibias underserved rural areas.

The agreement followed a successful bidding process in which Telecom Namibia was awarded a subsidy of N$9,796,650 (just under US$600,000). These funds are dedicated to the deployment of vital telecommunications infrastructure across key sites, ensuring that remote communities gain access to reliable and high-quality communication services.

Under the terms of the signed agreement, Telecom Namibia will facilitate the construction of new radio access network (RAN) sites, engineered to significantly improve mobile broadband and voice services.

A central component of this partnership is a commitment to provide free connectivity to all educational and health facilities within the coverage of these RAN sites for a period of seven years, directly supporting socioeconomic development. The infrastructure deployment will target underserved areas in at least eight regions.

Mrs Emilia Nghikembua, CEO of CRAN, says: The Universal Service Fund is a cornerstone of our strategy to ensure inclusive communication services. Through a transparent and rigorous selection process, we have partnered with Telecom Namibia to accelerate our 20242027 digital infrastructure goals. We are confident that this phase will have a lasting, positive impact on the lives of those in the most remote regions of our country.
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Returning to the stunning grounds of Bellurgan Park, just outside Dundalk, on 3rd and 4th July 2026, Aurfest has quickly established itself as one of Irelands most exciting intimate boutique festivals, small in scale, big on atmosphere, and firmly rooted in Irish talent.

Now in its second year, Aurfest is a collision of music, comedy, storytelling and a healthy dose of the unexpected.

Created by a group of Dundalk-based musicians, comedians and event professionals, its a passionate, homegrown project with a clear focus, championing original Irish artists across genres.

Set within the lush surroundings of Bellurgan Park, Aurfest offers a refreshing alternative to large-scale festivals.

READ NEXT: Rising Dundalk artist Joshua King headlines free Spirit Store gig

No endless queues, no overwhelming crowds, just great acts, a beautiful setting and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere.

Aurfest leans into the joy of discovery, unexpected performances, genre-hopping line-ups and moments you wont find anywhere else.

Its as much about stumbling across something brilliant as it is about whos on the bill.

This years programme brings together a mix of emerging and established Irish acts, including one of the most talked-about live performers in the country right now.

One of the headline acts, SexyTadhg, arrives at Aurfest following a huge year of sold-out shows and major festival appearances.

From headlining dates at The Academy in Dublin to supporting The Mary Wallopers across the UK, including The O2 Brixton Academy and The O2 Apollo Manchester, SexyTadhg has built a reputation for electrifying, larger-than-life performances that translate just as powerfully to an intimate setting like Aurfest.

Theyre joined by a strong roster of Irish acts including RiaRua, Jobseekerz, The Twisted Sisters, Eugene OHanlon Band, Messy Avocado, Arco Arena and Formorian.

On the comedy side, audiences can expect sharp, standout sets from Shinanne Higgins, Breda Hegarty, Aideen McQueen and Joe Dowling, with more acts still to be announced.

New for 2026 is a dedicated Open Mic & Seanchai space, curated by Aine Duffy, bringing spoken word, storytelling and experimental performance into the mix, alongside her own brilliantly eccentric musical project, Duff Box.

Its a natural extension of what Aurfest does best, creating space for creativity that doesnt quite fit in a box.

Alongside the stages, festival-goers can expect camping under the stars, local food vendors, craft stalls, art installations and workshops, creating a weekend that feels immersive without ever being overwhelming.

At its core, Aurfest is about community, between artists, audiences and a crowd thats open, curious and up for the craic.

Theres a strong emphasis on inclusivity across gender and genres, and a genuine sense that everyone is welcome, whether on stage or in the field.

Co-founder Sonya Larrigan said: Coming into year two, we really wanted to build on what made Aurfest special in the first place, keeping it intimate, keeping it fun, and putting Irish artists front and centre.

Theres an incredible energy when you bring this kind of talent together in a setting like Bellurgan Park.

Its relaxed, its a bit unexpected, and its all about giving people a great weekend.

Whether you're there for the music, the comedy, or just a weekend that doesnt take itself too seriously, Aurfest delivers something genuinely different.

For tickets and information: www.aurfest.ie
Traffic disruption on the M1 in Dundalk continues this morning with Junction 18 southbound obstructed as the national fuel protests have entered their fourth day.

Social media posts circulating last night again called for protesters to meet at 5:00 AM this morning at Junction 20, with a plan to travel southbound along the M1 and temporarily block Junction 18, while a second slow-moving convoy was expected to continue southbound on the M1.

Fuel supplies at some forecourts around the country are under threat of running dry as a days-long blockade of major supply depots continues.

A spokesman for the protesters said some participants may attend a meeting with the Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for national representative bodies, with a coalition spokesman saying who the official groups bring is a matter for them.

However, as of Friday morning it is understood there are no protesters on the list of attendees put forward by the representative bodies.

Speaking on RTE radio on Friday morning, Ger Hyland, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, offered to act as an honest broker between protesters and government.

He said he had been in contact with the protesters through intermediaries and is available to meet some of the protesters before the meeting and bring their concerns with us into government.

Their widespread action enters a fourth day on Friday with demonstrators facing a reaction from An Garda Siochana, which said it was entering an enforcement phase of its response  accompanied by support from the military.

Social media footage late on Thursday showed gardai warning protesters they could be arrested if they did not peacefully disperse from an area near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

Gardai posted on social media on Friday morning and said critical deliveries left the port overnight after positive and constructive engagement with local protesters during the fuel demonstrations.

The Governments intolerance of the action escalated on Thursday, with Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan and Defence Minister Helen McEntee stating that the Defence Forces remain on standby to assist the police in clearing heavy vehicles from the blockades.

Protesters have restricted access to a major oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick.

It has raised concern over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.

A leading industry representative warned that the number of forecourts running dry would get much, much worse from Thursday evenings position of affected service stations being in the low double digits.

Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said panic buying has absolutely taken hold and warned that real significant life-death problems are going to be caused with fuel supplies to emergency service vehicles under threat.

Irelands emergency planning group echoed the comments with serious concern, saying there may be an impacts on availability for some vital services, supply chains and public transport.

Read Next: Gardai investigate criminal damage incident at Dundalk train station

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) said Irelands overall fuel supplies remain robust and resilient but said the obstruction of key routes from ports is threatening the provision of animal feed supplies, fertiliser and other vital materials, resulting in potential animal welfare issues and a threat to livelihoods in the agriculture sector.

Irelands Health Service Executive (HSE) said the disruption is causing people to miss medical appointments and is impacting the provision of home care and critical care, such as dialysis and cancer treatment.

The HSE also warned that the blockades could disrupt the time-sensitive delivery of key medicines and medical devices.
Blackrock Tidy Towns and Louth County Council will host a Public Information Night in advance of Blackrocks participation in this years Entente Florale Europe competition.

The event will take place in Blackrock Community Centre on Thursday, 16 April at 7.30pm and is open to all members of the community.

Entente Florale Europe is an international competition for towns and villages across Europe that promotes environmental quality, sustainability and community involvement, recognising the positive role that green spaces and local initiatives play in improving quality of life. Blackrock, along with Riverstown, Co Sligo, will represent Ireland when adjudicators visit in July.

The Public Information Night will provide an overview of Blackrocks entry and the competition process, including the criteria used by adjudicators, the proposed judging route, and examples of previous successful entries.

An update will also be provided on the preparations currently underway, along with guidance on how community groups, residents, and local businesses can support and participate in the lead-up to the adjudicators visit. There will also be an opportunity on the night for questions and public input.

Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, Cllr Robert Nash, said community engagement will be central to the villages participation.

Work is ongoing to prepare Blackrock for its Entente Florale Europe entry, and community participation is a key element of that process. This information night is an opportunity for people of Blackrock and further afield to learn more about the competition, to ask questions, and to understand how they can contribute over the weeks and months ahead.

John Horan of Blackrock Tidy Towns said the competition provides a positive focus for the village.

Entente Florale Europe offers Blackrock an opportunity to build on the work already being done locally while encouraging wider community involvement. The information evening will outline how individuals, groups and businesses can support the villages entry, and we would encourage people to attend and engage with the process.

Bill Kearney, Secretary General of Entente Florale Europe, who will attend the Public Information Night, welcomed Blackrocks participation in the event.

Entente Florale Europe recognises the role that communities play in enhancing their local environment and quality of life. Blackrocks involvement reflects a strong commitment to these values, and the competition provides a valuable opportunity to share local initiatives and achievements at a European level.

Joanna Kelly, Acting Director of Services with Louth County Council, added: We are delighted with the progress that has been made to date, and the support and advice from the Entente Florale mentoring panel has proved to be invaluable. This event will provide an update on that work and outline the next stages of preparation. Louth County Council looks forward to working closely with the community as Blackrock prepares for the adjudicators visit.

Members of the public with an interest in Blackrocks Entente Florale Europe entry are encouraged to attend the Public Information Night and find out more about how they can support the villages participation.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Dr. Douglas Miller, Dr. Larry Watson, Dr. George Hicks, and Dr. Willie Legette. Not pictured: Dr. Walter McArthur

The designation recognizes a distinguished career and relationship with the university.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- South Carolina State University recently honored five educators who have made significant contributions to the institution and their field of study with a professor emeritus recognition ceremony.

Each honoree was granted the title of professor emeritus, a designation recognizing a distinguished career and relationship with the university.

South Carolina State University recognizes the achievement of its emeritus faculty for their many years of commitment to teaching, research and service to this academy, said Dr. M. Evelyn Fields, dean of the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.

This is indeed an occasion for a celebration, a celebration of excellence as we honor and pay tribute to our retired and retiring faculty. Our honorees have collectively dedicated 110 years to South Carolina State University, and they were not just counting time, Fields said.

Five honorees recognized at ceremony

The following honorees were awarded plaques with their designated titles during a ceremony held in the universitys State Room on April 2:

Dr. Douglas Miller , Distinguished Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychology.

Dr. Larry Watson , Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History.

Dr. George Hicks , Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Elementary Education.

Dr. Willie Legette , Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science.

Dr. Walter McArthur, Distinguished Associate Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology.



Honoring Dr. Walter McArthur

While McArthur was unable to attend the recognition ceremony, Dr. George Johnson, chairman of the Department of Teacher Education, lauded his achievements as a professor and mentor.

Dr. McArthur devoted 33 years of distinguished service to this institution from 1977 to 2010 as a professor of educational psychology. Over those three decades, he did far more than just teach courses. He helped shape minds and guide futures and strengthen the very foundation of educator preparation, Johnson said.

When we reflect on Dr. McArthurs legacy, we dont just think of years, you think of presence, you think of consistency, dedication and an unmistakable smile. Today, we recognize not just a career, but a life of meaningful contribution, a life that has touched students, strengthened programs and enriched this institution, he said.

McArthur also served on numerous committees during his time at SC State.

He was a steady voice, a trusted presence and a colleague you could rely on," Johnson said.

Dr. George Johnson, Dr. George Hicks and Dr. Frederick Evans Honoring Dr. George Hicks

Johnson described Hicks as a person who reflected not only excellence in education but a deep and enduring commitment to humanity.

Dr. Hicks journey in education spans decades of impactful service. Beginning as a classroom teacher, rising through the ranks as an assistant principal and principal and ultimately shaping generations of educators here at South Carolina State University as a respected professor, mentor and leader, Johnson said of Hicks, who earned his Doctor of Education degree in educational administration from SC State.

He understands that education is not just about content, it is about connection. Its about seeing students not just as learners, but as individuals with purpose, potential and promise. What truly sets him apart is how far hes willing to go for his students.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Hicks has taught and mentored countless undergraduate and graduate students, served on dissertation committees, led program development and contributed to accreditation efforts that strengthened this institution, Johnson said.

He said Hicks had also been recognized as Teacher of the Year and had served in leadership roles across the university and broader educational community.

Beyond the university, he is a man of faith, a pastor, a musician, a mentor and a pillar in the community, Johnson said.

Hicks said he was grateful for the honor.

One never knows where the road of life will lead one. I am grateful to God for allowing me to get to this point in my life. Paine College picked me up and dusted me off, but State College finished polishing me, he said.

It has afforded me 25 years of service here at South Carolina State University. I came here in 2001 as a young, budding professor. Currently, I am under the leadership of Dr. George Johnson, chair of our Department of Education. We started out as professors together, Hicks said, thanking Johnson for his leadership.

Im grateful to be at this juncture in my life. I also want to thank the faculty who serve in the Department of Education, as well as the staff members who are here, he said.

Dr. M. Evelyn Fields, Dr. Willie Legette and Dr. Frederick Evans Honoring Dr. Willie Legette

Fields said Legette taught political science at the university for more than 20 years before his retirement at the rank of full professor.

Despite a zeal for teaching and his commitment to his students, he equally put an accent on research. He

won an award for his research project, Understanding the Effects of Citizen Participation and Community Development in Rural and Urban Cities, from the federal government, Fields said.

His contribution to South Carolina State was not limited to the classroom. He served as vice president of the Faculty Senate. His contribution was also felt at the level of the college, where he was a force for change. Noteworthy also was his participation on several search committees, which allowed recruitment of faculty members who continue to serve this university today, she said.

Fields said Legette made a lasting impact on the university.

Legette said, This is a surprise to me actually. I spent a lot of years at South Carolina State, a lot of good years, a lot of years that Ive grown. I think Ive learned a lot, I think I made a contribution.

I hear from students quite often, thanking me and showing their appreciation, he said. for not only his contribution to their lives, but South Carolina State University as a whole.

I appreciate my experience at State, and I honor this very much, Legette said.

Dr. Benedict Jua, Dr. Douglas Miller and Dr. Frederick Evans Honoring Dr. Douglas Miller

Dr. Benedict Jua, chairman of the Department of Social Sciences, said Miller served the university for 30 years, making his own impact on the university.

During his time, he served as interim chair of the Department of Psychology and Sociology and as coordinator of the Psychology Program.

Though retired, he continues to serve in his latter role and as an adjunct professor in the program and its coordinator on a pro bono basis, Jua said.

I cannot overemphasize his role in this program, the second largest program in the university, which continues to grow in leaps and bounds, he said.

Jua said Miller was dedicated to making sure students succeeded.

Since teaching is viewed, of course, in and outside of the classroom, it explains the similar dedication with which he serves his students as an advisor and a mentor. Over the course of his stay in this institution, he has advised more than 900 students, he said.

Miller said, I think my greatest honor is I have lived long enough that I have two faculty members at this university who were my students.

Those are my greatest accomplishments, to know that somebody remembers something, somebody appreciated me, and they still remember that all these years later, he said.

Dr. Benedict Jua, Dr. Douglas Miller and Dr. Frederick Evans Honoring Dr. Larry Watson

Fields said Watson continues to serve as an adjunct professor even after he retired from serving as a history professor, a position he first took at the university in 2008.

He has served as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees from

August 2011 to August 2013 and president of the Greater Columbia Chapter of the South Carolina State National Alumni Association, Fields said.

There is no greater understanding of African American history and critical contributions that people of color have made to this state and this nation. His expertise is widely acknowledged, she said, referencing Watsons service on the boards of the S.C. African American Heritage Foundation and the Mary M. Bethune Museum and Learning Center.

In recognition of his value, the state of South Carolina invited him to serve as a social studies education consultant in the Department of Education, and the Charleston County Schools named him the lead historian for the Palmetto Project, Fields said.

Watson said he was thankful for the honor of being recognized as a professor emeritus.

The word emeritus is a Latin term that means to complete ones service. As it relates to professor emeritus, its an honor given by and with the consent of that professors colleagues that symbolizes their appreciation of his or her body of work for the academy, he said.

The recipient of this prestigious honor may retire from full-time day-to-day operations such as teaching and advising but still a maintain reasonable closeness, proximity to the university. This is quite an honor, Watson said.

It is with gratitude and humility that I accept this honor, he said, pledging to continue to serve the university and its constituency to the best of his ability.

University officials tout the excellence of emeriti

Dr. Frederick Evans, university provost and vice president for academic affairs said, Each of you has contributed not only through the courses you have taught for many students here, but through countless hours spent advising students, strengthening programs, supporting accreditation efforts and upholding the academic standards that define our university.

Evans also read from a prepared statement from SC State President Alexander Conyers, who had a scheduling conflict and could not attend the ceremony.

The designation of professor emeritus is reserved for individuals whose careers reflect sustained excellence in teaching, contributions to research, creative activity and unwavering commitment to the advancement to our institution, to the institutional mission, Conyers said.

Our emeriti have shaped academic programs, strengthened disciplines, guided institutional progress and, most importantly, transformed lives. Their influence extends far beyond the classrooms and offices; it actually lives on in the accomplishments of our alumni, the strength of our academic programs and the reputation of our university, the president said.

I extend my deepest gratitude to each honoree for your service, your scholarship and your enduring commitment to South Carolina State University. Though you may have concluded your formal responsibilities, you remain an integral part in the fabric and the future of this institution, Conyers said.
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.
A new national survey has revealed demand for multi-denominational education in Louth.

The report shows that 36.2% of families in Louth would prefer a multi-denominational education while 63.8% of Louth parents of children in denominational primary schools that expressed a preference for their schools ethos to remain.

Educate Together has this week welcomed the announcement of the results of the recent national survey on school type preference, as announced by the Minister for Education and Youth on Tuesday April 7th.

According to the results, 40% of parents in religious-run schools nationally would prefer a multi-denominational primary school. These numbers contrast starkly with current school provision, whereby 95.1% of primary schools nationally remain under denominational control.

There are currently three Educate Together primary schools in Louth, along with a single community national school. This means that of the sixty nine primary schools in the county, four have a multi-denominational ethos.

Le Cheile ETNS was founded in 2001 and Aston Village ETNS and Ardee ETNS have since opened.

Educate Together claim that parents in many parts of Louth have no choice other than to send their children to a denominational primary school.

Educate Together say their national office hopes to work with more Louth-based families in the future, to expand access to equality-based education around the county.

Edward Platt, Schools Development Officer for Educate Together stated:

These national results are very encouraging for the future of school choice in County Louth. At Educate Together we regularly engage with families and local communities who are frustrated by the lack of multi-denominational / equality-based school places available to them. Now that The Department of Education has provided statistically valid data to show that over 36% of parents in Louth want their child to have access to a multi-denominational school, we need to see action taken to make this a reality.

Educate Together says it has seen demand for its schools increase rapidly, and the organisation has opened 60 schools in the last 15 years in response to parental demand. The first Catholic school in Ireland to transfer patronage in 2024 was Paradise Place Educate Together National School in Dublin.

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The governments current Framework and Action Plan for Delivery of Increased Choice for Parents on Education Provision at Primary Level outlines a three-step process for change:

Department identifies schools where there is strong demand for change through the Primary School survey. Department facilitator supports a process of dialogue in schools identified (from Q2 2026). Schools select a new patron and change patronage (from September 2027).

Educate Together is urging the government to announce school level data for Louth soon, and to provide adequate resourcing and investment to support the next steps of the process.

Mr Platt continued: The next step of the Department of Educations action plan is for schools to receive an individualised report on the survey results specific to their school community. Educate Together looks forward to engaging with schools following this next stage of the process and exploring potential patronage transfer where demand exists.
Irelands Defence Forces have been put on standby to assist with clearing blockades outside some of the countrys major fuel depots.

With the nationwide fuel protests entering a fourth day on Friday, here is an explanation of some of the key points.

 What is the reason for the protests?

The cost of petrol, diesel, and marked gas oil (green diesel) has soared as a result of the war in the Middle East and impacts on supplies out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Currently, filling stations are selling petrol for around 193.9 cent while diesel is available for around 218.9 cent.

Protesters say the Government needs to take action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

 Who is behind them?

Several distinct but co-ordinated protests manifested on Tuesday and have largely been organised through social media channels and messaging apps.

One Facebook page with almost 60,000 followers states that it is made up of professional drivers, farmers, and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

It has been difficult to single out specific organisers for the nationwide effort.

In Dublin for example, participants have been reluctant to identify an organiser but several spokespeople have emerged  often under the proviso that they have little influence over the actions of their fellow demonstrators in the capital or other locations.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan claimed on Thursday that protesters are being manipulated by outside actors who want to advance their own political measures or really want to damage our country.

Representative bodies recognised by the Government including the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association are not officially involved in the protest.

 What do they want?

The haulage operators and professional drivers want reductions in the cost of fuel, with differing solutions offered.

Some have called for the price to come down through cuts of excise or measures like reductions on carbon tax or VAT.

Others want a cap on fuel prices (with different rates quoted across protest sites) while the war in the Middle East is impacting supplies.

Protesters have also sought commitments from senior Government figures that they will meet representatives to hear their concerns, often as a prerequisite for any dispersal of a blockade.

 What areas have been impacted?

The protests have seen widespread disruption on Irelands major motorways as participants engaged in slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages across the initial three days of action.

Dublins city centre was also brought to a standstill on multiple occasions as tractors blocked the busiest routes around the capitals main thoroughfare OConnell Street.

Others blocked the countrys only oil refinery at Whitegate, Co Cork as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes in Co Limerick  with the three sites responsible for providing fuel to roughly half the country, according to an industry expert.

Protests have been organised at other sites, including near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

There have been manifold effects of the combined actions including some filling stations running out of petrol and diesel, concerns over the availability of fuel to emergency-service vehicles, and members of the public missing scheduled medical appointments.

Concerns have also been raised about time-sensitive delivery of key medicines as well as the availability of water-treatment chemicals and the vital farm supplies such as animal feed.

Traffic disruption on Dublins M50 ring road, which feeds access to the countrys largest airport, also saw some passengers walking in the hard shoulder with their luggage.

 What has been the response from the Irish Government?

The Government said it is aware of the cost-of-living pressures arising out of the war in the Middle East and senior ministers have said the concerns of protesters have been heard.

Two-and-a-half-weeks ago, it signed off on a 250 million euro package of measures to reduce fuel 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 17 cent for petrol, 22 cent for diesel, and five cent for green diesel  but the savings were largely eroded as the war waged on.

Senior figures have appealed for protesters to call off their action, stating that their concerns have been heard and that the protest had now gone too far by causing damage to the wider public.

The Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, has been monitoring the protest action across the country and officers were present at blockades.

On Thursday, the force said it would enter an enforcement phase of its response to the disruption, after Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Whitegate blockade was an act of national sabotage.

The Defence Forces are on standby to assist with the removal of heavy vehicles engaging in blockades of critical infrastructure.

Government leaders and relevant ministers had not accepted requests to meet with protesters by Thursday evening, instead stating that the best approach was to engage with recognised representative bodies.

Mr OCallaghan expressed concern over the message it would send that anyone who blockades critical infrastructure could expect a meeting with Government.

 What is likely to happen next?

Organising groups have vowed to continue the protest on Friday and  if not carrying through the weekend  stated they intend to return to action when Irelands parliament, the Dail, returns to session on Tuesday.

An industry expert has warned that the number of filling stations running dry is going to increase if longer blockades of the major fuel suppliers continue.

With the knock-on impacts that entails, pressure will increase on Government and State authorities to respond.

Ministers and An Garda Siochana have urged protesters to end the blockades or face the full rigours of the law 

Participants have said they will not move until their concerns are heard by Government  or they are forced away  with gardai instructing demonstrators to disperse from a protest near Rosslare Europort late on Thursday.

Representative organisations are due to have a meeting with Government on Friday  with the possibility of protesters also attending if they are brought by official groups.
During the March war against Iran, an Israeli American F-35 aircraft shot down a Russian-built Yak-130 Iranian trainer aircraft. This was the first time an F-35 downed an enemy aircraft. The F-35 is a fifth-generation multi-role fighter developed by the American company Lockheed Martin.

The F-35 carries numerous weapons, including AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, as well as Storm Shadow and AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles. It can also deploy JDAM precision-guided bombs weighing up to 910 kg, WCMD cluster munitions, AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons, and Brimstone anti-tank missiles. Earlier, a Kuwaiti fighter accidentally shot down three US F-15 aircraft during military operations. All three American jets crashed, but their pilots ejected safely.

The Yak-130 had an interesting history. Twenty years ago, Russia decided to standardize on the Yak-130 jet trainer and bought over 200 of them. This aircraft first flew ten years ago, but the Russian air force could not afford to buy it back then. When money became available in the last few years, a further complication arose. Another Russian manufacturer had a trainer, the MiG-AT. Political influence was deployed, and it wasn't until this year that the air force generals were able to obtain permission to proceed with the Yak-130 purchase.

This aircraft is capable of performing many of the tricky maneuvers of Russias top fighters like the Su-27, MiG-29 and many modern Western fighters. The Yak-130 can also perform as a light bomber. The nine-ton aircraft has a maximum speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour and a flight life of 10,000 hours. The two pilots sit one behind the other, and two engines make it a safer aircraft to fly. The Yak-130 can carry an external load of three tons of bombs, missiles or fuel tanks. Max range, on internal fuel, is 2,200 kilometers. Russia is selling the aircraft to foreign customers for about $15 million. The Yak-130 replaces the 1960s-era L-29 and the 1970s upgrade, the L-39. The Russian air force received its first Yak-130s this year.

The Yak-130 is the most capable combat trainer in service, and its ability to operate as a light attack jet is a major bonus for many potential buyers. Irkut, the Russian manufacturer, is also pushing plans to use the Yak-130 as the basis for a combat drone. The Yak-130 already has some variants in development. There is the single-seat fighter version, Yak-131, plus a reconnaissance variant and even a four-seat VIP transport.

Russia is making a major sales push for the Yak-130. Sixteen were sold to Algeria earlier, and Indonesia has shown interest. For countries like Algeria and Indonesia, the ability to use the Yak-130 for combat missions and lower operating costs than regular combat aircraft is a major draw.

The Yak-130 was developed in cooperation with Italian firm Aermacchi, which went on to develop its own version and sell it as the M-346. But the Italian version was more expensive due to higher production costs.
A short film about a mother and daughter affected by dementia has been produced entirely in Cork - by a Cork crew and Cork actors.

Called Remember Her, it is further proof that film and television in the Rebel County is booming.

The short film was written and directed by Colm Moloney, from Ballincollig, who used inspiration from his own life to fuel the powerful script.

Colm wanted the film to highlight the role of nurses when dealing with patients with dementia, and the care they give - not just to patients but to loved ones, too.

This genuine dedication to care proved true during production, when Cork hospices showed up to help.

Moloney wanted to ensure that the hospice setting in his film was realistic, to truly highlight the emotions involved during a family members care.

Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and Bon Secours Care Village were kind enough to allow us to film in their spaces, and we were all blown away by how welcoming both hospices were.

When I spoke to our director Moloney about this aspect, he said: It was amazing, when we arrived at the Westgate Foundation to begin filming, the nuns there had made food and baked goods for us. There were teas and coffees we hadnt asked for any of this.

As someone who had an acting role in the film, I felt exactly the same way.

For the entirety of our shoot, the staff were so kind and accommodating, and genuinely excited about our film. It helped to make a very vulnerable filming process truly comfortable.

Having these locations was imperative to telling this story, so the openness and generosity of the hospice staff were really important.

The plot for Remember Her is one that many Irish families will recognise from their own lives.

Despite Moloney drawing inspiration from his own experiences, he didnt want this to be about him. Instead, it is a reflection of something that most people will experience at some point in their lives.

The short film is not just about dementia, but about grief and family, about acceptance and love.

The heart of this story is the familial relationships at play, and the love these characters have for one another.

Anna Kitty OConnor says working on the film opened her eyes to how anything can be achieved

Most of the action takes place in a hospice, following a daughter who must come to terms with her mothers dementia, and the confusion surrounding their interactions.

I play the daughter, a role that required lots of tears over our two-day shooting period.

I was in the middle of my drama school training at the time, and was excited to find such a wonderful script to explore, one that was full of depth and challenge.

A key decision my character must make proves to be a pivotal turning point in her relationship with her mother and her illness, giving way to a gorgeous image of the two of us together - a feat the crew achieved by hanging a large mirror over the hospice bed.

This type of ingenuity is of extreme importance in indie or low-budget filmmaking. Without the money for a crane or other apparatus to place the camera above us, our crew got creative, shooting up into the reflection of the mirror and inverting it instead.

This was the case across the entire shoot. I am unable to drive but Kar Winters, our Director of Photography, used some clever camera tricks to make it look like I was in fact behind the wheel for a shot taking place on a night-time drive.

This approach feeds into a creative and original film, full of heart and passion.

The entire cast and crew on Remember Her worked so well together that we became like a little family, even with our limited filming time.

I had previously worked with Colm, Kar, and our producer Cian Clesham, which really helped the process.

Acting for such an emotional role meant that I was constantly holding that sadness on set, and the crew were so wonderful in accommodating and working around this, knowing when to help me shake it or when to let me sit with it.

I love to use music, building a specific play-list for the character I am playing and listening to it religiously during preparation and filming.

Everyone on set supported me so much, even if I was doing strange actor things like lying on the floor with my headphones in to ground myself.

This type of community is part of what makes making a film so wonderful. You all work together to tell a story and, in this case, a story that was truly important to us.

Linda OFlaherty and Pamela Kiely, the other actors, were incredible and generous scene partners, too.

The response to the film has thus far been positive, with many people who have experienced dementia in their families complimenting it, and reaching out to share their stories.

We have also heard from carers of dementia patients, and screened the film at various festivals.

Knowing that you have touched someone with your work, in any shape or form, is extremely meaningful - especially in a world with fears around AI in the arts.

The process was, for me, a reminder of the importance of human stories, and of shared connection.

Colm Moloney and the crew are already working on their next scripts, and I am sure that we will all work together again.

Working on Remember Her really opened my eyes to how anything can be achieved with a little support.

We hope to further share this film with Cork by screening it at The Peoples Picturehouse - a wonderful venue which supports Cork filmmakers.

Remember Her is available to watch on YouTube now.
Ben McCarthy was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at birth, and his parents were told hed most likely not live past the age of 21.

Im 27 now, so I suppose you could say Im living on borrowed time! said the Youghal man, pointing out the self-deprecation in case its missed.

CF is an inherited condition that has no cure, and that affects multiple systems, including breathing, digestion and reproduction. Ireland has the highest rate of it per capita in the world, with more than 1,400 people here living with CF, and 33 new cases diagnosed each year.

Ben is sharing his experience of living with the condition to highlight the annual fundraiser for CF Ireland, 65 Roses Day, on Friday, April 10. The name stems from how young children often pronounce cystic fibrosis, and its objective is to raise vital funds for CF services and supports throughout the country.

Ive been faced with my mortality from a very young age, and in some ways, yes, it was like a ticking time bomb, but you get numb to it after a while  I dont know what its like to live without it, said Ben.

Ben and Liam on their fundraising walk in Croatia

Hes had a lifetime of medications and restrictions, including regular hospital stays as a child, and now regular hospital appointments, restrictions to how he can work and more, but he says he doesnt let the condition define him.

I take upwards of 10 tablets every morning and again in the evening and I have CF-related diabetes so I need two types of insulin and also a nebuliser. But to look at me Im like any other guy, so Im lucky in that regard.

Yes, CF is always there, but Ive not known any different. Ive a good quality of life, Im living well with it and it hasnt held me back. Of course Im only human and sometimes it does get me down, but generally Im optimistic.

His dad Liam, also his carer, and chair of the Southern branch of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, said Bens late teens were difficult as he approached his deadline in life, but he said his son has a good outlook on life and is keen to do things lots of people might only consider when theyre retired.

Ben said: I never put things on the back burner  sometimes to my detriment! If I get an idea I go the whole hog and jump straight in. If I want to do something I do it now  the reality is that I might not be around next year.

That can do attitude saw the father and son, who enjoy a deep friendship, embark on a trip to China last year and a CFI fundraising walk in Croatia.

Treatments have advanced considerably since Bens diagnosis, and hes benefited from drugs such as Orkambi.

Liam and Ben McCarthy are calling for support for 65 Roses Day 2026.

Thanks to multidisciplinary care and the introduction of such therapies, many people with CF are living well into adulthood. However, as people age, new challenges can emerge, including CF related diabetes, osteoporosis, and an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Another thing is that most of my teeth have cavities, Ive had three root canals and Ive a permanent crown because lots of my medication make my teeth very brittle, said Ben.

Currently, CFI is investing in research to better understand these emerging issues and also provide essential targeted financial assistance through a range of grants that help ease the cost of living with CF as it can influence every aspect of a persons life  from career choices to starting a family to securing a home.

Ben completed an engineering degree in Waterford  it took him seven years instead of the four due to his condition, and he now works part-time as a chauffeur. His medication regimen makes full-time employment difficult, which he describes as very frustrating. He lives with Liam and says CF would make getting a mortgage very challenging.

Liam added: Every service CFI provides whether its supporting families, funding hospital units, or advancing life-changing research - depends entirely on public generosity and support on 65 Roses Day directly impacts the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis across Ireland.

Ben is living his life to the full, but hes aware things can change quickly. He was hospitalised on his return from China last year with influenza.

You can be fine one week, and in hospital the next week. Things can happen fast.

His advice to a young person living with CF is to be actively involved in their care.

Get comfortable asking questions. Also, meet other people with CF, even through online communities. You can have the best support at home and from your care team, but the only person who will properly understand what youre going through is someone who has experienced it already.

Peer support is important to know youre not a single island in a storm.

Liam added: I would tell parents to take Dr Google with a pinch of salt. Also, I remember the advice I was given when Ben was younger was to take things one day at a time, to worry about him being sick when hes sick, rather than worrying constantly, and just to let him live his life.

Ben concluded: Im just someone who happens to have CF, but theres much more to me than the condition.

People in Cork are being urged to help CFI meet its fundraising target of 300,000 on 65 Roses Day this Friday, April 10. Volunteers across the country will be selling purple roses to support fundraising, in Dunnes Stores branches, shopping centres, and other participating outlets.

See: www.65roses.ie.
US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized a car and $20,000 in savings from a woman living in Los Angeles for five years and sent her back to Cork where she was wanted for the theft of two hams and cosmetics. On Thursday her court appearance came unstuck over chewing gum.

The case was to have been finalised on Thursday after she was arrested a fortnight ago on her arrival in Ireland after being deported from the US by ICE.

Ciocolata Munteanu pleaded guilty to the thefts on her March 25 appearance at Cork District Court. Sentencing was adjourned until Thursday for 380 compensation to be paid.

Judge Mary Dorgan put the matter back from the morning list to later in the afternoon as the 25yearold did not have the compensation with her.

When the case was eventually reached in the afternoon, solicitor Dennis Healy confirmed that she had a bank draft for the compensation.

In mitigation, he outlined that the thefts dated back to a time before her family left Cork to live in Los Angeles.

ICE came along and decided they were removing foreigners. They took her savings of $20,000, they took her car, they left her with $200, said Mr Healy.

At that point in the proceedings, Judge Mary Dorgan said the woman was smiling and chewing gum in court as her solicitor was speaking on her behalf. The judge said this was inappropriate.

In here we look for respect. She can come back on April 16, said Judge Dorgan.

Mr Healy applied for free legal aid.

Judge Dorgan said: She had a substantial amount of money in America.

Mr Healy said, She has nothing now  ICE took it.

The question of free legal aid was reserved as the case was adjourned for a week.

On March 25, Garda Pat Costello said at Cork District Court that he arrested Ciocolata Munteanu at Dublin Airport when she arrived on a deportation flight.

The circumstances are that she was deported back from America by American authorities and we were alerted to her arrival. She was deported from the US after five years, on a flight from L.A. (on March 24). Her whole family were there for the last six years, said Garda Costello.

There was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail on conditions. Those conditions include living at 50 Orchard Court, Blackpool, Cork, signing daily at Bridewell Garda Station, and not to leave the jurisdiction.

Back on November 27, 2018, she stole two hams valued at 80, and on January 24, 2019, she stole 264 worth of cosmetics at Boots, Blackpool. She pleaded guilty to those thefts at Cork District Court on Thursday.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said blocking people is not the way, after a fuel protester in a high-vis jacket confronted him on his way to a public event in Cork on Thursday.

Mr Martin was entering the newly refurbished Colaiste Iosagain in Baile Bhuirne when Gerard Murphy, a farmer and contractor from Bandon, attempted to block his way.

Mr Martin did not engage, but moved past Mr Murphy to enter the new co-working facility, at which point the protester accused the Taoiseach of walking away from the Irish people.

A garda detective then prevented Mr Murphy from entering the building.

Afterwards, Mr Murphy told The Echo he hadnt slept in three days.

Im a contractor, a farmer and a truck driver, were involved in everything, and all our businesses are on their knees, he said.

I dont want to be here today. I have fields to plough, I have cows to feed.

Were at wits end, you can hear it in my voice, we are at the point of breaking.

Speaking to media later, Mr Martin said that throughout his life as a politician, he routinely engaged with people under pressure every day, as did other representatives.

We always try to alleviate pressures, but blocking people is not the way to do it. Every citizen is entitled to move about freely in our country, the Taoiseach said.

What has happened over the last number of days is that that essential freedom to move has been hindered, has been denied, to many, many people.

We have had countless anecdotes now of other people out there who are under a lot of pressure because they cannot make medical appointments, sick people, (and) people who have been delayed going to work.

Mr Martin said the Government had been contacted by companies saying they were struggling as they could not import raw materials.

This morning, I was contacted by co-ops in West Cork saying they had run out of pig feed because of the blockade in Ringaskiddy. That is not normal protesting, he said.

It is not satisfactory; it is not on. There are better ways and other ways to do it.

The Taoiseach said blockades of ports, fuel depots, and of the Whitegate refinery should not happen as they were hurting ordinary people, and he called on protesters to engage with Government.

We believe in engagement, we believe in dialogue, he said.

There are avenues and pathways to resolve this, at least to engage on this in a sensible way. I cannot for the life of me understand why the ordinary people of the country would be denied access to fuel.

I think it is extraordinary that the war in the Middle East did not endanger our supplies to date and it is by the actions of the protesters that supplies have now been temporarily denied and endangered, Mr Martin said.

That makes no sense and is damaging the Irish people and the Irish economy.
Business competitiveness measures, the cost of living and housing are the top three budget priorities for Cork businesses, a survey by Cork Chamber has found.

Ahead of the pre-Budget 2027 period, Cork Chamber found that investment in infrastructure and connectivity was cited as the most important priority for investment in Irelands overall economic competitiveness.

About 95% of Cork businesses believe that additional government support is needed to ensure the delivery of key strategic projects underway in the Cork region.

In addition, rising operating costs were cited as among the top three emerging challenges for businesses over the next three to five years. Cork Chamber also pointed to geopolitical disruption and global trade uncertainty as key challenges emerging for Cork businesses in the wake of the war in Iran.

Commenting on the results, Cork Chamber president Rob Horgan said: The results of the survey for this quarter illustrate the importance of enhancing Irelands economic competitiveness to mitigate the impact of geopolitical disruption and global trade uncertainty.

From a domestic point of view, respondents emphasised the importance of investments in transport and connectivity to support economic competitiveness into the future.

Supports for SMEs and start-ups, as well as utilities cost supports, were also highlighted by Corks business community as key priority areas for Budget 2027.

Despite growing uncertainty and fears of rising geopolitical tensions, overall business confidence among respondents remained high at 92% in the last three months.

Noting this, Mr Horgan said: The resilience of Cork business is evident from the survey results. To sustain economic and population growth into the future, continued investment in key projects of strategic importance for the Cork region in Budget 2027 will be vital. Stephen McCarthy, Business Banking Manager at PTSB, which sponsors the survey, said: It is encouraging to see levels of business confidence among respondents remaining high. Confidence in the Irish economy as a whole was also high at 78%.

Although Corks business community reported an increase in concerns regarding the impact of geopolitical disruption and trade uncertainties, it is clear that they are in a strong position.
A middle-aged woman has died in a house fire in a southside suburb, Cork City Fire Brigade has confirmed.

Firefighters attended the blaze, at a house in Palmbury Orchard in Togher, for more than four hours this morning, and discovered the deceased woman in an upstairs bedroom.

Tadgh O'Mahony, third officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, confirmed the woman's death to The Echo.

He said the alarm had been raised by a neighbour who had been awoken by her smoke detector, and several units of the fire service responded, with 19 firefighters arriving at the scene at 6.15am.

"The seat of the fire was in one house, but it had spread to the houses immediately to the left and right when we arrived at the scene," Mr O'Mahony said.

"We brought the fire under control and unfortunately we discovered a female occupant in her late 50s to early 70s was in the bedroom and we confirmed that she was deceased.

"Gardai are currently still at the scene, which remains sealed off pending a garda investigation.

"On behalf of Cork City Fire Brigade, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the woman's loved ones," he said.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said no further information was available at this time.
Several Cork students have been recognised for their work as part of the MTU Kerry nursing and agricultural society (NAG), which was named best society in the charity & civic (small college) category at the Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) national society awards 2026.

Charlie Dunican (co-chairperson) from Kinsale, Emma Sheehan (co-chairperson) from Carrignavar, Patrick McGrath (co-public relations officer) from Whitechurch and Simon Jennings (co-treasurer) from Clonakilty were among the committee members of the MTU Kerry NAG society from Cork.

The award reflected on what was a successful year for the society and the continuous efforts of the committee.

The society raised 25,000 for their chosen charities Kerry Mental Health Association, Kerry Hospice Foundation and Recovery Haven Kerry.

In their acceptance speech, the NAG committee highlighted the importance of supporting local charities that provide vital services to communities.

Co-chairperson Ms Sheehan said: Everyone unfortunately knows someone who has been affected by the issues that these charities raise funds and awareness for.

Because of that, it is so important to us as a committee to support these organisations in continuing their incredible work.

Fellow co chairperson Mr Dunican also reflected back proudly on what was a memorable year for the society.

The level of engagement, growth in membership, and the support for our events and charities from both students and the wider Tralee community has gone beyond anything we expected.

As a final year committee, having the opportunity to give back to the university, support upcoming students and contribute to the wider community is something were very grateful for.

Were immensely proud of whats been achieved this year and hope to see the society continue to grow and succeed long into the future.
A man who admitted having sex in a public place in the middle of the afternoon claimed he did not realise what he was doing was against the law, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Bantry District Court that a woman and her daughter had driven to Bantry airstrip  a popular dog walking area  on the afternoon of June 10, 2025. They parked in the small parking area and the woman brought her dog for a walk along the pathway by the shore of Bantry Bay.

The womans daughter had stayed in the car in the car park when another vehicle, a black BMW parked alongside at about 2pm. The court heard after the BMW had parked, it began rocking from side to side and the occupants could be heard engaging in sexual activity inside the car.

When the woman returned with her dog, she saw what was happening and approached the BMW to complain to the occupants. The court was told the man  identified as Pavlo Holovinov aged 35, with an address at Riverside, Glengarriff, Co Cork  acknowledged the woman but then continued engaging in sexual intercourse with his female partner.

PHOTO OF THE VEHICLE

The woman took a photo of the vehicle and contacted gardai, but by the time they arrived the BMW had left the area. Holovinov was identified as the owner and admitted he was in the car at the time.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Holovinov, who is originally from Ukraine, did not realise what he was doing was illegal and apologised to the court. He said Holovinov was a full-time carer for his mother and was pleading guilty to engaging in sexual intercourse in a public place contrary to Section 45 of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act 2017.

Judge Joanne Carroll convicted Holovinov and fined him 250, allowing him three months to pay the fine.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
The American A-10 ground attack aircraft, equipped with a 30mm autocannon and pylons for carrying bombs and missiles, proved invaluable in eventually opening up the Strait of Hormuz. This ten-kilometer-wide body of water is the only way in and out of the Persian Gulf. The presence of several A-10 aircraft foiled Iranian efforts to block this strait. The A-10s and AH-60 gunships hunted down and destroyed Iranian attack boats and mine-laying vessels. This eventually led to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to tankers and other ships that normally passed through these waters.

This occurred despite 30 years of U.S. Air Force efforts to retire its most popular, affordable, and effective aircraft. Over the last few years, the Air Force has apparently decided to stop trying to get rid of its popular, at least with pilots and infantry, A-10 attack aircraft. Nicknamed Warthog or just Hog, the A-10 never got much respect from air force leaders. The A-10 did gain enough popular and political clout to keep this aircraft flying. The latest plan reduces the A-10 force by 44 aircraft, to 237. These will equip seven squadrons. Three are active duty, and part-time National Guard and reserve personnel operate four. The reserve units would be available within 30 days for deployment to a combat zone. The reserve pilots are largely retired fighter pilots and tend to have more experience in the A-10 than the younger active-duty pilots. The reservists fly regularly, and their aircraft are kept in good condition for operations.

Retiring 44 of the older A-10s makes it easier for the Air Force to afford continued upgrades to keep A-10s on par with new tech used by other warplanes. This policy has seen the A-10s undergoing regular upgrades over the last two decades. These included new wings, a project that was finally completed in 2019. The Air Force now plans to keep the A-10s in service until 2040. One catch is that the Air Force will not allow A-10s to operate in airspace threatened by modern enemy air defense systems. Once these threats have been eliminated, the A-10s can enter. Meanwhile, the A-10s will get plenty of work dealing with Islamic terrorists and irregulars of all sorts.

This 2020 A-10 agreement came after six years of uncertainty and enormous pressure from the ground forces and Congress to keep the A-10 around for as long as possible. This effort was in response to a 2014 Air Force plan to retire all 340 remaining A-10s, along with 70 elderly F-15Cs. The reasons were budget shortages and the enormous costs of developing and building the new F-35 stealth fighter. The Air Force planned to retire these 410 combat aircraft and about 100 support planes by 2020, when over 100 new F-35s would enter service, leaving the Air Force with about 300 fewer combat aircraft. Since the United States has about 2,700 combat aircraft in the Air Force and Navy, the loss of 410 aircraft would mean 11 percent fewer combat aircraft.

There was not much protest over retiring the elderly F-15Cs and support aircraft. The A-10 was a different matter. There was resistance, and in 2016, the Air Force agreed the A-10 would not be retired and came up with another plan, which was announced in 2020. The new plans will also retire 29 older air refueling aircraft, 24 older C-130Hs, 24 Global Hawk UAVs, and 17 B-1B bombers.

One thing that kept the A-10 in service was that close air support tech had rapidly evolved since the 1990s. Now, A-10s use smart bombs or missiles most of the time. The upgrades included targeting pods that enable A-10 pilots to spot targets while at altitudes of over 3,000 meters. That puts them out of range of small arms and many anti-aircraft weapons. Although the A-10 was built for ground support, armed with a 30mm rotary cannon for shooting up Russian tanks during a potential World War 3 in Europe that never happened. The last A-10 left Europe in 2013. The threat of Russia invading Western Europe disappeared in 1991, along with the Soviet Union and 80 percent of Russian troops. At the same time, the A-10 finally got work in the 1991 battle to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. A decade later, the A-10 was back in demand again. In Iraq and Afghanistan, troops appreciated the ability to call in an A-10 for a strafing run. A few hundred 30mm rounds not only did a lot of damage but also tended to demoralize the enemy, making it easier to capture them alive or drive them away. Smart bombs and missiles tended to leave fewer prisoners and were less scary than the roar and loud buzz of a low-flying A-10 using its 30mm autocannon.

The A-10 proved to be a formidable combat aircraft in post-Cold War conflicts, first in the 1991 liberation of Kuwait and later in Afghanistan and Iraq. These conflicts involved the elimination of the modern Russian fighter aircraft and ground-based air defense systems.

Since 2004, the most requested ground support aircraft in Afghanistan has been the A-10. There was similar A-10 affection in Iraq. Troops from all nations quickly came to appreciate the unique abilities of this 1970s-era aircraft that the U.S. Air Force had wanted to eliminate. The Air Force sought to do this gradually, when there was less work for A-10s. In 2011, the Air Force announced that it was retiring 102 A-10s, leaving 243 in service. Opposition from the army and Congress halted that. That was not the first, nor the last retirement effort. Until 2020, the air force kept at it, and it was feared that it would revive its efforts to eliminate the A-10. That does not appear to be the case this time.

At the same time, the air force tried to retire A-10s, it accelerated the upgrading of the remaining A-10s to the A-10C standard. Also called the PE for precision engagement model, the refurbished A-10s were supposed to remain in service until 2028, meaning most A-10Cs would have served over 40 years and as many as 16,000 flight hours. The upgrade effort began soon after A-10s saw much heavier use in 2003. The upgrades included new electronics and engine refurbishment. The A-10C provides the pilot with the same targeting and fire control gadgets that the latest fighters and bombers have. The new A-10C cockpit has all the spiffy color displays and easy-to-use controls. Because it is a single-seat aircraft that flies close to the ground, something that requires a lot more concentration, all the automation in the cockpit allows the pilot to do a lot more with less stress, exertion, and risk.

The basic A-10 is a 1960s design, so the new additions are quite spectacular in comparison. New communications gear has also been added, allowing A-10 pilots to share pictures and videos with troops on the ground. The A-10 pilot also has access to the Blue Force Tracker system, so that the nearest friendly ground forces show up on the HUD Head-Up Display when coming in low to use the 30mm cannon. The A-10C could now use smart bombs, making it a do-it-all aircraft for ground support.

A-10s worked hard in Afghanistan. For example, an A-10 squadron has a dozen aircraft and 18 pilots. Pilots often average about a hundred hours a month in the air while in a combat zone. That's about twenty sorties, as each sortie averages about five hours. The aircraft ranged all over southern Afghanistan, waiting for troops below to call for some air support. The A-10 could always fly low and slow and was designed and armored to survive a lot of ground fire. The troops trust the A-10 more than the F-16 or any other aircraft used for ground support.

The A-10 is a 23-ton, twin-engine, single-seat aircraft whose primary weapon is a multi-barrel 30mm cannon originally designed to fire armor-piercing shells at Russian tanks. These days, the 1,174 30mm rounds are mostly high-explosive versions. The 30mm cannon fires 363-gram 12.7-ounce rounds at the rate of about 65 a second. The cannon usually fires in one or two-second bursts. In addition, the A-10 can carry up to 7 tons of bombs and missiles. These days, the A-10 goes out with smart bombs (GPS and laser-guided) and 306 kg/670-pound Maverick missiles. It can also carry a targeting pod, enabling the pilot to use high magnification day/night cameras to scour the area for enemy activity. Cruising speed is 560 kilometers per hour, and the A-10 can slow down to about 230 kilometers per hour. In Afghanistan, two drop tanks were often carried to extend the aircraft's fuel capacity and maximize airtime over the battlefield.

If there is another major war in some place like Korea or with Iran, the A-10s would once more be one of the most popular warplanes with the ground troops, if they are still around. Otherwise, the troops on the ground will have to make do with smart bombs and a growing number of GPS-guided mortar shells, artillery shells, and rockets.

At one point, the Air Force argued that the F-35 could replace the A-10 as a ground attack aircraft. One of the problems with using F-35s is that this aircraft costs more than twice as much an hour to operate. Moreover, only the A-10 can regularly go low and strafe enemy forces. F-16s and F-35s are too fast and unarmored to get away with that. The A-10 was designed to take a lot of hits and keep flying. A-10s have regularly demonstrated this reliability.

Finally, the Air Force admitted that it would take 15 years and cost a lot of money to develop an A-10 replacement. The current plan is to eventually hand off that dangerous duty to a new generation of UAVs. This is something Predator and Reaper UAVs have already been handling, except for the low-altitude strafing duty. This is often used to intimidate a stubborn foe, and that still works. The A-10 makes a lot of noise when coming in low, with part of the racket coming from its 30mm autocannon. Again, this has been proven time and again. It is not a theoretical capability but very real and still in demand. No aircraft will ever duplicate that. When the A-10 finally retires in 2040, it will have been in service 73 years, fifty of them after being declared obsolete at the end of the Cold War.
A 20-year-old man was arrested by the San Francisco Police Department after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's house, The New York Times reports.

In a statement shared on X, SFPD wrote that it responded to a request for a fire investigation in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco around 7:12 AM ET / 4:12AM PT. "At the scene, officers learned that an unknown male subject threw an incendiary destructive device at a home, causing a fire at an exterior gate." After the man fled on foot, police found and arrested him around an hour later while responding to a business' complaint about an "unknown male subject threatening to burn down the building." That business turned out to be OpenAI's headquarters and the subject happened to be the same man who threw the Molotov at Altman's house.

"Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altmans home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt," an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Wired. "We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and were assisting law enforcement with their investigation."

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As it's become more commonplace, artificial intelligence has also become more divisive. While more and more people continue to use AI tools, public reaction to the encroachment of the technology, whether in gaming or customer service, is increasingly negative. Altman's warnings of AI's impact on employment, and a recent New Yorker investigation digging into his allegedly manipulative leadership style at OpenAI, have also raised questions about the CEO's prominent role as a steward of the technology.
Microsoft has rolled out a Notepad update for Windows Insiders that removes the Copilot branding and icon from within the app, Windows Central has reported. The old Copilot menu has been replaced with writing tools, but its worth noting that the tools are still powered by AI and are pretty much identical to the selection found in the old menu. Microsoft has just replaced the Copilot button with a pen icon. In addition, the company has removed mentions of AI in the Settings menu and has placed the option to disable the AI-powered writing tools within the Advanced features section.

The company first announced that it was dialing back its Copilot branding last month, most likely in response to all the criticisms against the AI assistant. Its not very well-liked, with people complaining that Microsoft is forcing them to use the assistant inside all its apps and that Copilot doesnt provide a consistent experience across different applications. You will see us be more intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows, said Windows and Devices EVP Pavan Davuluri. Microsoft also promised to remove unnecessary Copilot entry points, starting with Notepad, Snipping Tool, Photos and Widgets. According to The Verge, Microsoft has already stopped showing the Copilot button when selecting areas to capture with the Snipping Tool, as well. Clearly, the company has been making good progress on yanking at least the visual reminders of Copilot from its apps.
America's Big Tech companies may soon learn that saddling up with Donald Trump doesn't tend to work out in the end. As the president sows chaos and distrust around the globe while taking aim at EU tech regulations, Europe is looking for ways to adopt its own alternatives. The latest example is France, which said it's dropping Microsoft Windows in favor of Linux.

On Wednesday, France said (via TechCrunch) it plans to move its workstations from Windows to the open-source Linux. It's part of a broader movement across Europe toward digital sovereignty, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign tech  especially American and Chinese. Although homegrown alternatives aren't available in many areas, the EU seems prepared to wean itself off where it can.

In January, France announced that it would move its videoconferencing from Zoom and Teams to the French-made Visio. As part of this weeks Linux announcement, France added that it would also migrate its health data to a new platform by the end of 2026.

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Since taking office, Trump has used tariffs and other measures to try to bully European nations into dropping their regulations on America's tech industry. In August, he vowed to "stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies." (The strange capitalizations are his, not ours.) His administration has described laws like the EU's Digital Services Act as "censorship" and "a tax."

So far, Europe has stood firm. "I want to be very clear: our digital sovereignty is our digital sovereignty," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the Munich Security Conference in February. "We have a long tradition in freedom of speech. Actually, the Enlightenment started on our continent."

Christian Kroll, CEO of German search engine Ecosia, foresaw Europe's predicament soon after Trump's 2024 reelection. "We, as a European community, just need to make sure that nobody can blackmail us." He added that "if the US turned off access to search results tomorrow, we would have to go back to phone books." Granted, the guy is selling a European-made search engine, so his bias is clear. But the salience of his point stands.

Giorgos Verdi, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the Trump administration's behavior underscores the need for Europe to break free. "Could the US use its dominance over AI chips, its dominance over cloud in Europe, its dominance over AI systems in order to exert more pressure?" Verdi asked CNN rhetorically in January. "In order to build more resilience for Europe there is a geopolitical case for European innovations to emerge."
Amazons satellite-based internet service, Leo, will enter service by mid-2026, so says company CEO Andy Jassy. Writing in his annual letter, Jassy claimed Leo would offer download speeds of up to 1Gbps, far more than what Starlink presently offers. Sadly, Amazon declined to offer any more details about what that mid-2026 service would look like. But given select partners have already been kicking Leos tyres for a while, we can only hope.

The mega-retailer is making some grand promises, including faster up and download speeds, cheaper cost and direct integration with Amazons other products. Of course, the company can also sell itself on the fact its a satellite internet provider not owned by Elon Musk. But it will have to buck its ideas up fast, given how far behind in its deployment of satellites it is.

 Daniel Cooper

The other big stories this morning

Its a showcase for the Snapdragon X2 Elite.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

ASUS ZenBook A16 is a 16-inch ultraportable designed to go toe-to-toe with LGs Gram Pro 16. Its equipped with Qualcomms Snapdragon X2 Elite and designed to address the flaws Devindra Hardawar found in last years ZenBook A14. Did it succeed? Youll have to read his review to get the full story, but hes certainly happy to have spent the last week using this thing.

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Continue Reading.

It will begin at the start of 2027.

Greece will ban under 15s from accessing social media, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced. Like many nations both in Europe and beyond, officials are concerned about the effect social media is having on childrens mental and physical health. The big platforms will be in charge of enforcing the ban, backed up by the hefty punishments enabled by the Digital Services Act.

Continue Reading.

Know what doesnt lose support after a few years? Books.

Amazon

If youre still using a Kindle or Fire tablet made in 2012 or before, then its going to get a little less useful on May 20. Amazon is discontinuing support for those earlier models on that date, removing the ability to purchase, borrow or download new titles. Thankfully, whatever is on the hardware already will remain, so dont fret if youre only a third of the way through Remembrance of Things Past.

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Fancy, but heavy.

Billy Steele for Engadget

Billy Steele has been putting Fender Audios new speakers through their paces to find what can only be described as a mixed bag. Excellent audio quality and a wide variety of inputs get high praise, but the heavy weight, exposed wood and limited battery life all dent the paintwork.

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About time too.

WhatsApp

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WhatsApps CarPlay interface isnt the most elegant or easy way to keep in touch with your friends while driving. Meta has, however, given the UI a little polish to help make it a little easier to get something useful done without pulling your attention from the road.

Continue Reading.
As child social media bans spread across Europe and beyond, Estonia isn't having it. On Friday, the country's education minister said the bans won't "actually solve problems," while warning that the kids will find a way regardless.

Although companies like Meta would love for you to believe its a fairy tale, social media addiction is associated with tangible negative repercussions for children. Studies show that its harms range from depression and anxiety to sleep deprivation and obesity. (The latter is from all the targeted junk food advertising.) On the other hand, teens can find community and support from social media.

A growing list of countries looked at the negative data and concluded that the answer was to ban social media altogether for children. Although the age cutoff varies, legislation has been floated or enacted in Australia, Greece, France, Austria, Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, the UK and Denmark  just to name a few.

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Estonia's education minister believes these countries are coming at the very real problem from the wrong angle. "The way to approach this, to me, is not to make kids responsible for that harm and start self-regulating," Kristina Kallas said at a Politico forum in Barcelona. She added that "kids will find very quickly the ways to go around and to still use social media."

Instead, she said the responsibility lies with governments and corporations. "Europe pretends to be weak when it comes to big American and international corporations," she added. But she called that a "pretense," challenging the EU to "actually take this power and start regulating the big American corporations."

To be fair, the EU regulates the tech industry more effectively than anywhere else in the world. But the point on childhood social bans stands.

Another argument against the bans is that its a short path from the well-meaning to a more sinister erosion of basic freedoms. In February, France suggested that the next logical step after passing an under-15 social media ban would be to go after VPNs. After all, once you pass the ban, you need to enforce it  and that can mean snuffing out the tools children could use to work around it.
Protests toppling governments happened in Armenia in 2018; Algeria, Bolivia, and Sudan in 2019; Sri Lanka in 2022; Bangladesh in 2024; and Madagascar in 2025. Currently, the American President is calling on Iranians to overthrow their Islamic dictatorship and replace it with a democracy. Before the 1980s, when the Islamic tyrants took over, Iran was a constitutional monarchy, complete with elections and excellent diplomatic and economic relations with Israel. In January 2026, Irans Islamic dictatorship killed more than 30,000 of its citizens for daring to demonstrate against Islamic rule.

Protests can succeed. Crucial to the success of protests are two factors: their enormous size, drawing crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and the rapid disintegration of the ruling group, with members of the military, the judiciary, and the government bureaucracy distancing themselves from the administration. This doesnt always work, and that may or may not be the case with contemporary Iran.

The United States is often thought of as being inconsistent and supporting tyrants, even as America overthrew one in Iraq. Alas, Americas support for tyrants is basically a myth. As with any nation dating back several thousand years, the United States has always supported foreign governments willing to refrain from attacking American citizens or American economic and diplomatic interests. The U.S. government was generally praised for its statesmanlike behavior in supporting some dictatorships.

Remember the U.S. establishing relations with Yugoslavia and China? Ideology was rarely a factor here. To do otherwise just produces lots of headaches and threats to American citizens overseas. Critics often point to the many times American agents, CIA or otherwise, have interfered with foreign governments, or even overthrown them. This practice long predates the founding of the United States. After all, it was French interference that helped us get out from under British control during that time. It became less fashionable, over the last half-century, to conduct diplomacy that way, but that does not change the fact that gunboat diplomacy was an accepted practice for thousands of years. You can change your methods, but you cant change history.

American interference in Yugoslavia, Kosovo in 1999, and Iraq in 2003 were cases of this ancient practice. Both were meant to deal with troublesome tyrants, and both were widely criticized by other nations, many because they knew they also qualified for similar humanitarian treatment. Note that the last time Iraq was invaded was in 1941, when Iraqs decision to side with the Germans caused Britain to send a few divisions to march on Baghdad and replace the government. At the time, this was considered prudent diplomacy.

But Kosovo in 1999 and Iraq in 2003 were the kind of operations that would hardly have caused much comment before the 20th century. As the old saying goes, nations dont have friends, only interests. And interests tend to change over time. During the Cold War, most governments worldwide were right-wing or left-wing dictatorships. Both flavors were pretty brutal, although the leftists had a much higher body count, less effective economic policies, but better PR. Still, the U.S. would do business with anyone who would leave the United States alone. Thus, we always found ourselves with friends on both sides of the Arab-Israeli wars and many other international disputes as well. Going out of your way to not support a country that a tyrant runs is a dangerous and often thankless business. Politicians and diplomats have enough problems on their plates without going and looking for more. Everyone supports tyrants if these thugs seem securely in control of a nation. To do otherwise just gets you condemned in the United Nations, which refused to approve of the 1999 Kosovo or 2003 Iraq operations. It's not supporting tyrants that gets America in trouble, but removing them.
It may be a surprise that last years biggest ag story  tariffs  was swept off todays front pages by even bigger news: a Middle East war, its sharply higher fuel and fertilizer prices, and the near certainty of another multi-billion dollar farm aid package.

Then again, its not too much of a surprise because this White House rarely pauses to reflect and fix its problems; it often deflects and creates new ones.

But tariffs havent gone away. In February, President Donald J. Trump announced a blanket 10% tariff on almost all U.S. trading partners after the Supreme Court ruled his 2025 tariff efforts illegal.

That action perpetuates the indecipherable mess that is U.S. trade policy today.

The Peterson Institute for International Economics recently noted that As of March 2026, average U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are heavily elevated, covering nearly all imports with an average rate around 47.5%. What, its not 10%?

The rough treatment hasnt gone unnoticed in Beijing. On March 30, China announced it was opening up two investigations into U.S. trade practices, setting the stage for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.

The war, which delayed the Trump-Xi summit once, may delay it again. Daily reports  often sunny from the White House, usually much darker from Iran  offer no clear insight.

What we do know is that todays American excursion into the centuries-old conflicts of the Middle East is proving again that the best U.S. policy toward the blood-soaked region is simply to stay out of it.

Regardless of how or when the hostilities end, todays higher crude oil prices  and their market disruptions  are here to stay, Jason Bordoff, a co-founding dean of Columbia Universitys Center for Global Energy Policy, explained to the New York Times Ezra Klein recently.

For example, Bordoff noted, the damage caused by recent Iranian drone strikes on Qatars energy infrastructure means that The Qataris are already saying it will take three to five years to repair the damage.

And, If you do that to the many other facilities in the region, the consequences are going to last much, much longer.

According to Bordoff, 20% of the worlds daily oil supply flows through the mostly blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Workarounds,  Russian oil now sold legally on world markets, Saudi oil flowing through other ports, some tankers permitted to travel through the strait  have cut that number to around 10%.

Even at that, however, he explains, 10% is a huge amount for a world addicted to carbon. During the Arab oil embargo in 1973, by contrast about 6 or 7% of world supply was disrupted. So this is by far the largest energy supply disruption we have ever seen.

Some of us old, farm graybeards remember that 1970s embargo. Overnight, diesel costs tripled and fertilizer and crop chemical costs doubled. What I dont remember is those costs falling.

On March 30, Bloomberg reported that in conversations with more than three dozen oil and gas traders, executives, brokers, shippers and advisors one message was repeated over and over: The world still hasnt grasped the severity of the situation.

That means, it noted, U.S. government officials and Wall Street analysts are starting to consider prices might surge to an unprecedented $200 a barrel.

One reason for the Iran excursion, its U.S. supporters repeat, is that after 47 years of autocratic rule in Iran, Something had to be done.

Maybe, but it also means we had 47 years to reduce our crippling dependency on fossil fuels and the Middle East and we did even less on that front.

(The Farm and Food File is published weekly throughout the U.S. Contact information is posted at farmandfoodfile.com.  2026 ag comm)
April 10, 2026: In recent South Asian crises, velocity matters more than military power. Velocity means how rapidly responsibility is assigned, actions are authorized, limited operations are executed, and a dominant understanding is enacted before diplomatic intervention. Rather than concentrating exclusively on military capability, velocity is about the speed of coordinated action. Countries that move swiftly to shape events gain advantages, even if their material strength is less.

Pakistans post-2025 defense reorganization, in line with the 27th amendment to its constitution, recognizes this. After last years Operation Sindoor, Pakistan adopted reforms that reduced decision cycle times for military action and communication.

While these changes do not alter the regional power balance or nuclear deterrence, they enable Pakistan to act and de-escalate quickly during the decisive early phase of a crisis, before external parties can intervene and define reasonable limits of escalation. Once major powers signal that further action risks instability, the political eagerness for continued military operations rapidly diminishes.

India, though militarily more powerful than Pakistan, with eight times its budget and a two to three times larger army, air force and navy, faces internal delays and lack of amalgamation. Its compartmented and serial approach to crises slows decisions and limits capabilities. As a result, Indian military actions, however effective, frequently take place after opportunities to shape the political attitudes have passed, unlike Pakistans rapid strategy.

This velocity gap helps explain a persistent pattern: Indian forces achieve tactical success, but political outcomes remain inconclusive or are subject to external influences. Pakistans new command arrangements are explicitly designed to widen this gap in future confrontations, particularly in limited and brief conflicts.

The main risk is not conventional defeat, but that Indias strengths are minimized before they can be a problem. Fast Pakistani decision-making and narrative control mean that, by the time India reacts, diplomatic interventions and insights are already set. This erodes Indias leverage, credibility, and operational freedom. India must act within the new, faster tempo or risk losing the advantage.

Operation Sindoor demonstrated how crisis consequences in limited wars are shaped less by battlefield dominance than by the sequencing of decision, operational, and narrative velocities. Between April 22 and May 10, 2025, the crisis unfolded through distinct phases in which timing, rather than intent or capability, proved decisive.

The crisis began with the Pakistani-aided terrorist attack at Pahalgam, India, on April 22, 2025. Indian intelligence quickly determined who was responsible, and political denunciations followed. The principal delay was in converting intelligence confidence into publicly usable acknowledgement necessary for military action.

Indian leaders appear to have agreed early on the need to respond, but permission required evidence capable of withstanding domestic and international analysis. Intelligence sufficient for internal confidence did not immediately meet the level required for public explanation in a nuclearized environment, even if past patterns were known to the international community.

This attribution bottleneck was compounded by prevailing institutional fragmentation rather than hesitation. In the Indian system, intelligence verification, diplomatic planning, inter-service military preparation, and political-legal evaluation is handled through specific bureaucratic networks with limited methods for harmonization. Even as political intent crystallized, the absence of integrated crisis processing slowed the evolution of executable options. Nearly two weeks elapsed before authorization was granted on May 7, narrowing the window for advantage as coercive signaling developed.

Once authorized, Indias operational tempo speeded up. On May 7, Indian forces launched limited, specific strikes. Both sides responded quickly, with India gaining a tactical edge through escalation-controlled operations.

Operational competence was not the binding restriction. The armed forces implemented political direction efficiently once authorization was granted. However, these gains coincided with intensifying diplomatic commitment and external pressure for de-escalation. Military effectiveness peaked as political and international constraints converged, limiting the translation of tactical success into diplomatic leverage.

Early international statements stressed restraint, and negotiation efforts framed the crisis primarily through escalation risk rather than attribution. As the Americans shifted from initial caution to more active engagement, the diplomatic emphasis moved toward rapid stabilization. This stabilization lens was reinforced when the American President described his intervention as having prevented nuclear conflict, elevating escalation risk as the dominant interpretive frame.

While formally neutral, this activism had asymmetric effects: It narrowed the window within which Indias conventional advantages could coerce further action, limiting potential damage to Pakistan. This created a stabilization dynamic that benefited the weaker conventional actor.

Narrative velocity diverged across phases of the crisis. Between April 22 and May 7, while India remained focused on attribution and authorization, Pakistan moved earlier in shaping external perceptions. In Washington, Pakistan pursued sustained outreach alongside public messaging. According to U.S. disclosure records and Foreign Agents Registration Act filings for April to May 2025, Pakistans hired American lobbying firms arranged more than 60 engagements with U.S. policymakers. India undertook only four comparable engagements using lobbyists.

The disparity is significant. Access does not automatically translate into influence. Rather, lobbying engagements provide early entry into political and media departments, shaping how events are initially framed. Pakistans outreach ensured that its emphasis on restraint and escalation risk was present during the opening phase of U.S. crisis assessment.

When Indian military operations began on May 7, Pakistans messaging moved in parallel with diplomatic engagement, reinforcing calls for rapid stabilization. Indias narrative response came later. By the time respected Indian messaging gained traction from May 7 to 10, third party interpretations were already leaning toward de-escalation. The American Presidents statements further reinforced the description of the ceasefire as an externally mediated outcome rather than as a consequence of Indian military dominance.

In the months following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan undertook institutional reforms explicitly shaped by how the crisis unfolded and by the strategic advantages accrued. These changes are best understood as a systematic effort to compress decision, operational, and narrative velocity in future crises. Sindoor demonstrated that Pakistan could absorb Indian strikes and avoid escalation, but it also exposed residual frictions during the opening phase. The announced changes from August 2025 onward, notably the creation of the chief of defense forces position, the Army Rocket Force Command, and Defense Forces Headquarters were designed to ensure that future crises would be managed faster than Sindoor, not merely survived.

Pakistan entered the Sindoor crisis with a baseline advantage in decision velocity derived from the militarys dominant role in security policy. However, formal decision-making still required coordination among service chiefs, the largely advisory chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and civilian authorities, imposing delays during the opening hours.

Post-Sindoor reforms directly addressed this bottleneck by abolishing the post of chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and creating the post of chief of defense forces. By vesting unified operational authority in a single military office, Pakistan collapsed multiple coordination layers into one decision channel. This sharply reduced the time required to translate political intent into military orders. The combination of informal military dominance and formal centralization under the chief of defense forces significantly compresses decision velocity, minimizing political contestation while removing bureaucratic sequencing. The result is faster clarity on intent and escalation limits during the first 24 to 48 hours.

Operational velocity in limited, short conflicts depends less on force generation than on the ability to execute limited, controlled effects quickly. Before Sindoor, Pakistans conventional long-range strike capabilities were dispersed across the services, complicating targeting decisions and increasing the risk of delays or disproportionate action.

The establishment of the Army Rocket Force Command addressed this problem by consolidating conventional missile and long-range strike assets  including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and armed drone swarms  under a single operational authority reporting directly to the chief of defense forces. This reorganization creates a critical first day advantage. Pakistan can now execute multi-domain strikes within hours of crisis onset without inter-service coordination delays. Target selection, proportionality assessments, and execution orders flow through one vertical chain, enabling faster targeting decisions, tighter escalation control, and quicker execution of demonstrative strikes designed for political effect rather than battlefield dominance.

Equally important has been the organizational decoupling of conventional strike forces from nuclear command and control, with nuclear forces placed under a separate national strategic command. This separation reduces ambiguity and self-deterrence in the early crisis phase, allowing Pakistan to deploy conventional capabilities rapidly without immediately invoking nuclear signaling. By linking this decoupling directly to reduced misperception, Pakistan ensures that its faster escalation path is perceived as safer and more controlled. This focus on ambiguity management enhances deterrence by clarifying intent and capability distinctions, thereby preempting instability concerns. The Army Rocket Force Command structure thus accelerates operational velocity while preserving escalation control, a combination particularly suited to short-duration crises designed to enable early action and early termination before adversaries can mobilize superior forces or before diplomatic intervention forecloses options.

For India, this creates a structural problem. Indias equivalent long-range strike capabilities, BrahMos missiles, Nirbhay cruise missiles, Heron armed drones, and standoff munitions, remain distributed across the Armys artillery divisions, the Air Forces strike squadrons, and the Navys missile systems. Employing these assets in a coordinated, proportional response requires service-level coordination that consumes 24 to 48 hours, precisely the window when short limited wars such as these are decided. This structural asymmetry means Pakistan can strike first, shape narratives around proportional response, and de-escalate before Indias distributed strike assets can be synchronized, even though India possesses superior individual systems.

Pakistan has historically enjoyed an advantage in narrative velocity due to centralized military control over strategic communication, established originally for domestic control. Post-Sindoor reforms sought to institutionalize and accelerate this advantage by creating the Defense Forces Headquarters that integrates operational planning, information operations, and strategic messaging under unified command.

Defense Forces Headquarters enables military action, diplomatic outreach, and information operations to be synchronized from the outset of a crisis rather than sequenced after events unfold. Messaging is shaped alongside operational planning, allowing Pakistan to frame itself as restrained and defensive before kinetic activity peaks. This early framing tends to persist, even when later military developments contradict it. The use of external lobbying and influence channels reflects the same logic, inserting Pakistans preferred framing into key political and media circuits during the decisive early phase when third-party positions are formed.

The establishment of the chief of defense forces position, the Army Rocket Force Command, and the Defense Forces Headquarters does not confer automatic military dominance on Pakistan. Rather, these reforms institutionalize speed at the precise moment when political outcomes are shaped. Informal military coherence has been converted into structured velocity across decision-making, operational execution, and narrative management. In crises where third-party intervention occurs early and often symmetrically, the ability to act, signal resolve, and calibrate de-escalation within the first 48 to 72 hours constitutes a structural advantage that superior capability alone cannot offset. Pakistans reforms alter tempo more than balance: that distinction is decisive.

Operation Sindoor reveals a more hazardous strategic environment not because Indias capabilities have diminished, but because delay is increasingly penalized. Two overlapping trends  the evolution of U.S. crisis diplomacy and Chinas tightening alignment with Pakistan  are compressing Indias decision window.

The United States now prioritizes rapid stabilization over extended strategic positioning in South Asian crises. Diplomatic engagement activates earlier, often before battlefield trajectories clarify. When Indias decision cycle extends, mediation dynamics begin shaping the political environment before Indias objectives are achieved. This does not necessarily reflect bias: It reflects a structural preference for stability in nuclearized crises. Yet stabilization under asymmetry produces asymmetric effects: It narrows the window within which conventional advantages can generate leverage.

Chinas role further compresses timelines. Even absent overt intervention, Beijings intelligence sharing, military coordination, and diplomatic posture influence crisis management. During Sindoor, Chinese intelligence, military, and political backing enhanced Pakistans preparedness while Beijing publicly adopted a stabilizing posture. This dual-track approach complicates Indias early calculations and reduces tolerance for hesitation.

These pressures expose a widening mismatch between Indias institutional tempo and the pace of external intervention. A crisis architecture optimized for calibrated linear escalation from sub-conventional to conventional to nuclear conflict over days now operates under simultaneous diplomatic activation, media amplification, and adversarial coordination within hours. Political outcomes are increasingly shaped within the first 24 to 48 hours through mediation dynamics and great-power positioning. What was survivable during slower crisis paths, such as Sindoor, now risks structural disadvantage. When external actors frame the crisis before Indias coercive signals mature, even superior capabilities struggle to translate into durable leverage.

This compression also highlights the need for anticipatory preparation rather than reactive sequencing. In future crises, external actors will not wait for attribution clarity before shaping diplomatic narratives. If Indias internal processes remain optimized for linear escalation management, it will repeatedly find itself operating within parameters defined by others rather than by its own calibrated objectives.

The implication is not reckless speed, but synchronized speed. Institutional caution that once preserved stability may now erode it.

Sindoor does not demand wholesale institutional redesign. It requires targeted interventions that compress time in the decisive opening phase while preserving civilian control and accountability. Three reforms, organized around decision, operational, and narrative velocity domains would create the greatest immediate impact.

Indias most consequential delay during Sindoor stemmed from converting intelligence confidence into publicly and diplomatically usable attribution. Political consensus appears to have formed early, but attribution, legal vetting, diplomatic preparation, escalation management, and inter-service planning operated through separate institutional channels with limited mechanisms for convergence. The constraint was structural fragmentation, not political hesitation.

In the absence of integrated crisis processing architecture, key functions matured at different speeds under different authorities. Even when intent crystallized, the system lacked a mechanism to synchronize processes in real time. The result was delayed authorization despite emerging political clarity.

Correcting this weakness requires procedural change enabled by structural adaptation. During the opening phase of a crisis, standing protocols should authorize intelligence validation, legal review, operational planning, and external messaging to proceed in parallel under centralized political supervision. Attribution would remain the threshold for execution, but preparation across domains would advance concurrently. This reform would compress authorization timelines from days to hours, ensuring that once the evidentiary standard is met, action and signaling occur immediately rather than sequentially.

The objective is not to dilute deliberation but to eliminate idle institutional latency between decision and preparation.

Sindoor demonstrated that once authorization is granted, Indian forces execute effectively. The constraint lies in translating political intent into synchronized multi-service action within the decisive first 24 hours.

First, India requires crisis-time centralization to compress the authorization to execution interval. Upon political approval, the chief of defense staff should be empowered, within clearly defined temporal and functional limits, to synchronize approved kinetic and non-kinetic operations across services. Activation should follow predefined decision thresholds, ensuring that authority is temporary, bounded, and politically controlled. This mechanism would preserve civilian oversight and peacetime autonomy while reducing inter-service coordination delays during the opening hours of a crisis.

Second, Pakistans Army Rocket Force Command creates a structural first day advantage that the crisis-time chief of defense staff authority alone cannot offset. By consolidating conventional missiles, cruise systems, armed drones, and long-range fires under unified operational control, Pakistan can execute limited strikes within hours of crisis onset. Indias equivalent assets remain distributed across the Army, Air Force, and Navy, requiring coordination that consumes precisely the 24 to 48-hour window in which outcomes are shaped.

India should therefore establish a Joint Strike Command consolidating crisis-time operational control of non-nuclear long-range strike systems, including BrahMos and Nirbhay missiles, armed drones, short-range ballistic platforms, and standoff munitions. Peacetime training and readiness would remain service-based, but employment authority during authorized crises would be centralized under the chief of defense staff and deployable by theater commanders.

The objective is not to augment capability, since India already fields superior long-range systems, but to align organizational velocity with material strength. Without structural alignment, India risks responding after Pakistan has already acted, signaled resolve, and influenced third-party perceptions. A unified strike architecture would also enhance deterrent signaling during the attribution phase by demonstrating credible readiness before execution.

Sindoor exposed Indias most visible velocity gap in the narrative domain, particularly in Washington. Pakistans extensive use of lobbying channels ensured early access to U.S. political and media decision channels, while India relied largely on formal diplomacy and subsequent clarification.

India does not require a propaganda apparatus. It requires a standing fused external access capability designed for rapid engagement with key foreign governments, legislatures, and media ecosystems during crises. The objective is presence and speed, not persuasion, operating under clear political guidance and transparency norms. Narratives that enter late rarely shape mediation dynamics, regardless of their factual strength.

Narrative velocity is not about louder messaging: It is about earlier positioning within the circuits where external actors assess escalation risk and determine meditation posture.

These reforms do not replace long-term transformation in jointness, intelligence integration, or doctrine. But Sindoor demonstrates that Indias most consequential disadvantages emerge early, before deeper reforms can take effect. By compressing decision, operational, and narrative velocity within the first 24 to 48 hours, India would significantly improve its ability to convert military capability into political leverage in an environment defined by rapid U.S. stabilization logic and intensifying ChinaPakistan collusion.

Operation Sindoor did not happen due to shortcomings of resolve or capability. It was a warning about time. India demonstrated military competence and escalation control, yet the crisis showed how delays in attribution, authorization, and narrative entry can erode political leverage in the opening phase of confrontation. In limited and compressed wars, outcomes are often shaped before battlefield advantages can fully mature.

That risk is growing. The reforms in Pakistans national security architecture impart even greater velocity. U.S. crisis diplomacy is increasingly transactional and oriented toward rapid stabilization, while Chinas deepening alignment with Pakistan further compresses Indias decision space. Early framings harden quickly, and external mediation arrives faster than before. The lesson of Sindoor is therefore not restraint versus escalation, but sequencing. States that can act, signal, and frame events in parallel gain disproportionate influence over how crises are interpreted and resolved.

For India, the primary challenge is not increased aggressiveness but greater timeliness. Decisions, operations, and narratives must converge within the first 24 to 48 hours, when political outcomes remain malleable. If India can compress timelines without compromising accountability, it will maintain strategic autonomy in future crises. Otherwise, even effective military action may occur too late to influence the outcome.
Farmers battling cancer  and those who have stood beside them  came together in force at Shrewsbury Auction Centre, turning a livestock market into a powerful show of support for a vital local charity.

The special Farmers Day, held to mark the auction centres 20th anniversary, raised funds for Lingen Davies Cancer Support and its 5 million Sunflower Appeal, which aims to open a new cancer centre with 30 chemotherapy bays at Telfords Princess Royal Hospital by 2029.

The scale of support was striking. Farmers donated livestock, sale proceeds and cash, with nearly 1,000 collected in buckets alone. With Telford & Wrekin Council agreeing to match fund donations up to 250,000, the total raised will have an even greater impact.

Among those backing the cause was Robert Adams, from Market Drayton, who is undergoing cancer treatment for the second time. He raised 820 by buying a calf and immediately donating it back to be resold for the charity.

His story was one of many shared throughout the day, underlining the personal connection many in the farming community have to the cause.

Angela Hill, a community fundraiser who was treated for cancer 10 years ago, said the turnout reflected the charitys reach. Farmers turned out in droves to support the market and many wonderful stories about the support they and members of their families have received at the Lingen Davies Centre were told, she said.

Many also approached collectors to say: Thank you for what you do. We received great treatment at the centre.

The event was the idea of sheep and beef farmer Stuart Ashley, who brought together Halls Auctioneers, the charity and local farmers.

He said the response had exceeded expectations. It has been an amazing day, he said, adding that what stood out most were the stories of why farmers have donated and how important today has been.

Livestock sales throughout the auction reflected strong backing for the fundraiser. A calf donated by Andrew Crowther sold for 780, while two hoggets from Richard Ratcliffe made 127.

Mr Ratcliffe said the cause resonated widely across the sector. I think everybody knows someone who has gone through cancer, he said.

Further contributions included a ewe and lamb donated by Sarah Davies and her family, which sold for 305. She said the event not only raised funds but also encouraged people to think about their health.

We have been touched by cancer and I think the farmers day is a brilliant idea, she said. Apart from raising a lot of money, this event raises awareness of cancer.

Buyer David Manning, who is still receiving treatment after being diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago, said his experience at the centre had been reassuring.

When I attended Lingen Davies Cancer Centre for treatment I wasnt nervous because the doctors and nursing staff always made me feel relaxed, he said.

Halls director James F. Evans praised farmers for their fantastic backing, describing the event as a fitting way to celebrate the auction centres milestone anniversary.

Fundraising will continue throughout the month, with further opportunities to contribute at livestock markets and upcoming sales.

For many involved, the day was about more than raising money  it was a reminder of the strength of the farming community and the importance of early diagnosis, support and access to treatment.
Marks & Spencer has committed 2.1 billion to British livestock farming, locking in decade-long supply deals to give producers greater security at a time of mounting pressure on the sector.

The retailer has signed 10-year agreements with ABP and Dunbia, securing year-round British lamb and beef supply while backing 3,500 M&S Select Farms. The move comes as farmers grapple with rising costs, squeezed margins and growing global competition.

For producers, the scale and length of the agreements mark a significant shift towards stability.

Trevor, an M&S Select beef farmer, said: A decade long agreement sends a strong message in support of British farmers: Long term stability is essential if were going to keep improving our businesses and planning for the next generation.

The deal also secures supply for premium ranges including Wagyu Gold, Aberdeen Angus Gold and organic lines, as demand for high-quality British beef continues to grow.

M&S said its Aberdeen Angus Gold standard, developed with farmers through a science-led breeding programme, combines high welfare with lower carbon emissions than conventional beef.

The agreements reinforce the retailers focus on sourcing British produce across its supply chain.

Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said farmers are central to maintaining quality and standards. He said: M&S Food offers the best quality at great value, and its our British farmers who uphold our market-leading welfare standards.

He added that the sector is under increasing strain and now more than ever need UK retailers to commit to sourcing from within the UK.

The long-term nature of the agreements is expected to drive further investment across the supply chain.

Dunbia plans to introduce new salt drying chambers dedicated to M&S products. ABP will upgrade facilities with state of the art equipment to improve cutting, packing and production efficiency.

Michael Doran, managing director of Dunbia, said the partnership represents a significant milestone and strengthens support for the network of dedicated British farmers who are central to our supply chain.

He said their high welfare standards, and commitment to sustainable farming underpin everything we do.

Kevin Cahill, chief executive of ABP UK, said the renewed deal reflects the strength of the long-standing relationship and is testament to our product quality and commitment to customer service.

He added the agreement would help drive future investment while providing greater security for our farmer suppliers in the years ahead.

The 2.1bn commitment forms part of M&Ss Plan A for Farming strategy to 2030, focused on British sourcing, sustainability and resilience.

The move comes amid a wider push by major retailers to strengthen ties with British agriculture.

Sainsburys recently announced a 5 billion investment into British and Irish farming, expanding long-term contracts to more than 2,500 farms by 2027. The plans cover fresh produce, dairy, meat and poultry, securing around 3.1 million tonnes of own-brand food.

The investment reflects growing pressure across the sector. Government figures show just 33% of farmers feel positive about their future, underlining concerns over rising costs, policy changes and climate challenges.
Dairy farmers facing falling milk prices are being urged to speak out on how they are being paid, as regulators examine fairness across the supply chain.

Producers are being urged to respond to a new survey from the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), which is reviewing how milk pricing and contracts are working under the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024.

The consultation comes at a time of continued volatility in the sector, with concerns over pricing, contract changes and the balance of power between farmers and buyers.

NFU Dairy Board chair Ian Harvey said the Adjudicators involvement was a positive step. He said: Its encouraging for all UK dairy farmers that the Adjudicator is taking an active role in investigating non-compliance in our sector and seeking to address power imbalances across the dairy supply chain.

ASCA is seeking feedback on how relationships between producers and purchasers have operated in recent months, and whether the new rules are delivering fairer outcomes.

Harvey said that while farmgate milk prices are currently in a slump, the long-term outlook for global dairy demand remains strong.

It is vital that, when we do start to see an upturn in dairy markets, farmgate prices also match the speed of market recovery, he said.

He added that enforcing the rules properly is key to rebuilding confidence, saying proper enforcement of the Fair Dealing Regulations is the first step in providing dairy farmers with the trust, certainty and clarity that they are receiving a fair price.

The NFU is urging farmers to take part, saying responses will help ensure the rules remain fit-for-purpose for the future.

Concerns raised by producers in recent months highlight the scale of the issue.

These include whether price changes are being applied in line with contracts, the introduction of tiered pricing structures, and restrictions on supplying multiple buyers.

Farmers have also reported the use of volume management schemes and contract changes being introduced with little notice or consultation.

ASCA said it is monitoring developments and will investigate formal complaints where necessary.

With confidence in milk pricing and contracts under pressure, the feedback gathered will play a key role in shaping how the system works for farmers in future.

The survey closes on 20 April.




Ranveer also expressed remorse and stated that he was unaware that he was hurting sentiments when he mimicked Rishab's performance. This came up during the hearing of the actor's plea seeking to quash the FIR filed against him after he mimicked a character played by Rishabh Shetty in Kantara Chapter 1. He also spoke about Daiva (a deity) in a manner that was found objectionable by the complainant. Ranveer Singh might be basking in the success of Dhurandhar, but he is also embroiled in a legal case. A case was filed against the actor after he mimicked Kantara star Rishab Shetty at the National Film Awards last year. Now, the actor has told the Karnataka High Court that he is willing to file a revised affidavit of apology for mimicking Chamundi Devi's depiction in the film.

Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya read Singh's apology affidavit in court and said, "I have filed an affidavit of apology. And I have undertaken in that affidavit that I will visit the temple as well. (The affidavit states) on the date of the incident, even for a moment, I did not realise I offended the worshippers of the Daiva. I also want to clarify, I was raised in a Sindhi household in Mumbai and I was not aware of the sensitivities. I, through this affidavit, once again convey my deepest regret, and unconditional apology. I will be visiting the temple of the deity in due course to offer my prayers and express my devotion."

However, the complainant, Prashanth Methal, argued that the affidavit did not convey genuine remorse, adding that Rishab had, in fact, signalled Ranveer Singh not to perform the imitation on stage. Following this, the court directed Singh to file a revised affidavit. Moreover, Poovayya agreed to meet Methal to refine the wording of the apology affidavit and submit a revised version before the court. The case has now been adjourned till April 23.





In his apology, Ranveer also stated that he would visit a temple in Mysore to express his devotion.





Also Read: Ranveer Singh to Visit Chamundi Temple and Submit an Apology in Court Over The Kantara Mimicry Row


Actress Preity Zinta recently shared some pictures on her social media which gave her fans a glimpse into her life as she spent her spring break with her kids. The pictures captured their joyful moments as a family, along with a note written out of love and gratitude.



Take a look :

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Preity G Zinta (@realpz)





Preity Zinta took to her Instagram handle and shared a heartfelt note with her fans, which read, Lately Spring break has never felt better. Loving every moment of every day before I start my journey to the other side of the world." her fans reacted to this post right after. One of the fans wrote, Some moments dont need words they just touch the heart. This is one of them." while another fan wrote, Adorable..God bless them.



Preity Zintas present work scenario :

According to sources, the actress Preity Zinta is said to return to acting with Lahore 1947. In the film, the actress will be seen next to Sunny Deol. There are also possible rumours going on about a possible change in the title for Sunny Deols upcoming film, Lahore 1947 , which have been circulating online, but producer Aamir Khan has now addressed the assumption. The actor-producer, Aamir Khan, has confirmed that the film will continue to retain its original title and that no decision has been made to rename it.

Lahore 1947 is an upcoming Hindi-language period drama film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan, and has also been backed by Aamir Khan Productions. Set against the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947, the film stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, and Abhimanyu Singh.



According to recent reports, it is said that the makers were considering renaming the film Batwara 1947 in order to avoid potential controversy. However, Aamir denied those claims when senior journalist Subhash K Jha asked him about the speculation to which he said, Where did you hear that? No, the title of our film has not changed. As of now, it is Lahore 1947, and thats how I would like it to be.



The film was initially planned to be released on 23 January 2025, but was delayed due to post-production work. Lahore 1947 is now scheduled for a theatrical release on August 13, 2026, coinciding with the Independence Day weekend.



Also Read: Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough make their first red carpet appearance together at the Jio Filmfare Awards
It looks like Nick Jonas just cant get enough of Bollywood music. The American pop star, who has often shared glimpses of himself enjoying Hindi songs, recently posted another fun video recalling moments of dancing with his brothers and wife Priyanka Chopra. From the looks of it, these Bollywood beats have clearly become a regular part of his vibe.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Jonas (@nickjonas)



This time, Nick picked the evergreen track Que Sera Sera from Pukar, originally featuring Madhuri Dixit and Prabhu Deva. Sharing the clip, he kept it simple with the caption, Follow Your Heart. And honestly, fans seem to be loving this crossover just as much as he does.

This isnt the first time hes shown his love for Bollywood. Earlier, Nick dropped a lively video where he, Priyanka, and his brothers Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas were seen dancing to Aap Jaisa Koi from Qurbani, featuring Feroz Khan, Vinod Khanna, and Zeenat Aman. Sharing that clip, he had written, Tonights pre-show hype song (sic), and the energy in the video said it all.

Over the past few months, Nick has been consistently leaning into Bollywood tracks. From grooving to Shararat from Dhurandhar with the caption New pre-show hype song unlocked (sic) to picking songs like Aavan Jaavan from War 2, and even dancing to Priyankas Saajan Saajan from Barsaat, hes clearly enjoying every bit of it. Speaking of Nick and Priyanka, the two dated briefly before tying the knot in a beautiful ceremony blending Hindu and Christian traditions in Udaipur on December 1, 2018.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Jonas And Nick Jonas Enjoy A Quiet Getaway Before She Heads For Varanasi Shoot
What began as a worrying leak of a single clip has now escalated into a full-blown crisis for Jana Nayagan, with reports claiming that the entire film has been illegally circulated online. The development has triggered sharp backlash from fans and industry insiders alike, many of whom are demanding swift and strict action against those responsible.

The films production house, KVN Productions, led by Venkat K Narayana, has responded with a strong legal notice. In its statement, the team confirmed that portions of the film, and now allegedly the complete version, have been unlawfully accessed, copied, and shared across multiple digital platforms. These include WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, X, YouTube, and torrent-based networks.



Calling the incident a serious breach of copyright and a criminal offence, the producers have made it clear that anyone found downloading or forwarding the leaked material will face individual legal consequences. Legal proceedings have already been initiated to trace the source of the leak, with further action expected against those aiding its circulation.



The makers have also appealed to audiences to refrain from engaging with pirated content, warning of strict civil and criminal penalties. The situation has reignited conversations about piracy in the film industry, especially in cases involving high-profile releases.




56.6 Mt Indicated at 0.70% TREO and 119.5 Mt Inferred at 0.58% TREO

Deposit open for further expansion - Preliminary Economic Assessment targeted for completion by the end of 2026

MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE HIGHLIGHTS

Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report, prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR"), confirms Springer as one of the largest rare earth element deposits in North America*.

1,248% increase in Indicated Resources to 56.6 Mt at 0.70% TREO, including a near-surface high-grade core of 11.5 Mt at 1.10% TREO.

Inferred Resource expanded by 841% to 119.5 Mt at 0.58% TREO, including a near-surface high-grade core of 3 Mt at 1.16% TREO.

Clear path to a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"): over 5,000 m Phase 2 drill program, metallurgical testwork advancing, PEA targeted for completion by the year-end 2026.

Gallium potential not yet included: high-grade gallium results from the Fall 2025 drill program are not included in this MRE, with additional results forthcoming.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2026) - Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (OTCQB: VOLMF) (FSE: D0W) ("Volta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of an independent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") Technical Report for its Springer Rare Earth Element deposit ("Deposit" or "Springer"), Sturgeon Falls, Ontario with an effective date of December 31, 2025 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report has been prepared by SLR and is now available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website (www.voltametals.ca).

The material increase in the Springer MRE highlights the Deposit's quality, scale and continued growth potential, elevating its standing among the top 10 rare earth element ("REE") deposits* in North America (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

There are no material differences in the Technical Report from those results disclosed in the news release issued on February 23, 2026.

"Filing this independent technical report marks an important milestone for Volta," said Kerem Usenmez, President and CEO of Volta Metals. "This independent technical report confirms Springer's standing among the top 10 largest REE deposits in North America, providing a strong, third-party verified foundation for the project's next phase of development. With drilling ongoing, metallurgical work advancing, and a PEA targeted for year-end 2026, we are well-positioned as a large REE project with excellent infrastructure access. Gallium, which is not yet captured in this resource, represents an additional dimension of value we expect to quantify as further results from the latest drill program are released."

* Based on publicly available Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource tonnage for North American Rare Earth Projects, listed in the S&P Global Market Intelligence database, 2025.







Figure 1. Tonnage Scale of North American REE Deposits

(after S&P Global database for North American rare earth projects, 2025)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9598/291877_69024d0344fe88a5_001full.jpg

Mineral Resource Estimate Summary

The Technical Report confirms the MRE, as previously announced on February 23, 2026. The MRE, prepared by SLR, is based on a C$43/t net metal revenue ("NMR") cut-off, using drilling and assay data available as of October 29, 2025.

Indicated Mineral Resources totalling 56.6 million tonnes ("Mt") at an average value of C$159/t NMR (including 346 ppm Pr6O11, 1,185 ppm Nd2O3, 38 ppm Dy2O3, and 9 ppm Tb4O7) and Inferred Mineral Resources totalling 119.5 Mt at an average value of C$128/t NMR (including 282 ppm Pr6O11, 947 ppm Nd2O3, 31 ppm Dy2O3, and 7 ppm Tb4O7).

Table 1 summarizes the open pit MRE by classification, and Table 2 reports grades for all rare earth oxides ("REOs"). Inputs used to calculate NMR factors are summarized in Table 3. No Mineral Reserves have been estimated at Springer.

Table 1: Summary of the Open Pit Mineral Resources for the Springer Project as of December 31, 2025

Classification Tonnage

(Mt) NMR

(C$/t) Average Grade TREO

(%) Pr6O11

(ppm) Nd2O3

(ppm) Dy2O3

(ppm) Tb4O7

(ppm) Indicated 56.6 159 0.70 346 1,185 38 9 Inferred 119.5 128 0.58 282 947 31 7 Notes:

CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources. Open pit Mineral Resources are reported within an optimized pit shell using C$4.00/t mining cost, C$40.00/t processing cost, and C$2.74/t G&A and a cut-off value of C$43/t. Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) include: La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, and Y2O3. The average density of reported resources is 2.7 t/m3. Revenue is attributable to Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Tb4O7, and Dy2O3. Pr6O11 and Nd2O3 account for 90% of the total revenue. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Totals may not add or multiply accurately due to rounding.

The MRE was based on 26 drill holes totalling 7,721m of drilling, 4,429 assays, and 532 density samples. Two wireframes were modelled in Leapfrog Geo using an indicator grade shell at a nominal NMR value of C$220 to separate a High Grade ("HG") core from a Lower Grade ("LG") domain (Figure 3). The LG domain was constrained to within 50m of resource assays. Assays were composited using nominal 3.0m lengths within resource wireframes. Evaluation of raw assay grade values prior to compositing indicated that high-grade values did not require capping.

Table 2: Open Pit Mineral Resources for the Springer Project

Parameter Unit Indicated Inferred Tonnage Mt 56.6 119.5 TREO % 0.70 0.58 LREO % 0.67 0.56 HREO % 0.04 0.03 La2O3 ppm 1,704 1,442 CeO2 ppm 3,275 2,782 Pr6O11 ppm 346 288 Nd2O3 ppm 1,185 971 Sm2O3 ppm 161 128 Eu2O3 ppm 37 30 Gd2O3 ppm 86 69 Dy2O3 ppm 38 31 Tb4O7 ppm 9 7 Ho2O3 ppm 6 5 Er2O3 ppm 13 11 Tm2O3 ppm 2 1 Yb2O3 ppm 10 8 Lu2O3 ppm 1 1 Y2O3 ppm 169 141 Notes: CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources. Open pit Mineral Resources are reported within an optimized pit shell using C$4.00/t mining cost, C$40.00/t processing cost, and C$2.74/t G&A and a cut-off value of C$43/t. Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) include: La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, and Y2O3. Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO) include: Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, and Y2O3. Light Rare Earth Oxides (LREO) include: La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, and Sm2O3. The average density of reported resources is 2.7 t/m3. Revenue is attributable to Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Tb4O7, and Dy2O3. Pr6O11 and Nd2O3 account for 90% of the total revenue. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Totals may not add or multiply accurately due to rounding.

Table 3: Inputs Used to Calculate the NMR Factors

Element Oxide Price (US$/kg) Element to Oxide Conversion Factor Recoveries (%) NSR Factor (C$/ppm) Praseodymium 130 1.21 72.7 0.131 Neodymium 130 1.17 48.5 0.084 Dysprosium 440 1.15 41.8 0.214 Terbium 1,350 1.18 43.8 0.704 Notes: An exchange rate of 1.35 (C$:US$) was used to convert oxide prices. Processing costs of C$40.00/t and G&A costs of C$4.00/t were assumed. Recoveries are based on preliminary testwork conducted in 2012.

Block modelling and grade estimation were completed using Leapfrog Geo EDGE. The grade was estimated using Ordinary Kriging (OK) using variable orientations in two passes with a 20m soft boundary between the HG and LG domains. In the first pass, blocks were estimated using a maximum of 16 samples, a minimum of nine samples, and a limit of four samples per drill hole. In the second pass, blocks were estimated using a maximum of 16 samples, a minimum of five samples, and a limit of four samples per drill hole. Density was estimated using the Inverse Distance Squared (ID2) method in a single pass, with no boundary between the HG and LG resource domains. The grades and density were estimated into a block model with 20m x 20m x 12m-sized parent blocks, sub blocked to a minimum size of 5m x 5m x 3m.

Resources were reported inside a resource pit shell generated with Whittle software (Figure 3). Mineral Resource classification is based on the sample spacing as well as the Qualified Person's level of confidence in the geological knowledge and input information. Indicated Mineral Resources were constrained by a nominal drill hole spacing of approximately 100m, and Inferred Mineral Resources by a nominal drill hole spacing of less than approximately 200m.

The previous estimate for the Springer Property was effective May 4, 2012. The main changes between the previous and current Mineral Resources are summarized as follows:

Expansion of resource domains with additional drilling.

Reporting using NMR and higher metal prices.

Constraining resources within an optimized pit shell.

The MRE may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The estimate is also sensitive to assumptions regarding metal prices, recoveries (based on preliminary 2012 testwork), operating costs, and the geologic interpretation. Additional metallurgical test work is in progress and may affect future resource estimates.

Next Steps

Springer is advancing on multiple fronts simultaneously, with a clear roadmap toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment by year-end 2026.

Phase-2 Drilling (5,000 m Fully Funded)

The Phase-2 drill program has just been completed and is expected to both improve resource classification, upgrading Inferred to Indicated tonnes, and add new tonnes to the resource. Mineralization remains open in all directions. Assays are pending for Phase 2 drill core.

Metallurgy and Bulk Sample

Expanded metallurgical testwork, including gallium recovery studies, is progressing, and results are expected shortly. A 5-to-10 tonne bulk sample for pilot-scale metallurgy has been recommended. The bulk sample program will directly feed into process design for the future advanced studies.

Gallium - Unquantified Potential

This MRE does not include the high-grade gallium assay results reported on January 26, 2026 and February 11, 2026, from the Fall 2025 drill program. Gallium has not been included in the Mineral Resource Estimate and cannot be incorporated until supported by validated assay data and metallurgical recoveries. Additional gallium results from this drilling are forthcoming, and gallium recovery has been included in the expanded metallurgical testwork program. Gallium remains a strategically important mineral given current supply chain dynamics.

Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)

The Technical Report formally recommends advancing Springer to a PEA once the current drilling and metallurgical programs are complete. The PEA is targeted for completion before the end of 2026 and will represent a significant step toward demonstrating the project's economic potential.





Figure 2. 2012 vs 2026 Mineral Resource Estimates

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9598/291877_69024d0344fe88a5_002full.jpg





Figure 3. 3D view of the resource domains in relation to Whittle Pit Shell

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9598/291877_69024d0344fe88a5_003full.jpg

Proximity to Existing Infrastructure

The Springer Deposit is approximately 70 km east of the nearby city of Sudbury, and 15km north of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario (Figure 4). The Deposit location provides excellent access to infrastructure, as the site is accessible via Highway 64, which connects Sturgeon Falls and Field, Ontario. Proximity to highways, the Crystal Falls and Sturgeon Falls hydroelectric dams, hydroelectric power lines, a natural gas pipeline, and the Canadian National Railway line runs through the region, offering direct transportation connectivity.





Figure 4. Location of the Springer Rare Earth Element Deposit

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9598/291877_69024d0344fe88a5_004full.jpg

Sudbury is the largest city in Northern Ontario, with a population of approximately 180,000, and serves as a key regional hub driven primarily by the mining industry. It is the largest city in Ontario by area and the fifth largest in Canada, by area. It offers a highly skilled workforce and a full range of specialist mining services, with daily commercial air services connecting to major centres across Ontario and Quebec. Sturgeon Falls can be accessed by road and rail from both North Bay and Sudbury, as well as Southern Ontario, including Toronto.

Power

The Springer Project's power supply is expected to come from a high-voltage transmission line that runs through the project's claims and is expected to be sourced from the Crystal Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station.

Transportation

The Deposit is readily accessible via the Trans-Canada Highway from both North Bay and Sudbury, and via Highway 64 from Sturgeon Falls. Both the highways and the Canadian National Railway will provide key infrastructure for the delivery of consumables and ongoing support of the Springer Project.

Project Infrastructure

The mining project area features topography and geography well suited for development. The varied terrain offers opportunities to minimize earthwork requirements and to develop a water management plan that preserves natural drainage patterns.

The Mineral Resources disclosed in this news release have been estimated by Ms. Katharine Masun, M.Sc., MSA, P.Geo., Principal Resource Geologist with SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. (SLR), who is independent of Volta. By virtue of education and relevant experience, Ms. Masun is a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. The Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014). Ms. Masun has read and approved the contents of this news release as it pertains to the disclosed Mineral Resource estimates.

The accompanying NI 43-101 Technical Report, now filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company's website at www.voltametals.ca, provides full details of the methodology, data verification, estimation parameters, and geological context underpinning the resource. The independent nature of this work provides third-party validation of the scale and significant growth potential of the Springer Deposit.

For more information about the Company, please visit Volta's website at www.voltametals.ca.

ABOUT VOLTA METALS LTD.

Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (FSE: D0W) (OTCQB: VOLMF) is a critical mineral exploration company focused on rare earths, gallium, lithium, cesium, and tantalum. It owns, has optioned and is currently exploring a critical minerals portfolio of rare earths, gallium, lithium, cesium, and tantalum projects in Ontario, one of the world's most prolific and emerging hard-rock critical mineral districts. To learn more about Volta and its Springer and Aki Projects, please visit www.voltametals.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Neither the CSE nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, plans, strategies, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators; the fact that Volta's interests in its mineral properties are options only and there are no guarantee that such interest, if earned, will be certain; the future prices and demand for lithium, rare earth elements, and gallium; and delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary approvals, permits and authorizations required to carry out its business plans. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and 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, other than as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291877

Source: Volta Metals Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2026) - QuantumCore Ltd. (formerly, MGM Resources Corp.) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed its previously announced reverse take-over of the Company by QuantumCore Inc. (the "Target") pursuant to the terms and conditions of a business combination agreement dated January 9, 2026 (the "Transaction").

The Transaction was effected by way of a three-cornered amalgamation among the Company, the Target and 1001465077 Ontario Inc. ("Subco"), wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to which the Target amalgamated with Subco to form an amalgamated entity named "QuantumCore Inc.". Immediately prior to and in connection with the Transaction, the Company effected a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of the outstanding common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") on the basis of one post-Consolidation Common Share (a "Resulting Issuer Share") for every 50.866667 pre-Consolidation Common Shares and changed its name from "MGM Resources Corp." to "QuantumCore Ltd." (the "Resulting Issuer").

In connection with the Transaction, shareholders of the Target received one Resulting Issuer Share for every share of the Target held. In addition, all existing warrants, stock options and restricted share units of the Target were exchanged for similar securities of the Resulting Issuer following completion of the Transaction on a one-for-one basis (post-Consolidation) on substantially similar terms and conditions.

Following closing of the Transaction, the Company has 28,409,973 Resulting Issuer Shares issued and outstanding, of which 999,977 Resulting Issuer Shares resulted from the Consolidation of the pre-Transaction Common Shares held by the shareholders of the Company, and 27,409,996 Resulting Issuer Shares were issued to former shareholders of the Target. In addition, the Company has reserved for issuance (i) an aggregate of 2,112,798 Resulting Issuer Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options of the Company, (ii) an aggregate of 2,119,798 Resulting Issuer Shares issuable upon the settlement of restricted share units of the Company, (iii) an aggregate of 482,500 Resulting Issuer Shares issuable upon the exercise of broker warrants and corporate finance fee warrants granted to brokers or agents in connection with a financing completed by the Target, and (iv) an aggregate of 5,681,999 Resulting Issuer Shares issuable upon satisfaction of certain warrants of the Company.

Following the Transaction, the leadership team of the Company is as follows:

Eugene Profis - Chief Executive Officer and Director

Christopher Wilson - Chief Technology Officer and Director

Jon Li - Chief Financial Officer

Matthew McGowan - Director

Rory McGillis - Director

Further details of the Transaction are contained in the listing statement of the Company dated March 31, 2026 (the "Listing Statement") which was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and filed under the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company expects to commence trading of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the CSE under the ticker symbol "QNCR" on or about April 14, 2026.

Early Warning Report

Eugene Profis

Pursuant to the Transaction, Eugene Profis acquired ownership of 3,920,000 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 13.80% of the total issued and outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares on a non-diluted basis, together with 1,789,830 common share purchase warrants ("Warrants") exercisable to acquire 1,789,830 Resulting Issuer Shares, 1,136,399 stock options ("Stock Options") exercisable to acquire 1,136,399 Resulting Issuer Shares and 1,136,399 restricted share units ("RSUs") that vest into 1,136,399 Resulting Issuer Shares representing approximately 24.58% of the issued and outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares on a partially diluted basis. Of the total securities of the Company beneficially owned by Mr. Profis, all such securities were issued in exchange for shares of the Target pursuant to the Transaction.

Mr. Profis may, from time to time, take such actions in respect of his holdings of Resulting Issuer Shares as he may deem appropriate in light of the circumstances then existing, including the purchase of additional Resulting Issuer Shares or other securities of the Company or the disposition of all or a portion of his shareholding in the Company, subject in each case to applicable securities laws and the terms of such securities.

Mr. Profis will file an early warning report under National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues ("NI 62-103") in connection with the closing of the Transaction. A copy of the early warning report will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or by contacting Mr. Profis at 416-648-4223.

Christopher Wilson

Pursuant to the Transaction, Christopher Wilson acquired ownership of 5,680,000 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 19.99% of the total issued and outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares on a non-diluted basis, together with 1,846,649 Warrants exercisable to acquire 1,846,649 Resulting Issuer Shares, 816,399 Stock Options exercisable to acquire 816,399 Resulting Issuer Shares and 816,399 RSUs that vest into 816,399 Resulting Issuer Shares representing approximately 28.72% of the issued and outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares on a partially diluted basis. Of the total securities of the Company beneficially owned by Mr. Wilson, all such securities were issued in exchange for shares of the Target pursuant to the Transaction.

Christopher Wilson may, from time to time, take such actions in respect of his holdings of Resulting Issuer Shares as he may deem appropriate in light of the circumstances then existing, including the purchase of additional Resulting Issuer Shares or other securities of the Company or the disposition of all or a portion of his shareholding in the Company, subject in each case to applicable securities laws and the terms of such securities.

Christopher Wilson will file an early warning report under NI 62-103 in connection with the closing of the Transaction. A copy of the early warning report will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or by contacting Eugene Profis at 416-648-4223. The Company's head office is located at 365 Bay St., Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2V1.

Greg Wilson

In connection with the closing of Transaction, Greg Wilson experienced a reduction in his beneficial ownership interest in the Resulting Issuer Shares solely as a result of the issuance of Resulting Issuer Shares to former Target securityholders pursuant to the Transaction (and the related Consolidation). Mr. Wilson did not acquire or dispose of any securities in connection with the closing of the Transaction.

Immediately prior to the Transaction, Greg Wilson beneficially owned 8,402,667 Common Shares of the Company, representing approximately 16.5% of the 50,866,667 issued and outstanding Common Shares at that time.

Following completion of the Transaction, Greg Wilson beneficially owns approximately 165,190 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 0.58% of the issued and outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares on a non-diluted basis.

Greg Wilson may, from time to time, take such actions in respect of his holdings of Resulting Issuer Shares as he may deem appropriate in light of the circumstances then existing, including the purchase of additional Resulting Issuer Shares or other securities of the Company or the disposition of all or a portion of his shareholdings in the Company, subject in each case to applicable securities laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Greg Wilson has been considering a private disposition of up to 100,000 Resulting Issuer Shares following completion of the Transaction.

Greg Wilson will file an early warning report under National Instrument 62-103 in connection with the closing of the Transaction. A copy of the early warning report will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or may be obtained by contacting Grant Duthie at 416-869-1234.

PowerOne Capital Corp.

PowerOne Capital Corp. ("PowerOne") announces that, in connection with the closing of the Transaction, PowerOne has acquired and now beneficially owns, or exercises control or direction over, Resulting Issuer securities as a result of (i) the Consolidation of the Company's Common Shares and (ii) the exchange of Target shares for Resulting Issuer Shares pursuant to the Transaction.

PowerOne, a corporation with a head office in Toronto, is a joint actor of Pat DiCapo for purposes of early warning disclosure.

Following completion of the Transaction, PowerOne, together with its joint actors, beneficially owns, or exercises control or direction over, in the aggregate, 2,253,163 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 7.93% of the issued and outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares on a non-diluted basis. Immediately prior to completion of the Transaction, PowerOne and its joint actors beneficially owned, or exercised control or direction over, securities of MGM Resources Corp. representing greater than 10% of the outstanding Common Shares, and as a result of the Transaction their collective beneficial ownership decreased to below 10% of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares, thereby triggering the early warning reporting requirement.

In addition, PowerOne, together with its joint actors, holds an aggregate of 627,268 Warrants. Assuming the exercise of such Warrants only, PowerOne and its joint actors would beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, approximately 9.92% of the issued and outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares on a partially-diluted basis.

The securities of the Resulting Issuer were acquired for investment purposes. PowerOne and its joint actors may, depending on market and other conditions, increase or decrease their beneficial ownership of, or control or direction over, securities of the Resulting Issuer, subject in each case to applicable securities laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, PowerOne and its joint actors have been considering the acquisition of additional securities of the Resulting Issuer following completion of the Transaction through private agreements with the Resulting Issuer's securityholders, subject to applicable securities laws and any required regulatory approvals. As of the date hereof, no definitive agreement with respect to any such acquisition has been entered into.

Change of Auditor

In connection with the Transaction, TZR LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants will resign as auditor of the Company and MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, auditor of the Target, will be appointed as auditor of the Company. In the opinion of the Company, no "reportable event" (as such term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102")) has occurred. The Company is relying on section 4.11(3)(a) of NI 51-102 for an exemption from the change of auditor requirements within section 4.11 of NI 51-102.

About QuantumCore Ltd.

QuantumCore is focused on becoming a dedicated hardware partner to the global quantum computing industry, designing and building advanced microchip sets engineered for cryogenic and superconducting environments. With quantum computing roadmaps accelerating and the world's leading quantum companies facing critical bottlenecks in signal fidelity, noise reduction, and ultra-low-temperature control, QuantumCore will provide the enabling "picks-and-shovels" hardware required to unlock the next stage of scalable quantum systems. Its specialized cryogenic signal-processing chips are designed to improve qubit performance, enhance readout accuracy, and reduce thermal interference, allowing quantum hardware manufacturers to move faster, reach higher qubit counts, and achieve more stable, commercially viable quantum computers. As a purpose-built engineering partner, QuantumCore will support the industry's transition from laboratory prototypes to real-world quantum machines.

This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Listing Statement, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, but not limited to, statements about the Company's strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions; the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the CSE; and statements with respect to future intentions of Mr. Eugene Profis, Mr. Greg Wilson, and Mr. Christopher Wilson. Often, but not always, these forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "planned", "reflecting", "will", "containing", "remaining", "to be", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including those factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Listing Statement. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except where required by law. There can be no assurance that these 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.

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/291884

Source: QuantumCore Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2026) - Goldstorm Metals Corp. (TSXV: GSTM) (FSE: B2U) ("Goldstorm" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $4,000,000 (the "Offering"), consisting of the sale of any combination of (i) units (the "HD Units") at a price of $0.20 per HD Unit; (ii) flow through units (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.24 per FT Unit; and (iii) charity flow through units (the "Charity FT Units") at a price of $0.31 per Charity FT Unit.

Each HD Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering.

Each FT Unit and Charity FT Unit will be comprised of one Common Share to be issued as a "flow-through share" (each, a "FT Share") within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") and one-half of one Warrant to be issued on a non-flow through basis.

It is anticipated that the gross proceeds from the issue and sale of the FT Units and CFT Units will be used for Canadian exploration expenses as defined in paragraph (f) of the definition of "Canadian exploration expense" in subsection 66.1(6) of the Tax Act and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act that will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" and "BC flow-through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 4.721(1) of the Income Tax Act (British Columbia) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2027 and renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2026 to the initial purchasers of FT Units and CFT Units. The net proceeds of the sale of Units are anticipated to be used for general and administrative working capital and other corporate purposes.

The Offering is expected to close on or about the week of April 30, 2026, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval.

There is an offering document related to this Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company's website at www.goldstormmetals.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Offering is being made to purchasers resident in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, the United States and in certain foreign jurisdictions, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The Units offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

Research Capital Corporation is acting as a finder in connection with the Offering. The Company may pay certain finders a cash fee equal to 6.0% of gross proceeds raised from investors introduced by such finders and a number of non-transferable finder warrants equal to 6.0% of the number of HD Units, FT Units, and/or Charity FT Units sold under the Offering to investors introduced by such finders. Such finder warrants shall entitle the holder to acquire one HD Unit at a price of $0.20 per HD Unit for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering.

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 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. 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 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 an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

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

"Ken Konklin"

President and Chief Executive Officer

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.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the closing of the Offering, including, the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange conditional acceptance, if it is to close at all; anticipated proceeds of the Offering; any finder's fees to be paid; the use of anticipated proceeds of the Offering; and the tax treatment of the FT Shares issued in connection with Charity FT Units and FT Units. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals, the ability to obtain adequate financing to conduct its planned exploration programs, inability to procure labour, equipment, and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown, impacts of the current coronavirus pandemic, and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions, or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

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/291898

Source: Goldstorm Metals Corp.
DALLAS  Security checkpoints at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport have shown marked improvement in early April 2026, with most TSA wait times now ranging from 5 to 15 minutes as the partial government shutdown continues but its effects on one of the world's busiest airports ease.

DFW, a massive hub serving as the primary base for American Airlines, handled more than 86 million passengers in 2025 and is on track for similar or slightly higher volume in 2026. The airport's five terminals (A, B, C, D and E) feature multiple security checkpoints, allowing it to absorb staffing fluctuations better than many single-terminal facilities.

During the peak of disruptions in mid-to-late March, some travelers reported waits reaching 30 to 50 minutes during spring break rushes, with occasional spikes tied to officer callouts. However, real-time data from the official DFW Airport website and traveler reports in early April show significantly shorter lines. As of April 8-9, most open checkpoints reported waits under 15 minutes, with many in the 5-10 minute range during non-peak hours. TSA PreCheck lanes have frequently cleared in 2-5 minutes.

The Transportation Security Administration has faced nationwide challenges due to the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse that began in mid-February. TSA officers, deemed essential, worked without regular paychecks for weeks, leading to higher absences and fatigue. At DFW, local union leaders noted the strain but highlighted that the airport's scale and multiple checkpoints helped prevent the multi-hour delays seen at some other major hubs.

Unlike airports that temporarily closed checkpoints, DFW has kept the majority of its 12+ screening lanes operational. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were deployed to some large airports for support tasks such as exit lane monitoring and ID verification, though DFW reports indicate less reliance on such auxiliary help compared to harder-hit locations. Back pay reaching officers in late March helped reduce callouts and stabilize staffing.

Airport officials and local media have described operations at DFW as relatively resilient. On March 27, all open checkpoints showed waits under 10 minutes during midday hours, a stark contrast to chaotic scenes reported in Houston, Atlanta and other cities. Travelers have praised the efficiency on social media, with many noting smoother experiences than expected during the shutdown period.

DFW offers TSA PreCheck in Terminals A, C, D and E, with CLEAR biometric lanes available particularly in Terminal E. The airport has also implemented TSA PreCheck Touchless ID technology using facial comparison for faster identity verification. Advanced imaging systems are in use, and officials encourage efficient packing  placing liquids in a quart bag and electronics in easily accessible bins  to speed screening.

Travelers can check live wait times directly on the DFW Airport website, which provides checkpoint-specific estimates and color-coded maps. The MyTSA app, airline apps like American Airlines, and flight information displays inside the terminals offer additional real-time updates. The airport recommends arriving two hours before domestic flights and three hours for international departures, though current conditions allow many passengers to follow standard timing.

The partial shutdown has highlighted vulnerabilities in the federal aviation security system, but DFW's performance stands out positively. With its vast layout and high daily passenger volume, the airport has managed to keep lines moving even as spring travel overlapped with the funding crisis. Local union representatives expressed concern about officer morale and long-term retention but credited dedicated staff for maintaining safety standards.

Beyond security, DFW continues major infrastructure investments. Terminal D upgrades aim to improve international processing and security flow, while overall terminal enhancements focus on passenger experience with expanded dining, shopping and art installations. The airport remains a critical connector for domestic routes across the U.S. and growing international service, particularly to Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Passenger feedback in April has been increasingly positive. Many who traveled during the tougher March period noted that PreCheck and CLEAR provided significant time savings, while standard lanes improved as staffing stabilized. Practical tips shared online include wearing slip-on shoes, checking wait times before leaving home, and using off-peak flight times when possible.

As the shutdown persists into its second month without a clear resolution, DFW officials continue monitoring staffing daily. While waits remain subject to fluctuation during morning (5-9 a.m.) and evening peaks, current trends suggest more predictable experiences for travelers in the weeks ahead. Summer travel planning is already underway, with the airport urging early booking of PreCheck or CLEAR enrollment for frequent flyers.

The broader national picture shows improvement at many airports after initial chaos, thanks to interim funding measures and auxiliary support. At DFW, the combination of scale, technology and proactive communication has helped maintain its reputation as an efficient major hub even amid uncertainty.

For passengers flying through Dallas/Fort Worth, experts recommend using the airport's security page and apps for the latest information. With improving metrics and ongoing enhancements, DFW positions itself well to handle the busy summer season ahead while demonstrating resilience during challenging times for TSA operations nationwide.

DFW Airport continues to serve as a vital economic engine for North Texas, facilitating millions of trips and supporting extensive airline networks. As conditions evolve, travelers are advised to stay informed through official channels and prepare accordingly for a smoother journey through one of America's busiest gateways.

Originally published on ibtimes.com.au
Recognized as one of the top 50 companies holding influential AI-related patents

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that Clarivate Plc, a global information services company based in the United Kingdom, has recognized Mitsubishi Electric as a Clarivate AI50 2026 organization for its leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) inventions. The recognition reflects the high regard for Mitsubishi Electric's achievements in AI-related intellectual property (IP). This prestigious designation follows the company's announcement in January that it had been named one of the Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2026.

Clarivate evaluates "invention strength" using four criteria-influence, success rate, rarity and geographic investment-with a focus on AI-related patents recorded in patent-related data collected by Clarivate. Launched this year, the award is presented to the top 50 organizations holding leading AI-related patents, of which Mitsubishi Electric is one of six Japanese companies to receive the honor.

Mitsubishi Electric aims to transform into an "Innovative Company" that generates value through bold thinking and a willingness to embrace risk. To achieve this, the company is enhancing its core strengths in equipment (components), transforming its business models and strengthening its digital platforms with data and AI. Mitsubishi Electric, which strategically positions intellectual property as a crucial business resource for its future growth and development, carefully aligns IP activities with the company's business and R&D strategies. Since the fiscal year ended in March 2021, the company has increased its ratio of solution- and AI-related patents in line with its business model transformation. Designation as a Clarivate AI50 2026 company recognizes Mitsubishi Electric's success in these efforts in the AI field. For more about the company's IP strategy, visit https://www.MitsubishiElectric.com/intellectual-property/

For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409707734/en/

Contacts:

Customer Inquiries

Patent Planning Dept.

Corporate Intellectual Property Division

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/

Media Inquiries

Takeyoshi Komatsu

Public Relations Division

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Tel: +81-3-3218-2332

prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/en/pr/
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!
Transaction strengthens emagine's delivery capabilities and access to high-quality talent across the region

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- emagine announces today that it has acquired Gentis' consulting operations in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, expanding its European presence to include Belgium and Luxembourg while also strengthening its presence in France.

Gentis is a Belgium-founded consulting firm with a 15-year track record of building a scaled, multi-country platform across Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. Supported by more than 270 consultants deployed on assignments with long-standing client relationships across these markets, the acquired business represents Gentis' consulting operations. It also provides emagine with immediate access to established local teams, deep delivery capabilities, and a well-embedded regional footprint.

In addition to geographical expansion, this transaction further enables the delivery of near- and off-shore services to an existing client base in new countries.

"This is about improving how we serve our clients while significantly expanding our European footprint," said Anders Gratte, CEO of emagine. "It gives us faster access to high-quality talent and more consistent delivery. We are excited to execute in these new markets and deliver for clients from day one, combining strong local expertise with more efficient, technology-enabled ways of matching talent to demand. We are very pleased to welcome the Gentis team to emagine."

"What made Gentis work was never just commercial performance, it was the way we operated: with trust, with directness, and with genuine care for the people in our business," said Stephanie Reniers, Co-Founder & CEO, Gentis Group. "When we looked at emagine, what stood out was not only the strategic fit but the cultural one. A Nordic approach to leadership, built on equality, openness and strong relationships, is not a claim we take lightly. It is the foundation we have tried to build ourselves. We are confident that what we hand over will be well looked after."

Media Contact:

Andrew Green

andrew@mezzpr.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/emagine-expands-european-footprint-with-acquisition-of-gentis-regional-consulting-operations-302738790.html
Stack BTC Plc - Unaudited Interim Report

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 10

10 April 2026

Stack BTC Plc

("the Company")

Unaudited Interim Report

Stack BTC Plc ("STAK" or the "Company"), the UK-based company focused on building a portfolio of high-quality, cash-generative businesses, alongside a Bitcoin treasury, announces its unaudited interim report for the six-month period ended 31 January 2026.

Highlights:

Completion of recapitalisation and Admission of New Ordinary Shares to AQSE Growth Market

Kwasi Kwarteng appointed Executive Chairman and Paul Withers as Director

Change of company name to Stack BTC Plc

Post-Period

Raised 4,277,900 in aggregate through equity fundraisings including strategic investment from Nigel Farage and Blockchain.com

Purchased 31 BTC

Appointments of David Galan as COO and Director and Melisa Lawton as Non-Executive Director

Kwasi Kwarteng, Executive Chairman of STAK commented:

"The first half of the year marked significant structural progress, with the capital restructuring and implementing our new strategy of building a portfolio of small companies to support our Bitcoin accumulation. Since then, we have completed a series of fundraisings and attracted strategic investors which has enabled Stack to make its first Bitcoin purchases. The Board is now focused on delivering its first acquisition and advancing its dual strategy, whilst strengthening Stack's profile as a leading, well-governed Bitcoin treasury company."

For further information please contact:

Stack BTC Plc Jai Patel Chief Executive Officer Jai@stackbitcoin.co.uk VSA Capital Limited (AQSE Corporate Adviser and Broker) Andrew Raca Sam Gurung +44 (0) 20 3005 5000 mail@vsacapital.com Yellow Jersey PR Charles Goodwin +44 (0) 774 7788 221 Charles@yellowjerseypr.com

About Stack BTC Plc

Stack BTC Plc is a UK-based operating company with a clear long-term objective: to build a portfolio of high-quality, cash-generative businesses and deploy the resulting surplus capital into Bitcoin as a strategic treasury asset. Our model combines disciplined mergers and acquisitions with long-term capital stewardship, creating a scalable platform for value creation and balance-sheet strength.

Further information on the Company is available at https://www.stackbitcoin.co.uk/ .

For latest news and updates from the Company, investors can register at: https://www.stackbitcoin.co.uk/register-interest

MANAGEMENT REPORT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JANUARY 2026

Backgroundand Context

Stack BTC Plc (the "Company") was incorporated and admitted to trading on the Aquis Growth Market in its prior form as Kasei Digital Assets Plc, a digital assets investment company. Following a strategic review and recapitalisation, the Board resolved to reposition the Company as an operating company focused on acquiring profitable businesses alongside a Bitcoin treasury - a model that the Directors believe offers shareholders a compelling opportunity.

The Company's mission is to acquire and operate a group of businesses which will enable the Company to accumulate and maximise Bitcoin per share. The Company will operate a dual-engine strategy, through the disciplined combination of capital markets activity and strategic business acquisitions.

The Directors believe that this model of focusing strongly on the acquisition of profitable operating companies will redefine and relaunch investor appetite in the newly emerging 'Bitcoin Treasury' sector and more firmly establish both institutional and retail investor interest in listed companies that hold Bitcoin as a core treasury asset.

A criticalprecondition to commencing the new strategy was the completion of a capital reduction to return capital to the shareholders. The Directors are pleased to confirm that this capital reduction was completed during the period under review and has been duly reflected in the financial statements. The Board considers this a foundational step, formally drawing a line under the prior business model and establishing a clean balance sheet from which the Company can execute its strategy with clarity and purpose.

Fundraisingand Capital Deployment

Since formallylaunching its new acquisitions and Bitcoin treasury strategy, the Company has raised 4,277,900 in aggregate through equity fundraisings. The Directors are encouraged by the level of investor engagement received since the relaunch and regard the capital raised to date as a meaningful validation of the proposition. The Board recognises that the Company remains at an early stage of its development and that these initial steps represent the first phases of execution of its business strategy.

Outlookand Priorities

The six months ended 31 January 2026 have been a period of significant structural progress for the Company. The completion of the capital reduction, the formalisation of the new strategy, and the initial fundraising activity represent thefoundationsupon which the Board intends to build. The Company has also entered into a strategic partnership and welcomed leading industry player, Blockchain.com as a long -term investor in the Company. The Company also received widespread press attention as it welcomed Nigel Farage, also as a long-term investor.

Looking ahead, the Board's main priority is to execute the acquisition of its first operating business, to set the dual-engine Bitcoin accumulation strategy in motion. The Board has begun its search phase and is currently reviewing and in discussions with several potential acquisition targets. M&A activity takes time to move through the various search, due diligence, legal, accounting and regulatoryphases and the Board is working diligentlyin this regard. Secondly, the Board will continue to raise capital through the capital markets, where appropriate and depending on market conditions, through additional issuances which grow Bitcoin holdings per share in an accretive manner for shareholders. Thirdly, the Board intends to build the Company's profile within the investment community, both in the UK and internationally as a differentiated and well-governed Bitcoin treasury vehicle.

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT

FORTHEPERIODENDED31JANUARY2026

Note 31January 2026  31July 2025  Turnover 3 58,499 65,864 Grossprofit 58,499 65,864 Administrative expenses (187,997) (288,344) Other operating income 19,701 2,283,404 Operating(loss)/profit 4 (109,797) 2,060,924 Tax on (loss)/profit - (599,071) (Loss)/profitforthefinancialperiod (109,797) 1,461,853 The notes on pages 7 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

BALANCESHEET ASAT31JANUARY2026 Note 31January 2026  31July 2025  Fixedassets Intangible assets 7 - 600,723 - 600,723 Currentassets Debtors: amounts falling due within one year 8 - 19,359 Cash at bank and in hand 9 51,079 2,921,259 51,079 2,940,618 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 10 (25,145) (196,232) Netcurrentassets 25,934 2,744,386 Totalassetslesscurrentliabilities 25,934 3,345,109 Netassets 25,934 3,345,109 Capitalandreserves Called up share capital 11 200,000 332,284 Share premium account 593,968 3,789,677 Capital redemption reserve - (27,992) Other reserves - (414,579) Profit and loss account (768,034) (334,281) 25,934 3,345,109

The notes on pages 7 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

STACKBTC PLC

STATEMENTOFCHANGESINEQUITY FORTHEPERIODENDED31JANUARY2026 Calledup Share premium Capital redemption Other Profitand sharecapital account reserve reserves lossaccount Totalequity       At1August2024 332,284 3,789,677 (27,992) 1,120,562 (1,796,134) 3,418,397 Profit for the year - - - - 1,461,853 1,461,853 Movement in fair value - - - (1,535,141) - (1,535,141) At1August2025 332,284 3,789,677 (27,992) (414,579) (334,281) 3,345,109 Loss for the period - - - - (109,797) (109,797) Movement in fair value - - - 90,623 - 90,623 Shares issued during the period 200,000 - - - - 200,000 Shares redeemed during the period - (3,167,717) - - - (3,167,717) Shares cancelled during the period (332,284) - - - - (332,284) Transfer between reserves - (27,992) 27,992 - - - Transfer between reserves - - - 323,956 (323,956) - At31 January2026 200,000 593,968 - - (768,034) 25,934 The notes on pages 7 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

Page 4

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JANUARY 2026

1 . General information

Stack BTC Plc is a public limited company limited by shares and incorporated in England. Its registered office is 85 Charlotte Street, London, England, W1T 4PS, United Kingdom.

The Company's shares are traded on the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market under ticker STAK and ISIN number GB00BSMKZ421.

The company is focused on building a portfolio of high-quality, cash-generative businesses, alongside a Bitcoin treasury. Operating businesses are intended to ensure that the company has recurring revenues, profits and positive cash flow that can enable the company's treasury to grow in a non-dilutive way, alongside capital market activities. STAK's Bitcoin treasury strategy is a result of management's strong conviction in Bitcoin's characteristics as a promising long-term store of value when accumulated appropriately and backed by real economic activity.

The interim financial statements for the six months ended 31 January 2026 are unaudited and have not been reviewed by the Company's auditors Brindley Goldstein.

2. Accounting policies

2.1Basisofpreparationoffinancialstatements

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified within these accounting policies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.

The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgment in applying the Company's accounting policies.

The following principal accounting policies have been applied:

2.2 Foreign currency translation Functional and presentation currency

The Company's functional and presentational currency is GBP.

Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the spot exchange rates at the dates of the transactions.

At each period end foreign currency monetary items are translated using the closing rate. Non-monetary items measured at historical cost are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction and non-monetary items measured at fair value are measured using the exchange rate when fair value was determined.

Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of transactions and from the translation at period-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in profit or loss except when deferred in other comprehensive income as qualifying cash flow hedges.

Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings and cash and cash equivalents are presented in the Profit and Loss Account within 'finance income or costs'. All other foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in profit or loss within 'other operating income'.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JANUARY 2026

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.3Revenue

Revenue is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Company and the revenue can be reliably measured. Revenue is measured as the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes. The following criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised:

2.4 Taxation

Tax is recognised in profit or loss except that a charge attributable to an item of income and expense recognised as other comprehensive income or to an item recognised directly in equity is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date in the countries where the Company operates and generates income.

2.5 Intangible assets

Intangible assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the revaluation model, intangible assets shall be carried at a revalued amount, being its fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated amortisation and subsequent impairment losses - provided thatthe fair value can be determined by reference to an active market.

Revaluations are made with sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amount does not differ materiallyfrom that which would be determined using fair value at the end of the balance sheet date.

All intangible assets are considered to have a finite useful life. If a reliable estimate of the useful life cannot be made, the useful life shall not exceed ten years.

2.6 Valuation of investments

Investments in subsidiaries are measured at cost less accumulated impairment.

Investments in unlisted Company shares, whose market value can be reliably determined, are remeasured to market value at each balance sheet date. Gains and losses on remeasurement are recognised in the Profit and Loss Account for the period. Where market value cannot be reliably determined, such investments are stated at historic cost less impairment.

2.7 Debtors

Short-term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measuredinitiallyat fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FORTHEPERIOD ENDED 31 JANUARY 2026

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.8Cashandcashequivalents

Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.

2.9 Creditors

Short-term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

3.Turnover An analysis of turnover by class of business is as follows: 31January 31July 2026  2025  Staking Income - 15,305 Option Premium - 14,045 Interest Income 58,499 36,514 58,499 65,864 Analysis of turnover by country of destination: 31January 31July 2026  2025  United Kingdom 58,499 65,864 58,499 65,864

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JANUARY 2026

4.Operating(loss)/profit The operating (loss)/profit is stated after charging: 31January 31July 2026  2025  Exchange differences 799 799 5. Employees 31January 31July 2026  2025  Wages and salaries 27,000 54,000 Social security costs 2,700 4,212 29,700 58,212

The average monthly number of employees, including the directors, during the period was as follows:



31 January

2026 31 July

2025 No. No. Employees - 2

6. Directors' remuneration

31 January

2026 31 July

2025   Directors' emoluments 27,000 54,000 27,000 54,000

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JANUARY 2026

7.Intangibleassets Digital Assets  At 1 August 2025 600,723 Disposals (600,723) At 31 January 2026 - Netbookvalue At 31 January 2026 - At31July2025 600,723 8.Debtors 31January 31July 2026  2025  Prepayments and accrued income - 19,359 - 19,359 9.Cashandcashequivalents 31January 31July 2026  2025  Cash at bank and in hand 51,079 2,921,259 51,079 2,921,259

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JANUARY 2026

10. Creditors:Amountsfallingduewithinoneyear 31January 31July 2026  2025  Trade creditors 21,549 18,441 Amounts owed to group undertakings - 157,201 Other taxation and social security 3,596 6,590 Accruals and deferred income - 14,000 25,145 196,232

11.Sharecapital 31January 31July Allotted,calledupandfullypaid 2026  2025  20,000,000 (2025-33,228,360)Shares of 0.01 each 200,000 332,284 Capitalreorganisationnote

During the period, the Company completed a court-approved capital reduction in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

The reduction involved the cancellation of the entire issued share capital and share premium account. The resulting credit of approximately 3.5 million was recognised in a capital reduction reserve.

This reserve was deemed distributable and was subsequently utilised to fund a return of capital to shareholders.

Distribution

A distribution of approximately 3.5 million was made to shareholders during the period, representing substantially all of the Company's realised assets following the disposal of its cryptocurrency holdings.

Share cancellation and new issue

Following the capital reduction and distribution, the existing ordinary shares were cancelled.

The Company subsequently issued 20,000,000 new ordinary shares of 0.01 each for cash consideration of 200,000 as part of a recapitalisation of the Company.
Regulatory News:

AZELIS GROUP NV (the "Company") (Brussels:AZE):

The board of directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") invites the shareholders of the Company to participate in the ordinary and extraordinary general meeting of shareholders ("General Meeting") of the Company which will take place on Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 11:00 am CEST at the registered office of the Company, Posthofbrug 12, 2600 Berchem, Belgium, to deliberate and decide on the agenda set out below.

Applicable participation formalities are detailed at the end of this convening notice. The Company uses the Lumi Connect platform (www.lumiconnect.com) to facilitate participation and voting in the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting. The Board of Directors strongly recommends shareholders to make maximum use of the Lumi Connect platform to complete all participation formalities and to vote digitally and remotely at the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting. The Lumi Connect platform is free of charge for shareholders.

There is no quorum requirement for the ordinary General Meeting. Without prejudice to applicable legislation, each share is entitled to one vote. Resolutions are validly adopted if at least the majority of the votes cast is in favour of a proposed resolution.

The extraordinary General Meeting will be held immediately following the ordinary General Meeting and will only validly deliberate on the items on its agenda if at least half of the capital is present or represented, in accordance with article 7:153 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations ("CCA"). If this condition is not met, a new extraordinary General Meeting with the same agenda will be convened for Thursday 4 June 2026 at 11:00 am CEST. This second extraordinary General Meeting will validly deliberate irrespective of the number of shares present or represented.

AGENDA

ORDINARY PART

The agenda of the ordinary General Meeting and the proposed resolutions are as follows:

1. Report of the Board of Directors and report of the statutory auditor on the consolidated annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025

Acknowledgment of the integrated annual report of the Board of Directors, including the sustainability information required by the European Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on Corporate Sustainability Reporting (as amended from time to time) ("CSRD"), and of the report of the statutory auditor on the consolidated annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.

2. Consolidated annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025

Acknowledgment of the consolidated annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.

3. Report of the Board of Directors and report of the statutory auditor on the statutory annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025

Acknowledgment of the statutory annual report of the Board of Directors and of the report of the statutory auditor on the statutory annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.

4. Approval of statutory annual accounts and allocation of the result

Discussion and approval of (i) the statutory annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025 drawn up by the Board of Directors and (ii) the proposed allocation of the result, including the granting of a power of attorney to the Board of Directors.

Proposed resolution: Approval of the statutory annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2025, and of the proposed allocation of the result, including the approval of the allocation of EUR 332,016.67 to the legal reserves and a dividend payment of EUR 0.226 per share, currently resulting in an aggregate gross amount of 55.0 million, based on the number of shares outstanding at 31 December 2025. Granting of a power of attorney to the Board of Directors to determine the further terms of payment of the dividend.

5. Approval of remuneration report

The CCA requires the General Meeting to approve the remuneration report each year by separate vote. This report includes a description of the application of the Remuneration Policy during 2025 and information on remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee. In response to feedback from investors and proxy advisors regarding the 2024 Remuneration Report, the Company has revised its disclosures to ensure enhanced clarity and transparency in the remuneration report, including comprehensive details on both financial and non-financial targets, such as the individual performance criteria under the Company's short-term incentive plan, the weighing and target-setting of performance conditions and the achievement thereof, as well as the termination provisions applicable to the contractual arrangements with each Executive Committee member.

Proposed resolution: Approval of the remuneration report included in the integrated annual report of the Board of Directors for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.

6. Approval of Remuneration Policy

The Remuneration Policy of the Company was approved by the General Meeting of 9 June 2022, with an amendment approved by the General Meeting of 8 June 2023, with effect as from 1 August 2022. In accordance with article 2:50 and article 7:89/1 of the CCA, this policy needs to be resubmitted for approval to the General Meeting at least every 4 years, or upon any substantial change. The Remuneration Policy, including the section dealing with the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, remains largely unchanged. Only proposed changes relate to (i) a technical clarification on the value of the shareholding required to be held by non-executive directors and members of the Executive Committee, and (ii) an update to the termination arrangements for the Group CEO following the CEO change in 2024, adding a cap of 12 months on the termination fee in accordance with article 7:92 of the CCA. During 2026, a deeper review will take place, reflecting the changes Azelis is undertaking today, which will result in a new remuneration policy, to be submitted for approval at the General Meeting in 2027. For more details on the total remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee during the year 2025, please refer to the remuneration report.

Proposed resolution: Approval of the Remuneration Policy, for a new 4-year period covering the financial years 2026 until and including 2029.

7. Discharge from liability to the directors

Proposed resolution: To grant discharge from liability to the directors who were in office for the exercise of their mandate during the financial year ending on 31 December 2025.

8. Discharge from liability to the statutory auditor

Proposed resolution: To grant discharge from liability to the statutory auditor for the exercise of its mandate during the financial year ending on 31 December 2025.

9. Appointment of Directors

Following the resignation of Cloudworks BV, with permanent representative Mr. Thijs Bakker as (executive) director on 31 December 2025, the Board of Directors has, as from 1 January 2026 and upon the recommendation of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, appointed Aubolesama BV as (executive) director of the Company by means of co-optation in accordance with article 17, 1 of the articles of association and the CCA, for the remainder of the term of the mandate of Cloudworks BV. Aubolesama BV is represented by Mr. Boris Cambon-Lalanne as permanent representative for the execution of this mandate. The appointment of Aubolesama BV as a member of the Board of Directors by way of co-optation must be ratified by this General Meeting in order for this mandate to continue. In line with the Azelis Remuneration Policy, Aubolesama BV is remunerated as member of the Executive Committee of the Company and will not be remunerated for its mandate as (executive) director of the Company.

Following the voluntary resignation of Mr. Bert Janssens and Mr. Kristiaan Nieuwenburg as non-executive directors of the Company, nominated by EQT's subsidiary Akita I S. r. l., effective as of the end of the meeting of the Board of Directors held on 17 February 2026, the Board of Directors is composed of 4 independent directors and 2 executive directors. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, is proposing to appoint Mr. Julian Francis and Mr. Miguel Kohlmann as additional new independent directors of the Company. Based on the information provided to the Company, Mr. Julian Francis and Mr. Miguel Kohlmann both meet the independence criteria stipulated by article 7:87 of the CCA, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Belgian Code of Corporate Governance and by article 5.2.5 of the Corporate Governance Charter of the Company. The Company confirms that it has no indication to question the independence of the proposed candidate directors. In accordance with the Remuneration Policy of the Company, Mr. Julian Francis and Mr. Miguel Kohlmann will each receive a total annual remuneration of EUR 70,000 gross.

Subject to the approval of abovementioned appointments by the General Meeting, the Board of Directors will be composed of 8 members, of which 6 are independent directors. The special committees of the Board of Directors will be entirely composed of independent directors.

The curriculum vitae, information on other board mandates and skills of the proposed directors are available on the internet site of Azelis (https://www.azelis.com/en/AGM2026).

Considering the above and upon recommendation of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, the Board of Directors is proposing the following:

To ratify the appointment of Aubolesama BV, with permanent representative Mr. Boris Cambon-Lalanne, as (executive) director for a term until the General Meeting to be held in 2029. In line with the Azelis Remuneration Policy, this mandate as (executive) director of the Company will not be remunerated. To appoint Mr. Julian Francis as new independent and non-executive director for a term of 4 years until the General Meeting to be held in 2030. In accordance with the Remuneration Policy of the Company, Mr. Julian Francis will receive a total annual remuneration of EUR 70,000 gross. Mr. Julian Francis meets the independence criteria determined by article 7:87 of the CCA, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Belgian Code of Corporate Governance and by article 5.2.5 of the Corporate Governance Charter of the Company. The Company confirms that it has no indication to question the independence of the proposed candidate director. To appoint Mr. Miguel Kohlmann as new independent and non-executive director for a term of 4 years until the General Meeting to be held in 2030. In accordance with the Remuneration Policy of the Company, Mr. Miguel Kohlmann will receive a total annual remuneration of EUR 70,000 gross. Mr. Miguel Kohlmann meets the independence criteria determined by article 7:87 of the CCA, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Belgian Code of Corporate Governance and by article 5.2.5 of the Corporate Governance Charter of the Company. The Company confirms that it has no indication to question the independence of the proposed candidate director.

Proposed resolutions:

9.1 To appoint Aubolesama BV, with permanent representative Mr. Boris Cambon-Lalanne, as (executive) director for a term, expiring at the General Meeting deciding on the approval of the Company's annual accounts for the financial year ending on 31 December 2028. This mandate will not be remunerated.

9.2 a. To appoint Mr. Julian Francis as independent and non-executive director for a term of 4 years, expiring at the General Meeting deciding on the approval of the Company's annual accounts for the financial year ending on 31 December 2029, remunerated in accordance with the Remuneration Policy of the Company.

b. To acknowledge that (i) from the information made available to the Company, Mr. Julian Francis qualifies as an independent director according to the independence criteria provided for by article 7:87 of the CCA, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Belgian Code of Corporate Governance and by article 5.2.5 of the Corporate Governance Charter of the Company, (ii) that the Company confirms that it has no indication to question the independence of the proposed candidate director, and consequently, to appoint him as independent director.

9.3 a. To appoint Mr. Miguel Kohlmann as independent and non-executive director for a term of 4 years, expiring at the General Meeting deciding on the approval of the Company's annual accounts for the financial year ending on 31 December 2029, remunerated in accordance with the Remuneration Policy of the Company.

b. To acknowledge that (i) from the information made available to the Company, Mr. Miguel Kohlmann qualifies as an independent director according to the independence criteria provided for by article 7:87 of the CCA, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Belgian Code of Corporate Governance and by article 5.2.5 of the Corporate Governance Charter of the Company, (ii) that the Company confirms that it has no indication to question the independence of the proposed candidate director, and consequently, to appoint him as independent director.

10. Statutory auditor

Approval of audit fees

At the request of the statutory auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers Bedrijfsrevisoren BV ("PwC") and following endorsement by the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board of Directors hereby requests approval from the General Meeting to raise the statutory auditor's fee from EUR 696,257 (excluding VAT, out-of-pocket expenses and the IRE/IBR fee) to EUR 818,210 (excluding VAT, out-of-pocket expenses and the IRE/IBR fee) for financial year 2025, mainly due to M&A transactions, changes in audit scope and the corporate sustainability reporting as set forth in CSRD.

Proposed resolution At the request of the statutory auditor and following endorsement by the Audit and Risk Committee, to raise the statutory auditor's fee for financial year 2025 to EUR 818,210.

11. Change of control clauses

In accordance with article 7:151 of the CCA, only the General Meeting may grant rights that either could have a significant influence on the Company's assets or could give rise to significant liability or obligations for the Company dependent on the occurrence of a public takeover bid on the shares of the Company or a change of control over the Company.

EUR 400 million Senior unsecured Notes due 2031 issued on 10 March 2026

On 10 March 2026, Azelis Finance NV has issued Senior unsecured Notes due 2031 for an aggregate principal amount of EUR 400 million, which are governed by an indenture entered into between Azelis Finance NV, the Company, Citibank N.A., London Branch and Citibank Europe plc on the same date. The Senior unsecured Notes are guaranteed by the Company. The indenture includes a section 4.14, according to which the holders of the Senior Notes are entitled, following a change of control over the Company and in certain circumstances, to request repurchase of their Senior unsecured Notes by Azelis Finance NV.

Proposed resolution Ratification and approval, to the extent necessary, of the terms and conditions of the indenture dated 10 March 2026, governing the Senior unsecured Notes for an aggregate amount of EUR 400 million issued on that date by Azelis Finance NV and guaranteed by the Company, including section 4.14, according to which the holders of the Senior Notes are entitled, following a change of control over the Company and in certain circumstances, to request repurchase of their Senior unsecured Notes by Azelis Finance NV, in accordance with article 7:151 of the CCA.

12. Power of attorney

Proposed resolution: Power of attorney to each director of the Company and Mr. Gerrit De Vos, Corporate Secretary, as well as each notary and each notarial assistant of the notary office Celis Liesse in Antwerp, each acting alone and with the power of substitution, to do everything that is needed to execute the decisions taken by the ordinary General Meeting and to carry out the formalities related to their publication.

EXTRAORDINARY PART

The agenda of the extraordinary General Meeting and the proposed resolutions are as follows:

1. Renewal of authorisation for authorised capital

Acknowledgement of the special report in which the Board of Directors sets out the specific circumstances in which the proposed authorisation regarding the authorised capital can be used and the objectives that are being pursued. The Board of Directors considers the instrument of the authorised capital to be useful, and even necessary, to be able to respond quickly and flexibly to capital needs and/or certain circumstances such as market opportunities or crisis conditions.

Renewal of the authorisation to the Board of Directors regarding authorised capital.

Amendment of Article 9 of the Articles of Association.

The existing authorisation to the Board of Directors regarding authorised capital will expire on 30 September 2026. Therefore, it is proposed to the shareholders to extend this authorisation for a new statutory term of five (5) years, starting after the aforementioned date and in a more limited form as described below in the proposed resolution, in line with the guidelines of proxy voting advisors and major institutional shareholders and the market practice for listed companies.

The authorisation to the Board of Directors that has meanwhile expired and that was granted for three (3) years to increase the capital of the Company following the receipt by the Company of the notification from the FSMA (Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority) of a public takeover bid for the securities of the Company until the end of the offer, will NOT be renewed.

Proposed resolution

The existing authorisation to the Board of Directors in respect of the authorised capital expiring on 30 September 2026 is renewed with effect from 1 October 2026 as set out below.

The Board of Directors is granted, for a further period of five (5) years running from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2031, the power to increase the capital of the Company in one or more times, in the interest of the Company and subject to the legal restrictions and conditions hereafter:

1/ with an amount equal to a maximum of 50% of the capital in the event the preferential subscription rights of the existing shareholders are respected;

2/ with an amount up to a maximum of 10% of the capital in the event of a limitation or cancellation of the preferential subscription rights of the existing shareholders, as well as in the event of a limitation or cancellation of the preferential subscription rights for the benefit of employees of the company or its subsidiaries or for the benefit of one or more specific persons, whether or not employees of the company or its subsidiaries.

The authorisations under 1/ and 2/ may be combined but never accumulated, i.e. the total amount by which the Board of Directors may increase the capital pursuant to these authorisations is always limited to 50% of the capital.

The capital increases decided upon pursuant to this authorisation shall be made in accordance with the procedures to be determined by the Board of Directors; they can be made (i) by way of a contribution in cash or in kind, (ii) by conversion of available or unavailable reserves, and of share premiums, with or without the issue of new shares, with or without preferential rights, with or without voting rights. The Board of Directors may also use this authorization for the issuance of convertible bonds, subscription rights or bonds carrying subscription rights or other movable securities, or other securities.

The Board of Directors is authorised, with the possibility of substitution, to bring the articles of association in line with the new capital and share situation after each capital increase established within the framework of the authorised capital and the resulting change in the amount of the capital and the number of existing shares.

Article 9 of the articles of association is amended accordingly: on the one hand, a new 2 concerning the new authorisations granted is added and 3 is deleted in its entirety and on the other hand, the current 1, 2 (becoming 3) and 4 are amended and rewritten, as included in the draft coordinated articles of association mentioned in agenda item 4 below.

2. Renewal of authorisation to acquire own securities

Renewal of the authorisation to the Board of Directors to acquire own securities, amongst others, to incentivise management in accordance with the Remuneration Policy of the Company.

Confirmation, to the extent necessary, of the existing statutory authorisations to the Board of Directors to dispose of own securities that remain unchanged, with the exception of the authorisation to dispose of them in order to avoid imminent serious harm to the Company.

Amendment of Article 15 of the articles of association.

The existing authorisation to the Board of Directors to acquire own securities expires on 30 September 2026. Therefore, it is proposed to the shareholders to extend that authorisation for a new statutory term of five (5) years, effective after the aforementioned date and in a more limited form as described below in the proposed resolution, in line with the guidelines of proxy voting advisors and major institutional shareholders and market practice for listed companies.

The authorisation to the Board of Directors that has meanwhile expired, and that was granted for three (3) years to be able to acquire or dispose of its own securities in order to prevent an imminent serious disadvantage for the Company, will NOT be renewed.

Proposed resolution

The existing authorisation to the Board of Directors to acquire own securities expiring on 30 September 2026 is renewed with effect from 1 October 2026 as set out below.

The Board of Directors is granted, for a new period of five (5) years running from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2031, the power, subject to the applicable legal provisions, to acquire on behalf of the Company a maximum of ten percent (10%) of its own shares and, where applicable, profit participation certificates or depositary receipts relating thereto, on or outside a regulated market, at a price determined in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, but which shall in no case exceed ten percent (10%) below the lowest closing price of the last thirty (30) trading days prior to the operation and no more than ten percent (10%) above the highest closing price of the last thirty trading days prior to the operation. That authorisation shall also apply to the acquisition on or outside a regulated market of shares and, where appropriate, of the company's profit participation certificates or depositary receipts relating thereto, by a directly controlled subsidiary of the Company, where such acquisition is treated as an acquisition by the public limited company itself.

The Company, together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries and persons acting in their own name but on behalf of one of them, shall never hold more than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares issued by the Company. The Board of Directors may not make use of the aforementioned authorisation if and to the extent that this threshold would be exceeded.

Article 15 of the articles of association is amended accordingly: on the one hand, the current 2 is deleted in its entirety and a new 2 concerning the new authorisations granted is added and on the other hand, 1 and 3 are amended and rewritten, as included in the draft coordinated articles of association mentioned in agenda item 4 below.

3. Cancellation special rights founder

Following the most recent transfer of shares by EQT in the first quarter of 2026, the number of shares held by the founder of the Company has fallen below the threshold of 3% of the total number of shares issued by the Company. It is therefore proposed to abolish all special rights that the founder had reserved for itself in the articles of association.

The founder's statutory nomination right for the appointment of directors is abolished.

Amendment of Articles 17, 20 and 22 of the articles of association.

Proposed resolution

The existing statutory rights of the founder of the Company to nominate candidate directors for a certain minimum number of directorships in accordance with its shareholding are cancelled in full and deleted from the articles of association.

Accordingly, 2 of Article 17 of the articles of association, with the exception of the last paragraph, is deleted in its entirety. Furthermore, all the provisions of the articles of association referred to below that refer to this right of nomination or to the directors appointed in application of this right of nomination are also deleted from Article 17, 1, 3rd paragraph, in fine (composition of the Board of Directors), Article 20, 1 (quorum) and Article 22, last paragraph, in fine (conflicts of interest).

4. Other amendments to the articles of association

In order to make the articles of association future-proof for any subsequent legislative changes, it is proposed to delete all references to specific articles in the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, or to the code itself, from the articles of association, in order to simplify the articles of association without resulting in substantive changes.

Deletion of all references in the articles of association to an article or book of the Code of Companies and Associations or to the Code itself.

Deletion possibly accompanied by rewording, without any change in substance, of the relevant parts of the text that contain a reference to the Code in Articles 17, 3, 18, 2 and 4, 22, 26, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 48, 49, 50, 51.

Proposed resolution

In the absence of added value for the reading of the articles of association and in order to avoid adjustments that would be necessary as a result of any future legislative amendments, all references to an article or book of the Code of Companies and Associations or to the Code itself shall be deleted throughout the articles of association, such deletion or any accompanying reformulation not resulting in any substantive change of the relevant provision of the articles of association.

Articles 17, 3, 18, 2 and 4, 22, 26, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 48, 49, 50, 51 are amended accordingly as proposed in the draft coordinated articles of association prepared, taking into account all amendments to the articles of association following the decisions on all previous agenda items, which was made available together with the convening notice on the website of the Company and which is hereby fully approved.

PARTICIPATION FORMALITIES

Please note that all dates and times mentioned herein are final deadlines, and that these will not be extended due to a weekend, holiday or for any other reason.

Admission

To be admitted to the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, shareholders must comply with the following formalities:

1. Registration of shares

Only persons who are shareholders on 29 April 2026 at midnight (24:00 Central European Summer Time) (the "Record Date") will be entitled to participate in and vote at the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, regardless of the number of shares held by the shareholder on the day of the meetings. Shareholders must be registered as shareholders on the Record Date

for registered shares , in the shareholders' register of the Company;

, in the shareholders' register of the Company; for dematerialised shares , on a securities account with an authorised account holder or clearing institution (see section 2 below).

2. Notification of intention to participate

Shareholders must, by 7 May 2026, 16:00 CEST at the latest notify their intention to participate in the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting and, to the extent they hold dematerialised shares, submit a certificate of registration:

for shareholders who choose to use the Lumi Connect platform, via this platform, at www.lumiconnect.com. This platform will allow shareholders holding dematerialised shares to request the direct issuance of a certificate of registration. This will constitute notification of the intention to participate in the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting. Therefore, shareholders will not have to take further steps with their bank or with the Company; or

for shareholders who wish to attend the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting physically or via a proxyholder and who do not choose to use the Lumi Connect platform, by sending a notification in the form available on the Company's website (www.azelis.com/AGM2026) or their proxy, as the case may be, accompanied by a certificate of registration to be requested from their authorised account holder or clearing institution, (i) by email to agm@azelis.com, or (ii) by post or delivery at Posthofbrug 12, box 6, 2600 Berchem, Belgium, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary.

The Company draws the attention of the shareholders to the obligation for holders of dematerialised shares to attach a certificate of registration from their authorised account holder or clearing institution, evidencing the number of dematerialised shares registered in the name of the shareholder on the accounts of the authorised account holder or clearing institution on the Record Date, which such shareholder has indicated in the intention to participate to the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, if they do not use the Lumi Connect platform.

For holders of registered shares, the Company will verify if they are effectively registered in the share register of the Company for the number of shares indicated in the intention to participate to the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting.

An issuer of certificates relating to registered shares must notify its capacity of issuer to the Company, which will record such capacity in the shareholders' register. An issuer who refrains from notifying this capacity can only vote at the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting if the written notification indicating its intention to participate in these meetings specifies its capacity of issuer. An issuer of certificates linked to dematerialised shares must notify its capacity of issuer to the Company before exercising any vote, at the latest through the written notification indicating its intention to participate in the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, failing which such shares cannot participate in voting.

Participation and voting

Only shareholders who have complied with the admission requirements in due time will be allowed to participate and vote in the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, either: (i) physically, (ii) by proxy (written or electronic) or (iii) by remote voting form.

1. Physical attendance

Subject to the requirements and restrictions referred to below, each shareholder has the right to participate in the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting physically.

To allow an efficient registration process, the shareholders or proxyholders who physically attend the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting are requested to register at the meeting premises between 10:00 and 10:30 CEST.

Before being admitted to the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, the shareholders or their proxyholders participating physically in the meetings are required to sign an attendance sheet, indicating their first name, last name and place of residence or corporate denomination, enterprise number and registered office, as well as the number of shares in respect of which they are participating in the meetings. Representatives of legal entities must provide the supporting documents that demonstrate their power of representation as members of a governing body or their assignment as special proxyholders. The natural persons, shareholders, members of governing bodies or proxyholders who take part in the meetings must be able to prove their identity. Once the ordinary General Meeting has started, shareholders are kindly requested to stay in the room until the end of the extraordinary General Meeting.

2. Attendance through a proxyholder

A shareholder may be represented by a proxyholder at the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, using the proxy form drawn up by the Board of Directors. The shareholder who wishes to be represented by proxy must deliver a proxy in written or electronic form by 7 May 2026, 16:00 CEST at the latest, as set out below:

by completing and submitting the proxy form via the Lumi Connect platform (www.lumiconnect.com); or

(www.lumiconnect.com); or by submitting a completed, signed and dated written or electronic copy of the proxy form made available by the Board of Directors on the Company's website (www.azelis.com/AGM2026), to the Company, either (i) by email at agm@azelis.com, or (ii) by post or delivery at Posthofbrug 12, box 6, 2600 Berchem, Belgium, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary.

The appointment of a proxyholder must be made in accordance with applicable rules of Belgian law, including the rules on conflicts of interest and the keeping of a register. In addition, shareholders appointing a proxyholder must meet the admission requirements described above.

Shareholders who have voted by proxy may also attend the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting physically. Please note that shareholders who have given a proxy can no longer vote during the physical meetings but may ask questions live.

3. Remote voting before the General Meeting

Shareholders may vote remotely in electronic form before the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting. Remote votes may be cast:

via the Lumi Connect platform (www.lumiconnect.com), by 12 May 2026 at the latest ; or

(www.lumiconnect.com), ; or by submitting a completed, signed and dated paper or electronic copy of the voting form made available by the Board of Directors on the website of the Company (www.azelis.com/AGM2026), which must reach the Company, either (i) by email at agm@azelis.com, or (ii) by post or delivery at Posthofbrug 12, box 6, 2600 Berchem, Belgium, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, by 7 May 2026, 16:00 CEST at the latest

In addition, shareholders choosing to vote remotely must meet the admission requirements described above.

Shareholders who have voted remotely may also attend the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting physically. Please note that shareholders who have voted remotely can no longer vote during the physical meetings but may ask questions live.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Additional agenda items and proposed resolutions

In accordance with article 7:130 of the CCA, one or more shareholders owning (together) at least 3% of the share capital of the Company may request to add items to be included on the agenda of a General Meeting and submit proposals for resolutions concerning existing or new agenda items.

Shareholders that wish to exercise this right must, in order for their request to be discussed at the General Meeting:

prove their ownership of at least 3% of the share capital of the Company on the date of their request by (i) a certificate of registration of the relevant shares in the shareholders' register of the Company, or (ii) a certificate of registration issued by the authorised account holder or the clearing institution certifying the book-entry of the relevant number of dematerialised shares in their name on their securities account; have satisfied the admission requirements described above for such percentage of the share capital; send a written request with, as the case may be, the text of the agenda items to be added and the corresponding resolutions proposals, or the text of the resolution proposals to be added to the agenda, either (i) by email at agm@azelis.com, or (ii) by post or delivery at Posthofbrug 12, box 6, 2600 Berchem, Belgium, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, which must have been received by the Company by 21 April 2026 at the latest

If one or more shareholders have duly exercised this right, the Company will publish an updated agenda on its website (www.azelis.com/AGM2026) and on the Lumi Connect platform (www.lumiconnect.com), before or at the latest on 28 April 2026. In such case, the Company will make available revised proxy forms and remote voting forms together with the revised agenda on its website and on the Lumi Connect platform. Powers of attorney and votes cast remotely that reach the Company prior to the publication of an updated agenda remain valid for the agenda items to which they apply, subject to the applicable legislation and the further clarifications set out in the proxy forms and the forms for remote voting.

2. Questions to the directors and/or the statutory auditor

In accordance with article 7:139 of the CCA, each shareholder has the right to ask questions to the directors or the statutory auditor of the Company, relating to their respective reports or items on the agenda of the General Meeting.

Questions can be asked during the General Meeting or can be submitted in writing prior to the meeting. Written questions must reach the Company, either (i) by email at agm@azelis.com, or (ii) by post or delivery at Posthofbrug 12, box 6, 2600 Berchem, Belgium, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, at the latest on 7 May 2026, 16:00 CEST

For shareholders who choose to use the Lumi Connect platform, this platform enables them to submit questions in writing in advance, subject to the above-mentioned deadline.

3. Documents

All documents relating to the General Meeting that are required by law to be made available to shareholders are available on the Company's website (www.azelis.com/AGM2026) and on the Lumi Connect platform (www.lumiconnect.com) as of the date of this convening notice. Shareholders can also obtain a free copy of this documentation at the registered office of the Company (Posthofbrug 12, box 6, 2600 Berchem, Belgium) or by email to agm@azelis.com.

4. Data protection

The Company is responsible for the processing of the personal data it receives from shareholders and proxyholders in the context of the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation. The processing of such personal data will in particular take place for the analysis and management of the attendance and voting procedure in relation to the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting, this in accordance with the applicable legislation and the Company's privacy policy. This personal data may be transferred to affiliated entities and with third-party service providers for the purpose of providing assistance in the management of attendance and voting procedures, and for analysing the composition of the investor base. The personal data will not be stored any longer than necessary in light of the aforementioned objective and will therefore be erased or made anonymous in accordance with the Company's privacy policy.

Shareholders and proxyholders may consult the Company's privacy policy on its website (www.azelis.com/privacy-statement). Shareholders and proxyholders can exercise their rights with regard to their personal data provided to the Company by contacting the Company at privacy@azelis.com.

5. Communications to the Company

Shareholders may address questions concerning the organisation of the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting or this convening notice to Mr. Gerrit De Vos, Corporate Secretary, by email to agm@azelis.com.

The Board of Directors

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409974352/en/

Contacts:

AZELIS GROUP NV

Posthofbrug 12, box 6

2600 Berchem

Enterprise number 0769.555.240

RPR/RPM Antwerp, division Antwerp

investor-relations@azelis.com

https://www.azelis.com
Warburg Pincus launches European Defence Investment Initiative with MEAG on behalf of Munich Re Group as an Early Backer of the Strategy

Collaboration Focused on Private Equity Investments in European Defence, Security and Strategic Resilience Businesses

Warburg Pincus, the pioneer of private equity global growth investing, today announced the commencement of a dedicated European defence investment platform, reflecting the firm's view that the sector is benefiting from sustained structural tailwinds and long-term policy support across the region. MEAG, as asset manager of Munich Re Group, will support the strategy as an early backer in the investment platform.

The proposed investment platform will complement existing capabilities while maintaining a dedicated European defence focus. As European governments and institutions accelerate investment in defence capabilities, resilience and strategic sovereignty, the proposed platform seeks to position Warburg Pincus to deploy capital into defence and adjacent strategic industries across Europe.

"Europe is undergoing a fundamental reassessment of its defence, resilience and security needs, leading to significant need for scaling of the European Defence sector," said Tobias Weidner, Managing Director and head of the European Industrials team at Warburg Pincus. "We believe this creates a compelling long-term opportunity to support the growth of high-quality businesses operating in critical, strategic sectors, drawing on our experience investing in Aerospace and Defence and broader industrials."

"Defence and security are strategically important sectors, given their role in supporting European resilience. Warburg Pincus is a natural partner based on our long-standing relationship and their deep sector expertise in Aerospace and Defence with a multi-decade track record building market-leading companies. We look forward to working together to back high-quality European businesses in this space," said Nicholas Gartside, Member of the Board of Munich Re and Chief Investment Officer of Munich Reinsurance Company.

Warburg Pincus has a long track record of partnering with management teams and founders across Europe and globally. The firm brings significant experience across core Aerospace and Defence and adjacent industrial sectors globally, supported by more than 20 years of industrials investing and over 40 years of investing in Europe through multiple economic cycles. Current and former Aerospace and Defence platforms include Consolidated Precision Products (CPP), Triumph Group, INRCORE, Wencor Group, Extant Aerospace and TransDigm in the U.S., Inmarsat and Accelya in Europe and Quest Global in India.

In recent years, Warburg Pincus has also further strengthened its senior advisory capabilities in the defence and national security space, assembling a group of highly experienced European and transatlantic leaders. This includes:

Admiral Joachim Georg Ruhle (Retired 4 Star Admiral), former Chief of Staff at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and former Vice Chief of Defence of the German Armed Forces;

Susanne Wiegand, a senior executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across the defence, mechanical engineering and marine industries, including as Chair and CEO of RENK Group AG and former CEO of Rheinmetall's Electronic Solutions division;

Lieutenant General Jurgen-Joachim von Sandrart (Retired 3 Star General), with four decades of service in the German Army and former commander of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast and a senior advisor on security and defence policy in Germany; and

Rolf Wirtz, a senior defence executive and former officer in the German armed forces, with decades of leadership across military aircraft and UAV, defence electronics, and naval systems, including as CEO of Atlas Elektronik and as CEO of TKMS.

This deep bench of advisors is expected to work closely alongside the firm's experienced Aerospace and Defence investment professionals based across Europe and the U.S., combining strategic, operational and policy expertise with Warburg Pincus' global sourcing capabilities and value-creation platform.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has more than $100 billion in assets under management, and more than 215 companies in its active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,100 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies.

The firm is headquartered in New York with more than 15 offices globally. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com or follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410960904/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Alice Gibb Director, Europe Communications

Alice.gibb@warburgpincus.com

+44 207 306 3090
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Teako Minerals Corp. (CSE: TMIN) (the "Company" or "Teako") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated January 30, 2026, it intends to close a second and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") for the issuance of common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") on or before April 17, 2026. Pursuant to the second tranche of the Offering, Teako has received subscriptions for a total of approximately C$736,230 and will issue 12,270,501 Common Shares on the final closing date of the Offering.

In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay finder's fees in cash or securities or a combination of both, as permitted by the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") and applicable securities laws. Closing of the second and final tranche of the Offering is subject to certain customary conditions, including, without limitation, approval of the CSE and the Common Shares being subject to a four-month and one-day hold period.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for anticipated exploration activities as well as general working capital purposes to allow the Company to pursue its corporate objective of additional project deals and potential revenue-generating third party work.

The Common Shares offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an exemption from such 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 Common Shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Teako Minerals Corp.:

Teako Minerals Corp. is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company committed to acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral properties in Norway, focusing on critical metals such as copper, cobalt, zinc and molybdenum. By leveraging leading-edge exploration technologies and strategic partnerships, Teako aims to address the growing demand for essential minerals while generating value for shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Teako's Project Hub, including the Lkken and Venna main projects, covers an extensive land package prospective for copper, cobalt, zinc, gold, platinum group elements (or "PGE"), uranium, antimony, molybdenum and rare-earth-elements. The Project Hub strategy was initially developed from the Company's first-mover advantage in-country, leveraging both technical skill and strong local community engagement to acquire and advance groups of both core and non-core assets. Core assets such as the Lkken-Venna district remain integral to the Company's self-funded exploration programs, whereas the Company aims to retain exposure to exploration success on non-core assets through securing deals with strong partners. These deals, if secured, are intended to potentially bring in capital and/or ongoing cash flow, retain upside exposure, and reduce overall risk, thereby strengthening Teako's foundation. Teako holds a 10% economic interest in the four (4) rare earth elements ("REE") projects owned by Fritze Skoger AS and a 10% non-dilutive free carried ownership interest in a package of copper, gold and silver projects consisting of 5 projects owned by Nordic Minerals AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Minerals Australia Pty Ltd as further described on the Company's website.

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of Teako. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Teako. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "will," "may," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "could" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements related to the proposed closing date of the Offering, the amount of Common Shares to be issued, the intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering and the Company's business plans and operations and other matters. Although Teako believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Teako can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include but are not limited to, risks associated with the mineral exploration industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; the uncertainty of mineral resource estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), constraint in the availability of services, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, changes in legislation impacting the mining industry, adverse weather conditions and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. These and other risks are set out in more detail in Teako's interim Management's Discussion and Analysis, for the period ended October 31, 2025.

All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Not for dissemination in the United States or distribution through U.S. newswires

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291916

Source: Teako Minerals Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia and Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) (FSE: MV3) ("SXGC", "SX2" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Joseph (Joe) Seppelt as the Company's Head of Technology & Processing, effective immediately. Mr. Seppelt is an accomplished mineral processing engineer and leader with extensive experience commissioning and operating some of Australia's most technically demanding concentrators. His appointment marks a significant step in advancing the processing and smelting strategy for the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project.

As Head of Technology & Processing and a senior member of SXGC's executive leadership team, Mr. Seppelt will lead the Company's metallurgical testwork programs, processing flowsheet development, and smelting and refining strategy. He will oversee all technical and processing functions across the Sunday Creek project, reporting to the President & CEO.

Mr. Seppelt brings nearly two decades of progressive leadership in mineral processing, with a career spanning greenfield commissioning through to large-scale operational optimisation at BHP Carrapateena, Newcrest's Cadia Valley Operations, Hillgrove Resources' Kanmantoo Copper, and BHP Olympic Dam. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical, Hon.) from the University of Adelaide and is an accredited Six Sigma Black Belt, having undertaken study tours in Japan in Lean manufacturing and Theory of Constraints.

Most recently, Mr. Seppelt served as Acting General Manager at BHP Carrapateena, holding full-site accountability for surface and underground operations during a critical phase of expansion. As Processing Manager at Carrapateena from 2018 to 2025, he led the successful commissioning and ramp-up of the concentrator to nameplate capacity, and delivered the plant expansion from 4 Mtpa to 7 Mtpa - a multi-year program involving new regrind mills, cleaner circuit redesign, tailings dam capacity extension and installation of the HydroFloat coarse particle recovery circuit. He also led the 12Mtpa surface expansion study. His tenure also included a safety transformation that reduced the site's Total Recordable Injury Frequency rate by over half within six months.

Prior to Carrapateena, Mr. Seppelt served as Ore Treatment Manager at Newcrest's Cadia Valley Operations, managing a $200 million annual operating budget across multiple concentrators and delivering a series of high-value debottlenecking and expansion projects. His work at Cadia included the justification and delivery of the first base metal sulphide HydroFloat installation for coarse copper and gold recovery, a major crushing circuit upgrade to debottleneck the ridgeway concentrator, multiple new Vertimill and Jameson cell flotation circuit expansions, and the development of a Prefeasibility Study for the Cadia Molybdenum plant. He also collaborated with the Newcrest marketing team to support long-term customer arrangements with key Japanese smelting groups - experience directly relevant to Sunday Creek's strategic engagement with Japanese processing partners.

Mr. Seppelt began his career at BHP Olympic Dam, progressing through production, metallurgy, and superintendent roles over a six-year period. He is a prolific contributor to peer-reviewed technical literature, with eleven published papers across AusIMM Mill Operators, Flotation and Metplant conferences, covering topics including grinding circuit design, Jameson cell optimisation, coarse particle flotation, and HPGR energy efficiency.

Michael Hudson, President & CEO, commented: "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome Joe Seppelt as Head of Technology & Processing at Southern Cross Gold Consolidated. This is an outstanding appointment for the Company as we advance Sunday Creek's gold and antimony processing strategy toward production.

"Joe's appointment is strategically significant as we advance Sunday Creek's processing and smelting strategy. His hands-on experience commissioning and operating some of Australia's most technically complex concentrators - including delivering a greenfield ramp-up at Carrapateena and executing a multi-stage capacity expansion from 4 to 7 Mtpa - is exactly the calibre of processing leadership that Sunday Creek demands.

"Sunday Creek presents a dual-product processing flowsheet - high-grade gold and strategic antimony - that requires best in class technical leadership. We are developing our gravity and flotation testwork program and evaluating a range of midstream processing pathways. Joe's record at Carrapateena and Cadia demonstrates an exceptional ability to navigate exactly these kinds of complex, multi-stream metallurgical optimisation problems.

"Joe's appointment underscores the calibre of talent our project attracts. As we scale our technical team to match the ambitions of Sunday Creek, his Six Sigma credentials, people leadership, and culture-building track record will be invaluable. This appointment, alongside Ryan Austerberry as COO, gives Southern Cross Gold an exceptional operational and technical executive team capable of executing Sunday Creek's development to world-class standards."

About Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Limited (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) (FSE: MV3)

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) is defining a leading gold-antimony project at the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, located 60 km north of Melbourne. Sunday Creek is a significant gold and antimony drill discovery in a Tier 1 location, with high-grade drill results including 81 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au from 114.8 km of drilling. The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of strike length, with structures tested from surface to 1,100 m depth.

Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile. The Company has a critical mineral the Western world needs. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defence and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross' inclusion in the US Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier.

Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93% to 98% through gravity and flotation.

With a strong cash position, 1,392 Ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a large 200 km drill program planned through Q1 2027, SXGC is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a tier-one jurisdiction, delivering milestone by milestone.

- Ends -

This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in the Company's documents filed with Canadian or Australian (under code SX2) securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for the Company in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au (under code SX2). Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these 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/291888

Source: Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
ANZA, Calif.  Olivet University's Riverside campus became a gathering place for worship, music, and community as it hosted a Palm Sunday "Prayer and Praise" evening, bringing together churches from across the Anza Valley. While the event reflected a shared effort among local congregations, the university's performers and production anchored the evening's atmosphere and flow.

From the outset, Olivet University positioned itself not only as a venue, but as a creative and spiritual contributor. Its stage welcomed multiple worship teams, yet it was the university's own students who helped shape the tone of the night through music and movement that reflected both technical preparation and heartfelt expression.

The program featured participation from several Anza-area churches, with pastors Kevin Watson, Jon Runnfeldt, and Mark Neer guiding the evening through Scripture and reflection. Each introduced their respective worship teams, framing the music with messages tied to Palm Sunday and the broader meaning of praise.

Midway through the evening, Olivet University's presence became more pronounced. Under the direction of student Doson Kim, a team of university performers delivered a contemporary worship set that blended international musical influences with familiar praise themes. Their performance emphasized the global nature of Christian worship, highlighting how faith transcends cultural and geographic boundaries.

The university's Dance Team added a visual dimension to the program. The group presented a choreographed performance to "Praise the Lord," using movement to interpret the themes of celebration and devotion. The piece drew strong engagement from the audience and underscored Olivet's role in cultivating diverse forms of artistic expression in worship.

Earlier in the evening, Living Hope Christian Fellowship opened with a high-energy set, including "Days of Elijah" and "Hosanna," setting a tone of celebration that carried throughout the program. Pastor Watson expressed appreciation for Olivet University's hospitality, noting the importance of having a central space where the broader faith community could gather.

Pastor Runnfeldt later reflected on the significance of Palm Sunday, pointing to themes of redemption and the emotional depth of Christ's journey toward Jerusalem. His message invited attendees into a posture of both celebration and contemplation.

Beyond the performances, the gathering carried a deeper purpose for the region. In a close-knit mountain community like Anza, opportunities to share faith across congregations are both meaningful and rare. Pastors, worshippers, students, staff, and faculty alike described the experience of coming together in united faith as deeply uplifting, reinforcing a shared sense of mission and belonging across generations and church backgrounds.

The evening concluded with a final worship set that brought participants together in a unified expression of praise. For many in attendance, the event highlighted not only the strength of Anza's church community, but also the growing role of Olivet University as a hub for collaboration, creativity, outreach, and shared faith.

Organizers indicated that similar gatherings may continue in the future, building on the partnership between local churches and the university's emerging contribution to the region's spiritual and cultural life.

For more information and news about Olivet University, visit www.olivetnews.com
Cranbrook, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - DLP Resources Inc. (TSXV: DLP) (OTCQB: DLPRF) (FSE: J8C) ("DLP" or the "Company") announces receipt of three-dimensional (3D) magnetic susceptibility imaging inversion on drone aeromagnetic data covering an area of 16.86 square kilometers on the Esperanza porphyry copper-molybdenum project in southern Peru (Figure 1). The 3D magnetic susceptibility imaging inversion delineates subsurface physical property structures down to 1,200 meters depth, thereby providing geophysical evidence for locating concealed porphyry bodies.

The inversion analysis successfully delineated a strong magnetic body with a volume of approximately 4.4 km3, whose strike, dip, and depth perfectly align with a typical porphyry ore-forming model (Figures 2 and 3). The original 280 line-km aeromagnetic drone survey covering 30 km2 on the Esperanza project in southern Peru was contracted to DK Mining Ltd. and Fargo Exploration who flew a north-south grid of 200m line spacings and infill line spacings of 100m (see news release of January 05, 2026). The survey defined a characteristic magnetic high surrounded by magnetic lows co-incident with mapped porphyry related alteration, high resolution spectral alteration mineral mapping and anomalous copper and molybdenum anomalies. The copper and molybdenum anomalies were previously identified from rock chip geochemical sampling earlier in 2024 (see DLP Resources Inc. news releases dated March 13 and April 25, 2024).

The 22,500-hectare Esperanza project is 100% DLP owned and lies 35km SE of the Cerro Verde copper mine and to the immediate south of the Chapi copper mine (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Location map of the Esperanza Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Project.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_001full.jpg

Summary of Geological-Geochemistry-Geophysical Assessment

The Esperanza geological mapping, geochemical rock chip sampling, alteration mapping and magnetic data, Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, define and confirm coincident anomalies which extend over approximately 4 x 4 km and further supported by three-dimensional magnetic susceptibility inversion results of the aeromagnetic data.

Results highlight the following:

The superposition of the inversion model B-B' cross-section with geological interpretation maps demonstrates that the high magnetic anomaly body highly coincides with the predicted porphyry stock intrusion (Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5).

The physical zoning pattern observed in Esperanza exhibits high consistency with the world-class copper ore deposits within a 100 km radius such as Cerro Verde and Toquepala (Figure 1).

Esperanza's magnetic footprint (approximately 3 x 2 km) is on the same order of magnitude as these super-large porphyry copper deposits.

The elongated RTP magnetic high (~3  2 km) defines a magnetite-bearing intrusive corridor with strong structural control, consistent with a large-scale porphyry system (Figures 6, 7 and 8).

Rock geochemistry shows a consistent association of Au-Ag-As-Ba-Bi-Te, with anomalous Mo and low Zn, characteristic of proximal phyllic alteration developed above or laterally to a mineralized core (Figures 6, 7 and 8).

The presence of disseminated tourmaline and the Bi-Mo association supports the interpretation of high-temperature fluids proximal to the intrusive source, with effective vectoring potential toward the center of the system (Figure 10).

Anomalous Au values concentrated along structures, with generally low Ag (locally up to ~2 oz within a discrete structure), indicate late-stage hydrothermal pulses focused along faults, consistent with a telescoped porphyry system and without evidence of extensive epithermal development.

Low surface Cu values over the central core suggest that the Cu-Mo core is not exposed, with a higher probability of occurrence along the flanks of the RTP high or at greater depth, particularly in zones where As-Sb decrease and Cu-Mo increase (Figures 6 and 8).

Fertility Indicator: Magmas with Sr/Y ratios between 50 and 150 have a high probability of hosting large copper deposits. Esperanza has values up to 325 and averages 99.31 from the initial 94 rock samples taken over the area (Figure 7).

Large vs. Small Deposits: Giant copper deposits like Sar-Cheshmeh in Iran which is considered to be the second largest copper deposit worldwide, often show high max Sr/Y ratios (>100), while small or barren systems often have lower ratios (<40 to 50). Esperanza averages 99.31.

Figure 2: Simplified porphyry model with alteration and generalized geophysical characteristics shown (taken and modified from: Sillitoe, R.H., 2010. Porphyry copper systems. Econ. Geol. 105, 3-41.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_002full.jpg

Figure 3: Three-dimensional volume of inverse susceptibility for the Esperanza project. Taken from wave-number domain three-dimensional magnetic susceptibility imaging inversion on drone aeromagnetic data

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_003full.jpg

Figure 4: Esperanza project: Three-dimensional magnetic susceptibility inversion results of the aeromagnetic data. Demonstrates that the high magnetic anomaly body highly coincides with the predicted porphyry stock intrusion and mapped geology on surface.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_004full.jpg

Figure 5: Esperanza project: Superposition of the inversion model B-B' cross-section with geological interpretation maps demonstrates that the high magnetic anomaly body highly coincides with the predicted porphyry stock intrusion.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_005full.jpg

Mr. Gendall, President and CEO commented: "The recent aeromagnetic drone survey over the Esperanza project together with the 3D Inversion of the data has confirmed a coincident magnetic anomaly with our alteration mapping, spectral alteration mapping and ground geochemistry. The magnetic body, potentially related to a potassic core of a porphyry copper system is estimated to be at a depth of 200 to 700m below surface. Detailed rock chip sampling and, an additional extension of the magnetic survey is being planned and permitting a drill program for 2026 is currently underway".

Quality Control and Quality Assurance

DLP Resources Peru S.A.C, a subsidiary of DLP Resources Inc., supervises sampling and carries out surface sampling and mapping of outcrop at the Esperanza project. Rock chip-Panel sampling was done within a maximum area of 2m x 1m and descriptions were carried out by a geologist. Samples are bagged and sealed on site before transportation to the SGS Peru S.A.C. sample preparation facility in Arequipa by Company vehicles and staff. Rocks are crushed Drying at 100C, primary and secondary crushing to -10 mesh (up to 6K) Division and pulverizing of 250g (95% to 140 mesh) with 70% passing <2mm. Sample is split with riffle splitter and 250g pulverized to 85% less than 75um. Prepared samples are sent to Lima by SGS Peru S.A.C. for analysis. SGS Peru S.A.C. is an independent laboratory. Samples are analyzed for 50 elements using a four-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Overlimit samples for copper and silver were re-analysed by four-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry finish. For gold determination, fire assay of a 30 g charge is followed by an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) determination. In addition, sequential copper analyses are done and reports, soluble copper using sulphuric acid leach, soluble copper in cyanide leach, residual copper and total copper. SGS meets all requirements of International Standards with ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing laboratories.

DLP Resources independently monitors quality control and quality assurance ("QA/QC") through a program that includes the insertion of certified reference materials.

Esperanza Project

The Esperanza Cu-Mo Project is an early-stage exploration project in Southern Peru consisting of 22,500 Ha of claims which are 100% owned by DLP. Esperanza is located ~35 km SW of the Cerro Verde Mine in Arequipa and immediately south of the Minera Pampa de Cobre (Chapi) copper mine and lies between Rio Tinto and Vale ground holdings in the district. Cerro Verde represents one of the largest copper reserves in Peru and in the world, having total mineral reserves of 4.577 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.35% copper, 0.01% Mo and 1.52 g/t Ag. (Technical Report Summary of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources for Cerro Verde Mine - Freeport-McMoRan website1: https://fcx.com/operations/south-americaCVPeru).

Copper-molybdenum mineralization at Esperanza was initially observed in an early reconnaissance program undertaken in 2022. Subsequently we have completed a satellite alteration mapping program over the project and identified alteration consistent with porphyry copper-molybdenum systems. Follow-up of alteration and subsequent sampling and mapping commenced in early 2024.

Results for 97 rock samples taken in the initial reconnaissance sampling and mapping of the northwestern part of the project returned highly anomalous copper, molybdenum, cobalt and zinc in mapped intrusive stocks and polymictic breccias within the overlying volcanics.

Rock chip samples from this early sampling in 2024 returned up to 4.71% Cu, 28.8ppm Mo, 3540ppm Zn and 383ppm Co (see DLP Resources Inc. news releases dated March 13 and April 25, 2024).

Results from trenches and an access road in the exotic copper zone which extends over approximately 300m x 700m have returned copper mineralized intervals of between 10 to 96m with average copper oxide values ranging from 0.19 % Cu to 1.03 % Cu (see DLP Resources Inc. news releases dated March 16, 2026).

Figure 6: Esperanza Project - Reduced to pole magnetic maps with anomalous copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag) and gold (Au) in rock samples.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_006full.jpg

Figure 7: Esperanza Project - Reduced to pole magnetic maps with anomalous lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), Tellurium (Te) and Strontium/Yttrium (Sr/Y) in rock samples.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_007full.jpg

Figure 8: Esperanza Project - Reduced to pole magnetic maps with anomalous Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Barium (Ba) and Bismuth (Bi) in rock samples.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_008full.jpg

Figure 9: High resolution alteration mapping (Photosat data) with interpreted alteration zones and magnetic anomaly shown

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_009full.jpg

Figure 10: Esperanza Project: Hydrothermal breccias, copper oxides and typical porphyry copper veins.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/291881_dcf9489a045b59f7_010full.jpg

Qualified Person

Mr. Gendall, CEO & President of the company is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Gendall has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release

About DLP Resources Inc.

DLP Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company operating in Southeastern British Columbia and Peru, exploring for Base Metals and Cobalt. DLP is listed on the TSX-V, trading symbol DLP and on the OTCQB, trading symbol DLPRF, and on the FSE, trading symbol J8C. Please refer to our web site www.dlpresourcesinc.com for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

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, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to further programs on the Esperanza Project in Peru.

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 geochemical results expected from the Esperanza Project in Peru.

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. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291881

Source: DLP Resources Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd. (CSE: SPLY) (OTCQB: SSPLF) (FSE: QM4) ("Safe Supply" or the "Company") reports that its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") was held on April 8, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. The following is a summary of the voting results for each matter put before shareholders at the Meeting.

Meeting Results

The following resolutions were voted on and approved at the Meeting:

Name Change to Altrova Health Inc. - Shareholders passed a special resolution authorizing the Company to change its legal name to Altrova Health Inc. and to apply for a corresponding change to its trading symbol on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company intends to proceed with the requisite regulatory and corporate filings and will announce the effective date of the name change and new trading symbol in due course.



Share Consolidation Authorization - The special resolution to authorize a share consolidation at a ratio of not less than 1:2 and not more than 1:10, at the discretion of the Board, did not receive the requisite two-thirds majority of shareholder votes and was therefore not approved. The Company does not currently intend to re-table this resolution, and no share consolidation will be implemented at this time.



Registered Office Relocation - Shareholders approved the relocation of the Company's registered office from British Columbia to Ontario, reflecting the Company's principal place of operations. The relocation is subject to applicable regulatory and corporate procedures.



Election of Directors - The following six individuals were duly elected to the Board of Directors to serve until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed: Geoff Benic

Raf Souccar

Tony Clement

Donovan Bailey

Jerry Dias

Seymour Ferreira



Reappointment of Auditors - WDM LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, was reappointed as the Company's auditor for the ensuing year, with remuneration to be fixed by the Board.



Re-Approval of Omnibus Incentive Plan - Shareholders re-approved the Company's Omnibus Incentive Plan, which provides the Board with the flexibility to grant equity-based awards to eligible directors, officers, employees, and consultants.

Management Commentary

"The resolutions passed today represent a meaningful step in the Company's ongoing evolution," said Geoff Benic, Chief Executive Officer. "The approval of the Altrova Health name provides the Board with a brand and identity that better reflects the breadth of what we are building, which is a Company focused on health, safety, and access. We are grateful for the continued engagement and support of our shareholders, and we remain focused on executing against our strategic objectives in the months ahead."

"This is a governance milestone we approached with care and intentionality," added Raf Souccar, Chairman of the Board of Safe Supply. "The Board is well-constituted to guide the Company through its next phase, and we are aligned on the priorities that matter most to our stakeholders."

About Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd.

Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd. (CSE: SPLY) (OTCQB: SSPLF) (FSE: QM4) is a publicly traded company building and backing innovations in healthcare, wellness, and emerging technologies. Through acquisitions, partnerships, and growth capital, the Company assembles a diversified portfolio that leverages data, science, and digital platforms to improve access and outcomes at scale. Operating at the intersection of public health and technology, Safe Supply supports evidence-informed solutions to urgent societal needs.

For more information, please visit www.safesupply.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd.

"Geoff Benic"

Geoff Benic, CEO

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release and has neither approved nor disapproved its contents.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated completion of the name change and related filings, the potential exercise of the share consolidation authority, the relocation of the registered office, and the Company's strategic direction. Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291907

Source: Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) ("QIMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its U.S. affiliate, Orvian Natural Resources LLC ("Orvian"), has received registration from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ("DNR") authorizing the Company to initiate exploratory subsurface boring activities in the State of Minnesota.

Highlights

Orvian Natural Resources LLC receives Minnesota DNR registration authorizing exploratory subsurface boring

Enables advancement to field validation and subsurface testing across Company's Minnesota land position

Land package secured through state-issued Regional Geological Resource Allocation (RGRA) township grants

Targeting mafic-ultramafic geological systems within the Duluth Complex and Mesabi Iron Range

Phased exploration program progressing from data integration through staged field programs

The registration enables Orvian to formally advance subsurface exploration activities across its Minnesota land position, including areas within the Duluth Complex and Mesabi Iron Range, where the Company has previously secured exploration rights through state-issued Regional Geological Resource Allocation ("RGRA") township grants.

CEO Commentary

"The receipt of Orvian's registration from the Minnesota DNR marks an important milestone in advancing our U.S. exploration strategy," said John Karagiannidis, Chief Executive Officer of QIMC. "The RGRA allocations provided us with access to a large, contiguous land position in a favorable geological environment. With this registration in place, we can now move systematically from data integration to field validation and subsurface testing. Minnesota has the scale, geological characteristics, and infrastructure to support a meaningful component of our North American exploration portfolio."

Strategic Positioning in a Favorable U.S. Geological Setting

QIMC has previously identified Minnesota as a jurisdiction with favorable geological characteristics for natural hydrogen and associated energy systems. Through its U.S. affiliate Orvian, the Company has secured access to multiple RGRA townships in St. Louis County.

This large-scale mafic-ultramafic geological system is recognized for its iron-rich lithologies and regionally extensive structural networks. The Company considers Minnesota to represent a district-scale exploration opportunity within a stable and well-defined regulatory environment.

Application of the R2G2 Exploration Model

QIMC is applying its proprietary Reactivated Rift and Graben Geostructure (R2G2) model-developed in collaboration with the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)-to guide exploration targeting in Minnesota.

The R2G2 framework integrates:

Reactivated fault and rift architectures

Structural repetition and compartmentalization

Geochemical indicators including hydrogen, helium, and associated gases

Multi-layer geophysical datasets, including gravity and magnetic surveys

Technical Rationale - Minnesota as a High-Potential Target

QIMC's entry into Minnesota is supported by its interpretation that the Duluth Complex and surrounding Mesabi Iron Range exhibit characteristics consistent with environments where natural hydrogen systems may occur.

These include:

Iron-rich mafic and ultramafic rocks and Magnetite-Manganese oxide-rich BIF conducive to hydrogen-generating reactions

Deep-seated structural systems and reactivated fault networks

Regional tectonic architecture consistent with the R2G2 model

Basement-rooted fault corridors capable of supporting vertical gas migration

These interpretations are supported by analogous geological environments where hydrogen occurrences have been documented in mafic and ultramafic systems.

Scientific Commentary

"Geological conditions observed within the Duluth Complex suggest the presence of large-scale mafic and ultramafic systems intersected by deep structural corridors showing evidence of complex tectonic evolution. In the same way, abundant magnetite-rich Taconites are sources with high potential for hydrogen production at lower temperatures than for olivine-rich rocks. These features are consistent with geological environments where hydrogen generation and migration processes may occur. The application of an integrated structural and geochemical approach, such as the R2G2 model, provides a rational framework to prioritize targets within this underexplored region."

- Prof. Marc Richer-Lafleche, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)

Next Steps - Minnesota Exploration Program

Following receipt of the DNR registration, Orvian will initiate a phased exploration program across its RGRA township land position.

Phase 1 - Data Integration and Targeting

Compilation and integration of historical geological, geophysical, and geochemical datasets

Application of the R2G2 model to identify priority structural corridors

Target ranking based on fault architecture, lithology, and basin-scale structural trends

Phase 2 - Field Validation

Soil-gas sampling programs targeting hydrogen, helium, and associated gases

Radon and thoron surveys to identify active deep-sourced degassing pathways

Deployment of mobile geophysical surveys (gravity and magnetics) to refine subsurface structures

Phase 3 - Subsurface Testing

Execution of exploratory boring programs under the DNR registration

Downhole gas measurements and dissolved gas analysis

Integration of results into a refined 3D geological and structural model

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. There can be no assurance that exploration activities will result in the identification of economically recoverable resources.

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/291900

Source: Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Japan Gold Corp. (TSXV: JG) (OTCQB: JGLDF) ("Japan Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (the "Debenture") for gross proceeds of US$1,000,000 (CDN$1,390,700) (the "Offering") to Equinox Partners Investment Management, LLC ("Equinox"), a strategic investor and major shareholder of the Company.

The Debenture will mature on the date that is three years from the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date"). The Debenture will bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum (non-compounded), accruing daily but payable, in cash, only at the Maturity Date, on the occurrence of an Event of Default or upon an early redemption. The Company will have the right, at its option, to make an early redemption in cash of all or any part of the principal amount together with payment of any accrued but unpaid interest. In addition, the Company will have the right, at its election, to satisfy its obligation to pay cash to the Debenture holder through the delivery of common shares of the Company ("Shares") in lieu of cash, at a price per share which equals the greater of: (i) the most recent Market Price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on the date that the accrued interest becomes payable; (ii) $0.11; and (iii) a price per security or conversion price of debt securities in a Future Financing Event. A "Future Financing Event" will be considered the most recent issuance and sale of securities by the Company in which the Company issues or sells any common shares (or units consisting of common shares and warrants), or in which the Company issues or sells any convertible debt security issued by the Company by way of a private placement during the twelve (12) month period immediately following the closing date of the Offering, provided that such Future Financing Event results in gross offering proceeds of not less than CDN. $2,000,000.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital purposes. The Debenture and any securities issuable upon conversion will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance of the Debenture. The Offering and conversion of the Debenture into Shares is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

As of the Closing Date, Equinox holds 90,133,518 shares, representing approximately 29.34% of the then issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Equinox is subject to the alternative monthly reporting scheme under Part 4 of National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, and a report of Equinox under that instrument will be made available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile in due course.

Equinox is considered a "related party" of the Company, and Equinox's subscription under the Offering will constitute a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the securities issued to the related party do not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as calculated in accordance with MI 61-101.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell 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 U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Japan Gold Corp.

Japan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral company focused on the exploration and discovery of high-grade epithermal gold deposits across the main islands of Japan. The Company holds a significant portfolio of tenements covering areas with known gold occurrences, history of mining and prospective for high-grade epithermal gold mineralization in one of the most stable and under explored countries in the world. The Japan Gold leadership and operational team of geologists, drillers and technical advisors have extensive experience exploring and operating in Japan and have a track record of discoveries world-wide.

On behalf of the Board of Japan Gold Corp.

John Proust

Chairman & CEO

Cautionary Note

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events, the occurrence of a Future Financing Event, the election of the Company to make an early redemption, the conversion of any principal amount and accrued interest of the Debenture into Shares, expected use of the proceeds of the Offering, regulatory and TSX-V approval, and Equinox's anticipated holdings following closing of the Offering. These statements are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to, general economic, market and business conditions, the stability of the financial and capital markets; the timing and granting of prospecting rights; the Company's ability to convert prospecting rights into digging rights within the timeframe prescribed by the Mining Act; competition for qualified staff; the regulatory process and actions; technical issues; new legislation; potential delays or changes in plans; working in a new political jurisdiction; results of exploration; and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual results achieved may differ from the information provided herein and, consequently, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this News Release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable laws.

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/291882

Source: Japan Gold Corp.
HONG KONG, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading licensed digital asset trading platform EX.IO today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with one-stop electronic payment platform Payment Asia. The two parties will jointly explore and expand payment, custody, trading, and application scenarios for regulated stablecoins in Hong Kong. The goal is to build robust infrastructure for regulated stablecoin issuers in Hong Kong, enabling rapid real-world adoption and growth once they officially enter the implementation phase. This collaboration aims to further strengthen Hong Kong's position as a leading hub for the digital asset industry

As one of the first platforms to obtain a license under Hong Kong's digital asset regulatory framework, EX.IO has rapidly grown into a leading licensed digital asset trading platform in the city, offering a variety of high-quality tokenized products. As a digital asset trading platform, EX.IO has established a full-chain, high-quality infrastructure covering anti-money laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), custody, and other essentials. It is well-positioned to provide trading and related services for licensed stablecoins in Hong Kong and is actively advancing these initiatives.

Founded in 1999, Payment Asia is dedicated to providing innovative payment technologies and e-payment solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to multinational corporations across Asia. Payment Asia offers clients a simple and time-efficient online and offline payment system, covering credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, and tailor-made omni-channel payment solutions encompassing various asset types. Over the past decade, the company has actively innovated by incorporating elements such as digital marketing, e-commerce, and AI advisory services into its offerings to meet the needs of merchants.

This partnership between EX.IO and Payment Asia seeks to leverage each party's strengths in their respective domains. The collaboration aims to cover multiple scenarios for licensed stablecoins and other digital assets, including offering and payments, with the aim of building a complete and practical full-chain ecosystem for licensed stablecoins in Hong Kong. Key collaboration directions include:

(1) Custody and Exchange

Once licensed stablecoins in Hong Kong are traded on the EX.IO platform, EX.IO will support Payment Asia in providing custody services for holding licensed stablecoins in Hong Kong. The parties will also explore convenient subscription and trading, between licensed stablecoins and fiat currencies (such as USD and HKD). In the long term, both sides will work together to promote application scenarios for licensed stablecoins and accelerate market adoption.

(2) Development of Licensed Stablecoin Merchant Acquiring

The two parties will collaborate to integrate technology and merchant service resources, and jointly explore subsequent compliance arrangements for regulated stablecoins. Leveraging Payment Asia's extensive merchant network and combining it with EX.IO's digital asset trading and custody capabilities, they will provide merchants with stablecoin payment and settlement solutions. This will help merchants achieve end-to-end integration from acquiring to settlement, enhancing payment efficiency and reducing transaction costs.

Both companies believe that this strategic collaboration will integrate their core strengths, promoting the efficient integration and widespread implementation of Hong Kong's licensed stablecoins in both the digital asset industry and the real economy. This will truly empower the digital asset and payment sectors, fostering further growth in Hong Kong's fintech industry.

Significant Potential in Hong Kong's Licensed Stablecoin Market - Ideal Timing for Cooperation

This collaboration arrives at a pivotal moment as Hong Kong's stablecoin regulatory framework reaches maturity. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) officially announced this afternoon (April 10) the issuance of two stablecoin issuer licenses. EX.IO and Payment Asia welcome this milestone and ready to leverage their cutting-edge blockchain technology and extensive expertise in payment settlement, to strengthen stablecoin infrastructure, commit to delivering more secure, transparent, and efficient digital asset solutions to the market . Recent reports from major investment banks indicate that the Hong Kong stablecoin market is projected to reach approximately US$16 billion (around HK$125 billion), with substantial room for further growth. Should the total supply continue to expand, market demand rise, and on-chain activity surge, the market size could expand even more significantly.

As such, both parties are confident that issuers, trading platforms, and payment companies will all benefit comprehensively from building the licensed stablecoin ecosystem. Through this collaboration, EX.IO expects improvements in key platform metrics such as asset variety, trading volume, and user retention. Payment Asia believes that with its vast merchant network and acquiring service capabilities, it can further broaden the scenarios for future licensed stablecoins, driving widespread adoption among merchants and end-users. Together, the two aim to actively promote widespread adoption of licensed stablecoins in real-world payment and real-world asset (RWA) scenarios, seizing the tremendous opportunities presented by the explosive growth of Hong Kong's licensed stablecoin ecosystem.

Ms. Chen Wu, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of EX.IO, stated:

"The issuance of Hong Kong's inaugural licensed stablecoin marks a significant and positive milestone for the local digitalasset ecosystem. The current timing of EX.IO's strategic partnership with Payment Asia is exceptionally opportune. Through a comprehensive suite of full-chain services-including subscription, trading, exchange, custody, and wealth management for licensed stablecoins-the two parties will collaborate to establish a seamless, one-stop ecosystem spanning from product offering to practical, real-world implementation.

Looking ahead, EX.IO remains committed to deepening cooperation with all relevant stakeholders to provide secure, efficient, and premium user experiences in relation to licensed stablecoins and other digital assets in Hong Kong. This ongoing effort will further reinforce the city's position as a preeminent international hub for digital assets."

Mr.Paul Tang, Chief Operating Officer of Payment Asia, said:

"Payment Asia has always been committed to leading innovation in the payment industry. This strategic partnership with EX.IO marks a crucial step forward in building a licensed stablecoin application ecosystem. By combining EX.IO's compliance strengths in the digital asset space with our deep experience in payment acquiring, we are confident in creating a closed-loop stablecoin infrastructure from trading to payment for the Hong Kong market, enabling the real economy to more effectively access the opportunities of the digital asset era."

About EX.IO

EX.IO is a strictly regulated Virtual Asset Trading Platform (VATP). Since December 2024, it has been approved by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). As one of the first platforms to pass the "deemed licensed" regime under Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), EX.IO has established itself as a leading licensed exchange. It is also the only VATP included in Hong Kong's Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) system.

About Payment Asia

Established in 1999 and based in Hong Kong, Payment Asia is a leading e-payment technology and e-commerce management company specializing in offering the most secure and prompt payment processing network to local and global businesses. Driven by professionalism, dedication, and innovation for over 25 years, Payment Asia is committed to growing together with our clients.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2953751/paymentasia_222.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/exio-partners-with-payment-asia-joining-hands-to-support-hong-kongs-licensed-stablecoin-ecosystem-302739237.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - 01 Quantum Inc. (TSXV: ONE) (OTCQB: OONEF) ("01 Quantum" or the "Company"), one of the first-to-market, enterprise level cybersecurity providers for the quantum computing era, announces it has appointed Sophic Capital Inc. ("Sophic Capital"), a comprehensive capital markets advisory firm focused on small-cap growth companies, to provide, among other things, capital markets advisory and investor relations services to the Company (the "Services").

"01 Quantum is entering an important phase as our first commercial verticals begin generating revenue and we advance additional opportunities in digital assets and quantum-safe AI," said Andrew Cheung, CEO of 01 Quantum. "At this stage, we believe a more proactive investor relations and capital markets strategy is important to broaden investor awareness and communicate the scale of the opportunity in quantum-resilient cybersecurity. We believe Sophic Capital is the right partner to help us better communicate our progress, strategic positioning, and long-term opportunity to a broader investor audience."

"01 Quantum is one of the few Canadian public companies offering enterprise-focused cybersecurity solutions built for the quantum computing era," said Sean Peasgood, CEO of Sophic Capital. "The Company has developed a compelling platform supported by proprietary technology, early commercial traction with partner driven deployments, and exposure to the large emerging market of post-quantum cybersecurity. 01's R&D team has an impressive history of innovation and technology development, and we look forward to helping 01 Quantum build awareness in the market, better articulate its value proposition, and connect its story with institutional and retail investors."

Pursuant to an agreement between the Company and Sophic Capital (the "Agreement"), Sophic Capital has been engaged to, amongst other things, heighten market and brand awareness as well as broaden awareness of the Company within the investment community via outreach programs including email and phone campaigns. The Agreement is effective as of April 6, 2026 and has an initial term of twelve (12) months. The Agreement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V). Sophic Capital has agreed to comply with all applicable securities laws and policies of the TSX-V in providing its Services. In connection with the Services, Sophic Capital will receive $8,000 per month for an initial term of 12 months. In addition, the Company has granted Sophic Capital options to purchase up to 700,000 common shares at a price of $0.38 per share. The options will vest quarterly in four tranches of 175,000 each and expire on the earlier of (i) 12 months after the termination of the engagement and (ii) April 6, 2030. The options are governed by the provisions of 01 Quantum's stock option plan and the policies of the TSX-V. In addition, Sophic Capital and its partners own or control 85,000 warrants exercisable at $0.50 expiring on June 6, 2027.

About Sophic Capital

Sophic Capital is a capital markets advisory firm for public and private growth companies, specializing in developing complete capital markets strategies for companies across all stages of development. Sophic Capital's depth of knowledge in the technology sector, clean technology and special situations markets combined with decades of experience working in the capital markets, makes it an ideal partner to help lower the cost of capital and accelerate growth. For more information, visit www.sophiccapital.com

About 01 Quantum Inc.

01 Quantum Inc., formerly 01 Communique Laboratory Inc. (TSXV: ONE) (OTCQB: OONEF), is known for its innovative work in post-quantum cryptography (PQC), developing technologies designed to protect digital systems against emerging quantum computing threats. The Company's IronCAP and supporting technologies are integrated into its PQC solutions, enabling applications across security-sensitive environments including digital assets, AI systems, email security, and enterprise infrastructure.

IronCAP technologies are patent-protected in the U.S.A. by patents #11,271,715 and #11,669,833.

For more information, visit the Company's website at https://01com.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, such statements use such words as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "plan", "intend", "are confident" and other similar terminology. Such statements include statements regarding the expansion of the Company's product lineup, the timing of commercialization of the Company's technologies, the success of the Company's strategic alliances, the future of quantum computers and their impact on the Company's product offering, the functionality of the Company's products and the intended product lines for the Company's technology and the potential licensing of the Company's technology. These statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis document filed on SEDAR+. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) 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/291889

Source: 01 Quantum Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Tincorp Metals Inc. (TSXV: TIN) ("Tincorp" or the "Company") today announced that it has been advised by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") that its common shares will resume trading on the TSXV effective Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at the opening of trading.

On March 24, 2026, the Company announced the closing of a concurrent brokered and non-brokered offering of subscription receipts for aggregate gross proceeds of C$17,500,000 (the "Offering") in connection with the Company's definitive agreement to acquire the Santa Barbara Project from Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Adventus Mining Corporation ("Adventus", together with Silvercorp, the "Vendors") through the acquisition of the Vendors' wholly-owned subsidiary, Santa Barbara Metals Inc. (the "Proposed Acquisition").

Completion of the Proposed Acquisition remains subject to a number of closing conditions, including receipt of requisite minority approval and disinterested shareholder approval at the Company's annual general and special meeting of shareholders scheduled for May 5, 2026 (the "Meeting"). The Proposed Acquisition and the Offering remain subject to the TSXV's continuous review and final approval. Closing of the Proposed Acquisition is expected to occur shortly following the Meeting, subject to satisfaction of all remaining closing conditions.

Further details regarding the Offering and the Proposed Acquisition are available in the Company's news releases dated February 25, 2026 and March 24, 2026, on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca and at www.tincorp.com.

About Tincorp

Tincorp Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company which has entered into a definitive agreement with Silvercorp to acquire Santa Barbara Metals Inc. which holds a 100% interest in the Santa Barbara Gold-Copper Project in the Zamora Copper-Gold Belt of southeastern Ecuador. The Company also owns 100% of the Porvenir Project and has signed an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the nearby SF Project, both located 70 km southeast of Oruro, Bolivia.

On Behalf of Tincorp Metals Inc.

signed "Victor Feng"

Victor Feng, Interim CEO

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 news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collective, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the completion of the Proposed Acquisition; shareholder approval of the Proposed Acquisition; the Meeting; approval of the TSXV; the expected timing of closing of the Proposed Acquisition.

Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions, factors and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. The opinions, assumptions, factors and estimates which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: that the Company will be able to obtain and maintain governmental approvals, permits and licenses in connection with its current and planned operations, development and exploration activities, including at the Santa Barbara Project; that the Company will receive shareholder and TSXV approval for the Proposed Acquisition and the Offering in a timely manner; that the conditions to the Proposed Acquisition will be satisfied or waived; the state of the equity financing markets in Canada; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory factors.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the Proposed Acquisition referred and its expected impact. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

Additional information in relation to the Company, including the Company's most recent management discussion & analysis, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.tincorp.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291878

Source: Tincorp Metals Inc.
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - C-COM Satellite Systems Inc., (TSXV: CMI) (OTCQB: CYSNF) (the "Company") a leading global provider of commercial grade mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, announced today that it has elected to rely on Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933 and move to semi-annual financial reporting ("SAR").

Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933 allows eligible venture issuers listed on the TSX Venture Exchange to voluntarily move from a quarterly to a semi-annual financial reporting framework. Under the SAR pilot program, the Company will be exempt from filing interim financial reports and related Management's Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) for its first and third quarters:

Interim Period: The first interim period for which the Company will not file an interim report is the first quarter (Q1) ending February 28, 2026.

Ongoing Reporting: The Company will continue to file audited annual financial statements and six-month interim financial reports within the applicable timeframes, but will not file three or nine-month interim financial reports going forward for as long as it remains eligible for SAR.

This news release is being filed pursuant to Coordinated Blanket Order 51 - 933 Exemptions to Permit Semi-Annual Reporting for Certain Venture Issuers and OSC Rule 51-507 Exemptions to Permit Semi-Annual Reporting for Certain Venture Issuers.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. is a pioneer and a leading global designer, developer, and manufacturer of transportable and mobile satellite-based antenna systems. The Company has developed proprietary, auto-acquisition controller technology for rapid antenna pointing to a satellite with just the press of a button, enabling Broadband Internet via Satellite across a wide range of market applications worldwide, including regions unserved or underserved by terrestrial access technologies.

C-COM has sold more than 11,000 antenna systems, in over 100 countries, through a dedicated dealer network that provides service to a wide range of vertical markets such as Oil and Gas Exploration, Military Communications, Disaster Management, SNG, Emergency Communications, Cellular Backhaul, Telemedicine, Mobile Education, Government Services, Mobile Banking, and others. The Company's iNetVu brand is synonymous with high quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

C-COM is in final stages of satellite testing and manufacturing of a potentially revolutionary Ka-band, electronically steerable, modular, conformal, flat panel phased array antenna. C-COM has developed this unique multi-orbit antenna with the intent of providing low-cost, high-throughput mobility applications over satellite for land, airborne and maritime verticals over LEO, MEO and GEO satellite constellations.

Another significant project underway at C-COM is the development of an 8-Channel Ka-band Analog Beamforming Integrated Circuit, (BFIC) which is progressing well and is now in testing phase. These BFICs will be used in the manufacturing of all our ESA antennas with the intent to significantly reduce their cost and improve their performance. In addition, they will be made available to integrators and others developing Ka-band satcom solutions.

For additional information please visit www.c-comsat.com

iNetVu is a registered trademark of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.

The Company is publicly traded on the Canadian Venture Exchange (TSXV: CMI) and on the US OTC Exchange (OTCQB: CYSNF).

# # #

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.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Statements about C-COM's expectations for future results, its intention to continue testing and launch the Ka-band flat panel multi-orbit antennas and our 8-channel beamformer integrated circuit its primary focus over the next couple years and the expectation that investment in R&D will generate returns to the company all contain forward-looking information. Several factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Product testing may be delayed, may not have positive results or may result in necessary changes to the product design. Product development and launch may be postponed, delayed or, in the worst case, cancelled for many reasons outside C-COM's control, anticipated benefits of the new technology may not be realized, new products and services may not be released or, if released may not gain market acceptance and factors outside of C-COM's control may cause it to focus of its efforts and investments differently than described above. Any of those events and others could influence future performance and C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.'s ability to achieve the results mentioned above. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Readers are directed to the risk factors associated with the business of C-COM Satellite Systems in the company's most recent MD&A available at www.sedarplus.ca

.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291870

Source: C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.
Nebraska lawmakers are debating a new bill that would let parents use more of their children's college savings plan money for a wider range of education expenses, from K-12 programs to job training.

What the Bill Would Do

The proposal focuses on Nebraska's NEST 529 college savings program, which currently lets families save with state income tax advantages for higher education costs.

Under federal rules, 529 plans can already be used tax-free for colleges, universities, community colleges, trade and vocational schools, and registered apprenticeships. Nebraska's bill seeks to align more closely with recent federal changes by expanding how these funds can be spent without tax penalties, according to 1011 NOW.

Lawmakers are considering allowing parents to tap 529 savings for certain K-12 education expenses, including private school tuition and some learning services. The bill would also reaffirm that families can use the money for job training and trade schools, reflecting a broader view of posthigh school education.

Supporters say this flexibility would help families respond to changing education needs, such as skills programs that do not follow the traditional four-year college path.

Current Rules and Recent Changes

Nebraska's NEST 529 program has been in place since 2001 and now holds about $8 billion across more than 300,000 accounts, underscoring its role in family financial planning.

Contributions can qualify for a state income tax deduction of up to $10,000 a year for most filers, and investment earnings grow tax-deferred. When used for qualified education costs, withdrawals are free from federal and Nebraska income tax, making NEST 529 a key savings tool for many households.

In recent years, Congress has expanded what counts as a qualified 529 expense, adding options like student loan repayment and registered apprenticeship programs.

Federal changes also broadened K-12 uses, allowing funds to cover not only tuition but tutoring, curriculum materials, test fees, and certain educational therapies. However, states must decide whether to fully adopt these options, and Nebraska law still treats some federal K-12 uses differently for state tax purposes, Saving for College reported.

Arguments For and Against

Backers of the Nebraska bill argue that parents deserve more control over how to use money they set aside for their children's education. They say flexibility can prevent families from being "locked in" to a four-year college path and may reduce pressure to borrow for alternative programs.

They also point to the Meadowlark Act, which automatically opens small NEST 529 accounts for Nebraska newborns, as evidence that the state is committed to broadening access to education savings.

Critics, including some education advocates, have previously warned that expanding 529 use to private K-12 tuition can shift public resources away from traditional public schools.

They worry that higher-income families are most likely to benefit from added tax breaks tied to private options. As debate continues in Lincoln, the bill's sponsors hope to move it forward this session, while opponents push for safeguards to protect public education funding, as per Corporate Vanguard.

Originally published on parentherald.com
Detroit, Michigan--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (OTCID: AITXD) (the "Company"), a global leader in AI-driven security and productivity solutions, along with its wholly owned subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), today announced that it has secured an order for ten additional RIO Mini autonomous solar powered security towers, each licensed with SARA (Speaking Autonomous Responsive Agent), from an existing Midwest based construction client. The units will soon be deployed at a large-scale data center development site, bringing the client's total planned deployment at this single location to thirty RIO Mini units, each operating with SARA.





Artist's depiction of RAD RIO Mini solar powered security towers deployed across a large scale data center campus.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5243/291879_bca9e8c714dc2b72_001full.jpg

The expansion comes as data center development accelerates across North America, with hundreds of new facilities currently under construction or in advanced planning to support growing demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure. These large-scale projects often span extensive footprints and multi-year timelines, creating prolonged periods where valuable materials, equipment, and critical infrastructure are exposed before permanent security systems are in place. This environment is driving increased adoption of rapidly deployable, autonomous security solutions capable of providing continuous coverage and intelligent response throughout the construction phase.

Upon deployment of these additional ten units, the thirty-unit RIO Mini footprint at this location is expected to earn the Company more than $500,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR), reinforcing the Company's expanding base of contracted revenue and continued progress toward achieving positive operating cash flow. The customer's growth from an initial deployment to a thirty-unit footprint at a single site reflects a repeatable expansion pattern as large scale construction projects advance and security requirements increase.

"Large scale data center developments represent some of the most critical infrastructure projects underway today," said Steve Reinharz, CEO/CTO and founder of AITX and RAD. "These sites demand continuous awareness and response from the earliest stages of construction through full operation. What we are seeing is a clear shift toward autonomous security as a practical and scalable solution during this phase. Expanding to thirty RIO Mini units at a single location reflects both the customer's confidence in our technology and the growing role that SARA is playing in securing complex, high value environments."

RAD anticipates further expansion with this client as the data center development progresses, with additional deployments aligned to evolving site requirements. The Company continues to see similar opportunities across large scale construction projects where security needs increase in step with project complexity and asset concentration.

The Company invites prospective clients, channel partners, and industry participants to connect with its team to learn how RAD's solutions can support their security and operational objectives.

About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (AITX)

AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and drive operational efficiency. Through its family of companies, including Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD-I), Robotic Assistance Devices Mobile (RAD-M), Robotic Assistance Devices Group (RAD-G) and Robotic Assistance Devices Residential (RAD-R), AITX develops and delivers a broad range of AI-driven technologies and services designed to transform security, automation, and operational workflows across multiple industries.

Through its primary subsidiary, RAD-I, AITX is redefining the nearly $50 billion (US) security and guarding services industry1 with its AI-driven Solutions-as-a-Service model. RAD solutions are specifically designed to deliver cost savings of between 35% and 80% compared to traditional manned security and monitoring, utilizing a suite of stationary and mobile autonomous systems that complement, and in many cases replace, human personnel in environments better suited for machines. All RAD technologies, AI-based analytics and software platforms are developed in-house.

All of RAD's solutions are designed to integrate with leading industry platforms and workflows, including ongoing collaboration with Immix, the trusted provider of central station and remote monitoring software, supporting broader adoption of AI-driven security across professional monitoring environments.

The Company's operations and internal controls have been validated through successful completion of its SOC 2 Type 2 audit, reinforcing its credibility with enterprise and government clients that require rigorous data protection and compliance standards.

AITX is led by Steve Reinharz, CEO/CTO and founder the Company and all RAD subsidiaries, who brings decades of experience in the security services industry. The broader AITX leadership and its subsidiaries draw on deep expertise across security, law enforcement, and robotics innovation, supporting the Company's ability to deliver proven, practical, and scalable solutions.

AITX and its subsidiaries maintain a robust sales pipeline that includes over 35 Fortune 500 companies, with expanding opportunities across its subsidiaries. The Company expects continued growth as these opportunities convert into deployed clients generating recurring revenue streams, with significant potential for expansion within each account.

The Company's solutions are deployed across a wide range of industries including enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai, www.radsecurity.com , www.stevereinharz.com, www.raddog.ai, www.radgroup.ai, www.saramonitoring.ai, and www.radlightmyway.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on X @SteveReinharz.

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained in this publication does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy securities of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (the "Company"). The information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, however the Company makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness. This publication contains forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance and may involve subjective judgment and analysis. As such, there are no assurances whatsoever that the Company will meet its expectations with respect to its future revenues, sales volume, becoming cash flow positive, ARR or RMR. The Company has no obligation to provide the recipient with additional updated information. No information in this publication should be interpreted as any indication whatsoever of the Company's future revenues, results of operations, or stock price.

For purposes of the Company's disclosures, "Artificial Intelligence" refers to machine-based systems designed to operate with varying levels of autonomy that, for a given set of human defined objectives, can make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. In the context of the Company's business, Artificial Intelligence is deployed primarily within the security services and property management industries to support functions such as detection, analysis, prioritization, communication, and response related to safety, security, and operational events.

The Company delivers these capabilities principally through its SARA (Speaking Autonomous Responsive Agent) platform, which serves as the Company's primary agentic artificial intelligence system. SARA is designed to receive and process video, audio, and other sensor data, apply automated analysis and inference, and support actions in accordance with predefined operational objectives and human oversight.

Further note that the Company's Board of Directors oversees the Company's deployment of Artificial Intelligence.

###

_________________________

1 https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/security-services-industry/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291879

Source: Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Hempalta Corp. (TSXV: HEMP) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its Annual General and Special Meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") held on April 9, 2026, in Calgary, Alberta.

A total of 25,383,382 common shares were voted at the Meeting, representing approximately 22.67% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares.

All matters presented to shareholders were approved, including:

Election of Darren Bondar, Chris Ostafie, and Anshu Khanna as directors;

Appointment of the Company's auditors;

Approval of the Company's stock option plan;

Approval of the Company's name change; and

Approval of a share consolidation.

Corporate Name Change

Further to approval by over 99% of the votes cast at the Meeting, the Company will proceed with completing the previously announced corporate name change to "Next Phase Ventures Ltd.", or such other name as may be accepted by the TSX Venture Exchange, subject to final regulatory approval.

Share Consolidation

At the Meeting, shareholders also approved a consolidation of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares on a basis to be determined by the board of directors. The Company does not intend to effect the consolidation immediately and will consider the timing and implementation of the consolidation in connection with a future transaction or financing, subject to regulatory approval and market conditions.

Private Placement Update

Further to the Company's news release dated February 2, 2026, the Company continues to pursue additional subscriptions under its previously announced non-brokered private placement and intends to continue accepting subscriptions in connection with this financing.

Strategic Direction

As previously disclosed, the Company continues to evaluate strategic initiatives to reposition its business, including opportunities within consumer-focused retail and e-commerce platforms, while continuing to operate its existing subsidiaries as distinct operating divisions.

About Hempalta Corp. ("Hempalta")

Hempalta is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, focused on developing and operating businesses across emerging and evolving markets. The Company operates through its subsidiaries, including Hempalta Processing, a hemp-focused operating division, and Hemp Carbon Standard (HCS), a nature-based carbon solutions platform. HCS supports the development of high-integrity carbon credit programs utilizing industrial hemp and digital measurement, reporting, and verification frameworks, including alignment with ISO 14064-2 standards. Hempalta is focused on building scalable platforms that combine operational discipline, regulatory compliance, and capital markets access to support long-term value creation.

www.hempalta.com | www.hempcarbonstandard.org | www.trustedcarbon.org

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the completion of the corporate name change and consolidation; receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval; the completion of the previously announced private placement; and the Company's evaluation of strategic initiatives and potential repositioning of its business. Forward-looking information is often identified by words such as "plan," "expect," "intend," "evaluate," "believe," "may," "could," or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes. Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that regulatory approvals may not be obtained on a timely basis or at all; changes in market conditions; availability of financing; and general economic, market, and regulatory risks. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which is made as of the date of this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information except as required by applicable law.

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 press release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER U.S. NEWSWIRES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291872

Source: Hempalta Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc. (CSE: TICO) (FSE: 0N8) (the "Company" or "TICO") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Red Cloud Securities Inc. ("Red Cloud") to provide liquidity services in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the Canadian Securities Exchange and other applicable legislation. Red Cloud is a Toronto-based financial services firm that provides assistance to mineral exploration and mining companies in accessing capital markets and enhancing their corporate profile. Red Cloud will trade common shares of TICO for the purposes of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of the Company's shares.

Under the agreement, the Company will pay Red Cloud an initial administrative and set up fee of C$18,000 and then a monthly fee of C$6,000 starting on July 15, 2026. The engagement is ongoing and may be terminated by either party upon sixty (60) days' written notice. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement and no stock options or other securities will be granted in connection with the engagement. Red Cloud and the Company are arm's-length parties, but Red Cloud and/or its clients may acquire an interest in the securities of the Company in the future.

The engagement is intended to maintain the liquidity and stability of trading in the Company's common shares and does not constitute a formal market making agreement.

About Red Cloud Securities Inc.

Red Cloud is registered as an investment dealer in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia and is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). Red Cloud was founded by capital markets professionals who designed the firm to service small public and private companies and is focused on providing comprehensive capital markets services and innovative financing solutions to the junior resource sector.

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.

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 expected benefits of the engagement with Red Cloud, including improved liquidity and market stability of the Company's shares; the Company's future growth and capital markets profile; and the Company's exploration plans and development strategy. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, including, without limitation: the continued provision of services by Red Cloud; 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/291855

Source: Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - GREAT ATLANTIC RESOURCES CORP. (TSXV: GR) (the "Company" or "Great Atlantic") is pleased to an announce its wholly-owned subsidiary, Golden Promise Mines Inc. ("Golden Promise Mines"), is planning a program of excavator trenching during May - June at the Company's 100% owned Golden Promise Property, located in central Newfoundland.

Golden Promise Property Map - 2026 Trenching Program

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"Central Newfoundland continues to be one of the most compelling gold exploration addresses in Atlantic Canada, and Golden Promise sits right in the heart of it. We look forward to reporting results from both target zones as we execute this program in May and June," states Anderson, CEO of Great Atlantic Resources Corp.

Trenching is planned within the southwest and east-central regions of the Golden Promise Property. Golden Promise has received approvals from the Newfoundland and Labrador government for the planned trenches.

The Company is planning three trenches in the southwest region of the property (within Mineral Licence 036105M) in an area of multi-element soil geochemical anomalies identified by the Company along a 2024 northeast - southwest reconnaissance soil sampling traverse. Five consecutive soil samples along this traverse over a total length of approximately 150 metres returned anomalous gold values of 7 parts per billion (ppb), 44 ppb, 53 ppb, 83 ppb and 9 ppb gold. Some of these samples returned anomalous values for silver (up to 3.9 parts per million (ppm)), copper (up to 121 ppm), molybdenum (up to 44 ppm), antimony (up to 28 ppm), zinc (up to 225 ppm), arsenic (up to 172 ppm) and / or vanadium (up to 920 ppm).

The 2024 soil samples were analyzed by Eastern Analytical Ltd. for gold by Fire Assay - and multi-element by four acid digestion and ICP-OES analysis.

Trench lengths of up to approximately 90 - 125 metres are planned for these three northwest - southeast orientated trenches. The trenches are planned approximately perpendicular to the reported bedrock geology contacts in this area between the Lawrence Harbour Formation and Stanley Waters Formation (Rogers et al., 2005), both part of the Victoria Lake Supergroup. Some gold bearing quartz veins / quartz vein systems within the Golden Promise Property occur near the contacts of these two formations.

Planned 2026 Trenches at Golden Promise Property

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Five trenches are planned for the east-central region of the Golden Promise Property (within Licence 034704M) in an area of reported anomalous gold in rock and soil samples; reported magnetic geophysical anomalies; and reported contacts of the Lawrence Harbour Formation and Stanley Waters Formation (Rogers et al., 2005).

Some rock samples collected by Rubicon Mineral Corp. during 2002-2005 in this target area were reported to yield anomalous gold values including two quartz vein float samples reported to return gold values of 168 ppb and 109 ppb and a siltstone float sample reported to return 431 ppb gold (0.431 grams / tonne) (Copeland and Newport, 2004; and Copeland and Newport, 2005). Anomalous soil samples from this target area included a sample reported to return 194 ppb gold (Copeland and Newport, 2005). Neither Great Atlantic nor Golden Promise Mines Inc. have verified these anomalous samples.

These trenches will also be located within various parts of a zone of relatively higher resistivity (interpreted by Company management to be the Stanley Waters Formation) adjacent to areas of lower resistivity (interpreted by Company management to be the Lawrence Harbour Formation which contains black shale). This is based on a reported 2003 airborne geophysical survey by Rubicon Mineral Corp. (Copeland and Newport, 2004). Some trenches will also be located within areas of magnetic anomalies based on the same 2003 geophysical survey.

2026 Planned Trenches Map - Golden Promise Property

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David Martin, P.Geo., (New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador), a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and VP Exploration for Great Atlantic, reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this News Release.

___



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About Great Atlantic Resources Corp.: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Gold, Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Cobalt, Antimony and Tungsten.





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This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.

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.

Great Atlantic Resource Corp.

888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291830

Source: Great Atlantic Resources Corp.
Collaborating with Arm and SKT to penetrate the global 'Sovereign AI' infrastructure market and establish industry standards

Integrating the Arm AGI CPU with Rebellions' RebelCard to enable next-generation AI infrastructure

Validating telco-specific AI models and large-scale workloads at SKT's AI Data Center

Rebellions, a global leader in AI inference infrastructure, announces a collaboration with SK Telecom (SKT) and Arm to develop AI inference infrastructure designed to support sovereign AI and telecommunications-focused AI data centers. Through this collaboration, the companies plan to develop an AI server combining Arm AGI CPU, the first Arm-designed data center CPU, with Rebellions' AI chips. The system will be validated in SKT's AI data center environment before expanding to global markets.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410578210/en/

Rebellions' RebelCard accelerator is integrated into Arm's AGI CPU server, co-optimized through close collaboration between the two companies. This enables high-performance AI inference with improved energy efficiency compared to traditional GPU-based servers, while supporting air-cooled operation and seamless deployment in telecom and data center environments.

This alliance, featuring industry leaders from each AI infrastructure field, aims to address the surging demand in the inference market and set standards for high-performance, energy-efficient sovereign AI infrastructure. Together, the companies plan to collaborate across the value chain from infrastructure design through real-world deployment and validation.

As part of the initiative, the Arm AGI CPU, built on Arm Neoverse CSS V3, and Rebellions' RebelCard accelerator, will be combined into high-performance server infrastructure. Beyond hardware integration, the partners will co-develop the entire software stack, including firmware, and deploy the developed solutions in SKT's live data center environments to verify performance and stability for sovereign AI models and telco-specific large-scale data processing. There are plans to review running SKT's proprietary foundation model, A.X K1, on these servers.

Following technical validation, the partners plan to explore broader commercial deployment opportunities. Through this, Rebellions intends to supply optimized solutions for the global Sovereign AI data center market and secure a strong presence, particularly in Asia. Specifically, the focus will be on supplying customized, stability-proven solutions to global telecommunications companies and public sectors that require independent AI infrastructure.

"By providing our 'RebelCard'-which offers overwhelming performance and power efficiency-alongside our full-stack software, Rebellions has become a core pillar supporting next-generation AI data centers," says Jinwook Oh, CTO of Rebellions. "We expect this 'one-team' collaboration of experts to serve as a significant precedent in the industry for building AI-specialized infrastructure."

"By providing a full package that combines inference-optimized infrastructure with our proprietary foundation model, A.X K1, we will further strengthen our competitiveness in the AI data center market," says Jaeshin Lee, Vice President and Head of AI Business Development at SK Telecom.

"As AI infrastructure expands globally, CPUs play a critical role in coordinating workloads across accelerators, memory and networking," said Eddie Ramirez, vice president of go-to-market, Cloud AI Business Unit at Arm. "Arm AGI CPU, built on Arm Neoverse CSS V3, was designed to deliver the performance and efficiency required for large-scale AI deployments. Together with Rebellions and SK Telecom, we're enabling scalable infrastructure for sovereign AI and telecommunications markets."

About Rebellions RebelCard

The Rebellions RebelCard is a module-type card product featuring Rebellions' next-generation AI semiconductor, 'Rebel 100' (formerly known as Rebel-Quad). It integrates four NPU chiplets with 5th-generation High Bandwidth Memory (HBM3E) to deliver exceptional computing power. By securing performance comparable to current flagship GPUs while exceeding them in power efficiency, it addresses the demand for energy and cost optimization in large-scale AI data centers. It is specifically optimized for running ultra-large multimodal and Mixture of Experts (MoE) models through high-speed chip-to-chip communication technology.

About Rebellions

Rebellions builds what the AI era needs: purpose-built inference accelerators delivering the performance, efficiency, and supply chain resilience that enterprises and nations demand. Its flagship Rebel100 delivers the best performance per dollar per watt built for inference from the ground up, not retrofitted from training with full-stack software built entirely on open source and open standards. With proven commercial deployments already live across enterprises and governments, and a chiplet architecture built for the most demanding AI workloads, Rebellions gives every organization and nation the ability to own and control their AI, not just access it. Backed by Aramco, Arm, Kindred Ventures, KT, Mirae Asset Group, Samsung, SK Hynix, and SK Telecom, Rebellions is headquartered in South Korea with operations in the United States. Learn more by visiting www.rebellions.ai, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/rebellions-ai, and on X at twitter.com/rebellions_inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410578210/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Dan Griffin dan@griffin360.com

Diana Wong diana.wong@rebellions.ai
RPX strategically pivots to electrify Europe's heavy transport with innovative renewable energy offerings, AI software and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions.

STOCKHOLM, Apr. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Power Accelerator (SPA) today announced that it has officially rebranded to Renewable Power Accelerator (RPX) following a strategic repositioning to accelerate the electrification of Europe's heavy duty transport sector through renewable energy solutions.

Originally founded in early 2023, SPA focused on scaling commercial and industrial rooftop solar installations across Sweden, enabling property owners to monetize surplus electricity offtakes through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). In response to changing market conditions and declining demand in this segment, the company initiated a strategic shift and pivot toward e-mobility in late 2024.

RPX delivers renewable energy-primarily solar and wind-to charging infrastructure for electric heavy-duty trucks (eHDT), prioritising key transport corridors, logistics depots and freight terminals across Europe.

The transport and logistics sector currently accounts for more than 25% of EU carbon emissions, while the eHDT market is projected to grow at approximately 10% CAGR through 2035. With regulatory pressure increasing and total cost of ownership expected to favor electric trucks by 2027, the transition toward electrified freight is accelerating.

RPX's integrated customer offering ensures that charging stations are powered entirely by renewable energy through onsite microgrids, battery storage, and load balancing, supplemented with locally contracted PPAs with leading European power distributors.

As part of the transformation, RPX is expanding its platform offering with two additional customer value propositions:

AI-automated software: An embedded fleet management application which includes features for navigation planning, energy pricing control, advanced driver assistance systems and renewable energy certification with user interfaces for drivers, charging point operators and third party logistics providers.

Battery-as-a-Service solutions: A leasing model for the end-user structured in collaboration with leading truck manufacturers to enable total cost of ownership (TCO) parity with diesel trucks.

"Adding a client centric software defined vehicle and infrastructure offering strengthens our leadership position as it boosts our capacity to scale the renewable energy transition for eHDT deployment in Europe," said Par-Olof Johannesson, Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

"We are part of a broader paradigm shift toward renewable logistics," added William Granelli, Co-founder and Vice President. "Recent macroeconomic and geopolitical developments have further highlighted the risks of fossil fuel dependency and the urgency of transitioning to resilient, redundant, and locally sourced renewable energy systems." Being a serial entrepreneur in the sector, William Granelli has received instrumental support from seasoned industry experts when shaping this new customer-focused offering.

RPX is currently developing projects across the Nordic region, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Poland.

The company is currently raising funds to finance the expansion. For more information on equity participation and subscription to convertible bond notes visit rpx.se.

The name change was formally approved at an extraordinary general meeting of Solar Power Accelerator AB on April 10, 2026.

Renewable Power Accelerator (RPX) merges technology and energy by enabling 100% renewable electricity sourcing across Europe's transport sector. We are strategically positioned at the intersection of transport electrification, renewable energy generation, energy infrastructure & storage, and software solutions. This convergence represents a multi-billion-euro market opportunity driven by EU regulatory mandates, corporate decarbonization targets, rising fossil fuel volatility, and rapid technological advancement.

For more information contact Par-Olof Johannesson and William Granelli:

par-olof.johannesson@rpx.se

william.granelli@rpx.se

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/solar-power-accelerator-spa-rebrands-to-rpx-adds-customised-ai-and-baas-offering-302739151.html
Dublin, Ireland--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (SIX: COPN) (FSE: C43) ("Cosmo") announced that its shareholders approved all voting items at today's Ordinary Annual General Meeting (AGM). A total of 10,354,065 ordinary shares of the share capital of Cosmo were represented at this general meeting of shareholders. These shares make up 59.02% of the total outstanding ordinary shares in the share capital of Cosmo as of the record date.

Among others, the shareholders of Cosmo approved a dividend of 2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date will be 24 April 2026, and payment will be made on 11 May 2026. The full voting results of the 2026 AGM and detailed dividend payment information are available on the Company's website via www.cosmohealthconfidence.com/agm.

About Cosmo

Cosmo is a life sciences company focused on MedTech AI, dermatology, gastrointestinal diseases, and contract development and manufacturing (CDMO). We design, develop, and manufacture advanced solutions that address critical medical needs and raise the standard of care. Our technologies are trusted by leading global pharmaceutical and MedTech companies and reach patients and healthcare providers around the world. Guided by our purpose - Building Health Confidence - our mission is to empower patients, healthcare professionals, and partners by innovating at the intersection of science and technology. Founded in 1997, Cosmo is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in San Diego (USA), and in Lainate, Rome, and Catania (Italy). For more information, visit www.cosmohealthconfidence.com.

Attachments

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291920

Source: Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V.
DAVOS, Switzerland, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world where communication increasingly drives markets, policy, and public trust, the Davos Communications Summit & Awards 2026 is set to bring together in Switzerland communications business leaders from over 20 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa this April.

With two weeks remaining until the event, a limited number of seats are still available at www.davossummits.com.

Taking place on April 23-24, the summit, hosted by the World Communications Forum Association (WCFA), comes at a time when communication is no longer just messaging, but a key driver of corporate strategy, reputation, investor confidence, regulatory positioning, and public trust.

"We are entering an era where communication defines trust, and trust defines success. The conversations in Davos will not be only about trends, but about decisions that will shape industries and societies. For more than a decade, since 2010, Davos has been a meeting point for those who understand that communication drives influence and valuable partnerships. What makes this summit unique is not just the agenda, but the quality of networking", said Maxim Behar, WCFA President.

This year's keynote speakers reflect the growing strategic role of communications across sectors, including Lord Evans of Sealand (House of Lords Member), Bar Clara Mendez-McConnon (former Meta EMEA leader), Paul Holmes (PRovoke Media Founder), Johna Burke (AMEC CEO & Global Managing Director), and Victoria Kennedy (CEO, Victorious PR; Wall Street Journal best-selling author). Beyond its headline speakers, the summit will feature a two-day conference with six panel discussions tackling the issues shaping communication today - from AI and crisis response to trust, reputation, and accountability.

Among the speakers are also senior communications leaders from organizations such as the UEFA, CERN, RepTrak, SEC Newgate, Muck Rack, SRPR, BPRESS, PR Powerhouse, Castle Mount Media, Pinpoint PR, MC Public Affairs, SPRING PR, AIWIZ Digital Marketing, eMedia Monitor, T1A, as well as the American University of Sharjah, the University of Louisiana, the University of Tennessee, and more.

The summit's program is available here.

The experience will open with a Welcome Cocktail, setting the tone for high-level networking, and will culminate in the Gala Dinner & Davos Communications Awards 2026 Ceremony, celebrating excellence in strategic communication on a global stage.

This year, the awards have attracted over 110 entries from 25+ countries across five continents, reflecting the growing global importance of strategic communication. The winners will be officially announced during the ceremony in Davos, recognizing campaigns, leaders, and organizations that have demonstrated measurable impact, innovation, and excellence.

For more information and inquiries, contact WCFA at mainoffice@wcfaglobal.com.

About Davos Communications Summit

The Davos Communications Summit is a flagship event organized by WCFA, bringing together global leaders, top communication professionals, and innovators to discuss the most pressing challenges and emerging trends in the communications industry. Since 2010, this prestigious summit has been a cornerstone for shaping the future of global communications, welcoming over 300 experts from different countries. WCFA has hosted the event in prestigious locations worldwide, including Davos, Istanbul, Prague, New York City, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Mexico City, Lusaka, Cape Town, and Geneva. In 2020, due to COVID-19, it launched its first virtual Summit, with over 450 experts joining globally.

About World Communications Forum Association (WCFA)

The World Communications Forum Association (WCFA) is a global PR leaders club, registered in Davos, Switzerland. Founded as a global hub for innovators, strategists, and visionaries, WCFA brings together communication experts, companies and institutions to advance the PR profession and tackle modern challenges in the industry. Through its prestigious annual forums, regional events, awards and thought leadership initiatives, WCFA promotes collaboration and shares cutting-edge practices among its members and partners. With a network spanning 6 continents, over 40 countries, WCFA isn't just a non-profit organization - it's a movement driving excellence, innovation, and influence in communications across industries.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/davos-communications-summit-2026-to-bring-global-leaders-to-switzerland-to-tackle-ai-trust-and-crisis-302739302.html
Post Oak Group, a leading mid-market investment bank headquartered in Houston, Texas, has been recognized as the top middle-market investment bank in the state of Texas, reflecting the firm's continued growth, differentiated advisory platform, and consistent delivery of exceptional outcomes for its clients.

HOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / April 10, 2026 / Post Oak Group, a leading middle-market investment bank headquartered in Houston, Texas, has been recognized as the top middle-market investment bank in the state of Texas, reflecting the firm's continued growth, differentiated advisory platform, and consistent delivery of exceptional outcomes for its clients.

The recognition underscores Post Oak Group's emergence as a premier advisor to founders, shareholders, and institutional investors across mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions. The firm has distinguished itself through a combination of institutional-quality execution, senior-led engagement, and a disciplined, process-driven approach that consistently delivers results in both straightforward and complex situations. With a leadership team bringing more than 250 years of combined experience across capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and a wide range of industry specializations, Post Oak Group has built a depth of expertise that few middle-market firms can match.

Post Oak Group's platform is widely regarded as best-in-class within the middle market for several key reasons:

Institutional-Grade Advisory with Boutique Agility

The firm combines the rigor, analytical depth, and execution capabilities typically associated with large global investment banks with the responsiveness, attention, and customization of a boutique advisor. This hybrid model enables Post Oak Group to deliver highly sophisticated advice without sacrificing speed or client focus.

Senior-Led Execution and Accountability

Every engagement is led by senior professionals who remain deeply involved throughout the lifecycle of a transaction. This hands-on approach ensures that clients benefit from experienced judgment at every stage, from initial positioning through final execution.

Proprietary Network and Access to Capital

Post Oak Group leverages a deeply cultivated, proprietary network of private equity firms, strategic acquirers, family offices, and institutional investors. This network allows the firm to generate competitive tension, broaden buyer and investor universes, and ultimately drive superior outcomes for its clients.

Disciplined Process and Measurable Performance

The firm has built an operational infrastructure centered around measurable key performance indicators, including speed to market, buyer and investor engagement, and transaction certainty. This structured approach enhances execution efficiency and reduces risk throughout the transaction process.

Ability to Execute Complex and Challenging Transactions

Post Oak Group has developed a reputation for successfully completing transactions that others deem too complex or difficult. By applying creative structuring, strategic positioning, and rigorous execution, the firm consistently unlocks value in situations where outcomes are uncertain.

Client-Centric Philosophy and High-Touch Service

At its core, Post Oak Group was founded on the belief that the middle market deserves a higher standard of advisory service. The firm emphasizes thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and alignment with client objectives, ensuring that each engagement is tailored to the specific goals of the shareholders it represents.

"This recognition reflects the strength of our team and the philosophy we set out to build from day one," said David Chua, Managing Partner of the Mergers & Acquisitions practice at Post Oak Group. "We believe the middle market deserves the same level of sophistication, care, and execution as the largest transactions in the world, and we have built our platform to deliver exactly that."

As Post Oak Group continues to expand its capabilities across M&A advisory, capital markets, and strategic initiatives, the firm remains focused on scaling its platform beyond Texas and across global markets, bringing its high-touch, institutional-quality advisory model to a broader client base.

For more information, please visit postoakgroup.co

Media Contact

Organization: Post Oak Group

Contact Person Name: Anthony Treistman

Website: https://www.postoakgroup.co/

Email: info@postoakgroup.co

City: Houston

State: Texas

Country: United States

SOURCE: Post Oak Group

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/post-oak-group-named-as-texass-best-middle-market-investment-bank-1156628
by Carol A Westbrook

When did you first notice that you cell phone was finishing your sentences? Sure, spellcheck had been around for a while, however annoying it might be, but coming up with whole sentences that seemed to read your mindcan I call you later? Can we meet tomorrow? Do you need groceries? These suggestions seem to come out of nowhere but can surprisingly express exactly what you want to say.

But so-called artificial intelligence struck like lightening in November 2022 when a start-up company called Open AI was founded with a billion dollars from an assortment of Silicon Valley techies who released a chatbot called Chat GPT. Within 5 days a million people had chatted with the bot, generating essays, poems, and answers to questions, if not always perfectly accurate. Two months later, Chat GPT had 100 million users.

Chat GPT is available to everyone online for free, like Wikipedia. However, for an extra monthly cost of about $20, you can obtain the Premium version, which gives you faster results, more access, and rapid application of new updates. AI is expensive to run, however. It requires large data centers, occupying acres of land, to process the data and analyze the problems it is given; large amounts of water are needed to cool these massive computers; and finally, large amounts of data, printed matter, poetry, computer programs, and so on must be constantly fed into the data banks in order to keep up with current events and new discoveries. Microsoft has been a major supporter of Open AI, providing critical cloud computing infrastructure via Microsoft Azure, enabling the training of large models, and investing millions in the company.

Since its inception in 2022, Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly increased in power, and many people think it is approaching human intelligenceat least in solving individual problems; for example analyzing Covid sequence and using this to develop a vaccine for Moderna. Its generally accepted that if this trend continues, at some point AI will reach and then surpass human intelligence. This is easy to imagine. But what is harder to picture is what the world will be like when this point is reachedWhen artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence. This point has been called the Singularity.

I have asked a number of my technically-minded friends what they predict will occur when the singularity is reached. Most of them do not have any opinion and usually say they dont know what the singularity actually is. One friend said that he knows a lot about artificial intelligence, he uses it at work all the time, using programs such as Chat GPT but he cant really imagine a time when AI is smarter than humans.

In a recent Substack blog, cognitive scientist and futurist Gary Marcus skeptically said that the singularity is sufficiently imprecise, filled with emotional and historic baggage, and touches some of humanitys deepest hopes and fears, that it is hard to have a rational discussion therein.

In fact, this has been my experience; most people cannot fathom this idea, and the conversation quickly turns to joking. People seem very uncomfortable trying to comprehend a world in which computers are smarter than they are.

But joking aside, this is something we or our grandchildrenmay have to face. So what can we expect when our human intellect is surpassed by artificial intelligence?

The term Singularity to describe this situation was first proposed by John von Neumann in 1958, who discussed an essential singularity in the history of the race beyond which human affairs, as we know them, could not continue.

Futurist Ray Kurzweil in his 2005 book The Singlarity is Near said the singularity will occur in 2045. (He predicted that AI will pass the Turing test by 2029.) [The Turing Test, proposed by Alan Turing in 1950, is a measure of a machines ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human. During the test, a human interrogator engages in a text-only conversation with both a human and a machine; if the interrogator cannot reliably distinguish between them, the machine passes. The Turing test does not require the machine to be correct or logical, but rather to be convincing, to fool the judge into believing that it is human. Recently, GPT version 4.5 passed the Turing test as human 73% of the time.]

The next step in the development of thinking machines will be the achievement of artificial general intelligence (AGI). AGI is more than just the ability to solve a problem put to it; it is generalized, human-level intelligence that can handle, or exceed, any cognitive task a human can. It can analyze situations, adapt to novel situations, and apply ethical and moral judgement. In 1999, Kurzweil theorized that AGI would be achieved once humanity could achieve a technology capable of a trillion calculations per second, which he pegged to occur in 2029.

In Kurzweils point of view, the human brain will begin to rely on AI so much that it cannot function without a direct connection to the AI, that it will actually fuse with the robotic brain. Exactly how this might happen biologically is not explained, but consider how much you rely on Siri or Alexa, on using your smart phone to get info and guidance. Soon you wont have to think at all!

Another common perception of how the Singularity might look, is that the machines that possess AI become so powerful that they take over the running of the earth, and humans become obsolete, and perhaps even extinct. I can see how this might happen as we slowly transfer chores to AIit will run the water system, triage medical patients (and perhaps treat some of them), manage the power grid, collect trash every week, teach high school, plant and harvest crops, write our term papers, and so on. Soon, there will be nothing left for humans to do! Many folks think this is going to happen within the next few decades! Realistically, this would require that the AI computer had already achieved AGI, which is still a long way into the future.

There is one final scenario that has not yet been considered: when the Singularity is reached, when machine intelligence surpasses human intelligence. In this scenario, we will continue to rely on the AI as before, to answer questions, solve problems, and do the tedious, repetitive tasks that we humans dislike, and complete these tasks with lightning speed. Nothing will have changed, except that we humans will have the benefit of a very intelligent partner. We will be entering an age of enlightenment, the likes of which we have never seen. Or will we?

The important question here is whether it is possible that machine intelligence can surpass human intelligence. Consider that all of the knowledge that an AI computer contains has been fed into it from human sourcesso will we be able to surpass human intelligence, as predicted by the futurists, or will we just be able to access it more rapidly? Many prominent technologists and academics dispute the plausibility that a machine can be more intelligent than a human brain. Whether or not the singularity will actually occur is heavily debated. And, like many future predictions, we will have to wait to 2029 to find out.

***

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Wealth Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: WML) (OTCQB: WMLLF) (SSE: WMLCL) (FSE: EJZN) (the "Company" or "Wealth") provides a corporate update.

CEO Statement

Henk van Alphen, CEO of Wealth Minerals, said: "The lithium landscape globally and in Chile is rapidly advancing due to higher lithium prices and a positive regulatory stance within Chile. The Wealth team has been busy as new interest from potential strategic partners in our assets is picking up. The appointment of a new director and a new legal team is directly tied to the corporate development plans of the Company. All together, these milestones reinforce our long-term commitment to Chile and to the responsible development of strategic lithium resources."

General Corporate Update

Wealth maintains ongoing engagement with local indigenous communities in several project areas, with a focus on transparency and long-term collaboration. The Company's Kuska Project development subsidiary Kuska Minerals SpA (see press release of July 14, 2025) is operating smoothly with regular Board of Director meetings with representatives from Wealth and the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollague attending to manage the affairs of the Kuska Project. Regarding the Kuska Project, the Company is also expecting to engage in a Special Lithium Operation Contract (CEOL) with the State of Chile, which would grant Kuska Minerals SpA full rights to further developing such project into an operation.

Wealth is actively evaluating potential strategic partnerships for its projects, including discussions with international counterparties regarding capital investment, technical collaboration, and long-term off-take agreements.

The Company continues to prioritize the use of Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technologies combined with brine reinjection, aiming to minimize environmental impact and water consumption. Management has maintained key relationships with technology providers who were instrumental in the development of the Kuska Project PEA (see press release of January 4, 2024).

Appointment of New Director, Kevin Nishi

The Company has appointed Mr. Kevin Nishi, former audit partner at Smythe LLP for 28 years, as an independent director. During his tenure at Smythe LLP, his main focus was the audit of public companies listed on the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange and in the U.S. During that time, he was also the engagement partner for several private companies and in his early career, conducted several business valuations and completed litigation support engagements. Mr. Nishi currently sits on two public company boards, Alaska Silver Corp. and Outcrop Silver & Gold Inc., and has held independent board positions with several other Canadian issuers over the years. Mr. Nishi is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has a BBA from Simon Fraser University.

Engagement of New Corporate Counsel

The Company has engaged DLA Piper as its new corporate counsel. DLA Piper is one of the world's largest and most prominent global law firms with more than 90 offices in over 40 countries spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The firm employs approximately 4,800 lawyers and generates multi-billion-dollar annual revenue (ranking among the top three highest-grossing law firms globally in 2024). David Reid of DLA Piper will represent the Company. Mr. Reid is a senior partner at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, based in the Vancouver office, where he serves as Global Co-Chair of the firm's Mining Sector, providing strategic advice on large-scale national and international transactions in the mining and natural resources industries.

Stock Option Grant

Pursuant to the Company's Amended 2004 Incentive Stock Option Plan, the Company has granted incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to purchase up to 11,700,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company. The options are exercisable on or before April 10, 2028 at a price of $0.10 per share.

Private Placement Clarification

Pursuant to the Company's news releases dated January 12, January 26, February 3 and February 25, the Company wishes to clarify the terms of the finder's warrants, whereby all finder's warrants issued pursuant to the financing are non-transferable at an exercise price of $0.12 and expire two years from closing.

About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada and Chile. The Company's focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America.

The Company opportunistically advances battery metal projects where it has a peer advantage in project selection and initial evaluation. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. In parallel with lithium market dynamics, Wealth believes other battery metals will benefit from similar industry trends.

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

"Hendrik van Alphen"

Hendrik van Alphen

Chief Executive Officer

Follow Us:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WealthMineralsLtd

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealth-minerals

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/WealthMinerals

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 press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral projects, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291905

Source: Wealth Minerals Ltd.
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Sends announces on their LinkedIn that their Compliance team has been shortlisted for Small Compliance Team of the Year (<7 Team Members) at the ICA Compliance Awards 2026. The jury commends the team's delivery of strong compliance oversight and financial crime prevention, despite operating with a compact team of four professionals.





Alona Shevtsova, CEO at Sends

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The ICA Compliance Awards will announce this year's winners at the ceremony on 25 June 2026 at the Park Plaza Westminster in London. Sends' shortlisting reflects efficiency of its compliance framework and the team's ability to support growth while maintaining a risk-based approach to decision-making.

During 2025, the team focused on strengthening internal controls, standardising processes, and improving operational efficiency without compromising compliance quality. Working across onboarding, due diligence, transaction monitoring, internal investigations, regulatory reporting, and AML framework maintenance, the team created a scalable compliance function that keeps pace with business growth and regulatory expectations.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO at Sends, commented:

"We are honoured to be shortlisted for this award, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sends compliance team for their hard work, expertise and commitment. Their ability to deliver high-quality outcomes with limited resources is what has earned us this recognition, and this shortlisting reflects the culture of accountability and collaboration they have built across the business."

The shortlisting comes as Sends continues to scale as a regulated financial services provider, with compliance playing a central role in supporting secure, compliant, and sustainable growth. The company's latest external AML audit in December 2025 concluded with no compliance-related findings, providing independent validation of the team's maturity and effectiveness.

About Sends

Sends is a UK-based financial services provider and FCA-authorised Electronic Money Institution (EMI), offering secure payment solutions for individual and corporate clients. The company supports e-wallet services, electronic money issuance, and merchant acquiring, underpinned by a compliance-driven approach to growth and innovation.

About the ICA Compliance Awards

The ICA Compliance Awards recognise and celebrate internal compliance and financial crime prevention teams who go above and beyond to collaborate, innovate, and raise compliance standards across the globe. These awards promote best practice, champion the profession, and highlight the importance of compliance and financial crime prevention in today's constantly changing regulatory, geopolitical and business environment.

About ICA

The International Compliance Association (ICA) is the leading professional body for the global regulatory and financial crime compliance community. Since 2001, ICA has enhanced the knowledge, skills and behaviour of over 160,000 professionals through internationally recognised qualifications and accredited in-company training.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291921

Source: United Press
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (the "Company" or "BaM") is pleased to announce that it has closed the Illinois dispensary transactions, which it had previously disclosed in a news release dated January 30, 2025.

NMG IL 4 Transaction:

DEP Nevada, Inc. received $833,333 in cash less $43,831.56 for certain indebtedness of NMG IL 4 immediately prior to closing and transaction expenses. The transaction also includes an earnout payable in cash equal to 3.2 times the Earnout Period EBITDA (as defined in the NMG IL 4 Membership Interest Purchase Agreement) less the purchase price already paid, which earnout period consists of months 4 through 15 following regulatory approval of the MNG IL 4 management services agreement.

NMG IL 1 Transaction:

DEP Nevada, Inc. received $1,666,667 in cash less $148,134.65 for certain indebtedness of NMG IL 1 immediately prior to closing and transaction expenses. The transaction also includes an earnout payable in cash equal to 3.2 times the Earnout Period EBITDA (as defined in the NMG IL 1 Membership Interest Purchase Agreement) less the purchase price already paid, which earnout period consists of months 4 through 15 following regulatory approval of the MNG IL 1 management services agreement.

Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information.

For further information, please contact:

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 release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. 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 statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291929

Source: Body and Mind Inc.
Partners Group / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement

Partners Group provides interim business update



10-Apr-2026 / 18:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Baar-Zug, Switzerland; 10 April 2026 | Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 Listing Rules (LR)

Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, today provides an extraordinary interim business update on its fundraising and investment activities for the first quarter of 2026.

David Layton, Chief Executive Officer, Partners Group, states: "During periods of market dislocation, Partners Group has a precedent of providing disclosures beyond the regular reporting cycle, such as in the early phase of the COVID-19 crisis. We have therefore decided to provide this interim update to the market to offer transparency around our activities. We are confident that Partners Group is well-positioned to successfully navigate the current complex environment on behalf of the firm's clients and shareholders."

In the first quarter of 2026, Partners Group continued to see positive fundraising momentum. New client demand totaled USD 8.3 billion across all private markets asset classes and client strategies. USD 5.0 billion of new commitments came from bespoke solutions, while traditional programs contributed USD 3.3 billion. Institutional investors[1], which represent over 80% of Partners Group's client base, drove more than 80% of inflows across mandates, evergreens, and traditional programs. Private wealth investors, representing less than 20% of the client base, also supported the growth of evergreen strategies, which overall saw USD 2.5 billion in new client commitments and USD 0.8 billion in net inflows.

Breakdown of new client demand as of Q1 2026 (in USD billion)

Q1 2026 FY 2025 Mandates 2.5 9.4 Evergreens 2.5 9.4 Traditional programs 3.3 7.5 Total 8.3 26.2

Partners Group returned USD 5.7 billion in liquidity to its clients, primarily through realizations across private equity and infrastructure investments. On the deployment side, after a strong investment year in 2025, the firm maintained a disciplined approach in the first quarter, investing USD 2.8 billion across its client portfolios while delaying certain opportunities given elevated market volatility.

Outlook

For the full year 2026, Partners Group reconfirms expected gross new client demand of between USD 26 to 32 billion despite the complex environment. The firm bases its guidance on the large and visible pipeline of fundraising opportunities across its three principal offerings: mandates, evergreens, and traditional closed-ended private markets programs. Full-year estimates for tail-down effects from more mature closed-ended investment programs are also reconfirmed at USD -10 to -13 billion, mainly due to the tail-downs of certain funds shifting from late 2025 to early 2026.

[1] Institutional investors include corporates, endowments and foundations, corporate and public pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, banks and institutionalized family offices.

[2] Assets under management as of 31 December 2025.

About Partners Group

Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with around 2'000 professionals and USD 185 billion in assets under management.[2] The firm has investment programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and its primary presence in the Americas in Colorado, Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to build businesses and assets into market leaders. For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn .

Shareholder relations contact

Dr. Adrien-Paul Lambillon

Phone: +44 207 575 2590

Email: adrien-paul.lambillon@partnersgroup.com
YIBIN, China, April 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 2nd, Kaiyi Auto officially launched its globally designed X7 Hybrid 7-seater SUV in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in partnership with local dealer CMG-CAMEL AUTO. The event highlighted the model's avant-garde design, spacious interior, and intelligent hybrid capabilities, offering a compelling new option for local families. This also marks a significant step forward in Kaiyi Auto's globalization strategy in the Central Asian market.





The Kaiyi X7 Hybrid is a globally designed model built by Kaiyi Auto to meet the needs of international users and adhere to global standards, precisely tailored to the usage requirements of multiple regions and scenarios.

With its three core values ??of elegant design, spacious interior, and intelligent hybrid efficiency, the Kaiyi X7 Hybrid sets a new benchmark for mid-size intelligent hybrid SUVs globally.

Design: It features a striking "light and shadow" aesthetic with a digital front face and smart light language.

Space: Equipped with a class-leading 5+2 flexible seating layout, it accommodates various scenarios from family trips to long-distance travel.

Performance: Powered by an efficient hybrid system, it delivers an ultra-long range of over 1,200km and a quick 0-100km/h acceleration of 7.9 seconds, eliminating range anxiety.





The launch also included a handover ceremony for the first batch of local owners, symbolizing official market entry. To validate real-world performance, Kaiyi Auto launched a cross-border journey where top local KOLs will drive the X7 Hybrid from Tashkent to Kaiyi Auto's global headquarters in Yibin, China, testing its reliability across diverse terrains. This long-distance journey will verify global quality through real-world road conditions and long-distance driving, using practical data to demonstrate the boundless mobility capabilities of the Kaiyi X7 Hybrid.

Uzbekistan marks the first global launch of the Kaiyi X7 Hybrid. Adhering to its core strategy of "globalized products + localized operations," the brand is collaborating with CMG CAMEL AUTO to strengthen channel development, service upgrades, and user experience, continuously enhancing its overseas market penetration and brand influence. With its high quality, high-value product positioning, Kaiyi Auto is steadily solidifying its competitiveness as a global mobility brand and establishing a distinctive brand image in the international market.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/529ba9b9-c83c-48bc-9d8b-d86aafe3914b

Media Contact: Wang Hanlu Job Title: Senior Brand Manager Contact Information: wanghanlu@newcowin.com
A live stream of the ribbon cutting and new store opening celebration will be held on Saturday, April 11 at 3:00 PM CDMX / 5:00 PM EST on JOi's Instagram page: @joi.dollar.plus

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - PesoRama Inc. (TSXV: PESO) ("PesoRama" or the "Company"), a Canadian company operating dollar stores in Mexico under the JOi Dollar Plus brand, today announces the upcoming grand opening of store #35 on April 11th in Parque Tepeyac.

Store #35 is located northeast of Mexico City in a high-density residential and commercial area. The 3,640 square feet store is located within Parque Tepeyac, a destination with more than 100 commercial establishments.

"The opening of our 35th JOi Dollar Plus Store in Mexico, bodes well for our overall expansion and provides greater accessibility to Mexican consumers who want to shop at our stores," said Rahim Bhaloo, Founder, CEO & Chairman of PesoRama. "We have identified a robust pipeline of high density traffic areas where there is an opportunity to open additional stores to drive continued growth and success."





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Join Our Live Stream on Instagram!

A live stream of the ribbon cutting and new store opening celebration will be held on JOi's Instagram page on Saturday, April 11th at 3:00 PM CDMX / 5:00 PM EST. Join us in celebrating and follow along on Instagram: @joi.dollar.plus

About PesoRama Inc.

PesoRama, operating under the JOi Dollar Plus brand, is a Mexican value dollar store retailer. PesoRama launched operations in 2019 in Mexico City and the surrounding areas targeting high density, high traffic locations. PesoRama's 35 stores offer consistent merchandise offerings which include items in the following categories: household goods, pet supplies, seasonal products, party supplies, health and beauty, snack food items, confectionery and more. For more information visit: http://pesorama.ca.

Cautionary Note

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, among other things, statements regarding the Company's planned expansion, new store openings and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate. While the Company believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements, including due to changes in consumer behaviour, general economic factors, the ability of the Company to execute its strategies, the availability of capital and the risk factors which are discussed in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's prospectus dated January 31, 2022 and filed under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. PesoRama undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of PesoRama, its securities, or its financial or operating results (as applicable).

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/291951

Source: PesoRama Inc.
Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - The O'Sullivan Law Firm announces that Scott O'Sullivan, founder of Rider Justice, was recently featured on the RIDE BYND podcast in an interview hosted by Ben Giese. O'Sullivan and Giese have been friends and colleagues for the past six years through their work in the motorcycle industry, and that longstanding connection helped shape a conversation that felt both personal and deeply rooted in the riding community. The episode highlights O'Sullivan's perspective on protecting riders, the challenges injured motorcyclists face after a crash, and the importance of standing up for the motorcycle community.

As founder of Rider Justice, the advocacy arm of The O'Sullivan Law Firm, O'Sullivan has built his work around serving injured motorcyclists and supporting the broader riding community. His appearance on RIDE BYND reflects that mission and offers listeners a deeper look at the issues riders face after serious accidents, including bias against motorcyclists, severe injuries, and insurance company tactics that can undervalue claims.

Ben Giese and Scott O'Sullivan during the recording of the RIDE BYND episode: The Truth About Motorcycle Accidents -Scott O'Sullivan.

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"Any opportunity to speak directly to the motorcycle community matters to me," said Scott O'Sullivan, founder of Rider Justice. "Ben and I have been friends and colleagues for years, so this conversation was especially meaningful. Riders deserve to be understood, respected, and protected, and I appreciated the chance to talk about why that advocacy matters."

RIDE BYND is built around the idea that motorcycles may be the connection point, but the real value is in the stories behind the people who ride. The podcast features deeper conversations with athletes, artists, adventurers, industry figures, and other voices from the motorcycle world, with a focus on the experiences that shape them both on and off the bike.

Hosted by Giese, RIDE BYND brings a perspective shaped by years of storytelling work and a long connection to the motorcycle world. His approach to the show is grounded in authentic conversation and real connection, giving guests room to share more than surface-level soundbites.

Of the interview, Giese says, "Scott is not only a personal friend, but someone I have a deep respect for. What he's built with Rider Justice is incredibly important for the motorcycle community. They're deeply involved in the community and truly advocating for and protecting riders in a meaningful way. That's why I'm honored to share his story and help educate fellow riders, because this information is genuinely valuable and can make a real difference in their life."

That approach is reinforced by RIDE BYND's mobile studio, which Giese built to bring the podcast directly to the places where his guests live, work, and ride. By meeting people in environments that feel familiar and meaningful to them, the conversations take on a more personal, comfortable, and honest tone.

O'Sullivan has spent decades helping injured riders and their families, and Rider Justice was created to address the specific issues motorcyclists face after serious crashes. Through legal representation, advocacy, and continued involvement in the motorcycle community, Rider Justice works to support riders both on and off the road.

The full RIDE BYND interview featuring Scott O'Sullivan is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

About Rider Justice

Rider Justice is a motorcycle law firm and the advocacy arm of The O'Sullivan Law Firm. Founded by Scott O'Sullivan, Rider Justice helps injured riders and their families after motorcycle accidents and other serious injury incidents. In addition to motorcycle injury representation, Rider Justice is known for protecting riders' rights and supporting the motorcycle community through education, partnerships, events, and rider-focused initiatives. More information is available at riderjustice.com.

Rider Justice - The motorcycle advocacy arm of the O'Sullivan Law Firm.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291875

Source: The O'Sullivan Law Firm
EPIC Suisse AG / Key word(s): AGMEGM

EPIC Suisse AG - Annual General Meeting 2026 approves all proposals by the Board of Directors



10.04.2026 / 19:00 CET/CEST





Zurich, 10 April 2026 EPIC Suisse AG - Annual General Meeting 2026 approves all proposals by the Board of Directors EPIC Suisse AG (SIX: EPIC), held its Annual General Meeting 2026 ("AGM") in Zurich today. All proposals by the Board of Directors were approved by very large majorities. In total 90.21% of all issued shares and voting rights were represented at the shareholders' meeting. Shareholders attending in person or represented by third parties accounted for 23'318 of voting rights. 10'085'177 voting rights were represented by the independent proxy. Shareholders approved the Management Report, Holding Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2025 as well as the appropriation of available earnings. Furthermore, the AGM voted in favour of an increased dividend of CHF 3.20 per share for the business year 2025, as proposed by the Board of Directors. Pay-out of the dividend will occur on 21 April 2026.



The Compensation Report 2025 was approved in a consultative vote, and all members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Management were granted discharge.



Ron Greenbaum was re-elected to the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board. All other Board members, Stefan Breitenstein, Andreas Schneiter and Leta Bolli Kennel, were also re-elected for another term of office of one year. Stefan Breitenstein and Ron Greenbaum were re-elected as members of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee for another one-year term.



KPMG AG, Zurich, were re-elected as statutory auditors for the business year 2026, and the law firm ADROIT Attorneys, Zurich, was re-elected as independent proxy for a term of office until the conclusion of the AGM in 2027.



The AGM approved the proposed total maximum amounts of compensation for the Board of Directors (from AGM 2026 to AGM 2027) and for the Executive Management (for the business year 2027).



Following the successful capital increase in December 2025, a new capital band in a range between CHF 403'382.72 and CHF 493'023.36, exercisable until 10 April 2031, was approved. The capital band allows for capital increases or capital reductions in the amount of CHF 44'820.32 (1'120'508 registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.04 each). The corresponding amendments to Article 3b of the Articles of Association were also approved. ____________________ Voting results The detailed voting results per agenda item are published on the Company website

https://ir.epic.ch/en/general-meetings-of-shareholders/ Contact information Valerie Scholtes, CFO, EPIC Suisse AG, Phone: +41 44 388 81 00, E-mail: investors@epic.ch About EPIC Suisse AG EPIC Suisse AG is a Swiss real estate company with a high-quality property portfolio of CHF 1.7 billion in market value. It has a sizeable development pipeline and a strong track record in sourcing, acquiring, (re)developing and actively managing commercial properties in Switzerland. EPIC's investment properties are mainly located in Switzerland's major economic hubs, specifically the Lake Geneva Region and the Zurich Economic Area. Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange since May 2022 (SIX ticker symbol EPIC; Swiss Security Number (Valorennummer) 51613168; ISIN number CH0516131684). More information: www.epic.ch Additional features:



File: Media Release (PDF)





End of Media Release

View original content: EQS News
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC / ACCESS Newswire / April 10, 2026 / InfusionPoints today announced it has achieved FedRAMP 20x Class C (Moderate), marking a significant milestone in the evolution of federal cloud security authorization and reinforcing the company's leadership in automation-first, continuous compliance.

This achievement is powered by XBU40 Platform-as-a-Service, InfusionPoints' security focused, automation-driven cloud platform built on AWS GovCloud helps organizations accelerate authorization while maintaining real-time, audit-ready compliance. XBU40 unifies secure infrastructure, centralized system management through Command Center, and automated evidence validation via AuditShield to deliver live, KSI-driven security data sourced directly from operational systems.

What Does This Mean for Organizations Using XBU40?

InfusionPoints' FedRAMP 20x Class C achievement is more than a compliance milestone it represents an operational advantage for agencies and cloud service providers adopting the XBU40 platform.

With XBU40, organizations gain:

A faster path to federal market entry

Reduced compliance cost and complexity

A continuous, audit-ready security posture aligned to real-world risk

By unifying secure hosting, vulnerability management, and continuous validation in a single platform, "InfusionPoints' XBU40 FedRAMP 20x Class C (Moderate) achievement is a business accelerator enabling our customers to enter the federal market faster, reduce compliance friction, and scale with confidence through continuous, verifiable security" said Jason Shropshire, COO. "XBU40 enables our clients to leverage a secure platform while accelerating their paths to their required compliance outcome, whether FISMA, FedRAMP, DoD IL4/IL5, DoD RMF or CMMC."

The FedRAMP 20x shift

FedRAMP 20x represents a fundamental modernization of the traditional FedRAMP model, shifting away from static, document-heavy assessments toward machine-verifiable evidence, continuous risk visibility, and real-time security validation. With its FedRAMP 20x Class C (Moderate) achievement, InfusionPoints is demonstrating how cloud service providers and federal agencies can move faster into the federal market while maintaining strong, transparent, and measurable security outcomes.

"FedRAMP 20x is not just an incremental improvement it's a fundamental shift in the way CSPs demonstrate their security & compliance in modern, cloud native environments," said Tanner Bailey, FedRAMP 20x Program Manager.

"FedRAMP 20x confirms what we've believed all along, real security isn't static, it's continuously validated. Risk should be measurable in real time, and compliance should be the outcome of good security engineering, not paperwork done well. XBU40 proves that by showing security as it actually runs, and not relying on how it's documented" said Chad Spears, CISO.

What FedRAMP 20x Class C (Moderate) Means

FedRAMP 20x introduces an automation-first authorization approach that emphasizes:

Machine-readable evidence sourced directly from live systems

Key Security Indicators (KSIs) that reflect real operational risk

Continuous validation instead of episodic or annual recertification events

Reduced authorization friction without compromising rigor or transparency

The Moderate baseline expands these capabilities to support systems handling sensitive federal data, enabling agencies to make faster, risk-based authorization decisions backed by continuously updated security telemetry.

Built for the Future of Federal Cloud

InfusionPoints has spent years supporting federal agencies, cloud service providers, and assessment organizations across complex frameworks including FedRAMP, FISMA, CMMC, and ISO 27001. Its FedRAMP 20x Class C (Moderate) achievement reflects a broader strategy to move federal security programs from legacy, document-driven compliance toward scalable, engineering-led models aligned with modern DevSecOps practices.

As FedRAMP 20x continues to evolve, InfusionPoints remains actively engaged in helping cloud providers and assessment organizations transition from traditional authorization approaches to continuous authorization models designed for speed, scale, and resilience.

About InfusionPoints

InfusionPoints is a trusted cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and compliance partner helping organizations Build, Manage, and Defend secure, mission-ready environments in highly regulated markets. We specialize in FedRAMP, FedRAMP 20x, DoD, and enterprise security frameworks, supporting organizations from initial authorization through continuous monitoring and optimization. Our team brings deep technical expertise and real-world operational insight to every engagement. Through our independent, security-first approach, we integrate people, processes, and technology to deliver scalable, compliant, and resilient solutions. From strategy and architecture to operations and defense, we help customers move faster without sacrificing security.

For more information about InfusionPoints and its FedRAMP 20x capabilities, visit www.infusionpoints.com or visit our FedRAMP Marketplace listing at https://www.fedramp.gov/marketplace/products/FR2525557617/.

Felisha Daemer

VP Public Sector

Felisha.Daemer@infusionpoints.com

336.990.0252

SOURCE: InfusionPoints, LLC

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/infusionpoints-achieves-fedramp-20x-class-c-moderate-1156643
Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Sailfish Royalty Corp. (TSXV: FISH) (OTCQB: SROYF) (the "Company" or "Sailfish") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated February 24, 2026, it has completed the previously announced sale of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Terraco Gold Corp. ("Terraco Gold"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sailfish, to OR Royalties Inc. (the "Transaction") for after-tax cash consideration of US$168 million (the "Purchase Price").

Terraco Gold, through its subsidiaries TGC Holdings Ltd. and Terraco Royalties USA, Inc., holds:

an up to 3% net smelter return royalty on Solidus Resources' Spring Valley gold project in Pershing County, Nevada, USA; and

a 2% net smelter return royalty on Solidus Resources' Moonlight property in Nevada, USA.

In connection with the Transaction, National Bank Financial Inc. acted as a financial advisor and INFOR Financial Group acted as a strategic advisor to the Company. DuMoulin Black LLP acted as legal counsel to the Company.

Paolo Lostritto, CEO of Sailfish Royalty states: "The sale of the Spring Valley and Moonlight royalties meaningfully reduces portfolio concentration risk while strengthening our cash position at a time of significant opportunity in the current market. Sailfish intends to redeploy this capital within the mining sector, with a strong focus on precious metals streams and royalties, to support our robust dividend policy."

About Sailfish

Sailfish is a precious metals royalty and streaming company focused on returning capital to shareholders with an industry leading dividend yield. Within Sailfish's portfolio are three main assets in the Americas: a gold stream equivalent to a 3% NSR on the San Albino gold mine (~3.5 sq. km) and a 2% NSR on the rest of the area (~134.5 sq. km) surrounding San Albino in northern Nicaragua; a 2% NSR on the Gavilanes Silver Project located in Durango State, Mexico; and an 11-year gold stream with Mako Mining Corp. (see March 24, 2026 news release).

Sailfish is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "FISH" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "SROYF". Please visit the Company's website at www.sailfishroyalty.com for additional information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Notes 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, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding: the Company's intention to redeploy the proceeds of the Transaction in the mining industry, with a particular focus on precious metals streams and royalties. Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including that: the Company will be able to identify and complete suitable reinvestment opportunities on favorable terms; and that general economic and market conditions will remain favorable to the Company's business. 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 the Company 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: the risk that the Company may not be able to identify or complete suitable reinvestment opportunities; fluctuations in commodity prices, including gold and silver; changes in general economic and market conditions; and other factors beyond the control of the Company, including those other risks more fully described in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. 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 outlook 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/291934

Source: Sailfish Royalty Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - CEM (Capital Event Management Ltd.) ("CEM") is pleased to announce the upcoming 13th Annual Scottsdale Capital Event, taking place April 10-12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As CEM's premier U.S.-focused event and its largest to date, the Scottsdale Capital Event will bring together 70 small-cap issuers and a curated group of active institutional investors, portfolio managers, investment advisors, and high-net-worth individuals. The event has been sold out since November 2025, with additional companies on a waitlist.

The Scottsdale Capital Event, CEM's 98th consecutively sold out event, is structured around a series of scheduled one-to-one meetings, utilizing a 20-minute format designed to maximize efficiency and engagement. At peak capacity, the event facilitates over 1,260 pre-scheduled meetings in a single day, enabling meaningful dialogue and supporting long-term capital relationships.

Participating companies span a broad range of sectors and stages, with an average market capitalization of $200M, reflecting the depth and diversity of opportunities presented to investors.

Now in its 13th year, the Scottsdale Capital Event has become a consistent forum for connecting growth-oriented small-cap companies with engaged capital across the U.S. market. The event emphasizes relevance and selectivity, with participation by invitation to ensure alignment across investment mandates and company profiles.

Adam Currie, President of CEM, commented:

"The Scottsdale Capital Event continues to bring together a high-caliber group of companies and investors each year. We appreciate the continued support of those involved as we further establish this event as a premier destination for connecting capital with opportunity."

CEM will host three additional Capital Events in 2026, alongside its year-round program of virtual meetings and advisory services, extending opportunities for continued engagement between companies and investors beyond the Scottsdale event.

About CEM (Capital Event Management Ltd.)

CEM (Capital Event Management Ltd.) connects small-cap companies with a curated network of institutional and high-conviction investors through weekend events and structured one-to-one virtual meetings. With over 15 years of capital events and a trusted investor network, CEM supports more efficient capital formation and helps companies build meaningful, long-term relationships.

In addition to its core convening business, CEM provides strategic advisory services and invests through its Partner's Fund, backing select opportunities emerging from its network.

For more information, visit cem.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/292020

Source: Capital Event Management Ltd.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 10, 2026 / With heavy hearts, the team at Consensus Mining & Seigniorage Corporation (CSMG) announces that Murray Stahl, the company's Chief Strategy Officer, passed away suddenly on April 7, 2026.

A disciplined practitioner of primary research, Murray started our predecessor cryptocurrency mining operating entity in 2017 as an extension of his research. In 2021, he orchestrated the merger of two predecessor mining entities-Horizon Kinetics Cryptocurrency Mining LLC I and II-to formally create CMSG, which was listed on the OTCQX in 2025.

He has been instrumental in providing strategic guidance on operating with minimal overhead and maintaining a conservative capital structure that allows opportunistic and patient capital allocation. The firm that is now CMSG has a solid balance sheet foundation with low cost structure, ample liquidity with no debt, and a growing inventory of cryptocurrency assets.

In the wake of Murray's passing, the Board of Directors will consider potential additions to the company's leadership structure. Meanwhile, the remaining team members are equipped to continue Murray's long-term vision: to operate a resilient cryptocurrency mining firm with the goal of accumulating bitcoin (and other crypto assets) while increasing its coin treasury per share.

The entire CSMG team extends heartfelt condolences to Murray's wife and their children, and to all those who knew him.

About Consensus Mining & Seigniorage Corporation

Consensus Mining & Seigniorage Corporation (OTCQX:CMSG) is a cryptocurrency mining company created with strategic partnerships in hosting, repair, and management that enable it to operate with minimal overhead and enhanced profitability, and with a conservative capital structure that allows for flexible and patient capital allocation.

For more information, please visit https://consensusmining.com/.

Investor Relations Contact:

ir@consensusmining.com

SOURCE: Consensus Mining & Seigniorage Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/blockchain-and-cryptocurrency/consensus-mining-and-seigniorage-corporation-announces-passing-of-chi-1156626
Irvine, California--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Think AI Podcast, a new series hosted by accomplished entrepreneur and AI enthusiast Dave Goyal, has launched to help business leaders and innovators harness the power of Artificial Intelligence. The series has already made an impressive debut, ranking #27 on Apple Podcasts in the Business category. The podcast explores AI's potential to transform industries and solve real-world business challenges, offering valuable insights for those seeking to stay ahead of the curve in the fast-evolving tech landscape.

Think AI Podcast streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10373/291913_494a4d6874896a45_001full.jpg

"AI is not just for tech companies; it's for every business looking to stay competitive," said Goyal. "The Think AI Podcast breaks down complex AI concepts into actionable insights, providing listeners with the tools to integrate AI into their business strategy and drive growth."

The Think AI Podcast invites experts from diverse industries to share their knowledge and experiences with AI, from real-world applications to cutting-edge innovations. With each episode, business leaders gain practical takeaways on how AI can streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and fuel business success.

Goyal's journey into the world of Artificial Intelligence stems from his deep experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. As the founder of several businesses, including his current venture focused on AI solutions, Goyal has a unique perspective on how AI can create tangible value across industries.

Since its launch, the Think AI Podcast has quickly gained momentum, breaking into the Top 30 on Apple Podcasts in the Business category at #27 - a testament to the growing appetite among business leaders for clear, actionable guidance on AI. The show is designed for entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, and anyone interested in how AI can transform their business operations, offering insights into AI trends, success stories, and practical strategies for leveraging AI technologies in everyday business decisions.

"AI has become a key driver of growth and efficiency in modern businesses," added Goyal. "But many business leaders feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. This podcast is here to guide them on that journey, whether they're just starting to explore AI or are already integrating it into their processes."

Listeners can tune in to the Think AI Podcast on its official website at www.thethinkaipod.com and across all major podcast platforms. For ongoing updates and AI-related discussions, connect with the Think AI Podcast community on social media.

About Dave Goyal

Dave Goyal is an entrepreneur and AI advocate dedicated to helping businesses unlock the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence. With a background in tech and innovation, Goyal founded multiple businesses and now leads a company focused on delivering AI-driven solutions to businesses of all sizes. Through the Think AI Podcast, he aims to make AI more accessible and actionable for business leaders.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291913

Source: Pressmaster DMCC
Peru, Indiana--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - The Grove Estate is expanding access to addiction treatment services in rural Indiana, addressing a persistent gap in care availability for individuals living outside major metropolitan areas. The development reflects a broader national trend in which patients seek structured, residential care options closer to or within underserved regions. More information about its programs is available at The Grove Estate.

Indiana recorded 2,682 drug overdose deaths in 2022, a mortality rate of 41 per 100,000 that exceeds the national average, according to the CDC. Fentanyl accounted for nearly 67% of those fatalities, per the Indiana Department of Health. Meanwhile, 70% of rural counties nationwide lack a psychiatrist (SAMHSA), leaving many individuals in Indiana seeking help for opioid addiction, alcohol use disorder, or stimulant dependence with limited residential treatment options near Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Lafayette.

The Grove Estate, located in Peru, Indiana, offers a residential treatment model designed to address primary substance use disorders alongside co-occurring mental health conditions. The facility's approach reflects a growing emphasis on integrated care, which combines clinical treatment with behavioral health support to improve long-term outcomes. By maintaining operations in a rural setting, the organization provides an alternative to urban-based programs that may be less accessible to certain populations.

The expansion of services comes as healthcare providers nationwide respond to rising demand for substance use treatment. Recent public health data indicates that overdose rates and substance-related hospitalizations continue to impact both urban and rural populations, with rural areas experiencing unique vulnerabilities due to fewer local resources. In response, treatment centers are increasingly focusing on geographic accessibility as a component of patient care.

In addition to accessibility, the environment in which treatment occurs has become a key consideration. Residential programs in rural settings often provide quieter, more structured surroundings that can support early recovery. Research in behavioral health has shown that reduced exposure to external stressors and triggers may improve engagement during the initial stages of treatment. Facilities like The Grove Estate incorporate these elements into care delivery, offering a setting that emphasizes stability and individualized attention.

Insurance coverage has also contributed to increased mobility among patients seeking treatment. Many individuals now explore options beyond their immediate area in order to find programs that align with their coverage and clinical needs. Rural providers that accept a range of insurance plans are positioned to serve both local residents and those traveling from neighboring states.

As the behavioral health landscape evolves, expanding treatment access in rural areas remains a priority for providers, policymakers, and public health organizations. Efforts to increase availability, reduce barriers, and integrate care models are expected to shape the next phase of addiction treatment delivery across the United States.

The Grove Estate Treatment Facility - Peru, Indiana

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11791/291926_0cbdd0c754302906_001full.jpg

About The Grove Estate

The Grove Estate is a private, residential addiction treatment provider located in Peru, Indiana, serving individuals from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and across the Midwest. The facility offers a boutique-style program treating alcohol addiction, opioid use disorder, stimulant dependence, and co-occurring mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and trauma. Clinical modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapy, dual diagnosis treatment, and holistic approaches such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. The Grove Estate also offers a specialty track for professionals, comprehensive discharge planning, and aftercare support. The facility accepts most major insurance plans, and coverage verification is available 24/7 through the admissions team.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291926

Source: Brand North
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) (NYSE: IAG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it plans to release its first quarter 2026 operating and financial results after market hours on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Senior management will host a conference call to discuss the operating performance and financial results on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time).

Listeners may access the conference call via webcast from the events section of the Company's website at www.iamgold.com (webcast link below), or through the following options:

Pre-register via: Chorus Call IAMGOLD Q2 2026 Registration (recommended) - Upon registering, you will receive a calendar booking by email with dial-in details and unique PIN. This process will bypass the operator and avoid the queue.

Toll free (North America): 1 (833) 752-3518

International: 1 (647) 846-8209

Webcast: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=l2jB5vCu

An online archive of the webcast will be available by accessing the Company's website at www.iamgold.com. A telephone replay will be available for one month following the call by dialing toll free 1 (855) 669-9658 within North America or 1 (412) 317-0088 from international locations and entering the passcode: 2979130.

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD is an intermediate gold producer and developer based in Canada with operating mines in North America and West Africa, including Cote Gold (Canada), Westwood (Canada) and Essakane (Burkina Faso). The Cote Gold Mine is among the largest gold mines in production in Canada, which IAMGOLD operates in a 70|30 partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. ("SMM"). In addition, the Company has an established portfolio of early stage and advanced exploration projects within high potential mining districts, including the large-scale Nelligan Mining Complex located in Quebec, Canada. IAMGOLD employs approximately 3,700 people and is committed to maintaining its culture of accountable mining through high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance practices. IAMGOLD is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IAG) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: IMG).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/292036

Source: IAMGOLD Corporation
Donbas Clays to Hold Shareholders' Meeting on April 30

PJSC Donbas Clays intends to hold its regular annual general meeting of shareholders on April 30, 2026. The notice of the meeting was posted on the issuers website on March 30; the meeting itself will be held in person at the companys Kyiv office. According to the published notice, the agenda includes a report by the executive body on the results of financial and operational activities for 2025, reports from the supervisory board and the external auditor, approval of the 2025 performance results, profit distribution and loss coverage procedures, the issue of the annual dividend amount, as well as preliminary consent to enter into significant transactions for a term of one year.

According to the key indicators published along with the meeting materials, in 2025 the company reported a net loss of UAH 216.793 million, compared to a net profit of UAH 247.477 million a year earlier. At the same time, assets increased to UAH 1.294 billion from UAH 1.132 billion, and cash and cash equivalents rose to UAH 651.893 million from UAH 139.077 million.

PJSC Donbas Clays was registered in 1995 and specializes in the extraction of sand, gravel, clay, and kaolin. The companys registered address is the village of Dorozhne, Mertsalovo Station, Pokrovsk District, Donetsk Oblast; its director is Igor Tkach; and its authorized capital is UAH 526,900. The company remains registered as of early April 2026.

According to previously published information, 99% of the companys shares were owned by Watts Blake Bearne International Holdings B.V., a subsidiary of the British company Watts Blake Bearne.
Samsung has officially announced the expansion of its One UI 8.5 beta program, bringing the pre-release software to a wider range of Galaxy smartphones. Following the initial phase of the beta rollout that began in March, the program is now being made available to several older flagship models and, notably, a mid-range device.

The latest expansion brings the One UI 8.5 beta to the following devices:

Galaxy S23 Series

Galaxy Z Fold5

Galaxy Z Flip5

Galaxy S23 FE

Galaxy A36 5G (marking the first time the One UI 8.5 beta has been offered on an A-series device)

This phase of the rollout is currently limited to select global markets. Users located in India, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States will be the first to access this expanded beta release.

File Sharing to Airdrop expands to more devices

A notable addition to the One UI 8.5 beta is a new cross-platform file-sharing capability. Building upon its ongoing collaboration with Android, Samsung introduced support for AirDrop directly through its native Quick Share feature starting with the Galaxy S26 series. Now it has expanded to more Galaxy S series, Fold and Flip series devices.

This integration is designed to enable seamless file transfers between supported Galaxy devices and Apple hardware. Due to hardware or software requirements, this specific cross-platform sharing feature has been expanded to premium devices, which include:

Galaxy S25 Series

Galaxy S24 Series

Galaxy Z Fold7 & Z Flip7

Galaxy Z Fold6 & Z Flip6

Enrollment and Future Availability

Samsung has indicated that the beta program will continue to expand to additional Galaxy devices later this month. Users in the supported regions who wish to participate in testing the new software can register for the program directly through the Samsung Members app.
Samsung, Indias largest consumer electronics brand, has expanded its Bespoke AI Top-Mount Freezer refrigerator line-up in India. The new range focuses on energy-efficient operation, connected features, and updated design for home use.

Bespoke AI Top-Mount Freezer refrigerator line-up

The expanded range includes 236L and 256L capacity models. Select variants offer Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling access through the SmartThings app for monitoring and control.

The refrigerators feature a flat-door Bespoke design and are built to support efficient cooling performance while aligning with updated energy efficiency standards. The line-up is designed for modern household requirements with a focus on connected operation and regulated power usage.

Key features

SmartThings connectivity (select models) for remote monitoring and control via smartphone

AI Energy Mode that analyzes usage patterns and estimates power consumption, helping reduce energy use by up to 10%

SmartThings Energy for tracking electricity usage on daily, weekly, and monthly basis

Smart Forward updates for receiving software updates over time

SmartThings Home Care for monitoring performance and sending issue notifications

Door-open alerts via SmartThings app to reduce cold air loss

All Around Cooling for even air distribution through multiple vents

Power Cool and Power Freeze for faster cooling and freezing functions

Convertible 2-in-1 feature (select models) to convert freezer space into refrigerator space

Fresh Room compartment for dairy products, fruits, and beverages at stable temperature

Cool Pack technology that helps maintain frozen food for up to 12 hours during power cuts

Flat-door design for uniform exterior styling

BEE 3-star compliance (20262028 norms) aligned with updated energy efficiency standards

The connected features of the refrigerator line-up operate through the Samsung SmartThings ecosystem, enabling remote monitoring, control, alerts, and energy tracking from compatible smartphones.

Pricing and availability

The Samsung Bespoke AI Top-Mount Freezer refrigerator line-up starts at Rs. 26,090. It is available through major retail outlets and online platforms including Amazon.in, Flipkart, and Samsung.com.

Limited-period launch offer

Samsung Care+ provides extended protection plans ranging from 1 to 4 years, starting at Rs. 3 per day. It includes service support from 13,000+ certified engineers and access to 2,500+ service centres, along with service tracking and notifications via the Samsung app.

As part of a limited-period offer valid from April 8 to May 31, 2026, customers purchasing a 1-year extended plan will receive a free 2-year extended warranty, offering a total coverage of up to 4 years.

Speaking on the launch, Ghufran Alam, Vice President, Digital Appliances Business, Samsung India, said:
Google has started rolling out new agentic capabilities in its AI Mode to help users complete tasks more easily, beginning with restaurant reservation discovery in India.

New agentic capabilities in AI Mode

AI Mode introduces the ability to handle complex restaurant booking requests by understanding multiple user preferences and automating the search process. Users can input detailed requirements, and the system identifies matching options in real time.

Key capabilities include:

Finding restaurant reservations based on party size, date, time, location, and preferred cuisine

Searching across multiple reservation platforms and websites

Checking real-time availability of restaurants

Presenting a curated list of restaurants with available reservation slots

Linking users directly to booking pages to complete reservations

Using live web browsing capabilities from Project Mariner

Integrating directly with partners on Search

Leveraging Google Knowledge Graph and Google Maps for results

AI Mode processes these requests by scanning multiple sources and compiling matching options into a simplified booking flow.

Gemini expansion in India

With its most intelligent Gemini models, Google continues to expand how people in India search for information. In the past few weeks, Search Live was expanded to more Indian languages, including Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu, powered by the latest audio and voice model, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, while shopping in AI Mode in Search in India also received its biggest upgrade, making it more conversational and seamless.

Availability

Google is rolling out this experience in India with EazyDiner, Swiggy, and Zomato as initial partners.
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17.

Hu Zhaoming, spokesperson for the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the announcement in Beijing on Thursday.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning introduced relevant arrangements for Lam's visit at a regular press briefing.

During the visit, Xi will hold talks with Lam. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning will hold separate meetings with him, according to Mao.

In April 2025, General Secretary and President Xi paid a successful state visit to Vietnam, ushering in a new stage for the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Mao said.

Noting that China is the first country that General Secretary Lam will visit following his election as president, Mao pointed out that it fully shows the great significance attached to developing relations between the two parties and two countries.

"China hopes that through the visit, the two countries will carry forward the traditional friendship, continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advance the building of an even higher level of community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, jointly promote the socialist cause in the world, and together maintain regional and world peace, stability and development," Mao said.




Two state agencies have reached a new agreement addressing coordination and response to backcountry search-and-rescue emergencies, a move that has elicited criticism from one veteran search-and-rescue volunteer.

But both the Mesa County Sheriffs Office and Mesa County Search and Rescue volunteer group say the changes will have no impact on local operations.

We as an organization here in Mesa County, were not changing the way that we respond to our missions or how we support the community. That will all still be the same, said Nallelly Bean, secretary of the Mesa County Search and Rescue board and its public information officer.

The state announced the new agreement in a March 25 news release. It says the agreement provides for mutual cooperation, coordination and support among Parks and Wildlife, County Sheriffs of Colorado and the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), in alignment with the states Emergency Operations Plan. It also establishes expectations through the Office of Emergency Management when the federal government, a state government, a tribe or county sheriffs office requests assistance.

Colorado search and rescue teams are affiliated with county sheriff offices.

According to the Parks and Wildlife release, the new agreement delegates DHSEMs statutory authority to Parks and Wildlife to coordinate search-and-rescue response when local resources are exceeded. While sheriffs offices will continue to have statutory authority for search and rescue in their counties, Parks and Wildlife will provide additional statewide search-and-rescue support upon a sheriffs request. According to the release, this could include Parks and Wildlife deploying enforcement officers to assist the neighboring search-and-rescue team or providing additional resources such as drones, trained dogs or aircraft.

The state announcement prompted a March 30 Facebook post by Erik Rasmussen, who identifies himself as a search-and-rescue volunteer in Chaffee County for 12 years who has responded to more than 230 incidents and served as incident commander for more than 120 of them. He also has served for the past year as state backcountry search and rescue coordinator for the Colorado Search and Rescue Association, or CSAR.

He wrote that the state has quietly transferred statewide Backcountry Search and Rescue coordination away from CSAR  the volunteer organization that has run this system for over 53 years  and handed it to CPW.

This decision was made entirely in the shadows. No consultation with CSAR. No consultation with local SAR teams. No involvement of the key stakeholders who actually do this work. The people who would be most directly affected by this change were the last to find out  and they found out through a termination notice and a press release, not a conversation.

He wrote that from his first day as a search-and-rescue coordinator, it was made clear to him that Colorado Search and Rescues role was to coordinate and provide resources in support of an incident, with the sheriff always maintaining full authority over the incident.

That principle is foundational to how CSAR operates, and it is exactly what (County Sheriffs of Colorado) claims this transition is designed to protect Rasmussen wrote. We were already doing it.

He wrote that while the state touts the agreement as ensuring transparency and accountability, the agreement was negotiated behind closed doors, and Colorado Search and Rescue didnt receive a termination notice until two days before the news release.

Rasmussen wrote that the Colorado Search and Rescue Association agreement with the state runs out around June 22 and Parks and Wildlife doesnt take over until Aug. 1.

That is a 40-day window  smack in the middle of Colorados busiest backcountry season  with no confirmed coordination structure in place. No staffing plan. No (standard operating procedures). No contingency. Nothing.

And as of (Rasmussens March 30 post), CPW has provided no transition plan, identified no coordination staff, and published no procedures for how they will actually do this job, he wrote.

Rasmussen noted in his post that he was speaking only for himself and his views dont represent any official position of CSAR or the local search-and-rescue group for whom he volunteers.

Reached for comment Thursday, Anna DeBattiste, a spokesperson for CSAR, told The Daily Sentinel, We unfortunately cant speak with you at this point in time.

She said CSAR hopes to be able to speak on the matter soon, possibly next week.

We just dont want to jeopardize any of the background conversations that are going on, is all I can say, she said.

DHSEM Director Kevin Klein said in the state release, The Colorado Search and Rescue Association is an invaluable resource, and we are extremely grateful to the teams in the state for the work that they do. Although we will continue to partner with the association, it is our responsibility to continually review and improve the effectiveness of the State (Emergency Operations Center) response when needed. The new partnership with CPW will help us meet the increasing search and rescue needs of Coloradans and visitors to the state.

Bridget ORourke, a Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, said in an email to the Sentinel that the decision to make a change was a joint, collaborative agreement between Parks and Wildlife and DHSEM and was supported by sheriffs.

"State agencies that manage emergency operations can change how support services are delegated, she said.

The current president of County Sheriffs of Colorado is Mesa Sheriff Todd Rowell. He said in the state release, On behalf of the County Sheriffs of Colorado, we support this agreement as a critical step toward strengthening search and rescue coordination across our state. Sheriffs are responsible for SAR operations in our counties, and this partnership ensures we have a reliable, accountable system to support those efforts when incidents exceed local capacity. By aligning with our state partners, we are improving coordination, enhancing resource availability, and ultimately delivering better outcomes for the people we serve.

The interagency agreement is between Parks and Wildlife and DHSEM, but Rowell also signed it, beneath wording saying, ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPROVED AS TO ITS CONTENTS.

What (County Sheriffs of Colorado) signed off on was being aware of this agreement, not as a party to the agreement, Mesa sheriff spokesperson Heather Benjamin told the Sentinel.

She said the agreement is essentially about creating an incident command structure to make state resources more seamless, and comments and explanations about it most appropriately should come from the two state agencies.

ORourke said the state backcountry search and rescue program will remain unchanged, except that Parks and Wildlife will hold the agreement with DHSEM and assume a new role in the state emergency operations plan.

She noted that Parks and Wildlife provides some training, funding and services for members of the search-and-rescue community and provides millions of dollars in search-and-rescue funds to rescue groups throughout the state through sheriffs offices.

CPW will not be taking a significantly greater role in the operations of search and rescue efforts across the state, that is the expertise of SAR groups and under the authority of the sheriffs. CPW has assisted with major disasters and some SAR operations for decades, she said.

Benjamin said that its important to reiterate that Mesa County Search and Rescue is not negatively impacted, nor are search and rescue missions (that are) managed or overseen here in Mesa County. We continue to have an excellent relationship with MCSAR, and our state partners should we need state resources to support a search and rescue event here.

We in no way want our residents and visitors to Mesa County to think our ability to execute a search event is impacted negatively, because its not.

Said Jesse Goryl, president of Mesa County Search and Rescue, Theres no changes locally. None of those (state) changes will impact us. Our response times will stay the same.

With 40-plus volunteer members, Mesa County Search and Rescue is a member of the state search-and-rescue association but Bean said the local group is its own separate organization.

On our end, I know from MCSARs standpoint, we will end up working the same way, Goryl said. Theres not going to be any impact on our ability to respond to any sort of missions or the way we operate here in Mesa County. We always have been managed locally.

As for Rasmussens post, which has been widely shared on Facebook and Goryl, Bean and the sheriffs office all were familiar with, Bean said, Those are his own opinions and we dont feel a need to speak on his behalf.

Said Goryl, We dont have any opinions on that post. Our services are going to continue being the best that they have ever been. Our team is in a place right now, our sheriff tells us all the time that we are the most qualified SAR team that Mesa Countys ever had and were just going to continue doing the best work that we can for the county and visitors to the county.
An Audacious Cyber Hack By Russian Military Intelligence Sets Off Global Alarms. Again.

By Mike Eckel April 09, 2026

Hackers connected to Russia's military intelligence agency snuck into thousands of Internet routers used in homes and offices worldwide and secretly monitored e-mail traffic and website log-ons and passwords for months, authorities said.

Underscoring concern about the scope of the hack, which experts said was in use for much of late 2025, law enforcement agencies in several countries released simultaneous advisories this week, warning people to check settings on their own routers.

Russian hackers "compromised routers in the US and around the world, hijacking them to conduct espionage," Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's cyber division, said in a statement. "Given the scale of this threat, sounding the alarm wasn't enough."

The effort was engineered by a group widely known as Advanced Persistent Threat 28, or Forest Blizzard, officials and industry experts said. The group has been linked by British, Dutch, and US authorities to Military Unit 26165 of the 85th Main Special Service Center of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency.

The group was previously accused of hacking Democratic Party computers during the 2016 US presidential election campaign. US authorities later charged 12 Russians they identified as GRU officers with the intrusions.

According to US computer giant Microsoft, the Forrest Blizzard hackers broke into 5,000 consumer devices at 200 organizations beginning in August 2025. They tweaked Domain Name System (DNS) settings on the routers, allowing them to collect and monitor any communications passing through.

"For nation-state actors like Forest Blizzard, DNS hijacking enables persistent, passive visibility and reconnaissance at scale," Microsoft said.

Another research group called Lumen said the technique appeared earlier, in May 2025. At its peak, in December 2025, more than 18,000 devices in at least 120 countries had been hooked up to the GRU hackers' infrastructure.

"These operations primarily targeted government agencies -- including ministries of foreign affairs, law enforcement, and third-party e-mail providers" Lumen said.

British cyber authorities saidthe Forest Blizzard group was also behind a hack of Germany's parliament in 2015, when some lawmakers' e-mails were stolen, and an attempted hack against the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 2018.



At the time, the OPCW was researching the chemicals used in the near-fatal poisoning of former Russian GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, in Salisbury, England. Officials later concluded a nerve agent called Novichok was used in the attack -- a chemical that had been developed by Soviet and Russian scientists.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-hacker-routers-gru-military- intelligence-forest-blizzard/33728527.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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Lebanon declares national mourning day following deadly Israeli strikes

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

09.04.2026 [09:43]

Baku, April 9, AZERTAC

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced Wednesday that Thursday, April 9, will be observed as a national day of mourning for the victims and injured in Israeli attacks that targeted hundreds of civilians, Xinhua reports.

All public administrations, institutions and municipalities will close, national flags will be lowered to half-staff, and radio and television broadcasts will be adjusted to reflect the national mourning, according to the prime minister.

He added that he remains in contact with Arab leaders and international officials to step up Lebanon's political and diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the Israeli attacks.

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.

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Statement by Minister Anand on the situation in Lebanon

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

April 9, 2026 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the situation in Lebanon:

"The respect and protection of civilians are non-negotiable and required under international law. We thus call on Israel to respect Lebanon's territorial integrity and for Hezbollah to immediately disarm and implement decisions issued by the Government of Lebanon. Furthermore, we call on Israel and Hezbollah to implement and adhere to a permanent ceasefire.

"We strongly condemn the airstrikes launched by Israel across Lebanon, including in Beirut, which killed civilians and targeted civilian infrastructure. At the same time, we strongly condemn Hezbollah's indiscriminate attacks against Israel and its people.

"Canada firmly supports the Lebanese government's efforts to restore and exercise full state authority, including through the disarmament of Hezbollah, a listed terrorist organization in Canada, and to advance a credible and durable diplomatic solution. Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected."

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Connecticut Woman Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship After Committing Torture and War Crimes in Bosnia

Thursday, April 9, 2026

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A Connecticut woman who was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for naturalization fraud based on lies about her prior criminal conduct to obtain U.S. citizenship.

According to statements made in court and court documents, Nada Radovan Tomanic, 53, of West Virginia, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, during the armed conflict in the region. Along with other Zulfikar Special Unit soldiers, Tomanic participated in the severe physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners, including torture and inhuman treatment amounting to a war crime.

When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanic falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others. She also falsely denied having committed a crime for which she had not been arrested  specifically, the crime of inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.

Tomanic's deception extended beyond her written naturalization application. During her interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, she was placed under oath and was legally obligated to answer questions truthfully. Despite that obligation, she again lied about her service in a detention facility and her past criminal conduct.

"The defendant tortured and abused prisoners in Bosnia and then lied to U.S. immigration authorities to live in the U.S. and become a citizen," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva for the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Human rights violators are not welcome in the United States. Thanks to the courage of the victims, and the diligence and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for exploiting our immigration system and evading responsibility for her crimes."

"I sincerely appreciate the investigative work of our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia who have disregarded the passage of decades to ensure that justice is served," said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut. "There is no statute of limitations for human decency."

"This case has always been about more than lying on naturalization documents," said Special Agent in Charge P.J. O'Brien of the FBI New Haven Field Office. "Over the course of this investigation Tomanic's violent history of targeting people based on their ethnicity and religion came to light, and we hope that yesterday's sentencing gives some measure of justice to her victims. The FBI, along with our partners at the Department of Homeland Security's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security will continue to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure the sanctity of the immigration process for all who righteously apply for U.S. Citizenship."

Tomanic pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, to one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law.

The FBI investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI's International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Justice Department thanks authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to include the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior, Serbian authorities, and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who were instrumental in providing assistance that aided in furthering the investigation.

Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia King and Angel Krull for the District of Connecticut prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP historians. The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.

Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI's online tip form at www.tips.fbi.gov/, or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE's online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

USAO - Connecticut

Press Release Number: 26-336

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EU Statement - UN Security Concil Briefing on UNMIK (Kosovo)

European External Action Service (EEAS)

09.04.2026

New York

9 April 2026, New York -- Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States by H.E. Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council Briefing on Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998), 1239 (1999) and 1244 (1999)

Check against delivery

President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Albania*, the Republic of Moldova, and the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.

President,

First, I wish to congratulate SRSG Due on his appointment, and to thank him for his briefing today as well as for the report.

President,

The European Union remains fully and unequivocally committed to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans.

The European Union welcomes that Serbia and Kosovo* remain engaged in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, led by High Representative Kaja Kallas and supported by EU Special Representative Peter Srensen. The agreement reached on 14 March on civil registration and the Law on Foreigners marks an important way forward. The EU welcomes the overall commitment by Kosovo to the Rule of Law. Any process affecting health and education institutions should be inclusive and coordinated with representatives of the Kosovo Serb community, within the framework of all relevant agreements reached within the EU-facilitated Dialogue and Kosovo law. Progress on normalisation of their relations is among the essential conditions for the European path of both Kosovo and Serbia. This includes the full implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and all previous agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Dialogue. The European Union commends the Parties for the progress achieved on the important humanitarian issue of missing persons, by holding the first trilateral meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons under the Dialogue. Looking ahead, the EU expects both Kosovo and Serbia to constructively participate in a High-level Meeting of the Dialogue chaired by High Representative Kallas, once called.

We call on Kosovo to finalise formation of all institutions to allow for a renewed focus on the much-needed EU-related reforms.

The European Union welcomes the smooth handover of local governance in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo and the cooperation between security actors, including with EULEX, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo. The EU welcomes the good cooperation with UNMIK. We also welcome the resumption of cooperation between municipal and central authorities that reflects the expectations of Kosovo Serbs, previous agreements, and Kosovo law. We reiterate the importance of and our support for the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Dans ce contexte, nous appelons a nouveau les autorites de Serbie a repondre aux demandes de cooperation judiciaire du Kosovo et a encourager le retour des juges, procureurs et policiers Nous appelons aussi les autorites du Kosovo a mettre en uvre leur reintegration.

L'Union europeenne regrette enfin que la Serbie n'ait toujours pas pris les mesures necessaires afin de traduire en justice les responsables des attaques dans le nord du Kosovo en 2023.

Thank you, President.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna meeting with the President of Armenia and the Speaker of Parliament: the regional peace process is an important opportunity

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

09.04.2026 | 17:41

Today, 9 April, in Yerevan, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with the President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan and the Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan to discuss bilateral relations and regional security, including the peace process. During his visit, the minister also attended an Estonia-supported cyber exercise and an export accelerator programme in Yerevan.

At the meetings, the foreign minister emphasised that the opening of Estonia's embassy in Armenia is an important step in strengthening bilateral relations. "The partnership between Armenia and the European Union is deepening, and Estonia is ready to share its reform experience," Tsahkna said. "The European Political Community summit taking place in May will bring together European leaders in Yerevan. The first EU-Armenia summit to follow will be important for discussing opportunities for economic development and regional security issues, as well as next steps in easing the EU visa regime applicable to Armenia," the foreign minister added.

Regional security and the peace process were also discussed at the meetings. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed that peace in the region is important for both Armenia and Europe and offers an opportunity for the country to open up more broadly.

In Yerevan, Foreign Minister Tsahkna also visited a cyber exercise focused on critical infrastructure protection, funded by ESTDEV and carried out by the e-Governance Academy and the Estonian company Cybexer Technologies. The minister also launched an ESTDEV programme implemented by the Estonian company Visionest, which aims to support the growth of Armenia's export capacity.

"Estonia and Armenia have strong cooperation in the fields of digital development, cybersecurity, the economy and education. In 2026, we have doubled our development cooperation support to Armenia and will continue with projects where Estonia can offer strong expertise and technological solutions," Tsahkna said.

During the visit, the foreign minister also met students at Yerevan State University to discuss Estonia's path to the European Union and the impact of Russia's war of aggression on European security.

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Lebanon - Israeli strikes

France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres

Declaration

On : April 09th 2026

France condemns in the strongest terms the massive strikes carried out on 8 April by Israel on Lebanon, including many districts of Beirut. The Lebanese authorities have reported an initial, preliminary toll of at least 250 dead and more than 800 injured, a very significant proportion of them civilians, adding to the more than 1,500 deaths recorded since the beginning of the conflict that Hezbollah started against Israel on 2 March.

These strikes are especially unacceptable because they jeopardize the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran the day after it was concluded. This ceasefire must include Lebanon in order to end hostilities at regional level and pave the way for a solution to the crisis that guarantees the conditions for a lasting regional peace. France therefore calls on all parties to show the utmost restraint and grasp the opportunity offered by this ceasefire.

France expresses its wholehearted solidarity with the Lebanese people, who continue to suffer the consequences of a war they did not choose and are paying the price daily of Hezbollah's irresponsible, unacceptable decision to join in the conflict between Israel and Iran. France will go on supporting the Lebanese Government with a view to the restoration of its full sovereignty and in assisting the victims and displaced people.

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Statement from Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik regarding Russian patrols in, and near, Norwegian and British maritime areas

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 09/04/2026

Statement from Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik following the press conference of British Defence Minister John Healey on April 9, 2026.

The United Kingdom is a close strategic ally and partner of Norway. Together with the UK and other key allies, we maintain strong cooperation to safeguard and secure critical undersea infrastructure, as well as in defense, intelligence, and surveillance.

In recent weeks, Russia has conducted activities in and near Norwegian and British waters. These operations were carried out by the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), a high-priority unit within the Russian Armed Forces. This demonstrates Russia's ongoing efforts to develop capabilities for mappingand potentially sabotagingWestern critical infrastructure at significant depths.

Such actions underscore Russia's persistent ambition to threaten the interests of Norway and our allies.

Norway has participated in a coordinated military operation with our allies to send a clear message: covert activities in our waters will not be tolerated. The Norwegian Armed Forces deployed a maritime patrol aircraft (P-8) and a frigate as part of this effort, which serves both as deterrence and defense.

We have made it unequivocally clear to Russian authorities that any attempt to target our critical infrastructure will be detected and met with consequences. It is in no one's interest to escalate tensions in the High North.

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Statement by Foreign Minister Eide on the Israeli attacks in Lebanon

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 09/04/2026

'I condemn the massive Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which have caused immense suffering and destruction. A great many of the attacks took place without warning across the country, whilst children and ordinary people were going about their daily lives. In the space of 24 hours, nearly 200 people were killed and 1,000 injured. Civilians, healthcare workers and hospitals have been hit hard.

All countries, including Israel, have a duty to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Yesterday's attacks demonstrate that Israel is not acting in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian law. This must stop.

I have expressed my deep sympathy and solidarity with Lebanon's Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi and emphasised that it is completely unacceptable for the long-suffering Lebanese people to be targeted in this way. I also expressed support for the Lebanese government's decision to disarm Hezbollah.

Israel's brutal conduct in Lebanon is jeopardising the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The conflicts in the Middle East are interlinked, and we have made it clear that the ceasefire between the US and Iran must also include Lebanon.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah cannot be won by military force. I strongly urge the parties to de-escalate'.

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Floods, Displacement and Economic Strain Deepen Humanitarian Needs in Yemen

International Organization for Migration

News - Global

09 April 2026

Aden, 9 April 2026 -- Flooding, displacement and economic hardship continue to drive rising humanitarian needs across Yemen, affecting vulnerable communities nationwide, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said today, as Othman Belbeisi, IOM Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, concluded a field visit to the country.

Years of conflict have left Yemen with severe humanitarian needs and widespread displacement. In 2026, over 22 million people - including 10.95 million women and girls - require humanitarian assistance and protection services. This population includes 5.2 million internally displaced persons, 329,000 migrants, and 63,000 refugees and asylu m seekers.

In response to these growing needs, IOM is delivering emergency shelter, clean water, healthcare and protection services, while also supporting early recovery efforts in water, sanitation, education and livelihoods.

"Communities are resilient, but needs are immense," said Othman Belbeisi. "Thousands of families have lost homes and access to basic services. Sustained international support is critical to ensure assistance continues and to help communities recover."

Across Yemen, thousands of families have lost shelter and access to water and essential services. On the West Coast alone, more than 500 flood-affected households have received emergency assistance.

At the same time, efforts are underway to move beyond immediate relief. IOM continues to invest in longer-term solutions alongside emergency response. These efforts are critical to reducing dependency on aid and supporting communities to rebuild their lives in a more sustainable way.

The Mokha City Water Project is restoring access to clean water for over 120,000 people. In Aden, Basuhaib School, rehabilitated by IOM, supports more than 1,000 children and host community members.

However, conditions remain fragile. In areas such as Al Makha, floods have damaged homes and disrupted essential services. Communities are facing repeated shocks, with needs rising faster than available resources.

In Aden, IOM continues to provide protection and assistance to vulnerable migrants through its Migrant Response Points. Across the West Coast, rapid response teams are delivering lifesaving aid to newly affected households.

During his visit, the Regional Director met with government counterparts and local authorities to strengthen coordination on migration, displacement, humanitarian response, and development. He also visited IOM teams and key projects in Aden and along the West Coast.

Mr Belbeisi met with the UN Country Team which is committed to supporting the people of Yemen. Working closely with them and humanitarian partners through the Rapid Response Mechanism, IOM continues to deliver timely emergency assistance while supporting longer-term recovery efforts.

Humanitarian needs in Yemen remain severe and continue to grow, with vulnerable communities facing compounding crises. Sustained international support is essential to maintain lifesaving assistance and ensure that those most at risk are not left behind.

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Head of Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector convenes with European Union Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Process

League of Arab States

Date: 09/04/2026

His Excellency Ambassador Dr Fayed Mustafa, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, received Mr Christophe Bigot, European Union Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, along with his accompanying delegation at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States on 9 April. The delegation included Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, head of the European Union Delegation to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the League of Arab States, and Ms Agnieszka Pastoreit. The meeting addressed the latest developments concerning the Palestinian cause and the current situation in the region, as well as the means to advance de-escalation efforts, end the recurring attacks on the countries and peoples of the region, and achieve peace.

During the meeting, the Assistant Secretary-General welcomed the agreement reached between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran on a ceasefire, describing it as an important step towards de-escalation and the elevation of reason and wisdom to avert the risks of the region and the world sliding into catastrophic scenarios. He stressed that achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region requires ending the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories, curbing the arrogance of force and the scorched-earth policies pursued by the extremist right-wing Israeli government, and enabling the Palestinian people to regain all their legitimate rights, foremost among them the right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent and sovereign State with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Ambassador Dr Mustafa also reviewed the consequences of the policies and practices of the occupation, including settlement expansion and systematic Israeli crimes and violations in occupied Jerusalem, plans to Judaise the city, infringements on its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and restrictions on freedom of worship, including the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque for more than 40 days and impediments to access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the performance of religious rites therein.

He further referred to the adoption by the Israeli Knesset of a discriminatory and unjust law enabling the execution of Palestinian prisoners exclusively, thereby entrenching an apartheid system based on the application of a dual legal regime on the basis of nationality. This, he stressed, constitutes a grave violation of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as international humanitarian law, and necessitates urgent action at the level of states, organisations, and parliaments to compel the Israeli government to repeal this discriminatory law and to safeguard the city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

Ambassador Dr Mustafa also commended the efforts undertaken by the European Union and its Special Envoy in advancing the Middle East peace process and promoting the implementation of the two-State solution, as well as the various forms of support provided to the Palestinian people, particularly in the humanitarian and development fields in the occupied Palestinian territory. He called for the continuation of support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Authority in the face of occupation policies aimed at undermining and obstructing their roles, and urged pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to comply with international law and international humanitarian law, to open crossings, and to allow the entry of humanitarian and relief assistance to meet the needs of all residents of the Gaza Strip.

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Statement by the Tripartite Mechanism on Israeli attacks in Occupied Jerusalem

League of Arab States

Date: 09/04/2026

the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Commission of the African Union expressed their strong condemnation of the storming of the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the extremist "minister" in the Israeli occupation government, Itamar Ben-Gvir, under heavy protection from Israeli occupation forces. They considered this act a provocation to the sentiments of Muslims worldwide, a flagrant assault on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and a grave violation of relevant international resolutions and conventions.

The three organisations further warned of the serious implications of the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation forces to Muslim worshippers for the 40th consecutive day, as part of an escalating pattern of violations targeting Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, and attempts to undermine the existing historical and legal status quo therein, posing a serious threat to regional and international peace and stability.

The three organisations also affirmed that Israel, the occupying Power, holds no sovereignty over the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine, and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The three organisations reiterated their categorical rejection of all illegal Israeli measures and decisions aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the holy city, its Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity, undermining Palestinian sovereignty and presence therein, and isolating it from its Palestinian surroundings.

The three organisations further stressed the necessity of preserving the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its total area of 144 dunums, as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to assume its responsibilities in compelling the Israeli occupation authorities to respect freedom of worship and the sanctity of holy sites, to immediately reopen Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers, and to lift all restrictions imposed on the access of Palestinian citizens thereto.

They also asserted their steadfast and supportive position regarding the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to freedom and self-determination, and the establishment of an independent, sovereign state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They further renewed their full support for international efforts aimed at implementing the two-State solution.

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Escalating violence creates child trafficking crisis in South Sudan, says UN expert

Press releases

Special Procedures

09 April 2026

GENEVA -- A UN expert today expressed grave concern about the current escalation of conflict related trafficking in South Sudan.

"Continuing conflict has created a dire humanitarian crisis, with widespread attacks on civilians by armed actors having a disproportionate impact on children and creating an alarming child trafficking crisis," said Siobhan Mullally, the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and girls.

Displacement and barriers to humanitarian access are further fuelling the risks of trafficking in persons and failures of protection, with the arrival of 1.4 million people fleeing the conflict in Sudan exacerbating the protection needs already arising from the internal displacement of 1.9 million people.

"Conflict related sexual violence has become normalised," the expert said. Girls are trafficked for purposes of sexual slavery, enduring forced pregnancies with devastating health consequences. Forced recruitment of young men and boys for use in combat and support roles in hostilities, including in attacks on civilians is also widely reported.

Trafficking survivors face overwhelming barriers to healthcare, with limited or no medical or psycho-social services available, prohibitive costs, stigma, insecurity and fears of retaliation. Chronic under resourcing of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Health are further impeding services and recovery programs for survivors and child victims.

"Abductions for sexual slavery, forced recruitment, child and forced marriage and sexual exploitation are grave violations of international law that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," the expert said. "Yet access to justice for most survivors is non-existent, and continuing, widespread impunity hinders accountability, further fuelling the crisis of trafficking in persons."

Both state-aligned and opposition forces and armed groups are implicated in reports, highlighting the continuing urgency of security sector reform and a meaningful peace process.

"Impunity must end," Mullally said. "Survivor centred justice measures must be implemented, urgent measures must be taken to operationalise the African Union-mandated Hybrid Court and ensure effective access to justice for victims of all forms of conflict related trafficking in persons and the Truth Commission and Reparations Authority must be established."

Both adults and children recruited and used by armed groups and armed forces must be ensured full protection, recovery and reintegration measures. Victims and survivors of trafficking for sexual slavery, child and forced marriage must be provided with appropriate medical services including sexual and reproductive health services and must be provided with protection from reprisals and ongoing risks of re-trafficking.

Mullally's 2023 report on her country visit to South Sudan, which includes recommendations to the Government and international actors is published here.

Siobhan Mullally is the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organisation, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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Pakistan Condemns Israeli Aggression Against Lebanon

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan condemns, in the strongest terms, the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and the widespread destruction of infrastructure.

The Israeli actions undermine international efforts to establish peace and stability in the region and constitute a blatant violation of international law and fundamental humanitarian principles.

Pakistan calls upon the international community to take urgent and concrete steps to end Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

Pakistan reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the Government and people of Lebanon during this difficult time and supports Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its peace and stability.

Islamabad

9 April 2026

96/2026

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PH concerned over escalation of conflict in Lebanon

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

April 9, 2026, 5:48 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday expressed "grave concern" over the escalation and worsening humanitarian situation in Lebanon after Israel mounted deadly airstrikes in central Beirut on Wednesday, killing over 200.

In a statement, the agency called on all parties to end hostilities and allow diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict in the wider Middle East to proceed.

"We call for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement pursuant to UN (United Nations) Security Council Resolution 1701 and urge all parties to fully abide by international humanitarian law, most notably the protection of civilians and UN personnel, including humanitarian, health and media workers," it said.

Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes across Lebanon on April 8, hours after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire to pave the way for an eventual peace deal.

Israeli forces reported that over 100 Hezbollah sites in Beirut, Beqaa, and southern Lebanon were targeted, and that the strikes would go on "as long as Hezbollah continues to threaten" their civilians.

Local reports citing the Lebanese Civil Defense said the death toll has so far reached 254, with over 800 people estimated to be wounded from the barrage. (PNA)

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PCG activates major command post in Kalayaan Island on Day of Valor

Philippine News Agency

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

April 9, 2026, 1:48 pm

MANILA -- Several government officials on Thursday visited the Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan, to celebrate the Day of Valor and to officially activate the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

The visit was led by Senator Erwin Tulfo, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, and PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela.

In a statement, Tarriela said the activation of the PCG District KIG has the full support and approval of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in line with his commitment that "not an inch of our territory shall be surrendered."

The activation aims to upgrade the existing PCG unit in KIG into a major district, to be led by a senior PCG officer with the rank of Commodore.

"This ensures command by a mature and experienced leader with a strong strategic understanding of coast guard presence and operations in the area," he said.

The PCG District KIG will also be used to deploy dedicated and operationally controlled assets such as vessels and aircraft.

"The utilization of these assets is not limited to maritime security roles; the district will perform the full spectrum of PCG functions, encompassing maritime safety like search and rescue, and maritime environmental protection," he said.

Aside from additional assets, the PCG District KIG will have infrastructure developments such as upgrades and construction of additional buildings on other occupied maritime features within the municipality.

"The district will likewise receive enhanced logistical support and increased operational funding to carry out more significant operations across its area of responsibility," he said.

With the KIG unit now a major PCG command, the PCG will also deploy officers and non-commissioned personnel from various technical services to support the national government in delivering essential services to the residents of Kalayaan.

"The Commandant envisions these PCG personnel assisting the Department of Education (DepEd) to address the shortage of teachers, supporting the Department of Health (DOH) by providing medical doctors, nurses, and dentists, and even offering chaplains to meet the community's spiritual and religious needs," he said.

These efforts in Kalayaan are part of the PCG's Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Engagement (ICARE) program.

"This milestone strengthens not only maritime governance but also the Philippine Coast Guard's commitment to holistic service and nation-building in the Kalayaan Island Group," he said.

Kalayaan is a municipality under the province of Palawan and is part of the KIG, which includes parts of the Spratly Islands and the Pag-asa Island, the administrative center of the KIG.

The Day of Valor, or Araw ng Kagitingan, is an annual national holiday that commemorates the fall of Bataan and the Battle of Corregidor against Japanese invaders during World War II. (PNA)

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Counting on external forces to stir up troubles at sea by the Philippines will prove self-defeating: Defense Spokesperson

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source China Military Online

EditorLi Jiayao

Time2026-04-09 17:42:12

BEIJING, April 9 -- China urges the Philippine side to stop counting on external forces to stir up troubles at sea, since such a scheme will prove self-defeating and fruitless, said a Chinese defense spokesperson at a press briefing on Thursday.

The Philippine Navy reportedly claimed that China may be taking advantage of the international attention on the conflict in the Middle East, citing a so-called escalation of harassment activities in the South China Sea as proof. The Philippine National Maritime Council also condemned the Chinese side for so-called dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine vessels and personnel in the South China Sea.

In response to that, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), said that, the Philippine side has recently intruded into the airspace over and the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Dao and the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao, deliberately charged into the exercise and training zones of the Chinese side, and even closed in on Chinese vessels in a dangerous manner.

The spokesperson pointed out that the Philippine side has repeatedly committed rights-violation and harassing acts against China, increasing factors of insecurity and instability in the Asia-Pacific region. "We urge the Philippine side to stop counting on external forces to stir up troubles at sea, since such a scheme will prove self-defeating and fruitless," he added.

The spokesperson added that the Chinese side remains unwavering in its resolve to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. "We will continue to take resolute countermeasures against any rights-violation and provocations," he stressed.

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Qalibaf: 'Time running out' for US-Israel to honor ceasefire, stop attacks on Lebanon

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 9:11 PM

Speaker of Iran's Parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has warned the United States and the Israeli regime that "time is running out," stressing that any attempt to exclude Lebanon or the Axis of Resistance from the recently brokered ceasefire will meet a firm and decisive response.

Posting on X on Thursday night, Qalibaf quoted Iran's official position paper that leaves no room for misinterpretation or backtracking. The document, part of a 10-point proposal underpinning the ceasefire, explicitly states:

1. Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran's allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire.

2. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly and clearly stressed the Lebanon issue during the Islamabad talks; there is no room for denial or backtracking.

3. Ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses. Extinguish the fire immediately.

Iran's parliament speaker's message comes as the Israeli regime continues its aggressive bombing in Beirut and other Lebanese areas, in flagrant breach of the agreement mediated with the involvement of regional and international actors, including Pakistan.

Tehran has consistently maintained that the ceasefire covers not only direct Iranian interests but the full security of Lebanon and the broader Axis of Resistance. Any selective interpretation or attempt to carve out Lebanon from the deal, Iranian officials insist, constitutes a dangerous violation that will not go unanswered.

"Time is running out," Qalibaf wrote, underscoring the urgency and Iran's unwavering commitment to its allies and to regional stability.

Iran, which played a pivotal role in shaping the 10-point proposal, has repeatedly warned that it will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Lebanese people and the Resistance Axis against any aggression or attempt to undermine the ceasefire.

Iranian leaders have described the current provocations as a desperate bid by the Zionist entity to escape the consequences of its military failures and to test the resolve of the resistance front.

The US and Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran on February 28, assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior officials, military commanders, and hundreds of civilians.

In retaliation, Iran launched its decisive Operation True Promise 4. Hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles and drones have pounded US military bases across West Asia and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories.

Throughout the war, Iran continued to target Israeli and American assets in occupied Palestine and US military bases and interests in the Persian Gulf, maintaining its resilience even after about six weeks of fighting.

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April 9: Hezbollah's operations against Zionist regime in response to truce breach

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 8:54 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

Hours after Iran and the United States announced a ceasefire ending 40 days of aggression against the Islamic Republic, the Israeli regime violated the truce on Wednesday by launching devastating strikes on civilian areas across Lebanon.

In response, the Hezbollah resistance movement carried out a series of retaliatory strikes on Thursday, targeting multiple Israeli military and strategic installations.

Since early March, Hezbollah's operations have been primarily focused on Israeli military sites in the occupied territories, inflicting heavy and irreparable blows on the Zionist enemy.

The movement's actions come in response to both the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the Israeli regime's relentless ceasefire violations over the past year.

The cessation of Israeli-American attacks on all fronts, including in Lebanon, was a key component of the 10-point proposal that Washington agreed to as part of the ceasefire.

Iran has warned of severe retaliation if Israeli attacks against Lebanon continue.

Below is a list of operations carried out by the resistance movement in Lebanon against the Zionist regime and its on April 9:

In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Manara" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a "Namer" vehicle in the town of Taybeh with a guided missile, achieving a direct hit.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an Israeli gathering inside a house in the Taybeh project with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" and "Metulla" settlements with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement for the third time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Al-Marj site with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" and "Metulla" settlements with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Avivim" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Hadabat Al-Ajal position north of the "Kfar Yuval" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement for the fifth time.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shomera" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shlomi" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement for the sixth time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Avivim" with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement for the seventh time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Yesod HaMa'ala" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of "israeli" enemy army soldiers in the "Misgav Am" settlement with a swarm of attack drones.

Islamic Resistance fighters are engaged in heroic clashes at point-blank range with light and medium weapons and rocket-propelled grenades against a mechanized Israeli force that attempted to advance towards the market of the city of Bint Jbeil, and the clashes are still ongoing at the moment of issuing this statement. Concurrently with the heroic clashes, the Islamic Resistance fighters are targeting gatherings of vehicles and soldiers of the Israeli army in the vicinity of the Musa Abbas complex and the Liberation Triangle and the Vocational School in the city of Bint Jbeil, with rocket barrages and artillery fire.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an Israeli D9 military bulldozer with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Manara" settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Al-Assi" site opposite the town of Mays Al-Jabal with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement for the eighth time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Hunin" barracks opposite the border town of Markaba with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a Merkava tank on the Taybeh-Deir Siryan road near the school with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Misgav Am" settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Nahariya" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shlomi" and "Nahariya" settlements with a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shlomi", "Nahariya", and "Kabri" settlements with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli military in the "Ma'alot Tarshiha" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Malkiya" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Misgav Am" settlement for the third time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's breach of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" settlement for the third time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an Israeli military "D9" military bulldozer in the town of Rashaf with a guided missile.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Shamaa with artillery shells.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Rshaf with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the southern suburb, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the occupied city of Haifa with a barrage of qualitative missiles.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Khiam municipality with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the "Site 17" area on the outskirts of Bint Jbeil city.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Liberation Triangle at the outskirts of the city of Bint Jbeil.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Ainata.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Mousa Abbas complex and Shamran Hill on the outskirts of the city of Bint Jbeil.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Mays Al-Jabal Hospital with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Maroun Al-Ras with a rocket barrage.

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President Pezeshkian: Iran will never abandon Lebanon in face of Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 2:11 PM

President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran will never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters following ruthless Israeli bombing of residential buildings despite a ceasefire.

Since Wednesday when Iran and the US announced a 15-day ceasefire which included Lebanon in a 41-day war, the Israeli regime has targeted various areas throughout the Arab country, killing at least 254 people and wounding 1,165 others.

"Renewed aggression by the Zionist regime against Lebanon blatantly violates the initial ceasefire," Pezeshkian wrote in a post on his X account on Thursday.

Pakistan has confirmed that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire it mediated. Israel and the US, however, claim the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, with Israel announcing it will continue its attacks on the country.

"Such actions signal deception and non-compliance, rendering negotiations meaningless," President Pezeshkian said. "Our hands remain on the trigger. Iran will never forsake its Lebanese brothers and sisters," he added.

On Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he had phoned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and asked him to "confirm that the ceasefire includes Lebanon to prevent a recurrence of the Israeli attacks witnessed yesterday."

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed deep concern over ceasefire violations in Lebanon and stressed the urgent need for full respect and implementation of the truce deal to ensure lasting peace and stability.

In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office called on the international community to take urgent and concrete steps to end the aggression as it reiterated Islamabad's "unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Lebanon during this difficult time".

Iran's parliamentary speaker has warned that Tehran sees Lebanon as an "inseparable part of the ceasefire" and pledged "strong responses," coinciding with mounting international calls for Lebanon to be encompassed in the truce.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that Iran is preparing "regret-inducing" response to the renewed Israeli attacks on Lebanon, warning that any assault on Hezbollah is an assault on the Islamic Republic.

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France slams 'unacceptable' Israeli attacks as UK says Lebanon should be included in ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 11:49 AM

France has censured the latest Israeli atrocities against civilians across Lebanon as unacceptable, whilst the United Kingdom wants the Arab country included in the ceasefire between the US and Iran.

The French foreign minister has denounced the latest "unacceptable" Israeli acts of aggression against civilians across Lebanon, warning such atrocities could jeopardize the shaky ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

"These attacks are all the more unacceptable as they undermine the temporary ceasefire reached yesterday between the US and Iran," Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio station on Thursday.

The remarks came a day after the Israeli regime targeted various areas throughout Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 254 people and wounding 1,165 others, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

Since February 28, when Israel and the US began their large-scale and unprovoked military campaign against Iran, the occupying regime has ramped up its assaults on Lebanon.

Before the war, Israel carried out numerous violations of a 2024 ceasefire deal it signed with Hezbollah, under which Tel Aviv was expected to end deadly attacks on Lebanon.

Iran and the US announced a 15-day ceasefire on Wednesday based on Iran's 10-point proposal. One of the agreed points, as confirmed by the mediator Pakistan, has been a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that Iran was preparing "regret-inducing" response to the renewed Israeli attacks on Lebanon, warning that any assault on Hezbollah was an assault on the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, Yvette Cooper, the British Foreign Minister stated that London "strongly" wants Lebanon included in the Iran-US truce agreement.

"We do want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon. I'm deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from Israel in Lebanon yesterday," the top diplomat told Sky News.

"We've seen the humanitarian consequences, the huge mass displacement of people in Lebanon. So we do strongly want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon," she added.

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US senate moves once again to curb Trump's war powers amid failure in Iran war

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 10:44 AM

The US Senate plans once again to curb the war powers of American President Donald Trump in an attempt to halt his unprovoked war on Iran, which has already failed in its objectives despite heavy expenditure.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the news on Wednesday, saying US lawmakers plan to vote next week on a resolution aimed at ending Trump's war on Iran and requiring Congressional authorization for further attacks, in order to prevent unchecked American violence abroad.

"Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment," Schumer stressed, after Trump announced that he had reached a two-week, Pakistan-mediated ceasefire agreement with Iran.

The shaky ceasefire came hours before the American president's self-imposed deadline demanding that Tehran reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of global oil supplies and other vital goods, including fertilizers, pass.

Trump had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Tehran did not "reopen" the narrow waterwaya threat that drew global condemnation for targeting Iran's civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.

The threat prompted many Democratic lawmakers to call for Trump's removal, arguing that indiscriminate attacks on civilian sites violate the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Schumer condemned the war as "unhinged," noting that the US president's so-called "Operation Epic Fury," widely known as "Epic Failure," has so far failed to weaken Iran's government or halt its nuclear program.

The US's all-out war on Iran, which quickly escalated into a regional conflict, has been a costly and illegal operation that has already consumed tens of billions of dollars and raised concerns about the strain on US weapons stockpiles.

Schumer further stressed that the unprovoked war has simultaneously driven global energy prices to record highs, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of Washington's militarism.

Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives, despite several attempts, have so far failed to require Congressional approval for further military operations, revealing the systemic inability of the US government to hold its leaders accountable for war crimes.

Under the US Constitution, the president does not need Congressional approval for conducting "short-term operations" or eliminating immediate threats.

"We need a permanent end to Donald Trump's reckless war of choice," said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, urging the House to act and highlighting the dangerous precedent of unchecked US military intervention.

Meanwhile, in a new survey published on Wednesday, 52 percent of registered voters supported impeachment of Trump, compared to 40 percent opposed, Newsweek reported.

Citing individuals familiar with discussions in European and West Asian capitals, Bloomberg reported that the ceasefire has boosted perceptions among US adversaries and NATO allies that Trump's war against the Islamic Republic represents a strategic failure.

Former UK National Security Advisor Peter Ricketts believes the war made Iran strategically stronger.

"Although Iran has suffered huge physical damage and much loss of life, it emerges strategically stronger," he said, stressing that the Islamic establishment in Iran "has survived."

Ricketts emphasized that the war has demonstrated Tehran's "massive leverage control" over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Ned Price, a former Biden administration official who served as deputy to the US ambassador to the United Nations, and State Department spokesman, also stressed that Iran emerged stronger from this war.

"The war is apparently ending with Iran controlling/tolling the Strait of Hormuz, with US sanctions on Iranian oil lifted. If this is the new normal, we 'll have spent vast amounts of blood, treasure, & standing to leave the Iranian government "poised to be strategically stronger in ways."

Since the US and Israel launched their illegal war on Iran, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched over 100 waves of missile and drone operations against key US and Israeli targets.

The retaliatory attacks, carried out as part of Operation True Promise 4, forced hundreds of US troops out of the region and inflicted billions of dollars in damage to US assets in the Persian Gulf countries.

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NATO Chief Warns Of Deepening Russia-Iran Cooperation Fueling Middle East Instability

By Alex Raufoglu 22:13 9.4.2026

WASHINGTON -- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on April 9 said growing cooperation between Russia and Iran is strengthening both countries' military capabilities, with direct consequences for the war in Ukraine and rising instability across the Middle East.

Speaking at a conference in Washington, Rutte described a widening network of coordination among Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, calling it a shared effort that is "absolutely" reshaping security dynamics across multiple regions.

He pointed in particular to the exchange between Moscow and Tehran, saying Iran is supplying Russia with advanced drone and military technology used in Ukraine, while Russia is providing financial resources in return.

"That is technology into Russia, money from Russia to Iran," Rutte said. "And the money is being spent for Iran to create...chaos."

Rutte accused Iran of acting as a major destabilizing force in the Middle East, citing its support for regional proxy groups and its continued development of missile and nuclear capabilities.

He warned that Iran's expanding missile range -- reportedly reaching distances of up to 4,000 kilometers -- indicates that the technology is nearing operational maturity.

According to Rutte, such developments pose risks not only to the Middle East but also to Western interests, as Iranian capabilities become increasingly sophisticated and far-reaching.

The NATO chief argued that efforts by the United States to curb Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs remain critical in limiting those threats.

His remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region. Rutte said NATO could play a role in safeguarding maritime security in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

"If NATO can help, obviously then there is no reason not to be helpful," he said, emphasizing the importance of keeping the waterway open.

He noted ongoing coordination among a group of 34 countries, led in part by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside the United States, to ensure freedom of navigation in the area.

At the same time, Rutte sought to highlight continued transatlantic cooperation despite political tensions. He said increased European defense spending -- including purchases of US weapons -- has strengthened NATO's military capacity.

His comments followed criticism of the alliance by former US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to scale back US military commitments to NATO allies.

Rutte maintained that cooperation within the alliance remains strong, even as geopolitical challenges -- from Ukraine to the Middle East -- become increasingly interconnected.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=448928

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 developments in Lebanon

9 April 2026 17:19

534-09-04-2026

On April 8, Israel carried out large-scale airstrikes on Lebanon, including residential areas of Beirut. According to Lebanese authorities, more than 250 people have been killed and over 1,100 injured as a result of the unprecedented strikes on the capital and other populated areas. In response, national mourning was declared in the country on April 9.

We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and wish a swift recovery to those injured.

We strongly condemn this Israeli strike on Lebanon, which has led to the loss of innocent lives and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure. It is particularly concerning that it occurred almost immediately after the US-Iran agreement on a two-week ceasefire came into effect, at a moment when there was a real opportunity to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the acute military and political crisis in the region. Such actions risk undermining the emerging negotiation process and significantly heighten the danger of a renewed large-scale armed confrontation in the Middle East.

We call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli-Lebanese conflict zone and a renewed focus on political and diplomatic efforts, including the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which clearly defines the obligations of all parties.

We reaffirm our principled support for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Lebanese Republic. We also remain committed to close cooperation with regional and international partners to promote sustainable stabilisation in Lebanon and across the broader Middle East.

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Shaheen, Tillis Lead Bipartisan Senators in Reaffirming Bipartisan Support for NATO

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

April 09, 2026

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC), co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Curtis (R-UT) issued a statement reaffirming the bipartisan commitment in Congress to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

"For over 75 years, Congress has supported robust U.S. participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization because it makes Americans safer and has made our collective economies - including the United States - more prosperous. Each year, Congress passes legislation which reaffirms our support to the Alliance, most recently through provisions to maintain a robust U.S. force posture in Europe, protect key NATO leadership roles, fund security initiatives and sustain support for Ukraine. The law also makes clear that U.S. withdrawal cannot take place without the Senate's approval.

"President Trump was right to push our Allies to carry more of the burden - and they have responded. Over the past five years, our Allies have responded to U.S. leadership and our calls to increase defense spending to rebalance burden sharing, as reflected by the recent commitment by NATO Allies to 5 percent defense spending. As an alliance of 32 nations, we will always have our differences, but it is critical that we work together to strengthen - not divide - our partnership. Any signal that the United States is stepping back risks emboldening Russia and China. A divided and broken NATO is their chief strategic aim.

"Two years ago, we celebrated 75 years of NATO at the 2024 Washington Summit. For the sake of American prosperity and security, Congress is determined to see the Alliance remain unified in promoting democracy 75 years more and beyond."

###

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Attacks on Lebanon must end, and a ceasefire must apply to all

Republic of Slovenia

9. 4. 2026

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Permanent Representation to the European Union Brussels

Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which are causing numerous civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, must stop. We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and maximum restraint by all parties. Full respect for international law, in particular international humanitarian law, and the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel is essential.

Slovenia stresses that ceasefire must apply to all, including Lebanon, and be in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1701. In this context, we call on Israel to halt its military operations and on Hezbollah to cease its attacks.

Respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential. Lasting stability can only be achieved through diplomacy and an inclusive political process.

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Nimitz Carrier Strike Group trains with Ecuador Navy

News | April 9, 2026

By Carrier Strike Group 11

PACIFIC OCEAN -- The Ecuadorian and U.S. Navies conducted a bilateral maritime engagement as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet's Southern Seas 2026 deployment in the Pacific Ocean, April 7-8.

The engagement, focused on increasing interoperability between the two navies, included participation by the Ecuadorian Esmeraldas-class missile corvettes BAE Manabi (CM 12) and BAE Loja (CM 16), Ecuadorian A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), and F-18 Super Hornets and MH-60 Sea Hawks assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17.

"Engaging with partners like Ecuador ensures that when the need arises, we can work together as a proficient warfighting team, built with trust and experience," said Rear Adm. Cassidy Norman, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11. "Training on the high seas with Ecuadoran naval forces gave us the chance to hone our critical skills while also continuing to build a relationship that is already strong and enduring."

Training conducted included subject matter expert exchanges, simulated maritime interdiction operations scenarios, a live-fire gunnery exercise, maneuvering in formation and an air defense exercise.

Nimitz also hosted a visit of senior Ecuadorian government and military leaders including Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriela Sommerfeld, Minister of Defense Giancarlo Loffredo, and Chief of Defense Gen. Henry Delgado. The delegation was accompanied by U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. in Ecuador Lawrence Petroni.

The visit was one of many planned opportunities for distinguished visitors to observe aircraft carrier operations during Southern Seas 2026.

While aboard, the Ecuadorian delegation met with Norman and Capt. Joseph Furco, commanding officer of Nimitz. The leaders discussed the Southern Seas 2026 mission and the strong security partnership between Ecuador and the U.S.

Visitors also observed flight operations and an air power demonstration from Nimitz' flight deck.

The visit and bilateral training demonstrated the Southern Seas 2026 mission to strengthen existing regional partnerships and encourage the establishment of new relationships through the exchange of maritime mission-focused knowledge and expertise.

Southern Seas 2026 marks the 11th iteration of the exercise to the region since 2007. Like the previous deployments, Southern Seas 2026 is designed to foster goodwill, strengthen maritime partnerships to counter threats, and build the U.S. Navy's team alongside partner nation maritime services.

During the deployment, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) is scheduled to conduct passing exercises and operations at sea with partner nation maritime forces as the ships circumnavigate the continent of South America.

NIMCSG consists of Nimitz, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, and Gridley.

USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT is the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces improving regional unity and security.

Learn more about USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet at https://www.fourthfleet.navy.mil, https://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT.

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Joint statement MED9 Informal Ministerial Meeting on Security and Resilience in the Mediterranean

Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESS STATEMENT 040

9 APR 26

We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of Southern EU Member States (MED9) and/or their representatives, met in Split on 9 April 2026, in the presence of Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica, at a time of heightened instability in the wider Mediterranean marked by escalating military conflicts in the Middle East which have direct impacts on our security.

Driven by the need to address the repercussions of the current crisis, we reaffirm our determination to work together towards a secure, resilient and interconnected Mediterranean.

We discussed different aspects of the crisis, including maritime, economic, energy and supply chain security, protection of critical infrastructure, environmental risks, potential migratory and refugee pressures, and hybrid threats.

We welcome the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran, and we commend Pakistan and other regional actors for their mediation efforts. We jointly call for immediate cessation of hostilities, sustained de-escalation and adherence to the ceasefire across the region by all sides, including in Lebanon, which would enable further negotiations on lasting and sustainable peace. We are deeply concerned that violence regrettably continues on a large scale. This is unacceptable.We also call for full respect of international law by all parties, including the principles of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law, as well as international law of the sea as codified in the UNCLOS, especially regarding maritime security and respect for the freedom of navigation, including transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz.

We express our deep concern that if ceasefire is not maintained the situation could further deteriorate, with significant implications for regional and global peace and security. We agree on the urgent need for strengthened coordination, outreach and pro-active policies, at regional and EU levels to support the dialogue and diplomacy and to address the challenges, in particular migration, maritime and economic security.

These developments underline the interconnected nature of current challenges and the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response, including on reducing the impact of the crisis on our regional partners, critical infrastructure, civilians, in particular the most vulnerable, and on our humanitarian efforts, including through possible humanitarian corridors. We expressed solidarity with the regional partners and reiterated the importance of continuing fostering the dialogue with our Mediterranian, Maghreb and Middle Eastern partners to promote mutual understanding and coordinated actions to address all regional issues.

In light of these challenges, we affirm our common goal of making the Mediterranean an area of peace, prosperity and stability for our citizens and our businesses. To this aim, we agree to strengthen our focus on having stronger regional coordination with North Africa and Middle East countries to highlight the need for a common strategic policy on key issues like energy and environment for growth and prosperity.

We welcome the Pact for the Mediterranean as a framework for advancing a more structured, balanced and forward-looking partnership with the Southern Neighborhood, based on mutual trust, shared responsibility and joint ownership. We take note of the ongoing work on its Action Plan, which will support its implementation through concrete actions. We also welcome the work of the Union for the Mediterranean in the coordination and implementation of projects of the Pact for the Mediterranean in relevant fields.

In this regard, we stress the importance of connectivity and the unlocking potential of the Global Gateway for sustainable global infrastructure. We particularly stress the key strategic value of the Mediterranean as a hub for diversified, resilient and efficient connectivity between global markets. In this context, we highlight the importance of connectivity projects such as IMEC, the logistic and economic corridor that will connect, through the Mediterranean, India, the Middle East and Europe. To this end, we call for a structured and all-encompassing dialogue among Member States within the Council of the EU on interconnectivity, as this is both crucial and timely in light of evolving geopolitical dynamics and increasing global competition over transport and energy infrastructure and digital networks, and in view of the urgent need to ensure resilient, secure and sustainable connectivity for the EU and our partners.

We share the importance of reinforcing our diplomatic efforts, cooperation, early coordination and mutual support among MED9 countries in all major international fora, as well as their role in shaping a geographical, thematical and operational 360o approach in all EU policies and toolboxes taking into account the Mediterranean dimension.

In this context, we agree to strengthen our coordination in appropriate formats and to make full use of the upcoming meetings under the Croatian MED9 Presidency to advance these objectives.

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Vance Claims Lebanon Is Not Part of the Ceasefire

Sputnik News

20260409

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Halting hostilities in Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran, Vice President JD Vance claimed o Wednesday, further calling the matter a "misunderstanding".

US President Donald Trump earlier on Wednesday said ending hostilities in Lebanon wasn't part of the deal due to the Hezbollah movement, noting the situation in the country is part of a "separate skirmish".

"I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't. We never made that promise. We never indicated that was gonna be the case. What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran and the ceasefire would be focused on America's allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states," Vance told reporters before departing Hungary.

Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces announced the start of the largest series of strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since the beginning of the current escalation.

On April 7, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the ceasefire does include Lebanon.

The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that the Islamic Republic could pull out of its ceasefire agreement with the United States if Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon. The Fars news agency further reported Tehran has suspended tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following the attacks.

 Sputnik

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No: 69, 9 April 2026, Regarding the Approval by the Netanyahu Government of 34 New Settlements in the West Bank

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The approval by the Netanyahu government for the establishment of 34 new settlements in the West Bank constitutes a grave violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.

Israel is undermining the vision of a two-state solution, which remains the key to lasting peace in the region, and is further advancing its occupation policies.

We call on the international community to act in the face of these unlawful initiatives.

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We continue to call on Kosovo and Serbia to resolve outstanding disagreements through the EU-facilitated Dialogue: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on Kosovo.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor

Published 9 April 2026

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 9 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The UK remains committed to supporting Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic path and development as an inclusive and multi-ethnic democracy.

As one of the first countries to recognise Kosovo's independence, we encourage those Member States who have not yet done so to join the majority.

As the International Court of Justice made clear in its 2010 Advisory Opinion, Kosovo's declaration of independence was not a violation of international law.

Recognition is essential for long-term stability and for unlocking Kosovo's full potential.

We commend the peaceful conduct of the municipal and legislative elections last year, including Kosovo-Serb participation, and welcome the formation of the government.

We encourage swift progress towards the election of a President, in line with Kosovo's Constitution.

The return of Kosovo-Serb mayors to Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo is another welcome step.

We encourage them to focus on practical governance, working constructively with central institutions, and responding to the needs of all their constituents.

We continue to call on Kosovo and Serbia to implement existing agreements and resolve outstanding disagreements through the EU-facilitated Dialogue.

We welcome the establishment of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons and the EU-facilitated agreement on implementation of the Law on Foreigners, as constructive steps towards building trust and supporting stability.

More than two years on from the Banjska attack, we reiterate our call on Serbia to play its part in reducing tensions and bringing those responsible to justice, including Milan Radoicic.

We also call for accountability for the attacks against KFOR and Kosovo Police personnel in May 2023.

Finally, with growing pressure on UN budgets, resources must be directed where they deliver the greatest impact.

Conditions on the ground in Kosovo are unrecognisable from 1999.

We welcome efforts to improve the balance and focus of UNMIK reporting, and we encourage continued clarity on the Mission's core purpose, focusing on drivers of conflict and instability.

A strategic review of UNMIK's role, responsibilities, and funding is overdue.

The proposed 8.6% budget reduction, recommended by the Civilian Staffing Review, must deliver real efficiencies and help ensure UNMIK is agile, efficient, and fit for purpose.

I would like to end by expressing the UK's gratitude to the Special Representative, Peter Due, and all Mission staff who have contributed to UNMIK's work.

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27th Anniversary of the NATO Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Kosovo: UK statement to the OSCE, March 2026

Speech

UK Charge d'Affaires, Deputy Ambassador James Ford, speaks on the anniversary of NATO's response to the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo and underlines the UK's focus on building modern, forward-looking partnerships with countries across the Western Balkans region.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Ford

Published 9 April 2026

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 26 March 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you, Mr Chair.

As we have noted on previous occasions, the conflicts that followed the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s represented one of the darkest periods in Europe's recent history. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives, and many more were forced from their homes and suffered loss or injury.

The NATO Secretary General has been clear that the NATO-led campaign in 1999 was never against the Serbian people. It was to bring to an end the large-scale human rights abuses carried out by the Milosevic regime in Kosovo, which posed direct risks to regional and European security. The campaign followed more than a year of intense efforts by the UN and the Contact Group, and was a last resort in response to mass killings and a humanitarian crisis. The OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission, established by this Council in October 1998, played a key role in establishing, objectively, the situation on the ground.

After years of conflict and violence, the intervention brought hostilities to an end and reopened the prospect for communities to work towards a shared and more positive future. The Kosovo of 2026 is unrecognisable from that of 1999, and the United Kingdom is proud of its contribution to supporting that progress.

We should not forget the past, or misuse it. The lessons of history should inform us, not constrain us. Our focus today, like that of other NATO partners, is on building modern, forward-looking partnerships with Serbia, Kosovo and countries across the Western Balkans. We welcome that NATO and Serbian military personnel will train together in May for international missions, including UN peacekeeping operations. The declarations and conclusions of the Berlin Process Summit hosted in London last year - and particularly the Hillsborough Castle Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations - reaffirm our collective commitment to furthering regional cooperation for the benefit of all citizens of the Western Balkans.

We call on the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to implement the agreements reached through the EUfacilitated Dialogue, to advance the normalisation of relations, and to deliver the peaceful, stable and prosperous future their citizens deserve.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

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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

9 April 2026

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Guests

Good afternoon. In a short while, I will be joined here by Li Junhua, who is, as you know, our Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). He will be joined here by Shari Spiegel, Director of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office in DESA. They will brief you on the launch of the 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development Report.

Then, tomorrow, my guest will be Edem Wosornu, the Director of Operations and Advocacy at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). She will be here to brief us on the humanitarian situation in Haiti, which we don't hear about all that much.

** Normandy World Peace Forum

Today, the Secretary-General addressed the Normandy World Peace Forum via a video message. He said that, at a time when geopolitical upheavals, wars, inequality and the climate crisis are shaking our world to its core, peace can seem more fragile than ever. In this turmoil, he underscored, hope is not a refuge but a duty: the duty to defend international law against the law of power; to protect human rights against abuses; and to uphold human dignity against indifference.

The Secretary-General stressed that peace is not merely the silence of guns. It is built through justice, solidarity, humanitarian access, and trust between peoples. It demands the courage to listen and to compromise. The Secretary-General noted that Normandy knows the cost of war, and it also knows the power of reconciliation and collective commitment, which raised Europe from the ruins and inspired the world. As we face the challenges of our time, he called on all to draw on that memory to find the courage to act for peace.

** Iran

Jean Arnault, who is, as you know, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Middle East Conflict and its Consequences, is in Tehran today. Today, he held meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with representatives of the Iranian Red Crescent, and he also visited some of the civilian sites damaged in recent strikes. During these engagements, Mr. Arnault heard views on the way forward and reiterated the Secretary-General's firm commitment to making every possible effort to support a peaceful settlement of this conflict. Acting on the Secretary-General's instructions, Mr. Arnault will continue his regional tour with several visits to the Middle East, aimed at supporting ongoing efforts to achieve a comprehensive and durable resolution to this conflict. Further readouts and information will be provided as we receive them.

** Lebanon

Turning to Lebanon, I think you all saw the statement we issued last night, in which the Secretary-General unequivocally condemns the massive strikes by Israel across Lebanon on 8 April that resulted in hundreds of civilians being killed and injured, including children, and damage to civilian infrastructure and as you know some of these strikes are going on today, and I will have a bit more of an update as I read on. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the loss of civilian lives and is deeply alarmed by the mounting toll on civilians. He extends his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Lebanon and wishes a swift and full recovery to the injured.

Our colleagues on the ground tell us that today is a national day of mourning in Lebanon. Flags on Government buildings and UN offices are flying half-mast. Lebanese authorities are reporting to us that more 200 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured; this has, of course, overwhelmed hospitals in the biggest wave of Israeli air strikes on Lebanon since the beginning of this current escalation. Many others are still feared to be trapped under rubble as rescuers attempt to reach them.

Today, we saw air raids on areas in Beirut's southern suburbs. Reports of the destruction of the Qasmiyeh coastal bridge in southern Lebanon have further isolated areas south of the Litani River. This has restricted people's movement and humanitarian access for at least 106,000 people and also made more difficult the work of our peacekeepers in the area.

This afternoon, a displacement order for the southern suburbs of Beirut we renewed by Israeli authorities and extended to the area that includes a UN office for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), 2 Palestinian refugee camps, 13 shelters for internally displaced persons that are currently hosting over 6,000 people, offices of several national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the Rafik Hariri Governmental Hospital, which is the biggest public hospital in the country. The order also covers more than 20 locations used by our humanitarian partners to deliver aid and services to people in need.

With the announcement of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, the ongoing military activity in Lebanon poses a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts towards a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. The Secretary-General reiterates his call to all parties to observe the ceasefire immediately. There is no military solution to this conflict, as we have been saying. The Secretary-General continues to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels and recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

As the situation continues to deteriorate, we reiterate the need for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities; full respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure; sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those who need it; and an urgent funding for our humanitarian operations.

Back here, this morning, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the troop-contributing countries to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He reiterated that any intimidation or interference with the Mission's activities must stop immediately and that all must adhere to their obligations to ensure the safety and protection of UN peacekeepers and their facilities. He also reaffirmed that, from our point of view, obviously, the safety of our own peacekeepers remains a top priority.

Meanwhile, incidents of aggressive behaviour towards peacekeepers continue. Yesterday, a UN logistics convoy was blocked by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Merkava tanks in Sector West. The tanks directed their main guns at the peacekeepers and fired machinegun bursts within metres of the convoy that damaged a UNIFIL vehicle. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the convoy was forced to return to base. UNIFIL is adapting its posture to the evolving security environment and strengthening force protection measures. Contingency planning continues to be reviewed and closely watched.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning just south to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to Gaza, where our colleagues at OCHA tell us that six months since the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the humanitarian scale-up led by us and our partners remains constrained, leaving people in dire conditions. OCHA warns that people across the Strip are still exposed to lethal force and the risk of casualties, destruction of property and further displacement - all of which continue to deepen humanitarian needs.

Yesterday, OCHA documented the killing of a Palestinian man during a settler attack in the northern West Bank. To put this in context, OCHA tells us that, since the beginning of 2026, more than 580 settler attacks have resulted in casualties or property damage in over 190 Palestinian communities. These and other attacks affecting civilians must be investigated, and civilians must be protected. Israel, as the occupying Power, must protect Palestinians. Perpetrators of violence must be held accountable according to international humanitarian law.

** Yemen

Turning to Yemen, where Hans Grundberg, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Yemen, arrived today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for talks focused on the impact of regional escalation on Yemen. His visit to Riyadh follows meetings in Aden with senior Government officials, where discussions centred on the implications of recent regional and national developments for peace prospects in Yemen. Discussions also focused on efforts to stabilize the situation in southern governorates and economic priorities. Across all his engagements, Mr. Grundberg stressed the urgent need to shield Yemen from wider regional tensions and preserve space for a Yemeni-led political process under the auspices of the United Nations.

And on the humanitarian front, as you can imagine, the crisis is deepening, with needs rising as flooding, displacement, and economic hardship leave thousands without shelter, without clean water, or the most basic necessities. More than 22 million people, including over 10 million women and girls, need humanitarian assistance and protection this year, among them 5.2 million internally displaced persons, as well as thousands of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are currently in Yemen.

Aid agencies are stepping up their response, and amid this crisis, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) plays a critical role in reaching the most vulnerable, ensuring that migrants and refugees are not left behind. Working with partners, IOM is also investing in longer-term solutions, but as a reminder, these efforts can only succeed with sustained international support, and that means cash, among other things.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan, where civilians are bearing the brunt of escalating violence. Today, a drone attack struck a wedding ceremony in the town of Kutum in North Darfur, killing at least 30 civilians, including women and children. We condemn all attacks against civilians. Attacks using drones against civilians and civilian objects are unacceptable. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, in line with international humanitarian law. In South Kordofan, clashes around the town of Dilling since last Monday have reportedly killed 47 civilians and injured dozens more.

Aid operations continue to be disrupted, with key supply routes closed, preventing us from pre-positioning critical supplies, which [include] health, nutrition and water, ahead of the rainy season, which usually begins in June. Fuel prices have surged, deepening already severe humanitarian needs. Once again, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and for rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across all areas of Sudan so we can reach all people.

** Chad/Sudan

And we often tell you about the impact of funding shortage, and I want to talk about what is going on in the Sudan-Chad region. Our colleagues from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are telling us that more than a million Sudanese refugees in Chad face immediate and life-threatening cuts in food, in water, in shelter, protection and health care, unless they are able to get additional funding. The combined shortfall for both agencies is$428 million.

As we have mentioned many times, the Government of Chad has generously kept its borders open to refugees throughout the Sudan conflict and now hosts 1.3 million refugees from Sudan. Over 900,000 of them have crossed the border since the start of the Sudan war in 2023. Chad, as a reminder, is among the least developed countries, 190 out of 193, according to our colleagues at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

People may not have much to spare but, they continue to share what they have with the men, women and children fleeing the war in Sudan. One in three people living in the East of Chad is now a refugee. Current resources at UNHCR allow basic assistance for only 4 out of every 10 refugees, leaving many with little access to shelter, water and basic health care.

WFP is equally impacted by the lack of funds, with less than half the resources it needs. The agency reaches over a million people in refugee-hosting areas with food assistance, but has already been forced to cut this support in half for the majority of refugees. We call on donors to mobilize funding over the next six months so we can sustain this life-saving assistance. Chad's continued openness and generosity should be matched by decisive international responsibility and generosity.

** UN Humanitarian Flights

Our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $48 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for urgent support to the UN Humanitarian Air Service, or UNHAS. Our humanitarian colleagues note that UNHAS, which is operated by the World Food Programme, is a lifeline, helping aid workers and critical supplies reach people in need. But, with humanitarian funding shrinking, UNHAS could be forced to suspend flights.

The new funding will keep the UN Humanitarian Air Service operating in eight countries like Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Syria. This will allow thousands of humanitarian workers, from the UN, NGOs and civil society, to continue to do their work. And UNHAS also transports journalists so they can do their work, in many instances. This allocation was made possible by the recent US contribution of $2 billion to UN-managed humanitarian funds.

** Security Council

And back here, the Security Council held a briefing on the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, better known as UNMIK. Briefing Council members, Peter Due, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the Mission, noted that he arrived in Kosovo early January at a moment of optimism that Kosovo could move forward after the political stalemate of 2025. The legislative elections held at the end of December were conducted in a peaceful and inclusive atmosphere, he said.

Mr. Due said that momentum, however, was tested during the process of electing a new President of Kosovo, a process which is yet to be completed. He noted that, on 25 March, the Constitutional Court decided that the Assembly still had 34 days to elect a President. Let us hope that differences can be bridged, he said, stressing that this would help ensure that the institutions remain focused on the broader public interest and people's needs.

** Senior Personnel Appointment

Also, I want to read into the record that yesterday the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, appointed Major General Mohammad Asadullah Minhazul Alam of Bangladesh as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Major General Minhazul Alamsucceeds Major General Erdenebat Batsuuri of Mongolia, to whom the Secretary-General expresses his deep appreciation for his dedicated service. Major General Alambrings to the position over 30 years of leadership and command experience in the Bangladesh Army. Edith Lederer.

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you, Steph. A couple of follow ups on Jean Arnault. Can you tell us who the highest-ranking person he's met within Iran is? And is he staying in Tehran, or what's his next stop going to be?

Spokesman : He met with the Deputy Foreign Minister today. We expect him to stay a little bit longer in Tehran, but obviously things shift quite quickly.

Question : And a second question. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just announced that Israel and Lebanon will be holding direct talks. Does the Secretary-General have any comment on that?

Spokesman : Yeah. We've seen these reports. We obviously would welcome any direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, for the sake of both Israelis and Lebanese. And as we've been saying, there is no military solution to this conflict and we hope the road to diplomacy will be taken. Benny?

Question : On Arnault, back to that. So, you said Deputy Foreign Minister  what's his name, by the way?

Spokesman : I have him somewhere, but...

Question : You have it somewhere. Does Arnault think, or does he know whether the Deputy Foreign Minister or for that matter the Foreign Minister himself actually represents the decision-making group in Iran?

Spokesman : Kazem Gharibabadi [the Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs]. Listen, I spoke to Jean before coming up here. He said he had a substantive meeting, and he hopes to continue his consultations. But, I'm not going to get into any more substance of the discussions he's having in Tehran and those he expects to have other places.

Question : Just the assessment, is he representative of the leadership?

Spokesman : Look, Mr. Arnault is meeting senior officials that we've asked to meet with. Stefano and then Linda.

Question : Two questions. One is about the Strait of Hormuz, what it looks like that Iran will actually charge a toll. And then my question is: Is this legal? Also, because the water is, yes, there is also Oman water. So, what does the UN think about this idea of charging at all for those ships?

Spokesman : What we want to see in the Strait of Hormuz, as in any other international waterways is full and unhindered freedom of navigation. That's what international law says.

Question : So, it means that UN doesn't like this idea of tolls?

Spokesman : You will analyse what I say for the readers of La Voce di New York.

Correspondent : And then another question is... instead was a follow-up on an announcement that Prime Minister Netanyahu will go to Lebanon.

Spokesman : I don't think the announcement is that he's going to Lebanon. I think the announcement said that he had deputized somebody from the Government to have discussions with Lebanon.

Question : To talk, yes. There is going to be talk... the Government of Israel is going to start a talk with the Lebanon Government. Do you know if UNIFIL is going to participate somehow, some way in those discussions?

Spokesman : I don't know. I mean, we saw that the report broke, I guess, about half an hour ago. So obviously, we'll have to wait and see how this develops. But, as I told Edie, we very much welcome this development. Linda, yeah.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Turning to another topic, the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]. I was wondering what the SG's reaction has been to the... you know, there have been a few short-range ballistic missiles that have been launched in the past few days. And I was wondering how significant is this situation?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, we stand against all launches of missiles from the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]. I think that our position on that is clear and has been unchanging. Farnoush?

Question : Thanks, Steph. Just to go back to the personal envoy in Tehran. Can you disclose any details about the conversations with the Red Crescent? As you know, it's been very difficult for most independent journalists to get numbers of casualties of, you know, the damage to civilian harm in Iran. Wondering if you guys were able to get a better analysis.

Spokesman : You know, we've seen... there was a meeting, and then he was taken to the site of a university that had been destroyed and an apartment block that had been destroyed. I think the Red Crescent has been putting out figures in the public domain. We don't have anything different than that.

Question : And then separately, we've reported that China had a major role in bringing Iran on board to this very shaky and fragile ceasefire deal. Wondering what the SG's response is in China being a mediator in this new role that...?

Spokesman : Look, I think, every country that has can play a role, can play a positive role in bringing the parties to stop this conflict is very much welcome. I mean, this this conflict, while regional in its kinetic nature, has global implications. So, I think any country, wherever they are in the world, that can play a positive role should play it, and we welcome that.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Is Jean Arnault planning to travel to Islamabad to take part in this peace talks that would take place tomorrow? And if not, what's the UN's role in these talks?

Spokesman : Look. I think the issue of the role the UN will play in bringing peace is something that Mr. Arnault is, in fact, discussing and what constructive role we can play. His travel right now continues to be a moving target. Abdelhamid?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. I apologize if you raised this issue before. Did you issue any statement on the assassination of the thirteenth journalist of Al Jazeera in Gaza, Mohammed Wishah, and number 272 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023.

Spokesman : We continue to speak out and condemn the killing of journalists that we see in Gaza and all over the world. Your next question?

Question : But, no statement on Muhammad Wishah?

Spokesman : I think I've just answered your question of what our position is on what happened to him. Abu Sufian?

Question : Thank you, Steph, for joining me. After a long time, direct talks are going to be held between USA and Iran. Two weeks ceasefire is in place. The US Vice-President is going to Pakistan to discuss the 10-point proposal by Iran. On the other hand, Iranian representative will also participate. Does UN Secretary-General have any advice to them?

Spokesman : Well, our advice is, I think as the Secretary-General said, this is a time for diplomacy and not destruction. And we hope that all the participants in these negotiations would grab this opportunity to put an end to this conflict. On that...

Correspondent : And I have a follow-up.

Spokesman : Yes, sir. Please.

Question : How will the Secretary-General see the mediator rule by Pakistan on this particular issue?

Spokesman : As we've said, we very much welcome the role played by Pakistan and other countries in helping to bring at least a ceasefire to bear and hopefully a longer-lasting and sustainable peace, in line with international law. I will get our guests.

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World News in Brief: Sudan refugee update, child trafficking crisis in South Sudan, 'mystery' illness in Burundi, human rights in Serbia

9 April 2026 - More than a million Sudanese refugees who've fled into neighbouring Chad risk losing out on essential food, shelter and other support due to funding cuts, as the war in their homeland approaches the three-year mark.

The warning comes from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the World Food Programme (WFP).

They said "essential assistance to the refugees will be drastically scaled back even further in the coming months" unless a $428 million shortfall is met.

Hosting 1.3 million

Chad is hosting some 1.3 million people who have fled Sudan, with the majority - over 900,000 - arriving since the start of the war between rival militaries that erupted in April 2023.

Host communities continue to receive new arrivals, including nearly 15,000 since the start of the year.

South Sudan: 'Alarming child trafficking crisis'

A Human Rights Council-appointed independent expert on Thursday raised the alarm over an escalation in conflict-related trafficking in South Sudan, describing the situation as a "dire humanitarian crisis".

Siobhan Mullally, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, warned that widespread attacks on civilians are having a "disproportionate impact on children".

The crisis is being fuelled by massive displacement, with 1.4 million people fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan joining nearly two million internally displaced South Sudanese.

Dangerous 'normalisation'

Ms. Mullally noted that conflict-related sexual violence has become "normalised", with girls trafficked for sexual slavery and forced into pregnancies. Meanwhile, boys face forced recruitment into combat roles.

"Abductions for sexual slavery, forced recruitment, child and forced marriage and sexual exploitation are grave violations of international law that may amount to war crimes," she said.

Highlighting a culture of "widespread impunity", she called for the urgent operationalisation of the African Union-mandated Hybrid Court to ensure justice for survivors.

Burundi: Five dead from 'mystery illness'

Health authorities in Burundi, supported by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), are racing to identify a mysterious illness that has claimed five lives in the country's north.

The outbreak, centred in the Mpanda district near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has so far sickened 28 people.

The cases, first reported on 30 March, have primarily affected members of the same household.

Severe symptoms

Patients have presented with severe symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and blood in their urine, with some cases exhibiting jaundice and anaemia.

While initial tests for Ebola and Marburg virus diseases returned negative results, further laboratory analyses are ongoing.

The WHO is currently supporting the Ministry of Health to "strengthen disease surveillance, field investigation, clinical care, and laboratory diagnosis".

A joint team of experts has been deployed to the field to coordinate the response and "sustain key operations" in a bid to contain the spread.

Serbia: 'Erosion of civic space' very worrying

UN human rights chief Volker Turk has warned of a "very worrying" deterioration of democratic freedoms in Serbia.

The High Commissioner expressed concern over increasing restrictions on civic space, citing continuous attacks against critical voices and significant constraints on media freedom.

Recent local elections were marred by reports of voter intimidation, procedural irregularities, and police raids on opposition premises, which Mr. Turk said "raise serious questions about the integrity" of the electoral process.

Reporters targeted

He also highlighted the "continued targeting of journalists" and mounting pressure on independent media outlets as evidence of a declining democratic environment.

The UN rights chief urged the Serbian authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

He called for "concrete steps" to restore public trust in national institutions through transparent and impartial investigations into human rights violations, stressing that there must be "accountability for any wrongdoing".

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Today's top news: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, UN humanitarian flights

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Lebanon

Massive Lebanon airstrikes isolate communities, restricts aid

OCHA reports the flags on Government buildings and UN offices are flying half-mast following yesterday's deadly wave of airstrikes across Beirut, Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.

Authorities report that more than 200 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured, overwhelming hospitals. Many others are still feared to be trapped under the rubble.

The UN Office for Human Rights, who are on the ground, describe one of the strike sites in Beirut as horrific and a scene of devastation, with multiple bodies recovered from the rubble.

Humanitarian partners say that strikes have continued overnight and today, with air raids on areas in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Reports of the destruction of the Qasmiyeh coastal bridge in southern Lebanon have further isolated areas south of the Litani River, restricting people's movement and humanitarian access for at least 106,000 people.

This afternoon, a displacement order for the southern suburbs of Beirut has been renewed and extended to the area that includes a UN office for UNRWA, two Palestinian refugee camps, 13 collective shelters hosting over 6,000 people, offices of several national and international NGOs, and the Rafik Hariri Governmental Hospital, the biggest public hospital in the country. It also covers more than 20 locations used by our humanitarian partners to deliver aid and services to people in need.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, OCHA reiterates the need for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities; full respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure; sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access; and an urgent injection of funding to meet soaring humanitarian needs.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Six months into Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian aid still constrained as needs deepen

OCHA say that six months since the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the humanitarian scale-up led by the UN and its partners remains constrained, leaving people in dire conditions.

OCHA warns that people across the Strip are still exposed to lethal force and the risk of casualties, destruction of property and further displacement continue to deepen humanitarian needs.

Yesterday, OCHA documented the killing of a Palestinian man during a settler attack in the northern West Bank, saying that since the beginning of 2026, more than 580 settler attacks have resulted in casualties or property damage in over 190 Palestinian communities.

These and other attacks affecting civilians must be investigated, and civilians must be protected. Israel, as the occupying power, must protect Palestinians. Perpetrators of violence must be held accountable.

Sudan

Deadly strikes hit wedding in North Darfur

OCHA reports a drone attack struck a wedding ceremony today in the town of Kutum in North Darfur, Sudan, killing at least 30 civilians, including women and children.

In South Kordofan, reports of clashes around the town of Dilling since last Monday have reportedly killed 47 civilians and injured dozens more.

Aid operations continue to be disrupted, with key supply routes closed, preventing humanitarians from pre-positioning critical health, nutrition and water supplies ahead of the rainy season, which usually begins in June. Fuel prices have surged, deepening already severe humanitarian needs.

Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, in line with international humanitarian law. Once again, the United Nations call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and for rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all people in need.

UN humanitarian flights

$48 million keeps UN aid flights reaching crises in eight countries

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $48 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for urgent support to the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).

Operated by the World Food Programme, UNHAS is a lifeline - helping aid workers and critical supplies reach people in need. But with humanitarian funding shrinking, UNHAS could be forced to suspend flights.

The new funding will keep UNHAS operating in eight countries: Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Syria, allowing thousands of humanitarian workers - from the UN, NGOs and civil society - to continue their work.

This allocation was made possible by the recent US contribution of $2 billion to UN-managed humanitarian funds.

Posted on 9 April 2026

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Trust among Communities Allows Progress, Cooperation to Take Root, Kosovo Mission Chief Tells Security Council as Pristina, Belgrade Diverge on Way Forward

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10132nd Meeting (AM)

SC/16333

9 April 2026

While successful legislative elections in Kosovo at the close of 2025 featured broad participation, the Security Council today heard that challenges for minority communities there remain, as members discussed the future of the United Nations' presence in the region.

"I arrived in early January at a moment of optimism that Kosovo could move forward after the political stalemate of 2025," recalled Peter Due, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Peaceful, inclusive legislative elections held at the end of December 2025 reflected broad participation, and the timely formation of a government pointed to a trajectory of stability and progress. "That momentum, however, was tested during the process of electing a new President of Kosovo, which has not yet been completed," he observed.

Building Trust to Sustain Momentum

Expressing hope that differences can be bridged, a new President can be elected and that new legislative elections can be avoided, he welcomed the timely establishment of local government administrations across Kosovo. Yet, while the return of Kosovo Serb mayors in northern Kosovo marked an important step, he noted that "this process has not been without challenges". On that, he cited concerns relayed to him regarding incomplete handovers, administrative gaps and language barriers. "These are not merely technical issues," he said, encouraging continued dialogue.

As for UNMIK, he said that  guided by resolution 1244 (1999)  he has sought to focus the Mission's efforts on supporting dialogue and engagement, "especially where the daily lives of people across communities are affected". Trust among communities, and between communities and institutions, "allows progress, dialogue and cooperation to take root", he emphasized, assuring that UNMIK continues to prioritize building that trust even in the face of financial constraints.

While the Mission has reduced encumbered positions by almost 30 per cent in response to the UN's liquidity crisis, it nevertheless works to foster a culture of peace "where participation is inclusive, where voices are heard and where every community sees itself reflected in the path forward".

Belgrade Defends UNMIK's Role as Pristina Pushes for Recognition

For his part, Marko uric, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, emphasized that UNMIK continues to serve as a "key guarantee of peace, stability and the protection of fundamental human rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija". Its presence must be strengthened and "any discussion about its future must be guided strictly by realities on the ground  not by assumptions that may not reflect the lived experience of communities."

He warned that "the oppression of a community does not happen overnight". Rather, it unfolds in stages  Serb identity becomes a reason to live in fear and legal marginalization follows, escalating into attacks on cultural and religious heritage and, ultimately, into heightened security pressure. To break this cycle, he urged the international community to reaffirm the UN's central role and to ensure full respect for resolution 1244 (1999). "Serbia is not part of the problem," he emphasized. "We are part of the solution."

Taking a different view, Glauk Konjufca of Kosovo said that Serbia has "continued playing a disruptive role", trying to impose the Belgrade-backed Serb List party on the local Serb community "to mirror Serbian authoritarian and one-party rule". Despite Serbia's aggression and hybrid threats, "Kosova remains ready to normalize inter-State and neighbourly relations", he said. However, Belgrade is not interested in normalization and is trying to deny the region "full integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures".

He called on Serbia to "come to terms with reality", recognize Kosovo as a sovereign, independent State and "end holding its society  and the entire region  hostage to aspirations of regaining regional hegemony". Stressing that UNMIK's mandate is "completed", he said: "The focus should not be on having the United Nations in Kosova through UNMIK, but on admitting Kosova into the United Nations." He urged that the Mission be transformed into an office to facilitate Kosovo's full UN membership.

Diverging Views over UNMIK's Future

In the ensuing discussion, the representative of the United States, similarly, said that there is "no justification for treating Kosovo in 2026 as though it were still the Kosovo of 1999". UNMIK no longer plays a meaningful governance, military or mediation role, and she described it as an "overstaffed, overfunded peacekeeping mission without peacekeepers". Welcoming the Secretary-General's proposed reductions to UNMIK's budget as a step in the right direction, she concluded: "UNMIK has reached the end of the road."

In stark contrast, the representative of the Russian Federation stated that it is "unacceptable" to reduce UNMIK's budgetary or staffing ceiling. The Mission continues to perform the "essential task of contributing to the maintenance of stability in the province". Stressing that the "so-called Prime Minister" of Kosovo is "accelerating a purge of the non-Albanian population in the northern part of the province", he said that Moscow "will only accept a solution that is acceptable to the Serbs themselves".

China's representative agreed, recalling UNMIK's "important role in maintaining stability in Kosovo and promoting national reconciliation" and urging the Council to provide the Mission with adequate political and budgetary support. The representative of Somalia also pointed to UNMIK's "important role" in supporting peace, stability and dialogue in the region, adding that dialogue facilitated by the European Union remains the principal framework for resolving outstanding issues between Belgrade and Pristina.

"Peacekeeping operations cannot be artificially reduced or withdrawn so long as the root causes of instability have not been fully eradicated," stressed the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Any hasty or insufficiently prepared reconfiguration would risk introducing new vulnerabilities into a sensitive environment. UNMIK "retains its full relevance" in facilitating dialogue, strengthening trust and contributing to stability.

Some Council members called for a "strategic review" of the Mission, with Latvia's representative stressing that mission mandates must "reflect the reality on the ground". Such a review is "overdue", said the representative of the United Kingdom, urging that resources be directed where they deliver the greatest impact. She also noted that her country was among the first to recognize Kosovo's independence, encouraging other Member States to join the majority and do the same.

A European Future?

Durable normalization between the parties, however, will only be possible through genuine, sustained and good-faith dialogue, emphasized Panama's representative. He urged both parties to recommit to agreements reached within the framework of European Union-facilitated dialogue. The representative of Colombia concurred: "The political dialogue must be supported by a sustained commitment on both sides based on good faith and respect for the commitments made."

On that, Denmark's representative underscored the importance of full implementation of the 2023 Ohrid Agreement. For Kosovo, this includes establishing the association of Serb-majority municipalities; for Serbia, this includes not opposing Kosovo's membership in international organizations. "Important steps still need to be taken," observed the representative of France, and both parties must implement relevant agreements with UNMIK playing an observing role in this regard.

The representative of the European Union, speaking for the bloc and its member States, urged Kosovo to finalize the formation of all institutions to allow for a "renewed focus on the much-needed EU-related reforms". In turn, Serbia must respond to Kosovo's request for judicial cooperation. He added that progress towards normalization is "among the essential conditions for the European path" of both parties. "The future of both Serbia and Kosovo is firmly embedded within the European Union," declared Greece's representative.

The representative of Bahrain, Council President for April, spoke in his national capacity to call on both parties to engage constructively in dialogue facilitated by the European Union. He also stressed the importance of "working towards inclusiveness within Kosovo's multiethnic society". Underscoring that "the Balkans have suffered enough from the failures of the past", Pakistan's representative urged: "The future, surely, must be different." Both parties must choose the path of "principle over prejudice and patience over provocation", he said.

No Binary Choices. Only Decisions in Support of Peace

"The picture before us is neither one of crisis nor of calm, but of a delicate equilibrium  maintained by restraint, tested by mistrust and shaped by decisions with consequences beyond the immediate," observed the representative of Liberia. Citing his country's experience, he said that institutions require leadership that places national interest above narrow political calculus. Rebuilding trust requires consistency and visible accountability.

He added that differing views within the Council as to UNMIK's future need not yield a binary choice: "The focus should be on how the Mission can continue to adapt in support of stability, dialogue and institution-building, grounded in realities on the ground and inclusive of all communities' perspectives."

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Funding shortfalls put lifelines at risk for Sudanese refugees in Chad

World Food Programme

9 April 2026

N'Djamena -- More than a million Sudanese refugees in Chad face immediate and life-threatening cuts to food, water, shelter, protection and health care, two leading UN humanitarian agencies warned today as the conflict in neighbouring Sudan approaches the three year mark.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) say that essential assistance to refugees in Chad will be drastically scaled back even further in the coming months unless a US$428 million shortfall - $289 million and $139 million for each agency, respectively - is met.

Chad is on the front line of the Sudan crisis and hosts 1.3 million Sudanese refugees, with over 900,000 of those arriving since the start of the war in 2023. One in thirteen people in Chad is a refugee; in the east, it is one in three. The Government of Chad has kept its borders open to refugees throughout the Sudan conflict and host communities continue to receive new arrivals, including nearly 15,000 since January 2026, despite the immense strain on resources.

Current resources at UNHCR allow basic assistance for only four out of every ten refugees, leaving many with scant access to shelter, water and basic health care. Conditions in settlements remain critical. Some 80,000 families are currently without shelter due to funding shortfalls and in some locations, like Oure Cassoni in Ennedi Est Province, refugees are surviving on less than half the minimum amount of water needed each day. Health centres are overstretched, critical protection services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence are being scaled back, and education services are overwhelmed, with classrooms in most locations holding more than 100 children per teacher.

Meanwhile, more than 243,000 people remain in eastern border areas due to insufficient funding to relocate them to settlements further inland. Here, families are forced to sleep in the open or in rudimentary shelters where disease, insecurity and harsh weather are constant threats.

"What we are seeing in eastern Chad is the human cost of funding shortfalls," said Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR Representative in Chad. "We ended 2025 with only around one-third of the resources needed to fully respond to the refugee emergency in the east. Given how dire the situation already is, without urgent support from donors, this year will bring deeper cuts, worse conditions and even greater suffering for families who have already fled war."

WFP is equally impacted by lack of funds, with less than half the resources it needs. The agency reaches over a million people in refugee-hosting areas with food assistance, but has already been forced to cut this support in half for the majority of refugees. Women and young children are feeling the impact first and hardest, with nutrition support provided to new arrivals under pressure.

While WFP and UNHCR are also investing in durable solutions such as resilience, inclusion and social protection to transition people away from needing humanitarian aid, emergency assistance remains a vital lifeline - and is under imminent threat.

"WFP remains committed to fighting food insecurity in Chad in both the short and long term. But with less than half the resources we require, we cannot deliver sufficient food to the people who need it most," said WFP Chad Country Director and Representative Sarah Gordon-Gibson. "This will force them into devastating coping strategies and put lives at risk."

UNHCR and WFP are grateful for all donors' support and generosity thus far. They urgently call on donors to mobilize funding for the next six months to sustain assistance. Chad's continued openness must be matched by decisive international responsibility-sharing now, before the situation deteriorates further.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 April 2026 - Day 1506

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that a total of 134 combat encounters have taken place since the beginning of this day.

The Russian enemy made one missile strike using one missile and 41 aviation strikes - dropped 125 controlled air bombs. In addition, acted to impress 6483 kamikaze drones and carried out 2566 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions today, the Russian enemy launched four aviation strikes with the use of six KABs, carried out 62 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, two of them from the RSV.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy attacked the positions of Ukrainian units four times in the areas of Vovchans kih Hutoriv, Prylipka and Starica. One assault action in progress.

In the Kupians komu direction, Russian forces attacked six times, in the area of Petropavlivki, Novoosinovoye and towards the Lyman. One Russian attack is underway.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled five Russian assaults, towards Lyman, dibrova, novomikhailivka and tverdohlibovoy. One assault action in progress.

In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent once tried to move forward towards paradise-oleksandrivka.

In the kramators komu direction, the Russian occupiers once attacked in the direction of nikiforivka.

In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 22 times in the areas of the settlements Stepanivka, Pleshiyivka, Rusin Yar, Ivanopilya and towards Illinivka, Sofiyivka, Konstantynivka, Novopavlivka. One attack is underway.

Russian troops committed 28 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of settlements Ivanivka, Rodinske, Mirnograd, Shevchenko, Grishine, Pokrovsk, Udacne, Novomikolaivka, Novopavlivka, Molodetske, Mirne, Kotline and Novopidgorodn . Three Russian offensive actions are ongoing.

According to preliminary calculations, today 70 Russian occupants were eliminated and 26 injured in this direction; four vehicles units were destroyed; BPLA control point, 13 shelters, a tank, a cannon and a unit of vehicles were damaged. Destroyed or suppressed 220 BPLA of different types.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers attacked six times in the areas of settlements Oleksandrograd, Vorone, Zlagoda and towards Andriyivka-Klevtsovoy. One assault action in progress.

17 Russian attacks were recorded in the areas of Zaliznyny, Gulyaipol, Varvarivka, Girky, Gulyaypilsky, Staroukrainka and Dobropillya direction. Five attacks are underway.

Russian forces did not carry out assault actions in the Orihiv direction.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, the Russian opponent tried to attack three times in the area of the Antonivsky Bridge.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

The Sever Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two territorial defence brigades close to Miropolye, Novodmitrovka, and Khoten (Sumy region).

In Kharkov region, units of two mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a territorial defence brigade, and a national guard brigade have been hit near Pokalyanoye, Rubezhnoye, Zybino, Liptsy, Veterinarnoye, Volchanskiye Khutora, and Ternovaya (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost more than 195 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, one field artillery gun, one Grad MLRS and two electronic warfare stations. An ammunition depot and ten materiel depots were neutralised.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Strikes were delivered at formations of two mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade close to Kutkovka, Palamarevka, Borovaya, Nechvolodovka (Kharkov region), Shchurovo, Svyatogorsk, Stary Karavan, and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 190 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, two artillery guns, and one electronic warfare station.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Three mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade have been hit near Ray-Aleksandrovka, Dibrova, Kramatorsk, Ilinovka, Artema, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy has lost more than 175 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, four field artillery guns, and one Grad MLRS vehicle. One electronic warfare station and four ammunition and materiel depots were destroyed.

The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Russian units hit manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, a jaeger brigade, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, the Azov Special Forces Brigade, and two national guard brigades close to Zavidovo-Kudashevo, Gulevo, Kutuzovka, Novoaleksandrovka, Krasnopodolye, Vodyanskoye, Priyut, Krasny Kut, Belitskoye, Sergeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novopavlovka, and Novopodgorodnoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 325 troops, nine armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, three artillery guns, and one electronic warfare station.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Russian troops engaged formations of two mechanised brigades, an air assault brigade, an assault brigade, and two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Vozdvizhevka, Kopani, Obshcheye, Novoselovka, Lyubitskoye (Zaporozhye region), Pokrovskoye, Dobropasovo, and Velikomikhaylovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The enemy has lost more than 315 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, and ten motor vehicles.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade near Kushugum, Grigorovka, Zaporozhets, Orekhov (Zaporozhye region) and Kherson.

Up to 55 troops, 14 motor vehicles, a field artillery gun, an Israeli-made RADA RPS-42 counter-fire radar, and three electronic warfare stations were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted damage on the fuel and power infrastructure of Ukraine, which are used in the interests of the AFU, ammunition depots, temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 153 areas.

Air defence systems shot down seven guided aerial bombs, a HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 339 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost: 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 132,832 unmanned aerial vehicles, 654 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,773 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,698 MLRS combat vehicles, 34,354 field artillery guns and mortars, and 58,954 units of support military vehicles.

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Stuart fires up for Kakadu

By Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell

9 April 2026

For HMAS Stuart, leading the final division of ships into Sydney Harbour for the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review was just the start of the ship's Kakadu contribution.

The west-based ship known as the 'Tartan Terror', was critically involved in working with participating international partners alongside in Sydney and when she returned to sea to engage in naval warfighting exercises.

Commanding Officer Stuart Commander Aaron Scott spoke about the ship's involvement with Exercise Kakadu.

"It was an incredible privilege for Stuart to lead the final column of ships during the Kakadu Fleet Review, celebrating 125 years of Navy," Commander Scott said.

"We've also exercised our mariner and warfighting skills with our partner nations from all around the world, which has been fantastic."

After the pageantry of the Fleet Review, participating ships spent time alongside Fleet Base East, Sydney, for the Kakadu shore phase. A multitude of events and activities took place during this time, involving crews from more than 18 partner nations.

Members of Stuart's crew engaged with international crews, participating in ship tours, cultural events, sporting challenges and even reciprocal training.

After the shore phase, Stuart proceeded to sea, her bagpiper playing on the forecastle. HMAS Ballarat, Japanese Ship Kumano and a separate task force led by HMAS Choules joined her at sea.

"During the Kakadu sea phase, we have exercised our anti-submarine and surface engagement warfare, as well as our naval gunnery skills," Commander Scott said.

"This tests our integration with partners and ensures we can fight and win at sea, shoulder to shoulder, should the need arise."

A key element of the sea phase was the naval gunfire support exercise that took place off Beecroft weapons range north of Jervis Bay, NSW. Directed by Army soldiers, the ship fired live 5-inch rounds from its Mark 45 gun at targets on the range.

Naval gunfire supports troops ashore or the ships themselves in destroying enemy targets that pose a threat to friendly forces.

"The ADF fights as an integrated force," Commander Scott said.

"It's important that Navy be able to work with Army and the Air Force to deliver a variety of effects.

"In this particular instance, we were able to exercise as close to real life as it gets, providing gunnery support to soldiers from 2RAR [2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment] ashore."

Stuart worked closely with Kumano, a Japanese Mogami-class frigate, which the Australian Government has purchased to replace as Australia's future frigate.

"It's been really exciting to work with Kumano," Commander Scott said.

"Our team were lucky enough to engage in reciprocal ship visits with Kumano, during which we rehearsed and familiarised ourselves with each other's naval gunfire support drills.

"Not only has this been an absolute pleasure, but it has given us the confidence that we can work together with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Mogami-class to deliver these effects for the region."

At its peak, Kakadu involved more than 6000 personnel and 30 naval ships, with activities conducted across northern and eastern Australia, and partner nations attending from Sri Lanka, across the South West Pacific to Canada.

"As the ship's commanding officer, my focus is on my people and making sure they are comfortable working with our global partners," Commander Scott said.

"A big part of that has been conducting our cross-decks and interactions with our fellow Kakadu participants.

"Kakadu, and exercises like it, are extremely important for the ADF and for Australia in assuring we can operate effectively with our global partners if and when it is needed."

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Press conference - Lytton, Queensland

Transcript

Thursday 9 April 2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

The Hon Chris Bowen MP

Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Kara Cook MP

Member for Bonner

KARA COOK, MEMBER FOR BONNER: Good morning everyone and welcome to the Ampol Lytton Refinery. My name is Kara Cook, I'm the local Federal Member here, and it's my great pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Anthony Albanese here, and of course Minister Chris Bowen as well. We've just had a wonderful tour of the facility. This is a really important facility in my electorate employing almost 1,000 people on site at the moment, and also of course really important nationally as one of only two refineries across the country. I'd like to introduce Matt Halliday who is the CEO of Ampol to say a few words.

MATTHEW HALLIDAY, CEO OF AMPOL: Thank you very much. I'd certainly like to welcome the Prime Minister, the Energy and Climate Change Minister and the Member for Bonner here today. Ampol is Australia's locally owned and governed downstream fuels company, and as just mentioned operates one of the two remaining oil refineries in Australia. Lytton supplies about 10 per cent of Australia's transport fuel needs and about 40 per cent of these for Ampol's customers. Clearly in the situation that has arisen out of the Middle East we've been working closely with the Government and we appreciate the support that's been taken very promptly. Steps such as the temporary reduction in MSO inventory levels, the temporary adjustment to gasoline fuel standards to allow more fuel to stay in Australia, and the recent announcement around the Export Finance Australia financing arrangements to help more cargoes come to Australia and further bolster the fuel resilience of the Australian supply chain. We certainly look forward to continuing to work with Government to underpin the really important role that Lytton plays long term for the fuel industry in Australia. I'd like to now hand over to the Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thanks very much Matt, and thank you to you and the workers here at Lytton in what is one of Australia's most important facilities. 700 people employed here directly and indirectly as contractors. Making an enormous difference for the national interest which Australians are so concerned about at the moment because of the global crisis that has arisen as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. A conflict a long way away, but a conflict that is making a difference here for Australians. This is one of Australia's two refineries. There were six when we left office in 2013. When we came back in 2022 there were just two. But this is such an important facility. And it's been great talking with Matt and the other people here at Ampol for the difference that the policy decisions have made to the capacity of this refinery. The difference that changes to the fuel standards have made, increasing the capacity for fuel to stay here in Australia by about 20 per cent, making an enormous difference.

But today as well we have an important announcement, which is that last week we were able to pass through the Parliament the fuel security powers to allow EFA, Export Finance Australia, to be able to give the underwriting of companies to be able to go out there and source additional fuel for Australia's supply. And today I can announce that Export Finance Australia have agreed to terms with our two largest suppliers, Viva Energy, of course, based in Geelong, and Ampol based right here, to enable them to bring more fuel to Australia. This is not business as usual. Importantly, this is additional supply here in Australia that they will be able to source. And as part of this agreement, of course, the Government can direct where that supply goes. So, that particularly going to regional Australia and areas that are under pressure in terms of supply.

This is an important announcement today and it comes on the back of yesterday's announcement of a two-week ceasefire. We want to say this, that this is an important step forward. Of course it is a fragile peace, but we want it to lead to an agreement. The Australian Government also firmly believes that this has to apply to Lebanon as well. We want to see peace in this region and it will make a difference. And I know that many Australians are concerned about the events that are occurring in Lebanon. This is a matter of not just the impact there, but the impact that it's having right around the world. So, yesterday was an important agreement. We want to see it pursued. But the pressures, of course, as we have said, an end to the conflict, even if it is a permanent end of the conflict that we want to see, doesn't mean that Straits of Hormuz reopened and that it's back to business as usual. This will have a long tail, which is why after this we will travel to Singapore. I'm looking forward to a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tomorrow. This is an important relationship. We have spent four years building relationships in our region, particularly with ASEAN leaders. Prime Minister Wong and Singapore, the relationship that we have is a critical one, and of course Singapore is a major supplier of fuel to Australia. So, I'm looking forward to that tomorrow. And I'd ask Minister Bowen to make some comments and we'll take a few questions.

CHRIS BOWEN, MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY: Thanks very much, PM. Firstly I want to thank everyone who's worked so hard to make the announcement the Prime Minister has just made a reality. As you know, we passed the legislation to enable Export Finance Australia to intervene to support fuel imports into Australia, in record time through the Parliament. And then a lot of people worked hard over Easter, including in Ampol and in Viva and in Export Finance Australia and in my Department, to make this agreement that was struck overnight a reality. This now enables Ampol and Viva, with an agreement in place on the commercial terms, to go out and buy spot cargoes with the support of the Government when they become available. And as Matt could tell you better than I can, these cargoes become available at short notice and quick decisions have to be made and this agreement will now enable those decisions to be made. This agreement now and the EFA intervention is more important now, in my view, than it was even last week. With the oil price moving around, a lot of speculation about what will happen in the Middle East, these purchases become even riskier for companies like Ampol and Viva, as the oil price might move substantially by the time the spot cargo gets from where Matt or Viva buy it, and the time it gets to Australia. So, this arrangement will enable the companies to take a purchase that would have been non-commercial and to go out and buy that fuel for Australians that otherwise would go to other countries. And that is very much in our national interest.

Can I just also give you, as I do every day, my daily update on service station outages. In New South Wales, we continue to make good progress. Today, 112 service stations without diesel. That's down 12 on yesterday. This is part of an ongoing trend where we're seeing the number of servos without diesel come down each and every day. This is particularly pleasing against the backdrop of Easter, where obviously a lot of people were moving around, demand was up. Ampol's demand for fuel was up 30 per cent on the Easter before, similar with Viva. But nevertheless, we've been able to work with the industry to see those deliveries to service stations, particularly in regional New South Wales, which is where the biggest pressure has been, because rightly, everyone's been prioritising farmers who are getting their seeds into the ground. So, 112 in New South Wales, 24 total stock out. That's down also on yesterday. Victoria - 43 without diesel, 26 with no unleaded. Queensland - 32 without diesel, 23 with no unleaded. South Australia - 4 and 5. Western Australia - 11 and 20. Tasmania - 8 and 6. Northern Territory - 4 without diesel, 6 without unleaded. And the ACT - 2 without diesel, no service stations without unleaded.

So, again, as I've said before, a big shout out to everyone who's working very hard. I know Ampol's increased its truck fleet, as has Viva, by around 20 per cent, just to get more fuel to the places it needs to be. In this very difficult period where we've seen continued high demand, particularly for diesel, continued elevated purchasing of fuel, we need to keep up with that demand by increasing supply. That's exactly what we're doing. And the announcement today that we are now have an agreement with Viva and Ampol, with other agreements we'll advance. There are other agreements EFA has well advanced that are progressing through the system and the Prime Minister and I will have more to say about that when those agreements are finalised. But they're very well advanced. But importantly, Australia's two biggest players now have these agreements locked in. They can go out and do the right thing by Australia now, get that fuel for Australians. Thanks very much.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, how much will these agreements and this new arrangement with the EFA cost?

PRIME MINISTER: What we're doing with EFA. Essentially these agreements will enable people, Ampol, on the spot market, if the price of something was normally $100 and it's $120 or $130, and they wouldn't do that because it's beyond normal commercial rates. If the price then goes down, it will enable them to mitigate that risk, to underwrite. So, that's the basis of it. And so, our position is - your question assumes that we know how many spot purchases are made and for what price they are made. This is a market that is moving up and down. What this is about is Ampol and Viva coming to terms so that we get that increased supply here.

JOURNALIST: Is there some sort of funding envelope, Prime Minister of the $2 billion that's been allocated to the firms? When can we expect them to be used? How many cargoes could they purchase? Is there any more detail you can give?

PRIME MINISTER: These are commercial arrangements. And so, obviously if you are out there bidding and we tell you what the price is, guess what? It'd be like going to an auction and telling you in advance how much you have in your pocket and are prepared to bid. We want to protect taxpayers' interest, we want to minimise taxpayers' exposure, but our first priority to be very clear, is supply. There is supply available on the spot market. We know that that's the case. This will enable Ampol and Viva to participate in that market.

JOURNALIST: In terms of purchases on the spot market, generally where are they coming from? Do you know roughly what countries they are?

MINISTER BOWEN: We're not going to hold Ampol and Viva and the other companies back from where they can get fuel, but primarily, of course, Australia gets most of its fuel from Asia, but also there are purchases coming online from North America, from Mexico that have become available at short notice. So, obviously the closer it is to Australia the better, the quicker it is to get here, if it's through Singapore or Korea or Malaysia, for that matter, but there's also opportunities in North America and Mexico in particular.

PRIME MINISTER: One of the things that Matt has said, you might want to add to this, is that there's an increased purchase here from the United States. Some of the mix has changed because of the changes and pressures that are there in the market.

JOURNALIST: Just on Lebanon, PM. The Government obviously sent some defensive assets to defend the UAE. As you mentioned, the Wedgetail and so forth. Is there any consideration of doing similar things for Lebanon? And I guess on the other side of things, I think the Wedgetail was deployed for an initial four weeks. I think that four weeks comes up this Sunday. Has there been any consideration about whether that aircraft and associated ADF personnel will stay in the UAE, stay in the region, or be brought back?

PRIME MINISTER: The Wedgetail will be staying in the region for a period of time. That extension is something that in fact I signed this morning after that was agreed at the National Security Committee yesterday.

JOURNALIST: The mining sector is calling on the Government to delay the upcoming reviewing into the safeguard mechanism. They say that given the environment around fuel uncertainty, it would be best delayed. What's your response to that?

MINISTER BOWEN: No, we'll conduct a review under the normal timetable. It's not on the top of my to-do list right now, to be frank with you, I'm focused on other matters. But we said we will conduct a review this year and we will, but later in the year. And the other point I'd make is that safeguard policy is set for the long term. It's not set for an immediate period of weeks or months. It's set for years. So, it takes into account how the market might change. It'll be a very genuine review. All safeguard facilities will be able to produce emissions and we'll work them through in our normal way. Safeguard facilities have been reducing their emissions on site. That's a great thing, but also companies have universally told me the certainty that the safeguard reforms have provided have enabled them to make good investments in the future. That's good for the country, that great investment, and it obviously enables certainty to make those investments and make the facilities better able to compete around the world as that investment occurs in every country. But we'll conduct a review later in the year, the normal methodical fashion.

JOURNALIST: What does success look like in Singapore?

PRIME MINISTER: Success looks like us going to Singapore, success looks like the relationship that we have built, the agreement of the statement that we've already made between myself and Prime Minister Wong. We don't preempt one-on-one meetings at leaders levels, but the fact that we have been welcomed on relatively short notice to Singapore speaks about the strength of the relationship.

JOURNALIST: [INDISTINCT]

PRIME MINISTER: Look, we're not a party to the discussions between Iran and the United States through intermediaries -

JOURNALIST: [INDISTINCT]

PRIME MINISTER: We don't support Iran having the capacity to get a nuclear weapon, to be very clear. That is our position. And when it comes to us being a reliable supplier of energy, I can certainly confirm that we agree with existing contracts are honoured. That is very important going forward.

JOURNALIST: What about a change to gas taxation?

PRIME MINISTER: That's very important that we honour those contracts.

JOURNALIST: Does that mean no change or -

PRIME MINISTER: No, that means exactly what I said.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the ceasefire is obviously fragile, but if it does hold, will we still need that fuel from Singapore and is it worth the jet fuel heading over there?

PRIME MINISTER: We get fuel from Singapore. And yes these arrangements are important. And if the ceasefire holds, that doesn't mean that the world global capacity comes online in a week or a month. It will take a considerable period of time. This will have a long tail, that is very, very clear. You can't have the disruption that has occurred, not just in terms of ships getting out of the Gulf, but also ships entering the Gulf to be filled from storage. But also there's been damage to capacity in the Gulf when it comes to various fuels as well, and in the region. We have seen that damage caused, which will make a substantial difference over a period of time. So, what we are doing and what we have done consistently here is not to wait. We have taken every action as soon as possible, including here. One of the things that we've done here, of course, is to make sure that the Fuel Security Services Payment for the two refineries is continued into the future as well. That's just one of the announcements that we've made, as well as the EFA announcements, as well as the change to the sulphur content of fuel that's permitted to be used here. So, we've looked at every possible opportunity there is to increase supply, and that's precisely what we've been doing.

JOURNALIST: [INDISTINCT]

PRIME MINISTER: We're open to consideration of all of those issues. I know that our Environment Minister, I spoke to him last night and he said he hasn't yet had any contact from Queensland, any proposal. So, proposals should go through government to government, not just through media conferences. But we certainly - the legislation that we carried last year, which was opposed by the Liberal and National parties in Canberra, to streamline the environmental laws in this country, are precisely aimed at doing things quicker. And this would enable if there is agreement, for example, between the state government, if the Queensland government requests a simultaneous environmental assessment with the Commonwealth, that's one of the things that is now permitted as a result of the legislation that we put through the Senate last year.

JOURNALIST: New Zealand has got a national dashboard and shows both the supply and the shipments coming in. Why can't Australia do the same, especially given our new focus on cargo and overseas supply?

MINISTER BOWEN: As you know, I hold a press conference every day on service stations. I hold a press conference every Saturday on deliveries. On how much stock we have in Australia, and I give updates and I speak to both Chief Executives of the two big companies before that press conference each Saturday and get any developments overnight. And I share the latest information each week. That's pretty transparent. A weekly update is the sensible way to do it. These things, you know, they change from day to day. But a weekly update for the Australian people, the last one was 39 days of petrol in hand, with 3.7 billion litres of fuel on its way to Australia during the month. I'll give another update in two days time on Saturday and you know, it'll all be transparent and for everyone to see and I'll keep doing that for as long as it's needed.

JOURNALIST: [INDISTINCT]

MINISTER BOWEN: There's also my department - updates the MSO figures every week as well.

JOURNALIST: Are you going to be proactive in approving, fast-tracking, the Taroom Trough Project. Or are you going to wait for a letter from David Crisafulli?

MINISTER BOWEN: As the Prime Minister said, if governments want to get things done, you talk to each other. I spoke to Minister Watt yesterday as well and he told me he's, you know, very keen to hear what the proposal from the Queensland Government is. But you know, he's got to actually receive some communications from the Queensland Government. That's how ministers and governments talk to each other, not necessarily through press conferences.

JOURNALIST: Are your supplies still guaranteed well into May. Can you just explain exactly what well into May means?

MINISTER BOWEN: As I've said, all the indications are to us, that the contracts that are entered into, locked in and legally committed can now get us well into May. Every day that goes past.

JOURNALIST: Does that include May?

MINISTER BOWEN: Every day that goes past is another day where those contracts are being locked in by all the importers into Australia. Yes, and now well into May. So, these contracts are done six weeks in advance. So, if you take that - in four to six weeks in advance, we are now well into May in terms of security of supply. I'm never going to make an assurance I can't back up. Also, you know, companies are also making bookings for June and that sort of period. That is a good thing. But I'm not asserting that that supply is yet locked in all through June. I will assert it's well into May. That means several weeks into May.

JOURNALIST: Just on the ceasefire. Are Israel strikes to Lebanon a threat to the ceasefire holding and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we want to see a ceasefire.

JOURNALIST: In 2022, 53 days before you became Prime Minister you talked -

PRIME MINISTER: You've done your research.

JOURNALIST: In your Budget Reply speech about fuel security you said we must be self-reliant. We need a government with a real plan to ensure supply, using Australian flagged vessels with Australian seafarers and strategic fleet and a fuel reserve that is accessible. You said we need a government that looks forward and plans ahead and an Australia that stands on its own two feet. Four years into your Prime Ministership, you're now travelling to Singapore to shore up fuel supply. Is that a sign that you failed in that aspiration?

PRIME MINISTER: No, it doesn't at all. We have the largest reserves in 15 years. The largest reserves in 15 years. We've made sure on our watch no refineries are shut. The two, we've made sure that they're secure going forward as well. And when it comes to the strategic fleet, that's something that's been considered by the Government. We're working those issues through to make sure that they're delivered. That's an important component. I stand by those comments. We continue to make sure the whole Future Made in Australia agenda is about resilience, is about our sovereignty. And we continue to work across the board, whether it be fuel security or other issues as well, to make sure that we can deliver on that. Thanks very much.

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China, Russia hold consultations on UN, Security Council affairs; Event signals two sides' commitment to defending multilateralism: Chinese expert

Global Times

By Shen Sheng Published: Apr 09, 2026 11:09 PM

Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Cai Wei held China-Russia Consultations on the United Nations and Security Council Affairs with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alimov Alexander Sergeevitch in Beijing on Wednesday. The two sides conducted in-depth exchange of views on the current international situation, UN and Security Council affairs, as well as regional and international hotspot issues, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

Both sides agreed to jointly uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, and make positive efforts to promote the political settlement of hotspot issues, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

In a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, a wide range of issues on the agendas of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly were thoroughly reviewed, including the reform of the UN Security Council, the UN80 Initiative, elections for non-permanent members of the Security Council and the president of the 81st session of the General Assembly, as well as a number of regional issues with a focus on exploring political and diplomatic solutions to the situation surrounding Iran and cooperation between the two countries on this issue in the Security Council.

The UN80 Initiative is a wide-ranging reform effort launched on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the UN's founding. In a statement, the established Group of Friends of Global Governance highlighted three key points: the initiative must focus on improving both the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN's work; it must address the concerns of developing countries; and its process must remain transparent and inclusive, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"This round of China-Russia consultations sent a clear signal of the two sides' commitment to defending multilateralism and promoting a rules-based functioning of the UN Security Council and advancing a political solution to the Iran situation," Cui Heng, a scholar at the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides also paid special attention to the upcoming election of the UN Secretary-General. It stressed that the future head of the world organization should maintain equidistance and neutrality, approach the principles of the UN Charter conscientiously and without selectivity, and work to build bridges among member states of the global body, the ministry added.

The consultations came after China and Russia vetoed a draft 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, 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, per Xinhua.

This vote also shows the two countries' shared opposition to unilateral pressure and the use of force, and their support for balancing the concerns of all parties through dialogue to prevent further escalation and provide legal and diplomatic support for easing regional tensions, Cui said.

Overall, the consultations represent coordinated alignment by China and Russia within the UN frameworkaimed at stabilizing current hotspots while laying the groundwork for upcoming elections and reforms, outlining a clear line of cooperation for the multilateral agenda in the second half of the year, the expert added.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on April 9, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 09, 2026 18:10

At the invitation of the Myanmar side, President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jiang Xinzhi will attend the inauguration of President Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw on April 10.

China-Arab TV: On April 8 local time, Israel launched large-scale airstrikes against more than 100 targets across Lebanon within 10 minutes, killing at least 254 people and injuring 1,165 others, most of them civilians. Lebanon has declared April 9 a national day of mourning. Iran says the act violates the ceasefire agreement and has closed the Strait of Hormuz. What is China's comment?

Mao Ning: Lebanon's sovereignty and security should not be violated. Civilians and their property must be protected. We call on relevant parties to stay calm and exercise self-restraint and deescalate the situation in the region.

Shenzhen TV: Former finance minister of Greece and economist Yanis Varoufakis most recently wrote an article carried by Project Syndicate. He wrote that in order to hide their own failures, Western leaders weave the fiction that "China has cheated its way to prosperity" and that the reasons for China's economic success should be viewed from a more objective perspective. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: I also read the article. It is well-reasoned, evidence-based, objective and well-informed. I highly recommend it.

For a country as large as China, there is never a shortcut to prosperity. China relies on the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the efforts of the Chinese people. Indeed, China's success does benefit from some strengths. For instance, China has the perseverance to turn development blueprint into reality. For decades, China continues to formulate and implement five-year plans, and there is long-term continuity and consistency in China's development goals and policies. Also, China has the ability to pool efforts to get big things done. China mobilizes resources from various quarters to form synergy and achieve coordinated development. And China has a mega-sized market. China has the world's largest middle-income group and is the second largest consumer market. Moreover, China has a strong industrial system with a whole range of industrial sectors and well-established supporting facilities. China also boasts remarkable human resources. China is home to the largest cohort of R&D personnel in the world and is quickly turning its huge population into talent dividends.

China's success is not an accident, still less a result of "cheating." It is a manifestation of the strengths of China's system, and the success of the Chinese path, visions and model.

China-Arab TV: Last week, a Moroccan student rescued a Chinese woman who fell into Jinsha Lake in Hangzhou. What he did has touched many. Can you share your comment on this foreigner's brave act? What is your view and expectation for promoting friendly ties between Chinese and foreign youths and welcoming foreigners into Chinese society?

Mao Ning: I saw the news too. Very much touched by his bravery and would like to give him a big thumbs-up. Kindness knows no borders. This is a vivid and heart-warming example of the vast goodwill between Chinese and foreign youths.

AFP: The White House said yesterday that the U.S. had held talks with China on the Iran war in the last few days. I wonder if you could tell us whether such talks took place and what was discussed? And also a second question, I'm just going back to Lebanon. Does China believe that Lebanon is part of the ceasefire that was agreed?

Mao Ning: On your first question, since the fighting began, China has worked actively to communicate with relevant parties to help bring about an end to the conflict.

On your second question, we hope relevant parties will take the temporary ceasefire arrangement as an opportunity to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means and put an end to the conflict.

Sputnik: Iranian Parliament Speaker said yesterday that a ceasefire and negotiations with the United States on ending the war is "unreasonable." He accused the U.S of multiple violations, the Lebanon situation included. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this?

Mao Ning: We hope relevant parties will seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and consultation, and work for restoring peace and stability to the Gulf and Middle East region at an early date.

Voice of Viet Nam: According to what has been released by China and Viet Nam today, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17. Can you brief us on the program and China's expectation of the visit? How do you view the recent development of the bilateral ties?

Mao Ning: At the invitation of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President of Viet Nam To Lam will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17. General Secretary and President Xi Jinping will hold talks with General Secretary and President To Lam. Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji and Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Wang Huning will meet with him.

In April 2025, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Viet Nam, ushering in a new stage for the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. China is the first country that General Secretary To Lam will visit following his election as president. That fully shows the great significance attached to developing relations between the two parties and two countries. China hopes that through the visit, the two countries will carry forward the traditional friendship, continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advance the building of an even higher level of community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, jointly promote the socialist cause in the world, and together maintain regional and world peace, stability and development.

AFP: Just a question on Wang Yi who's visiting the DPRK at the moment, can you tell us any more about what he will be discussing in North Korea? Will he raise restarting tourism from China to North Korea?

Mao Ning: I shared the arrangement about Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to the DPRK yesterday. I believe the two sides will discuss issues of mutual interest. If there is further information, we will release it in a timely manner. Please check back for updates.

Bloomberg: I have two questions. We saw that President Donald Trump has said on Truth Social that countries supplying military weapons to Iran will immediately be tariffed on any and all goods sold to the U.S. at 50 percent, effective immediately. We're wondering if the foreign ministry has a comment on this? The second question is regarding a report. It's reported that Pakistani officials said that China helped convince a reluctant Tehran to join the negotiation. While Islamabad acted as the mediator, China functioned as the guarantor, promising that Iranian officials would not be assassinated during future negotiations, according to the report. We're wondering if the foreign ministry could comment on this?

Mao Ning: On your first question, China's position is very clear. There is no winner in a tariff war.

On your second question, China has been calling for an immediate ceasefire, resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and bringing lasing peace and security to the Gulf region and the Middle East. China will continue working for easing tensions and putting an end to the conflict.

AFP: The Federal Communications Commission in the U.S. has said it is planning to vote on a proposal that would ban all Chinese labs from testing electronic devices used in the U.S. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security. This type of action has severely impeded the normal economic and trade exchanges between Chinese and U.S. companies and does not serve anyone's interests, including those of American companies and consumers. China will continue to firmly safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests.

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N. Korea says it tested ballistic missile tipped with cluster-bomb warhead

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

09.04.2026 [11:01]

Baku, April 9, AZERTAC

North Korea said Thursday it tested several weapons systems earlier this week, including a tactical ballistic missile tipped with a cluster-bomb warhead, an electromagnetic system and carbon fiber sham bombs, Kyodo reported citing the state-run media.

The announcement via the official Korean Central News Agency came a day after the South Korean military said the North launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan.

The news agency added that North Korean authorities confirmed the ability of the surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11 Ka, tipped with a cluster bomb warhead, to "reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5-7 hectares."

The tests conducted over three days through Wednesday were guided by Gen. Kim Jong Sik, who said the electromagnetic weapon and carbon fiber bomb are "special assets of strategic nature," the report said. KCNA did not mention the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the test site.

The country also tested a mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system and the maximum workload of an engine using low-cost materials, KCNA said.

North Korea is not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions that prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of the indiscriminate weapons that disperse dozens of submunitions over a large area. Unexploded bomblets remain hazardous for civilians.

According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, one of the missiles fired Wednesday flew more than 700 kilometers with a top altitude of 60 km, possibly on an irregular trajectory, before falling outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The South Korean military said North Korea also launched a projectile on Tuesday from near Pyongyang. According to South Korean media, it exhibited abnormal flight patterns and disappeared soon after launch.

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Chinese FM says strategic guidance of top leaders greatest political advantage for developing China-DPRK ties

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: Apr 09, 2026 09:18 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that the strategic guidance of top leaders of the two parties and countries is the greatest political advantage and strongest guarantee for the development of relations between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.

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The two-day national seminar on Multi Domain Operations - Ran Samwad kicks off in Bengaluru

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

"MDO, is not about six domains operating in parallel, but in constant and dynamic interaction, where the weight shifts and the lead changes" -COAS

"We are firmly on course towards being a 200-plus ship Navy by 2035 with each new induction increasingly focused on modularity and technological evolution" - CNS

Posted On: 09 APR 2026 9:17PM by PIB Delhi

The second edition of Ran Samwad, a tri-service strategic seminar, under the aegis of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) commenced in Bengaluru on April 9, 2026. The two-day seminar, being organised by the Air Force Training Command, was inaugurated by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. The seminar is anchored around the theme "Multi-Domain Operations (MDO): An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats." The MDO doctrine is intended to enable stakeholders across military and non-military entities to foster India's joint warfighting capabilities across all six domains, i.e., land, sea, air, space, cyber and cognitive.

The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, in his keynote address, outlined a transformative vision for India's military future centred on Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). He said that the character of war has undergone a fundamental shift and noted that modern conflict is no longer sequential but unfolds simultaneously across space, cyberspace, the electromagnetic spectrum and the cognitive domain. For India, Multi-Domain Operations is not a future idea but a present necessity, he added.

Characterizing the modern era as a "dispersed, undeclared world war," the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized that the battlefield is no longer a map, but a layered, complex adaptive system. He highlighted the reality of a "permanent conflict" world, how a land force commander must read the battle across domains, how different domains interact in operations and how the Army is transforming MDO from a concept into capability. He said that MDO is not of six domains operating in parallel, but in constant dynamic interaction where the weight shifts and the lead changes. He further emphasised that the Army is accelerating Integration, Informatisation and Intelligentisation to ensure that the force moves beyond "Domain Purity" toward total Domain Fusion.

Talking on operational milestones, General Dwivedi shared that the Indian Army has operationalized Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), Divyastra Drone Batteries, Command Cyber Operations Wings, among others. He called for a new command culture where leaders "command technology rather than merely operate it" to ensure decision advantage. He further noted that while Operation Sindoor proved India's jointness, the ultimate goal remains a seamless "Whole of Nation" architecture where the seams between domains disappear entirely.

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi presented a comprehensive maritime visualization of Multi-Domain Operations grounding modern naval strategy in both technological convergence and Kautilya's wisdom. He defined the modern maritime domain as an interconnected grid extending from the seabed to space. He elaborated on how the maritime battlespace has changed into a dense, transparent, deeply interconnected grid shaped by speed, scale and simultaneity.

The CNS said that the Indian Navy firmly on course towards being a 200-plus ship Navy by 2035 with each new induction increasingly focused on modularity and technological evolution. At the same time, the Navy is pursuing augmentation of fleet capabilities with uncrewed and autonomous solutions across the domains, in accordance with the Indian Navy Vision for Unmanned Systems 2022-30, he added.

The flagship two-day national level seminar is conducted annually on rotational basis between the three services. It brings together senior officers from the three services, academicians, think-tank scholars, industry experts and Foreign Service Attaches from friendly foreign nations, to engage in brainstorming sessions on wide array of topics. The seminar will culminate on 10 April 2026 with a collaborative roadmap to prepare the Indian Defence Forces for Multi Domain Conflict.

*****

VK/SR/Ruchi

(Release ID: 2250618)

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Statement by PM Netanyahu

Israel Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 08.04.2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening:

"Citizens of Israel, I want to thank you, our wonderful nation.

While you demonstrated resilience sitting in the secure rooms and shelters, together we achieved immense accomplishments: Our fighters at the front and you on the home front.

But before all else, I wish to bow my head in memory of our loved ones who fell in this campaign.

I wish to embrace the bereaved families and, on behalf of all of you, send wishes for a speedy recovery to our wounded loved ones.

My brothers and sisters, the State of Israel has achieved immense accomplishments, achievements that until recently seemed completely imaginary.

Iran is weaker than ever, and Israel is stronger than ever. This is the bottom line of this campaign, up to this moment.

And I wish to clarify: We still have goals to complete, and we will achieve them either by agreement or by the resumption of fighting.

We are prepared to return to combat at any necessary moment. Our finger is on the trigger.

As you know, a two-week temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran went into effect tonight, in full coordination with Israel. No, they did not surprise us at the last minute. Now, I want to emphasize, this is not the end of the campaign. This is a way station on the way to achieving all of our goals.

Iran enters negotiations battered and weaker than ever. It has committed to opening the Strait of Hormuz after waiving all of its preconditions.

It waived the cancellation of sanctions, receiving reparations, a final end to the war, and also a ceasefire in Lebanon.

While Iran is weaker than ever, Israel is as strong as it has ever been.

Six weeks ago, for the first time in history, we went to war shoulder-to-shoulder with my friend President Trump and our great ally, the United States.

We set out on a historic operation, the largest operation the Middle East has ever known. Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of Israel.

A partnership like this between Israel and the US against our greatest enemy has also never existed in Israel's history. And yes, I can reassure those worried about the relationship between myself and President Trump. As he said: 'You are great.' We speak every day, and we smile when we hear these assessments.

In any case, anyone who chooses to ignore the power of this partnership is simply ignoring the truth.

As US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said today, the appreciation for Israel as an ally on the battlefield, appreciation for our heroism, courage and skill, this appreciation is soaring.

President Trump, Donald my friend, I want to thank you for your leadership and your friendship. The deep friendship between us, the deep friendship between the US and Israel, is changing the face of the Middle East.

We went out together to remove an existential threat from over the State of Israel and the entire free world, and we are carrying out that mission. We are carrying it out it step by step, goal after goal.

If we hadn't set out on Operation Rising Lion, and then if we hadn't set out on Operation Roaring Lion, 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.

We have removed this double existential threat from over our heads. We have set the terrorist regime in Iran back many years. We have shaken its foundations. We have crushed it.

What we have achieved up to now:

We smashed Iran's missile production machine. Not only did we destroy existing missiles, we destroyed the factories that produce them. The Iranians are firing what is left in their arsenal, and the arsenal is emptying out. But they are not producing new missiles.

We have severely damaged Iran's nuclear program. We destroyed many nuclear infrastructures, centrifuge plants, and one more thing, we eliminated more nuclear scientists who joined those we eliminated in Operation Rising Lion.

Regarding the enriched material still remaining in Iran: As senior Trump administration officials said today, all the enriched material will leave Iran. Either it will leave by agreement, or it will leave by the resumption of fighting. We see eye-to-eye on this matter.

We have smashed the money machine and the weapon production machine of the Revolutionary Guards. We destroyed steel plants, petrochemical plants, weapon manufacturing plants, bridges, and railways for the transport of forces and weapons.

We have destroyed military infrastructure: The Iranian Navy, dozens of aircraft, missile bases, and headquarters.

We have severely damaged the regime's mechanism of oppression. We eliminated thousands of its operatives and proved that we can hunt them down anywhere. They have nowhere to hide.

We eliminated senior regime officials, from the tyrant Khamenei to the top brass of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij.

As a result of Israel's determination and strength, strength and determination that everyone in the Middle East sees, we are creating new alliances with countries in the region.

I insisted that the temporary ceasefire with Iran not include Hezbollah. And we continue to strike them forcefully.

Today we dealt Hezbollah the greatest blow it has suffered since the pagers. We attacked 100 targets in 10 minutes, in places Hezbollah was certain were immune.

Wonderful residents of the North, we are committed to returning security to you.

We have created deep security zones beyond our borders, in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, where we control more than half of the Strip and are choking Hamas from every side.

Citizens of Israel, anyone who tries to ignore these monumental achievements, monumental achievements of the State of Israel and IDF soldiers; anyone who tries to diminish them, either they do not know what they are talking about, or they are speaking out of foreign interests.

Because the truth is simple: As I promised you at the beginning of the War of Redemption, we have dramatically changed the face of the Middle East in Israel's favor, and we will continue to do so.

Because we are the side that takes the initiative, we are the side that fights, and with G-d's help, we are the side that wins.

Happy Maimouna holiday (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/maimouna-a-post-passover-celebration/), citizens of Israel, a holiday of Israeli unity. May you prosper and find favor."

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Germany to resume direct talks with Iran to support ceasefire: Merz

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

09.04.2026 [20:36]

Baku, April 9, AZERTAC

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday announced that the German government would resume direct talks with Iran to support the newly agreed two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Xinhua reported.

During a press conference in Berlin, Merz stated that a window of opportunity for a negotiated solution has opened for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict, though he cautioned that the situation in the Middle East remains "fragile."

Following the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, direct talks are scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Merz noted that a German negotiation team is heading to Pakistan to engage with the Iran side, and he is scheduled to hold a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later on Thursday.

Merz also confirmed he had held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the U.S. leader to pursue the negotiations seriously.

He denied any discussions regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from military bases in Germany.

During the press conference, Merz also voiced concern over the situation in Lebanon, warning that Israel's ongoing military operations in Lebanon could cause the peace process as a whole to fail. "And that must not happen."

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Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

9 April 2026 22:50

The EU welcomes the ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran. We commend Pakistan and other regional partners for their mediation that contributed to this positive outcome.

We urge all involved to fully respect the ceasefire across the region, cease all military operations and fully ensure freedom of navigation as well as free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS. We further call for an urgent cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, which take a heavy toll on civilians. All parties must comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, UN peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel.

Diplomacy is key to resolve all outstanding issues. Parties should continue engaging in good faith in efforts to reach a sustainable agreement on all areas of concern.

Now is the time to design a comprehensive strategy for lasting peace across the entire Middle East.

The European Union will contribute to all diplomatic efforts in this endeavour, taking into consideration its full range of interests and concerns, in coordination with partners.

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Statement from the General Secretariat of the GCC

General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Apr 09, 2026

General Secretariat - Riyadh

The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) expresses its welcome for the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It praises the significant efforts exerted by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in this regard, as well as those of other regional and international parties calling for an end to the ongoing conflict.

The GCC General Secretariat underlines the significance of concerted regional and international efforts to reach a permanent solution to end this crisis in order to ensure the security and stability in the region and the world.

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Statement by PM Netanyahu

Israel Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 09.04.2026

Prime Minister's Office announcement on Wednesday:

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 neighbors and the world.

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.

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IRGC: Iranian forces launched no attacks during ceasefire hours

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 11:27 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has categorically denied carrying out reported drone and missile strikes on facilities in countries along the southern edge of the Persian Gulf, stressing that Iranian forces carried out no such operations during the ceasefire hours.

In an official statement on Thursday night, the IRGC stated, "The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not launched any missiles at any country during the ceasefire hours until now."

The IRGC was responding to a wave of unverified reports circulated by various news agencies over the past few hours alleging Iranian attacks on targets in the Persian Gulf region.

"We would like to inform you that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not launched any missiles at any country during the ceasefire hours until now," the statement read.

The IRGC further stated that if the media reports prove accurate, "it is undoubtedly the work of the Zionist enemy or the United States," entities notorious for staging provocations and false-flag operations to destabilize the region and undermine the ceasefire.

Highlighting the Islamic Republic's policy of transparency and accountability, the IRGC added, "If the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran hit any target, they will boldly announce it in an official statement, and any action that is not in the statements made by the Islamic Republic of Iran has nothing to do with us."

The IRGC's decisive clarification exposes yet another attempt by hostile media networks to fabricate narratives against the Islamic Republic at a sensitive time. Iran has remained steadfast in honoring the ceasefire while the Zionist regime continues its aggressive policies across West Asia.

The IRGC reaffirmed the Iranian armed forces' readiness to defend the country's sovereignty and regional stability, while exposing the real instigators of any destabilizing actions in the Persian Gulf.

The US and Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran on February 28, assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior officials, military commanders, and hundreds of civilians.

In retaliation, Iran launched its decisive Operation True Promise 4. Hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles and drones have pounded US military bases across West Asia and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories.

Throughout the war, Iran continued to target Israeli and American assets in occupied Palestine and US military bases and interests in the Persian Gulf, maintaining its resilience even after about six weeks of fighting.

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Iran FM warns US against allowing Netanyahu to 'crater its economy'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 9:37 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the United States against allowing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to derail diplomacy amid the talk of possible ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington.

In a pointed tweet on Thursday, Araghchi suggested that Netanyahu's upcoming criminal trial, which resumes this Sunday, could be a major factor in efforts to hinder peace negotiations, especially in light of his attempts to obstruct regional stability.

Araghchi's remarks come as a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US is likely to begin, brokered by Pakistan, to pave the way for negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions in West Asia.

There are hopes for a broader resolution that could include a region-wide ceasefire, particularly in Lebanon.

"Netanyahu's criminal trial resumes on Sunday. A region-wide ceasefire, including in Lebanon, would hasten his jailing," Araghchi wrote in a tweet on Thursday.

The Iranian foreign minister added that if the US allowed Netanyahu to obstruct diplomacy, it would ultimately "crater its economy."

"If the U S wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice," he wrote. "We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it," he added.

Back in November last year, US President Donald Trump in a letter called on Israeli president Isaac Herzog to issue a pardon as Netanyahu faced trial on three counts of corruption.

Trump's letter followed remarks he made in October during an address to the Israeli parliament, where he first suggested that Herzog consider pardoning Netanyahu, who is also being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of committing war crimes.

On Thursday, Araghchi separately reviewed brutal Israeli bombing of residential buildings in Lebanon in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot.

Lebanon is part of the ceasefire between Iran and the US - a fact strongly confirmed by Pakistan which mediated it.

"Unfortunately, we witness sheer violations of the ceasefire and the resumption of Israel's brutal and savage attacks on Lebanon," Araghchi said.

He stressed that the cessation of attacks by aggressors in the region, including Lebanon, is an inseparable part of the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US.

Araghchi called on the international community, including European countries, to halt attacks by the Zionist regime on Lebanon.

Barrot, while stressing the need to end the conflict, expressed hope that upcoming negotiations would restore stability and peace to the region. He also called for an immediate halt to the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

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Iran slams UN for inaction in stopping US-Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 8:18 PM

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has sharply criticized the United Nations for its failure to act in halting the US-Israeli aggression and for its inability to hold the aggressors accountable.

His remarks came during a meeting with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for West Asia Jean Arnault in Tehran on Thursday.

Gharibabadi emphasized that the US and Israeli war against Iran is a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.

He described the unprovoked and illegitimate coordinated attacks on civilian infrastructure, which have resulted in the deaths and injuries of thousands of innocent civilians, as war crimes.

"Attacking and destroying residential homes, hospitals, schools, historical and cultural sites, and infrastructure are undeniable examples of crimes against humanity and war crimes," said the Iranian diplomat.

He further condemned certain criminal officials within the US administration and the Israeli regime, who, according to him, took pride in the killing of children, labeling such actions as the height of barbarity and inhumanity.

Gharibabadi also held the Arab states of the Persian Gulf responsible for hosting US military bases and allowing the US to use their territories to launch aggression against Iran. He reiterated that Iran's retaliatory actions had been purely defensive and were not aimed at any neighboring states.

"It has become evident that the foreign military presence has turned into a destabilizing factor and a threat to the security of the entire region," he stated.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister also asserted that the US has been forced to request a ceasefire after Iran and the Axis of Resistance successfully repelled the US-Israeli aggression and emerged as the clear victors in the conflict.

Regarding current ceasefire efforts, Gharibabadi made it clear that Iran opposes any temporary truce and is seeking a permanent resolution to end the aggression. He stressed that Iran is firmly opposed to any partial solution that would simply restart the cycle of negotiations, war, and ceasefire.

"Iran is completely opposed to any partial resolution of this situation that would repeat the cycle of negotiations, war, and ceasefire," he declared.

He said that the only viable option is a permanent end to the war, with accountability for the aggressors and securing compensation for the damages caused.

In response to Gharibabadi's statements, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General noted that the ultimate goal of the UN is to achieve a lasting resolution to the crisis, which addresses all aspects of the situation.

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Leader: Iran's heroic people definitive victors in third imposed war

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 6:25 PM

New Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has called for ongoing public engagement in the fight against US and Israeli aggression, praising the Iranian people's "clear victory" in the ongoing imposed war.

In a message released Thursday on the occasion of the 40th day of the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, he outlined important matters related to the ongoing imposed war and emphasized the perseverance and resilience of the Iranian people.

The message began with a reference to a verse from the Qur'an: "Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory so that Allah may forgive your past and future sins, complete His favor upon you, guide you to a straight path, and grant you a mighty victory."

"Brothers and sisters in the homeland! Today, and up to this point in the saga of the third holy imposed defense, it can be boldly stated that you, the heroic people of Iran, have been the definitive victors in this arena," he said.

The Leader said the emergence of the Islamic Republic as a major power and the visible decline of imperialism has become clear to all.

"This is undoubtedly a divine blessing that has been bestowed upon us by the blood of our martyred leader and other bloodied martyrs, the oppressed compatriots, and the flowers that were scattered at the school of the noble tree of Minab.

"It is through the supplications and prayers of the masses to the Almighty, their active participation in the streets, neighborhoods, mosques, and their selfless sacrifices that this blessing has been granted to the people of Iran."

On February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab was struck by a volley of US missiles and completely destroyed, leaving about 170 schoolgirls martyred.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the practical expression of gratitude for the divine blessing is through "tireless efforts towards achieving a powerful Iran".

The Leader highlighted the need for ongoing public engagement to achieve this strategic goal, as set forth by the martyred leader.

"What is necessary at this time to achieve this strategic slogan and goal of the martyred leader is the continued presence of our dear people, as they have done for the past forty days. This presence is a key pillar of the status in which the powerful Iran has established itself today."

Ayatollah Khamenei said the assumption that negotiations with the enemy would lessen the need for public participation should not be accepted.

"Therefore, even if it is presumed that we have entered a phase of military silence, it is the duty of every citizen capable of being present in the streets, neighborhoods, and mosques to intensify their participation."

The Leader affirmed that the people's cries in the streets have an impact on the negotiations in the wake of a two-week ceasefire announced in the war on Wednesday.

Reflecting on the transformation of the Islamic Republic since its founding, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the achievements of the past decades.

"When our martyred leader took charge, the Islamic Republic was like a sapling, severely wounded by multiple attacks from the enemies of Islam and Iran, though it withstood them all.

"But after nearly 37 years, when he left the leadership, the noble tree he had nurtured stood strong, its roots deep, and its branches casting shadows over significant parts of the region and the world."

The Leader emphasized that the path toward achieving a stronger Iran lies in unity among the country's diverse communities.

"The path toward the goal of 'a stronger Iran' is through unity among the various sectors of society, as the martyred leader frequently emphasized.

"A significant part of this unity has been achieved in these past forty days: the hearts of the people have grown closer, the divisions between different groups and their varying inclinations have begun to melt, and all have gathered under the flag of the homeland. Day by day, this gathering increases both in numbers and quality."

Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the swift, miraculous growth of the Iranian nation, saying any observer can grasp the rapid, almost miraculous growth of this nation.

Southern neighbors, management of Hormuz

The Leader addressed Iran's southern neighbors, urging them to recognize the miracle unfolding in the region.

"To our southern neighbors, I say: You are witnessing a miracle. So look properly and understand it well, stand in the right place, and beware of the false promises of the evil ones.

"We are still waiting for a proper response from you, so we may demonstrate our brotherhood and goodwill toward you," he said.

"This will not be achieved unless you distance yourselves from the arrogant powers who never miss an opportunity to humiliate and exploit you. This is something everyone must know: with God's permission, we will not leave the criminals who attacked our country unpunished."

The Leader said, "We will certainly demand compensation for every single damage inflicted, the blood money of the martyrs, and the blood money for the wounded in this war. We will also undoubtedly take the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new stage."

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed his resolute stance on the future. "We do not seek war, nor have we ever, but we will not abandon our rightful demands. We will consider the entire Resistance Front in our calculations and actions."

He also called on the Iranian people to remain unified and take care during this challenging time.

"At this stage, as we move toward achieving what is rightfully ours, I urge all citizens to support one another to mitigate the pressure of the natural shortages caused by war.

"Of course, these shortages are much more severe on the enemy's side, and thanks to the efforts of our brothers and sisters in the government and other institutions, they have been managed to a great extent."

Ayatollah Khamenei further cautioned against the influence of enemy propaganda, saying "it is essential that we protect our ears, the windows to our minds and hearts, from media outlets that are either under the enemy's control or aligned with them".

"These media outlets do not wish well for our country, and this has been proven time and again. Therefore, we should either avoid them altogether or approach their offerings with extreme skepticism," he said.

Spirit of revenge

The Leader described the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei as one of the greatest tragedies to befall Iran, comparing it to one of the heaviest national losses in modern history.

"Forty days have passed since one of the greatest crimes committed by the enemies of Islam and Iran, and one of the heaviest public sorrows in the history of this nation," his message read, referring to Ayatollah Khamenei's martyrdom.

The Leader urged the Iranian people to keep the spirit of revenge for the blood of their fallen heroes alive in their hearts.

"Although the official mourning period for the martyred leader has ended, the firm resolve for avenging the pure blood of our martyrs from the second and third imposed wars remains alive in the hearts and spirits of the people, who will continue to strive for its fulfillment," he said.

The new Leader hailed Ayatollah Khamenei as the "father of the Iranian nation" and a key figure in the global resistance movement, whose sacrifice has inspired many.

He paid tribute to Ayatollah Khamenei's spirit, stating that his soul now resides in the company of the divine and that the countless companions, soldiers, and civilians who were assassinated alongside him are also martyrs in the cause of justice and truth.

The message called on the Iranian people to remain united and resilient, reinforcing the notion that their ongoing struggle, particularly during the third imposed war, has become a "saga of heroic resistance."

The Leader acknowledged the hardships the nation had endured, but emphasized that the war had transformed into a moment of glory, with Iranians standing firm against the "savage and armed" enemies of the nation.

The Leader compared the current struggle to the epic resilience of the past, drawing parallels to the enduring spirit of Ashura and the sacrifices made by the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution.

He noted that despite the sorrow of losing their leader, the Iranian people has turned their grief into a new form of resistance, with rallies and movements spreading across the country.

The Leader reflected on the life and legacy of Ayatollah Khamenei, describing him as a man of unparalleled dedication, resilience, and wisdom.

He highlighted Ayatollah Khamenei's spiritual and intellectual contributions, citing his unwavering belief in the promises of God and his constant commitment to the independence of Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei's advocacy for the empowerment of youth, his focus on scientific progress, and his efforts to strengthen Iran's military capabilities were also mentioned.

The Leader stated that these efforts have laid the foundation for Iran's resilience in the face of foreign pressure and aggression, as well as its growing influence in the region.

The Leader emphasized that the influence of Ayatollah Khamenei, far from being diminished by his martyrdom, has only grown stronger.

The symbolic image of Ayatollah Khamenei's clenched fist during his assassination has now become an emblem for the Iranian people and for many around the world who aspire to justice and truth, he added.

His martyrdom, the Leader said, has only amplified the resonance of his call for freedom and resistance against oppression.

"His spirit lives on, guiding the Iranian people and the global movement for justice," the message added.

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Lebanon inseparable part of Iran's 10-point ceasefire plan: Qalibaf

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 5:19 PM

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says Lebanon is an inseparable part of the 10-point ceasefire plan the country has proposed, warning that any violation carries strong responses.

Since Wednesday when Iran and the US announced a 15-day ceasefire which included Lebanon in a 41-day war, the Israeli regime has targeted various areas throughout the Arab country, killing at least 254 people and wounding 1,165 others.

In a post on his X account on, Qalibaf reacted to the Israeli regime's violation of the ceasefire by attacking Lebanon.

"Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran's allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire," he said, referring to the 10-point proposal.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif "publicly and clearly stressed the Lebanon issue; there is no room for denial and backtracking", Qalibaf said.

The Iranian speaker warned ceasefire violations carry "explicit costs and strong responses", urging the regime to "extinguish the fire immediately".

Pakistan has confirmed that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire it mediated. Israel and the US, however, claim the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, with Israel announcing it will continue its attacks on the country.

On Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he had phoned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and asked him to "confirm that the ceasefire includes Lebanon to prevent a recurrence of the Israeli attacks witnessed yesterday."

In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office called on the international community to take urgent and concrete steps to end the aggression as it reiterated Islamabad's "unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Lebanon during this difficult time".

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that Iran is preparing "regret-inducing" response to the renewed Israeli attacks on Lebanon, warning that any assault on Hezbollah is an assault on the Islamic Republic.

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Houthi: Ceasefire a 'major victory' for Iran, Ummah in fight against US, Israel

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 09 April 2026 4:58 PM

Leader of Yemen's Ansarallah movement Abdul-Malik al-Houthi says the declaration of a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war of terrorism is, in itself, a significant victory for the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Resistance Axis.

"The declaration of a ceasefire is, by itself, a major victory for the Islamic Republic of Iran, the countries of the Resistance Axis, the Islamic Ummah, and the free peoples of the world," he said in a televised address on Thursday.

"What the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon achieved is one of the greatest battles it has fought to date. The performance of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance was extremely effective, and the speed of their operations and their level of perseverance caught the enemies off guard," he added.

The leader of Ansarallah stated that the role of Iraqi Islamic Resistance groups in the equation of field unity became apparent from the first moment of the aggression against Iran.

"The tribes, the people of Iraq, and its active forces participated in this round of war," he said.

Al-Houthi also highlighted Yemen's involvement in joint operations with the Resistance Axis, pointing out the missile and drone attacks against the Israeli enemy.

The results of Yemen's front, he stated, have been to prevent the Israeli and American enemies from using the Strait of Hormuz for military operations against Iran and the countries of the Resistance Axis.

"Yemen's operations, with their surprise tactics, are a crucial factor in the escalation process and are progressing according to a structured plan, taking into account the timing of the aggressions," he said.

Al-Houthi said among the goals of the enemies in their aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran was to execute the dangerous phase of the Zionist plan that targets the entire Islamic Ummah.

"Despite the scale of the crimes committed, the Israeli regime and its allies largely failed to implement their plans. The resilience of the Islamic Republic of Iran represents a massive endurance at the leadership, popular, and military levels."

He emphasized that the most important achievement in this critical period of confrontation with the enemies of the Ummah was the formulation of the equation of field unity and the resistance fronts.

"Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon are at the forefront of the battle of field unity and the great confrontation with the Israeli enemy. They were able to inflict severe losses on the enemy through direct operations and engagements," he added.

Al-Houthi also noted the significant military and strategic role of Iran in the region, saying the Resistance Axis benefitted from the efforts, military capabilities, and significant firepower of Iran's armed forces.

"Iran has carried out unprecedented large-scale operations targeting Israeli and American military bases, dealing severe blows to them," he said.

He further pointed out that closing the Strait of Hormuz is one of Iran's key positions to exert pressure on the United States and its allies.

"Iran's victory and that of the Resistance Axis have restored credibility to the deterrence equation for the entire Islamic Ummah. It is vital for all countries in the region, their regimes, and governments to reconsider their misguided approaches that have led them to submit to the enemies," he said.

Al-Houthi said the goal of the enemy is to alter West Asia, and some Arab regimes once thought their salvation lay in submission to the United States and Israel, offering support and loyalty to them.

"They were wrong. The facts have now become clear to certain Arab regimes, which have suffered greatly by hosting American bases, placing their own security at risk."

Al-Houthi called on the Arab regimes that collaborated with the enemy to reassess their calculations.

"It is crucial for all Arab and Islamic countries in the region to follow the example of Spain. The Islamic Revolution of Iran has become more deeply rooted than ever before. Despite the numerous efforts by the US and Israel to conceal their losses, it is clear that their losses are significant," he added.

The US, the Ansarullah leader said, has suffered enormous losses in its military bases and in human casualties, both dead and wounded.

"Similarly, the Israeli enemy has also incurred heavy losses in its military capacity and resources.

"The operations carried out by Iran's armed forces were effective, well-planned, and calculated. The extent of the losses suffered by the U and Israel and the number of their failed objectives are truly staggering," al-Houthi added.

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Allison Minor: Cease-Fire Or Strategic Pause? Lebanon, Hormuz Test The Iran Truce

By Alex Raufoglu April 09, 2026

WASHINGTON -- Forty-eight hours into a US-Iran cease-fire, the situation on the ground already appears increasingly unstable.

Reports of continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, attacks across the Gulf, and renewed threats around the Strait of Hormuz are raising urgent questions about whether this pause can hold.

Plus, the key disagreement between the US and Iran over whether the cease-fire even applies to Lebanon, where Israel has been striking what it says are Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah is the Iran-backed militant group designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

RFE/RL spoke with Allison Minor, director of the Atlantic Council's Project for Middle East Integration and former director for Arabian Peninsula affairs at the White House National Security Council during Donald Trump's first term, to unpack these early developments and gauge what could come next for the war and the region.

Pause Or Turning Point?

RFE/RL: We are now 48 hours into a two-week cease-fire announced by Washington and Tehran, with mediation from Pakistan -- but it already feels more like a standoff than a solution. Big picture question: Given the continued strikes tied to Lebanon and reports of retaliation across the Gulf, is this cease-fire a real diplomatic opening or just a strategic intermission before the next phase of war?

Allison Minor: I think it's still too soon to tell. It does suggest that both sides are at least interested in exploring de-escalation. But the reality is that their positions remain very far apart. There are still major unresolved questions -- particularly about Lebanon's role and about what happens in the Strait of Hormuz. Will it return to a prewar normal, or will Iran retain some level of control?

Those uncertainties could easily undermine the cease-fire and even trigger escalation beyond what we saw before. So, at this stage, it's less a breakthrough than a reflection of how complex and unstable the situation remains.

RFE/RL: Washington and Israel appear to treat Lebanon as a separate track, while Tehran links it directly to the cease-fire. Can this deal hold if that gap isn't resolved?

Minor: It's difficult to see how it can. Iran has made clear that it will not halt attacks in the Gulf unless Lebanon is included. The question now is whether US negotiators -- arriving in Pakistan in the next 24-48 hours -- can bridge that gap, likely in coordination with Israel.

What's striking is that Iran does not appear deterred. It seems emboldened and believes it can dictate cease-fire terms more on its own terms than on Washington's.

RFE/RL: Some analysts point to possible command-and-control issues inside Iran. Does that suggest a lack of control -- or deliberate ambiguity?

Minor: It's probably both. Iran has long delegated authority to commanders in the field, which allows it to respond quickly even when leadership structures are disrupted. At the same time, it has spent decades refining a strategy of plausibly deniable attacks.

What concerns me now is that we may be seeing a new threshold for those deniable operations. Attacks on shipping and on Gulf states are becoming more severe, and that raises the risk of escalation significantly.

RFE/RL: So are we entering a phase where attribution is murky, but escalation risks are higher?

Minor: Exactly. As Iran recalibrates after this war, it may continue lower-level attacks while probing for new red lines. The key question is whether the United States, Israel, or others will respond forcefully -- or whether they will tolerate a higher baseline of Iranian activity in exchange for relative calm.

That uncertainty has serious implications, especially for Gulf economies. Places like Dubai depend on perceptions of stability for investment, trade, and financial flows.

The Strait Of Hormuz: A Lasting Pressure Point

RFE/RL: You've warned that Iran is entering negotiations while still effectively controlling the Strait of Hormuz. How much leverage does that give Tehran?

Minor: It gives them tremendous leverage. The strait was always considered a kind of "third rail" -- something Iran would avoid disrupting. But during this war, they crossed that line and discovered that enforcing it is extremely difficult for the US.

Now, even if Iran reduces attacks or signals that shipping can resume -- potentially even charging transit fees -- the damage is already done. Commercial actors remain wary. We saw a similar dynamic in the Red Sea: Even after attacks subsided, shipping traffic stayed significantly reduced because insurers and companies were unwilling to take the risk.

RFE/RL: Does that mean a new normal where global energy flows remain exposed to Iranian pressure?

Minor: Yes, I think it does. Iran now has the ability to keep a kind of noose around global supply chains -- not just oil, but also critical goods like aluminum and fertilizer -- as well as the economies of its Gulf neighbors.

Negotiations Ahead -- And Signals To Watch

RFE/RL: Negotiators are heading into talks shortly in Pakistan. Given Iran's expanding demands, including potential US force reductions, is there a meaningful middle ground -- or are both sides buying time?

Minor: It's possible Iran's private demands differ from its public messaging. Both sides are clearly trying to project strength. But Iran does appear emboldened and may push for more far-reaching concessions than before the war -- on its nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional posture.

The real question is how Washington responds: What are its red lines? And how much pressure will it face from partners -- from Israel, which has maximalist goals, and from Gulf states, which fear this emerging "new normal"?

There's also a domestic dimension in the United States, with rising oil prices and political pressure, especially in a midterm election year.

RFE/RL: Two weeks is a very short window. What key signals will you watch to determine whether this cease-fire holds?

Minor: Ultimately, it comes down to the White House. The cease-fire is already showing signs of strain -- continued attacks, disrupted shipping. So, the question is whether Washington declares it failed or tries to sustain it despite those violations.

Right now, this is not a robust or stable arrangement. It's a fragile framework under significant stress.

RFE/RL: Finally, given the Lebanon dimension and current dynamics, what would count as a "win" for the United States coming out of these talks?

Minor: It's hard to define a clear win. Ideally, you'd see the Strait of Hormuz return to prewar conditions, Iran scaling back to earlier negotiating positions, and an end to attacks on US partners.

But even achieving those prewar baselines will be extremely difficult. Given the scale of the conflict and the costs involved, expectations were that outcomes would improve -- yet even restoring the previous status quo now looks like a very high bar.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/allison-minor-cease-fire-iran- lebanon-hormuz/33728780.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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Strait Of Hormuz 'Toll' Could Breach Maritime Law, Industry Insiders Say

By Amos Chapple April 09, 2026

Amid reports Iran and the US are considering charging vessels a "toll" to transit the Strait of Hormuz, maritime insiders say such a move could backfire if other countries decide to charge ships for passing through natural maritime chokepoints.

"This is international free passage," Olav Myklebust, a Norwegian oil tanker manager says, "so the rules are very clear." According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS), ships engaged in "innocent passage" through a country's territorial waters cannot be charged a fee.

Despite clear wording around rules for innocent passage, the UNCLOS charter also states that ships can be charged for "specific services" rendered. Iran could potentially organize convoys through the strait and demand fees for that service. But, Myklebust points out, "Iran has no [naval] vessel left to escort them" after the country's navy was largely destroyed in the early days of the 2026 conflict with the US and Israel.

On April 8, following a cease-fire which paused that war, US President Donald Trumptold ABC News that America is considering a "joint venture" with Tehran to charge tolls for passage through the strait.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabdi had earlier declared Tehran was working on a protocol with Oman to require "permits" from ships wanting to pass the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has since deniedit is seeking fees.

Dimitris Ampatzidis, a maritime risk and compliance manager with MarineTraffic, told RFE/RL that if shipping companies are forced to liaise with the Iranian military to transit the Strait of Hormuz "we could see delays, rerouting decisions, and in some cases reluctance from shipowners to enter the area."

Myklebust, who has made multiple crossings of the Strait of Hormuz on tankers, says that regardless of the legality of tolls, "I think that for the moment [shipping firms] will have to accept paying this [reported fee of] $2 million." Companies are likely to pay up, he says, due to insurance firms that will insist all risks are mitigated as far as possible before agreeing to cover vessels transiting the strait.

Fees of potentially up to $2 million per ship, Myklebust says, would be, in some cases, a relatively small price to pay. Many individual crude oil carriers passing through the Strait of Hormuz are capable of carrying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of oil in a single shipment.

For smaller vessels that can sail over relatively shallow water, Myklebust says it could be possible to avoid Iranian waters altogether by skimming the southernmost point of the Strait of Hormuz, in Omani waters.

Several ships have passedthrough the strait in recent days, with some reported to have paid fees to Iran. Some 22 ships have been attacked by Iran in the Persian Gulf since US-Israeli strikes were launched against Iran on February 28.

Despite optimism in the oil markets in the wake of the April 7 cease-fire, Ampatzidis says any potential toll system on the Strait of Hormuz will be felt by consumers. "If transit [through the strait] becomes less efficient or more costly this could put upward pressure on freight rates and, potentially, energy prices." However he adds, "the extent of the impact would depend on how restrictive or stable the arrangements are in practice."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/strait-of-hormuz-tolls- maritime-law/33727801.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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Britain's Starmer, In Call With Trump, Speaks Of Need To Restore Hormuz Shipping

23:21 9.4.2026

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on April 9 spoke with US President Donald Trump on the need to formulate a plan to restore shipping "as quickly as possible" through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, Downing Street said.

"They agreed that now there is a cease-fire in place and agreement to open the strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution," the statement said, adding that the call took place while Starmer was in Qatar during a three-day visit to region.

"The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible," Downing Street said. Starmer discussed Britain's efforts to organize partners to form to a "viable plan" on restoring freedom of navigation in the waterway, it said.

During his visit to the Gulf, Starmer rejected the possibility that Tehran could charge for letting ships use the vital Strait of Hormuz.

"Our position is 'open' means open for safe navigation," he told British TV. "That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through," he added.

Some 20 percent of global supplies of oil and gas transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked, creating a bottleneck of traffic and a worldwide energy crunch.

Starmer said during his Middle East trip that Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon were "wrong." He also criticized Trump's use of threats, saying that he would "never use" such a threat as "a whole civilization will die tonight."

He also condemned Iran for its retaliatory attacks on Gulf states, often targeting oil and natural gas facilities and US-linked military sites.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his frustration with Starmer after he refused a US request to use UK bases for offensive strikes against Iran, although the prime minister later gave permission to use select bases for defensive operations.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=448940

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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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi

9 April 2026 16:58

533-09-04-2026

On April 9, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi at the latter's initiative.

The Russian side welcomed the announcement of agreements on a two-week cessation of hostilities between the United States and Iran, as well as Israel's adherence to these agreements, emphasising that Moscow firmly believes these agreements - as announced by Pakistani mediators - have a regional dimension and apply in particular to Lebanon. Sergey Lavrov expressed hope for the success of the negotiating process and reaffirmed Russia's readiness to help find solutions that would overcome the consequences of the unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against Iran, and ensure lasting peace and sustainable security in the region.

Abbas Araghchi thanked the Russian Federation for its principled stance in the UN Security Council during discussions on the situation in the Persian Gulf.

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Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Possible If US Complies With Its Obligations - Araghchi

Sputnik News

20260409

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible if the United States complies with its obligations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday.

"Safe passage of vessels through this waterway, based on regulations and in coordination with the Iranian armed forces, along specific routes and in compliance with technical measures, will be possible if the US side adheres to its obligations," Araghchi said during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The United States is acting in violation of its own commitments even before the start of negotiations with Iran, Iranian Araghchi said.

"Unfortunately, the US has carried out military aggression against Iran on two occasions during nuclear negotiations. This time, too, they are acting in violation of their commitments, even though the diplomatic track and discussions have not yet been established," Araghchi told Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. On Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week bilateral ceasefire with Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas supplies, would reopen.

At the same time, Israeli warplanes and artillery on Wednesday struck over a dozen settlements in southern Lebanon, including in the major city of Tyre. Trump said that ending Israeli strikes on Lebanon was not included in the agreement with Iran because of the Hezbollah movement. Iran, however, deemed this a violation of the ceasefire reached between the US and Iran.

 Sputnik

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Ceasefire deal in jeopardy on Day 1 as Iran closes Hormuz following Israel strikes against Lebanon

Global Times

China says Lebanon's sovereignty and security should not be violated

By Wang Qi and Li Yu Published: Apr 10, 2026 12:22 AM

The fragile calm that followed the US-Iran ceasefire began to unravel almost as soon as it took hold, raising fresh doubts about the durability of the agreement. On Wednesday local time, Israel launched what appeared to be its most extensive airstrike campaign against Lebanon, with reports indicating hundreds were killed or injured.

Tehran swiftly condemned the strikes as a breach of the ceasefire, announcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and warning of possible military retaliation. In a sign of the uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan briefly posted, then deleted, a message on X about Iranian delegation's arrival in Islamabad, an episode that underscored how tenuous the path to de-escalation remains.

"Lebanon's sovereignty and security should not be violated. Civilians and their property must be protected. We call on relevant parties to stay calm and exercise self-restraint and deescalate the situation in the region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday in response to media inquiry over the Israeli strike against Lebanon.

In response to another question on whether China believes Lebanon should be included in the ceasefire agreement that has already been reached, Mao said China hopes relevant parties will take the temporary ceasefire arrangement as an opportunity to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means and put an end to the conflict.

Strike and spats

Hours after US announcement of the two-week ceasefire deal with Iran on Wednesday, Israeli forces launched airstrikes in Lebanon, which killed 254 and injured 1,165, according to Al Jazeera, citing data from Lebanon's Civil Defence. The media outlet highlighted "100 air strikes in 10 minutes across Lebanon" in its headline.

The Israeli military said the attack was its largest coordinated assault on Lebanon since it started a new military operation in the country on March 2, targeting "more than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites," Al Jazeera reported.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that Thursday, April 9, will be observed as a national day of mourning for the victims and injured. He added that he remains in contact with Arab leaders and international officials to step up Lebanon's political and diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the Israeli attacks, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote in an X post on Thursday that renewed aggression by Israel against Lebanon blatantly violates the initial ceasefire. "Such actions signal deception and non-compliance, rendering negotiations meaningless. Our hands remain on the trigger. Iran will never forsake its Lebanese brothers and sisters."

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accused the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire deal, and warned that it will respond if Israel does not stop the assault, Al Jazeera reported, citing Iran's state-owned TV channel.

In an X post Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the terms of the ceasefire were "clear and explicit: the US must choose - ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both."

"The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the US court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments," Araghchi said.

In addition, regional countries, including Qatar, Syria, Egypt and Turkey, have publicly condemned Israel's strikes against Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday also condemned Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon, stressing that "Lebanon must be fully covered by" the Middle East ceasefire. In a post on X, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Netanyahu's "contempt for life and international law is intolerable" in light of the attacks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned Israel's strikes across Lebanon, warning of a rising civilian toll and risks to regional ceasefire efforts, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a joint statement issued in the early hours of Thursday, foreign ministers of Australia, UK, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan and Sierra Leone called for an "urgent end" to hostilities in Lebanon, per Xinhua.

Zhu Yongbiao, a Middle East affairs expert at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Thursday that Israel's strategic objective is to completely overthrow Iran's current regime, and reshape its strategic deterrence across the Middle East. However, Iran's capacity for resistance have thwarted these goals.

As the US seeks to extricate itself from the Middle East and avoid being dragged into a quagmire of war, Israel is attempting to obstruct and disrupt the ceasefire negotiation process, Zhu added. "These actions also serve to 'legitimize' Israel's control over certain Lebanese territories it previously seized."

The Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank, warned on Thursday that Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday risked the deal falling apart, per AP. It wrote in an analysis that "Israel's strikes can be understood both as an effort to drive a wedge between Iran and its proxies and as a response to being allegedly sidelined in the original ceasefire discussions."

US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday said, "ceasefires are always messy." He claimed that the US never promised Lebanon would be included in the ceasefire agreement, chalking that up to a "reasonable misunderstanding" between the parties, CBS reported.

Vance told media that Israel had agreed to "check themselves a little bit in Lebanon" to support negotiations, per Bloomberg.

Stalling tactic?

Despite the White House on Wednesday confirming that US Vice President JD Vance will lead the US negotiating team in talks with Iran, US President Donald Trump issued a statement on Truth Social on Thursday insisting that his surge of warships and troops will remain around Iran "until such time as the real agreement reached is fully complied with."

Citing US military officials, The New York Times on Sunday reported that several hundred US Special Operations forces have arrived in the Middle East, joining thousands of Marines and Army paratroopers in a deployment "meant to give President Trump additional options to expand the monthlong war with Iran."

US officials also disclosed that the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and its accompanying warships are deploying to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike groups in the region, the Wall Street Journal said last week.

For the Strait of Hormuz, the fate is still unclear. Although the previous ceasefire announcement from the US suggested the chokepoint is going to be reopened fully, when Israel attacked Lebanon after the truce deal, the IRGC halted all the passages through the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.

According to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, just three ships were observed leaving the region on Wednesday. More than 800 freighters are stuck inside the Persian Gulf, mostly waiting to leave.

The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that ceasefire requires a "free" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which includes no tolls imposed by Iran, according to PBS.

Another key dispute is that Iran's 10-point truce plan include the acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights, while the US demand Tehran to surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Before the talk, the US side has also threatened Iran on the nuclear issue. US defense chief Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program has "always been non-negotiable."

"Both sides had previously agreed to conduct talks in Islamabad, indicating their continued desire to reach a deal. However, the US and Iran hold fundamentally different views on the nature and content of any peace agreement," Ding Long, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Iran seeks a once-and-for-all resolution to all its issues with the US, including the thorniest nuclear issue and the sanctions. However, the US appears to be avoiding the heavy issues and focusing only on the lighter ones, Ding said.

According to The New York Times, 15-point proposal offered by US mediators, only a cease-fire was on offer, and Iranian officials want to ensure a formalized end to hostilities that is more permanent.

"With the US continuously reinforcing its military forces in the region, it is becoming hard - not just for Iran, but for the whole world - not to doubt America's true sincerity. Many wonder if these negotiations are a stalling tactic," said Ding.

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Trump "optimistic" on peace deal with Iran despite strained ceasefire: report

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:41, April 10, 2026

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was "very optimistic" a peace deal with Iran was within reach as Vice President JD Vance is prepared to head to Pakistan for talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to an NBC News report.

Iran's leaders "talk much differently when you're at a meeting than they do to the press. They're much more reasonable," Trump said during a phone interview with NBC News.

"They're agreeing to all the things that they have to agree to," he claimed. "If they don't make a deal, it's going to be very painful."

Trump said he had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and noted that the Israelis were "scaling back" operations in Lebanon.

"I spoke with Bibi (Netanyahu) and he's going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key," he said.

Israel and Lebanon will start their first round of direct negotiations next week in Washington, D.C., with the United States, Israel and Lebanon represented at the ambassadorial level, online U.S. media outlet Axios reported Thursday, citing a senior Israeli official.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf have stressed that stopping attacks on Lebanon is an integral part of the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran.

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'Not The Agreement We Have' -- Trump Warns Iran On Hormuz As Key Talks Loom

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda April 10, 2026

US President Donald Trump assailed Tehran for its plan for the crucial Strait of Hormuz, suggesting it was "dishonorable," even as top US and Iranian officials were due to gather in Islamabad on April 10 for crucial peace talks.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on April 9.

"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait  They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" Trump wrote in a separate post.

Disputes over Tehran's plans for the crucial waterway, along with Israel's massive attacks in Lebanon, continued to cloud prospects for an overall deal to end the war, now in its 41st day.

A crucial demand by Trump as part of a two-week cease-fire deal is the free flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked. Tehran has vowed to reopen shipping, although only with coordination with the Iranian military and through payment of a toll.

Ships have never previously been charged to transit the strait, considered an international waterway and not under any country's authority.

World Energy Crunch

The bottleneck of oil and gas tankers created by Iran's blocking of the strait has led to a worldwide energy crunch and rising prices. The potential for a toll being charged has shocked leaders throughout the globe.

The European Union, Britain, Greece, and others denounced Iran's plan for a toll. Bloomberg reported that shipping companies would be expected to pay up to $2 million per vessel, while The Financial Times said payments to Iranian authorities would be only in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan.

During a three-day visit to the Gulf, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected the possibility that Tehran could charge for letting ships use the vital strait.

"Our position is 'open' means open for safe navigation," he told British TV. "That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through."

The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said: "We urge all involved to fully respect the cease-fire across the region, cease all military operations, and fully ensure freedom of navigation as well as free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law."

Sanae Takaichi, the prime minister of Japan -- which receives some 95 percent of its oil supplies from the Middle East -- urged in a call with Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian that he calm tensions and ensure the safety of vessels through the strait.

A statement attributed to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and read out on state TV on April 9 appeared to underscore Tehran's intention to control the strait and regulate shipping in the key artery.

The statement said Iran "will definitely bring the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new stage," but did not provide details. "Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights." Khamenei has not been seen since the outbreak of war amid speculation about his well-being.

US-Iran Sessions Set In Pakistan

US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner are due to arrive in Islamabad on April 10 for meetings with Iranian officials in what could be decisive talks.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf -- who has been vociferous in anti-US statements in recent weeks --are expected to lead the Iranian delegation.

It was not immediately clear if official negotiations would begin on April 10 or 11, but Pakistan has declared two days of local holidays in the capital ahead of talks. Authorities often declare holidays or restrictions for major diplomatic events for security reasons.

Despite his threats, Trump told NBC News on April 9 he was "very optimistic" about a peace deal with Iran and said Israel was "scaling back" strikes in Lebanon.

Trump said in a telephone interview that Tehran's leaders were "much more reasonable" in private but added that "if they don't make a deal, it's going to be very painful."

Israel, Lebanon To Talk

Separately, but nearly as important, Israeli and Lebanese representatives will meet in Washington next week, a State Department told RFE/RL.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered intensified attacks in Lebanon, where a heavy Israeli bombardment targeting Hezbollah militants has shaken the US-Iran cease-fire deal.

Along with condemning the actions of Hezbollah -- deemed a terrorist organization by the United States -- and Iran's attacks throughout the region, many world leaders also assailed Israel for the massive attacks in Lebanon that have killed more than 300 people over the past two days.

The United States and Israel insist that Lebanon was not included in the cease-fire agreement with Tehran, while Iranian officials say it was and that further attacks on its Hezbollah allies will likely break the truce.

The EU's Kallas on April 9 said that "Israeli actions are putting the US-Iran cease-fire under severe strain. The Iran truce should extend to Lebanon."

Israeli strikes on Lebanon are "wrong" and "should stop," Starmer said during his trip to Gulf nations.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-hormuz-iran-islamabad- toll-lebanon/33728800.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 Sa'ar speaks with German FM Johann Wadephul

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The United States and Israel have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to achieving the goal that matters to the entire international community: preventing the Iranian terror regime from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Foreign Policy, Terrorism

Secondary topic: Iran

Publish Date: 08.04.2026

Following the announcement of the ceasefire in the war with Iran, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar spoke today (Wednesday, 8 April 2026) with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

FM Sa'ar: "I spoke with my friend Johann Wadephul, the German Foreign Minister, following the announcement of the ceasefire in the war with Iran.

The United States and Israel have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to achieving the goal that matters to the entire international community: preventing the Iranian terror regime from obtaining nuclear weapons.

I believe this commitment will also be reflected in diplomatic efforts, as President Trump made clear today.

I noted that Lebanon, from which Hezbollah operates against Israel and its citizens, is not Iranian territory and is not part of the ceasefire."

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Japan-Oman Foreign Ministers' Telephone Call

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

April 9, 2026

On April 9, commencing at 4:50 p.m. for 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone call with H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman.

At the outset, Minister MOTEGI stated that Japan welcomes the recent announcement by both the United States and Iran as a positive development. He also stated that what matters most is that de-escalation, including the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, is steadily achieved, and expressed his hopes that a final agreement will be reached promptly through diplomatic means. In addition, Minister MOTEGI emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint for global logistics and an international public good, and that it is important to ensure the safety of navigation for vessels of all countries, including those related to Japan. In addition, Minister MOTEGI stated that he would like to closely coordinate with Oman to this end. In response, Minister Badr stated that Oman has been consistently emphasizing the importance of resolving issues through dialogue and diplomatic means, and that Oman would like to continue cooperating with Japan towards the stabilization of the situation, including the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Both ministers concurred on continuing close communication.

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Deputy Secretary Landau's Call with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 9, 2026

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau spoke today with Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro. The Deputy Secretary and the Vice Minister reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and their shared commitment to enhancing economic security and bolstering deterrence to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific, building on the momentum of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's successful March 19 summit in Washington.

The senior officials also discussed the situation in the Persian Gulf and their commitment to strengthening secure, reliable supply chains for essential infrastructure and key industries.

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7 Middle Eastern states 'prioritize' crude oil supply to Korea

KOREA.net

Apr 09, 2026

By Kim Seon Ah

Ambassadors from seven Middle Eastern countries on April 7 reaffirmed the commitment of their governments to "prioritize the supply of crude oil from the Middle East to Korea" in a meeting with the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.

At the legislative building in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu District, the meeting was attended by the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain -- and Jordan.

Rep. Kim Seok-ki, who chairs the committee, and other standing committee members discussed energy security and pending issues with the diplomats.

The lawmaker stressed that the situation in the Middle East is directly related to Korea's economy, supply chains and energy security and mentioned the need to ensure freedom to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, as well as maintain regional peace and stability.

He requested the safety of about 10,000 Korean expats living in GCC states, while thanking the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar for evacuating Korean nationals at the onset of the war in the Middle East.

The ambassadors expressed concern over the negative effects of Iran's threatened blockade of the strait on the global economy, calling it a violation of international law.

All the participants agreed to maintain cooperation in crude oil supply and raise comprehensive collaboration, including parliamentary exchanges, after the conflict ends.

sofiakim218@korea.kr

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Spokesperson's Press Briefing (April 9, 2026)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Date: 2026-04-09

Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Park Il

April 9, 2026 14:30 KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today's briefing.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi will visit Korea for two days, from April 14 to 15, at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun.

Minister Cho will meet with Director General Grossi on the afternoon of April 15 to discuss current issues such as Middle East and other global concerns, as well as the North Korean nuclear issue, and to explore ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, including nuclear safety and technical cooperation.

This visit marks Director General Grossi's third trip to Korea since assuming office in December 2019, following visits in December 2022 and July 2023. It is also an in-person meeting with Minister Cho that comes about a month after their phone call last month. The visit will help further strengthen the close cooperative relations that Korea and the IAEA have built to date.

In addition, the visit is expected to serve as a good opportunity for Korea to contribute to the promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the international community, based on its outstanding nuclear energy capabilities.



(A question-and-answer session followed.)



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Russia - Fundamental freedoms and rights

France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres

Declaration

On : April 09th 2026

France strongly denounces the Russian Supreme Court's designation of a supposed "international public movement Memorial", classed as an "extremist organization". France recalls that it has always commended the role played by Memorial, which was dissolved in 2021, in fighting for human rights in Russia and for protecting the memory of the victims of Soviet-era repression.

France also denounces the heavy prison sentences handed down to members of the Vesna movement, deemed "extremist" by the Russian authorities, Anna Arkhipova (12 years in prison), Yan Ksenzhepolsky (11 years), Vasily Neustroyev (10 years), Pavel Sinelnikov (7 and a half years), Yevgeny Zateev (6 years 2 months) and Valentin Khoroshenin (6 years 2 months).

France calls on the Russian authorities to comply with their international obligations as regards guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and rights, release all persons held for political reasons and immediately, unconditionally abandon the legal proceedings begun against them.

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Nobel-Winners Memorial Labeled 'Extremist' By Russian Court

By RFE/RL's Russian Service April 09, 2026

Russia's Supreme Court has allowed the Nobel Peace Prize-winning rights group Memorial to be labeled as an "extremist" organization, a move that will allow authorities to go after anyone who contributes to the work of the group or shares materials it has published.

The ruling was handed down on April 9 during a closed-door hearing that is the latest attempt in a long-running crackdown by officials in Russia to curb free speech. The campaign has gained momentum since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 as authorities look to limit criticism of the military operation.

The court said Memorial is "clearly anti-Russian in nature" and "aimed at destroying the basic foundations of Russian statehood."

"This unlawful decision marks a new stage of political pressure on Russian civil society," Memorial said in a statement.

"As of today, the Memorial Human Rights Defense Centre is ceasing all activities directly within Russia. We have no employees, members, or volunteers in Russia. We do not accept donations from Russian bank cards, as this could put our donors at risk. Outside of Putin's Russia, the Memorial Human Rights Defense Centre will continue its work, regardless of any repressive decisions by Russian state authorities."

The ruling is part of a Kremlin assault on Memorial, which has spent decades exposing the crimes of the Soviet government -- particular during the era of dictator Josef Stalin -- against its own people.

The organization was banned in Russia in December 2021 for purportedly violating the country's draconian laws on so-called foreign agents.

In 2022, Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties and Ales Byalyatski, the jailed founder of the Belarusian rights group Vyasna.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee is deeply alarmed by the Russian authorities' latest attempt to destroy Memorial," the committee said in a statement ahead of the ruling.

"Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its decades-long work documenting war crimes, human rights abuses, and the victims of Soviet-era repression. To designate such an organization as extremist is an affront to the fundamental values of human dignity and freedom of expression."

Since its ban inside Russia, Memorial has been operating mainly from abroad to support hundreds of political prisoners still inside the country.

The April 9 ruling was directed at "the international public movement Memorial," which the group says doesn't formally exist.

The vague designation by Russian authorities, Memorial says, is a deliberate move to allow the prosecution of anyone speaking out on human rights or historical crimes.

Also on April 9, Russian media reports said authorities detained Oleg Roldugin, a journalist with the independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta, in connection with an investigation into the alleged misuse of personal data.

The detention came after security officers carried out searches at the outlet's Moscow office the same day. The newspaper's staff said lawyers for the outlet were reportedly denied access during the operations, and staff members were present inside the building.

Novaya Gazeta, once led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, is known for exposing human rights abuses and corruption in Russia, making it a frequent target of state authorities.

Since 2000, the newspaper has seen six of its journalists and contributors killed, including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya. Russian authorities have denied any connection in the deaths.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nobel-memorial-extremist- russia/33728508.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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Statement by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Lyubinsky at the plenary session of the High-Level Conference of the International Conference on Humanitarian Action, Remedy and Responsibility in unilateral sanctions environment, Geneva, 9 April, 2026

9 April 2026 19:12

538-09-04-2026

Unofficial translation



Dear colleagues and friends!

I am pleased to welcome the participants in the International Conference on Humanitarian Action, Remedy and Responsibility in unilateral sanctions environment. It is already the second event of this kind held under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur. Russia considers this initiative highly relevant and much needed and greatly values Alena Douhan's personal contribution to convening this conference.

We live in an era when the architecture of international law - built over decades - is being deliberately dismantled. So-called unilateral coercive measures have become, among other things, the instrument of that destruction.

It is time to call things by their names: these are not sanctions as international law understands them - they are unlawful acts of aggression that undermine the very foundations of the global order. Under international law, there is only one legitimate mechanism of coercion in interstate relations: measures adopted by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter. Russia's position on this issue is unwavering: any restrictions imposed in circumvention of the Security Council decisions are unacceptable.

At the same time, unilateral coercive measures have become the weapon of choice for "old democracies" desperately trying to hold on to what they once believed was their unshakable dominance on the global stage, which is increasingly slipping from their grasp. As their political influence fades and economic leadership shifts to new centres of power, the collective West is resorting to dictatorship in international relations.

Without exaggeration, we are dealing with a modern form of colonial policy. Behind the plausible slogans of defending some democratic values lies a desire to restrain the development of states that the West considers undesirable. This is nothing other than an attempt to artificially slow socioeconomic progress and impose its will on those who have chosen the way of independence and sovereignty.

We are being led to believe that sanctions are supposedly aimed exclusively at governments that the West considers undesirable. That is a cynical lie. Experience proves that the main target of these restrictions is not the authorities or the so-called elites - it is millions of ordinary citizens. Depriving ordinary people of access to food and medicine is not a political measure; it is a true crime against humanity, and that must be properly reflected in international law.

Those who impose sanctions are under the illusion that sovereignty can be bought or traded away for comfort. However, the experience of Cuba, Iran, and North Korea clearly demonstrates that pressure doesn't work. For decades, under the unprecedented weight of sanctions, these states not only have refused to change their sovereign political course - they have continued to develop, proving that the will of the people cannot be broken by economic blackmail.

Today, they are trying to apply the same scenario against Russia. It has become clear that these sanctions are not temporary or targeted measures - they are a mechanism for systemic, strategic pressure on our country. No matter the situation, no matter the system of international relations, our Western competitors will always seek to contain Russia and weaken its economic and technological capacity. Moreover, while the collective West once tried to maintain at least a veneer of decency in its opposition, now it seems that it no longer feels the need to hold back. Not only do they regularly threaten Russia with new sanctions - they also churn out one sanctions package after another. According to estimates from the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, approximately 30,000 sanctions have already been imposed on Russian individuals and legal entities. This is significantly more than the total combined of all sanctions imposed on other countries.

However, the endless conveyor belt of sanctions packages from the European Union and the United States fails to bring them closer to their real goals. On the contrary, we see our society consolidated and our economy adapted. Our country's internal stability and our foreign policy course remain unwavering, while the sanctions machine continues to drain the resources of those who set it in motion. Russian businessmen have learnt to work under sanctions: they have adapted, invented, and launched alternative cooperation mechanisms with foreign partners who want to work with them. Moreover, in some ways, these notorious restrictive measures have become an additional catalyst for positive structural changes in the Russian economy, including finance, technology, and other key sectors.

The countries that imposed unilateral coercive sanctions against Russia have suddenly realized that the sanctions sword cuts both ways. The European Union's self-imposed embargo on Russian energy imports, adopted in the context of the war against Iran, has plunged Europe into a severe energy crisis. The social consequences have not been long in coming: the standard of living of ordinary Europeans has dropped sharply, unemployment is rising, and small and medium-sized businesses are going bankrupt. Against this backdrop, voices are already being heard - including in European parliaments - calling for the lifting of previously imposed restrictions on Russia.

As for the so-called humanitarian exemptions from unilateral coercive measures, these are a prime example of hypocrisy - they exist on paper, but in practice, they are completely unworkable. Here in Russia, we see, for example, that traditional international importers of our grain and our fertilizers continue to face serious logistical and financial barriers. Western bureaucratic labyrinths have been deliberately designed to render the humanitarian exemptions inoperative.

The Russian Federation, in its turn, is committed to firmly countering the unlawful and arbitrary restrictive measures of the collective West. We already have experience in developing bilateral framework documents on this issue. Russia has signed declarations on ways and means of countering, mitigating, and compensating for the negative consequences of unilateral coercive measures with Belarus, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria, Zimbabwe, and Cuba, as well as a corresponding memorandum with Venezuela. We also greatly appreciate the fruitful efforts in this area and the documents drawn up by the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter.

Russia, as a founding member, supports the mandate of the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. We highly appreciate the energetic and effective work of Alena Douhan in this capacity, during which she successfully carried out a number of important initiatives, including the convening of this international conference. We also commend her efforts in developing the Guiding Principles on humanitarian access and the provision of humanitarian assistance under sanctions regimes, as well as on effective remedies, accountability, and redress for harm in the context of unilateral coercive measures. We look forward to the new Special Rapporteur, Zeina Jallad, carrying the torch forward and achieving substantial success in her mandate.

In conclusion, I would note that unilateral coercive measures are a neo-colonial practice with a destructive impact on all states and all segments of the population. The time has come to recognize their illegitimacy. The era of unilateral dominance is irrevocably over. It must be replaced by an era of equitable, mutually respectful dialogue and cooperation among sovereign states.

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Pacific Fleet's detachment leaves for Gulf of Thailand after business call at port of Preah Sihanouk of Kingdom of Cambodia

09 April 2026 02:06

The day before, a detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet consisting of corvettes Sovershenny, Rezky, and the medium sea tanker Pechenga completed a business call at the port of Preah Sihanouk of the Kingdom of Cambodia and left for the Gulf of Thailand to carry out tasks in accordance with the long-distance mission plan.

During the stay at a foreign port, the crews of the ship detachment took part in official events as well as in a cultural and sporting programme. The command of the detachment held a series of meetings with representatives of the Royal Cambodian Navy and the administration of Preah Sihanouk.

A detachment of the Pacific Fleet's ships took a long-distance mission from Vladivostok on 12 February to perform tasks in the Pacific Rim. Previously, as part of international activities, Russian Navy ships made friendly calls at the port of Georgetown (Malaysia), Thilawa Port (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), port of Visakhapatnam (Republic of India), and port of Chittagong (People's Republic of Bangladesh).

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HRH the Crown Prince Meets with British Prime Minister

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 20/10/1447

Jeddah, April 09, 2026, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met today in Jeddah with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

During the meeting, they reviewed the historical relations between the two countries and discussed ways to further strengthen their strategic partnership across various fields.

They also addressed the latest regional and international developments, particularly the developments in the region and their security and economic implications.

Both sides affirmed their support for all efforts to strengthen the region's security and stability. A number of issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

Several officials from both sides attended the meeting.

-- SPA

04:12 Local Time 01:12 GMT

0004

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Vice Minister Chung Inspects Joint Military-Public-Civilian-Medical Integration Exercise in Southern Region, Commends Personnel and Encourages Advancement of Medical Capabilities

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.31

Issuing AuthorityAdministration Office

Vice Minister of National Defense General Chung Shu-ming visited the southern region today to inspect the "Joint Military-Public-Civilian-Medical Integration Exercise." Vice Minister Chung expressed high appreciation and gratitude for the efforts and hard work of all participating personnel, encouraging each unit to continue refining their professionalism and strengthening training so that the forces could maintain optimal combat readiness at all times.

In the morning, accompanied by relevant Joint Staff officers from the Ministry of National Defense, Vice Minister Chung visited the Vanguard Camp and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital successively. He observed on-site demonstrations of "combat casualty care and decontamination fixed-team operations," "personnel decontamination and injury management," "chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response and triage classification," and "emergency response hospital operations." The exercises were conducted in a compact and realistic manner, striving to closely simulate wartime conditions. The purpose of this exercise was to strengthen communication, coordination, and overall response effectiveness among the military, public, and civilian medical systems, while demonstrating the Defense Resilience and medical rescue capabilities achieved through the military's integration of local medical resources to jointly respond to composite disaster threats.

During the discussion meeting, Vice Minister Chung stated that threats from modern warfare and sudden disasters were omnipresent and were not limited to military targets but could also occur at key government infrastructure, public transportation, and medical institutions. Therefore, implementing Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience was of critical importance. This time, the military demonstrated the integration of military, public, and civilian medical systems, with the hope of providing a foundation for inter-ministerial coordination observation, assisting various units in formulating their own tailored standard operating procedures (SOPs) for future response.

Regarding response to enemy threats, Vice Minister Chung pointed out that in the face of sudden situations, the primary task was to accurately determine the type of threatwhether it was a simple drone attack, a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threat, or a composite attack involving special operations raids. He emphasized that all units should implement the "regional joint defense" mechanism, dividing areas according to importance into "core protection zones," "middle-layer interception zones," and "outer-layer vigilance zones," and combine police and civil defense forces to establish a multi-layered communication mechanism to effectively control the scope of disasters and combat casualties.

Vice Minister Chung further stated that in triage classification and medical treatment, corresponding priority orders for care must be adopted based on different types of threats, such as blast injuries, chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear threats, or composite threats. He encouraged observation and analysis teams (AAR) in various professional fields to identify problems from the actual exercises. Future drills would gradually progress from the current "demonstration and observation" stage to tactical configurations that fully conformed to real-combat scenarios. Only by adopting the attitude of "each profession has its specialization" and conducting thorough reviews and improvements could all units achieve perfection when real missions arose.

In the face of future new-type threats and composite disasters, Vice Minister Chung encouraged all personnel that what they bore was not only missions but also the important responsibility of safeguarding national security and the lives and property of the people. Finally, he once again thanked all participating units and personnel for their hard work and dedication in this exercise.

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Vice Minister Hsu Continues to Manage Military Procurement Progress and Builds Solid Defensive Combat Power

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.31

Issuing AuthorityAdministration Office

Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien responded to interpellation at the Legislative Yuan this afternoon and explained the progress of national defense weapons procurement. He emphasized that there were currently three delayed items, and the Ministry of National Defense continued to communicate with the U.S. side regarding all of them. With respect to the F-16 Block-70 fighter jets, because this variant was a new configuration specifically designed for Taiwan, it required flight testing and calibration before feedback to the production line, making the schedule difficult to determine precisely at present. Of the 66 aircraft, 59 were already undergoing assembly and modification on the production line, with no bottlenecks in materials or personnel.

Vice Minister Hsu added that payments under the defense budget were made according to the delivery progress of the weapons. If the U.S. side had not yet completed delivery, no funds would be transferred, thereby ensuring the sound use of Taiwan's budget. Any production line bottlenecks on the U.S. side would affect global customers, not Taiwan alone. The Ministry of National Defense would continue to monitor production line developments and safeguard Taiwan's rights and interests.

Vice Minister Hsu stated that most national defense weapons were currently being delivered on schedule. Delays in individual items should not affect the overall military buildup planning. The Ministry of National Defense would maintain a pragmatic attitude, continue to urge the U.S. side to advance its schedule, and execute all procurement cases in order to build solid defensive combat power and ensure national security.

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Vice Minister Hsu Receives Delegation from the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defence

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.04.01

Issuing AuthorityAdministration Office

Vice Minister for Policy Hsu Szu-chien recently received a delegation from the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE). On behalf of Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung and all ROC Armed Forces personnel, he extended a sincere welcome to the visiting Taiwan-friendly parliamentarians led by Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. Both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on shared concerns including armament acquisition, security cooperation, cybersecurity, and defense strategy, with the hope of deepening substantive Taiwan-Europe cooperation and jointly addressing common security challenges.

Vice Minister Hsu stated that the ROC Armed Forces stood ready to fight at any moment, even tonight, in order to prevent a war that might have broken out yesterday. To this end, Taiwan was vigorously using its own manpower, material, and financial resources to continuously enhance its self-defense capabilities.

Through the government's proposed eight-year special defense budget, in addition to continuously strengthening traditional combat power, Taiwan was also exploring the application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and unmanned systems. The strategy combined procurement and domestic production, balancing timely combat power construction with the strengthening of the national defense industry.

Vice Minister Hsu noted that past public opinion polls showed that approximately 60 to 70 percent of the public were willing to defend Taiwan in the event of a PRC invasion, while 70 percent supported the government increasing the defense budget, demonstrating the Taiwanese people's strong will to resist the enemy.

Vice Minister Hsu also pointed out that enhancing military defense capabilities was not the only way to maintain national security. Taiwan also needed to demonstrate its self-defense resolve and forge ties with like-minded countries to expand the framework of collective deterrence, thereby complicating the enemy's strategic calculations and making the enemy believe there would never be an optimal time to invade Taiwan, thus indefinitely postponing any aggressive actions.

Chair Strack-Zimmermann stated that strengthening defense capabilities was an urgent priority for both Europe and Taiwan. She highly agreed with Taiwan's pragmatic thinking of not holding illusions about external assistance. She also noted that Europe and Taiwan faced similar challenges and that it was necessary to engage in multi-faceted cooperation, which was the main purpose of the visit to Taiwan.

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On April 9, the Hefei Ion Medical Center (Proton Hospital) held events marking the second anniversary of its opening and a public open day. Reporters at the scene learned that a domestically produced proton system made in Hefei is scheduled to enter clinical trials in the first half of this year; with domestic substitution, proton therapy is expected to become more affordable. The Hefei Ion Medical Center will also become the countrys only center equipped with two proton therapy systems. The domestic proton system has already been installed at the Hefei Ion Medical Center. At the secondphase facility of the Hefei Ion Medical Center, staff are performing final adjustments on the domestically produced proton system  the CaproX1 superconducting proton radiation therapy system  prior to clinical trials. The system comprises two major treatment rooms: a rotatingbeam treatment room and a 360degree seatedrotation treatment room. Reporters observed that the rotatingbeam room contains a treatment couch on which the patient lies while the proton beam can be flexibly and precisely delivered from any angle; the 360degree seatedrotation room is equipped with a rotating seat device mainly for fixedangle irradiation of headandneck tumors. Patients enter the treatment room lying down or seated much like a CT scan, and a single tumor strike can be completed in about half an hour. The domestically developed CaproX1 proton system was independently designed and manufactured by Hefei CAS Ion Medical and Technical Device Co., Ltd. The treatment system features a lightweight 360degree rotating treatment gantry, a highperformance, highprecision proton energyselection system, and a CBCT imageguidance system with one of the largest imaging fields in China. It provides integrated proton radiation therapy capabilities and can be used to treat intracranial tumors, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, central nervous system tumors, and other indications. Since its opening two years ago, the Hefei Ion Medical Center has treated more than 700 oncology patients, more than half of whom came from outside the province.

Source: Hefei Daily
MAC criticizes KMT's Cheng for echoing CCP narrative during China trip

ROC Central News Agency

04/09/2026 10:26 PM

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urged Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () not to echo the Chinese side's narrative after remarks she made about Dr. Sun Yat-sen () in Nanjing during her ongoing visit to China.

"Visiting the mainland is one thing, but she should not go there and echo the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative -- that would put Taiwan in a very dangerous position," MAC deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh () said at a regular news briefing in Taipei.

He claimed that Taiwanese people are not concerned about Japanese militarism from a century ago, but about present-day China and the CCP's authoritarian rule.

Liang was commenting on remarks Cheng made on Wednesday after paying tribute to Sun at his mausoleum in Nanjing during her ongoing six-day visit to China.

In her remarks, Cheng said that four months before his death in March 1925, Sun -- the founding father of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) -- advanced a vision of Pan-Asianism distinct from the version Japan promoted to mask its "expansionist ambitions."

She said Sun advocated raising the status of Asia's weaker nations through a federation of Asian peoples and called on Japan not to serve as "a lackey of domineering Western culture," but to "treat the weaker peoples in its colonies well."

"These ideas were immediately met with an enthusiastic response and strong support in Taiwan," she added.

Cheng, leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, also criticized Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan, which lasted from 1895 to 1945 -- beginning after the First Sino-Japanese War and ending with Japan's defeat in World War II.

"To this day, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait remain unable to heal the wound carved across the Strait by the blade of Japanese imperialism during the First Sino-Japanese War 130 years ago," she said.

Liang argued that Cheng portrayed Sun as a leader opposed to Japanese militarism and framed cross-strait issues as problems left over from the First Sino-Japanese War, which he said was "quite surprising."

Given Sun's close ties with Japan during his revolutionary career, including founding the "Tongmenghui" () in Tokyo, which helped overthrow the Qing dynasty, Liang said portraying Sun as a leader who fought against Japanese militarism and colonialism is "a major distortion of history."

He speculated that Cheng's purpose in making such remarks was to "shape a historical narrative" by portraying Taiwan's current situation as a problem left behind by Japanese militarism, a framing he said that aligned with CCP propaganda.

The CCP has also portrayed Taiwanese opposition to unification as a result of "Japanization" and deeply rooted pro-Japan sentiment, Liang said

"If a Taiwanese political party leader echoes that narrative, it basically amounts to taking the CCP's side," he claimed.

While Cheng and Liang have taken sharply different views of Sun's stance toward Japanese militarism, Sun is revered by many Chinese and Taiwanese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait for helping overthrow the Qing dynasty.

Thursday marked the third day of Cheng's visit to China, with local media reporting that she is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping (), who also serves as general secretary of the CCP, in Beijing on Friday.

(By Liao Wen-chi and Sunny Lai)

Enditem/AW

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KMT chair calls for peace as 'greatest gift' during Shanghai visit

ROC Central News Agency

04/09/2026 07:37 PM

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) on Thursday emphasized peace as the foundation for cross-strait prosperity, saying it is the "greatest gift" she hopes to take back to Taiwan during a visit to Shanghai.

Speaking at Yangshan Deep-Water Port, KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () reflected on the city's history and transformation, describing Shanghai as both a place of cultural vibrancy and historical tragedy shaped by war and conflict.

"Peace can make everything possible," she said, adding that while previous generations endured war, it remains possible to secure peace for current and future generations.

"The skies should be for birds, not missiles, and the sea for fish, not warships," Cheng added, stressing that technological development should benefit humanity rather than fuel destruction.

Leaning into the historical ties of some Taiwanese nationals to China, Cheng referenced wars in the 19th and 20th centuries leading up to the KMT's retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after its defeat by the Chinese Communist Party.

"In 1949, this place became a port of farewell. Many elders we knew boarded ships here, casting a final glance at their homeland, trying to remember it," she said. "Many of them never returned."

Quoting Canadian poet John McCrae and Chinese writer Lu Xun (), Cheng underscored the high price of peace and urged continued dialogue and exchange, saying mutual trust must be built incrementally.

She reiterated the KMT's support for expanded cross-strait engagement, arguing that cooperation in economic, cultural, and social fields can help ensure long-term peace and development.

Cheng also said the trip offered insights into China's rapid development, including advances in artificial intelligence and digital economy sectors.

She noted that Taiwanese businesses and young professionals are increasingly exploring opportunities in Shanghai, and called for closer cooperation to leverage complementary strengths in technology and services.

Cheng's remarks came as she led a delegation on a six-day visit to China that concludes Sunday, during which she has met with local officials and industry representatives.

However, her emotional appeal to peace drew a sharp response from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

"The bombs have started to fly even before the seeds of peace sown by Cheng could take root," DPP spokesperson Lin Chu-yin () said in a statement, referring to China's announcement of a live-fire shooting drill in the northern part of the Yellow Sea from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.

The KMT should stop sloganeering and not count on a "dictator" to realize its longing for peace, Lin added.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/AW

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London Says It Tracked Three Russian Submarines Near Critical Undersea Infrastructure

By Merhat Sharipzhan April 09, 2026

British authorities say they have tracked three Russian submarines operating near the United Kingdom in what officials described as a suspected intelligence-gathering mission targeting critical undersea cables and energy infrastructure, according to reporting by international media.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey told reporters on April 9 that the submarines, including a nuclear-powered attack vessel and two specialized deep-sea units, were monitored for more than a month in the North Atlantic, close to key communications links that carry global Internet and financial data.

Healey said the operation involved the Royal Navy working in coordination with allied forces as part of broader efforts to counter what he called "malign activity" by Russia in strategically sensitive waters.

"We've exposed those covert operations. We've made clear to [Russian President Vladimir Putin] and his submarines that we've watched them every step of the way," Healey said, adding that British forces deployed maritime patrol aircraft and sonar systems to maintain constant surveillance.

Secretive Underwater Surveillance

Officials cited in a New York Times report said the submarines are believed to be linked to Russia's deep-sea research and special operations capabilities.

The UK Defense Ministry said Britain and its allies monitored an Akula-class Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine along with two specialized submarines operated by Russia's Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI).

According to defense experts, GUGI is one of Russia's most secretive entities, tasked with underwater surveillance and operating nuclear-powered deep-sea mini-submarines used for covert missions.

No damage to cables or pipelines was reported, and the Russian vessels eventually left the area, according to British officials.

The reported activity comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West following Moscow's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022 and a series of suspected sabotage incidents targeting infrastructure in Europe in recent years.

Russia rejected the claims by British officials.

"Russia does not threaten underwater infrastructure that is indeed critically important to the United Kingdom. We do not use aggressive rhetoric on this issue," the Russian Embassy in London said.

With reporting by The New York Times, AFP, Reuters, TASS, The Guardian, and The Times.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/britain-russia-submarines- healey-undersea-infrastructure-tension/33728781.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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Foreign Secretary Mansion House address to City of London 2026

Speech

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper delivered the annual Mansion House address to the City of London on 9 April 2026

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

Published 9 April 2026

Location: London

Delivered on: 9 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Here this evening, we have a chance to talk together at very turbulent times.

And at a time when I've had the privilege of being the Foreign Secretary for seven months now, months that feel as though time has really sped up, and a time when there are conflicts and crises happening all over the world.

A time when these are not just remote events in distant lands, but upheavals that reverberate here at home, impacting directly on the cost of living for families right across the UK.

And so I want to reflect a bit tonight on how UK foreign policy needs to respond to the scale and the pace of the turbulence that affects us all.

But let me start first with the current crisis in the Middle East.

Because the news that, on Tuesday night, that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between the US, Israel and Iran, was very welcome.

A vital step to delivering some security and stability for the region. To get international shipping moving again, the global economy moving again, and to easing the pressures on the cost of living here at home.

But so much work still to do.

We took a very different view from the United States and Israel at the start of this conflict.

When their action got underway, we faced a choice, and we considered those issues carefully.

The need for a clear plan, the risks of escalation, the potential economic consequences, and the lawful basis for any action.

And we made the choice not to provide support for the initial strikes or to get drawn into offensive action.

That was the decision Prime Minister Keir Starmer took - calm and clear and guided by UK interests and UK values.

A different party in power with a different Prime Minister in Downing Street might have taken a different decision.

And governments are judged by the decisions they make and the instincts that guide them in moments of grave crisis.

And so, in those crucial hours on the morning of the 28th of February, when other parties were demanding to know why we were not taking part in the strikes on Iran, this government stayed calm and held firm.

Because we have learned the lessons from the recent past, especially from Iraq,

And no matter what the pressure from other parties or other countries, we do not believe it is right to outsource our foreign policy to anyone.

And that is what the British public should rightly expect of their leaders.

To take independent decisions according to the UK national interest and UK values.

And so, we have not engaged in offensive action, but what we have done is provide defensive support to our partners in the Gulf who faced reckless Iranian attacks.

And that is why British jets have been in the skies defending countries who played no role in this conflict and where hundreds of thousands of British citizens live and visit.

And I want to pay tribute to our RAF pilots and UK service personnel for all they are doing to keep people safe.

So we provided basing support to the US against the Iranian ballistic missile launchers that were pointed at the Gulf and at international shipping in the Strait

And alongside that international defensive action in our national interest here at home, we've worked to support UK households under pressure, including cuts to energy bills and extending the freeze on fuel duty to provide reassurance and security at a difficult time.

And we have been working internationally, both for a swift resolution of the conflict and also for a plan for what comes after.

Because we were not involved in the start of this conflict, but we will work together to support a sustainable end to it.

So most important of all for us that means the restoration of freedom of navigation, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and getting the global economy moving once more.

Because the attacks on international shipping in the Gulf, the effective closure of the Strait has been deeply damaging for the world - blocking fertilizer for Africa, Liquified Natural Gas for Asia, and jet fuel for the world.

The trading route for Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman, all hijacked by Iran so that they can hold the global economy hostage.

But this is an international shipping route. It's a transit route for the high seas. No country can close those routes, and it goes against the fundamental principles of the Law of the Sea.

And here in Britain, the importance of this runs deep in our history.

Because we're an island nation, a maritime economy

95% of our trade is carried by sea

40% of our food is imported,

and it was Victorian Britain that pioneered the freedom of the seas, the maritime law made piracy a crime of universal jurisdiction.

And today we know, more than ever, that freedom of navigation is the underpinning of global trade,

and it matters for every sea, every ocean, every strait, every country has a stake in this.

Every industry is affected by it.

So that is why last week, I convened more than 40 nations from every continent across the globe, all adamant that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored.

It's why today I met with the International Maritime Organization to discuss what the first steps should be now the ceasefire is in place,

And it's why we are supporting and promoting their practical proposals to start moving the ships that are stranded in the Strait and the 20,000 stranded seafarers. It's a humanitarian as well as an economic first step.

And then we need the full and unconditional reopening of the Strait as a central part, not just of the current ceasefire, but the long term future for the region.

Because the fundamental freedoms of the seas must not be unilaterally withdrawn or sold off to individual bidders.

And nor can there be any place for tolls on an international waterway.

Freedom of navigation means navigation must be free.

And the international consensus that Britain helped build more than 100 years ago in support of maritime freedoms, we will champion again now.

So there is so much more work to do to build a sustainable settlement which delivers security for the region. And let me be clear, it must include Lebanon.

The escalation of airstrikes in Lebanon by Israel yesterday was deeply damaging.

And in the humanitarian consequences of this conflict, with hundreds of 1000s of people displaced, hundreds of people killed

But also, for the security prospects for the region and for the people of Lebanon and the people of Israel too, we will not achieve a durable peace settlement in the Middle East, if in Lebanon, the crisis endures.

Regional stability and security also requires that Iran must not pose a threat to international shipping anymore or to its neighbours.

And we've long been clear Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

And we've got no illusion about the nature of the Iranian regime, as we saw earlier this year in its brutal repression of its own people and the threats projected through its proxies around the world, including Hezbollah.

So an Iran that is contained is an Iran that can no longer hurt our interests, allies or prosperity or people.

So where threats remain, the goal must be to move from conflict to containment with coordinated international action and diplomacy to prevent rearmament supply chains.

And we also won't forget that regional security requires progress on the Gaza ceasefire and the 20-point plan, an end to annexation threats and settler violence in the West Bank, and a realistic political horizon for the two-state solution that is the only way to ensure security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Events in the Middle East weigh heavily on us, and it might be tempting or even comforting to think that the Iran crisis is a once in a generation shock.

But this is the third time in six years that international events have sent economic tidal waves around the globe, hitting Britain's shores. The COVID pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, and now the Iran conflict.

Instability and volatility are becoming increasingly chronic, and turbulence is now the new normal.

National security and economic prosperity increasingly intertwined.

The new reality we face did not begin with the war in Iran, nor will it end with a reopened Strait.

And I think for too long, the UK clung to the prevailing security assumptions of the last two decades.

Our country had planned for a post-Cold War peace dividend. Instead, we have an aggressive expansionist Russia that menaces our continent.

Successive governments hoped that well managed economic globalisation would expand trade, reduce conflict, and a rising tide would lift all boats.

Instead, we've seen instability, inequality and rising protectionism threaten economic security.

We've got rapid technological change creating amazing new opportunities, but also new uncertainties and vulnerabilities.

And undiversified supply chains exploited for economic coercion and the interdependence that has helped make us prosperous being weaponized against us.

We've seen in China's rise, the most consequential economic transformation of the last century.

And all of this amidst the US changing priorities and focus with far reaching implications for European responsibility and for our own defence.

So these assumptions about benign international security, about stable globalisation, about predictable international partnerships, may have been well intentioned, but UK governments were too slow to adapt as the world changed.

Stability and security were taken for granted, and there was too much complacency about the resilience of our alliances, international institutions, and the UK's role within them.

Which meant there were short term decisions taken over the last 15 years that corroded some of our strength and resilience.

An era of complacency in which defence spending was heavily cut. And in the words of a former Conservative Defence Secretary, key capabilities hollowed out.

The energy transition was hobbled and carelessness from previous governments about economic security and capabilities and the state of our partnerships, including Europe and with NATO.

We will not do that any more.

And so that is why, since this Labour Government came to office, our foreign policy is increasingly focused on ensuring that Britain can thrive amidst this scale of upheaval and change.

It's embodied in this Prime Minister's calm and steady approach. Putting security, both national security and economic security, much more centrally at the heart of our approach.

Guided by our values and our national interests, but not outsourcing foreign policy decisions to anyone else.

And in place of complacency, a new determined diplomacy, renewing and adapting existing partnerships and building agile alliances too.

Because it is the work that we build, the work that we do abroad, the partnerships that we build across the world, that make us stronger here at home.

So first, that means renewing our focus on national security and overseeing the biggest increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.

Because hard power is so important.

And Europe is long overdue in taking on greater responsibility from its own defence.

And that's why we've made the historic commitment to spend 5% of our GDP on national security by 2035, honouring our commitment to be a leader in NATO, and our commitment to stand with Ukraine and push back against Russia, our defence of Gulf allies under attack, modernising our approach to hybrid threats.

And second, just as the Chancellor has put economic stability at the heart of our domestic policy, I'm strengthening the focus on economic resilience alongside trade in our foreign policy.

Because economic security is the underpinning of prosperity in turbulent times.

So yes, we're strengthening national capabilities like tech, R&D, and finance, sustaining strengthening our steel industry with a landmark strategy and a goal that 50% of steel used in the UK is made in the UK.

And internationally, working to secure the critical minerals that the UK needs.

And most ambitiously, working alongside allies to transform our long-term economic security, unleashing new nuclear and turbo-charging renewables.

Because for a century, global energy has been based on concentrated resources production cartels and geographic choke points

But renewable energy cannot get stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.

It cannot be controlled by one or two countries.

So this is a historic opportunity to reduce our dependence on volatile fossil fuels, but to seize the opportunities to lead and drive that transition that transition globally, so no choke point can hold us back.

But thirdly, it means being confident about the values that guide us.

Now be that our humanitarian values that mean we're providing 15m extra during this Middle East crisis to support displaced civilians in Lebanon, or supporting energy infrastructure renewal in Ukraine.

Or our respect for the rule of law, for the values that underpin the United Nations Charter, for the friendships and alliances we build and the commitments we make in the volatile global context with rising challenges from great power politics, it might be tempting to think that international law and the role of international frameworks are out of date.

And that in championing them, we somehow cherish rules over national interests.

Well, I reject that view, because we're not just defending the status quo.

Frameworks of international rules have to be able to adapt to a fast changing world, just as we've argued for changes to the way that the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted to address challenges on migration,

But the role that rules-based frameworks play is vital, and respect for the rule of law is a core British value that supports our national interest too.

Underpins our economic stability, makes us a reliable place for international investment while the whole world spins around us

And underpins our security and prosperity too.

And it's in Britain's interests to be a dependable power, a country that keeps its word, a stable base for investment and a partner of choice.

And in order to deliver on our security, our prosperity and our values.

In place of complacency, that means we need determined diplomacy that pursues those diverse partnerships and agile alliances,

Continuing to recognize the vital role NATO plays, but also that Europe needs to contribute more.

Strengthening our partnership with European neighbours: a landmark bilateral treaty with Germany, deeper nuclear security cooperation with France, stronger migration cooperation with Italy, stronger naval cooperation with Norway, and with the EU, a closer relationship, not just on security and defence, but on better trade terms too.

And all this while sustaining our deep and indispensable US alliance. A strong alliance that goes back many decades, embedded through the strong security and defence partnerships, including through the Five Eyes that keep people on both sides of the Atlantic safe.

And because strong allies are honest with each other, that includes being able at times to disagree.

But as part of that, it means to moving forward to find new forms of multilateralism. New flexible groups of countries where our interests are aligned, the Joint Expeditionary Force on defence, the Calais group on migration, working with major European players through the E3 or E4 groups, the Coalition of the Willing to support Ukraine, or the work we're doing with the US and the Quad countries to secure a ceasefire in Sudan - the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st Century.

So more than ever before, these fast-moving events across the world are continually and directly affecting our lives, our prosperity and our security at home.

And our foreign policy needs to keep up with the change, with the upheaval.

But also to keep calm in that fast-changing world.

To be confident in our values.

Purposeful in our interests.

Strong in our focus on security, as the bedrock on which all else is built.

And agile in the alliances we build and renew for the future.

Those partnerships we build abroad make us stronger at home.

That's my mission as Foreign Secretary, and I look forward to working with all of you to deliver it.

Thank you.

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PM meeting with King and Prime Minister of Bahrain: 9 April 2026

Press release

The Prime Minister met with His Majesty the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa this evening in Manama.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 9 April 2026

The Prime Minister met with His Majesty the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa this evening in Manama.

The Prime Minister strongly condemned the Iranian attacks on Bahrain and reflected on his conversations so far with other leaders in the region.

He reiterated the importance of ensuring the ceasefire is upheld in order to pave the way for lasting peace. He said that the UK would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Bahrain and other allies in the region.

They underlined their commitment to restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the need to consider and pursue viable plans to deliver this.

The Prime Minister and Crown Prince also reflected on the long held strong links between their countries and the depth of the relationship, including the strong defence collaboration between the UK and Bahrain and their desire to work on this further.

They looked forward to speaking again soon.

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UK exposes covert Russian submarine operation in and around UK waters

Press release

The British military has exposed a covert Russian submarine operation in and around UK waters, forcing the vessels to retreat back to Russia.

From: Ministry of Defence, The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP and The Rt Hon John Healey MP

Published 9 April 2026

UK reveals Russian submarine operation in and around British waters.

British personnel, ships and aircraft deployed to send a message to President Putin and keep the UK and our allies secure.

Operation was part of a Russian bluff while other specialist vessels conducted nefarious activity near critical underwater infrastructure.

British aircraft and warships identified a Russian attack submarine entering international waters in the High North several weeks ago, and tracked its activity around the clock.

Service personnel quickly established that the submarine was deployed as a distraction and the UK worked closely with allies - including Norway - to identify and monitor other Russian undersea naval units from the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (known as GUGI) conducting nefarious activity over critical undersea infrastructure elsewhere.

Please see below a declassified image of surface and sub-surface GUGI-associated vessels based at Olenya Guba in Russia.



Declassified image of Olenya Guba Russian base. Declassified image of Olenya Guba Russian base.

The UK and its allies began a campaign of overt action to ensure the Russian units knew that they were being monitored and were no longer covert as Putin had planned.

Both the GUGI units and the Akula class submarine have subsequently retreated home, having failed to complete their operation in secrecy.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

I am determined to protect the British people from paying the price for Putin's aggression in their household bills. That is why we will not shy away from taking action and exposing Russia's destabilising activity that seeks to test our resolve. Our Armed Forces are among the best in the world, and the British public should be in no doubt that this government will do whatever it takes to defend our national and economic security, wherever in the world that is needed.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

I want to pay tribute to the UK personnel who spent many days tracking these Russian submarines in extremely challenging and treacherous conditions. While the eyes of many - understandably - were on the Middle East, our British Armed Forces were simultaneously responding to rising Russian threats north of the UK. As we act to defend our interests and Allies in the Middle East, we are tackling increasing threats to NATO in the High North, maintaining strong support for Ukraine and protecting our UK homeland. To Putin, I say this: we see you, we see your activity over our underwater infrastructure. You should know that any attempt to damage it will not be tolerated and would have serious consequences.

Subsea fibre optic cables are essential for all digital communications, with over 99% of international data traffic, including voice calls and internet data, travelling through subsea cables. This underpins global banking, trade, and communications.

Conducted under the cover of events in the Middle East, the Russian attack submarine and multiple vessels from the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (known as GUGI) entered international waters in the High North.

The Royal Navy deployed a Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans, RFA Tidespring and Merlin helicopters to track the attack submarine as it operated near British territorial waters.

Working alongside RAF P8 aircraft, the submarine was tracked 24/7 in an operation carried out with allies.

As part of the operation, which saw British ships cover thousands of miles, the RAF and Navy deployed sonobuoys to track the Russian vessels.

While the Russian attack submarine has now headed back towards Russia, the UK has kept both naval vessels and aircraft ready to respond should Russian vessels return.

GUGI is Russia's long-running military programme to develop capabilities to be deployed from specialist surface vessels and submarines, that are intended to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime, but then damage or destroy infrastructure during a conflict.

British defences were previously tested by GUGI when the Russian spy ship Yantar sailed near UK waters last year. The ship was tracked by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P8s, with lasers being directed at British pilots.

The Yantar is one the key vessels used by Russia to threaten the UK and our allies. Over the last two years, the UK has seen a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters.

This comes as the Royal Navy completes ten days of intensive monitoring operations of Russian warships and a submarine which entered UK waters in the English Channel and North Sea. HMS Somerset and HMS Mersey, supported by tanker RFA Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters, tracked the movements of a Russian destroyer, frigate, landing ship, and Kilo-class submarine. The Royal Navy ships used their powerful array of radars and sensors to track the Russian vessels.

The UK is stepping up on its commitment to protect our critical underwater infrastructure. This includes an additional 100 million to support our vital P8 submarine hunting aircraft.

Delivering on the recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review, the Atlantic Bastion programme is transforming the Royal Navy's submarine hunting capabilities - combining autonomous systems and advanced sensors with the Royal Navy's fleet of warships. The project has already received millions in investment to develop and test innovative technology.

This comes as the government is overseeing the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War, reaching of 2.6% of GDP from 2027, and with 270 billion investment in defence across this Parliament.

The UK continues to closely monitor the situation and is working closely with allies to track and deter any activity that threatens British interests

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Defence Secretary No9 speech - 09 April 2026

Speech

The Defence Secretary held a media briefing at No9 today to give an operational update on Russian activity in the Atlantic.

From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP

Published 9 April 2026

Delivered on: 9 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Today, I am revealing details of a recent military operation undertaken by Russia. And in doing so, I'm doing this to expose the continuing Russian activity that threatens the UK and to highlight our constant readiness to respond.

In the last few weeks, while the eyes of many, were trained on the Middle East, the UK - in partnership with Norway and other Allies - have responded to increased Russian activity in the Atlantic, north of the UK.

This operation involved a Russian Akula Class Submarine and a concurrent deployment of two Specialised Submarines from GUGI, that's Russia's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research. Last November, I outlined how GUGI units - including the Spy ship YANTAR - are vessels directed by President Putin to conduct hybrid warfare activities against the UK and its Allies, specifically around Critical Undersea Infrastructure.

And for the first time today we are releasing the images of the GUGI base and of these vessels.

They are designed to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime, and sabotage it in conflict. In response to the Russian submarines, I can confirm that I deployed our Armed Forces to track and deter any malign activity by these vessels.

A Royal Navy warship and Royal Air Force P8 aircraft, alongside Allies', ensured the Russian submarines were monitored 24/7. The Akula Submarine subsequently retreated home having been closely tracked throughout and we continued to monitor the two GUGI submarines, in and around wider UK waters.

Our Armed Forces left them with no doubt that they were being monitored that their movements were not covert as President Putin planned and that their attempted secret operations had been exposed.

Those GUGI submarines have now left UK waters and headed back north, and this operation - which lasted more than a month - has now concluded.

Our aircraft flew over 450 hours. Our frigate covered several thousand nautical miles. 500 British personnel were involved in the response.

I am making this statement to call out this Russian activity. And to President Putin, I say this: we see you, we see your activity over our cables and pipelines. And you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated, and will have serious consequences.

This also reminds us why the seabed matters, especially for Britain. We are an island nation. Connection is everything, for our economy and our security and beneath our waters lies a vast network of cables and pipelines on which our way of life depends.

Half of the gas that heats our homes. 99 per cent of international telecoms and data traffic. Trillions of pounds of global trade each day.

And for all the reasons the seabed matters so much to us, are the reasons that make it the prime target for our adversaries.

The UK's undersea network is highly resilient. But the threats are increasing. And so, we are stepping up our action to defend it.

We're providing an extra 100 million for our vital P8 submarine hunting aircraft. We've launched the Atlantic Bastion programme, to combine the latest autonomous technologies with the very best warships and aircraft to create a British-built hybrid naval force.

And we're making the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, putting an end to the hollowing out and underfunding under the previous government.

Our Strategic Defence Review confirms the UK faces and I quote 'growing Russian aggression in all domains'.

And the High North is no less vital to our UK security today, than it was when the current conflict erupted in the Middle East

Putin's covert operation failed because this Government is delivering our first duty, protecting Britain

Our resolve to track, expose and confront the Russian threat remains absolute. And that's why, this year, we are deploying our carrier group where it is most needed - the High North - and why we're leading NATO's new mission, Arctic Sentry.

I also want to thank our Norwegian allies with whom we have cooperated closely throughout.

Our shared commitment to confront Russian aggression in the North Atlantic is at the heart of our Lunna House Agreement and together, we are now building a combined fleet of new submarine hunting frigates and new uncrewed systems.

Let me finish where I began with praise for the professionalism of our outstanding Armed Forces. They are truly the best of Britain.

And when a crisis erupts noisily and dangerously as it has done in the Middle East, I understand people questioning why all UK military assets and personnel have not been deployed to deal with it. But that is not in Britain's national interest. The greatest threats are often unseen and silent. And as demands on defence rise, we must deploy our resources to best effect.

Those resources will rise in the coming years because of our government's record defence investment.

And so, as we act to defend our interests and our Allies in the Middle East, we also step up to meet the increasing threats in the High North.

To strengthen NATO, to stand with Ukraine. and above all, we will always act on the first duty of any government. To protect our UK homeland and keep the British people safe.

Secure at home, and strong abroad.

Thank you.

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A record 33,000 enemy UAVs were destroyed by interceptor drones in March  double the number recorded in the previous month

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

8 April, 2026, 9:16 PM EEST

In March, interceptor drones downed more than 33,000 enemy unmanned aerial vehicles of various types, including Shahed, Gerbera, Molniya, ZALA, Orlan, and others  twice as many as in February.

This was reported by Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, following a meeting with manufacturers of interceptor drones. The meeting aimed to gather industry feedback and identify next steps to strengthen the protection of Ukraine's skies.

"Interceptor drones are a Ukrainian innovation that has already emerged as a key component of our air defense," said Mykhailo Fedorov.

Key challenges in countering Shahed-type UAVs

According to the Minister, the key challenge is jet-powered Shahed drones. The enemy is ramping up the use of these drones, making their interception more difficult.

"Our task is to find a technological solution. Together with manufacturers, we assessed their products and level of readiness, identified bottlenecks, and synchronized efforts to enable rapid scaling," the Minister said.

Recently, under the EU4UA Defence Tech grant programme jointly implemented with the EU, the Brave1 defense tech cluster supported 12 technologies. Companies are set to receive up to 150,000 to develop high-speed interceptor drones (450+ km/h) and advanced systems for countering aerial targets.

At the President's direction, the parties also discussed the following matters:

contracting for 2026;

training of pilots;

test ranges;

shortage of ground control stations;

exports;

updates to performance evaluation criteria under the "Army of Drones Bonus" program.

Solutions are being developed for each of the matters raised.

Building and scaling the interceptor drone market

To build and scale the interceptor drone market, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has taken several systemic steps:

A unique model for rewarding companies for intercepting Shahed drones has been launched. It was within this initiative that a Shahed UAV was intercepted for the first time by an interceptor drone. Since 2024, Brave1, Ukraine's defense tech cluster, has awarded more than 40 grants to manufacturers. Currently, the cluster brings together around 100 interceptor drone manufacturers. The Brave1 Dataroom has been launched  a platform for the training and validation of AI models. Currently, more than 30 companies are testing, validating, and training over 50 AI models for the detection and interception of aerial targets under varying time-of-day and weather conditions.

Tasks for interceptor drone manufacturers

During the meeting, Mykhailo Fedorov set two key tasks for interceptor drone manufacturers:

to develop and scale jet-powered interceptor drone technologies to counter jet-powered Shahed UAVs;

to develop alternative terminal guidance systems for operation in adverse weather conditions;

The state, operating within a transparent market framework, is ready to rapidly procure new technologies from manufacturers capable of effectively carrying out these tasks and helping to protect Ukraine's skies.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to a media question, Moscow, April 9, 2026

9 April 2026 15:12

532-09-04-2026

Question: Are there any contacts with the Ukrainian side today? Are we making progress towards a settlement of his situation?

Sergey Lavrov: Our President's Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has repeatedly spoken about this.

Contacts on the Ukrainian agenda continue in an informal and confidential manner. For a long time, we saw no particular prospects for resuming the dialogue. Our US colleagues have volunteered to mediate, but they are busy with other things today. Since they have the same group of mediators for all foreign policy sectors, a certain pause has set in for the time being.

In the meantime, we continue to work on implementing the tasks set by our President by providing diplomatic support for the special military operation.

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Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov inspects Tsentr Group of Forces

09 April 2026 06:20

Minister of Defene of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov checked the progress of missions conducted by formations and units of the Tsentr Group of Forces.

At the CP, the Minister received reports from the HQ officers on the current situation at the line of contact in the zones of responsibility.

Commander of the Tsentr Group of Forces Colonel General Valery Solodchuk reported to the head of the Russian Defence Ministry on the progress of the advance and the nature of enemy's actions.

The Group's chief of the unmanned systems forces body reported that the units effectively employ various UAVs and support reconnaissance manoeuvres and fire engagement of the enemy.

At the end of the inspection, Andrei Belousov presented state awards to servicemen of the group of forces for showing courage and heroism in carrying out military duty in the special military operation zone.

Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation

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Russian Forces Strike Fuel and Energy Infrastructure Facilities of Ukrainian Armed Forces

Sputnik News

20260409

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian military forces have struck Ukraine's fuel and energy infrastructure facilities, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groupings struck fuel and energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, ammunition depots, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 153 areas," the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine lost over 325 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup , over 195 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated by Russia's Sever battlegroup , over 315 by the Vostok battlegroup

, over 195 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated by Russia's , over 315 by the Up to 190 Ukraine's soldiers were elminated by the Zapad battlegroup, over 175 by the Yug battlegroup, and up to 55 by the Dnepr battlegroup

 Sputnik

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Preparation for Winter, Resilience of Communities, Negotiations to Achieve Peace, and Strengthening Support for Ukraine: The President Outlined the Key Focus Areas During the Meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

President of Ukraine

9 April 2026 - 18:34

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, during which key issues of domestic and foreign policy were discussed.

The Head of State stressed: it's important that the country has got through this difficult winter with dignity. According to the President, this required great efforts from all Ukrainians, first and foremost from our warriors.

"I want us to thank them - all the men and women who have done so much. I also want to thank communities, leadership, and civilians. And, of course, businesses and representatives of various enterprises who worked, protected business, defended our state, and filled the budget," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President separately noted that the Verkhovna Rada had adopted decisions necessary to ensure macro-financial stability, advance European integration, and fulfill Ukraine's commitments to partners. Important international meetings are being prepared in the near future to strengthen defense and financial support for our country.

According to the Head of State, one of the main priorities is preparation for the next winter and the implementation of resilience plans prepared by all Ukrainian regions. Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on all communities to pay particular attention to the protection of people and critical infrastructure.

"We know what the enemy is planning, but we are following our own path, strengthening ourselves. At the same time, there is also a diplomatic track. We must prepare for winter in any case and restore our energy capacity, no matter when this war ends. We will do everything to ensure it ends with a just peace as soon as possible," the President emphasized.

The Head of State noted that Ukraine's team is currently refining security guarantees, including funding for the Ukrainian army after the end of the war and the provision of necessary air defense systems.

"And also the most difficult issue is the response of the United States to a renewed aggression by Russia, if such aggression occurs. What exactly will be the response of the United States or the United States together with European colleagues - we are still working on these issues," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

The President also spoke about agreements with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Ukraine is ready to share its expertise in protecting against air threats and attacks on critical infrastructure facilities, to actively cooperate in the defense sector, expecting assistance at the same time in strengthening its energy security.

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The President Met With Representatives of the Hungarian Community of Zakarpattia

President of Ukraine

9 April 2026 - 15:58

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of the Hungarian community of Zakarpattia, including military personnel.

The Head of State thanked them for their resilience throughout this difficult winter and for supporting the front, and expressed special gratitude to the servicemembers for all their efforts in defending Ukraine, in particular our skies, along with critical and civilian infrastructure, from Russian attacks.

"I thank you for the unity that was essential in getting through such a difficult winter. It was indeed different across the regions of our country, but in every one of them, it was certainly not easy," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President stressed that preparations for the next winter must already begin. It is important that all regions have resilience plans, and now these must be fully implemented to ensure Ukrainians receive maximum protection.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the state continues its work to strengthen air defense and to secure funding for the protection of critical infrastructure facilities.

The Head of State highlighted that many enterprises and businesses have successfully relocated to Zakarpattia, which is important for preserving and creating jobs and supporting the economy of the entire Ukraine.

The meeting also focused on addressing the needs of national communities in receiving education in their native language, the role of local self-government in filling the state budget, and the creation of conditions for the return of Ukrainians who were forced to leave abroad due to Russian aggression.

Particular attention was given to the prospects of using Zakarpattia's balneological resources for the rehabilitation of warriors and veterans.

Representatives of the Hungarian community thanked Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his constant attention to the life of their community and the region, as well as for his willingness to cooperate in resolving important issues.

The President presented state awards to defenders of Ukraine who distinguished themselves in resisting the full-scale Russian aggression. Servicemembers of the 128th Zakarpattia Separate Mountain Assault Brigade were awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class; the Orders "For Courage," III class; and the medals "For Military Service to Ukraine." A UAV operator of the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces was awarded the Order "For Courage," III class.

The Head of State also presented the Order of Merit, III class (posthumously), to the wife of Yosyp Borto, former First Deputy Head and member of the Zakarpattia Regional Council, who passed away in November 2023.

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SSU exposes enemy agent who on FSB's behalf set up weapons cache for contract killings in Odesa

Security Service of Ukraine

13:00, 9 April 2026

The Security Service of Ukraine has prevented a series of contract killings in Odesa. Following an operation in the port city, an agent of russia's federal security service has been detained: he set up a cache of ammunition and firearms. The supplies from it were intended to be used for high-profile assassinations.

The detained individual is an unemployed resident of Poltava, recruited by ruscists while seeking 'easy money' on Telegram.

After the recruitment, the asset was deployed to Odesa. Upon arriving in the city, he received the geolocation of the cache from the FSB, from which he retrieved an F-1 combat grenade, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, and 30 rounds of ammunition for it.

In a hotel room, the agent tested their functionality, reported to his russian handler, and was instructed to hide the weapons in a new hiding place.

After conducting reconnaissance of the area, he hid the weapons in trash containers in the central park and sent the coordinates to the FSB.

Next, the russian service planned to recruit a hitman who was to use the cache to attempt an assassination of the head of one of the district Territorial Recruitment Centres of Odesa.

In the event of the military official's murder, the enemy intended to expand the 'list' of victims.

The SSU uncovered the aggressor's plans at an early stage, documented the agent's crime, and detained him at his home in Poltava, where he had returned after planting the cache.

A smartphone, which he had used to communicate with the russian handler, has been seized during the search. His handler's identity has been established by the SSU.

SSU investigators have notified the detainee of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

111.2 (high treason, committed under martial law);

263 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives).

The indictment has been sent to court. The suspect faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The FSB handler has also been notified of the charges in absentia. His actions have been classified as preparation of a terrorist attack, attempted murder, and illegal handling of weapons and ammunition.

Efforts to bring him to justice are ongoing.

Investigative and operational activities were carried out by the SSU Office in Odesa region under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor's Office.

The Security Service of Ukraine urges citizens to remain vigilant. If you are approached with dubious offers, have seen suspicious objects or individuals, or have information about the activities of russian intelligence services, or about websites and social media pages they use for recruitment, please report this to the SSU:

Chatbot Burn the FSB-man - t.me/spaly_fsb_bot

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SSU detains FSB agent plotting terrorist attack in Khmelnytskyi

Security Service of Ukraine

10:00, 9 April 2026

The SSU Counterintelligence has thwarted a terrorist attack in Khmelnytskyi. As a result of pre-emptive actions, an FSB agent who was preparing to detonate an improvised explosive device in the city has been detained.

According to the investigation, the explosion was to occur at a location where Ukrainian military personnel were concentrated. To increase the number of casualties, the perpetrator planned to make an anonymous call to 102 to summon a police unit to this site.

The bomb was to be detonated remotely upon the arrival of law enforcement officers at the site of the planned terrorist attack.

The SSU uncovered the plot at an early stage and apprehended the agent while he was conducting a reconnaissance of the place where he intended to plant the IED.

The order of russia's federal security service was carried out by a local drug addict recruited by them. He was spotted by the FSB while looking for 'easy money' on Telegram.

After the recruitment, the asset received instructions from his russian handler on how to manufacture a bomb using improvised materials.

Simultaneously, he walked about the city trying to identify locations with high concentration of Defence Forces personnel.

During his reconnaissance, the perpetrator not only marked coordinates on Google Maps but also photographed the sites, referencing the surrounding terrain and buildings.

The agent was also looking for hiding places to plant an IED. He passed the collected data to the FSB to coordinate the preparation of the attack.

A fully assembled improvised explosive device and a smartphone containing evidence of working for the enemy were seized from the suspect during the search.

SSU investigators have notified the detainee of suspicion under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law).

The suspect is in custody without bail and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Khmelnytskyi region under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor's Office.

The Security Service of Ukraine asks citizens to remain vigilant. If you are approached with dubious proposals, have seen suspicious objects or individuals, or have information about the activities of russian intelligence services, or about websites and social media pages they use for recruitment, please report this to the SSU:

Chatbot Burn the FSB-man - t.me/spaly_fsb_bot

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Featured

Benin finance minister Wadagni seeks his own mandate in election

Reuters International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 11:41 1 minute read

Benin Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni is expected to make the leap from behind-the-scenes technocrat to head of state on Sunday when he runs as the strong favourite in a presidential election clouded by jihadist attacks in the north.

The 49-year-old former Deloitte executive has spent the past decade implementing the economic agenda of outgoing President Patrice Talon, who is barred by constitutional term limits from running again.

His campaign points to achievements such as tripling the national budget and posting cotton-exporting Benin's highest GDP growth rates in more than two decades.

Talons tenure has featured a consolidation of power within the presidency and the almost total sidelining of the political opposition, easing Wadagnis path to power.

Since his selection as ruling party candidate last September, Wadagni has played down the idea of any major break from the man with whom he shares, as he told French magazine "Jeune Afrique" last month, almost like a father-and-son relationship.

He has proposed creating new development hubs across the country - to better distribute industrial and tourism investments - and expanding access to healthcare, while touting the benefits of continuity from one government to the next.
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Man accused of coercing wife into sex with 120 men goes on trial

bbc.com International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 18:59 3 minutes read

A 61-year-old Swedish man has gone on trial accused of coercing his wife into providing sexual services to more than 120 men.

The man is alleged to have used the remoteness of their farm near Kramfors in northern Sweden, as well as surveillance cameras and drugs, to force her to perform sexual acts with men he had found online.

He denies wrongdoing and alleges the encounters were consensual - all he had done was help organise them.

The trial has already drawn international attention and is being compared by some to that of Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, who was found to have drugged and let other men rape his then-wife Gisele over a period of nine years.

The trial began in Harnosand, a small town on Sweden's eastern coast, on Friday, with the defendant reportedly remaining completely still as the charges against him were read out.

The court then moved into a closed session to protect the identity of the alleged victim, who has not been identified and has since divorced her husband.

The former husband has not been identified either, save for his age.

According to the charges, he started forcing his wife to have sexual relations with men who travelled to their home from across the country in exchange for payment in 2022 - and only ceased when she filed a police report in October 2025.

Earlier this year, he was charged with numerous crimes - including several counts of rape, attempted rape and assault.

Prosecutors will seek to show in court that he plied the woman with drugs to push her limits, and used their secluded home and her limited network of contacts to exert control over her.

Before the trial began, prosecutor Ida Annerstedt told Swedish daily Expressen that the now-former husband had "exploited her particularly vulnerable situation" and "fear of him" to normalise his coercive behaviour.

The man also stands accused of using surveillance cameras in their home to control her, which sometimes captured sexual encounters. The footage from these will be submitted as evidence in the trial.

He threatened to kill his wife, pour petrol on her, burn her and cut off her fingers, public broadcaster SVT reports, citing the indictment lodged by prosecutors.

Though 120 men have been identified by Swedish authorities, so far only 28 have been charged in relation to the case. Most are said to have denied the allegations against them, saying they either did not have sex with the woman or did not pay for it.

Online chats and payments, as well as calendar entries, are reportedly among pieces of evidence prosecutors intend to use.

Defence lawyer Martina Michaelsdotter Olsson told SVT as the trial began that her client did not recognise "the same picture as the one the prosecutor presents".
Featured

Nigerian army general killed in overnight assault on base

Reuters International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 11:37 2 minutes read

Islamist militant groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched coordinated overnight attacks on multiple locations in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, killing an army general and several other soldiers, military sources said yesterday.

Nigeria's Defence Headquarters said insurgents attacked a key military base in Benisheikh but were repelled, confirming soldiers were killed while urging the public to wait for formal notification of next of kin before further details.

Fighters attacked the towns of Pulka and Bakin Ruwa in the Gwoza District at about 2130 GMT last Wednesday, before insurgents tried to overrun the headquarters of the 29 Task Force Brigade in Benisheikh at midnight, defence headquarters said.

"The troops, led by the Commander 29 Brigade, Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah, responded with exceptional courage and superior firepower and forced (the terrorists) to retreat in disarray," Defence Headquarters spokesperson Major-General Michael Onoja said, adding that clearance operations were ongoing.

But two military sources told Reuters the Benisheikh base was overrun, killing Brigadier-General Braimah and other soldiers including a captain, and destroying several military vehicles. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts.

An officer involved in the Benisheikh reinforcements said air force aircraft evacuated the dead soldiers yesterday morning after helping to drive out insurgents who had operated in the area for more than three hours. He said the death toll was still being tallied.

A 17-year Islamist insurgency in northeast Nigeria has killed thousands of people and displaced at least two million, according to aid groups, despite major military campaigns.

Boko Haram and ISWAP have intensified attacks on military positions in northeastern Nigeria this year, killing dozens of troops as they continue to exploit the region's difficult terrain, porous borders and weak state presence.
Featured

Pope Leo heads to Africa on ambitious tour to urge help for continent

Reuters International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 12:09 2 minutes read

Pope Leo leaves on Monday for a visit to four countries in Africa, in an ambitious tour to urge global leaders to address the needs of the continent where more than a fifth of the world's Catholics live on his first major overseas trip of 2026.

Over 10 days from April 13-23, Leo will travel nearly 18,000 km (11,185 miles) to visit 11 cities and towns in Algeria, Cameroun, Angola and Equatorial Guinea as part of a whirlwind itinerary that includes 18 flights.

The Pope is making the visit with a mission "to help turn the world's attention to Africa", Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official and close adviser to Leo, told Reuters.

"By heading to Africa so early in his pontificate, the Pope shows that Africa matters," Czerny said. "Leo wants to make sure that Africa is not forgotten by countries and people caught up in their own concerns."

Leo, who in recent weeks has emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war, has made only one big overseas trip since being elected last May, visiting Turkey and Lebanon in November and December. He visited Monaco in March.

Vatican officials and African Church leaders say the upcoming tour is a personal priority for Leo, the first US Pope, and a sign of the value the Church places on the continent, the place where Catholicism is growing fastest.

More than 20 per cent of the world's Catholics live on the continent, according to Vatican statistics. Three of the countries Leo is visiting have populations where more than half of the people identify as Catholic.

Equatorial Guinea, which has not been visited by a Pope since 1982, is more than 70 per cent Catholic. Algeria is an overwhelmingly Muslim country with under 10,000 Catholics among its population of some 48 million people.

Popes have dedicated attention to Africa with tours since the late 1960s. Leo's will be the 24th by a leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church.

"The African Church is vibrant and alive, full of vocations to the religious life and priesthood," said Rev. Mark Francis, a US Priest and friend of the Pope since the 1970s.

Pope Leo, succeeded the late Pope Francis and is 70, relatively young for a Pope and in good health. He is planning to give 25 speeches over 10 days, as well as holding official meetings with political leaders and local Catholics.
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Russia and Ukraine agree to Orthodox Easter truce

BBC International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 12:02 3 minutes read

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a truce for Orthodox Easter, with Vladimir Putin saying he's ordered troops to cease fire "in all directions" this weekend.

His declaration came after Volodymyr Zelensky issued repeated calls for a ceasefire, all ignored by the Kremlin.

Putin said the Russian truce would run from 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday, 11 April through Easter Sunday, adding that he expected Ukraine to "follow the example" of Russia. He ordered his forces to be ready to intercept "possible enemy provocations" and any "aggressive actions".

Russia's tone, and the attempt to steal the initiative, will make Ukrainians bristle.

But Zelensky soon posted on X that Ukraine was "ready for symmetrical steps".

"People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace," he wrote. "Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well."

Earlier this week, Zelensky said he had asked the United States to pass on a proposal for a holiday weekend truce to Moscow, as a first step.

Any respite from the fighting would be welcome for the soldiers along the long front line in eastern Ukraine, where they're hounded relentlessly by attack drones.

It would also allow people to relax across the country, where air raid sirens are part of the everyday and Russian missiles and drones continue to kill and injure civilians.

Just recently, several people were killed when a drone targeted their bus in Nikopol in the south-east. In Zhytomyr, just west of Kyiv, a woman died when a missile landed next to her home in the middle of the morning.

The sirens went off again in Kyiv shortly after the weekend truce was announced, very late on Thursday night.

Overnight, two people were killed in the Dnipropetrovsk region, just east of Dnipro city and two others were killed in the Kharkiv region in the north. Civilians were injured in both Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

In the Odesa region in the south, the military governor reported drone attacks "almost the entire night" with damage to energy and port infrastructure.

Ukraine has also increased its drone attacks on Russia, targeting its energy exports in particular in a series of intense strikes. Russia says residential houses were also hit.

If this truce does come into effect on Saturday, Ukrainians will be sceptical that it can hold.

Earlier this year, Russia claimed it had called an "energy truce"  halting its devastating strikes on Ukraine's power plants in the depths of winter  but the pause lasted just long enough to prepare the missiles for the next major attack.

Last May, Russia declared a unilateral halt to the fighting to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. That time, Ukraine recorded hundreds of ceasefire violations.

Soldiers who have spoken to the BBC from the front line have low expectations.

Ivan, who is currently recovering in hospital from an injury, said no agreement with Russia was "worth even the paper it was written on" and called the truce nonsense.

Another soldier thought the decision to agree to a ceasefire was "appropriate", but that it wouldn't be observed by the Russian side.

"They have repeatedly proven to us and to the whole world that they are not human," he wrote from a village formerly occupied by Russian forces.

What Kyiv really wants  and has proposed, repeatedly  is a full and stable ceasefire as a first step towards negotiating a lasting end to Russia's invasion.

But Moscow insists on agreeing the peace deal first, prompting accusations from Kyiv that Russia is not serious about ending the fighting.

There have been several rounds of talks, with the US acting as a mediator, but the process has been on hold since Donald Trump shifted his focus to the Middle East.
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Sniffer Dog intercepts 40kg of undeclared meat from Nigerian traveller at Toronto Airport

GraphicOnline International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 17:05 2 minutes read

A detector dog with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has intercepted more than 40 kilograms of undeclared meat at Toronto Pearson International Airport, leading to a fine for a traveller arriving from Nigeria.

The agency disclosed that the dog, named Moby, uncovered the consignment of beef and chicken concealed in a passengers luggage during a recent inspection.

According to the CBSA, the traveller failed to declare the food items as required under Canadian law, resulting in a penalty of up to $1,300, alongside the seizure of the goods.

Authorities stressed that all travellers entering Canada are legally required to declare food, plant and animal products in their possession, including both raw and cooked meat, as well as dairy products, seafood and animal by-products.

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in confiscation of the items, financial penalties or possible prosecution.

The CBSA warned that undeclared agricultural products pose significant risks, including the potential spread of invasive species and diseases that could harm the countrys food supply, economy and public health.

Travellers may not realise the hazards associated with food, plant and animal products, the agency said, highlighting the importance of strict border controls.

In a separate incident last month, another detector dog named Dharla identified 2.5 kilogrammes of raw meat in the luggage of a traveller arriving from Egypt.

Although the items, which included duck, pigeon, chicken and rabbit, were properly declared, they were denied entry into Canada for failing to meet regulations set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

No enforcement action was taken in that case, but officials reiterated that even declared products must comply with import standards.

The CBSA continues to rely on trained detector dogs as part of its border enforcement strategy to prevent the entry of prohibited or restricted goods into the country.
Featured

Spain ramps up criticism of Israel, US, defying Trump threats

Reuters International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 11:57 1 minute read

Spain strongly condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon, as well as the broader war on Iran yesterday, cementing Madrid's role as an outspoken critic of the US and Israeli military campaigns despite US threats to punish uncooperative NATO allies.

Spain's opposition to the Iran conflict has further strained its relations with Washington and figures within President Donald Trump's MAGA movement are increasingly urging the US leader to punish Madrid.

In remarks to lawmakers, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the conflict as an attack on civilisation, echoing scathing criticism heaped by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Trump's decision to attack the Islamic Republic.

"We're facing the greatest assault on the civilisation built upon the humanist ideals of reason, peace, understanding and universal law over the abuse of power, brute force and arbitrariness," Albares said.

"The prophets of war and violence seek to return to the values and practices of history's darkest moments," he added, accusing Israel of violating international law and the newly brokered two-week ceasefire after a massive wave of airstrikes across Lebanon killed more than 250 people last Wednesday.

Sanchez, who has emerged as a leading opponent of the war, has closed Spanish airspace to any aircraft involved in a confrontation he has described as reckless and illegal.

Spain strongly condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon, as well as the broader war on Iran yesterday, cementing Madrid's role as an outspoken critic of the US and Israeli military campaigns despite US threats to punish uncooperative NATO allies.
Featured

US warns citizens to reconsider Nigeria travel on safety grounds

BBC Africa International News Apr - 10 - 2026 , 11:52 2 minutes read

The US has urged its citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria, citing risks such as terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping.

The state department's travel update last Wednesday added that specific Nigerian states that pose an increased risk have been placed under the most severe warning that advises against all travel in the affected areas.

Washington also authorised the departure of "non-emergency" staff and their families from the US embassy in Abuja, following what it calls a "deteriorating security situation" across the country.

The advisory comes amid a fresh surge in deadly attacks across parts of the country, and despite an expanding security partnership between the two nations.

According to the US state department, Washington has been working with Abuja on counter terrorism, maritime security, intelligence sharing and military training.

Recent cooperation has included surveillance and reconnaissance support, and the use of US supplied aircraft and helicopters by Nigerian forces against Islamist insurgents and armed groups.

The decision to scale back embassy staffing underscores the gap between strategic military cooperation and the reality of daily insecurity faced by civilians in many parts of the country.

In the travel advisory, US citizens were warned that attacks could occur with little or no warning in public spaces including markets, hotels, places of worship, schools and transport hubs.

The US embassy in Abuja is yet to say when the affected staff will be departing the country and if advisory affects only American staff or includes Nigerians working in the embassy.

Nigerian authorities are have also yet to issue a formal response to the latest US directive. In the past, officials have argued that such advisories fail to reflect security improvements in some regions and risk unfairly tarnishing the country's image.

There are also fears that travel warnings could affect diaspora travel, international conferences and development activity at a time when Nigeria is seeking foreign investment and economic recovery.
Featured

Ghana Education jobs: GTEC mandates qualification checks

Jemima Okang Addae Education Apr - 10 - 2026 , 11:20 2 minutes read

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed that all prospective applicants seeking employment within agencies under the Ministry of Education must have their tertiary qualifications evaluated and verified as part of the recruitment process.

The directive, contained in a letter signed by the Deputy Director-General, Augustine Ocloo, follows clearance granted by the Ministry of Finance for education sector agencies to recruit teachers and other auxiliary staff.

Crackdown on fraudulent qualifications

GTEC, which was established under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), is mandated to accredit tertiary institutions and programmes, as well as verify the authenticity of certificates, diplomas, degrees and other academic credentials.

In the letter dated April 9, the Commission attributed the new directive to the growing prevalence of fraudulent certificates and qualifications obtained from unaccredited or unrecognised institutions.

The Commission requests that all prospective applicants to agencies under the Ministry of Education submit their academic credentials, particularly tertiary-level qualifications (Diplomas, Bachelors Degrees, Masters Degrees, and PhDs) to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission for evaluation and verification as part of the recruitment process, the statement read.

Directive to apply across agencies

The Commission urged that the directive be treated with urgency, signalling a tightening of recruitment standards across the education sector.

The requirement applies to a range of key institutions, including the National Teaching Council (NTC), National Service Secretariat (NSS), Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and the Complementary Education Agency (CEA), among others.

Strengthening integrity in recruitment

The move is expected to enhance transparency and credibility in public sector hiring, particularly within the education space, where concerns about forged academic credentials have persisted.

Officials believe the measure will help ensure that only qualified and duly certified individuals are recruited into critical roles within the sector.
Featured

Catholic Bishops urge President Mahama to assent to Family Values Bill

Jemima Okang Addae Apr - 10 - 2026 , 10:13 3 minutes read

The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has pushed back against suggestions that national discussions on family values and LGBTQ+ issues are inconsequential, while calling on President John Dramani Mahama to honour his earlier commitment to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill if it is passed by Parliament.

In a statement dated April 10 and signed by Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Conference, the bishops responded to recent public comments attributed to the President and the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

Concerns over public remarks

The bishops cited reports that the President, speaking at the World Affairs Council, described LGBTQ+ matters as "not the most important issue we face as a nation", while the Minister subsequently suggested such issues are "not a major priority for Ghanaians" and characterised the debate as a "waste of time."

Even if intended to prioritise urgent socio-economic concerns, such descriptions risk conveying that certain moral questions may be set aside as inconsequential, the bishops said. Yet no question that touches the structure of human identity, family life, and social continuity can be trivial. Nations do not live by bread alone.

Ethics and development intertwined

The Conference rejected what it described as a false dichotomy between economic priorities and moral considerations, arguing that strong family systems are closely linked to improved educational outcomes, reduced crime and enhanced economic mobility.

To weaken the moral ecology of the family is to erode the very conditions that make sustainable development possible, the statement read.

The bishops reaffirmed what they described as two complementary principles: the inherent dignity of every individual, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, and the responsibility of society to uphold the institution of the family founded on the union of a man and a woman.

No individual, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, may be subjected to violence, hatred, or unjust discrimination. Such acts are moral failures and social wounds. We condemn them without reservation, they said.

Call to honour presidential assurance

On the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, the bishops recalled the Presidents earlier public assurance that he would assent to the Bill if it was duly passed in line with constitutional processes.

Democratic integrity rests, in part, on the fidelity of leaders to their publicly stated commitments. Should Parliament complete its deliberations and pass the Bill, we urge the President to honour this assurance, they said.

At the same time, the Conference acknowledged that certain provisions in the Bill have raised legitimate concerns and should be subjected to thorough parliamentary scrutiny and possible refinement.

Call for respectful national dialogue

The bishops urged stakeholders  including the Executive, Parliament, religious bodies, traditional authorities and civil society  to engage in constructive dialogue marked by respect, intellectual depth and moral clarity.

The Church remains committed to participating in this dialogue, not as one who imposes, but as one who proposes, confident that truth, when patiently articulated, has a quiet persuasive power, the statement added.
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A-G supports suit challenging power of OSP to prosecute

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Apr - 10 - 2026 , 09:08 3 minutes read

The Attorney-General (A-G) has thrown his weight behind a suit at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Office of the Special Prosecutor's (OSPs) power to conduct prosecutions.

Although the A-G is the defendant in the action, the draft statement of case attached to a motion seeking an extension of time to file the statement of case shows that he will urge the Supreme Court to declare the power of the OSP to prosecute as unconstitutional.

The motion for leave for extension of time, filed by the A-G at the Supreme Court on April 8, 2026, is to enable him to file his statement of case outside the stipulated time, in order to respond to the suit initiated by a private legal practitioner, Noah Ephraem Tetteh Adamtey, in 2025.

A-Gs draft statement of case

In his draft statement of case, the A-Gs argues that Article 88 (3) of the 1992 Constitution solely vests prosecutorial powers in the A-G alone, and therefore Parliament acted unconstitutionally by passing the OSP Act, 2017 (Act 959), which made it compulsory for the A-G to delegate part of its prosecutorial powers to the OSP.

Article 88 (3) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that The Attorney-General shall be responsible for the initiation and conduct of all prosecutions of criminal cases, while Article 88 (4) provides that: All offences prosecuted in the name of the Republic of Ghana shall be at the suit of the Attorney-General or any person authorised by him in accordance with law.

Again, the A-G contends that Act 959 has unconstitutionally varied the prosecutorial powers of the OSP in many ways.

First, it compels the Attorney-General to abandon its constitutional duty to be responsible for the prosecution of all criminal offenceshe is, by the terms of the Act, now only responsible for the prosecution of offences which the OSP is not prosecuting.

This effectively converts what was intended by the framers to be a delegation into a donation, the A-G stated. 

Secondly, the donation of the powers to the OSP also divests the Attorney-General of his control over the Offices use of the power. The essential tools for control of prosecution are plea bargain and the entry of nolle prosequi.

These tools are exclusively for the Attorney-General and are used by him to control prosecution, the A-G added.

The principal legal advisor to the government further contends that Act 959, which establishes the OSP, violates the 1992 Constitution, specifically Article 88.

Parliament has enacted the Act, an ordinary legislation.

It has purported, without amending the Constitution, to vary significant constitutional power in a way that purports to divest some essential components of the prosecutorial power.

We submit that, by this conduct, Parliament has, without doubt, acted in excess of the power conferred on it by the Constitution, the A-G stated.

Suit

On December 12, 2025, Mr Adamtey invoked the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to interpret the constitution by filing a suit for the court to declare the exercise of prosecutorial powers by the OSP as unconstitutional.

He is seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration that the OSP Act, 2017 (Act 959) is unconstitutional to the extent that it confers original or insulated prosecutorial authority on the Office of the Special Prosecutor, is inconsistent and in contravention of Articles 1(2), 88(3), (4), 93 (2) and 296 of the Constitution and is, therefore, null, void and of no effect.

Again, he is seeking a declaration that sections 3(3) and 4 of Act 959, in purporting to make the Office of the Special Prosecutor independent of the Attorney-General in the initiation, conduct and termination of prosecutions, violate the Constitution.
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GTEC mandates certificate verification for health sector recruitment

Jemima Okang Addae Apr - 10 - 2026 , 09:42 2 minutes read

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed that all prospective applicants seeking employment within agencies under the Ministry of Health must submit their tertiary qualifications for evaluation and verification as part of the recruitment process.

The directive, contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, follows clearance granted by the Ministry of Finance for the recruitment of staff across the health sector.

Crackdown on fake credentials

GTEC, established under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), is mandated to accredit tertiary institutions and academic programmes, as well as verify the authenticity of certificates, diplomas, degrees and other academic qualifications.

In a letter dated April 9 and signed by the Deputy Director-General, Augustine Ocloo, the Commission cited the growing prevalence of fraudulent certificates and qualifications obtained from unaccredited or unrecognised institutions as the basis for the directive.

The Commission requests that all prospective applicants to agencies under the Ministry of Health submit their academic credentials, particularly tertiary-level qualifications (Diplomas, Bachelors Degrees, Masters Degrees, and PhDs) to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission for evaluation and verification as part of the recruitment process, the statement read.

Urgent directive for health agencies

The Commission urged that the directive be treated with the utmost urgency, signalling tighter scrutiny in the recruitment of health professionals and support staff.

While the directive applies broadly to agencies under the Ministry of Health, the letter did not specify the particular institutions that would be affected.

Ensuring integrity in health sector hiring

The move is expected to strengthen transparency and credibility in health sector recruitment, amid ongoing concerns about the use of forged academic credentials in public service employment.

Officials say the requirement will help ensure that only qualified and duly certified individuals are engaged to deliver critical healthcare services.
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Kumasi drug arrest: Police seize suspected narcotics in Pankrono

Jemima Okang Addae Apr - 10 - 2026 , 13:36 2 minutes read

The Ghana Police Service in the Ashanti Region has arrested a 45-year-old driver for possession of substances suspected to be narcotic drugs following an intelligence-led operation at Pankrono in Kumasi.

Targeted anti-drug operation

In a press release issued on April 8, the police said the operation was carried out on April 5 at about 7:00 p.m. by personnel from the Drug Law Enforcement Unit in Kumasi.

The exercise, which covered Pankrono and surrounding areas, formed part of efforts to clamp down on illicit drug peddling and usage within the metropolis.

During the operation, officers spotted the suspect, identified as Foster Owusu, also known as Master Pee, attempting to lock up a single-room facility and flee upon noticing the presence of the police. He was immediately arrested.

Suspected drugs retrieved

A search conducted in the room led to the retrieval of 39 compressed, sellotaped slab parcels of dried leaves concealed in a Ghana Must Go bag, as well as 10 additional compressed parcels hidden in a black sack. The substances are suspected to be narcotic drugs.

Suspect denies ownership

The suspect denied ownership and possession of the exhibits, claiming the room belonged to his girlfriend, identified as Anita, and another individual named Cindy.

He told investigators that he had visited the premises but found the occupants absent, adding that the door had been left open.

Forensic examination underway

Police said the retrieved exhibits were sealed and labelled in the presence of the suspect and an independent witness.

The substances are to be forwarded to the Police Forensic Science Laboratory in Accra for analysis and a formal report.

Investigations continue

The suspect remains in police custody, assisting with investigations, while efforts are ongoing to locate the other individuals mentioned in connection with the case.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command reiterated its commitment to intensifying the fight against drug-related crimes and urged the public to provide timely and credible information to support ongoing operations.
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'No one is above the law'  EOCO declares Council of State member a fugitive as Volta Chiefs cry foul

Alberto Mario Noretti Apr - 10 - 2026 , 06:57 4 minutes read

The Volta Regional House of Chiefs has issued a strongly worded condemnation of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, accusing the anti-corruption agency of persistent harassment and open defiance of a High Court ruling in its pursuit of Dr Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, the region's representative on the Council of State.

In an official statement signed by the President of the House, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, the chiefs expressed serious misgivings over what they described as EOCO's improper conduct and apparent disregard for judicial authority.

The statement cited a recent High Court ruling in a matter between EOCO and Dr Kwamigah-Atokple, in which the court determined that EOCO had acted without lawful mandate and in violation of constitutional principles of fairness in handling the case. According to the chiefs, the decision of the court was clear and unequivocal.

Yet, the statement noted, EOCO continued to pursue actions which openly challenged and defied the authority of the court by maintaining its investigations and publicly questioning the judgement.

"The VRHC wishes to state, without equivocation, that such conduct is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law," the statement maintained.

Appellate processes available

The House said that if EOCO was dissatisfied with the ruling of the court, the proper course available to it was to invoke the appellate processes of the courts. Resorting instead to actions that appeared to disregard the authority of the court amounted to conduct that interfered with the administration of justice, the statement said.

"The decisions of our courts must be respected under all circumstances, and no institution or public office, regardless of its mandate, is above the law," the statement pointed out.

The House strongly condemned the posture adopted by EOCO in the matter, saying the apparent disregard for judicial authority represented a troubling affront to administrative justice and to the constitutional order of the Republic.

It called on EOCO to act with restraint and to demonstrate full respect for the authority of the courts and the principles that governed the rule of law.

"The VRHC remains committed to the defence of justice, due process, and the integrity of Ghana's constitutional institutions," the statement concluded.

EOCO fires back

In a swift response, EOCO issued its own statement rejecting the chiefs' characterisation of the matter. The anti-corruption agency disclosed that it is currently handling three petitions against Dr Kwamigah-Atokple and his company, Sesi-Edem Company Ltd, all bordering on allegations of gold fraud that appear to follow the same pattern.

EOCO assured the public that the Office stands firm and is conducting its work perfectly within its mandate and according to law.

The Office believes that what is currently unfolding is rather a case of the promoters of Sesi-Edem Company believing that and acting as if they are above the law whilst building a coalition to actively obstruct investigations and justice.

It said since November 2025, the Office has accorded the suspect and his company the opportunity to come prove their innocence of the alleged crimes. "They have rather unfortunately refused to submit to the investigations and is seeking to use politics, tradition, and media campaign as a refuge".

Fugitive on the run

EOCO has declared Dr Kwamigah-Atokple a fugitive from justice who is on the run and believed to be hiding in the Volta Region. The agency disclosed that its Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit has deployed its assets to locate, identify and arrest the fugitive.

"The Office wants to assure the public that NO ONE is above the law and that the fugitive will be brought before the law," the statement read.

EOCO urged any person with information about the whereabouts of the said fugitive to contact the nearest EOCO Office.

Conference of Presiding Members joins fray

In a related development, the Conference of Presiding Members of Municipal and District Assemblies in the Volta Region has expressed similar concern, saying it would not sit aside and look on unconcerned while certain individuals and institutions embarked on a deliberate campaign to malign the region's representative on the Council of State.
'No one is above the law'  EOCO declares Council of State member a fugitive as Volta Chiefs cry foul

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Featured

Pastor William Gyimah remanded over threats against Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang

Emmanuel Bonney Apr - 10 - 2026 , 07:40 1 minute read

The Adenta Circuit Court has remanded Pastor William Gyimah into police custody over alleged threats made against the Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.

Presiding over the case, Her Honour Angela Attachie ordered the remand after the accused was brought before the court on charges linked to a viral social media video.

The accused person was charged with the offence of False Communication Contrary to Section 76 of the Electronic Communication Act, 2008 (Act 775) and Publication of False News with Intent to Cause Fear and Alarm Contrary to Section 209 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Viral video evidence

According to the prosecution, the accused person was captured in a viral video on social media platforms, including TikTok, making false and threatening statements directed at the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, and prayed the court to remand the accused into custody to facilitate police investigation.

Court orders remand

The court, after hearing the case of the prosecution last Wednesday, remanded the accused person into police custody to reappear on April 13, 2026.

The case is expected to continue as investigations proceed.
Featured

Tema fish deaths: Authorities investigate incident at Shipyard

Benjamin Xornam Glover Apr - 10 - 2026 , 14:53 3 minutes read

Authorities have launched an investigation into the discovery of dead fish within the slipway of the Tema Shipyard enclave, raising concerns about possible environmental and public health implications.

The incident, which involved several dead fishmainly of the Sardinella aurita specieswas detected on Monday, April 6, 2026, during a routine sanitation exercise by the Port Health Unit.

Discovery during routine inspection

The Head of the Port Health Unit in Tema, under the Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service, Hajia Jajatu Soale, said two officers on dutyRichard Agongo and Samuel Gyamfiwere alerted by security personnel to the presence of dead fish along the slipway.

She explained that the officers, who were conducting a routine inspection, confirmed the situation and immediately escalated the matter.

Coordinated multi-agency response

Hajia Soale said she promptly initiated coordination by notifying the Harbour Master and the shipyards Health and Safety Manager, in line with the One Health operational approach.

She added that key institutions, including the Food and Drugs Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Fisheries Commission and the Marine Police, were subsequently engaged to support a comprehensive response.

This sequence of actions ensured that all critical agencies were informed promptly and that the response was structured, interdisciplinary, and aligned with established public health protocols, she said.

Officials from the various agencies later visited the site and collected samples of the dead fish for laboratory analysis to determine the cause of the mortality.

Clean-up and containment measures

To prevent any potential public health risk, the affected area was secured to restrict access to the fish.

Hajia Soale said the Port Health Unit returned to the site the following day with logistics, including a pickup vehicle, tools and hired labour, to carry out a clean-up exercise. She added that the unit bore the cost of the operation.

In collaboration with shipyard authorities, the dead fish were subsequently collected and disposed of at an approved waste site.

Shipyard distances itself

The Chief Executive Officer of PSC Tema Shipyard, Alhaji Osman Sulemana, dismissed suggestions linking the incident to the operations of the facility.

This is an unfortunate incident, but it has nothing to do with the shipyard. We do not undertake any form of fishing activity here, nor do we sell fish, he stated.

He explained that the fish were likely washed ashore, particularly at the slipway, which serves as a natural collection point due to sea currents.

While acknowledging public concern, he noted that although minor occurrences may happen occasionally, the scale of the latest incident is unusual.

Further investigations ongoing

Meanwhile, a team from the Environmental Protection Agency, led by Aquaculture Desk Officer Helina S. Dodd, has also collected fish and water samples for further analysis.

She assured the public that there is currently no immediate cause for alarm but indicated that definitive conclusions would depend on laboratory findings.
Featured

Volta Lake tragedy: Children among victims in Savannah Region canoe accident

Mohammed Fugu & Biiya Mukusah Ali Apr - 10 - 2026 , 12:43 2 minutes read

Nine people, including women and children, have been confirmed dead following a canoe accident on the Volta Lake near Mataiko in the East Gonja District of the Savannah Region.

The victims were among 16 passengers travelling from Yeji to a community known as Congo when the canoe capsized after encountering stormy weather on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Five male passengers were rescued, while search efforts were still ongoing as of Friday morning to locate others feared missing.

Tragedy unfolds on lake

The Salaga District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gabriel Kofi Alorsey, who confirmed the incident, said the disaster had left devastating consequences for affected families.

According to him, one of the victims lost three wives, five children and his mother in the tragedy.

Further details from the Savannah Regional Crime Officer, ASP Richard Osei, indicated that the deceased comprised seven children  five boys and two girls  and two women.

He explained that before the arrival of the police, all nine bodies had already been buried in accordance with Islamic customs.

ASP Osei added that the victims had set off from the Congo community when their canoe ran into a storm on the lake.

He said search teams were continuing efforts to trace the remaining missing passengers.

No life jackets worn

Meanwhile, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has expressed grave concern over the incident, noting that none of the passengers was wearing a life jacket, in breach of maritime safety regulations.

In a statement, the Authority said the absence of life jackets significantly contributed to the loss of lives.

It reiterated that the wearing of life jackets is mandatory for all water transport users and urged operators and passengers to strictly adhere to safety protocols.

The GMA added that it is monitoring the situation and collaborating with relevant agencies to support ongoing search-and-rescue efforts and investigations into the cause of the accident.

Recurring safety concerns

Boat accidents on the Volta Lake, particularly along the Yeji corridor, continue to raise concerns over safety standards, with incidents often linked to overloading, adverse weather and non-compliance with regulations.
The devastating fire that recently swept through Scott's Bottom Nature Area, resulting in the loss of multiple barns, tack, and equipment, has ignited a separate but fiery debate over the effectiveness and timeliness of the Green River Fire Department's response. During the recent City Council meeting on April 7, Green River Resident Janet Hartford tearfully presented a detailed account of the events, voicing significant concerns that prompted a sharp rebuttal from Fire Chief Bill Robinson.

Hartford, who lost approximately $35,800 worth of tack and had been boarding horses at the site for 22 years, described a confusing and chaotic scene where the initial response appeared slow and uncoordinated. She recounted being called to the corrals at 5 p.m. by Christina Saunders to help move horses and fight the spreading flames.

"We were down there pulling out burn hoses, trying to get the fire that was beside her trail out," Hartford told the council. She noted her first call to dispatch at 5:30 p.m., where she was told authorities were "aware of the problem and they were on their way."

As the situation escalated, with flames visible and one border, Christina Saunders, forced to turn horses out of a barn that was about to catch fire, Hartford called dispatch again at 7:28 p.m. "There were a lot of people there keeping people out of the area but there was no fire charge," she stated, questioning the lack of command structure on the ground early in the incident.

A major point of contention for Hartford was the sight of a fire truck arriving and parking at the nearby archery barn, seemingly without entering the corral area where the fire was consuming property.

"I just really don't know why... why did they not come in with the corral area?" she asked.

She explained her frantic attempt to load her own horses into a trailer to leave, only to be stopped by firefighters who had entered the corrals and were instead turning out the horses. She claimed firefighters threatened to arrest her when she insisted on loading her animals, stating, "just let me load up my horses, and they'll be out of here in 10 minutes."

Hartford's account detailed the devastating losses sustained by multiple residents, including the Flores family, Kevin Spence, Patrick Burke, and Anna Lowe, who lost her home and car. She expressed gratitude for the community's support but emphasized her ongoing concerns, having requested incident reports from both the sheriff's office and the fire chief's office.

Fire Chief Bill Robinson immediately addressed the council following Hartford's emotional testimony, assuring the public that every first responder did their job. He acknowledged speaking with Ms. Hartford previously, stating that he had explained the situation regarding the fire truck she saw parked at the archery barn.

"The truck she's talking about was from another company, came in, and had to get their assignments from me, running the IC (Incident Command) structure," Chief Robinson explained. "That's standard protocol. This was explained to her. She understood. She actually thanked me, I mean apologized for coming to the station with her concerns."

The Chief strongly defended the efforts of the entire response team, including local police and dispatchers.

"Everybody there did their job. We almost lost a $100,000 pump," he stressed.

He also praised the exhaustive efforts of the firefighters on duty.

"They worked their tails off. They saved every horse they could. They tried to save every property," Robinson asserted, adding that every fire department involved deserved congratulations. "I'm not shining a light that they did their job. I don't know any first responder that will do that, but everyone really put forth a tremendous effort."

Chief Robinson concluded by suggesting that Hartford's ongoing plea was based on her "own agenda," reiterating that the response was professional and effective under extremely difficult circumstances.

Councilman Robert Berg assured Hartford that the council would look further into her concerns.
Sweetwater County School District No. 2 is moving swiftly to safeguard funding for its long awaited Career and Technical Education (CTE) building project, prompted by recent legislative decisions in Cheyenne that threaten to strip local districts of fiscal autonomy and control over reserve funds. The district's governing board recently held multiple special workshops and meetings to address the immediate financial implications of the new state funding structure.

During the March 10 board meeting, an unexpected motion was introduced and passed to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for general contractors for the CTE project immediately. Board member Tate Davis, who introduced the motion, articulated the urgency: "I move that we go out for RFQ for general contractors for the CTE project to speed up the process before we lose control of local district funding."

The discussion that followed highlighted the gravity of the situation. Board Member Tommy Thoman expressed deep concern that the new state legislation penalizes districts for their decades of "fiscal responsibility" and diligent saving. The sentiment was that local control over how reserve money is utilized is rapidly being centralized in Cheyenne.

"We are having our controls removed on how we use our money," Thoman commented. "That is all being transitioned and those decisions are now moving to Cheyenne. This board is losing local control of how we operate the district."

The core concern is a looming deadline of July 1. According to Thoman, the district must take definitive action to "rescue" their reserve funds which have been earmarked for the new CTE facility before this date, or risk having the funds reverted to the state.

Thoman went onto clarify the strategic necessity of the RFQ motion: "We have until July 1st to take action with our reserves and all the funds that this district has dutifully saved, very fiscally responsible for decades... The reason for going out to the general contractor and going in that motion for this work will allow us to get one large contract in place before July 1st that can encompass the entire project so that we can secure the funds that we've saved into this contract."

The CTE building project, intended to provide cutting edge career education for Green River students, represents the culmination of years of financial planning and community vision. The district views securing the funding through a signed contract as the only way to ensure the project moves forward as intended, dedicated to its original purpose, despite the state level shifts.

Following the successful motion, a follow up action was taken to further strategize the district's response. A motion was made by board member Tom Wilson for a special board workshop that was held on April 1 at 6 p.m. to specifically "discuss issues of the current and upcoming budget," signaling that the district is preparing for a new and challenging financial landscape dictated by the changing legislative framework. The special meeting quickly went into executive session and was not open to the public.

At the time of the April 1 meeting, the district learned they had been dealt a major blow to the project. The district failed to secure a key federal grant, a critical component of the expansion's proposed funding structure. Compounding this loss, the district now faces significant challenges stemming from the state's recently enacted school funding model.

According to Board Member Tate Davis, the most frustrating aspect of the state level changes are the blocks by legislators on the use of "Pre '97 reserve dollars." These funds have traditionally been under the purview of local school boards, providing essential flexibility for capital projects and unique district needs. The legislative decision to restrict access to these reserves has been met with deep frustration by districts statewide. The Wyoming Attorney General's office has been formally asked to review this legislative action for potential overreach.

Despite the capital project freeze, the district is moving forward with essential infrastructure upgrades. The designated major maintenance funds are now set to be used to replace "end of life" systems within the existing CTE facilities. This necessary work will target aging electrical systems, outdated ventilation, and critical dust suppression equipment.

Board member Tate Davis expressed his disappointment over the stalled CTE expansion. "Legislators in Cheyenne have effectively stripped away local control and tied the hands of trustees," Davis said. "This interference makes it incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to fund the unique and specialized educational needs of our district, particularly in high cost, high value programs like CTE."
Gov. Mark Gordon recently appointed Estes Dean Stout to be a Circuit Court Judge for the Third Judicial District serving Sweetwater County. Mr. Stouts appointment fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Craig L. Jones, whose resignation was effective March 7.

Mr. Stout graduated from Rock Springs High School, attended the University of Wyoming and received his bachelors degree from the University of Phoenix in 1995, a press release from the governors office explained. He went on to achieve his law degree from Brigham Young University in 1999. Mr. Stout has currently been working as a trial attorney with the Wyoming Public Defenders Office and maintains a small solo practice which focuses on criminal law, family law and local government representation.

Dean has deep experience in criminal and civil law, he knows the lay of the land and cares deeply about his community. I have no doubt Dean will do a fine job as a Circuit Court Judge, Gordon said. His time as a municipal judge as well as his time in the Wyoming Public Defenders Office will serve him well as he takes up the bench.

I am deeply honored and grateful to Governor Gordon for appointing me to the Circuit Court serving Sweetwater County, Dean Stout said. I accept this responsibility with humility and a firm commitment to serve the people of Wyoming with integrity and respect for the rule of law.
Rep. Harriet Hageman made a whirlwind tour stop in Sweetwater County on Tuesday, hosting an early morning town hall event and meeting with local leaders before moving on to her next destination.

Hageman announced the town hall in her email newsletter for subscribers, which was sent out on Sunday, April 5. She added the Sweetwater County Town Hall at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7 to her previously announced Carbon County Town Hall on Tuesday evening in Rawlins.

"We have lots of different kinds of things that we're doing over in Sweetwater County today," Hageman said at the beginning of the local town hall, which took place in the Bison Room at the Sweetwater Events Complex.

Hageman attended and spoke during the federal partners update portion of the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners meeting before the commissioners took a break to have lunch with the representative. Hageman shared on Facebook later in the day that she also met with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office and Wyoming Trucking Association President Kevin Hawley "to discuss how we can reinforce law enforcement and advance truck safety reforms along the critical I-80 corridor," as well as meeting with workers at John Bunning Transfer Co.

Hageman's Facebook posts noted that she has introduced bills "to address the deadly issues in our trucking industry including measures to eliminate chameleon carriers and enforce English proficiency." This was also one of the main topics the representative focused on during the town hall.

"We have seen an absolute surge of illegal alien truck drivers on our highways over the last four years," Hageman said, calling this a topic of "great concern" and linking it to dangerous accidents on interstates.

Hageman also said that "chameleon truckers" and "chameleon trucking companies" have become a major problem. She described these companies as "fly by night operations" that get citations, but because it can take two years to get a DOT number pulled, they just get new DOT numbers and keep operating. She also said that these truckers will avoid ports of entry and drive on two-lane highways, making them dangerous drivers. Hageman added that states like California have issued illegal CDLs, and other states have had licenses with no name on them that are being sold.

Other topics Hageman discussed during the town hall included supporting funding for the Department of Homeland Security, using directed funding to get federal funds for local projects across Wyoming, keeping the Chinese Communist Party from controlling subagencies in the United Nations, working to repeal the Roadless Rule which she believes negatively impacts management of national forests, reauthorizing the Farm Bill, continuing to expand opportunities for coal and mineral production, and continuing the work on amending the Bureau of Land Management's Rock Springs Resource Management Plan.

During the question and answer portion of the town hall, Hageman fielded questions about the federal budget, water rights, the blockade in Cuba, changes in the Department of Education, immigration fees, and election and voting security. Hageman was asked about her endorsement of political candidates like Megan Degenfelder, with two attendees noting they don't believe Degenfelder is a true conservative like Candidate Brent Bien. Hageman answered that the town hall was an official event in her capacity as a congresswoman, so she couldn't discuss politics connected to campaigns, but she would be happy to chat with people privately.

Some questions got more tense, with a few attendees questioning Hageman's support of President Donald Trump. One attendee asked if Hageman supports the president destroying Iranian civil infrastructure, citing a recent social media post by Trump.

"I don't know that he's targeting the civil infrastructure," Hageman answered. "I support what the president is doing."

When asked if she has any concerns about the president's mental stability, Hageman quickly answered that she does not. When another attendee called Trump a "cowardly draft dodger" as well as a 34-time convicted felon and a pedophile and possible murderer of children, Hageman replied "I disagree with everything you've said."

While the town hall had some opposition to Trump and Hageman's positions, many of the other participants expressed their support. The meeting was attended by roughly 30 people, including several local elected officials.

Others who found out about the town hall through social media shared comments questioning and critiquing the timing of the event and the last-minute nature of its announcement. This included both those who were critical of Hageman, with some saying she was trying to avoid speaking to her constituents, and those who were supportive and wished they could have been at the town hall.

"I would have loved to attend as so many others," Kelly Phillips Harsha commented on Facebook. "But Sweetwater County is a hard working blue-collar county and the vast majority of its citizens could not attend because of work commitments. I support Hageman and would have thoroughly loved to attend."
The group of abortion rights defenders contesting the new heartbeat law must now file a separate complaint to challenge the measure.

Wyomings new anti-abortion law should not be added to an ongoing Natrona County lawsuit challenging other abortion laws, a judge decided Tuesday.

The factual issues sought to be added to this case are inherently different from those currently before this Court, which are primed for resolution through summary judgment or trial, Judge Thomas C. Campbell wrote in his decision. Reopening deadlines and accommodating discovery would delay finality in this case.

The group of Wyoming abortion rights defenders seeking to challenge the Human Heartbeat Act and state defendants appeared Monday over video at a Natrona County District Court hearing to consider the matter. A court reporter, a law enforcement officer and four audience members, including two reporters, were the only people physically in the courtroom.

The plaintiffs sought to add the new law to an existing Natrona County lawsuit challenging two other anti-abortion measures, as well as a statute concerning off-label medication prescriptions.

John Robinson, the plaintiffs attorney, began the hearing by recounting that the Wyoming Legislature has enacted or tried to enact abortion-related laws every session since 2022, the year the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Those measures, he noted, have resulted in six different lawsuits involving the same constitutional provision and plaintiffs.

The newest abortion restriction came in the wake of Januarys Wyoming Supreme Court decision that struck down two 2023 abortion bans on the grounds of their unconstitutionality.

Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz argued on Monday that adding the Human Heartbeat Act to the ongoing lawsuit would run the risk of blending or misleading the issues. He further asserted that Campbell, the retired judge presiding over the lawsuit, was assigned to this specific case and no more. Kautz, who participated last year in a prayer for life, accused plaintiffs of seeking to add the Heartbeat Act to the lawsuit out of bad faith and judge shopping.

Campbells decision states that the issues in the current case and the new abortion law are certainly related, given that the laws all involve the availability and restrictions on abortions in Wyoming. But the laws similarities are strictly superficial, he argued.

The states approach to defending the Human Heartbeat Act is decidedly different than its approach to defending the other anti-abortion laws, Campbell continued. The Defendants allege different compelling State interests, and they are permitted to develop those in litigation, uninhibited by the procedural posture of this case, his decision states.

The group of Wyoming abortion rights defenders contesting the Human Heartbeat Act, which became law earlier this month, must now file a separate lawsuit to challenge the new measure.

The plaintiffs request to add the Human Heartbeat Act to the ongoing Natrona County lawsuit came the day after Gov. Mark Gordon signed the measure into law. In a letter to legislative leadership, he cautioned that the law, which took effect immediately, would land the state in another legal fight.

The law bars abortions, except in the case of a medical emergency, if the fetus has a detectable heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks. If abortion providers fail to make a determination of a fetal heartbeat, they could face up to five years in prison or a fine up to $10,000, plus loss of their medical license.

Since the laws implementation, Wellspring Health Access, the states lone procedural abortion clinic and a plaintiff in the Natrona County case, has turned some people away and referred them out of state for abortions.

Its cut our patient load in half, if not more, Wellspring President Julie Burkhart told WyoFile earlier this month.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
4/1/1963 - 2/5/26

Susanna M. Martinez Fleagle, 62, affectionately known as Susie, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 5th, 2026, at her home in Brawley, California. Born on Monday, April 1st, 1963, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Susie was the beloved daughter of Willie Martinez and Emma Martinez.

Throughout her life, Susie was a beacon of love and warmth to her family and friends. She spent her formative years in Green River, Wyoming, where she attended local schools and built the foundation for a fulfilling life. Her dynamic career spanned over two decades as a General Manager at Crown Cooling, where she made significant contributions and formed lasting connections.

Susie was previously married to Jon Fleagle, and they later divorced. Her life was enriched by her relationship with her significant other, Les Parsons, who preceded her in death. One of Susie's greatest joys was exploring the desert landscapes, where she loved camping and riding motorcycles, fully embracing the beauty and freedom of the outdoors.

She leaves behind a loving family, including her two brothers, Bob Martinez and his wife Robin of Green River, Wyoming; and Bernie Martinez of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was the cherished aunt of two nephews, Joseph Martinez of West Jordan, Utah, and Trevor Hansen of Phoenix, Arizona; as well as three nieces, Jenn Martinez of Syracuse, Utah; Kayla Herig and Tiffany Hamel, both of Albuquerque. She is also survived by many beloved cousins, who will miss her dearly.

Susie was preceded in death by her devoted parents, Willie and Emma Martinez, her cherished significant other, Les Parsons, her two sisters, Annabelle Moore and Stella Martinez Hansen, as well as her maternal and paternal grandparents.

As the family prepares to honor Susie's life, a Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2026 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 900 Hitching Post Drive, Green River, Wyoming. A Vigil Service with Rosary will be conducted at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026 at the church. Graveside Services and Inurnment will be in Riverview Cemetery.

The family kindly requests that donations in Susie's memory be made to the Red Desert Humane Society, 310 Yellowstone Road, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901, in support of the cause she deeply cared about.

Condolences and heartfelt memories can be shared with the family by visiting http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com.

Susie lived her life with compassion, adventure, and grace and will be dearly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Sharing theater with the community in unique ways, and using it to create spaces where people can be their authentic selves, is at the heart of The Starling Company's recent and upcoming productions.

The local theater and drag company has performances throughout the year, but after recently producing a play, Founder Kenny Starling has discovered a rekindled joy for the work they do.

"I've been really down in feeling the weight of the world and also just feeling really discouraged about my place within a theatrical process. The last few times have been just overwhelming," Starling admitted. "This has reinvigorated my love. This has been wonderful."

The show that made this impact was "Hurricane Diane," a play that tells the story of Diane, a modern-day form of the Greek god Dionysus, moving into the suburbs to connect with a group of local women in an effort to get back to the earth and reverse the damage of climate change. The production was performed in an intimate, black box style space at Elite Events in Rock Springs, starring a small cast who took on the complicated roles and the show's both comical and dramatic messages.

Starling admitted that doing a smaller show, not a large-scale musical, was helpful for making the process less overwhelming. They added that using the venue of Elite Events was an important part of the production as well. While the company has produced several drag shows at Elite, this is the first play. As they've worked to find the right space to perform, Starling said that Elite has started to feel like home.

Being able to bring the messages and themes of "Hurricane Diane" to the community was an important and meaningful process as well, not just for Starling but for the whole cast and crew. After their final dress rehearsal, the cast practiced a talk back session with the limited audience in attendance, which is something they did after each regular performance as well. One attendee specifically asked what it's like to put on a production like "Hurricane Diane," which includes multiple queer characters and themes, in a largely conservative community.

"It's both rewarding and difficult," Kenny Fullmer, who played Beth, admitted. They explained that the show received negative feedback and hateful messages through social media, even before opening, but said that doing shows with The Starling Company also helped them realize how big the local queer community is, bringing out support as well.

"I find it rewarding and honestly just exhilarating," Em O'Lexey, who played Diane, added. They said that they are never afraid to be themselves, but especially want to encourage queer kids and others who may not yet have that confidence.

The idea of being honest in your life and true to your authentic self is one that was explored in the play as well, with Najmah Elgelaawi explaining that their character of Renee had to constantly put on a role and hide herself. Elgelaawi said they are sorry for people who don't feel that they can be honest in their everyday lives. But Starling pointed out that this is one of the reasons productions like "Hurricane Diane" are important.

"I think that's a lot of what we're doing here is providing a third space for people to let the mask drop, even if it's just for the hour and a half that they get to watch you guys," Starling told the cast. "They get to forget about the world. So thank you, each and every one of you, for helping me continue to create that space."

Starling also pointed out that they believed one of the most important messages of the show was "queerness is godliness," explaining that being your authentic self and expressing who you are inside is queerness, and "just operating every day that way is art."

Living and producing art is especially important right now, Starling added.

"There's never been a more important time to be doing art. In times of heavy negativity and in times of strife and chaos, that's when we start to lose our artists," they said, explaining that they've seen multiple theater and drag artists stepping down or putting art aside as they try to navigate the complications of life. "But this is how we get through, creating community through the arts like this."

In order to continue this mission, Starling is already at work on multiple upcoming projects, including "Backwards Broadway: The Musical Mixup," a cabaret-style show that is a collaboration with The Horizon Theater Company. Starling described this production as a meshing of the two theater company's unique styles, and said both companies want to open people's eyes to "the possibilities of arts and theater." That show will be coming up in June.

An even sooner production will be "Freakshow 3" in May, which Starling described as "the final installment in our original, immersive theatrical experience," which is "a showcase of alternative, punk, horror, nasty, gross, everything that's not RuPaul's Drag Race basically." Starling said that this show is especially personal, as it connects back to their start in theater with special effects makeup, and is a meaningful and unique form of art.

"It's getting to showcase something different that we don't have anywhere else in Wyoming," they explained. "We're really the only place doing this alternative drag, which is really cool."

Other productions coming up in the future will include annual events like the August Ball and another play with "Always Patsy Cline," with Starling set to play Patsy.

Through all these different productions, Starling reiterated that the goal is to provide a support system for people, even if it's just through them being able to come see the shows. They added that this is how everyone can get through, even if it feels like the world is falling apart, by laughing and crying and growing together.

"It's just a simple act of resistance, this joy that we're creating," Starling said.
Tropical Storm Sinlaku could bring damage comparable to 2023s Typhoon Mawar if it continues on its current track, forecasters said Friday afternoon.

Damaging winds could hang over Guam for as much as 48 hours, between Monday morning and Wednesday morning, with Sinlaku on track to develop into a Category 3 or Category 4 typhoon by the time it reaches Guam.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero could declare Condition of Readiness 3 by Friday afternoon, according to Adelup officials.

COR 3 means damaging winds are possible within 48 hours.

National Weather Service science and operations officer Brandon Aydlett briefed federal and local officials about the situation at the government of Guam's Emergency Operations Center in Agana Heights.

Typhoon Mawar was an eye opener for a lot of people, Aydlett said. This could be another Typhoon Mawar type of scenario.

Aydlett said weather models point to moderate to strong typhoon-force conditions, with only an outside chance of weaker tropical storm-force winds of less than 75 miles per hour hitting Guam.

Structures that are not completely concrete could be damaged significantly or destroyed, he told government officials present. Poorly constructed wooden tin structures are at significant risk. So think about the residents. Think about your surroundings, your neighbors, who might be at risk.

Vegetation and trees will definitely experience significant damage and destruction, he said.

As of Friday afternoon, models favored a Category 3 typhoon, which would see winds between 111 and 129 miles per hour.

But a Category 4 typhoon, with damaging winds up to 156 miles per hour, was still possible, according to Aydlett.

Less likely was the worst-case scenario, a Category 5 super typhoon with damaging winds approaching the 200-mile-per-hour mark.

The big question still outstanding was what track the storm would take, he said.

Shifts in direction either to the north or to the south will make a difference in the coming days.

Fridays projections had the center of Sinlaku passing near southern Guam, along with the strongest winds of the storm.

But impacts will extend for 100 to 200 miles out from the center of Sinlaku, and if the storm changes direction, its impacts could still potentially hit Rota and Saipan.

If Sinlaku passes directly over southern Guam, the northern part of the island could be spared of the biggest damage.

"Right now, it would be prudent that we consider any of Guam could be at risk of seeing the direct impacts from the center of this typhoon, Aydlett said.

Notably, Sinlaku continues to move at a slow speed, comparable to Mawar in 2023, the forecaster said.

Slow speed means more time to build up, and potentially more damaging winds and flood-causing rains once Sinlaku passes over Guam.

Aydlett said the coming storm will be a long endurance event, with potential for 10 to 15 inches of rain or much higher, and 20- to 40-foot seas around Guam.

The next 36 hours of tracking will be very important, he said, and residents are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts.

COR 3, shelters, schools

The governor could declare COR 3 by Friday afternoon, which means that damaging winds over 39 miles per hour could come within 48 hours, said Adelup spokesperson John Ryan.

Ryan said the governor's legal counsel was preparing a letter to President Donald Trump, seeking a declaration of disaster for Guam.

Official confirmation of canceled classes for the Guam Department of Education and closed GovGuam offices come Monday was pending.

Ryan said it is a fair guess to make that both would be closed once Sinlaku makes its Monday approach.

Government typhoon shelters will be opened and locations announced as soon as Condition of Readiness 2 is declared, according to Guam Homeland Security and Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Jenna Blas.

COR 2 means damaging winds are expected within 24 hours.

Blas said shelter details were being finalized, in coordination with village mayors as of about noon Friday.

Residents are advised to take the following precautions:

Those living in flood-prone areas should take action now such as clearing drainage areas and unblocking storm drains to minimize the potential for flooding.

Stay up to date with the latest information.

Clear loose debris around your yard and secure any items, such as tents and canopies, that could become airborne with heavy winds, before inclement weather arrives.

Secure construction sites.

Take down signs such as political campaign signs.

Have an emergency kit prepared: Store enough food and water for your household for 7-10 days. Include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies.

Secure important documents such as birth certificates, tax papers, and insurance documents and keep copies in a water-proof bag.

Review your emergency plan: If you do not have a plan, learn how to create an emergency plan; Have plans for your family members and pets. If you are a person with disabilities or a caregiver for elderly, you may need to take extra steps to plan for those additional needs.

Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan will see high rip current risk through Sunday afternoon, while a small craft advisory will stay in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday, according to NWS.

For the latest advisory information, visit:
Immediately after passage of Tropical Storm Sinlaku and once Condition of Readiness 4 is issued, the Guam Power Authority will begin its process of restoring power service to the island.

Critical restoration priorities will include hospitals, critical water wells and wastewater facilities, critical infrastructure facilities like communications, schools/shelters, public safety/health and ports of entry, GPA said in a media release.

As power restoration progresses and communications systems are restored, Guam Power Authoritys automated meter infrastructure, or smart meter network, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems will provide detailed information on outage locations.

These systems allow GPA to confirm where power has been restored, identify customers still without service, and locate smaller outage pockets within villages.

Because GPA can monitor restoration and identify remaining outages through these systems, residents are asked not to inundate or overwhelm GPA Trouble Dispatch lines with inquiries regarding service restoration.

Updates on power restoration will be provided to media, Office of Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense and posted on GPAs social media pages.

Trouble dispatchers will receive calls for down energized (sparking) lines, damaged poles or blown transformers.

"Please stay away from all down lines and equipment as they may still be energized and can cause harm if you come in contact with the lines or equipment. Consider such situations as dangerous and life threatening. If such conditions are present, please immediately report this situation to GPA's 24-Hour Trouble Dispatch at 475-1472/3/4 or via direct message on GPAs Facebook page. Please provide exact location or address, contact information and condition of location," GPA said.
The enduring and ever-growing success of the SUV body style in Europe is also significantly due to Toyota's contribution. As one of the first manufacturers, the Japanese launched a car in 1994 with the RAV4 that, contrary to the original definition, was not derived from a utility vehicle but was a tall passenger car on large wheels in its entirety. Like almost no other manufacturer  one of the few exceptions being the prematurely bold attempt with the Talbot-Simca-Rancho back in the late 70s  Toyota also did not dare to offer such a car without all-wheel drive at that time. Today, front-wheel drive is the norm for almost all SUVs. Customers are pleased with the lower purchase price.

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All-wheel drive without a consumption disadvantage

However, despite demands for legally compliant fleet consumption, Toyota has remained true to both the model series and the offering of all-wheel drive. So, it is not surprising that the RAV4 is now in its sixth generation with a hybrid drive. Electrification closes the circle to all-wheel drive with modern means: its rear axle is driven electrically when needed. The electrification, which is necessary for the hybrid drive anyway, saves transfer case, clutch (or differential) and cardan drive. All-wheel drive is therefore no longer a disadvantage in terms of consumption. For the first time, the plug-in hybrid will also be available as a front-wheel drive. For all PHEV versions, the electric range increases. A battery-electric version, as seen sparingly in the USA in 2012 in the USA, is not planned.

Bild 1 von 3 Toyota RAV4 Exterieur (3 Bilder) Der Toyota RAV4 war 1994 ein Volltreffer. Er pragte sein Segment und blieb bis heute begehrt. (Bild: Toyota )

The hybrid drive uses a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, which always delivers 105 kW, with 221 Nm of torque in the hybrid models, but is specified at 227 Nm for the PHEV versions  a difference that is probably hardly noticeable in everyday use. In the front-wheel drive hybrid, the electric motor delivers 100 kW, and the system output is a maximum of 136 kW. In the all-wheel drive hybrid, a 40 kW electric motor on the rear axle is added, increasing the system output to 143 kW. Consumption is stated as 4.9 to 5.2, for the all-wheel drive model as 5.3 to 5.7 liters per 100 km.

Efficient hybrid drives

In the plug-in hybrid, the electric motor delivers 151.4 kW, enabling a system output of 200 kW. As an all-wheel drive PHEV, the RAV4 gets the same electric rear axle with 40 kW as the simple hybrid drive and then delivers a system output of 227 kW. Weighted consumption is 1.3 to 1.8 or 1.3 to 1.6 liters, respectively. With an empty battery, it is 5.2 to 5.6 or 5.3 to 5.8, not significantly more than with the hybrid models without electric range  which is not a given in a world where hybrid drives are usually derived from conventional ones, increasing consumption.

Bild 1 von 5 Toyota RAV4 Interieur (5 Bilder) Der Arbeitsplatz mit den ublichen beiden Bildschirmen wirkt sachlich, ob er auch funktional etwas taugt, wird sich weisen. (Bild: Toyota )

In terms of segment comparison, the good figures are credible, given Toyota's virtually traditional lead in hybrid drives. Toyota states that they have increased efficiency by another ten percent compared to the previous generation. Not only about the current fuel price development, but also explicitly pointing out the two battery-electric SUV models Toyota bZ4X and Toyota bZ4X Touring in the corresponding format.

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Fast charging as an option for PHEV

The batteries of the PHEV versions, which can be cooled as needed, each have a capacity of 22.7 kWh, which is 30 percent more than before, and give them a range of 126 to 137 or 121 to 133 kilometers. With optional 50 kW charging power, depending on the equipment, they are well-positioned for PHEVs. Their battery is said to charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. A 11 kW charger is installed as standard, and its charging power is said to be sufficient for charging from 10 to 80 percent in about three hours.

Large trunk

With a length of 4.6 meters, a width of 1.85 and a height of 1.68 meters, the RAV4 remains in its usual size range and offers the fashionable wheel dimensions on 18- and 20-inch rims. What does it look like? Toyota says its iconic DNA combines robust outdoor capability with refined urban style. We find it edgier than most other cars. The cargo space offers a capacity of 514 to 1706 liters for the hybrid, and 446 to 1619 liters for the plug-in hybrid. All-wheel drive is optionally available for both the full hybrid drive and the plug-in version. It offers active torque distribution, hill descent control, and a towing capacity of 2000 kg with a nose weight of 100 kg. The front-wheel drive variant, on the other hand, offers a maximum of 800 kg and a nose weight of 80 kg.

The new generation of the RAV4 is already available to order in Germany, as a hybrid for 43,990 euros, as a plug-in hybrid for 49,990 euros. Toyota offers up to 15 years or 250,000 kilometers warranty with contractually compliant maintenance. Toyota plans the first deliveries for June 2026.

(fpi)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The decline reflects a broad slowdown across the market, with activity in new housing remaining low.

A total of 4,311 housing transactions were recorded nationwide, including 4,222 sales of existing homes and only 89 new-build deals.

Finlands housing market weakened in March as total transactions fell by more than 14 per cent compared with a year earlier, according to new data from the Finnish Real Estate Federation.

Sales of new homes dropped by more than half from the previous year, while transactions in existing homes fell by 12.6 per cent.

Chief executive Tuomas Viljamaa said the market remained subdued. The total number of transactions fell by about 14 per cent nationwide in March, he stated.

The downturn extended across most regions, with only Kainuu recording an increase in sales compared with March last year. Among major cities, only Kuopio has seen growth in transactions during the first quarter of the year.

The sharpest declines were reported in Oulu, Tampere and Lahti.

House prices continued to fall in the Helsinki metropolitan area, where supply has increased. Viljamaa said the number of homes available for sale and rent has reached high levels, with additional vacant right-of-occupancy housing adding to supply.

Prices have continued to decline in the capital region, he said, pointing to the imbalance between supply and demand.

Across the rest of Finland, price levels have shown signs of stabilisation. Data shows that average prices for existing flats in the capital region fell by 1.7 per cent compared with February and by nearly 5 per cent year-on-year.

The market has also become divided by property type. Prices for larger family homes have remained stable, while smaller apartments have recorded clear declines.

Viljamaa said demand is focused on family-sized housing, while supply is concentrated in smaller units. This mismatch has weighed on overall price development.

Transaction data shows that apartment blocks accounted for more than half of existing home sales in March, with 2,221 deals. Row houses and semi-detached homes made up 1,072 transactions, while 929 detached houses were sold.

In the capital region, 995 existing homes changed hands, representing 23.6 per cent of all transactions nationwide. Helsinki recorded 624 sales, followed by Espoo with 223.

Sales times have shortened compared with earlier in the year. The average time to sell flats in the capital region fell to 114 days, while detached house sales times dropped to 134 days, a decrease of 40 days from February.

Despite faster sales, overall activity remains low. The report notes that transaction volumes in March were more than 25 per cent below the five-year average.

For the first quarter, 11,654 existing homes were sold, down 9.1 per cent from the same period last year. New-build sales totalled 281 units, a decline of more than one third.

Viljamaa said further measures are needed to revive the market and restore confidence among buyers. He pointed to financing reforms such as longer mortgage terms and changes to first-time buyer schemes, but said additional action is required.

The housing market must be restarted so that construction and the wider property sector can recover, he said.

The federation has called for policy changes to support demand, including adjustments to transaction taxes and incentives for first-time buyers.

HT
(JNS)  A humble childhood, a meteoric rise to power, a fatal love affair, a confrontation with a giant.

Its no surprise that the life of King David, as told in the biblical book of Samuel, has attracted generations of filmmakers, with the second king of Israel played by Gregory Peck and Richard Gere, among others. More recently, the first season of House of David drew 22 million viewers in its first two weeks on Amazon Prime last year, with a second season released on March 27. David also features in a new animated musical and a four-part biopic from Fox Nation.

Unlike previous adaptations...
(JNS)  The Israel Defense Forces has killed more than 1,000 Hezbollah operatives since the Iranian-backed terrorist group joined the war on March 2, and that number will continue to rise, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Sunday.

The military is striking Hezbollah with determination, extensively and across multiple fronts, Zamir said during a visit to Ras el-Bayada, a strategic coastal headland located near Tyre that is the northernmost point in Southern Lebanon where Israeli soldiers are currently operating on the ground.

The campaign against Hezbollah targets its operative...
Four bodies have been retrieved from under the rubble at the site of the Iranian ballistic missile impact in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, rescue services said on Monday afternoon.

Following overnight efforts with the Israel Defense Forces' Home Front Command, "two trapped individuals who were found under the rubble without signs of life," the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority said early on Monday.

"Rescue operations and attempts are still ongoing at this time in an effort to reach two additional trapped/unaccounted-for individuals," the service added in its initial statement.

On Monday a...
(JNS)  The IDF attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday. With that operation and another last week, Irans two major petrochemical facilities, together accounting for 85 percent of the countrys total petrochemical exports, are out of action.

The IDF has now aggressively attacked Irans largest petrochemical facility located in Asaluyeha major target responsible for about 50 percent of the countrys petrochemical production, after last weeks second major facility was attacked, Katz said.

The two attacks cons...
(JNS) - Eighteen-year-old S. lies in an underground hospital bed at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya. An Arab citizen of Israel, he was in a car accident a week ago and brought here. Because of the frequent Hezbollah rocket attacks, virtually the entire hospital has moved underground.

The wards are crowded, with beds separated only by curtains. There's a bit of a traffic jam as patients are moved to and from the wards.

"It's a little hard being underground, but the doctors are great," S. tells JNS. "I feel like I'm getting very good care."

His mother, V., has the tired look common to mothers...
(JNS)  The Israel Defense Forces killed Brig.-Gen. Majid Khademi, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence chief and one of the IRGCs most senior operatives, Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Monday.

The terrorist regime in Iran continues to launch missiles at the Israeli home front, killing and harming Israeli civilians, Katz said during a situational assessment with senior military officials. I was updated by the chief of staff that, overnight in Tehran, the IDF eliminated Majid Khadami, head of the IRGC intelligence organizationone of those directly responsible for...
In a Passover eve address steeped in biblical imagery, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday framed Israels campaign against Iran and its proxies through the lens of the biblical Exodus, declaring that Israel had dealt its enemies ten blows echoing the Ten Plagues.

Netanyahu listed strikes against Hamas, Hezbollah, Bashar Assads fallen regime in Syria, Palestinian terror groups and the Houthis in Yemen, alongside five direct blows to Iran  targeting its nuclear program, missile capabilities, regime infrastructure, repression forces and senior leadership.

Netanyahu then pi...
(JNS) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared on Monday morning that he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and was "deeply proud" that Israel could "contribute to saving a brave American warrior," referring to the rescue mission of the downed pilot from Iranian territory.

"I spoke earlier with President Donald Trump and personally congratulated him on his bold decision and a perfectly executed American mission to rescue the downed pilot from enemy territory," Netanyahu tweeted.

He continued, "The President expressed his appreciation for Israel's help," adding that the Israeli-U.S. "coop...
(JNS) - One Israeli was kiled when Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists struck his vehicle in the Galilee Panhandle on Sunday morning.

"Medics and paramedics report a man trapped in a vehicle with no signs of life," the Magen David Adom emergency response group stated.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that "fire from Lebanese territory toward a community on the northern border was identified." It added, "There is damage and there are casualties."

The victim was later identified as Ofer "Poshko" Moskovitz, 61, an avocado farmer and the spokesman for Kibbutz Misgav Am.

"Spokesperson, farmer, f...
(JNS) - The Israel Defense Forces' "Operation Roaring Lion" against the Islamic Republic will continue "with full force, on all fronts," until all objectives are achieved, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.

The premier in his statement commented on the elimination of Brig. Gen. Majid Khademi, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' intelligence chief, and Asghar Bakri, who commanded Unit 840 of the IRGC's Quds Force.

"Another central arm of the Iranian terror regime has been severed," Netanyahu tweeted, vowing, "We are acting with strength and determination-we will reach everyone...
How China tests the world's fastest bullet train | CR450 Pub Date:26-04-10 09:21 Source:Xinhua Meet China's CR450, the world's fastest bullet train operating at a speed of 400 km per hour. One of its developers, CRRC Qingdao Sifang, runs high-speed crash tests to make trains safer. Its products have been exported to more than 30 countries and regions. Editor:Qin Shuying

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(JNS)  The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service, an agency of the department, said that they will create and issue additional guidance for religious institutions on how to apply the Johnson Amendment, which bars houses of worship from endorsing political candidates.

Religious liberty is foundational to our Constitution, and the freedom to practice ones faith openly and in community is central to the American story as we celebrate 250 years of independence as a nation this year, stated Scott Bessent, U.S. treasury secretary.

As many Americans gather to observe Holy W...
El Al to launch direct flights to Argentina, starting this fall

By Etgar Lefkovits

(JNS)  Israels flag carrier El Al plans to launch direct flights from Tel Aviv to Buenos Aires this fall, marking a renewed push into the South American market.

The nonstop service, which comes amid growing relations between the two countries, is expected to begin by November, JNS has learned.

Today, a dream I have pursued with all my effort since taking office as Ambassador begins to become a reality, Argentinian Ambassador to Israel Axel Wahnish posted Wednesday on X. It is the concrete result of the stra...
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In the past decade, U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait totaled $300 to $450 billion. U.S. President Donald Trump also advanced a $142 billion deal with Saudi Arabiathe largest arms agreement everand aims to sell F-35s to the Saudis and the Emiratis.

Thro...
(JNS)  The Greater Israel narrative (from the Nile to the Euphrates) is a modern reincarnation of antisemitic myths. The claim is not rooted in Israeli policy, strategy and action but in simplified, emotionally charged narratives that cast Israel as expansionist and aggressive.

Israel is not pursuing a Greater Israel in any way or form. The lie is amplified by media networks with millions of audiences, such as podcasters and media personalities Tucker Carlson, Piers Morgan and others, dripping with imagery of expansion, domination and religious zeal. It is a recycled narrative of age-old...
(JNS)  Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Carrie Prejean Boller (The Three Cs) are probably the most exceptional examples of the renewed Christian theological opposition to Israel and Zionism that has always been lurking in dark corners. There are, of course, the normal fanatical Jew-hatersNick Fuentes, Ana Kasparian and Myron Gaines (pseudonym of the Sudanese Amrou Fudl). And now, even conservative media personality Megyn Kelley is queuing up.

All claim not to be antisemitic but, to varying degrees, express a rhetoric of such intense dislike and animosity to the idea of a Jewish nation r...
After six canceled and delayed flights, I was finally able to get home to Israel last week having been stranded in the U.S. for three weeks due to the war. I used my time productively, conducting 20 interviews and briefings in the last two weeks alone. Most of my interviewers were interested in my perspective as a dual American-Israeli citizen on the war against the Islamic Republic, the challenges in Israel, and my not being there with my family.

In one of the conversations, the host affirmed his support for the war, and Israel, repeatedly but also repeatedly stated that he drew a line at U.S...
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The United States Postal Service (USPS) has temporarily suspended its contributions to a key federal pension program, warning that the move is necessary to avoid a looming cash crisis.

The agency confirmed it will halt payments into the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), a retirement plan that supports postal workers and other federal employees.

Officials said the decision is aimed at conserving cash as financial pressures continue to mount.

"The United States Postal Service is heading toward a cash crisis," USPS spokesperson David Walton said.

He explained that pausing the payments will help the agency maintain daily operations and cover essential costs.

The USPS typically contributes about $400 million each month to the pension system.

By suspending these payments, the agency expects to free up roughly $2.5 billion during the current fiscal year, USA Today reported.

Despite the pause, worker contributions will still be sent, along with payments tied to the Thrift Savings Plan and other benefits.

USPS suspends contributions to employee pensions after warning of "cash crisis."



https://t.co/4JFqSRbUz2  Breaking X (@BreakingXAlerts) April 9, 2026

USPS Considers Price Hikes and Fewer Delivery

The decision follows warnings from Postmaster General David Steiner, who recently told lawmakers that the postal service could run out of cash within a year without major changes.

He suggested that options like raising stamp prices or reducing delivery days may be necessary to stabilize finances.

USPS Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann said the agency had to act quickly.

"The risk to the Postal Service and the American public from insufficient liquidity for postal operations dramatically outweighs any longer-term risk," he said, referring to the temporary halt in pension contributions.

Financial struggles at USPS have been building for years. According to CBS News, the agency reported a $9 billion loss in 2025, continuing a long trend of declining mail volume and rising delivery costs.

First-class mail, once its most profitable service, has dropped significantly as more people switch to digital communication.

To cope with rising expenses, USPS is also planning an 8% surcharge on some mailing services starting April 26, with the increase expected to remain in place through early 2027.

Leaders say these steps are part of a broader effort to keep the system running while longer-term solutions are explored.

Still, officials acknowledge the suspension is only temporary and not a full fix.

Originally published on vcpost.com
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In Brief: The NYC Hotel Association Foundation has provided financial support to the NYC Police Foundation, a move aimed at strengthening safety protocols and initiatives within the city's hospitality industry.

Hotel Association of NYC Foundation Bestows Grant to NYC Police Foundation, Bolsters Public Safety Initiatives Within Hospitality Sector

The Hotel Association of New York City Foundation (HANYC Foundation), the philanthropic arm of the Hotel Association of NYC, today announced a $15,000 grant to the New York City Police Foundation to advance public safety initiatives and support safer environments for hotel guests, hospitality employees, and communities across New York City. This marks the second grant the HANYC Foundation has awarded to the New York City Police Foundation, further building upon their ongoing work.

The funding will support Crime Stoppers, a longstanding public safety program since 1983 that provides a secure, anonymous channel that offers cash rewards for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of dangerous offenders. The program recently expanded its criteria to include human trafficking cases, which is an issue of particular importance to the HANYC Foundation and its member hotels.

Our hotel teams are on the front lines every day, welcoming guests from around the world, and they want to be part of keeping New York safe, said Heather Davis, Chair of the Hotel Association of New York City Foundation and Senior Vice President of Operations at Aimbridge Hospitality. Public safety starts with people paying attention and feeling empowered to act. By supporting Crime Stoppers and educating our employees on the anonymous tip line, were giving them a clear way to speak up when something doesnt feel rightand that matters for our guests, our teams, and ultimately our city.

The HANYC Foundation works with philanthropic and civic partners to address critical challenges facing New York Cityincluding public safety, sanitation, and immigrationwhile reinforcing the hospitality industrys role as a civic leader in supporting a safe and thriving city. Through targeted grants and collaboration, the Foundation aligns industry resources with initiatives designed to deliver measurable impact across the five boroughs.

The NYPD Crime Stoppers Program has been an invaluable crime-fighting tool for more than four decades, helping to solve more than 5,600 violent crimes, said Susan L. Birnbaum, President & CEO of the New York City Police Foundation. Because the rewards are funded by donations to the New York City Police Foundation, supporters like the HANYC Foundation are vital to its continued success. Thanks to their generosity, the range of cases eligible for Crime Stoppers rewards has expanded to include human trafficking, further enhancing the programs ability to protect vulnerable individuals and strengthen community safety. We are grateful to the HANYC Foundation for their commitment to helping safeguard New Yorkers and the millions of visitors to our city each year.
In Brief: Shiji AIR is shifting its focus towards an AI-centric approach in the hospitality industry, aiming to streamline operations and improve guest interactions.

Shiji AIR: Transitioning to an AIFirst Hospitality Platform - Image Credit Shiji

Shiji is transitioning to an AIfirst organization, embedding responsible, unobtrusive AI across its hospitality platform to reduce complexity and return time to hotel teams.

At Shiji, we are entering a new phase in how we build, deliver, and operate hospitality technology.

After years of deliberate platform investment, architectural decisions, and careful experimentation, we are now transitioning Shiji into an AIfirst organization. This is not a tactical update or a feature roadmap adjustment. It is a fundamental change in how every product across our portfolio will evolve going forward.

This transition is possible because of choices we made long before artificial intelligence became a headline topic.

From the beginning, our platform strategy focused on modularity, clean data structures, deep integration across hospitality workflows, and the ability to operate globally under different regulatory environments. Those same decisions now allow us to embed AI across our entire technology stack in a way that is scalable, secure, and meaningful for hotel operators.

Shiji AIR is the framework that enables this transition and gives it structure.

What AIfirst actually means

An AIfirst organization does not begin by asking where to add AI features.

It begins by examining where friction exists in daily operations and how complexity can be removed rather than multiplied.

For us, AIfirst does not mean putting artificial intelligence in front of guests, or asking hotel teams to adapt to entirely new ways of working. The objective is the opposite. AI should quietly remove operational weight so that hospitality professionals can focus more on service, leadership, and the guest experience.

If AI does not make work faster, simpler, and more intuitive, then it does not belong in production.

AI should feel like air

I often describe AI as the air we breathe.

When the air is clean, you do not notice it. Everything simply functions as it should. When it is polluted, the entire environment suffers.

As we embed AI across property management, guest engagement, food and beverage, payments, analytics, and operational workflows, it will work because we have built it on clean and modular data structures and APIs. Making it deeply integrated and filtered.

Shiji AIR is designed to make AI pervasive but unobtrusive, powerful yet calm.

Quietly working in the background

A good example of this approach can be seen in how we manage single guest profiles across properties and regions.

Over time, we have deliberately experimented with AIdriven techniques for identity resolution, pattern recognition, and data reconciliation. Today, we are actively enhancing those capabilities by applying modern generative and predictive AI on top of a stable and proven foundation.

The objective has never been technical transparency for its own sake.

Hotel teams should not need to understand how models work or how systems make decisions. They should simply be able to find the right guest profile without needing to analyse multiple profiles. Resulting in more accurate guest recognition, better understanding of the guests value to the hotel and their preferences.

This same standard applies as AI is embedded across all Shiji product lines.

It does not matter how AI works. It matters what it delivers. If it does not materially reduce effort or improve experience, it does not belong.

AI as a layer across the platform

One of the common mistakes in the current technology landscape is treating AI as a standalone capability.

Hospitality technology is already complex. Adding isolated AI tools often increases fragmentation rather than reducing it.

Our approach is to embed AI as a horizontal layer across the Shiji platform. It connects systems, data, and workflows rather than sitting inside a single interface or module.

This reduces operational burden instead of adding to it. The outcome is not more technology. It is less complexity and less effort required to operate at scale.

Bringing people back in front of guests

Hospitality will always be a people business.

No algorithm can replace empathy, judgment, or genuine human service. That is not only true in principle. It is true in practice.

The real risk is not that AI replaces people. The real risk is that systems consume so much time and attention that staff spend more energy managing technology than serving guests.

Our philosophy is simple. AI should bring people back in front of guests, not place AI in front of guests.

Yes, humanintheloop is essential in how we design and deploy AI, but it must always be a way for staff to be able to spend more time with guests. Artificial intelligence should assist, accelerate, and inform, but people remain accountable for decisions, service quality, and outcomes.

When implemented correctly, AI increases productivity without increasing workload and returns time to the teams that define the guest experience.

Responsibility makes AIfirst sustainable

As AI becomes embedded across hospitality systems, responsibility becomes unavoidable.

Hotels operate on trust. They manage some of the most sensitive data in the travel ecosystem, including guest identities, payment information, preferences, and behavioral signals.

As that data is used to power AIdriven capabilities, the responsibility to protect it increases rather than diminishes.

One of the most complex challenges facing global hotel operators is data sovereignty. Data must remain governed by the laws of the country in which it is stored. That reality does not change simply because new technology becomes available.

Shijis position is clear. Hotel data belongs to the hotel. It is not used to train external models, it is not shared across unrelated environments, and it does not cross borders where it does not legally belong.

Responsible AI begins with responsible data ownership.

That is why Shiji has invested heavily in a regionalized and compliant platform that allows data to remain within its appropriate jurisdiction rather than being centralized into a single global environment.

This approach sometimes introduces additional complexity in development. We accept that tradeoff if it guarantees longterm security, compliance, and trust for our clients and their guests.

Shiji AIR operates entirely within these same boundaries. AI does not bypass governance. It inherits it.

Looking ahead

AI will reshape hospitality technology over the coming decade.

Predictive operations, intelligent automation, and contextaware decision making will become standard elements of modern hotel systems. But success will not be defined by speed or spectacle.

It will be defined by discipline, execution, and trust.

Shiji is now transitioning to an AIfirst model deliberately and at scale, grounded in a platform that was built for this moment.

AI everywhere.

Always present.

Built responsibly.

Just like the air we breathe.

Kevin King

Chief Executive Officer

Shiji Group

About Shiji

Shiji is a global technology company dedicated to providing innovative solutions for the hospitality industry, ensuring seamless operations for hoteliers day and night.

Built on the Shiji Platform, the only truly global hotel technology platform, Shijis cloud-based portfolio includes Property Management System, Point-of-Sale, guest engagement, distribution, payments, and data intelligence solutions for over 91,000 hotels worldwide, including the largest chains.

With more than 5,000 employees across the world, Shiji is a trusted partner for the worlds leading hoteliers, delivering technology that works as continuously as the industry itself.

For more information, visit www.shijigroup.com.
In Brief: Institutional capital is returning to Southern Europes hotel sector, with a new 300 million investment vehicle targeting acquisitions and repositioning opportunities across Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

300 Million Fund Targets Southern Europe Hotels As Investors Shift to Value-Add Strategy - Image Credit HNR News

Published April 9, 2026 | By HNR News Staff Reporter

Capital Targets Southern Europe

A joint venture between Mutua Madrilena and Stoneweg has launched a 300 million fund focused on hotel investments in Southern Europe, signaling renewed institutional interest in the regions hospitality assets.

The fund will target acquisitions and repositioning opportunities in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, with a strategy centered on value creation through operational improvements and asset upgrades.

Shift Toward Value-Add Strategies

The investment approach reflects a broader shift toward value-add and repositioning strategies, as investors seek to capitalize on pricing dislocations and operational inefficiencies in the current market environment.

Rather than focusing solely on stabilized assets, capital is increasingly targeting properties where performance can be enhanced through renovation, rebranding, or changes in management structure.

This trend is particularly evident in Southern Europe, where a large share of hotel inventory remains independently operated or underinvested relative to international brand standards.

Demand Fundamentals Support Investment

Southern Europe continues to benefit from strong tourism demand, driven by leisure travel and sustained international visitation.

Spain alone is projected to approach or exceed 100 million international visitors annually, reinforcing its position as one of the worlds leading tourism markets.

This demand base provides a foundation for investors seeking long-term income and value appreciation, particularly in resort and urban leisure destinations.

Capital Flows Contrast with Operating Pressure

The return of institutional capital comes at a time when parts of the European hotel sector are experiencing operational strain, driven by rising labor costs, energy prices, and financing expenses.

We are seeing strong investor interest in Southern European hospitality, particularly where there is an opportunity to reposition assets and capture growth in leisure demand, market commentary from CBRE has noted in recent regional investment outlooks.

This divergence highlights a growing distinction between asset-level attractiveness and operating-level challenges, with investors focusing on long-term fundamentals even as short-term cost pressures persist.

Implications for the Market

The launch of a dedicated investment vehicle of this scale suggests that capital deployment into hotels is becoming more targeted, with a focus on specific geographies and asset strategies rather than broad-based expansion.

For owners, this may create opportunities for asset sales or partnerships, particularly for properties requiring capital investment or operational repositioning.

For operators, increased investment activity may lead to changes in management structures, branding, and performance expectations.

Outlook

The renewed flow of capital into Southern Europes hotel sector reflects continued confidence in the regions long-term tourism fundamentals.

However, the focus on value-add strategies also indicates that investors are prioritizing assets where performance can be improved, rather than relying solely on market growth.

This dynamic is likely to shape transaction activity and asset positioning across the region in the coming period.
In Brief: Agodas 2026 Travel Outlook Report indicates that Indian travelers are the most likely in Asia to plan spiritually motivated trips in 2026, with 19% expressing such intentions.

India Leads Asia in Spiritual Travel Plans for 2026 - Image Credit Unsplash+

Agodas 2026 Travel Outlook Report shows that faith and tradition continue to drive travel decisions in India, with 19% of Indian travelers expecting to take a spiritually motivated trip in 2026. This is the highest proportion among Asian markets surveyed, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and Thailand.

Major spiritual events have a significant impact on travel patterns. In 2025, Prayagraj recorded a 233% increase in accommodation searches on Agoda during the Maha Kumbh Mela, a religious gathering held every twelve years that attracts pilgrims and travelers from India and abroad.

Indias festival calendar also shapes travel demand. During Holi, destinations known for temple rituals and celebrations saw notable increases in travel interest, with Pushkar experiencing a 195% rise in accommodation searches, Vrindavan a 126%, and Mathura a 109% increase.

Destinations with spiritual significance and cultural experiences continue to draw visitors. Indian travelers often plan journeys that combine pilgrimage gatherings with festival-linked travel, reflecting the ongoing influence of faith on travel decisions.

The report highlights opportunities for traditional and spiritual destinations to enhance their connection with travelers through digital tools. Expanding access to real-time information, such as opening hours, ticketing, and visitor guidelines, could facilitate trip planning, especially for international visitors. Increased digitization through online platforms can also streamline bookings and improve discoverability for these destinations.

The 2026 Travel Outlook Report is based on Agodas analysis of travel patterns and user searches related to spiritual and festival-linked travel in India and other Asian markets. The figures cited pertain to the share of travelers planning spiritually motivated trips and the percentage increases in accommodation searches during specific events and festivals.
In Brief: The proliferation of budget hotels across Europe is driving a major transformation in the region's hospitality market, which was previously highly fragmented.

Premier Inn Hastings - Image Credit Whitbread

Published April 10, 2026 | By HNR News Staff Reporter

Fragmented Market Creates Opportunity

Europes hotel sector remains significantly more fragmented than that of the United States, creating a structural opportunity for large-scale operators.

Industry estimates indicate that branded hotels account for roughly 40% to 45% of total room supply in Europe, compared with more than 70% in the United States. This gap highlights the potential for further consolidation as operators expand their footprint across the region.

Groups such as B&B Hotels have expanded aggressively, approaching a network of nearly 900 properties across Europe, reflecting the scalability of standardized, limited-service operating models.

Scale Becomes Competitive Advantage

The budget segment is increasingly defined by scale, with operators leveraging centralized procurement, standardized design, and lean staffing models to maintain cost efficiency as they expand geographically.

Unlike higher-end segments, which often require localized positioning and greater capital investment, budget brands can replicate a consistent product across multiple markets.

The economy and budget segments offer some of the strongest growth opportunities in Europe due to their scalability and relatively low cost base, analysts at JLL noted in recent European hospitality outlook commentary.

Top Budget Operators Driving Expansion

A small group of operators is leading the consolidation of Europes budget hotel segment, expanding through acquisitions, conversions, and new development.

Key players include Accor, with its Ibis and Ibis Budget brands; B&B Hotels, one of the fastest-growing platforms in the segment; Whitbread, expanding its Premier Inn brand across continental Europe; Choice Hotels, increasing its presence through franchise models; and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which continues to grow its economy and midscale portfolio internationally.

These operators are pursuing scale to improve distribution, reduce costs, and capture market share in a fragmented, competitive environment.

Leading Budget Hotel Operators in Europe

Operator Estimated Scale Core Brands / Positioning Growth Strategy Key Markets Accor 1,500+ economy hotels (Ibis family) Ibis, Ibis Budget, Ibis Styles Asset-light expansion, strong franchise model, multi-brand segmentation France, Germany, UK, Spain, Eastern Europe B&B Hotels ~900 hotels Standardized economy / midscale hybrid Aggressive acquisitions, private equity-backed expansion, conversions France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland Whitbread (Premier Inn) ~850+ hotels (UK + Europe) Upper-economy / budget premium Owned + lease model, disciplined expansion into continental Europe UK, Germany, Ireland Choice Hotels 500+ economy/midscale in Europe Comfort, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge Franchise-led growth, conversion-heavy expansion Nordics, France, Spain, UK Wyndham Hotels & Resorts 600+ economy/midscale in EMEA Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada Franchise-driven expansion, strong focus on conversions UK, Germany, Middle East, Eastern Europe

Consolidation Accelerating

As large operators expand, consolidation is accelerating in markets historically dominated by independent hotels.

In countries such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, budget chains are increasing their presence through both new builds and the conversion of existing properties.

This trend is gradually increasing branded penetration, reshaping competitive dynamics and raising performance expectations across the segment.

Demand Supports Growth

Demand trends are also supporting the expansion of budget hotels. Cost-conscious travelers, including both leisure and business segments, are increasingly prioritizing value and predictability.

Shorter stays and more frequent travel patterns are reinforcing demand for limited-service accommodations that offer efficiency and competitive pricing.

Data from STR indicate that economy and midscale segments have maintained relatively stable occupancy levels across European markets, even as higher-end segments experience greater variability.

Development Economics Favor Budget Segment

From a development perspective, budget hotels offer advantages in construction cost, operational complexity, and return on investment.

Smaller room formats, simplified amenities, and lower staffing requirements reduce development and operating costs, enabling projects to achieve profitability thresholds more quickly.

This has made the segment particularly attractive to institutional investors and regional developers seeking scalable growth opportunities.

Implications for the Market

The expansion of budget hotel operators is contributing to a structural shift in Europes hospitality sector, where scale and efficiency are becoming increasingly important competitive factors.

For independent hotels, the trend may accelerate the need to align with brands or differentiate through positioning and service.

For large operators, consolidation presents opportunities to strengthen distribution networks and increase market share.

Outlook

The budget segments expansion across Europe is expected to continue, supported by favorable development economics, strong demand fundamentals, and a fragmented competitive landscape.

As consolidation progresses, the balance between independent and branded hotels is likely to shift, with scale-driven operators playing a more dominant role in shaping the regions hospitality market.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 48F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 48F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Mexican restaurant Iztac on North Street was ordered closed by the Health Department.

Pittsfield Health Shuts Down North Street Eatery for 'Pests'



Closed sign on Iztac's front door.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Iztac Mexican Restaurant is currently shut down by the Health Department.



A hearing at the Board of Health on Wednesday was continued at the owner's request. The Licensing Board last month issued a two-week liquor license suspension for Iztac, formerly Pancho's Mexican Restaurant.



According to a Health Department notice on the restaurant's door, it was ordered to close on March 13.



"The owner of the restaurant had requested that he needed more time to address the lease agreement that he has with the owner of the building," Director of Public Health Andy Cambi said.



"So at that point, I said we're not going to hold it against you if you're unable to show up at this point. We will hold this in place; the suspension holds, but until you're ready to meet with the board, obviously, you cannot reopen."

Taped to Iztac's door is a March 13 notice from the Health Department stating that it was closed to the public to protect public health and safety. The reason listed for closure is "controlling pests."

An inspection report noted "live cockroach activity" in the main kitchen and indicated that corrective action was required.



"This establishment has been ordered closed by the Pittsfield Health Department and may not operate until the violations noted below have been corrected and written approval to reopen has been issued," it reads.



Cambi reported that the building owner is aware of the infestation and is working to address it, recognizing that it will worsen if left dormant. It was suggested that the tenant is not able to access the space.
China's commerce ministry stresses healthy China-EU trade ties

Xinhua) 08:42, April 10, 2026

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the European Union (EU) will work with China to promote healthy and positive bilateral economic and trade relations, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

As key trade partners, China and the EU have built their economic and trade cooperation on a solid foundation and maintained strong growth momentum over the years, said ministry spokesperson He Yadong. The two sides have deeply integrated their industrial and supply chains, fostering a relationship characterized by complementary strengths and mutual benefits, He said.

China has remained open to negotiating and signing bilateral economic and trade arrangements with the EU, and has welcomed relevant proposals from European leaders, the spokesperson said.

"However, in recent years, the EU has used a range of economic and trade instruments to launch investigations into, and impose restrictions on, Chinese companies," the spokesperson added.

China hopes the EU will pay greater heed to the views of its member states and European industry, abandon protectionist practices, and meet China halfway, the spokesperson said.

The EU should replace building walls and barriers with open cooperation, resolve frictions and differences through dialogue and consultation, and jointly promote the healthy and positive development of China-EU economic and trade relations, the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
In an office building in Beijings Shijingshan district, a special school is in full swing, with nearly 200 human teachers and 100 humanoid robot students.

The instructors wear headsets and move slowly, while 5ft 4in tall humanoid robots mirror their motions. The students repeat everyday tasks such as taking a medicine bottle from a cabinet, sorting parcels on a conveyor belt, and leafing through office files.

The campus is Chinas largest humanoid robot data-training centre, co-built by the Shijingshan district government and Lejoin Intelligence (Shenzhen) Co, or Leju Robotics.

Wang Qiang, technical director of Leju Robotics embodied training centre, said the facility has built 16 detailed real-world scenarios spanning industrial manufacturing, smart homes, eldercare services and 5G integration.

Occasionally, a robots hand slips and a cup falls. Wang said such failure data is vital as robots must learn not only what is correct, but also what is wrong.

A trainer instructs humanoid robots in logistics operations at a simulated automobile factory workshop ( PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY )

Zhang Yusong, one of the trainers, said training robots can be like teaching a toddler: trial and error, demonstration and correction.

Experts generally agree that before humanoid robots can be widely deployed, they must first attend vocational schools to develop a functioning brain. Engineers describe humanoid robots as having three layers: a brain for perception and decision-making; a cerebellum for motion coordination; and a body equipped with motors and sensors.

While the public recently witnessed robots performing backflips during the televised Spring Festival Gala in China, scientists said the gap between stage performances and a functional household helper remains wide.

Repeated rehearsals can produce a one-time perfect performance, said Yan Weixin, chief scientist at the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute. But replicating the same feats in factories and homes, where unexpected situations arise, is a different matter.

The primary bottleneck is not the body but the brain. Researchers aim for embodied intelligence, where AI inhabits a physical form to perceive and act in the real world.

AI models act as the brain, responsible for thinking, while robots are responsible for moving and doing, said Leng Xiaokun, founder and chairman of Leju Robotics. High-quality data will determine whether robots can leave the lab, he said.

Wang from the data centre said the centre can produce more than 8 million multimodal data records annually. The data supports in-house development and is supplied to AI model companies to continuously optimise robot brains.

Once mature, these models are deployed so robots can acquire new skills. The advantage of the humanoid form is the ability to adapt to environments designed for people without needing modifications. They can directly use spaces and tools made for people  things like door handles, said Chang Ning, who leads the embodied intelligence simulation engine team at Feijie Kesi Intelligent Technology (Shanghai).

The first group of robots trained at the Shijingshan centre has already started factory work. Currently, their efficiency is about 70 per cent of that of a skilled worker. They take on heavy, standardised work such as moving boxes or sorting parts. Wang noted that robots can operate around the clock, filling physically demanding roles that are often hard to staff.

However, home environments remain a challenge. With robots weighing more than 220 pounds, a misstep could cause serious injury, said Chang of Feijie Kesi Intelligent Technology.

The market is moving fast. Omdia, a tech research firm, estimated 13,000 humanoid robots would be shipped worldwide in 2025, with China accounting for 90 per cent of the total.

Across the country, training grounds now hum with robot students learning skills in medical care, energy exploration, and emergency rescue  each trial a step towards bridging the gap before the robot era begins.
On Dongsi Street in Beijing, the daily coffee break is undergoing a sea change. Along the popular city-walk route, lined with hutong and historic buildings, people are skipping their usual hot latte in favour of herbal milk tea, infused with ingredients such as ginseng and astragalus root, from nearby tea shops.

One such shop is Tea of Seasons, also known as Shunshieryin. At first glance, it resembles other milk tea chains. But a distinctive aroma sets it apart  the scent of medicinal herbs wafting from pots simmering with red dates, ginseng, mulberries and dendrobium.

Established by the long-standing traditional Chinese medicine brand Chang Chun Tang in 2022, the shop specialises in herbal infusions tailored to different seasons, each designed with specific health-preserving properties.

He Jing, the branch stores manager and a university graduate who majored in TCM, said the drinks are developed according to the TCM principle that food and medicine share the same origin, with recipes formulated by professional nutritionists.

They taste similar to milk tea while also offering health and wellness benefits, she said. Take the ginseng and astragalus milk tea, for example: The distinctive flavour of astragalus root lingers on the palate after each sip.

Some customers, after examining the ingredients, ask which drinks can help relieve internal heat. This prompts shop assistants to recommend options such as mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum and aged white tea infusions.

Zhima Health coffee bar, founded in 2019 by Tong Ren Tang, another renowned TCM brand, offers herbal coffee varieties such as a goji berry latte and dried tangerine peel latte.

Its menu also features cold-brew herbal teas made with ingredients such as longan, red dates and lily. Among the shops best-selling products is a cold brew infusion called goodnight water. It contains poria mushrooms and spine date seeds  ingredients known for their calming and sleep-promoting properties  making it suitable for those who have difficulty falling asleep.

Conversely, for those struggling to shake off their slumber, another popular concoction is stay-up water. Infused with American ginseng and monk fruit, it is believed to help replenish energy and reduce internal heat.

The popularity of these herbal drink shops reflects a growing preference among young consumers in China for non-caffeinated and low-calorie beverages. Health consciousness is no longer the preserve of the middle-aged and elderly.

In the United States, drinking herbal tea has also become part of the Chinamaxxing trend on TikTok. From drinking ginger tea to boiling apple water to aid digestion and boost qi, or vital energy, young people overseas are increasingly exploring the benefits of Chinese-style infusions.

Sherry Zhu, a popular Chinese-American TikTok creator in the US, promotes the benefits of traditional Chinese wellness practices. Her content receives millions of likes, with many viewers leaving comments asking for recipes.

Many foreign visitors also come to our store to try different teas, said He, the Tea of Seasons manager. Both Tea of Seasons and Zhima Health coffee bar offer English menus for international customers.

While many people search for recipes online, beverage brands have introduced ready-to-drink bottled herbal infusions. In convenience stores, health-boosting drinks, such as barley water and red bean water, are increasingly prominent on store shelves.

Tea of Seasons also offers portable herbal sachets designed around the 24 solar terms. For example, an infusion of chrysanthemum and bamboo leaves is recommended around Spring Equinox to help clear liver heat, according to He.
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Xi Jinping told visiting Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun China would absolutely not tolerate independence for the self-governed island and reiterated his call for its reunification with the mainland.

In a rare meeting with a Taiwanese political leader, he claimed people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were Chinese and wanted peace.

Though Taiwan has its own democratically-elected government, China claims sovereignty over the island and has threatened to reunite it with the mainland by force if necessary. China has recently ramped up military and political pressure against the island.

Compatriots on both sides of the strait are all Chinese, people of one family who want peace, development, exchange, and cooperation, he said, adding that the mainland and Taiwan both belonged to one China.

When the family is harmonious, all things will prosper, he said. Taiwan independence is the chief culprit in undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait. We will absolutely not tolerate or condone it.

open image in gallery This picture taken and released by Taiwans Central News Agency (CNA) on 7 April 2026, shows Kuomintang chairperson Cheng Li-wun (L) shaking hands with Song Tao (R), Director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, in Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport ( Central News Agency )

Ms Cheng, chair of the Kuomintang (KMT) party, said Taiwan should no longer be a flashpoint for potential conflict but a symbol of peace jointly safeguarded by Chinese people on both sides of the strait.

She also said the rejuvenation of the Chinese people is a shared aspiration of the people on both sides of the strait.

Mr Xi said the KMT and the Communist Party of China must consolidate political mutual trust, maintain positive interaction, unite compatriots on both sides of the strait, and join hands to create a bright future of the motherlands reunification and national rejuvenation.

Ms Chengs visit has sparked a backlash in Taiwan, where many people see China as a threat.

Her party ruled all of China but fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war in 1949 to Mao Zedongs communists, leaving the sides without a peace deal and still not formally recognising each other.

Ms Cheng called for mutually beneficial ties and said Taiwan should not be a chessboard for outside forces.

Taiwan relies on the US as its main backer and arms supplier, which is a source of continuing tension with China.

open image in gallery Kuomintang (KMT) chairperson Cheng Li-wun greets other party members before speaking to the media ahead of her trip to China, in Taipei, Taiwan, 7 April 2026 ( Reuters )

Her meeting with Mr Xi came amid deep political divisions in Taiwan. While Ms Cheng and her party argue that engagement with China reduces the risk of a military takeover, president Lai Ching-te and his Democratic Progressive Party favour a stronger stance amid rising pressure, including expansive military drills around the island, from Beijing.

Beijing has previously described Mr Lai as a separatist and a troublemaker.

Speaking in Taipei on Friday, the ruling partys general secretary Hsu Kuo-yung criticised the KMT for delaying parliamentary approval of defence spending while Ms Cheng was in China. Are you trying to give some kind of grand gift to Xi Jinping? he asked.

While the KMT has traditionally maintained warmer ties with Beijing, analysts note, Ms Cheng has taken a more forward-leaning approach than her predecessors.

Taiwans top China policymaker, Chiu Chui-cheng, told reporters: The Chinese communists are deliberately creating the false impression that Taiwan is an internal affair of China. He added that only Taiwans people could decide their future and that China should engage with Taipeis democratically elected and legitimate government.
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A court in Bangladeshhas sentenced two former police officers to death for the killing of a student protester during the 2024 uprising that toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina and plunged the country into political turmoil.

The International Crimes Tribunal handed down the punishment to former assistant sub-inspector Amir Hossain and former constable Sujan Chandra Roy for their role in the shooting of Abu Sayed, a student at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur.

The tribunal also sentenced three other accused to life imprisonment and handed down jail terms of varying lengths to 25 people.

In all, the court found 30 people, including several former police officers and university employees, guilty. While the two policemen facing the death penalty are in custody, most of the other convicts remain absconding.

Azizul Haque Dulu, a lawyer for the convicted policemen, said that they would appeal the verdict.

Abu Sayed, 23, was killed during a protest on 16 July 2024. A widely circulated video showed him standing in a street with his arms outstretched as police fired at him. The footage caused national outrage and intensified the mass protests against Ms Hasinas government.

Abu Sayeed sacrificed his life to free the country from autocratic rule, chief prosecutor Aminul Islam said.

The ruling, however, elicited mixed reactions. Abu Sayeds family expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that some senior officials received lighter sentences than expected.

The court handed lighter sentences to senior police officials and the Chhatra League leader, his brother Ramzan Ali told AFP. We will file an appeal.

Chhatra League, the student wing of Ms Hasinas Awami League party, was banned after her fall.

Amnesty Internationals Rehab Mahamoor said Abu Sayed and the many other victims of police violence during the July 2024 protests deserve justice and accountability but the death penalty has no place in any courtroom.

Its the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and its continued use by the ICT undermines efforts to deliver a just and lasting reconciliation to Bangladesh, he said.

In the past, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have also raised serious concerns that the ICT has not observed international fair trial and due process standards in many instances. Any proceedings undertaken by the ICT demand stringently impartial and transparent judicial proceedings. We urge the Bangladeshi authorities to take steps to establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, with a view to completely abolishing the punishment.
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Islamabad entered a state of lockdown on Friday as Pakistans capital prepared to host high-stakes negotiations to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Army and paramilitary personnel guarded the roads around Serena Hotel, the venue of the talks, as police beefed up security across the city. On Wednesday, the luxury hotels management had asked its guests to check out by 5pm as the government had requisitioned the property for an important event from this evening until Sunday.

Pakistans political and military leaders achieved a major diplomatic breakthrough by mediating a ceasefire between the US and Iran early on Wednesday. The ceasefire was declared less than two hours before the deadline on US president Donald Trumps threat to obliterate a whole civilisation if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route that usually carries a fifth of the global supply of oil and gas.

open image in gallery Pakistani soldiers arrive for deployment at the Red Zone in Islamabad ( AFP/Getty )

Although the truce was immediately threatened by Israels deadly strikes on Lebanon which killed hundreds of people, it paved the way for American and Iranian diplomats to gather in Pakistan and negotiate an end to nearly six weeks of intense fighting.

The diplomats will be under great pressure to pull off what some analysts are describing as mission impossible  a deal that brings peace to the Middle East and stabilises a world economy battered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

In preparation for the meeting, the government declared a public holiday on Thursday and Friday while police imposed strict traffic restrictions in Islamabad.

The Red Zone and surrounding areas are closed to all types of traffic except official vehicles. Citizens are requested to avoid unnecessary travel, the city police said in an advisory.

The Red Zone is a city landmark housing key government offices and foreign missions.

open image in gallery An army truck drives past Serena Hotel in Islamabad ( AFP/Getty )

The heightened security measures are informed by the threat of terrorism, which remains real and present. There was a suicide bombing in Islamabad as recently as February and it was one of the triggers for the Pakistani airstrikes that fuelled weeks of fighting with neighbouring Afghanistan.

Islamabad accuses the neighbouring country of sheltering Islamist and ethnic insurgents responsible for carrying out terror attacks on its soil. Kabul denies the allegations.

Given those risks, the lack of preparation time and the high-profile nature of these talks, this is a very challenging visit from a security perspective and speaks to the importance this administration places on the negotiations, Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center, said.

open image in gallery A view of the Red Zone in Islamabad ( AFP/Getty )

The US is expected to send a delegation headed by vice president JD Vance to conduct the talks in Islamabad, while Iran is set to be represented by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Gulf nations such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both of which are parties to the conflict, may also send delegations to Islamabad and hold talks on the sidelines.

open image in gallery A Pakistani army helicopter flies over Islamabad ahead of the talks between the US and Iran ( AFP/Getty )

Pakistani interior minister Mohsin Naqvi assured US charge daffaires Natalie Baker of elaborate arrangements for the visiting diplomats.

The newspaper Dawn reported that a 30-member US team was already in Islamabad to assess the security preparations.

Security analyst Zahid Hussain said the challenge for Pakistan was not just protecting the venue but preventing diplomacy from being overtaken by forces outside the room.

Aside from this, analysts say, there isnt much Pakistan can do. What it lacks is meaningful leverage to compel concessions if the US and Iran are not willing to come to terms, Ms Threlkeld said.
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Police forces in London and Manchester are set to receive an additional 5 million to bolster patrols around places of worship, the Home Office has confirmed.

The funding uplift follows an alleged arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, in March, and a terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester in October.

Security minister Dan Jarvis said that the money would help keep people safe in the places where they live, work and worship.

The additional resources will be directed towards Project Servator deployments, which involve specialist officers trained to identify people who may be preparing to commit serious crimes.

This comes as the Metropolitan Police, in a separate effort, have already arrested more than 20 people on suspicion of antisemitic hate crimes following the Golders Green incident.

Mr Jarvis said it was vital that support was stepped up at a time of heightened concern for some communities.

open image in gallery A member of the Jewish community looks at an ambulance burned in an alleged arson in Golders Green ( AFP/Getty )

Project Servator has a proven track record of stopping criminals and terrorists through highly visible, unpredictable deployments that vary in time and location, deterring those planning harm and reassuring the public, he said.

This new funding will back the police with the resources they need to step up patrols, protect communities, and keep people safe in the places where they live, work and worship.

According to the Home Office, previous Project Servator deployments have involved both visible uniformed and plain clothes officers.

They have led to arrests and drugs and weapons seizures.

The new effort, which builds on 73.4 million already committed for protective security at Jewish, Muslim and other faith sites for 2026-27, will initially focus on policing in communities, particularly faith communities, across London and Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police Inspector Chris Hadfield said: This additional funding strengthens our commitment to Project Servator and will allow us the opportunity to expand the work we do in disrupting criminal activity.

Our specially trained officers spot the tell-tale signs that someone is planning to commit an act of crime, while maintaining a strong and reassuring presence within the local communities.

Since launching at Greater Manchester Police in 2016, Project Servator has continued to work in busy areas across the city, as well as maintaining safety at wider public events that visit Manchester, such as the Brit Awards earlier this year.

Our patrols are highly visible, but deployments are unpredictable, and can happen at any time, in any given location.

The teams also regularly conduct deployments in and around local faith communities, supporting cultural events and holy days.

It is our aim that this funding will continue to support this mission and ensure the public always know the best places to report any suspicious or unusual activity.

As part of the Met Polices effort to crack down on antisemitism after the Golders Green blaze, the force is hosting meetings with community leaders to share intelligence and act on their concerns.

Two men have been charged as part of this specialist operation.

Jean Charles Tavius, 26, faces 11 counts of racially or religiously aggravated threatening behaviour, one count of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage and criminal damage.

Tavius, of Hackney, east London, was arrested on 24 March after officers were called to reports of a man shouting antisemitic abuse and throwing a rock at the window of a moving car.

Munir Saleh, 29, is charged with six counts of racially or religiously aggravated threatening behaviour, assault by beating and common assault.

Saleh, of Tottenham, north London, was arrested on Sunday after police received reports that a man was shouting antisemitic abuse and spitting at people.

Tavius is due to appear at Stratford Magistrates Court on 6 May and Saleh is expected to attend the same court the next day.

open image in gallery Some 1 million worth of damage was caused by the fire in Golders Green, the court heard ( PA Wire )

Commander Andy Featherstone said: Hate crime, of any kind, has no place in our communities and we take all reports incredibly seriously.

We have significantly improved how we deal with these offences and solving twice as many hate crimes compared to last year.

However, we know some people are reluctant to come forward, and I hope this provides reassurance to communities that their reports will be treated with the seriousness they deserve.

We are determined that London remains a safe and inclusive city for all, and this operation is part of our continued effort to achieve that aim.

The force solved 1,525 hate crimes between October 2025 and February this year compared with 764 in the same period a year previous.
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A woman fatally slashed her sister in the neck and snatched her diamond-encrusted gold Rolex watch, a court has heard.

Nancy Pexton, 69, is accused of killing her sister Jennifer Abbott at her flat in Camden, north London, on 10 June 2025.

On 13 June, a neighbour forced Ms Abbotts door open after becoming concerned that he could not hear her dog barking.

He found her body on her living room floor with a wound to her neck and gaffer tape over her mouth.

She was not wearing her Rolex watch, which she was greatly attached to and never usually took off, jurors heard.

Pexton, of no fixed address, is on trial at the Old Bailey charged with murdering Ms Abbott.

open image in gallery A court artist drawing of Nancy Pexton, 69 ( PA )

Opening the case on Thursday, prosecutor Bill Boyce KC said there was no evidence that Ms Abbott was alive after Pexton visited her on 10 June.

Ms Abbott was last seen on footage from a doorbell camera as she returned to her block after walking her dog at 7.36am that day.

The sisters had spoken by phone at 11.36am, with Pexton travelling by bus to her flat at 12.45pm and staying for an hour.

After allegedly killing her 69-year-old sister, Pexton called her GP and said she had taken an overdose, Mr Boyce said.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance where she stayed before her arrest on 18 June, jurors heard.

Mr Boyce told jurors: She said she could not remember what had happened in the previous 90 minutes, which was the period we say she was undoubtedly in her sisters flat, the period we say she murdered her sister.

In the two days after Ms Abbotts death, there were numerous missed calls from her son Brad Carlson, who lives abroad, the court was told.

Jurors heard Ms Abbotts body was found at her Mornington Place flat on the afternoon of 13 June.

open image in gallery Police outside Jennifer Abbotts home in Camden, north London ( PA )

The victims niece, Mai Pexton, had gone to the property and banged on the door, screaming for her auntie.

A neighbour decided to break down the door with a scaffolding pole because he could not hear Ms Abbotts corgi dog Prince barking, which he found unusual, the court heard.

He called emergency services after discovering Ms Abbotts partially naked and decomposing body on the floor.

She had a large, gaping slash-type wound across her neck and gaffer tape across her mouth, jurors heard.

Ms Abbotts corgi had been locked in the bathroom and was freed by firefighters, Mr Boyce said.

The prosecutor told jurors: It was in desperate need of a lavatory but was fed and watered and given to Mai to take away in good health.

He told the court Ms Abbott that usually wore her Cartier bracelet and gold diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, which was of real sentimental value.

The watch that Ms Abbott never took off and was greatly attached to was later discovered when police searched Pextons bag, Mr Boyce said.

The defendant allegedly replied: Oh yes, thats my sisters. She asked me to look after it.

open image in gallery The diamond-encrusted Rolex owned by Jennifer Abbott (Metropolitan Police/PA) ( Metropolitan Police )

A post-mortem examination found that Ms Abbott had sustained a number of stab and slash wounds and a single defensive wound to the right hand.

Before being admitted to hospital, Pexton allegedly told a 999 call handler that she had been abused by her family but she did not want to report anyone because they were very powerful and would kill her.

The defendant also claimed that she blacked out and did not know what she had done.

Pexton, who had been wearing a black cowboy hat and blue dungarees, was said to be covered in her sisters blood from top to bottom in the wake of the killing, the court heard.

While in hospital, she allegedly asked one of her daughters to take the clothes and either wash them or throw them away, jurors heard.

The defendant explained the presence of blood from hugging her sister as she suffered a nosebleed.

But Mr Boyce suggested Ms Abbotts blood went everywhere when Pexton slashed and cut her 10 times.

Pexton allegedly told police she had always been close to her sister and they shared secrets and the depths of our feelings.

She claimed that when she left Ms Abbott, the victim was in good spirits, jurors heard.

The day before police found Ms Abbotts watch in Pextons bag, she had said: I dont know if Jennifer was wearing her Rolex watch that day. She would never take it off, she always wore it.

The defendant, who was nine months younger than the victim and turns 70 on Friday, was effectively homeless and had been staying near Baker Street.

Mr Boyce said the central issue in the case was whether Pexton, who has two adult daughters, was responsible for killing her sister.

She has denied murder and the Old Bailey trial continues.
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A domestic abuser who was convicted of causing the death of his wife after she took her own life following an 18-month campaign of abuse has been jailed for eight years.

Lee Milne, 40, was found guilty of culpable homicide after his wife, Kimberly Bruce (or Milne), 28, fell from an overpass and was struck by a vehicle on the A90 Kingsway West in Dundee on Thursday, 27 July 2023.

Police said her death followed a shocking pattern of behaviour from Milne that left Ms Bruce terrified. In the hours before she died, Milne was found to have been driving erratically when she was in a car with him, shouting at her and seizing hold of her.

open image in gallery Police said Lee Milnes behaviour in the time leading up to Kimberlys death was truly shocking ( Facebook )

At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Milne was jailed for eight years, alongside a three-year extended sentence, meaning he will be on licence following his release. His conviction is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland.

In a victim impact statement from her family, the court heard that Ms Bruce was a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt, and they are devastated by her death.

The judge said: Nothing I can do or say can bring her back or ease their grief.

Milne was also found guilty of a number of domestic abuse offences committed against Ms Bruce between January 2022 and July 2023. These included physically and verbally abusing her, coercing her to move in with him and marry him, attempting to cut off her contact with friends and family, and controlling her finances.

On one occasion, in November 2022, Milne got angry when she asked to be taken home and struck her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a wall, knocking her unconscious.

On an occasion in May 2023, Milne seized her by the throat when she asked to be taken home, and choked her and shouted at her, causing her to run to another room and barricade herself in with a table.

open image in gallery Lee Milne was also convicted of a string of domestic abuse offences against Ms Bruce ( Facebook )

After forcing himself in, he repeatedly punched and bit her, and threatened to hit her with a mirror that he then threw against a wall.

CCTV footage from around the Kingsway area of Dundee on the day Ms Bruce died captured Milnes aggressive behaviour towards his wife directly before her suicide.

Footage showed her cowering from Milne while he shouted at her, walking away as he drove at her, and hiding behind a wall and trailing slowly behind him as he led the way.

open image in gallery The court was shown video footage showing Milne and Ms Bruce the day she was killed ( Crown Office )

Following his conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Craig Kelly said: Our thoughts are with Kimberlys family and friends following this verdict. They have dealt with her tragic loss with great dignity, and hopefully, this outcome will provide a degree of closure.

This was an extremely complex investigation and involved very close work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to ensure that Lee Milne has been held accountable for causing the death of Kimberly.

Our investigation found that his behaviour in the time leading up to Kimberlys death was truly shocking and placed his partner in such fear that she took a course of action to get away from him, which led to her death.

She was very clearly terrified of him on that night. It is a tragedy that she lost her life as a consequence.

Our investigation also uncovered a series of domestic offences against Kimberly over an extended period of time, exposing him as a cruel, manipulative and violent man.

Our officers are determined to ensure women and girls live free from violence and abuse. We are relentless in our focus on tackling domestic abuse. It will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable.

After the trial, it was revealed that Milne had been convicted of sexually assaulting two boys aged 10 or 11 in Forfar between July and August 2024, a year after the death of his wife.

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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A child has died from a suspected dog bite at a property in North Yorkshire.

Armed police raced to the scene in Hardale Drive in Dormanstown in Redcar, and killed a dog in the street. Officers seized another dog at the home.

Crime scene investigators were also called in, according to The Northern Echo.

Cleveland Police said officers were alerted following concerns for a child.

Upon arriving at the property, the child had sadly died, they said.

The child is believed to have died as a result of a dog bite.

Paramedics were also called. A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: We were called to an incident at a private address in Redcar on Thursday, April 9 shortly before 1.30pm.

We dispatched three ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and one duty officer to the incident. One patient was transported to hospital for further treatment.

District Commander for Redcar and Cleveland Emily Harrison said: Understandably this is a distressing and tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the childs family.

There is a scene in place at the address while an investigation into the childs death begins.

I would encourage anyone who has concerns or information to please speak to an officer.

Dog attacks are on the rise in the UK.
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A real estate manager has been awarded nearly 400,000 by an employment tribunal after accumulating an astonishing 827 unpaid holiday days over 25 years.

Mossadek 'Moss' Ageli, who worked for the Libyan-owned firm Sabtina Limited, was consistently unable to take his annual leave due to operational demands.

Instead, an arrangement was made for him to be compensated for these untaken days.

The Watford Employment Tribunal ruled Mr Ageli was owed 392,000 for the accrued holiday, dating back to 1998.

This sum is in addition to 105,000 compensation from a successful unfair dismissal claim.

Mr Ageli joined Sabtina Limited in 1987, initially as deputy managing director before becoming commercial manager, operating from offices in London and Milton Keynes.

Moss Ageli could have signed off his holiday payments himself, but chose not to ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

In the early years, between 1987 and 1989, he took no holiday as he and his PA were the only full-time staff, essential for the company's functioning.

Directors refused 200 of his holiday days between 1988 and 1996.

His annual holiday entitlement increased from 30 to 45 days in 1996. By 1998, recognising the ongoing difficulty in taking leave, Mr Ageli and the company formalised an agreement for him to be paid for his untaken holiday.

He told the tribunal: When it almost became the norm that holidays were difficult to have, I wrote to the non-resident managing director of [Sabtina], who was also the managing director of the parent company in Libya.

"I requested that, as and when required, I receive payment in lieu of unutilised holidays because of the circumstances of the company. The managing director agreed and signed the document.

"After years of doing this, it was agreed that there was no need to send any future paperwork for approval or denial and I simply kept a record of my holiday entitlement."

He described how he had got permission for the agreement with the company's owners and did not go behind their back to secure the payments even though it was in his power to do so.

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He said: [Sabtina] does not have a pension scheme for the employees, and both myself and my PA were saving the holidays we could not have for when needed or at retirement.

"I was sole signatory for the company for a period exceeding 20 years and could have signed off payments for me and also my PA each year when we could not utilise the holidays.

"However, I did not do that even though it was within my remit to execute. I was relying on receiving these payments.

In both 2001 and 2004 he was paid 15,000 in lieu of holiday, showing that the agreement was indeed in place, but it was agreed that he would not need to take the money each year as it would roll over.

This agreement was in place for decades, with Mr Ageli giving up holiday in return for extra pay, but in May 2022 the board of directors was replaced.

These new directors demanded documentation from the manager and began slowly removing duties from him until he had no role at the company despite being an employee there.

In March 2024 he received an email telling him he was being fired for gross misconduct, with the director claiming he had talked to Mr Ageli about his conduct before but it had not been improved.

Mr Ageli immediately replied saying that this simply was not true and that he had not even been allowed to appeal against the decision.

He said: I am shocked to have received your email. I know nothing of the allegations you make against me and note that you have not given me any details of the same.

"I also note that you have not provided me with any right of appeal; if you had, I would appeal against my dismissal on the grounds that there is no justification whatsoever for your decision.

He was also informed that he would not be paid for the 827 unpaid holiday days he had accrued since 1998 - which totalled 392,000.

The decision to dismiss him was upheld and Mr Ageli took Sabtina to an employment tribunal in Watford, where Employment Judge George Alliott agreed he had been mistreated by having his holiday pay withheld.

The tribunal ordered the company to pay the full amount of holiday pay owed as well as a total compensation from unfair dismissal for 91,490 and a basic award of 14,070.

The judge said: "I find that it was agreed between [Mr Ageli] and [Sabtina] that, with effect from the start of his employment, any unused holiday would be recorded and any unused entitlement would roll forward each year.

"I find that it was agreed between [Mr Ageli] and [Sabtina] that he would be paid for his holiday as and when needed or at the end of his employment.

" I find that [Sabtina] did not have a genuine belief that [Mr Ageli] had committed gross misconduct.

"I find that [Sabtina] did not conduct a reasonable investigation and did not have reasonable grounds to conclude that [Mr Ageli] had committed gross misconduct.

"I find this because [Sabtina] was unwilling or unable to provide [Mr Ageli] with reasons for his dismissal shortly after he, in effect, asked for them.

"I find that [Mr Ageli's] dismissal was clearly procedurally unfair in that he was not notified of the charges against him, was not notified of the evidence against him, was not given an opportunity to represent himself at a disciplinary hearing and was not afforded an appeal."

Sabtina Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Libyan Foreign Investment Company (LAFICO) which in turn is a subsidiary of the Libyan Investment Authority.
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Fish and chip lovers have been urged to stop eating UK-caught cod, as conservationists warn of a worrying population decline.

The Marine Conservation Society downgraded all cod caught in British waters to the worst possible rating on Thursday, stating that the population was at dangerously low levels and there was no plan in place to help it recover.

In the organisations Good Fish Guide, which informs people how their seafood choices are impacting the environment, consumers have been told to opt for European hake or haddock instead.

Cod is one of the most popular seafood items in the country and is the fish most often served in British fish and chip shops, with the UK consuming more of the product than any other country.

open image in gallery The UK consumes more cod than any other country ( Getty Images )

The majority of MSC-certified cod consumed in the UK is Atlantic cod, which made up 83 per cent of all MSC cod sales in 2022-2023. Iceland, the Northeast Arctic and Norway have thriving stocks which are currently fished at sustainable levels, the MSC said.

Cod populations have been in a decline since 2015, largely due to overfishing, but also worsened by rising sea temperatures.

In December, food security minister Angela Eagle announced the government was slashing cod fishing quotas by 44 per cent.

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, a Denmark-based fishery advisory body, recently warned the UK that the cod population in almost all of Britains waters are so depleted that none should be caught next year for the species to recover.

open image in gallery One fish and chip shop owner has said the rising price of could could cause the closure of chippies in the UK ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

It advised fishermen to avoid catching fish in the English Channel, the North Sea up to Norway and the west of Scotland. The group has also previously advised against cod fishing in the Irish and Celtic seas.

Last month, an award-winning fish and chip shop owner warned that chippies would soon close if customers didnt start to eat alternatives to cod.

Andrew Arnold, who runs Railway Street Fisheries in Pocklington, near York, said the price of the fish had become too expensive, with a 45lb (20kg) box of cod costing 110 in December 2024 now priced at 330.

Mr Arnold believes peoples mindset is going to have to change and suggests customers order cheaper varieties, such as Norwegian pollock, which he insists tastes just as good.

"The traditional fish and chip shop is going to go, if we don't diversify and do different things," he told the BBC.
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Airports across Europe could face systemic jet fuel shortages within three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, an airport industry group has warned.

Airports Council International Europe, which represents more than 600 airports in 55 countries, sent a letter to the European Commission, stating that a fuel crunch would significantly harm the European economy.

The group said the impact of military activity on demand was further straining supplies, and its concerns had been intensified by the approach of the peak summer season.

Fuel shortages have prompted fears of delays and cancellations as millions of Britons prepare to travel for the May half-term school break.

In the letter seen by the Financial Times, EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas was warned of increasing concerns of the airport industry over the availability of jet fuel as well as the need for proactive EU monitoring and action.

If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU, the letter said.

open image in gallery Ryanair is urging travellers to book early ( Getty/iStock )

Ryanair said it could not rule out risks to fuel supplies at some airports if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed into May or June.

The airline urged people to book their flights as soon as possible to avoid increases in airfares.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: We dont expect any near-term fuel shortages, but the situation is fluid. At present our fuel suppliers can guarantee supply to mid-end May. If the Iran war finishes soon then supply will not be disrupted. If the closure of the Hormuz Straits continues into May or June then we cannot rule out risks to fuel supplies at some airports in Europe.

With jet oil prices doubling during March we expect all airlines will pass on these higher costs in the form of higher air fares post Easter and later this summer.

We urge all passengers to book their flights (and holidays) as soon as possible and then they will be insulated from inevitable airfare and accommodation cost increases after Easter and later this summer.

open image in gallery Jet fuel shortages could hit the summer holiday season ( PA Archive )

With a large amount of the worlds jet fuel supply trapped in the Gulf, fuel prices have risen sharply, with the price of a barrel of crude oil hovering near $100.

ACI Europe said it was especially concerned about what it could mean during the holiday season, when air travel enables the whole tourism ecosystem upon which many [EU] economies rely.

It urged the EU to introduce immediate policy interventions, including the temporary lifting of import restrictions on jet fuel, which it said was discouraging third-country fuel sellers from signing supply contracts for this summer.

According to a study from the group, air connectivity contributes 851bn (741bn) in gross domestic product for European economies each year and supports 14 million jobs.
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Londons iconic nightclub scene is grappling with an existential crisis, as dwindling demand for late-night drinking and soaring operational costs force venues to radically reinvent themselves to survive.

The era of simply offering after-hours alcohol is fading, with younger generations of partygoers now seeking immersive experiences that extend beyond the bar, prompting clubs to embrace daytime events, culinary offerings, and diverse live acts.

Despite the UKs nightlife sector generating an estimated 154bn ($207bn) in spending last year, according to data firm CGAs Night Time Economy Market Monitor, the industry has been in a prolonged struggle. A confluence of factors, including evolving social habits, the profound impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, steep increases in running costs, stricter licensing regulations, and the rising cost of living for consumers, has taken a significant toll.

The number of late-night venues saw a 4.1 per cent decline in 2025 and now stands 28 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, even accounting for new openings, CGA data reveals.

Alex Guiste, a 27-year-old social media manager and regular clubgoer, observes that many clubs feel stagnant if they fail to adapt to the growing appetite for experience-led nights, such as dedicated DJ events and live performances. "People are going out for the music and the experience, no longer just to drink until late," he explained. "Clubbing feels less routine now and more like something people savour."

Even with queues snaking outside popular central London venues, club operators report that survival has become increasingly precarious. Alice Hoffmann-Fuller, who works with venues and promoters, highlights that many clubs traditional business models were heavily reliant on alcohol sales.

Even with long queues outside popular London venues, club operators report that survival has become increasingly precarious ( Getty Images )

However, surveys indicate that approximately 39 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds do not consume alcohol.

This shift was starkly illustrated by the closure of Corsica Studios, a renowned electronic music venue nestled under railway arches in south London, at the end of March. After more than two decades at the heart of the citys clubbing landscape, its programming manager, Matt Wickings, told Reuters ahead of the closure: "We're as busy as ever, if not busier." Yet, he lamented, "bar takings were as low as they had ever been, while costs continued to rise."

Where the club once generated 10,000 or 12,000 a night, it was recently bringing in only 6,000 to 7,000. The venue announced last September that it could no longer operate in its existing form and guarantee its long-term future on the site. Corsica Studios is expected to reopen eventually, though its future offerings remain uncertain.

Despite these challenges, industry figures maintain that Britains nights out are far from over; they are simply transforming, occurring at different times, in new locations, and to a different rhythm. Several large venues have opened or expanded across London in the past two years, betting that clubbers will still flock to them, provided their evolving demands are met.

Nightlife is evolving, and it always has, commented Kate Nicholls, chair of industry body UKHospitality. While drinking habits have moderated, Nicholls notes that the desire for socialising remains robust across all age groups, with many prioritising unique experiences over traditional late-night drinking.

As Guiste concludes: Its not that people have stopped going out. It's that the old club model doesnt feel special anymore.
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A primary-school teacher who asked girls in his class to go on dates has been banned from his profession for life.

Carl Dixon, 62, sent secret and personalised notes to pupils, asked one on a date and touched a childs bottom, a conduct panel heard.

Mr Dixon, who worked at Davies Lane Primary School near Stratford, northeast London, also pressured a pupil to give him a hug and asked children to join him in lunch in circumstances of secrecy, including asking pupils to hide, the Teaching Regulation Agency was told.

The panels judgement reveals that he had misled his employer in 2018 when he applied for the job, by answering no to the question Have you ever been known to any childrens services department or police as being a risk or potential risk to children?

He had denied a string of allegations that he failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with one or more pupils while at the school from 29 November 2017 and 7 January 2020.

The claims involved serious dishonesty, coercive behaviour and sexually motivated conduct in touching a childs bottom, the judgement said.

Mr Dixon, who quit the job in January 2020 and was sacked in February this year, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

The panel found he sent personalised and secret notes to pupils during lessons, and stuck notes on the back of pupils books and either took notes back or disposed of them afterwards.

The panel found Mr Dixon had asked a child, referred to as Pupil 9, on a date.

A handwritten note of a school assistant stated that two girls had told her he had behaved inappropriately towards pupils in his class by asking girls to go on dates.

The same girl said he used to hug people sometimes and she confirmed that included her when asked.

A contemporaneous handwritten note recorded another child, Pupil 10, stating that Pupil 9 had said that Mr Dixon was touching her butt. The panel found the claim he touched Pupil 9s bottom proven on the balance of probabilities.

Another note from a witness recorded Pupil 10 also saying that during a class party, Mr Dixon said, If I have a hug from Child A, you can do anything you want.

The panel found the allegation he pressured Pupil 9 to hug him proven on the balance of probabilities.

The judgement says: The panel found that Mr Dixons failure to take responsibility for his actions, which occurred over a significant period of time, provides evidence of a real risk of repetition.

Explaining why he was banned for life, it adds: The panel considered that the very serious nature of the findings of Mr Dixons inappropriate behaviour with pupils in sending secret notes to pupils and engaging in behaviour of a sexual nature, including asking a pupil on a date, hugging a pupil and pressuring a pupil to hug him, weighed in favour of not offering a review period.
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Prince Harry has rejected "offensive and damaging claims" lodged in the High Court by the charity Sentebale, which he co-founded in memory of his mother, Princess Diana.

The Duke of Sussex is being sued for defamation by the charity over allegations he coordinated an adverse media campaign which caused operational disruption and reputational harm, its board of trustees has claimed.

Online court filings show that the British royal is a defendant in a libel or slander claim alongside Mark Dyer, a former trustee of the charity, who has also denied the allegations.

Sentebale was launched by Prince Harry in 2006 to support young people with HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana.

In a statement uploaded to Sentebales website on Friday evening, the board of trustees and executive director said the charity is seeking the courts protection.

It said: The charity seeks the courts intervention, protection, and restitution following a coordinated adverse media campaign conducted since 25 March 2025 that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners.

open image in gallery Harry resigned as a patron in March 2025 after a public falling-out with its board chair, Sophie Chandauka. ( AP )

The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber bullying directed at the charity and its leadership.

Sentebale has experienced the adverse media campaign as false narratives circulated through the media about the charity and its leadership, attempts to undermine its relationships with staff, existing and prospective partners, and the forced diversion of leadership time and resources into managing a reputational crisis not of the charitys making.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex and Mark Dyer said they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims.

The board of trustees said in the statement that those at the charity have been deeply moved by the generosity of donors who have stood firm alongside them.

It said the work Sentebale delivers is increasingly critical, adding: The charity should not continue to use its resources to manage and address the damage this adverse media campaign has caused to its operations and partnerships.

This must stop. The board and executive director have taken this legal action to secure that protection. The costs of doing so are met entirely by external funding and no charitable funds have been used.

open image in gallery Sentebale chair Sophie Chandauka ( Sky News )

It added: The board and executive director trust that those who believe in Sentebales mission will understand why this legal action, whilst difficult, was necessary and important, and will continue to stand with us as we focus on the work ahead.

Sentebales focus remains where it has always been: the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana. Sentebale does not intend to comment further on this matter while legal proceedings are ongoing.

Founders Harry and Prince Seeiso previously stepped down as the charitys patrons in support of a group of trustees, who resigned after a dispute with board of trustees chair Dr Sophie Chandauka.

The Charity Commission subsequently published a report into the episode, criticising all sides for making the fallout public with interviews and statements.

The commission criticised all parties in the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly and described how all trustees contributed to a missed opportunity to resolve the issues that led to the serious disagreement, which risked undermining public trust in charities generally.

The regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity, but acknowledged the strong perception of ill treatment felt by some involved.

A source said in August 2025 that Harry had been left emotionally devastated by the events, after 19 years of working with the charity.
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More than 250 dogs found with matted and crusted coats in an overcrowded home are doing really well, the RSPCA says after carrying out a mass rescue.

A photograph taken by the charity showed dozens of poodle-cross dogs crammed in a dingy room.

There were so many animals that social-media users accused the RSPCA of using artificial intelligence to fake the picture  but the charity dismissed the claim, pointing out it had so many stories of neglected animals that it didnt need to invent any.

open image in gallery When rescuers arrived, they found so many dogs they almost filled the room ( RSPCA )

The discovery was made in January at an undisclosed location in the UK. The RSPCA says the conditions of the dogs and their numbers had grown out of control during extenuating family circumstances, and it would not prosecute anyone due to extremely vulnerable nature of the owners.

Of the animals rescued, 87 were taken in by the RSPCA, and the Dogs Trust took the rest.

Lee Hopgood, the RSPCA's operational superintendent for the North of England, told the BBC that the matted and crusted coats of many dogs required treatment but that surprisingly the animals were fine and doing really, really well.

A spokesperson for Dogs Trust said that after the dogs had received care and behavioural support, many had been successfully rehomed and are enjoying life in their for ever homes.

Some were still with Dogs Trust, including those that had given birth since the rescue, they added.

A former RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, Dermot Murphy, who adopted one of the dogs, called Boone, said it was underweight, and had sore ears and sore eyes when rescued.

"He'd never been on a lead before, so when you put a lead on he locked his claws to the floor, he didn't know what that was".

Settling into life outside the crammed room had caused a bit of a sensory overload, so Boone had to be introduced to new experiences gradually.

But now, Boone can be off the lead and play with a ball.

Its just fantastic to see how he's come out of himself and become part of our family, Mr Murphy said.

The RSPCA said cases of large numbers of animals being kept at one address could be linked to mental health struggles, the cost of living crisis, or breeders operating with poor practices.

We can confirm that AI has not been used to create this image," a charity spokesperson said.

As much as we wish this image wasn't real, sadly it very much is  and we are being called to more and more multi-animal reports like this.

We don't need to use AI as we have countless stories to share about the animals our frontline teams are helping.
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Sadiq Khan has warned London is at the centre of a dark blizzard of disinformation online as he urged the government to crack down on the spread of false information across social media.

While overall London-related posting activity increased by around seven per cent between March 2024 and March 2026, London in decline narratives increased by around 150200 per cent, and migration-related narratives referencing London increased by more than 350 per cent, data from the Greater London Authority (GLA) showed.

But official figures show many crime rates falling, including for serious violent offences and homicides.

Speaking at a disinformation summit in Cambridge on Thursday evening, the mayor said the government must do more to force social media companies to stop people profiting from division.

open image in gallery Sadiq Khan called on the government to clamp down on misinformation online ( AP )

He warned a failure to act could see more domestic terrorism offences enacted by people who believe conspiracy theories they see online.

Were right to expect big tech to do better, but we should not rely on it, Sir Sadiq said. If platforms fail to act, the state must have the tools to make them. Thats why Ill continue lobbying the government publicly and privately to take a much tougher approach.

We need a new central body with the agility and authority to protect our democracy from disinformation, and deal with the scale and speed of this crisis. And we need more aggressive enforcement of the rules we already have. Because unless regulators like Ofcom have the power to hit companies where it hurts, theyll keep on getting away with it.

New data from the GLA shows misleading narratives online about London frequently relate to migration and cultural identity, as well as claims the city is unsafe or in decline, plus antisemitic or homophobic narratives.

open image in gallery Sadiq Khan said London is facing a dark blizzard of disinformation online ( PA Wire )

The report also found clear signs of coordinated and inauthentic activity, including the use of AI-generated content to produce and amplify misleading claims.

It added state actors and extreme right-wing groups from outside the UK appear to be involved, including accounts aligned with Russian or Chinese state interests and US-related political movements. This included a Vietnam-based Facebook network of at least 42 pages, with a combined following of around 1.25 million posting repeated, AI-generated imagery and impersonating local media outlets.

Other networks included a Sri Lanka-based content farm producing monetised AI-generated posts and a Nigeria-based cluster impersonating UK media outlets.

Narratives surrounding phone-snatching, violence against women and girls, and knife crime were seen frequently, alongside lower-volume but persistent posts relating to public health, climate, and LGBTQ+ issues.

In his speech, Sir Sadiq said: The outrage economy is eating away at the basic bonds of trust that hold our societies together. It isnt just a challenge for progressives like me. Its a challenge for anyone who believes in democracy  wherever they are.

The same people attacking the capital have already started targeting other cities around the world. And, in a few years time, I think well look back on London as the canary in the coal mine. But I hope well also see it as the place where the fightback began.

A Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology spokesperson said: Under the Online Safety Act social media platforms are required to remove illegal mis- and disinformation, to help protect our communities from online and offline harms. Ofcom has strong enforcement powers it can use where platforms fail to do this and has our full backing to take action where necessary.
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An Easter egg hunt was blighted by a string of seagull attacks, which reportedly saw a large group of the birds swoop on and strike children.

Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid) said its team witnessed 16 gull attack incidents during a city centre Easter egg hunt the organisation had put on last Friday and Saturday.

Bid ambassador Janice Worthing told The Telegraph: This included frequent and coordinated behaviour from adult gulls, watching for opportunities, calling others in, and repeatedly swooping at and, in some cases, striking members of the public, including young children.

Gulls are really quick and can strike suddenly and decisively.

Residents have now been urged to report further gull attacks. The behaviour of the birds has long been an issue in the city on the northeast coast of Scotland, where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth.

open image in gallery Gulls are really quick and can strike suddenly and decisively, says Janice Worthing ( Getty/iStock )

As such, the Bid has a gull management strategy, which offers proactive steps for businesses, residents, and visitors to reduce problems associated with gulls in the city centre.

About the issues, it says: These birds have adapted to city life, using rooftops as nesting sites and scavenging for food from litter and waste.

While they are a natural part of our environment, their presence can lead to issues such as noise, mess, and aggressive behaviour, particularly during breeding season.

The organisation asks people not to feed the birds, to ensure rubbish is disposed of properly and to report any gull issues via its online portal.

open image in gallery Gulls cause noise, mess, and aggressive behaviour, particularly during breeding season in Inverness ( Getty/iStock )

Highland Council said it will undertake an Inverness Gull Management Plan pilot project, which is designed to improve understanding of the gull population in and around Inverness and Nairn, and to identify the impacts gulls are having on our community.

This will involve a link on its website for people to provide and record Gull Impact Data, but a spokesperson stressed the local authority does not undertake gull control activities in public areas and has no statutory duty to do so.

The spokesperson told The Independent: The introduction of a dedicated gull impact reporting system is intended to identify locations across The Highlands where gull behaviour is affecting communities.

The data collected will help determine whether patterns or hotspots exist, and whether certain impacts are more prevalent, such as aggressive gull behaviour related to chick protection, or behaviours associated with food scavenging.

As different behaviours require different mitigation approaches, meaningful and reliable data will support a targeted and proportionate approach to advising on appropriate mitigation measures to reduce negative interactions between gulls and people.

open image in gallery The birds have adapted to city life, using rooftops as nesting sites and scavenging for food ( Ritzau Scanpix/AFP )

Last year, the Scottish parliament was warned a nationwide summit to tackle Scotlands seagull population must be held before someone is seriously hurt or killed.

Former Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross called the debate in Holyrood, arguing the threat posed by nuisance gulls has escalated to a deadly level, with peoples lives now at risk.

Last September, the Scottish government announced 100,000 funding for communities across the country to tackle disruptive urban gull populations.
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The historic aid contract between the worlds richest countries and less developed nations is irreversibly changing. But what comes next could eventually produce better long-term outcomes for all concerned.

Official development assistance (ODA) is falling steeply across the world. OECD projections show a 9-17 per cent fall in 2025, on top of a 9 per cent decline already recorded in 2024. That means the total amount of global ODA could be $60 billion less than in 2023.

The US will reduce its ODA in 2026 to less than half the level of 2023. In a European context, the UK is cutting the amount of ODA from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI) by next year. The situation is mirrored in Germany, France, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Austria. The UK has pledged that ODA will go back to 0.7 per cent of GNI when it is fiscally possible to do so.

Reductions to ODA budgets are a direct result of the absolute requirement to increase defence and national security spending in response to the turmoil in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere.

The UK government and British International Investment (BII), the UKs development finance institution, is evolving its approach to ODA to transition from aid to a more investment-led approach with a stronger emphasis on partnerships, and an enhanced commitment to the least developed countries.

As Yvette Cooper, our foreign secretary, has clearly indicated, international development spending does not stand in opposition to bolstering our defence and national security capabilities. The reverse is true. Striving to create economic stability in the most fragile parts of the world provides a security dividend for us in the UK.

Britain has a proud history of acting as a global leader in international development. Having fewer resources at our disposal does not mean abdicating that leadership role. Far from it. BII is committed to demonstrating that a new, mutually-beneficial path exists that creates secure jobs and stable economic conditions in the countries in which we invest, while providing value for money for the UK taxpayer.

The UK recognises that this is not just what we require in this country, it is also what many historically aid-dependent nations are calling for. A growing bloc of African leaders, including those from Zambia, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, are using this moment to argue for fiscal sovereignty, domestic financing and regional integration, signalling a move away from aid-led development models. These leaders want investment in their private sectors to build thriving economies, generate tax revenue and reduce aid dependency.

It is against this backdrop that BII will shortly publish its new five-year strategy.

Crucially, BII will remain financially sustainable without compromising our core development mandate. Any fresh capital we do receive from the UK government will be a much smaller amount than we have historically received. This is entirely appropriate and allows for the smaller ODA budget to be focused on recipients of grant aid.

Over the last decade, BII has generated a portfolio level return of 1.6 billion. Making a profit means we are not only supporting successful businesses that deliver real impact but also acting as custodians of taxpayer money.

Being financially resilient means that the return we make on our investments is recycled over and over again - supporting more businesses to alleviate poverty, combat the climate emergency and backing the aspirations of millions of people in less developed countries.

As ODA budgets are reduced we must ensure our capital works harder. Attracting private investment is a big part of that ambition. We will aim to crowd-in more private capital than before for every dollar of concessionary capital that we commit for climate finance and development.

We will do this by identifying new opportunities for private investors in our markets while underwriting their risk where appropriate. BII, with almost eight decades of investing in the least developed countries in the world, is uniquely positioned to play this role.

And we have already taken key steps in this direction. In January we anchored the $1 billion (744 million) Allianz ACE Fund  a climate finance vehicle which aims to secure nearly $7 of private capital for every $1 of publicly provided concessionary capital.

Secondly the new strategy will contain a renewed focus on reducing carbon emissions as quickly as possible. We will provide climate finance to support developing economies with coal-based power generation and rapidly growing emissions to transition to renewables. These countries will include the likes of India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other Southeast Asia economies. The rapid economic growth and industrial transformation we see in these countries provides BII and our private sector partners with the opportunity to decouple that growth from carbon emissions.

We will also continue to commit climate finance to frontier markets (the Least Developed Countries as defined by the UN) in Asia and Africa. In Africa alone, nearly 600 million people do not have access to reliable and affordable electricity. In our current strategy period, we said that at least 30 per cent of our new investments would qualify as climate finance. We are on track to meet that goal. Expect our new number to be even higher.

And thirdly, we will enhance our commitment to frontier markets  those countries that are deprived of commercial capital because of the inherent risks of investing  and where the development need is greatest. We will open the door for private investors to commit capital alongside us in places such as Sierra Leone, DRC, Zambia and elsewhere.

We will also increasingly identify investments that support wider shifts in how markets operate, rather than just making investments in individual companies. By being more selective about the sectors we invest in, we aim to spark deeper, more lasting change.

We cannot solve the global challenges we all face  poverty, instability, conflict and global public health  without bringing the least developed countries with us on the journey to shared prosperity.

Falling budgets mean the development finance community is compelled to act, to evolve and to create genuine partnerships that lead to long-term economic and environmental outcomes that benefit us all. The changing international development landscape can be successfully navigated with innovation, invention and ideas.

BII is committed to playing its part.

Leslie Maasdorp is chief executive of British International Investment, the UKs development finance institution
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Sir Keir Starmer has urged European allies to back Nato in the wake of Donald Trumps threats to withdraw from the alliance, declaring that he is fed up with bills going up because of the US presidents war on Iran.

The prime minister said his government must remake our country to ensure that Britain is not at the mercy of events abroad as the economic and diplomatic fallout continues.

The conflict has placed Nato under increasing strain, with the US president accusing allies of not being there when we needed them and repeating his threat to walk away.

But speaking on the final day of his visit to the Gulf on Friday, Sir Keir insisted that maintaining the alliance is in Americas interests and called for European members to strengthen their commitment.

It is in Americas interests, its in European interests. Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been, he said.

Its the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known. Do we Europeans need to do more? Yes, Ive been making that argument for the best part of two years, to our European partners as much as anybody else. We continue to make that case, and we will make that case, he added.

open image in gallery Prime minister Keir Starmer is visiting allies in the Middle East ( PA )

His comments came as US vice-president JD Vance warned Tehran not to play us as he left for Islamabad, where crucial negotiations between the US and Iran will take place this weekend. Were looking forward to negotiation. I think its going to be positive, said Mr Vance.

Earlier, the president accused Iran of doing a dishonourable job of adhering to a fragile ceasefire agreement made earlier this week by failing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which remains blocked, meaning that crucial supplies are unable to pass through.

Sir Keirs warning about Nato follows the US presidents online rant against the alliance on Wednesday evening after his meeting with its general secretary, Mark Rutte.

NATO WASNT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WONT BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!! wrote Mr Trump on Truth Social.

The president has previously raised the possibility of the US quitting Nato, branding the alliance a paper tiger after countries including the UK refused to get involved in the war launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, or to answer Mr Trumps call for help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Sir Keirs stance was echoed by UK defence secretary John Healey, who insisted on Friday that the US remains absolutely locked into Nato. He added that it would be better to focus on our actions than pay attention to the presidents outbursts.

He told the London Defence Conference: You know, if we focus on our actions, rather than just simply the exchange of words and social media posts, then the fundamentals for me remain that America is absolutely locked into  with benefits as well as massive contributions  to Nato.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer and Donald Trump discussed the need for a practical plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz ( PA )

Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump on Thursday night about the need for a practical plan to get ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz after a two-week conditional ceasefire was announced.

It came shortly after the prime minister criticised the US president over the knock-on effects of the Iran conflict, saying he was fed up with bills going up in the UK because of the actions of Putin or Trump.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer said Europe must do more to support Nato ( PA )

Irans blockade of the key shipping route in retaliation for US strikes on Tehran has prompted oil prices to soar, and sparked wider fears about the impact on the cost of living in the UK. The International Monetary Fund has already warned that it will be forced to downgrade its economic growth forecasts because of the conflict, and said that the impact on global fuel supplies because of the closure of the strait will be felt for some time.

Sir Keir said the outbreak of war should serve as a warning to Britain to build resilience both at home and with European allies.

Britain has been buffeted by crises for nearly two decades now, he said, referring to the 2008 financial crash, austerity, Brexit, Covid, the war in Ukraine and Liz Trusss disastrous mini-Budget.

This time, it will be different. The war in Iran must now become a line in the sand, because how we emerge from this crisis will define all of us for a generation. And instead of hoping to return to the world of 2008, we will forge a new path for Britain  one that strengthens our energy, our defence and our economic security in a new age.

He added that resilience has been at the heart of his approach to the war as he has tried to cushion families from economic pressure.

That is why, alongside our actions in the region, weve capped energy bills and invested heavily in the homegrown energy that can free us from the tyrants who manipulate gas prices.
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Nigel Farages controversial energy bills competition has come under fresh scrutiny after he was accused of handing over the prize to a couple he has been pictured with before.

The Reform UK leader announced the winner of the competition on Thursday, telling June from Wigan that the party would be paying for her entire streets energy bills for a year.

In a video posted on social media, Mr Farage could be seen handing over flowers to the couple in their foyer, as the partys treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick held a giant cheque.

Wigans local Reform UK branch posted the news on Facebook later, congratulating the pair of staunch branch members on their win.

But soon after, social media users claimed Mr Farage already knew the pair, as a picture appearing to show him standing behind the couple at a 2019 Brexit Party event resurfaced.

open image in gallery The Reform UK leader announced the winner of the controversial competition on Thursday, telling June from Wigan that the party would be paying for her entire streets energy bills for a year ( Nigel Farage/Facebook )

It is understood that the party followed the legal requirements of the competition, with a draw that picked June as the winner at random.

However, the Conservative Party accused Reform of having tried to pull the wool over peoples eyes, with Kemi Badenoch having reposted a post on X featuring the photo with a caption: It must have been so weird to pretend theyve never met.

A Conservative spokesman said: How odd for Nigel to have had to pretend he had never met these prominent members of his Party before.

open image in gallery Mr Farage pictured listening to speeches at a Brexit Party event in 2019. In front of him is the couple who appear to be this weeks Reform competition winners ( AFP via Getty Images )

This staged interaction is far from the first time Reform have tried to pull the wool over peoples eyes.

Reform UK launched the competition pledging to pay a streets energy bills for a year last month.

Unveiling the draw, Mr Jenrick, told a press conference in London: In the next week or two, were going to draw one of those names, and Nigel [Farage] is going to come to your house and hes going to pay your energy bills and those of everyone who lives on your street for an entire year.

The competition sparked calls for the information watchdog to investigate, after competitors were asked questions including who they voted for at the last general election and who they plan to back at the next.

open image in gallery ( PA )

In a video posted on X on Thursday, Mr Farage could be seen handing a large cheque for 1,758 to the couple in Wigan as they opened the door to their red-brick home.

At a launch of Reforms local election campaign slogan the following day, Mr Farage also said he is not the least bit worried his party broke electoral rules.

Reform UK said it had been cleared by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
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Peter Mandelson will be fined up to 300 after he was pictured urinating in the street last year.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) has confirmed that it is planning to issue the fixed penalty notice once it has found an appropriate address for the disgraced peer.

Images first published by the Daily Mail showed the former US ambassador relieving himself against a wall in Notting Hill, west London, shortly before 11pm on 12 November.

Lord Mandelson is also facing a separate police probe over his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

open image in gallery Peter Mandelson outside his north London home last month ( PA )

On Friday, RBKC confirmed it was planning to issue the fine  first reported by The Sun  once a suitable address had been obtained for the peer.

Individuals are liable for a 300 fine if they are found urinating in public in the borough, but the charge can be reduced to 150 if paid within two weeks.

When the images of Lord Mandelson urinating in the street were first published last year, he offered his profuse apologies.

I was stood up by two Uber drivers and kept waiting in the street for half an hour, and was bursting. There is no disguising my embarrassment, he told the Daily Mail.

Lord Mandelson was sacked last year after new revelations about the depth and extent of his relationship with Epstein were revealed in the media, raising significant questions over Sir Keir Starmers decision to appoint him in the first place.

Both Lord Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, were arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the paedophile financier.

open image in gallery Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (left) and Lord Mandelson (right) with Jeffrey Epstein, in an image released in the Epstein files ( US Department of Justice )

Both have since been released under investigation, and prosecutors are now providing early investigative advice to the police as they carry out their inquiries, the Crown Prosecution Service said last week.

Meanwhile, MPs moved in February to force the publication of tens of thousands of documents amid questions over how much was known about Lord Mandelsons links to Epstein before the peer was handed the Washington job.

The first tranche of documents related to the decision was published earlier this month after a demand for transparency by MPs, with more to follow.

Lord Mandelson will be asked to supply messages from his personal phone as part of the disclosure of files, after concerns were raised that exchanges relating to the appointment could be lost after the theft of former No 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeneys mobile phone last year.

Lord Mandelsons representatives have been contacted for comment.
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Tech executives could face personal liability, including imprisonment or fines, if their platforms fail to remove revenge porn when it is reported.

New government proposals would hold bosses accountable if their companies do not comply with Ofcom's enforcement decisions regarding such content, provided there is no reasonable excuse.

An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which introduces these measures, is set to be debated in the House of Commons next week.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: Too many women have had their lives shattered by having their intimate images shared online without consent.

This Government is uncompromising in our mission to protect women and girls online, and we have taken action to stop tech firms from publishing this abusive content.

In February, the Government told platforms that they must remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of being reported.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said revenge porn had shattered womens lives ( PA Archive )

Now we are going further by introducing measures meaning that senior tech executives could be criminally liable if their companies fail to act when required to do so by Ofcom, Ms Kendall said.

Protecting women and girls online is not optional, it is a responsibility that sits squarely with every tech companys leadership.

It comes as ministers also move to ban online pornography depicting illegal sexual conduct between family members and adults roleplaying as children.

Possession and publication of porn showing incest between family members, and sex between step or foster relations where one person is pretending to be under 18, will be criminalised, the Government said.

The Ministry of Justice said revolting online content risks normalising child sexual abuse.

Publishing the banned material will carry a maximum penalty of between two and five years imprisonment, depending on the type of content.

The Government has already criminalised porn which shows women being choked after a review found such images are rife on websites and have helped to establish it as a sexual norm.

Minister for victims and tackling violence against girls Alex Davies-Jones said: Ive sadly heard far too many devastating stories from victims and I know we need change now.

Tackling violence against women and girls within a decade will take every single one of us.

We have been clear that vile online pornography has real-life consequences for all of us and Id like to thank every brave campaigner who has worked with us to deliver this vital step.

Today we are sending a powerful message: we will stamp out misogynistic and harmful content online and create a safer world.
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Voters in the small Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti cast ballots for president on Friday, with longtime leader Ismail Omar Guelleh expected to secure a sixth term in office after lawmakers scrapped presidential age limits last year.

Guelleh, 78, has ruled the country of about 1 million for more than two decades. The results of the 2021 election showed him winning nearly 99% of the vote.

He faces a single challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former ruling party member, in a race analysts say offers little genuine competition. Opposition groups frequently boycott elections, citing restrictions on political freedoms. Critics describe the system as tightly controlled, while authorities point to stability in a volatile region.

Guelleh succeeded his uncle, former President Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999, extending a family-led system that has shaped the country's politics for decades.

Djibouti hosts multiple foreign military bases, including those of the U.S., China, France and Japan, underscoring its strategic importance along a key global shipping route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Revenues from these arrangements, along with port services for neighboring Ethiopia, underpin the economy.

open image in gallery This photograph shows an aerial view of Djibouti city, on December 21, 2024 ( AFP/Getty )

But that model leaves Djibouti exposed to external shocks. It depends heavily on Ethiopia's use of its ports, while global disruptions  including Red Sea shipping insecurity  pose risks to revenue. Rising geopolitical competition and debt exposure, particularly to China, also add to longer-term uncertainty.

Regional observers from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development monitored the vote.

"The scrapping of term limits in Djibouti is less about electoral competition and more about preserving regime continuity in a highly strategic state," Mohamed Husein Gaas of the Raad Peace Research Institute told The Associated Press.

"While it raises concerns about democratic backsliding, external actors are likely to prioritize stability given Djibouti's critical role in Red Sea security and global trade routes, especially amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East," he said.
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The founder of one of Africas largest independent churches spent 30 years in jail and died a prisoner, banished far from his home by Belgian colonial authorities who judged his activities to be dangerous.

Unexpectedly, Simon Kimbangus religious movement spread across Congo and prospered enough that it now has followers even in Belgium, with pilgrims visiting a quaint village south of the Congolese capital of Kinshasa to pay homage to him.

April 6 has been marked in Congo as Kimbangu Day since 2023, a holiday to celebrate the "struggle of Simon Kimbangu and African consciousness. Some see him as the Nelson Mandela of Central Africa, with comparable suffering but not nearly the fame.

If Kimbangus articulation of a home-grown theology of Black liberation appealed to many Congolese in violent colonial times, now his message resonates differently as Congo faces instability stemming from a violent rebellion in the east.

Some Congolese say Kimbangus movement  nonviolent, independent, well-organized and resilient  can be a positive example for a nation facing perhaps its worst territorial crisis since independence in 1960. Others say the spirit of sacrifice that Kimbangu embodied should be emulated by Congos leaders.

The first challenge for African leaders, or Congolese leaders, is that they are not free, said Bwatshia Kambayi, a historian of Congo who sees similarities in the struggles of Mandela and Kimbangu. African leaders, they do not realize that they have a slavery mindset. We are independent, but we are not free.

open image in gallery Toussaint Mungwala, a Kimbanguist pastor from the province of Kuilu, poses at a reception center for the faithful in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodney Muhumuza) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The Kimbanguist Church, officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ on Earth Through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu, is a revival movement. It is believed to have anywhere between 6 and 17 million members, most of them Congolese. Its spiritual seat is Nkamba, a town southwest of Kinshasa that believers call the New Jerusalem.

Although its primary teachings refer to the Bible, the Kimbanguist Church is distinguished by its veneration of Kimbangu as the Black embodiment of the Holy Spirit. Fiercely independent, the church maintains a hierarchical structure and is currently in its third generation of leadership.

The Kimbanguist Church prohibits polygamy, which is socially accepted in Congo. It encourages peaceful ways of resolving conflict among members. A sense of good neighborliness is witnessed in the sharing of foodstuffs for communal events, and the church has invested widely in schools and other social enterprises. Women can rise to positions of authority.

Women are ministering in the church. They have a key role to play because the church is so thankful for what the wife of Simon Kimbangu did when her husband was in prison, said Andre Kibangudi, a church elder. We should have more female leadership.

open image in gallery Congo Christian Movement ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Congo in 1921 was a Belgian colony, the source of raw materials like rubber, timber and minerals that paid for the reconstruction of Belgium after World War I. Kimbangu, a lay Baptist catechist, was an unlikely candidate for leadership. Even though he urged his followers to pay taxes, his religious idea proved too provocative for authorities.

Kimbangu identified God with Nzambi, the deity in the Kikongo language, and presented himself as God's envoy on Earth. This implied the Blackness of God, subverting cultural representations of the deity as white and possibly European. All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.

But he led his ministry for only five months. Facing insurrection charges, Kimbangu was sentenced to death. King Albert I of Belgium commuted the punishment to life imprisonment, and the prophet was exiled to present-day Lubumbashi, about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away.

Few photos were taken of Kimbangu, who was 64 when he died in 1951. In the stylized photo of him presented in official files, he wears the austere garb of a prisoner, baldheaded and looking quizzical. Sometimes he is painted next to his wife, Marie Muilu, who led the movement until her youngest son, Joseph Diangienda Kuntima, took over in 1959. Kuntima was succeeded by his brother in 1992. The groups leader since 2001 is Simon Kimbangu Kiangani, a grandson of the founder.

On Easter Sunday, as Kimbanguists prepared for the next days holiday, church members at the Kinshasa branch chanted Simon Kimbangu Kiangani oyee, praising the leader who was not among them. The group composes its own sacred music, lilting songs that prompt women in green-and-white wraparounds to vigorously shake their bodies. Some in the group were boarding church-owned buses that would take them to Nkamba.

The churchs rules forbid dating a married man, said Chantal Makanga, a widow, citing what she considered a striking example of Kimbanguism's values. Its not bad to fall in love or to date me, if the final goal is to get married.

open image in gallery Congo Christian Movement ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

President Felix Tshisekedis major challenge is the armed conflict in eastern Congo, where the largest city, Goma, has been controlled by rebels since January 2025. Those rebels, the Rwanda-backed M23, have effectively carved off the mineral-rich North Kivu province and caused the flight of hundreds of thousands, provoking fear of secession and forcing the president to seek drastic measures.

Notably, Tshisekedi has offered U.S. companies access to eastern Congos minerals  mostly untapped and estimated to be worth $24 trillion  as a bargaining chip for U.S. support to secure eastern Congo.

But some critics predict an intensification of the problem with the entry of a big new rival for resources into eastern Congo, where the Chinese have long been active in mineral extraction. Some lawyers and activists have filed a petition arguing that a mineral partnership with the U.S. threatens Congos sovereignty, and the leader of the National Episcopal Conference likened such a partnership to selling off the minerals of an entire nation to save a regime or a political system.

Tshisekedi has embraced Kimbanguists; his prime minister, Judith Suminwa, is one of them. That's an indicator of the governments respect for Kimbangu as a champion of Black emancipation and highlights the Kimbanguist movements importance as a source of votes.

The church today is very dynamic, very influential, said Paul Kasonga, a Kimbanguist pastor of millions in Mongala province.

What Congos leaders can learn from Kimbangu is that the guy didnt work for himself. He sacrificed himself to free people who had been in slavery, who had been suffering, Kasonga said.

Kambayi, the scholar and former minister of higher education, said the elite running Congo are poor men who want to live as rich people."

This is not the fight of Simon Kimbangu, he said. None of them has reached the level of fighting for peoples freedom, for peoples liberty.

Toussaint Mungwala, pastor of Kimbanguists in Kwilu province, said he felt the force of Kimbangus legacy back in 1981 when he saw a German priest praying while holding a picture of Kimbangu and Muilu. The sight intrigued him and drew him to the Kimbanguist Church.

Five years later, Mungwala converted from Catholicism, convinced that Kimbangu was on the side of the people.

The lesson that people can learn from the church is that the prophet, the founding prophet, fought for peoples rights, he said.
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A Nigerian army general and several soldiers were killed during an attempted raid on a military base in the country's northeast early on Thursday, officials have confirmed.

The attack, which occurred in Benisheikh, Borno State, was repelled, according to army spokesman Michael Onoja. Mr Onoja described the assailants as "terrorists," a term the military uses for Islamic militant groups in the region.

President Bola Tinubu confirmed the general's death.The insurgents counterattack is a sign of desperation, he said in a statement. I extend my condolences to the families of our gallant soldiers, led by Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our country today in Borno State.

The government will never forget their sacrifices.

Their sacrifices will not be in vain," Tinubu said. "Because of the courage and dedication of our troops on the front line, our resolve to defeat terrorism and all forms of violence across Nigeria is stronger than ever.

Onoja didnt specify how many soldiers were killed in the latest attack on military bases.

open image in gallery A Nigerian police officer stands guard during an event in Minna, Nigeria. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

This attack is a clear indication of the desperation of terrorist elements who, having suffered significant losses in recent operations, continue to resort to futile and ill-fated offensives against well-defended military positions, he said. Regrettably, the encounter resulted in the loss of a few brave and gallant soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.

Nigeria, which is Africas most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups who kidnap for ransom.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating in communities in the northwestern part of the country that borders Niger Republic.

The crisis has worsened recently to include other militants from the neighboring Sahel region, including the Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.

Earlier this year, the U.S. sent 200 troops and drones to Nigeria to assist the Nigerian military in fighting extremists. The U.S. military said that the American troops wont engage in combat or have a direct operational role, and that Nigerian forces will have complete command authority.

The deployment is part of a new security partnership agreed on after U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigerias security crisis. The U.S. launched strikes against IS forces on Dec. 26.

Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations. Analysts say not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens.
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A teenage girl on her way to a cheerleading competition in Florida claims Frontier Airlines over-served and unreasonably supervised an already-intoxicated passenger who drunkenly tried to force himself on her, ruining her trip and resulting in his arrest.

Prior to the alleged assault, the 17-year-old suburban Philadelphia resident says a fellow passenger, 32, was visibly drunk and engaged in unwanted touching of a flight attendant, but that the cabin crew still continued to bring him drinks, according to a lawsuit reviewed by The Independent.

When the teen was finally able to break free, flight attendants joked with each other while mocking the situation in front of her, the complaint states. When cops boarded the plane upon landing, the passenger became combative with police as he was dragged away, according to the complaint.

It goes on to say that the experience wrecked the girls ability to perform in the cheer contest and that the lasting psychological effects have since forced her to abandon her dream of becoming a firefighter.

Frontier officials and the attorneys defending the budget carrier against the allegations did not respond on Friday to requests for comment.

open image in gallery An allegedly intoxicated passenger aboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Orlando ruined a teenage girl's chances in a cheer competition the next day, according to court filings ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Independent does not typically name alleged sexual assault victims, and is withholding the teenagers name. Calls to the passengers personal phone, whose name is also being withheld as he was criminally charged for resisting arrest but not the alleged assault itself, went unanswered.

On April 29, 2024, the teenage cheerleader boarded Frontier flight 3855, which was set to depart Philadelphia International Airport for the two-hour journey to Orlando, Florida, according to her complaint, which was initially filed February 20 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and removed to Philadelphia federal court on April 8.

The teen was unaccompanied by a guardian or adult, the complaint goes on. She took her seat, a window toward the rear of the aircraft, as the passenger behind the alleged assault made his way down the aisle and sat down in the middle seat next to the teen, who already exhibited a smell of alcohol and other signs of intoxication, the complaint says.

A woman traveling with the teen was assigned a seat in the middle of the cabin, some distance away, the complaint continues.

Almost immediately and throughout the flight, [the passenger] manifested disruptive behavior, including unwanted physical contact with a flight attendant, the complaint states, saying that the passenger became intoxicated to a very high level during the flight.

Specifically, the complaint alleges, an unidentified flight attendant served the passenger three Titos vodka cocktails at the beginning of the flight, after which he attempted to strike up a conversation with the teen. She immediately made it clear that she did not want to engage with the passenger, and began playing a game on her phone to emphasize the point, according to the complaint. Still, the passenger persisted in trying to interact with the teen, it says.

Despite [the passengers] continued disruptive behavior and increasing signs of intoxication, agents of the Defendant Airline sold two (2) additional servings of Titos vodka to [the passenger], the complaint states.

Five vodkas in, his alleged behavior took a dark turn. With roughly an hour to go, the passenger began to grope the teens legs, arms and hands, while attempting to kiss her neck, according to the complaint. It says the teen recoiled in response, but the passenger kept at it, touching the teen inappropriately as he press[ed] his nose and mouth toward her, trying to kiss her.

The teen was trapped between the wall of the aircraft and the passenger, who by now had her in reasonable fear of further, imminent assault, the complaint maintains. Eventually, the person in the seat to the passengers left realized what was happening and vocally objected to [his] behavior, the complaint states. When the other passenger got up to notify a flight attendant, the teen also tried to exit the row but the passenger refused to let her pass, according to the complaint.

open image in gallery A 32-year-old passenger downed at least five Tito's vodka cocktails during a 2.5-hour flight, then allegedly assaulted a teen sitting next to him, according to court filings ( Getty Images for NYCWFF )

Several minutes later, the complaint says the passenger finally permitted the teen to get out, and she reported the alleged assault to one of the flight attendants, who relocated her to a different seat for the remainder of the flight.

Some of the flight attendants joked with each other about the assault in the presence of [the teen], the complaint states. When the aircraft landed, police were summoned to respond to the assault.

The passenger, according to the complaint, became combative with police, engaged in a struggle on the aircraft, and was arrested on the aircraft.

He was arrested and charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence, both misdemeanors, according to public records, which show the passenger was not prosecuted and that the case was dropped.

The complaint says the teen experienced intense terror during the alleged assault, and that the aftereffects included severe emotional distress and humiliation. She suffered extreme inability to sleep on the night of the assault, and according to the complaint, the passengers actions directly caused enormous diminution in the quality of her performance and overall enjoyment at her dance/cheer competition.

The teen, who is now 19, had begun working as a firefighter but has since developed psychological and emotional conditions that made it prohibitively distressful for her to continue that career path, the complaint states. It blames the extreme damage to the teens life on Frontiers over-serving and negligent supervision of [the passenger], culminating in [his] assault of the Plaintiff.

The Federal Aviation Administration has received 405 unruly passenger reports so far in 2026, according to agency data. While the rate of unruly passenger incidents had declined by more than 80 percent since record highs in 2021, the FAA says recent increases show there remains more work to do.

The teenagers complaint claims Frontier was negligent in allowing the passenger to board while visibly intoxicated, and says the cabin crews failure to promptly intervene, while supplying the passenger with more alcohol, amounted to reckless and malicious conduct.

As a result, the teen says she has suffered psychological damage, emotional distress, persistent sleep interruption, post-traumatic stress, decreased socialization, prolonged humiliation, reduced earning capacity, grief, rage and humiliation, emotional pain, and mental anguish.

She is now seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined by a jury.
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Homeowners association fees have risen nearly 30 percent since before the COVID-19 pandemic, making it even more difficult for Americans to afford homeownership, according to a report.

Since 2019, the median monthly condo fee has gone up 29 percent, rising to $420 in 2025. During that same period, median HOA fees for single-family homeowners increased 26 percent, reaching $63 last year, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Realtor.com data.

While HOA and condo fees arent the biggest expense for most homeowners, they are climbing at the same time as property taxes, mortgages and utility bills have also become more expensive.

All these things are pricing some people out of homeownership, Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com, told the Journal.

While mortgage rates may drop from current levels, HOA and other homeownership costs are likely to continue increasing, according to the report.

open image in gallery Homeowners association and condo fees are rising, making homeownership harder for many Americans, according to a report ( Getty/iStock )

About 21.6 million households, or a fourth of homeowners in the U.S., paid HOA or condo fees in 2024, according to Census Bureau data. The fee was over $500 for about three million of those households.

These types of fees, typically paid by homeowners either monthly or annually, often go toward building-wide infrastructure for condos or neighborhood amenities for HOAs. The fees have been becoming more expensive as property insurance, labor and materials have all also gotten more expensive, according to the Journal.

The high fees have kept many people who are interested in buying a condo from making a purchase. That includes Rebecca Lotsoff, who has been looking for a two-bedroom condo in the Chicago area since 2022. She told the Journal she didnt want to pay a monthly fee above $500.

It has limited whats available to me, she said. Im very frustrated.

The fees have also become a nuisance for people who bought their condos when fees were more affordable, including Donald DeFesi, whose payments in Walnut Creek, California, have doubled since 2015 to $1,500.

open image in gallery Some HOAs are cutting back on services they offer - like watering the grass - to keep costs down ( Getty Images )

DeFesi currently pays more for his condo association fees, condo insurance and property taxes than he does for the principal and interest on his mortgage.

I certainly didnt expect the homeowners association dues to increase as they have, DeFesi told the Journal.

However, some HOAs and condo associations are actively trying to limit fee hikes. Cindy Kielty, the board president of her HOA in St. Charles, Missouri, told the Journal that her HOA may cut back on services like watering the grass to keep costs low.

Kieltys fees were about $125 a month when she and her husband first bought their home in 2009, but have since shot up to $350 a month.

People are just going to have to change their expectations as to whats going to be covered, she said. They have a choice: Do more yourself or pay more money to the HOA.
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President Donald Trump on April 7, 2026, announced a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, after more than a month of war marked by U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian military leadership, Iranian retaliation against regional oil infrastructure and a global energy crisis.

As a former U.S. diplomat, I have found there are three ways that warring parties arrive at a ceasefire.

The first scenario happens when one party tires of war and asks for peace, as Hamas, the militant Palestinian organization, did when it pushed for a ceasefire with Israel in late 2023 and early 2024. But this strategy reveals weakness to the other side and thus seldom works. Israel ignored Hamas and continued the war in Gaza until October 2025.

Warring nations also reach ceasefires when a powerful third country insists the two parties stop fighting due to risks to world peace and regional stability. In the modern era, the U.S. has done this several times in the Mideast when it has leveraged influence over key players, such as Israel and Egypt. But with the Iran war, there is no country in a good position to do this.

The current U.S.-Iran ceasefire is a good example of the third way that agreements to stop fighting can happen. Both countries were tired of the costs and the ongoing risks of the war, and they sent signals to that effect.

Pakistan, which deserves praise for stepping in, picked up on this and offered to serve as an intermediary. For at least two weeks, assuming the ceasefire holds, the U.S., Iran and Israel can lick their wounds and consider their next moves, as they work out whether the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is covered by the ceasefire.

US and Israels war with Iran

Why were the United States and Iran ready for a ceasefire?

For the U.S. and Israel, the war didnt go as planned. There was no true regime change in Iran and no uprising of its people.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime channel between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and maintained its ability to shoot down warplanes and attack its neighbors, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

open image in gallery APTOPIX Lebanon Israel Iran War ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

For Iran, the war has cost the lives of thousands of its citizens and dozens of its leaders. It has also ruined key infrastructure, and it had the potential to get much worse.

Key ceasefire demands

Thats how we got here. Now, where could the war go next?

One possibility is that the ceasefire lasts only two weeks, is shaky throughout  as seen with Israels bombing of Lebanon after the ceasefire was declared  and war resumes.

The world already knows what that looks like, with its impact on the global economy and the soaring financial costs to the U.S. military.

Another scenario is that the ceasefire is extended, either clearly or just de facto, with zero to minimal U.S. attacks or Iranian missile or drone launches. This is quite possible.

The third and best outcome would be if the two parties are able to use these two weeks, plus some extensions, to hammer out the key points of a peace deal.

What could this involve?

The two key U.S.-Israel demands are that Iran give up its nuclear weapons development and stop backing Hamas and Hezbollah, the Shiite militia with extensive influence in Lebanon.

At this point, I believe the Iranians should realize that nuclear weapons are not their best deterrence, and that their attempts to obtain them have led only to their isolation. Their true deterrence is their ability to close the Strait of Hormuz and choke off 20% of the worlds energy supply. For that, they need only drones and small speed boats.

open image in gallery ( AFP/Getty )

Irans support of Hezbollah, which has contributed to the ruin of a once prosperous and democratic Lebanon since it launched military operations inside the country in 1982, is a liability to them as well.

Irans missile attacks during this war have made it clear that they would be able to deliver nuclear weapons if they had them. And their drone and missile strikes on their Muslim neighbors, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are only creating new enemies.

But what would the Iranians want in return?

About the author Donald Heflin is an Executive Director of the Edward R. Murrow Center and Senior Fellow of Diplomatic Practice at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

First and foremost, an end to attacks by other countries attempting to topple their regime. Second, and just as important, a permanent lifting of sanctions so long as they end their support for terrorist groups and surrender their uranium. Unfortunately, such an agreement would do nothing for pro-human rights groups in Iran.

A lack of trust

All parties would need to be committed to working out the many details for a ceasefire to last. Pakistan would need to stay the course as an honest broker and not get discouraged. The governments involved would need to be able to persuade their people that such a deal is acceptable.

Sound impossible? Its been done many times in history. Think of how intractable the conflicts in Northern Ireland or between Israel and Egypt once seemed. The key element is for both sides to fear a resumption of war more than they do the consequences of a compromise peace.

A major problem is the lack of trust on both sides. The U.S. has seen Iran go back on promises before. Israel was traumatized by Hamas attacks in 2023. And Iran cant keep up with Trumps constantly changing signals and his bombing Iran while negotiating with the government there.

But if the ceasefire holds and negotiations are successful, the world could see an Iran that, at least, is no longer a menace to its neighbors. And Iran would see itself being readmitted to the world economy, which it desperately needs.

If it doesnt work, and we go back to how things were before the ceasefire, well be back to the U.S. and Israel raining down hard-to-replace munitions on Iran, and Iran lashing out with drones and missile attacks against a dozen countries, with the world economy taking a beating.
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The largest reservoir in the U.S. has reportedly dropped several feet in recent weeks, nearing its record low, a new report reveals.

Lake Mead, which is located on the Nevada-Arizona border, has dropped about six feet since March 1, FOX 5 Vegas reports. Boater Ron Klug told the outlet he was shocked to see how low the water was on Lake Mead, which now set just 20 feet above the all-time low.

Bronson Mack, an outreach manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, told FOX 5 that Lake Mead is now at about 35 percent capacity and that it could drop another 16 feet by 2027. He also pointed to the very low snowpack this past winter, which has caused dry conditions.

Most of the water in Lake Mead comes from snowpack, Fox 5 reports.

Still, Mack told the outlet that Southern Nevadas water supply is still safe: We are drawing water from the deepest part of the lake. Our pumping station can pump to the deepest elevations.

open image in gallery Lake Mead's Boulder Basin. Lake Mead's levels have dropped six feet since March 1, a new report revealed ( AFP via Getty Images )

Still, according to federal projections released last month, Lake Mead could reach record-low water levels by November 2027, Fox 5 reports.

That level would be approximately 1,032 feet, 8 feet lower than a previous record set in 2022.

Drought conditions and the ongoing climate crisis have also caused Lake Meads water temperatures to rise, which could pose problems for water treatment operations, according to the Nevada Current.

Todd Tietjen, the regional water quality manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, told the outlet: We really rely on the cold water being present for our treatment process.

Our treatment process was designed around cooler, colder waters. Our buildings on site are cooled by this water, he added.

open image in gallery Lake Mead has seen rising water temperatures, which could pose problems for water treatment operations ( AFP via Getty Images )

These rising temperatures could also pose problems for the Hoover Dam.

Most of the turbines are cooled by Lake Mead water, so they run into problems if they have hot water, and if we lose power at Glen Canyon and Hoover Dam, thats a big problem for the West, Tietjen told the Nevada Current.

Officials also had to issue a warning last month after a harmful algal bloom was reported in in Government Wash, a part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The National Park Service said the algal bloom may contain toxins and is unsafe for swimming or contact.

Children and pets are at higher risk if contaminated water is swallowed. Keep pets leashed and away from the water. Seek medical or veterinary care if symptoms occur after exposure, the service said in a March 13 statement.
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As Donna Sturman, her graying Irish Wolfhound, Louise, and I pull into the overflowing parking lot of the Suffolk County Criminal Court complex on Wednesday morning, she begins to reminisce about her former boss, Rex Heuermann.

Sturman, 74, went to work in 2017 as Heuermanns office manager/personal assistant/bookkeeper/etc, who did everything the Long Island resident needed to run his Manhattan architecture practice.

She tells me she took care of his breakfast every day  always two ham-and-egg sandwiches from Starbucks with a grande Americano, two sugars  delivered paperwork for him to the NYC Department of Buildings, drafted client proposals, cleaned his cluttered West 36 Street office in Manhattan, smoothed things over when he bounced checks to vendors, and even bought flowers for his wife when he forgot their anniversary.

Although he could be sharp and intimidating to others, Sturman says Heuermann, now 62, never spoke disrespectfully to her, that he doted on his adult daughter, and introduced his elderly mom to everyone at the company holiday party. Heuermann had few social graces, and didnt seem to have any friends, but Sturman didnt see her boss as a monster then, so much as a mess. She describes him as schlubby, shy and deeply awkward, with no social skills, someone she saw as a dumb, goofy kid.

Sturman, who was introduced to the hulking, 6-foot-4 Heuermann by a mutual friend, says he told staffers about his gun collection, said he liked to hunt, and had a mounted deer head on the wall across from his desk. But what stands out most to Sturman is how disorganized Heuermann was, while still maintaining a professional reputation for fastidious, painstaking work.

open image in gallery Convicted serial killer Rex Heuermann, seen here with defense attorney Michael Brown, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a string of murders that flummoxed cops for years. His former assistant says she never suspected a thing ( Getty Images )

Sturman says Heuermann shorted her salary, bounced checks, and failed to reimburse her for $5,400 in food, supplies, and incidentals she paid for out of her own pocket.

Then there was the pizza. Heuermann enjoyed a slice or three from a place near the office, Sturman tells me. But, she says, Heuermann was the kind of guy whod plow through slice after slice and still leave a ring of untouched crust on his plate. You should finish the crust, Sturman would tell him. Its the best part, she said.

Still, Heuermanns pizza crusts would always end up in the trash.

In 2023, once investigators had homed in on Heuermann as a possible suspect in a string of high-profile murders that had flummoxed police for decades, they tailed him to that same pizza parlor, waited for him to eat, then fished his uneaten crust out of a nearby garbage can and swabbed it for DNA.

The Suffolk County Crime Lab matched the DNA from the crust to a hair found on one of the victims, which, when combined with other evidence, identified Heuermann as the perpetrator. Ironically, Sturman notes, it was this trivial quirk that later became central to proving Heuermann was a serial killer.

open image in gallery A pizza box discarded by Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann was used to link him to the killings through DNA ( Suffolk County DA )

I used to always tell him, eat the crust, Sturman says while gazing at the courthouses fortress-like jail, where Heuermann has been in solitary confinement since his arrest.

An hour or so later, Heuermann would plead guilty to strangling and dismembering seven sex workers between 1993 and 2010 and dumping their remains near Gilgo Beach, a secluded spot roughly 17 miles from the hulking father of twos dilapidated Massapequa Park home. She is astonished to see Heuermanns size when he appears before the judge in a navy suit and navy-and-white patterned tie, asking, Who gains weight in prison?

It still boggles Sturmans mind that the pennypinching man she thought she knew would turn out to be the ogreish murderer now convicted of slaughtering Jessica Taylor, 20; Megan Waterman, 22; Valerie Mack, 24; Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Amber Lynn Costello, 27; and Sandra Costilla, 28. During his plea hearing, Heuermann confessed to the killing of an eighth victim, 34-year-old Karen Vergata, for which he was not separately charged.

open image in gallery Architect Rex Heuermann confessed to killing eight sex workers and dumping their bodies near Gilgo Beach, a secluded area of Long Island. As he pleaded guilty on Wednesday, his former assistant reminisced about the 'schlubby' and 'shy' man she once called her boss ( Getty Images )

Before Wednesdays hearing, attorney Robert Macedonio, who represents Heuermanns ex-wife Asa, told reporters that discovering her then-husband had murdered more than a half-dozen women was unimaginable, and said there is no way to prepare for it.

Sturman was similarly stunned when she first learned of Heuermanns arrest, she tells me. Amid an ongoing battle with her brothers over a financial issue, Sturman took a break from doing legal research online and was idly scrolling through the news when she spotted the name Rex. She says she skipped past it, assuming it was somebody else, then saw the word architect in a second headline, and Massapequa in a third. Finally, the words serial killer and Gilgo Beach appeared on the screen, according to Sturman, who had by then begun to connect the dots.

A review by police of Heuermanns online searches revealed a penchant for violent torture porn, looking for rape videos and snuff films, according to authorities. Heuermann also checked the internet regularly for any updates on the investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders and the hunt for the killer, along with tips on how to dispose of a body, cops said.

It was, quite frankly, almost like an out-of-body experience, Sturman goes on, still visibly traumatized. You know, this is a person I know that I used to spend time with? It's, I can't even it doesn't gel in my mind, to tell you the truth. It just doesn't. Like, this couldn't be the same person I used to sit with, right? Who has a double-life going on and is a serial killer? How do you feel like you really know anybody after this?

As for Heuermanns apparent sexual fetishes, Sturman says, He had no sexuality. I would have never thought of him as even having a penis.

open image in gallery Family members of some of Rex Heuermann's victims attend a news conference following his guilty plea. According to Heuermann's former assistant, the so-called Gilgo Beach killer never ate his pizza crusts  which is how he eventually got caught ( Getty Images )

Following Heuermanns guilty plea, his defense attorney, Michael Brown, told the assembled media that confessing to the eight murders gave his client a sense of relief.

Brown claimed Heuermann certainly wanted to save the families of the victims from having to endure a trial, and said that he was similarly concerned with saving his family from that.

To that end, Sturman doesnt recall observing any particular warmth between Heuermann and his wife, but describes his daughter Victoria as the center of his world.

They were very, very close, she says, adding that Heuermann was crazy about her, and very protective.

Sturman imagines Heuermanns instinct would be to protect Victoria from having to hear testimony about the goriest details from his years-long killing spree, suggesting that accepting a plea deal might have been, in his mind, a final act of protection.

In the end, Sturman left Heuermanns practice over a payment dispute. She says she ultimately helped him successfully overhaul the business, was able to collect on a variety of bills that had gone unpaid while Heuermanns brother, who lives in South Carolina, was keeping the books, and streamlined his daily schedule.

I organized his life so much that he had more time to kill, Sturman says, perhaps only half-jokingly.

Heuermann is set to be sentenced on June 17. He is expected to spend the rest of his natural life behind bars.
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Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones believes President Donald Trump is under demonic influences and is acting like a super villain, after the commander-in-chief distanced himself from the podcaster.

Jones, who founded the online platform InfoWars, was an early convert to Trumps MAGA movement, with the president first appearing on his show in 2015. However, these latest comments show a growing rift in the MAGA base with the president.

Several pivotal MAGA supporters, including Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Tucker Carlson, have distanced themselves from the president over issues including the Epstein files release and the reversal of one of his central campaign promises not to start any more wars.

open image in gallery Alex Jones has said he believes President Donald Trump is acting like a super villain ( Reuters )

At the end of the day I just feel sorry for him and pray that God touch his heart and soul and free him from the demonic influences that hes under. I mean its just that simple.

This is a nightmare. We know that the Democrats, the left, are absolutely terrible, but when Trumps calling for wiping out whole civilizations and acting like a super villain, I have to come out and say I don't support it. Its that simple, Jones said in a video posted from the drivers seat of his car.

The host went on to discuss Trumps involvement with Epstein, citing how First Lady Melania Trump gave an unannounced press conference on Thursday, where she said that Epsteins victims should be given the opportunity to testify to Congress.

Looks to me like shes breaking with Trump because she knows the ships sinking, and found out the truth, said Jones.

open image in gallery First Lady Melania Trump discussing the Epstein files at an unannounced press conference ( Getty )

Melania Trump also said during this press conference that she had no connection to Epstein.

This is not the first time that Jones has criticized the president, who once seemed totally invincible to criticism from his base.

The broadcaster has also said that he believes Congress needs to 25th Amendment [Trumps] ass. This refers to the amendment to the Constitution that enables Congress to remove a mentally unfit president.

This was in response to Trump's Truth Social statement that Irans civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

Jones called this statement genocidal in intent, writing on X, Trump literally sounds like an unhinged super villain from a Marvel comic movie. This IS NOT WHAT WE VOTED FOR!!

open image in gallery Marjorie Taylor Greene is another central MAGA figure who has publicly broken from the president ( Middle East Images )

He was joined in his calls to invoke the 25th Amendment by Democratic lawmakers who urged Congress to reconvene from its Easter break for a vote.

Attacking Bankrupt Jones on Truth Social, the president said, [Jones] says some of the dumbest things, and lost his entire fortune, as he should have, for his horrendous attack on the families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, ridiculously claiming it was a hoax.

Jones was found guilty in a nearly $1.5 billion defamation suit for claiming the Sandy Hook mass shooting was a hoax.
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A U.S. citizen has been deported to Mexico despite telling arresting officers that he had proof of citizenship at home, according to a new report.

According to Univisions Lidia Terrazas, 25-year-old Denver-born Brian Morales was threatened with either deportation or prison time following a traffic stop in Texas by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents.

This is the latest in a string of incidents involving U.S. citizens and Department of Homeland Security agents during the first 18 months of Trumps second term in office. In addition several American children have been deported alongside their parents, including a child undergoing cancer treatment in the U.S.

Meanwhile, three U.S. citizens have been killed by federal immigration officers this year.

open image in gallery DHS agents reportedly refused to see citizenship documentation and deported a U.S. citizen ( Getty )

A spokesperson for DHS contested Morales story, telling The Independent, CBP did NOT arrest a U.S. citizen. On April 3, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rocksprings, Texas Station interviewed Bryan Jose Morales-Garcia after he was encountered by Gillespie County Sheriffs deputies near Fredericksburg. Agents determined Morales-Garcia was illegally in the U.S. through record checks. Morales-Garcia also admitted he is a Mexican national and he entered the country illegally. He was subsequently removed to Mexico on April 7.

This is exactly what weve been warning about for years as the anti-immigrant rhetoric and legislation has heated up, Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro told Univision.

ICE is often ignoring people when they say hey I am a U.S. citizen heres the proof. Its because they want people gone.

In a video posted on Instagram, Terrazas reported that Morales, who does not speak English, was born in the U.S. but was taken to Mexico by his parents as a toddler.

He said he came back to the U.S. as an adult, crossing the border legally using his birth certificate. He was in the process of obtaining his Real ID.

When he was pulled over with his construction crew by CBP, he did not have ID on him, but told officers that he could get his Social Security number, birth certificate, and medical records from home to prove his case. However, officers did not believe him and deported him on April 7th.

open image in gallery As the agency's activities intensify under Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda, opposition to ICE has emerged across the nation. ( AFP via Getty Images )

According to Terrazas, Morales told three different agents about his citizenship status, but instead of listening to him or looking at his documentation, they threatened him with five years in prison for fraud.

He told Terrazas that he became so afraid of prison time, and of being unable to see his daughter, that he signed voluntary removal papers and told the officers what they wanted to hear.

He was then not told where in Mexico he was being deported to, and when he arrived, he realized it was a place he had never been to before. According to Morales, his boss was also placed into ICE custody, despite being a U.S. citizen with proof of citizenship at home.

open image in gallery Representative Joaquin Castro told the press that this arrest is exactly what weve been warning about for years ( Alex Gilliam/FWD.us )

Rep. Castro likened the stop to a kind of racial profiling. Saying, Theyre not just targeting undocumented Latinos, theyre often targeting any Latino and some U.S. citizens are going to get caught up in that.

Political ethicist Norman Ornstein surmised on X Sue the s*** out of them and fire everyone who refused to look at his documents.

This latest DHS incident comes shortly at the start of Markwayne Mullins tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security following on from the scandal ridden reign of his presesscor, Kristi Noem.
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The 19-year-old son of an Afghan interpreter who was arrested by immigration officers last year is now in federal custody.

A man identified as Zia who worked alongside American armed forces and legally entered the U.S. was arrested by several Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers last summer after he showed up for a routine appointment for his green card.

His case drew national attention and outrage from state officials and members of Congress who demanded his release from ICE custody. He spent nearly three months inside.

This week, ICE officers arrested his son.

Lawyers for a Connecticut high school student identified as Rihan filed a lawsuit for his release from federal custody after his arrest on April 6. A judge initially blocked his movement from an ICE detention center in the state while his legal battle continues, but agents later moved him to a correctional facility in Massachusetts, records show.

open image in gallery ICE arrested the 19-year-old son of an Afghan interpreter who worked with US forces nearly one year after agents targeted his father ( AFP/Getty )

I am appalled by ICE's aggressive tactics in apprehending a teenager who is here in the U.S. because his family put their lives on the line to help our troops in Afghanistan, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said in a statement.

After the Department of Homeland Security tried and failed to send his father back to near certain death in Afghanistan, the agency is now targeting his children, according to the senator, who is working with the teens family for his release.

Its disgusting and offensive, Blumenthal said. They deserve protection  not persecution.

Zia, his wife and children entered the United States in 2024, when Rihan was still a minor, with temporary legal protections that were set to expire in October, according to the teens lawyers. The family was granted a form of protection called humanitarian parole following threats from the Taliban, according to the familys legal team.

Rihan applied for a green card in June, which is still pending.

AfghanEvac, an advocacy group that works with partner organizations to support Afghan allies, is deeply concerned about Rihans case.

This is not an isolated incident. It is the second time this family has been targeted, president Shawn VanDiver told The Independent.

This reflects a broader pattern. Federal courts have granted thousands of habeas petitions in immigration cases, repeatedly finding violations of due process, he added. This is not a one-off. It is a systemic failure. Detaining the same family twice while they follow the law is not enforcement. It is arbitrary and unjust.

open image in gallery Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal called the administrations targeting of the Afghan family in his state disgusting and offensive as he urges Rihans release from ICE custody ( REUTERS )

ICE agents arrested Zia outside a federal building in Hartford following an appointment about his green card application.

Government lawyers later said in a court filing that his arrest followed a tip from the FBI that his presence poses a national security risk, though court documents did not present any evidence or explanation. He was released in October after spending three months in custody.

The family followed all the rules, according to immigration attorney Lauren Peterson, who worked on Zias case. Its done everything right. Its our government that is not following its own rules  or claiming that the rules have changed, or maybe claiming that there are no rules at all when it comes to immigrants.

Jeff Solan, the superintendent of Cheshire Public Schools, sent a message to the schools community about Rihans arrest.

Our students family is working through the immigration process after supporting American troops in a war zone, he wrote. Being taken off the streets under these circumstances feels more like a miscarriage of justice than an enforcement of law. 

Cheshire city officials said in a statement that familys ordeal underscores the human impact of our immigration system and raises serious concerns about fairness, consistency, and compassion in its enforcement.

No young person, especially one pursuing an education and contributing to their community, should have their future thrown into uncertainty while awaiting a legal decision, they said.

Governor Ned Lamont called Rihans arrest an intimidation tactic.

All his claims will be heard, and he will receive full due process, a spokesperson for DHS told The Independent.

Afghans who entered the country during Joe Bidens administration were admitted with a vetting process that was demonstrably inadequate, the spokesperson said.

No overseas criminal background checks were performed, social media accounts were not screened, and there was no systematic cross-referencing of information, the person added. In many cases, entry was granted on the basis of a single recommendation.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has moved to strip temporary protections for thousands of Afghans who fled Afghanistan after the US withdrawal, and ICE has been directed to ramp up arrests after an Afghan national killed a National Guard service member in November 2025  efforts that have spiked arrests and detentions of Afghans in the country ( AFP via Getty Images )

President Donald Trumps efforts to arrest and deport tens of thousands of people in a radically scaled-up anti-immigration campaign has increasingly targeted Afghans  including people granted humanitarian protections to live and work in the U.S. after working alongside American troops during the war in Afghanistan.

Last year, the administration announced plans to strip temporary protections for roughly 11,700 Afghans who fled the country following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, which led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in the wake of the devastating years-long war.

Then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent [sic] them from returning to their home country.

The administration directed ICE to target hundreds of Afghans with pending removal orders after an Afghan national fatally shot a National Guard service member in Washington, D.C. last November.

Those efforts have seen a dramatic spike in the number of Afghans in ICE custody.

Under DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, DHS has been going full throttle on vetting illegal aliens who came in through Bidens fraudulent parole programs and working to get the criminals and public safety threats OUT of our country, a spokesperson told The Independent.

An Afghan man who fought with U.S. forces and was legally evacuated to the U.S. after the fall of Kabul died in ICE custody last month  less than 24 hours after he was arrested.

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, was preparing to drive his kids to school in the Dallas area when agents in unmarked vehicles allegedly surrounded him and arrested him in front of his children.

Paktyawal, 41, had worked for the American military during its occupation of Afghanistan before moving to the U.S. in 2021. Federal law enforcement accused him of defrauding a federal food aid benefits program, though his case hadnt been heard in court at the time of his death.

He was the father of six children, the youngest of them 18 months old.

His family is still searching for answers as to what led to his death.

Im nothing, just nothing without him, his brother told The Independent last month. He was everything for me. He was everything for his family, for my mom. For my entire family. They took everything from me, from his family, from those six kids and his wife.
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Fox News host Laura Ingraham has criticized Democrats for using profanity, but insists its different when President Donald Trump curses.

Ingraham mocked Democrats on The Ingraham Angle Thursday night for trying to be like Trump after The New York Times came out with a story about an uptick in members of the party using the F-word on social media.

A six-year analysis by the publication found Democratic politicians are more likely than their Republican colleagues to use the F-word in social media posts. Last January, there were 23 instances from 12 Democratic lawmakers where the F-bomb was dropped on X.

The worst F-word offender was Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, who used the F-word 77 times on X in the past six years. Gallegos spokesman declined to comment, telling The NYT he would just let his stats and history speak for itself.

open image in gallery Fox News host Laura Ingraham has criticized Democrats for using profanity but insists its different when President Donald Trump curses ( Fox News )

The Independent has reached out to Gallegos office for comment.

One stark example of the Democrats using profanity in public statements was California Governor Gavin Newsom attacking Fox News Sean Hannity on X in February.

Hannity had claimed Newsom Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him 'Like' Black Americans, in reference to a conversation the governor had with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. Newsom had told the mayor at an event for his book tour, Im like you. Im no better than you. Im a 960 SAT guy.

You didnt give a s*** about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations s***holes  but youre going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia? Spare me your fake f***ing outrage, Sean, Newsom replied.

open image in gallery Ingraham mocked Democrats on The Ingraham Angle Thursday night for trying to be like Trump after following an uptick in members of the party using the F-word ( Getty Images )

Ingraham asked on her show Thursday, If MAGA were truly on life support, why are so many Democrats trying to be like Trump?

Trump made a shocking, expletive-laden Truth Social post Easter Sunday, in an effort to pressure Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil passageway that Tehran has effectively closed during the war.

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! Trump wrote.

open image in gallery One stark example of the Democrats using profanity in public statements was California Governor Gavin Newsom attacking Fox News Sean Hannity on X in February ( Getty Images )

Ingraham defended the president, saying that although she didnt like the post, We now know the strategy behind that post. Simply put, the only way to get the attention of madmen is to sound like a madman.

In another post over the weekend, Trump said all Hell will reign down on Iran if they did not open the strait.

Just before Trumps Tuesday deadline was set to expire, he announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, in which they were expected to open the strait. On Thursday, he criticized Irans very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing oil through the strait.
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French President Emmanuel Macron has invited U.S. President Donald Trump to a sumptuous dinner at the ornate Palace of Versailles.

The invitation comes after a rocky few months for the world leaders, who have hit out at each other in recent days over the Iran war.

Macron has invited Trump to the palace the day after a G7 summit in mid-June, although it remains unclear if Trump will attend either event, sources said.

France is the host of this year's G7, with a leaders' summit in the lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains at the foot of the French Alps scheduled for June 15-17 - dates that Macron has already moved to accommodate a mixed martial arts event Trump is hosting at the White House on his 80th birthday on June 14.

open image in gallery A Trump no-show would be a major embarrassment for Macron and would cast a long shadow over the G7 ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Trump's relationship with many G7 members has grown increasingly strained over his war with Iran among other issues, notably in openly scathing comments regarding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's early March offer of military support.

He has also repeatedly lambasted NATO, of which all G7 members except Japan are part of, over its response to the conflict.

The sources said it was not yet clear if Trump would be at Evian-les-Bains let alone Versailles, to which they said none of the other G7 leaders have been invited.

A Trump no-show would be a major embarrassment for Macron and would cast a long shadow over the G7 at a time the U.S. administration is openly sceptical over the value of such multilateral get-togethers.

Macron's invitation to Trump is for a pomp-filled event at Versailles, a gilded 17th-century palace built outside Paris by Louis XIV, that would capitalise on the two nations' shared history ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4, two sources said.

open image in gallery Sources said it was not yet clear if Trump would be at Evian-les-Bains let alone Versailles, to which they said none of the other G7 leaders have been invited ( AFP via Getty Images )

A senior White House official confirmed the invitation, saying, "(Macron) really wants him (Trump) to go, begging him to go." But the official added that Trump has yet to even decide on attending the G7.

Macron's office declined to comment on the Versailles invitation.

A French official familiar with the planning, which is still at an early stage, said Macron might host Trump for a bilateral visit around the G7 summit, as he might any of the invited leaders.

"The format of this reception is not finalised. The visit remains to be confirmed," the official said.
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The mayor of Mooresville, North Carolina, has refused to resign despite suffering a 4-2 no confidence vote over an incident in which he was caught on video roaming the town hall without pants in the company of a female staffer.

Republican Chris Carney was defiant after the Mooresville Board of Commissioners heard a presentation Monday alleging he had violated its code of ethics and ultimately found against him.

Youve got to remember, this was in 2024, he said. Its been so long ago, and obviously, as I tell people, I was fighting through a lot of stuff at the time.

open image in gallery Mayor Carney has refused to resign and blamed the incident on his mixing of alcohol with anxiety medication ( WBTV )

At the end of the day, each person is just trying to survive on their own political merit. I know this has been a lot, and although we keep saying lets let the truth come out in the lawsuits, theyve had to answer some questions. Im sure theyre tired of it.

The events that brought Carney to his present embarrassment took place on October 10 2024, when he pitched up at the town hall after midnight with a woman he had hired as a communications consultant at taxpayers expense, according to WBTV.

When the duo accidentally set off motion detectors twice, local police officers arrived to investigate the disturbance.

The network subsequently asked Carney precisely what had taken place, which he answered by blaming a mixture of alcohol and anxiety medication for his wayward decision-making, explaining that he had been taken ill after dining with colleagues at a local restaurant and that the woman involved had been assisting him.

WBTV subsequently attempted to acquire the surveillance footage from that night, but its request was rebuffed, prompting it to sue for access in June 2025.

Then, this January, former town hall IT employee Jeff Noble revived the story by launching his own lawsuit, alleging that he had been retaliated against for his handling of the video, which he said revealed Carney walking around without his pants.

You can see the mayor on at least a couple of different occasions, without wearing pants, which is a very big issue. Thats unethical, Noble said, later amending his initial complaint to include the allegation that Carneys female companion was also partially undressed.

open image in gallery Mooresville Town Hall in North Carolina, where pants are a must ( Getty )

A third lawsuit was launched last month, this time by ex-IT director Chris Lee, who accused his former town hall employers of pressuring him to delete or suppress the video.

Lee said the couple could be seen entering Carneys office for an extended period. And then after midnight again, you see back and forth to the bathroom a couple times, and then eventually you know, I did see him come out  and there was no clothing whatsoever on there. And you can very directly see that, he said.

Lee further claimed that Carney was visibly in a state of arousal at one stage and said the mayors version of events does not line up at all.

At Mondays meeting, calls for the official to resign were met with applause from residents. Before recusing himself, Carney acknowledged that the incident had shown him in a poor light and apologized for its impact on the community.

The conduct and the choices made by the mayor that particular evening were not in keeping with the expected conduct of the mayors office, said Commissioner Gary West.

open image in gallery Mooresville Commissioner Dana Tucker, who said Mayor Carney could yet be forced out of office, despite his dogged refusal to resign ( WBTV )

I am concerned that public confidence in the board and the mayor is not high right now, Commissioner Dana Tucker added.

There is a perception that the fabric of trust has not just been torn, but it is shredded and tattered. That is the problem we wrestle with.

Carney still has 19 months of his term to serve and cannot be disqualified or recalled because of the censure, but Tucker said the board could yet force him out.

Before his brush with infamy, Carney served in the U.S. Navy from 1991 to 1999, was first elected to the town commission in 2005, and appointed mayor pro tem in 2009, according to The Charlotte Observer.

From 2011 to 2013, he served as his states senator after incumbent James Forrester died in office, and later returned to local politics by running for mayor in 2023.

Carney has said he does not plan to fight for re-election but is proud of his legislative legacy.
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Stephanie Grisham, first lady Melania Trumps former chief of staff, told CNN on Thursday that she believes President Donald Trump was lying when he said he did not know his wife would give an address discussing Jeffrey Epstein.

Im gonna say, I call BS on our president saying he knew nothing about it, because at the very least I imagine [Melania Trump] would have given him a heads up if she had sent an advisory out yesterday, Grisham said on CNNs The Lead.

On Thursday, the first lady gave a White House address denying that she had any connections to Epstein and insisting that any claims to the contrary "need to end today."

Melania Trump said that she was not a victim of Epstein and said they only briefly "crossed paths" in 2000 but noted that they had overlapping social circles.

She also called for Congress to allow the Epstein survivors to testify.

open image in gallery First lady Melania Trumps former chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, said President Donald Trumps claim that he was unaware his wife would talk about Epstein was BS ( Getty )

The announcement caught reporters and the public off-guard and led to speculation that the first lady was trying to get ahead of an upcoming story. The president was apparently unaware that she'd speak on Epstein, telling MS NOW reporter Jacqueline Alemany that he did not know the topic of her address ahead of time.

It was that statement that Grisham claimed was "BS."

She also said the first lady's remarks were likely not off-the-cuff, claiming shes typically very strategic in her communications.

"Melania Trump thinks about everything she does, and she thinks about it for a very long time, and she does things very strategically. She knew full well that walking out there into the White House residence, behind that podium like that, would make absolute waves, Grisham said. And so she chose this time  again, I don't know why... But she chose this very specifically and she definitely thought on it for a few days.

Grisham said she had no idea why Melania Trump chose Thursday to make her statement.

I dont know why, she said. Perhaps again, its a story, or she just got an inquiry, or she saw something obscure that nobody else did see. And it just made her upset.

open image in gallery Former White House Press Secretary and aide to First Lady Melania Trump, Stephanie Grisham, said she had no idea why the first lady discussed her connection to Jeffrey Epstein during a Thursday White House address ( AFP via Getty Images )

When asked if Trump could have stopped the first lady from speaking out even if he'd wanted to, Grisham said "absolutely not."

"She's a very strong, very independent woman," Grisham said.

Documents show the first lady emailing Maxwell in 2002 in a message signed Love, Melania.

Her message cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence, according to the first lady.

The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today, she said Thursday.

The first lady's current adviser, Marc Beckman, said the public needs to "refocus" away from Epstein and instead focus on Melania Trump's accomplishments.

"First, enough is enough," Beckman said during a Friday episode of Fox & Friends. "This has been ongoing, and it's time for the public to refocus their attention on what achievements our first lady has done."

He continued, saying the first lady has been "helping people over and over again."

"Americans are benefiting from her efforts, people in the foster care community, people from an educational perspective. Her achievements have been so wide," he said.

Whether its international, with the Russian and Ukrainian reunifications and beyond, and we want to focus the attention on her good work and what she's accomplished as first lady."

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.
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Melania Trump dropped the political equivalent of a tactical nuke on Thursday when she denied any affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein, the now-dead convicted sex offender.

The first lady was likely trying to provide cover for the friendly email that came to light between her and Epsteins accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. But then she took it a step further: she called on Congress to hold a public hearing with Epsteins survivors.

That earned her the praise of Marjorie Taylor Greene, who quit Congress after a falling out with the president over the very same Epstein files.

I am grateful to the First Lady for her brave statement today about Epstein and his victims, the former Georgia congresswoman wrote on X, while agreeing with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that the Department of Justice must still prosecute men who had any role in Epsteins crimes.

The first ladys seemingly rogue action Thursday stands in stark contrast to those of her husband and his White House.

open image in gallery Many of President Donald Trumps critics praised First Lady Melania Trumps remarks. ( AP )

Last week, the president sacked Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom both Democrats and Republicans believed had botched the investigation. And Bondis interim replacement, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, said no more files will be released. Then, the Department of Justice said that Bondi would not testify before the House Oversight Committee despite a subpoena.

But Melania Trumps words create a conundrum: It's long been a trope, even among some of the president's fans like Joe Rogan, that Trump went to war with Iran to distract from Epstein. But the first lady has given ammunition to Democrats and a permission structure for Republicans to support Epstein survivors.

That poses a real challenge for House Speaker Mike Johnson: will he go against the first lady and hide behind the president to deny survivors a hearing ? Or does this allow him to side with both Epstein survivors while saying he supports the White House.

Almost immediately, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, praised Melania Trumps remarks. He also put the onus on Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.).

We agree with First Lady Melania Trumps call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, Garcia said in a statement. We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the First Ladys request and schedule a public hearing immediately.

So too, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a rape survivor, thanked the presidents wife.

open image in gallery Rep. Nancy Mace, a rape survivor (pictured speaking after the March deposition of former President Bill Clinton), thanked Melania Trump for her call on Congress to go after Jeffrey Epstein enablers and co-conspirators. ( AFP/Getty )

As a survivor, I will never stop fighting to expose the truth or let powerful people silence victims, she said. Thank you for standing up for survivors and demanding transparency.

Melania Trumps words give Mace some breathing room. Mace has morphed from being more moderate to MAGA. But she co-signed the Epstein discharge petition and joined Democrats on the House Oversight Committee to subpoena Bondi. That makes things messy as she runs for governor of South Carolina and seeks the presidents endorsement.

And Esptein survivor Lisa Phillips sounded optimistic after the remarks.

"The opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress is a to me, is a huge thing," Phillips told The Independent. "Like she has power to make that happen. I don't know why, or if it's a trap or whatever it is, but she's coming off like she's on our side.

open image in gallery Lisa Phillips, a Jeffrey Epstein survivor, said she is hopeful after the first lady's remarks. ( Getty )

Phillips contrasted the Melania Trumps words with those of Todd Blanche.

I feel like you know, when they fired Pam Bondi and they brought in Todd Blanche, we're not gonna get anywhere with that guy, she said.

This all puts Johnson, Comer and the rest of House GOP leadership in a tight spot. All of them would rather move on from the Epstein investigation, as the president has called on them to do.

They are currently pushing for another reconciliation bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Johnson and other Republicans want to boost military spending to replenish military stockpiles that the war in Iran depleted.

But the first lady just handed Democrats and a handful of rambunctious Republicans a live grenade to force the issue and have testimony from survivors.

Now, Democrats could block Oversight proceedings with the help of Mace and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who also signed the discharge petition, and other Republicans like Rep. Scott Perry (R-Penn.), who voted to subpoena Bondi and faces a tough re-election. And a public hearing with Epstein survivors would divert from Republican leadership talking about their preferred policies.

Melania Trump might have believed she was closing the book on the Epstein investigation, and her role, if any, in it. But by denying any connection to Epstein and Maxwell, she may have opened a whole new chapter in the probe.
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Media analysts have been left stunned over first lady Melania Trumps surprise press conference, where she denied any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and breathed new life into the story.

Pundits were still scratching their heads Friday morning over what could have prompted Thursdays extraordinary White House press conference, where the first lady called on Congress to invite survivors to give testimony and denied knowledge of Epsteins abuse of young women and girls.

The first lady, who has been pictured with Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in the past, said she never had a relationship with the pair, and that she was invited to the same parties as them from time to time in New York City and Palm Beach.

The idea that she did not know him and that she had no relation it was just beyond bizarre, MS NOWs Joe Scarborough reacted on Fridays Morning Joe.

open image in gallery Media analysts have been left stunned over Melania Trumps surprise White House press conference, where she denied any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ( Getty Images )

And all of the reporting is that the people that were in the White House briefing room yesterday was absolutely stunned, he continued. And stunned, in part, that it came out of nowhere, and secondly, that she would actually pretend that she didnt know who he was or that she had no relationship with him, or they had no close relationship with him.

Scarborough and co-host Mika Brzezinski discussed an email from the first lady to Maxwell in 2002 that was signed, Love, Melania, which Melania Trump said cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence.

That is quite casual, Scarborough said. Actually, its not. Doesnt sound casual. And again, everybodys waiting for another shoe to drop. I dont know if it will or not, but again, the timing of that was so strange

On MSNOWs The 11th Hour, Stephanie Ruhle appeared incredulous Thursday night after rolling a clip from the first ladys statement. Weird, right? The first lady went on to call on Congress to hold hearings where Epstein survivors can share their stories on the congressional record, she said. Like, WHAT?

The outlet earlier reported that President Donald Trump said he was not aware of the first ladys statement ahead of time, while a White House official said many staffers were caught off guard.

The timing of the first ladys statement has baffled correspondents. As the first lady finished her statement, reporters shouted after her, Why now?!

open image in gallery MS NOWs Joe Scarborough said the press conference was beyond bizarre as pundits were scrambling to. make sense of the timing of the first ladys statement ( MSNOW )

Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich was also among those trying to make sense of the first ladys comments.

Weve been trying to understand why she made it today, if there was something that she is reacting to that might already be in the news that has upset her, or if theres a story thats yet to come out, thats about to drop that she wanted to get ahead of, Heinrich said Thursday, adding that it did feel like it came out of left field for us.

She continued, saying that she and others at the network are still trying to figure out why she made this statement today.

Ive called every contact in my phone, including the president, and not gotten any answers, she said.

Marc Beckman, who serves as a senior adviser to the first lady, told the New York Post that she spoke out now because enough is enough.

Beckman said that the lies about the first ladys relationship with Epstein and Maxwell must stop.

It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as first lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation, he said.

The first ladys remarks follow the release of millions of documents stemming from federal investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking, while the Department of Justice and Trump administration officials endure parallel investigations from members of Congress into the governments handling of the probes.

Under legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump last November, the Justice Department was ordered to publicly release all files connected to investigations into Epstein by December 19.

The Justice Department has since published millions of documents and images connected to the predator, despite missing deadlines for the full disclosure of all materials in the possession of federal law enforcement, which has developed into a political liability for the president and his allies.

Alex Woodward contributed to this report
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A federal judge has once again found the Defense Department in violation of a court order, this time for attempting to circumvent a ruling that restored press access to the Pentagon.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sided with The New York Times, asserting that the Pentagons new policy, which mandates escorts for all reporters within the building, is an unlawful evasion of his earlier decision.

Earlier this month, Judge Friedman ruled that the Pentagons credential policy infringed upon journalists constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

He reiterated his stance, stating, "The department simply cannot reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking new action and expect the court to look the other way." The judge had previously ordered the reinstatement of press credentials for seven Times reporters, clarifying that his decision applied broadly to "all regulated parties."

The Pentagon building serves as the headquarters for U.S. military operations ( AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson )

Pentagon officials didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The Pentagon building serves as the headquarters for U.S. military operations.

A dispute brewing since October

In October, reporters from mainstream news outlets walked out of the building rather than agree to the new rules. The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December to challenge the policy.

Times attorneys accused the Pentagon of violating the judges March 20 order, both in letter and spirit with its revised policy. The newspaper said that Pentagon was also trying to impose unprecedented rules dictating when reporters can offer anonymity to sources.

Friedman said that the access the Pentagon made available to permit holders is not even close to as meaningful as the broad access they previously had.

Government lawyers said the Pentagons revised policy fully complies with the judges directives. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell has said the administration would appeal Friedmans March 20 decision.

The Pentagon Press Association, which includes AP reporters, said the Pentagons interim policy preserves provisions that Friedman deemed to be unconstitutional while also adding new restrictions on credential holders.

In effect, Plaintiffs ask this Court to expand the Order to prohibit the Department from ever addressing the security of the Pentagon through a press credentialing policy with conditions that may address similar topics or concerns as the enjoined conditions. The Order does not say that, and this Court should not read it to say that, Justice Department attorneys wrote.

Current Pentagon press corps agreed to policy

The current Pentagon press corps is comprised mostly of conservative outlets that agreed to the policy. Journalists from outlets that refused to consent to the new rules, including from The Associated Press, have continued reporting on the military from outside the Pentagon.

Friedman, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, said recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela and Iran underscore the need for public access to information about government activities.

Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nations security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech. That principle has preserved the nations security for almost 250 years. It must not be abandoned now, the judge wrote.

Friedman said the challenged policy is clearly designed to weed out disfavored journalists and replace them with those who are on board and willing to serve the administration.

That," he wrote, is viewpoint discrimination, full stop.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche plans to move into Pam Bondis old office in the coming days, according to a new report.

President Donald Trump fired Bondi last week and announced that her deputy, Blanche, would become the acting attorney general. Now, hes planning on moving into her old fifth-floor office at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Monday, CNN reports, citing a memo Blanche sent to employees at the deputy attorney generals office.

In a separate memo to staff reviewed by CNN, Blanche thanked Bondi for her friendship, service, and selfless dedication to our department and country. He also said the Department of Justices mission remains the same today as it was yesterday.

President Trump has promised a safe America and will continue to deliver on that promise, he added.

Trump announced Bondis departure in a Truth Social post on April 2, and said shed be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector. At the same time, he announced that Blanche, his former personal criminal defense attorney, would be stepping in to serve as the acting attorney general.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche plans to move into Pam Bondis old office next week, according to a new report ( AFP/Getty )

The president fired Bondi after privately expressing frustrations about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and her failed attempts to prosecute his perceived political foes,The New York Times reported last week. The announcement came about a month after Trump fired Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary.

It was also announced Wednesday that Bondi will not attend a previously scheduled House Oversight Committee deposition related to the Justice Departments investigation into Epstein.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Blanche told reporters itd be an honor to be nominated to permanently replace Bondi.

If President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, that's an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, that's an honor, he told reporters.

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, he continued.

Earlier in the press conference, Blanche claimed that nobody has any idea why the attorney general is no longer the attorney general ... except for President Trump. When asked to elaborate, he said, I dont operate every day trying to second-guess what President Trump or anybody else is thinking.

He later added: I grow tired of people in the media saying why President Trump did or did not do something, because President Trumps the only one that knows that.
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The top Democrat on a key congressional oversight committee is calling on the White House physician to immediately perform a comprehensive cognitive assessment of Donald Trump following the presidents threats to destroy Iranian civilization.

In his letter, Rep. Jamie Raskin urged White House Physician Captain Sean Barbabella to share the results with members of Congress, citing what the congressman called warning signs that the president has been exhibiting signs consistent with dementia and cognitive decline with outbursts and statements that have turned increasingly incoherent, volatile, profane, deranged, and threatening.

His apparently deteriorating condition has caused tremendous alarm across the nation (and political spectrum) about the presidents cognitive function and continuing mental fitness for the office of president, and prompted concerns about the presidents wellbeing, Raskin wrote.

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee pointed to the presidents profane Easter threats to Iran, in which he demanded the country open the f***** Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell. The following day, the president said a whole civilization will die tonight if the regime did not agree to a conditional ceasefire in the U.S. war.

The congressman also pointed to the presidents remarks at an Easter event at the White House, where he delivered a disjointed and graphic account of military operations  including bombing missions and hostage rescues  to an audience of young children.

open image in gallery The top Democrat on a key congressional oversight committee is urging the White House to immediately perform a cognitive exam of President Donald Trump and share the results with Congress ( AP )

Raskins letter on Friday follows a week of bipartisan scrutiny into Trumps mental state, including from prominent right-wing figures who supported the presidents campaign, with demands from Democratic lawmakers and some former Trump allies for the administration to invoke the 25th Amendment and declare him unfit for office.

The White House, which routinely alleges former President Joe Biden experienced significant mental decline, does not appear to be moved by Raskins letter.

A spokesman hailed the 79-year-old presidents sharpness and unmatched energy.

Lightweight Jamie Raskin is a stupid persons idea of a smart person, White House spokesman Davis Ingle told The Independent.

President Trumps sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the past four years when Democrats like Raskin covered up Joe Bidens serious mental and physical decline from the American people, he said.

Democrats have similarly accused the White House of hiding Trumps alleged decline after the president, the oldest American to be sworn into the executive office, faced a series of health conditions that raised questions about his overall health.

Trump frequently praises his performance on a cognitive health exam designed to detect mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimers.

Im the only president that ever took a cognitive test. I took it three times. Its actually a very hard test for a lot of people. It wasnt hard for me. But its a cognitive test, he brought up in the middle of a Cabinet meeting last month.

It starts off with an easy question. And by the time you get to the middle, it gets tougher, he said. By the time you get to the end, very few people can answer those questions. They get very tough mathematical equations and things.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment consists of 30 questions such as identifying pictures of animals and drawing a clock.

The president has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a fairly common condition among older adults that can cause swelling in the legs, and has also routinely sported a bruised hand, typically covered in unblended concealer makeup.

Barbabella said in a memo last year that the president is in excellent health.

open image in gallery Rep. Jamie Raskin warned that the president has been exhibiting signs consistent with dementia and cognitive decline ( 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. More than 80 Democratic members of Congress this week publicly urged Trumps Cabinet to consider invoking it.

In a letter to Vice President JD Vance this week, Rep. Jasmine Crocket claimed 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.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, formerly one of the presidents biggest champions in Congress, said, more bluntly, that Trump has gone insane.

That is a medical judgment that I am not qualified to make, but I understand what Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene is talking about, Raskin wrote.

Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting from Washington, D.C.
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President Donald Trump was on the brink of firing Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence. But then Roger Stone, one of his longtime allies, intervened, according to a new report.

The president had grown frustrated with Gabbard after her March 18 congressional testimony, during which she stopped short of fully endorsing war with Iran, sources told Axios.

A day earlier, Joe Kent  Gabbards counterterrorism director and former chief of staff  resigned from his post in opposition to the war and claimed Trump had been duped into launching the attacks.

Soon afterwards, Trump scolded Gabbard and raised doubts about her loyalty, two sources said. Others downplayed his remarks, describing them as friendly and sarcastic.

Trump subsequently began asking his advisers whether he should replace Gabbard, The Guardian reported.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump was on the cusp of firing Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence, but then Roger Stone stepped in, according to a new report ( Getty )

Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, had previously spoken out forcefully against U.S. military intervention abroad. When she ran for president in 2020, her campaign sold No War With Iran t-shirts.

When polled by Trump, Cabinet officials were supportive of the director of national intelligence, but it was Stone  a longtime GOP strategist and close friend of Trump  who tipped the balance.

Roger sealed the deal. He saved Tulsi," a source told Axios. Stone reportedly gave Trump four reasons to keep Gabbard in the role including that she was loyal, had no intention of resigning and that firing her would trigger a media firestorm.

In the past six weeks, Trump has fired two Cabinet officials: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Stone, who began his political career working on Richard Nixons campaign, declined to comment when reached by Axios. But in a Thursday post on X, he confirmed he had stepped in on Gabbards behalf. Fortunately, I acted in time, he wrote.

open image in gallery 'Roger sealed the deal. He saved Tulsi,' a source told Axios . Here, Stone is seen speaking at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference in Arizona in December ( AFP via Getty Images )

Stone said that Laura Loomer, a farright political activist with close ties to the president, had tried to persuade Trump that Gabbard was on the verge of resigning, in an apparent effort to get her preemptively fired.

Stone and Loomer have since engaged in an expletive-laden, back-and-forth squabble on social media.

The only reason she wasnt fired is because of the way it would look ahead of the midterms, Loomer wrote on X. She described Gabbards behavior as despicable, claiming she refused to condemn Joe Kents lies and his efforts to smear President Trump.

Of course Roger is going to protect Tulsi if he has a financial interest to do so if hes running her 2028 Presidential campaign or advising on it, Loomer added.

Stone responded that he has no financial ties to Gabbard and that he would likely support Vice President JD Vance in 2028.

You can't stand the fact that I beat your ass, Stone wrote to Loomer.

Spokespeople for the Trump administration dismissed the apparent internal discord surrounding Gabbard.

A National Intelligence spokesperson told Axios that Gabbard "remains committed to fulfilling the responsibilities the President placed in her. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump believes Tulsi Gabbard is doing an excellent job on behalf of the administration.

The White House referred The Independent to Leavitts statement. The Independent has contacted Gabbard.

The spat between Stone and Loomer reflects a broader divide among highprofile members of the MAGA coalition over the Iran war.

A number of influential right-wing media figures  including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Alex Jones  have publicly spoken out against the conflict. Carlson called it disgusting and evil and implored U.S. officials to thwart attempts by Trump to launch large-scale attacks that would harm Iranian civilians.

Loomer, meanwhile, has urged Trump to ramp up his attacks, calling for him to wipe out the Iranian regime. Other right-wing personalities, including Fox News Sean Hannity and Ben Shapiro, have stood in support of the war.

Recent polls show most Americans are opposed to the Middle East conflict. According to a YouGov survey released earlier this week, 53 percent of Americans are against the Iran war, while 34 percent are in favor of it.
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President Donald Trump is reportedly relocating U.S. naval ships and filling them with "the best ammunition" in order to resume strikes on Iran if ceasefire negotiations fail.

The president told The New York Post that he would have a better idea of his next steps sometime in the next day.

Were going to find out in about 24 hours. Were going to know soon, Trump told the outlet ahead of peace talks in Islamabad this weekend.

Vice President JD Vance will join special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to conduct peace negotiations with Iran that aim to bring hostilities between Washington and Tehran to an end.

If those talks fail Trump seems poised to reignite the conflict.

open image in gallery The Navy's USS Tripoli (LHA-7) amphibious assault ship has been sent to the Arabian Sea as part of Operation Epic Fury ( AFP/Getty )

We have a reset going. Were loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made  even better than what we did previously, and we blew them apart, Trump told the outlet Friday. But were loading up the ships. Were loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made, even at a higher level than we used to do a complete decimation."

He promised that if a deal isn't reached, "we will be using [the weapons] very effectively."

Vance and the U.S. cohort are expected to meet in Pakistans capital with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the speaker of the nation's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Prior to the war, Araghchi was a hardline proponent of Iran's right to enrich uranium.

Trump told The New York Post he was concerned about dishonesty during the negotiations.

Youre dealing against people that we dont know whether or not they tell the truth, he told the outlet. To our face, theyre getting rid of all nuclear weapons, everythings gone. And then they go out to the press and say, No, wed like to enrich. So well find out.

Trump was more candid on his Truth Social page, where he insisted that the Iranians were only alive because he wants to negotiate.

open image in gallery Vice President JD Vance speaking to the press before traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, to participate in peace talks with Iranian leaders ( AP )

The Iranians dont seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways, he said on Friday. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!

Vance had a less violent outlook on the upcoming negotiations, saying Friday that he is "looking forward to negotiation" and that he believes "it's going to be positive."

Even still, he warned that if the Iranians are "going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive."

Iran is still tolling ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that Trump called "dishonorable" in light of the ceasefire agreement.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said on Thursday. "There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait -- They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!"

On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump wants the strait open immediately, without limitation.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.
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Lawyers for Donald Trumps administration claim that the federal judges order blocking construction of a $400 million White House ballroom gravely threatens national security and that upgrades to the now-demolished East Wing are not cosmetic.

The governments latest appeal says lawyers for the administration are preparing to take the fight to the Supreme Court.

In a filing with a D.C. appeals court, the government lists several additions to the planned 90,000-square-foot structure, including missile-resistant steel columns, beams, drone-proof roofing materials, and bullet, ballistic, and blast proof glass windows.

There will be bomb shelters, hospital and medical facilities, protective partitioning, and top-secret military installations, air conditioning, heating, venting, and more, according to Thursday nights filing from Department of Justice attorneys.

Those updates, they argue, replace a dilapidated, infested and structurally unsound East Wing that was bulldozed last year.

open image in gallery Lawyers say the East Wing was demolished because it was infested and dilapidated as they outline plans for missile-resistant steel columns, beams, drone-proof roofing material and other upgrades ( AP )

The additions are essential to protecting the president, his family, and his staff, as well as the White House itself, and the entire project flows from them, according to the Justice Department.

Demolition of the East Wing destroyed the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a bunker-like underground shelter and communications complex.

Its unclear why the facility was destroyed along with the above-ground structure, or why the president needs additional fortification for one of the most protected buildings in the world. The White House already has bulletproof windows and anti-aircraft systems, and there are strict flight rules around the property.

Its also unclear what infested the East Wing that demanded the demolition of the entire structure rather than extermination.

Mice, cockroaches and ants were present in the West Wing in 2017, according to requests for repairs filed with the General Services Administration.

White House officials called for maintenance workers to respond to reports of mice in the mess food service area and in the Situation Room, there were at least four reported cockroach infestations, and ants were reported inside the White House chief of staffs office, according to the documents.

open image in gallery Demolition of the East Wing began in 2025 as Trump outlined plans for a massive ballroom structure that dwarfs the White House ( AP )

In a colorful, exclamation-point filled order last month, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said the president is the steward of the White House but he is not, however, the owner!

Any construction requires congressional authorization, regardless of whether the president plans to use private or public dollars to fund his plans, according to Leon.

Congress is the collective voice of the American people in our system of government  and the Constitution itself vests authority over federal property, including the White House, in Congress! wrote Leon, an appointee of Republican president George W. Bush.

After all, the White House does not belong to any one man  not even a president! he added. Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!

open image in gallery A federal judge blocked construction, arguing the project needs congressional authorization. The administration appealed, arguing that the project  which includes a ballroom and new bunker-like shelter  is critical to the nations defense ( AP )

The judges order arrived before a meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency tasked with approving construction on federal property in the nations capital. The panel, which received a massive outpouring of negative public comments on the project, swiftly approved the plans.

But congressional approval doesnt seem to be in the cards. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have not publicly stated whether lawmakers will bring up legislation, and neither have any leaders of relevant congressional committees that would have to wrangle with the issue if it landed on their plates.

The Trump administration is now asking the appeals court to block Judge Leons order from taking effect for another two weeks so the government can prepare to take its request to the Supreme Court.

In court filings this week, the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, which sued the administration to stop further demolition, said the governments purported emergency reasons for its appeal remains unclear.

Defendants appear to contend that being prevented from illegally constructing a massive ballroom constitutes a national security emergency. It plainly does not, lawyers for the group wrote.

The District Courts injunction does not prevent Defendants from working on the underground bunker their motion exhaustively describes; indeed, the Trust has never objected to that, the filing states.

The Courts injunction simply prevents Defendants from constructing the ballroom without Congresss specific and express approval, attorneys wrote. And as is obvious, the absence of a massive ballroom on White House grounds has not stopped this (or any other) President from residing at the White House or hosting events there. Temporarily halting the ballroom project until it complies with the law will not irreparably harm Defendants or the nation.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.
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A Vatican official appears to have downplayed a recent report describing a contentious meeting between U.S. defense officials and Cardinal Christophe Pierre.

Pierre, a Vatican diplomat, met with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby at the Pentagon in January. Earlier this week, The Free Press reported that U.S. officials used the meeting to criticize a speech Pope Leo XIV gave earlier that month, and were interpreting his remarks as attacking President Donald Trump's policies.

The Defense Department has since called the outlets characterization highly exaggerated and distorted.

Now, a Vatican official has said the meeting was at times tense and aggressive, but there was no question of anyone threatening anyone, according to The Pillar, a news website that reports on the Catholic Church.

The conversation was also described as mutually forthright, with one official noting that Pierre was making himself heard too, The Pillar reported.

open image in gallery Cardinal Christophe Pierre met with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby in January ( Defense Department )

Leo, the first American-born Pontiff, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the conflict with Iran.

After Trump shared a Truth Social post threatening to destroy Iran's civilization earlier this week, Leo issued a statement calling his words "truly unacceptable."

The pope also shared a statement Friday warning that God does not bless any conflict. This comes just days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. strikes in Iran were carried out under the protection of divine providence.

The Free Press also reported that Leo, who is from Chicago, previously rejected an invitation to attend a White House celebration for Americas 250th anniversary. A Vatican official told the outlet he may well never visit the United States under this administration.

open image in gallery Pope Leo called Trumps threat to wipe out Iran civilization totally unacceptable ( AFP/Getty )

When reached for comment, a Defense Department official called the January meeting respectful and reasonable.

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," the official told The Independent.

A senior Pentagon official described the meeting as very respectful and a frank exchange of ideas, according to The Pillar.

There were somewhat different perspectives, but definitely no hostility or even hint of an attempt at coercion. Thats frankly just absurd and a calumny, the official said.

Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, also said he and Pierre spoke Thursday.

As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are fabrications that were just invented, Burch wrote on X.

The Independent has contacted the Holy See for comment.
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Irelands Defence Forces have been placed on standby as nationwide fuel protests, now in their fourth day, continue to cause significant disruption and threaten critical supplies across the country.

The militarys potential involvement comes as blockades outside major fuel depots intensify, prompting a government shift towards an enforcement phase in response to the escalating crisis.

The protests stem from soaring petrol and diesel prices, which have reached approximately 193.9 cents and 218.9 cents respectively at filling stations. Demonstrators, primarily professional drivers, farmers, and hauliers, attribute the sharp price hikes to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on supplies from the Strait of Hormuz.

They argue that without immediate government intervention, their businesses and livelihoods are at severe risk.

open image in gallery People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublins M50 Northbound ( PA )

Organised largely through social media channels and messaging apps, the movement has proven difficult to attribute to specific leaders. A Facebook page with almost 60,000 followers claims to represent professional drivers, farmers, hauliers, as well as taxi and bus operators.

Participants have often been reluctant to identify organisers, though several spokespeople have emerged, frequently under the proviso that they hold little influence over the actions of their fellow demonstrators in Dublin or other locations.

Justice minister Jim OCallaghan, however, suggested on Thursday that outside actors seeking political gain or aiming to damage our country might be manipulating protesters. Notably, government-recognised bodies like the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association are not officially involved in the protest action.

Protesters are demanding significant reductions in fuel costs, proposing various solutions such as cuts to excise duty, carbon tax, or VAT. Others advocate for a cap on fuel prices for the duration of the Middle East conflict. A key demand is also for senior government figures to meet directly with representatives to hear their concerns, often presented as a prerequisite for lifting any blockade.

open image in gallery Vehicles take part on the third day of a National Fuel Protest against rising prices in OConnell St, Dublin ( PA )

The widespread action has led to significant disruption across Ireland. Major motorways have seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages. Dublins city centre experienced multiple gridlocks, with tractors blocking the busiest routes around the capitals main thoroughfare, OConnell Street.

Crucially, blockades have targeted the countrys only oil refinery at Whitegate, Co Cork, and fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick  sites collectively responsible for supplying roughly half of Irelands fuel, according to an industry expert. Protests have also occurred near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

The consequences have been severe and far-reaching: some filling stations have run dry, concerns have mounted over fuel availability for emergency services, and members of the public have missed scheduled medical appointments.

There are also worries about the timely delivery of essential medicines, water-treatment chemicals, and vital farm supplies such as animal feed. Traffic chaos on Dublins M50 ring road, which provides access to the countrys largest airport, even forced some passengers to walk with luggage on the hard shoulder.

The Irish government acknowledges the cost-of-living pressures linked to the Middle East conflict and insists protesters concerns have been heard. Two-and-a-half weeks ago, a 250m package was approved, including a temporary excise duty reduction of 17 cents for petrol, 22 cents for diesel, and five cents for green diesel, alongside an expansion of the diesel rebate scheme.

However, these savings were largely negated as the war waged on. Senior officials have appealed for an end to the protests, stating they have gone too far and are causing damage to the wider public.

open image in gallery Heavy traffic on Dublins M50 ( PA )

An Garda Siochana, the Irish police service, has been monitoring the situation and announced an enforcement phase. Taoiseach Micheal Martin described the Whitegate blockade as an act of national sabotage, leading to the Defence Forces being put on standby to assist in removing heavy vehicles from critical infrastructure.

Government leaders have so far declined direct meetings with protesters, preferring engagement with recognised representative bodies, a stance justice minister OCallaghan defended to avoid setting a precedent that anyone who blockades critical infrastructure could expect a meeting with the government.

Organising groups have pledged to continue protests on Friday, with intentions to resume action when Irelands parliament, the Dail, reconvenes on Tuesday, should the blockades not extend through the weekend.

An industry expert warns that the number of filling stations running dry is going to increase if longer blockades of the major fuel suppliers continue, thereby increasing pressure on government and State authorities to respond.

While ministers and An Garda Siochana have urged protesters to end blockades or face the full rigours of the law, demonstrators insist they will not move until their concerns are addressed, or they are forcibly dispersed, with gardai instructing demonstrators to disperse from a protest near Rosslare Europort late on Thursday. Representative organisations are scheduled to have a meeting with the government on Friday, with the possibility of protesters also attending if they are brought by official groups.
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Just a day after Donald Trump floated the idea of turning the Strait of Hormuz into a joint tollbooth to enrich the US and Iran, the British government revealed that a joint operation with Norway had been undertaken to protect Natos northern flank.

The move, combined with a visit this week by Keir Starmer to the Arabian Gulf, is the latest sign that even Europes Anglo-Saxons are pulling away from Washington. The UK and its allies are determined to defend the alliances and principles of international law that the US president and his deputy are keen to destroy.

John Healey, the defence secretary, revealed that a British frigate and spy planes had been involved in monitoring two Russian spy submarines and an attack sub as they surveyed undersea cables and pipelines in the High North, the strategically vital region encompassing the Arctic Circle and the North Atlantic.

Healey made it clear that Russia had taken the opportunity, as the focus shifted to the Middle East following Trump and Israels illegal attacks on Iran, to continue its hybrid war against Nato.

open image in gallery HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans with a Merlin helicopter tracking a Russian vessel ( MoD )

Frustrated by the refusal of members of the alliance to take part in the attacks on Iran, and (of many of them) to allow US forces to use bases on their territory to carry out these operations, Trump has repeated his threats to withdraw the US from the organisation altogether.

Russias operations in the Arctic are a threat to US national security. Irans military reach does not extend to the US, and it has never posed a danger, beyond allegedly sponsoring terrorist groups, to the American mainland.

Healey was pointed but diplomatic in his remarks about the latest Nato operation, which also involved a Norwegian frigate and aircraft. Operation Firecrest this year will see HMS Prince of Wales lead a carrier strike group into the High North.

In the last few weeks, while the eyes of many were trained on the Middle East, the UK, in partnership with Norway and other allies, has responded to increased Russian activity in the Atlantic north of the UK.

Our armed forces left them in no doubt that they were being monitored, that their movements were not covert, as President Putin planned, and that their attempted secret operation had been exposed.

open image in gallery Prime minister Keir Starmer visiting allies in the Gulf ( PA Wire )

Im making this statement to call out this Russian activity, and to President Putin, I say: We see you, we see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated, and will have serious consequences, he said at a press conference called in London on Thursday.

He added that the High North is no less vital to our UK security today than it was when the current conflict erupted in the Middle East.

The UK, said Healey, wants to see a ceasefire in the Middle East that includes an immediate end to fighting in Lebanon, which Israel has invaded and is bombing in an effort to destroy the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. Tehran has said that any ceasefire must also include Lebanon.

And in a further subtle sign that the UK would sidestep Trumps idea of a tollbooth shared with Iran as a moneyspinner in the Strait of Hormuz, he insisted that Britain would want to see international law upheld, and that Gulf countries agree that such a system would be dangerous.

It isnt actually doable... a compromise of that freedom of navigation of the seas, and the introduction of any sort of paper passage or tolls, would create a potential principle that could be used and abused by others elsewhere, he said.

open image in gallery A black plume of smoke rises from a warehouse in the industrial area of Sharjah City, UAE ( AP )

Americas Gulf allies have been rattled by Trumps joint attack with Israel, a country led by a prime minister facing indictment for crimes against humanity. Irans response has throttled oil exports and targeted their territory.

Starmers visit this week gives the UK an opportunity to offer a sympathetic ear, and some soft-power politics for a country that was the dominant colonial power in the region until the 1970s.

Meanwhile, the UK is driving a vocal effort to keep the focus of Nato, if not America, on where the threat to security in the North Atlantic really lies.

We recognise Russia as the primary threat to the UK and to Nato, and we will not take our eyes off Putin. At the same time, we act to protect our British interests and our British allies in the Middle East, Healey said.

Russia, he added, continues to supply intelligence to Iran, as well as training and drone technology used in attacks on the Gulf, on the US, and on other Nato members in the Middle East.

Trump has refused to address Vladimir Putins support for Iran at all since launching the conflict in February. But his deputy, JD Vance, has been in Hungary, explicitly violating diplomatic norms by openly backing Viktor Orbans candidacy in this weekends general elections.

Vance is an exponent of the racist great replacement conspiracy theory that Europe is being overrun by non-white immigrants and faces civilisational erasure.

open image in gallery JD Vance with Viktor Orban in Budapest this week ( AP )

The Trump administration has taken an explicit anti-European Union and anti-Ukrainian stand for the last year, backing Russias claims to territory in eastern Ukraine and cutting military aid to Kyiv.

In Hungary, Vance accused the EU of election tampering against the 16-year rule of Orban, who also backs Russia against the EU.

He said that cutting Russian oil and gas imports after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine was a mistake, and accused Kyiv, without evidence, of trying to interfere in US elections. The Kremlin has been shown to have done that, not Kyiv.

Healey made it clear, without naming either Trump or Vance, that they were looking in the wrong direction and were backing the wrong side.

He said that the UK would step up ... on European leadership within Nato. And that, in many ways, is exactly what were doing with this operation.

Were demonstrating and dealing, with our allies, [with the] threats to Natos northern flank, and reinforcing the deterrence and the defence of our Nato alliance with this operation, where the threats are greatest, which is from Russia and in the High North.

In short, the UK and its Nato allies are stepping up their Nato efforts to defend themselves  and to save America from itself.
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Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces shot down Shahed drones for the US and its allies in the Middle East after they launched a war against Iran, in a rare disclosure of Kyivs involvement in the conflict.

Mr Zelensky said the anti-drone operations were a part of a broader effort to help partners counter similar weapons as those used by Russia in Ukraine.

This marks the first public acknowledgement of Kyivs assistance to the US and its allies in the region. It comes days after the US and Iran reached a tentative ceasefire.

Ukrainian forces, Mr Zelensky said, took part in active operations using domestically produced, battle-tested interceptor drones.

He did not disclose which nations the operations were conducted in. This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defence system that can actually work, he said.

He claimed the Middle East nations opened up their defence systems to Ukrainian experts, who then advised them how to make them stronger.

We also shot down drones with jet engines. This is a very good signal, I think. We showed that this works. Now it is only a matter of time before we begin mass production of interceptors that will destroy drones with jet engines, Mr Zelensky said.

open image in gallery Rocket trails are seen in the sky during an Iranian missile attack on Israel ( AFP/Getty )

Earlier in March, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was assisting five Middle Eastern countries in countering Iranian drone attacks.

He claimed that the US and European countries had requested similar support, owing to Kyivs growing expertise in drone defence, acquired over more than four years of war against Russia attacks.

Ukraine says it is now a leading producer of cheap, effective, battle-tested drone interceptors, among a range of aerial defence systems, which are crucial to its defence against Russian attacks.

Ukraine reportedly deployed 228 drone and military defence specialists to the Middle East after the US and Israel attacked Iran, helping out countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.

In return, Ukraine sought agreements with the Gulf nations to bolster its energy stability.

We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our countrys resilience, Mr Zelensky said. This is far more than simply receiving money.

The Ukrainian leader made a surprise visit in late March to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar just as they were fighting off Iranian drone and missile attacks.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky met Qatars leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha ( AFP/Getty )

Mr Zelensky said Kyiv had locked 10-year agreements with the three countries. He was looking to build long-term strategic ties with the Gulf nations, including joint production, investment, energy cooperation, and the sharing of battlefield experience.

Ukrainian companies will work with the armed forces of these countries to protect specific facilities. My task is to negotiate volumes, services, and types of weaponry. Security talks are currently underway with Oman, and we are also in discussions with Kuwait and Bahrain  this is in addition to the countries we have already reached agreements with, which everyone has seen, he said on social media.

Mr Zelensky detailed the support Ukraine would receive in return. In some cases, it involves interceptors to protect our energy infrastructure, in others there are financial arrangements, he said. All of this will strengthen our energy stability  we have agreements in place for a year. There are also supplies of oil and diesel for Ukraine.

In some cases, we receive crude oil that will be delivered to refineries in Europe for processing. In others, we are talking about finished products  diesel, he added. So in essence, we are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our countrys resilience  and this is far more than simply receiving money.
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Ukraine has urged Russia to extend a ceasefire it announced for Orthodox Easter this weekend and restart talks to end the war, but civilians on the streets of Kyiv and Moscow doubt it would lead to lasting peace.

Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire starting on Saturday afternoon and running throughout Orthodox Easter until midnight on Sunday.

Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly proposed an Easter truce, quickly said Kyiv would abide by the measure, which Moscow had previously rejected as a PR stunt.

People need an Easter without threats and a real move towards peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to attacks even after Easter, Mr Zelensky said.

Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine was proposing that strikes should not resume after Easter, and he drew a parallel with the two-week ceasefire in the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

open image in gallery Metropolitan Epiphanius I, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, prepares to sprinkle holy water to bless Easter cakes at St Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv ( Reuters )

We believe that a ceasefire is the right strategy to advance diplomatic efforts  whether we are talking about the Middle East or Russian aggression against Ukraine, he said.

The Kremlin on Friday said the Easter truce was a temporary humanitarian measure, and it wanted a permanent peace deal, not a ceasefire, a demand that Ukraine has described as a delaying tactic. Previous such truces have been beset with violations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said a visit by Putin's special investment envoy to the US was economic and did not signal the resumption of peace talks; US sanctions waivers on Russian oil expire on Saturday.

Putin has said Russia would be willing to end hostilities if Ukraine hands over the remainder of the industrialised region of Donbas  roughly 2,317 square miles  that it has been unable to conquer more than four years since its full-scale invasion. Mr Zelensky has said that would betray Ukraine's defenders and that an aggressor should not dictate such terms.

Amid light snow and wintry weather in Kyiv on Friday morning, residents were sceptical that the truce would do anything to ease their situation. Many expressed hostility toward the Russian leader.

He can only make promises about some ceasefire. No one is going to hand over our land to him, said Yuliia, huddled beneath a thick overcoat as the temperature in Kyiv hovered just above freezing.

Several others noted violations of previous ceasefires, such as a 30-hour ceasefire Putin ordered at Easter last year.

Moscow residents expressed cautious optimism, but said they doubted the ceasefire would lead to a lasting peace.

So, they agreed to a ceasefire? Well, lets put it this way: God willing, thats how it will be, said Irina, a sales manager in Moscow. But so far, theres no real sense that things will improve anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky said on Friday that Ukrainian military personnel have shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war.

In his first public acknowledgement of the operations, he said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced, battle-tested interceptor drones.

This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defence system that can actually work, the Ukrainian leader said.

Mr Zelensky did not identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defence systems. He previously said 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.

In exchange, Ukraine is receiving weapons to protect its energy infrastructure, along with oil, diesel and, in some cases, financial arrangements, he said.

He added that the agreements would bolster Ukraine's energy stability and described the partnerships as something that would "be marketed" as Kyiv seeks to formalise and expand its defence export role.

We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our country's resilience, he said. This is far more than simply receiving money.

The disclosure comes amid concerns that conflict in the Middle East could divert Western military support from Ukraine, particularly air defence supplies.

But Mr Zelensky said that partners were continuing to supply missiles for Patriot systems, adding that a new batch had arrived in recent days and Ukraine was working with all partners to ensure its air defences remained in place.

Separately, Mr Zelensky said he expects Western allies to restore full sanctions on Russian oil, warning that any easing could allow Moscow to sustain its war effort and offload key energy assets.

Moscow has been profiting from a surge in global energy prices, brought on by damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf and Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for global oil supplies.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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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Donald Trump has discussed with his advisers the potential withdrawal of some American troops from Europe, a senior White House official says.

It follows the presidents dissatisfaction with what he perceives as a lack of action from Nato allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Iran war.

His frustration also stems from the unsuccessful attempt to purchase Greenland from Denmark, a Nato member state.

Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who met President Trump at the White House Wednesday, said that allies were initially "a bit slow" to provide assistance in Iran but are now offering significant support regarding basing and logistics.

Here is a look at how many U.S. troops there are in Europe, and where they are based.

US soldiers at a ceremony to mark troop rotation of the American units at Mihail Kogalniceanu Nato air-base near Constanta city, Romania ( Getty/iStock )

How many U.S. troops are there in Europe?

The United States had about 68,064 active-duty military personnel assigned permanently in its overseas bases in Europe as of December 2025, data from the U.S. Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) shows.

These do not include rotational forces sent on deployment and exercise missions.

The U.S. military is spread over 31 permanent bases and a further 19 military sites to which the Department of Defense has access as of March 2024, a Congress report shows.

What do U.S. troops in Europe focus on?

U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) oversees U.S. military operations across Europe, working with NATO allies through six component commands representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Special Operations Forces and the newly established Space Force.

These components are headquartered in Germany and Italy, and focus on crisis response and security cooperation across Europe and Africa.

Where in Europe are the most troops based?

The U.S. troops are stationed in more than a dozen European countries. Germany, Italy and Britain have the biggest presence of personnel. This list comprises some of the largest contingents.

Germany: The largest U.S. base in Europe is the air base near the German city of Ramstein, where the troops have been stationed since 1952. According to DMDC data, as of December 2025, 36,436 active service members were stationed in Germany, divided into five garrisons.

Britain: The U.S. forces in the United Kingdom comprised 10,156 service members as of December 2025, garrisoned in three bases, hosting mainly Air Force personnel.

Italy: U.S. military personnel have been stationed in Italy since the end of World War Two and comprise Army, Navy and Air Force divisions. DMDC data shows that Italy hosted 12,662 active-duty soldiers at the end of 2025 across bases in Vicenza, Aviano, Naples and Sicily.

Spain: The country hosts U.S. Navy and Air Force bases near the Strait of Gibraltar. DMDC data shows that as of December 2025, 3,814 personnel were permanently assigned to Spain.

Poland: Poland hosts 369 permanently assigned active-duty service members, as well as about 10,000 personnel of rotational forces funded through the European Deterrence Initiative, DMDC and Congressional Research Service data shows. The personnel are garrisoned across four bases with temporary U.S. access.

Romania: Similarly to Poland and other ex-communist bloc countries, Romania hosts a rotational presence of U.S. forces on top of 153 permanently assigned service members, according to DMDC and Congress Research Service. The bases to which the U.S. has access include Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Camp Turzii, and Deveselu.

Hungary: The U.S. conducts rotational deployments and exercise missions in Hungary. DMDC said in December that the country hosted 77 permanently assigned service members stationed in two bases, Kecskemet, and Papa Air.
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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As people across the world celebrated the news of the US and Irans ceasefire, Sara Roddis was devastated to learn that her family in Lebanon would still have no rest from Israels bombardment.

For the past month, Ms Roddis, from Coventry, has been ill with stress. Most of her immediate family is in the south of Lebanon, which has been regularly targeted by Israel.

Since hostilities broke out between Israel and Lebanon last month, she has been absolutely terrified that one of her loved ones will die. I cry every day, she told The Independent.

Donald Trump announced late on Tuesday that the US and Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire. But while Israel suspended attacks on Iran, it launched its largest strikes yet in Lebanon on Wednesday, which has caused hundreds of casualties, according to its health minister.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said the ceasefire would not include the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

open image in gallery Israel launched its largest attacks on Lebanon on Wednesday ( AP )

Although saddened, Ms Roddis said she was not surprised. There's just no mercy, there's no looking at civilians as civilians, there's no regard for international law, there's no morals. That's just how it feels, she said.

Hezbollah is an Iranian-backed militant group as well as a political party with lawmakers in the Lebanese government. It was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in 2019 over its attempts to destabilise activities in the Middle East.

In response to Israels invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the group formed as a guerrilla force fighting against Israels history of military incursions and invasions. Hezbollah is believed to have played a significant role in Israels decision to end its 18-year-long occupation in 2000.

In 2006, the group ambushed Israeli soldiers on the border, which sparked the month-long Lebanon war that caused mass displacement and widespread destruction. Hostilities further escalated in October 2023, when Hezbollah launched missile attacks against Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza.

In retaliation for the US and Israels invasion of Iran and the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February, Hezbollah launched rocket strikes against Israel on 2 March.

Since then, Israel has carried out heavy airstrikes on Lebanon, killing more than 1,500 people, including 130 children, while more than 1 million have been forced to flee their homes.

When you read a news report, it's very sanitised an attack happened here, in this area, this many people were killed, this many people were injured, she said.

But knowing what those streets look like, what those shops look like, who works there, what the children look like when they go to that school, knowing what that neighbourhood looks like, and then knowing what it looks like in the aftermath, and knowing who has been affected, it's heart-wrenching.

open image in gallery Sara Roddis has been sending money to her family ( Sara Roddis )

Her family lost their home and shop in the southern city of Tyre after an attack in 2024. With nowhere else to go, around 20 of her family members now share two rooms in student accommodation.

Although she regularly sends money to her family, she feels completely helpless.

Not many people can relate to the sheer horror and terror of having to constantly scan the news for reports of attacks that might have targeted your family, she said.

I follow a lot of Israeli politics. I want to know from the horse's mouth what they are saying, she said. I have to tell my family, You do know they are saying they're going to occupy permanently.

Theyve threatened to turn Beirut into Khan Younis, she said. We've seen it play out in Gaza.

The Israel Defence Forces said it was operating in Lebanon as part of the operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation which chose to launch attacks against the State of Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime.

Unlike Hezbollah, which operates from within civilian populations and exploits civilian infrastructure to conceal weapons and conduct terrorist activities, the IDF acts to protect the residents of Israel and minimise harm to civilians. Hezbollah continues to use civilians as human shields, deliberately endangering the lives of Lebanese residents and undermining regional stability.

open image in gallery Hayfaa Jawhar has been in the UK for 20 years ( Hayfaa Jawhar )

Lebanese expat Hayfaa Jawhar, whose mother and sister live near the Beirut suburbs, said it was disappointing that Lebanon was excluded from the ceasefire.

Ms Jawhar, who has been in the UK for 20 years, has been living in total fear since Israel began striking areas close to where her family lives. She is constantly checking reports and calling her family to make sure they are still alive.

Her 63-year-old mother had to leave her house because of the power of the rockets, the sounds, the voices, the fear of a missile hitting the wrong target.

Ms Jawhar, who lived in Lebanon in 2006, said: I've experienced firsthand what it is to live in the middle of rocks. The sounds alone are horrifying.

open image in gallery Displaced people wait to receive donated food after fleeing Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon ( AP )

She said Lebanese people were distraught, but not surprised, to learn there would be no solution on Tuesday. Lebanon was not really discussed that much, it was not on the negotiation table, she added.

We expect that things are going to remain as they are - assassinations, sudden threats, sudden bombing. It doesn't seem like anything is going to change. It's so disappointing.

Lebanese people, even people from the South, people who have to flee their villages every two months or three months, they're tired.

They are sick of the situation; they want a solution. They want to live peacefully. They want to go to their homes. They want to feel safe.
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Much of Nigeria has now been placed under a do not travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State.

Previously, 18 of the countrys states fell under this Level 4 warning, but on Wednesday, April 8, Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba states were added.

This means that Americans are now being told not to visit 23 of Nigeria's 36 states.

In addition, citing a deteriorating security situation, non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members were authorized to leave the U.S. embassy in the capital city of Abuja.

While the majority of Nigerias states now carry a Level 4 warning, the country as a whole, including business hub Lagos, remains at Level 3  reconsider travel.

open image in gallery The U.S. State Department said there is a 'deteriorating security situation' in Abuja, pictured ( Getty Images )

Crime, terrorism, and kidnapping, along with attacks by Islamist insurgents, are the main concerns in Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, the State Department said.

Violent crime is common throughout Nigeria. This includes armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage-taking, roadside banditry, and rape. Kidnappings for ransom happen often and Americans are perceived as wealthy and are often targets, the statement read.

The U.S. military has around 200 troops and several MQ-9 drones stationed in Nigeria to assist with the countrys struggles against militants, who carry out attacks mainly in the north of the country.

The Nigerian government, however, was keen to point out that the U.S. advice did not reflect the overall security situation.

open image in gallery Business hub Lagos still holds a Level 3 'reconsider travel' status ( Getty Images )

The information ministry said: While we acknowledge isolated security challenges in some areas, there is no general breakdown of law and order, and the vast majority of the country remains stable.

Between 80,000 and 120,000 Americans visit Nigeria every year, which is around five to 10 percent of total arrivals.

For travelers, the U.S. State Department divides countries into four categories, from Level 1 (safest) to Level 4 (most dangerous). Level 4 countries can be found across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and South America.

These nations are often war-torn and have extremely high levels of crime and terrorism. Whats more, they often lack U.S. embassies, and many insurance policies exclude coverage.
A new video showing the crew of Artemis II experiencing moon joy during their historic trip through space has been released by NASA as they return to earth.

The astronauts, including NASAs Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and the Canadian Space Agencys Jeremy Hansen were said to be in high spirits as they started their journey to Earth following a record-breaking slingshot around the Moon.

To mark the unique trip, NASA has released a video compilation showing some of the highlights of the trip which has enthralled the globe.
This is the moment robbers used sledgehammers to smash their way into a New Jersey jewelry store in a brazen, broad-daylight raid.

The attack on SD Jewelry in Perth Amboy occurred around 3pm Wednesday (8 April).

CCTV footage shows multiple masked people jumping out of a car before smashing the windows of the store. The mother and daughter who own the shop attempt to stop the crew from entering before rushing outside to safety. The thieves can be seen stuffing merchandise into garbage bags before fleeing.

There were no reported injuries. Police are still looking for the suspects.
As Zendaya, wearing a stylish black halterneck, and Sydney Sweeney, in a white mini-dress with flamboyant cape sleeves, attended the LA premiere of Euphorias third season this week, things looked far from euphoric.

The pair seemingly avoided each other on the red carpet, not posing in any photos together. Certainly, rumours have been swirling since last year that Zendaya, who plays Rue in the HBO show, has distanced herself from Sweeney for the latters Trump affiliation  and their latest frosty show has been interpreted as more of the same.

There is no doubt that the women dont see eye to eye as far as politics is concerned. Well, good for them, I say. Ive also battled with not being able to align myself to somebody elses political views because they cross all ones inner boundaries about what is right and decent. In my view, falling out is a small price to pay. The truth is, often it isn't really about politics at all  it's about holding on to a sense of oneself.

Of course, it is healthy to disagree over politics and to hear different perspectives. Arguments can strengthen relationships, and coming back from a fight shows tolerance and love. We need to listen to each others opinions respectfully, avoid personal attacks, try not to look upon the argument as a game to win, and focus on the topic at hand.

Or, you can simply freeze someone out. Whats wrong with that? Zendaya made her political stance clear when, during the 2020 election, she urged her followers on Instagram to vote, saying: Vote this MF out, in reference to Trump.

Sweeney, on the other hand, is reportedly a registered Republican, a fact that went viral on X in August, after the uproar over her American Eagle advert, which some critics accused of promoting eugenics and white supremacy through its jeans/genes wordplay. (Sweeney herself has said she does not support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign.) The Donald himself weighed in, declaring Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there, in a Truth Social post on Monday  pitting her against no longer hot Taylor Swift.

Rumours are swirling that Zendaya has fallen out with Sydney Sweeney because she is a Trump supporter ( Getty )

I, too, have friends who are no longer hot. When a mum friend and I discussed immigration as our children played in a leafy west London park, I pointed out how sad it made me feel to think of families torn apart by Trumps ICE raids in the US  and she just looked at me and said: Make Britain Great Again. That was it. I couldnt salvage the relationship, even for the kids sake.

Ive just fallen out with a single dad after we had an epic WhatsApp argument about getting Britain drilling in the North Sea. I argued it wasnt net zero madness not to drill, but it got out of hand and before I knew it, hed texted me an essay on the subject of the pros of drilling, presumably half-written by ChatGPT. I told him I couldnt go on with a relationship that felt like every night we were on the attack, like in Prime Ministers Questions.

Polling station run-ins are the worst. When a neighbour Id known for 15 years admitted to me in our local polling station they he was voting to leave the EU, justifying it by using Dominic Cummingss battle bus false claim that the 350m a week the UK supposedly sent to the EU could instead fund the NHS, it was the death knell. Never again did I invite him over for a friendly cup of tea.

My childhood was all about political bust-ups over Sunday lunch when my dad would throw a missile, a contentious topic like the Falklands war, and watch us rip each other apart. More recently, arguments with my own family over Tory Covid policies caused immense damage, especially when I insisted we follow the rules perfectly when I was terrified of it spreading to my elderly father. And Im not alone.

One in 12 people (in other words, 8 per cent) say they are no longer speaking to a friend or family member because of disagreements about the pandemic, according to research by Kings College London.

Others play it politically safe to stay popular. Comedian Jack Whitehall  hosting Saturday Night Live UK this weekend  says that he avoids making political jokes because people think he's a Tory due to his private education background.

He told The Guardian: I dont do a lot of politics, because I dont think people are interested in the political viewpoint of a public schoolboy. Id never feel comfortable doing polemic.

He added: I think people are exhausted by it. Theyve had 20 years of a Tory government; they do not want a Tory comedian. Not that Im a Tory. Im definitely not. But the perception of me is that I have a Tory background.

Lifes too short to fritter the hours you have on people who dont share your core values. Its a dead-end friendship. And sadly, for Zendaya, if the rumours are true, it seems she just cant get past that with Sweeney.
A quarter of a century ago, Benjamin Netanyahu was privately videoed boasting on a visit to a Jewish settler family in the West Bank about how he had used his political wiles to thwart Bill Clintons desire to advance the Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians. Netanyahu, then in opposition after his first term as prime minister, told the family: I know what America is. America is something that can be moved easily.

The remark would not be worth recalling did it not perfectly summarise the credo by which Israels longest serving leader has conducted relations with its closest ally throughout his long career.

A case in point, we now know thanks to some stunning political reporting by the New York Times that when Netanyahu came to the White House on February 11 he pressed his case for the military onslaught on Iran which began 17 days later. Netanyahu told the President and his assembled team how Iran was ripe for regime change, its ballistic missile programme could be destroyed in weeks, its regime would be too weakened to close the Strait of Hormuz, the street protests against it would resume, and the chances of Tehran being able to attack US interests elsewhere were minimal.

The next day, his bullish presentation was presciently challenged by several top Administration officials who had been present farcical (CIA Director John Ratcliffe) bullshit (Secretary of State Marco Rubio) [The Israelis] oversell and their plans are not always well-developed. They know they need us, and thats why theyre hard-selling (Gen Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff). But it landed perfectly with the one man who counted, the Commander in Chief, Donald Trump.

Needless to say the doubters all fell into line once the die was cast. But the abject failure of subsequent events to fulfil Netanyahus predictions underlines how far the Israeli Prime Ministers position is undermined  or should be  by what is now perhaps the greatest test of his ability to move America easily: his determination to prolong the war by continuing to pound Lebanon in his seemingly forever pursuit of Hezbollah. Its hard to think of any other US ally who would have had the lethal hubris to risk sabotaging a ceasefire called the previous day by striking 100 targets in heavily populated areas without warning, killing at least 250 people, as it did on Wednesday.

We have been here before, of course. When Israel continued to attack Iran after the ceasefire supposed to end last years 12 day war, Trump felt obliged to issue a tweet demanding ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW! But there are differences: then, Trumps demand succeeded  while Netanyahu may have in truth been happy to stop the war and allow both men gleefully to declare that that they had scored a signal victory.

This time Trump has merely urged Netanyahu to dial down the attacks on Lebanon. Meanwhile, though Netanyahu has apparently agreed to hold talks with the Lebanese government next week, Israel has made it clear it is continuing to hit targets in its northern neighbour as it trades fire with Hezbollah.

To be fair, if thats the word, Netanyahu is hardly to blame for the confusion about whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire. For either Trump is lying when he says it wasnt, or the ultra-loyal amateurs he entrusted with the negotiations are guilty of notable incompetence in leaving such a gap on this issue between the Iranian perception, the Pakistani mediators and Washingtons.

Nevertheless, and despite all the other formidable obstacles to a lasting agreement, its the conflict in Lebanon that, at least at present, may stop the Iranian negotiators from even turning up at next weekends planned talks in Islamabad. Its hard to escape the conclusion that that this is what Netanyahu wants, perhaps because he sees continuing warfare as crucial to his own political survival as he faces mounting criticism within Israel for failing to achieve what he promised at the outset of this arguably pointless war.

So is peace is possible as long as Netanyahu is governing Israel? In the largest sense, of course, if you ask Arabs living in both Israel and the occupied territories (who number, at around seven million, roughly as many as Jews, even though their voice is seldom heard in global conflicts like this) true regional stability will only follow a just Israeli-Palestinian agreement, removing the excuse Israels enemies use to threaten it. And Netanyahu has repeatedly made clear he has no interest in achieving that.

The more pressing question is whether on Iran-Lebanon Trump is prepared to buck the trend of US subservience to Israeli demands in the way that Eisenhower did over Suez in 1956, George W Bush did by dragging Israel to the Madrid summit in 1981, and Obama did by signing the nuclear agreement with Iran (subsequently and jointly destroyed by Trump and Netanyahu) in 2015.

He could issue an order as strong as the one he posted at the end of last years war and he could withhold the multi-billion dollars worth of annual funding and weaponry it provides to Israel as long as it acts against US  and global  interests. His position is all the stronger given that  hitherto at least Netanyahus friendship with Trump is the best asset he has in an election year.

Admittedly, the omens are not good. This requires Trump to defy precedent by behaving logically. But there remains at least a chance that Trump will finally lose patience with Netanyahu for seeking to prolong the war the US President (wilfully) allowed him to drag the US into. As General Caine argued of Israel they know they need us. Netanyahu may look like hes running the show, but in the end its Trump who holds the cards  if he can bring himself to play them.
Land within reach of Dublin has become increasingly scarce in recent years, with farmers, business buyers and developers all competing for the same limited pool of properties. In that kind of market, any well-located non-residential holding is likely to draw attention from across the spectrum.

Over the coming weeks, a number of these parcels are being brought to auction by Coonans of Maynooth and Jordans of Newbridge, and the results are likely to provide a clear indication of who is in the market for prime land in the greater Dublin region and how much they are prepared to pay.
Walking will slash your cancer and dementia risk  but only at the right pace. Heres what you need to know
LATEST | Man (28) claiming to be one of 10 identical brothers pleads not guilty to obstructing deportation

His barrister had informed the court that his client maintained to be one of decuplets, 10 children from the same pregnancy

Sam Okwuoha (28). Photo: Tom Tuite

Tom Tuite Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 17:31

A Nigerian man who claims he is one of 10 identical brothers has pleaded not guilty to obstructing his deportation in the first prosecution of its kind in the State.
From phone use to unnecessary grunting  leading Dublin gym chain warns members over decline in basic etiquette

West Wood issued a letter to users in February saying failure to adhere to rules could result in termination of membership

The gym advised members to limit their phone use. Photo: Getty

Melanie Finn Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 06:30

One of the countrys biggest gym franchises has been praised for issuing a warning over a significant decline in adherence to basic etiquette standards.
Gerry Adams said he was prepared to wade up to my knees in Protestant blood to united Ireland, ex-IRA man claimed

Government questioned if claims were believable  while ex-Sinn Fein President now says he never made such a remark and has always been avowedly anti-sectarian

Gerry Adams (right) taking part in an IRA guard of honour at a funeral in Belfast in 1971 of a Belfast IRA commander.

Sam McBride Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 09:38

Gerry Adams told a fellow republican in Long Kesh that he was prepared to wade up to my knees in Protestant blood to a united Ireland, that former republican comrade told British officials.
We pay them with a ball  meet Revenues lovable service dogs that pay their way to tune of 100m a year

Handlers at Dublin Airport are full of praise for service dogs that can sniff out drugs, tobacco and cash in seconds

Inside Revenues sniffer dog programme busting millions in drugs

Ian Smith Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 06:30

The smell of cannabis hangs in the air in a cheerful but slightly dingy back office of Dublin Airport as a howl reverberates in the background.
Culinary content creator Simon Wilson lives in Hong Kong with his wife and two children

I left Ireland nearly 15 years ago. I used to work on Taste of Dublin, and I went to Australia to work on Taste of Sydney  that was meant to be for six weeks, but I ended up staying for five years. I came to Hong Kong in 2015 to start Taste of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has been very good to us. Its where our two daughters were born, and they have a great quality of life here. But home will always be Ireland. Hong Kong is a great place for us to raise our kids (who are two and four), but when they get to secondary-school age, I really want them to have that sense of Ireland and growing up there. I loved my time in school at home, so I want that for my kids.
Fionnan Sheahan: Centre ground tested as marginalised turn radicalised in fuel-tax Mexican standoff

Taoiseach will hope the diesel demonstration simply fades away as Coalition holds official line on only talking to recognised bodies

Indo Politics: Will the government back down in fuel price row?

Fionnan Sheahan Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 06:30

OConnell Street has never felt safer. Under the watchful eye of Daniel OConnell high up on his pedestal, there was a good-humoured nature to the protesters gathered in front on the capitals main thoroughfare. Half of Cavan is down here, an observer said.
Just when you thought Donald Trump had bombed enough of the Middle East to blow the Epstein files right out of public memory, his wife came out with a statement this afternoon. And what a statement it was.
Martina Devlin: The EU needs new ways of dealing with authoritarian countries like Hungary, damaging the bloc from within

The country would never be admitted today, and current sanctions cant seem to pull rogue nation in to line

US vice president JD Vance (right) and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban at an event in Budapest, Hungary, this week. Photo: Reuters

Martina Devlin Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 06:30

How do you solve a problem like Viktor Orban, that fox in the EUs hen house?
Vehicles block O'Connell Street, Dublin, as part of a protest over the high cost of fuel. Photo: Reuters

Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said our world consisted of strings of tension waiting to be struck. But our world was already ringing deafeningly with the actual  as well as the rhetorical  reverberations in the Gulf. Then came Donald Trumps obscene tirade and a threat to erase an entire civilisation.

At the same time, we were treated to ludicrous complaints about the illegality of Iranians gathering at targets he was planning to obliterate. So to say the international community has been in a state of shock is an understatement.

Therefore, relief that a two-week ceasefire has been called was pretty much universal.

An exultant Trump has declared the war an unqualified success. His Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, said Tehran had been embarrassed and humiliated.

The view in Iran is quite different. A hardline regime has been replaced by one that is arguably even more so. It still has sway over the Strait of Hormuz and a capacity to launch missiles, but the Armageddon threatened by Trump has at least been put on hold.

What the hysterical scaremongering  once again backing down at the last minute  does for Americas image as a bastion of stability in the long term remains to be seen.

For now, at least, we can welcome the fact we seem to be moving into a peace-making phase and away from warmongering, but nerves remain on edge.

This is not least because the bombing of South Lebanon by Israel continues mercilessly. Tel Aviv is not on the same page as Washington. Pakistans facilitating of the ceasefire must be commended, but the discussions that lie ahead will be far from easy.

Sectoral arm-twisting tactics and holding the public to ransom is not the answer

Trump had dug himself into a deep hole in a war that was increasingly unpopular at home. It doubled fuel prices for Americans, who rely heavily on their cars.

He had run out of choices. He must either order in ground troops risking huge losses, or enter talks.

He chose the latter, but it will still be some time before the worlds energy supplies recover.

Governments, including our own, are facing protests, but the demonstrations blocking streets throughout the country must end. One group of workers cannot be allowed to illegally disrupt traffic, preventing others from doing their jobs. It can only undermine their cause and erode what public support they have.

If there is room for a cap on fuel prices and tax cuts, the place to discuss it is at the negotiating table, not on the gridlocked streets of the country. The Coalitions position that future relief has to wait until the period of the last subvention has lapsed is understandable.

Amid a global economic crisis, sectoral arm-twisting tactics and holding the public to ransom is not the answer. It does nothing for social cohesion.

The international situation remains highly volatile. Introducing contingencies with oil, gas and fertiliser prices fluctuating so wildly is hazardous.

With no certainties in Washington or Tehran regarding the outcome of talks, we must still hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
After witnessing the mass deaths of civilians who had no way to protect themselves over the past six weeks in the Middle East, the world is acutely aware of how vulnerable we are.

Any action that exposes innocent people to risk, or unnecessary danger, has to be condemned.

The carnage in Lebanon after indiscriminate Israeli attacks has no moral basis. Targeting Hezbollah is one thing, but blowing up suburbs without warning has no justification. The fallout from the war is taking its toll around the world.

However, the lines between right and wrong must not be confused. Thus the actions by protesters around Ireland must be called out and the law stringently enforced. No group can take it upon itself to deprive ambulances of fuel or impede the access of pregnant women, or sick people, to hospital.

Deliberately targeting the countrys strategic resources is crossing a red line. No state can stand back and have its sole oil refinery, or a water supply, threatened. Taoiseach Micheal Martin rightly labelled the actions as national sabotage.

Neither, as Mr Martin also noted, can any government negotiate with a gun to its head. The frustrations of hauliers, farmers and many other groups affected by soaring fuel costs are understandable, but select groups do not get a free pass to wreak havoc on society by blocking vital roads and cutting off urgent supply lines.

Our economy has had to absorb sustained shocks. From Covid to the invasion of Ukraine, Trumps tariffs and now the war in Iran, people have had to rise to unprecedented challenges.

It is to be regretted that the Defence Forces had to be called on to help gardai in dealing with the blockades

Through social cohesion and national solidarity, we found our way. We have trusted and tested mechanisms for managing crises. Representative groups found solutions in the most trying circumstances.

Wildcat actions undermine the causes they are meant to serve. No one can claim a right to disrupt the working lives of a nation.

It is to be regretted that the Defence Forces had to be called on to help gardai in dealing with the blockades. The blame for that lies on the heads of the protesters. The turmoil from the war and the incoherence in messaging from Washington make contingency planning impossible.

Any Government that tries to put concrete plans in place with the ground still moving beneath its feet will find itself continually called on to put new supports in place. The State has committed to further help with the fuel spike, but its hand cannot be forced. It must be free to discuss measures with the appropriate representatives without being coerced.

Impatience at the time spent before agreement on next steps is reached might be expected, but that does not confer a right to unleash chaos. Trust in the process of engagement is never more critical than during an emergency.

Anger may be called on to draw attention to an issue, but only with reason can arguments be settled.
A tractor blocks Dublin's O'Connell Street as part of a protest over the high cost of fuel. Photo: Reuters

It is high time that the Government stood up to the bullies and environmental vandals who hold our country to ransom every time something outside of our control arrives to upset their apple carts.

There are many people who need to go about their business each day, some urgently, but are prevented from doing so by this rabble.

One group holding another to ransom merely to get their own way on a regular basis will destroy this country and its economy.

Peter White, Dingle, Co Kerry

Trump underestimated Iranian resolve and the world will pay the price

After all the bombast and threats, Donald Trump capitulated. It seems the Iranian regime, or what is left of it, is declaring victory.

While Pakistan negotiated a two-week ceasefire in the belief that Lebanon was part of the deal, Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet disagreed.

There is a very clear lack of clarity on this issue. Strikes in southern Lebanon continued yesterday.

So, the upshot of all the bombing, killings and displacement of innocent people is that Trump has been humiliated by Iran. Tehran has refused to bend to the threats of annihilation.

Trump has shown the world he is nothing more than a paper king whose bully-boy tactics could never humiliate a race of people.

While it is good news for many as Brent crude prices begin to fall, the Iranian regime has informed the world that any traffic going through the Strait of Hormuz will have to co-ordinate with its armed forces.

It says it will collect fees as part of reconstruction costs.

This was an international waterway before February 28, but now could be subject to Iranian control.

This is a hard pill to swallow by international and global economies.

What this war has shown is that American might could not bend the will of a determined people.

Trump and his administration overestimated their capabilities while underestimating Iran.

Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

The Donalds impulsive behaviour serves only to invite further conflict

Your editorial yesterday rightly observed that no credible leader should speak of wiping out a civilisation.

Such language does not project strength  it betrays an absence of restraint at precisely the moment it is most required.

The announcement of a temporary ceasefire with Iran will no doubt be cited by supporters of Donald Trump as proof that brinkmanship works. In the narrowest sense, they may claim a point, but a pause is not peace and a deal struck under threat is rarely one that endures.

Even if intended as pressure, rhetoric of this kind erodes credibility, unsettles allies and invites adversaries to question whether negotiation has given way to impulse.

The effect is not leverage, but drift  and with it, the rules-based order is further weakened and the chances of a durable settlement are reduced.

At a time when conflict already scars Ukraine, Gaza and the wider Middle East, the need is to steady the ground, not further unsettle it. Power without discipline is not strategy: it is simply risk by another name.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Armagh

Americans must impeach their deranged president after fiasco in Middle East

There are many deluded and deranged people out there, and occasionally a few who fit both categories.

Donald Trump has made the list, possibly in top position, with his threat that a whole civilisation will die. There is now a two-week wait to see if that happens.

The great majority of any countries people are hard-working citizens and not military targets.

Its time to implement the 25th amendment of the US constitution and get rid of Trump, or the US will be seen as a partner in a war crime team.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Future of civilisation now appears to hang on one mans social media rants

Donald Trump warned that a whole civilisation would die unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz  hours after the US bombed its main oil hub.

Civilisation, it seems, now hangs on one mans social media feed.

Legal experts have warned that the strikes could be a war crime. What about all the people who were meant to restrain him? He fired them.

He now says he will wait two weeks. Meanwhile, the world watches the US president treat nuclear annihilation like a Zoom call he might skip  so unacceptable that even Pope Leo drafted a strongly worded prayer.

Alan T Kelly, Castlewarden, Co Kildare

Pope Leo shows he is a vessel for peace in these times of global hostility

Pope Leos Easter message included the following statement: Let those who have weapons lay them down.

He further urged those engaged in war to make peace through dialogue.

Meanwhile, there are those  as if anyone needed reminding  who possess a fundamentally inherent ideology that seeks one goal only: the complete annihilation of a nation, its people and its faith.

One can only wish the pontiff well.

Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan

I think we all know who Vances comrades are after his comments in Budapest

I believe JD Vance was Russian to conclusions when he lashed out at what he called disgraceful interference from the European Union in an election in Hungary.

Seamus McLoughlin, Keshcarrigan, Co Leitrim

Happy to share my two cent on proposed designs for new euro banknotes

I read in the Irish Independent that some people are suggesting that pictures of famous people should appear on euro banknotes. Among the names mentioned is Beethoven.

A great idea. I hope the ECB doesnt Bach at the prospect.

Noel Kelly, Doonbeg, Co Clare

When people ask me how my Easter went, Im going to keep it short and sweet

After all the chocolate I consumed on Easter Sunday, Im going to stick to the mantra: Im not overweight, just under tall.

David Curran, Knocknacarra, Co Galway
While Iran dominates global headlines, a far more local crisis for the Americas is unfolding just off the coast of Florida.

Following the dramatic US military raid on Venezuela in January, the Trump administration has turned its attention to Cuba.

The objective? To topple the islands communist leadership.

By cutting off vital oil shipments that once flowed from Venezuela, Washington has pushed Cuba into a deepening energy crisis.

Across the island, fuel shortages are widespread and rolling blackouts have brought daily life to an almost standstill.

So what fate awaits this Caribbean island of 10 million people, and its crumbling economy?

On todays Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by Ruaridh Nicoll, Cuba correspondent for the Guardian, and Helen Yaffe, professor of Latin American political economy at the University of Glasgow, to examine these mounting pressures and ask: Is Cuba next?
Local contingency plans have been activated by the HSE South West in the aftermath of more filling stations having run dry on fuel overnight.

Panic-buying of fuel in recent days has triggered a national crisis, with over 100 service stations running dry.

That figure could grow to 250 by midday on Friday, April 10, if blockades of fuel terminals and depots have not been lifted.

The HSE South West said they are actively managing the emerging fuel supply issue in the region that has the potential to impact service delivery across Cork and Kerry.

In a statement the HSE South West also confirmed that senior management teams are maintaining close operational oversight to ensure the continued safety of patients and staff.

Critical services, including emergency care, urgent patient transport and time sensitive treatments for dialysis, oncology, complex paediatric cases, bowel care, urgent care will be prioritised.

The HSE South West confirmed that services have been directed to review staffing, transport, supplies and discharge arrangements to minimise disruption, and non urgent activity may be deferred where necessary.

HSE South West said they are working closely with national colleagues and relevant agencies to monitor the situation.

They advised the public attending appointments to contact the service directly, if they are concerned about being late or missing their appointment.

Separately Cork Chamber, has called for an end to the ongoing fuel protests and the road blockages which are impacting businesses nationwide.

The voice of business in Cork, urged those involved to engage in discussion through the appropriate channels and end the current disruption immediately.

Cork Chamber CEO, Conor Healy, said the ongoing protests and road blockages are having a significant impact on business operations, commuters and the general public. The situation has escalated considerably over the past 24 hours in Cork, resulting in major disruption for businesses and communities in the city and county.

Mr Healy said protests blocking access to the Port of Cork and the Ringaskiddy area are a cause for serious concern, impacting critical national trade routes and essential economic activity across many sectors. The ongoing blockages have also resulted in serious disruption for the many businesses operating in the area and the considerable number of workers commuting to and from these businesses.

The CEO also highlighted the ongoing situation at the oil refinery in Whitegate. Blockages of fuel transport and delivery at the refinery have a serious impact on the supply of fuel across the country and will have far-reaching consequences for all sectors of the economy and society if they continue. It is unacceptable that forecourts are running dry unnecessarily and this cannot be allowed to continue.

Cork Chamber President, Rob Horgan, said Cork Chamber will continue to advocate for supports to mitigate the impact of the rising cost burden on businesses. While many businesses have genuine concerns about rising costs and the ongoing energy situation as a result of the current geopolitical environment, the current and ongoing actions are having a disproportionate impact on businesses, particularly SMEs, and communities across the country.

Mr Horgan warned that the current road and facilities blockages in Cork will have a national knock-on impact on many sectors of the economy, disrupting vital fuel supplies and trade flows. Meaningful engagement through the appropriate and established channels must be prioritised in the days ahead, with an immediate end to the ongoing blockages to avoid further disruption to businesses and communities.

Any prolonged period of disruption to business operations, fuel supply, trade and transport will have a serious lasting impact on Irelands economy, he added.
Some Fingal councillors warned that the new plan encroached into zoned green belt areas and could pose a threat to new residents.

Land has been made available for 5,000 new homes in Fingal, despite concerns from local representatives that it will encroach into green belt areas and pose a flood risk.

Fingal County Council (FCC) has made changes to its development plan to expand the countys housing capacity from 35,000 homes to 40,000.

Locations across Barnhill, Clonsilla, Balrothery, Skerries, Lusk, Malahide, Kinsealy and Clongriffin have been identified, including land currently zoned as a green belt.

At a meeting held this month, councillors debated over potential risks to rezoning green belt land in those areas.

There is very little green belt left here, and we should not be eating into it, said David Healy, Green Party councillor for Howth-Malahide.

We have a lot of undeveloped zoned land in this area. We have enormous areas in Baldoyle and Clongriffin.

"There is not a need for us to zone this extra field with all the flooding issues and the green belt encroachment issues that it represents.

FCC said the single largest contributor to the new plan is a new residential area at Dunsink, close to Blanchardstown, where approximately 2,500 new homes are planned in the short term.

"It is expected that the development of Dunsink as a new residential district will become one of the most significant urban expansion projects in the Dublin region during the lifetime of the development plan, said FCCs Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly.

"There is now 852 hectares of zoned residential lands in the county, complemented by a further 164 hectares at Dunsink and 225 hectares within the strategic reserve (land identified by the council for development).

Together, these provide a strong and balanced pipeline that will add significant momentum to the delivery of new homes in the years ahead.

Councillor Healy raised two motions offering alternatives for housing in brownfield land  unused areas with planning permission  in Blanchardstown and Navan Road. Both motions were voted against and dismissed.

There is concern locally that the green belts aren't being respected. Its an important part of Fingals development plan thats being abandoned, cllr Healy said to the Irish Independent.

It should be brown land  we have areas that have planning permissions that have not been acted on and houses that have not been built where work can start rapidly and that has good public transport routes available.

"This is a distraction from the homes that have not been built in areas where we already have planning permission. Why are we looking at green belt areas with these risks when more sustainable options are available?

FCC said the changes to the development plan is in response to the governments new planning framework which requires local authorities to increase housing supply and speed up their delivery.

As housing represents the single largest investment we are making, the approval of this variation demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering more sustainable homes in the right locations, said councillor Tom OLeary, Mayor of Fingal.

Councillors said that areas identified in Barnhill and Clonsilla as part of the expansion posed a significant flood risk.

"Residents living in Barnhill where land has been rezoned are very worried about the risk of flooding and that existing infrastructure won't be sufficient to manage the scale of housing development, said Labour councillor for Castleknock, John Walsh.

The concern I have is that it had flooded a number of years ago. The defenses were fine then while its a light, green belt development. So Im seeking more in-depth flood risk assessment since thats changing."

Director of Planning and Development at FCC, Roisin Burke, said that flood risk assessments were carried out and that the council was satisfied that there was adequate planning.

Significant work has gone into ensuring that the new zoning allocations strike the right balance between meeting housing demand, protecting the environment, matching infrastructure capacity and supporting longterm sustainability, said Ms Burke.

"The approved variation not only aligns with updated national targets but also positions Fingal to plan strategically and responsibly for the decades ahead.

Councillor Walsh added that the new variations to the countys development plan were regressive.

I support some elements of the variation  bringing forward Dunsink has been done with proper planning with an urban area plan that provides for the necessary infrastructure and public transport," he told the Irish Independent.

However, basing all this on the assumption that Fingal has a lack of zoned land is fundamentally flawed. There are 9000 homes that have never been built on sites that have full planning permission in this county  the government has done nothing to address these failures.

Most elements of this plan is totally incompatible with our goals. Moving into so many green belts across the county is deeply regressive and will not solve the housing crisis.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
"As a small farmer, this is the busiest and most fuel-dependent time of the year, a Louth councillor warned as he called on the government to urgently overhaul the VAT and tax on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel.

Cllr. John Reilly, a member of Louth County Council and a small farmer from Faughart in north Louth, said farmers were being penalised for choosing low-emission alternatives.

Cllr. Reilly, who previously worked in the oil industry, described HVO as a proven, low-emission, drop-in replacement for diesel  capable of reducing greenhouse gases by up to 90%, according to several independent industry assessments.

He noted that Louth County Council has already moved to HVO for parts of its own operations, and said farmers should not face higher VAT rates for switching to more environmentally friendly fuel options.

As a small farmer, this is the busiest and most fuel-dependent time of the year, Reilly explained. Ploughing, sowing, and preparing the land demand long hours and significant fuel. Having spent years in the oil sector, I know the current fuel tax system  and right now, it penalises farmers who choose cleaner, greener fuel.

Under current VAT rules, farmers using HVO face a hefty 23% VAT, while traditional green diesel is taxed at just 13.5%.

Its illogical that the cleanest fuel is taxed the most. Farmers are urged to reduce emissions, but when they try, theyre hit with higher costs," Reilly pointed out.

He highlighted that while sectors like haulage, logistics, local authorities, and emergency services are quickly adopting HVO, Irish farmers are being left behind due to outdated tax policies.

With Ireland facing a looming fuel supply challenge, its critical that duties and VAT are reviewed immediately," he urged. "Farmers are already battling rising costs, and yet, for choosing a fuel that can cut emissions by 90%, they face the highest VAT rates."

Reilly called on the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Agriculture to take action by lowering the VAT rate on HVO for farmers, and introduce incentives to help farmers switch to cleaner fuels

"If the Government truly wants to lead on climate action in agriculture, it cannot continue to treat the cleanest fuels as luxury products. This policy must change, now," he insisted.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A 49-year-old motorist has been fined and disqualified for uninsured driving after he was found obstructing traffic in Co. Louth last year.

Paul Kernaghan, Loanda Crescent, Newry, Co. Down did not attend Dundalk District Court having been summonsed following an incident last year.

Gda Ken Bogan gave evidence that on July 19 at Rassan there was a large congregation of boy racers causing a disturbance and impeding traffic.

He detected an Audi A4 parked and obstructing traffic from passing by.

No documents for this car were produced by Mr Kernaghan. A fixed charge penalty notice went unpaid.

Judge Nicola Andrews imposed a 501 fine and two-year disqualification for driving without insurance.

Summonses for failing to produce insurance and for parking in a way that endangers, interferes with, or obstructs other traffic were taken into consideration.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Two men have appeared in court following a series of incidents in the Drogheda area during the early hours of Thursday.

Michael Ward (26), Kimmage, Manor Way, Whitehall Road, Dublin 12, and Keith Brady (21), Cushlawn Close, Tallaght, Dublin 24, were brought before Ardee District Court on Friday.

They are each charged with a burglary of 7,300 cigarettes and alcohol at Daybreak, Donore Road, Drogheda; robbery of 600 cash and a quantity of cigarettes at Maxol, Donore Road; burglary at Little Naples Pizza, Main Street, Duleek; attempted burglary at Foleys Pub, Trinity Street, Drogheda; criminal damage at Kings Barbershop, Trinity Street; and possessing a stolen white Volkswagen ID-4 at the R152, Prioryland, Duleek; all on April 9 last.

Mr Ward is further accused of burglary and trespess at Abbey Road, Duleek, on the same date.

The court heard of the arrest charge and caution of both men at Ashbourne Garda Station on Friday. Neither made any reply after caution.

During separate contested bail applications, gardai gave evidence that it will be alleged that the offending occurred between 4.55am and 8.30am on Friday when three men drove about in a stolen white Volkswagen ID-4.

At Maxol, Donore Road, it will be alleged that at 6.33am one of the men crawled under a shutter as staff were setting up to open at 7am and that this man grabbed and herded two female employes into a corner before the other two came in and stole multiple items, including cigarettes.

Both women were in fear throughout, one of them suffering a panic attack.

Fire extinguishers were allegedly used to break into Little Naples Pizza in Duleek and Foleys Bar in Drogheda.

Gardai added that there was a likelihood of further charges.

Judge Nicola Andrews refused bail in each case and remanded the defendants in custody to Drogheda Court on April 13.

Legal aid was granted.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
The Belclare to Murrisk Committee stated that a letter sent to landowners seeking permission to access their land for environmental surveys was the first official correspondence from Mayo County Council since April 2024

Last month, the National Roads Office at Mayo County Council issued letters to residents along the emerging preferred route for the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway, informing them that access to their land will be needed to carry out the next stage of the project. Photo: Mayo County Council.

Landowners along a proposed route for Belclare to Murrisk Greenway have told Mayo County Council they will not be allowed access to their land for environmental surveys until three key conditions regarding the development of the project are met.

Around 70 landowners received a letter on March 23, 2026, signed by Hugh Kelly of the National Roads Office at Mayo County Council, informing them that survey work is due to begin along a proposed route for the Greenway, known as Option Two.

The surveys form part of Stage Three of the development process and require access to private land.

In a letter seen by the Irish Independent, the Belclare to Murrisk Committee have stated that landowners will permit any access onto their land until the council agrees to three conditions.

These include: removing the possibility of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) being used to acquire their land; reinstating the R335 roadside route for the Greenway as the preferred route, and providing full transparency around the decision-making process that was behind the choice for advancing the Option Two route.

In its letter, the committee also highlighted what it described as a near twoyear breakdown in communication with Mayo County Council.

It said the last correspondence between the Committee and the local authority was a letter it sent to Seamus O Mongain, Head of the Westport and Belmullet Municipal District, on April 18, 2024  a letter to which it says no response was received.

Since then, the Committee said that repeated requests from farmers and homeowners for transparency, engagement, or justification of the proposed route have not been addressed in any meaningful way.

The group has stated it will not engage with, facilitate, or permit access for any surveys or works associated with Option Two while any form of CPO usage remains on the table.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is responsible for Greenways in Ireland, and under its development standards, Greenways must be built on State-owned land.

Landowners along the Option Two route do not wish to sell and, as such, have been informed that CPOs may be used to progress this option.

The dispute between the R335 route, known as Option One, and Option Two for the proposed Belclare to Murrisk Greenway first surfaced in September 2023.

Option Two runs offroad from Aughavale Cemetery, past the Killadangan Lakes and Old Burial Ground, before linking with the Croagh Patrick path. It crosses farmland, passes through a floodplain valley, and rises onto the lower slopes of Croagh Patrick.

The Belclare to Murrisk Committee said Option Two represents an unjustified intrusion onto private land, much of which is actively farmed, and warned that it would have serious implications for farming, environmental integrity, safety, personal liability, all while blighting property.

The letter stated that there is no support from affected farmers or homeowners for Option Two, as they instead favour Option One.

Option One would follow the R335 road towards Louisburgh, which the committee describes as a viable, logical, and communitysupported alternative.

As part of the second condition outlined in the letter, the Belclare to Murrisk Committee said that, in order for the council to gain access to their land, the R335 route must be reinstated as a serious and primary option for the Greenway.

The Committee noted that the R335 roadside option was originally included in plans prepared by Lally Chartered Engineers for Mayo County Council in 2021.

However, in September of that year, TII assumed responsibility for national greenway projects and introduced stricter design and safety standards. As a result, the R335 route, as initially proposed, no longer met the updated requirements.

The Belclare to Murrisk Committee has argued that this route is more direct, avoids private farmland, and could be delivered alongside long-awaited upgrades to the R335, which already contains sections of cycleway.

Senior Executive Engineer Paul Hyland previously told councillors in the Westport and Belmullet Municipal District that the Option One route would cost around 200m and require the CPO of 44 homes.

The Committee has branded these figures as scare tactics, saying they are dependent on a scenario that the project must be built to the most expensive gold-plated standards imaginable.

Over the past two years, the Committee has accused the council, TII, and the National Roads Office of demonstrating an intransigent, uncompromising, and unconsultative nature in progressing Option Two, and said the consultation process had amounted to a series of unilateral decisions presented to affected landowners as final and irreversible.

The Committee's third condition is for the council to provide full transparency around the analyses, assessments, and decision-making processes that resulted in Option Two being selected as the preferred route.

The Committee said it is the council, not the public or the landowners who live and work along the route, that is choosing Option Two, and that they feel kept in the dark about how the project is being progressed.

It argues that Mayo County Council should apply for a formal deviation from TII standards to allow Option One to be reconsidered.

Under TII guidelines, relaxations and departures from standards are permitted where it may not be possible to provide minimum design parameters owing to site constraints, economic constraints, or environmental constraints.

In such cases, a relaxation of the standards may be justified, provided any proposal is assessed in terms of their effects on the economic worth of the scheme, the environment, and the safety of the user.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Committee found that no such deviation request has yet been made by Mayo County Council to TII.

Their letter warns that any attempt to access lands without permission will be treated as trespass and adds that attempts to progress Option Two without addressing the issues raised will result in ongoing and escalating opposition at every stage of the process.

This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Wipeout Festival is taking place in Strandhill again this year on Saturday July 18th. Ahead of this there is a Wipeout Festival Fundraiser and Launch Gig in the Swagman Bar on Saturday April 11th featuring two amazing new bands with strong Sligo connections. Headliners on the night are Search Results who are a Dublin-based band formed in 2019 by Fionn Brennan from Sligo and Jack Condon from Tipperary.

Their releases include the EP Mirrors (2021), No Punchline Arousal (2022), Go Mutant (2025), alongside a series of standalone tracks that reflect the bands steady output since forming.

Since then, Search Results have built a strong live reputation, selling out headline shows in Dublin and expanding their reach internationally. The band have played across the UK and Europe, performing in DIY venues, clubs, and independent festivals, steadily growing an audience outside Ireland through touring. Search Results are playing Vicar Street with Dry Cleaning on 18th April.

Also playing on the night are Some Remain who are an alternative punk band from Sligo. They combine catchy hooks and angular noise into an energetic and chaotic package. The legendary DJ PC will close off what promises to be an amazing night of live music from two bands at the height of their powers.
Cars have been diverted off the M11 heading to Gorey due to the fuel protests blocking the motorway.

Fuel protests taking place across the country have now made their way to Gorey, Co. Wexford as trucks drivers and farmers gathered to park along the busy M11 motorway on Thursday evening, blocking traffic from passing.

From around 6.30 p.m. truck drivers and farmers met up at Junction 22 of the M11 heading towards to park across the motorway, blocking traffic and leaving huge tailbacks of traffic on the M11.

Cars travelling on the M11 were diverted to the slipway off the motorway, allowing cars to continue their journeys through Gorey and surrounding roads.

The protest also saw crowds of people gather at the bridge over the M11, which connects the motorway to the R772 (old N11) overlooking traffic congestion and cars being diverted to the slipway at Junction 22. Some of the crowds at the road-connecting bridge shared their support for the protest, waving flags and cheering on the truck drivers and farmers.

Truck drivers and farmers blocked the M11 diverting traffic into Gorey.

Taking part in the protest is Tom Greene, who has been protesting along the N11 since Tuesday morning, and said the protests to lower the price of fuel will benefit everyone in the long run.

It's not just the lorry men or the farmers or, you know, there's a lot of commuters up and back the roads to Dublin - it's going to benefit them as well, he said.

Tom currently works as a lorry driver for a construction company in Donegal who are currently working on a project in Gorey. On top of that, he works as a farmer at home with his father and shared how the rise in fuel prices is affecting him.

It's not adding up, day to day work is not adding up. When you sit down and do your figures or peas in a casting it's just not making sense anymore, Tom added.

He further spoke about the impact the cost of fuel is having on the large community of people who commute to Dublin from Gorey each day. There's an awful lot of commuters leaving Gorey every morning at 6.30 a.m. even back as early as 5 a.m. like it's hitting them hard as well.

They're not getting any extra an hour to do their normal job. But it's costing an extra 50 or 60 a week in their diesel tank and they're not going to keep doing that. That doesn't justify it, he added.

In addition to the protests, a number of garages across Gorey have begun running out of fuel, with reports of tailbacks for drivers to purchase oil at service stations.
Coffee Morning at Ivan and Mary Rynharts in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Pictured is Mary and Ivan Rynhart. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

A Wexford woman has celebrated 30 years of fundraising following her recent coffee morning which raised over 3,200 for charity.

Mary Rynhart has been welcoming locals into her home in Ballyfoley, Camolin since 1997, offering teas and coffees to raise funds for several charities. She welcomed locals to her home from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Mary said she was delighted with the turnout on the day and shared her excitement to mark a milestone 30 years of fundraising. Everything was fantastic. The weather was great and we had a great number of people, she said.

This year, crowds of people visited Marys home to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Although a total figure has not been confirmed, Mary said from the coffee morning alone, they have raised over 3,200 for the charity.

I'm absolutely thrilled. People are so kind and so generous.

In addition to hosting the coffee morning, Mary also brings boxes of daffodils to be sold in local shops across North Wexford.

Coffee Morning at Ivan and Mary Rynharts in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Over the last 30 years, Mary has raised approximately 70,000 for the Irish Cancer Society but said unfortunately people continue to be diagnosed with cancer. The amount of people who come because of their own personal stories people are fantastic, Mary added.

On the day, Marys friends and family came together to give a helping hand, which Mary said doesnt go unnoticed. I have a wonderful group of girlfriends who help on the day, without them it wouldn't be possible. They come in and they do shifts during the whole day.

In 1996, the first annual coffee morning fundraiser was held in memory of her sister-in-law Yvonne Horan who passed away in April that same year following a battle with cancer.

My sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer in that January and was very ill, so we said we'd host the coffee morning for Daffodil Day. It was such success the first year we decided then that we would do it in memory of her ever since, she said.

Over the 30 years, Mary has always hosted the coffee morning in her home, even during COVID-19, she hosted a special drive-in fundraisers. They were great successes, we plated up goodies and people came and we served coffee through the car windows, and it was wonderful too.

Mary gave a special thanks to those who continue to support her annual fundraiser, and said she is grateful for peoples generosity. People who buy the daffodils, people who come to our house and support us year in year out.
The cover of 'James Ryan and the Development of Independent Ireland, 18921970', by Dr Michael Loughman.

Calls have been made for a commemorative structure to be erected in honour of one of the most significant politicians to have been produced by Co Wexford. Born in Tomcoole, James Ryan was involved in the Easter Rising in 1916 and was one of the last people to leave the GPO in Dublin as it came under attack from British forces.

Although he was subsequently elected as a Sinn Fein candidate in 1918 and attended the first meeting of Dail Eireann in 1919, he eventually left the party to found Fianna Fail with Eamon de Valera in 1926. James went on to serve in government for the next 39 years, holding ministerial positions in the departments of health, finance, and agriculture.

And, following the publication of a book entitled James Ryan and the Development of Independent Ireland, 18921970, Councillor Lisa McDonald has said its time James Ryan was properly honoured in his home county.

He is one of the most significant politicians we have ever produced, she said at the monthly meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD).

Accepting that James Ryan wasnt technically from Wexford town, Cllr McDonald said the onus was still on the countys biggest urban area to commemorate him.

In the borough district they tend to commemorate politicians of a certain ilk but this man deserves a plaque, at the very least, said the Fianna Fail councillor. If we can have a statue of Nicky Rackard, who was from Killane, in Selskar Square surely we can have something for a Tomcoole man in the town too.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Forty projects across Ireland are to benefit from Historic Structures Fund, with a sizable 270,000, going to Wexford.

On Thursday, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan TD, announced 4.42 million in funding to be awarded to 40 projects for the repair and protection of landmark buildings under the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2026.

In terms of the breakdown for the Model County, 90,000 has been awarded for works at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Laurence OToole. Rathangan, Duncormick. The funding will cover roof works and associated repair works to stone masonry and lead flashings, plus new rainwater goods and internal repair.

90,000 has been awarded for works at Saunderscourt Gate Lodges, West Gate Lodge, Galbally East, Crossabeg. These include conservation and restoration works of west gate lodge as part of ongoing programme of work to restore the 18th century Palladian entrance ensemble.

And a final award of 90,000 has been signed off for repairs to St. Michaels Theatre, South Street, New Ross. These include roof works, works to existing rainwater goods and all associated works.

The award of funding under the Historic Structures Fund is a demonstration of our commitment to preserving and enhancing Irelands architectural legacy, Minister Browne said.

Along with the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, this Government is continuing its commitment to safeguard our built heritage, keeping many buildings in use and helping to bring many others back into use.

The funding also supports the survival of the skills and expertise needed to maintain our built heritage and this will also have an economic benefit by generating employment for heritage contractors and other skilled crafts and tradespeople across the country.

Alongside other heritage funding streams such as the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the recently re-opened Conservation Advice Grant Scheme, the Historic Structures Fund aims to conserve, protect, and promote the use of historic buildings across our cities, towns, villages, and countryside.

This scheme operates on a match-funding basis with owners and custodians of historic buildings obliged to contribute towards the final cost of works.

Communities across the country know the value of our built heritage, and many of them dedicate their time, passion and expertise to ensuring their protection. Im proud as Minister for Heritage to be able to support their work through schemes like the Historic Structures Fund, Minister OSullivan commented.

This grant can make the difference between a cherished heritage building falling into disrepair or being restored and valued as part of a thriving streetscape. I know this funding will have a huge impact around the country and I look forward to seeing the results for myself over the coming months and years.

Repairs to the Church of The Assumption and St. Laurence O'Toole in Rathangan, known as The Cathedral in the Fields are expected to cost upwards of 1.3m despite local tradespeople offering to do the work for free.

The church in Rathangan was built in 1870 and has fallen into disrepair in recent years with extensive works required to fix its roof.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 08: Paris Jackson attends the Fashion Trust U.S 2026 Awards at Nya Studios on April 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

Paris Jackson is accusing the executors of her late fathers estate of using the King of Pops money to publicly insult her amid the messy legal battle over his billion-dollar estate.

The 28-year-old actor is the beneficiary of Michael Jacksons estate, which is now estimated to be worth over $2 billion, along with her brothers Prince, 29, and Bigi, 24.

However, Paris raised concerns last July about executors John Branca and John McClain allegedly mishandling Jacksons money after reportedly noticing irregular payments. She went on to accuse the attorneys of skimming money from her fathers estate

Branca and McClain have denied all allegations against them. After months of court hearings and filings going back and forth between the two parties, the co-executors recently submitted an 83-page status report dismissing Pariss claims once again, which prompted her newest April 6 filing  where she accused them of trying to make her look bad in the public eye.

This overlitigation is waste, Pariss filing said, according to court documents reviewed by The Independent. At nearly every hearing Executors try to avoid the merits by characterizing Pariss concerns as lawyer-driven or in service of some purported desire for media attention. Neither is true. 

This litigation is painful for Paris. It is a distraction from her own life and her own career. She would rather there be no press coverage of it whatsoever, the filing said.

Pariss attorneys claimed that from the first day Paris dared to raise an objection, Branca and McClain have used her fathers money to attack her in the media.

The filing called out a specific comment by the estate attorney, Jonathan Steinsapir, in which he said that Paris was strutting into a court hearing. Paris alleged the comment was sexist, and accused Steinsapir of making further patronizing comments, including one where he referred to himself, Branca and McClain as the grown-ups in the situation.

These attacks may serve Mr. Brancas personal interest in attempting to bully Paris into submission, but they have nothing to do with the merits of the litigation and are not in the interests of the Estate, the filing said. The fact that Michael Jacksons money is paying for these attacks makes them even more offensive.

Steinsapir did not return The Independents request for comment.

The executors and their legal team have accused Pariss lawyer, Craig Peters, of trying to take control of Jacksons estate.

Steinsapir claimed to New York Post, Ms. Jackson and her attorneys are once again abusing the courts and the legal system by making a series of false allegations as part of a media campaign to distract from their legal setbacks and the inherent weakness of their case.

In her previous filings, Paris requested a judge intervene when she asked Branca and McClain to submit paperwork for legal fees that they requested be paid to third-party firms between 2019 and 2023. She claimed they paid themselves lavish fees and bonuses and failed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars as they worked with Jacksons finances after he died with about $500 million in debt.

She alleged, As painful as it is to say in print, the present records suggest a group of closely-knit, highly-compensated lawyers is exploiting Executors lack of oversight to skim money from the Estate, in plain view.

Pariss issues with her fathers estate extend to the forthcoming biopic Michael. In a November filing, she questioned Brancas executive producer role in the movie, which stars Jacksons nephew Jaafar Jackson. She has also publicly rejected actor Colman Domingos claim that she had any involvement in the film.
Former Labour politician Peter Mandelson will be fined up to 300 after he was pictured urinating in a London street last year.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) has confirmed that it is planning to issue the fixed penalty notice once it has found an appropriate address for the disgraced peer.
Your job here is not to fight one another, it is to fight this climate crisis, UN climate chief tells Cop30 in Brazil
Pope Leo XIV will not return to the US 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 Mr Trumps policies, particularly when it comes to immigration and war. The Catholic leader has condemned the war in Iran and said that the Trump administrations treatment of immigrants has been extremely disrespectful.
Russsian boys hold assault rifles during the 'Being Healthy is Fashionable' event in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow. Photo: Getty

Russian children as young as three will start state-backed military-patriotic lessons later this year, the Kremlin has announced.

The lessons, which will be known as kind games, are an extension of the conversations about important things, compulsory weekly lessons rolled out in 2022 for older students on national unity, patriotism and traditional values.
US first lady Melania Trump denied on Thursday that she had any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and said she was not one of his victims, thrusting the Epstein matter back into the spotlight after her husband had sought to put it behind him.
Benjamin Netanyahu seeks talks with Lebanon as Donald Trumps Iran truce in jeopardy

Irans supreme leader says his country will not forfeit its rights

A Lebanese civil defence worker looks on as an excavator works on a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Photo: AP

Parisa Hafezi, Maya Gebily and Maayan Lubell Reuters Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday he is seeking direct talks with Beirut, a day after the worst bombardment of the war killed more than 300 people in Lebanon and placed Donald Trumps US-Iran ceasefire in jeopardy.
Workers dig through the rubble of a destroyed building in the search for survivors in Ain Al Mraiseh in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: Reuters

Yesterday was the deadliest day in Lebanon in more than five weeks of war between Israel and Hezbollah, as rescue workers in Beirut and elsewhere searched for survivors and bodies and Israel warned of escalation.
LIVE | JD Vance looking forward to positive negotiations but warns Tehran not to play us as he heads to Pakistan for ceasefire talks

Follow the latest developments on the Irish Independents liveblog

Israeli strikes target Beirut amid widening attacks on Lebanon

Irish Independent Newsdesk Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 17:30

Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet yesterday, killing hundreds of people and drawing a threat of retaliation from Iran, which said the attacks violated a ceasefire deal agreed with the US a day earlier.
Donald Trumps administration dismantling court immigration system, say judges

Were all looking over our shoulders  accounts depict system in free fall

ICE agents at the Jacob K Javits Federal Building in New York City. Photo: Getty

Alex Woodward UK Independent Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Immigration judges who were fired or forced out of their jobs say Donald Trumps administration launched a pressure campaign against them with threats of disciplinary action if they didnt keep up with demands to deport tens of thousands of people from the country.
Democrat Jack Schlossberg and RFK Jr, a member of Donald Trumps Republican administration, are polar opposites

John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier at Kennedys family home at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, a few months before their wedding in 1953. Photo: Getty

At night in New York City, queues have been forming at the doors of Panna II, an Indian restaurant lit with twinkly fairy lights.

With a multi-coloured canopy and red Paisley-print chairs, it might look like nothing more than a colourful tourist attraction. In fact, it is the location of John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessettes first date in Love Story, a Hulu series that aired in February.
Men to be automatically registered for US military draft pool under new rules

Proposed change would apply to males aged 18 to 25 but not women

US war secretary Pete Hegseth has remained non-commital when asked about conscription. Photo: AP

Joe Sommerlad UK Independent Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 06:30

The US is planning to automatically register all eligible men aged 18 to 25 into a military draft pool under a proposed rule change that would come into effect in December if approved.
Wife and daughters disbelief as Manhattan architect admits he was serial killer who murdered seven women

Rex Heuermann, 62, from Long Island, entered the pleas in a courtroom packed with reporters, police, and victims relatives.

Rex A. Heuermann

Michael R Sisak Associated Press Fri 10 Apr 2026 at 12:18

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.
National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias plans to visit the area of responsibility of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

On Holy Saturday, Dendias will visit the Xanthi-based headquarters of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace and attend the Easter

Mass at the Church of Agios Nikolaos in Alexandroupolis on Saturday

On Easter Sunday, the minister will visit Observation Post 126 in Evros and then dine with Armed Forces personnel and conscripts at the "Lieutenant General Nikolaos Delagrammatikas" military camp.

   iefimerida.gr

National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias plans to visit the area of responsibility of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

On Holy Saturday, Dendias will visit the Xanthi-based headquarters of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace and attend the Easter Mass at the Church of Agios Nikolaos in Alexandroupolis on Saturday evening.

On Easter Sunday, the minister will visit Observation Post 126 in Evros and then dine with Armed Forces personnel and conscripts at the "Lieutenant General Nikolaos Delagrammatikas" military camp.

   iefimerida.gr
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has given social media companies until January 1, 2027 to enforce mandatory age verification or face legal consequences, as Greece moves to ban platform access for children under 15 and signals further regulation of video games and online

gambling.

Speaking to parenting portal infokids.gr, Mr. Mitsotakis said legislation will require tech platforms to comprehensively verify user ages by the deadline, effectively barring young teenagers from major social networks.

He described the measure as a direct response to rising rates of internet addiction and deteriorating mental health among minors.

The prime minister also stressed the need to equip families with practical tools, pointing to digital monitoring applications that allow parents to track and limit their children's screen time alongside the legislative framework.

Mr. Mitsotakis made clear the crackdown would not stop at social media.

He explicitly flagged potential regulatory action targeting the video game industry and digital gambling platforms, describing both as significant drivers of addictive behavior among young people.

The domestic push runs parallel to a broader diplomatic campaign.

Mr. Mitsotakis has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging coordinated EU-wide regulation of social media for minors, arguing that national measures alone are insufficient against platforms that operate across borders.

He first raised the issue at the United Nations General Assembly in late 2024.

Greece joins Australia, which enacted a social media ban for under-16s in late 2024, and several European countries pursuing similar restrictions, reflecting a widening political consensus that tech self-regulation has failed to protect children online.



   iefimerida.gr

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has given social media companies until January 1, 2027 to enforce mandatory age verification or face legal consequences, as Greece moves to ban platform access for children under 15 and signals further regulation of video games and online gambling.

Speaking to parenting portal infokids.gr, Mr. Mitsotakis said legislation will require tech platforms to comprehensively verify user ages by the deadline, effectively barring young teenagers from major social networks.

He described the measure as a direct response to rising rates of internet addiction and deteriorating mental health among minors.

The prime minister also stressed the need to equip families with practical tools, pointing to digital monitoring applications that allow parents to track and limit their children's screen time alongside the legislative framework.

Mr. Mitsotakis made clear the crackdown would not stop at social media.

He explicitly flagged potential regulatory action targeting the video game industry and digital gambling platforms, describing both as significant drivers of addictive behavior among young people.

The domestic push runs parallel to a broader diplomatic campaign.

Mr. Mitsotakis has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging coordinated EU-wide regulation of social media for minors, arguing that national measures alone are insufficient against platforms that operate across borders.

He first raised the issue at the United Nations General Assembly in late 2024.

Greece joins Australia, which enacted a social media ban for under-16s in late 2024, and several European countries pursuing similar restrictions, reflecting a widening political consensus that tech self-regulation has failed to protect children online.



   iefimerida.gr
If the Greek claim to the twelve miles of Greek territorial waters is withdrawn, then the Turkish statement on the casus belli will automatically lose its necessity and function, former Turkish President Abdullah Gul argues in his interview with TA NEA. Regarding the Cyprus

issue , the former Turkish president , who will participate in the Delphi Economic Forum (April 22-25), favors considering the possibility of negotiating a two-state solution. Regarding the war in Iran , he criticizes the American operation, believes that it will have serious consequences and long -term consequences for the region, while emphasizing that there will be a shift in the Gulf towards deeper cooperation with Beijing and a rapid distancing from the US. The war in Iran is escalating, it has taken on the dimensions of a regional war, while the global economy has been significantly disrupted. How do you see the war developing and how decisive is the war for how the balance of power in the region will be shaped?

First of all, we need to note that the attack on Iran was not legal or legitimate, from the point of view of international law. It is now a well-known fact even stated by some American officials that Tehran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. Israel and its lobbies have managed to push President Trump into this disastrous campaign. The U.S. now has become complicit to Israels actions by bombing schools in Iran and creating huge devastation in the region.

It was not a surprise that as a response Iran targeted U.S. military facilities located in the Gulf. Following this, hostilities will not vanish, with long term consequences reshaping the dynamics in the region. The American miscalculation will have severe consequences and costs for all.

Washington is now seen as an unpredictable actor by Gulf states. It is not a protector anymore, but the very reason for instability. My guess is that there will be a shift in the Gulf towards deeper cooperation with Beijing.

China appears as a more predictable actor that can play a role in a future dialogue between Iran and the Gulf  it has good relations with both sides. It was Beijing

that managed to broker a diplomatic deal between Tehran and Riyad in 2023. Beijing already has the economic upper-hand. Its style of governance and diplomacy is also closer to the vision of countries in the Middle-East, as opposed to the interventionist approach of the U.S. The shift away from the U.S. will be faster than most think.

Israel may see itself as a victor. But it is now more isolated than ever. It is seen as the main instigator and responsible of the war and devastation in the region. The leaders of Middle-Eastern countries cannot ignore the strong popular feelings and risk any attempts of diplomacy with Tel-Aviv. Israel, for the foreseeable future, has forced its citizens to live in fear, inside a garrison-like country.

What are Turkiyes aspirations and how does this particular war affect Turkiye-US relations?

The Turkish leadership has been successful in keeping the country out of the reach of the conflict. This first objective was achieved through a correct geo-political positioning, together with balanced diplomacy and dialogue with regional partners and Washington.

The second objective is for peace to be established to our south. Ankara has taken a responsible stance and is contributing to efforts to end the war and create regional ownership. I think that such diplomatic effort is appreciated by Washington, especially at a time when President Trump seems to be looking for a way out of the war.

This does not mean that we agree with the American operation in Iran. Turkish government officials have criticised the attack on Iran. NATO military assets in Turkiye are not being used in combat operations in the campaign. So this stance is clear.

At present, the U.S. is having a similar difference in opinions with most of its Allies. I believe that Turkiyes stance as a country in the region is understandable for Washington.

How likely do you consider the possibility of a lasting war and what will this mean?

All wars end at some point. This one will also end. What is important is the when, how and at what price. The military power and technology factors are not on its side, so Iran prefers undertaking assymetric warfare. Such a conflict can drag for a long time. The U.S. and the global economy would bare a significant cost from this. Iran, on the other hand, seems ready to bear the cost of resisting. This is why they are a difficult rival for the U.S. at the moment.

Tehran already lost its head of state alongside other leaders, and cities across the country have been bombed for weeks. But Iran showed that the State mecahisms are intact and that its forces can keep fighting. Those familiar with Iranian culture will know that they are resilient and will prefer a lose-lose outcome when the rival creates such a situation.

Unless the U.S. is ready to end the war, the conflict might drag on. So, for its own good as well as regional stability, Washington should find a way out as soon as possible.

Greece and Turkiye are in the process of positive rapprochement. However, the difficult issue of the delimitation of the EEZ and continental shelf in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean remains off the agenda. At the same time Turkey is seeking a closer relationship with the EU, also in defense. Mr Mitsotakis, has called on Turkey to withdraw the casus belli. Do you think this would be possible, and what steps can be taken towards a more substantial settlement?

Reciprocal visits and positive statements by the leaders of Turkiye and Greece are a necessity of good neighbourliness. We should support exchanges that are based on goodwill, openness, trust and empathy. The agenda needs to remain positive, and not all difficult topics can be included at once.

When it comes to Aegean issues, The Turkish approach is that these should be taken into consideration as a whole, and not as topics that are separate from each other. The solution should be holistic and enable the Aegean to become a sea of cooperation. Of course, here again bilateral work will need to be done in goodwill.

You mention Turkiye as seeking closer ties with the EU, especially in defense. It would be wrong to see such cooperation as only a gain for Ankara. Turkiye is the second biggest army in NATO and has greatly contributed to the security of the Europe during the Cold War. Today, Turkiye is once again willing and capable of contributing to European security in the face of new threats and a new order. Such cooperation is mutually beneficial for Turkiye and the EU.

Regarding your question on Greeces casus belli claim. The step taken years ago by the Greek Parliament to authorize the Greek Government to unilaterally extend Greek territorial waters from 6 to 12 nautical miles, would mean to erect a wall around Turkiye in the Aegean and cut off our exit to sea. I think it would be useful for our Greek friends to envision it this way and try to look at the matter from the Turkish perspective.

Ankara had to react to such a possibility, which it did one week after the initial step by the Greek Parliament. The correct solution to this problem would be to withdraw these decisions together. If the Greek claim to 12 miles is withdrawn, then the Turkish statement would automatically loose its necessity and function. Reciprocal goodwill is the key here.

The UN Secretary-General is planning to put the Cyprus issue back on track with a specific framework in mind. How do you see this prospect? Is there the necessary will on the Turkish side or will it continue to insist on a two-state solution?

In Cyprus, there is a reality with two different entities. In the past, the 1960 Republic was established according to a reality of two distinct peoples. The tragic events and aftermath are documented in archives.

For decades, UN-led efforts have tried to solve the problem and reunite the island. The Annan Plan with two equal constituent states came closest to a solution. I personally led the process on our side. At the referendum in 2004, Turkish Cypriots accepted the plan, however Greek Cypriots voted against it. Unfortunately, a realistic and major opportunity was then lost. Subsequent negotiations based on UN-criteria did not manage to advance toward a resolution.

According to the most recent report by the UN Personal Envoy of the Secretary General on Cyprus, the two sides on the island are not ready for a new negotiation process. Since the Greek Cypriot side is a member of the EU, they are not interested in power-sharing, which might make sense from their perspective. Since a compromise does not seem possible, after decades of unsuccessful attempts, it seems like a healthier option now would be to consider negotiating a two-state solution in Cyprus.
Djiboutians voted on Friday in a presidential election expected to hand a sixth term to 78-year-old Ismail Omar Guelleh, who faces just one little-known opponent in the small but highly strategic Horn of Africa nation.

Guelleh has ruled the east African country of about one million people for 27 years with an iron grip, leveraging its key location to turn it into an international military and maritime hub.

Its mere 23,000 square kilometres (8,900 square miles) host military bases and contingents from France, the United States, China, Japan and Italy, generating substantial financial, security and political benefits.

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Guelleh had announced he would step down this year but a constitutional amendment in November removed the upper age limit of 75 for presidential candidates, clearing the way for him to run again.

Turnout appeared low six hours into voting at multiple polling stations visited by AFP journalists. At one, just 15 per cent of those registered had cast ballots.

For now its fairly quiet, but people will come later, Guled Abdulaid, 52, a soldier, told AFP.

Just over 256,000 people are eligible to cast ballots between Guelleh and Mohamed Farah Samatar, leader of the Unified Democratic Centre (CDU), a party with no seats in parliament.

Under heavy security, Guelleh, known by his initials IOG, voted at around noon at City Hall alongside his wife, while Samatar cast his ballot late in the morning.

By the grace of God, we have arrived here, and we hope that this will end in victory, Guelleh told reporters.

Polling stations are due to close at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT), with results expected shortly afterwards.

Guelleh has plastered the capital, Djibouti, with campaign posters and drawn thousands to his rallies, while Samatar has struggled to gain support.

The national broadcaster aired one of Samatars rallies, with only a few dozen people present.

Im going to vote for Ismail Omar Guelleh because he has a good programme for young people. I dont even know what his opponent looks like, Deka Aden Mohamed, 38, told AFP.

Samatar, I dont like him, said Mohamed Ali, a 51-year-old driver.
Veteran Nollywood actor Zack Orji has stirred reactions online after publicly defending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid ongoing debates about Nigerias economic challenges.

In an interview with KaaTruths, Orji criticised Nigerians who frequently blame the government for the rising cost of living.

He argued that many people rely too heavily on social media narratives without properly understanding the broader economic realities.

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According to him, the reforms introduced by Tinubus administration are beginning to yield positive results.

He claimed that prices of essential food items such as rice and beans are slowly coming down, insisting that the country is gradually improving despite public disagreement.

When asked about the reality of widespread hardship and hunger, the actor maintained that hunger is not a new issue in Nigeria. He described it as a global challenge that predates the current administration.

He said, Hunger has been an international problem over the years and it didnt start today.

Orji also dismissed a significant portion of online information, describing it as misleading and often driven by negativity. He likened it to spreading damaging narratives meant to tarnish reputations.

The actor further recounted an experience from a recent visit to the United Kingdom, where he said some Nigerians confronted him over his support for President Tinubu.

He said, Why wont I support the president of my country if I am convinced he is doing things in the right way and willing to be patient and allow him time. Reforms are not easy, but a lot of Nigerians dont do research.

He further maintained that economic reforms are usually difficult at the beginning but tend to produce better outcomes over time. According to him, there are early signs of progress, including a gradual reduction in food prices and improved stability of the naira since Tinubu assumed office.
A recent article on transfer-friendly online cloud computing degree programs highlights a shift in how cloud professionals are educated, credentialed, and hired. This trend moves well beyond a few schools experimenting with digital delivery. An impressive number of accredited colleges and universities now offer online cloud-focused degrees, allowing students to enter the profession without traditional college programs. They earn valid degrees, develop real skills, and gain recognized credentials. The process is becoming more efficient, focused, and far less costly.

A move that mirrors cloud itself

Cloud computing is not a profession tied to physical locations. It relies on digital platforms, distributed systems, virtual infrastructure, remote management, automation, and architecture that exist beyond the confines of any single building. The work is done in the cloud, through the cloud, and increasingly for businesses that operate in hybrid or fully distributed models.

In fact, the online format is typically better aligned with the job itself. Students in these programs learn in environments that more closely resemble where they will eventually work. They gain exposure to cloud consoles, lab simulations, collaborative tools, remote problem-solving, and digital workflows that mirror real enterprise practice. That exposure matters. Education is always stronger when the delivery model reinforces the substance of what is being taught, and cloud computing may be one of the clearest examples of that principle.
An animatronic model of a Estemmenoshuchus, (left), and a Moschops, (right) from 'Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs' at the Academy of Natural Sciences in 2021. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

When Drexel University and the Academy of Natural Sciences announced they were joining forces in 2011, leaders called it a perfect fit.

The dinosaur and the dragon meet today, and two fantastic beasts they are, said then-academy president George W. Gephart Jr., referring to Drexels dragon mascot and the academys dinosaur specimens. I dont know whether you call it a dragosaurus or what.

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But today, a decade and a half into the affiliation, the dragosaurus is threatening to come apart.

Drexel and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University have been in discussions over their relationship for months, and Drexel has presented the academy with a choice: either fully merge with the university, granting Drexel its building, endowment, and highly significant collections; or the school and renowned scientific institution on the Parkway would move to disaffiliate.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Comcast executive and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen have become involved in the talks because of the precious resources at stake at the academy. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration also has been kept informed.

A Drexel spokesperson said the school has invested a substantial amount annually in the academy to maintain access to the academys collections while we worked with the academy and the community to identify a sustainable path to keep this resource in Philadelphia.

We continue to believe the academy provides a tremendous educational resource to our students and the community, and were committed to working with the governor, mayor, and academy leadership to find a solution that preserves the legacy of the institution as a natural history archive and educational resource for our university and our region.

Academy board chair Suzanne Biemiller said that she was exceedingly grateful to the governor and the mayors interest and that she looks forward to an outcome that benefits both institutions and Philadelphia.

The academy never fully integrated into Drexel, and has become a drain on the university, said a source familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak about the matter and asked not to be identified.

They have a separate board and kind of expect [Drexel] to treat it more charitably than [Drexel] thinks is appropriate, the source said. They think [Drexel] should underwrite it and [Drexel] thinks they should stand on their own feet.

The university has provided the academy with substantial support  $8,288,000 and $8,914,000 for operations in fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively, according to financial statements posted on the academy website. These numbers include in-kind support that Drexel is providing to the academy.

This support comes as the university is facing its own financial struggles, with a 19% drop in first-year enrollment last fall and a downgrade this month in its financial rating by Moodys.

Both the mayors and Shapiros offices declined to comment. Cohen said via email that he was not available to speak.

Historic affiliation

The Academy of Natural Sciences, founded in 1812, houses one of the most significant collections anywhere of specimens and materials relating to the natural world. It is, in fact, a collection of collections. Its Center for Systematic Biology and Evolution boasts what the academy calls one of the worlds top natural history collections, with more than 19 million specimens of plants and animals from around the globe.

Many of the academys artifacts are of enormous historical value, including Thomas Jeffersons fossil collection, bird skins once belonging to John James Audubon, and pressed plants gathered by Lewis and Clark.

At its start, the historic affiliation, as Drexel referred to it, was seen as an innovative business model, giving the academy teaching opportunities for its scientists and ways to partner with Drexels technology and media arts programs for exhibitions.

For the university, the affiliation represented a promise to move Drexel into a national leadership position in environmental science and environmental policy, said Drexels then-president, John Fry, in 2011.

The fit is perfect because we fill each other in, Fry said then. But we also extend each other and push each other in new ways.

Fry, who has since become president of Temple University, could not be reached for comment.

The Drexel-Academy of Natural Sciences alliance was facilitated with the help of a $1 million grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

By putting the advancement of mission and programmatic excellence above institutional structure, they have ensured that the academys unparalleled collections will be preserved and enhanced and Drexels ambitious research and educational priorities will be expanded and advanced, said then-Pew president and CEO Rebecca W. Rimel at the time.

The affiliation was not a merger. The Academy of Natural Sciences became a subsidiary of Drexel, retaining its own board and legal status as a separate nonprofit organization (in contrast to the pending deal between Temple University and the Library Company of Philadelphia, which, under the terms of that pact, would result in the library being subsumed by the university).

Financial pressures

Drexel, which has an enrollment of 20,868, has been struggling with enrollment and financial pressures in recent years.

In November 2024, the school laid off 60 employees as it coped with a $63 million operating loss and a decline in first-year students. The school is undergoing a multiyear process to merge two of its colleges and a school, convert from a quarter system to semesters in 2027, and establish new core competencies.

In its downgrade, Moodys said that operating deficits are expected to continue at Drexel through fiscal year 2028, but then steadily improve.

Supplemental endowment draws will be used to support operations during the transition period, Moodys said. This reflects a weakness in financial policy and financial management, which are governance considerations and a key driver of this rating action. However, we note managements credible plans to strengthen operating performance after fiscal 2028.

One major public face of the academy is its museum, where the Dinosaur Hall features more than 30 species of dinosaurs and other reptiles. In September, the academy said it was cutting back its hours of operation, to three days a week from five.

Academy president and CEO Scott Cooper told staff the move was in response to financial pressures and a drop in attendance.

To address these issues, the academys leadership team conducted a yearlong strategic planning process to define the road map for the academys future sustainability, Cooper said. As a result of this planning and careful analysis, we have determined the need for a change in operations in order to achieve greater financial sustainability and a stronger foundation in the long term.
Graduates of Harvard Law School wave novelty gavels as they are conferred their degrees on May 29, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Going to graduate school can boost your career and salary  but some of the most popular advanced degrees are not worth the cost.

Thats one of the main findings of a report released Tuesday by the Postsecondary Education & Economics Research Center at American University.

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The report, based on research from the Yale Tobin Center for Economic Policy, found that graduate degrees in medicine, law, and pharmacy generally have the highest return on investment. By contrast, degrees in popular fields such as social work, psychology, and curriculum and instruction may actually have a zero to negative return after factoring in the full cost.

The message is that we need to provide better information to students about which programs are worth the time and expense, said Joseph Altonji, a Yale University economist and one of the reports authors.

The study comes at a time when the Trump administration and many education advocates have urged people to carefully consider the cost of graduate programs before enrolling, particularly if they need to take on student loans.

In December, the Education Department created a tool to highlight the earnings of college graduates when people apply for federal student aid. The agency is also in the midst of crafting regulations to cut off federal aid for college programs whose graduates earn only meager salaries.

The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment.

To figure out whether a degree makes sense financially, the authors tried to calculate how much it would lift someones lifetime earnings. They then adjusted that for the amount that earnings probably would have grown anyway and the total cost of attendance, including lost earnings during school and the amount that students could have earned investing the money earmarked for tuition.

The researchers found that earnings close to tripled for students who earned a medical doctorate and increased by more than two-thirds for those who obtained a doctorate in pharmacy (even after factoring in the costs of the education). By contrast, they found only a modest increase for some other degrees (such as architecture and certain kinds of engineering) and no gains for psychology, social work, and curriculum and instruction, after adding in the cost of the university program and any lost earnings.

Economists say it can be tricky to figure out whether a particular graduate program is worth the investment. The earnings vary not only by degree, but also by institution; whether students can continue to work while earning their degree; how likely they are to drop out; and how much they may be able to earn while in school.

Zhengren Zhu, co-author of the report, said many students just look at the earnings for graduates of a program.

Thats a bad idea, he said, noting that students at a particular school may have had high salaries even before they enrolled in grad school. Thats often true for elite business programs, for instance.

At the very least, you should compare what they earned before grad school and what they earn after, said Zhu, an assistant professor of economics at Vassar College.

The report was based on data from about 800,000 students over nearly three decades at public universities in Texas, where some of the most detailed earnings information is available. But the authors noted the findings were similar to those of a research paper that used data from Ohio.

The latest report also found graduate degrees generally provided a bigger boost to women, full-time students, and people who had lower-paying undergraduate degrees. Law and business programs also generally had a better return if they were highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report. The study did not factor in scholarships and other kinds of grants, which can lower the cost for some students and make graduate programs a better deal in some cases. In addition, the study excluded Ph.D.s, which are needed for certain jobs.

Preston Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who has also studied the return on investment for higher education, recommended that people try to find out as much as they can about the full cost of a program and how much it helps students boost their salaries. Thats especially true for expensive programs that can lead students to take on debt.

A graduate degree can benefit you financially in some circumstances, but it is a very risky proposition, Cooper said. You want to make sure you are working with all the information.

Altonji noted that some people pursue additional education for various reasons. Certain careers  including becoming a lawyer, physician, marriage counselor, clinical social worker, and school administrator  often require a graduate degree for licensing.

And some students may want a credential for a job they would find personally fulfilling, even if it is not particularly lucrative.

Money isnt everything, Altonji said.
Police investigate the killing of Imani Ringgold, near 60th and Market Streets on Tuesday. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Two men are wanted in connection with the fatal ambush of a 20-year-old woman who police say was caught in the crossfire of a West Philadelphia gang feud she had nothing to do with.

Police are searching for Zaire Manning, 21, and Mustafa King, 26, to charge them with murder and related crimes in the killing of Imani Ringgold near 60th and Market Streets Tuesday evening.

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Ringgold was on a break from work as a home health aide in the area  a job her family said shed started just days earlier  and had picked up a slice of pizza on the block around 6:20 p.m., police said.

She was on the phone with her grandmother, walking past a group of young men standing in front of a deli, police said, when three gunmen jumped out of a dark-colored Mazda and started shooting.

After Ringgold fell to the ground, one of the gunmen stood over her and shot her multiple times before fleeing. She died at Penn Presbyterian Hospital a short time later.

A 24-year-old man nearby was shot in the foot, and a 55-year-old woman was struck in the buttocks.

Investigators believe the gunmen had no reason to kill Ringgold and that she was a bystander caught in the crossfire, police said.

Investigators are still working to identify two other people involved.

Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said detectives are looking into whether the shooters were targeting the men standing behind Ringgold, and whether the gunfire was in retaliation for a quintuple shooting that left two men dead a few blocks away last week.

Her killing was the latest in what law enforcement sources believe has become a heated dispute between the West Philadelphia crews known as Northside and Southside, a more than decade-old rivalry that has left that section of West Philadelphia under siege in recent weeks.

Eleven people have been shot within a few-block-radius of 60th and Market Streets since March 27.
Faculty, staff and students gather for a press conference where they said the college must get free SEPTA passes for students. Read more

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Community College of Philadelphias faculty and staff union on Thursday accused the college of failing to meet promises made during contract negotiations, including providing free SEPTA passes for students.

The college also has not taken meaningful steps to provide a new on-campus childcare center, but rather remains in an exploration process a year after the contracts were settled, union members said during a news conference on campus.

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The college implemented a free transit pilot program for eligible students at its Career and Advanced Technology Center and West Regional Center in January, but nothing for those at its main campus or Northeast regional campus.

The college is failing to follow through on its word to students, Jamie Zigarelli, an English professor, said during the news conference.

Student Sarah Bradley, a single mother, also underscored the need for free SEPTA passes for student parents trying to balance work, family, and school. Its especially crucial now that the college is raising tuition 9.4% for next fall, she said. It is the schools first tuition increase in nine years.

 READ MORE: CCP board votes to raise tuition 9.4%, the schools first increase in nine years

Wheres the passes because they sure arent in our hands, she said.

Physics professor Gabriel Carryon said he has seen firsthand the effect of not having a childcare center on campus. About one-quarter of his students have children, he said.

Ive had countless experiences with students who have had to skip class because they couldnt secure childcare for their kids, Carryon said. No student should have to make this choice.

The college, in a statement, contended that the bargaining agreements reached last year do not include a commitment to free SEPTA passes for students.

 READ MORE: CCP faculty and staff union reaches tentative agreement, averting a strike

The College and Federation signed a noncontractual memorandum of understanding, which reads: The parties agree that during the term of this agreement the College will negotiate with SEPTA for a free public transportation benefit, the colleges statement said.

The college is continuing to negotiate with SEPTA and met as recently as Monday, the school said, while talking with student government leaders about the interest and evaluating the costs.

As for a childcare center on campus, the college said it closed a previous center because of a lack of use and financial losses for the college.

We are gathering real-time data from our staff and current student population to assess need while also reviewing our fiscal capacity to support such an endeavor during a time of increasing enrollment, operational expenses, and flat state funding, the college said.

Carryon said the college should be lobbying for more city and state funding. The state, for the second consecutive year, has proposed flat funding for community colleges, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, in her budget address last month, proposed an overall funding increase of $1.85 million, or 3.3%, for CCP for 2026-27.

Its not right that both the citys and states share of college funding has declined, while students share has risen, union members said.

So what happens when the city and state walk away from their promises to Philadelphias college, Zigarelli said. Who picks up the tab? The students do.

The college also agreed to a joint committee to study how to pay faculty leaders who design and run 40 programs at the college, Zigarelli said, but only named its delegates to the committee this week.

The college needs to get serious about working on it, Zigarelli said.

Union member Ariel Vazquez also discussed ongoing problems with HVAC in college buildings and said the school must take steps to remedy the situation.

Classroom temperatures are skyrocketing, sometimes hitting 90 degrees, leaving students drained, distracted, and struggling to focus, Vazquez said.
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Thousands of New Jersey public school students are on spring break this week. Some were off last week.

A state lawmaker wants to change that and has introduced a bill that would have New Jerseys nearly 600 school districts observe the same spring break beginning with the 2026-2027school year.

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State Sen. Patrick Diegnan (D., Middlesex) believes the change is needed for families to observe the same schedule. Teachers often live in towns other than where they work, and the different weeks off can present scheduling problems, he said. And in some cases, families might have children in two different districts.

 READ MORE: Most New Jersey public schools have reopened, and heres how theyre making up missed days

If signed into law by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, the bill would require the state education commissioner annually to recommend a date for all school districts to observe the same spring break.

Its important for families to spend time together, be together, Diegnan said in an interview this week. To me, its just common sense.

Diegnan pointed to his own family as an example. His daughter teaches in New Brunswick and lives in South Plainfield. The districts take their breaks on different weeks, making it impossible to plan a family vacation during that time, he said. The break schedule can also impact parental work schedules, he said.

What people are saying about the bill

Not everyone agrees with having universal spring break, however, and the bill could have an uphill battle. Versions of the bill have been introduced previously and have not passed.

School calendars are determined by local school districts, and the state requires schools to open for at least 180 days. The school year must align with the states fiscal year and end by June 30 or earlier.

Many districts plan spring break around religious holidays such as Passover and Good Friday and Easter.

This year, some South Jersey districts cut short their spring break to make up snow days. Cherry Hill had classes on March 30 and 31, which were supposed to be the first two days of spring break. Winslow also cut spring break short. Other districts had built-in days in their calendars that covered the missed days. School officials say flexibility is needed to adjust the calendar.

When schools close for spring break should be decided by local boards and school officials, said Timothy Purnell, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association. He called the bill family-friendly but said it should not become a mandate.

Spring breaks across the country span from late February through mid-April, with no state known to mandate a uniform date. School boards know their communities best  their religious observances, their local economies, their family traditions. Spring break shouldnt be set in Trenton, Purnell said in a statement.

Local control should remain, some say

While supporting the spirit of the bill, Clayton School Superintendent Nick Koutsogiannis said setting the school calendar should remain under local control, especially when flexibility is necessary to use spring break for emergency closings.

I would love to see legislation passed on allowing virtual school days in cases of emergency. But I guess that is a conversation for another day, said Koutsogiannis. (New Jersey currently only allows remote instruction under special circumstances, such as a declared public health emergency.)

Cherry Hill parent Carolina Bevad said she has mixed feelings about having a fixed spring break date. There are more pressing concerns with districts facing budget cuts, she said.

Of all the things that our state could be working on, aligning spring break is not the top of my priorities,  she said.

Bevad, who has two sons in the public schools, said more attention should be placed on scheduling uninterrupted weeks without students missing instruction time. The district should steer away from scheduling religious holidays and observe federal holidays, she said. Excused absences could be allowed for teachers and students for religious holidays, she said.

My priorities are really quality instruction, Bevad said. It just makes the calendar really choppy if you are appealing to everybody.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Education declined to comment on the bill.

Steve Baker, spokesperson for the New Jersey Education Association, the states largest teachers union, said the union has not taken a position on the bill. Diegnan said he has received support from teachers.

Next steps?

Deignan said lawmakers in the Assembly have expressed interest in cosponsoring the bill. He believes the Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on the bill as early as May. If it advances and passes, he said he hopes it could land on the governors desk by June and be signed into law for the upcoming school year.

I dont even understand why there would be any pushback. Lets at least try it and see how it works, Diegnan said.
Greatest Hits Records & Books is producing its first independent release: "Sounds of Delco," an LP featuring 92 short tracks that encompass Delco living. Read more

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Delaware County locals say the area has a specific sound, from its inhabitants famous accent to the bleating of the goats at Linvilla Orchards, to the sound of an Imperial Pizza box opening at 2 a.m. A neighborhood record shop is paying tribute to it all.

Greatest Hits Records & Books in Media is producing its first independent release: Sounds of Delco. The album features 92 short tracks (many less than a minute long) that the team behind it says capture the spirit of Delco.

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Its definitely not a traditional music record, said Dom Glisson, one of the shopkeepers and a producer on the album. Its more of an audio time capsule or a collection of small scenes.  The goal was just to make something that feels very true to this place, without over-polishing it.

Through a mix of field recordings  featuring coworkers out on the town with boom mics  and scripted studio productions, Sounds of Delco is reminiscent of vintage sound effect albums, records released between the 1950s and 1980s that offered audio snapshots in time.

Audio Fidelity Volume 1, for instance, released in 1960, had sounds of airplanes, a pinball machine, tap dancing, and a firetruck.

In contrast, Sounds of Delco will feature absolute bangers like Guy Stuck Holding Door at Wawa and Eagles Fan Realizing Cris Collinsworth is the Commentator. True to form, its being pressed and sold on a 140-gram standard black vinyl. For digital listeners, the albums also being released across streaming platforms.

Glisson and shop manager Jesse Gennett curated the album alongside their Greatest Hits coworkers. They say the end product is all if you know, you know locals-only types of references. Together, the staff collected sounds and wrote out scripts.

Glissons favorite track is No. 47, Delco Man Looks For His Vape (Vapes Not Here, Man). Another notable track is No. 25, Eagles Win  Broad Street Celebration, which involved intricate sound design work, with staff and friends recreating the sounds of joy, greased poles, and Birds chants.

The shops staff worked with Victor Sabatino, an engineer at Little Brother Audio in West Philly, to bring it all together.

Greatest Hits opened in 2024 and is an extension of Three Potato Four, a design studio and wholesale brand run by husband and wife Stuart Eli and Janet Morales since 2007. Their products  including licensed Snoopy bags and kitschy magnets  can be found in boutiques across the Philadelphia region and nationwide. For years, the team has made tchotchkes, dishware, notebooks, and buttons.

But theyve never made a vinyl record. Glisson says thats part of what made it so fun.

It really started as a way to pay homage to Delco in a way that we knew would resonate with our customers.

He added, Theres just a very specific rhythm and personality to the place. We started making a list of those hyper-specific moments  the things that people from here instantly recognize but are hard to explain to anyone else. And that became the backbone of the record."

Sounds of Delco is available for preorder on vinyl through April 12. The first pressing is limited to 500 copies. Orders will ship the week of May 8. A digital version of the album will drop on May 1.
Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is no longer covering GLP-1 injections like Eli Lilly's Zepbound for obesity. Read more

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Pennsylvanias Medicaid spending for GLP-1s like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound exploded to an estimated $1.3 billion last year  from $233 million in 2022, the year before Medicaid started covering the drugs for obesity.

That translates to an increase from 5% of overall drug spending to 22% over the same time period. Total Medicaid drug spending rose to $6 billion in 2025 from $4.8 billion in 2022, according to data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

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Pennsylvania was among 16 states that covered GLP-1s for obesity treatment last year, according to KFFs Medicaid budget survey in October. Since then, California, New Hampshire, and South Carolina stopped doing so, likely because of the drugs high costs and budget challenges, KFF said.

The rapid rise of GLP-1 expenses led state officials to announce in December that Medicaid would stop paying for the drugs when they are prescribed for obesity alone. The state still covers GLP-1s for diabetes and certain other conditions.

The human services department predicted that the coverage change would trim spending by $836 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

That spending reduction became another budget issue that attracted attention in Harrisburg.

State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick noted that Gov. Josh Shapiros fiscal 2027 budget proposal was asking for $84 million to backfill a reduction in pharmacy rebates.

Whats going on there? $84 million is a lot of money," Pennycuick asked Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said during a Senate budget hearing in February.

The biggest factor is the reduction GLP-1 coverage, Arkoosh said. It is still a net savings despite that reduction in the rebates, she said.
FILE - A Sting interceptor drone flies during drills at the Yatagan School for Unmanned Aerial Systems in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, on March 19, 2026. Read more

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KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian military personnel have shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, describing the operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons used by Russia in Ukraine.

Zelensky made his first public acknowledgment of the operations Wednesday in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Friday. He said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced interceptor drones proven successful in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia in Ukraine.

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This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air-defense system that can actually work, Zelensky said.

Ukraine took part in the defensive operations before the tentative ceasefire in the Middle East was reached among Iran, the United States, and Israel this week.

Zelensky did not identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air-defense systems. He previously said that 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.

In exchange, Ukraine is receiving weapons to protect its energy infrastructure, along with oil, diesel, and, in some cases, financial arrangements, he said.

The Ukrainian leader said the agreements would bolster Ukraines energy stability and described the partnerships as something that would be marketed as Kyiv seeks to formalize and expand its defense export role.

We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our countrys resilience, he said. This is far more than simply receiving money.

Ukraine will face more pressure

The disclosure comes amid concerns that conflict in the Middle East could divert Western military support from Ukraine, particularly air-defense supplies.

But Zelensky said that partners were continuing to supply missiles for Patriot systems, adding that a new batch had arrived in recent days and that Ukraine was working with all partners to ensure its air defense remained in place.

He warned that the coming spring and summer would be difficult for Ukraine, with growing political and battlefield pressure as the United States turns to domestic politics and elections.

Zelensky said he had urged U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv and proposed a trilateral format with Moscow. It remains unclear whether they will come or if talks will instead take place in a third country.

U.S.-led talks have made no progress on key issues, as Washingtons attention shifts to the Middle East conflict while Russian and Ukrainian forces remain locked in fighting along the roughly 800-mile front line.

Separately, Zelensky said he expects Western allies to restore full sanctions on Russian oil, warning that any easing could allow Moscow to sustain its war effort and offload key energy assets. Russia has been profiting from a surge in global energy prices, brought on by damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Persian Gulf and Irans blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for global oil supplies.

Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian energy sites to cut oil revenues as prices rose and U.S. sanctions eased. Zelensky said partners had urged Kyiv to scale back attacks during Irans disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, but he argued Russian oil has a limited impact on global markets.

I wont say who asked us to do this. But partners did ask  its a fact. They asked at different levels, from political to military leadership.

Putin declares Easter truce and Ukraine ready to reciprocate

Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce.

We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly, Zelensky said Friday on X. People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well.

Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described Putins move as a humanitarian gesture, but said Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its longstanding demands  a key sticking point that has prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement.

Peskov also confirmed that Putins envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is in the United States for meetings focused on economic issues. He noted that Dmitriev is conducting the meetings within the framework of a group on economic issues that he has led, adding that he is not involved in the talks on the war in Ukraine and his trip doesnt mean the resumption of the talks.

Dmitrievs visit to the U.S. comes just before the termination of the 30-day sanctions waiver for Russian oil.
File photo of edible marijuana samples at a cannabis testing laboratory in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 22, 2018. Read more

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Several students at a middle school in Bucks County became ill from eating suspected marijuana edibles on Thursday, officials said.

The incident occurred at William Penn Middle School in Lower Makefield Township, which is part of the Pennsbury School District.

Officials sent a statement to families of all middle school and high school students in the district to notify them that a small number of students allegedly ingested edibles laced with THC (the chemical component in marijuana) and became ill. The District immediately notified emergency medical personnel.

Lower Makefield Township Police Chief Joseph D. Kelly III told Phillyburbs.com that three students from William Penn Middle School were taken to the hospital for evaluations. A fourth student was taken home by parents.

District officials in their statement said that they have seen an increase in the use of edibles, vapes, and vapes with THC in our high schools and middle schools.
Recovery and demolition operations at the site of the partially collapsed garage in Grays Ferry Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. Read more

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Crews on Saturday morning began demolishing the partially collapsed Grays Ferry parking garage and are expected to take steps to recover the bodies of the two ironworkers who are presumed dead in the rubble.

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Officials said the city will host a community meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Vare Recreation Center, located at 2601 Moore St., to provide updates and answer questions.

Whats left of the under-construction Childrens Hospital of Philadelphias garage after the deadly collapse, which claimed the life of another worker pulled from the debris, is extremely weakened and could collapse at any moment, officials have said. The buildings unstable condition has forced rescuers to proceed slowly and carefully, even as the two workers remain unaccounted for.

We are laser focused on safely seeing the demolition of that structure occur while working extremely hard to ensure dignity in the recovery of any of the human souls that we are able to return to their families, with dignity, and a whole lot of prayer, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said at a news conference Thursday night.

The three workers were at the 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue construction site Wednesday about 2:15 p.m. when a precast concrete roof segment in the stairwell tower failed and fell through every level, reverberating like a crack of thunder. The workers names have not been made public, but Parker said all were members of Philadelphias Ironworkers Union Local 401.

Throughout Friday morning, first responders in neon vests reinforced the perimeter around the seven-level structure. Hums and thuds of heavy machinery echoed as a crane was erected over several hours, and helicopter propellers flapped overhead.

By mid-afternoon, workers prepared for the cranes ascent. Affixed to the crane was a green and orange flag, bearing Ironworkers Local Union 401. Dust flew from the base of the crane throughout the road and nearby parking lot as it was lifted. Yellow construction vehicles then scooped up dirt from the road and dumped it toward the foundation of the battered parking structure.

Officials had said demolition would begin Friday afternoon, but by 4:30 p.m., activity had slowed to a halt with the crane suspended in the air, mounds of dirt lined up in front of the parking structure, and a handful of workers in hard hats lounging by a police truck, leaning up against silver fencing.

In a statement late Friday night, Mayor Parker said demolition of the structure was expected to begin early Saturday morning.

Our first priority remains proceeding with safety for the crews and the community, and dignity for the two lost souls who are presumed deceased, Parker said.

We will move forward only as conditions allow us to do so safely and responsibly, the mayor said.

About 15 miles away, outside the unions Northeast Philadelphia lodge, the flag billowed at half-staff beneath a cloudless sky. Parker and Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday ordered flags be lowered in mourning. Midday, two men stood locked in a hushed conversation, while another sat alone on a grassy curb in the parking lot. A representative for the union declined to comment.

Since the structure caved in, authorities have been monitoring its stability. Lasers showed severe movement and deemed the building even more dangerous than anticipated, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey W. Thompson said.

Four dogs  two trained to find survivors and two trained to find human remains  were sent into the ruins in hopes of locating the workers, but their search found no signs of life. As of Thursday night, Parker described the citys continued efforts as shifting from rescue to recovery.

 READ MORE: Two missing workers at CHOP garage presumed deceased'

This tragedy is a painful reminder of the risks that working men and women in the building trades face every day to help build and strengthen our city, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said in a statement, whose district includes the garage.

Its unclear how long the deconstruction may take, and officials have been reluctant to give a timeline as the structures stability must be continually reevaluated. The nearby Grays Ferry Shopping Center has remained closed, and pedestrians and traffic have been rerouted around Grays Ferry Avenue from 29th to 31st Streets.

CHOP officials did not respond to an email seeking comment on its plans for the garage. The project  a 300,000-square-foot space intended for hospital workers  proved controversial in the neighborhood and was criticized for its scale. The building would be by far the largest new free-standing garage built in recent Philadelphia history.

Residents of streets surrounding the worksite began receiving leaflets and verbal warnings ahead of the demo from the Department of Licenses and Inspections, offering pre-demolition inspections of their homes.

Magge Foster, a block captain on South 29th Street and an organizer against the garage, said she contacted L&I to take the agency up on the inspection offer. However, as of 2:15 p.m. Friday, no crew had arrived.

I called at 10 a.m. this morning to ask for the inspection, Foster said. But they havent come by yet or called me or anything.

 READ MORE: Failure of precast concrete roof is suspected to have triggered Grays Ferry parking garage collapse

Parker has promised a thorough investigation into what caused the garage to collapse, and the District Attorneys Office was at the site ensuring any evidence was preserved.

Precast concrete is a common construction material  especially in parking garages and bridges  that is poured off-site, and then its slabs are fit together. While accidents are rare, they can be deadly because of the materials sheer weight.

We are going to get to the damn bottom of what happened, the mayor said at the news conference. We will empower the tools of transparency while we are doing it.
A worker pauses while re-hanging a panel of Oney Judge at the Presidents House in Independence National Historical Park in February. Read more

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President Donald Trumps administration is prohibited from making changes to the Presidents House site while its appeal of a lower courts injunction is ongoing, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

The order ostensibly affirms a previous administrative stay the appeals court entered in February, which paused parts of District Judge Cynthia M. Rufes injunction but allowed others to remain in force.

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The federal government is not required to fully restore the Presidents House site to its condition before the abrupt January removal of the slavery exhibit, but is prohibited from making any and all further changes to the Presidents House Site, including the installation of replacement materials, without mutual agreement of the City of Philadelphia, Circuit Judge Thomas M. Hardimans order said.

The judge instructed the federal government to continue to preserve the status quo as to the Presidents House.

Prior to the previous stay, the federal government had begun  but not finished  reinstalling exhibits Rufe had ordered restored.

The order came two days after the National Park Service quietly uploaded renderings of proposed new panels for the site. The proposed exhibits sanitize George Washingtons role in the enslavement of nine individuals at the Presidents House and attempt to cast the first commander-in-chief in a more sympathetic light.

 READ MORE: The Trump administration wants to sanitize George Washingtons role in slavery at Presidents House

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, one panel says.

The governments focus on the site follows a 2025 executive order in which Trump called for a review of displays at national parks that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.

The new panel renderings acknowledge the full breadth of our nations history and that no piece of history should be washed away, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said in a statement Wednesday.

The hard work and sacrifices of the men and women who built this nation deserve to be remembered and honored, the spokesperson said.

Historians criticized the new panels as being too general, saying the panels tell the story of slavery in the United States but gloss over the specific history of the people enslaved by Washington in his Philadelphia home.

The Presidents House site was specifically designed as a memorial to nine enslaved people at George Washingtons Philadelphia residence, Ed Stierli, senior Mid-Atlantic regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement. Those peoples stories matter, and the administrations efforts to dismantle this exhibit earlier this year were nothing short of an attempt to erase American history and hide the truth from the American people.

The federal government did not approach the city about the new panels, according to a Wednesday statement by City Solicitor Renee Garcia. The law department did not have additional comment following Thursdays stay order.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania declined to comment.

The litigation continues to proceed on two tracks. The Third Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Justice Departments injunction appeal on June 2. Meanwhile, the city has until May 1 to respond to the Justice Departments motion to dismiss the underlying lawsuit in district court.
Mr. DeMarco went to St. Josephs Prep in 1988, taught history, and developed the schools library into the place to be on campus. Read more

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Joseph R. DeMarco, 78, of Philadelphia, author of the Marco Fontana, and Doyle and Kord detective mystery series, the Vampire Inquisitor books, and many stories, articles, essays, and columns about LGBTQ+ life in Philadelphia, high school history teacher, retired librarian at St. Josephs Preparatory School, editor, and mentor, died Sunday, March 29, of cardiac arrest at his home.

Born and reared in South Philadelphias Little Italy in the 1950s and 60s, Mr. DeMarco earned college degrees at St. Josephs, Temple, and Drexel Universities, and taught high school history classes in Camden and Philadelphia for more than 30 years. He also wrote more than a dozen books, six about fictional Philly private detective Marco Fontana and two about fictional private investigator partners Doyle McCann and Kord Verlangen.

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Most often, Mr. DeMarcos detectives take on mysterious cases while simultaneously navigating their complicated lives in Philadelphias Gayborhood. His stories and columns on cultural and social issues also appeared in the Philadelphia Gay News, the Advocate, and other LGBTQ+ publications.

In 1983, his article Gay Racism was named best feature by the Gay Press Association. City life, he said on his website, josephdemarco.com, is great but not for the faint of heart.

Mr. DeMarco also wrote plays, poetry, and blogs, and many of his stories and essays are included in celebrated anthologies. He even contributed a pasta sauce recipe to a popular cookbook.

He was editor at the weekly Philadelphia Gayzette and New Gay Life in the 1970s, and wrote his books under the name Joseph R.G. DeMarco.

He had a gentle exterior but a firm resolve inside. Longtime companion Yun Li on Mr. DeMarco

A longtime member of the Gay Activists Alliance, Mr. DeMarco helped establish what is now the William Way LGBT Community Center in 1976. Over 50 years, he steered the center and nurtured its library into one of the countrys top LGBTQ+ historical collections.

He earned a Founders Award from center colleagues in February and told the Gay News then that the center lets people know that were here, that were all right, that its all right to be here, and its all right to be yourself.

Center colleague Bob Skiba told the Gay News: He was not only talented but contributed to the larger community. Mr. DeMarcos younger sister, Louise Kelly, said: It was a quiet service that he provided. He had ideas about being gay.

After college, Mr. DeMarco taught history for a few years at Camden High School and the old Edward Bok High School. He went to St. Josephs Prep in 1988, taught history, and developed the library into a valuable resource for teachers and the place to be on campus.

When I started writing for PGN, I was given many wonderful opportunities to cover not only splashy happenings but also features honing in on issues that didnt get headline coverage. Mr. DeMarco in 2016 on writing for the Philadelphia Gay News

He mentored students and other teachers, and supervised the schools popular Model United Nations program, the Library Club, and several student publications. He also taught at St. Josephs University and online for Widener University after he retired from the Prep in 2004.

I dont think anyone at St. Josephs Prep was a more positive influence in the lives of his students than Mr. DeMarco, a former member of the Preps Library Club said in an online tribute.

Other former students called him gentle, kind, and considerate. They praised his kindness and generosity and admired his willingness to take on difficult challenges and stick with them.

The oldest of three children, Joseph Rocco DeMarco was born June 18, 1947. He was an altar boy and an Eagle Scout, and his sister described him as intelligent, spirited, and playful with a good imagination.

 READ MORE: Survivors give advice about mourning their loved ones, as told to The Inquirers obit writer

He graduated from the old St. John Neumann Catholic High School in 1965 and earned a bachelors degree in political science at what is now St. Josephs University in 1969 and masters degrees later at Temple and Drexel.

He reveled in his Italian heritage and lived and studied in Florence for a time. He also attended schools in New York and the Czech Republic.

Mr. DeMarco was an engaging conversationist, and he spoke English, Italian, German, and some Chinese. He lived briefly in Montreal and served as best man at the wedding of his younger brother, Salvatore. Joseph was always there for me and always had a way to help me make sense of things, his brother said.

He met Yun Li in 2003, and they were companions for more than two decades. His former partner, Bill Philips, died earlier.

 READ MORE: When parents die, even the mundane memories comfort their children. Here are their tales, as told to The Inquirers obit writer.

Mr. DeMarco collected art and figurines, played billiards and bocce, and enjoyed music, especially movie soundtracks. In tributes, friends said he loved Philly and its people fiercely and called him truly accomplished, courageous, and inspiring.

He read all the time. Joes home was a library, and that is not an exaggeration, Li said. I lived in the Dark Ages before I met him. He was my Italian Renaissance man.

In addition to his companion and siblings, Mr. DeMarco is survived by other relatives.

Services were held earlier.

Donations in his name may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607; Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33304; and the Monastery of St. Clare, 1271 Langhorne Newtown Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
Bikers wait at a stoplight to cross during their ride along Spruce Street in the bike lanes near Fourth Street in 2019. Read more

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This weeks Shackamaxon looks at the many ways the interests of the few so often trump the common good.

Keeping up with the Joneses

Pay any attention to City Hall for a considerable length of time, and youll end up witnessing what one commenter once called the City Council Awards  the segment of public meetings when the work of consequential legislating sometimes takes a back seat to handing out honors and preening. If nothing else, it offers a window into how the various Council members are thinking. It also supplies frequent fodder for social media chatter, since  despite the cameras  our local officials just cant help but embarrass themselves and the city when they have the floor.

This week, it was 4th District Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.s turn.

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To be fair to Jones, he is capable of being productive. He was a major proponent of creating the 100 Shooting Review, an effort to document the toll of gun violence in the city, which ended up shedding light on the terrifying surge in violent crime that occurred during the height of the pandemic. Unfortunately, that achievement exists alongside what appears to be Jones growing curmudgeonly attitude toward the job, especially since his colleagues passed him over for Kenyatta Johnson for the position of Council president.

Perhaps thats why on Tuesday, Jones said in public what many usually say behind closed doors. He asked city officials why they had to close two major bridges in his district  the Falls Bridge and the 59th Street Bridge  while he was up for reelection. He then urged them to delay the project until 2028, after the votes were counted.

While residents often suspect that politics plays a role in when city projects happen, rarely does a politician admit to it in public. The statement is all the more shocking given how rarely district councilmembers, Jones included, face challengers. Since his election all the way back in 2007, Jones has essentially gone unopposed.

I gave Jones an opportunity to explain if the comments were meant as a joke. He did not take it.

This episode is another example of why district member control of land use and executive functions  known as councilmanic prerogative  must be curtailed. No matter how often they insist that all they do is represent community voices, the record shows theres a lot of self-interest.

Much ado about ADUs

The fairly dry proceedings at the Zoning Board of Adjustment are also worth paying attention to if you want to know how the city is and isnt working. One case from November 2021 has stayed with me.

Padideh Moghaddam and Ramtin Saneekhatam were bringing Moghaddams parents over from Iran to live with them. To accommodate the move, they sought to turn their 2,700-square-foot East Kensington rowhouse into a triplex. Like many families, they wanted their parents close by, but also a bit of their own distinct space. The project would not have involved any new construction, just the remodeling of their interior. They would not be adding a car that would compete with neighbors for street parking.

The couple hired an attorney and an architect. After a local neighborhood association surprised them by voting 6-7 against the project, they knocked on doors to gather more support. Eleven neighbors signed their petition. The area is also zoned for mixed-use structures and hosts other, similar multifamily buildings. At the zoning board hearing, their lawyer described it as an easy case. It wasnt.

One near neighbor called in to oppose the project, dismissing their desire for a small amount of distance and personal space, saying that they should be able to figure out how to get along and share a kitchen. Frankly, speculation about the internal dynamics of another household should never be a neighbors business, let alone aired at a public hearing. Still, the proposal was voted down unanimously.

What happened shows why the city should embrace the nationwide movement to legalize accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. It comes a few years too late for the Saneekhatam-Moghaddam family, but 3rd District Councilmember Jamie Gauthiers ADU proposal could make life easier for people in similar situations.

While in much of the country, the word ADU evokes a backyard cottage, that is not a valid option for most Philadelphians. After all, you cant build a cottage on a rowhouses four-foot deep backyard. What the legislation will do, however, is allow modifications within the current footprint of the house, like what was planned in East Kensington.

Sadly, this legislation is unlikely to be implemented citywide because of councilmanic prerogative. Even when City Council has good ideas, the tradition of giving Council members control over their fiefdom holds Philadelphia back.

Bike lane battle

After Barbara Friedes, the pediatric chief resident at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, was killed by motorist Michael Vahey while riding her bike in July 2024, Philadelphia did something unexpected: It acted. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Council President Johnson vowed to protect cyclists. Places of worship agreed to surrender parking privileges they held for decades. City Council passed a law preventing stopping in the bike lanes along Spruce and Pine Streets, and new concrete barriers were approved to bolster protection for those riding their bikes. For motorists who need access to their homes, new spots for loading and unloading were proposed.

Then a group named Friends of Pine and Spruce sued to stop the democratically approved plan, and the Society Hill Community Association (SHCA) spent $25,000 to support the case. The plan is now stuck in limbo.

Given the associations intervention, you might think the idea is wildly unpopular in Society Hill. The results of a community survey anonymously sent to me suggest that this is not the case.

According to the survey, most people were in favor of stronger protections. More than 50% wanted the citys current plan to proceed. Another 16.3% wanted the plan to proceed, with occasional breaks in the concrete for loading zones. Just 30.6% of respondents opposed the plan entirely.

The current leadership of SHCA decried the survey as not legitimate, but past SHCA president Susan Burt Collins told me the results match her own perception of the neighborhoods sentiment.

This is a common problem in Philadelphia: While district councilmembers and community groups often present themselves as speaking for everyone, they pick and choose which perspectives count. Those who agree with them are treated as the vox populi, while voices that dont are labeled as unrepresentative outsiders. Hard data on how people feel are rarely part of the debate.

Making matters worse is that, unlike most registered community organizations, the Society Hill Civic Association charges dues in order for residents to secure voting rights. They also receive funding from something called the Interstate Land Management Corporation, which operates parking lots created by the construction of I-95. That means a board elected by an undemocratic poll tax is using resources derived from public assets to push an agenda thats unpopular in the neighborhood, and counter to Council-passed and mayor-signed legislation.

Neighborhood civic associations absolutely enlighten the city when they take on planning community events, cleaning and greening, and other functions that foster togetherness. They simply arent the right venue to make important policy decisions that affect the lives and safety of people from across the city.
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, on March 11. Read more

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On Wednesday, ABCs Jonathan Karl asked President Donald Trump if he was OK with the Iranians charging a toll for all ships that go through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Arab Gulf channel through which 20% of the worlds oil must travel to market.

By that time, the fate of the global economy was hanging on getting that narrow waterway opened. After Trump started his war with Iran, the Tehran government  for the very first time  had seized control of the strait and mostly shut it down. That is why U.S. gas prices at the pump have soared.

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The president had threatened to wipe out Irans whole civilization unless it opened the strait by 8 p.m. Tuesday. He railed online, Open the Fuckin Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell  JUST WATCH!

About two hours before the deadline, clearly influenced by plunging markets and angry MAGA voters  and eager to rid himself of the Iran war burden  Trump suddenly agreed to a two-week ceasefire that left Iran still controlling the strait.

By the time he spoke with Karl, Trump was ready to green-light Iranian extortion of tolls from tankers so long as the U.S. shared in the take. Were thinking of doing it as a joint venture, he said. Its a way of securing it  also securing it from lots of other people  Its a beautiful thing.

Nothing so clearly illustrates the madness of this Iran war, and that of its architect, Donald J. Trump, than his urge to profit from a strategic disaster. But the incompetence, geopolitical ignorance, and disconnect from reality that led the president to embark on this war are also putting America  and the U.S. economy  at great risk.

Its hard to conceptualize the level of venality that would inspire Trump to imagine colluding with Iran in shaking down Americas close Arab partners.

I dont think he understands what he has been saying, said Philip Wasielewski, director of the Foreign Policy Research Institutes Center for the Study of Intelligence and Nontraditional Warfare and a 30-year veteran of the CIA and the Marine Corps. We would become partners with Iran in the illegal charging for use of an international waterway. We would be extorting our own allies.

This would reverberate not just in the Middle East, but in Asia. We would be setting an example for China in potentially blocking the Taiwan Strait. We cannot be coconspirators in extortion for the worlds oil.

Dont be so sure, under the presidency of Trump.

Even though the president is renowned for viewing foreign policy through the prism of financial deals and benefits, his bizarre take on Iran has our Gulf allies reeling.

Their ire goes beyond the fact that Trumps sons (and the son of special Iran negotiator Steve Witkoff) are all in the cryptocurrency business and could potentially benefit if Iran goes through with its pledge to charge tanker traffic $1 worth of cryptocurrency for each barrel of oil that passes through the strait.

 READ MORE: Iran looks likely to win strategically despite U.S. tactical military gains | Trudy Rubin

Six weeks ago, the U.S. went to war supposedly to end Irans nuclear program, the distinguished Lebanese journalist Hisham Melhem told me. Now Trump talks about a joint venture with the regime in Tehran.

Arab allies advised Trump against starting this war because they didnt believe the Iranian regime could be toppled by airstrikes. They feared a wounded Iran would retaliate against them. This is just what happened, as Tehran targeted their oil and gas infrastructure with missiles and drones, even as Iran blocked them from exporting most of their oil.

Iran remains down but not out, said Melhem. It has withstood U.S. and Israeli bombing for six weeks. It has retained 30% to 50% of its missile arsenal and thousands of drones, which are cheap to make. And Iran has a new weapon: control of the Strait of Hormuz.

To remove the Iranians from control of the strait would take a massive new U.S. military commitment, which Arab allies doubt Trump is willing to consider because it would probably trap the U.S. in a quagmire. They fear he will make concessions to Iran in talks that will begin Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan, and then simply declare victory. Meantime, they will be left with a militarily weakened but politically empowered Iran that has huge sway over their economic futures.

Yet, what has most shocked Americas allies is the behavior of a U.S. leader who seems to be veering out of control.

First, there are the sick threats by a POTUS who is blind to the impact U.S. presidential words have on the world around him. The genocidal calls about wiping out Iranian civilization, the vulgar curses, the gross insults to allied leaders dont make him look strong in the eyes of friend and foe. They make him look crazy.

Such shameful self-indulgence foster speculation (as I heard at the Munich Security Conference in February) about Trumps mental decline.

Second, there is the sheer recklessness and ignorance with which Trump undertook the Iran war, and the political incompetence with which the White House has handled it.

 READ MORE: White House rejection of Ukraines help to fight Iranian drones may cost U.S. military lives | Trudy Rubin

In the middle of nuclear negotiations with Iran in February, which Omani mediators said had made progress, Trump decided  after a talk with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu  to embark on a war.

He based that decision on assumptions that he should have known were crazy if he had bothered to listen to any serious Iran expert  namely that an air war could topple the Iranian regime. But, of course, Trump says he only needs to check with his own morality and his own mind.

Neither Arab nor Asian nor NATO allies were consulted. Nor do they have any trust in the Trump teams ability to negotiate a decent long-term deal with the prickly, difficult Iranians.

The presidents chief negotiator will be Vice President JD Vance, who has little foreign policy experience. He spent the last week not prepping for this tough assignment, but stumping in Budapest for Hungarian President Viktor Orban, a four-term illiberal leader and MAGA darling who has curbed the courts, the press, and immigration. Vances top priority will no doubt be to please his boss and advance his 2028 presidential hopes, so its hard to expect much from the talks.

Moreover, Orban looks likely to lose Sundays election, which would make Vance look particularly foolish. But he wont be helped by the other negotiators, Trumps real estate buddy Steve Witkoff and first son-in-law Jared Kushner. Neither has any expertise on Iran or nuclear issues. Both mistakenly believe complex political talks are no different from negotiating real estate deals.

If Trumps primary goal is a speedy but dangerous exit, leaving Iran as a Hormuz toll collector, his team isnt likely to put the brakes on. But neither is Tehran likely to share proceeds with Washington.

One thing is certain. Life will not return to life before the last six weeks, as Melhem told me.

Expect oil prices to stay high, the global economy to suffer, and the Mideast to remain unstable. Talks  if they dont collapse  are likely to drag on, or end with more U.S. concessions to empowered Iranian hard-liners. The regime in Tehran may ultimately falter from internal rot, but not from a Trump victory.
Jonathan Zimmerman had been scheduled to debate the conservative podcaster Steven Crowder on Friday on the University of Pennsylvania's campus before officials effectively shut down the event. Read more

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Steven Crowder is a right-wing political podcaster. He spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, falsely suggesting it was stolen. He has mocked gay and trans people. And he called a television reporter aggressively Asian, contrasting her to the Americanized Asians more commonly seen on TV.

So why did I agree to debate him at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday?

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The first reason is that Im an educator, and I think we need to speak across our differences in order to learn from each other. Thats also why I agreed to be a podcast guest of Joe Rogan, who has said some pretty terrible things himself.

The second reason is that Im a Democrat, and I didnt want to validate conservatives much-repeated claim that the liberal academy is afraid to talk to them.

But now Penn has confirmed it by effectively shutting down my debate with Crowder. And that makes me wonder if we want debate at all.

We liberals talk a good game about that, of course, proclaiming our commitment to challenging discussions and difficult conversations. But when a conversation might become truly challenging  or difficult  we run the other way.

Penns performing arts center initially agreed to host Crowder last Friday and to let him livestream our debate, which is his standard practice. If our discussion was taped and distributed later, he said, critics could claim it had been edited to favor one side or disfavor another. Thats why he insists on livestreaming everything he does.

Then the university told him he couldnt do that, and Crowder pulled out. Penns open expression guidelines state that livestreaming an event is not permitted except in limited circumstances where reaching a wide audience is appropriate and approved by university officials.

I thought it would be highly appropriate for our debate to reach a wide audience, instead of restricting it to Penn. And it would also be fully consistent with our duty to educate for democracy, which is another goal that Penn puts in bright lights.

No such luck. Livestreaming the event would pose a threat to safety, university officials said, because it might inspire a flash mob to descend on the university. Its just as plausible that blocking the livestream would have done that, because the only way viewers could watch the debate would be to attend in person. We dont know, which is precisely why we shouldnt let the university determine who gets to speak and where.

And Penn is proposing even more limits on what we can say. A new draft of its guidelines would prohibit speech that targets individuals or groups on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, and more. So would From the river to the sea, Palestine must be free  which some Jews hear as a call for genocide against them  be banned?

That was a rallying cry of demonstrators at Penn and elsewhere after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Now nobody knows what is safe to say. No wonder theres been so little protest on our campuses against the recent American and Israeli strikes on Iran, even after President Donald Trumps genocidal threat to destroy a whole civilization there.

Part of that silence is due to Trumps attacks on higher education, of course. His administration arrested student demonstrators and threatened universities with huge fines if they allowed illegal protests, whatever that means. But the universities are at fault, too, for their craven capitulations to him. That starts with their new speech restrictions, at Penn and on other campuses around the country.

And censorship is the enemy of education, in all times and places. Crowder and I could have learned from each other, and we could have taught the audience something, as well. I received dozens of messages from students in the days before our scheduled debate, telling me how excited they were to see me go toe-to-toe with Crowder.

Censorship is the enemy of education, in all times and places.

Theyre disappointed now. And we taught them a different kind of lesson: that some speech is too dangerous for them to hear.

Meanwhile, we also gave Crowder another convenient weapon for owning the libs. As soon as Penn said he couldnt livestream, he went on the air to tell his fans that the left-wing academy didnt want to talk to conservatives.

Id like to hear a statement from Prof. Zimmerman, one listener wrote. Itd be interesting to see if hes willing to stand up to his school administration for free speech.

So here is my statement: Penn is a storied institution, but it has lost the plot on open expression. And it is playing right into the hands of people like Crowder, who say were too scared to engage them.

Ill be happy to debate Steven Crowder, anywhere he chooses. It wont be at my own university, but that will be Penns loss. And you can be sure of one thing: It will be livestreamed. I hope youll tune in.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker proposes a $1-per-ride Uber and Lyft tax to help bail the Philadelphia School District out of a budget deficit during an announcement at McDaniel Elementary School on Monday, March 23, 2026. Read more

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Philadelphia Uber users are seeing a new banner message at the top of their receipts after hailing a ride: Learn more, it reads, about Mayor Parkers proposed tax that will make your trips more expensive.

The message is explicit. And it is just one part of Ubers increasingly in-your-face pressure campaign to try to kill a proposed $1-per-ride tax on rideshare services in Philadelphia.

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Last week, the company emailed thousands of Philadelphia app users and directed them to contact the mayors administration and members of City Council to oppose the tax. A spokesperson for the company said more than 6,000 letters have been sent as of this week.

Through a mix of City Hall lobbying and consumer-facing communications, Uber is deploying an aggressive opposition strategy in Philadelphia that is part of a now-familiar playbook. As the tech giant has faced regulation and taxation across the country, it has recruited its users to be political advocates, and has tried to win over lawmakers by saying that new fees will harm working-class riders and drivers.

Now, Uber is bringing those tactics to Philly, where Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has proposed taxing rides that originate in Philadelphia. The fee, her administration says, would raise about $48 million annually and go to the Philadelphia School District, which is facing a $300 million fiscal cliff and may cut hundreds of jobs.

Rideshare services, like Uber and Lyft, are already taxed at 1.4% in Philadelphia. That fee, which is paid by riders, is imposed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, and two-thirds of the revenue goes to the school district.

Whether the proposed additional tax becomes a reality will be largely up to City Council, which will consider the mayors plan in the coming months and must pass a budget by the end of June.

 READ MORE: I dont like it: Some Council members are skeptical of Mayor Cherelle Parkers $1 rideshare tax proposal

Parker and her administration have said the rideshare tax  one of several tax increases she is proposing in her annual budget plan  will be imposed on the rideshare companies.

But Uber is making clear that it is riders who will pay. The legislation that Council is considering to enable the fee says that rideshare companies shall collect the tax  from the passenger.

At a time when Philadelphians are already stretched thin due to rising housing costs and everyday expenses, the mayor is proposing to make your Uber rides less affordable, the company says on its website. This new $1 tax would be passed directly onto you, the rider.

 READ MORE: Who benefits  and who pays  in Mayor Cherelle Parkers new Philadelphia budget plan

Parker, who has served in public office for more than 20 years, is no stranger to corporate lobbying, and she has been notably unyielding in negotiations with both Council and outside interests since she took office as mayor in 2024.

Administration officials say Parker plans to partner with school advocates on a messaging campaign of their own. The mayor and her allies will tell Council members and the public that multibillion-dollar corporations based out of town will have a small price to pay to support Philadelphia schoolchildren and prevent more than 300 district job cuts.

And the mayor will emphasize that dozens of jurisdictions across the country already tax rideshare services.

Im putting this proposal on the table because we need to do all that we can so that students dont have to suffer from these devastating cuts, Parker said when she unveiled the plan last month.

She also believes she has public opinion on her side.

A recent poll of Democratic primary voters in Philadelphia found that 60% approved of the tax and 35% disapproved, according to a polling memo obtained by The Inquirer. The survey was conducted by Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies and paid for by Parkers campaign arm.

Support for the tax was strongest among progressives, who have traditionally not been part of the more centrist mayors political base.

But ahead of an expected final budget vote in June, Uber has months to lobby City Council members, several of whom have already expressed concern that the proposed tax could hurt low-income constituents.

That is a key point Uber is trying to convey to lawmakers. In written communications to Council members, the company is emphasizing that rideshare has become essential for some residents and says that, last year, more than two million rides in the city were used to access either healthcare or school.

Theres a clear misconception among some policymakers about who uses Uber in Philadelphia, said Uber spokesperson Jazmin Kay. Our riders and drivers are overwhelmingly working-class, and this regressive tax would disproportionately burden them.

At a recent Council meeting, a handful of company representatives chatted with Council members and their staffs. The company has also hired several veteran lobbyists who have relationships with Council members.

They distributed literature that framed the tax as regressive. Uber said more than half its Philadelphia rides originate in areas deemed underserved by the federal government.

Lyft has made a similar argument. In a letter sent to Parker on Thursday, the company said the tax will fall hardest on riders who have no alternative, forcing them to make impossible choices between attending a doctors visit, getting to work, and stretching an already tight budget.

Aside from the letter, Lyft has not taken similarly visible steps to oppose the tax. Meanwhile, Uber has taken other strides to win goodwill with the public.

On March 30, less than a week after Parker announced that she was proposing a $1-per-ride tax  an increase from an earlier plan to charge 20 cents per ride  Uber announced it would expand a program for seniors in the city. The company piloted its senior rides initiative that aims to ease the process of requesting transportation for older adults in West Philadelphia, and it is now expanding to Northeast Philly.

For Uber, deploying a mix of direct lobbying and intense public pressure is becoming a time-honored strategy.

Since its founding in 2010, the company has developed a reputation of aggressively opposing taxation and regulation efforts. Early on, Uber launched in cities across the country before seeking permission to do so  including in Philadelphia  and then opposed government restrictions on its operations.

More recently, the company has faced efforts to unionize its drivers, or to require the company classify them as employees instead of independent contractors.

One of the most prominent regulatory clashes took place in California, where gig economy businesses like Uber and Lyft pushed for a ballot measure in 2020 that effectively allowed them to classify drivers as independent contractors.

Ahead of the election, Uber pushed political messaging directly through its app, telling riders that wait times and prices would rise if the measure, Proposition 22, did not pass. Riders had to press a button reading confirm in order to get a ride.

The ballot measure passed.

Staff writer Jake Blumgart contributed to this article.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, along with city officials, provides updates on the deadly parking garage collapse at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue on Thursday, April 9. Read more

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Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced Thursday night that two workers missing in the collapse of a Grays Ferry parking garage are presumed deceased.

The seven-story corner tower suffered a deadly collapse on Wednesday afternoon, killing one worker and leaving two more missing. Parker said that the demolition of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphias parking garage will begin tomorrow.

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Rescue efforts proceeded slowly and carefully Thursday, because of the buildings unstable condition. Parker said K-9 dogs were brought in to help search the ruins, but their efforts were fruitless.

No signs of life were identified by the four highly trained dogs, Parker said. We now had the intelligence that was essential and necessary to support our shifting from rescue to recovery.

The names of the individuals have not been released, but Parker said that the city is in touch with their families. All three men are members of Philadelphias Iron Workers Union Local 401.

The subcontractor installing the precast concrete for the project is Ohio-based Precast Services Inc., according to Parker, who said on Wednesday night that the collapse began when a precast roof segment failed.

Precast concrete is a common construction material, especially in parking garages and bridges. It is poured off site and then slabs are fit together. Accidents are rare. But when they occur the consequences can be deadly, because of the sheer weight of the material.

On Thursday evening, residents of the streets surrounding the worksite began receiving leaflets and verbal warnings from the Department of Licenses and Inspections offering an interior pre-demolition survey of your home in anticipation of Fridays demolition action.

Philadelphias managing director, Adam Thiel, said that the city will be preparing for demolition overnight and monitoring the site. Deconstruction should begin Friday afternoon.

We expect that this will remain a very complex and extremely dangerous incident, said Thiel. We will not stop until everyone is returned to their loved ones with dignity, respect, and honor.

On Wednesday night, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey W. Thompson said that he planned to carefully deconstruct the building to try and rescue the missing workers.

But his team monitored the structure with lasers last night, and found that the structure was extremely weakened and even more dangerous than anticipated.

Unfortunately, they did detect severe movement, which was an indicator that this building was severely unstable and could collapse at any moment, said Thompson.

On Thursday, they brought in four dogs, two trained to find live people trapped in debris and two trained to find human remains. Only the latter two dogs reacted to their findings in the ruined building.

So we were confident that what we were dealing with was no longer a rescue, but a recovery, said Thompson.

As deconstruction and rescue operations proceed, the city is asking those who dont live nearby to refrain from visiting the area; 29th to 33rd Streets along Grays Ferry Avenue will remain closed off, as will the shopping plaza across the street from the semi-collapsed garage.

Parker promised a thorough investigation of what caused the collapse of CHOPs garage, but said she was not able to provide further details at the moment. She acknowledged the presence of the District Attorneys Office on the site today, as a precautionary measure to ensure all possible evidence is preserved.

We are going to get to the damn bottom of what happened, the mayor said. We will empower the tools of transparency while we are doing it.

But the first priority is demolition and finding the two missing workers.

We are laser focused on safely seeing the demolition of that structure occur while working extremely hard to ensure dignity in the recovery of any of the human souls that we are able to return to their families, with dignity, and a whole lot of prayer, said Parker.
President Donald Trump aimed for major change in the Middle East by launching a war with Iran. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post) Read more

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President Donald Trump said this week that the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran over the last six weeks were a total and complete victory for the United States, a declaration that came just a few hours after a tenuous, two-week ceasefire was reached.

Over the course of the war, the goals set by Trump and members of his administration appeared to shift. The president laid out some of the rationales in a video message at the start of the strikes, in which he said Operation Epic Fury aimed to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, destroy the countrys navy, and pave the way for Iranians to oust their government.

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Though Trump said he had achieved his goals, the war, for now, is only on pause. Experts weighed in on some of the objectives Trump outlined and what the president actually accomplished ahead of a U.S. meeting with Iranian officials Saturday to negotiate a longer peace deal.

Obliterate Irans missile industry

At the beginning of the war, Trump said in a video that the U.S. would destroy Irans missiles and raze the countrys missile infrastructure to the ground.

At a Pentagon news conference Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that the U.S. had functionally destroyed Irans missile program, as well as its launchers, production facilities, and existing stockpiles.

They can still shoot [missiles]. We know that. Their command and control is so decimated they cant really talk and coordinate, Hegseth said. They still may shoot here and there, but that would be very, very unwise. But they can no longer build missiles, build rockets, build launchers, or build [unmanned aerial vehicles].

Their factories have been razed to the ground, set back in historic fashion, Hegseth said.

Experts are not as convinced that Irans missile industry has been wiped out.

For sure, the number of missiles coming out of Iran has dropped over the course of the war, but theyre still firing, and Im assuming they can still manufacture [and] launch missiles, Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told the Washington Post.

An analysis published Monday by the Soufan Center, a nonprofit that provides research on foreign policy and global security issues, found that Iran is still firing as many as 20 missiles a day at Israel, and that although numerically lower than early in the war, Irans missile and drone strikes are increasingly precise and lethal, and able to avoid interception.

Nick Carl, a Middle East expert for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank, said Irans missile fire dropped by around 90% within the first couple of days of Trumps attacks on Iran.

The problem is that, even by reducing missile fire by like 90%, thats still 10% thats going out each day, Carl said. That poses various kinds of threats.

Vatanka noted that Irans ballistic missile program is almost entirely homegrown. While Iran does need ingredients coming in from places like China, Iranians have been building their missile infrastructure since the 1980s, creating a powerful industry that he does not believe has been obliterated, as the president wanted.

Annihilate the Iranian navy

When he first launched the war in February, Trump said the U.S. was going to annihilate Irans navy.

At the Pentagon on Wednesday, both Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said that Irans navy had been obliterated.

The Iranian Navy now lies mostly at the bottom of the Arabian Gulf, and we assess that weve sunk more than 90% of their regular fleet, including all of the major surface combatants, Caine said. He estimated 150 Iranian ships, along with half of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navys small attack boats, had been sunk.

Joint fires projected from the land, sea, and air executed more than 700 strikes against naval mine targets, and we assessed that we destroyed more than 95% of their naval mines, Caine added. And, perhaps most importantly, weve destroyed Irans defense industrial base, their ability to reconstitute those capabilities for years to come.

Carl, of AEI, told the Post that the U.S. has successfully sunk basically all of the major surface and subsurface combatants that the Iranians had fielded, and that the U.S. has destroyed about half of Irans fast attack craft.

The U.S., he said, has caused extraordinary degradation to Iranian naval forces, without a doubt. The problem, he said, is whether that constitutes our definition of annihilate. Specifically, he said, what does an annihilation of Irans navy imply for the Strait of Hormuz, which remains blocked?

Iranian naval forces have long played a critical role in endangering international shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz, Carl said. But its not the only tool on which the Iranians rely in order to disrupt maritime traffic.

In fact, Carl noted, Iranian attacks in the strait on commercial tankers have been mainly through missiles and drones rather than mines or ships.

The U.S., Carl said, may have made significant progress in destroying much of Irans naval capability and degrading the naval forces are at large. The question of how to secure the Strait of Hormuz is a bit broader, because the missile and drones play a significant factor here.

Joseph Rodgers, a nuclear issues expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the U.S. and Iran may be waging different types of war.

While the U.S. has pretty much destroyed the Iranian navy and has left Iran with little air capability and missile defenses, Iranians are engaging in economic warfare with their shutdown of the strait, Rodgers said.

Though it may lack a sophisticated military, he said, it doesnt take much for Iran to be able to shoot down some oil tankers.

Ensure Irans terrorist proxies in the Middle East can no longer attack U.S. forces

Six weeks ago, Trump vowed that, as part of the strikes against Iran, the U.S. would ensure that the regions terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces. Though he did not name specific groups, he was likely referring to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Shiite militias in Iraq, and, to a lesser degree, Hamas in Gaza, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Taleblu said Operation Epic Fury was focused on targeting Iranian military capabilities and capacity, and there was not a significant attempt to go after Irans proxies in the region.

Indirectly, yes, [Trump] has been magnifying the military pressure the Israelis have been putting on Irans proxy network in the region by going after their patron in a meaningful way, militarily, he said.

However, disagreements over Irans regional proxies threaten to undermine the fragile ceasefire. Israel on Wednesday ramped up bombing in Lebanon, ostensibly targeting Hezbollah but killing scores of civilians and injuring hundreds of others.

Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House said afterward that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire, prompting Iran to threaten to withdraw from the agreement. Though Trump said he had asked Netanyahu to scale back attacks in Lebanon, Israeli forces launched a new wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah sites in Lebanon on Thursday.

Prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon

Trump claimed that Irans nuclear facilities were totally obliterated last June, when the U.S. carried out strikes against three major Iranian nuclear sites in a mission dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer. The combat operations over the last six weeks were more focused on Irans military capability and less so at the countrys nuclear facilities. However, Trump said ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon was one of his key goals for the conflict launched in February.

If you marry the two [combat operations], the image you get is really an extended shelf life for the win that the president scored against the regime last June, said Taleblu, who gave Trump credit for stopping Iran from uranium enrichment, a process required to produce a type of the element that can be used in nuclear weapons.

That said, enriched uranium remains in Iran. In a social media post Wednesday, Trump claimed the U.S. would be working with Iran to dig up and remove all of the deeply buried enriched uranium, but did not detail how or when that would happen. Iran has not confirmed it is working with the U.S. to do so.

I would be worried, ultimately, about what the regime would do with all this highly enriched uranium on its own territory, Taleblu said. Would they try to find a way to either bargain to save their life with it, or potentially find a different way to tunnel and extract it and get it from underground? Who knows?

Rodgers, from CSIS, told the Post that, from looking at satellite images of where this uranium is being stored, it would be difficult to go in and grab it, because the entrances to these underground facilities are covered.

Wed have to basically bring in teams that would blow open the entrances to these facilities, Rodgers said. It would be a massive operation.

Speaking at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Hegseth said the U.S. was aware of how much enriched uranium Iran had and suggested that either the regime would give it up or it would be seized. The Post reported Wednesday that the Pentagon has plans in place to seize Irans uranium, but that such a mission would be highly complex and dangerous.

Push for regime change

Trump made no secret of his desire for regime change in Iran and, at the end of his video in February, encouraged the Iranian people to seize their government after the initial airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel had stopped.

It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations, Trump said then.

The surprise airstrikes on the first day of the war did kill Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with more than a dozen military and intelligence leaders. Trump is now claiming that Iran has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!

However, Khamenei was succeeded by his son, Mojtaba, a hard-line theocratic ruler whose selection was widely considered to send a message of defiance against Trump.

Trumps claim aside, there is little reason to believe that the ascension of Khameneis son to supreme leadership will lead to any dramatic change in the general policies and strategic orientation of the Islamic Republic, said the AEIs Carl.

Like his father, the younger Khamenei will also have the support of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its veterans, who have emerged over the last several decades as the most important class within the Islamic Republic, thanks to the decisions of the late supreme leader, Taleblu said.

If anything, Taleblu added, the strikes have accelerated the path the regime was already on.

At best what you can say is there has been a leadership change, not a regime change, he said.

Taleblu said there was a low probability that the regime in Iran will surrender in the way the Trump administration wants it to.

We really are going to be headed at this point for more tension in this relationship than a smooth road, Taleblu said. Again, Ill stress, the regime is weaker than ever before, but its still lethal and still intent on revenge.
The animal rights group PETAs lawsuit over the health of French bulldogs and some other popular dog breeds has been dismissed, with a judge saying a New York law was misapplied to the case.

The suit, filed last year, marked a new front in the PETAs long-running campaign against dog breeders. The case accused the American Kennel Club of promulgating unhealthy standards, or ideals, for Frenchies  the nations most prevalent dog breed, by the clubs count  as well as bulldogs, Chinese shar-peis, dachshunds and pugs. The AKC, the nations oldest purebred dog registry, rejected the claims and said it prioritizes canine health.

Club President Gina DiNardo hailed the decision Tuesday.

We remain focused on what matters most, the preservation of purebred dogs, advocating for all dogs and the people who care for them, and supporting the right of individuals and families to choose the dog that is right for their household, she said in a statement.

PETA, also called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said its lawyers were assessing any legal options.

Money-grubbing dog merchants flood the market with deformed dogs bred at the AKCs direction, founder Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement. She urged people to adopt dogs from shelters instead of buying purebred pups: No dog should be custom-made for a look that causes pain.

The suit invoked a New York law that is generally used to challenge state and local government decisions, though its occasionally applied to private organizations. But those have been organizations with some authority over the people suing them, such as union members bringing complaints about their leadership or co-op apartment residents suing their buildings board, state Judge David B. Cohen said in a decision filed Monday.

Since PETA isnt subject to the kennel clubs authority, the case must be dismissed, he wrote, without opining on the dog health issues at the heart of the case.

It focused on canine ailments that can be associated with flat faces  such as those of bulldogs, pugs and Frenchies  or with the short legs and long backs that dachshunds have. Shar-peis, meanwhile, may suffer spates of fever and inflammation known as shar-pei autoinflammatory disease.

The problems arent universal but can be serious.

PETA had wanted the judge to order the AKC to stop using the standards for those breeds. The standards guide dog show judges and many breeders.

The AKC has said the standards  which fanciers develop and the kennel club reviews and circulates  reflect decades of collaboration with veterinary experts and breeders. The kennel club says it has given over $40 million since 1995 to its canine health research charity.

Photo: he pug group is judged outside at the 145th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, June 12, 2021, in Tarrytown, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation
AM Best reports it has revised the outlooks to negative from stable for Oswego County Mutual Insurance Co. based in Parish, New York.

AM Best has also affirmed the insurers Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a (Excellent).

AM Best said the revision in the outlooks to negative resulted from the company reporting year-end 2025 operating losses of $974,000, driven by an underwriting loss of $2.7 million.

AM Best noted that the companys results for 2025 were heavily impacted by a significant and prolonged lake effect snow event that occurred in late February. The snowstorm resulted in claims for collapsed buildings, water backup and damaged roofs, with more than 200 claims relating to the storm alone.

Oswego reported a combined ratio of 126.4% for 2025, which was materially elevated from the companys historical norms, and marked the second consecutive year that operating performance trended in an unfavorable direction.

When benchmarked against competitors, AM Best said Oswegos key five-year average operating performance metrics now trail those assessed at the strong level, as operating results in 2024 deviated from historical levels as well.

AM Best said the credit ratings reflect Oswegos balance sheet strength, which its analysts assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Oswegos balance sheet strength remains assessed at the very strong level as the company has still been able to grow surplus despite posting net losses for the year while risk-adjusted capitalization remains at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), according to analysts.

AM Best noted that as a 100% New York state property writer, Oswegos business profile remains limited while its ERM assessment remains appropriate for the companys scope and scale.

Topics Trends AM Best
Imposing a toll on ships sailing through the critical Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent and countries should not impede freedom of navigation, the UNs shipping agency said on Thursday.

Iranian officials have raised the idea of charging a toll for using the Strait after a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Tehran was agreed this week.

There is no international agreement where tolls can be introduced for transiting international straits. Any such toll will set a dangerous precedent, a spokesperson with the UNs International Maritime Organization said.

IMO countries adopted the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas, or UNCLOS, which outlines the rules that govern straits used for international navigation.

According to UNCLOS, ships enjoy the right of transit passage through international straits. States bordering straits shall not hamper that right or suspend the transit passage, the IMO spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Zurich Austria has launched a branch in Poland, marking Zurich Insurance Groups entry into the Polish corporate insurance market.

The local team combines knowledge of the Polish market with the global competitive strength of the Zurich Insurance Group, Zurich said.

Zurich works closely with Polish insurance brokers and will act as an insurer, co-insurer, and reinsurer. Target groups include both local and multinational corporate clients, Zurich said.

Rafal Tokarz will head the Polish branch, bringing with him extensive industry experience and underwriting expertise, working over 30 years with brokers, serving corporate clients and multinational companies at various insurers in the Polish market.

The Polish branch is located in Warsaw and is managed from Austria under the leadership of Kurt Moller, chief underwriting officer Commercial, Austria & CEE, and member of the board of Zurich Austria.

Zurichs entry into the corporate insurance business in Poland marks another strategic milestone for us. Poland, as one of Europes largest economies with a dynamically growing corporate sector, offers excellent opportunities. With our international know-how and many years of expertise, we create real added value for Polish companies, said Luciano Cirina, CEO Commercial Insurance International at Zurich Insurance Group, in a statement.

Together with our highly qualified and experienced team  including underwriters, risk engineers, and claims managers  we will bring this competence and performance to the market, said Tokarz. Quality matters, and corporate clients and brokers in Poland deserve access to the same solutions available to their international colleagues. This will enable them to realize their growth potential and expand beyond their domestic market.

Our goal is to support local businesses by providing them with smart and reliable risk management solutions that help them seize new opportunities and grow with confidence. We look forward to working together and helping companies succeed in a changing world, said Moller.

Source: Zurich Austria
The owner of a St. Louis, Missouri fossil replica company was indicted and accused of fraudulently seeking disability benefits, the U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of Missouri announced.

Scott A. Taylor, 50, is still on probation from a prior disability fraud case. The new indictment, on one count of making a false statement, accuses him of applying for Social Security disability benefits on Jan. 28, 2026, claiming that he had not worked since 1993. The indictment says Taylor has been self-employed since 2014.

A charge set forth in an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Taylors disability benefits were initially discontinued after an investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Taylor pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in September to one felony count of theft of government money.

He admitted opening Taylor Made Fossils, which made fossil recreations, after having been granted disability benefits. Taylors plea agreement says that while he repeatedly falsely claimed to be too disabled to work or perform many normal daily activities, he carried large or heavy objects, did yard work and walked normally while unassisted. On Dec. 9, 2025, he was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to repay $106,923 to the Social Security Administration.

Source: DOJ

Topics Fraud Missouri
Hyundai to Recall About 294,000 Vehicles Over Seat Belt Anchor Defect

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 294,128 vehicles in the U.S. due to a defect that could cause seat belt anchors to detach, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday.

Here are some details:

The recall covers Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis G90, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles, the NHTSA said.

A detached seat belt anchor may fail to properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash, according to the auto regulator.

The agency said that dealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary.

General Motors Recalls Over 270,000 Cars Over Rearview Camera

General Motors is recalling 271,770 cars in the U.S. over an issue with the rearview camera, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said April 8.

Here are some details:

Recall includes Chevrolet Malibu sedans , NHTSA said.

, NHTSA said. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image, reducing the drivers view behind the vehicle, according to the NHTSA.

The agency said that dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera.

Ford Recalls Over 420,000 Vehicles for Windshield Wiper Failure

Ford Motor is recalling 422,613 vehicles in the U.S. over a failure of the windshield wiper, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said April 7.

Here are some details:

Recall includes Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition SUVs, as well as some F-series trucks, NHTSA said.

Windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail, according to the NHTSA.

The agency said that dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms.

Volkswagen Recalls Over 75,000 for Faire of Instrument Panel

On April 1 Volkswagen said it is recalling 75,323 cars in the U.S. over an instrument panel display failure, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Here are some details:

The recall includes certain Jetta and Taos cars, the NHTSA said.

The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges, according to the NHTSA.

The agency said the vehicles dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the panel as necessary.

Topics Auto
In December 2023, the U.S. Justice Department sued a Texas land developer it accused of duping tens of thousands of Hispanic residents into predatory mortgages, a landmark case for the Biden administration.

Colony Ridge, which sold plots in massive subdivisions north of Houston, had become a one-stop shop for discriminatory lending, Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit. The developer targeted Hispanic applicants through false advertising and persuaded them to take out high-interest loans that many could not afford, then benefited when it foreclosed on their properties, the lawsuit alleged.

Our goal at the end of the day is to ensure that victims are compensated for their loss, Clarke declared.

Three years later, the Trump administration and Colony Ridge are on the verge of resolving the case. But the $68 million proposed settlement provides no money for victims of the alleged scheme. Instead, it sets aside $20 million for policing and immigration enforcement  a provision that may be used to target the very people who were victimized by the developer, according to former government officials who worked on such cases.

Ive never seen a settlement like this, with a complete misalignment between what youre settling and what the resolution is, said Elena Babinecz, who led fair lending investigations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for 12 years under the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, before leaving in October.

Its a slap in the face to the individuals that were harmed; that the Justice Department acknowledges were harmed, said Babinecz, who was at the bureau when it joined the Justice Department in filing suit against Colony Ridge. Its a complete misjustice, and its not at all why these civil rights laws were passed.

Seven other attorneys and investigators who formerly enforced the federal governments lending and housing civil rights laws also told ProPublica and The Texas Tribune that they were stunned by the agreement, which a U.S. district judge must still approve. Indeed, Colony Ridge is the largest Justice Department case since at least 2018 in which the settlement includes no monetary compensation for victims. The judge has scheduled a hearing on Friday over the proposal.

A coalition of fair housing and civil rights groups has urged the court to reject the settlement, arguing the lawsuit is the only realistic prospect for many consumers to get recompense because they cannot afford private attorneys.

The Justice Department had built a case against Colony Ridge with stark and overwhelming evidence, Clarke told the news organizations. Prosecutors said Colony Ridge repeatedly misled consumers about the condition of lots they purchased, forcing them to spend hundreds or thousands on drainage improvements and utility connections they hadnt known the land needed. This contributed to consumers defaulting on high-interest loans, according to the lawsuit. Colony Ridge then benefited from the improvements made to the land it foreclosed on and resold the lots at higher prices.

In the end, tens of thousands of victims were exploited through the developers predatory practices in a span of eight years, the government argued. Colony Ridge repossessed more than 15,000 lots, many owned by immigrants, a 2023 investigation by the Houston Landing found.

Of the 183 housing and civil enforcement Justice Department settlements since 2018, only 6% did not include money for victims. Each of those cases was smaller in scope than Colony Ridge. They included a suburban Maryland car dealership accused of racial discrimination in loan offers over a seven-month period and a California landlord who allegedly refused to provide handicapped parking to one tenant.

None of the settlements  except for Colony Ridge  includes funding for police or immigration enforcement.

As federal investigators built a case around how Colony Ridge had treated its largely immigrant customers, conservative media and politicians aligned with Trump  who had made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his campaign  did not focus on how consumers had been harmed. They instead accused the development of being a haven for immigrants.

They claimed, without providing evidence, that the development was a base for Mexican drug cartels and a no-go zone for police. Local law enforcement disputed the assertions, saying that violent crime there was no different from other neighborhoods in and around Houston. State legislative panels convened to investigate the allegations also fizzled out after they were unable to substantiate such claims.

Neither the federal government nor a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton months later raised public safety concerns or a need for more policing or immigration enforcement.

The Justice Department declined to comment and did not respond to the concerns raised by former employees and people involved in the case. Paxtons office did not respond to multiple emails. But while announcing the settlement in February, Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the departments Civil Rights Division, argued that Colony Ridge had encouraged illegal immigration by targeting Hispanic consumers with the bait of affordable homeownership. This DOJ will go after all lenders, financiers, and land developers who participate in schemes which ultimately encourage illegal immigration, she said. In his own news release about the settlement, which would also resolve the Texas suit, Paxton focused primarily on funding set aside for immigration enforcement. Under my watch, Texas will never be a sanctuary for illegals, he said.

The focus on immigration makes the lives of those who were harmed more difficult, said Catherine Bendor, a manager in the Justice Departments Housing and Civil Enforcement Section for eight years until 2024.

Even if theyre citizens, theyll likely be hassled by immigration agents who target people based on appearance or accent, she said.

John Harris, Colony Ridges CEO, declined to be interviewed. The settlement does not include an admission of wrongdoing. He has long maintained that his company, which started in 2011 and offered mortgages for as little as a 1% down payment, has not preyed on its customers.

The financing terms helped the development grow rapidly, albeit inconsistently, with neat modular homes, trailers and abandoned or vacant lots across more than 33,000 acres. Matt Rascon, a spokesperson for Colony Ridge, said the company found success offering a path to land ownership through flexible financing options with no credit checks. His comments echoed the companys argument in court that it created a path to homeownership for thousands of lower-income consumers whom risk-averse banks reject.

Offering loans when others wouldnt is the most common argument predatory lenders make to justify their practices, said Nathalie Martin, a University of New Mexico law professor who has studied high-cost loans.

You can see from this situation, it doesnt help people to get them into loans that are more costly than they need to be, Martin said.

Former federal officials and Colony Ridge property owners acknowledge that the settlement includes some provisions to protect consumers in the future. It would require Colony Ridge to adopt stricter lending standards and allow buyers to back out of purchases without penalty within two months. The developer would also make $48 million in infrastructure upgrades and provide transparent, bilingual marketing and communication.

Another provision bars Colony Ridge from developing new lots to sell for three years. But the agreement exempts 674 acres that the developer has already subdivided.

The concessions are helpful but inadequate because they miss a clear opportunity to help victims recover money they lost, which is a key reason such cases are filed, said Jon Seward, who was principal deputy chief for the Justice Department when he left in May 2023 after 17 years in its Housing and Civil Enforcement Section.

One such victim was Maria Acevedo, who describes herself as a lifelong Republican and U.S. citizen who said she voted for Trump three times.

A former land developer herself, Acevedo took out a high-interest $40,000 loan in 2018 to buy a half-acre of land where she planned to retire. She then spent an additional $60,000 on surveying, engineering and adding dirt to protect against flooding.

Acevedo said she planned to refinance her loan but learned that she couldnt because the property had a lien from a previous owner. Colony Ridge foreclosed on the property three years later, even though Acevedo said she was making payments. Colony Ridge did not comment on Acevedos case or those of other individuals in this story. The foreclosure ruined her retirement plans, Acevedo said, adding that the challenges strained her marriage and eventually led to divorce.

She considered finding a lawyer to sue. But she said she decided to become a team player and serve as a government witness after federal investigators pledged to help victims like her recover what they lost.

Now, Acevedo said, she feels betrayed by a settlement that ignores Hispanic consumers like her.

I know we were targeted. A blind man could see it, Acevedo said.

She added that the lawsuit was going smooth, but once the Trump administration came in and took it over, it changed.

Even if she could now find a lawyer, her window to file a lawsuit has expired because state and federal laws require they be brought within five years.

Since returning to office, the Trump administration has abandoned an $80 million settlement with Navy Federal Credit Union over illegal overdraft fees, which allowed the bank to continue operating without penalty, and halted dozens of investigations, including a case accusing a major Pennsylvania lender of defrauding student borrowers. Both defendants have denied wrongdoing.

The Trump administration and White House budget director Russell Vought have taken aim at the CFPB, which was formed to protect consumers from getting ripped off by businesses. For Vought, the agency was an example of government overreach. It was also one of the first targets for Trumps Department of Government Efficiency. In April, in response to a lawsuit by bureau employees over the CFPBs attempt to lay off 90% of its staff, the administration offered a compromise proposal: slashing two-thirds.

The White House and Voughts office declined to comment, but the administration has argued the agency was needlessly aggressive and wasteful.

The shift away from pursuing consumer protection cases gives the impression that the federal government is no longer serious about protecting regular people from unscrupulous businesses, former Justice Department and CFPB employees said.

Investigators spent months gathering stories and building trust with residents who were wary of cooperating, said Johnathan Smith, a former deputy assistant attorney general for civil rights during the Biden administration, who visited the development before the lawsuit. The team worked to ensure that the community believed something was going to be different because the Justice Department got involved.

Its just heartbreaking how the settlement failed to meet that mark, he said.

SuEllen Sanchez and her sister, Keilah Sanchez, were among those who shared their stories with investigators, expecting the government would help them reclaim what they lost. They also provided investigators with hundreds of records from neighbors who said theyd been scammed.

A U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico, SuEllen Sanchez had purchased five lots in Colony Ridge in 2020. She saw it as a way to invest money shed earned as an aesthetician and perhaps open a business there.

Sanchez said the advertisements and sales representatives for Colony Ridge led her to believe the lots would be ready to build on. They werent. Clearing the land for development, acquiring permits and connecting utilities cost her more than $10,000. Colony Ridge foreclosed on one of the lots in 2021, according to Sanchez, who disputes the developers claims that she had missed loan payments.

Sanchez wondered if others also believed theyd been scammed. Thats when she and her sister, a web developer who also had purchased Colony Ridge properties, launched a website asking residents to share their experiences with the developer.

Sanchez said she was dismayed that all of their efforts resulted in the proposed settlement.

These were consumer-based lawsuits, so you would think theyd actually do something for consumers with everything that they stipulated that this company did wrong, Sanchez said. Theres no way somebody who has all these violations should still be operating.

Acevedo feels the same way, and she wants the judge to know it as he mulls the settlement. She doesnt have a lawyer, but after the Justice Department proposed it, she filed a legal brief in the case demanding compensation as a victim. She offered to testify and present evidence.

I want the court to hear me directly, she wrote to Judge Alfred H. Bennett. I am willing to swear to my experience.

On Friday, she plans to drive 30 miles to Courtroom 9A in the Houston federal building for the settlement hearing, hoping for the judge to grant her request to be heard.

Misty Harris contributed research.

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

Topics Texas
Texas health regulators told Camp Mystics owners Tuesday they are investigating hundreds of complaints following last years devastating floods that killed 27 girls as the state considers whether to allow the all-girls camp to reopen this summer.

The Texas Rangers are also helping look into allegations of neglect, according to the Texas Department of Safety, although the scope of the states elite investigations unit was not immediately clear.

The investigations underscore the hurdles facing Camp Mystic as it pushes ahead with reopening plans over the outrage of the families of the 25 girls and two teenage counselors who died in the July 4 floods. More than 850 families have signed up to return to the Christian, all-girls camp this summer if it is allowed to reopen a portion of the camp that did not flood.

The Department of State Health Services said that since February, the agency has received hundreds of complaints regarding Camp Mystics operations in the summer of 2025 alleging violations of state laws governing youth camps. The agency said it asked for help from state police.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said the Texas Rangers joined an investigation regarding complaints of neglect during the flood. Neither agency released details. The camp did not evacuate and was hit hard when the river rose from 14 feet (4.2 meters) to 29.5 feet (9 meters) within 60 minutes before dawn.

A letter sent Tuesday from the health agency to the camp owners informed them of the agencys investigation, but made no mention of the Texas Rangers being involved.

Lawyers for the families of the girls who were killed and the Camp Mystic owners did not immediately respond to email messages requesting comment.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the Texas Rangers involvement a criminal investigation and said the state should not grant the camp a license to reopen until that probe and another one by state lawmakers are complete.

I urge you to prioritize safety and do everything in your power to ensure Camp Mystic and/or their operators are not allowed to operate until the facts are in, Patrick wrote in a letter Tuesday to the head of the health agency.

In a statement Wednesday, Camp Mystic said it has cooperated with every investigative request we have received, including with lawmakers. The camp said it worked closely with the Texas Rangers immediately after the floods and would continue to do so.

We look forward to cooperating with the Texas Rangers and supporting them in their efforts to gain a thorough and accurate understanding of what happened on the South Fork of the Guadalupe River during the early hours of July 4, the camp said.

Lawyers for the families of the victims did not immediately respond to email messages seeking comment.

Families of several of the girls who died have sued the camps operators, arguing that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect the campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached. A district judge last month ordered the camp owners to preserve damaged cabins and other parts of the grounds in the flooded area as the lawsuits proceed.

The body of one of the campers killed, 8-year-old Cile Steward, has not yet been recovered. DPS officials said the search for the girl continues.

Richard Eastland, one of the camp owners, was also killed. All told, the destructive flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the river, raising questions about how things went so terribly wrong.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Richard Eastland, not Edward Eastland, was killed in the flooding.

Photo: Debris covers the area of Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, July 7, 2025, after a flash flood swept through the area. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman, File)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas
Floridas attorney general said his office has launched an investigation into the artificial intelligence app ChatGPT and its parent company, after authorities learned that a gunman used the platform repeatedly before a mass shooting last year at Florida State University.

The family of a man who was killed in the April 2025 attack also said they plan to file a lawsuit against the AI system, according to news reports.

Floridas attorney general, James Uthmeier, announced his investigation on X, formerly Twitter, noting that the computer-based search system likely was used to assist suspect Phoenix Ikner in the rampage.

AI should advance mankind, not destroy it, Uthmeiers post on X reads. Were demanding answers on OpenAIs activities that have hurt kids, endangered Americans and facilitated the recent FSU mass shootings.

OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, said it would cooperate with the investigation, the New York Times reported.

Two people died in the FSU shooting and six other people were injured.

Legislation aimed at limiting the reach of AI programs failed to pass the Florida Legislature this year.

Photo: Phoenix Ikner, accused of killing two people and wounding six others in the mass shooting, makes a court appearance via video on May 13, 2025. (WTXL via AP)

Topics Florida
The Doctors Company named Brittnie Hayes interim senior vice president of claims.

Hayes succeeds Michael Meyer, who is retiring after 42 years in the medical professional liability insurance industry.

Hayes will lead the national claims team and oversee the planned ProAssurance integration. She will also set the strategic and operational direction for The Doctors Company claims and strengthen reserve governance and litigation strategy.

She joined The Doctors Company in 2023, and has held national and regional leadership roles, most recently as vice president of claims for the Northeast region.

Hayes is a licensed attorney across multiple states. Her background includes leadership roles at COPIC Insurance Company and earlier experience as a defense attorney specializing in medical professional and hospital malpractice litigation.

The Doctors Company is a medical malpractice insurer with an advocacy program covering all 50 states and the federal level. The Doctors Company is part of TDC Group, a national physician-owned provider of insurance and risk management services.

Topics Claims
The voices of rural young people will be heard at the government meeting scheduled with representative organisations regarding the fuel cost crisis.

Macra na Feirme is set to voice concerns of young people at Fridays stakeholder meeting with key asks based on results of a fuel and fertiliser survey of its members.

As nationwide fuel protests continue, Macra has called for urgent and targeted support for young people living in rural Ireland ahead of Fridays fuel meeting at Agriculture House in Dublin.

Macra national president Josephine ONeill said: Agri-diesel has increased dramatically in recent months, and is rising at a faster rate than road fuels. These are costs that young farmers simply cannot absorb, particularly at a time of other input pressures.

"The measures announced to date have not kept pace with the reality on the ground, and more decisive action is now required."

More than 370 young farmers, contractors, and rural dwellers responded to a Fuel and Fertiliser Crisis survey circulated by Macra to its membership.

The findings highlight the scale of the pressure facing rural communities, with over 94% of respondents indicating they are financially impacted by rising fuel costs, while 72% said they can no longer afford to fill their car since prices escalated.

Respondents also expressed a strong dissatisfaction with the Governments response to date, including excise duty reductions and the pausing of the Nora levy, with many saying that the measures did not go far enough.

Postponing increases

Macra is calling for a cap on fuel prices at pre-crisis levels, a similar request coming from protesting groups across the country. This could be supported through a range of measures, including further reductions in excise duty, consideration of reduced Vat rates, and a pause on carbon tax increases.

At a minimum, Macra is seeking the inclusion of agri-contractors in existing relief schemes and the postponement of any planned increases in carbon tax.

The organisation is also reiterating its call for a dedicated crisis response scheme for farmers and contractors using agri-diesel, reflecting the significant increase in costs in recent months.

Macra also plan to highlight concerns regarding the supply and cost of fertiliser, including the impact of the carbon border adjustment mechanism, and is calling for its suspension in light of current pressures.

Ms ONeill said: Our priority is to ensure that fuel costs, particularly agri-diesel, white diesel and petrol, are brought back to manageable levels. We have seen in other countries that stronger interventions are possible.

"Any measures introduced must be practical and accessible, particularly for young farmers who may not have the cash flow to benefit from delayed supports such as rebate schemes.
And so, I wish to conclude by sayingBy saying what? This will be the final column, and I want to discuss endings.

Finding the right ending can be hard. Youve begun to gallop through the writing and, suddenly, you find yourself having to tie up loose ends, slow down, stop.

The anxiety of ending, of leaving the work behind.

Then theres the tendency writers have to write beyond their ending  to not see a good ending when theyve written it, and to continue for a few sentences, or even paragraphs.

The ending will be discovered in the editing, when they re-read their work and zero in on a suitable conclusion.

Cut and paste and rewire the piece of writing so that what seems the best ending now comes last.

Perhaps you included a quote near the end but then wrote beyond it because you thought it needed further explanation.

Then when you look again it doesnt. Youve begun to babble while you look for an exit.

Suddenly, by pruning the piece, you leave the reader with a riddle to be solved, a final sentence that makes them regard what they have just read in a different way.

Its thought-provoking. It triggers a question in the readers mind that may have been bubbling under as they read the piece but is now brought to the surface.

I think about this approach as taking two steps back to find what you really meant to say. The reason is obvious: so often in life we dont fully recognise when somethings over.

At least you can edit a piece of writing

We only pinpoint the end in retrospect. As in life, so in writing. At least you can edit a piece of writing.

You might want to tie the piece up neatly, and, because of this mania for control, you craft it too tightly: its all sensible and logical and it results in the reader getting there before you.

They can anticipate the ending and they switch off.

Thats why, as Ive said in the past, you need to preserve the mystery of what youre writing  from yourself as much as from the reader.

If you do, the ending will sidle up to you and surprise you. Once it does, youll recognise it as a fitting conclusion to your piece of writing, one that you didnt fully anticipate.

Endings can trigger memories of beginnings. Lately Ive started to reminisce. Ive been writing for newspapers for 27 years now. My start, strangely enough, came not in Irish papers but at The Guardian in the UK.

Back then, there were substantial supplements on weekdays that contained job listings  one for media, another for education, and so on.

The Education supplement included a page to which university students could contribute short pieces.

I was 20 years old and studying in University College Dublin. The world of newspapers, especially London papers, seemed a world away.

I was interested in humour writing, particularly American writers whose work had appeared in The New Yorker in the early- to mid-20th century: SJ Perelman, Robert Benchley, James Thurber.

None of these writers were necessarily the sort of influence you might absorb if you wanted to make it as a journalist in the late nineties. There was no strategy to it; I just liked that kind of writing.

Nevertheless, they were the influences that I channelled when I wrote the piece that caught the eye of the pages editor, Emily Moore.

She published that piece, and five more, before  from what I can remember  the page was done away with.

It gave me a taste for writing for publication, one that hasnt left me.

It also illustrated that, as a writer, following your nose, writing the way you want to and absorbing influences that werent necessarily the obvious ones, could result in finding the right reader.

Something in the work was communicated to a reader who could see the good in it.

Belief in writer's work ebbs and flows

As a writer your belief in your work ebbs and flows. Sometimes you feel like nothing you write is good enough; at other times youre completely blind to the flaws in your work.

Eventually, you need to get it out there to someone whos more objective about the work than you are. Exposing your writing to others can be a positive experience, but you also feel vulnerable. Its tempting not to show it to anyone at all.

But eventually the urge to communicate with the wider world wins out.

Three years ago, I was working as an editor at a book publisher while also teaching writing to students when I approached Michael Moynihan, the books editor here at the Irish Examiner, about potentially doing a series of essays that looked at writing from a variety of perspectives.

Im surprised, and happy, that it continued for as long as it did.

Its not that there wasnt plenty of writing advice out there in the world already.

But I thought I could at least try to be honest about the process from my own position  that of a published author, editor and teacher  drawing from the jumble of skills I had assembled over the years.

I wanted what I wrote in these columns to be, at least in part, autobiographical; to trace my journey through the world.

By the middle of each month, I would have an essay that related to some aspect of writing that interested me.

It was invariably drawn from life: a conversation with someone I met, a walk to the shops, a trip to a museum.

Writing doesnt happen in isolation. Life can help or hinder your writing. Writing can help or hinder your life.

With both writing and life, over time, you learn to go a little easier on yourself. Theres a balance to be struck.

One of the most challenging aspects of writing is learning to stick with it. You can choose to do it as much or as little as you like.

Writers arent born, theyre self-made. Habits and routine play an important part.

But the habits that sustain a writer can drop away. It can take a long time to get them back, if you get them back at all.

Establishing those habits, or resurrecting them, involves being realistic with what you want to achieve.

Write 200 words a day for a manuscript within a year

Maybe write a couple of hundred words a day, if you can manage it. (Two-hundred words a day would give you a book-length manuscript in a year.)

And now I can see that Ive drifted significantly from the central theme, which is endings. Ive done so because I realise the lateness of the hour.

This column is going to end and theres so much more I want to tell you before I go.

I sense the conclusion looming and the word-count dwindling, and Im experiencing an overwhelming urge to communicate something useful before I lapse into silence.

Writing is a personal choice. Once you get beyond formal education, no ones telling you to write anymore.

You choose to write to express something about yourself or to explore something you find interesting about the world. And the longer you stick with writing, the deeper your engagement with the practice will become.

Therein lies the true satisfaction of writing. At its best, its a process of learning and unlearning, of ending and beginning again.

While its nice to see your name in print, what keeps you going is the fleeting joy of losing yourself in the work. You emerge from that state not knowing where the time has gone.
California Schemin



Cultural authenticity lies at the heart of California Schemin (15A), which begins in Dundee in 2003.

Rappers Gavin Bain (Seamus McLean Ross) and Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley) are trying to make a name for themselves as Scotlands premier hip-hop duo.

Laughed out of a London audition for spitting rhymes in their native accents, and stymied by an industry that only allows for American artists, the pair make an audacious gamble by adopting the personas of Californian rappers touring the UK.

Based on a true story (previously told in the 2013 documentary The Great Hip Hop Hoax), California Schemin is actor James McAvoys directorial debut. He also plays the music producer who is duped by Bain and Boyd.

Grittily funny in its early stages, with the hapless Gavin and Billy jumping through all manner of hoops as they try to persuade a variety of producers (including James Corden) of their credentials, the movie asks interesting questions about cultural appropriation, the globalisation of pop culture, and the hypocrisy of the music industry around ethnicity.

But as the hoax evolves from a prank and the imitation of American gangster-wankers to a subversive artistic statement, the narrative grows darker until the film is about the psychopathology of a world that requires the individual to adhere to certain expectations.

Gavin Bain and Samuel Bottomley are both terrific in the lead roles, with Bottomleys Billy an easy-going optimist who succumbs a little too easily to the industrys blandishments, while Bains Gavin is a study in psychosis. His morality and his awareness of who he truly is slip away through the gaps between the personalities he creates.

Mother, Father, Brother, Sister



Vicky Krieps, Cate Blanchett and Charlotte Rampling star in Father Mother Sister Brother.

Jim Jarmuschs Father, Mother, Brother, Sister (12A) is a triptych of short films exploring strained family dynamics that opens with Jeff (Adam Driver) and his sister, Emily (Mayim Bialik), arriving for a rare visit with their aging father (Tom Waits).

The siblings wariness of their father sets the tone: Both believe the older man to be a deadbeat, and the disconnection is only partly salved by small gifts and token gestures of affection.

That awkwardness continues in to the second section, where a mother (Charlotte Rampling) is visited for afternoon tea by her adult daughters, Timothea (Cate Blanchett) and Lilith (Vicky Krieps); although the third section, in which twins Billy (Luka Sabbat) and Skye (Indya Moore) come together in Paris to mourn their recently deceased parents is more hopeful in terms of the siblings retrospective appreciation for their parents child-rearing.

Deliberately repetitive and emotionally austere, the film features a very fine cast and unsettlingly provocative insights in to the most fundamental of all relationships.

The Stranger



Benjamin Voisin stars in The Stranger

Opening in Algiers in the early 1940s, Francois Ozons adaptation of Albert Camus The Stranger (15A) begins with Meursault (Benjamin Voisin) being arrested for the murder of an Arab man, Moussa Hamdani (Abderrahmane Dehkani).

Told in extended flashback while Meursault languishes in prison, the story explores his studied indifference to conventional morality and feeling: He seems puzzled by the emotional outpouring at his mothers funeral, repeatedly tells his long-suffering girlfriend Marie (Rebecca Marder) that love means nothing, and appears wholly impervious to others pain.

The film builds to its inevitable and explosive climax.

Is Meursault  a borderline sociopath, surely?  the product of nature or nurture?

Shot in starkly shimmering black-and-white that echoes the ennui-ridden Meursaults insistence on unvarnished truth, and featuring a performance from Benjamin Voisin that renders Meursaults bland disaffection deliciously sinister, this is a timely revisiting of the existentialist anti-hero poster boy. The Stranger beautifully evokes the period detail of 1940s Algiers and firmly roots the story in the naked racism of French colonialism.
Dolce & Gabbana co-founder Stefano Gabbana has stepped down from his role as chairman of the fashion house.

He will remain in his creative role with the company, which says he will continue to shape collections alongside Domenico Dolce, a partnership that has defined the brands identity for four decades.

Gabbana, 63, will be replaced by chief executive Alfonso Dolce, brother of co-founder Domenico, who will take on the role from January 1. Filings show Gabbana notified the company of his decision in December.

Stefano Gabbana (left) and Domenico Dolce at Milan Fashion Week in January (Alamy/PA)

Gabbana is understood to be considering options regarding his shareholding, though he remains closely involved in the brands future.

It comes shortly after Dolce & Gabbana celebrated its 40th anniversary and at a moment of transition for the Milan-based label, which has in recent years expanded beyond the runway into hospitality, interiors and immersive brand experiences.

Industry reports have also pointed to ongoing discussions with lenders and the possibility of fresh investment, as the wider luxury sector adjusts to changing global demand. The company has not commented in detail on its financial position.

Founded in Milan in 1985 by Dolce and Gabbana, the brand rose to prominence with a bold and quintessentially Italian vision of glamour.

The men quickly became known for their celebration of Mediterranean sensuality, defined by corsetry, inky lace and blooming black florals with references to Sicilian culture, Catholic iconography and Italian cinema.

Their aesthetic struck a chord internationally during the late 1980s and 1990s, helping to define an era of maximalist fashion.

A pivotal moment in the brands rise came through its association with Madonna, who famously wore Dolce & Gabbana during the 1990s and commissioned the designers to create costumes for her 1993 Girlie Show tour.

Madonna in a 2010s Dolce & Gabbana advertisement (Alamy/PA)

The collaboration cemented the labels reputation for provocative, body-conscious design and aligned it with global pop culture at its most influential.

The house has maintained strong ties with celebrity and entertainment, dressing a range of exclusive figures across music, film and pop culture, reinforcing its image as a purveyor of dramatic, statement-making fashion.

Today, Dolce & Gabbana spans ready-to-wear, accessories, beauty and haute couture, with its Alta Moda and Alta Sartoria collections showcasing the highest levels of Italian design.
If history consists of stories that later generations recount about the past, Ardmore is indeed a storyful place. Locally regarded as Ireland's earliest Christian site, it provided the seed corn for the mythologies that bonded Deise inhabitants in an area that many regard as the birthplace of Irish Christianity.

Begin your outing from the trailhead located on the waterside opposite the Catholic Church. Head southeast to the shoreline that bookends the strand, where a rock on the beach is reputed to have floated ashore. Legend has it that a golden bell from heaven appeared while Waterford-born St Declan was celebrating mass abroad. On his return journey, Declan, absentmindedly, left it behind when sailing from Wales and was distraught by the loss. He prayed, and a large floating stone carrying his bell appeared in the ocean alongside and began guiding his boat. Declan promised to build a monastery wherever the bell came ashore. The rock fetched up on Ardmore Beach, and true to his word, Waterfords patron saint founded Irelands first monastery on the high ground above.

Later, he was disconcerted to hear accounts of a newly arrived, British-born evangelist in Ireland. Would the new arrival in some way disrupt Declans ministry? To sort this out, legend has it that the southern saint creating St Declans Way when he travelled to Cashel, the seat of the Munster Kings, and met St Patrick.

Here, the holy men agreed that Declan would have unchallenged authority over the Deise, with Patrick now declaring Deglain, Padraig na Deise (Declan is the Patrick of the Deise). Meanwhile, Patrick would become Primate of all Ireland  so face was saved all round. Wisely, the man who would become Irelands national apostle, refrained from crossing the mountain passes to the Deise on his missionary journey. Declan remained supreme in his Munster heartland, where he continues to this day as the much-adored saint of Co Waterford.

Ardmore is regarded locally as Irelands earliest Christian site, with St Declan strongly linked to the village. Picture: John Foley

HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading

Ardmore has since been a place of veneration and healing. History records thousands of pilgrims coming since at least the 17th century, particularly during the pattern festivities marking St Declans Feast Day, on July 24.

Next, it is upwards past the spectacularly located Cliff House Hotel, which overlooks Ardmore Bay. Beyond, you cross a stile leading to Declan's Hermitage and a 5th-century holy well. Here, the Saint performed many baptisms and to this day, it remains a place of pilgrimage.

The path now meanders around a peninsula, with mighty declivities dropping seaward. Soon, the rusting remains of the Samson become visible at the base of the sheer cliffs. This ship came unhitched while under tow and fetched up below Ardmore Head becoming, like the Plassey shipwreck on Inisheer Island, an unlikely, but popular tourist attraction.

Rounding Ram Head, rewards you with a photogenic vista over Youghal Bay to the East Cork coastline. Onwards now to explore a couple of lookout stations: the tallest served as a watchtower in Napoleonic times, when it was feared a small man with a big hat was about to overrun Europe, while the other dates from World War II. Beyond a curious structure built over a spring is referred to as Fr ODonnells Well. Surprisingly modern, it was built in 1928 by one JP ORahilly, who believed in the curative power of the waters issuing here.

One of the last completed in Ireland, Ardmore Round Tower rises to 29m in height.

Swinging inland, you pass by a soccer pitch and soon after Ardmore Round Tower comes into view. One of the last completed in Ireland, it captures the eye as it rises gun-barrel straight to a majestic 29m. Agreement has not been reached on the purpose of these edifices, but in school, most Irish students were assured they were refuges during Viking attacks. This may now seem unlikely. The ease with which defenders could be burned out appears undeniable. Certainly, were bloodthirsty Vikings to appear over the horizon, the instinct of most people would not be to rush into the towers claustrophobic confines, but to leg it speedily in the opposite direction.

Whatever their purpose, we should be grateful to the tower builders. Minimalist creations of the greatest beauty, their true wonder is that, for over 1,000 years, they have articulately spoken to succeeding generations about the extravagant flourishing in early Christian Ireland of culture, learning, architecture and art.

On reaching the monastic enclosure, you will discover that the oldest building is Declans Oratory, within which lie the Saints remains. The now roofless Romanesque cathedral has an ornate gable depicting biblical scenes, and two ogham stones inside that are inscribed with Celtic Era script. The graveyard surrounding the monastic site contains many memorials to those who perished in shipwrecks along the Waterford Coastline.

Finish by heading downhill to Ardmore after a circuit of about 90 minutes. Here, you might reflect that monastic life as practiced here, with its emphasis on simplicity, mindfulness and humility, still has lessons to offer in the third decade of the twenty-first century.

John G O'Dwyer's latest book, titled Walks with Stories in Ireland is out next May from publishers, Currach Books.
More than 360,000 has been allocated for four consultants, who are not working full-time, to support the delivery of the mayoral programme in Limerick.

Limerick mayor John Moran recently shared a breakdown of this years mayoral fund, totalling over 14m.

While his priority policy is the delivery of housing projects, to which approximately 6.5m has been allocated, he has also directed funding for a total of 110 measures.

Under the corporate governance and operations directive, Mr Moran was asked about a total of 365,000 allocated to Grant Thorntons Limerick office.

Figures showed 100,000 was allocated to Grant Thornton resources for April to May 2026. Additionally, the breakdown showed the same firm received 265,000 in funding for December 2025 to May 2026.

Speaking at the announcement of this years mayoral fund, Mr Moran said the consultants have been working day to day, taking recordings and working with the directors on specific projects.

What we have identified is the need for a programme manager who would be employed full-time in the organisation to drive not just the mayoral programme, but all of the other items that come up in the service delivery plan, he said.

Mr Moran said four consultants from the firm were working on the delivery of the programme, but not working full-time.

The consultants were assigned to deliver on all the pillars of his programme, consisting of A More Liveable Limerick, A More Prosperous Limerick, and A More Healthy Limerick.
A man who admitted having sex in a public place in the middle of the afternoon claimed he did not realise what he was doing was against the law, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Bantry District Court a woman and her daughter had driven to Bantry airstrip  a popular dog walking area  on the afternoon of June 10, 2025. They parked in the small parking area and the woman brought her dog for a walk along the pathway by the shore of Bantry Bay.

The womans daughter had stayed in the vehicle in the car park when another vehicle, a black BMW, parked alongside at about 2pm. The court heard it began rocking from side to side and the occupants could be heard engaging in sexual activity inside the car.

When the woman returned with her dog, she saw what was happening and approached the BMW to complain to the occupants. The court was told the man  identified as Pavlo Holovinov, aged 35, with an address at Riverside, Glengarriff, Co Cork  acknowledged the woman but then continued engaging in sexual intercourse with his female partner.

The woman took a photo of the vehicle and contacted gardai, but by the time they arrived the BMW had left the area. Holovinov was identified as the owner and admitted he was in the car at the time.

Flor Murphy, defending, said Holovinov, who is originally from Ukraine, did not realise what he was doing was illegal and apologised to the court.

He said Holovinov was a full-time carer for his mother and was pleading guilty to engaging in sexual intercourse in a public place contrary to Section 45 of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act 2017.

Judge Joanne Carroll convicted Holovinov and fined him 250, allowing him three months to pay the fine.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
A standoff is currently underway between gardai and protesters at the Whitegate oil refinery in east Cork after a fuel tanker was blocked from entering the site.

Gardai confirmed they had established entry to the refinery, with layers of barriers erected around the protest area, effectively containing demonstrators within a designated zone.

However, protesters left the original blockade site and are now at the far side of the garda cordon, stopping trucks from accessing the oil refinery.

One protester climbed on top of a fuel truck and waved a Tricolour.

Earlier, two fuel trucks were allowed into the refinery earlier with the permission of protesters, in an effort to ensure emergency services had fuel and homes were not deprived of heating oil.

However, tensions escalated after two full tankers left the refinery under garda escort around an hour later.

More than 100 demonstrators moved to block the road, with gardai intervening to prevent protesters from surrounding another truck.

"People are very angry," protester Anthony Kelleher said.

They have escalated this now. Were blocked in here. Its disgraceful to be treated like this by your own government.

"Well be staying here, a week, two weeks, three weeks. As long as it costs us less to keep a truck parked than [working] on the road."

Standoff between Gardai and protesters at Whitegate as protesters prevent a fuel tanker from entering the Irving Oil refinery on Friday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins

Mr Kelleher said protesters would leave immediately if they believed the Government was engaging with their concerns.

"Were all peaceful people. We know the gardai have to do what they have to do," he said, adding that protesters had allowed non-fuel deliveries and workers to pass freely.

"We had agreed with gardai to open the road for kerosene last night. Not one tanker went in last night.

"One went in with liquid nitrogen, we had no issue with that. Food trucks have gone in and out. We have not blocked a single worker from getting in or out."

Another protester said they felt double-crossed after barriers were put in place and access to the refinery was secured by the State.

Separately, at Foynes Port in Co Limerick, protesters allowed critical deliveries to leave following what gardai described as "positive and constructive engagement".

"An Garda Siochana has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety," a garda spokesperson said.

Garda public order unit setting up policing barricades at the blockade on Friday at Whitegate, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Protesters at Whitegate insist they will not leave until they receive assurances on lowering fuel costs, which they say have surged in recent weeks.

Agricultural contractor Dan McAuliffe said the rise in fuel prices is placing severe pressure on workers across the sector.

We need help because it's not sustainable what we're doing now. It's the mental impact it's going to have on people across the board. The pressure's on farmers, on hauliers, on customers.

"The mental health strain it's going to put on people down the line is going to be scary. And that's what is coming, when lads can't pay bills, when they've a shed loads of animals outside that they can't feed, they can't provide for. That's going to put a crazy mental strain on people."

Protesters shelter under the bonnet of a truck during heavy rain on Friday at Whitegate, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Fellow protester Niall Linehan said demonstrators were acting on behalf of the wider public.

"Everyone is standing outside here in the last few days, day and night, and they're supporting the whole country across the board. Whether it's home heating oil, it's the petrol, diesel, everyone is sick of [the cost of] it.

"We're getting unbelievable support from the public. Its uplifting to see that the public are behind us."

At the site, tents have been erected to shelter protesters from heavy rain, with locals delivering food and supplies including sandwiches, cakes, and hot drinks to those gathered at the blockade.
Met Eireann has issued a fresh weather warning for Cork and Kerry with the counties set for a weekend washout.

The two counties will be under a status yellow wind and rain warning from midday on Saturday until 8pm that evening.

Met Eireann warned that there will be "very strong and gusty southwesterly winds, along with squally heavy showers or longer spells of rain and a chance of hail and thunder".

The potential impacts include:

Difficult travelling conditions;

Spot flooding;

Some fallen trees and branches;

Debris, loose objects displaced.

Cork, Kerry, and Waterford are already under a status yellow rain warning until 9pm on Friday, while a wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo is in place until the same time.

Met Eireann has also issued a fresh status yellow wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo on Saturday.

The warning will be in place from midday until 2pm and will bring strong winds, leading to difficult travelling conditions and fallen trees and branches.

More generally, Saturday will be sunny to start in the east and northeast before showers become widespread in the afternoon. Met Eireann said there will be "blustery heavy showers" with embedded hail and some thunderstorms too.

Sunday will be "another breezy and blustery day with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers".

Met Eireann says that some of the showers will be heavy "and there is a chance of hail".
The mother of a teenage girl groomed by a sexual predator whom she met on the mobile gaming platform Roblox has warned parents to keep an eye on their childrens phone use.

Carlo Tritta, 19, of Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, Hampshire, in the UK, has been locked up for 28 months after he pleaded guilty to various offences, including making indecent images of a child and sexual communications with a child.

Tritta first made contact with the girl from the Manchester area through Roblox in September 2024 when she was 14 years old, before he moved the conversation on to other messaging apps such as Snapchat, Discord and WhatsApp.

Tritta went on to engage in highly sexualised conversations with his victim and shared intimate images and videos.

Police were alerted last August when the complainants mother discovered the messages and images.

Tritta was arrested and interviewed, but went on to breach his bail conditions as he travelled to the girls home in a bid to get her to drop the case.

On Thursday, prosecutor Rachel Yarwood told Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court that Tritta walked in through the back door of the property and confronted the complainant despite her asking him to leave.

Undated handout screengrab from body cam footage issued by Hampshire Constabulary of the arrest of Carlo Tritta who has been jailed for 28 months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to making indecent images of child and sexual communications with a child. Picture: Hampshire Constabulary/PA Wire

She said: He also sent her letters, attempted to contact her by phone and made attempts to frustrate the criminal investigation.

Tritta later admitted to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced last December to a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

However, just three days later, he returned to the complainants home and sought to confront her as he entered the property and damaged a video camera.

Tritta was arrested again and later pleaded guilty to making indecent images, including 25 in the most serious classification of Category A, sexual communication with a child and causing a child to watch a sexual act, all committed between January and August 2025.

He also admitted to witness intimidation and criminal damage.

In a victim impact statement, the girl said she felt trapped and upset and was scared of going downstairs at night because she thought the defendant would be there.

The victims mother told the court they were constantly on edge at their home, which no longer feels like a safe space, and had considered moving.

Edward Steele, defending, made what he termed a mercy submission to the court not to activate Trittas earlier suspended sentence.

He said Tritta was essentially fixated with his victim, "partly as a function of his neurodiverse condition.

The court heard the defendant has Asperger syndrome together with a mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, which may have compromised his understanding of what he was doing.

Undated handout photo issued by Hampshire Constabulary of one of the Moonpig Cards sent by Carlo Tritta to the victim.

Mr Steele said: He is now coming to terms with the seriousness of the offences he committed, which is borne out by a letter of apology and his remorse.

However, Recorder Ciaran Rankin ruled that Trittas pattern of behaviour over a period of time must be reflected by an immediate custodial term.

He also noted the author of a pre-sentence report regarded Tritta as a high risk of causing harm to children and that the witness intimidation offences were committed just days after a court order had been imposed.

Following sentencing, Hampshire Police said Tritta led his victim to believe they were in a relationship by love-bombing her with constant messaging and sending her gifts and takeaways.

After his initial arrest, he texted the girl multiple times and even sent her two cards via Moonpig.com to encourage her to drop the case. His behaviour escalated, police added, when he reported the girls mother to social services.

The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the Press Association she had discovered Trittas contact with her daughter after the child became depressed, stopped sleeping well and had suicidal thoughts.

The mother said: I feel like my daughter has been in some kind of abusive, controlling, coercive relationship with somebody whos a lot older.

She added: I dont feel safe in my own house. Ive got cameras up, Ive got to think about safeguarding, Ive had to change times of school pickup, when I drop off, I just get jumpy in my own house.

Calling for tighter restrictions for the users of apps aimed at children, she also advised parents to take care of what their children are doing on their phones.

She said of Roblox: To me, I just thought its a childs game.

I did not think for one minute that these older people, paedophiles, are essentially grooming on these games and contacting these children.

I try to tell as many people as possible. Watch what your children are playing; they can be dangerous.

I thought, my girl, she gets high grades in school, she can be a bit of a moody teenager, but she doesnt go out.

I just thought how lucky am I that Ive got my daughter at home with me and shes safe, but Im in my bedroom, and shes in the other, and all this is happening to her. Detective Constable Jodi Bartlett, who investigated the case, said: Trittas behaviour lays bare the terrifying realities of how criminals use the online world to target and harm vulnerable people. Do you truly know who you, or your child, is speaking to online?

The victim in this case was just 14 years old. She and her mother were subjected to a campaign of fear and abuse at the hands of obsessive and predatory Tritta.

Gaming platforms should be spaces where people, especially children, are safe. The anonymity of the internet allows dangerous individuals like Tritta to prey on others for their own twisted gain, and the lengths that Tritta went to in order to maintain his abuse of this young girl is shocking.

I would encourage parents to talk openly with their children about how they use the internet, and if you have any concerns, trust your instincts and report these to police.

Karina Lyon, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: Not only is Tritta a sexual predator but he has also exhibited deeply troubling behaviour by attending the girls address in breach of his bail and a court order, damaging property and trying to interfere with witnesses.

I hope todays outcome sends a clear message that the Crown Prosecution Service is determined to bring those who exploit children to justice.

A Roblox spokesperson said: We are deeply saddened to hear of this troubling case. Criminal behaviour has no place on Roblox.

Since January, Roblox has required all users to go through age checks in order to communicate on our platform, with the system designed to limit communications to people of similar ages and those they already know.

Our policies firmly prohibit any kind of child exploitation and we have extensive safety systems in place to help prevent user-to-user image sharing and limit chat for younger users, with our teams working closely with law enforcement to support investigations.

While no system is perfect, we continue to evolve and strengthen our protections every day. For example, last year we added advanced AI systems designed to detect and prevent grooming and stricter chat protections that block personal information sharing and attempts to move conversations off-platform, where moderation standards may be less stringent.
Former US vice president Kamala Harris has said she is actively considering another presidential bid.

She made the comments during the National Action Networks annual convention, where more than a half a dozen Democratic 2028 presidential prospects appeared hoping to make inroads among black voters.

I might. I am thinking about it, Ms Harris told Rev Al Sharpton after he asked directly whether she was going to run again for president in 2028.

Kamala Harris speaking to Rev Al Sharpton (Angelina Katsanis/AP)

The Democrats next presidential primary season will not begin in earnest until after Novembers mid-term elections, but this weeks conference showcased a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded competition.

For now, at least, there is no clear early favourite. But there did appear to be a favourite at Rev Sharptons conference.

Ms Harris, the nations first black female vice president and the Democrats presidential nominee in 2024, earned the only standing ovation and the largest crowd of any other 2028 prospect this week.

Some in the audience interrupted her remarks with chants of run again.

Kamala Harris made the comments at the National Action Network convention (Angelina Katsanis/AP)

Rev Sharpton noted that Ms Harris earned more votes in her losing 2024 campaign than even former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history, he said.

Ms Harris has raised the possibility of another presidential bid before in the 15 months since she left office, even as some in the party have shifted their focus to a new generation of Democratic leaders.

The convention line-up this week featured, among others, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois governor JB Pritzker, Maryland governor Wes Moore and Kentucky governor Andy Beshear.

I know what the job is and I know what it requires

Most of them were asked about their 2028 intentions, but Ms Harris was the most explicit.

Three times she repeated, Im thinking about it, when Rev Sharpton asked her about a 2028 White House run.

I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States. I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the situation room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires, Ms Harris said.

She continued: I am thinking about it in the context of who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people. Thats how Im thinking about it. Ill keep you posted.
By Ahmed Asmar

( Middle East Monitor )  The world has now witnessed relief as a two-week-long truce between Iran and the US came into effect on April 8 (Wednesday), after nearly 40 days of relentless exchanges of attacks between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, during which the Gulf region served as one of the main military theaters. As the fog of conflict begins to clear, one painful reality becomes undeniable: the Gulf states were dragged into a war they never chose, to serve an agenda that was never theirs, all while their security was traded away to protect Israel, not them. This has fundamentally exposed the true nature of Washingtons alliances in the region.

While most Gulf countries publicly denounce Irans attacks on their territories, decision-makers in these capitals are confronting a simple and painful question: was all that investment in US weaponsincluding hosting American military basesworth the cost? And if not, what is left of the United States as a reliable partner for them?

From the very first strikes on February 28, it was clear that this war was not about Gulf security. It was exclusively in Israels interestan attempt to reset the regional balance at Irans expense, and at the expense of the stability of the entire Gulf.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov articulated what many in the region think privately: the war aims to create a split between Iran and its Arab neighbors, operating on the old colonial principle of divide and conquer.

The Gulf states were never consulted. Their fears were never considered. Instead, they were presented with a fait accompli, forced to absorb the consequences of a conflict designed in Washington and Tel Aviv. Once again, the Middle East is caught in a US-manufactured conflict, bearing the costs while American strategists speak of managed chaos to ensure dominanceespecially over energy sources.

Where was the protection?

For decades, the Gulf states hosted American bases, purchased billions in US weaponry, and justified this to their publics as necessary insurance. The Patriot missiles and THAAD systems, they were told, would protect them! Then came the war. And then, there is no protection and appeared that these US bases gave only an illusion of security, as they themselves suffered the Iranian attacks.

Furthermore, as Iran launched waves of retaliatory strikes across the Gulf and Israel, attacking US military bases and other facilities, the Gulf countries found themselves less protected by the US air defense systems, where the US earlier redeployed many of its air defense batteries from the Gulf towards Israel. Some were even pulled from South Korea, creating temporary defensive gaps there to prioritize the defense of Israel.

The message was unmistakable: when the moment of truth arrived, Gulf protection was a lower priority than Israeli security. Those billions spent on American weapons? They did not stop Iranian attacks from striking targets in these countries.

Even more brazen was the US militarys operational decision to relocate its personnel from military basesthe very bases that became Iranian targetsinto civilian installations, including luxury hotels and office buildings. As Iran pursued what it called legitimate retaliation against the US-Israeli aggression, American forces took shelter among Gulf civilians, effectively using them as human shields. The IRGC explicitly warned it would target all economic centers in the region and listed specific US consulting and investment firms among its potential targets.

The US not only left these countries unprotected after dragging them into a war not of their choice, but it also endangered civilian populations and facilities by moving its troops into civilian sites. This meant one thing: the US in the Gulf is now in need of protection, not the oppositeit has become a burden, not a source of security or stability.

The ultimate insult: pay for the war

And then came the final humiliation. On March 30, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump would be very interested in having the Gulf Arab states pay for the cost of the war. A war they did not ask for. A war they actively suffered from. A war that has already cost Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar nearly $200 billion in direct and indirect losses in the first month of the war, according to UN estimates.

The message from the US could not be clearer: you will host our bases, you will be targeted because of our presence, your civilians will be endangered, and when the bill arrives, you will pay. This stance makes it unequivocally clear that the United States has strategically deceived the Gulf countries and breached the very foundation of what an alliance is supposed to mean.

What is left of trust?

How can any Gulf state continue to trust a security guarantor that behaves this way? The United States has proven that its Middle East doctrine is not about mutual security or honoring its alliances with its presumed partners but about unilateral Israeli favoritism. The Gulf states have been tested, and they have been found to be expendable.



Photo of Kuwait City by Jan Dommerholt on Unsplash

Analysts now openly question whether the Gulf states will continue to invest billions in American weapons systems that did not protect them, or continue to host US bases that became magnets for attack rather than shields. As one political expert noted, these bases are now seen not as strategic assets but as strategic burdens.

A source of instability

No doubt remains: the United States has clearly appeared as a source of instability, worry, and conflict in the Middle East. Its interventions have reached a dead end, endangered the security of its partners and dragged them into uncalculated conflicts.

But the lesson is clear. A sane country, looking at the evidence, would conclude that hosting US bases does not bring safetyit brings danger. Aligning with US policy does not bring prosperityit brings subordination. And trusting the US as a reliable partner does not bring peaceit brings war.

Any nation that values its sovereignty and the safety of its people would do everything in its power to kick out this source of instability and chart an independent course. The Gulf states have gone through a bitter experience; a one that will put their previous security arrangements with the United States into question.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment

Ahmed Asmar is a journalist and a PhD candidate in International Relations at the Ankara Yldrm Beyazt University, Turkey.

Via Middle East Monitor
Newark, Delaware (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Like many Iranians, I was glued to the TV and the nonsense that was spewed by the most powerful man in our hemisphere. Did I believe his last post, that the Iranian civilization would be destroyed at 8 PM on April 7? Honesty, I did not believe it, but I was apprehensive. I was terrified like many others.

You cannot destroy a civilization. Civilizations live on.



Photo of ancient Iranian capital, Persepolis, by mostafa meraji on Unsplash

But I dont believe that Trump even knows what civilization means. Those around him had been cautious about engaging in this war against Iran. They warned him. But he listened to his guts. His guts told him or the PM of Israel told him to bomb Iran: Universities, peoples homes and even a synagogue were bombed.

The destruction is enormous.

We have no idea of the carnage. We only see it here and there. The U.S. media shows nothing. They are silent.

I cant fathom it. I am disturbed but more than that I am terrified. This unjust war was not justified even if the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) made many wrong moves. Yes, of course they did.



Photo of Shah Mosque in the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan, by Ali Amiri on Unsplash

But this war could have been avoided. I blame the regime in Tel Aviv which had wished for this war for the longest time. I blame Reza Pahlavi and his ilk who said nothing about the 168 little girls killed by an American Tomahawk missile in Minab. As if they did not exist. He lost the momentum. He went along with the Israeli mantra. I blame those who danced in Los Angeles and who still do while raising the flags of Israel, a country that committed genocide in Gaza and continues to bomb Beirut indiscriminately.

On one of the nights that Iran was being bombed, Reza Pahlavi went to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and dined and wined with the most right wing of the American oligarchy and promised them a trillion-dollar investment in Iran. Reza Pahlavi is now a disgrace among the Iranian people even if he proclaims himself to be a transition figure.

Iranians will never forget the 1953 coup which brought his father back to power but even his father and grandfather would be rolling in their graves to witness such a travesty.



Screenshot from Iranian social media of Iranians flocking to safeguard their bridge in Ahvaz from an American bombing campaign after Trumps threat to end a civilization

I am proud of the Iranian people, who stood up to this unjust war despite all the internal repression and all the harm that has been done to them. I salute the people of Iran who stood up on that bridge in Ahwaz. They stood hand in hand to protect the structures of their country, their homeland and mine.



Group of women in Isfahan, 2019.  Fariba Amini.

I salute the people of Iran for their resilience and their courage despite repression and despite the aggression of two technologically superior military powers. They are standing tall.

For now, I am trying to stay sane and tranquil even if I have a lump in my throat. I am still worried for this land of our beloved nation. This land which has gone through many invasions, from the Arab invasions of the seventh century to the Mongol invasions of the thirteenth, but which has endured.

Iran shall survive.
Since Nuremberg, accountability for mass crimes has relied almost exclusively on a model centred on individual criminal responsibility struggling to capture the complex and collective nature of mass crimes. Early debates within the UN International Law Commission did consider extending criminal responsibility to states, and such an extension was deemed not impossible. The 2001 Draft Articles on Responsibility of States, however, closed this debate, entrenching a dual responsibility model in which criminal responsibility is reserved exclusively for individuals.

In parallel, debates have led several domestic jurisdictions to recognize corporate criminal responsibility for mass crimes. For example, the French Penal Code, since 2005, set that legal entities (e.g. corporations, associations) can be criminally liable for offenses committed on their behalf by their organs. This corporate criminal responsibility does not exclude the parallel responsibility of the individuals who are the actual perpetrators, but it explicitly excludes the responsibility of the state. This confirms that criminal accountability is not conceptually confined to natural persons, and there are good reasons why.

The Lafarge criminal proceedings

Between 2012 and 2014, the French company paid around ten million dollars to Daesh and other armed groups in Syria in order to keep its factory operating, knowingly contributing to their criminal machinery, while also endangering the lives of its local employees. The French criminal investigation started in 2016. Thanks to the intervention of NGOs, it came to include allegations of terrorism financing and crimes against humanity - both against individuals and the legal entity.

It has been particularly lengthy process, with the corporation lawyers systematically appealing investigative decisions. Equipped with unlimited resources, systematically appealed procedural issues up to the Supreme Court as part of a strategy of procedural exhaustion. Litigating against a corporation means entering the white-collar legal sphere, where structural asymmetries are stark. As Justine Augier illustrates in her book Personne morale, the burnout of NGO lawyersoften young women working under precarious conditions, and underpaid stands in sharp contrast to the well-funded, heavily resourced corporate legal teams backed by powerful capitalist structures.

And yet, ironically, this strategy of exhaustion produced a landmark jurisprudence against the company: in 2021, the French Court of Cassation ruled that Lafarge (and not only its directors) may be prosecuted for complicity of crimes against humanity as it did not need to share the intent of the crimes perpetrated; it is sufficient that it had knowledge of them. This sets a lower mens rea threshold than in the International Criminal Courts Rome Statute, which requires that the accomplice provide aid/assistance for the purpose of facilitating the commission of such a crime. This lower mens rea threshold is similarly established in counter-terrorism jurisprudence. Interestingly, this Courts decision was issued one day before the opening of the mediatized Bataclan trial, and in the same courthouse. Notably, the Lafarge case concerned alleged complicity with the same terrorist organization responsible for this attack in France.

This significant jurisprudence opens the door in France to prosecuting corporations that, for example, sell arms to state or non-state actor engaged in the commission of international crimes. As of 2025, at least thirteen criminal proceedings were opened in France against companies and their executives for complicity in international crimes, including genocide, war crimes, torture, and enforced disappearance, with cases relating to Syria, Rwanda, the Central African Republic, Yemen, Sudan, and Egypt. Drawn from the Amnesty International France websitemost of these proceedings were initiated following complaints filed by NGOs.

In 2024, the Lafarge case was split: the allegations of complicity in crimes against humanity remain under investigation, while the charges of financing terrorism were brought to trial in November 2025 [see our courtroom diary here].

Transatlantic cooperation

On the other side of the Atlantic, parallel proceedings were initiated in 2017 in the United States, leading to a federal investigation in the Eastern District of New York, apparently because one of the money wires passed through a bank located there. However, the investigation focused exclusively on the charge of providing material support to a terrorist organization, and only against the company.

These investigations benefited from robust transatlantic cooperation, as counterterrorism frameworks for mutual legal assistance were already well established. This facilitated significant exchanges of evidence, including US email interceptions and interrogations carried out by French investigating magistrates. Despite this cooperation, the French proceedings were considered too slow from the perspective of U.S. justice, and in 2022, they were the first to announce a plea agreement with the company, which by then had merged with Holcim. Under the terms of the agreement, the company pleaded guilty to providing material support to a terrorist organization and agreed to acknowledge those facts in any foreign court or judicial proceeding. This was of major importance to the French investigation, which was still ongoing.

This demonstrates that counter-terrorism legal framework, may in practice serve as vehicles for advancing international criminal law. While such frameworks have absorbed in France (and elsewhere) a significant share of the institutional capacity that might otherwise be devoted to the prosecution of international crimes they have nonetheless enabled cases to reach the courtroom and have reinforced international judicial cooperation. Most importantly, as the 2021 precedent illustrates, they have also facilitated doctrinal development in international criminal law.

Where Does the Money Go?

The US plea bargain imposed on the company to pay the U.S. government USD 780 million, the majority of which consisted of the freezing and forfeiture of corporate assets. This is precisely what the French proceedings failed to achieve. By the time the criminal hearing was opening in Paris in November 2025, it became clear that the assets of the companys former directors had been reduced to little more than a studio or a small two-room flat.

Shortly after the plea bargain, the U.S. Department of Justice had indicated its willingness to transfer to France approximately USD 200 million, potentially for the benefit of the victims. However, this proposal proved bureaucratically complex, and no transfer took place. Today, in light of the change in US administration, such a transfer is no longer under consideration.

Moreover, in January 2025, Holcim and Lafarge brought new legal action against Bruno Lafont and three other former executives, requesting 200 million in compensation before the Paris Court for Economic Activities for the damage suffered. As for the human victims, who suffered damage, following the U.S. criminal case, more than 400 Yazidi Americans filed a lawsuit and brought a civil action seeking compensation. Yet, those proceedings are limited to U.S. citizens, thereby excluding Syrian victims. In France, the issue of compensation remains unresolved: whether victims will be recognized as civil parties - and, if so, which victims, whether those of the Paris attacks, Yazidi victims in Syria, or Syrian workers from the factory - will depend on the courts ruling, which is due on Monday 13 April.

Under French criminal procedure, parties civiles - which can include both NGOs as legal entities and individual victims with direct harm - enjoy significant procedural rights, including, ultimately, the right to seek compensation within the criminal trial itself. In the Lafarge trial, it was initially unclear whether civil parties would be formally recognized. In a smart procedural decision, the judge allowed civil parties to plead, providing visibility on the human consequences of Lafarges capitalist decisions. Over 200 civil parties asked to be recognized, and many gave deposition in court, including emotional testimonies from Syrian worker survivors. And yet, the question of whether they may join the proceedings as civil parties will only be decided in the courts final judgment, which will also determine whether they are entitled to seek compensation.

In this regard, it is worth recalling that in 2021 the French Supreme Court ruled that Life for Paris, a victims association related to the 2015 Paris attacks, could not be admitted as a civil party, because there was no sufficiently direct link between their prejudice and the offence of financing terrorism. On the trial, one of the defence lawyers even drew a comparison to white-collar crimes: financing terrorism, like money laundering or tax evasion, does not create direct victims...

While this may be true with respect to the victims of the Paris attacksand even that is debatable, as the prosecutor specifically emphasized in court what such financing may enable in terms of the purchase of Kalashnikov rifles, or payment of salariesthe position is less clear in relation to the victims of the Syrian factory. They were, in a very direct sense, victims of Daesh members who took them hostage and tortured them, all while Lafarges money continued to circulate. Moreover, the company could have chosen to close the factory and, as it did for its foreign employees, spared them from having to continue working in an area controlled by Daesh. Yet capitalism follows its own logic: Lafarge stayed in Syria for compelling economic reasons. Internal emails revealed an expectation of future profits that reconstruction would generate significant business opportunities, precisely because the ongoing civil war was destroying the country. This reasoning resonates with the political economy of contemporary conflicts, including todays wars in Iran and Gaza. As the trial showed, numbers and graphs were deeply persuasive: they justify the decision to stay, and ultimately to pay USD 10 million to one of the most brutal terrorist organisations.

One step beyond the accountability of individuals

This brutality was impossible to ignore in another trial that took place last month in Paris. Between the Lafarge hearings and the expected decision, the Court heard the case of a French Daesh member, who, for the first time, was prosecuted not only for terrorism, but first for genocide against the Yazidis. NGOs and survivors gave harrowing testimony about the extreme cruelty of the same group that Lafarge had, in effect, helped finance.

This is precisely why criminal accountability must not be limited to individual / directors, who are ultimately interchangeable, but must also extend to the corporate structure itself, which made such decisions possible, rational, and profitable. As the Lafarge trial demonstrates, individual responsibility does not fully capture how capitalist structures facilitate mass crimes and how broader state-level entities can enable such crimes. In this sense, the Lafarge case may signal a shift beyond Nurembergs legacy of focusing solely on individuals, pointing toward the recognition of other entitiesand, potentially, even State criminal responsibilityin the context of mass crimes.
Israel said on Friday it had blocked Spain from participating in the work of a US-led centre established to help stabilise post-war Gaza following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat was set up after the ceasefire took effect on October 10, with the goal of monitoring the truce and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.

As part of the CMCC, military personnel and diplomats from several other countries including France, Britain and the United Arab Emirates are also present and participate in meetings on security and humanitarian issues in Gaza, devastated by more than two years of war.

Representatives of Spain were also participating in the work of CMCC until now.

But on Friday, Israel's foreign ministry announced it was preventing Spain from attending CMCC meetings.

"The Sanchez government's anti-Israel bias is so egregious that it has lost all capability to serve as a constructive actor in implementing President Trump's peace plan in the CMCC," Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement.

"Spain will not be permitted to participate in the CMCC in Kiryat Gat."

Relations between Israel and Spain have deteriorated significantly since Madrid recognised a Palestinian state in 2024.

Both countries have withdrawn their ambassadors.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel's war on Gaza, which broke out after Palestinian movement Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

He had also opposed the US-Israeli military strikes on Iran that began on February 28.

Sarr has previously accused the Spanish government of "standing with tyrants" by opposing the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

He also accused Spain of being "complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes" after it recognised a Palestinian state.

Spain only established diplomatic ties with Israel in 1986 following the death of dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975.

Under Franco, Spain avoided recognising Israel and maintained closer diplomatic ties with Arab states.
Three Frenchmen held in Iraq, forced to work for the Islamic State group as children, are seeking repatriation on the grounds they were victims of war, their lawyers said Friday.

International humanitarian law prohibits the recruitment and use of children in hostilities.

The men -- taken to Syria by their jihadist parents aged 11 or 12 then made to take part in propaganda videos, fight or join IS police -- have filed legal documents in France claiming they were the victim of a war crime over their recruitment, a source with knowledge of the case told AFP.

The three detainees are part of 5,700 suspected IS "fighters" of 61 nationalities transferred from Syria to neighbouring Iraq earlier this year.

France is investigating them for alleged "terrorist" crimes while in Syria.

But according to their lawyers arguing for their repatriation, the French judicial system should instead be considering them as "war victims".

"No child chooses to be enlisted, and France is displaying the worst kind of indignity in this matter, while also violating the conventions to which it is a signatory," attorneys Marie Dose and Matthieu Bagard said in a joint statement.

"Instead of treating them as the victims they are, France refused to repatriate them from Syria and made possible their transfer to a squalid Iraqi prison where they are subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment," they added.

Hundreds of French men and women joined the ranks of IS after the jihadist group seized large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, implementing their brutal interpretation of Islamic law in a so-called "caliphate".

Backed by US-led forces, Iraq proclaimed the defeat of IS in the country in 2017.

Kurdish-led Syrian fighters ultimately beat back the group in Syria two years later, detaining thousands of alleged IS fighters as well as their family members.

Syrian Kurdish authorities have long urged the international community to repatriate their nationals, but Western nations have been very reluctant and only brought some home on a case-by-case basis.

The United States transferred "5,700 adult male ISIS fighters" to Iraqi custody in February after Syrian troops drove Kurdish forces from swathes of northern Syria, sparking questions over the fate of the IS prisoners.






Thursday, April 09, 2026 - Controversial city businessman, Jimal Roho Safi, has once again set social media ablaze after dropping a cryptic message on Instagram targeting Slay Queens dating older men, popularly known as wababa.

His post read: Deep down in your mubabaz heart, he prays not to have a child like you .

The statement quickly went viral and sparked a flurry of reactions and a heated debate.

Some netizens supported Jimals boldness while others defended the lifestyle choices of women dating older, wealthy men.

Comments ranged from cheeky clapbacks to sharp criticism, proving once again that Jimal knows how to stir the pot.

Known for his unapologetic takes on love, marriage and modern relationships, Jimal has built a reputation as one of Kenyas most controversial online personalities, and this latest post only adds fuel to the fire.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, April 09, 2026 - DCP Leader, Rigathi Gachagua, on Thursday, April 9th, cautioned the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against entering into any agreement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) without first insisting on party zoning.

Speaking in Laikipia County, the former Deputy President warned that ODM risked losing its strongholds if President William Ruto was allowed to field UDA candidates in regions traditionally dominated by the party.

ODM must be very clear that before they proceed on any agreement with William Ruto, they must agree on zoning.

Areas predominantly dominated by ODM must be left for ODM only, Gachagua stated.

He further alleged that Ruto was prepared to use state resources to weaken ODM, claiming Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo had been tasked with sponsoring UDA candidates in Nyanza.

They will be funded by the state and backed by goons, he said.

Gachagua added that zoning was already being applied within his own party, noting that Laikipia had been designated a DCP zone covering all elective positions.

He reaffirmed his commitment to unseat UDA leaders in the Mount Kenya region.

His remarks come amid divided opinions within ODM.

Homa Bay Town MP, Peter Kaluma, has supported zoning, insisting ODM candidates should dominate the partys strongholds.

However, Suba North MP, Millie Odhiambo, and Langata MP Jalango have opposed the idea, arguing that zoning undermines fair competition and that all aspirants should face voters on the ballot.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, April 09, 2026 - The death of Momentum Credit founder and CEO, Job Muriuki, at the age of 41 while undergoing treatment in India has triggered a storm of reactions across social media.

Instead of the usual condolences, many flocked to the companys social media pages expressing celebration over his demise.

Allegations suggest that the CEO had frustrated clients, with some reportedly suffering stress-related conditions such as depression and high blood pressure.

Stories abound of borrowers who lost everything, cars auctioned, homes emptied, families strained, men broken.

Some even claimed they sank into depression after dealing with the lender.

The shocking reactions have left netizens wondering how severe must the pain have been for people to feel relief at someones death?

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, April 09, 2026 - A Tanzanian lady has sparked laughter online after posting a TikTok video flaunting her English fluency while interacting with fellow Tanzanians.

In Tanzania, Kiswahili is the national language and even schools teach primarily in Swahili.

Hence, speaking fluent English is often seen as a flex.

In the trending clip, she cheekily captioned:

Terrorizing my countrymen with English because sikulipiwa school fees ya Kenyan school bure.

The video shows her asking security guards to open the gate in English.

Though the guards admitted they couldnt understand her, she persisted, continuing to ask for directions in English just to prove her point.

Watch the video>>> below

A Tanzanian national leaves her country men stunned with fluent English after studying in Kenyan schools. pic.twitter.com/c07Mbzb4e0  KENYA GOSSIP HUB (@kenyasgossips) April 9, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, April 09, 2026 - A woman has stirred a buzz on social media after posting a video on X complaining that she struggles to sleep at night due to her neighbours loud intimacy.

Sharing the clip, she lamented:

This is what I go through all the time in my house. My neighbour will not allow me to sleep.

She even checked the time and it was 1:49 a.m as the noise continued in the background.

The video has one viral, drawing mixed reactions.

Some netizens sympathized with her frustrations, condemning the neighbours for being inconsiderate.

Others joked that she should get a partner and get busy instead of complaining.

A few advised her to escalate the matter to the caretaker, insisting that she deserves a quiet nights rest.

Watch the video on X via this LINK>>>

The Kenyan DAILY POST
THE concerned locals of Ballindrum, Mullaghmast and surrounding areas were given a briefing recently on the project to install a 340-acre solar plant in the agricultural lands of the area situated less than 10 kilometres from Athy.

The briefing was given by Francis Gorman, a cybersecurity analyst who lives across the road from the proposed site. There was time for questions after the briefing and information was given on further workshops aimed at helping people to submit objections to the solar plant. A newsletter was also made available at the meeting with further information.

Kildare County Council received a planning application on 6 March from Glasgow-based company Neo Environmental - trading locally as Ballindrum Solar Limited - for the construction of a large solar farm made up of 193,000 solar panels spanning the townlands of Ballindrum and Mullaghmast.

Locals first met on 12 March, with this being their second meeting ahead of the 9 April deadline for objections to the planning application.

Mr Gorman detailed in his presentation how similar solar plants were installed in Cork and at Garreenleen in Carlow, which caused significant issues for locals, who were unable to sell their houses after attempting to do so in the context of the plants being installed.

Ballindrum Solar is applying for a 10-year operational licence from the county council, but expects the installation to last for 40 years. Mr Gorman expressed his concern that the solar farm will be owned and run by a hedge fund rather than Ballindrum Solar Ltd in 40 years.

Mr Gorman made the point that the project is something that can be objected to on a number of levels, including that there are 64 historical monuments within 2km of the site, and also noted the potential threats to wildlife.

He referred to the case of Denmark  a leading nation in green energy and one that Mr Gorman described as being years ahead of Ireland in some respect  where the spread of solar panels has become a divisive issue in rural areas.

One of the most notable questions asked by another local after Mr Gormans presentation was one regarding the proximity of the proposed solar plant to the privately owned land of locals. It was said that five metres is how close the solar installations can be to hedgerows.

The site notice at Ballindrum cross

Another view expressed at the meeting was that those behind this project should be answering questions from Mr Gorman and his fellow locals, but that this has yet to happen.

Local councillors Aoife Breslin and Mark Leigh were present at the meeting.

One of the most noteworthy points touched on at the meeting and further detailed in the newsletter is that Ballindrum Solar are set to make a separate application to an Comisiun Pleanala at a later date for a 110Kv electrical substation and 10km of cable connecting the site to the national grid at the Athy substation.

Other concerns noted in the newsletter include the impact of noise and vibration from construction on horses, livestock and equine business and on those working from home.

The newsletter also detailed the relevance of the third EU Renewable Energy Directive (known as RED III) to developments in Ballindrum/ Mullaghmast. RED III was adopted in Ireland last year and introduced mandatory decision-making time frames for renewable energy development application.

The view was expressed in the newsletter that this is designed for speed rather than community engagement, with locals given 5 weeks between 6 March and 9 April for observations or objections to the application.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Ellen O'Donoghue

The ongoing fuel protests and their impacts dominate Irish front pages on Friday morning.

The Irish Times lead with the war in the Middle East, the Government potentially engaging with fuel protesters, and a charity for the blind sending a businessman on a cruise.

The Irish Examiner lead with emergency services vehicles being low on fuel thanks to the fuel protests, Tipperary assault victim Scarlett Faulkner's life support being turned off, and Netanyahu seeking talks with Beirut as the death toll rises.

The Echo, The Herald, Irish Independent, Irish Daily Mail, Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star all lead with the fuel protests and the impacts they are having around the country.

Belfast Telegraph lead with Northern Ireland's Economy Minister U-turning on a decision not to attend an economic forum hosted by China after lobbying from the country's consulate in Belfast.
Kilkenny City councillors have unanimously adopted a proposal to grant well known local businessman Eamon Langton the freedom of the city following a meeting in County Hall on Friday.

Taking over the family public house on John Street in 1975, Mr Langton made the business a household name with their popular restaurant, hotel, theatre and tea-rooms making the 'Langton' name and brand known far and wide today.

Mr Langton previously received the Kilkenny Chamber President's Award in 2022, with Mayor John Coonan, who raised the proposal, describing this latest accolade as 'the next natural step'.

"By passing this motion, we have ensured that one of our city's most dedicated sons will receive the highest civic honour we can bestow," Cllr Coonan told the meeting.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny All Time Greats - Profile: Eamon Langton

"This decision reflects the unanimous respect this council holds for a man who has spent nearly five decades championing the Marble City.

"When I brought this proposal forward, I did so knowing that Eamon Langton is a name woven into the very fabric of our community," he continued, adding, "Eamon has displayed a visionary spirit that has transformed John Street and, by extension, the entire hospitality landscape of Kilkenny.

"I am delighted that my fellow members agreed that Eamon's contribution goes far beyond business. He is a guardian of our city's reputation. Whether through his support of our sporting heritage-honouring the legacy of his uncle, the great Jim Langton-or his tireless work in boosting local tourism, Eamon has always put Kilkenny first," he continued.

"Having received the Kilkenny Chamber President's Award in 2022, it was clear to me that the next natural step was to grant him the Freedom of the City. I am heartened that the council has acted decisively to make this a reality.

"Today, we have done right by a man who has done so much for us," the mayor concluded.

A formal ceremony is due to take place in the coming weeks.

More to Follow...

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Amid growing frustration over the cost of fuel and ongoing protests, concerns are mounting about the impact on everyday life.

Local Fine Gael councillor, Joe Lyons has urged calm, stating that denying access to fuel is 'not the answer'.

"The hardest hit in today's society, while struggling to survive due to all types of costs, including fuel and ESB, are the smaller businesses, especially across rural Ireland," Cllr Lyons told Kilkenny Live.

"The current protest is impacting many, many people, ordinary workers especially. While its aim is right, holding a country to ransom is wrong. Any protest should be allowed, but cutting off every link to towns and cities is unacceptable.

READ NEXT: 'Someone is going to have to stand up' - Kilkenny politician backs fuel protestors

"There should be access for emergency services, visitors to hospitals in contact with seriously ill family members. It is a time for cool heads to solve this," he continued.

"Blocking fuel distribution centres is not the answer. Protests should be outside the Dail, also the US and Israeli Embassies, both countries who are the cause of the problem," the local councillor added.

"Poland have cut the vat rate from 23% down to 8%. This is something Ireland can do temporarily and help in some way towards the survival of rural businesses, farmers and everyday workers," he concluded.

READ MORE: "General election immediately" - Kilkenny public slam government amid fuel protests
As disruptions from the ongoing national fuel protests continue for a fourth day, local businesses are feeling the pressure as sectors of everyday life grind to a halt.

Along with the difficulty in fueling vehicles, companies like Kilkenny City Tours are struggling with the lack of visitors entering from Dublin, leaving their distinctive black and amber trains without their usual quota of customers.

Despite the fuel, were having more problems with our tourists not being able to get to us, said Paul Matthews, tour guide with the company. Weve American tourists and they cant get out of Dublin so what were getting is a lot of cancellations at the minute.

With all the protests and the queuing going into garages, we cant get units in to fuel, he added.

The disruptions to transport out of the capital and the impact its having on tourists mobility has led to a number of tours being cancelled and lost income as the companys busiest season fast approaches.

My day has been halved and Im on my way home because I have no work to do and we cant be sitting in the cold doing nothing, Mr Matthews outlined.

Weve had two tours cancelled today, two tomorrow and two on Sunday, so financially if it keeps going the way its going, its ruining the tourist season for us.

We get 250 days of tourist season and you need to make hay when the sun is shining, he continued.

The protests and blockades show little sign of dispersing and the current strains on some businesses may prove unsustainable if the stand-off continues for an extended period.

Weve lost nearly 300-350 passengers in the last couple of days. For me to be going home at one oclock on a Friday; its unheard of, Mr Matthews said.

Theres ways they can protest it and ways they shouldnt. I know theyre fighting for their business but they have to remember theres a lot of businesses that theyre crippling as well, he concluded.

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Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Peter Chap Cleere TD has said the strength of feeling from communities across Carlow and Kilkenny was clear and undeniable following a packed public meeting in Mullinavat on the planned withdrawal of the Route 4 bus service between Waterford and Dublin at the end of next month.

Residents, students, workers and families from across the region attended the meeting, voicing deep frustration and concern at the loss of what many describe as a lifeline service.

Im delighted with the turnout and the level of engagement from people here this evening, said Deputy Cleere. There is no mistaking the anger and worry among residents. People are genuinely anxious about how they will get to work, college and school without this essential service.

Deputy Cleere said the meeting underlined just how vital the Route 4 service is to rural communities like Mullinavat.

This is not just a bus route; it is a critical link that keeps communities connected. For many across rural Carlow and Kilkenny, it is the only viable way to access employment, education and essential services. Removing it will have very real and serious consequences.

SEE ALSO: Theres lives behind this, not just money - Calls continue for HSE support to treat rare condition - Kilkenny Live

He stressed that the decision runs counter to the needs of rural Ireland.

Rural transport should be added to, not taken away. At a time when we should be strengthening connectivity, this decision risks leaving people behind.

Deputy Cleere confirmed he has called on the National Transport Authority (NTA) to introduce a Public Service Obligation (PSO) on the route to ensure it is reinstated and secured on a permanent footing.

I am keen to deliver a solution for rural communities across the constituency. A PSO is the clear and necessary step to protect this service into the future.

I will be putting in a submission to the NTA in due course and would encourage all local groups to submit the same to me so I can include key points highlighting how this loss of service impacts them personally, he added.

Deputy Cleere concluded by saying he will continue to escalate the matter at national level.

I will be raising this directly with the Minister for Transport and will bring it to the floor of the Dail next week. The message from Mullinavat tonight is clear; this service must be protected at all costs.

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Article funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Sarah Williams from Kilkenny was diagnosed with autism at 17-years-old and had to home-school herself for two years.

Sarah, who is now 20, is from Freshford, and has shared her story to help raise awareness on the autism spectrum.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), commonly known as Autism, is a complex, neurodevelopmental condition. Its symptoms are characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech, and nonverbal communication, according to a report.

According to the latest available data, more than 4,000 families are waiting for first-time autism assessments, with some waits exceeding two years.

READ NEXT: 'Cop on' - 'petty' behaviour creating a risk to life in Kilkenny City - Kilkenny Live

Girls in particular are often identified much later than boys, sometimes not until adolescence meaning they can miss years of support when it matters most, according to a report by Infant.

Recent research suggests that autism is just as common in girls as in boys, yet boys are up to four times more likely to be diagnosed in childhood.

Sarah was tested for autism twice when she was a very young girl when her mother had noticed traits in her behaviour that pointed towards autism. Both tests came back negative, leaving her mother frustrated, confused and without support.

Sarah spent 17 years not understanding her behaviour properly and had a very hard time dealing with many parts of her life, especially school.

"My mam found it very frustrating because she felt like there was something there but they weren't really listening to her. Then when I got older in my teenage years it got more obvious. So once I got diagnosed there was a big relief about it," Sarah said.

"My mam felt like she wasn't just in her head about it especially because a lot of parents with children with special needs feel like people say 'oh it's just in your head but she knew there was something there.'"

Sarah's mother said that from a very young age her daughter always liked structure and routine, a personality trait commonly found in autistic people.

"As parents we always suspected that Sarah had autism but like many young girls Sarah masked a lot and she went undiagnosed. By the time Sarah went into fifth year she struggled. Suddenly it was a new environment. Sarah came to me and said she needed help," her mam said.

Sarah got to a stage in her life where she couldn't go to school at all and ended up teaching herself at home for her Leaving Certificate.

This was a very lonely two years for Sarah and it came at a time when she had only just got the verification that she was indeed autistic.

"I think the main thing for me was after Covid because we weren't in school and when we had to start going back to school I wouldn't go into school because I would have such a big fear of it. So my mam would have to sit outside the door in her car and wait for my day to be over so I would go in," Sarah said.

"It was really difficult. My parents had to do a lot of helping but my deputy principal was brilliant. I wasn't going to school and they were like 'well do you want to complete the Leaving Cert?' I did, so I just brought home all my books and I would just study the chapters I would think were the most important, and then for the exams, and I'd just go in and complete them and then come home so it was very tough to do it on my own."

Sarah's mother said: "Im so grateful for the support from the vice principal of her school. As a parent it was incredibly hard to see Sarah struggle. She did so well in her results and now she has had the courage to go for the Rose of Kilkenny and meeting all the wonderful girls she's met along the way."

Sarah said there is an online schooling programme in Ireland now "which is really brilliant for people, especially with disabilities. But for me it was definitely very lonely especially because school is the main reason you go in to see people. You talk to people so I was very isolated. I didn't see anyone really and then also with the with all my appointments in CAMHS it did make it very hard to meet other people."

Sarah said that being diagnosed with autism has been a huge relief for her, especially since starting college where she is now thriving.

Not only does she finally have clarity after years being left in the dark, she is now opening up and is able to be proud of her diagnosis.

She said that thankfully after contacting her local GP she only had to wait 18 months for her diagnosis test. For some people in Ireland, you could be waiting years.

Sarah is studying to become a qualified SNA teacher at Ormond College in Kilkenny. This decision was heavily influenced by her own experience living with autism.

She said that her course is nothing like her experience in school because she is not stuck to the one spot and has more freedom to be herself.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: New Kilkenny fire station plan ignited by 10 million funding boost - Kilkenny Live

"It's a huge difference. I actually didn't know if I would be able to go in but they're absolutely brilliant. It doesn't feel like you have to stay in this exact space all day. I find it very difficult just staying in the one area for the whole day.

"There has been a massive change with even me telling people about it. I would never tell anyone until I started that course so it's a big deal."

She chose this career path because she herself had such a hard time in school so she would be able to understand and help other children who need support.

"That's definitely what I would have needed when I was in school and I wish I had that."

Sarah said that the stereotypes surrounding autism "need to be stopped."

"There's a lot of stereotypes about autism such as injections and medications are causing it. No one actually knows what the cause of autism is yet.

"I feel like in Ireland we don't have as much as support. 85% of autistic people in Ireland are unemployed at the moment so I think there definitely needs to be a big change as we're just the exact same as everyone else."

Sarah said that claims that autism is caused by vaccines or medication are something she has heard from older people in her life who say, 'we didn't have it in our time.'

"It's definitely frustrating that we don't know why autism is caused because people do like to make up their own things to try and figure out what it is."
A guest post by Rhys Hurley, Investigations Co-ordinator for the Taxpayers Union:

Taxpayers have a right to know what is being done with their money. The Official Information Act (OIA) is one of the only tools they have to find out.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has, however, asked his officials to review the cost of this system and even floated the idea of restricting access to some of this information.

He is right to acknowledge that the system is under pressure. Requests are up. Complaints into response times continue to rise. The process has become slower, more legalistic, and far more defensive.

But Minister Goldsmiths potential restrictions are a huge problem. If the question is how to reduce costs, the answer cannot be to shut out the public.

Making it harder for the taxpaying public, journalists and elected politicians to get information will not fix the problem, but will just weaken decision makers already-limited accountability.

Instead, reform must start from first principles. The 1978 Danks Committee, set up to review how government information was handled and which ultimately led to the OIA, was clear: official information should be made available unless there is good reason to withhold it. The whole point was to move away from secrecy as the default.

That principle is now being eroded.

The pressure Goldsmith is pointing to is not just requesters with too much time on their hands, but the result of how the system now operates. What should be simple has become slow and bureaucratic.

Even the insiders agree. The Public Service Census 2025 described a culture focused on avoiding OIAs, with processes clogged by multiple approval layers and an approach that treats requests as a risk rather than a duty. That is the real problem.

Why people are having to ask for information in the first place is another question for the review. Too much information that should be routine seems to be locked up until somebody forces it out.

OIA volumes rise as departments are repeatedly asked for the same briefings, the same communications, and the same spending data, with each time seeing the possibility of the four-week process starting again from scratch.

The obvious answer is to publish more of this data up front. Other countries already treat this as standard procedure.

In Canada, agencies must proactively release contracts, grants, expenses, and audit reports on one central portal. Australian agencies publish disclosure logs, so every information request is available to all, and repeated requests are less likely.

The United Kingdom also has mandatory transparency rules around what information must be released by departments. Unlike New Zealand, Brits also have the right to send their questions to Parliament.

By comparison, New Zealand has no consistent approach. Instead, people are forced to rely on the Ombudsman just to get information that has already been deemed in the public interest in previous rulings and guidance. This drags the process out and further drives up cost.

The real issue here is that too much information is still being held back in the first place.

If any findings of the review recommend a cost-recovery exercise and clamping down on requests, the Government will have learnt the wrong lesson. Yes, responding to OIA requests costs time and money, but that is the cost of a healthy democracy.

There is a better approach.

By setting rules on what should be proactively published and following the Ombudsmans guidelines on what should be considered in the publics interest, there would be less need for requests in the first place.

Additionally, a streamlined sign-off process so multiple layers of bureaucracy dont need to approve a response would cut through the layers of management that often lengthen the wait times on responses.

Either of these would reduce pressure on agencies while strengthening transparency and accountability. Both would solve the problem Minister Goldsmith is looking to fix.

When governments feel pressure, the instinct is always the same: release less, control more, and complain about the people asking questions. That would be a mistake.

Open government itself is not the problem. The problem is that every request is being treated like handing over the nuclear codes.

If ministers are tired of taxpayers asking how their money is being spent, the solution is simple: Stop making them ask.
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 &&
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A CIVIC reception was held in Laois Co Council chambers on 10 April to honour Katelyn Cummins, the 2025 Rose of Tralee.

The event celebrated Katelyns achievement of becoming the first-ever Laois Rose to win the international title in the competitions 65-year history.

Hosted by cathaoirleach of Laois Co Council Cllr Barry Walsh (FG), the reception was attended by councillors Paddy Buggy (FG), Ollie Clooney (Ind), Caroline Dwane Stanley (Ind), John Joe Fennelly (FF), John King (FG) and Tommy Mulligan (Ind) and deputies Sean Fleming (FF) and Brian Stanley (Ind). Senator Maria McCormack (SF) was also in attendance.

Also present were employees of Laois Co Council: deputy chief executive Simon Walton, director of finance and culture Julie Bergin and senior executive officer Pamela Tynan.

In his address, the cathaoirleach welcomed Katelyn, her family and friends and special guest Anthony OGara, CEO of the Rose of Tralee Festival.

Cllr Walsh noted the significance of Katelyns win for Laois, praising her not only for her success on stage but for what, he said, are the qualities that have made her a standout ambassador for the county: You are a magnificent ambassador for the Rose of Tralee festival, bringing your charm and authenticity to Irish communities across the globe.

You have shown us that the Rose is not just a title but a demonstration of strength, intelligence and passion. As an apprentice electrician, you are shattering stereotypes and inspiring young people throughout Ireland and around the world to pursue their dreams. Katelyn, who grew up on a dairy farm in Ballyouskill as the eldest of three children, is an apprentice electrician, whose advocacy for apprenticeships, vocational education and women in STEM has earned widespread recognition.

The cathaoirleach also paid tribute to the community support Katelyn has received, acknowledging her family, supporters, sponsors and the Laois Rose of Tralee committee.

Katelyn also spoke at the event. Thanking her community, she said: The support that every single one of you have given me over the last seven months and over the last 12 months has meant so much to me.

I just want to say Im so grateful for every single one of you for everything youve done for me over the past 12 months, but also throughout my whole life. Katelyn was presented with a certificate of recognition, a bouquet of flowers and a gift of a crystal glass vase to mark the occasion.
PORTLAOISE RFC will be hoping their U/18 team can make a bit of history on Sunday. The team heads to Energia Park in Donnybrook to take on Kilkenny in the Tom Darcy Cup (kick off 3pm). If Portlaoise come away with the win it will be the first time the club has ever won this title.

The call is now going out for all club members, past members and indeed anyone with any connection with the club to head up to Dublin on Sunday to support this band of dedicated young men.

The call out has come from the club to get behind the team, pack the Energia Park stands ands raise the roof.

Portlaoise got a bye in the opening round while Kilkenny defeated Skerries 22-12.

In round two Portlaoise had a comfortable 42-12 over Enniscorthy. Kilkenny had a closer encounter getting the better of Balbriggan 37-24.

The quarter-final followed a similar trend, Portlaoise beating Mullingar 35-7 and Kilkenny beating Dundalk 38-31.

After Portlaoise defeated holders Wicklow and Kilkenny overcame Navan in the semi-finals the results guaranteed a new name will be etched onto the trophy on Saturday afternoon.

A three-try second-half burst from Portlaoise was the difference in their 23-19 win over Wicklow.

Kilkenny booked their place in the final after a dramatic and hard-fought victory over Navan in blustery conditions at Clondalkin RFC.

The commitment and dedication displayed by both these teams sends out the message that Sundays final should be a cracker.
Laois County Council have advertised a new additional Assistant Chief Fire Officer role amid a high demand for Laois County Fire and Rescue services.

The role has a starting annual salary from 60,255 minimum, rising to 83,758 based on long service increments (LSI).

Over the past number of months, Laois County Council has been running recruitment campaigns for retained fire fighters across the county.

Speaking with the Leinster Express / Laois Live, the Council say that the new assistant chief role was created due to high demand.

Pictured: Fire services respond to the 2025 fire in Maryborough Village estate, Portlaoise. Photo: Leinster Express

"The position emerges from a significant increase in fire safety certif icate applications, increased need for fire safety inspections, a ssessment requirements for event and venue licencing applications together with ongoing fire safety queries, observations and complaints," a representative said.

There are currently 93 retained fire fighters across the county, with seven vacant positions available. The Council are recruiting to bring the county's staffing levels to 100, as required.

"Recruitment continues for the remaining Retained Fire Fighter vacancies, to bring all our stations up to agreed staffing levels," the Council said.

"Interest is strong, with approximately 25 retained fire fighter positions filled over the past 18 months."

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer role advertised will operate under the direction of and report to the Senior Fire Officer of the section to which they are assigned. Initially this will be within the Fire Prevention section.

The Council have said that the role requires a 'clear knowledge and understanding' of local authority services and its key stakeholders and relationships, local government structures and its democratic role and mandate, current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of the sector, management and implementation of change, and Public Works Contracts.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer shall also report to the Director of Service of the section to which they are assigned or any other person designated by the Director of Service.

Laois County Fire and Rescue Service advertises a family friendly work practice with flexible working hours. Training is provided.

On April 7, the Leinster Express / Laois Live reported the allocation of 6 million in funding for two fire stations in Laois.

Rathdowney and Stradbally fire stations are currently unfit for purpose, providing cramped and unsuitable facilities for fire officers. Both towns are set to receive new state of the art fire stations.

In December of 2025, Laois County Fire and Rescue Service received two new fire engines based on Scania chassis, built by Irish company Sidhean Te.
A failure by the Government to offer a meaningful solution to fuel protesters could impact schools and people returning to work after Easter, according to Laois TD Brian Stanley.

The independent TD said it was "not good news" that representatives of protesters were refused entry to the talks in Dublin between the Government and organisations that represent hauliers and farmers.

Speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live he said he supports the protestors in Laois and other counties in their campaign for something to address the cost of fuel, which the protestors say is crippling their businesses and has caused them to mount blockades around Ireland.

Dep Stanley said he was also concerned that several groups, such as agricontractors, were not represented at talks convened on Friday, despite himself and other politicians making proposals on a means for them to attend.

He said it was not "good news" that four representatives of protest groups at Friday's talks did not attend. He feared that by not being at the table, "chaos" could ensue, given that the number of protests and protestors had multiplied.

WATCH NEXT: Laois fuel protesters to stay 'as long as it takes'

He said the number of protestors and vehicles at Portlaoise was at its greatest on the day the talks were convened.

He accepted that a fuel cap could be difficult to achieve, but it could be used to reduce prices. Alternatively, he believed a percentage mechanism could be used.

WATCH NEXT: Digger used in LAOIS protest

While he believes there is no easy way to solve the problem, he insisted that the first step should be the acceptance by the Government that the protestors have a legitimate case.

If the solution is not solved over the weekend, Dep Stanley was fearful over the return to school and work that involves millions of extra road journeys on Monday, April 13.

"This is of huge concern, and I have said this to Ministers because the Easter Holidays will be over. People will be going back to work, and obviously, children will be going back to school," he said.

IN PICTURES: M7 Fuel protest in Portlaoise

He also warned that school bus providers may not be able to access fuel, and some are taking part in the protests.

"It should not be allowed to roll over into the weekend," he said.

Dep Stanley said the Government should have acted after agricontractors met in Portlaoise in March, but he said this approach was refused.
A national survey has this week revealed that a significant number of parents in Laois would prefer their children to attend a multi-denominational school, despite only one such school existing in the county.

The results of the recent survey on school type preference was announced by the Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton on Tuesday, April 7.

The survey showed that 40% of parents in religious-run schools nationally would prefer a multi-denominational primary school and 34.2% of families in Laois would prefer a multi-denominational education.

This significant figure contrasts starkly with the current provision of schools in Laois where only 1 of the 63 primary schools in the county have a multi-denominational ethos. Portlaoise Educate Together National School is the only school of this type in Laois.

The primary school has welcomed the report and said that parents in many parts of the county have no choice other than to send their children to a denominational primary school.

READ NEXT: Laois Fine Gael councillors stand with fuel protestors in Portlaoise

Educate Together has been providing equality-based education in Ireland for nearly 50 years and in Portlaoise since 2010.

The school says that the results of the survey reflect their experience through the years, with the demand for its schools rapidly increasing. The organisation has opened 60 schools in the past 15 years alone in response to this demand.

The first Catholic school in Ireland to transfer patronage in 2024, Paradise Place Educate Together National School, is now a thriving equality-based school at the heart of its community in Dublin.

The organisation said they hope to work with more Laois-based families in the future to expand access to equality-based education around the county.

Commenting on the survey's results, Schools Development Officer for Educate Together, Edward Platt said: "These national results are very encouraging for the future of school choice in County Laois. At Educate Together we regularly engage with families and local communities who are frustrated by the lack of multi-denominational / equality-based school places available to them.

"Now that The Department of Education has provided statistically valid data to show that more than 34% of parents in Laois want their child to have access to a multi-denominational school, we need to see action taken to make this a reality."

Educate Together is urging the Government to announce school level data for Laois soon, and to provide adequate resourcing and investment to support the next steps of the process, so that choice can be provided in the county.

Mr Platt concluded: "The next step of the Department of Educations action plan is for schools to receive an individualised report on the survey results specific to their school community. Educate Together looks forward to engaging with schools following this next stage of the process and exploring potential patronage transfer where demand exists."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Kildare County Council said it has no information about conservation work at Jigginstown Castle at Newbridge Road, Naas.

Cllr Anne Breen sought information about the work at a Naas Municipal District meeting.

In a report, KCC official Amy Granville said the structure is a national monument owned by the Office of Public Works.

The structure is of significance as it is the earliest large structure in the country built primarily from brick. KCC is aware that it has been undergoing conservation work for a number of years (but this is not) being undertaken by KCC and therefore a timeline for the completion of works is not known (and is) a matter for the OPW.

In 2019 it was reported that no timeline is available for the opening of the castle to the public.

READ NEXT Custody for teen after Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes Stores in Kildare targeted for alcohol theft

It was also reported that the OPW is engaged in a long term project to stabilise and consolidate the physical fabric of the building and to preserve as much of the building fabric as is physically possible.

At a more recent NMD meeting then councillor Colm Kenny observed that the structure scaffolding was there so long it may soon itself be described as historic.

Completed in 1637 at a cost of six thousand pounds, Jigginstown Castle was the brainchild of then Lord Deputy of Ireland Thomas Wentworth, who was executed in London in 1641.

It was built with the intention of becoming a royal palace prior to Wentworth being charged with treason. The castle was never lived in and fell into decay.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the new future-proofed, high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) on behalf of the Government, has announced that over 6,000 homes, businesses and farms in Kildare have now connected to the NBI network.

Take up of fibre broadband in the county now surpasses 44% which is ahead of national average (37%).

There are now 14,044 premises that can now pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband across Kildare with 6,128 connections made to date. Works have been completed in most rural areas across the county, including those near Donadea and Curragh Camp.

READ NEXT; Quick thinking Kildare neighbour cared off burglars.

National Broadband Ireland is encouraging all Kildare residents to visit nbi.ie and check their Eircode to see if theyre ready to connect and find out more about placing an order.

NBIs fibre rollout under the NBP is delivering broadband infrastructure to what is known as the States Intervention Area, which includes the most remote and rural parts of Ireland where commercial operators have no plans to deliver high-speed broadband. The Intervention Area currently includes 15,000 premises in Kildare, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools across the county.

As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Co Kildare will receive 53m of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan.

TJ Malone, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: We are delighted to announce that over 6,000 Kildare homes, businesses and farms are now connected to the NBI network. Those connected are experiencing the life-changing benefits of high-speed fibre broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second.

With the national switch-off of the copper network approaching, NBIs fibre network will ensure communities across Ireland are prepared for the future by supporting remote working, education, healthcare access, and local enterprise while providing the reliability needed for everyday living.

As we enter the final year of the National Broadband Plan rollout, were encouraging everyone in Kildare to check their Eircode on nbi.ie and order now to secure high-speed fibre broadband for their home or business.

National Rollout Progress

NBI has now passed over 465,000 homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland to high-speed broadband with over 171,000 now connected. The average take-up rate of 37% is well ahead of projections and international comparisons and surpasses 60% in some areas of the country where the network has been live the longest.

The National Broadband Ireland website is regularly updated to show estimated completion dates. With the main rollout due to be concluded by the end of this year, the remaining homes and businesses yet to be passed will be able to place an order for high-speed broadband in the coming months. The easiest way to get updates on when a premises will be ready to order is by signing up for NBI email alerts at nbi.ie.

As fibre networks expand across Ireland, offering superior speed, capacity, and reliability; older copper telephone and broadband infrastructure will start to be decommissioned. The European Commission has proposed 2035 as the latest date for EU Member States to mandate the decommissioning of the legacy copper networks.
A LOCAL man who stole a 2.80 bottle of coca cola was given a one-month custodial sentence when he appeared at Portlaoise District Court last week.

Patrick Kelly (30), OMoore Place, Portlaoise, who is currently serving a prison sentence with a release date in May next year, pleaded guilty to the theft of the coca cola on 24 February from Spar, Station Road, Portarlington and to being intoxicated in a public place and to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Market Square, Portlaoise on 10 February.

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said the defendant went into the Spar store and took the bottle of coca cola and left without paying for it.

Regarding the public order offences in Portlaoise, Sgt Kirby said that Mr Kelly was in a highly intoxicated state when gardai came upon him. There were other members of the public present and he was roaring and shouting and had to be arrested.

Sgt Kirby said the defendant had 54 previous convictions.

READ NEXT: Plan to open Laois tourism office on hold after money refused

Defence solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that while her client acknowledges the theft is small, he appreciates that it was a nuisance to the shop owner.

Judge Susan Fay said she was not going to add extra time onto Mr Kellys current sentence.

She went on to convict him of the theft and imposed a one-month sentence to commence from the day he appeared in court last week.

She took the two public order matters into consideration.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
Veteran Irish activist and film producer Lelia Doolan is currently in Co Kildare as part of her ongoing Walk for Peace.

The 91-year-old began her walk at Shannon Airport on March 31st and has already covered a significant stretch of the more than 220km route.

Her arrival in Monasterevin marks the halfway point of the journey.

Following her stop in Monasterevin, Ms Doolan is due in Newbridge on Saturday and Naas on Sunday, before continuing on towards Dublin. She hopes to reach the Dail by April 15th.

Ms Doolans campaign is focused on raising awareness and prompting political action around the use of Shannon Airport by US military aircraft. She has called on the Taoiseach and government ministers to meet her upon her arrival in Dublin, urging them to address long-standing concerns about alleged breaches of international law linked to the airports use since 1981.

Ms Doolan's journey has been described by supporters as both symbolic and practical, highlighting Irelands role in global conflicts while bringing communities together along the route.

Remaining stops on the walk include Rathcoole before the final leg into Dublin.

Photos courtesy of Sol Tierney. Tap NEXT to view them.




The BEEF2026 Open Day, organised by Teagasc, takes place on Wednesday, 1st July at Teagasc in Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath. This is the main Teagasc Open Day for 2026, and the event theme is Driving Sustainable Performance. It will feature the latest research and innovation in beef cattle farming. The Beef2026 Open Day is kindly sponsored by FBD Insurance.

BEEF2026 will showcase systems and technological advances that can be utilised by cattle farmers from across the country, to increase production and drive income in a sustainable way. Information boards and talks on the main topics of interest to cattle farmers will be presented. These will be combined with live demonstrations and interactive sessions focusing on the latest animal and grassland research and technologies of benefit to Irish beef farmers.

Speaking at the launch of this summers event, Director of Teagasc Professor Frank OMara stated, The beef sector is extremely important to the national economy and plays a crucial role in generating activity in the rural economy. Cattle farming is critical to rural Ireland, and the grass based, family farm systems used in Ireland provides sustainably produced beef for Irish and international markets.

Teagascs BEEF2026 Open Day is a valuable opportunity to connect with farmers and share practical ideas that support the future of Irish beef production. FBD Insurance is proud to support events like this that bring the industry together and help farmers build more resilient businesses, John Cahalan, Chief Commercial Officer at FBD Insurance said.

Dr Paul Crosson, Teagasc Beef Enterprise Leader, stated, We have seen a seismic shift in beef markets in the past year, and this event will focus on the opportunities that this presents to Irish beef cattle farmers. We must of course remain conscious of the consumer demand for sustainable farm systems so, backed by practical, applied research, the best advice for farmers to drive their businesses forward will be highlighted on Wednesday July 1st."

Head of Drystock Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, Pearse Kelly stated, The latest suckler beef research along with the trial work on dairy calf to beef will be showcased on the day, so there will be something relevant and of interest for all cattle farmers, irrespective of their production systems.

For more information on the upcoming open day visit https://teagasc.ie/event/beef2026/






Comments made by a fuel protest spokesperson are deeply disturbing, the Taoiseach has said ahead of a key meeting on Friday afternoon  adding Ireland is on the precipice of turning oil away.

Roads, ports and a refinery have been blocked since protests about the rising cost of fuel began on Tuesday.

Demonstrators have demanded a meeting with the Government, which has repeatedly said it will only speak to established representative bodies.

Government ministers and official groups representing the farming and haulier sectors are due to meet at the Department of Agriculture.

Micheal Martin appeared on RTE radio on Friday and was asked what would happen if protesters attended with the representative organisations. Mr Martin said: I cant dictate whos going to turn up.

But he said he wanted to alert people to comments made by protest spokespeople.

He said one, Christopher Duffy, said that protesters would stand down the blockades if they had a meeting with the government, but Mr Martin claimed he later said: We wont be standing them down until we get what we want.

Mr Martin described this as deeply disturbing.

This is what were dealing with, he added.

He said others had made comments about closing down the country, later saying guns cant be put to peoples heads.

The Taoiseach also said Ireland is on the precipice of turning oil away from the country in the middle of a global oil supply problem.

He described the situation as very severe, adding: I dont think people out there perhaps realise the gravity of the situation.

He said somebody else could buy oil that is on a tanker off the coast of Galway if it cannot land.

The Whitegate refinery in Co Cork will not be able to continue to process oil if it runs out of storage space, he said.

He added that the product coming into Whitegate could be diverted to international markets.

Asked if Ireland is at risk of losing all its oil supply, Mr Martin replied correct.

It is unconscionable, its illogical, its difficult to comprehend, he said

Unelected and self-appointed people cant determine who gets oil in this country, cant determine who gets to hospital, he said.

Asked about measures the Government is putting together in response to rising prices, Mr Martin said they are around the fundamental areas of the essentials of the economy  including food production and haulage.

Asked if it would include energy credits, he said: No, not at this stage.

He said the package is not finished and could take some time.
NEW Limerick Chamber president Maria Gleeson has used an audience with Taoiseach Micheal Martin to outline a number of priorities for the city and county.

The Fianna Fail leader was guest of honour at the Chambers annual luncheon event, which took place in the Castletroy Park Hotel.

She pressed Mr Martin on the need to accelerate the delivery of homes to help the housing crisis.

On top of this, she wants to see increased investment in transport, improved tax policies and support for small firms to help them retain talent and foster innovation.

READ MORE: Public meeting called amid fears of traffic carnage in Limerick

Limerick has the ambition, talent, and entrepreneurial spirit to act as a central engine for Irelands ongoing growth. What we need now are the right policy decisions, targeted investment, and continued Government support to unlock that full potential. Our 400 member companies, representing 50,000 employees and their families, stand ready to work with Government to deliver what our nation needs, she said.

Sponsored by AIB, the member event brought together entrepreneurs, small firms, industry leaders and elected representatives for a discussion on Irelands economic outlook, enterprise development, and the opportunities and challenges shaping both regional and national growth.

Ms Gleeson highlighted the regions recent progress, including Shannon Airports inclusion in the Regional Airports Programme for 2026 to 2030, the allocation of more than 50 new gardai to the Limerick division, and the Governments purchase of land in Raheen for a brand new public hospital alongside University Hospital Limerick.
LIMERICK was at the epicentre of a European-wide romance fraud which conned lonely women out of over 100,000, the circuit court has heard.

One woman fell foul of a doctor, supposedly helping sick children in a Syrian orphanage, who promised to marry her.

Prosecuting barrister John OSullivan said it is a very distressing experience for victims of romance fraud.

Teddy Osayi, aged 31, of Mona Terrace, St Lelia Street, Limerick pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in 2021.

Mr OSullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Liam Kearns, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.

READ NEXT: Limerick man jailed for breaking into house while partner was in hospital giving birth

Mr OSullivan said there were a total of 12 women scammed from countries including Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, Austria, Poland, United Kingdom, Ukraine and Hungary. These women paid a total of 109,888.21 in 46 separate transactions into Mr Osayis Bank of Ireland account in Limerick.

The prosecuting barrister said only one woman, a Hungarian lady in her 60s, made a statement to gardai. The other victims of the romance fraud didnt wish to make a complaint or made a complaint but did not wish to pursue it.

Mr OSullivan said in the case of the Hungarian lady, a doctor added her as a friend on Facebook in March 2021.

This lady replied back, saying she was curious to see what would happen. They started sending messages on Facebook Messenger. He wrote in English which she translated with Google Translate. He said he would like to meet her. They wrote to each other several times a day.

He said he was a doctor from the United States, who was helping sick children in an orphanage in a military camp in Damascus. He claimed he had no telephone, said Mr OSullivan.

The doctor said his money was locked up in Ireland and he couldn't get access to it. He asked her to transfer $9,000.

She did not have that amount of money so she transferred $2,000. It was transferred in May 2021 to an account number in the name of the accused in Limerick. A few days later the doctor said he received the transfer but thought it was too little. He asked for more as it was the only way he could access his money so she transferred another $2,000, said Mr OSullivan. The doctor sent the woman love messages, promised to travel to Hungary and marry her.

Mr OSullivan said the victim was impressed by what he wrote and would be happy if the promises were true. However, as the doctor continued to ask her for more money she realised she was being deceived and taken advantage of.

Mr OSullivan said the garda investigation identified 11 other women from around Europe who paid a total of 109,888.21 into Mr Osayis bank account.

The barrister said once the money was lodged in the account it was immediately withdrawn in cash or transferred, leaving very little in the account which bears all the hallmarks of money laundering.

He allowed his account to be used as the conduit for the proceeds of criminal conduct, said Mr OSullivan, who added that romance frauds became particularly common during the Covid pandemic when people retreated into their homes, found themselves isolated and were candidates for romance fraud.

When Mr Osayi was arrested by gardai he denied any involvement in romance fraud but admitted withdrawing cash. The court heard cash was brought to an African shop in Limerick where it was transferred to Nigeria. Monies were also sent to Belgium and Turkey.

Patrick Whyms BL, who represented Mr Osayi, said there is no evidence to say his client was involved in the romance fraud but he did allow money to pass through his account.

The defence barrister told the court Mr Osayi said he met a man at a reception centre who asked him to use his account for transferring money.

He agrees it was reckless. He doesnt have any trappings of wealth, said Mr Whyms, who used the expression money mule.

Mr Whyms said his clients family moved to Spain when he was 12 and he came to Ireland when he was 18.

He lived at first in a reception centre seeking asylum. After that he got an apartment in Limerick. He graduated in Construction Management and Engineering in UL in 2023. He works as a site engineer for a company building homes.

He effectively gained nothing from it (money laundering). He is very sorry and wishes to apologise for his behaviour, said Mr Whyms.

Judge Colin Daly imposed a prison sentence of three years and nine months which he suspended in full for a period of four years.
THE family of Limerick woman Scarlett Faulkner have revealed that a decision on withdrawing life support has been delayed as consultants await the results of a final medical test from England.

Scarlett, 29, from the northside of Limerick city, remains in intensive care after she was violently assaulted at the side of the R494 road in Birdhill on March 21. She was attacked by individuals armed with weapons.

In a new update revealed in a video on social media, Josephine (Joanne) Duffy, the partner of Scarlett's brother Thomas said the removal of life support, which had been expected to take place on Friday, cannot proceed until the outstanding test result is returned.

They said Friday that they were taking the tube from Scarlett because 99 per cent that the sedation is wore off and there is no reaction, and there was no change since the day Scarlett went into the hospital. So they're waiting for one test to come back," said Josephine. "That test is not back until Sunday or Monday."

READ MORE: BREAKING: Devastating update from the family of Limerick woman Scarlett Faulkner

While the family has been advised of the seriousness of Scarlett's condition, they continue to hope for a recovery. The family still want all the prayers because, of course, they are still hoping for a miracle, explained Josephine.

She added that she will provide an update on social media on Sunday or Monday.

Josephine also thanked everyone for their prayers and for keeping the family in their thoughts.

"The family really appreciate every single message and everything. And I'm sorry I can't get back to all my messages because there's thousands of messages. But when I did go on looking for people for the funeral arrangements, we have all that sorted now."
SHOPPERS in Limerick will be able to have their blood pressure checked for free this weekend.

Limerick-North Munster Rotary Cub, whose members provide service to others, will set up shop in the Augustinian's Church at O'Connell Street in the city centre for a clinic between 11am and 2.45pm.

Three doctors will be on hand for the clinic.

READ MORE: Limerick Chamber welcomes High Court decision on Shannon LNG Project after 'complex' process

Well-known local auctioneer Pat Kearney, a member of the local rotary club says their annual event always proves popular among people.

"We find the public really look forward to it. It's a great opportunity, particularly for elderly people who might not bother going to a doctor when they should. They can walk into a church, say a prayer if they want to and get instant result on their blood pressure," he explained.

Advice can be given based on their results, he added.

The blood pressure clinic is open to everyone.
A MAN driving to and from Limerick University Hospital (UHL) has said its nearly been easier to travel from his Tipperary home amid the ongoing fuel crisis protests.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader / Limerick Live, the Tipperary native said he has been attending UHL for the past three days, where a family friend is currently an impatient following a general operation.

The man, who is living in Birdhill, said it has been easier to get there rather than a regular day of traffic as "hauliers and farmers" have kept hardshoulders clear for those who need to get through.

Once members of gardai allowed the use, it was fine" for him to progress on his journey.

READ NEXT: Traffic chaos continues in Limerick as essential supplies begin to leave Foynes Port

He said, Fair play to the hauliers who have offered their own diesel to supply the ambulance network if required, adding that true men and women should be applauded for the peaceful manner in which they are dealing with this horrible situation.

This comes on day four of protests, which are taking place throughout Limerick and beyond, due to the governments response to rising fuel prices.

On this, he continued, Can't believe how bad the government's response has been to this whole thing. They may hang their heads in shame.

Talking always works in any region of the world. That's how all situations are always sorted, said the 55-year-old.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins informed Limerick Live that he has been contacted by several members of the public who have had the opposite experience.

According to the TD, a local carer heading towards Banogue could not attend a house call because she was asked by a protestor, who blocked her passage, for identification that she actually was a carer.

He said another person was making their way to UHL when stopped and asked to show a letter proving they had an appointment.

He further received a report of a local woman who had finished her chemotherapy session being stuck in traffic for four hours afterwards, even though she was as sick as a dog.

There are also many people who arent receiving their much-needed home help as a result of the roads being blocked, Mr Collins claimed.

As well as this, Limerick Live was also contacted by a carer in the Kildimo / Pallaskenry area by the name of Mary who was asking where she could access fuel. She did not want to give her full name.

This follows on from a message that was sent to public representatives yesterday by Sandra Broderick, Regional Executive Officer (REO) for HSE Mid West. She spoke of key concerns that arose from a major emergency management meeting, which she chaired.

The REO said, There is a significant level of concern among management, staff and patients regarding the following: Difficulties for emergency (blue light) services navigating road blockages, severe delays for staff travelling to and from work- with journeys taking 46 hours instead of the usual 30 minutes, patients being unable to attend critical appointments (and) reports that several petrol stations in the vicinity of our only acute hospital are out of fuel, with serious implications for staff, patients and emergency services.

She asked political leaders to highlight the voices of both hospital staff and patients during this difficult period.

Ms Broderick assured those that the HSE are implementing all necessary mitigations at their disposal to maintain staff and patient safety at this time.
THE TIMELINE for major traffic management works in Abbeyfeale, has laid out by a senior council official.

Details of the proposed schedule emerged in a response to a question from Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin at the April meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District.

In a written reply, Patricia Liddy, Director of Services for Transportation, Mobility and Public Realm, explained the plan is now split into stages for delivery purposes.

READ NEXT: Public meeting called amid fears of traffic carnage in Limerick

She said advance works for the plan began in 2024, when the demolition of O'Riordan's Bar and a residential building at Colbert Terrace in the town was completed.

Ms Liddy said the next phase of the works will be the construction of the Grove Crescent Car Park Link.

A contractor has been appointed for that element of the overall project.

Construction was due to commence last month and Ms Liddy said it is estimated this will be a four-month works programme.

The reply added that Uisce Eireann is scheduled to commence works to replace the existing water mains at Killarney Road, Main Street and Colbert Terrace later this year.

These works will take around three months and Ms Liddy confirmed the upgraded water mains will be funded by Uisce Eireann directly.

She outlined the next phase of the project will then focus on the N21 Killarney Road. Following a tender process, its expected those works will begin in the second half of 2026.

Ms Liddy said the council aims to complete this phase of the project ahead of the Ryder Cup in Adare in September 2027.

Following this, works on the N21 Main Street and Colbert Terrace are scheduled to begin after the Ryder Cup.

The local authority is currently working with consultants Malachy Walsh and Partners to finalise a value engineering exercise for the N21 Killarney Road phase, with the aim of delivering the project within budget.

Ms Liddy said: Once this phase has been redesigned and a cost estimate completed, we will engage with TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) to confirm funding prior to tender.

She added that traffic calming proposals are expected to be published in May under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, "to make the public aware of the planned measures.
COMMUTERS faced a fourth day of extra long journeys this Friday morning with fuel protests continuing on main routes to the outskirts of Limerick city.

The knock-on effect has let to long tailbacks in the city, main routes and some secondary roads for the fourth day in a row.

Meanwhile, a number of lorries have collected essential supplies from Foynes Port following days of protest at the terminal.

Garda have been at the Limerick port for three days using a policy of engagement to manage the demonstration. However, tankers with fuel and animal feed are now being escorted out to ensure essential supplies reach the region. Protestors had previously halted traffic into and out of the port.

Organisers of the fuel protests announced on RTEs Prime Time last night that they are to attend talks with Government this Friday with a number of stakeholder bodies.

READ NEXT: LIMERICK POLL: Do you agree with the fuel protests?

A post on social media by one of the protestors in Foynes reads: Foynes port will be open for five loads of fuel for emergency services/hospitals etc and essential animal feeds until 2pm.

After that it will be shut down until the meeting concludes and everyone is happy with the outcome for the people of the country.

On Thursday, a number of service stations across Limerick city and county confirmed they had run out of fuel.
A SHOWCASE performance by the fourth year students from the BA in Irish Music at the Irish World Academy at University of Limerick, will feature instrumental traditional Irish music, song and dance.

It will take place on Wednesday, April 15 upstairs in Dolans. Doors open at 8pm. Admission costs 5 for students and 10 for non-students.

This is a celebration of the creative work that the students have developed over the past four years.

READ MORE: Shania Twain to be joined by Sophie Ellis-Bextor for Limerick Thomond Stadium concert

These students from across Ireland and Europe will show a vibrancy and energy that reflects the best that traditional Irish music and culture has to offer in a contemporary and relevant style and context.

The BA in Irish Music is the only undergraduate music programme in the world that places the performance and study of Irish traditional music at the centre of the work and focus of students.

As such it recruits a body of exceptional traditional musicians who all aspire to the highest levels of creativity and professionalism while reflecting and honouring the generations of musicians and artists who have preceded them.
A FIERY on-air exchange between Limerick TDs Niall Collins and Richard ODonoghue has seen the Fianna Fail man accusing his rival of misleading the public as Mr ODonoghue hit back that the minister of state has nothing else to do but watch him online.

An explosive war of words erupted live on the Limerick Today morning radio show with Joe Nash on Live 95 this Friday morning.

The Fianna Fail TD made comments regarding Mr ODonoghue misrepresenting the facts in relation to the ongoing fuel price protests and the effect they are having on people. Joe jumped in to say Mr ODonoghue wasn't there to reply. Within minutes Mr O'Donoghue was live on air defending his position.

Mr Collins said to Mr ODonoghue: You're trying to let on, on one hand that you're an organiser and that you're a spokesperson and that you're the front of the protest in Limerick, but yet you'll go on Facebook and you'll deny any responsibility for being an organiser when it's put to you that people can't get to UHL for critical appointments.

Mr Collins said the HSE have reported that blue lights are being impeded on the way to UHL.

READ NEXT: Traffic chaos continues in Limerick as essential supplies begin to leave Foynes Port

After the elected representatives, in raised voices, argued over each other for a period Mr ODonoghue said: I'm 100% that I did not organise this protest and I 100% back this protest - that's a fact. I didn't organise it but I agree with everything that they're doing and I back them 100% and that's why I'm here with them. That's the first thing that Niall said and he twisted it but that is the truth.

Mr Collins said Mr ODonoghue is trying to evade responsibility with the Independent Ireland TD saying the minister of state doesnt know what hes talking about.

Mr Collins next point was the HSE saying that it is taking people four to six hours to get to work in UHL and that patients have been unable to attend critical appointments.

Go ahead and deny it again but it is happening, said Mr Collins.

Again the exchanges between the two politicians became more heated with Joe Nash having to intervene.

Mr ODonoghue said he offered to try and help anyone that had appointments, or that was delayed for appointments, to make sure that they got through.

There's going to be disruptions when there's a protest on. If you want to hear what I said, go online Niall and you've nothing else to do than watch me online. Im on record saying to make sure that all passage ways were clear for anyone with medical appointments and frontline services and they're not to block the road, said Mr ODonoghue.

Mr Collins said people have been stopped going to the maternity hospital. It's a disgrace, Richard, said Mr Collins.

Mr ODonoghue denied people were being asked for identification by protestors.

No, it's not happening, 100%. We had people yesterday that said that they were turned away from a protest because the road was blocked. It wasn't blocked by the protestors. It was actually blocked by the gardai because they said due to health and safety, they couldn't let them down there, said Mr ODonoghue.

Nonsense, retorted Mr Collins.

There was a carer going to see a vulnerable client in Banogue who was asked for identification by one of your wardens. There was a person going to UHL asked by one of your wardens for an appointment letter by one of your wardens. You're setting yourself up as the police, said Mr Collins.

Again the two men argued over one another with Joe Nash taking a break from the debate.

Mr ODonoghue said they were protesting to help people get to work and drop the price of fuel and hoped for a positive resolution to the talks this Friday afternoon.
By Saeed Azhar

April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell convened an urgent meeting with bank CEOs this week to warn of cyber risks posed by Anthropic's latest artificial intelligence model, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

White House national economic adviser Kevin Hassett confirmed the meeting during an interview with Fox News' "The Story with Martha MacCallum."

"Those bankers were in town for meetings that day, and it was appropriate (for) the Secretary Bessent to do what he did. He brought them over to the Treasury, along with Jay Powell, and went through the cyber risks to make sure that they were aware of them," Hassett said, adding that the Trump administration is taking steps to ensure the public is safe from potential risks.

Anthropic launched the powerful Mythos model this week but stopped short of a broad release, citing concerns it could expose previously unknown cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

The company has said the model is capable of identifying and exploiting weaknesses across "every major operating system and every major web browser."

Last week, Anthropic said it was in ongoing discussions with U.S. government officials about the model's "offensive and defensive cyber capabilities."

A third source close to the matter reiterated Anthropic's outreach, saying the company proactively briefed senior U.S. government officials and key industry stakeholders on Mythos' capabilities ahead of its release.

The Treasury-hosted meeting in Washington on Tuesday was aimed at ensuring banks are aware of the risks posed by Mythos and similar models and are taking steps to defend their systems, one of the sources said.

Invitations were sent while most CEOs of the largest U.S. banks were already in Washington to attend other meetings, one of the sources said.

Access to Mythos will be limited to about 40 technology companies, including Microsoft and Google, the startup has said.

Bloomberg News, which first reported the story on Thursday, said the CEOs of Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs were present. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was unable to join, one of the sources told Reuters.

Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and the Federal Reserve declined to comment. The Treasury, lenders and Anthropic did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Canada's Finance Ministry, the Bank of Canada and bank executives met on Friday to discuss cybersecurity, a ministry spokesperson said. AI and Anthropic's new AI model were topics of discussion, the spokesperson said.
The IBC, in its original form, embodied this spirit in its intent so that the new investor gets a fresh start and all past claims are extinguished, save what is provided in the corporate rescue plan. However, this is an oft-litigated area when creditors including state authorities come after the rescued company under the new owner.
Dipali Banka

Dipali Banka is a Mumbai-based journalist who treats corporate reporting less like a beat and more like a puzzle to be solved. This invariably means she has to read through annual reports and speak with leaders and analysts. She tracks policies, deals, and the pulse of industries spanning metals, mining, paints, and cement, alongside aviation. She started out as an intern at The Statesman and then completed her postgraduate diploma in journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, in 2025. Relentlessly curious at heart, Dipali is driven by the simple urge to understand how things work and who they impact. Armed with an enduring fascination for steel and aeroplanes, she moves through the churn of daily news with focus, turning complexity into clarity without losing the story. She is particularly committed to shaping numbers into objective narratives, having little appetite for vagueness that gets in her way.<br><br>Outside the newsroom, Dipali is an unapologetically loud presence who values long conversations and longer walks to unwind. She devours books of all kinds and can often be found indulging in the lyrical sway of contemporary ghazals. She ardently believes that her relationship with her bylines is more sacred than it would ever be with anyone across the human race.
Salman SH

Salman S.H. is an Assistant Editor with Mint in Bengaluru, where he covers startups, venture capital, and the broader internet economy. Over the course of more than a decade in journalism and strategic communications, he has built deep reporting expertise across technology, fintech, consumer internet, digital platforms, and the business models shaping Indias new economy. At Mint, he tracks the companies, investors, and policy developments influencing how technology is built, funded, and scaled in India.<br><br>His reporting covers venture capital, startup strategy, fintech, edtech, funding trends, and the internet economy. He writes about how startups raise money, grow their businesses, respond to regulation, and adapt to changes in technology and policy. His work also looks at the impact of policy decisions on startups and investors, and tracks the sectors, founders, and firms shaping Indias digital economy.<br><br>Before Mint, Salman worked across several respected newsrooms, including The Economic Times, Financial Express, The Ken, Inc42, and The Core. He has also worked in strategic communications, leading PR strategy and media outreach for clients in education, online learning, consumer internet, and consulting. That combination of newsroom and communications experience gives him a clear understanding of how business stories are reported, shaped, and understood.
Oracle layoffs: Tech giant Oracle, which began cutting about 30,000 employees worldwide on 31 March, has started recording the dismissals in public filings. Oracle is planning thousands more job cuts as it faces a cash crunch from its massive AI data centre expansion.

Oracle layoffs in California The Oracle layoffs, announced in late March, will affect approximately 700 workers across California, according to a report by The New York Post, citing state records.

These workers, part of the broader Oracle layoffs that affected around 30,000 people, are expected to lose their jobs by 1 June.

Companies in California planning a mass layoff, plant closure or relocation must submit a notice to the state in advance.

Also Read | Engineer laid off from Oracle Bengaluru turns Uber driver

Which employees are affected? According to The New York Post, Oracle detailed which employees have been affected due to the layoffs in California.

The company, led by billionaire Larry Ellison, will cut 310 workers in Redwood City, 184 in Santa Clara, 158 in Pleasanton and 50 in Santa Monica.

Separately, 491 workers at Oracle's Seattle offices will be let go as part of the broader job cuts across the company.

Oracle may lay off 30,000 employees Earlier, CNBC reported that Oracle had announced 30,000 job cuts across the company, marking the biggest round of tech layoffs in the last 12 months.

Oracle communicated the decision via an early morning email to its employees.

After careful consideration of Oracle's current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change, the notification sent to affected employees read, mentioned the report. As a result, today is your last working day, it read.

The fateful 6 am email, which caught many employees off guard, mentioned that they would be eligible to receive a severance package subject to the terms and conditions of the severance plan.

Oracle said it will lay off 491 employees working remotely in Washington state and at its Seattle offices, effective 1 June, according to a notice filed under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

The job cuts are part of a "reduction in force and other terminations," Oracle said, adding that its Seattle sites will remain open. The company had about 162,000 full-time employees globally as of May 2025.

Earlier this year, analysts at investment bank TD Cowen predicted that Oracle could lay off up to 30,000 employees and may sell some of its assets amid a push to finance AI infrastructure projects.

A Business Insider report said that the laid-off employees in the USA will receive four weeks' base salary, plus one week of severance for each additional year of employment.

More than 70 tech companies have cut around 40,480 jobs so far this year, per Layoffs.fyi, as companies increasingly reallocate resources toward AI, heightening fears of AI-driven disruptions among workers.

Last month, Meta laid off a few hundred employees across multiple teams to finance AI costs.
Harsh Kumar

Harsh Kumar is a policy reporter at Mint (HT Media Group), where he covers the Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with key departments of the Ministry of Finance, including the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS). With over five years of experience in business and economic journalism, he has developed strong expertise in tracking policy developments and their wider economic impact.<br><br>He has previously worked with Business Standard, Moneycontrol, and Outlook Money, where he reported extensively on banking, financial services, and the broader economy. Over the years, he has built a reputation for delivering accurate, insightful, and impactful stories, supported by a keen eye for detail and a consistent track record of breaking exclusive news.<br><br>An alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia, Harsh closely follows regulatory changes and key economic trends shaping Indias financial and industrial landscape. His reporting aims to simplify complex policy issues for a wider audience while maintaining depth and credibility.<br><br>Outside of work, he enjoys tracking policy developments, finding scoops, and travelling, reflecting his curiosity about how economic decisions shape everyday life.
New Delhi: Global crude oil prices pared early gains on Friday, and were muted as traders awaited the progress on the weekend's ceasefire talks between the warring US and Iran.

Crude oil prices had risen nearly 1% in Asia's morning trade due to Iran's attacks on Saudi Arabias East-West pipeline and crude-producing facilities hit output.

India's crude basket price was at $115.52 on Thursday, down from $120.28 per barrel on Wednesday. This represents a derived basket comprising sweet grade (Brent dated) and sour grade (Oman & Dubai average) crude oil imported by Indian refineries.

Saudi Arabia's energy ministry had on Thursday said the strikes had clipped the kingdoms oil ouptut capacity by about 600,000 barrels per day (bpd)7.5% of its current 8 million bpd output) and cut flows through its East-West pipeline by roughly 700,000 bpd, about 10% of the capacity.

Also Read | Why this crude oil crisis is unlikely to play out the way past supply shocks did

US-Iran talks on easing the war, which had started on 28 February, will take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. Although, the two-week ceasefire that paved the way for the talks holds for now, concerns are rife over a derailment due to Israel's relentless strikes on Lebanon.

Strategic bypass The East-West Pipeline is a 1,200-km-long, dual-pipe system in Saudi Arabia that carries crude oil from the Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. It has a capacity of up to 7 million barrels per day.

For perspective, the pipeline was among the planned alternative routes for bringing in crude from Saudi Arabia via the Red Sea, as the crucial Strait of Hormuz was blocked.

At 5.50 pm, the June contract of Brent crude traded at $95.82 a barrel, 0.1% lower from its previous close, while the May contract of West Texas Intermediate was up 0.6% at $97.93 a barrel.

Hormuz tensions Concerns over closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key pathway for energy cargoes, by Iran amid a fragile ceasefire have kept investors on the edge.

Following the ceasefire announcement 8 April by US President Donald Trump, crude prices had fallen about 15% to sub-$100 a barrel for the first time in over a month. However, after Israel's attacks on Lebanon, Iran has threatened to again block the strait if attacks on Lebanon continued.

Sultan Al Jaber, the chief executive officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), on Thursday said passage through the crucial waterway was subject to permission, conditions and political leverage by Iran and the energy security and global economic stability depended on the strait being opened fully, unconditionally and without restriction.

The weaponization of this vital waterway, in any form, cannot stand. This would set a dangerous precedent for the worldundermining the principle of freedom of navigation that underpins global trade and, ultimately, the stability of the global economy," Jaber said on LinkedIn.

An estimated 230 vessels sit loaded with oil and ready to sail. They, and every vessel that follows, must be free to navigate this corridor without condition. No country has a legitimate right to determine who may pass and under what terms, he wrote.

India-Qatar meet Amid the energy security concerns, India's petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri met Qatar's minister of state for energy affairs, and president and chief executive of QatarEnergy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, in Doha on Friday.

Qatar reaffirmed commitment to remain a reliable energy supplier, with its minister saying he looked forward to continuing and strengthening energy relations and cooperation with India, a petroleum ministry statement said.

Qatar has traditionally been a key supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India, bringing in about 40% of India's total imports of the fuel before the start of the US-Iran war.

Also Read | Why the US-Iran ceasefire is not calming oil markets
Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for repeatedly raising the issue of infiltration in his poll speeches in West Bengal. Banerjee also claimed that of the 91 lakh voters deleted during the course of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, around 63 per cent are Hindus.

In the first list released in February, 58 lakh names were deleted, then around 6 lakh more names were deleted. Later, from the adjudication list, around 27 lakh names were deleted. In total, around 90 lakh names were deleted, out of which 63% are Bengali Hindus, Banerjee said addressing a press conference hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah released Bharatiya Janata Party's 15-point manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections.

BJP has released a 15-point document which they have called Bhoroshar Shopoth. I expected the Home Minister to first apologise to the people of Bengal for the way they have been tortured in the name of SIR over the last six months. He spoke of chronology and of detect, delete, and deport. According to him, SIR is the first step of that detect process, Banerjee said.

Releasing the manifesto earlier, Shah said the saffron party's government in West Bengal would implement a detect. delete and deport policy against infiltrators. West Bengal is voting to elect a new government in two phases  23 and 29 April. The votes will be counted on 4 March.

Overall, 91 lakh names have been deleted from West Bengal's voter list since the SIR began. The state's voters have shrunk almost 12%, from 7.66 crore electors in October 2025 to 6.75 crore now. West Bengal had 7.34 crore eligible voters in the 2021 assembly elections.

According to an internal analysis of booth-level EC numbers before and after the SIR by Trinamool Congress, of the 91 lakh deletions, 57.47 lakh (63.4%) are Hindus and 31.1 lakh (34.3%) are Muslims. Mint has not been able to verify these numbers, however.

BJPs torture of Bengalis is not new: Abhishek So, Muslim voters account for more than a third of the 91 lakh names removed from West Bengals electoral rolls in the SIR process, disproportionately higher than their community's share in the states population, as per this analysis.

This is the same party that in Assam willfully put around 13 lakh Hindu Bengalis out of 19 lakh people into detention camps in the name of NRC, Banerjee alleged

They targeted them to push them back to Bangladesh. BJPs alleged torture of Bengalis is nothing new. We have been witnessing this over the past year, particularly in BJP-ruled states, where Bengalis have been targeted for speaking Bengali or even for their food habits. In fact, Assams CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had openly stated that if anyone speaks in Bengali, they should be imprisoned. Leaders who have made such remarks have instead been honoured by the BJP. Given this repeated humiliation, I expected an apology first, Banerjee said.

On 9 April, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of deleting names of over 90 lakh people from the voter lists to grab power in the state and asserted that her party will win the upcoming elections.

"You deleted names of over 90 lakh people to grab power in Bengal, but we will win," she said, addressing a public rally at Minakhan in North 24 Parganas, while attacking the BJP over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state.

'Hindus being intimidated': PM Modi Mamata's remarks came hours after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the ruling Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing it of fostering an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, particularly targeting Hindus.

Addressing a public rally in Asansol PM Modi alleged that there was a time when red posters were used to threaten Hindus with violence, and claimed that similar tactics were being repeated under the TMCs rule.

Today, the TMC is doing exactly the same; once again, Hindus are being intimidated in the name of a specific community, he said.

Abhishek Banerjee also asked Shah to clarify whether former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been given shelter by the BJP-led Centre, should be termed an infiltrator.

"If we talk about infiltration, what is the status of deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina who has been staying in India for the past one and a half years? Is she a Bangladeshi infiltrator?" he said in the press meet.

What happened in the 2021 assembly elections? The 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections were held in eight phases between 27 March and 29 April to elect all 294 members of the Legislative Assembly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The incumbent Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee won the election by a landslide, despite opinion polls generally predicting a close race against the BJP, which became the official opposition with 77 seats.

If we talk about infiltration, what is the status of deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina?

For the first time in the history of Bengal, no members from the Congress and the Communist Party were elected.
On 9 April, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deleting names of over 90 lakh people from the voter lists to grab power in the state and asserted that her party will win the upcoming elections.

Addressing a public rally at Minakhan in North 24 Parganas, the TMC chief said the ruling party would move a court to ensure that all those deleted from the electoral rolls are reinstated.

"You deleted names of over 90 lakh people to grab power in Bengal, but we will win," she said while attacking the BJP over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state.

91 lakh voters' names were deleted Mamata Banerjees comments came after nearly 91 lakh voters' names were deleted from the electoral rolls following the completion of the SIR exercise in the state. The comments came on a day when the poll panel released the number of deletions in each constituency.

West Bengal is going to the polls in two phases  23 and 29 April. The results will be declared on 4 May.

63% deleted are Hindus, says Abhishek Overall, 91 lakh names have been deleted from West Bengal's voter list since the SIR began. The state's voters have shrunk almost 12%, from 7.66 crore electors in October 2025 to 6.75 crore now. West Bengal had 7.34 crore eligible voters in the 2021 assembly elections.

According to an internal analysis of booth-level EC numbers before and after the SIR by Trinamool Congress, of the 91 lakh deletions, 57.47 lakh (63.4%) are Hindus and 31.1 lakh (34.3%) are Muslims.

Based on 2011 Census data, West Bengal has a Hindu majority of approximately 7072 per cent and a Muslim population of roughly 2527 per cent.

So, have more Hindu voters been deleted than Muslims?

Muslim voters account for more than a third (34 per cent) of the 91 lakh names removed from West Bengals electoral rolls in the SIR process, as per TMC analysis. This is disproportionately higher that community's share (25-27 %) in state's overall population. As among Hindus, 63 per cent voters have been deleted which is lesser than community's share (70-72 %) in state's population.

However, in absolute numbers, more Hindus have been removed in SIR than Muslims. Mint has not been able to verify these numbers. The Election Commission doesn't release date based on religion.

Abhishek Banerjee's claim At a press conference on 10 April, Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary claimed that under the guise of "Detect, Delete, Deport," the BJP and Election Commission wrongfully removed over 90 lakh names from Bengal's voter list.

In the first list released in February, 58 lakh names were deleted, then around 6 lakh more names were deleted. Later, from the adjudication list, around 27 lakh names were deleted. In total, around 90 lakh names were deleted, out of which 63% are Bengali Hindus, Banerjee said accusing the BJP of specifically targeting them.

All political parties in West Bengal, except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had opposed the SIR. The BJP insisted that the process was a drive to sanitise the electoral rolls and remove illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh.

60,06,675 names under adjudication Of the 60,06,675 names under adjudication in West Bengal after they were left out of the electoral rolls, 27,16,393, or 45.22%, stand deleted, as per the first such data shared by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The ECI released its final Supplementary List on Monday night, a month after the adjudication process began.

The highest number of cases under adjudication was in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district (11 lakh), followed by Malda (8.28 lakh), South 24 Parganas (5.22 lakh) and North 24 Parganas (5 lakh). Jhargram and Kalimpong had the fewest pending cases, at 6,682 and 6,790, respectively.

High deletions in Matua-dominated seats According to the ECIs district-wise data, the largest percentage of voters has now been deleted in Matua-dominated Nadia (77.86%). The other high-deletion districts are Hooghly (70.33%), which has a high proportion of Muslims, followed by Purba Bardhaman (57.4%), North 24 Parganas (55.08%) and Paschim Bardhaman (53.72%).

In terms of assembly seats, those with high percentage of Matua and Muslim population have also seen significant deletions, such as Rajarhat-New Town near Kolkata (24,132 names or 7.4%), Ranaghat Uttar Purba (20,796 or 7.7%), Gaighata (19,638, or 7.4%), Ranaghat Dakshin (17,411, 5.95%), Habra (18,791 or 7.48%), Madhyamgram (14,842, or 5.18%).

Matuas are a sect of Hindu Namashudras, a Dalit community, who migrated from Bangladesh in large numbers and are being promised citizenship by the BJP under the Citizenship Amendment Act.

In the Bagda Assembly seat in North 24 Parganas district, for example, 50,230 voters were deleted. Of this 46,826 are Hindus, and 3,264 are Muslims. At the Bongaon Uttar Assembly seat in the same district, 42,164 voters have been deleted, including 37,101 Hindus and 4,310 Muslims.

In the Bhabanipur Assembly segment, where Mamata Banerjee is contesting, of the 50,987 deletions, 37,227 are Hindus, and 12,084 are Muslims.

In districts in the Jangalmahal region with a low Muslim population, Hindus account for almost 90% of the deletions. In Jhargram, for example, about 94% of the voters deleted from the electoral rolls are Hindus. They account for 91% of deletions in Bankura, and 88% of deletions in Purulia as well.

Top deletions in absolute numbers in Murshidabad

In absolute numbers, however, the top 10 assembly seats of West Bengal where voters were deleted from the electoral rolls after the adjudication process fall in the Muslim-dominated border districts of Murshidabad and Malda, the EC data said.

And all these 10 constituencies with the highest deletions are currently held by the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Assembly seat/district Deletions compared to pre-SIR numbers 1-Samserganj/Murshidabad 74,775, or 29.57% 2-Lalgola/Murshidabad 55,420, or 21.96% 3-Bhagabangola/Murshidabad 47,493, or 16.85% 4-Raghunathganj/Murshidabad 46,100, or 17.29% 5-Metiaburuz/South 24 Parganas 39,579, or 15.04% 6-Farakka/Murshidabad 38,222, or 15.99% 7-Suti/Murshidabad 37,965 deletions, or 13.42% 8-Mothabari/Malda 37,255 deletions, or 17.53% 9-Jangipur/Murshidabad 36,581 deletions, or 13.65% 10-Ratua/Malda 35,573 deletions, or 11.9% Source: Election Commission of India

What do analysts say?

Political activist Yogendra Yadav alleged on Wednesday that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being used to "rewrite" voter lists, terming it a "targeted" exercise that may influence electoral outcomes in several constituencies.

Yadav claimed that the revision, rather than a routine updating exercise, placed an unprecedented burden on voters to re-establish their eligibility.

"This is not revision, it is rewriting," he said, adding that citizens were now required to freshly apply to remain on the electoral rolls or risk deletion.

Claiming that there was a particularly intensive exercise in West Bengal, Yadav said nearly 9.8 lakh names were deleted in the first phase, placing the state among the highest in the country outside Uttar Pradesh, where final figures were still being compiled.

According to Yadav, 36 Assembly seats had been won by margins below five per cent, and between 19 and 25 seats could be critically affected, with as many as 54 to 70 seats being vulnerable.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who also addressed the press conference, alleged that the revision exercise departed from long-established legal safeguards governing electoral roll deletions.

This is not revision, it is rewriting.

Referring to the 1995 Supreme Court judgment in the Lal Babu Hussein case, he said any voter whose name appeared in an earlier electoral roll must be presumed to be a citizen unless serious doubts were raised through due notice and a hearing.

Bhushan questioned the timing of the exercise, claiming that the Election Commission's own past guidelines required at least six months for an intensive revision, whereas the present exercise was carried out within three months.
Israel has long struggled with long-term strategic planning, said former Israeli officials and analysts. Unlike the U.S., the U.K. and France, it has no tradition of publishing official national-security strategies that lay out foreign policy and defense priorities. But analysts say the difficulty has grown under Netanyahu in recent years. It was on full display during the Gaza war when Netanyahu was criticized for avoiding discussion of a plan for the enclaves future governance despite the urging of his senior security establishment.
The U.S. and Iran are heading into Saturdays talks with widely divergent demands and differing messaging about the prospects of a lasting peace deal. Trump said he is hopeful that a deal could be struck. But on Thursday, new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a defiant letter that Iran would seek compensation for the damage caused during a five-week war with the U.S. and maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that carries a fifth of the worlds oil.
Anshika Kayastha

Driven by a passion for news and commitment to accurate and ethical reporting, Anshika Kayastha has been covering the full spectrum of BFSIfrom banks and NBFCs to fintechs, insurance, payments, regulators, personal finance and money markets for the past 13 years. <br><br>Based in Mumbai, her work at Mint spans comprehensive and insightful stories on sectoral trends, regulatory and policy shifts, corporate strategies, governance, and innovation. With a particular interest in fintech, she keeps a close watch on emerging players, disruptive business models, and the evolving regulatory landscape. <br><br>Prior to joining Mint in July 2024, Anshika honed her craft at The Hindu BusinessLine and Informist Media, to deliver incisive, well-sourced reporting on the forces shaping India's financial services. She holds a degree in media and communication from Symbiosis University. <br><br>When she's not tracking the latest RBI circular or tenaciously pursuing the next story, Anshika is most at home in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh. Warm, social, and endlessly curious, she's a self-confessed credit card enthusiast, and brings that same energy to offbeat TV series, puzzles, beach vacations, and competitive game nights.
Crude oil prices on the MCX rallied over 3% on Friday, following gains in international oil rates, amid supply concerns as tanker traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz remained largely frozen.

MCX crude oil price for April futures contracts opened higher by 267, or 0.98%, at 9,200 per barrel, as against its previous close of 8,933 level. Oil prices surged as much as 3.23% to a high of 9,222 a barrel.

In the international market, Brent crude futures surged 1% to $96.86 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were up 0.79% at $98.64 a barrel.

However, crude oil prices were still headed for a weekly loss amid signs of easing geopolitical tensions due to a fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, with Israel signaling a potential diplomatic opening.

For this week, both crude oil contracts have so far lost 11%, the biggest weekly decline since June 2025.

Also Read | Gold rate drops on MCX on profit booking as dollar rises

Crude oil prices gained as Israeli strikes on Lebanon and the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz strained diplomatic efforts, but prices were still on track to drop more than 10% for the week after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, said Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at IndusInd Securities.

According to him, the market will focus on US-Iran talks, and if the talks fail, crude oil prices may appreciate. However, a correction is due in oil if the peace talks go successfully.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned Iran over imposing transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, criticizing its handling of oil flows. The crucial waterway remains largely closed as shipowners wait for clearer guidance on access.

Ship traffic through the strait stood at well below 10% of normal volumes on Thursday despite the ceasefire as Tehran asserted its control by warning ships to keep to its territorial waters while doing so, Reuters reported.

Additionally, attacks on Saudi energy facilities have cut the kingdoms oil production capacity by around 600,000 barrels per day and throughput on its East-West Pipeline by about 700,000 bpd, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, citing an official source.

Crude Oil Price Outlook Trivedi said that the outlook for crude oil price remains bearish.

MCX crude oil price may find support at 9,000 - 8,800 zone, while resistance is seen at 9,250 - 9,400 zone. Support for WTI crude oil price is seen at $95 - $90, while resistance is placed at $100 - $110 zone, Trivedi said.

According to Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money a sustained move above 9,200 could drive MCX crude oil prices toward the 9,400  9,500 range, with further potential to test 9,600  9,800.

On the downside, a break below 9,000 may extend the decline toward 8,800  8,600, and potentially 8,200. Overall, the structure appears to be transitioning from a bullish phase to a consolidation phase, with the earlier sharp spike giving way to a more stabilised price action, said Ponmudi R.
NSE IPO: The much-awaited initial public offering (IPO) of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is moving closer. The proposed issue, which could raise over 20,000 crore, is expected to be one of the largest public offerings in India. As per a recent report, the bourse is likely to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI in June.

Unlike a typical IPO, where investors can directly apply for shares, this offering follows a different route. The structure and regulatory requirements mean participation is restricted at this stage, making it important for investors to clearly understand how the process works and whether they qualify.

Who is eligible to participate? The IPO is entirely structured as an offer-for-sale (OFS), which means only existing shareholders can sell their stake, and the company itself will not receive any proceeds from the issue.

To be eligible, shareholders must have held fully paid-up NSE shares continuously since June 15, 2025. This requirement is linked to regulatory norms that mandate a minimum holding period before the filing of the DRHP.

This also means that investors who are considering buying NSE shares now in the unlisted market purely to participate in the IPO will not be eligible. The one-year holding condition effectively prevents last-minute entries, ensuring that only long-term shareholders can participate in the OFS.

Additionally, shares must be fully paid-up and free from any legal or financial restrictions such as pledges, liens, or encumbrances. Any such restriction could disqualify the shares from being tendered in the OFS.

Key deadline and participation process Eligible shareholders must submit their expressions of interest (EOIs) by April 27, 2026, before 5 PM. This deadline is final, and missing it would mean losing the opportunity to participate in the OFS.

Once EOIs are submitted, the exchange will review and verify them before identifying the eligible shareholders who can participate in the offering. This step is important given the large and diverse shareholder base of NSE.

Investors who qualify can choose to sell either partially or fully through the OFS route. However, there is a key restrictionshareholders who participate in the OFS will not be allowed to apply for shares in the IPO as investors.

The exchange has also reached out to shareholders by sending EOI forms and related documents, indicating that the process is already underway.

IPO Structure and other details The IPO is expected to involve the sale of around 4% to 4.5% of NSEs total equity. Since it is an OFS, all proceeds from the sale will go to existing shareholders rather than the company.

The final price of shares will be determined through a book-building process, which means pricing will depend on investor demand and prevailing market conditions at the time of the issue.

For participating shareholders, this introduces a degree of uncertainty, as they will not know the exact exit price at the time of submitting their interest.

Also Read | NSE IPO finally gets wings as Sebi gives no-objection certificate

Moreover, NSE has appointed 20 merchant bankersthe highest ever for an IPO in Indiaalong with multiple legal advisors and intermediaries.

Key risks and lock-in conditions One of the key risks for shareholders participating in the OFS is the possibility of partial subscription. If the shares offered are not fully subscribed, the unsold portion will be subject to a six-month lock-in period after listing.

This means investors may not be able to exit immediately and could remain exposed to price fluctuations in the market.

Additionally, all pre-IPO shares (other than those sold in the OFS) will also be locked in for six months from the date of allotment. This further limits liquidity for existing shareholders in the near term.
Meanwhile, the Nifty Pharma Index is down about 3.5% since the onset of the West Asia war, slightly better than the 4.6% decline for the Nifty 50 Index. To be sure, margin erosion from loss of exclusivity for key products in the US market, besides adverse regulatory developments, remains a key risk for the sector. Having said that, the domestic market should continue to drive growth, getting a boost with the launch of generic semaglutide in March, which can boost growth in FY27 as well.
(Bloomberg) -- Oil edged lower in relatively light trading before highly-anticipated talks between Iran and the US, negotiations that will dictate the path ahead for their fragile truce.

West Texas Intermediate fell 1.3% to settle below $97 a barrel, with futures down about 13.4% this week, the biggest retreat in six years. Brent oil ended the day lower at around $95.

Crude markets have been extremely turbulent since the war began in late February and prices remain more than 30% above pre-conflict levels. Attention is now turning to how sustainable the ceasefire announced this week will be, and whether a lasting peace can emerge that will restart energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Transit through the key waterway is still largely limited to Tehran-linked vessels.

The sell-off is unwarranted and its going to likely reverse, Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group, said in a Bloomberg Television interview. Now that were in the nightmare scenario, folks want to believe that its going to end soon, and they accept pleasing words and verbal intervention.

The oil market is also looking for whether the US will extend a sanctions waiver allowing the purchase of Russian crude already loaded on tankers. Several countries in Asia, where fuel shortages have emerged in recent weeks, are pushing the US Treasury Department to renew the measure, according to people familiar with the matter. The current waiver expires just after midnight Washington time.

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead discussions with Iranian officials in Islamabad starting Saturday.

Iranian attacks this week have continued to hit energy infrastructure in the region and further crimp supply. Saudi Arabia said late Thursday that strikes had reduced the flow of oil through an East-West pipeline the kingdom has been using to export via the Red Sea.

Countries heavily reliant on Middle Eastern crude have begun tapping inventories. Japan will release about 20 days of oil from its stockpiles in May, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. Chinese state refiners were given the green light to tap into commercial reserves, while Indias largest private refiner has started to cap fuel purchases at pumps to manage stocks.

While the two-week ceasefire was broadly holding across the Middle East, the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon threatened to complicate negotiations.

Trump posted on social media Friday that Tehrans only leverage is short term extortion of the world by using International Waterways  a reference to Hormuz, and declared that the Iranians dont seem to realize they have no cards.

For Iran, a ceasefire in Lebanon is one measure that must be fulfilled before negotiations begin, Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said in a post on X.

Trump told the New York Post on Friday that US warships are being reloaded with the best ammunition to launch fresh attacks if the talks falter.

Elsewhere, Ukraines top negotiator with Russia said he sees progress toward a potential peace deal. Brents gains briefly eased following the comments.

To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Recasts; updates prices, adds quotes, changes byline, changes dateline from previous PARIS/SINGAPORE)

* Soymeal climbs after USDA confirms export sales to Italy

* Corn, wheat pressured by ample global supplies

* Wheat down 4.5% this week, biggest weekly loss since late June

By Julie Ingwersen

CHICAGO, April 10 (Reuters) - Chicago soybeans hit a two-week high on Friday and soymeal futures surged more than 4% on firm cash markets and news of an unusual sale of U.S. soymeal to Italy, analysts said.

Corn and wheat futures drifted lower as market players digested increased forecasts for global stocks of both grains in a monthly report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday.

As of 12:58 p.m. CDT (1758 GMT) on Friday, Chicago Board of Trade May soybeans were up 13 cents, or 1.1%, at $11.78-1/4 per bushel after reaching $11.79-1/4, the contract's highest price since March 26. CBOT May soymeal was up $16.20, or 5.1%, at $333.80 per short ton.

CBOT May corn was down 2 cents at $4.42 a bushel and May wheat was down 2-1/2 cents at $5.72 a bushel.

Soymeal and soybean futures jumped after the USDA confirmed private sales of 100,000 metric tons of U.S. soymeal, used in livestock feed, to Italy.

"A lot of it has to do with Italy buying some soybean meal. They are not a usual buyer of U.S. soybean meal, so that seems to have set the thing off," said Jack Scoville, vice president of Chicago-based Price Futures Group.

The USDA on Thursday reported strong soymeal sales for the week ended April 2, and sales for the 2025/2026 season to date are 16% ahead of the same time last year. Cash basis offers for soymeal firmed on Friday at several crushing plants in the U.S. Midwest.

CBOT corn and wheat declined after the USDA's monthly supply and demand report on Thursday confirmed plentiful U.S. and global grain supplies.

Meanwhile, rains were slowing fieldwork in a few areas as farmers were starting to plant corn in the U.S. Midwest.

"Some of the farmers are complaining," Scoville said, noting that some growers prefer to begin seeding by mid-April. "But they will get over it. Having too much rain generally works out to everybody's benefit in the long run."

The U.S. corn crop was 3% planted as of April 5, according to the USDA, which will release an updated weekly progress report on Monday.

CBOT wheat fell for a third consecutive day and was on track for its biggest weekly drop since late June, reflecting global supplies and competition for export business.
Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, finds Pakistan's stock market a good tactical play, especially around the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout cycles, as he highlighted the Karachi Stock Exchange's sharp outperformance vis-a-vis the Indian market since the last bailout.

In his latest edition of the weekly report, GREED & Fear, Chris Wood said that since the last IMF program in September 2024, the MSCI Pakistan Index is up 84% in US dollar terms, a period in which it has outperformed MSCI India by 124% in US dollar terms. However, to keep matters in perspective, it is only fair to point out that since the start of this century, India has outperformed Pakistan by 653% in US dollar terms, said the expert.

Against this backdrop, Wood feels that the Pakistan stock market can also be a profitable market to trade around IMF bailout cycles.

Pakistan gains global clout Pakistan has shot to a prominent profile on the world stage as it has brokered a ceasefire in the US-Iran war that has rattled global economies and driven crude oil prices higher.

The talks are due to commence in Islamabad on Saturday. The Iran 10-point plan published on Wednesday and the Trump administrations 15-point peace plan tabled in late March seem so far apart as to make any deal unlikely in the extreme, said Wood.

"The Pakistan brokered ceasefire should be viewed for now as another version of TACO, the belief in which explains in large part why financial markets have not sold off more in the face of the dramatic Middle East newsflow of the past six weeks," said Wood.

He also highlighted that Pakistan has been a bit of a macro-economic disaster for most of its existence since its independence in 1947, characterised by a lack of exports, recurring current account crises and numerous IMF programmes. That said, it has genuine geopolitical significance because of its nuclear status and its large military.

Wood on Indian stock market Meanwhile, the two-week ceasefire is good news for an energy-vulnerable India, even though it must be Wood said it must be "galling" from a New Delhi perspective.

He remains overweight on Indian stock market and sees it to be a beneficiary from a relative return standpoint in case AI capex does peak this year, given its status as the reverse AI trade and as foreigners have already sold a lot of stocks, including a net US$18.5bn so far this year.

According to Wood, de-rating in recent months, driven by aggressive foreign selling rather than any particularly negative newsflow, means that Indias traditional overvaluation has reduced significantly.

The Nifty one-year forward PE is now 18.3x after reaching 17x at the end of March, which is close to the pre-Covid average of 16.8x, which prevailed between 2015 and 2020.

Renewed conflict in Iran, but also a sudden cessation in domestic mutual fund inflows, are among the downside risks.
IT stocks witnessed sharp losses on Friday, April 10, with the Nifty IT index crashing almost 3% after Anthropic introduced a preview of its new model, Mythos, which is being positioned as a significant leap over earlier models such as Claude Opus on coding and security benchmarks. Meanwhile, TCS logging its first annual dollar revenue decline since listing, despite Q4 recovery, also dampening the sentiment.

In comparison, the Indian stock market rose over 2%, following gains in global equities, despite concerns over the fragile two-week US-Iran ceasefire deal.

Almost all Nifty IT constituents were in the red. Coforge was the top loser, declining 3.5% I nthe Nifty IT index, while Infosys, Mphasis and TCS also rose over 3% each. Meanwhile, LTIMindtree, HCL Tech, and Persistent Systems were up between 2-2.5% each, and Tech Mahindra added around 1.8% in today's deals. Meanwhile, Wipro and L&T Tech were the only 2 stocks in the green, up 0.5% and 1.4%, respectively.

What is Anthropic's latest development? Instead of a full-scale public rollout, the company has opted for a controlled deployment through Project Glasswing, Anthropics most advanced cybersecurity-focused model, granting access to a closed group of partners including Amazon Web Services, Apple, Broadcom, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft and NVIDIA.

The Mythos model is being positioned as highly advanced in identifying and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities, with capabilities that reportedly outperform both human experts and existing automated tools. The system is also capable of identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities across major operating systems and web browsers when directed by users, highlighting both its potential and associated risks.

At its core, Mythos is a next-generation AI system focused on cybersecurity and deep code analysis.

Impact on IT services IT stocks have come under renewed pressure, as fresh concerns around earnings add to already elevated fears of AI-led disruption.

Back in February, the Nifty IT had fallen around 20% after a global tech sell-off, triggered by worries that AI start-upsespecially following developments from Anthropiccould disrupt traditional IT services. The fear was that AI could reduce demand for outsourcing by automating coding and enterprise functions.

The current sell-off, however, is being driven by evidence of this slowdown, after Tata Consultancy Services reported a decline in dollar revenue despite a stronger dollar. This indicates weaker client spending, reinforcing concerns that AI disruption may already be impacting growth for legacy IT firms.

The IT major posted a 0.5% decline in full-year revenue in dollar terms to $30.08 billion, alongside a 3.5% rise in net profit. In the fourth quarter, revenue grew 1.5% sequentially to $7.62 billion, indicating a mild pickup in momentum toward the end of the year. Much of the annual decline was driven by weakness in its India business, whose revenue fell 32% during the period.

Meanwhile, it reported a 12.2% year-on-year (YoY) rise in consolidated profit for Q4 at 13,718 crore, and its consolidated revenue rose 9.6% YoY to 70,698 crore in Q4FY25.

What is Mythos different? Amid the latest advancements in AI capabilities, analysts believe the evolution of models like Mythos could have meaningful implications for IT services and enterprise adoption trends.

According to Motilal Oswal Financial Services, We see this as a meaningful development. It builds on Anthropic's recent product launches cadence and could represent the next step in pushing the AI frontier.

Also Read | Wipro to consider buyback of shares along with Q4 results 2026 on this date

MOSL noted that Mythos builds on the significant capability gains seen in Opus, which, upon its release in Feb'26, had triggered a sharp selloff in tech and SaaS stocks. While the current rollout may not have a similar market impact, it further expands AIs edge over humans across coding, ERP, and now cybersecurity.

The brokerage further added that Mythos reflects the rapid advancement of AI capabilities beyond coding into areas like cybersecurity, while highlighting that adoption remains easier in greenfield, cloud-first environments. In contrast, legacy-heavy enterprises face slower adoption due to integration, data cleanup and governance requirements, with 90% of top OpenAI token users being new-age companies, underscoring the scaling challenge.

IT Stocks: Technical Outlook Amid ongoing volatility in the markets, technical indicators suggest that the broader trend for the IT index remains weak, even as short-term recoveries offer brief optimism to traders.

Kunal Kamble, Sr. Technical Research Analyst at Bonanza Portfolio, said, The Nifty Index continues to trade within a broader downtrend, forming a series of lower highs and lower lows, indicating sustained weakness in structure. The recent bounce appears to be a relief rally, as prices approach the immediate resistance zone of 31,00031,500.

He noted that this resistance zone aligns with a prior breakdown area as well as a falling trendline, making it a critical hurdle for the index. He added that the index continues to trade below its 30 EMA, signalling a lack of strong bullish momentum.

According to him, unless the index decisively breaks and sustains above 32,200, the current pullback is likely to face selling pressure. On the downside, he expects immediate support around 28,500, which could be retested in the near term if weakness persists.
A mischievous assassina giant white shark named Dianeripped through the air, carried on the wings of seagulls. She had every intention of plonking her weight down on the car of Jerry Generazzo, the greedy mayor of Beaverton, when the chase took on an exciting turn. I was so engrossed in these events unfurling on the screen that I nearly missed the dirty looks that my teenage daughter was throwing my way. I hadnt even realised that I had sent up a loud Wheeeee! to cheer Dianes aerial glide, earning titters from the theatre audience and exasperated sighs from the offspring. However, I remained unfazed in my rather enthusiastic enjoyment of Hoppers, the latest animation from the Pixar stable which was released last month.

The film follows the journey of Mabel Tanaka, a young girl, who together with her grandma, finds solace in an idyllic glade within the city. She continues to frequent the spot long after her grandmother is gone. When she realises that the mayor is planning to build a freeway right through the glade, Tanaka frantically searches for solutions to save the habitat.

During intermission, as I looked around the theatre, there were the usual gaggle of kids chaperoned by a parent or two, out to celebrate a birthday or end of exams with a movie. However, there were many groups of adults in the audience as well, sans children. I couldnt help but ask one of thema Gurugram-based entrepreneur, S.B.why she and her friends were here to watch a movie supposedly for younger audiences. Who says animation is for kids alone? Look at Encanto (2021) or Coco (2017), all of these movies tap into complex emotions but in such an engaging manner, she says. S.B. and her friends are part of a small movie club where they regularly discuss animations. In this particular film, she liked the way the pressing issue or unmindful urban development was tackled. But more than that, I could relate to the void left by the demise of a grandparentthe sudden loss of comfort, support and wisdom, adds the entrepreneur.

Also Read | Why emotional lightness is key to better mental health

Animated content is no longer being consumed by kids but also by many adults. This has been a growing trend. Back in 2007, Pew Research Centre, an American think-tank, conducted a study, What they watch online. The survey revealed that animation videos had captured the attention of 19% of the online population of adults. 32% of internet users, aged 18-29, said they watched or downloaded animation or cartoons online19% of users, aged 30-49, also reported this. Today, with a mix of anime, animated shorts and featuresboth new and oldavailable on streaming platforms, this number would only have increased.

According to Devanshi Desai, Mumbai-based counseling psychologist and couples therapist, this trend ties in with the kind of content being consumed today. Easy access to AI has flooded social media with animated reels about animals behaving like humans or humans leading contented lives in idyllic climes, she says. Such animation offers a sense of emotional safety and large dollops of self-soothing.

As a millennial, growing up in the 1980s-90s, that one-hour of animation on Doordarshan every Sunday, featuring English cartoons like Ducktales or Talespin or the Jungle Book dubbed in Hindi, offered a portal into fantastical worlds. There were occasional treats of being taken to the theatre to watch Lion King or Aladdin. With the advent of satellite television, Scooby Doo, The Jetsons and Johnny Bravo made inroads into our lives, with parents allowing half an hour of Cartoon Network after homework was done. Its no wonder then that for most of us, especially those aged 35 and above, animation has long occupied a hallowedalmost magicalspace in our lives. I recently found Ducktales on YouTube. When I heard it in English, instead of the dubbed version that we grew up with, I felt like I was watching it afresh. I watch 8-10 minutes of Ducktales after workits not just a stressbuster but is also a reminder of my childhood, says Radhika Das, 38, a Delhi-based French teacher.

View full Image View full Image 'Amphibia' is set in a wild marshland full of anthropomorphic amphibians and dangerous beasts

There is, of course, animation created solely for adults as wellbe it the evergreen Simpsons or Family Guy, or the more recent Harley Quinn. But there is something to be said about watching films like Inside Out (2015), Sing (2016) and Frozen (2013), which reach out to all age groups. Besides allowing you to become a part of a collective experience, they take you back to innocent, simpler times, when lives were more cocooned. This feeling allows you to feel anchored during uncertain and conflicted times. Recent pop-culture trends have caught on to these emotions. Last year, for instance, the Ghibli aesthetic went viral, as people the world over used AI-generated artwork to create profile pictures in Studio Ghiblis hand-drawn aesthetic, featuring dreamy pastel visuals. While the ethics of this is murky, the tendency to use animation for self-articulation is evident.

According to Khushnaaz Noras, Mumbai-based psychologist and psychotherapist, Studio Ghibli movies and others like Inside Out feel like a giant hug. In the fast-moving pace of the world, many people miss some sort of stability. People want to sometimes go back to the basics of slowing down and feeling like their earlier selves, she explains.

Also Read | Making history tangible to children through curated walks

Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist and founder, Gateway of Healing, Gurugram, says this shift is not limited to just nostalgia anymore. In her view, animated storytelling carries genuine emotional weight. It tackles grief, identity and anxiety with such tenderness that live-action mode rarely permits itself. The visual unreality of animation creates a kind of psychological permission  feelings land differently when the world on screen is not mimicking our own. In an age of relentless overstimulation, that clarity feels restorative rather than childish.

Das agrees. She admits to feeling tired of watching crime and mystery thrillers all the time. Sometimes it feels like the gore has embedded itself into my very brain cells. Watching Luca or Zootopia feels like a relief, she says.

Everyone has a different kind of connection with animation. Some have grown up with a movie seriesfor instance, I first watched Toy Story in 1995, and since then have seen all the sequels that have followed. At other times, you are introduced to a series by the kids. While they move on to something else, you find yourself hooked, and end up watching it even when they are not around.

My list of these binge-worthy series is only growing, with series like Amphibia, The Owl House, Gravity Falls, Big City Greens and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power being added to it. I recently raced through She-Ra, a dystopian series set on the planet Etheria. The story revolves around a reluctant protagonist, Adora, who comes across a magical sword. She joins a group of powerful princesses to take on the evil Lord Hordak and his Horde. The shows treatment of queer and neurodiverse characters is so matter-of-fact and it can lead to a lot of interesting conversations around inclusivity.

Often childhood fascination with animation can become a lifelong passion. Shikha Chopra, 36, Mumbai-based interior designer, is a self-confessed animation junkie. She is not content with merely watching animated films and series, rather Chopra wants to know about the creative process. Together with her six-year-old daughter, she watches behind-the-scenes shorts on YouTube, the way different actors voice their characters, or the research that has gone into films such as Frozen. Everything is 3D now. But there is so much beauty in some of the earliest hand-drawn animation, she says.

Many like Chopra also like to usher the animated world into their actual lives. She hopes to visit Montmarte, Paris, which has served as an inspiration for Ratatouille.

Meanwhile at our home, you will find books such as Art of Ducktales and Art of Amphibiathe latter is a shared prized possession between my daughter and me, which introduces you frame by frame to the development of characters that inhabit the series, Amphibia, set in a wild marshland full of anthropomorphic amphibians and dangerous beasts.

Making complex emotions accessible Assam-based animator-producer Longbir Ingti Kathar, who worked with Disney (India) for seven-and-a-half years with a short stint in the US, has been watching Bluey with his three-year-old son. The Australian series centred around a Blue Heeler pup and her family has emerged as a worldwide phenomenonin January, Nielsen announced the ARTEY Awards for the most-watched streaming titles for 2025 and the show won the second consecutive top streaming title of the year with 45 billion viewing minutes. CNN recently did a report about how grownups constituted a major audience for Bluey.

View full Image View full Image 'Turning Red' as another significant film when it comes to articulating the pressures of adolescence

In Kathars view, the shift in adult engagement with animation is in sync with parenting styles across the world. A lot of people back in the 70s-80s grew up with a talk-down parenting approach. Today, however, parents are more involved. They are more conscious. Animation has contributed to a lot of subtle changes. Take, Bluey, for instance, in which the father, Bandit, is so emotionally supportive of his two daughters. There are so many elements in the show for the grown ups as well that you often forget that you are watching an animation. It feels as if someone has recorded details from our everyday life, he adds.

Also, the style of animation is different from earlier ones. Multiple subplots unfurl simultaneously. And look at the themes Bluey is tackling, says Kathar. He recounts a series of episodes about how one of the aunts, Brandy, is struggling to have kids. Multiple episodes were centred around issues of fertility and pregnancy loss. Other episodes talked about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and hearing impairment. These are anthropomorphic characters. And yet, the way they are showing issues is so real, he adds.

While animation is not used as a tool in therapy, it is helping many articulate suppressed emotions. Tugnait has seen clients bring animated films into conversation themselves. Animation simplifies things without dumbing them down. For people who find direct emotional confrontation overwhelming, it offers an accessible side door, she says. Film doesnt replace therapy, but makes therapy possible in a way it hadn't been before, adds Tugnait.

The role of films like Inside Out cant be ignored in simplifying psychological concepts. Such films can be especially useful in exploring loss, fear, anxiety and emotional blocks without the layers of defensiveness that can come up in real-life discussions, says Desai. In fact the two Inside Out films have helped start conversations around anxiety or how different people visualise emotions. Noras counts Turning Red as another significant film when it comes to articulating the pressures of adolescence

. The animated film is centred around Mei, a 13-year-old girl, who transforms into a giant red panda anytime she experiences a strong emotion. I have had many young people tell me that they will turn into a red panda if they dont learn to deal with anger, says Noras. In some cases, the film also becomes a means for adolescents and parents to bond. A lot of teens that I know have shown Turning Red to their mothers and asked them to not be strict and overprotective like Meis mom.
The new labour laws under the OSH Code have introduced some major changes in how employers structure leave policies. The reforms standardise earned leave entitlements across the country and also provide workers with the right to receive an annual encashment benefit.

With the implementation of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020, from 21 November 2025, employees are allowed to carry forward leaves of up to 30 days to the succeeding year.

Where accumulated leaves exceed 30 days, workers shall be entitled to encash such excess leaves. Workers can also demand encashment of all their accumulated leaves at the end of the calendar year, said Tarun Garg, Director of Deloitte India.

As of now, the new labour codes are not fully implemented, including the provisions thereon on leave encashment. This is primarily because several States are yet to finalise and notify their respective rules, which is a prerequisite for nationwide implementation, according to experts.

Hence, the encashment provisions under the new framework will also apply throughout the country once the codes are formally brought into force by the respective States, which will frame their rules.

What were the rules before and what changed now? While leave encashment provision on separation of employees was present under the earlier framework as well, the rules around earned leaves differ widely across India.

Under the previous framework, before the labour codes came into force, leave policies were governed by state-specific laws such as the Shops & Establishments Acts and the Factories Act, 1948. Because these laws vary from state to state, rules around leaves were also not uniform, according to Dinkar Sharma, Company Secretary and Partner, Jotwani Associates.

For instance, some states allow employees to accumulate 4560 days of leave, while others have different rules for carry-forward and leave encashment, he said.

However, post Labour Codes Implementation, a standardised national framework will apply and the key changes include:

Uniform accrual rate: 1 day per 20 days worked

Maximum carry-forward capped at 30 days

Greater clarity on encashment upon separation

Rationalisation of fragmented state laws Overall, the focus under the new code is towards simplification and uniformity, although in some states this may reduce the accumulation threshold, he added.

Who all are entitled to this benefit? The encashment of leave benefits those who fall within the category of worker. Therefore, they will also apply in case of contract workers and fixed-term workers who fall within the worker category, said Ahetesham Ahmed A. Thaver, Associate Partner, Labour and Employment, ALMT Legal.

However, the benefits will not apply to employees who are employed mainly in managerial or administrative roles or those working in a supervisory capacity while also drawing wages exceeding 18,000 per month, he added.

The intent of the legislature is to ensure equitable working conditions across employment categories, though practical applicability may depend on rules, thresholds, and the nature of engagement, Sharma said.

What happens if leave is denied by management? A major employee-friendly provision is that if a worker applies for leave and the employer denies it, such leave can be carried forward without any cap, according to the experts. Such a provision prevents employers from arbitrarily rejecting workers' leave requests.

Under the OSH Code, earned leaves applied for by workers but not granted by the employer can be carried forward without any limit. Such leaves exceeding 30 days can be encashed by workers on demand annually at the end of the calendar year, according to Minu Dwivedi, Partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors.

Currently, under State-specific laws, employees can encash leaves at the end of their employment. However, in certain states like Telangana, non-exempt employees are entitled to encash earned leave during the subsistence of their employment.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted Operation Dhahabu Blitz and busted a syndicate, seizing 29.37 kg of gold valued at 37.74 crore. As many as 24 women were arrested in connection with the matter, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Thursday.

A team of DRI officers acted on specific intelligence and identified a group of women carriers arriving from Nairobi attempting to smuggle large quantities of gold through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport, Mumbai, on 8 April.

"Under Operation Dhahabu Blitz, 24 foreign nationals were intercepted. Swift and coordinated enforcement action led to the recovery of 25.10 kg gold bars and 4.27 kg gold jewellery from these passengers," the ministry said.

It said the case reveals a highly organised syndicate using trained carriers and coordinated methods to evade detection.

An official told the new agency PTI that the women were trained to hide the gold and evade checks, suggesting a well-planned syndicate using such carriers to beat airport security.

While the women will be produced in court, a further probe is underway to nab the kingpins of the racket, the official was quoted as saying.

"DRI remains committed to dismantling such gold smuggling networks that undermine the countrys economic and fiscal systems and threaten national interests," the statement added.

Also Read | Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao caught in viral intimate office video

Gold Smuggling in Bengaluru The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru following a coordinated operation, according to an official statement released on 7 April.

Five people were arrested so far in connection with the case and efforts are underway to identify the key masterminds and dismantle the entire network, officials were quoted by PTI as saying..

"The officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Bengaluru Zonal Unit, have successfully busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL), Bengaluru," the agency said in a press release.

Officials said the contraband was ingeniously concealed in paste form inside capsule-shaped packets, highlighting the sophisticated methods adopted by the syndicate.

Also Read | Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao caught in viral intimate office video

"The gold was concealed on the body and transferred using a pre-arranged passcode system inside sensitive areas such as washrooms and smoking zones, thereby bypassing Customs scrutiny," the statement said.

The use of coded exchanges within restricted zones enabled the syndicate to evade routine checks, it said, adding that the probe also uncovered insider involvement within the airport ecosystem.

"The syndicate had further infiltrated the airport ecosystem, with the involvement of an insider who misused authorised access to restricted zones to receive and smuggle out the contraband," the DRI was quoted as saying

The operation also revealed the use of encrypted communication platforms featuring coded messages and disappearing chats.

Investigations revealed that carriers arriving from abroad deliberately chose Bengaluru as a transit point, exploiting longer layovers to facilitate covert transfers within the airport premises.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the network is part of a larger cross-border smuggling syndicate involving foreign operatives, suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, working in tandem with domestic handlers and facilitators, the DRI said.

Officials said the case reflects the increasing sophistication of smuggling operations and reiterated that the agency remains committed to curbing such organised economic offences.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas held a press conference on Friday, 10 April, to address LPG stock concerns and the repatriation of Indian seafarers, while also voicing concern over casualties in Lebanon.

Speaking of casualties in Lebanon, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Union government was deeply concerned about the civilian deaths in the country.

As a troop contributing country to the UNIFIL that is invested in Lebanons peace and security, the direction of events is very disturbing. India has always emphasised protecting civilians as its foremost priority. Observing international law and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is essential, Randhir Jaiswal said.

Also Read | Govt raises LPG, natural gas allocation for key industries

The MEA spokesperson also said that the Indian embassy in Lebanon remains in close touch with the Indian community for its safety and security.

On developments in West Asia The MEA spokesperson said that despite the armistice, India is closely following developments in West Asia and reaching out to countries in the Gulf region.

At the direction of the Prime Minister, our ministers are visiting Gulf countries to strengthen our energy security. The External Affairs Minister is presently visiting Mauritius, from where he will be travelling to the UAE on 11th and 12th April, 2026. He will hold discussions with leaders in the UAE to foster stronger India-UAE ties, Jaiswal said.

On the safe return of Indian seafarers Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mukesh Mangal said, All Indian seafarers in the region are safe, and there has been no incident involving an Indian-flagged vessel in the past 24 hours...The ministry has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 1,927 Indian seafarers so far, including 124 in the last 24 hours. The ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions, and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations

Also Read | Delhi government mandates PNG shift for commercial LPG users

Speaking about LPG stock in India amid uncertainties, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, said there is no dryout and the supply of domestic LPG cylinders remains normal.
Both domestic and commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders have become costly ever since the war in West Asia began in February, causing volatility in global energy markets. Domestic LPG prices have been revised once, whereas commercial cooking gas rates were revised twice in the last two months.

After almost five weeks of conflict, the US and Iran have agreed on a two-week conditional ceasefire. Meanwhile, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the government is ensuring the continued availability of LPG, petrol and diesel.

Singh also said that India has ensured the evacuation of the highest number of ships from the Strait of Hormuz than any other country over the past 40 days.

"A total of eight LPG vessels, carrying approximately 340 TM (thousand metric tons), equivalent to around 11 days of India's import requirement, have successfully transited the Strait, reinforcing the country's energy security and supply stability," it said.

What caused the supply shortage of energy? The price rise comes amid supply shortage of energy. A key trigger has been the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical energy route. The uncertainty around this shipping corridor has tightened supply and increased costs globally, contributing to higher LPG prices.

India imports nearly 60% of its LPG and half of its natural gas needs, with countries in West Asia supplying a major share of these fuels. Now, with up to 90% of LPG imports disrupted, the pressure has become real and immediate for the nation, Mint reported earlier.

Hikes in LPG prices so far The government has increased the cost of both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders amid supply disruptions.

Notably, the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder was raised by 60 in March. but no revisions in rates have been introduced after that, keeping domestic LPG prices steady throughout the country.

Meanwhile, the price of a 19 kg LPG cylinder was first increased by 144 in March, followed by another hike of about 200 on 1 April. pushing up costs for restaurants, hotels, and others.

Citi-wise updated domestic and commercial LPG prices on April 10

City Domestic (14.2 Kg) Commercial (19 Kg) New Delhi  913.00  2,078.50 ( +194.00 ) Kolkata  939.00  2,208.50 ( +220.00 ) Mumbai  912.50  2,031.00 ( +195.00 ) Chennai  928.50  2,246.50 ( +203.00 ) Gurgaon  921.50  2,096.50 ( +195.00 ) Noida  910.50  2,078.50 ( +194.00 ) Bengaluru  915.50  2,161.00 ( +203.00 ) Bhubaneshwar  939.00  2,245.00 ( +216.00 ) Chandigarh  922.50  2,099.50 ( +195.00 ) Hyderabad  965.00  2,320.50 ( +215.00 ) Jaipur  916.50  2,106.00 ( +193.00 ) Lucknow  950.50  2,201.00 ( +194.00 ) Patna  1,002.50  2,353.50 ( +220.00 )

The recent changes in commercial LPG prices is part of the monthly price update carried out by state-owned oil marketing companies, which include the Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum. These companies periodically adjust the rates of ATF and LPG cylinders based on price movements in international energy markets.

Global oil prices have shot up by almost 50% since the war began due to blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a crunch of energy supplies, especially for import-dependent countries.

Meanwhile, the Indian industry is increasingly exploring alternative energy solutions such as LPG reuse and shifting to other fuel sources to manage costs amid the current situation, Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director, ITC Limited was quoted as saying by PTI.

How can customers book a LPG cylinder? Officials have notified people that the LPG booking interval restrictions, 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas, are in place to ensure equitable distribution among consumers and avoid hoarding.

For a smoother delivery, the government has made the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system mandatory, and consumers have been advised to use digital platforms such as IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp, and online portals to book LPG refills.
Fuel prices across India remained unchanged at the start of the 202627 financial year on 10 April, despite ongoing fluctuations in global crude oil markets due to disruptions along key shipping routes.

Also Read | US Iran War LIVE: Air raid sirens in Israel after Lebanon launches rockets

In the national capital, New Delhi, petrol is priced at 94.77 per litre and diesel at 87.67 per litre. Mumbai continues to be one of the most expensive metros, with petrol at 103.54 per litre and diesel around 90.03 per litre.

Check fuel prices here:

Cities Petrol Diesel New Delhi  94.77  87.67 Kolkata  105.41  92.02 Mumbai  103.54  90.03 Bangalore  102.96  91.06 Hyderabad  107.46  95.70

In other major cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, petrol prices remain above 100 per litre, while diesel prices are still below 100.

Global crude oil prices are edging higher for a second straight session, but they are still on track for their steepest weekly decline since last June. The market remains highly volatile in the wake of the U.S.Iran ceasefire.

Brent Crude is trading in the range of $96.34 to $96.45 per barrel, while WTI Crude is priced between $97.60 and $97.96 per barrel.

Indian flagged vessels Green Asha safely reaches JNPA The Indian flagged vessel 'Green Asha', which crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 5 April, has safely reached Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) on Thursday, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways stated.

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing, Additional Secretary of the Shipping Ministry Mukesh Mangal said all Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.

No incident involving Indian flagged vessels or Indian seafarers has been reported in the past 24 hours. The Indian flagged vessel Green Asha, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 5th of April, 2026, has safely reached JNPA earlier today..., he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the safety of Indian Nationals in West Asia, it was informed in a briefing that the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates from 11 to 12 April 2026.

During the visit, he will meet the leadership of the UAE to review bilateral cooperation and further strengthen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Additionally, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Puri, will be undertaking an official visit to Qatar on 9-10 April 2026.

US-Iran ceasefire US President Donald Trump has assigned a key but previously hesitant member of his inner circle to help bring an end to the six-week conflict with Iran, while also attempting to dial back his own dramatic warning about destroying the countrys entire civilization.

Also Read | Airfare hike fears: Govt acts to ease fuel price shock for domestic airlines

JD Vance, the vice president, known for his scepticism toward foreign military interventions and prolonged troop deployments, is set to travel to Islamabad on Friday to lead mediated negotiations with Iran aimed at resolving the conflict.

JD Vance, who served in the Iraq War as a Marine and later spent two years as a U.S. senator and just over a year as vice president, has limited experience in diplomacy.
Bollywood stars  Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt  showered brother Anant Ambani with best wishes on his 31st birthday on Friday, April 10.

Shah Rukh Khan, accompanied by his wife Gauri Khan and son AbRam Khan, and Salman Khan were among the first to arrive at Jamnagar, Gujarat, for Anant Ambanis birthday bash.

Check out b'day wishes for Anant Ambani Shah Rukh posted an Instagram story saying, Here's wishing Anant Ambani a very happy birthday... May you continue to do all the good u do..and uphold all that is positive and right. Keep up the good work and keep bringing smiles to people thru your work. God Bless you with the best of health and happiness always.

View full Image View full Image SRK's b'day wish

Salman shared a couple of pictures on Instagram, including a playful snap showing him hugging Anant Ambani, and wrote: Happy birthday to the most selfless, kindest human and an inspiration to many ... my younger brother Anant.

Sanjay Dutt shared a picture with the youngest Ambani on X, and extended heartfelt wishes for kindest and sweetest brother.

"Anant my brother, you are the kindest and the sweetest brother anyone can have. I pray to Mahadev that you stay in the best of health and be successful in all your ventures. Stay happy always and be the same loving brother you are to me, Dutt wrote. Happy birthday, God bless you! Har Har Mahadev!

Who else is on the guest list? The guest list reflects a mix of established stars and younger Bollywood faces. Celebrities such as Ranveer Singh, Ananya Panday, Nupur Sanon, Stebin Ben, Shanaya Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, Boney Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh were also spotted travelling for the event.

The scale of attendance mirrors previous Ambani celebrations, which are known for bringing together industry heavyweights, influencers and global personalities under one roof.

The Ambani family has reportedly organised a special meal for employees associated with Reliance Industries and Jio  a move aimed at extending the festivities beyond the high-profile guest list.

Ahead of the celebrations, Anant Ambani, along with his parents, visited the Siddhivinayak Temple to seek blessings, adding a spiritual dimension to the occasion.

Beyond the bash

Also Read | Anant Ambani donates 10 crore to gaushala at Salangpur Temple in Gujarat

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukhesh and Nita Ambani, will celebrate his birthday with philanthropic initiatives at major religious places in Gujarat, including Dwarka, Somnath, Ambaji, and Salangpur, a company release said.

Educational infrastructure upgrades, establishment of gaushalas (cow shelters), distribution of sweets to Reliance contract workers, community feasts, saree distribution in villages surrounding the Jamnagar refinery, and the provision of essential infrastructure in rural areas have also been planned, it added.

Similarly, a year-long morning and evening bhojan prasad seva has also been planned at India's first Jyotirling in Somnath Temple, which will benefit 26 lakh pilgrims.

A gaushala (cow shelter) will be built at Shri Kashtabhanjandev Hanumanji Temple in Salangpur, as well as Setalus, Jamnagar district.

He has also planned several other healthcare initiatives, infrastructure improvements for educational institutes, and community dinners in Gujarat.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held an urgent meeting with the chief executives of banks this week to warn them about cybersecurity risks posed by Anthropic's latest AI model, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing people aware of the matter.

The high-level meeting comes after Anthropic rolled out its powerful Mythos AI model earlier this week but held back from a broader release, citing concerns that the system could expose previously unknown cybersecurity vulnerabilities, the agency report said.

Anthropic is also currently engaged in a conflict with the US Department of Defense. The dispute arises from the AI company's refusal to allow the federal government to use its Claude AI for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems.

What risks does Mythos pose? Anthropic, led by Dario Amodei, has said that the latest model is capable of identifying and exploiting weaknesses across "every major operating system and every major web browser".

According to the news report, Anthropic said last week that it has engaged in discussions with US government officials about the model's "offensive and defensive cyber capabilities."

Another source told Reuters that the AI firm has proactively briefed senior US government officials and key industry stakeholders on Mythos's capabilities ahead of its release.

Also Read | Appeals court rebuffs Anthropic in latest round of its AI battle with the Trump administration

Also Read | Anthropic blocks the release of its most powerful AI model yet

Bessent and Powell convened top bank CEOs in Washington on Tuesday to ensure the banks were aware of the cybersecurity risks posed by Anthropic's Mythos AI model. They urged banks to recognise the dangers posed by Mythos and other similar models and to strengthen their systems.

According to the report, officials sent invitations while most CEOs of the largest US banks were already in Washington for other meetings.

Access to Mythos to be limited Anthropic said it will limit access to the latest Mythos AI model to about 40 technology companies, which include software giants such as Microsoft and Google.

Bloomberg News, which first reported the matter on Thursday, said the CEOs of Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs were present at the meeting. Meanwhile, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was unable to join, one of the sources told Reuters.

US court declines to block Anthropic's blacklisting A federal appeals court on Wednesday declined to block the Pentagon's national security blacklisting of Anthropic for now, indicating a major win for the Trump administration. The decision comes after another appeals court reached an opposite conclusion in a separate legal challenge by Anthropic.

The issue stems from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's designation of the company as a national security supply-chain risk for its refusal to remove certain usage guardrails on its products. The label blocks Anthropic from Pentagon contracts and could trigger a government-wide blacklisting.
Tyler Robinson had allegedly left a message for his boyfriend before he went to shoot Charlie Kirk, ABC News reported. Tyler Robinson is accused of shooting the right-wing political activist at a Utah university campus last September, in a crime that rocked America and sent waves of grief through right-wing political circles.

In the message, revealed by the unsealed court documents, Robinson allegedly told his boyfriend that he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and that he took it.

I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it, he said.

How it unfolded on day of killing - I'm likely dead' On September 10, 2025, the day Tyler Robinson killed Charlie Kirk, he sent a text to his boyfriend which read: drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.

During the interrogation, Tyler Robinson's boyfriend said he looked under his keyboard and found a handwritten letter.

In the letter, Robinson apologised to his boyfriend, while revealing that he left home that morning on a mission.

The letter read: If you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry. I left the house this morning on a mission, and set an auto text.

I am likely dead, or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it. I dont know if I will/have succeeded, but I had hoped to make it home to you. I wish we could have lived in a world where this did not feel necessary, it read.

Meanwhile, investigators probing the murder of Charlie Kirk cannot connect the bullet that killed him with the rifle they believe the sole suspect used, US court papers filed by the defense show.

The defense has been provided with an ATF summary report which indicates that the ATF was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson, a court document dated March 27 said.

Lawyers also queried DNA evidence being presented in the case, which the ATF and FBI said could consist of mixtures of up to 'five or more' individuals.

The killing of Charlie Kirk Charlie Kirk was shot in his neck when he was attending an event at the Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. His shocking death was captured on video.

While Robinson fled, he turned himself in a few days later after his family reportedly persuaded hi to do so.
Days after United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard gave her testimony to Congress about threats to the US amid war with Iran, a report has claimed that President Donald Trump was ready to dismiss her over it, but his friend and adviser Roger Stone intervened.

According to a report in Axios, Trump was so upset with Tulsi Gabbard that she didn't endorse the Iran war during her testimony. The report mentioned that the US president also scolded national intelligence chief in a private meeting and also questioned her loyalty, the report quoted sources as saying.

The Guardian had reported a few days ago Trump spoke with his cabinet members and asked he should replace Tulsi Gabbard. Trump was reportedly frustrated over Gabbard shielding one of her former employees who resigned over America's Iran war.

Roger sealed the deal. He saved Tulsi, a source familiar with the development told Axios.

She, however, broke her silence on Iran war and said, Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief. As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country.

When Joe Kent resigned over Iran war In mid-March, Donald Trump's top counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned, exposing rare dissent within the administration over the Iran strikes.

As he resigned, Joe Kent also made some massive allegations against the federal government, becoming the first senior official in the administration to resign over the conflict.

In his letter, Kent claimed that America had no threat from Iran.

Joe Kent said, After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

Also Read | Donald Trump caught off guard as Melania shuts down Epstein link claims

He alleged Donald Trump understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation.
US President Donald Trump, on 9 April, said that Iran is doing a very poor job of managing the Strait of Hormuz and warned Tehran against charging fees on oil tankers passing through the critical route.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz," he wrote on his social media site.

That is not the agreement we have!

The post came after Trump posted earlier, "There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait  They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!

These comments come a day before the top US and Iranian officials are due to gather in Islamabad on 10 April for crucial peace talks that could potentially end the Middle East conflict.

The White House supports reopening the strait as part of the ceasefire deal, but says that Trump opposes Iran's military, which continues to control the waterway, from seeking to raise revenue by charging tolls on passing ships. Tehran, meanwhile, cited Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon, which included the heaviest strikes of the war on Wednesday, as a key sticking point.

Also Read | US Iran War LIVE: Trump issues stern warning to Iran against Strait of Hormuz

Iran released on Wednesday a 10-point proposal for a settlement of the war that included maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran's right to nuclear enrichment, lifting of sanctions and ending the war, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, which Trump announced late on Tuesday (US time), just a single oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers sailed through the strait. The strait typically saw well over 100 ships passing through it daily in peacetime.

Strait of Hormuz traffic subdued despite ceasefire Meanwhile, ship-tracking data showed that, underlining Irans tight grip over the Strait of Hormuz, a Botswana-flagged LNG tanker, Nidi, tried to leave the Persian Gulf via a route directed by the Revolutionary Guard but suddenly turned around and headed back early Friday.

Also Read | Gold Steadies as Traders Weigh Prospects for Iran War Ceasefire

On Thursday, four tankers and three bulk carriers crossed through the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the total number of ships passing through since the ceasefire to at least 12, according to the data firm, Kpler. However, other vessels that were not transmitting their locations may have also made the passage unnoticed.
Irans state-run news agencies have strongly denied international media reports claiming that senior officials, such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, travelled to Pakistan for negotiations with the United States, Press TV reported.

Here's what the Iranian media said Referring to Tasnim News Agency, which quoted a well-informed source on Thursday night, Press TV said that neither Araghchi nor Ghalibaf have left the country and they continue to remain in Tehran, actively carrying out their national duties amid regional developments.

Tasnim News dismissed the Wall Street Journal report that senior officials were travelling to Islamabad for talks with Washington. Citing comments by a senior official, sources told Tasnim News that until Israeli attacks stop in Lebanon and the US fulfils its commitment to the ceasefire in the country, the talks would remain on hold.

The source told Tasnim, The news from some media outlets that an Iranian negotiating team has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, to negotiate with the Americans is completely false.

Also Read | MCX crude oil prices headed for weekly loss amid fragile US-Iran ceasefire

As per Press TV, Iran's Fars News Agency also categorically rejected the Wall Street Journal report, underlining that Iran has no plans to attend peace talks with the American side until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon.

Citing a source, Fars refuted claims of any Iranian negotiating delegation travelling to Islamabad.

In spite of reports from Iran, Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, in a post on X, said that visa requirements for delegates and journalists attending the talks in Islamabad have been waived.

See the post here

The Pakistan capital is on red alert, with heightened security, as 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed, Dawn reported.

JD Vance, who has long opposed foreign military interventions and questioned open-ended troop deployments, is set to travel to Islamabad on Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran, AP reported.

The visit comes as a fragile, temporary ceasefire appears close to collapsing, with major differences between Irans demands and those of the United States and its ally Israel remaining unresolved.

Meanwhile, political and economic pressure is mounting in the US to bring the conflict to a swift conclusion, especially as Vance may seek the presidency in the coming years.

Also Read | White House warns staff against betting on prediction markets amid US-Iran war

Soon after the White House and Iran announced a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday evening, disagreements over its terms quickly emerged.

Iran maintained that the truce included an end to Israels military operations in Lebanon. However, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump clarified that the ceasefire did not extend to Lebanon, and Israeli actions there continued.

At the same time, the United States pressed Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran had shut down in response to escalating Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, as reported by AP.

The White House has not detailed who will be in the negotiations besides Vance, Witkoff and Kushner, but Kelly said officials from the National Security Council, State Department and Pentagon will also play a supportive role.
Israel strongly condemned what it called outrageous comments by Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, questioning Pakistans credibility as a neutral mediator.

"Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X. "This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," the PMO said Thursday evening.

See post here:

Pakistan has been credited with mediating a temporary two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran and is preparing to host peace talks over the weekend.

What did Asif say? Asif, in a social media post, called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity", giving a call to get rid of European Jews.

Asif also claimed that even as "peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon".

"Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," Asif said.

Also Read | US Iran War LIVE: Mojtaba Khamenei issues stern warning amid ceasefire

"I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell," he added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also condemned Asif's comments, saying, "These blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to mediate peace."

"Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves talks with Lebanon after Israeli strikes imperil the Iran ceasefire. Sa'ar rebuked Pakistan over its Defence Minister's statement, calling the Jewish state cancerous, which he said is "calling for Israel's annihilation."

"Israel views very gravely these blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to "mediate peace". Calling the Jewish state "cancerous" is effectively calling for its annihilation, Sa'ar said.

Benjamin Netanyahu authorises direct talks with Lebanon In what could strengthen efforts toward a Middle East ceasefire, Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he has approved direct talks with Lebanon to begin as soon as possible. The discussions would focus on disarming Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, and potentially building relations between the two countries.

Also Read | Trump pushes Netanyahu to ease Lebanon attacks amid ceasefire concerns  Report

Although Israel and Lebanon have officially remained in a state of war since 1948, Netanyahu clarified that no ceasefire currently exists. In a video statement, he emphasised that Israel will continue its military strikes against Hezbollah until safety is fully restored in northern Israel.

Lebanons health ministry said more than 300 people were killed and more than 1,100 wounded on Wednesday by Israeli strikes on central Beirut and other areas of Lebanon that Israel said targeted Hezbollah, which joined the war in support of Tehran.
The suspension of some sanctions on Russian oil is set to expire on Saturday, 11 April, a month after the US lifted some restrictions on the Kremlin to tackle surging energy costs caused by the Middle East war. With the deadline approaching in hours, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he wants energy sanctions re-imposed on Russia, citing the US-Iran ceasefire that should open the key Strait of Hormuz, potentially restoring some oil supply to affected countries.

Now a ceasefire is beginning in the Middle East and the Gulf. And I am waiting for sanctions on Russian oil to be fully reimposed, as they were before, Zelensky said in a statement to journalists.

The US waiver allowed countries, including India, to purchase Russian oil that was already at sea until 11 April.

However, as the deadline approaches, Russia is considering a potential reinstatement of the sanctions.

Also Read | Japanese tankers head closer to Strait of Hormuz as more ships gather

Will the US reimpose sanctions on Russia? The United States has not yet released any official statement on whether it would continue with the waiver or reimpose sanctions on Russia, given the possibility that the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

However, it must be noted that even with the key waterway open for transit following an US-Iran interim agreement, chances are low that the global oil supply will gain momentum overnight given the extensive damage the war did to oil refineries in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev is currently in the US, meeting US President Donald Trump's administration for discussions on a peace deal for Ukraine and US-Russia economic cooperation, Reuters reported.

It was unclear whether the two sides were discussing the extension of the waiver on Russian oil.

Also Read | Why Gulf nations would bear the brunt of Hormuz tolls

However, experts have argued that reimposing sanctions on Russian oil would be justified, since the waiver has not provided any meaningful relief in crude oil prices, which fell below $100 a barrel only after the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire.

According to an article by the Wall Street Journal, while the US move did not lower oil prices, it certainly helped Russia gain economic freedom, thereby fuelling its war machine.

This week, prices for Russian Urals crude oil awaiting export hit the highest level since April 2012, according to Argus Media.

The WSJ article alleged that evidence shows Russia is helping Iran with intelligence inputs to target Americans, which should prompt Trump to reinstate the sanctions.

An opinion piece on the think tank Atlantic Council echoed such sentiments, saying that the US waiver helped Russia gain a windfall while doing little to relieve other countries.

There was no need to suspend the price cap on Russian crude. The cap would not have disrupted Russian supply flows. In fact, keeping the cap in place could have helped ease upward pressure on crude oil prices while continuing to constrain Russian revenues, the article argues.

What happens next? If the US continues to extend the waiver on Russian oil, it is expected that the flow will continue to the country's primary importers including India and Russia.

According to reports, Russia has even offered India LNG at up to 40% discounted rates.

If the waiver is suspended and Russia is forced to comply with sanctions, experts argue it is unlikely to affect global oil prices.
Hence, the recent curbs are best understood as a careful line being drawn around AI. They dont reject but confine this technology. AI is being embraced as a tool for efficiency, but kept out of decision-making to preserve human agency in matters of justice. After all, this is a domain where errorsespecially AI hallucinationscan be disastrous.
For Iran, keeping some control over the strait is crucial. It reinforces deterrence against future attacks by Israel and the US. But Tehran doesnt need to exert physical control over the waterway to keep its leverage over the global economy. The last six weeks have been a lesson for everybodythe Americans uppermostin the geopolitics of energy. This hard-won knowledge wont go away regardless of the outcome of peace talks.
After being out of sight for pivotal moments of the war against Iran, Vice President JD Vance is stepping onto center stage.

Vance is leading a US delegation to Islamabad for the first face-to-face talks with Iranian officials since the beginning of the conflict, which has triggered a global energy crisis. The outcome could determine whether a tenuous two-week ceasefire turns into a lasting peace or ultimately unravels and plunges the region into further conflict.

The stakes are also high for Vance himself. Thrust into the middle of a war he didnt want, President Donald Trump is now counting on the vice president to be his closer. If he succeeds, it could help him burnish his credibility on the world stage ahead of a possible White House run in 2028. Failure, however, could damage his standing and saddle him with the chunk of the blame.

Two people close to the White House said it was their understanding Vance wanted to lead the negotiations with Iran. Hell be accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner. All three lack traditional diplomatic backgrounds.

I wanted to be involved because I thought I could make a difference, Vance told reporters earlier this week. The people really on the ground doing the day-to-day negotiating have been Steve and Jared.

It is unclear if the US and Iran will come to a permanent agreement during this weekends talks, and thus a final verdict on Vances performance may take weeks to decide. A White House official said the president personally asked Vance to lead the negotiations.

Vance has always been collaborating on these discussions with Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, adding Trump is is hopeful for a positive negotiation if the Iranians are willing to work in good faith.

Delicate Moment

Vance voiced opposition to a full-scale war with Iran to the president directly as he deliberated whether to attack, according to a person familiar who was granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. When Trump watched the US and Israeli bombing campaign unfold on Feb. 28 from his Mar-a-Lago club, Vance dialed in from the White House Situation Room. Vance was in Budapest when Trump initially announced the ceasefire deal.

Its a particularly delicate moment for Vance, said Elliott Abrams, who served as Trumps special envoy to Iran and Venezuela during his first term. If the negotiations result in a bad outcome, now hes equally involved. Its a roll of the dice.

Some White House officials believed that having an elected leader helm the talks, rather than a Cabinet secretary or envoy, would carry more weight with the Iranians, according to a person close to the White House who asked not to be identified to discuss private deliberations. Witkoff also suggested Vance because of his stature, according to another person close to the White House.

He comes with a lot of legitimacy that no secretary of state, no national security advisor or no senator whos been elected by people of one state could match, said Robert OBrien, one of Trumps first term national security advisors.

Given Vances opposition to so-called forever wars, he has incentive to find a resolution, OBrien said. If the vice president is unable to secure a deal, it gives Trump more political cover to start things up again, he added.

Earlier: MAGA Is Split: Trump Digs In on Iran War, Divides Loyalists

That dynamic is also what makes Vances position fraught with challenges. It forces him to balance his allegiance to the president with his own misgivings about military interventions.

It also thrusts him into an internal battle within the conservative movement between frustrated Iran hawks and some in Trumps America-first base who feel betrayed by the administration over a largely unpopular war. Trump recently excoriated some prominent anti-war podcasters, including commentator Tucker Carlson, as NUT JOBS. Carlsons son, Buckley, has served on Vances staff.

Tehran doesnt trust Witkoff and Kushner, who led a failed round of talks before the war began, so Vances presence could signal to the Iranians that the US is serious about negotiations, said Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East program at Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank that supports a more restrained foreign policy.

Just because trust is at such a low with Iran having a new face, a fresh face, and one that is perceived to be aligned with restraint will allow the Iranians to take negotiations more seriously, Kelanic said.

But Republican interventionists are eyeing the talks warily. Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday named Vance as an architect of a supposed negotiating document with Iran that he said contained troubling aspects, before expressing confidence in Trumps ability to negotiate a lasting peace. Sending Irans preferred negotiator also signals a bad start, warned Abrams.

Political Gamble

Vances most memorable moment in international affairs thus far became infamous for its bluntness: his Oval Office dressing down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Now hell be counted on to handle delicate negotiations with representatives of a country whose civilization Trump vowed would die if they didnt cut a deal. Vance has said he sat on the phone a lot over the last few weeks as he worked the phones to help broker the ceasefire

The outcome of the war carries profound implications for Trumps political legacy. But it is Vance who is making a high-stakes political gamble that could have lasting consequences with voters he may need to win over should he run for president in 2028. If the negotiations ultimately succeed, Vance could gain a leg up on potential rivals  a group that might include Rubio  by being able to claim hes the one who helped end a conflict that split Trumps base.

The decision to place Vance in a more public role is risky not just for the vice president, but also for Trump. Envoys or diplomats typically lay the groundwork for major negotiations before top officials get involved, in part so they can avoid blame if things go sideways.

If it doesnt happen, Im blaming JD Vance, Trump joked during an Easter luncheon on April 1, as Vance looked on from the front row. If it does happen, Im taking full credit.

Despite his personal opinions, Vance has made it clear he would support whatever course Trump chose.

Whatever your view is, when the president of the United States makes a decision, its your job to help make that decision as effective and successful as possible, Vance said following the resignation of Joe Kent, Trumps director of the National Counterterrorism Center who criticized the war. Thats how I do my job, and I think thats how everybody in the administration should do their job, too.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
After successfully rounding the Moon, NASAs Artemis II crew  Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen  have begun their return journey to Earth, having travelled farther into space than any astronauts in history.

Here's a look at some top update and what happens next: The finale to NASA's celebrated 10-day mission is expected to begin with the separation of Orion's crew capsule from its service module, followed by a fiery re-entry through Earth's atmosphere, and a six-minute radio blackout before the capsule parachutes into the sea.

Artemis 2's Orion will enter Earth's atmosphere at a steeper angle than originally planned, in order to reduce the time spent moving through the atmosphere at high velocity and temperature, and hopefully reduce the chances of damage, Space.com reported.

As Orion descends, it will be engulfed in a blazing plasma fireball outside the window hatches. The descent will be rough and tumble, and for a short time communications with ground control will be cut off by the plasma envelope around the capsule.

At about 26,500 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Orion will still be racing down at 325 mph. Pyrotechnics will deploy three small forward-bay-cover parachutes. Then, at 25,000 feet, two larger drogue chutes will open to stabilize the capsule. At 9,500 feet, with speed reduced to 130 mph, the main parachute sequence will begin.

The main parachutes have a more complicated system. First, three pilot chutes will release, each 11 feet (3.4 m) in diameter, and these pilot chutes will pull out the three mains, which are a huge 116 feet (35.3 m) wide, each weighing 310 lbs (140 kilograms), with the Orion crew module dangling 265 feet (81 m) beneath them.

Also Read | The crew of Artemis II is returning to a planet they have cheered up

If all goes well, the astronauts will end up bobbing safely in the ocean aboard their Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, shortly after 8 pm ET (0000 GMT) off the coast of San Diego.

NASA has reported that the team is halfway home.

The Artemis II astronauts have reached the "halfway" mark between the Moon and the Earth. They will splash down in the Pacific Ocean around 8:07 pm ET on Friday, 10 April (0007 UTC on Saturday, 11 April), off the coast of San Diego.

After their splashdown, the US Navy's USS John P Murtha (LPD 26) would retrieve the crew and the Orion spacecraft, as per the US Indo-Pacific Command.

Senator Ted Cruz hailed the accomplishment of the astronauts and said that they have inspired a whole new generation of space explorers.

Also Read | How to watch the Artemis II Moon Flyby live on Netflix, Amazon Prime and more
Elon Musk reignited his rivalry with Meta on Thursday by saying he "cant trust WhatsApp," the popular personal messaging app. The billionaire was questioning WhatsApp in light of a new class action lawsuit filed against the company, which claims that the Meta-owned app intercepted private messages of users despite its claims of bulletproof end-to-end encryption and even shared them with third parties like Accenture.

Responding to a post on X about the lawsuit, Musk wrote, Cant trust WhatsApp. In another post, the billionaire urged users to switch to X Chat for messaging and voice/video calls, saying it comes with this great benefit of actual privacy.

WhatsApp responds to Musk's post: WhatsApp responded strongly to the allegations in a reply to Musk's post, writing, The claims in this lawsuit are categorically false and absurd. WhatsApp has been end-to-end encrypted using the Signal protocol for a decade, so your messages cannot be read by anyone other than the sender and recipient.

WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption is used when you chat with another person using WhatsApp Messenger, reads an FAQ on the official WhatsApp website.

No one outside of the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read, listen to, or share them. This is because with end-to-end encryption, your messages are secured with a lock, and only the recipient and you have the special key needed to unlock and read them, it adds.

Meta under investigation over end-to-end encryption claims: A Bloomberg report earlier this year claimed that US law agencies were investigating allegations levelled by a former Meta contractor that the company could access WhatsApp messages despite claims of end-to-end encryption.

The investigation was said to be led by special agents with the US Department of Commerce. The company had also been the subject of a similar whistleblower complaint filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2024.

Reportedly, two people who did content moderation work for WhatsApp last year told an investigator with Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security that some of the staff at Meta had access to WhatsApp messages. They said some employees at consulting firm Accenture also had broad access to the contents of people's private messages.

Both sources confirmed that they had employees within their physical work locations who had unfettered access to WhatsApp, wrote one of the agents.
OpenAI has announced a new ChatGPT subscription aimed at rivaling the popularity of Anthropic's Claude Code. The new subscription costs $100 per month and offers 5x more Codex usage than Plus and is said to be best for longer, high-effort Codex sessions.

In ChatGPT, this new Pro tier still offers access to all Pro features, including the exclusive Pro model and unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models. OpenAI said in a post on X

To celebrate the launch, were increasing Codex usage for a limited time through May 31st so that Pro $100 subscribers get up to 10x usage of ChatGPT Plus on Codex to build your most ambitious ideas. the company added

The company says its Codex promotion for existing Plus members will end today and it is rebalacing Codex usage for Plus users to support more sessions throughout the week, rather than longer sessions in a single day.

The Plus plan will continue to be the best offer at $20 for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new $100 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use. OpenAI added

OpenAI will continue to offer its $200 Pro tier along with its $20/month Plus plan, $8 Go plan and the free tier. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had announced earlier this week that its AI software engineering agent Codex had reached three million users and the company would reset usage for its users every million users.

Notably, with the new changes ChatGPT's subscription plans look eerily similar to Anthropic which offers Max 5x tier to its $100/month users and Max 20x option for its $200/month tier users.

OpenAI's plan to take on Anthropic: The move by OpenAI to revamp its subscription tier comes amid reports of the company executing a code red to counter Anthropic's dominace in the coding market. The company has also been shifting its focus to more professional tool while either putting other plans on hold or shutting them down like the recent Sora video generator.

The company also recently confirmed that it is developing a superapp on desktop by combining ChatGPT, Codex and Atlas AI browser.
OpenAI has told its investors that the company has a significant edge over rival AI startup Anthropic owing to its early push to expand computing resources. The news comes to light via an internal memo reported by Bloomberg that notes that OpenAI is claiming it has outpaced its competitor by rapidly and consistently adding computing capacity to meet surging demand for AI.

The report comes shortly after Anthropic revealed its most powerful AI model, Mythos, earlier this week. The Claude maker said in a blog post that the model poses a high cybersecurity risk.

Also Read | OpenAI takes on Anthropic, overhauls ChatGPT Pro subscription with new AI plan

OpenAI's memo to investors: The memo, reportedly sent by OpenAI to some of its investors after the Mythos unveiling, noted that its ambitious infrastructure build-out, which was criticised by many as too costly, has helped the company to keep pace with demand for AI products.

That gap matters because compute is now a product constraint, OpenAI said in the memo.

The AI startup noted that it had 1.9 gigawatts of computing capacity available in 2025, triple the amount from the previous year. The ChatGPT maker also said that it expects this to grow to the low-double-digit range next year, eventually reaching roughly 30 gigawatts by 2030.

In contrast, OpenAI estimates that Anthropic ended 2025 with 1.4 gigawatts and will hit between 7 and 8 gigawatts next year.

Even at the high end of that range, our ramp is materially ahead and widening, the company said.

Notably, as Anthropic's Claude gained in popularity in the last few months, the AI startup has seen various outages and has even had to cut support for third-party AI agent platforms like OpenClaw.

In the investor note, OpenAI cited a report from analyst Ben Thompson suggesting these computing constraints may have influenced Anthropic's decision to limit the release of the Mythos model to select partners.

While speaking at the New York Times DealBook Summit last year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei had said, Theres [a] genuine dilemma, which we as a company try to manage as responsibly as we can And then I think there are some players who are YOLO-ing, who pull the risk dial too far, and Im very concerned,

OpenAI has fired back at this characterisation in its memo, stating that Amodei miscalculated the market's massive appetite for AI products.
Texas-Based Brand Ferrell Debuts 23,000-square-foot Distribution Hub in New Braunfels, Texas. Courtesy of Ferrell

A fast-growing Texas apparel brand is planting deeper roots in the Hill Country.

The Texas-based Western apparel brand Ferrell has opened a new 23,000-square-foot distribution center in New Braunfels, a move company leaders say will significantly expand operations, create jobs and position the brand for long-term growth.

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The facility, positioned between San Antonio and Austin, will serve as the brands primary logistics hub, improving shipping efficiency, inventory management and wholesale fulfillment as demand continues to climb.

"Over the past few years, weve experienced incredible growth, and this move is a direct investment in our future," founder Corbett Ferrell said in a news release. "This facility gives us the space and infrastructure we need to support our retail partners, introduce new product lines, and continue building a brand our customers are proud to wear."

Known for its pearl snap shirts and modern take on western wear, Ferrell products are now carried by major retailers, including Cavender's and Murdoch's, along with hundreds of other stores nationwide. Company leaders said the decision to land in New Braunfels was both strategic and personal.

"New Braunfels made a lot of sense for us for a few reasons," Ferrell's chief marketing officer Jesse Callahan told MySA in a statement. "Its centrally located in Texas, which allows us to more efficiently serve both our retail partners and direct customers across the state and beyond. It also puts us in a strong position from a logistics standpoint with quick access to major cities like San Antonio and Austin."

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The Tucker in Green Short Sleeve by Ferrell, a new release for 2026, features a classic pearl snap shirt design Courtesy of Ferrell

That proximity, combined with regional highway access, positions the company to move product faster across Texas and into broader national markets. But the move also carries a deeper meaning for the brand.

"Beyond that, theres a personal element," Callahan continued. "Corbett Ferrell grew up in this area, so being able to invest back into a community that helped shape him was important to us. We see this as more than just a warehouse; its a long-term commitment to building something meaningful locally."

Texas-based Ferrell invests in Hill Country town, bringing new jobs

The expansion represents a multimillion-dollar investment into Ferrells operations and is expected to bring new jobs to the region. In the near term, the company anticipates adding more than 30 roles across office and warehouse operations, with long-term employment tied to the facility projected to grow to as much as five times its current size as the business continues to scale.

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"This expansion gives us the infrastructure we need to continue hiring and supporting that growth," Callahan wrote.

That growth has already been significant. Over the past several years, Ferrell has seen rapid gains across both its direct-to-consumer business and wholesale network, with increasing demand from retail partners and continued momentum online.

"This new facility allows us to handle up to 5x our current volume, which is critical as we continue expanding distribution and launching new products," Callahan said in a statement to MySA. "It improves everything from inventory management to fulfillment speed and gives us the ability to better support our retailers while continuing to grow the brand nationally."
A squadron of javelinas is seen investigating the front yard of a Laredo home. Jason Mack/Laredo Morning Times

Laredo is entering negotiations with an environmental company to explore a wildlife management contract to reduce the population of wild hogs and javelinas.

The damage caused throughout the city by wild hogs and javelinas was previously discussed at a March 16 City Council meeting, during which a motion was passed directing staff to begin negotiations with a company. However, Laredo Public Health Director Dr. Richard Chamberlain  speaking on behalf of Laredo Animal Care Services Assistant Director Lauren Bluestone, who was out of town  said they were directed by the purchasing department to bring the item back for additional discussion and approval.

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District VI Councilmember Dr. Tyler King said residents throughout the city are having their yards absolutely destroyed and are spending thousands on repairs and replacements, while some are opting to install fences.

Our residents in not just north Laredo but south Laredo, east Laredo and maybe even central Laredo, their yards are getting absolutely destroyed, with thousands of dollars that they are having to spend to replace their entire yards. Even those who unfortunately do want to put a small fence in front of their yards 

I hate the idea of people having to do that, King said. Many are doing that to preserve their lawn without having that extra expense again and again, because once those hogs find that one spot, they just keep going back to the same yard over and over again.

That its not something we can just throw up our hands and say, Oh, thats too bad. Its nature, King said. We have to do something proactive.

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King noted time is of the essence due to the animals reproducing three times per year. He said that in addition to property damage, it is also a safety concern because if you corner a hog, they are deadly.

According to King, the Lakeside homeowners association hired an off-duty Border Patrol agent to address the issue, resulting in the trapping and killing of more than 100 hogs.

Their problem has not 100% resolved, but its gotten a lot better in Lakeside, King said.

While those methods have helped Lakeside with wild hogs, King noted that javelinas are a protected animal.

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District II Councilmember Gilbert Gonzalez said that on a trip to Austin to meet with state officials, they spoke with Parks and Wildlife officials about the issue. They were advised that relevant grants would be available in the near future. Chamberlain said they will seek out any available outside financial support.

King said that while resources are limited, City Council should be prepared to approve an investment in the project.

There might be a significant cost, but I think our people do deserve us to invest in addressing this issue in a variety of ways, not just with cutting a check  looking at creative ways, which Im looking forward to, the ideas that are coming, King said. It really does impact peoples lives and finances, not to mention safety.

The motion was passed to begin negotiations with Brewster Environmental Quality Services LLC of Laredo, the sole bidder for the project, to develop and implement wildlife population control plans.

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Chamberlain said they will get information on the full scope of what it will cost and will ask if it can be brought back in an a la carte fashion. He said they plan to discuss the project and funding opportunities at a May 4 City Council meeting.
Hospital staff pose with oversized peanut butter jar cutouts displaying the final total during Laredo Medical Centers Jars of Love announcement Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the hospital in Laredo, Texas. The campaign collected 10,266 jars for the South Texas Food Bank. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times

Hospital staff revealed a total of 10,266 jars Thursday morning by flipping oversized peanut butter jar cutouts during Laredo Medical Centers annual Jars of Love drive.

As steady showers fell across the city, LMC staff and community members gathered in the lobby to celebrate the milestone  an effort that has steadily grown since 2023.

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We recognize that addressing hunger is critical to improving the health of our community, said Jorge Leal, LMC chief executive officer. I am incredibly proud of our team and the communitys unwavering support, whose kindness and generosity have made a real difference in the lives of those in need.

The total surpassed the drives 10,000-jar goal, marking the fourth consecutive year the campaign has exceeded expectations, Leal said. Last year, the drive collected 7,700 jars  the highest total in the country.

Hospital employees, students, first responders, local businesses and community members collected peanut butter throughout March. All donations will go to the South Texas Food Bank, which serves Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Val Verde, Maverick, Kinney, Dimmit and Starr counties.

The 10,000-jar goal was established at the start of the campaign, when students, including those from Antonio Gonzalez Middle School, and community groups helped launch the drive with early donations.

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The outpouring of support has been nothing short of spectacular, Leal said. The collective effort truly reflects the spirit of compassion that defines our community.

Hospital departments were also recognized for their contributions, with Unit 5C collecting the most jars at 1,027, followed by ICU/1E with 939 and NICU/Pediatrics with 810.

Community groups were honored, with Antonio Gonzalez Middle School named the top school with 500 jars donated, while Trashco Inc., owned by Jaime Resendez, received the top business award with 400 jars. The Laredo Fire Department was recognized as the top first responder group with 404 jars.

Hernan Martinez, public information officer for the Laredo Fire Department, said the department regularly collaborates with LMC on community initiatives.

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For this campaign, Martinez said the contribution reflected a departmentwide effort, with firefighters and academy cadets working together to support the drive.

In any way, shape or form that we can assist the community  either short-term in immediate emergencies or fighting the fight against hunger  we are more than happy to help, he said. Its a very fulfilling thing to do.

In addition to the jars collected, organizers presented a symbolic check for $5,871.32 to the South Texas Food Bank, representing donations from employees and community supporters.

Food insecurity remains a concern in the region, with about 1 in 6 people  including 1 in 4 children  struggling to access enough food, according to the South Texas Food Bank.

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Alma Boubel, executive director of the South Texas Food Bank, said the organization relies on community support and partnerships to meet the needs of families across the region.

We are committed to fighting hunger in the South Texas area but we cannot do it alone, Boubel said. We are very grateful to Laredo Medical Center for thinking of our mission and our neighbors. It means a lot to us, but especially to our neighbors who are the beneficiaries of this great effort.

Peanut butter is among the most requested items because it is nutritious, shelf-stable and versatile across multiple meals.

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City officials, Laredo Public Health staff, advocates and community members pose for a photo after a proclamation recognizing Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at City Hall in Laredo, Texas. Courtesy/City of Laredo

City leaders and public health officials gathered this week to mark Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, but speakers emphasized awareness alone is not enough.

The proclamation  hosted by Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino, District VII Councilmember Vanessa Perez and Laredo Public Health  brought together families, advocates and community members to highlight the need for stronger services for individuals on the autism spectrum.

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Even as the city promotes inclusion, a priority it has championed in recent years, those same officials, families and community members have noted persistent barriers to diagnosis, treatment and long-term care.

Thats what we are working to change, said Ericka Martinez, assistant director of Laredo Public Health. She added the city must move beyond awareness and commit to acceptance, a shift achieved through collaboration.

Local data from Laredo Public Healths Autism Surveillance Division underscores those challenges. Surveys show families often face long waitlists, limited providers and insurance-related hurdles when seeking care, while others report not knowing where to turn.

Some providers in the area have waitlists that stretch more than a year, revealing a gap between demand for services and available resources.

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Those challenges come as autism affects thousands of residents across Webb County, including an estimated 2,600 children and up to 3,800 adults, highlighting the need for sustained support beyond early childhood.

Awareness is only the beginning, Martinez said. Acceptance is the goal, and action is how we get there.

Trevino also emphasized the need to move beyond awareness, adding the month should serve as an opportunity to advance meaningful inclusion. A physician, he described autism as a different way of thinking and experiencing the world, urging the community to embrace those differences and ensure individuals in Laredo have opportunities to succeed.

I tell patients that autism doesnt have to be a limitation, he said. I have committed my life to promoting a healthier, more inclusive city where differences are celebrated, stigma is replaced by understanding and every resident feels safe, supported and empowered.

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Some of those efforts are already taking shape at the city level, Perez said. A local autism coalition formed after she spoke with a parent shortly after taking office, leading to more focused discussions about gaps in services.

Perez also pointed to a city program that trains local businesses, including barbershops, to better serve individuals with autism and their families.

As a government and as a city, we are trying to be more understanding, accepting and inclusive of everybody in our community, she said. Everybody deserves an opportunity to succeed and to be understood and to feel loved where they live, work and play.

For families, however, the challenges are not new. Veronica Orduno, founder and president of Families for Autism Support and Awareness, said her organization was created more than two decades ago to fill a void in Laredo, when families had little guidance or support after a diagnosis compared with today.

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All it took was one parent and we created this wonderful community we have today, she said, adding that despite that progress, gaps remain, particularly as children with autism grow into adulthood.

Our children do not stay children, Orduno said. They become adults, and this is where Laredo needs to work a bit harder to include our kids so they can become productive members of society.

Orduno also described the emotional and practical challenges families face, including navigating a diagnosis and overcoming stigma within the community. She said having a child with autism is different from what most parents experience.

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The industrial building Oakmont 410, which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased in January for a proposed detention facility in San Antonio. Monte Bach/San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has asked the new head of the Department of Homeland Security to scrap a plan to open an immigration detention center on San Antonios East Side.

In a letter Tuesday to Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Jones said opening the facility in a vacant 639,595-square-foot building at 542 S.E. Loop 410 would further depress economic activity in a part of town that already struggles to attract economic development.

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In January, the federal government paid $66.1 million to buy the building from Atlanta-based Oakmont Industrial Group as part of a national real estate acquisition spree as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement accelerates its deportation efforts. The purchase caught eected officials and residents were caught by surprise, and they unsuccessfully tried to pressure Oakmont Industrial Group not to sell.

ICE, which is part of DHS, said it plans to turn the property into a detention facility but has remained mum on when it will do so.

In February, Jones and other local and state officials sent a letter to then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem opposing the facility, which they called a waste of taxpayer dollars, and criticizing ICE for its lack of communication about its proposed operations there. President Donald Trump fired Noem in early March.

The San Antonio City Council has directed city staff to explore options for regulating municipal and privately-owned detention centers and establish a moratorium on such facilities. But theres little council members can do to prevent ICE from opening the East Side center. Properties owned by or leased to the federal government are not required to follow local rules.

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ICEs San Antonio field office ranks fourth in the nation for arrests in 2026, according to a recent analysis by the New York Times. Agents based here arrested 5,860 people from Dec. 19, 2025 to March 10, 2026, fewer than in Miami, Dallas and Atlanta but more than in New Orleans, Chicago and Houston.

The local office and others in El Paso and Harlingen have arrested more people per capita than the agencys St. Paul, Minnesota, office, where raids and the deaths of two U.S. citizens drew national attention early this year.

In a February document about its plans to increase deportations, ICE said it will spend $38.3 billion to acquire and renovate 34 detention and processing centers, which it aims to open by Nov. 30, 2026.

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Regional processing centers will house as many as 1,500 people for three to seven days before they are moved to detention facilities, which will house up to 10,000 people for as long as two months.
Happy Clouds smoke shop on Guadalupe Street in Austin displays hemp flower bud on March 30, 2026, the day before the state banned its sale. Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune

A Travis County district judge has temporarily lifted a statewide ban on the sale of natural smokeable hemp products, such as flower buds and rolled joints, until at least April 23.

Judge Maya Guerra Gamble granted the Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and several Texas-based dispensaries and manufacturers a temporary restraining order against new testing requirements that creates 0.3% total THC threshold, effectively eliminating smokeable products. Lawyers for the hemp industry argued that the agencies have overstepped their constitutional authority by rewriting the statutory definitions of hemp established by lawmakers in 2019.

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The concept of the new total THC testing came from the federal government, which clarified the definition of hemp in November as containing a total THC concentration of less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis rather than only delta-9 THC, according to Zachary Berg, an attorney with the Texas Attorney Generals Office who represented Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on Friday. Berg added that the federal governments new definition doesnt go into effect until November, but the state wanted to be in compliance early with federal law.

Jason Snell, one of the attorneys for the hemp businesses, said that by trying to mirror a federal law that isnt yet in effect, the state clearly overstepped its regulatory authority. He also submitted to the court over 300 pages of testimony from Texans about how these new rules and regulations are already shuttering businesses and killing off the industry.

The wave is getting bigger, Snell said. We are asking you to put up a barrier.

The hemp businesses also asked for a temporary injunction on other rules that increase licensing fees for retailers and manufacturers and prevent businesses from selling smokeable hemp out-of-state. Guerra Gamble also temporarily unblocked interstate sales, but she deferred the topic of licensing fees to the next hearing on April 23.

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The background: Even though Texas law bans marijuana, lawmakers legalized hemp in 2019. State law defines hemp as containing less than 0.3% levels of intoxicating Delta-9 THC.

To get around the laws Delta-9 THC restrictions, manufacturers started cultivating hemp plants with another type of THC, called THCA, that, when ignited in a joint or smokeable product, can produce a high. Many lawmakers have said this legal loophole has allowed a recreational THC market to appear overnight without direct approval from the state.

Last year, the Texas Legislature voted to ban the products out of fear that these intoxicating products were consistently getting into the hands of children. But, Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed the decision last summer, before asking the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and DSHS to increase regulations on the industry instead.

The Texas Department of State Health Services released regulations on consumable hemp-derived THC products that went into effect on March 31. These new regulations include child-resistant packaging, a significant increase in licensing fees, new labeling, testing, and bookkeeping requirements. The rules also codify the legal purchasing age to 21, which went into effect last year as an emergency directive.

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Why the hemp industry sued: Also under the new rules, laboratories tests now measure the total amount of any THC in a product. If the THC levels exceed the 0.3% threshold, even if its only activated upon being smoked, the product will be noncompliant under state regulations. As a result, some of the most popular hemp products, like THCA flower and pre-rolled joints, have been banned.

Hemp businesses caught selling noncompliant products face a range of penalties and fines, including license revocation and up to $10,000 in violation fees for each day these products were sold in stores.

"An administrative agency may not substitute its own policy judgment for the outcome produced by the constitutional lawmaking process, the lawsuit states. The Texas Constitution vests legislative power in the Legislature, not administrative agencies."

Retailers cannot sell hemp to out-of-state customers either.

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The rules also increase licensing fees for manufacturers of hemp-derived THC from $258 to $10,000 per facility and retail registrations from $155 to $5,000, which industry leaders say will fulfill the ban by forcing businesses to close. The hemp business communitys lawsuit is not challenging the other new regulations, including the age verification or ones they say protect consumers.

Texas hemp businesses wholeheartedly support those regulations, as they fall within the agency's authority, said Sergi. We are seeking to halt rules that would effectively end the in-state production of hemp and the sale of hemp productsitems the Legislature chose not to ban during recent legislative and special sessions.

What the state says: Concerns about the safety of these high-THC products among youth led lawmakers to attempt to ban hemp-derived THC products outright last year. While the overall ban didnt succeed, lawmakers successfully banned vape pens containing THC and other hemp-derived intoxicating chemicals.

Data provided from the Texas Poison Center Network confirms a sharp increase in cannabis-related poisoning calls starting in 2019, a year after hemp-derived THC was legalized by the federal government, from 923 to a 10-year high of 2,592 in 2024. Calls climbed to 2,669 last year. The majority of these calls involve suspected poisoning of children under the age of five and teenagers.

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Drug policy experts said these numbers seem alarming, but it is natural for poisoning calls to increase when a drug has become legalized, and the data needs additional context before making conclusions from it.

Jennifer Ruffcorn, spokesperson for HHSC, directed questions about the lawsuit and what it means for the new hemp regulations to DSHS.

Lara Anton, spokesperson for DSHS, declined to comment on pending litigation.

Whats next: The hemp industrys battle to stay alive in Texas started back in 2021 when the state health agency classified any amount of a natural intoxicating hemp compound called delta-8 THC as illegal. The hemp industry sued the state over its ban on delta-8 and the Texas Supreme Court is expected to consider the case this year.

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The Harris County GOP is asking the Texas Attorney General to review Houstons new ICE policy following a City Council vote. Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap/Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag

The Harris County Republican Party is asking the Texas Attorney General to review Houston's newly passed ordinance limiting police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

In a statement shared on X Friday, the group called on the state to take a closer look at the policy, which passed in a 12-5 vote and aims to change how the Houston Police Department interacts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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"This ordinance puts law enforcement in an impossible position and creates unnecessary risk for our community," GOP Chair Cindy Siegel said in the statement. "Houston deserves leadership that stands with law enforcementnot policies that create confusion and increase risk."

Chairman Cindy Siegel has filed a formal complaint with the Texas Attorney Generals Office over Houstons immigration ordinance.



She is calling on both the Texas Attorney General and the Department of Justice to open an investigation into this policy and its impact on public pic.twitter.com/B6LtDLaB24  Harris County GOP (@HarrisCountyRP) April 10, 2026

According to prior Houston Chronicle reporting, the measure eliminates a requirement that officers wait up to 30 minutes for ICE agents to arrive when encountering someone with a civil immigration warrant. It also adds new reporting requirements for ICE referrals.

But as of Thursday, Houston police had yet changed their procedures.

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"The new ordinance will likely require some adjustments to HPD policy," Executive Chief Thomas Hardin wrote in a department-wide email obtained by the Houston Chronicle. The message instructed officers to continue following existing guidance for now.

The policy shift has already drawn criticism from some city officials. In a joint statement Wednesday, several Houston City Council Members said they oppose the ordinance and warned it could have broader consequences.

"This ordinance will make officers afraid to do their jobs," the statement said. "Without clear guidance on timeframes to wait for ICE, it creates confusion for our officers and opens the City of Houston to potential lawsuits."

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The Houston Police Officer's Union echoed council members' concerns noting that the policy could affect law enforcement operations.

"This organization will not support any council member who supported this position," their statement said. "Maybe our city council should pay more attention to the actual issues of this city and stop trying to fight national politics at a local level.

Governor Greg Abbott's office shared the following statement with Chron:

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"Governor Abbott fully supports using every necessary tool and strategy to aid in the Trump Administration's deportation of illegal immigrants, and city and county officials across the state should fully cooperate in those efforts. Texas is a law-and-order state, and it works hand in glove with the Trump Administration every single day to uphold the laws of this country. Texas will continue to assist the Trump Administration in arresting, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants."
As Artemis II astronauts return to Earth, a proposed $5.6 billion NASA budget cut raises questions about future missions and Houston jobs. NASA/NASA via Getty Images

The White House recently issued its proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which involves cutting NASA's funding by about $5.6 billion, a roughly 23 percent decrease from current levels, while still prioritizing human exploration missions like Artemis. The proposal requests $18.8 billion for NASA and states it will support "the safe and timely return of Americans to the moon" while slashing funding across other parts of the agency.

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Specifically, the White House budget calls for a $3.4 billion reduction to NASA's Science division, eliminating its STEM engagement office and a $1.1 billion cut to the International Space Station as it approaches retirement.

Now, as NASA's Artemis II crew prepares to return home, another battle is taking shape over the future of the agency that sent them there. For Mohammed Nasrullah, a retired NASA project manager who spent 40 years working on agency programs, the proposed cuts put that future at risk.

"It's really shocking," Nasrullah told Chron. "The cuts are going to come from a lot of basic scientific work that NASA does."

Nasrullah said the reductions are not just line items on a budget sheet and could have direct consequences.

"A lot of the work and research that NASA does has so many byproducts that we all have been benefiting from over the last several decades," Nasurllah explained. "If this budget gets approved, then we will definitely see more layoffs right here in our backyard at Johnson Space Center."

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What worries Nasrullah most is that even after a successful Artemis II flight mission, the budget would go into effect around the same time NASA plans to launch Artemis III.

"It was flawless," Nasrullah said, describing the mission. "And now with this budget cut, it looks like NASA may have to end the next mission."

The White House budget makes clear what it wants to protect. It proposes adding $731 million for Artemis and says the program would land American astronauts on the moon by the end of 2028. It also calls the moon "the proving ground for humanity's future in deep space." But the same proposal would cut $3.4 billion from NASA's Science division, reduce International Space Station funding by $1.1 billion and eliminate NASA's Office of STEM Engagement.

For Nasrullah, that tradeoff doesn't make much sense.

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"This budget cut threatens to dismantle key scientific research," he said. "You're talking about laying off literally thousands of employees."

Nasrullah was especially critical of the White House's proposal to eliminate NASA's STEM Engagement office, which he said has supported underrepresented communities.

"NASA will inspire the next generation of explorers through exciting, ambitious space missions, not through subsidizing woke STEM programming and research that prioritizes some groups of students over others and has had minimal impact on the student outcomes," the proposal reads.

The proposal is not final and is expected to face pushback in Congress, which sets NASA's actual funding levels. Last year, lawmakers rejected similar cuts in a bipartisan effort, ultimately funding the agency closer to its previous levels, according to a report by SpaceNews. However, Nasrullah is skeptical that lawmakers would take their side.

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"Unfortunately, the current Congress has been shirking from their responsibility, and they have been just accepting whatever the president wants," he said. "They're just circling from their responsibility and have given up or given in to whatever the White House proposes."

For Houston, though, the stakes are not abstract.

"If this budget gets approved, then we will definitely see more layoffs right here in our backyard at Johnson Space Center," Nasrullah said. "We will see a lot of experienced scientists being laid off and ending up going to some other industry."

As Artemis II heads home, now all eyes will be less on what the crew accomplished, but whether Washington is willing to fund the agency that brought those astronauts home and the missions, science and workforce needed to follow it.
The News in Brief Friday, April 10, 2026

The recently formed Opposition Alliance released a sharp statement on April 9, claiming Georgia's independence is at risk under what it calls the "Russian dictatorship" of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. The group argued that the country cannot survive if it remains isolated from the West and left alone to face Russia.Drawing a parallel to the 1991 independence referendum, the alliance stated that the same "unified will" used to break from the Soviet Union must now be channeled to dismantle the current Georgian Dream government. They characterized the ruling party as a "traitorous regime" that has cut Georgia off from the free world.To address this, the alliance announced plans for a large-scale protest on May 26, Georgia's Independence Day. They described the upcoming event as the start of a "national mobilization" intended to peacefully remove the government and return the country to its pro-Western path. The statement ended with a call for citizens to join them in a push for "victory to the end."Seyed Ali Moujani said he will present a report to Tehran proposing steps to deepen cooperation with Georgia over the next 100 days.In a statement, he said the plan aims to expand economic ties, strengthen regional stability, and develop relations between the two countries.Moujani described Georgia as a key transit hub between East and West and North and South, pointing to its role in energy and transport routes."In the report that I will present to Tehran today, I will propose ways of cooperation and relations with Georgia for the next 100-day period," he said.He also referred to recent regional developments and tensions, saying they have reshaped the geopolitical environment.The ambassador marked 90 days since the start of his mission in Tbilisi, saying the period had provided insight into Georgia's political and economic landscape.
With the current panic buying of fuel being likened to that of the toilet paper shortage during Covid, the sudden surge in demand for petrol and diesel has seen many service stations run dry, with some even selling 2-3 days worth of fuel in less than 24 hours.

Following fairly chaotic scenes yesterday, Casserlys Spar in Lanesboro was one of the service stations whose supply ran out yesterday evening. Diesel went first followed quickly by petrol just an hour later.

Read: 2 women charged over viral Longford Post Office brawl involving alleged scissors

Manager of Casserlys Spar, Derek Casserly, spoke to the Longford Leader just as a fuel lorry was leaving the forecourt this morning, Friday April 10.

Were only after getting the fuel delivery there this morning, he explains. We've been out since about 5pm yesterday. It was fairly chaotic here yesterday as well. There were queues going down the road, so we ended up running out of diesel at around 4.30pm and then the petrol was gone about 5.30pm."

"The fuel lorry is just after coming here this morning. We were blessed to get a delivery because only a few loads got out of Dublin this morning. We're after getting 14,000 litres of diesel. I don't know how long it'll last; we sold a lot yesterday.

With some fuel stations imposing a purchase limit, Casserlys have decided against implementing any such measures for now.

Derek explained, People are panicking; theres a lot of that, a lot of panic. You can see some people have drums in their car boots as well. We were thinking of maybe capping it, but I dont know. It's hard to manage that so we'll see.

"We'll see how today goes. It's very unknown at the minute.
Longford Senator Paraic Brady has described last month's measure of a 3c reduction in green diesel as an 'insult' to farmers and insisted the Government 'have to do more'.

The Drumlish man has played his part in opening dialogue between the Government and fuel price protestors ahead of a meeting with government ministers this afternoon.

Senator Brady said it is a serious situation and he will not be attending the meeting himself, but he is 'confident' of a positive resolution due to new raft of supports he believes is being introduced by the Government over the coming weeks.

The Fine Gael representative, who was elected as a Senator on the Agricultural Panel last year, said the protesters sent an email to all government ministers two weeks ago.

READ NEXT: DISGUSTING! Longford MEP slates decision to send army tanks to remove farmers from side of road

"I received an email Tuesday night at around half seven, eight o'clock to see would I forward on an email to the Tanaiste [Simon Harris] regarding the concerns of the protesters.

"So, I received an email and forwarded it on. The Tanaiste received the email and I spoke to him the next day on Wednesday regarding it."

Asked if the email he received, was from a person who was known to him personally, Senator Brady replied, "It was actually from the protest, from the people that were organising the protest."

Senator Brady is often connected with a very prominent beef protest himself.

In 2019, Larry Goodmans ABP companies took out an injunction against Cllr Brady following his high profile involvement in a protest outside C & D Pet Foods in Edgeworthstown during beef protests. The injunctions were subsequently struck out.

Senator Brady, who was asked if he had sympathy for the protesters and whether he could relate to them, said stated that 'everybody knows, first of all, I'm a family myself'.

"I can see the costs, the costs are huge, like fertiliser, diesel and even the price of putting a new tyre now on a tractor, every cost, service, oil, like oil for changing the back end of a tractor, oil filters, every moving part now is gone at least 25% more expensive.

"Farmers had a good year last year and unfortunately, it really has been soaked up with this war in Ukraine and rising fuel costs."

READ NEXT: Longford Gardai investigating crash involving two cars that occurred near garda station

Last month the government agreed to cut excise duty on fuel to mitigate rising prices, specifically a 20-cent reduction per litre of diesel and a 15-cent reduction per litre of petrol.

A 3-cent cut in excise duty on green diesel was also announced, though this has been criticized by farming representatives as insufficient, while hauliers have complained that they are at risk of going out of business due to spiralling costs.

Senator Brady said that reduction 'was eaten up in a couple of days with the increase in fuel costs.

"I think it might have went down at the pumps for three to five days and it was eaten back up again with supply and demand.

"It's not actually the filling stations that are gouging at the prices because they only have a small markup on it of maybe 2c or 3c

"Certainly that whole sector, the 250 million, I think certainly made an impact in certain people's pockets.

"But it didn't have the desired effect with 3 cent on green diesel, because farmers felt that the 3 cent wasn't enough, and in fact it was an insult.

"And as the government, like 250 million was a huge amount of money."

Senator Brady said they are now back looking at what more can be done to support businesses.

"Look, I do think we have to do more and we certainly have to do more.

"Whether that be introducing the rebate scheme for farmers, hauliers, fisheries, like something has to be done now, because these people that are on the streets are the hauliers that draw the food.

"I'd say 99% of these people that are on the streets are hard-working, decent people that have families, that have livelihoods and have businesses and that's society.

"Unfortunately, everybody that has a grievance feels that maybe this is their time to jump on this bandwagon and cause a little bit of mayhem and anarchy.

"But look, 99% of these people that are on the streets are working-class individuals."

Senator Brady said he is hopeful the new set of Government measures will lead to a resolution.

"I think common sense will prevail.

"I'm confident the Government are listening and the measures implemented over the next few weeks will be prudent but we have to look after ordinary hardworking people.

"We have to do something on the diesel itself and I certainly would like to see the rebate scheme.

"Whether it's enough [I don't know], you to see farmers don't pick up the rebate scheme, or small hauliers don't pick up the rebate scheme, or contractors don't pick up the rebate scheme.

"Now, I don't know whether that can be done as a measure in government or what the cost of that is.

"That's above my pay grade.

"But I do know we certainly have to listen to the people on the streets at this moment in time.

"And everything can be resolved with dialogue and I must stress that."
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (left) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine conduct a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 8. (Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Brann)

Washington and Tehran are both arguing that they were victorious after 40 days of fighting. A detailed analysis, however, suggests a more nuanced picture in which American forces degraded Irans core military capabilities but failed to fully achieve some of the operations stated objectives. With negotiations in Islamabad potentially imminent, it remains unclear whether the United States will translate operational gains into durable strategic and political outcomes that advance American interests.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine stated on April 8 that the US military was tasked with accomplishing three distinct military objectives at the outset of the campaign: to destroy Irans ballistic missile and drone capabilities, its navy, and its defense industrial base to ensure that it cannot reconstitute the ability to project power outside [its] borders. He then said that the Joint Force achieved those military objectives.

On April 9, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, similarly claimed that US forces had achieved their objective to dismantle the Iranian regimes ability to project power beyond its own borders by destroying the regimes missile, drone, and naval capabilities.

However, while the US and Israeli campaigns severely degraded these primary elements of Iranian military power, they fell short of destroying the capabilities entirely. Indeed, these objectives were likely always unrealistic, given the forces and strategies employed. Iran retains the power to attack ships in or near the Strait of Hormuz and the ability to conduct missile and drone attacks across the region. Certainly, those items qualify as the ability to project power outside Irans borders.

In addition to the above clear military objectives and the implied goals of destroying or severely degrading Irans command and control networks and air defenses, the administration inconsistently articulated several other objectives for the military campaign. These items included ending Irans support for terror proxies, ensuring that Iran never has nuclear weapons, setting the conditions for regime change, and unconditional surrender.

While the full extent of damage done to Iran in Operation Epic Fury is still unclear, it is possible to assess in broad terms how close the operation came to achieving the Trump administrations goals. On April 8, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and General Caine held a press conference in which they described the accomplishments of the previous 40 days. Comparing their post-ceasefire assessments with the various goals articulated by the president, high-ranking administration officials, and senior military leaders during the conflict reveals several potential gaps between aspirations and achievements.

Whether these objectives can be achieved at the negotiating table or in resumed military operations remains to be seen.

Military objectives

Throughout the campaign, Admiral Cooper articulated what he described as well-defined and clear military objectives: eliminating Irans missile, drone, and naval capabilities. These goals were reiterated by General Caine, along with the additional objective of destroying Irans defense industrial base, during the April 8 press conference, where he provided details on the effects of US strikes on these capabilities. It is necessary, therefore, to review the progress made against each of these elements of Iranian military power to properly analyze the US campaign.

To be sure, significant progress was made in accomplishing the first of these objectives by severely degrading Irans ballistic missile capability and capacity. According to Caine, CENTCOM struck over 450 ballistic missile storage facilities. He went on to describe Irans missile industrial base as shattered, saying that more than 80 percent of the regimes missile facilities were gone, along with its ability to produce solid rocket motors.

Despite inflicting these severe blows, however, the destruction of the regimes missile arsenal in little over a month of operations proved unattainable. Despite a drastic reduction in daily launch rates from Iran in the first week of the war, the regime proved capable of consistently launching attacks throughout the conflict, targeting Israel, Gulf countries, and US bases with hundreds of ballistic missiles.

Moreover, Caines statistics did not offer details about how many missiles Iran may still possess. Conflicting reports citing US and Israeli military and intelligence officials suggest that anywhere between a third to over half of the regimes arsenal could have survived the campaign, while 20-50 percent of Irans missile launchers may remain intact.

Likewise, Caines comments did not differentiate between missile sites that were destroyed, damaged, or buried. These are important distinctions, because missiles stored in damaged facilities could have survived strikes, and Iran could gain access to deeply buried facilities that US and Israeli attacks temporarily blocked by collapsing and/or burying entrances. The New York Times reported last week that Iran had already begun efforts to dig out underground missile bunkers and silos.

Similar to Irans missile capabilities, the regimes drone arsenal was significantly degraded but not eliminated. US and Israeli forces targeted Irans drone capabilities extensively throughout the campaign, with CENTCOM striking roughly 800 one-way attack (OWA) drone storage facilities. Caine stated that every factory that produced Shahed OWA drones was struck, as well as every factory that produces their guidance systemsbut again did not differentiate between sites that were damaged or destroyed, nor did he specify how many drones Iran may have left.

US intelligence officials reportedly estimated last week that up to half of Irans drone arsenal may have survived. Whatever remains, Iran clearly retained the ability to conduct long-range OWA drone strikes throughout the conflict, reportedly firing over 2,000 at the UAE alone. Unlike missiles, drones pose the added challenge of being easier to disperse and store in discrete locations, making them harder to find and strike. While doubtlessly degraded, Iran retains considerable drone capabilities and capacity.

The progress against Irans naval capabilities is perhaps the easiest to quantify. Caine assessed that 90 percent of Irans regular fleet was sunk, including all of its major surface combatants, along with half of the IRGC Navys small attack boats. That means the IRGC Navy retains the other half of its small attack boats, which can lay mines and attack vessels. He went on to say that more than 20 naval production and fabrication facilities were also damaged or destroyed.

Caine also stated that over 95 percent of Irans naval mines were destroyed, but he did not say how many remained. The Defense Intelligence Agency assessed in 2019 that Iran possessed over 5,000 naval mines. Assuming the regime entered the conflict with roughly that number, Iran could retain over 200 mines, surely enough to threaten the Strait of Hormuz.

While the success of US strikes against Irans naval capabilities is tangible and numerically impressive, the operation did not stop Iran from projecting power in the maritime domain. Indeed, with the regime continuing to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage, Iran is, at the very least, currently perceived as exerting more power in the maritime domain than it did before the conflict. If this situation endures, it will have serious negative implications for US interests, both regionally and globally.

Finally, Caine said that destroying Irans defense industrial base was an objective that was achieved. However, he stated in the same briefing that 90 percent of weapons factories were attacked, leaving 10 percent unhit. It is unclear whether weapons factories are synonymous with Irans defense industrial base or the extent to which the attacks damaged or destroyed their associated targets.

Implied objectives

While not explicitly stated as objectives, destroying or severely degrading Irans command-and-control (C2) capabilities and air defenses were clearly priorities for the US military, given the degree to which they were targeted. Leaving C2 intact would have allowed Iran to better organize and direct retaliatory measures, while degrading Irans air defenses was a necessary precondition for conducting a large-scale air campaign at acceptable levels of risk.

Caine stated that Irans C2 networks were devastated, with more than 2,000 command and control nodes destroyed. Numerous top Iranian military leaders were killed, including the minister of defense, chief of staff of the Iranian military, and commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, Iranian forces continued to conduct combat operations throughout the conflict, likely reflecting the regimes strategy of delegating authority to local commanders in the absence of centralized leadership.

Additionally, there is some evidence that Iran was able to reconstitute at least a portion of its C2 capabilities. Some Iranian attacks appeared to be calculated responses to specific strikes. For example, Iran struck Saudi Arabias Jubail petrochemical complex on April 7, which it claimed was in response to strikes the previous day on Irans Asaluyeh petrochemical plants. This implies that Irans leaders were able to learn which of their assets were struck, pick a corresponding target in the region, and communicate an attack order to their forces. Despite the number of targets hit and leaders killed, Iranian C2 appears to have remained at least partially functioning by the time the ceasefire began.

On air defenses, Caine estimated later in the press conference that approximately 80 percent of Irans air defense systems were destroyed after more than 1,500 such targets were struck. While the Islamic Republics air defenses were undoubtedly heavily degraded, it remains unclear what types of systems the remaining 20 percent were composed of and where they were located. If the remainder includes a significant portion of Irans mobile and capable systems, the destruction of Irans air defenses was not complete.

Concerningly, Iran seems to have had some success against US aircraft as the conflict continued. While the loss of aircraft was less than many would have predicted, given the number of sorties, at least one F-35 multirole fighter was reportedly damaged by Iranian fire, over 20 unmanned MQ-9 Reaper drones were reportedly lost, and an A-10 attack aircraft and an F-15E fighter were shot down by Iran.

Additionally, US B-52 bombers were photographed departing RAF Fairford loaded with what appeared to be cruise missiles in early April. This would suggest Iran likely retained some of its more capable air defense systems if the US military was employing expensive standoff munitions rather than risking certain types of high-value aircraft that far into the conflict.

Additional objectives

In addition to the stated and implied military objectives, the Trump administration articulated several inconsistent and, at times, conflicting objectives. These included sever[ing] [Irans] support for terrorist proxies, ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, allowing Iranians a chance to take over their government, and achieving the regimes unconditional surrender.

Regarding proxies, US forces engaged in combat operations against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, striking their headquarters and several key leaders. Despite receiving blows, the militias were able to strike the US Embassy in Baghdad and other high-value targets, such as radars and aircraft. The impact of US operations against the militias remains unclear, but there is no evidence that they were removed as a threat, nor that Iran has ceased support for them.

Hezbollah in Lebanon almost immediately entered the conflict against Israel, launching over 6,500 rockets since March 2. Israel had struck over 3,500 Hezbollah targets, and multiple Israeli divisions were operating in southern Lebanon as of March 31. Hostilities continued after the ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced, leaving the outcome uncertain.

The Houthis in Yemen largely stayed on the sidelines of the conflict, perhaps due to losses they suffered in 2025 from US and Israeli strikes. However, they did launch ballistic missiles and drones at Israel starting on March 28. No significant US or Israeli operations were reported against the Houthis, and the group remains a threat.

On the nuclear front, Caine stated that nearly 80 percent of Irans nuclear industrial base was hit. These targets included weaponization-linked sites, a uranium processing plant, and the Arak heavy water production plant. Caine did not specify which components of the nuclear program remained, nor the extent to which the damage lengthened Irans pathway to a bomb. Unfortunately, the destruction of Irans nuclear program was not total, and Iran retains its stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU). After the ceasefire, Hegseth called on Iran to turn over the HEU.

Regime change, which was hinted at and even claimed as an accomplishment, was not achieved. While many leaders were killed, they were replaced in short order, with the position of supreme leader now belonging to Ali Khameneis reportedly injured son, Mojtaba Khamenei. Time will tell how the war will impact the regimes medium- to long-term stability .

Iranian unconditional surrender, which President Trump called for on March 6, was clearly not achieved, as evidenced by ongoing negotiations.

The folly of quantifying victory

A simple accounting of sorties flown, strikes conducted, munitions dropped, targets struck, or enemy capacity attrited alone is insufficient to judge an operations success. US and Israeli forces conducted an impressive campaign that significantly degraded the primary elements of Iranian military power. The operation did not, however, destroy these capabilities outright nor eliminate Irans ability to project meaningful power outside of its borders. Indeed, completely destroying these capabilities was likely always unrealistic.

Whether or not these initial operational successes can be translated into concrete strategic and political gains that secure American interests remains to be seen. That is up to Americas civilian leaders. The US military has done its part for now and paid a cost in American blood.

Over 380 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines were wounded in the operation. Appropriately, Admiral Cooper concluded his remarks on April 9 by remembering and honoring the 13 American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during the first 40 days of Operation Epic Fury.

Cameron McMillan is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDDs) Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), where Ryan Brobst is the deputy director and Bradley Bowman is senior director.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) meets with Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa on April 5. (SANA)

On April 9, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al Shaibani traveled to Turkey, where he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. It was Damascuss second meeting with Fidan in a week, after a trip by the Turkish foreign minister to Syria on April 5. The diplomatic activity, along with Damascus hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other delegations, illustrates Syrias focus on diplomacy while most of the Middle East has been consumed by the conflict with Iran. Syria has remained mostly unscathed by the war, unlike its neighbors, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Syrias government continues to navigate a complex transition that began with the fall of Bashar al Assads regime in December 2024. Over the last year and a half, Syria has appointed a new transitional government under Ahmed al Sharaa and rebuilt ties with many countries. At home, the government has struggled with clashes with the Druze minority in the south and the challenge of integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria into Damascuss new security forces.

Syria remained largely at peace throughout the war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. However, the country faced some attacks and tensions stemming from the conflict. In one incident on March 23, rockets were fired from Iraq into Syria. The attack was likely carried out by an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq, one of hundreds of similar rocket and drone attacks in Iraq.

On April 4, dozens of people in Damascus rioted at the embassy of the United Arab Emirates, with some attempting to storm the building. Reuters reported that the protesters accused the diplomatic post of being a Zionist embassy, an apparent allusion to the UAEs ties with Israel. The demonstrators were reportedly angered by a new death penalty law passed in Israel, though it wasnt clear why they had singled out the UAE Embassy; other countries that have ties with Israel also have embassies in Damascus. Syria condemned the embassy incident.

In the wake of the protest, Syrias president spoke to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan about bilateral cooperation, and Syria condemned Irans attacks on Arab countries in the region. The UAE has been one of the main Gulf countries targeted by Iran, suffering the most drone and missile attacks.

On April 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Damascus along with Turkeys foreign minister to hold trilateral meetings. The trip came in the wake of Zelenskyys visits to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, in which he shared Ukraines experience dealing with drone threats.

We managed to cover everything: from security and defense issues and the situation in the region caused by developments around Iran, to energy and infrastructure cooperation between our countries, Zelenskyy wrote on X about his trip to Syria. The Iran and Ukraine conflicts are linked by the fact that Russia has acquired Iranian drones, reportedly provided Iran drones in return, and backed the Assad regime in its fight with rebels.

The Ukrainian visit, which took place alongside the Turkish foreign ministers visit, provided a chance for Syria to continue to deepen ties with Ankara. In his April 9 visit to Turkey, Syrias foreign minister discussed a new era of strategic partnership with his Turkish counterpart. Among the topics discussed was a Four Seas Project, which Syrias state media said could position Syria and Turkiye as a key corridor for redistributing energy between the Arabian Gulf, the Caspian Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. Syrias foreign minister also met with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack during the visit to Turkey.

Syrian officials have been engaged in a flurry of other activity. Syrian Chief of the General Staff Major General Ali al Nassan held a call with his Turkish counterpart, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, in April. He also spoke with his French counterpart, First Marshal Fabian Mandon. No specific details beyond general descriptions of the calls were published. In addition, on April 8, Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al Saleh traveled to Saudi Arabia.

There has also been a regional focus on Syria as an energy corridor amid the conflict with Iran. With the Strait of Hormuz closed, Iraq has been exporting fuel oil via Syrias Baniyas refinery.

Iraqs stateowned oil marketer SOMO has finalized contracts to supply about 650,000 metric tons of fuel oil per month from April to June to be trucked overland via Syria, according to a SOMO document seen by Reuters and Iraqi energy officials, Reuters noted on March 31. Al Hurra reported on April 8 that a third shipment of Iraqi oil reached Baniyas after being trucked via Al Tanf on the Syria-Iraq border, the site of a former US military base in Syria.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Light rain early. Decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning. Low 41F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Light rain early. Decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning. Low 41F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, has announced a varied programme of events for the month of April, featuring workshops, live music, film, literature and cultural initiatives.

A new addition to the venues summer schedule is the Kids Robotic Creativity Club, which begins on April 13. Aimed at children aged 68 and 914, the workshop introduces participants to coding, robotics and 3D design, with a focus on developing creative and critical thinking skills. Sessions will run weekly on Mondays throughout April, May and June, with booking available for individual classes or a four-week block.

In music, the Kammer Philharmonie will perform at the venue on April 25 as part of its 2026 tour, Powerful Emotions. The ensemble, which features musicians from across Europe, will be joined by trumpet soloist Cyrill Gussaroff. The group regularly performs in international concert halls and opera houses.

The Linenhall Film Club will host a screening of 'It Was Just an Accident' on April 21. The film follows a man who becomes convinced that a mechanic he encounters is responsible for his torture in an Iranian prison, leading to a series of events involving questions of identity and justice.

READ MORE: London Mayo Rose to perform national anthem in McGovern Park

On April 23, the venue will present 'An Evening with Kim Rosen.' The poet and spoken word performer will deliver a programme titled 'Being Human: A Communion in Poetry and Music', combining readings with musical elements.

The Linenhall is also continuing its dementia-friendly Azure Tours, which offer guided visits to gallery exhibitions for people living with dementia, along with their families, friends or carers. The tours, led by visual artist Joanna Hopkins, last approximately 50 minutes and include a social element afterwards. The next tour is scheduled for April 23, with booking required due to limited capacity.
Art lovers in Castlebar are being invited to a special artist talk this weekend to mark the closing of a striking portrait exhibition.

Artist Paul MacCormaic will host a talk at the Linenhall Arts Centre tomorrow Saturday, April 11 at 12 noon, offering insight into his exhibition The Vanquished Writing History.

The exhibition features 13 large-scale portraits of individuals who have played significant roles in shaping Irish society through activism, advocacy or legal action. Many of the subjects, or their representatives, have shared their personal stories, highlighting their contributions and struggles.

During the talk, MacCormaic will discuss the creative process behind the works and his experience working with what he describes as extraordinary subjects.

The portraits have been praised for their emotional depth and detail, capturing the physical and personal realities of those depicted  from expressions of resilience and pride to the visible marks of hardship and perseverance.

The exhibition, which has been running at the Linenhall gallery, will close on April 11, with the artist talk forming part of its final day.

READ MORE: Mayo writer signs US book deal for debut crime novel

Admission to both the exhibition and the talk is free, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

The event is expected to offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with the artist and explore the stories behind the compelling body of work.
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Achill came alive on Easter Sunday as crowds gathered for a parade as part of the Island Life Festival, with organisers delighted by the overwhelming positive response from both locals and visitors.

The parade showcased the very best of Achills community spirit, featuring colourful floats, lively performances, local groups and visiting participants, all contributing to a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day.

Dennis King a Canadian politician and diplomat who is currently serving as the Canadian ambassador to Ireland. was Grand Marshal of the event.

I was delighted to be invited to Achill for this wonderful event. I had the pleasure of meeting members of the Achill Tourism team at the Holiday World Show in Dublin, where they extended the invitation to visit.

It has been fantastic to experience the warmth of the community and to see such a vibrant celebration here on the island.

Organisers of the event expressed their sincere gratitude to all those who made it possible. Chris McCarthy, manager of Achill Tourism spoke of the positive feedback they have received following the parade.

The feedback weve received has been extremely positive. It was fantastic to see such strong community involvement and to welcome so many visitors to the island for the occasion. he added.
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Key Features
A fever led to the detection of a systemic infection in Sonia Gandhi, who has now recovered after a week of hospital care and antibiotic treatment.

  Trusted Source

Respiratory deposition of particulate matter in Delhi: a five-year assessment of exposure patterns and health risks



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Is Sonia Gandhis Infection Linked to Her Asthma and Recent Respiratory Issues?

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What Makes Systemic Infections More Dangerous?

high fever

fatigue

rapid heart rate

rapid heart rate

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Can Air Pollution Increase the Risk of Infections and Worsen Health?

Does Sonia Gandhis Recent Health History Indicate Increased Vulnerability?

January 2026: Hospitalized for respiratory discomfort

June 2025: Admitted for routine check-up and later for a stomach-related issue.

Previous reports also noted mildly elevated blood pressure during evaluation

Respiratory deposition of particulate matter in Delhi: a five-year assessment of exposure patterns and health risks - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-26663-0)

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, 79, was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi with a systemic infection but has now been discharged after responding well to treatment.A systemic infection occurs when pathogens spread through the bloodstream and can affect multiple organs, often requiring prompt medical care ().She was admitted to the hospital after developing fever , initially suspected to be seasonal. Further evaluation confirmed a broader infection, and she was treated with antibiotics under close monitoring for seven days.Sonia Gandhi has been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on 24th March night for fever. As per Dr. Ajay Swaroop, Chairman of SGRH, she is undergoing treatment with antibiotics for systemic infection, the hospital said in an earlier statement.Providing an update, hospital authorities later confirmed that she responded well to the treatment and has now recovered and been discharged for further care at home.Her current condition was likely not isolated. Earlier reports indicate that she had experienced, particularly during periods of cold weather and high pollution.A hospital source noted that this was likely due to the combined effects ofRespiratory conditions like asthma can weaken airway defenses, making individuals more vulnerable to infections. In older adults, this risk becomes more significant as immune responses decline with age.Unlike localized infections, systemic infections spread through the bloodstream and can affect multiple organs simultaneously.Common symptoms include:If not treated early, they can progress to severe complications such asIn this case, early antibiotic therapy and continuous monitoring proved effective, with doctors confirming that her condition remained stable and led to recovery and discharge.A 2025 multicenter study on bloodstream infection in older adults found that feverdriven systemic infection can quickly lead to sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction in the elderly, underscoring the need for early antibiotics and close monitoring.Environmental exposure may be an important contributing factor. Scientific evidence shows that air pollution,These particles penetrate deep into the lungs, triggering. They can also contribute to systemic effects by entering the bloodstream, increasing overall health risk.In cities like Delhi, where particulate levels frequently exceed safe limits, this creates a compounded risk, especially for elderly individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.Sonia Gandhi has had multiple recent hospital visits, reflecting ongoing health monitoring:While these were not serious individually, they indicate a pattern whereHer recovery and discharge underline an important clinical insight. In elderly individuals, a simple fever can sometimes signal a deeper systemic issuebut with timely diagnosis, antibiotics, and monitoring, outcomes can be favorable.This case highlights both the risks of systemic infections and the effectiveness of early medical intervention.Source-Medindia
Amid the legal battle and a ban from CBFC, the high-definition print of Thalapathy Vijays upcoming film Jana Nayagan has reportedly been leaked online, even as the project awaits its censor certification following a legal battle earlier this year. Before the full leak, several clips, including the title credits, introduction scene, and climax, had already surfaced on social media. Fans of Vijay reacted with shock and disappointment, urging the makers to take strict action against those responsible.

 KVN Productions In a scene that is now going viral and seems like the climax of Jana Nayagan, Atlee, Lokesh Kangaraj, and Nelson were spotted in cameos. Interestingly, these three directors have given superhits to Vijay like Theri, Mersal, Master, Leo, Varisu and more. While the production team initially moved swiftly to remove the circulating clips from platforms like X and others, the situation escalated soon after, with the films HD version appearing on multiple piracy websites.

H Vinoth, the director of Jana Nayagan, has appealed to audiences to refrain from sharing any leaked footage of the film, urging fans to respect the hard work of the team

 H. Vinoth These footages have been leaked only two weeks before Tamil Nadu elections and atthe time of writing, the makers of Jana Nayagan, backed by KVN Productions, have not issued an official statement on the leak. However, fans of Thalapathy Vijay have reacted strongly online, with several warning of strict legal consequences for those sharing the footage. A fan page on X, Actor Vijay Team, stated, Strict legal action will be taken against anyone sharing #JanaNayagan content. Violations will be pursued seriously and can lead to arrest. They further added, A cyber crime complaint has been filed against all accounts sharing leaked #Jananayagan clips. Authorities are actively tracing every ID involved, and strict legal action will follow.

About Jana Nayagans Legal Battle Jana Nayagan was positioned as Thalapathy Vijays farewell to cinema before he transitions fully into politics. Originally slated for a January 9 release, the film was postponed just days ahead after the Central Board of Film Certification raised objections over certain scenes that could potentially hurt sentiments. Following this, the makers approached the Madras High Court seeking an expedited certification process. However, after nearly a month-long legal tussle with the CBFC, the team decided to withdraw the case and instead submit the film to the revising committee.
Popular Telugu star Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur starrer Dacoit directed by Shaneil Deo has finally released in theatres after several delays.

The movie was initially slated for the Christmas 2025 release but was then pushed to the Eid 2026 release.

However, to avoid clashing with Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the movie was pushed to April 10, 2026.

Also starring Anurag Kashyap, Dacoit has been getting a lot of response from the audience. Take a look at it below.
When youre watching a movie, sometimes you come across performances that leave you spellbound even after the credits have stopped rolling. And then there are times when a characters look creates his entire aura even before he starts speaking. Thats exactly what Ranveer Singhs wardrobe does in Dhurandhar 2. Hamzas transformation from a disciplined soldier to the feared Sher-e-Baloch and King of Lyari isnt just carried by Ranveers feral screen presence, the rage in his eyes, or that now-iconic mane of wild hair. Its stitched into every Pathani suit, every battered jacket, every rolled-up sleeve, and every layer that makes him look less like a man and more like a warning. Costume designer Smriti Chauhan ensures that every look in the film was fully customised to reflect Ranveers evolution from Jaskirat to Hamza.

 Instagram/Smriti Chauhan It starts with a shirt almost every Indian guy has owned at some point. That simple striped T-shirt from Jaskirat Singh Rangis early fight sequence has become one of the films most talked-about looks, simply because it feels so familiar. Its not designer-coded, not larger-than-life, not trying too hard. Its the kind of T-shirt youve probably worn to college or at home. And yet, in that moment, it becomes unforgettable. It represents the most human version of Jaskirat before the legend of Hamza takes over: the boy, the brother, the man still rooted in ordinary life. And maybe thats why it has gone viral, because it taps into the idea that beneath the most regular version of you, there is still a hero waiting for the right moment to rise.

 Jio Studios You see Jaskirat and instantly recognise a version of yourself or someone you know. The everyday Indian man. The dependable guy. The one who blends into the room until life demands something bigger from him. As Jaskirat slips into Hamza in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the wardrobe toughens with him. When he ascends to the throne of Lyari and levels up in life, he starts pairing his Pathani suits with dark jackets. The long hair adds chaos. The beard adds weight. The lockets, leather layers, dusty jackets, and darker fabrics make him feel like someone who has travelled through violence and come out sharper. In an interview with NDTV, costume designer Smriti Chauhan revealed, "One brief that Aditya sir gave was that he has come here to become a part of the gang. He is going to pick up something from everybody." So, he picks up a love for dark shades like black from Rehman Dakait, and a few of his jackets from Major Iqbal's style. Some of his accessories are also inspired by Uzair Baloch.

 Jio Studios Smriti added another detail, "We never gave him black before he became the kind of Lyari. It was reserved for this moment." In the end, when Ranveer returns to his hometown as Jaskirat, again his costume played a major role. Smriti shared, "We wanted noninterfering colours because we did not want anything to overpower the actor's performance. We didn't want any jarring colour that would clash with his skin tone or the colour of his eyes. The costume could not distract the audience while they were looking at Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who returned after an entire lifetime, not knowing if he would ever come back."
Bad Axe Theatre owner Mark Rolfe sits in Huron County 73B District Court on Jan. 8 to face charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct from the mid-2000s, allegedly involving an underage employee. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on March 2 in Huron County 52nd Circuit Court. The Huron County Prosecutors Office has filed additional sexual assault charges against Rolfe, alleging he assaulted two more victims and pressured one not to tell the police. Mark Birdsall/Huron Daily Tribune The Bad Axe Theatre and Longshot Lanes bowling alley failed to sell at auction on Tuesday morning. The auction was held on behalf of owner Mark Rolfe and Bay Port State Bank. Rolfe was charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Huron County 73B District Court in January. Rolfe has six months to pay off the loans for the businesses. If he does not, the bank will take possession of the properties. Mark Birdsall/Huron Daily Tribune Mark Rolfe stands behind the counter at the Bad Axe Theatre. Rolfe, the owner of the Bad Axe Theatre, has pleaded not guilty to multiple sex crimes in a case that dates back 20 years. He entered his plea in Huron County 52nd Circuit Court on March 2 during his arraignment on three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which is punishable by up to life in prison. (Tribune File Photo) The Bad Axe Theatre and Longshot Lanes bowling alley failed to sell at auction on Tuesday morning. The auction was held on behalf of owner Mark Rolfe and Bay Port State Bank. Rolfe was charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Huron County 73B District Court in January. Rolfe has six months to pay off the loans for the businesses. If he does not, the bank will take possession of the properties. Mark Birdsall/Huron Daily Tribune

Two former employees of the Bad Axe Theater testified in a Huron County courtroom Friday morning that owner Mark Rolfe showered them with expensive gifts while they worked there during their high school years.

They mentioned things like front-row concert tickets, Louis Vuitton bags, jewelry from Tiffany and Co., personal loans, smartphones and airline flights.

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They also described how, within weeks of starting their jobs at the theater, Rolfe began to ask questions about their personal lives, intimate questions that centered on whether or not they were virgins, their body count or how many boys they had sex with, and what kind of activities they engaged in with their boyfriends.

Those questions, they said, eventually evolved into slaps on the buttocks, breast-touching, toe-sucking and Rolfe placing his hands on their upper legs.

The former theater employees, now adults, gave their testimony during Rolfes preliminary hearing on charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and witness intimidation in Huron County 73B District Court.

Following the conclusion of testimony, Judge Julienne M. Ferris bound Rolfe over to Huron County 52nd Circuit Court on seven counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Ferris scheduled his arraignment for Monday, April 27, at 9 a.m. Rolfe remains free on a $50,000/personal recognizance bond.

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Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a $500 fine.

At the beginning of the hearing, Huron County Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Wallace asked Ferris to dismiss the witness intimidation charge, and she granted the motion.

Previously, Rolfe pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct during his March 4 arraignment in 52nd Circuit Court. He remains free on a $50,000 cash or surety bond in that case.

During Fridays testimony, the first witness, now 26 and living out of state, told the court via Zoom that she began working at the theater as a cashier in October 2018.

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The Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

She said that within a few weeks, Rolfe began to ask her intimate questions about her sex life and discussed his own sexual history and preferences. The discussions became more explicit, and eventually, the conversations evolved into touching, she told Wallace.

The woman told the court about one incident during which she had been standing behind the counter with one of her feet resting on a shelf when Rolfe put his hand on the small of her back, moved it down over her backside and eventually rested it on the back of her thigh.

She said it genuinely made her worried, and he became disturbed and frustrated when she asked him not to do it again.

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I remember him saying that I 'shouldnt have been standing like that,' and 'why was I wearing leggings anyway? Obviously, I was putting it out there,' she recalled Rolfe saying. Um, I was 17.

It was during this period that Rolfe had been giving her expensive gifts, she told the court. She mentioned things like a Hermes Apple Watch, necklaces and earrings from Tiffany and Co., a Louis Vuitton purse and wallet, airline tickets and gift cards worth hundreds of dollars.

Defense attorney James K. Champion asked the woman, who testified she had moved out of state shortly after graduating from high school in 2019, if she had ever returned to Bad Axe and had she ever been back to the theater. She said she had done both, and that some of her former co-workers at the theater were still friends of hers.

She added that she had only discussed the touching incident with her therapist until she was recently contacted by Bad Axe Police Detective Sgt. Eric Joy.

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The woman also said she had attended outings to concerts with Rolfe with tickets he had purchased while she worked at the theater.

The second witness, now 19 years old, told the court how she had taken a job there in 2022 and that Rolfe soon began to ask her intimate questions about her personal life, specifically whether she was a virgin.

She also described how those conversations moved on to incidents of touching, with Rolfe frequently smacking her buttocks and how Rolfe once cupped his hand around one of her breasts under the guise of measuring her cup size for a Victorias Secret undergarment he planned to purchase for her.

The woman described another incident during which she had placed a foot on a shelf, and Rolfe removed her shoe to give her a foot massage and began to suck on one of her toes. He did not stop hitting her backside even after she asked him to stop, she told Wallace.

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Rolfe bought her expensive gifts, concert tickets and made half of her car payment, she said, and if she wanted to leave work early, she had to allow him to take photos of pictures on her phone.

When Rolfe purchased her a new smartphone, she said, he had given her a thumb drive containing photos and videos from her old phone, including a video of her having sex with her boyfriend.

The woman also said Rolfe offered to be her sugar daddy and would pay for everything because she did not have a father.

She testified that her mother took her to the Childrens Advocacy Center in Bad Axe in 2023 after her mother became aware of the explicit conversations she had with Rolfe. The interview did not result in any criminal charges after she told investigators that nothing had happened. The woman said she eventually left her job at the theater in 2024.

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Champion asked her why she didnt mention the touching incidents during the interview, and she replied she was only a freshman in high school at the time and she was terrified of speaking out against the man who was her boss and a prominent business owner in town.

I was scared, she said tearfully. I was 16.

Previous charges

The first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges stem from an alleged assault of an underage person, an employee of Rolfes at the time, that occurred in Bad Axe in the mid-2000s.

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According to court documents, Rolfe is accused of assaulting a girl under the age of 16 multiple times between May 2006 and December 2008. At least one of the incidents allegedly took place at the theater.

Rolfe purchased the Bad Axe Theatre in 2004 after working at the movie house when he moved to Bad Axe from Flint back in 1989, according to a February 2020 Tribune story.

In October, Rolfe launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $80,000 as the movie theater industry continues to struggle following the COVID-19 lockdown.

I need to come right out and say that since COVID-19 happened in 2020, things havent been the same at the theater, Rolfe said in a social media post in October. We were one of the last businesses to be able to reopen. Needless to say, it was a slow rehabilitation.

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Rolfe said in the post that the $80,000 goal would help cover the theaters essential operating costs and unpaid bills. The campaign, which was removed from the GoFundMe website shortly after Rolfe was charged, had raised almost $24,000 as of Jan. 8.

In 2022, Rolfe raised more than $10,000 to restore the historic theaters neon marquee.

The building that houses the theater was opened as a Knights of Columbus hall in 1916, where the group held meetings, dinners, and other events, and even presented stage productions and movies. After a building fire in the 1940s, the space became a regular movie theater, with the Knights of Columbus utilizing the basement as their regular meeting space.

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Larkin Township could choose to reject a DNR grant and not move forward with the purchase of 154 acres adjacent to its Township Hall. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News Larkin Township could choose to reject a DNR grant and not move forward with the purchase of 154 acres adjacent to its Township Hall. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News The land that Larkin Township could potentially purchase is visible from the existing Larkin Township Park. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News

Larkin Township trustees are considering a resolution that would reject a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant and end plans to move forward with the purchase of over 150 acres adjacent to the township hall for use as park land.

The draft resolution comes more than five years after the DNR grant, which would cover 60% of the cost of the land, was initially awarded for the purchase.

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Larkin Township Supervisor Maria Sandow, who was involved in the grant application process and opposes the resolution, says she believes the land is an important investment in the townships future as the area continues to develop.

Our vision was 50 years from now, when Larkin Township is so built up, and there's no place for kids to play, or there's no green space, you have to go up north to be able to get green space, that sort of thing, Sandow said. The way I tell people is my grandkids grandkids, I want them to be able to have green space.

In total, the land would cost $950,000, 40% of which would come from the township. Alongside the park land purchase, the township would purchase five acres from the same landowner, which could be used by the townships fire department.

The landowner is only willing to sell the two parcels of land together, according to Sandow.

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The township learned it had received the grant in late 2020. Since that time, environmental analyses were conducted and legal issues were resolved that involved the estate of a deceased individual who co-owned the property, according to Sandow.

Brine contamination was discovered 14 feet underground in part of the property where a brine transfer station was located, she said, leading to a deed restriction on drilling wells or building at that depth.

The upper ground was not contaminated. The water is not contaminated. It was just that particular piece, where the transfer station was, that was contaminated, Sandow said.

In the years since Larkin received the DNR grant, the township boards makeup has changed.

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Today, newer board members have concerns about the planned purchase.

One of them, Treasurer Mandy Archbold, drafted the resolution that could end the purchase, according to Trustee Karen Hitchcock and video of a March meeting.

Hitchcock had 50 copies of the draft resolution printed and said she is distributing them, along with information about the situation and a request for stakeholders and community members to support the land purchase around the area.

A copy of the draft provided to the Daily News lists several concerns over the property purchase.

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These are the same concerns for the people I represent when they come to me with their tax dollars and say, Don't use my tax dollars on this property, Archbold said in a video of the meeting.

Archbold did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily News.

Concerns listed in the draft resolution include restrictions on the property related to contaminated soil, a purchase price which exceeds the appraised value obtained during the township review, and the presence of regulated wetlands on the property.

The resolution says the regulated wetlands are limiting usable acreage, increasing development constraints, and reducing the feasibility of the Property for Township purposes, and says that the propertys regulated wetlands, restrictive covenants and brine-related limitations could expose the Township to future environmental compliance obligations or liabilities.

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The resolution also references a survey it says demonstrate(s) that a majority of Township residents do not support the purchase of the Property. Some board members have criticized the wording of the survey, which they say was put together by Archbold.

She put in a questionnaire there, should we spend this on the fire department, or should we spend this on the park? Sandow said. This is totally separate from the fire department, because it's a grant for a park.

In addition to a desire to acquire and preserve the land as a park for future generations, some township board members are concerned about the consequences of turning down a DNR grant, and of backing out of the agreement with the current landowner.

I would be curious to know if (the landowner) is going to pursue legal options, because we've had it tied up for so many years, and we're in breach contract, township trustee Todd Draves said. If we don't push forward, we're in breach of contract.

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The grant from the DNR was competitive. Some board members are concerned that Larkin Township would not receive future grant money if it turns down the funds.

At the time of the grant application, representatives of several local organizations and municipalities  including other township supervisors, the Midland County Parks and Recreation Commission, the Midland Business Alliance and the City of Midland  wrote letters of support for the project, Sandow shared.

The township has a loose plan for what to do with the land, according to Sandow, but there isnt an immediate time frame for those improvements, and other grants could be available to help with the cost of those improvements, she said.

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Shovels are plunged into the dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate Little River Holdings holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate Little River Holdings holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate Little River Holdings holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate Little River Holdings holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate Little River Holdings holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate Little River Holdings holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate

MANISTEE  Friday was a special day for Israel Stone.

Not only was it the Little River Holdings president's 50th birthday, but construction of the Gateway project kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony at the corner of River Street and U.S. 31 in Manistee.

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Little River Holdings' $91 million project will comprise a 210-space parking deck, townhouses, apartments, condominiums, a heritage venue, condo-hotel, restaurant, rooftop bar, conference space and other features.

Stone said it was an exciting day for the community.

"I think when this project started my beard was black and not gray," he said. "That said, there was a lot of heavy lifting to do. There were a lot of community members, council members, legislators, ogema  a lot of people we need to thank that came long before I did and contributed to this project."

Little River Holdings president Israel Stone speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate

Around 100 people attended the event, including city manager Bill Gambill, members of the city planning commission, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Council members, Manistee Councty commission Jeff Dontz and other city, county and tribal representatives.

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The Manistee Downtown Development Authority bought the former American Cleaners property at 285 River St. for $70,000 in March 2018, with the goal of jump-starting redevelopment at the entrance to downtown.

Little River Holdings, the economic development arm of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, received the parcel for $1, marking the beginning of the new Gateway redevelopment project.

By spring 2021, the Gateway proposal had stalled. No permit applications or site plans had been filed with the city, despite initial hopes to start construction in 2021.

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The Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce and city officials worked with Little River Holdings to ensure state brownfield funding to help with site prep, looking at loans and grants from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to fund environmental remediation and building demolition.

The House of Flavors, Cadillac Plumbing Heating and Electric, American Cleaners and other buildings were razed in 2022 to make way for the project.

The project was delayed by issues with financing, design modifications in response to financial institutions' requirements, delays in securing grant and loan funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and setbacks in obtaining approval of the Act 381 work plan.

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State Sen. Jon Bumstead speaks during Little River Holdings' groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate

Approval of the Act 381 work plan allows capture of the state component of the tax increment financing for the project.

In October 2022, Little River Holdings announced a pause to re-examine the Gateway projects parameters due to economic challenges.

In early 2025, Little River Holdings submitted a formal brownfield redevelopment plan for the Gateway project, a key step toward using tax incentives to fund environmental cleanup and move from planning into construction.

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During an Oct. 2 meeting, the planning commission approved a special use permit extension request from Little River Holdings to allow the project to progress.

"... We're excited to say that this isn't the end  it's the beginning. ... It's a proud moment for this entire community." "I know people think that the journey's over, that this marks the start of the project and once this is complete we just kind of move on from there. But to me, this represents a different meaning," Stone said. "... When I look around and have everybody standing here, regardless of cultural backgrounds, cultural differences, we're a community. The entire tribal philosophy of our people is humanity. And that's who we are.

Little River Holdings holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gateway project on River Street in Manistee on April 10, 2026. Kyle Kotecki/Manistee News Advocate

The project will be done in two main phases, with the first phase expected to be finished in 2027 and the second in 2029.

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State Sen. Jon Bumstead said the Gateway is a great project not just for Manistee, but the entire state.
Mecosta County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the following calls March 25 through April 8. (File photo) Remington Hernandez/Pioneer Photo

Deputies with the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office responded to the following calls March 25 through April 8. The information is from a report submitted by the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office and compiled by Associate Editor Julie Norwood. Not all calls are included.

Millbrook Twp.: About 8 a.m. March 26, deputies executed a search warrant, arrested a male and a female on warrants and seized a small amount of methamphetamine. The Newaygo County Emergency Response Team and the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Team assisted Mecosta County deputies.

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Wheatland Twp.: At 9:18 p.m. March 26, deputies made a traffic stop, arrested a male passenger on warrants and took him to the Mecosta County Jail.

Aetna Twp.: At 10:06 p.m. March 27, deputies made a traffic stop and arrested a woman for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. They lodged her at the Mecosta County Jail.

Mecosta Twp.: At 11:10 p.m. March 27, deputies made a traffic stop and arrested a man on a warrant. They took him at the Mecosta County Jail.

Mecosta Twp.: At 9:31 p.m. March 28, deputies made a traffic stop and arrested a woman on a warrant. They took her at the Mecosta County Jail.

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Millbrook Twp.: 9:56 p.m. March 28, deputies made a traffic stop and arrested a man for possession of methamphetamine, warrants and a conceal carry weapon violation. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail. They took him to the Mecosta County Jail.

Fork Twp.: At 8:38 p.m. March 31, deputies made a traffic stop, arrested a female passenger for possession of methamphetamine and took her to the Mecosta County Jail.

Aetna Twp.: At 7:41 a.m. April 1, deputies arrested a woman on a warrant and took her to the Mecosta County Jail.

Big Rapids Charter Twp.: At 9:23 a.m. April 1, deputy arrested a woman on several warrants and took her to the Mecosta County Jail.

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Big Rapids Charter Twp.: At 11:28 a.m. April 1, deputies arrested a man on a warrant and took him to the Mecosta County Jail.

Colfax Twp.: At 7:37 p.m. April 1, deputies made a warrant arrest, deputies arrested a man on a warrant and took him to the Mecosta County Jail.

Colfax Twp.: At 10:52 p.m. April 1, deputies responded to a disorderly complaint and arrested a women on several warrants. They took her to the Mecosta County Jail.

Millbrook Twp.: At 9:30 a.m. April 2, deputies arrested a man and woman on several warrants and took them to the Mecosta County Jail. They also arrested another man for a probation violation from Montcalm County and took him to jail there.

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Aetna Twp.: At 2:20 p.m. April 2, deputies arrested a woman to a warrant and took her to the Mecosta County Jail.

Morton Twp.: At 10:34 p.m. April 3, after pursuing a suspect in a vehicle, deputies arrested a man for fleeing/eluding and a bond violation. They took him to the Mecosta County Jail.

Big Rapids Charter Twp.: At 2:07 a.m. Monday, April 6, deputies made a traffic stop and arrested a female passenger on a warrant. They took her to the Mecosta County Jail.

Mecosta County: On April 6, deputies responded to a three vehicle crash on U.S. 131. One person had been pinned in their vehicle. Two drivers sustain serous injuries and were taken to Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital. The third driver sustained life-threatening and was taken to Corewell Health Grand Rapids  Butterworth Hospital.

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Morton Twp.: A 8:56 a.m. April 8, deputies assisted probation/parole officer and arrested a man and a woman for a violation of Michigans Sex Offender Registration Act. Both were lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.
Midland Mayor Maureen Donker speaks to residents concerned about the potential sale of city-owned land at 905 E. Park Drive on April 9, 2026. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News

After voting to allow the City of Midland to solicit sealed bids for the sale of a parcel of land that neighbors call The Point, Mayor Maureen Donker has put a resolution to rescind that decision on the agenda of City Councils upcoming April 13 meeting.

At the March 23 Council meeting, Donker had expressed strong support for opening the property at 905 E. Park Drive up for sale, and a resolution authorizing the city to solicit sealed bids for the parcel of land passed 3-1. Councilmember Diane Brown Wilhelm voted against it and Councilmember Marty Wazbinski was absent.

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But in an outdoor meeting with neighborhood residents Thursday night at the lot in question, Donker said she had changed her mind about selling the land. The item that could reverse Councils previous decision is listed under the new business section of Monday nights agenda.

One of the beautiful things about Council, is you have an opportunity to get more information, Donker told the Daily News. Sometimes you have something you read about it in your packet, and you make a decision based on the best information you have available. And I think all of us on Council work really hard to make sure we have more information if it's out there.

The resolution to solicit bids for the land came after David Collette inquired about purchasing the parcel to build a home there. Neighbors, however, have protested, saying the parcel of land, which lies in a residential neighborhood within the ward that Donker represents on Council, is an important space to the neighborhood community.

If the resolution fails and the city moves forward with the sealed bids, Council would decide at a future meeting whether and to whom to sell the property, with no obligation to sell to the highest bidder, or even at all.

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Other items on the agenda for Mondays meeting include:

 A proclamation designating Friday, April 24 as Arbor Day

 A public hearing on a budget amendment and change order for an annual audit services payment to Yeo & Yeo

 A public hearing on a resolution approving the necessity of the 2026 Downtown Economic Revitalization Public Improvement Special Assessment District

 A show cause hearing on revoking the liquor license of Pis Brothers, Inc., which is doing business as Pis Chinese Restaurant, due to unpaid winter 2025 taxes.

 Introduction and first reading of sewer ordinance amendments.

 Introduction and first reading of water ordinance amendments.

 Introducing the city managers proposed 2026-2027 city-wide budget.

 Allocation of flood mitigation funds.

 2026 Sidewalk Improvement Program.

 Receiving and voting on the Planning Commissions recommendations regarding short-term rentals and bed-and-breakfast establishments.

City Councils meeting will take place on April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, at 333 West Ellsworth Street.
The Pioneer is hosting an after-hours event with the Big Rapids Regional Chamber on Thursday, April 16. Austin Chastain/Pioneer Photo

BIG RAPIDS  An after-hours event is set for next week with a luau theme in downtown Big Rapids.

The Pioneer is hosting a Big Rapids Regional Chamber after-hours event from 5:30-7 on Thursday, April 16, at the Pioneer's office located at 115 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids.

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With the luau theme, there will be a spread of Hawaiian food along with a photo booth, props and refreshments for guests. Anyone attending is asked to RSVP through the event page on the chamber's website, brregionalchamber.org. Also an integral part of the event, there will be a business card drawing for various prizes.

This is the second after-hours event the chamber has put together, the first was at Tacia Weatlh Management in March.

Chamber President and CEO Sarah Dixon said the goal of the event is to have local businesses get together and showcase businesses to one another.

"It's essentially the networking and then to highlight that business in our community," Dixon said. "(We) promote the chamber, as well."

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The chamber, which just held its kickoff breakfast event on Thursday, gives local businesses additional opportunities for marketing, networking and other support.
Michigan State Police File photo

TRAVERSE CITY  A Kingsley man now faces charges of contractor fraud in Traverse City after being arraigned on similar charges in Benzie County earlier this year.

Travis Reimer, 55, was charged with four counts of contractor fraud  fraudulent use of building contract funds  in Grand Traverse County's 86th District Court on April 7, according to a Michigan State Police news release.

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His next court appearance is a probable cause conference at 2 p.m. April 21 in in Traverse City. Reimer posted a $2,500 bond in Grand Traverse County.

Court documents show Reimer is scheduled to be arraigned on an additional charge of contractor fraud  fraudulent use of building contract funds  in Leelanau County.

That arraignment is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. April 14, also in 86th District Court, which serves Leelanau, Antrim and Grand Traverse counties.

Reimer was arraigned in Benzie Countys 85th District Court in January on two felony counts of being a contractor who fraudulently used a building contract fund. In Benzie County, Reimer is scheduled for a preliminary exam at 1 p.m. on May 21.

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According the Friday news release, the Traverse City Post began investigating Reimer on Oct. 23, 2024.

The release states the preliminary investigation revealed that, between 2017 and the present, homeowners across northern Michigan paid Reimer more than $400,000 for home additions and other construction projects.

While subcontractors completed some of the work, Reimer allegedly failed to pay them and instead used the funds for personal gain, according to the release.
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U.S. companies eyeing Venezuelas vast mineral wealth may find themselves entering one of the worlds most opaque and dangerous supply chains  a gold economy dominated by armed groups, criminal syndicates and corrupt military-run networks that experts say could expose foreign firms to money laundering, human-rights abuses and environmental destruction.

The risks come as Washington quietly opens the door to mining investment following the capture of former strongman Nicolas Maduro, creating a rare moment of cooperation with Caracas even as much of the countrys mineral-rich south remains under the control of violent groups, from guerrillas to armed gangs.

The opening follows a series of U.S. licenses allowing negotiations, transactions and preliminary investment agreements involving Venezuelan gold and other minerals, part of a broader effort to stabilize the countrys economy under interim President Delcy Rodriguez. While intended to attract foreign capital and formalize production, analysts say the measures could draw American firms into a sector where extraction remains largely informal, oversight is limited and armed groups and military-linked networks control significant portions of the supply chain.

The shift comes amid an unusual thaw between Washington and Caracas following the pre-dawn U.S. operation earlier this year that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who now face drug trafficking charges in federal court in New York.

In the aftermath of the raid, Venezuelas socialist leadership reorganized around Rodriguez, who has pursued pragmatic cooperation with U.S. officials as part of a broader stabilization effort that includes energy, security and economic engagement.

Since Maduros apprehension, U.S. officials have maintained regular contacts with Rodriguezs government, which has sought sanctions relief and foreign investment while pledging to restore order in key sectors, including oil and mining. The emerging cooperation has opened the door for American companies to explore opportunities in Venezuelas mineral-rich south, even as governance on the ground remains dominated by armed groups and informal networks. The alignment reflects a transactional relationship in which Washington gains access to strategic resources while Caracas seeks revenue and international legitimacy during a fragile transition.

Any takers?

Despite the policy shift, U.S. corporate interest has remained limited.

So far, no U.S. company has publicly announced plans to enter Venezuelas mining sector, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the opening. The only disclosed deal involves Singaporean commodities trader Trafigura, which has offices in Houston and which signed an agreement with Venezuelas state-owned miner Minerven to purchase between 650 and 1,000 kilograms of gold dore  a semi-refined, impure alloy  for shipment to U.S. refineries under a separate arrangement with Washington, as first reported by Axios.

A White House official confirmed the agreement, telling Reuters that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum helped secure what the administration described as a historic transaction aimed at helping restore Venezuelas mining sector while supplying minerals to American industry. The official did not provide details on pricing or other terms of the deal.

The agreement has already drawn scrutiny in Washington. In a letter sent April 7 to Trafiguras chief executive, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, warned that corruption, environmental damage and forced labor are widespread in Venezuelas mining sector, much of which is linked to criminal organizations and groups designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations.

The senator requested details about the companys human-rights due diligence, anti-money laundering safeguards and efforts to ensure the gold was not sourced from illicit operations before entering U.S. markets.

Wyden also noted that Minerven had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for operating in a sector used to finance armed groups and sustain the Maduro government, and said key details of the new agreement  including supply chain verification, counterparties and environmental safeguards  remain unclear. The letter asks Trafigura to identify the origin of the gold, compliance mechanisms and any U.S. entities involved in refining or distributing the material, highlighting concerns that Venezuelan gold linked to human rights abuses could enter American supply chains.

It is unclear whether Trafigura has responded to the senators letter.

Not like oil

Cristina Burelli, founder of the environmental watchdog SOS Orinoco, said the policy shift risks creating a dangerous mismatch between legal authorization and realities on the ground, where mining operations are largely controlled by armed actors.

The United States is trying to apply the same logic used for oil to minerals, she said, warning that the mining economy is far more fragmented and difficult to monitor. Venezuelas mineral extraction is spread in different mines all through the southern region, which amount to roughly 200,000 square miles  about four times the size of the state of Florida  with an estimated 90% of production smuggled through informal channels, making meaningful due diligence extremely difficult.

Unlike oil, which flows through pipelines and centralized infrastructure, gold production in southern Venezuela is dispersed across hundreds of small sites accessible only by river, dirt tracks or airstrips. The fragmented geography allows armed groups to dominate territory, tax miners and control supply chains long before the gold reaches official channels.

In Venezuelas southern mining regions, particularly Bolivar and Amazonas states, extraction is dominated by small-scale miners operating under the control of armed groups, criminal gangs and military units. Access to fuel, machinery and transportation routes often requires payments in gold to authorities or armed networks, embedding illicit production in the supply chain.

That structure means foreign investors entering the sector  even indirectly  could end up purchasing gold that has passed through illegal hands. Guerrilla groups such as Colombias National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident FARC factions and Venezuelan criminal organizations operate across mining zones, frequently imposing taxes on miners and controlling pits through violence.

Burelli also warned the policy shift could transform Venezuela into a laundering hub for illicit gold from across the Amazon basin, with miners from Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and Suriname channeling production through Venezuelan networks before reaching global buyers.

This will become the easiest route to clean illegal gold, she said.

Financing violent networks

Those concerns are echoed by Bram Ebus, a consultant for the International Crisis Group and co-director of Amazon Underworld, a media alliance that covers and investigates impacts on the Amazon region, who says foreign engagement in Venezuelas mining sector risks financing armed groups and human-rights abuses.

What we think is that the U.S. is going for Venezuelas minerals without any precaution when it comes to contributing to financing human-rights violations, non-state armed groups, including groups on the U.S. terrorist list like the National Liberation Army, the ELN, Ebus said. Environmental protections are really low, and we dont see that the U.S. is requiring this bar to be heightened when it comes to safeguards.

He also warned that illicit minerals could enter international markets through Venezuelan state companies, effectively laundering gold from neighboring countries before it reaches U.S. refiners.

If the gold goes through a Venezuelan state company, it can be sold as Venezuelan gold to the United States. Previously toxic gold might become part of the U.S. refining market, Ebus said.

Ebus added that interest in Venezuela is already dividing potential investors, with smaller risk-taking firms eager to enter while major companies remain cautious.

What we see are cowboy companies very much wanting to get involved, while more reputable mining companies are very wary, he said.

In many mining districts, criminal organizations effectively govern territory, controlling entry, resolving disputes and enforcing authority through violence.

They can decide who enters and leaves a mining area. They carry out rudimentary forms of justice, including summary killings, Ebus said.

He described Venezuelan gold as inherently tied to violence.

Gold in Venezuela is never bloodless, he said. Non-state armed groups commit the most brutal human rights violations  sexual violence, disappearances, torture, killings and child involvement.

Security risks, criminal control

Security expert Jose Garcia, a specialist in Venezuelan military intelligence, said the situation on the ground remains highly volatile and dominated by criminal groups, raising additional risks for foreign companies considering entry into the sector.

Garcia said mining areas in Bolivar state remain under the control of organizations such as gangs such as Tren de Aragua and Tren de Guayana and ELN guerrillas, which operate across different mines and control workers, transport routes and processing centers. The territory, he warned, functions as a patchwork of criminal enclaves rather than a unified mining zone.

He said dismantling those structures would require sustained mine-by-mine operations, not limited security interventions, because each site is run by its own armed hierarchy.

According to Garcia, U.S. companies could initially enter the market by purchasing unprocessed ore for cyanidation and refining  a step that could place them directly into supply chains dominated by criminal groups. Cyanidation is a process used to extract gold from low-grade ore by dissolving it in a dilute cyanide solution.

Garcia said he has identified at least 79 companies operating across the mining process, including material supply, extraction, cyanidation and gold processing.

That layered structure, he said, creates multiple points where illicit gold can be blended into legal streams before export.

Garcia also warned that the United States may be underestimating the territorial complexity of the mining zones. While negotiations and legal frameworks are being developed in Caracas, the actual mines remain controlled by armed groups with their own governance systems.

He described the opening of the sector as a high risk, high reward scenario in which early entrants may accept exposure to criminal networks in exchange for access to valuable deposits. Some companies, he said, are already exploring positioning themselves before stronger regulatory frameworks are in place.

Working conditions in the mines further illustrate the risks. Garcia said miners operate in extremely precarious environments marked by tunnel collapses, landslides and improvised extraction techniques. Workers often enter deep shafts using rudimentary equipment, while enforcement of rules is carried out through violence.

He also described a broader social ecosystem shaped by human trafficking, prostitution, tuberculosis and debt systems that trap workers in near-slavery conditions. Violence is used to enforce discipline, and those accused of theft or rule violations may be executed or disappeared.

The result, Garcia said, is an environment where supply chains are inseparable from criminal governance, making it difficult for foreign buyers to ensure minerals are not linked to abuses.

A decade of violence

Oscar Murillo, general coordinator of Venezuelan human-rights organization PROVEA, said the risks facing foreign companies must also be understood in the context of the Orinoco Mining Arc, a vast territory created by the Venezuelan regime through a decree in 2016 that spans almost 45,000 square miles  about the size of the state of Pennsylvania.

Murillo said the initiative was originally presented as a large-scale industrial mining project designed to attract multinational investment, but it never materialized. Instead, the decree became a framework that allowed illegal mining to expand across southern Venezuela.

Without legal guarantees and amid Venezuelas institutional crisis, major companies stayed away. Into that vacuum stepped irregular armed groups, criminal organizations and military units that began controlling extraction sites and local populations.

Murillo said the Mining Arc later became a financial lifeline for the Venezuelan regime as oil revenues collapsed, with gold extraction expanding rapidly under opaque arrangements involving state players and armed groups. The growth came alongside environmental destruction, displacement of indigenous communities and widespread violence.

He described mining zones marked by murders, disappearances and forced labor, with miners often required to surrender large portions of their production to armed groups controlling the sites. Institutional oversight largely collapsed, turning parts of southern Venezuela into areas where the rule of law effectively disappeared.

Together, Murillo said, these dynamics created a mining economy dominated by armed group  a structure that remains largely intact as foreign investment begins to explore entry into the sector.

The expansion came at the expense of local communities and the environment. Forests were cleared, rivers contaminated and Indigenous territories encroached upon, he said.

The Mining Arc acted as a financial lifeline, Murillo said, adding that the revenue was accompanied by systematic human rights violations, displacement of Indigenous communities and the collapse of public services.

Murillo also highlighted the broader environmental consequences, noting that the affected region lies within the Venezuelan Amazon and includes key watersheds that feed into the Amazon basin.

Systematic human rights violations

Murillo said mining zones are characterized by murders, massacres, disappearances and forced labor, with miners often required to hand over large portions of their production to armed groups.

He said workers frequently operate in shafts 60 to 70 meters deep under unsafe conditions, while landslides and tunnel collapses regularly cause deaths. Armed groups impose rules, enforce discipline and punish violations with violence.

There is no official inspection ensuring safe environmental and hygiene conditions, Murillo said, adding that miners are often forced to surrender up to 70% of their gold to criminal groups controlling the sites.

The collapse of institutional oversight has compounded the risks. Murillo said Venezuela once had established mining institutions, including state company Minerven, but those structures have largely broken down.

There are no investigations into crimes or disappearances, he said, describing mining areas as territories where the rule of law has effectively disappeared.

Strategic opportunity, legal risk

Environmental groups say the risks extend beyond criminal financing to broader ecological destruction if foreign investment accelerates extraction.

Fundacion AguaClara, a Venezuelan environmental nonprofit with more than two decades of work in the countrys southern ecosystems, has warned that opening the sector could trigger a deeper expansion of mining across fragile regions of the Venezuelan Amazon.

This is not just about changing partners. Opening the door to the United States signals a much broader mining advance, including into critical minerals such as thorium, the organization said, noting that the radioactive element has been identified in southern Venezuela.

The group also warned that labeling minerals as strategic could increase militarization and leave existing extraction dynamics intact. The pranes, the criminal syndicates, the guerrilla groups  protected by corrupt national military officials  all of them will continue to operate. Unless the extractive model changes, it will remain gold of violent origin, the foundation said.

AguaClara also emphasized the human and environmental toll, particularly for Indigenous communities. The people living in these communities are not being taken into account. Their habitats are being destroyed, pushing them toward conditions close to extermination, the group said.

Together, experts paint a picture of a sector where formal investment risks intersecting with criminal governance, armed violence and illicit supply chains.

For U.S. companies, the opportunity to access gold and critical minerals comes with the possibility of inadvertently financing armed groups, laundering illicit production or becoming entangled in networks that dominate Venezuelas mining frontier.

The danger is that companies think they are entering a regulated market, Burelli said. In reality, they may be stepping into a criminal economy.

_____

2026 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Gen. Dan Caine offered an interesting tally on Wednesday as he noted the amounts of caffeine, nicotine and rations that powered U.S. forces through Operation Epic Fury, hours after a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran took effect and handed American troops their first pause in 38 days of combat.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff used a Pentagon briefing to break down the logistics behind a force of more than 50,000 service members deployed across U.S. Central Command, U.S. European Command and stateside installations supporting the campaign.

The figures were delivered alongside a warning from the Pentagon's top uniformed officer that the reprieve in fighting could prove fleeting.

Consumption by the Numbers

"Along the way, we consumed more than six million meals, and by my estimate, more than 950,000 gallons of coffee, two million energy drinks, and a lot of nicotine, but I am not saying that we have a problem," Caine said at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

The tally amounts to roughly 7.6 million 16-ounce cups poured across less than six weeks of fighting, or about 25,000 gallons a day.

Caine said the numbers obscured more than they revealed about what service members actually endured. He described combat in the theater as rough, relentless work carried out in chaotic, hot, dark and unpredictable conditions.

The briefing came as the halt in hostilities, announced the previous evening, began to take hold. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking alongside Caine, called the campaign a decisive battlefield victory and said the department had done its part for the time being.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine conduct a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., April 8, 2026. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Brann)

Hegseth said American forces would remain postured in the region to ensure Iran complied with the terms of the truce.

Caine was blunt about the fragile nature of the agreement. A ceasefire, he said, was only a pause, and the joint force stood ready to resume strikes at the same pace if ordered back into action.

Operation Epic Fury began Feb. 28 with three stated military objectives. Caine listed them as destroying Iran's ballistic missile and drone capabilities, sinking the Iranian navy and dismantling its defense industrial base.

The chairman said the joint force struck more than 13,000 targets, flew over 10,000 missions, intercepted roughly 1,700 incoming ballistic missiles and attack drones, and sank 150 Iranian ships. Thirteen American service members were killed in action during the operation, while more than 300 were wounded.

Fuel for a Modern Force

The coffee, energy drinks and tobacco cited at the briefing placed Operation Epic Fury in a long tradition of American troops leaning on legal stimulants to stay awake and alert through deployments that routinely test the limits of human endurance.

Coffee has been a staple of American rations since the Civil War, when Union soldiers were issued beans they roasted and ground themselves before long marches.

Cigarettes were included in C-rations for decades before the Defense Department phased them out in the mid-1970s. Amphetamines, nicknamed "go pills," were issued to Army Air Forces pilots during World War II and remained in limited use with select Air Force aircrews in the decades that followed.

The energy drink era arrived with the Global War on Terror. National Beverage Corp., which manufactures the Rip It brand, reached an arrangement in 2004 to make its canned caffeine widely available to deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 8-ounce cans became a fixture of chow halls, guard posts and convoy staging areas across the entire Central Command theater. A single can delivered roughly 100 milligrams of caffeine alongside taurine and guarana seed extract, and troops on extended shifts were known to consume several cans in one sitting.

Spc. Kyle Lauth, of Calverton, N.Y., sips an energy drink in preparation for a dismounted patrol through the Hussaniyah town of the Istaqlal Qada, Dec. 29, 2008. Lauth is an infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, currently attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division  Baghdad. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jb Jaso)

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research began studying the pattern at the height of those wars. A 2012 report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report drew on a 2010 survey of 1,249 soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan.

The report found that roughly 45 percent of deployed troops were drinking at least one energy drink daily and about 14 percent were consuming three or more cans a day.

A follow-on study by Walter Reed psychologists, published in the journal Military Medicine in 2018, tracked more than 600 infantry soldiers in the months after they returned home.

The authors concluded that heavy energy drink use during the post-deployment window was associated with elevated rates of fatigue, aggressive behavior and mental health problems.

Nicotine has kept pace with caffeine in the field. The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey, the Defense Department's official health survey of active-duty personnel, found that 12.7 percent of service members were current smokeless tobacco users, compared with 3.4 percent of U.S. civilians.

Caine closed his remarks by thanking the joint force and the families of deployed troops. Regardless of the ceasefire, troops still manning their posts in the region will likely keep consuming energy drinks and coffee as they continue their daily jobs.
As the U.S. and Iran work to cement a ceasefire, with peace talks set to start on Saturday, a former member of SEAL Team 6 and a decorated combat veteran is weighing in on the conflict and how close the U.S. came to losing several military fighters.

We dont know whats really going to happen right now, said retired Navy veteran Donn Mann, author of the new book, "The Navy SEAL Playbook", in an interview with Military.com. I dont believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a ceasefire. He is all about destroying Iran, and right now, he has President Trump on his side. This war is just not going very well.

Donn Mann, former Seal Team 6 and retired Navy veteran, relieved over rescue of F-15E crew in Iran after daring U.S. military operation (Donn Mann).

Mann was especially concerned after the downing and then daring rescue of the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle, shot down over Iran on April 3. The emergency began when an Iranian missile hit a two-seater F-15E, which bore the call sign DUDE 44. The pilot and a weapons system officer, or WSO, were on board and managed to eject themselves. But they were down in hostile territory and isolated behind enemy lines, with their rescue beacons still active.

In the U.S. Military, we do our very, very best to leave no man behind. It is our ethos, said Mann. Whatever the risk is you go after that person and rescue them."

President Trump Calls Rescue Mission Historic

In a televised press briefing at the White House on April 6, President Trump called the rescue mission very historic and added, itll go down in the books. He said within hours, the pilot was recovered with the help of 21 military aircraft that flew into hostile airspace, operating for seven hours in broad daylight and flying at such a low altitude they were being shot at by rifles.

President Trump detailed daring rescue of F-15E crew shot down in Iran during April 6 White House press briefing (White House).

We have a helicopter thats got a lot of bullets in it, Trump said. The flight crews and warfighters aboard those aircraft took extraordinary risks to rescue their fellow service members.

But the rescue of the WSO took longer and was much more dire for both the downed soldier and the rescuers.

We got the one pilot out pretty quickly, and that was a relief. But the colonel, when he went down, he was badly injured and had to quickly move away from the wreckage and up a mountain undetected, said Mann. He clearly practiced Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape or SERE training, which is what we rely on in combat. You have to do your best to hide out and get away. You just learn to survive.

Iran Wanted Downed Airman as Bargaining Chip

Officials with the U.S. Defense Department said Iran was eager to capture the WSO, which would have given its government a bargaining chip to use against the U.S. government. Irans government offered a large bounty to capture the WSO, with Iranian soldiers on a mission to find him.

Deception tactics by the U.S. proved to be critical.

That was a beautiful part of this operation, the deception, said Mann. Our commanders and rescuers used decoys and misinformation on the WSOs whereabouts to send Iran in another direction, away from where the WSO was actually hiding. They made the Iranians believe he was already picked up. The CIA was a big part of that, they pulled off a deception operation that worked really well.

Trump said the WSO followed his training, and despite his injuries, climbing up treacherous mountain terrain to reach a higher altitude, he was able to transmit his exact location.

Thats when the U.S. military sent a second rescue wave of 155 aircraft, Trump said, including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers, and 13 rescue aircraft, flying for seven hours in darkness. On the morning of April 4, the CIA confirmed the WSO was alive and hiding undetected in a mountain cave. Eventually, the WSO stood up from his cover and was spotted by the CIA.

But it was still a battle to reach the soldier. Trump said U.S. forces fought hard against Iranian forces near the WSOs hideout while rescuers successfully retrieved him. DUDE 44 Bravo had been on the run, bleeding and alone, for nearly 48 hours.

I wasnt there, but I know the training and I know the danger involved in an operation like this, said Mann. In an ideal world, yes, this wont happen again. But I dont think we can sit back and stand down in a ceasefire with Iran, because there are just so many things that can still go wrong.
Somalilands top diplomat in Washington says formal US recognition would deliver immediate strategic gains for American forces in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Bashir Goth, Somalilands representative to the United States, told a recent Foreign Policy Research Institute debate that If the US recognizes Somaliland, we will automatically join the Abraham Accords.

Goth, who has represented the Republic of Somaliland in the United States since 2018, described a surge of excitement in Washington since Israels December 2025 recognition. There has been a lot of excitement, he told Military.com in an exclusive interview. It was very welcome news to all of those people who support and advocate for Somaliland.

With Israeli officials visiting Hargeisa last month and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi preparing for a first-ever trip to Jerusalem, Goth sees the moment as ripe for the United States to move forward.

Recognition has taken on fresh urgency as President Trump considers relocating US troops from alliances and bases that deliver limited returns to locations offering clearer strategic advantages. Somalilands stable, self-funded democracy and prime position on the Gulf of Aden make it an ideal candidate for such a pivot, providing basing rights, exclusive mineral access and a reliable counterweight to Chinese, Houthis, or other adversarial influences without the open-ended aid commitments that drain US resources elsewhere in the Horn.

Path to the Abraham Accords

Goth has consistently linked US recognition to deeper security partnerships. Joining the Abraham Accords, he said, would lock in joint efforts against adversarial influence in a region where one-third of global shipping passes through chokepoints Somaliland helps secure.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), meets with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, president of Somaliland, in Hargeisa, Somaliland, Nov. 26, 2025. The meeting was part of Gen. Andersons trip in East Africa to meet with government and defense leaders to strengthen Americas strategic approach to confronting terrorism through mutual engagement, stronger cooperation, and aligned security priorities. (U.S. Army photo by Cpt. Ubon Mendie)

Military Momentum on the Hill and in the Pentagon

Goth reports strong support from Congress and growing interest inside the Trump administration. From the Hill we have very good support, he told Military.com. A recent bill would expand financial access for Somaliland, and recognition is gaining momentum overall. A key concern from the administration, he added, is counterterrorism cooperation.

The recent war in the Middle East has elevated Somalilands strategic importance, Goth noted. US military engagement has indeed intensified. U.S. Military interest has been very strong, he said. Engagement has increased. Every month, there has been a delegation from AFRICOM to Hargeisa.

A Self-Reliant Strategic Partner

Somaliland has a long history of independent autonomy from neighboring countries. It has built functioning institutions and modernized the Port of Berbera through private investment.

Goth emphasized Somalilands value as a democratic outlier. We sometimes call ourselves the Taiwan of Africa because we are in a similar position in global politics, he told Military.com. Somaliland is the only country in the Horn of Africa that is countering Chinese influence. We are the second country in Africa that has relations with Taiwan.

On concrete partnership offers, Goth outlined clear priorities. Somaliland could grant the United States exclusive rights to critical minerals, he said, citing recent statements from Somalilands president. The military access would also provide an undeniable benefit in a critical strategic location. The port at Berbera would be all for the United States, he added.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and AFRICOM senior leaders, conducted a series of high-level visits to Africa including a stop in Somaliland, Nov. 23-27, 2025. The visits were part of an East Africa trip aimed to strengthen Americas strategic approach to confronting terrorism through mutual engagement, stronger cooperation, and aligned security priorities. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Tucceri)

What Recognition Would Deliver

Formal recognition would open immediate practical doors, Goth said. It will open up a myriad of arenas, he explained. We will have access to financial institutions. Right now, we only run on local revenue. By having recognition, it will open up venues and open up other countries to recognize us.

He closed with a straightforward assessment of Somalilands reliability. I think Somaliland would be a very reliable partner for the US for security and economic prosperity, Goth told Military.com. For example, countering adversaries in the region.

Goths office also pointed to supporting legislation already on the books. Rep. Rose has introduced a bill that would require an annual report on trade and investment barriers facing Somaliland. In addition, elements of the earlier Somaliland Partnership Act, written by Senators Risch, Rounds, and Van Hollen, were incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act a few years ago; that law marked the first time Somaliland appeared in US legislation and required the State Department and Defense Department to produce annual assessments of US interests and security ties with Somaliland.

For US military planners focused on the Horn of Africa, recognition would convert quiet cooperation into open strategic access at a time when adversaries are expanding footholds. As reported previously in Military.com, the strategic implications of Somaliland recognition extend far beyond diplomacy into the core of US posture in the region.
Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers is nearing a return, according to MLB.coms Christina De Nicola. Stowers will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp this Friday. The 28-year-old enjoyed a breakout 2025 after cracking 25 homers, and his 149 wRC+ (a ballpark-adjusted measure of total offensive production that indicates he was 49% better than a league-average hitter) ranked 8th among all batters with a minimum of 450 PAs.

Stowers, who primarily split time between the corner outfield spots last year, has begun taking first base drills in addition to his usual outfield work. While manager Clayton McCullough didnt commit to using Stowers there, he called it a possibility that the Fish could occasionally get him first base work in games. Coming off a Grade-1 hamstring injury, the Marlins will be keen to protect their star hitters health and address the void at 1B in the wake of Christopher Morels oblique injury.

In Morels absence, the Marlins have Frankensteined a first baseman, primarily out of Connor Norby and contributions from Liam Hicks, Graham Pauley, and prospect Deyvison De Los Santos. Although the early returns have been positive, there are some roster advantages to having Stowers at first. While Stowers has not donned a first base mitt professionally at any level, the Marlins have a glut of outfield options with Jakob Marsee, Owen Caissie, Heriberto Hernandez, Griffin Conine, and Austin Slater on the active roster. Playing Stowers at first base also gives them the option to insert an extra left-hander into the lineup alongside Griffin, Marsee, and Caissie, and despite being a finalist for the 2025 left field Gold Glove, advanced defensive metrics like DRS (1) and FRV (0) value Stowers contributions as neutral/average (in Stowers defense, none of the other Marlins outfielders are pushing him out of left with their defensive production to this point).

However, not all the health news coming out of Miami is positive: Conine exited Thursdays game against the Reds with left hamstring discomfort, McCullough told reporters (including Kevin Barral of Fish on First). Conine has been hot in the early going with a .300/.390/.650 triple-slash with a pair of homers and steals, good for a 188 wRC+ (88% better offensive production than league average), but he may have an IL trip ahead of him. Barral also notes that De Los Santos was pulled from the Jacksonville lineup mid-game as a possible precursor to a corresponding move (should Conines injury warrant an IL trip). De Los Santos, who profiles as an aggressive, power-over-hit batter, should be in the mix for first base starts alongside fellow righty hitter Connor Norby while the Marlins continue to weigh their options at first and in the outfield.
Tesla currently sells only the Model Y electric SUV in India.

Varun Singh A journalist covering the automotive sector in depth, across business and product verticals. Trying to hit the gym at least four times a week! I am not a fitness freak though.
Assam HSLC Result 2026 Live: Compartment exam rules explained

The Assam State School Education Board has stated that students who have failed in up to three subjects but secured a minimum of 170 aggregate marks are eligible for the HSLC Compartmental Examination 2026. The exam will be held as a single-chance opportunity for candidates.

To qualify, students must score at least 30% in each subject and a total of 180 marks overall. The examination fee is Rs 500 per subject, along with an additional Rs 150 as the centre fee.
Australias Deakin University and Telangana AI Innovation Hub, Aikam, sign strategic MoU on skilling, research and innovation

Deakin University and Telangana have partnered on applied AI, launching a new research hub and skilling plans, but how this global collaboration will reshape innovation, jobs, and governance remains intriguing.









Deakin University and Telangana sign AI partnership MoU Deakin University and Telangana sign MoU for AI collaboration

Joint research centre to focus on applied artificial intelligence

Partnership to advance AI education, research, and workforce Did our AI summary help?
BARC Result 2026 declared: Merit list out at barcocesexam.in; direct link here to check shortlisted candidates

BARC Result 2026 released shortlisted candidates for next selection stages, but what follows after qualification and how final selection unfolds could determine candidates future opportunities at the institute.









BARC Result 2026 BARC Result 2026 released online in PDF format today

Shortlisted candidates' roll numbers listed in the result

Qualified candidates move to interviews and document checks Did our AI summary help?
Quote of the Day by Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder: "Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't..."

Jeff Bezos quote stresses choosing resourceful people who inspire growth, creativity, and problem-solving, helping you make better use of time and achieve success.









Quote of the Day by Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder: "Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't..." Jeff Bezos says to spend time with resourceful people.

Resourceful people help boost innovation and productivity.

Choosing your circle wisely is key to success and growth. Did our AI summary help?
Bang Si Hyuk reveals he asked BTS members to cut personal breaks for ARIRANG; upset fans say, 'Free BTS from this demon'

ARMYs were far from impressed. Social media quickly filled with criticism, with several accusing Bang Si Hyuk of prioritising productivity over the members well-being.









Bang Si Hyuk Bang Si Hyuk criticized for urging BTS to work post-military

Fans accuse HYBE of prioritizing productivity over BTS's rest

Some fans defend BTS's autonomy in choosing to work Did our AI summary help?
Hansika Motwani files Rs 2 crore defamation suit against brother's ex-wife Muskan Nancy James amid family dispute

Hansika Motwani files Rs 2 crore defamation case against Muskan Nancy James over alleged false claims, seeks apology and legal restraint orders.









Hansika Motwani files Rs 2 crore defamation suit against brother's ex-wife Muskan Nancy James amid family dispute Hansika Motwani sues Muskan James for 2 crore defamation

Hansika seeks damages, public apology, and restraining order

Legal dispute centers on alleged unpaid Rs 27 lakh and defamation Did our AI summary help?
Vijays Jana Nayagan faces a major setback after leaked footage surfaces online, with producer Dhananjayan urging cyber cell action and industry voices rallying in support.

Did our AI summary help?

Reacting strongly to the leak, Tamil film producer Dhananjayan has called for immediate action and urged authorities to step in.
Outcome is a bold and thoughtful film that looks at fame, guilt, and public image with an unusual mix of humour and discomfort.
Probe finds Kumbh Mela girl Monalisa is a minor, POCSO case filed against husband Farman Khan

Monalisa, who went viral during the Kumbh Mela, is now at the centre of controversy after authorities found she may be a minor. A POCSO case has been filed against her husband following an investigation confirming she was underage at the time of marriage.









Monalisa is reportedly a minor Monalisa, viral Kumbh Mela star, married at age 16

Husband Farman Khan faces POCSO and conspiracy charges

NCST confirms Monalisa is a minor from the Pardhi tribe Did our AI summary help?
Rajasthan HC stays proceedings against Salman Khan in pan masala ad case

Salman Khan has received relief as the Rajasthan High Court stayed ongoing proceedings in the pan masala endorsement case. The courts intervention comes amid legal challenges over jurisdiction and procedural issues raised by the actors defence.

Gayatri Rani April 10, 2026 / 22:48 IST























Salman Khan gets interim relief Rajasthan HC stays consumer case against Salman Khan

Salman Khan and pan masala manufacturer receive temporary relief

Salman to star in war drama Maatrubhumi based on Galwan conflict Did our AI summary help?
Ranveer Singh to revise apology in Kantara Daiva controversy after court flags lack of genuine remorse'

Ranveer Singh will revise apology in Kantara mimicry case after court questions remorse; next hearing scheduled for April 23.









Ranveer Singh to revise apology in Kantara Daiva controversy after court flags lack of genuine remorse' Ranveer Singh to revise apology affidavit post court hearing

Controversy arose from mimicry of Kantara character at IFFI Goa

Court directs Singh to file revised affidavit by April 23 Did our AI summary help?
Soon after the first shows, several viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their opinions, and the response so far appears to be a mixed bag.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Raj Anadkat to make a comeback with Sony SAB's next; will replace Avinash Mishra

Raj Anadkat will apparently be seen opposite Khushi Dubey in the new show, which is being produced for Sony SAB. Avinash is rumoured to be a part of Khatron Ke Khiladi 15.









Raj Anadkat Raj Anadkat returns to TV with a new Sony Sab series

He replaces Avinash Mishra as lead in Inspire Films production

Raj may be paired with Khushi Dubey in the upcoming show Did our AI summary help?
Tiger Shroff sells Pune flat for Rs 8.87 crore, clocks over 18% profit in under two years

Tiger Shroff sold his Pune apartment for Rs 8.87 crore, earning over 18% returns after buying it for Rs 7.5 crore in 2024.









Tiger Shroff sells Pune flat for Rs 8.87 crore, clocks over 18% profit in under two years Tiger Shroff sold Pune apartment for Rs 8.87 crore

He earned an 18.3 percent profit in less than two years

Buyer Cherise (India) Pvt Ltd previously leased the property Did our AI summary help?
Yash Chopra Foundation launches 2026 scholarship program, offers up to Rs 5 lakh for film industry workers children

Yash Chopra Foundation launches 2026 scholarships offering up to Rs 5 lakh to children of film workers, supporting undergraduate and postgraduate education across multiple disciplines in India.









Yash Chopra Foundation launches 2026 scholarship program, offers up to Rs 5 lakh for film industry workers children YCF Scholarship offers up to Rs 5 lakh for film industry families

Program supports UG and PG studies in diverse fields for 202627

Only children of registered Hindi film workers may apply Did our AI summary help?
Quote of the day by Amish Tripathi: Weak people never admit that they are responsible for their

When you take responsibility for your life and your actions you become stronger. Those who blame others for their mistakes are weak and therefore can never take charge of their lives. The quote by Amish Tripathi reveals why embracing your actions Is a true sign of power.









Amish Tripathi is an Indian author and mythological storyteller. (Picture: X) Blaming others for mistakes leads to frustration and helplessness

Taking responsibility empowers you and promotes personal growth

Owning your actions boosts confidence and deepens relationships Did our AI summary help?
Anthropics Mythos AI model scare sparks urgent Bessent, Powell warning to bank CEOs

Anthropics Mythos is a more powerful system that the AI firm has said is capable of identifying and then exploiting vulnerabilities in every major operating system and web browser when directed by a user to do so.









Powell and Bessent called banks to discuss AI cyber risk concerns

Anthropic's Mythos AI model flagged for potential vulnerabilities

Banks warned over emerging AI-powered cyberattack risks Did our AI summary help?
MC EXCLUSIVE Avendus Wealth CIO Saurabh Rungta to step down; second big exit this month

Rungtas is the second senior person to leave in April after the parent, Avendus Capital, sealed a deal with Japanese investment bank Mizuho Securities









MD and CIO of Avendus Wealth, Saurabh Rungta Saurabh Rungta to exit Avendus Wealth Management as CIO

Avendus seeks external candidates to replace Rungta

Co-founder Kaushal Aggarwal to handle CIO duties temporarily Did our AI summary help?
India is buying Russian crude like never before as Middle East supply tightens

India is expected to keep buying Russian crude at elevated levels as Middle East supply tightens and concerns over US sanctions recede.









Refiners expect Russian oil purchases to stay elevated through the year as Middle East supply disruptions persist and fears of US sanctions begin to ease. India boosts Russian oil buys as Mideast supplies tighten

Imports from Russia hit 1.98 million barrels a day in March

India expects to keep buying Russian oil at high levels this year Did our AI summary help?
For this week, both contracts have so far lost about 11%, the biggest weekly decline since June 2025 when the previous Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran were halted..
Dubai limits foreign flights until May 31, hitting Indian airlines hardest

Indian carriers are already under financial pressure from higher fuel prices and longer routings to Western destinations because they have been banned from using Pakistani airspace since last year

Reuters April 10, 2026 / 14:07 IST























Passengers sit next to a logo of Dubai Airport, at the departure hall of terminal one, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 23, 2019. Picture taken July 23, 2019 Dubai limits foreign airlines to one daily flight until May 31

Indian carriers face revenue loss due to Dubai's flight cap

FIA tells India: remove curbs or apply reciprocal measures Did our AI summary help?
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Beyond buying the dip -- What markets may not have priced in

In April 10th edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: World Bank backs Indias 2047 growth potential, IPO market feels strain of Israel Iran war, ceasefire lifts sentiment but uncertainty remains ahead, and more









Volatility in stock markets is expected to continue.
IBBI study pitches for tighter monitoring of debtors, greater role for resolution professionals to detect fraud

As per sources, the regulator is mulling measures, such as, stronger conflict-of-interest disclosures by resolution professionals, and stricter penalties on them for any deliberate concealment of fraudulent transactions, to ensure that financial foul play of debtors are properly reported.









Since 2016, there have been instances where RPs have been criticised for failing to actively investigate fraudulent transactions during CIRP. IBBI urges resolution professionals to proactively detect fraud.

Study recommends mandatory reporting of fraud to NCLT.

Tougher penalties, tighter monitoring of RPs being weighed Did our AI summary help?
A first for TCS: Revenue growth falls despite strong deals, margins

Industry analysts believe its a structural shift in how revenue is getting generated from the same large deals, as customers demand faster outcomes with lower human efforts in a post AI world.









In FY26, TCS reported revenue of Rs 2.67 lakh crore, up 4.6 percent year-on-year

Debangana Ghosh
Crude gained for a second session, gold advanced for a second day, while silver extended its rally for a fourth straight session.
Nifty delivers zero returns in dollar terms since September 2021

Indian markets have seen zero returns in dollar terms over the past 4.5 years due to rupee depreciation, record foreign investor outflows, and high oil prices.









Nifty up 40% since 2021, but dollar returns flat as rupee drags. Rupee fell 11 percent in FY2526, steepest since FY201112

Foreign investors sold Rs 1.2 lakh crore in March 2024

Index is most oversold since the Covid crash in 2020 Did our AI summary help?
In recent months, Sun Pharma chairman Dilip Shanghvi has emphasised the need for Indian drugmakers to expand into innovative research while maintaining their strength in generics, with acquisitions seen as a key lever for scaling up.
Trade Spotlight: How should you trade HFCL, Delhivery, Voltas, National Aluminium Company, Hindalco, and others on April 10?

Range-bound trading may continue until the market convincingly surpasses Wednesday's high. Below are some short-term trading ideas to consider.

Sunil Shankar Matkar April 10, 2026 / 03:53 IST























Top Buy Ideas for April 10 Experts suggest buying top 9 stock ideas for April 10 including HFCL, Delhivery, Voltas, National Aluminium Company, Hindalco Did our AI summary help? HFC

D05

KSB HFC NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

Day Low

Volume (NSE) More D05 NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

Day Low

Volume (NSE) More KSB NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

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Yield Tracker: 10-year bond yield opens marginally higher

Indias 10-year government bond yield opened marginally higher in early trade. At 9:10 am, the benchmark yield was trading at 6.967 percent, up marginally from its previous close of 6.96 percent.









markets
The overall mutual fund industry recorded net outflows of Rs 2.39 lakh crore in March, compared with net inflows of Rs 94,543 crore in February, largely due to significant redemptions in debt funds.
Kartas powers in an HUF: Authority, limits and legal safeguards explained

The karta must act prudently, in good faith and for the benefit of the family as a whole, and cannot treat HUF assets as personal property









karts A Karta manages HUF assets and represents the family legally

Karta may sell HUF property only for necessity or benefit

Coparceners may contest Kartas acts not benefiting the HUF Did our AI summary help?
Qatar reaffirms commitment to remain reliable energy supplier to India

Qatar reaffirmed its commitment as a reliable energy supplier during Hardeep Singh Puris visit, with both sides stressing stable global energy flows.









Qatar assured India on energy supplies during Hardeep Singh Puris visit as both sides pushed for stability amid West Asia disruptions. Qatar vows to remain a reliable energy supplier to India

India's LNG imports from Qatar hit by recent disruptions

Ministers stress need for unimpeded global energy supply chains Did our AI summary help?
BMC plans to integrate AI in AutoDCR building approvals process, says commissioner Ashwini Bhide

AutoDCR is an online building approval mechanism that the BMC uses, in which authorised architects and surveyors can submit building plans of apartments using computer-aided drawings









BMC commissioner Bhide said that the new system is expected to be launched soon BMC to integrate AI in AutoDCR for faster building approvals

Ashwini Bhide announces AI upgrade for ease of doing business

Bhide is Mumbai's first woman municipal commissioner Did our AI summary help?
SpiceJet shares fall after 2 days of upper circuit; UK court orders $8 million payment to engine lessor

SpiceJets stock had rallied sharply recently, hitting upper circuits in the previous two sessions. However, the latest legal setback adds to a series of challenges faced by the airline.









SpiceJet share price SpiceJet shares fell after UK court ordered $8 million payment

Court ruled on unpaid lease and maintenance dues since 2020

Legal setback adds to SpiceJet's ongoing financial troubles Did our AI summary help?
West Asia Impact: Govt likely to roll out MSME relief package soon; FM cancels US visit

Rs 2.5 lakh crore credit guarantee scheme, loan moratorium under consideration as Centre steps up response to West Asia-linked stress.









Meanwhile, Sitharaman was scheduled to attend the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings but has stayed back. Government plans MSME relief package amid West Asia crisis

2.5 lakh cr credit guarantee, loan moratorium proposed

Fuel supply and liquidity are key challenges for MSMEs Did our AI summary help?

Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com
Rupee leads Asia gains after RBI cracks down on speculation

The currency has gained 2.5% since the first curbs were announced on March 27, outpacing peers such as the Thai baht and South Korean won









The rupee rose 0.2% to 92.4625 per dollar on Friday and is headed for a second straight week of gains. Indian rupee is Asia's best-performing currency since RBI curbs

RBI caps banks open positions, bans NDF contracts

Global funds pulled $3 billion from Indian stocks this month Did our AI summary help?
Puri visits Doha for energy talks with Qatar as India looks to secure gas supplies amid LNG disruptions, Hormuz risks and West Asia tensions.
Bomb hurled, internet snapped, roads blocked: Why is Manipur on the boil again?

In protest, demonstrators set fire to at least three trucks and blocked the Imphal-Tidim Road at several points, disrupting traffic and heightening tensions in the region.









Security personnel stand guard as protesters attempt to enter the CMs bungalow following the killing of two toddlers from Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district in a suspected bomb attack. (Image: ANI)
Cash-at-home row: Allahabad HC judge Yashwant Varma resigns amid removal push over corruption allegations

In his resignation dated April 9, Justice Varma said he was stepping down with a 'heavy heart', calling it an honour to have served in the judiciary.









Justice Varma earlier moved the Supreme Court against the report by the three-judge panel Justice Yashwant Varma resigns amid corruption allegations.

Impeachment proceedings linked to cash found at his residence.

Supreme Court dismissed Varma's plea against impeachment motion. Did our AI summary help?
Centre to push for indigenous missile integration in Rs 3.25 lakh cr Rafale deal: Report

The Centre will reportedly insist on incorporating an ICD in the proposed government-to-government agreement with French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation.









The Rs 3.25 lakh crore proposal for 114 fighters was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council on February 12. India to integrate homegrown weapons into Rafale fighter jets

18 Rafale jets to arrive from France, 96 to be made in India

Deal includes provisions for compatibility with Indian systems Did our AI summary help?
'Deeply disturbing': India concerned about civilian deaths in Israeli strikes in Lebanon

Over 1,000 Indians stuck in Lebanon, said the Ministry of External Affairs.









MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
'Exclusion not good': SC flags risk of dividing society if temple access restricted by caste or sect

The apex court observed that the constitutional endeavour must be to unify and not create further divisions within society.









Supreme Court
Fish turns poll issue in West Bengal: Will not ban it, Amit Shah says after Mamata Banerjee's 'cultural warning'

Earlier today, the BJP unveiled its manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly polls, which promised to plug infiltration, implement a Uniform Civil Code and proposed expansive welfare packages for women, youth, farmers and state government employees if the party wins the electoral battle.









Vendors sell fish at a retail fish market in Kolkata. (Image: Reuters) Amit Shah: fish and eggs won't be banned in Bengal

BJP manifesto promises welfare, zero-tolerance on infiltration

TMC and BJP clash over Bengali identity and fish consumption Did our AI summary help?
India readies critical minerals policy; Chile copper, lithium push gains pace

The government is also in the advanced stages of framing a policy for processing critical minerals, with two key minerals including nickel and lithiumcritical for EVsalready shortlisted. To address investment risks, the government is engaging with multilateral agencies.









India readies critical minerals policy; Chile copper, lithium push gains pace India in talks with Chile's Codelco for four copper blocks

Five lithium blocks in Argentina to start production by 2029

India plans to auction 100 critical mineral blocks in two years Did our AI summary help?
Iran war disruption gives a rare opportunity to Indian, Chinese airports

With air traffic in the region facing disruptions despite a ceasefire, industry executives said the balance could temporarily shift in the favour India and China.









Iran conflict hits Gulf hubs, lifts India and China airports

India and China expand airport capacity amid rising demand

Experts say Gulf hubs likely to regain dominance after stability Did our AI summary help?
Jaishankar, Japan foreign minister Motegi discuss Strait of Hormuz security

Motegi said he and Jaishankar discussed the current situation in West Asia including ensuring the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

PTI April 10, 2026 / 22:07 IST























Union External Afairs Minister S Jaishankar, right, shakes hands with Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (file image) Jaishankar and Japan's Motegi discuss safety in Strait of Hormuz

Both nations agree to promote multilateral energy cooperation

Japan mourns Indian lives lost in West Asia conflict Did our AI summary help?
Kargil war hero Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Lion of Ladakh, dies of heart attack at 61

Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief at the passing of Maha Vir Chakra awardee Colonel Sonam Wangchuk (Retd), a braveheart of the 1999 Kargil war.









Col Sonam Wangchuk (X/@firefurycorps) Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Kargil war hero, dies at 61 in Ladakh

He led a daring raid in Operation Vijay, Kargil War 1999

Awarded Maha Vir Chakra for gallantry and exceptional leadership Did our AI summary help?
Nearly 2 crore names dropped in UP voter cleanup drive, EC releases final tally

Officials say over one crore voters could not be matched during field verification, while more than two crore entries showed logical discrepancies.









With 13.39 crore voters set to participate, Uttar Pradesh once again reinforces its position as the decisive battleground of Indian politics Uttar Pradesh now has 13.39 crore eligible voters after revision

Nearly two crore names deleted for accuracy and database cleanup

Young voters in 18-19 age group rose to over 17.6 lakh Did our AI summary help?
Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member

With this move, Kumar completes a rare political milestone, having served in all four legislative bodies in India: the Bihar Assembly, Bihar Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and now the Rajya Sabha.









Kumar was elected unopposed to the Upper House on March 16 as a candidate of the NDA. Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member, resigns as MLC

He completes service in all four legislative bodies in India

Leadership change expected in Bihar with BJP's larger role Did our AI summary help?
One year on, Vantara says it has treated thousands of rescued animals, returned some to the wild

The wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar said it has cared for elephants, crocodiles and other rescued animals over the past year.









One year after inauguration, Vantara says it has treated thousands of rescued animals, expanded wildlife care and returned some to the wild. One year after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Vantara facility in Gujarat said it has treated and rehabilitated thousands of rescued wild animals across species, including big cats, reptiles, birds and primates.

The initiative, founded by Anant Ambani, said its veterinary teams carried out multiple surgical procedures over the past year and released several animals back into the wild after treatment and recovery.

VantaraUniversityPress-13

Vantara said it currently provides care for more than 250 elephants rescued from logging operations, circuses and other exploitative conditions. Many of these animals suffer from age-related illnesses such as arthritis. The facility is also housing and treating thousands of crocodiles rescued from overcrowded enclosures.

The organisation has been designated as a National Referral Centre for Wildlife in the western region, with laboratory infrastructure that processes more than 2,000 diagnostic samples daily. It operates a central laboratory and 11 satellite labs with capabilities including molecular diagnostics, pathology and toxicology.

According to the statement, Vantara produces about 1,56,000 kg of animal feed daily through automated systems and deploys a logistics network of temperature-controlled vehicles to support animal care. It also runs a 200-member response team that has been involved in over 50 international rescue operations and multiple rapid response deployments.

In terms of conservation programmes, the facility said it supported the release of 53 spotted deer into Gujarats Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in coordination with the state forest department. It also participated in a turtle rewilding effort in Indonesia.

Separately, Vantara said it assisted in animal rescue and relief efforts during floods in Punjab, supporting both affected livestock and local communities.

The organisation added that it has conducted training programmes for veterinarians and hosted several national and international events focused on wildlife conservation over the past year. Did our AI summary help?
RG Kar rape-murder case: Calcutta HC allows CBI to re-question Sanjay Roy, flags scope to probe 'larger conspiracy'

The courts observation comes amid the CBIs ongoing investigation into a suspected larger conspiracy behind the brutal rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024.









Roy, a former civic volunteer, has already been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment till the end of his natural life. Calcutta HC lets CBI quiz more in RG Kar case

CBI told to use all modern methods for deeper investigation

Victim's family alleges possible gangrape and evidence tampering Did our AI summary help?
Sabka malik ek hai: Chief of Army says Operation Sindoor attacks timed to avoid namaz hours

He explained that while planners had the option to strike at any hour  whether 2 am, 4 am, or later  commanders consciously delayed action at specific moments.









Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi at the 'Ran Samwad 2026', in Bengaluru. (Credit: PTI) Operation Sindoor avoided strikes during prayer periods at camps

India launched retaliatory strikes after Pahalgam terror attack

Army boosted info warfare, fought misinformation in operation Did our AI summary help?
Tamil Nadu 2026: DMK holds edge but Vijay's entry could shrink margins

Vijay has been targeting the DMK and claims that the main contest in Tamil Nadu is between his party and the ruling DMK. He is silent about AIADMK and BJP.









Vijay officially launched his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, on February 2, 2024. Tamil Nadu Assembly election set for April 23, counting on May 4

Actor Vijay's TVK enters, targeting youth and first-time voters

DMK and AIADMK face new challenges from TVK and NTK Did our AI summary help?
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BJPs West Bengal manifesto: UCC in 6 months, 7th pay panel, Rs 3,000 aid for women & unemployed youth

West Bengal is set to vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting scheduled for May 4









Union home minister Amit Shah Amit Shah releases BJP's West Bengal manifesto ahead of polls

BJP promises jobs, women's safety, and anti-corruption measures

Voting in West Bengal set for April 23 and 29, counting on May 4 Did our AI summary help?
Would rather sit in Opposition for 20 years: Amit Shah on Kabir 'sting' row

On Thursday, Trinamool Congress released a videocumaudio clip in which Kabir was purportedly seen making controversial statements with an unidentified person, hinting at plots to divide minority votes in West Bengal, thus benefiting the BJP, and also entering into a Rs 1,000 crore deal with the saffron camp for that purpose.









Amit Shah Amit Shah: BJP won't ally with Babri Masjid builders in Bengal

Kabir calls viral sting video fake and AI-generated

AIMIM withdraws alliance with Kabir after controversy Did our AI summary help?
RSSFACT: Kharge criticised RSS and BJP sparking controversy while history shows shifting Congress-RSS ties from co-operation before independence to growing political rivalry in recent decades

Mallikarjun Kharge is not the first Congress leader to target the RSS in recent times.
German tourist visits government hospital in Surat after dog bite, surprised by free medical treatment

German traveller David Nebel was stunned to receive free rabies treatment at a Surat government hospital after a street dog bite. The experience left him comparing India's accessible healthcare system to Germany's insurance-based one.
JBL earbuds burst in ear, alleges Rajasthan MBBS student. Company responds after viral post

A viral claim by a Rajasthan MBBS student alleging a JBL earbud malfunction has raised fresh concerns over device safety, prompting a response from the company
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
Hotels in the green despite war jitters, domestic demand cushions impact, says Sarovar CEO

On the West Asia war, while external factors have created uncertainty, the impact on India has been limited compared to previous disruptions, the CEO said.









Sarovar Hotels
After months of deadlock, Is a Russia-Ukraine deal finally within reach?

Ukraines top negotiator points to growing convergence in talks, even as disputes over security guarantees and territorial control remain unresolved









Ukraine signals progress in Russia talks, but disputes over territory and security guarantees continue to stall a final deal Ukraine and Russia show cautious optimism in peace talks

Territory and security guarantees remain unresolved

Russia, Ukraine agree to brief Orthodox Easter ceasefire Did our AI summary help?
Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected in Washington next week as the US pushes to contain fighting with Hezbollah and protect the fragile Iran ceasefire.
Ahead of peace talks in Islamabad, US to request Iran to release detained Americans

Some officials worry the demand could be postponed if the peace talks with Iran in Islamabad become contentious.









Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump has prioritised securing the freedom of Americans held abroad. US to seek release of Americans held in Iran at Islamabad talks

At least six Americans detained; advocates cautiously optimistic

Talks may cover Irans nukes and Hormuz closure risks Did our AI summary help?
Anthropics Mythos is a more powerful system that the AI firm has said is capable of identifying and then exploiting vulnerabilities in every major operating system and web browser when directed by a user to do so.
As US talks near, Iran says meet these two conditions before negotiations begin

Iran demands Lebanon ceasefire and asset release before US talks as JD Vance warns Tehran ahead of Islamabad negotiations.









Tehran draws red lines as JD Vance heads to Islamabad; both sides signal talks but clash on terms Iran wants Lebanon ceasefire, asset release before US talks

Tehran demands upfront concessions, widens talks to region

US warns Iran, sets clear rules for negotiations Did our AI summary help?
China, Iran and Trumps next big meeting: Why Washington is sounding a warning

The US said it wants stable ties with China, but warned Beijings involvement with Iran could complicate relations before a Trump-Xi meeting next month.

Reuters April 10, 2026 / 18:03 IST























The trip comes just a year after Washington rolled out sweeping and at times erratic global tariffs.
Chinas quiet diplomacy? How Beijing may have brought Iran to the table for US talks in Pakistan

China may have played a quiet but crucial role in pushing Iran towards a ceasefire and talks with the US in Islamabad, acting as a behind-the-scenes stabiliser.









Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, September 2, 2025. (Reuters File Photo) China reportedly played a key role in pushing Iran toward a ceasefire amid US-Iran talks in Islamabad, motivated by economic interests and regional stability. Preparations continue despite delays, disputes, and uncertainty over negotiators' arrival. Did our AI summary help?
Did Pakistan jump the gun? Why US-Iran talks in Islamabad are in trouble even before they begin

US-Iran Talks: From contradictory claims about the scope of the ceasefire to questionable public messaging, Pakistans role is increasingly being seen as part of the problem rather than the solution.









Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif -- File Photo (AFP) US-Iran talks in Islamabad, aimed at building on a fragile ceasefire, face collapse amid conflicting narratives, escalating violence in Lebanon, and Pakistans credibility issues. Iran insists on Lebanons inclusion, while US and Israel reject it, deepening divisions. Did our AI summary help?
EAM Jaishankar warns of 'weaponised' global order, calls for regional cohesion

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and conveyed warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.









External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (file image) Jaishankar urges Indian Ocean states to resist instability

He held bilateral talks with leaders of Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan

India to post Defence Attache in Mauritius to boost security ties Did our AI summary help?
Over the last week, Israeli strikes across Lebanon have killed over 300 people.
Senior US and Iranian officials are meeting in Islamabad, hosted by Pakistan, to seek a lasting solution beyond a fragile ceasefire. Talks focus on stabilizing regional conflict, energy disruptions, and deep disagreements, with indirect negotiations under tight security.

Did our AI summary help?
US says Irans military is crippled after weeks of strikes, but data and battlefield evidence suggest Tehran still retains key capabilities.
Iran denies reports of negotiating team reaching Islamabad for talks, calls claims 'false'

Iran has dismissed reports of a delegation in Islamabad for US talks, saying negotiations remain suspended until a Lebanon ceasefire is upheld.









Iran denies reports of negotiating teams visit to Islamabad for US talks
According to Ghalibaf, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets are set as the preconditions before negotiations can take place in Islamabad.
Iranian delegation to arrive in Islamabad Friday for US talks

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf will lead the delegation, one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.









Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
Islamabad leaves nothing to chance for sensitive US-Iran talks: 'Red Zone' sealed, blue book protocol for VIPs

Islamabad has been turned into a high-security zone as Pakistan prepares to host crucial US-Iran talks amid global attention and escalating regional tensions.
Pakistan has activated its stringent Blue Book security protocol for US-Iran talks in Islamabad, restricting movement and deploying police and paramilitary forces. The measures highlight the sensitivity and risks of hosting high-level diplomatic negotiations.

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Pakistan not a good mediator, says former Israeli govt spokesperson ahead of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad

The official said India should be deeply concerned about the increased role that Islamabad is getting internationally for mediating US-Iran peace talks.









The official's statement comes after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel a curse for humanity. Pakistan's role in US-Iran talks raises concerns for India

Israeli official: Pakistan is an aggressive, unreliable mediator

Pakistan's Defence Minister's anti-Israel post sparks criticism Did our AI summary help?
Pakistans Khawaja Asif deletes post calling Israel 'curse for humanity' after backlash

Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif deleted a post calling Israel a curse for humanity after strong condemnation from Israel and renewed questions over Pakistans neutrality as a mediator.









Pakistans Khawaja Asif deletes post calling Israel curse for humanity after backlash
Pope Leo rejects US claim that God has picked a side in the Iran War

Hegseth had said the thousands of US strikes against Iran had been carried out under the protection of divine providence, a massive effort with miraculous protection.









President Trump And Pete Hegseth Pope Leo XIV rejects claims God supports US-Iran conflict

Vatican and US deny reports of a rift after January meeting

Pope urges peace, criticizes framing war in religious terms Did our AI summary help?
Prices spike, supplies choke: Why Iran ceasefire may not fix Africa's problems anytime soon

For millions, particularly in vulnerable and import-dependent economies, the crisis is no longer about what might happen next, but about the consequences already unfolding.









An attendant serves a customer at a fuel station in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo The US-Iran ceasefire eased immediate tensions, but African nations face lasting economic and humanitarian fallout. Fuel, food, and fertiliser prices have surged, supply chains are disrupted, and planting seasons are at risk, with relief expected to be slow. Did our AI summary help?
Put Grandpa in a home: Candace Owens hits back at Trumps low IQ attack

A public rift deepened as Donald Trump attacked conservative commentators, prompting a sharp and viral comeback from Candace Owens.









Trump vs Candace Owens: Low IQ jibe sparks sharp grandpa comeback
Mojtaba vows revenge for Supreme Leader's killing, says Iran moving to new stage in Hormuz management

The remarks came as he marked 40 days since the killing of his predecessor, describing it as a grave act by the enemies of Iran and Islam, according to an official statement.









Iran's Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Russias key Black Sea port Novorossiysk resumes crude loadings after attacks

Ship-tracking data showed the Altai, an Aframax-class vessel that typically carries 80,000 to 100,000 tons of crude, docked at the Novorossiysk port.









Aerial view of the port Novorossiysk port (AFP/file image)
Pakistan has deployed fighter jets and surveillance systems across the Middle East to secure the Iranian delegation for US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The large-scale operation aims to ensure safety amid regional tensions and restore Pakistans diplomatic credibility.

Did our AI summary help?
Stop giving 'free concessions' to Israel: Hezbollah tells Lebanon ahead of talks in Washington

Qassem is also said to have denounced the "bloody criminality on Wednesday," when Israeli strikes killed more than 300 people in Lebanon.









Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem. Hezbollah vows to fight until Israeli attacks, occupation end

Hezbollah: Israel hits civilians to offset battlefield losses

Hezbollah fires rockets, drones after Israeli airstrikes Did our AI summary help?
Iran is seeking crypto payments from some ships, highlighting a sanctions-driven digital finance network
Trump, Netanyahu held tense call on Lebanon before Israel sought talks, Tel Aviv rejects report

Earlier in the week, ahead of Trumps announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran, Netanyahu had urged that Lebanon should not be included in the broader arrangement.









FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 29, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo US President Trump had a reportedly tense call with Israeli PM Netanyahu over Lebanon ceasefire talks, with Iran demanding a Lebanon truce and release of blocked assets before US negotiations. Netanyahus office denied tension, calling the talks friendly. Did our AI summary help?
Trumps biggest hurdle as he seeks an Iran off-ramp isnt Tehran. Its Netanyahu

US President pushes for a deal to stabilise oil flows, but Israels war aims in Lebanon and Iran are emerging as a key friction point









Trumps push for an Iran deal faces a key challenge from Netanyahus war strategy, as differences surface over Lebanon and ceasefire scope US-Israel alliance strained over Iran conflict endgame.

Trump seeks a deal with Iran to stabilise oil markets.

Netanyahu pushes for continued pressure on Iran and Hezbollah. Did our AI summary help?
U.S President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi present signed documents of the declaration of the funding donors to the Board of Peace, during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 19, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
UK's Starmer and Trump discuss military options for Strait of Hormuz

"Weve been pulling together a coalition of countries  working on a political, diplomatic plan, but also looking at military capabilities and  the logistics of actually moving vessels through the Strait, Starmer said during his visit to the Gulf.

Reuters April 10, 2026 / 22:10 IST























Donald Trump and Keir Starmer (Bloomberg/File image)
US C-17s, spy planes in Pakistan signal preparations as Vance heads for make-or-break Iran talks: Report

While Washington has not confirmed final details of the visit, the scale and nature of the deployments indicate that groundwork for a high-level diplomatic engagement is already underway.









File photo of Boeing C-17 Globemaster. Unusual US air activity over Pakistan signals preparations for possible high-level US-Iran talks in Islamabad, but uncertainty persists as Iran links participation to developments in Lebanon and regional tensions complicate diplomatic efforts. Did our AI summary help?
US-Iran ceasefire deal shows strain ahead of talks with oil flows squeezed

There was no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the strait, which has caused the worst-ever disruption to global energy supplies

Reuters April 10, 2026 / 08:18 IST























Tehran cited Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon, which included the heaviest strikes of the war on Wednesday, as a key sticking point U.S. accuses Iran of breaching ceasefire over Strait of Hormuz

Israel strikes Lebanon, Iran claims attacks violate truce

U.S.-Iran talks set for Saturday in Pakistan to settle conflict Did our AI summary help?
US Iran war news live: Hezbollah retaliates to Israeli strikes, attacks border areas of Kiryat Shmona, Avivim

Hezbollah on Friday said it carried out attacks on the Israeli border areas of Kiryat Shmona and Avivim in response to continued strikes by Israel in Lebanon despite a two-week ceasefire in place following over a month-long conflict in West Asia.

In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters launched a barrage of rockets targeting Avivim, describing the attack as retaliation for what it called the repeated "enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on southern villages" in Lebanon. The group further claimed that it also targeted the Kiryat Shmona barracks using a squadron of offensive drones.

Hezbollah stated that the attacks were carried out "in defense of Lebanon and its people," alleging that while it had adhered to the ceasefire, Israel had continued its military operations. "This response will continue until the 'Israeli'-American aggression against our country and our people comes to an end," the statement read.
US, Israel are not serious about negotiations: Representative of Irans Supreme Leader in India

The discussions will follow a fragile ceasefire reached on April 7, ending around 39 days of intense conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The war sent oil prices surging past $100 a barrel and dealt a severe blow to regional economies and global supply lines.









Representative of Irans Supreme Leader in India US Vice President JD Vance heads to Pakistan for Tehran talks

Iran doubts US and Israel's commitment to lasting peace

Tehran may exit talks if Israeli strikes on Lebanon persist Did our AI summary help?
US likely to extend waiver allowing sales of sanctioned Russian oil

Russia's presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev had said the move would free 100 million barrels of Russian crude, equal to almost a day's worth of global output.

Reuters April 10, 2026 / 20:42 IST























Oil prices have spiked since the Iran war due to the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (Representative photo)
US Navys $200 million MQ-4C Triton goes missing after emergency signal over Strait of Hormuz

A US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone vanished over the Strait of Hormuz after issuing an emergency signal, with uncertainty over whether it crashed or was brought down.
US Vice President JD Vance exits Marine Two on his way to board Air Force Two at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on April 10, 2026, as he departs for Pakistan for talks on Iran. (AFP image)
Was Khawaja Asif drunk when he posted on Israel? Deleted rant sparks storm

Pakistan defence minister deletes Israel post after backlash; unverified claims circulate over circumstances of the remarks.









Khawaja Asif removes controversial Israel remarks as social media claims on circumstances remain unconfirmed Pakistan's Defence Minister deleted a post criticizing Israel

Israeli officials condemned the remarks as antisemitic

Post's timing questioned as Pakistan hosts US-Iran talks Did our AI summary help?
Trump warns US warships are being reloaded for possible Iran strikes if Pakistan talks fail, according to The New York Post.
White House says oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz may take up to two months to return to normal, keeping markets on edge.
With just ask our enemies, Trump gives Palantir its most revealing endorsement yet

From battlefield targeting to $10 billion Army deals, Palantir is fast becoming central to how modern wars are fought.









Trump praises Palantirs war capabilities as the AI firm deepens ties with US military through Project Maven, TITAN and billion-dollar contracts. Palantir's AI tech now central to US military operations.

Project Maven and TITAN systems mark deeper defense integration.

Palantir's platforms used in real-world conflicts like Ukraine. Did our AI summary help?
Worlds most powerful reset: Trumps cryptic post as JD Vance heads for Iran peace talks

Trumps post comes as JD Vance leaves for talks with Iran under a fragile ceasefire, with tensions rising over Lebanon and Hormuz.









Trumps worlds most powerful reset post comes as JD Vance heads for Iran talks amid a fragile ceasefire and rising tensions over Lebanon. Trump hints at "WORLDS MOST POWERFUL RESET" before Iran talks

VP Vance visits Pakistan for talks, questions Irans sincerity

Ceasefire faces strain as Israel continues strikes on Hezbollah Did our AI summary help?
How Xi's $270 billion West Asia bet limits China support for Iran

Between 2014 and 2023, Beijing provided about $2.34 for every dollar Washington donated or lent to West Asia countries









Chinese President Xi Jinping China's Gulf investments face risks amid regional conflict

Chinese projects targeted by Iranian strikes, workers remain

China likely to maintain economic presence despite instability Did our AI summary help?
April 10, 2026 War On Iran:  Selected Writings And Reports Selected writings of interest on the War on Iran: A long-read on how Netanyahoo pushed Trump, against all other advice, into launching the war: How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran (archived)  NY Times

In a series of Situation Room meetings, President Trump weighed his instincts against the deep concerns of his vice president and a pessimistic intelligence assessment. Heres the inside story of how he made the fateful decision. Mr. Netanyahu delivered his presentation in a confident monotone. It seemed to land well with the most important person in the room, the American president. Sounds good to me, Mr. Trump told the prime minister. To Mr. Netanyahu, this signaled a likely green light for a joint U.S.-Israeli operation.  The relation continues. After Trump had agreed that the ceasefire would include Lebanon and Iraq, Netanyahoo turned him around: The relation continues. After Trump had agreed that the ceasefire would include Lebanon and Iraq, Netanyahoo turned him around: Lebanon emerges as potential spoiler to Iran deal  CBSnews Multiple diplomatic sources told CBS News that President Trump had been told that the ceasefire announced Thursday would apply to the Middle East region, and he agreed that included Lebanon. Mediators believed the ceasefire to include Lebanon, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that it did. Araghchi also said it was included. On the day of the ceasefire, a White House official told CBS News that Israel had also agreed with the terms of the deal that Pakistan had helped to broker. However, the U.S. position shifted following a phone call between Netanyahu and Mr. Trump. Two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that the changing U.S. positions, and the disjointed remnant of the regime in Iran, are making the diplomacy highly complex.  The result of Netanyahoos push for war: The result of Netanyahoos push for war: Donald Trump is the wars biggest loser (archived)  Economist

There is a reason he wants an exit from Iran The war has shown that the value of Americas might is easy to overestimate. Its factories cannot resupply its armed forces fast enough, whereas Iran fought an asymmetric war with limited weapons. Too much testosterone leads to wretched judgments that confuse lethality with winning. Overwhelming firepower without a strategy saps American strength.  On the psychology of real estate developers like Witkoff, Kushner and Trump and how it fails them at war: On the psychology of real estate developers like Witkoff, Kushner and Trump and how it fails them at war: Non-Recourse National Strategy  Syncretica They learn that hesitation is expensive, that deliberation is for people who dont have conviction, and that the main failure mode is not swinging. They are, in the language of behavioral finance, calibrated to be systematically overconfident in their own ability to identify signal in noise, and structurally indifferent to path dependence because in their world, paths dont particularly matter  if this startup dies, you do the next one. The option resets.



What happens when you staff an entire executive branch with people whose entire professional formation has been as option holders?



Exhibit B is the war in Iran. Heads you win and its regime change, tails. uh did anyone think about tails? Apparently not  at least certainly not Kushner, Trump and Witkoff the real estate guys. This is where path dependence enters, and the administration appears constitutionally unable to see it.



Countries that interact repeatedly  on trade, on security, on currency arrangements  are playing an iterated game, not a one-shot game. In iterated games, reputation is not a nice to have it drives how people play and outcomes. Your counterpartys willingness to make concessions today is a direct function of what they believe you will do tomorrow, and that belief is formed by what you have done before. Defect once and your partner adjusts their priors.  Big Serge on the unusual destroy-it-all character of the War: Big Serge on the unusual destroy-it-all character of the War: The Insurgent Empire  Standoff War, Trashcanistans, and the Proliferation Trap  Big Serge The American strategy, as articulated by various administration officials and as discernible from the pattern of operations, does not envision ground forces seizing and holding Iranian territory. What it does envision is something remarkably similar to the insurgents playbook, executed from the opposite end of the technological spectrum: make the Iranian regimes existence as the governing authority of its own territory impossibly expensive; deny it the exercise of sovereign control over its own military and industrial assets; impose costs that accumulate faster than they can be absorbed; and through this sustained pressure, either compel behavioral change or create the conditions for the regimes internal collapse.  The execution of that strategy: The execution of that strategy: Irans Schools and Hospitals in Ruins From U.S.-Israeli Strikes  NY Times The Iranian Red Crescent Society, the countrys primary humanitarian relief organization, said on April 2 that at least 763 schools and 316 health care facilities had been damaged or destroyed in the war.



Schools and hospitals hold some of the strongest protections of all civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law, and intentional attacks on them could be considered war crimes. Even strikes on military targets that damage nearby schools and hospitals can violate international law, experts say, and military commanders are expected to take stringent measures to prevent and minimize such harm. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other American officials have insisted that the U.S. military is acting with precision. Hegseth, the Secretary for Warcrimes, is of course right. The U.S. military acts with precision when it intentionally bombs schools and hospitals in Iran.  The pope, who is Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East, profaned by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for peoples lives, which are considered at most collateral damage of self-interest. But no gain can be worth the life of the weakest, children, or families. No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood. The pope, who is at war with Trump and Netanyahoo, chips in  MB Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Parliament of Iran, Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Irans blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations.

These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin. MB Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Parliament of Iran, on conditions for the ceasefire talks:  The The latest lecture by John Mearsheimer (vid). It is mostly about the War on Iran and relatively short. The U.S. has lost the war badly and Mearsheimer fears that Israel might go nuclear on Iran. Comments
From left, Nicholas Morriss, Natura Resources, Shane Walker, Texas Produced Water Consortium and Chris Harich, NGL Water Solutions, discuss the nexus of nuclear energy and produced water. The Oilfield Photographer

A nuclear energy renaissance and the rising number of produced water treatment facilities have created a nexus that could advance both industries.

Natura Resources, which is developing molten salt reactors, has teamed with the Texas Produced Water Consortium to find ways to utilize its modular reactors to provide power to treatment plants. Natura is also working with NGL Water Solutions on the effort.

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Nuclear power could be a big benefactor for produced water, Nick Morriss, vice president of business development at Natura, told the Permian Basin Water in Energy conference last week.

To illustrate the safety of Naturas technology compared with earlier nuclear technology, he showed a picture of Naturas demonstration reactor on the Abilene Christian University campus. He told the audience that an ACU dorm was behind it and that an elementary school was nearby. The reactor will likely be operated by ACU students and guarded by campus police, he added.

Beyond generating electricity to power the treatment plants, Morriss said the reactors will generate high process heat that can be utilized in applications like hydrogen or steel production or water desalination plants. Equally important, he said, it generates isotopes useful in medical treatments.

Produced water is not an opportunity because it is cost prohibitive. Nuclear power needs water and can provide waste heat to cut energy input costs, he said.

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Noting that Texas is expected to experience a shortfall in water supplies, Shane Walker, director of the Texas Produced Water Consortium, said the reason to advance both efforts is in our backyard.

The Permian Basin produces more than 6 million barrels of oil a day. Along with each barrel comes about five barrels of produced water. Chris Harich said that if just 40% to 60% of that water could be cleaned, it could generate 500,000 acre-feet of water per year to meet rangeland needs. He said that once native grasses are reestablished, hundreds of thousands of acres in the Permian Basin could be restored.

He compared that to the water use of artificial intelligence centers and asked that they be considered from an ethics perspective.

You cant drink a cup of electrons. You cant run an electric line into the ground and grow crops. We need to fuel this idea to use this water for massive benefit. How many people could we help with this water? Walker asked.

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Chris Harich, senior director of technical operations at NGL Water Solutions, said his company has been cleaning produced water in Wyoming for 15 years. California, he said, is using treated water on crops. The difference is that Permian Basin produced water is far saltier than seawater, making removal of the solids a challenge.
Laman Ismayilova

A play "Aliqulu Is Getting Married Today" (?liqulu bu gun evl?nir) has been staged at the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theater to mark the 85th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding composer and Honored Art Worker Ogtay Rajabov (19412022), AzerNEWS reports.

The production, which was also attended by members of the composer's family, was met with prolonged applause from the audience.

People's Artist and Professor Ilham Namig Kamal, along with Honored Artist Akbar Alizade, addressed the audience, speaking about the master's life and creative journey, as well as his invaluable contribution to the development of national musical culture. They paid deep tribute to the bright memory of the composer.

In his speech, Ilham Namig Kamal noted with gratitude that he was proud to have been the stage director of two out of the three productions created at the Academic Musical Theater based on the music of Ogtay Rajabov, including "?lin cibind? olsun" and "?eytan?n yubileyi" based on works by Agshin Babayev, as well as " ?liqulu bu gun evl?nir" based on the play by Sabit Rahman. He added that it had been a great honor for him to work with such an outstanding personality.

The production's musical director and conductor is Honored Art Worker Fakhraddin Atayev, the choirmaster is Honored Artist Vagif Mastanov, the choreographer is Honored Artist Nigar Shahmuradova, the set designer is Honored Artist Nabat Samedova, the costume designer is Nubar Huseynova, and the concertmaster is Fidan Aliyeva.

The performance featured People's Artist Ilham Namig Kamal, Honored Artists Akbar Alizade and Igrar Salamov, Presidential Award laureate Samedzade Hasiyev, as well as actors Zemfira Abdulsamadova, Rasmia Nurmammadova, Gulchohra Abdullayeva, Alimammad Novruzov, Gulnara Azizova, Ruslan Mursalov, Boyukhanim Mammadova, Mehriban Rajabova, Azizakhanim Kazimova, along with the theater's choir and ballet artists.

Ogtay Rajabov was a prominent Azerbaijani composer, Honored Art Worker (2019), Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, and professor (since 1995). He was also a presidential scholarship recipient, an academician of the Russian Academy of Pedagogical and Social Sciences, and an Honored Teacher of the Azerbaijan SSR (1987).

Born in Baku on April 5, 1941, Rajabov initially pursued higher education at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute, where he studied physics and the fundamentals of production from 1958 to 1963. He later continued his postgraduate studies at the Institute of Physics of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. Demonstrating a deep passion for the arts, he went on to graduate from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in 1969, marking a decisive turn toward a distinguished musical career.

Ogtay Rajabov began his professional path as an educator, teaching physics at Evening School No. 116 and music at Music School No. 1. He subsequently held various academic and research positions at the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Pedagogical Sciences, where he worked as a junior researcher, senior researcher, and head of department.

A respected academic, Ogtay Rajabov served as a professor in the Department of Azerbaijani Folk Music at the Baku Music Academy. His creative legacy is remarkably rich: he composed four operas, three musical comedies, three symphonies, two oratorios, one cantata, and over 500 songs.

In addition to his contributions to music, Ogtay Rajabov was a prolific scholar. He authored 10 monographs on pedagogy and music, 70 textbooks, teaching aids, and curricula, as well as more than 100 academic articles.

A special place in his ?????????? was devoted to children's music. His songs for children were published in six collections and often explored themes such as patriotism, flora and fauna, numbers, and multiplication tables, blending education with artistic expression.

Ogtay Rajabov passed away on December 15, 2022, leaving behind a great legacy in both Azerbaijani music and education.
UTPB President Dr. Sandy Woodley, Permian Strategic Partnership President and CEO Tracee Bentley, Odessa College President Dr. Gregory Williams and Midland College President Dr. Damon Kennedy discuss their efforts to prepare the area's future workforce. The Oilfield Photographer

Permian Basin pipelines need to be filled with more than crude oil, natural gas or crude products. They need to be filled with the talent to keep local industries in operation.

According to Dr. Sandra Woodley, president of the University of Texas Permian Basin, the university works with 330 partners and that 25,000 jobs and internships are available. She estimated that 90% of UTPB graduates remain in Texas and 70% stay in the Permian Basin.

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By 2040, the Permian Basin will need 175,000 more workers, Tracee Bentley, president and chief executive officer of the Permian Strategic Partnership, told the audience at the Permian Basin Water in Energy Conference. That includes:

7,000 more certified truck drivers

4,000 engineers

1,400 electricians

6,000 food and service workers

3,500 construction workers

And the list goes on, Bentley said.

The time is now to start investing in training those nurses, doctors, teachers, accountants and more.

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She told Woodley, who was moderating the discussion, that the region must take the opportunity to grow its own workforce.

Dr. Gregory Williams, president of Odessa College, told the gathering there needs to be more emphasis on higher education in the Permian Basin.

One of the things Midland College is doing is trying to understand how the world is changing today and in the future, said Dr. Damon Kennedy, president of Midland College. He added a key conversation is around the impact of artificial intelligence. AI fluency is becoming a core competency for Midland College students, he said.

Bentley said a challenge is the regions relatively low level of literacy.

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We as a community have a responsibility to ensure we have a ready workforce, and that starts with pre-K, she said. Once we see literacy rates, well see that pipeline fill up and paths to success fill.

Kennedy said the college seeks to encourage students into the classroom. A number of Midland Independent School District graduates enter the workforce, but many also go to Midland College, Odessa College or UTPB after getting a taste of what it takes to succeed.

All four highlighted their partnerships with each other as well as businesses.

We need our industry partners to communicate with us, tell us what they like, what they dont like, Williams said.

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He said Odessa Colleges automation program grew out of Chevrons request for such a program. The company then flew OC representatives to their center in Waco to show just what they wanted.
Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, addresses the Permian Basin Water in Energy conference. The Oilfield Photographer

Changes to Texas water regulations have traditionally drawn emotional responses and claims that they would reallocate water and eliminate private property rights.

We dont have the luxury of reacting to water issues, said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association. Were not planning for the next drought or outage. Were planning for the next generation.

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Water is not just another resource, he told those attending the Permian Basin Water in Energy Conference. It is the one resource that determines whether anything else is possible.

As a former member of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, he recalled the turmoil over regulatory changes tied to Senate Bill 1 in 1997, which created regional conservation districts, and later legislation in 2005.

The upcoming legislative session will have tough policy questions to answer, he said. One is the rule of capture versus development rights and whether a new system is needed. Another is if conservation districts should be defined by county lines or aquifer boundaries. Should all of the state be part of conservation districts? And finally, what does water export mean? Does it mean water exported out of a district, county, city or aquifer?

All of these will have big consequences on how groundwater is managed, Staples said. It will require experts to reach a consensus rather than pit regions against each other or shift one regions water problems to another region.

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The issue is vital because, Staples said, Texas population is expected to soar to 51.5 million by 2070, up 171% from 19 million in 1997. At the same time, the Texas Water Development Board estimates the states available water supply shrank 18% from 1997 to 2020.

Answers to these difficult questions must be found, and he said those attending the conference will not only help bring attention to the seriousness of the issue but also support efforts to turn produced water into an asset.

He recalled Dr. Daniel Yergin asking Chevron CEO Mike Wirth if peak production had been reached.

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Never bet against innovation in technology, Wirth replied.
News image PIRO4D/Pixaby

Energy services employment rose in March, according to the Energy Workforce & Technology Councils March jobs report.

Based on preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics data and Energy Workforce analysis, energy services employment totaled 627,018 jobs in March, up 1,877 from February.

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State-by-state-breakdown Texas 305,546

Louisiana 52,356

Oklahoma 47,716

Colorado 25,457

New Mexico 23,450

California 22,949

Pennsylvania 22,698

North Dakota 19,500

Wyoming 14,547

Ohio 10,408

Alaska 9,719

West Virginia 9,593

Marchs gains reflect a measured increase in activity across the sector as companies continue to operate with discipline while responding to improving market conditions, according to the council. It comes as West Texas Intermediate jumped above $100 amid war-related tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The recent runup in oil prices, driven in part by geopolitical developments, could support increased activity, but its still too early to see a direct impact on employment. Companies are watching closely, but hiring will depend on whether these conditions persist, Energy Workforce President Molly Determan told the Reporter-Telegram by email.

Marchs job gains are a positive sign, but they come in a still-volatile environment, she continued. Service companies are responding carefully, balancing near-term opportunities with ongoing uncertainty in global markets and policy. That discipline is shaping how and when companies add to their workforce.

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Determan noted that workforce trends remain closely tied to policy clarity and global market conditions.

Energy services companies are responding to a dynamic environment shaped by policy decisions, global demand, and geopolitical developments, she said. As always, U.S. production plays a critical role in providing stable, reliable energy for our country and for our friends and allies abroad, and the workforce behind it is essential to delivering that strength.
News image PIRO4D/Pixaby

Angel Robinson, on behalf of Midland Westridge, LLC, is seeking a zone change for a patch of vacant land on Deauville Boulevard. The roughly 4.5-acre site is intended for eventual development as an indoor amusement center and restaurant.

The land is currently zoned as a Planned Development District for a shopping center. The request would rezone it as a Regional Retail, or RR, district to accommodate the proposed business. It is adjacent to the Primrose School of Midland at Westridge and across Deauville Boulevard from Chevrons Midland headquarters.

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"When this project first came before (city) staff, we worked really closely with them on whether to keep this property within the PD, or straight rezone," Robinson recalled. "And (ultimately), it made more sense to rezone the property to RR, so we took the recommendation and moved forward in that direction."

In addition to the zone change, Robinson and Midland Westridge are seeking a specific-use designation, or SUD, to sell alcohol on the premises. Midlands Planning and Zoning Commission raised concerns about that request because of the sites proximity to the Primrose School, but the SUD request is separate from the zoning request.

"I think it would be beneficial if, when we have the SUD (request brought to us), if we can have the site plan and a map showing the distance (from the school's front door), kind of as a reference," P&Z Commissioner Lucy Sisinega told city staff. Staff agreed to her suggestion. "This one is not (related), we understand that, but when they come back for the SUD approval, it will be beneficial to see."

In response to the SUD concerns, Robinson said to P&Z, "We do have a licensing team that will be present for all of those hearings. Any exhibits, we can work closely with (city staff) to pull together a package so that you guys have a clearer idea of what's going on under (this) roof, and any measurements."

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Midland City Council will have its next meeting of the year on Tuesday, April 14. B. Kay Richter/Reporter-Telegram

Midland City Council will have its next meeting of the year on Tuesday, April 14. Ahead of the meeting, the Reporter-Telegram sat down with Mayor Lori Blong to discuss three agenda items the council may take up.

Opioid settlements

A national settlement has been reached by six regional pharmaceutical opioid distributors over damages tied to the opioid epidemic across the U.S. Collectively known as the Remnant distributors, these six companies are Associated Pharmacies Inc. and American Associated Pharmacies; J.M. Smith Corp.; Morris and Dickson Co. LLC; Louisiana Wholesale Drug Co. Inc.; North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Co. Inc.; and United Natural Foods Inc.

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To help abate the opioid epidemic, these six companies have been ordered to pay $97.625 million in cash. Midland City Council will consider approving its portion of the settlement to receive funds. Thousands of other government entities across the country, including Midland County, Odessa and Ector County, are expected to take up the same resolution.

(The opioid epidemic) is a notable problem across our nation, and its something that has impacted families in our community and around us, Blong said. This is part of a national effort to curb that and to hold some of these distributor defendants accountable for their participation in those issues.

I-20 water main reroute project

Midland City Council will consider awarding a contract for the Interstate 20 water main reroute project. After the city sent a bid request to 492 companies, 38 viewed it and two submitted bids. Odessa-based Scott Thane Ditching Service Ltd. was identified for the contract. A total of $851,245.12, including contingency costs, will come from the water and sewer unappropriated fund balance to pay for the contract.

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TxDOT is reconstructing I-20, as everyone has experienced, and some of those city utilities are in conflict with TxDOT drainage and other infrastructure, Blong explained about the projects function and benefits. This project is going to relocate a twelve-inch water main under I-20 to remove one of those conflicts, (and) TxDOT will reimburse the city once that project is completed. (This) will continue to provide (Midlanders) long-term water access, but itll also allow for the expansion and advancement of that I-20 (reconstruction) project, which is desperately needed through our area.

Unpaid municipal court fees

Midland City Council will consider approving Round Rock-based McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen P.C., Attorneys at Law, as an outside firm to collect unpaid municipal court fines, fees and court costs. As part of the five-year agreement, the firm will seek to collect the unpaid fines, fees and court costs on the citys behalf.

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A lot of these are (from) people who are not Midland residents, Blong explained. They dont have a Midland home; these are people that are outside the normal course of business within our community (and thus its harder for them to pay it off).

The firm will operate on a contingency basis, with payment based on its success rate.

Theyre only paid if their collections are successful, Blong said. This is a relationship that the city sets up proactively to recoup those costs. But we only pay the consultancy if they are successful.

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One Community USAs Pathways to H.O.P.E. program in Midland County graduated eight jail inmates after a five-day course on accountability, mental health and reentry. B. Kay Richter/Midland Reporter-Telegram One Community USAs Pathways to H.O.P.E. program in Midland County graduated eight jail inmates after a five-day course on accountability, mental health and reentry. B. Kay Richter/Midland Reporter-Telegram

One Community USAs Pathways to H.O.P.E. (Helping Offender Pursue Excellence) program held a graduation ceremony Friday morning for its second class at the Midland County Sheriffs Office Detention Center.

The five-day voluntary program is led by program director Tom Cruz, who served 26 years as an Army interrogator, and assistant director Steven Oliphant, who spent 25 years with the Dallas Police Department. It guides incarcerated people through mindset change and connecting with resources. People in the program volunteer to attend daily sessions covering personal accountability, mental health and community reintegration. The program emphasizes that people at their lowest point can choose a different path.

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According to the program coordinators, participants often demonstrate a significant mindset shift from the first day they step into the classroom to the day they graduate from the course.

Cruz said the programs graduates include aspiring entrepreneurs, mechanics, artists and people with strong family ties. The program aims to bridge the gap between incarcerated people and the broader community, dispelling misconceptions among both incarcerated people and community members.

The program, Cruz said, has been running for four years and offers a 40-hour course every two months covering topics such as mental health, financial literacy and family nurturing. Participants take part in 22 lessons led by community experts. After graduation, participants can pursue an 18-month mentorship program.

In a previous interview, Cruz noted the programs success, with 700 graduates across Texas and a low reoffending rate. The newest class in Midland had eight graduates. Cruz knows the reality of incarceration and what it takes to change the trajectory of his life. He knows that reality because of a suicide attempt during which he threatened to take his own life and the life of his fiancee.

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I actually held my fiancee hostage for seven hours, he told the classroom. I dont remember the situation, and the parts I do remember are not good.

Cruz said that during that event, many people were talking to him and trying to stop him from doing what he wanted to do. The only person who was able to talk him down was his fiancee, now his spouse of 17 years.

There were family members who tried to contact me, Cruz said. They couldn't talk me down. The police tried to talk me down. They made the situation worse. And so she had to, not only be a hostage but also deal with me at the time. She then had to deal with the police. She had to deal with other people to right the situation. So again, the only reason I'm alive today, and that she's alive today, was her ability to read the situation, communicate and get me out of there, and get me out of there safely.

It was after this event that Cruz said he essentially had two paths in life.

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I could be what was me, and be that veteran that sits in the corner that everyone says well, PTSD,' he explained. Or I could do what I was trained to do and how I was raised - to dust myself off, to figure out what was wrong with me and really take charge of my life.

Midland County Sheriff David Criner said the program reflects the countys commitment to the community and recalled visiting on Christmas Day to show support. Commissioner Dianne Anderson also congratulated participants on their willingness to move forward positively.

District Judge David Rogers of the 142nd District Court congratulated the participants in the program, but also issued a reminder.

I hope you use these tools, because next time I'm the one guy you never want to see, he said.

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Criner said Midland County started the program after he learned of its success in other Texas counties. He also said the course is offered to incarcerated people at no cost to Midland County taxpayers.

In a previous interview, Criner said other sheriffs offices had told him this was one way to help people in custody.

Because part of our goal is to keep them incarcerated, but we dont want to ever see them in this position again, he said. This program works, as long as they are willing to do what they need to be doing. It was just a great thing for us to do for these guys, because we want them to be out there, to be productive citizens.

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Participants were offered the opportunity to share feedback during the graduation ceremony. One participant said the program was great and gave him motivation to continue. Another said, You have allowed me to identify the trauma in my life. This class was the greatest because when you get the help, it allows you to stay out.
Midland County commissioners honored explosive detection K-9 Mia for eight years of service as the Sheriffs Offices first explosive-detection K-9. Courtesy Photo/Midland County Public Information Office Midland County honored explosive detection K-9 Mia for eight years of service as the Sheriffs Offices first explosive-detection K-9. Pictured above are Investigator Kevin Bullard and Mia. Courtesy Photo/Midland County Public Information Office

Midland County commissioners recognized the retirement of explosive-detection K-9 Mia, honoring her eight years of service in the Permian Basin.

County officials said Mia was the first explosive-detection K-9 for the Midland County Sheriffs Office and was officially acquired in 2018.

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Over the past eight years, she served a 17-county area and supported numerous high-profile security operations, including NCAA Final Four events in San Antonio and presidential security sweeps, the county said.

Investigator Kevin Bullard, who also serves as Mias handler, said that Mia has been an incredible partner and a true professional throughout her career.

She helped build this program from the ground up and played a critical role in keeping our communities safe, he said.

Following her retirement, Mia will remain with Bullard and transition from active duty to a well-deserved life at home.

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Im grateful for the opportunity to continue caring for her as she enjoys a well-earned retirement, said Bullard.

The Midland County Fire Marshals Office will continue the program Mia helped establish with explosive-detection K-9 Artu and Ember, a newly added fire/arson detection dog.

We are proud to build on the strong foundation Mia helped establish, said Fire Marshal Justin Bunch. With the addition of Artu and Ember, we are strengthening our ability to respond to a wide range of public safety needs across Midland County and the region.
The Planning and Zoning Commission talking with an applicant at their April 6, 2026 meeting. Joshua Sparks can be seen third from left in the green shirt. Luke Dias/Midland Reporter-Telegram

The Planning and Zoning Commission, often abbreviated as P&Z, is the city of Midlands planning body for development and land-use issues. The citys website describes it as the starting point for all new development and redevelopment within the city limits. Because of P&Zs role in shaping Midlands business development and appearance, the Reporter-Telegram spoke with its new chairman, Joshua Sparks, to help readers better understand the commission.

The overall function of the Planning and Zoning Commission is a recommendation board that helps in figuring out what the best purpose of our precious land here is in Midland, Sparks described. Whether that be residential and commercial development, as well as that we have SUDs (specific-use designations) within those, that allow for specific uses such as alcohol sales or a special kind of business that can go into certain places.

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Planning and zoning overview

P&Z cases begin with requests from residents seeking land-use changes, typically including zoning changes, platting lots and SUDs that allow businesses requiring permits, typically the sale of alcohol, to operate on the land. These start with pre-development meetings, where locals seeking submissions will meet with city staff to discuss essentials such as site plans, safety measures, building specifics, utilities and transportation.

Once the pre-development meetings conclude, city staff will send the request documentation to P&Z along with a recommendation to approve or deny it. P&Z will review the files and then, during its meetings, which occur on the first and third Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall chambers, will deliberate on the request and ask city staff, applicants or members of the public whether they have anything to add or clarify. Once this is done, P&Z will then submit a formal recommendation for approval or denial to Midland City Council.

In addition to Sparks, there are six other P&Z commissioners: Brennan Berry, Joshua Garza, J. Brian Martin, Brandon Ofield, Vice Chairman Dara Richards and Lucy Sisinega. Aaron Hunter and BreAnna LaFoy serve as alternates in the event one of the others is unavailable. P&Z terms last three years, with Sparks current term set to end Sept. 30, 2028.

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While meetings tend to draw broad agreement, recently Midland City Council has been pushing back on certain cases involving extraterritorial jurisdictions, or ETJs, because of concerns about water quantity and quality in those areas. When asked about this by Reporter-Telegram, Sparks said he was unaware of this stance by the City Council before the Reporter-Telegram raised it, but is willing to look into it with them.

I think that its good for these to come in, (and) it would be good for us to know if we really think that the studies for water out in those regions are not (accurate), Sparks said. Maybe thats something we should look further into, but based off of the information that we have and that weve been given at Planning and Zoning, were just trying to go with the staff is giving us and what the requestors are coming in (with), and doing the best that we can to make a choice.

Joshua Sparks

When I originally joined (P&Z), it was really more of an opportunity to see what was going on in Midland, (such as) what businesses and construction was going on, Sparks recalled. I first started (in) 2014, when a lot of things were coming into town. It was really interesting for me.

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Sparks was elected chairman by the other P&Z members after the departure of previous chairman Abraham Bejil, whose term expired and who subsequently left to join the Midland Development Corporation. As chairman, he is responsible for running the meetings and making sure everything goes smoothly while ensuring everyone has a chance to be heard.

As with most other government positions in Midland, most of the different commissioners have full-time jobs outside of P&Z. In Sparks case, he has worked as a chemical engineer in Midland-Odessa since 2011 after graduating with a bachelors degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin; the exception came during a brief period when he earned an MBA in international business from Indiana University. He has worked for Ortloff Engineers and Saulsbury and currently serves as a lead chemical engineer at Honeywell UOP. He is also a founding partner of Tall City Brewery Co. and volunteers with Midland Community Theatre.

Anyone seeking to submit a request to Planning and Zoning can do so on the citys website under Planning & Zoning. Their next meeting will be Monday, April 20.
A new Chipotlane will open in Odessa on April 14. Courtesy of Chipotle A new Chipotlane will open in Odessa on April 14. Courtesy of Chipotle

ODESSA  Chipotle Mexican Grill will open a new Odessa location Tuesday, featuring the brands signature Chipotlane.

A Chipotlane is a drive-thru pickup lane for digital orders. This will be the first Chipotlane in Odessa.

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The restaurant will be located at 8009 State Highway 191 Westbound Service Road. It will be open every day from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Chipotles menu currently offers a limited-time Chicken al Pastor and cilantro lime sauce. The brand also features a high-protein menu, with items ranging from 15 to 81 grams of protein.

The menu offers entrees such as the Double High Protein Bowl and High Protein-High Fiber Bowl, as well as snacks such as the High Protein Cup and Single Chicken Taco.

Customers also will be able to order Build Your Own, which serves four to six people.

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Jay Ellis' character in "The Rookie: North" will be the focal point of the show if it is picked up for more episodes. Filming of the pilot recently concuded. Amy Sussman/Getty Images Karen Fukuhara said she expects to know the future of "The Rookie: North" in the coming weeks. She stars in the spin-off with Jay Ellis. Mondadori Portfolio/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Im

A new spinoff of ABCs hit series The Rookie could find out whether it will move forward by late April or early May.

Karen Fukuhara, who is set to star in The Rookie: North, told Collider the shows future will be known in the coming weeks. Fukuhara, who also stars in The Boys, said filming for the spinoffs pilot recently wrapped in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Thank you for that. I just got back from shooting the pilot in Vancouver for 'The Rookie: North,' Fukuhara said to Collider. The original (stars) Nathan Fillion, and hes been a friend of mine for years. Hes just a wonderful human being. Hes so kind-hearted, so I knew stepping into this project, I was in good hands, because everything trickles down from the number one.

How they conduct a set is going to be how the vibe of the crew is going to be. Its really important to have a good number one, and we have Jay Ellis, who is at the forefront of it all. I really hope we get picked up. We find out at the end of April, beginning of May. So, I might be a Canadian again.

The show will reportedly center on Jay Ellis character and be set in Washington state. Ellis also stars in Running Point and had a role in Top Gun: Maverick.

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'The Rookie: North' will see Ellis play Alex Holland, who, like Fillion in The Rookie, becomes the oldest rookie cop in his area, People writes. 'After a violent home invasion ignites a dormant purpose, Alex battles a lifetime of failed commitments by joining the Pierce County Police Department as its oldest rookie,' reads the official synopsis.

'Policing from the urban coast to the rural forest where backup isnt just 5-minutes away, Alex must prove to his skeptical training officer, his fellow rookies and himself, that hes finally found something worthy of the fight.'

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Bluebonnets are just one of many Texas wildflowers starting to sprout in Texas this spring. GingerlySpiced Photography - Tor/Getty Images

As they begin to bloom, there are a number of places to look to find Texas wildflowers.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released an article highlighting some of the best places to go to find some of Texas best wildflowers, breaking down six different regions of the state. They also note which wildflowers are likely to be found in each of these regions.

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Hill Country

The rolling upland hillsides, canyons, and creek and river bottoms are producing a colorful wave of wildflowers, including bluebonnets, Engelmanns daisy, Texas star, blue sage, Indian blanket, Mexican hat, prairie fleabane and verbena, alongside wine cups. In addition, perfume balls, phlox, Missouri primrose, white heliotrope, antelope horn milkweed, sundrops, Drummonds skullcap, Blackfoot daisy, foxglove and Lindheimers paintbrush can be found.

Some Hill Country parks that were highlighted include Colorado Bend, Lyndon B. Johnson, Guadalupe River, McKinney Falls and Garner state parks, along with Enchanted Rock or Lost Maples state natural areas, to see many of these blooms.

The Hill Country canyon woodland ground flora is draped with Texas silver puff, rock lettuce, false dayflower (widows tears), plateau spiderwort, baby blue eyes, red columbine, Texas milkweed, blue curls and roundleaf groundsel. Visit Government Canyon State Natural Area to see these wildflowers.

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Gulf Coast

A wide array of wildflowers are on display, including prairie nymph, prairie clovers, betony-leaf mistflower, Indian blanket, silverleaf sunflower, seaside goldenrod, showy nerveray and erect dayflower. Other flowers that can be found include Texas groundsel, woolly whites, longbract wild indigo, coralbean, Rio Grande greenthread, Gulf Coast camphor daisy, saltmarsh mallow, beach morning glory and side-cluster milkweed.

Some top parks to visit along the coast include Mustang Island, Goose Island, Galveston Island or Sea Rim State Parks to see these stunners.

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East Texas

The Pineywoods hardwood slopes and bottomland forest flora has been extraordinary with a plethora of wildflowers including trout lilies, trilliums, Solomons seal, mayapple, partridge-berry and golden Alexanders. Violets, purple meadow-rue, groundsels, Carolina vetch, wisteria, flowering dogwood, yellow jasmine, crossvine, jack-in-the-pulpits, Virginia sweetspire, hawthorns, white-flowered milkweed, azalea, fringe tree and silver bells are also starting to bloom.

TPWD noted that wetlands are profuse with spider lily, bluestar, spring cress, Canada garlic and blue iris. Old plainsman dominates upland and wetland pine savannas, along with Carolina puccoon, yellow colic-root, candyroot, prairie snoutbean, Queens delight, sundews, silky prairie clover, meadow pink, false dragonhead, downy phlox, rose vervain, spiderworts, Carolina larkspur, bull nettle and toadflax.

Try to find them at Daingerfield, Caddo Lake, Mission Tejas, Village Creek and other state parks in the area.

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Prairies and Lakes

Texas Parks and Wildlife noted that the landscape is teeming with Indian paintbrushes, brown-eyed Susan, winecup, American basket flower, Barbaras buttons, American wild carrot, showy evening primrose, plantain and Texas prairie parsley.

Other plants starting to be seen include fleabane, prairie clovers, blue-eyed grass, buttercups, snakeherb, butterfly weed, false dragonhead, sundrops, beeblossum, Texas skeleton plant, larkspur, coneflowers, blue mealy sage, wild indigo and overwhelming numbers of green milkweeds.

With 20 state parks in this region, there are plenty of places to try your hand at some wildflower spotting. The Texas Parks and Wildlife recommends the Dinosaur Valley, Cleburne, or Fort Parker State Parks, to name a few.

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Panhandle Plains

TPWD said visitors in the High Plains can find winecups, purple coneflower, the Engelmann and Blackfoot daisy, Missouri evening primrose, pink plains penstemon, mealy sage, copper-mallow, Indian blanket, Texas bluebonnet, Tahoka daisy and prairie verbena.

Some top parks to visit in the region are Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons or Copper Breaks state parks to see these wildflowers across the grasslands.

Big Bend Country

The lower Big Bend wildflower displays are accumulating and include Big Bend bluebonnet, whole-leaf Indian paintbrush, rock penstemon, several crinklemat species, rigid paintbrush, yellow rocknettle, yerba raton, dogweed, paperflower and shrubby skeleton-leaf goldeneye. Twin-leaf senna, limoncillo, several species of salvias, purple wooly locoweed, ocotillo, lechuguilla, fragrant yellow huisache, cenizo and yuccas are on display at Big Bend Ranch, Seminole Canyon and Davis Mountains state parks.

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A slight risk of severe weather is in place across the West Texas region for Saturday, April 11. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

Strong to severe storms are likely Saturday, April 11, across West Texas, and the severe weather threats are coming into focus.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center has a slight risk of severe weather in place across West Texas and into the Panhandle, with large hail and damaging winds as the main threats. Storms are expected to develop in the afternoon and continue through the night.

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The SPC says thunderstorms are expected to develop near the surface trough across eastern New Mexico and western Texas during the afternoon as modest large-scale lift spreads across the region.

A few strong to severe storms look to occur Saturday afternoon and night across portions of west Texas and southeast New Mexico, the Midland/Odessa National Weather Service said. The main threats for the strongest storms will be damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding.

There is a 15% hail risk in place for West Texas on Saturday, April 11. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

A 15% risk of severe hail stretches from just south of Amarillo to the Mexican border. This includes cities such as Midland, Lubbock, Fort Stockton and San Angelo.

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Vertical shear will be weak but sufficient for at least transient organized cells capable of producing large hail, the Storm Prediction Center said. As a low-level jet increases during the evening, some consolidation of updrafts could occur and linear segments/small bows could produce locally strong wind gusts.

There is a 15% severe wind risk in place for West Texas on Saturday, April 11. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

There is also a 15% severe wind risk stretching across the same areas, from the Permian Basin to the Texas border.

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A minor tornado threat is expected to remain south of the Midland/Odessa region. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

A minimal tornado threat is expected from this system, with the 2% tornado risk covering the Fort Stockton area and remaining south of Midland/Odessa.

There is also a heavy rain risk highlighted by the Weather Prediction Center for Saturday. There is currently a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for the western Permian Basin on Saturday, meaning there is a 5% risk of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance.

About half an inch of rain is expected for the Midland/Odessa region on Saturday. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

Scattered to numerous showers and storms are in the forecast over our region Saturday afternoon, the Midland/Odessa NWS said. Aside from the potential of severe weather, these storms will be capable of producing occasionally heavy rainfall, resulting in localized flash flooding. Take caution while traveling and monitor for Flash Flood Warnings on Saturday!

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Current forecasts call for around a half-inch of rain in the Midland/Odessa area and up through the Panhandle, with up to an inch farther east toward San Angelo.

There is a slight risk for severe weather on Sunday across Central Texas. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

This could begin an active stretch of severe weather for parts of Texas, though the greatest severe weather threat is expected to remain east of Midland/Odessa, near San Angelo. There is a slight risk of severe weather stretching across the Interstate 20 corridor from just outside Midland east to Fort Worth. A similar risk is also in place for Monday.

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TAG Center Permian Basin made 80 felony arrests last month and seized meth, cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and firearms, officials said. B. Kay Richter/Midland Reporter-Telegram

The TAG Center Permian Basin released data from last month detailing arrests, drugs seized and other enforcement activity.

The Midland County Sheriffs Office said TAG Permian Basin made 80 felony arrests, 22 misdemeanor arrests and 41 arrests of alleged gang members. Authorities also reported seizing more than 6 pounds of marijuana, 14 ounces of THC, 5 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of cocaine, 3 ounces of heroin and 45 pounds of fentanyl.

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The sheriffs office also reported executing seven search warrants. Authorities also seized about five firearms and more than $900. The TAG Center Permian Basin includes personnel from the Midland County Sheriffs Office, Ector County Sheriffs Office, Midland Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Midland County District Attorneys Office, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the DEA/HIDTA.
Environmental advocates rally Wednesday at the Capitol in Springfield, seeking greater data center regulation in Illinois. Jenna Schweikert/Capitol News Illinois

Illinois lawmakers are digging deep on data centers, with a House committee in the first of three planned meetings hearing from mayors, labor groups and agriculture representatives about the facilities local impacts.

Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, chair of the House Executive Committee, said she wanted to hear about the benefits and challenges of data centers as the General Assembly considers regulations like the Power Act.

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Whatever we do here, we have to put people first, she said. We have to put communities first. Datas important, business is important, revenues are important, but people must come first.

Water use, energy use, noise and how community benefit agreements are constructed were the primary concerns lawmakers wanted to address on Wednesday.

Generally, the speakers acknowledged data centers are part of a growing economy and are needed to support technology like AI, cloud computing and data storage used by various industries, from education to health care.

Some cautioned against regulation, saying it could dissuade companies from investing in Illinois; others aired different concerns theyve encountered.

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An Illinois Senate committee also has two data center-related hearings scheduled for later this week. Environmental advocates this week also lobbied in the Capitol for data center regulation.

Local government perspective

Mayors from Aurora and DeKalb offered competing views of the benefits and tradeoffs data centers bring. DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes praised the Meta data center that started construction in 2020 and was finished in 2023.

When Meta first came to our community, they specifically said they want to make a significant impact in everything they do where they have a physical presence, and that's just what they did, Barnes said.

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Meta, he said, has invested heavily in DeKalb by contributing to the nonprofit community and paying tens of millions of dollars in property and utility taxes, helping to fund schools and local police. It also has partnered with Northern Illinois University to bring STEM classes to area high schools.

According to the Rockford Register Star, the Meta facilitys 2024 tax bill was $32.1 million, or 11% of the total $287.3 million in taxes generated in all of DeKalb County.

Barnes said DeKalb didnt require Meta to meet any standards or requirements before construction began, and he worries that requirements might drive further development away.

I would encourage you, let's always think about how can we foster more economic development rather than inhibiting it with regulation and rules and requirements, Barnes said. And if we do that, then we do it for every industry in the state of Illinois.

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Aurora Mayor John Laesch, on the other hand, said residents have raised concerns about noise from data centers and the impact on the power grid.

Residents living near data centers have described a constant low-frequency hum day and night, he said. It's not loud in a traditional sense, but persistent. People have described trouble sleeping, increased stress, loss of quiet in their own homes.

Aurora has five data centers in operation and five more under construction.

Aurora enacted ordinances in March that would require data center developers to conduct and submit studies dealing with noise, water consumption and energy needs. The ordinances also require future data centers to meet standards for noise, vibrations, water use and energy use. They also will need to get power from renewable energy sources.

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While the city has tried to address the issues locally, Laesch urged the state to take broader action.

Water and energy, in particular, need to be addressed regionally or at the state level, he said.

Those requirements mimic provisions in the Power Act, a major data center regulation bill now under consideration in both chambers of the General Assembly.

Sangamon County on Tuesday approved the zoning proposal for a CyrusOne data center project, and Marc Ayers, a former member of the Sangamon County Board who resigned after Tuesdays vote, said residents also aired worries about noise and water at those meetings.

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Ayers, who voted against the proposal, said he was happy to see the $500 million investment in Sangamon County, but he wanted to have more discussions before approving the project.

He also wanted more information from companies about their hiring practices for construction and for long-term operations, he said. And he wanted transparency about a community benefit agreement between the data center and a local development group, especially considering the company also owns the data centers in Aurora.

Rather than fixing the noise in Aurora, they're expanding with a bigger project in Sangamon County, he said. So this aspect of being a good neighbor, we're torn with that because they're not really being a good neighbor right now in Aurora.

Labor perspective

Representatives from labor generally were opposed to regulations. They said too many rules would risk companies choosing to do business elsewhere.

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The fact of the matter is data centers are going to be built. They are being built. The question is whether Illinois is ready to build them here, said Marc Poulos, executive director of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting and a member of Local 150.

Theres high demand for labor to work on these long-term construction projects in surrounding states, including hundreds of his own members, Poulos said. Without smart standards, he said, Illinois could lose out on that investment.

Joe Duffy of Climate Jobs Illinois said finding a line between economic development and environmental protections should be the priority, but pausing perks like the data center tax credits  as Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed  is the wrong approach.

We believe Illinois can maintain its lead in this race with the right balance of incentives, labor standards, local protections and infrastructure planning, Duffy said. We can attract investment while ensuring communities benefit, workers are treated fairly, and our energy and water resources are responsibly managed.

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Land use

Farmers are most concerned about how data centers use land and water, said Bill Bodine of Illinois Farm Bureau.

Farmers support bring your own energy proposals but want reassurance that new renewable energy sources arent developed on land that could be used for farming, he said.

Those proposals should prioritize projects that place renewable energy on, say, center rooftops, parking areas, land already impacted by data center development, he said.

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He also called for water-use reports and water-withdrawal plans that are reviewed by the Illinois State Water Survey, as well as efficiency standards for energy and water use.

Bodine said farmers also are concerned about data centers being abandoned if their technology becomes obsolete or they reach the end of their lifespan. He asked for a decommissioning plan or process so the facilities could be easily removed.
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

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 A 31-year-old Jacksonville man was arrested at 9:10 p.m. Thursday in the 200 block of East Morton Avenue on a Morgan County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on a charge of criminal damaging.

 A 25-year-old Jacksonville woman was arrested at 6:56 a.m. Thursday in the 600 block of East State Street on a Morgan County warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on a drunken driving charge.

 A 23-year-old Jacksonville man was arrested at 6:06 a.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal trespassing involving state-supported land after being on Morgan County Housing Authority property in the 800 block of Hoagland Boulevard from which he was prohibited.

DISTURBANCES

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 Police were called at 7:29 p.m. Thursday to a disturbance in the 300 block of East Independence Avenue involving a report of a man with a knife talking to himself. He was taken to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital for evaluation, according to a police report.

VANDALISM

 Eggs were thrown on a car in the 700 block of West Railroad Street, according to a report filed at 11:33 a.m. Thursday.

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Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi answers questions from the media at the Capitol. Matt McClain/Getty Images Elwood Watson .

News that Pam Bondi bit the political dust was hardly surprising. It was common knowledge the president was intensely dissatisfied with Bondi, resenting her inability to prosecute his political enemies successfully and frustrated she was unable to contain the endemic frenzy that engulfed the Epstein scandal. He also felt psychotically sobered by her unconvincing performative antics on television and in front of Congress.

Before her long-overdue termination, Bondi arrogantly indulged in highly reductive behavior that publicly betrayed her incompetence and lack of qualifications to serve as the nations chief law enforcer. In September 2025, shortly after Charlie Kirks death, she appeared on the Katie Miller Podcast declaring that federal law enforcement would go after Americans for hate speech.

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We will absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech. Theres free speech, and then theres hate speech,

However, the First Amendment contains no hate-speech exception.

Mind you, this was not some random, disgruntled, plain Jane or average Joe spewing such alarming rhetoric. These were the exact words of the attorney general of the United States, the highest-ranking law enforcement official in the nation. After an intense backlash, Bondi clarified her remarks, arguing she was referring solely to hate speech, which she would prosecute if it included calls to violence. It was a lame attempt at rhetorical cleanup that inspired little confidence and left much to be desired.

During her stormy tenure, Bondis Justice Department devolved into a tool for the presidents political agenda. Specifically, Trump tasked Bondi with weaponizing the department against his longtime antagonists. Due to scant evidence of criminality, the Justice Department failed to secure indictments or convictions of James Comey, John Bolton, Adam Schiff, Letitia James, John Brennan, Jerome Powell, and other of the presidents detractors.

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Failure aside, Bondi successfully devitalized the department, which is a fraction of its former self. She dismantled the civil rights division, an imperative sector of government that ardently and earnestly worked to enforce equal rights, voting rights, and anti-discrimination law. Incredulously, every attorney involved in prior criminal investigations of Trump was fired, resigned or retired. Fully 6,000 lawyers resigned rather than work toward her untoward objectives.

Trumps resentment at Bondis fumbling of the ongoing Epstein scandal elucidates how the issue cryptically plagues his administration. Not long after her swearing in as attorney general, Bondi appeared on Fox News and said the Epstein files were sitting on my desk. A few months later, the Justice Department announced that it would not be releasing any more information, citing the need to protect victims and denying there was a client list.

Not surprisingly, such a turnabout demoralized more than a few conspiracy theory-addicted MAGA supporters, who steadfastly believed that the files contained ample evidence that numerous Democratic leaders were closet pedophiles. Agitated by right-wing social influencers, Trumps diehard fans convinced themselves releasing such files would result in unprecedented arrests of Democrats and possibly even result in the entire partys political nullification. Interestingly, these same folks decided to adopt a hear no evil, see no evil, fear no evil stance regarding the indisputable photos and video evidence that Trump was Epsteins close friend for years.

One can only speculate why Bondi early on in her position as attorney general decided to announce on Fox News that she had the Epstein files in her possession and teased that they included the rumored client list that conspiracists fantasized contained all the radical Democrats they wanted prosecuted and incarcerated. The truth is (or was) that she was well aware that she never intended to release any new information on the case. In reality, she hoodwinked the conspiracists by providing binders labeled Epstein files that were nothing more than a collage of evidence already available in the public domain.

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For Bondi, this was her personal waterloo. The more she worked to diminish the Epstein controversy, the more public interest grew. Through the combination of continuous disclosures, congressional subpoenas and eventual rulings demanding the documents release, the American public was able to witness some of the seedy and sordid material (much of it implicating Trump) that the former attorney general so fiercely tried to obscure.

Her dismissal is some minute degree of justice.

Pam Bondi is now no longer immune from potential prosecution. There is no doubt that Congress will compel her to testify as a private citizen. Her sinister efforts to weaponize the Justice Department perversely at Trumps behest was nothing short of disturbing and abominable.
Lobbyists and special interests are constantly scheming to defeat the will of the majority. Now they are able to do more damage using artificial intelligence to simulate fake grassroots opposition. Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images

Lobbyists and special interests are constantly scheming to defeat the will of the majority. Now they are able to do more damage using artificial intelligence to simulate fake grassroots opposition to clean air measures, and they are surreptitiously using the identities of real people to deceive regulators.

Last June, the South Coast Air Quality Management District received more than 20,000 comments opposing a pair of clean air rules that would have prevented 2,500 premature deaths and 10,000 new cases of asthma. A February investigation by the Los Angeles Times revealed that those comments were submitted through CiviClick, a Washington-based AI-powered comment generation platform, orchestrated by a local political consultant with ties to the natural gas industry. When the districts cybersecurity team reached out to a small sample of commenters to verify their identities, a majority of respondents said that they had not submitted the comments in their names.

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Even so, the flood of fake comments seemingly worked. These rules, vehemently opposed by the natural gas industry, already watered down by the district to near-toothlessness, were ultimately rejected by the board  apparently overwhelmed by the flood of fake opposition to even the mildest effort to limit pollution from gas-burning appliances.

This campaign was not an isolated incident. A recent investigation by the San Francisco Chronicle also revealed that an industry front group used Speak4, a platform that advertises its use of AI, to submit dozens of comments regurgitating talking points from the fossil fuel industry in an attempt to weaken and delay clean air rules. The scheme was exposed when 10 residents whose identities were used on these emails said they absolutely did not send them, calling the messages forged.

In both cases, organizations submitted emails and comments to regulators using real peoples identities without their knowledge or consent. This playbook has been employed in other states: CiviClick was used by fossil fuel companies to support a gas-pipeline-expansion project in North Carolina last year. When elected officials reached out to a few respondents to verify the messages, some constituents stated they had no knowledge of the emails sent under their names.

The industry front group using AI to undermine clean air rules, Common Sense Coalition, also has ties to fossil fuel companies.

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The question of whether fossil fuel interests financed Astroturf AI campaigns to defeat clean air rules should be answered through full investigations, which also ought to address whether the campaigns committed fraud and identity theft.

People deserve to know what is going on  how AI was used, where the lobbyists got the names and addresses they attached to the robo-messages and who paid for the deceptive campaigns. Whats most concerning is the use of actual residents identities  without their knowledge or consent  to oppose life-saving clean air standards.

If the law on using a persons name in a scheme to thwart action by a public agency is not clear enough to support prosecutions, then the law needs to be tightened up.

If this seems like a niche issue, I can assure you it is not. I am deeply disturbed by the potential co-opting of public input processes using forgery through automated tools. Gathering public input is fundamental to the legitimacy of regulatory agencies.

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We frequently heard from individuals or business associations concerned about the cost or burden of proposed regulation, and we worked hard to understand and tailor our rules to make them as streamlined and cost-effective as we could, while still making progress toward reducing the air and climate harms of a wide array of equipment and activities.
Commentary: The move has sparked a debate between those who believe the rule would support growth and others who fear it would destabilize the vital accounts. Yoshiyoshi Hirokawa/Getty Images Randall Bloomquist Provided/InsideSources

For decades, the American 401(k) has been a relatively predictable engine of retirement, powered almost exclusively by publicly traded stocks and mutual funds. That engine may soon have a new high-octane fuel source.

The Department of Labor recently unveiled a landmark proposed rule that could clear the way for millions of workers to invest their 401(k) retirement savings in alternative assets, including private equity, real estate, private infrastructure projects and cryptocurrency. The proposal follows through on President Trumps executive order aimed at democratizing access to high-yield investment vehicles traditionally reserved for very wealthy individuals and institutional investors.

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The move marks a significant shift in federal policy and has sparked a debate between those who believe the rule would support 401(k) growth and diversity and others who fear the proposal would destabilize these vital retirement accounts.

The U.S. 401(k) market holds more than $10 trillion in assets. Seventy million Americans participate in a 401(k) retirement plan. Plan sponsors  the employers who choose which investment options to include on their employees 401(k) menu  have long avoided alternative assets for legal reasons. Under federal law, plan sponsors are fiduciaries, meaning they must act solely in the interests of 401(k) participants. A fiduciary can be held personally liable for imprudent investment choices.

A 2025 poll conducted for the Pinpoint Policy Institute found that 57% of U.S. voters support encouraging private equity investments in 401(k) plans, while 13% oppose the policy. Support is even stronger among those with 401(k)s, at 63%.

The Labor Departments proposal seeks to reduce plan managers concerns about alternative assets by providing a presumption of reasonableness. Essentially, if an employer follows a strict process for vetting an alternative asset, they are granted a legal safe harbor from lawsuits arising from the assets inclusion.

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To qualify for this protection, plan managers would be required to evaluate any potential alternative investment to ensure it meets the standards set by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, which governs most private-sector retirement plans.

That vetting process includes analyzing the assets performance history to assess its growth track record, scrutinizing its fee structures to ensure costs dont outweigh potential gains, and assessing the assets liquidity to determine whether it can be sold quickly.

Supporters of the proposed rule argue that the current system leaves middle-class investors behind while the wealthy benefit from alternative assets. They suggest that allowing 401(k)s to include private equity, cryptocurrency or infrastructure projects could improve long-term returns and increase diversification.

In a traditional investment portfolio, when the stock market dips, bonds often provide a cushion. However, in recent years, stocks and bonds have occasionally moved in tandem. Alternative assets often behave differently, potentially reducing overall portfolio volatility.

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Not everyone supports opening the 401(k) door to alternative assets. Critics worry that the change could undermine the security of 401(k) plans by introducing assets that often carry higher fees while being hard to value and sell. While a 401(k) owner can sell a mutual fund any day the market is open, private equity and real estate funds may lock up money for years, making it difficult for workers to make emergency withdrawals or rebalance their accounts.

Private equity firms, for example, use pooled capital to acquire or invest in privately held companies. The firms typically hold an asset for five to 10 years, aiming to improve its performance and sell it for a profit. Investors receive income only from their share of the sale profits. Private equity fees often include a 2% management fee and 20% of any profits.

Americans for Financial Reform, an advocacy group that opposes the proposed rule, says the Labor Department is rushing to implement a flawed proposal that will benefit the alternative assets sector rather than 401(k) owners.

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Mickey and Kayla Ebenkamp stand with Mount Fuji in the background during a March trip to Tokyo, Japan. The Ebenkamps said the mountain is usually hidden by clouds. Photo Provided By Mickey Ebenkamp

It probably wasn't a surprise to Mickey and Kayla Ebenkamp's family and friends that they traveled to Japan recently. After all, the Ebenkamps have also traveled to Europe, Ireland, Israel and the West Indies, as well as on mission trips to Brazil and Bangladesh.

Mickey's explanation of Japan as their destination?

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"Because we had never been there," Mickey said.

The couple flew 10.5 hours non-stop from Dallas to Tokyo, Japan on March 12 and returned on March 28. They crossed the International Dateline, so they lost a day going and gained one as they returned.

The Ebenkamps stayed three days in Tokyo before boarding a Celebrity cruise ship for a 13-night voyage. In Tokyo, they had a guide one day and were on their own the others. They used the rail system and a train map that looked "like an Etch-a-Sketch" with lines everywhere and names written in Japanese. Also, they visited trendy areas, restaurants, shops, a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine.

"Every once-in-a-while we looked lost, and someone would help us," Mickey said.

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The Japanese, especially, enjoyed talking to people that spoke English.

"They would come up and ask, 'Can we help?'" Kayla said.

Mickey described the visit to the shrine as "weird."

"No one is allowed to go inside shrines, but visitors of all religions could stand in front of them to pray. They could also write prayers on cards and attach them to a "laundry wire," according to Mickey.

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"There are very, very few Christians in Japan," Kayla noted.

The couple saw two Buddhist wedding processions and young girls dressed in kimonos having their pictures taken. Typically, the Japanese don't wear the traditional kimonos except for celebrations. Those who were dressed in traditional clothes also walked awkwardly because their shoes had flat wooden soles with leather pieces between their toes. They wore socks with those shoes.

Throughout their trip, the Ebenkamps visited places designated as World Heritage sites.

If Mickey had any misconception about Japan, it would be that he thought he would feel uncomfortable there.

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"I kind of felt like we wouldn't be welcome; I felt it would be difficult," Mickey said. "However, I would be very comfortable flying over there, renting a car and just driving around the country."

Although it has a population of 33-41 million people (more than the whole state of Texas), Tokyo is an extremely clean city, according to the Ebenkamps. The Japanese take pride in their country being clean and safe.

"Somebody told me the only thing that happens in Tokyo is you could get your umbrella or bicycle stolen," Mickey said.

They rarely heard a horn honk and never saw a car wreck because the people are so patient.

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There are no public trash cans because people are expected to dispose of their trash at home. Throwing down one's drinking cup could result in a fine. When they order take-out food, they are expected to take it home or to sit when they eat. It would be considered impolite to eat or drink while walking.

They said the people are very modest in dress and behavior and are very quiet and respectful.

The couple learned to eat with chopsticks. They also learned that it is acceptable to "slurp your soup (it's hard to eat soup with chopsticks)," and to belch after a meal (a compliment to the cook). They had no idea what they were eating when they were off the ship.

For example, Kayla thought she had ordered an egg-roll, but instead she received a raw egg to break over her sticky rice.

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One of Kayla's favorite foods was a Japanese pancake with shrimp, pork, or fish, a fried egg, noodles and sauce on it.

She proudly told her daughter, "I had sushi, and I ate with chopsticks."

They saw a Starbucks and many 7-11's. However, the convenience stores do not have gas pumps but just sell convenience food and beverages and have money exchange machines. There was even a 7-11 in their hotel.

Their cruise ship sailed at night and docked each morning at 10 ports. The geography of each island was a little different. Also, some islands were more industrialized while others were more agricultural. Keeping the Japanese culture of cleanliness, "even the ports were clean and organized," according to Mickey.

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"People that have lost everything and rebuilt approach things differently," Mickey added. "When you lose it all, you start taking care of it."

As the ship prepared to leave each port, school children sang or played musical instruments for passengers and then ran along the docks, waving at the passengers.

While they traveled the islands, they saw more Buddhist temples, shogun castles, cherry blossoms, rice paddies, tea fields and Japanese Black cattle (from which Kobe beef comes).

The Ebenkamps visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial where the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on August 6, 1945.

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"That, to me, was gut-wrenching, but I thought it was a good snapshot of the people and the culture because they took something that was really awful and tried to make it so significant that people don't want to see that again," Mickey said.

"Also, in the museum, they admitted that they attacked the United States. They wanted to use it as a reminder to maintain peace."

Kayla said the site was crowded with Japanese parents taking their children there.

Mickey added it has been only 80 years since the bombing, but the Japanese and United States have a very good relationship, and the Japanese have a high regard for the United States.

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"They are probably our closest ally, in my opinion," Mickey said.

Did Kayla feel uncomfortable, standing where her government had dropped the atomic bomb?

"No one ever looked at me strangely; I never felt uncomfortable or guilty," Kayla said.

The Ebenkamps don't bring home many souvenirs from their trips, but they did purchase some tea cups and some green tea.

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Kayla was a little concerned about the green tea leaves making it through customs.

"I hoped they knew it was green teas and not something else," Kayla said.

The couple have an adventurous spirit when it comes to travel.

"We enjoy the things we don't know and are uncomfortable with, and we are both learners," Mickey said. "We like to get lost and then figure it out. So far it's worked out."

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They didn't mind sharing that Mickey is 75 and Kayla is 73.

"That's why we travel so much now because we know at a point it's going to stop," Mickey said.

Would they go back again?

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Michael Dain is named interim dean of the Wayland Baptist University School of Christian Studies. Provided by WBU

Wayland Baptist University has named ministry leader and longtime faculty member Michael Dain interim dean of its School of Christian Studies.

Dain, who has served on the Wayland faculty since 2009, has more than 17 years of experience at the university, including leadership as coordinator for Christian Studies at the universitys Lubbock campus.

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He succeeds Timothy Pierce, who recently stepped down to return to the pulpit.

In this position, Dain will act as a temporary dean and help keep the school running smoothly, represent it within the university and guide its programs while Wayland decides on long-term leadership.

Dr. Dain has a strong record of teaching, ministry, and leadership, and he understands the mission of Christian higher education, said Cindy McClenagan, vice president of academic affairs. He is well prepared to lead the School of Christian Studies and to help equip students for meaningful service in churches and communities.

Dain said he is honored to step into the role and hopes to build on the schools foundation while preparing students for ministry in a changing world.

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We want to honor the rich tradition of Christian studies at Wayland while also looking ahead, Dain said. Our goal is to equip students to follow Christ faithfully in whatever context they are called  whether that is pastoral ministry, bi-vocational service, worship leadership, or other areas of ministry.

A native of Monahans, Dain earned a Bachelor of Science from Angelo State University. He completed his seminary training at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he later taught as an adjunct, and earned a doctorate in church history. He also has done additional academic work in theology and ethics and previously taught at Dallas Baptist University.

In addition to his academic background, Dain has served as an interim pastor for several churches, experience that he said helps him bring practical ministry insight into the classroom.

At Wayland, he has worked with traditional undergraduate students and adult learners across external campuses and online programs. He said preparing students for ministry in both in-person and digital settings will remain important.

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Churches today are engaging people in new ways, including online and through social media, Dain said. We want our students to be ready to communicate the gospel effectively, build community, and serve wherever God calls them.

Dain said strengthening relationships with churches across the region and expanding opportunities for students to gain hands-on ministry experience also will remain priorities.

Our mission is simple but significant, he said. We want to help students love people, serve faithfully, and proclaim Christ wherever they go.

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Taurine, the forgotten amino acid that improves male fertility and heart health

In a health landscape obsessed with testosterone boosters and protein powders, a humble sulfur-containing amino acid has quietly accumulated decades of peer-reviewed evidence showing it can lower blood pressure, rescue damaged sperm mitochondria, and restore steroid hormone production. While Japan approved taurine as a treatment for heart failure patients as early as 1985, American men continue to suffer from rising infertility rates, metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease. Now, two new studies reveal exactly how this compound protects the male reproductive system from toxic assault and age-related decline.

Key points:

Taurine is a free amino acid concentrated in brain, heart, and male reproductive tissues, distinct from protein-bound amino acids.

One 2023 research review confirms taurine improves cardiac contractility and significantly lowers blood pressure.

A second study on lead-exposed mice shows taurine restores sperm mitochondrial function and boosts steroidogenesis genes.

Taurine supplementation at 1.6 grams daily improved blood pressure and vascular function in pre-hypertensive humans.

The amino acid reduces oxidative stress in sperm, a primary driver of male infertility.

Reproductive rescue from toxic assault

Taurine is one of the most abundant amino acids in the human body, but unlike others, it floats free in your tissues instead of being locked into muscle or collagen. Your heart, brain, and testicles store high concentrations of it. And when those levels drop, things go wrong.

To make matters worse, the male reproductive system faces an unprecedented chemical onslaught. Environmental pollutants, heavy metals like lead, and even prescription drugs damage sperm at the cellular level. A 2023 study published in Reproductive Sciences put taurine to the test against lead-induced reproductive toxicity. Researchers exposed mice to lead for 35 consecutive days. The results were stark. Lead caused significant histopathological alterations and oxidative stress in male mices reproductive system and sperm, according to the study. Additionally, sperm mitochondrial function collapsed. The expression of critical steroidogenesis genes including StAR, 17?-HSD, CYP11A, and 3?-HSD was suppressed.

But taurine reversed much of this damage, and shows promise for mitigating the negative effects of heavy metals. Mice receiving 500 and 1000 milligrams per kilogram of taurine showed significantly improved oxidative stress biomarkers in both male gonads and gametes. Taurine also significantly restored sperm mitochondrial function and kinetics. The authors concluded that taurines effects on oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and the steroidogenesis process seem to play a fundamental role in its protective properties.

Heart, metabolism, and the aging male

Beyond reproduction, taurine addresses the two leading killers of men: heart disease and metabolic syndrome. A 2023 research review published in Frontiers in Endocrinology noted that taurine has a wide range of biological effects, including bile salt formation, osmotic regulation, oxidative stress inhibition, immunomodulation and neuromodulation. The review specifically highlighted taurines role in the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis, testicular tissue development, spermatogenesis, and delaying the aging of testicular structure and function.

Human data supports these findings. One study of 120 people with pre-hypertension found that taking 1.6 grams of taurine daily for 12 weeks improved blood pressure, enhanced blood vessel function, and increased hydrogen sulfide, a compound that relaxes blood vessels. A meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials confirmed taurine significantly lowered heart rate and blood pressure, especially in those at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

The same review analyzing 25 randomized controlled trials and 1,000 individuals found taurine supplementation between 0.5 and 6 grams daily lowered blood sugar and triglyceride levels alongside blood pressure. Only 12 percent of U.S. adults are considered metabolically healthy. Taurine offers a low-cost intervention.

Taurine is available in capsules and powders. Research suggests 1 to 3 grams daily for exercise performance and 2 grams as a therapeutic starting point. The evidence is clear. This forgotten amino acid deserves a place alongside creatine and magnesium as a cornerstone of male health.

Sources include:

MindBodyGreen.com

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov
U.S., EU Negotiate Expanded Biometric Data-Sharing Framework

U.S., European Union Negotiate Expanded Biometric Data-Sharing Framework

The United States and the European Union are in formal negotiations over a landmark agreement that would establish a reciprocal framework for sharing biometric data, including facial recognition scans and fingerprint records. The negotiations, which are at an advanced stage, represent a technical expansion of existing security cooperation, according to officials. [1]

A final text has not been published publicly. The agreement would require formal approval by EU member states and the European Parliament before taking effect. [2]

Negotiation Status and Proposed Scope of Data

According to a draft text published by the non-profit watchdog Statewatch, the proposed agreement would cover fingerprints, facial images, and iris scans collected by law enforcement authorities. The framework is described by officials as a means to enhance existing cooperation under the U.S.-EU Umbrella Agreement on data protection for law enforcement purposes. [3]

The EU Council authorized the negotiation of an EU-level framework agreement in December 2025, setting the legal conditions for data transfers, according to a report from Reclaim The Net. Individual member states would then sign their own implementing arrangements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, identifying specific databases and setting operational terms. [4]

Negotiations are reported to be at an advanced stage, with officials aiming for finalization in the coming months. The European Data Protection Supervisor has noted that the proposed framework would establish an important precedent, as it would be the first EU agreement to entail large-scale sharing of personal data, including biometrics, with a third country for border and immigration control. [5]

Operational Purposes and Access Procedures

The stated purpose of the agreement, according to the draft text, is to assist in the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of criminal offenses, including terrorism. Access to shared data would be limited to designated authorities and subject to specific logging and auditing requirements detailed within the agreement. [3]

Data could be used for automated biometric matching through systems like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Automated Biometric Identification System, known as IDENT. [3] The agreement sits inside DHSs Enhanced Border Security Partnership program, which is aimed at expanding biometric information sharing with foreign partners. [1]

Privacy Safeguards and Data Retention Limits

The draft agreement includes provisions for data protection, limiting data retention to a maximum of five years, according to the published text. Individuals would have the right to access their personal data and request correction of inaccuracies under the proposed rules. [3]

These safeguards are based on standards outlined in the EUs Law Enforcement Directive, officials stated. However, some privacy experts note that if biometric data is stolen, individuals can be permanently vulnerable because, unlike passwords, biometric information is difficult, if not impossible, to change. [6]

Criticisms and Civil Society Concerns

Privacy advocacy groups, including Statewatch and the European Digital Rights network, have raised concerns about the scale of the proposed biometric sharing. Critics argue the agreement could normalize mass surveillance and create a precedent for further expansion of interconnected biometric databases. [3]

Some legal experts question the proportionality of the measure, citing potential impacts on fundamental rights to privacy and data protection. The expansion of such systems has been described elsewhere as contributing to an emerging 'police state' infrastructure where surveillance apparatus is turned on citizens. [7]

Parallel developments, such as the integration of facial recognition with passport databases in the United Kingdom and the mandatory rollout of biometric digital ID systems in countries like Mexico, illustrate a global trend towards increased biometric surveillance that often faces public opposition over privacy concerns. [8][9]

Conclusion

The negotiations between the U.S. and the EU mark a significant step toward deeper transatlantic security integration through biometric data exchange. While officials frame the agreement as a necessary tool for modern law enforcement, its final form and the robustness of its privacy protections remain subjects of ongoing debate and scrutiny. The outcome will set a critical precedent for international data-sharing frameworks in an era of rapidly advancing surveillance technology.

References
U.S. to automatically register men for military draft using federal data starting in December

Automatic draft registration for men will begin this December.

The change is mandated by the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

The government will use federal data to enroll males at age 18.

Proponents call it a cost-saving measure to improve bureaucratic efficiency.

An actual draft would still require separate Congressional authorization.

Get ready, America. The federal government is about to take a significant step in prepping for a potential national emergency, and it involves every young man in the country. Starting this December, eligible American males will no longer have to sign themselves up for the Selective Service System, the database for a military draft. Instead, the government will automatically register them using federal data within 30 days of their 18th birthday. This quiet but profound shift, mandated by the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, marks the biggest change to the draft apparatus in decades and arrives amid a tense geopolitical climate.

The Selective Service System submitted the proposed rule for this "automatic registration" to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30. The change, according to the agencys website, "transfers responsibility for registration from individual men to SSS through integration with federal data sources." The goal, as stated, is to create a "streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment."

A move billed as efficiency

Proponents in Congress have framed this as a simple matter of bureaucratic efficiency and cost-saving. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), who sponsored the automatic registration language, argued it would allow resources to be redirected. "This will also allow us to rededicate resources  basically that means money  towards [readiness] and towards mobilization  rather than towards education and advertising campaigns driven to register people," Houlahan said, according to a Military Times report.

The agency has noted that registration rates among eligible men have recently declined, dropping from 84% in 2023 to 81% in 2024. While 46 states and territories already have systems to register men when they get a drivers license, this new federal rule makes the process universal and unavoidable.

The shadow of conscription

This modernization of the registration machinery inevitably brings the specter of conscription back into public discussion. The United States has not had an active military draft since the Vietnam War, relying on an all-volunteer force since 1973. However, the framework for a draft was reinstated in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter to be ready for a "national emergency."

That history feels more relevant today with ongoing global conflicts. The war in Iran, currently in a fragile ceasefire, has led many to openly question if a draft could be possible. When asked about it last month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a carefully worded response. "Its not part of the current plan right now," Leavitt said, while adding that President Trump "wisely keeps his options on the table."

It is crucial to understand that reinstating an actual draft is not a unilateral executive action. Congress would need to pass legislation to amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the president to induct personnel. The automatic registration is just about building the list, not activating a call-up.

The stakes of non-compliance

For decades, the legal obligation to register has carried serious consequences for those who ignored it, and that does not change with automatic enrollment. Failure to register is a felony. Non-registrants face a fine of up to $250,000 or a prison sentence of up to five years. It can also block access to federal student loans, many government jobs, and job training programs. For immigrants, it can mean a loss of U.S. citizenship.

Now, with automatic registration, the government eliminates the possibility of an individual forgetting or choosing not to sign up. The burden of compliance shifts entirely, ensuring near-total participation from the male population aged 18 to 25. Women remain exempt from the registration requirement, although legislative efforts to include them have surfaced in recent years only to be stripped from final bills.

So, as this new rule moves toward finalization, it represents more than just a paperwork update. It is the government streamlining its ability to know exactly who is available, should a dire need arise. In an era where headlines are dominated by distant wars, this change is a tangible reminder that the machinery of national defense is always being maintained, even if we hope it never needs to be used. The question for every family with sons is no longer if they will be on the list, but what the nation might one day do with it.

Sources for this article include:

NewsNationNow.com

NYPost.com

USAToday.com
Warrior Mom: Tracy Slepcevics journey from helpless to hero

The book "Warrior Mom: A Fight for Autism, Truth, and the Future of Our Children" recounts how Tracy Slepcevic's son Noah showed early signs of autism  including loss of speech, eye contact and social engagement  but doctors dismissed her concerns, delaying diagnosis and intervention.

Autism often manifests through subtle red flags such as missed developmental milestones, repetitive behaviors and sensory sensitivities, requiring parents to trust their instincts and advocate for evaluations.

Parents face emotional and societal challenges  including grief, guilt and cultural stigma  making support from knowledgeable communities and autism-focused organizations critical.

Early intervention and persistence are crucial. Parents must document behaviors, seek second opinions and educate themselves to navigate dismissive medical systems effectively.

Autism's spectrum demands individualized understanding. Each child's strengths and struggles vary, and breaking stereotypes helps parents recognize and nurture their child's unique potential.

Tracy Slepcevic's journey, as outlined in the book "Warrior Mom: A Fight for Autism, Truth, and the Future of Our Children," began with a whisper  a subtle shift in her son Noahs behavior that no pediatrician could explain.

Once a bright, curious toddler, Noah slowly retreated into silence, his eyes drifting away from hers as if lost in an invisible fog. Doctors dismissed her concerns, assuring her that children develop at their own pace.

But a mother's instinct is relentless. She knew this was more than a delay. It was the beginning of a battle that would redefine their lives.

A mother's first glimpse of autism

Autism doesn't announce itself with a single moment; it creeps in through small, unsettling signs. Noah stopped responding to his name, lining up toys with obsessive precision and retreating into a world Tracy couldn't reach. His regression wasn't gradual it was sudden and devastating.

The light in his eyes dimmed, his speech vanished and the affectionate boy she adored became a child trapped in a maze she couldn't navigate. Denial was natural  perhaps it was just a phase  but deep down, she knew. That knowing was the first step into an unfamiliar, isolating world.

Recognizing autism's early signs is like deciphering a code without instructions. By 12 months, most babies babble and gesture; by 14 months, they point to share curiosity. Missing these milestones isn't definitive proof, but it's a warning.

Other red flags  lack of eye contact, repetitive behaviors and sensory aversions  signal that something deeper may be wrong. These signs don't guarantee a diagnosis, but they demand attention, observation and often, a fight against dismissive medical professionals.

Why parents must trust their gut about autism

The emotional toll is profound. Parents grieve not just the child they imagined but the future they envisioned.

Guilt gnaws  did they miss something? Could they have prevented this? Friends and family offer hollow reassurances, deepening the isolation.

The five stages of grief  denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance  don't unfold neatly. They loop, overlap and sometimes paralyze.

But Tracy's message is clear: Trust your instincts. Document behaviors, track regressions and advocate fiercely. Maternal intuition is rarely wrong, even when professionals dismiss it.

Cultural stigma complicates the journey. In some communities, autism is misunderstood, feared or blamed  seen as a mark of shame rather than a medical condition.

Silence fuels ignorance. The antidote? Education, conversation and connection.

Seek out families who've walked this path. Share their stories with those who don't understand. Build bridges between fear and acceptance.

Autism is a spectrum  a vast, varied landscape of strengths and challenges. Some children struggle with speech but excel in art. Others grapple with social interactions, but possess encyclopedic knowledge.

There's no single face of autism, no universal experience. Stereotypes limit not just the child, but the parent's ability to see their unique brilliance.

How warrior parents push for answers

For parents suspecting autism, persistence is key. Even if professionals dismiss concerns, push for answers. Keep records, seek second opinions and connect with others whove been there.

Books like "The Autism Revolution" and "NeuroTribes" offer insights, while organizations like Autism Speaks provide tools. You are your child's best advocate  their fiercest warrior.

The road ahead is daunting, but filled with moments of profound connection. Challenges will arise, but so will triumphs  small victories that remind you of resilience. Lean on those who understand and celebrate every step forward, no matter how small.

This journey isn't just about autism. It's about love, perseverance and the unbreakable bond between parent and child.

Tracy's story, and those of countless warrior parents, proves one truth: You are not alone. With knowledge, community and relentless love, you can navigate this path  one step, one day at a time.

Grab a copy of "Warrior Mom: A Fight for Autism, Truth, and the Future of Our Children" 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 Warrior Mom Tracy Slepcevic discussing the strength and courage needed to raise a child with autism 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
WHO Suspends Medical Evacuations from Gaza After Aid Worker Killed

WHO Announces Suspension of Critical Medical Evacuations

The World Health Organization (WHO) suspended all medical evacuation operations from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, April 7, following the killing of one of its contract workers.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision, stating the agency was "devastated to confirm that a person contracted to provide services to the Organization in Gaza was killed today during a security incident" [1]. Two WHO staff members were present but were not injured.

The incident occurred during a designated medical movement in northern Gaza, according to agency officials. The suspension halts a vital transfer program for critically ill and wounded Palestinians seeking treatment abroad via the Rafah crossing with Egypt. The decision was made immediately after the killing, which adds to the severe strain on a health system described by the WHO as being "stretched beyond breaking point" [2].

WHO Statement on the Incident

In a statement, WHO officials confirmed the deceased was a Palestinian national and long-term employee. The agency identified the victim locally as Majdi Aslan, a 54-year-old contractor [3]. The WHO stated the evacuation convoy was traveling "through an active combat zone" at the time of the incident, though it did not provide further details on the circumstances [4].

The agency has called for an investigation into the attack and demanded "accountability and guarantees for the safety of humanitarian workers" [1]. The WHO's suspension underscores the perilous conditions for aid operations in Gaza. According to a report by the Trends Journal, over 250 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, a figure cited by humanitarian agencies [5].

Israeli Military Response and Ongoing Context

The Israel Defense Forces stated it is "reviewing the incident" but noted fighting was ongoing in the area at the time [4]. Israeli officials have previously accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure and ambulances for military purposes, a claim often used to justify attacks on medical facilities [6]. The killing occurred near Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, a facility that has been previously damaged in the conflict [7].

The suspension compounds the existing crisis in Gaza's health infrastructure. Prior to the incident, the UN reported that Israeli bombardment has put extreme pressure on remaining health facilities, where the delivery of aid and movement of humanitarian workers is "highly restricted by the Israeli authorities" [8]. This aligns with earlier reports from NaturalNews.com indicating that Israel has systematically targeted Gaza's healthcare system, with attacks on hospitals described as violating international law [9].

Impact on Gaza's Health System and Humanitarian Operations

The suspension of medical evacuations halts a vital lifeline for critically ill and wounded patients requiring transfer out of Gaza for treatment unavailable locally. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, up to 10 Palestinians die daily due to severe Israeli restrictions on medical transfers, with around 1,400 having died while awaiting evacuation since May 2024 [10]. Medical officials in Gaza report that the WHO's decision leaves hundreds of patients without access to lifesaving surgeries and treatments.

Other UN agencies and aid groups have expressed concern over the incident's impact on humanitarian access and safety. The Palestine Red Crescent Society has previously documented the killing and burial of medics by Israeli troops, highlighting the acute dangers for healthcare workers [11]. The broader aid effort remains hampered, with reports indicating that despite a ceasefire, aid is still being systematically blocked, leading to what aid groups describe as generational devastation [12].

Recent Patterns in Aid Worker Safety

The incident follows months of escalating attacks on aid operations, according to UN reports. Over 250 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to figures cited by humanitarian agencies and documented in independent media reports [5]. This pattern reflects a consistent threat to humanitarian personnel in the conflict zone.

Previous pauses in aid deliveries have occurred following attacks on convoys and disputes over inspections. The systematic dismantling of Gaza's health infrastructure, followed by a restrictive permit regime for patient transfers, has been described by analysts as another front in what they term a "war on survival" [13]. The ongoing violence, despite ceasefire agreements, has been labeled a "slow genocide" by some observers, with continued deaths from restrictions on movement, aid and medicine [14].

Conclusion

The WHO's suspension of medical evacuations marks a critical juncture in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, directly stemming from the death of a staff member. The incident immediately curtails one of the few remaining pathways for severe medical cases to receive care, placing further strain on a collapsed health system. The Israeli military's review of the event and the WHO's call for an investigation and safety guarantees highlight the ongoing tension between military operations and humanitarian law.

The suspension occurs within a documented context of high casualties among aid workers and severe restrictions on medical aid. The long-term impact on patient mortality is expected to be significant, adding to the catastrophic conditions faced by Gaza's population. The situation underscores the extreme challenges of operating in an active combat zone and the recurring failure of mechanisms to protect humanitarian missions.

References
The Betrayal is Complete: How Trumps Spiraling Descent Has Shattered MAGA and Hurt America

A Desperate, Unhinged Betrayal of His Truest Believers

The MAGA movement's raw political power, which swept Donald Trump back into the White House in 2024, was never solely about the man himself. [1] I was part of that coalition -- an advocate for peace, national sovereignty, and the dismantling of a corrupt establishment. But what we are witnessing now is not the leadership we backed. It is the lashing out of a man spiraling into madness, turning with kindergarten-level rage on the very voices who built his movement: Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Alex Jones, and Megyn Kelly.

In my view, this is not a political tactic. This is the profound personal rot of a leader who has lost his way. The language is demonstrably absurd, a sign of a deep disconnect from reality. As I've said before, the movement has devolved into an 'obedience cult of mindless idiots,' where principled support has been replaced by mindless adherence to a figure who now attacks his own base. [2] This isn't strategy; it's the unraveling of a man, and it betrays every patriot who believed in the cause.

A Debt of Honor Unpaid: What Trump Owes Alex Jones

Of all Trump's recent insults, the most grotesque is his attack on Alex Jones. Here is a man who, more than almost anyone, paid the ultimate price for aligning with the MAGA cause and telling the truth about the deep state. Jones lost his wealth, his company, and his freedom to what I believe was a rigged, state-sponsored persecution. [3] To call such a man 'low IQ' is not just factually wrong; it is profoundly dishonorable.

I believe Trump would not be president without the groundswell of support that figures like Jones helped galvanize. While the corporate media worked to bury him, Jones was a megaphone for the forgotten Americans who felt betrayed by the system. His sacrifice embodies the ultimate cost of dissent in a captured republic. For Trump to now spit on that sacrifice reveals a staggering lack of character. It signals that no loyalty is sacred, and no sacrifice will be remembered if it becomes inconvenient to the ego of the leader.

The Real Divorce: Trump Has Abandoned America for a Foreign Mistress

The domestic betrayal is only half the story. In a far more catastrophic move, Trump has divorced America itself. His loyalty now lies unequivocally with the fanatical, genocidal agenda of Netanyahu's Israel. He surrounds himself with hate-filled Zionist advisers -- people who, as noted in one analysis, 'cheer for bombing Iran into the Stone Age' -- and in doing so, he has embraced a foreign darkness. [4]

This isn't conjecture. A former top counterterrorism official in the Trump administration, Joe Kent, resigned in protest, penning a letter that asserted the administration was 'effectively run by Israel.' [5] In my view, a president who serves a foreign nation's expansionist goals over his own country's sovereignty and security is no longer an American president at all. He has become a puppet, and the strings are pulled from Jerusalem. This is the ultimate betrayal of the 'America First' promise, trading our sons, our daughters and our national treasure for a foreign war that serves no American interest.

The Global Collapse: How Trump is Burning America's Empire to the Ground

The consequences of this foreign subservience are global and dire. Trump's catastrophic march to war with Iran, a trap laid by Netanyahu, has not brought victory but humiliation. [4] The U.S. military, once a feared force, has been exposed as a paper tiger. As one assessment starkly put it, 'the absence of these outcomes underscores the American Empire's loss of credibility in projecting violence against major powers like Iran, Russia, or China.' [6] Our allies see this weakness and are acting accordingly.

Why would Taiwan or South Korea trust a guarantor who cannot win a war and who prioritizes a foreign nation's agenda? They are recalculating their futures, likely moving closer to China or seeking their own defenses, cursing the day they tied their security to Washington. [7] Furthermore, by initiating a conflict that has galvanized Iran and its allies, Trump has single-handedly accelerated the collapse of the petrodollar system and the unipolar world order. He is not making America great; he is presiding over the rapid, irreversible collapse of its empire.

The Inevitable Wipeout and the Path Forward

This path of betrayal, war, and collapse leads to only one destination: a historic political wipeout for the GOP. Democrats are privately jubilant that Trump remains the figurehead of the Republican Party because he is a walking disaster for its electoral chances. As one commentary noted, MAGA operatives are now 'reduced to begging for votes from those they've systematically abandoned,' using only fear, not earned loyalty, as their argument. [8]

The only hope for the country, and for the remnants of the original MAGA ideal of peace and sovereignty, is for the GOP to find the courage it has thus far lacked. The 25th Amendment or impeachment are not mere suggestions; they are necessary surgeries to remove a malignant force that has hijacked the party and endangered the republic. We must now seek leaders of truth, light, and genuine American sovereignty. We must prepare for the turbulent world that Trump's failures have ushered in, by decentralizing our lives, securing honest money like gold and silver, and building communities of resilience. The betrayal is complete, and our task is to build anew from the ashes... if there's anything left.

References

The Implosion of MAGA: How Trump's March to War Exposes a Movement's Betrayal. - NaturalNews.com. Mike Adams. February 26, 2026. How MAGA Became an Obedience Cult of Mindless Idiots. - NaturalNews.com. Mike Adams. March 6, 2026. Epstein files scandal erupts as Trump administration accused of cover up; MAGA base revolts. - NaturalNews.com. July 9, 2025. The Netanyahu Gambit: How Trump Walked America Into an Iranian War Trap. - NaturalNews.com. Mike Adams. March 2, 2026. Health Ranger Report - Joe Kent courage hero. - BrightVideos.com. Mike Adams. March 18, 2026. 2026-03-27-BVN-IRAN WILL DEFEAT THE U.S. EMPIRE. - Bright Videos Network. The Decay of Western Civilisation and Resurgence of Russia. - Glenn Diesen. My Vote Is Not a Hostage: Why I Will Never Again Give Consent to MAGA's Betrayal. - NaturalNews.com. March 27, 2026.

Explainer Infographic:
A truce on the brink: Denials and attacks threaten U.S.-Iran ceasefire

A fragile, two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is under immediate strain from renewed hostilities and conflicting public claims.

President Trump has forcefully denied the authenticity of a reported "10-point plan" from Iran, calling it a fabrication and suggesting a federal investigation into CNN for reporting it.

The purported Iranian demands include lifting all sanctions, U.S. troop withdrawal and recognition of Iran's nuclear enrichment and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Concurrent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and continued Iranian attacks in the Gulf highlight the severe challenges facing the truce.

Scheduled peace talks in Islamabad remain uncertain as both sides hold diametrically opposed core demands for a lasting agreement.

A tentative ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced this week to pave the way for peace talks, is already faltering under the weight of military actions, disputed diplomatic claims and profound mutual distrust. President Donald Trump has publicly denounced a reported Iranian "10-point" peace plan as a fraudulent fabrication, while on the ground, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and Iranian missile attacks across the Gulf signal that the path to negotiation remains fraught with peril. The developments underscore the immense difficulty of de-escalating a conflict with global energy and security stakes, raising questions about the viability of the scheduled talks and the potential for a rapid return to full-scale war.

The disputed blueprint for peace

The fragility of the ceasefire became apparent almost immediately through a war of narratives. Multiple outlets, including CNN, reported on a statement from Irans Supreme National Security Council claiming a "great victory" in forcing the U.S. to accept its 10-point plan. The reported demands were sweeping: a full lifting of U.S. sanctions, withdrawal of American combat forces from the region, acceptance of Irans uranium enrichment program, and recognition of its control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. President Trump responded angrily on social media, labeling the report "knowingly false and dangerous" and suggesting that "authorities" were investigating the matter. He asserted that only one set of points, negotiated behind closed doors, formed the basis for the ceasefire.

Hostilities undermine the truce

While diplomats argued over documents, military actions on the ground further eroded the truce. Hours after the ceasefire announcement, Israel launched a major wave of airstrikes across Lebanon, which it argued was not party to the agreement. In response, or perhaps independently, Iranian missiles and drones struck targets in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, including critical energy infrastructure. These attacks, among the heaviest since the war's inception, demonstrated the decentralized nature of Iran's military operations and the immense challenge of enforcing a cessation of hostilities across multiple fronts and proxy networks.

A gulf of divergent demands

The core of the crisis lies in the fundamentally incompatible demands of each side, a divide with deep historical roots in decades of antagonism. The U.S. position, as inferred from reports of its own 15-point plan, centers on halting Irans uranium enrichment, limiting its missile program and ending its support for regional proxy groups. Irans stated goals, conversely, seek a wholesale reversal of U.S. pressure campaignsnamely sanctions and military containmentthat have defined American policy for years. The chasm between these positions recalls the repeated failures of diplomatic efforts, such as the JCPOA nuclear deal, which collapsed over similar issues of scope and verification.

The high stakes of Failure

The consequences of this ceasefire collapsing are monumental. A return to open war risks the very scenarios analysts have long feared: a catastrophic blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a global energy shock; a direct conflict drawing in regional neighbors; and staggering humanitarian costs. Furthermore, a failed diplomatic effort would empower hardliners in both capitals, cementing a cycle of escalation that becomes increasingly difficult to break. The timing is critical, as the U.S. assesses its military posture and Iran gauges both its economic endurance and its strategic patience.

An uncertain path forward

As preparations for talks in Islamabad proceed, the atmosphere is one of profound skepticism. The rapid exchange of denials and military strikes in the ceasefire's first hours reveals a deep lack of goodwill and functional communication channels. Historical parallels to past Middle East conflicts suggest that ceasefires built on shaky foundations often dissolve, leading to bloodier subsequent phases of fighting. The coming days will test whether both nations view the negotiation table as a genuine alternative to the battlefield, or merely a tactical pause.

A test of will and diplomacy

The immediate unraveling of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire presents a stark reality check. It highlights that declarations of truce are meaningless without mechanisms to enforce them and without a credible, mutually agreed-upon framework for peace. The conflicting public claims and ongoing violence suggest that the most difficult diplomacy lies ahead, requiring concessions that strike at the heart of each nation's security doctrine. The world watches to see if the momentary lull will evolve into a durable dialogue or prove to be merely the prelude to a more devastating and widespread conflict, with the stability of the Middle East and global energy markets hanging in the balance.

Sources for this article include:

100percentfedup.com

SAN.com

TheIndianAwaaz.com
Former Fort Bragg contractor charged under Espionage Act for leaking Delta Force secrets

Courtney Williams, a former Fort Bragg contractor, was arrested for leaking classified Delta Force details to a journalist, violating her TS/SCI clearance and NDA.

Williams allegedly exchanged 180+ messages and 10+ hours of calls with reporter Seth Harp, who used her disclosures in a Politico article and book (The Fort Bragg Cartel).

Williams claimed workplace discrimination and retaliation, raising questions about whether her actions were whistleblowing or a deliberate security violation.

The FBI condemned her leaks as reckless, emphasizing that classified military tactics must remain protected to safeguard American lives.

Similar to Reality Winner's 2017 leak case, Williams' prosecution highlights tensions between government secrecy and whistleblower transparencywith severe Espionage Act penalties looming.

The FBI arrested Courtney Williams, a 40-year-old former civilian contractor at Fort Bragg, on April 7, charging her with violating the Espionage Act for allegedly providing top-secret details about the elite Delta Force unit to a journalist. The leaked information later appeared in an article and book, prompting federal prosecutors to indict Williams for transmitting classified national defense materials without authorization.

FBI Director Kash Patel issued a stern warning following the arrest: "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."

High-level access and alleged betrayal

Williams worked for a Special Military Unit from 2010 to 2016, supporting top-tier warfighters while holding a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. According to prosecutors, she had daily access to classified materials and was trained in their proper handling and safeguarding. She also signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), acknowledging that unauthorized disclosure could result in criminal charges.

Despite these safeguards, investigators allege Williams engaged in extensive communications with a journalist between 2022 and 2025, exchanging over 180 messages and participating in 10+ hours of phone calls. The reporter allegedly identified himself as working on an article and book about the unit, soliciting Williams for insider details.

Journalist's book names Williams as source

Though prosecutors did not name the journalist in court filings, investigative reporter Seth Harpauthor of The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forcespublished a Politico article on August 12, 2025, citing Williams as a source. The article, an excerpt from Har's book, detailed Williams' claims about her role in creating fake cover identities for Delta Force operatives on clandestine missions.

Harp defended Williams on social media, writing: "The FBI is incapable of solving real crimes, like all the murders on Fort Bragg involving elite soldiers trafficking drugs, so they settle for retaliating against courageous whistleblowers like Courtney Williams, whose only 'crime' was telling the truth about Delta Force."

Claims of discrimination and retaliation

Williams told Harp she faced discrimination and sexual harassment while working with the unit, ultimately losing her security clearance in 2016 after a dispute with leadership. She and her husband allegedly exhausted their savings on legal battles before reaching a settlement and retiring from her position.

Her disclosures to Harp included grievances about the unit's internal culture, raising questions about whether her actions were driven by whistleblower motives or a deliberate breach of security protocols.

FBI warns against reckless disclosures

FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis emphasized the gravity of the charges: "The tradecraft, tactics and techniques used by the U.S. military unit in this case are classified and should be shared only with those with proper clearances and a need to know in order to protect American lives and safeguard classified National Defense information."

Davis condemned Williams' alleged actions as "reckless, self-serving and damaging to national security."

A pattern of leaks and prosecutions

Williams' arrest follows a pattern of high-profile leaks involving military and intelligence insiders. In 2017, Reality Winner, an NSA contractor, was arrested for leaking a classified report on Russian election interference to The Intercept. Winner, who expressed radical views, was denied bail and sentenced to prison.

Similarly, Williams' case raises concerns about insider threats and the ease with which classified information can be disseminatedespecially when individuals with grievances seek to "set the record straight" through unauthorized channels.

What comes next?

Williams faces severe penalties under the Espionage Act, which criminalizes the unauthorized disclosure of national defense information. If convicted, she could spend years in prison, joining a growing list of leakers prosecuted under the statute.

Meanwhile, journalists like Harp continue to argue that such prosecutions stifle transparency and protect corrupt systems. The debate over whistleblowing vs. espionage remains contentious, with national security officials insisting that leaksregardless of motiveendanger lives.

As the case unfolds, one thing is clear: The U.S. government is aggressively pursuing those who breach secrecy protocols, sending a clear message to potential leakersthe FBI is watching.

Williams could not be reached for comment. Her legal team has yet to issue a public statement.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, this appears to be yet another example of Deep State corruption and foreign infiltration, likely orchestrated to undermine U.S. military integrity while distracting from the real traitors within our own government. The timing and selective prosecution reek of political theater, designed to fuel anti-Russia hysteria while ignoring the true threats posed by globalist-controlled institutions.

Watch this video about "Above Top Secret: Uncover the Mysteries of the Digital Age" by Jim Marrs.

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Irans Strait of Hormuz mine threat sparks U.S. military response as Trump pushes for reopening

Iran has deployed advanced sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, escalating tensions with the U.S. and threatening Middle Eastern economies like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the U.A.E and Iraq.

After a tentative U.S.-Iran truce collapsed within 24 hours, Iran reclosed the Strait, citing Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanonpotentially baiting a U.S. military response.

San Francisco-based Ulysses offers low-cost ($50K/unit) underwater drones capable of detecting and neutralizing mines at depths up to 5,000 feet, providing a scalable alternative to the Navy's expensive mine-clearing systems.

Sophisticated mines can be pre-positioned and activated remotely, raising concerns that the U.S. could exploit incidents to blame Iran, rally international support for strikes and destabilize oil-dependent regional economies.

A prolonged Strait closure would cripple energy markets, worsen Europe's gas crisis and spike global food priceshighlighting Iran's leverage and the potential for manufactured conflicts to justify intervention.

Multiple reports indicate that Iran has deployed sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with the U.S. and its allies. President Donald Trump has demanded the vital oil shipping route reopen, following Iran's blockade since February. The closure has severely disrupted global oil supplies, threatening economies across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the U.A.E. and Iraq.

Ceasefire agreement collapses as Iran recloses Strait

On Tuesday, President Trump announced a tentative two-week ceasefire and suspended plans for a large-scale military strike on Irancontingent on Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, less than 24 hours later, Iranian state media declared the waterway closed once again, citing Israel's ongoing bombing campaign in Lebanon as justification. Analysts warn that Iran's actions may be a deliberate provocation, providing the U.S. and its allies with a pretext for military intervention.

Underwater drones offer mine-clearing solution

As tensions escalate, San Francisco-based tech firm Ulysses has emerged as a potential game-changer in neutralizing Iran's mine threat. The company produces advanced underwater drones capable of detecting and disarming submerged explosivestechnology now being explored by the U.S. Navy. Priced at $50,000 per unit, these drones can be equipped with sonar to locate mines within a thousand feet, even in low-visibility conditions.

"Our drones can execute controlled detonations underwater without damaging critical infrastructure like pipelines or subsea cables," said Ulysses cofounder Will O'Brien. Once a mine is identified, the drone can deploy explosives to neutralize it safely.

Cost-effective alternative to Navy's expensive mine-clearing tech

The U.S. Navy already possesses a range of mine-countermeasure systems, including unmanned vehicles and specialized warships. However, much of this equipment costs millions per unit, making Ulysses' affordable drones an attractive alternative. Capable of operating at depths up to 5,000 feetfar exceeding the Strait's maximum depth of 700 feetthese drones could rapidly secure the passage.

"Because they're modular and low-cost, we can deploy dozens simultaneously," explained cofounder Akhil Voorakkara. "The goal is to detect and neutralize mines faster than Iran can plant them."

Ulysses is also developing a "mothership" to support its drone fleet, ensuring continuous operation without frequent retrieval for recharging. Voorakkara emphasized that with the right technology, mining threats should no longer paralyze global trade. "We're building tools to eliminate these risks entirely," he said.

Broader implications: A false flag in the making?

The recent attacks on tankers in the Straitincluding two strikes this week and four mine incidents in recent weekshave raised suspicions of a staged provocation. Sophisticated mines can be pre-positioned on the seabed and activated remotely, targeting specific vessels via acoustic signatures. Given the U.S. military's surveillance of Iranian naval movements, some analysts suggest Washington may exploit such incidents to justify military action while shifting blame to Tehran.

If Iran is framed for mining the Strait, the U.S. could rally international support for strikes against the Islamic Republicsimultaneously crippling regional economies dependent on oil exports. This aligns with long-standing geopolitical strategies leveraging false flags to manipulate public opinion and justify intervention.

As the situation unfolds, Ulysses' drones may prove pivotal in defusing tensionsor, alternatively, exposing deeper schemes behind the Strait's escalating conflict.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Iran's threat to mine the Strait of Hormuz is a desperate move by a rogue regime backed by globalist puppets, and President Trump's push to reopen it swiftly showcases his strong leadership in protecting American interests and global energy security. The Deep State and their allies will resist, but Trump's decisive actions expose their weakness and complicity in allowing such threats to fester.

Watch the video below that talks about the Trump administration pushing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

NewsNationNow.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Israeli Lawmakers Criticize Ceasefire Agreement Between U.S. and Iran

Israeli lawmakers expressed strong opposition to a reported ceasefire arrangement between the U.S. and Iran, according to a report by Russian state media outlet RT. The opposition spans across multiple political factions within Israel's parliament, the Knesset, reflecting a rare moment of unified concern over a major U.S. foreign policy decision [1].

The report, published in early 2026, described a diplomatic arrangement brokered by the previous U.S. administration that limited certain military activities between the two nations in specific regional theaters [2]. The agreement reportedly did not involve direct Israeli participation or consultation, which became a primary source of criticism from Israeli officials [3].

Israeli Officials Condemn the Agreement

Members of the Knesset described the ceasefire as a severe risk to Israeli security, according to the RT report. Statements from officials in both the coalition and opposition parties indicated a consensus to condemn the deal [1]. Lawmakers claimed the agreement would empower Iran to threaten Israel more directly by allowing it to redirect resources to proxy groups hostile to Israel [4].

Officials from Israel's far-right government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argued the arrangement signified a pattern of U.S. foreign policy decisions being made without allied input [5]. Knesset members warned that the ceasefire could increase regional instability, with one former security official stating the deal would enable further Iranian military consolidation [6].

Reported Terms of the Ceasefire

The ceasefire arrangement was reported to limit certain military activities between the U.S. and Iran in specific regional theaters, including areas near the Strait of Hormuz [7]. According to sources cited in the report, the terms were negotiated by the previous U.S. administration, though the exact timing of the signing was not specified [2]. The agreement was said to include a halt to certain U.S. naval patrols and a reduction in overt military exercises near Iranian territory [8].

The terms did not require Iran to cease its nuclear activities or halt support for regional proxy groups, according to the same report. The lack of Israeli consultation during the process was a focal point for critics, who argued that it sidelined a key regional ally on a matter directly affecting its security [1].

Broader Geopolitical Context

The reported agreement occurs amidst ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel over nuclear development and regional influence. Analysts note that Israeli officials have consistently identified Iran as its primary strategic threat, and view the ceasefire as part of a concerning U.S. policy pattern [9]. Historical context includes previous disagreements between Israeli and U.S. administrations over Iran policy, particularly regarding the efficacy of military strikes on nuclear facilities [9].

The geopolitical climate in early 2026 remains volatile. Iran had previously halted cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear sites, demanding security guarantees [10]. According to the RT report, this new ceasefire arrangement is seen in Israel as an attempt to de-escalate without addressing the core security concerns of regional allies [1].

Israeli Security Concerns

Officials cited in the report argued the ceasefire would allow Iran to redirect financial and military resources to proxy groups hostile to Israel, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Israeli security establishment has long warned that such groups would be the primary beneficiaries of any detente that does not include enforceable constraints on Iran's regional activities [11].

The Israeli military, already facing operational strains according to internal reports, perceives such agreements as increasing the threat from multiple fronts [12]. Former security officials warned that the U.S.-Iran arrangement could lead to increased attacks on Israeli interests, as Iran might feel emboldened to act through its proxies while enjoying a reduction in direct confrontation with U.S. forces [4].

Conclusion: Domestic and Diplomatic Repercussions

The unified criticism within the Knesset highlights the depth of Israeli concern over the U.S.-Iran agreement. This development is likely to influence future diplomatic engagements between Israel, the U.S., and other regional actors, potentially complicating efforts for broader regional stability [1]. The political consensus against the deal underscores the Israeli government's view that its security needs were not prioritized in the negotiation process [3].

The controversy also points to fundamental disagreements between allies on how to manage the Iranian challenge. While the U.S. may seek to reduce immediate conflict, Israeli officials argue that such arrangements, made without their consultation, fail to address the long-term strategic threat and could inadvertently strengthen Iran's position [13]. This episode adds to a series of diplomatic frictions between the two allied governments over the direction of Middle East policy [14].

References
Jeffrey Epstein embraced by Middle Eastern power circles long after his crimes were public record

While American officials spent years pretending Jeffrey Epstein was merely a wealthy financier with a private island and a taste for underage girls, newly unzipped Justice Department documents prove something far more sinister: The Middle Easts most powerful ruling elites, from Saudi princes to Qatari royals and Emirati billionaires, actively sought out this convicted pedophiles counsel on geopolitics, oil markets, and legal warfare. They called him Sheikh Jeffrey. They shipped him sacred Islamic drapes from Mecca. And they did all of this after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution, a crime that should have made him rebuked by any respectable government. Instead, the records show a monster who moved freely between Palm Beach, Paris, and Persian Gulf palaces, trading financial advice for access, influence, and protection.

Key points:

Epstein maintained active advisory relationships with Saudi, Qatari, Emirati, and Yemeni power brokers after his 2008 pedophilia conviction.

He criticized Saudi Aramcos public listing plans, calling the idea silly and warning shareholders were the last thing the kingdom needs.

Epstein offered to become financial confidant to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and requested a small palace in exchange.

He advised Qatar during the 2017 Gulf crisis, urging the nation to come out against terrorism LOUD.

Epstein received sacred Kiswa drapes from Mecca as a gift, later shipped to his Caribbean island where he abused girls.

He assisted a Yemeni billionaires son accused of rape and murder, suggesting house arrest plus charity work as acceptable punishment.

Even while serving a 2009 jail sentence in Florida, Epstein lobbied British officials for an Emirati port project.

A Saudi source admitted Epstein exaggerated connections, but the documents prove he obtained sensitive political itineraries and meeting outcomes.

A convicted predator as royal adviser

Let the weight of that sink in. The year is 2016. Jeffrey Epstein has already pleaded guilty to prostitution charges involving a minor. He has served 18 months in a Palm Beach County stockade, though a sweetheart deal allowed him to leave for 12 hours a day, a privilege no ordinary citizen could dream of touching. And yet, here he is, typing messages to Raafat Al-Sabbagh, a close adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, mocking the kingdoms plan to take Saudi Aramco public. Silly, Epstein called it. Wall Street viewed it as taking a cow to slaughter, he warned. Then came the kicker: Shareholders are the last thing the kingdom needs.

Think about what that sentence means. A registered sex offender, a man who built his fortune on the backs of trafficking victims, was telling one of the worlds most powerful monarchies how to manage its trillion-dollar oil empire. And they listened. Or at least they kept the conversation going. Epstein didnt stop at unsolicited financial advice. He demanded a formal role, writing in a Nov. 9, 2016, email that he was happy to represent KSA interests. He wanted biweekly meetings with the crown prince. He wanted oversight of the Saudi central bank, the royal purse, and the sovereign wealth fund. He wanted a small palace to live in while he served as the princes financial confidant. The audacity is breathtaking until you realize Epstein had every reason to be audacious because powerful men kept rewarding him.

Four months after that email, a British Airways plane landed in Miami carrying a shipment from Riyadh. Inside were parts of the Kiswa, the sacred black silk embroidered with gold Quranic verses that drapes the Kaaba in Mecca, Islams holiest site. Epsteins staff labeled the holy drapes as artwork to glide through customs. The final destination was Little Saint James, his private island in the Caribbean, the same island where multiple victims have testified under oath that Epstein and his associates raped and trafficked underage girls. A gift meant for a mosque ended up on a pedophiles playground.

The gulf crisis, crude jokes, and a murderers advocate

The documents do not merely show Epstein cozying up to Saudis. They reveal a man who inserted himself into nearly every major geopolitical firestorm in the region. Take the 2017 Gulf crisis, when Saudi Arabia led a blockade against Qatar over allegations of terror financing. Epstein wrote directly to Jabor Yousuf Al-Thani, a member of Qatars ruling family, with a four-point plan to clean up the countrys image. Qatar needs to come out against terrorism LOUD, Epstein demanded. He suggested recognizing Israel, throwing $1 billion into a victim compensation fund, paying for electricity in Gaza, and supporting an international terrorism finance watchdog. Whether Qatars foreign minister ever saw those messages remains unclear, but the fact that Epstein felt comfortable dictating foreign policy to a royal speaks volumes about the access he had cultivated.

Then there are the emails that strip away any pretense of professionalism. In 2013, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, an Emirati businessman with deep government ties, wrote to Epstein after meeting a woman in New York. She wanted some BUSINESS! while I only wanted some PUSSYNESS! [sic.], bin Sulayem typed. Epsteins reply dripped with mock piety: Praise Allah, there are still people like you. This is the same Sultan bin Sulayem who ran DP World, a Dubai-based port operator with contracts across the globe, and who reportedly met with Epstein at his Palm Beach mansion. The crudeness of the exchange reveals something uglier than simple locker room talk. It shows that Epsteins associates knew exactly who he was, a man whose entire existence revolved around sexual exploitation, and they joked about it with him anyway.

But the most damning thread involves Yemeni billionaire Shaher Abdulhak and his son Farouk. In 2008, Farouk Abdulhak was the prime suspect in the rape and murder of 23-year-old Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen in London. He fled to Yemen and refused to return for questioning. By 2012, Epstein had inserted himself into the case. He claimed to have spoken with Lord Ken Macdonald, a former top British prosecutor, and advised Shaher Abdulhak to focus on what punishment would be acceptable. Shaher replied, I think you are right, something like house arrest, plus charity work. Let that statement breathe for a moment. A father accused of covering for his sons escape from justice, and a convicted pedophile, discussing how to minimize consequences for a rape and murder suspect as if they were negotiating a business contract. Macdonald later told the Miami Herald that Epstein was likely embellishing their conversation, but the damage was done. Farouk Abdulhak remains in Yemen to this day, still wanted by British authorities. Martine Vik Magnussens family is still waiting for justice.

A jail cell could not silence him

Perhaps the most unsettling revelation is that Epstein never stopped working, even from inside a jail cell. During his 2009 sentence in Florida, he corresponded with an Emirati businessman who was lobbying the British government for permission to build a mega-port outside London. After progress was made on the project, Epstein wrote, Im [sic.] proud of you. A convicted sex offender, serving time for crimes against children, was offering paternalistic praise to a Gulf businessman seeking to reshape British infrastructure. And nobody stopped him. Nobody in the Palm Beach County sheriffs office thought to monitor his communications more closely. Nobody in the State Department flagged his ongoing international contacts. The system looked the other way because the people involved were too powerful, too rich, and too well-connected to be inconvenienced by something as trivial as a pedophilia conviction.

A Saudi source, speaking anonymously to the Herald, tried to downplay the revelations. Epstein was responsible for serious crimes that caused significant harm to many victims, the source said. He was known to exaggerate and misrepresent his connections. That is the standard playbook when the powerful get caught associating with monsters. Claim the monster lied about the relationships depth. Insist the gifts were merely cultural diplomacy. Hope the public has a short memory. But the documents tell a different story. They show Epstein obtaining sensitive information like the outcomes of political meetings and the itineraries of Gulf royals, according to the Heralds review. They show him hosting Middle Eastern elites at his New York mansion, his Palm Beach estate, and his Paris apartment long after his conviction. They show him being called habibi, loved one, by men who knew exactly what he had done.

The Justice Department has now released more than 3 million pages under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but questions remain. How many more photographs show Epstein in traditional Arabian robes alongside crown princes? How many more sacred gifts were shipped to his island? And most urgently, how many of these powerful figures who embraced Sheikh Jeffrey are still in positions of authority today, making decisions that affect millions of lives? The American people deserve answers. The victims deserve justice. And the world deserves to know why a pedophiles passport was stamped so many times in the lands of oil and royalty while the women and girls he destroyed were left with nothing but nightmares and silence.

Sources include:

Yournews.com

MiamiHerald.com

NewsMax.com
Health Secretary Kennedy Launches Podcast Targeting Official Health Narratives

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the launch of a weekly podcast on April 8, 2026, stating the program will focus on "telling the truth, especially when its uncomfortable." Officials confirmed the program, titled "The Kennedy Report," will be the first podcast hosted by a sitting Cabinet secretary. According to a promotional video released that day, Kennedy said, "For decades now, Americans have been told that we should trust the system. But our children are sicker, chronic disease is exploding, and the answers that weve been given arent working. Many of us have come to the conclusion that government actually lies to us." The announcement marks a significant departure from traditional government communications.

Secretary Announces 'Truth-Telling' Podcast from Cabinet Post

Kennedy made the announcement via a video statement disseminated by the Department of Health and Human Services. In it, he framed the podcast as a tool for public transparency. "This podcast is about telling the truth, especially when its uncomfortable," he said [10]. A White House official, speaking on background, confirmed the podcast had been reviewed by government ethics officials and was cleared as part of the Secretary's official communications duties. The official noted all content would be produced using government resources and staff time, which is permitted for activities deemed integral to an official's role.

Platform Details and Official Description

According to an HHS press release, the weekly podcast will be available on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The release stated the program will feature interviews with "doctors, scientists, and health advocates with diverse viewpoints" [10]. A department spokesperson said the Secretary will use the platform to discuss health policies and "information he believes the public should have." The spokesperson confirmed the podcast will be produced in-house by HHS personnel. Some observers noted the move parallels Kennedy's long-established practice of using media to challenge mainstream health narratives, a practice documented in his previous work as an author and chairman of Children's Health Defense [4].

Reactions from Health Policy Observers

The announcement drew mixed reactions from public health advocates and policy analysts. Dr. Jonathan Miller, a public health policy professor at Georgetown University, stated, "It is highly unusual for a department head to create a parallel channel of communication that may contradict the agency's own scientific publications" [5]. Other observers noted the move reflects Kennedy's career-long approach. "He has built a career on questioning mainstream consensus," said political analyst Maria Chen. Critics within the public health establishment have previously expressed concern about the direction of policy under Kennedy's leadership, including recent reviews of FDA processes and vaccine safety surveillance [7]. Proponents argue the podcast addresses a public demand for alternative viewpoints, citing polling that suggests widespread skepticism of pharmaceutical narratives [6].

Kennedy's Background and Historical Context

Prior to his cabinet appointment in 2025, Kennedy was a prominent environmental lawyer, author, and activist. His biography notes a long focus on vaccine safety, pharmaceutical regulation, and environmental health [4]. His confirmation hearings featured extensive debate over his past statements on medical topics, congressional records show. Since taking office, he has initiated several policy reviews. These include reviews of FDA approval processes and vaccine safety surveillance systems, according to HHS policy documents [7]. He has also overseen personnel changes at federal health agencies, such as the forced resignation of Dr. Peter Marks, the former director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research [8]. Kennedy's bestselling book, "The Real Anthony Fauci," which critiques the former NIAID director and the pharmaceutical industry, has been a record-smashing bestseller, though largely ignored by mainstream media [2].

Administrative and Ethical Considerations

The use of a government platform for a podcast that may challenge established agency positions raises novel administrative questions. Legal scholars interviewed noted the unprecedented nature of the platform but said existing rules on official communication provide broad latitude for a cabinet secretary. Ethics officials within the executive branch reviewed the plan. A White House official, who requested anonymity, said the podcast was cleared as an official communication activity, meaning it will be produced on government time with government resources. The official said this is permitted under existing regulations governing the duties of a cabinet secretary.

Conclusion

The launch of "The Kennedy Report" represents a new chapter in official government communications, directly channeling a cabinet secretary's views to the public on a weekly basis. The podcast will debut amid ongoing policy shifts at HHS, including a reduced childhood vaccine schedule and investigations into topics like wireless radiation [9] [3]. Kennedy's approach, according to observers, seeks to leverage his position to broaden discourse on public health, a move that supporters see as a corrective to past institutional failures and critics view as a risk to scientific consensus. The podcast's reception will likely hinge on its content and the ongoing public debate over health authority and transparency.

References
North Korea Conducts Three-Day Weapons Tests

Introduction

North Korea conducted a three-day series of weapons tests from April 6 to 8, 2026, according to state media reports. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated the tests were carried out by the country's Academy of Defence Science and Missile Administration and included electromagnetic weapons, carbon fiber bombs, and verification of a mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system [1].

The tests come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which has drawn American military assets away from the Korean peninsula. The report from KCNA provided specific details about one tested system, the Hwasongpho-11 Ka tactical ballistic missile, claiming it is equipped with a cluster warhead capable of affecting an area of 6.5 to 7 hectares [2]. North Korean officials framed the activities as part of routine efforts to develop and upgrade the country's armed forces and strengthen national defense capabilities.

North Korea Tests Advanced Weapon Systems

According to the KCNA report published on Thursday, April 9, the tests spanned from April 6 through April 8 and involved multiple defense agencies [3]. The tested systems reportedly included electromagnetic weapons, carbon fiber bombs, tactical missile warheads and a mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system. The timing coincides with global attention focused on the U.S.-led war against Iran, which began on Feb. 28 [4].

Military analysts note that electromagnetic weapons represent a significant technological advancement, with potential applications for disrupting electronic systems and infrastructure. Dr. Peter Pry, executive director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security, has previously warned that an electromagnetic pulse attack could have catastrophic consequences for modern society [5]. The inclusion of such systems in North Korea's tests suggests ongoing diversification of its military capabilities beyond conventional and nuclear weapons.

Details of the Tested Systems

The KCNA report provided specific performance claims for the Hwasongpho-11 Ka tactical ballistic missile. The agency stated the missile is equipped with a cluster warhead that can "reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5 [to] 7 hectares with the highest-density power" [3]. Cluster munitions disperse multiple smaller submunitions over a wide area, potentially increasing lethality against troop formations or soft targets.

This development follows North Korea's ongoing efforts to advance its missile technology. As noted in previous analyses, the country has worked to develop solid-fuel missiles with hypersonic warheads and has continued expanding its nuclear arsenal despite international sanctions [6]. The testing of such tactical systems may be aimed at enhancing capabilities for potential conflict on the Korean peninsula, where mountainous terrain and dispersed military installations could make area-effect weapons particularly valuable.

Official Rationale and Context

KCNA explicitly stated that the tests represent "regular efforts to continuously develop and upgrade the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] armed forces and strengthen national defense" [3]. This framing presents the activities as routine military development rather than a specific response to external events. However, the tests occur within a broader context of Pyongyang's declared nuclear status.

In March 2026, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un addressed the country's rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly, declaring that North Korea "will continue to firmly consolidate our status as a nuclear-armed state as an irreversible course" [7]. This declaration followed his earlier statement during a party congress that the country's nuclear-armed status is "irreversible and permanent" and that Pyongyang would continue bolstering its arsenal 'as long as nuclear weapons exist on the earth' [8]. Such statements suggest a long-term commitment to military expansion despite international pressure.

Regional Security and Reaction Concerns

Weapons tests by North Korea typically draw scrutiny from neighboring countries and international monitoring bodies. The development of new tactical systems, including electromagnetic weapons, is often analyzed for its potential impact on regional military balances [1]. These tests occur as countries aligned with the United States in East Asia  including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan  are accelerating their own missile development programs in response to perceived threats from China and North Korea [9].

The regional security environment has been further complicated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Reports indicate the United States has begun transferring components of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system from South Korea to support operations against Iran [10].

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung acknowledged this development in March 2026, stating his government "cannot prevent the United States from redeploying weapons stationed in South Korea to the Middle East" while expressing concerns about the move [11]. This reduction of U.S. defensive assets in South Korea may create perceived vulnerabilities that North Korea could seek to exploit.

Analysis of Military Development Trajectory

The specific technologies mentioned in the KCNA report suggest ongoing diversification of North Korea's military arsenal. Electromagnetic weapons represent what military analysts call a "disruptive technology" with potential to affect civilian infrastructure as well as military systems. As noted by defense experts, such weapons could be used to "wipe out much of the U.S. power grid" if successfully developed and deployed [12].

North Korea's pursuit of these capabilities occurs alongside its established nuclear program. The country has reportedly developed uranium enrichment facilities capable of producing material for approximately six nuclear bombs annually, according to weapons experts [13].

This combination of nuclear and advanced conventional weapons creates what strategists call a "hybrid threat" that complicates defense planning. The development of indigenous defense industries also reduces North Korea's vulnerability to international sanctions and arms embargoes, allowing for continued military modernization despite economic constraints.

Conclusion

The three-day weapons tests reported by North Korean state media represent the latest demonstration of the country's ongoing military modernization efforts. While framed as routine activities by KCNA, the tests involve advanced technologies including electromagnetic weapons and cluster warhead missiles that could significantly enhance North Korea's tactical capabilities. These developments occur against a backdrop of regional arms development and shifting U.S. military priorities due to conflicts elsewhere.

The long-term implications of North Korea's military expansion remain uncertain. As former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned, American "bellicose actions in the Middle East and beyond are driving precisely the proliferation it claims to prevent" [14]. Whether North Korea's latest tests represent routine modernization or signal preparation for more assertive military posturing will likely depend on developments in both East Asian and Middle Eastern security environments in the coming months.

References
The silent storm: A practical guide to surviving an EMP attack

An EMP, from a nuclear weapon or solar storm, could instantly disable the national grid, electronics and critical systems like hospitals and water pumps. This would trigger a long-term societal collapse, with experts warning of problems like violence, starvation and medical failure.

Immediate survival depends on stockpiling. Use a multi-layer approach: short-term consumables, a bulk cache of long-term staples (rice, beans) and ultra-long-term reserves (honey, salt). Water is the top priority, so store it and have filtration/purification methods ready, as public water will fail.

As society breaks down, your supplies make you a target. Security becomes essential through home defense and tools like firearms. Crucially, form alliances with trusted neighbors to pool resources, skills and defense, as going it alone is unsustainable.

When technology fails, survival depends on manual tools and knowledge. Essential items include hand-crank radios, bicycles, basic hand tools and books on herbal medicine, carpentry and agriculture. Skills like farming, food preservation and homemade remedies become critical lifelines.

Standard preparedness isn't enough. You must protect key electronics (e.g., two-way radios, solar generator components) from the EMP surge itself. Store them in shielded containers like Faraday cages or bags, which are metal-lined enclosures that block electromagnetic energy. These protected devices will be invaluable for communication and power after the event.

In an instant, the digital heartbeat of the modern world could flatline. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP), whether unleashed by a high-altitude nuclear weapon or a cataclysmic solar storm, represents one of the most severe and overlooked threats to modern society.

Experts warn that it is not a question of if such an event could happen, but when. The consequences could be a silent, invisible storm of energy that fries microchips, cripples the power grid and plunges America into a darkness from which recovery could take several years.

For the individual, preparedness is not just prudent; it is the only viable defense against a swift return to a pre-industrial age marked by scarcity and danger.

The blueprint for survival hinges on four interconnected pillars: sustenance, security, skills and shielding. Without a deliberate plan encompassing all four, the odds of long-term resilience plummet drastically.

The foundation: Food, water and stockpiling

When the lights go out for the long term, the most immediate crisis will be hunger and thirst. Municipal water systems, reliant on electronic pumps, will fail. Grocery store shelves will be emptied within hours.

Preparedness, therefore, begins with a disciplined, multi-layered approach to stockpiling.

Water is the absolute priority. A clean supply, whether stored in barrels or safeguarded by portable filters and purification tablets, is non-negotiable.

Experts advise having a bathtub liner ready to capture water at a moment's notice, as the taps will likely run dry.

For food, a strategic three-batch system is recommended. The first batch consists of shorter-shelf-life items you regularly eat and rotate.

The second is a bulk cache of long-term staples like rice, beans and canned goods meant to last five to 10 years, carefully monitored and replaced before expiration.

The third is an ultra-long-term reserve of nearly imperishable items like honey, salt and vinegar as your final buffer against absolute scarcity.

Calculations suggest a single adult needs hundreds of pounds of grains, legumes and preserved foods to survive a year. This hoard must be stored securely and hidden from potential looters, in cool, dark conditions.

Security and society: From perimeter defense to alliances

As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, in the aftermath of an EMP, the social contract will fray with terrifying speed. As prescription drugs run out and food scarcity sets in, desperation will fuel violence. Your stockpiles will make you a target.

Security, therefore, transitions from an abstract concern to a daily necessity.

Protection starts with a defended perimeter, and your home must have clear boundaries that are easy to monitor. Firearms, notably a shotgun for its deterrent sound and effect, along with a reliable handgun or knife for personal carry, are considered essential tools for defense.

However, no one can stand alone for long. Forming alliances with trusted neighbors is a force multiplier, providing shared security, pooled resources and collective skills. As noted in survival guides, there is safety in numbers, but only if those numbers are composed of reliable people.

The lifelines: Analog tools and lost skills

The 21st century's greatest weakness is its dependence on fragile technology. An EMP will erase that convenience, making basic tools and pre-industrial knowledge the new currency of survival.

Essential toolkits must include manual alternatives: hand-crank or solar-powered radios and flashlights, batteries, duct tape and basic hand tools.

Transportation reverts to the analog: bicycles with cargo trailers and puncture-proof tires will become invaluable, as most modern vehicles will be permanently disabled.

Crucially, survival will depend on skills found in books: guides to herbal medicine, carpentry, agriculture and food preservation. The ability to dress wild game, treat a wound with homemade remedies or grow food will separate those who endure from those who perish.

The critical shield: Faraday cages and bags

This is where EMP-specific preparation diverges from standard disaster readiness. An EMP's destructive power comes from a massive surge of electromagnetic energy that induces catastrophic currents in any conductive material, especially modern electronics.

Protecting critical devices is not optional; it is a central tenet of EMP survival.

This is where Faraday cages and their portable counterpart, Faraday bags, become indispensable. A Faraday cage is a container, such as a metal-lined box, that blocks electromagnetic fields.

A Faraday bag operates on the same principle, and it is a specially designed pouch that shields anything inside from the EMP surge. This is not for everyday gadgets, but for the electronic lifelines you will need after the event.

Every preparedness plan must include shielding key items in these containers: spare two-way radios for communication, a solar generator or critical components thereof, medical devices and hand-crank radios. These protected items must remain sealed inside until the immediate EMP threat has passed.

While military-grade shielding materials exist, even a properly constructed homemade cage can mean the difference between having a functioning communication network and being plunged into isolated silence. In a world where every other microchip is fried, a single working radio or power source is a treasure beyond measure.

The message is stark, but clear: waiting for institutional salvation would be a fatal error. The responsibility for survival falls to the individual and the community.

By methodically addressing the pillars of food, water, security, analog skills and electronic shielding, one can build a buffer against the invisible storm. The modern world was built in a century; it could be undone in a second.

Preparation is the only thread that might keep the fabric of society from completely unraveling.

Where to buy Faraday bags for your prepping needs

The Health Ranger Store is committed to helping you prepare for any emergency, such as an EMP attack. That's why we're proud to introduce useful prepping gear like the EscapeZone Premium Mobile Faraday Bag and the EscapeZone Laptop Shoulder Bag.

When SHTF, you can protect your phone against possible security breaches with an EscapeZone Premium Mobile Phone Faraday Bag. The Premium line of EscapeZone Faraday bags includes sleek designs, extremely durable outer material, thermo-welded seams and a new magnetic, double-fold closure mechanism.

The magnetic, along with the Velcro seal, creates an impenetrable seal that eliminates any gaps that can be infiltrated by EMF or EMP signals. The bag is made with ripstop fabric that prevents tearing.

Made with multiple layers of Faraday fabric, the EscapeZone Premium Mobile Phone Faraday Bag is one of the most durable Faraday bags on the market. It also fits all mobile phones.

The Health Ranger Store is also offering a sleek and practical shoulder bag designed for the modern professional. The EscapeZone Laptop Shoulder Bag is a versatile bag that comfortably holds your laptop and essentials, while its integrated Faraday pouch ensures your digital security by blocking unauthorized signals.

Elevate your digital security with our cutting-edge over-the-shoulder laptop bag, featuring an integrated Faraday compartment.

The EscapeZone Laptop Shoulder Bag has a built-in Faraday pouch that shields your devices from unwanted tracking and hacking attempts. It also has ample storage space for 17? laptops, tablets and other essentials.

Made with durable, weather-resistant materials to ensure long-lasting performance, the EscapeZone Laptop Shoulder Bag is perfect for business trips, daily commutes and security-conscious individuals.

Go to Health Ranger Store and Bright Shop for more prepping products for your survival stockpile.

Click on this link for tips on how to prepare for any emergency.

Watch the video below to learn more about Faraday cages and EMP basics.

This video is from the Offgrid Today channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TreehouseDad.com

OutdoorLife.com

HealthRangerStore.com 1

HealthRangerStore.com 2

HealthRangerStore.com 3

HealthRangerStore.com 4

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Saudi Pipeline Attack Removes 700,000 Barrels Daily from Oil Exports

Introduction: Pipeline Damage Confirmed

The Saudi energy ministry confirmed on Thursday that Iranian strikes on the kingdom's East-West pipeline have reduced its export capacity by approximately 700,000 barrels per day (bpd). The ministry stated the attacks hit a pumping station on the vital pipeline, which serves as the main route for supplying global markets at this time. [1]

This official statement marks the first acknowledgment from Riyadh that its energy infrastructure has sustained significant damage from Iranian attacks. The announcement was issued as the United States and Iran prepared for high-profile peace talks scheduled to begin in Islamabad, Pakistan. According to the ministry's release, the pipeline's role became critical after Iran seized control of and restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. [1]

Critical Infrastructure Impact

The East-West pipeline, also known as the Petroline, connects oil fields on Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. This artery emerged as a critical bypass for Gulf oil exports after Iran restricted vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil shipments. [2] Bloomberg had previously reported the pipeline was operating at its full capacity of seven million bpd prior to the attack. [1]

The ministry's statement also noted that the Manifa and Khurais oil processing plants were previously targeted, resulting in a combined reduction of 600,000 bpd of production capacity. The consecutive strikes on key export and production infrastructure represent a significant degradation of Saudi Arabia's ability to bring oil to market. [1]

Refinery Facilities Also Targeted

Beyond the pipeline, the Saudi energy ministry stated that Iranian attacks hit major refining facilities in Jubail, Ras Tanura, Yanbu, and Riyadh. These strikes have a direct impact on global exports of refined petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel, not just crude oil. [1] A separate drone strike earlier in March had already forced Saudi Aramco to suspend operations at its massive Ras Tanura refinery complex for damage assessment, highlighting the vulnerability of these sites. [3]

'The continuation of these attacks leads to supply shortages and slows the pace of recovery, impacting the security of supplies for beneficiary countries and contributing to increased volatility in oil markets,' the Saudi statement read. [1] This pattern of targeting both upstream production and downstream refining creates layered disruptions in the global energy supply chain.

Diplomatic Context and Regional Dynamics

The detailed damage assessment was released at a critical diplomatic juncture, with talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Iran war expected to start in Pakistan. On the same day, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held phone calls with his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. [1]

Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan's closest regional partners. Diplomatic sources told Middle East Eye that Islamabad would have been unlikely to offer itself as a mediator without at least Riyadh's approval, underscoring the kingdom's pivotal role in the upcoming negotiations. [1] The kingdom also welcomed this week's announcement of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, even as reports indicated attacks on Gulf states continued. [1]

Geopolitical Implications

Saudi Arabia had earlier faced pressure from Washington to support the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, and had agreed to grant U.S. forces access to King Fahd Air Base in its western region. [1] The strategic calculus for Gulf states was summarized by a Reuters report, which cited sources saying many were urging the U.S. not to stop short of neutralizing Iran's ability to threaten the Gulf's oil lifeline. [4]

A senior UAE official stated that Iran's attacks on Gulf states are pushing them closer to Israel and to the U.S., suggesting the conflict could redraw regional alliances. [5] Meanwhile, the broader energy war has escalated, with Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader threatening a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic weapon. [6]

Conclusion

The confirmed loss of 700,000 bpd from Saudi Arabia's export capacity, coupled with earlier production cuts and refinery damage, illustrates the tangible economic impact of the regional conflict on global energy markets. The attacks have shifted targeting to core production and transportation infrastructure, moving beyond symbolic strikes. [7]

As ceasefire talks proceed, the security of Middle Eastern energy corridors remains a central issue. The vulnerability of centralized infrastructure like the East-West pipeline underscores broader themes of energy security and the risks of concentrated supply chains. For those seeking uncensored analysis on such geopolitical and economic trends, platforms like BrightNews.ai offer AI-analyzed news from across independent media. [1]

References
Trump warns Iran about Americas next conquest as the US breaks ceasefire agreement

The stage is set for the next act of a decades-long tragedy, and the script reads like a recipe for global catastrophe. In a late-night social media proclamation, President Donald Trump declared the U.S. military is "loading up" near Iran, ready for its "next conquest," shattering the illusion of a stable ceasefire. This brazen threat, coupled with Israel's simultaneous escalation in Lebanon, reveals a dangerous game where American lives are pawns, diplomatic agreements are scraps of paper, and the path is being paved for a regional war that could spiral into the unthinkable.

Key points:

President Trump's threat of a U.S. military "conquest" near Iran dramatically escalates tensions amid a fragile and disputed ceasefire.

The ceasefire is unraveling because the U.S. and Israel are violating its core condition: an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with Israel launching a brutal new operation dubbed "Eternal Darkness."

Iranian officials warn that U.S. interests across the region "will surely be set to fire" if the ceasefire collapses, directly linking Lebanon's fate to attacks on American forces.

Evidence suggests the U.S. initially understood the ceasefire included Lebanon, contradicting current denials from Trump and Vice President Vance, pointing to either deliberate deception or catastrophic incompetence.

This crisis is fueled by a long history of U.S. policy failures, enabling Iran, betraying allies, and exploiting American soldiers as political tools in a cynical drive toward wider war.

A ceasefire built on lies and shattered by bombs

The fragile truce between the U.S. and Iran was born in confusion and is dying in a hail of bombs. While Trump and Vice President JD Vance now claim the deal never included a halt to Israels war in Lebanon, diplomatic sources and the paper trail tell a different story. Reports confirm U.S. officials saw and approved a statement from Pakistans prime minister that explicitly included a Lebanon truce as a cornerstone of the agreement. For the White House to now call this a "misunderstanding" is not a simple error; it is a hallmark of the dishonesty that has characterized Washington's dealings in the Middle East for years. It follows the Alinsky playbook of accusation: blame your opponent for what you are yourself doing. They accuse Iran of bad faith while shredding the agreement themselves.

This betrayal has a bloody soundtrack: the ongoing thunder of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. Even as Netanyahu pays lip service to negotiations, his military has unleashed "Operation Eternal Darkness," a campaign name that chillingly reflects the potential future it invites. This is not a minor breach; it is the entire foundation of the ceasefire being deliberately demolished. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has drawn a clear red line, stating the U.S. must choose between "ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both." The world is indeed watching, seeing American duplicity empower a bombardment that kills hundreds.

A gathering storm with no responsible leadership

Into this tinderbox, Trump has thrown a lit match with his talk of "conquest." His rhetoric, while appealing to a base weary of perceived weakness, ignores the horrific reality of what war with Iran would mean. This is not a conventional enemy like the foes of World War II. This is a conflict against radical elements willing to embrace martyrdom, making them fundamentally more unpredictable and dangerous. A ground war with Iran would not be a contained campaign; it would be a regional inferno, potentially drawing in global powers and pushing the world closer to a nuclear nightmare.

The path forward requires a radical departure from the failed strategies of the past. It demands leaders who will not re-empower hostile regimes, who will not use soldiers as pawns, and who will honor diplomatic agreements instead of hiding behind "misunderstandings." It requires a US President finally saying no to Israel and condemning their conquest in the Middle East. It requires the ego to die. It requires a press that does not act as a stenographer for power but critically examines the actions that hurtle us toward conflict. The independent media truth-tellers that Trump attacks - from Tucker Carlson to Megyn Kelly to Alex Jones - are doing the bold and necessary work of holding this government accountable. The American people deserve truth, not theater. They deserve security, not being used as props in a dangerous game where the final act could be the one from which there is no return. The ceasefire may be shattering, but it is not too late to choose a different pathone of sober strength, honest diplomacy, and an unwavering commitment to peace over the power-hungry temptation of conquest and civilization's destruction.

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

News.Antiwar.com

TruthSocial.com
Security nexus: TSA data fuels immigration crackdown at airports

The TSA has shared traveler data with ICE over 31,000 times since early 2025, leading to more than 800 immigration arrests.

This data-sharing represents a significant expansion of a program originally designed for counter-terrorism into routine immigration enforcement.

The collaboration intensified during a partial government shutdown when ICE agents were deployed to airports to assist TSA.

The policy has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and immigration advocates, who argue it sows fear and represents mission creep.

The Department of Homeland Security defends the practice as a necessary tool for enforcing immigration law under the current administration.

In a significant expansion of interior immigration enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has provided traveler data to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over 31,000 times since the start of 2025, leading to the arrests of more than 800 individuals. This systematic sharing of information, first reported by Reuters and confirmed by NewsNation, marks a pivotal shift in the use of a security system originally conceived to prevent terrorism. The collaboration, which intensified during a recent partial government shutdown, has ignited a fierce debate over the role of airport security, the boundaries of immigration enforcement, and the balance between national security and civil liberties.

The mechanics of data sharing

The data flow originates from the TSAs Secure Flight Program, established in 2007 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The programs stated purpose is to vet airline passengers against government watchlists to prevent known or suspected terrorists from boarding aircraft. Historically, information sharing between TSA and ICE focused on these specific national security threats. However, internal data shows that beginning in early 2025, the programs reach broadened substantially to flag individuals for potential immigration violations. While the exact matching criteria remain undisclosed, a Department of Homeland Security official described the practice as longstanding, though the scale is newly revealed.

Airports as immigration checkpoints

The partnership moved from data analysis to physical presence in March 2026. A partisan impasse over funding for DHS led to a partial shutdown, causing TSA officers to miss paychecks and prompting staffing shortages. In response, the administration deployed ICE officers to assist at security checkpoints in at least 14 major U.S. airports. Officials stated the primary goal was to keep security lines moving, but they also confirmed ICE would arrest criminals encountered in the process. This deployment effectively transformed airport security zones into active immigration enforcement venues, a departure from ICEs traditional focus on targeted operations involving individuals with criminal records or existing deportation orders.

Controversy and human impact

The policy has generated substantial political and legal controversy. More than 40 Democratic members of Congress have condemned the airport deployments, arguing in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that ICE officers will cause confusion and fear among travelers. Immigration attorneys report arrests of individuals with long-standing ties to the U.S., including:

An Irish couple, detained in front of their children while attempting to fly from Florida to New York, who were later deported despite pending residency applications, leaving minor children behind.

A Chinese woman detained in Atlanta while traveling to Philadelphia.

A college student arrested en route to a Thanksgiving celebration.

The DHS has defended these actions, stating those arrested were subject to final orders of removal. Critics, however, contend the practice represents mission creep, using a counter-terrorism infrastructure for broader immigration enforcement and ensnaring individuals without violent criminal histories.

Historical context and legal questions

The shift in TSAs role underscores a recurring tension in U.S. security policy: the use of tools created for specific threats for broader administrative purposes. The Secure Flight Program was born from the post-9/11 imperative to connect the dots and prevent attacks. Its adaptation for immigration enforcement raises questions about statutory authority and privacy expectations. Former ICE acting director John Sandweg noted that while TSA data is a logical resource for a mass deportation agenda, its use for this purpose is a significant change from past practice, where immigration violators were not a TSA priority. The lack of public data on pre-2025 sharing makes it difficult to assess the full scale of the change.

A redefined security landscape

The revelation that TSA data has facilitated hundreds of immigration arrests signals a profound redefinition of airport securitys role in the United States. What was designed as a narrow gate against terrorism has become a widened funnel for domestic immigration enforcement. The administration frames this as a necessary step to uphold the rule of law and address what it calls a crisis of illegal immigration. Opponents see it as an alarming overreach that risks undermining public trust in essential security screening. As the legal and political battles continue, the nations airports now stand not only as gateways for travel but as potent symbols of a deeply polarized debate over security, liberty and the very definition of enforcement.

Sources for this article include:

NewsNationNow.com

Reuters.com

TheGuardian.com
Vance Warns Iran Ahead Of Pakistan Talks, Claims U.S. Has All The Cards On Nuclear Fuel

Vance Warns Iran Ahead Of Pakistan Talks, Claims U.S. 'Has All The Cards' On Nuclear Fuel

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a public warning to Iran on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, just ahead of scheduled ceasefire negotiations in Pakistan. Vance stated that the United States holds significant leverage, asserting the U.S. position is one of strength in the upcoming diplomatic talks aimed at concluding a war that began in late February. [1]

In a press briefing before departing for Islamabad, Vance was explicit about the primary U.S. objective, framing the removal of Iran's nuclear fuel as a critical security imperative. He stated that the U.S. goal is to secure Iran's stockpile of nuclear fuel, a demand now central to the talks. [2]

Vance's Comments on U.S. Leverage and Objectives

During the White House briefing, Vance articulated a position of American dominance in the ongoing negotiations. 'We want the nuclear fuel,' he was quoted as saying, presenting it as a foundational demand for any lasting agreement. [1] White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Iran has indicated a willingness to discuss handing over its highly enriched uranium as part of the talks. [1]

Analysts noted the remarks represent a hardening of the public U.S. stance as indirect negotiations, which had been ongoing for days, were set to transition to a formal diplomatic round. [3] The comments came hours after President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire, stating the U.S. would work with Iran to 'dig up its stockpiles' and that Iran 'will not be allowed to enrich uranium.' [2]

Context of Regional Talks and Iranian Response

The warning comes amid scheduled multilateral discussions to be hosted by Pakistan, aimed at de-escalating regional tensions following weeks of conflict. [3] The talks follow a series of diplomatic exchanges, including a reported U.S. 15-point peace proposal delivered via intermediaries and an Iranian 10-point counter-proposal. [4]

An unnamed Iranian diplomatic official, quoted by the state-linked Fars news agency, called such public comments 'unhelpful posturing' that undermines the dialogue. [4] The Iranian 10-point plan, as detailed by Fars, includes a commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons but also demands the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region. [4] Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated the U.S. position on securing nuclear material has been a consistent, non-negotiable point in private channels. [3]

Analysis of the 'All The Cards' Claim

Security experts point to sustained international sanctions and comprehensive monitoring as key elements of the leverage Vance referenced. U.S. sanctions have long targeted Iran's oil exports, a primary source of revenue, applying significant economic pressure. [5] A report from a European think tank noted that Iran's economic pressures and domestic challenges contribute to the negotiating dynamic, though hardline elements within the new Iranian leadership are openly debating pursuing nuclear weapons. [6]

Other observers question the long-term efficacy of such a maximalist stance. Historical analysis suggests that the threat of an Iranian nuclear program has often served as a latent deterrent against direct attack, with past U.S. administrations hesitating due to fears of triggering an accelerated, secret weapons program. [7] Other regional powers involved in the talks, including Pakistan as the host, have not publicly commented on Vance's specific assertion of U.S. dominance in the process. [8]

Conclusion: Stakes for Upcoming Diplomacy

Observers state that the public nature of Vance's warning increases the diplomatic stakes for the upcoming round of talks, which are set to occur under a fragile two-week ceasefire. [9] The success of the negotiations may hinge on whether Iran perceives the U.S. demand for its nuclear fuel as an ultimatum or a starting point for a broader discussion that includes its own demands, such as the lifting of sanctions and a U.S. military drawdown. [4][10]

Further statements from State Department officials are anticipated to clarify the official U.S. negotiating position following the Vice President's comments. The process remains precarious, with reports indicating the ceasefire is not fully holding, and talks may need to proceed 'as guns are firing.' [9] The outcome will likely have significant implications for regional stability and global energy markets, which have been volatile throughout the conflict. [11]

References
Biodiversity hangs by a thread as habitat loss and poaching accelerate declines across the globe. The endangered species list from groups like the IUCN reveals over 44,000 species at risk, with critically endangered animals facing the steepest wildlife extinction threats. Efforts to save rhino elephants highlight how targeted action can turn the tide for these icons and others.

Gravest Threats Facing Wildlife Today

Wildlife extinction threats stem from multiple fronts, starting with rampant deforestation that shreds habitats for agriculture and logging. Climate shifts bring droughts, floods, and shifting ranges that leave animals stranded, while illegal trade fuels poaching for horns, tusks, and skins. In a previous report, Nature World News noted that immediate global steps are essential to halt this slide.

Human activities amplify the damageurban sprawl fragments forests, and invasive species outcompete natives on islands. Overfishing and bycatch decimate ocean dwellers, pushing marine life onto the endangered species list faster than ever.

Deforestation claims 10 million hectares yearly, hitting tropical hotspots hardest.

Poaching syndicates rake in billions, targeting high-value parts like rhino horns valued at $30,000 per kilo.

Climate models predict 20-30% range loss for many species by 2050.

These pressures make critically endangered animals an urgent focus, as populations dip below viable levels.

Top 10 Critically Endangered Animals in 2026

This countdown draws from recent IUCN updates and field reports, ranking by population size and decline rate. Each entry details habitat, threats, and glimmers of hope amid wildlife extinction threats.

1. Vaquita Porpoise

The vaquita, Earth's rarest marine mammal, clings to Mexico's Gulf of California with fewer than 10 individuals spotted. Illegal gillnets for totoaba fish drown them relentlessly, despite patrols and bans.

Conservationists ramp up acoustic monitoring, but time runs short without total net prohibitions.

2. Javan Rhino

Around 75 Javan rhinos patrol Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, their last stronghold. Floods and poachers armed with snares pose constant danger, though camera traps confirm slow breeding.

Save rhinos campaigns fund electric fences and ranger outposts, shielding this one-horned relic.

3. Saola

Fewer than 100 saolas, the "Asian unicorn," haunt the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos. Indiscriminate snares for pangolins and deer catch them fatally, with no successful captives bred.

Local scouts remove thousands of traps yearly, buying time for habitat surveys.

4. Sumatran Rhino

Just 34-47 Sumatran rhinos scrape by in fragmented Sumatran and Borneo forests. Leeches cause fatal infections, while palm oil plantations erase their browse.

Translocation to managed breeding sites shows promise, with calves born in captivity.

5. Amur Leopard

Roughly 130 Amur leopards prowl Russia's Far East and China, rebounding from near-extinction lows. Poaching has eased, but prey scarcity and wildfires linger as threats.

Protected corridors link habitats, boosting genetic diversity.

6. Kakapo Parrot

New Zealand's 236 kakapos, flightless and nocturnal, thrive in predator-free islands. Rats and stoats devoured chicks until intensive eradication kicked in.

Breeding seasons now yield record fledglings, a rare win.

7. North Atlantic Right Whale

About 380 right whales ply U.S. Atlantic waters, felled by ship collisions and fishing ropes. Fewer calves signal reproductive collapse.

Gear modifications and vessel slowdowns cut deaths, per recent NOAA data.

8. Cross River Gorilla

Scattered Cross River gorilla troops in Cameroon and Nigeria number under 300 amid logging roads. Bushmeat hunters and farms encroach daily.

Community-led patrols have slashed killings by 50% in key zones.

9. Sumatran Elephant

Fewer than 3,000 Sumatran elephants dodge bulldozers converting forests to plantations. Crop raids spark retaliatory shootings, tying into broader safe rhino elephant pushes.

Wildlife corridors and compensation schemes ease conflicts.

10. Cao Vit Gibbon

Vietnam's 74 Cao Vit gibbons dangle from one limestone forest, inbred and vulnerable. Hunting and bombs from past wars scarred their range.

Reforestation and nest guards stabilize numbers slightly.

Euronews highlighted in January 2026 how species like these edge into 2026 on extinction's brink, urging faster intervention.

Proven Ways to Save Rhinos Elephants and Kin

Conservation succeeds through layered strategies, as seen in African Wildlife Foundation reports on rhino recoveries. Donations equip rangers with drones and night-vision gear to spot poachers early. Anti-trafficking laws dry up markets for ivory and horns, while eco-tourism funds habitats.

Communities near reserves gain from beekeeping or patrols, reducing reliance on bushmeat. Boycotting palm oil from deforested zones pressures companies to go sustainable.

Support IUCN or WWF monthly giving for patrol teams.

Advocate for gillnet bans in vaquita waters via petitions.

Plant native trees to restore corridors for elephants and rhinos.

Tech innovations like AI snares detection and gene banks preserve diversity against wildlife extinction threats.

Which Animal Goes Extinct Next?

Vaquitas lead grim forecasts absent gillnet eradication, with Javan rhinos trailing if patrols falter. Field biologists warn 2026 could mark the first major marine extinction in centuries.

Total Count on Endangered Species List?

IUCN's 2026 endangered species list logs over 44,000 entries, including 10% labeled critically endangered animals. Red List assessments accelerate yearly.

Spotting the Rarest Creature?

Vaquita porpoise claims rarest status in 2026, confirmed sightings dipping under 10 amid silent surveys.

Real Hope for Recovery?

Amur leopards doubled since 2007 through fences and prey restocking, proving critically endangered animals can rebound. Black rhinos followed suit, up 167% via similar tactics.

Act Now to Counter Wildlife Extinction Threats

The endangered species list in 2026 paints a stark picture of critically endangered animals under siege from wildlife extinction threats. Momentum to save rhinos elephants proves everyday choicesdonating, sharing awareness, opting for certified sustainable goodsforge paths to recovery. Step in today to safeguard these fighters for tomorrow's wilds.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which Animal Will Go Extinct Next?

Vaquita porpoise leads predictions due to gillnet bycatch, with under 10 left in the Gulf of California. Javan rhinos follow closely if poaching surges.

2 How Many Species Are on the Endangered List?

IUCN tracks over 44,000 on the endangered species list in 2026, including thousands of critically endangered animals.

3. What Are the Biggest Wildlife Extinction Threats?

Habitat loss from deforestation, poaching for ivory/horns, climate-driven shifts, and bycatch top wildlife extinction threats.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to release the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' for the West Bengal assembly elections in Kolkata today. The manifesto promises key welfare measures, including a Rs 3000 monthly benefit for women and a special package for healthcare and education. The document follows an extensive public outreach campaign that collected over 8 lakh suggestions from citizens. Elections for the 294-member assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

Amit Shah releases BJP's West Bengal election manifesto, promising women's welfare, jobs, and change from TMC's rule. Polls on April 23 & 29.

Kolkata, April 10 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday is set to release the Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal manifesto, 'Sankalp Patra', in Kolkata, as the party steps up its campaign against the ruling Trinamool Congress ahead of the state assembly elections.

Shah asserted that West Bengal seeks change from the Trinamool Congress, while also announcing public outreach programmes in Debra and a roadshow in Kharagpur.

In a post on X, Shah wrote, "Bengal, weary of TMC, now seeks change. Today in Kolkata, I will release the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' on the basis of freeing Bengal from TMC's 'reign of terror'."

"Thereafter, I am eager to connect with the brothers and sisters of the state through a public meeting in Debra, West Medinipur, and a roadshow in Kharagpur," the post read.

Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

As per the party sources, some of the key highlights include: A monthly benefit of Rs 3000 for women beneficiaries, a special package for healthcare and education, initiatives to boost industrial growth and setup industrial zones and plans to establish more colleges with a focus on women's education, a special package for fisheries and agriculture processing units established more hospitals, jobs opportunities for youth are major highlights.

The party aims to address the needs of diverse groups, promising a comprehensive approach to development.

Party sources indicate that the manifesto aims to blend a sharp critique of the TMC with promises of welfare measures and development-oriented pledges, as the BJP prepares for the critical electoral showdown in the state.

BJP has done ground-level preparations for the West Bengal polls. The key manifesto work, which began in the first week of February, wrapped up at the end of the month.

BJP prepared its manifesto with organised way. On 7 February, the manifesto outreach campaign was launched, the statewide "Bikosito Paschim Banga Sankalp Patra - Paramarsha Sangraha Abhiyan."

The campaign aimed to capture citizens' hopes and shape the 2026 Assembly election manifesto. Party workers visited every booth and household to hear grievances and expectations, treating the BJP as a family that listens to all.

Objectives of the campaign were from a farmer's plough to a youth's startup, every dream will feed the future blueprint. According to the party's objective, it's a social contract, not just a political promise.

Citizens can share suggestions by calling 9727 294 294, emailing, scanning a QR code, or using designated hashtags- "Akanksha Sangraha Baksho" (aspiration boxes) were placed in each district for written proposals.

The campaign seeks to end 15 years of exploitative governance, unemployment and corruption, replacing them with a transparent, employment-focused West Bengal. Bringing migrant workers home and creating local jobs for talented youth are core goals. BJP believes "Your thought, our resolve; your aspiration, our path; your dream, our commitment." It invites all residents, regardless of religion or caste, to help build a new, beautiful, developed state.

"Over 8 lakh suggestions have been received with strong positive feedback. The outreach also included online consultations with the Bengali diaspora--scientists, scholars and others--and town-hall meetings and public consultations in Kolkata and meetings with farmers, fishermen," said BJP leader Anirban Ganguly to ANI.

BJP West Bengal state president Samik Bhattacharya has earlier wrote the West Bengal citizens, stressing that "Your voice matters. Your suggestions matter. Because the future of West Bengal matters."

Bhattacharya explained that the manifesto should be more than a political document; it must mirror the hopes, challenges and expectations of everyday West Bengalis.

He invites "considered suggestions" on education, employment, healthcare, women's empowerment, youth development, agriculture, industry, MSMEs, infrastructure, culture, sports, environment, law and order, and good governance. Emphasising inclusivity, he says the exercise is open to all, regardless of political ideology, because state development is a shared responsibility.

- ANI
The Andhra Pradesh government has approved investment proposals totaling a staggering Rs 9.36 lakh crore since June 2024. These projects are projected to create employment for nearly 9.62 lakh people across the state. Key approvals include 16 projects in IT, electronics, and communications, alongside major data centre developments in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli. Specific projects from companies like Credence Realty and PG Technoplast were also cleared, promising thousands of new jobs.

Andhra Pradesh's TDP-led government has cleared investment proposals worth Rs 9.36 lakh crore in 22 months, targeting over 9.62 lakh new jobs.

Amaravati, April 11 The Telugu Desam Partyled coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has approved investment proposals worth Rs 9.36 lakh crore since assuming office in June 2024, Minister for Information and Public Relations and Housing Kolusu Parthasarathy said on Friday.

Briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the minister said the proposals cleared so far are expected to generate employment for 9.62 lakh people.

The Cabinet approved 16 projects in information technology, electronics, and communications, involving an investment of Rs 17,459 crore. These projects are projected to create jobs for 36,411 people.

Among the major decisions was approval for data centre projects in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts.

The Cabinet also cleared Credence Realty's proposal to establish an IT Park in Visakhapatnam. Recognised under the 'IT Campus Developer' category of the Andhra Pradesh IT and Global Capability Centre Policy (4.0) 202429, the project will receive applicable incentives.

Recommended by the State Investment Promotion Board, the project entails an investment of Rs 386.88 crore and is expected to create 6,500 jobs.

Approval was also granted for the allocation of two acres of land to Feuji Software Solutions Private Limited for an IT/ITeS campus in Visakhapatnam under the Andhra Pradesh Land Incentive for Tech Hub Policy (4.0) 202429.

The project involves an investment of 425 crore and has the potential to generate 2,500 jobs.

The Cabinet cleared the allocation of 0.4 acres of land to Sritech Data Limited for a Cable Landing Station in Visakhapatnam, to be built with an investment of Rs 1,800 crore.

Parthasarathy said approval was also given to PG Technoplast Private Limited for manufacturing facilities for refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners in Phase1, along with expansion of PCB vertical capacity, setting up a research and development centre, and a Component Vendor Park in Phase2.

The project entails an investment of Rs 1,305 crore and is expected to create 2,910 jobs.

- IANS
The Andhra Pradesh government is drafting comprehensive legislation to ban social media access for children below 13 years. It proposes a graded, age-based system for teenagers using secure age-verification "tokens" linked to DigiLocker. The state will study global best practices and collaborate with major social media platforms on the framework. Alongside regulation, it will launch extensive awareness programs in schools and through women's self-help groups.

Andhra Pradesh drafts law to ban social media for under-13s, create age-verified access for teens, and boost digital safety education.

Amaravati, April 9 The Andhra Pradesh government will prepare a comprehensive regulatory framework to restrict access to social media for children aged below 13 years and to design an age-appropriate digital environment for teenagers.

State Minister for Education, IT and Electronics, Nara Lokesh on Thursday called for the drafting of a legislation that balances digital access with child safety, creativity, and mental well-being.

Chairing a high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting with senior officials and representatives from leading social media platforms, Minister Lokesh emphasised the need for a graded, age-based content access system, particularly for users aged between 13 to 16 years, ensuring that children are not exposed to harmful or inappropriate content.

The proposed framework aims to align Andhra Pradesh with emerging global standards in digital child protection, an official statement said.

Officials have been tasked with studying best practices from countries such as Singapore, Australia, and Denmark to build a robust legal and technological framework tailored to India's needs.

As part of enforcement architecture, the state government is evaluating the use of secure age-verification mechanisms, including "age tokens" integrated with DigiLocker.

This could enable social media platforms to authenticate user age without compromising privacy, a critical step toward implementing age restrictions at scale.

Representatives from major social media platforms, including Meta, YouTube, X, ShareChat, and Josh briefed the GoM on existing safeguards for restricting sensitive content and handling user complaints. They expressed willingness to collaborate closely with the Andhra Pradesh government in implementing these measures.

The state government will also seek public feedback and submit recommendations to the Union government on aspects that fall under the central legislative domain, indicating a potential pathway toward national-level policy evolution.

Minister Lokesh underscored that strict action will be taken against individuals posting abusive or hateful content, particularly targeting women.

Strengthening enforcement under existing IT laws, including Section 46 of the IT Act, was highlighted, with directions issued to appoint adjudicating authorities at the earliest.

Recognising that regulation alone is insufficient, the state government will roll out large-scale awareness initiatives across the state.

These include digital safety education during "No Bag Day" in schools, awareness sessions for parents and students during Mega PTMs (held twice annually) and outreach to women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) on online safety and cyber risks.

The initiative aims to build digital literacy alongside regulatory safeguards, ensuring a holistic approach to child safety.

The meeting was attended by Ministers Vangalapudi Anitha, Nadendla Manohar, and Satyakumar Yadav, along with senior officials from General Administration Department, Information and Public Relations Department, Cyber Crime, and Digital Corporation.

- IANS
The Artemis II crew has reached the halfway point in their return journey to Earth following a historic lunar flyby. NASA confirmed the milestone as the astronauts prepare for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. The mission has broken the Apollo 13 record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth. This flight is a critical test for NASA's plans to return humans to the Moon and explore deeper space.

NASA's Artemis II astronauts are halfway home after a record-breaking lunar flyby, preparing for Pacific Ocean splashdown on April 10.

Washington DC, April 10 The Artemis II crew is in the final hours of their journey to Earth and is currently preparing for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, following a historic lunar flyby.

The crew broke the record for the farthest human spaceflight at 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth while navigating the far side of the Moon.

The historic space mission Artemis II has hit its halfway mark between the Moon and the Earth, NASA said on Thursday. According to the space agency, the astronauts would splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on April 10, Eastern Time.

Sharing the details in a post on X, NASA said, "They're halfway home. The Artemis II astronauts have hit the "halfway" mark between the Moon and the Earth. They will splash down in the Pacific Ocean around 8:07 pm ET on Friday, April 10 (0007 UTC on Saturday, April 11), off the coast of San Diego."

During the mission, the crew also saw a solar eclipse from space.

After their splashdown, US Navy's USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) would retrieve the crew and Orion spacecraft, as per the US Indo Pacific Command.

Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz hailed the accomplishment of the astronauts and said that they inspired a whole new generation of space explorers.

The Artemis II mission marks a key step in NASA's plans to return humans to the Moon and advance future deep space exploration.

The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The Artemis II mission has broken the record for the farthest distance travelled by humans from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 mission's record of 248,655 miles.

Artemis II is NASA's first crewed test flight in the Artemis campaign.

As per the official website of NASA, there are five main priorities for Artemis II. These included the ability of systems and teams to sustain the flight crew in the flight environment, and through their return to Earth; demonstrate systems and operations essential to a crewed lunar campaign; retrieve flight hardware and data, assessing performance for future missions; demonstrate emergency system capabilities and validate associated operations to the extent practical, such as abort operations and rescue procedures, as needed and complete additional objectives to verify subsystems and validate data.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump spoke to the crew members after the mission broke the farthest distance record in human spaceflight.

He praised them for inspiring the world with their feat. Noting that they made history, the US President said that the mission paves the way for America's return to the lunar surface. Trump also said that the US would eventually establish a permanent presence on the moon and then aim at Mars.

Artemis II marks the first crewed mission around the moon in more than 50 years, carrying four astronauts farther into space than any humans have travelled in history.

- ANI
The Artemis II crew is nearing Earth and preparing for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, with NASA reporting favorable weather conditions. The mission has already set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 mission. During their lunar flyby, the astronauts witnessed a solar eclipse from the unique vantage point of space. This mission is a critical crewed test flight in NASA's Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon.

NASA's Artemis II crew prepares for reentry after a historic lunar flyby, breaking the human spaceflight distance record. Live updates on splashdown.

Washington DC, April 11 The Artemis II crew is set to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean following a historic lunar flyby as it nears Earth with favourable weather conditions for reentry, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said on Saturday.

Sharing the details in a post on X, NASA said, "Fist bump! The Artemis II crew is now under 35,000 miles from Earth. The astronauts are preparing the spacecraft for reentry, and the weather is looking good for splashdown."

The mission has already achieved a major milestone, with the crew breaking the record for the farthest human spaceflight distance at 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth while navigating the far side of the Moon.

During the mission, the crew also witnessed a solar eclipse from space, marking another rare moment in human space exploration.

Following splashdown, the US Navy's USS John P Murtha (LPD-26) will retrieve the crew and the Orion spacecraft, according to the US Indo-Pacific Command.

Meanwhile, US Senator Ted Cruz hailed the achievement, saying the astronauts have inspired a new generation of space explorers through their historic mission.

The Artemis II mission represents a key step in NASA's broader plan to return humans to the Moon and advance future deep space exploration.

The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The Artemis II mission has broken the record for the farthest distance travelled by humans from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 mission's record of 248,655 miles.

Artemis II is NASA's first crewed test flight in the Artemis campaign.

As per the official website of NASA, there are five main priorities for Artemis II. These included the ability of systems and teams to sustain the flight crew in the flight environment, and through their return to Earth; demonstrate systems and operations essential to a crewed lunar campaign; retrieve flight hardware and data, assessing performance for future missions; demonstrate emergency system capabilities and validate associated operations to the extent practical, such as abort operations and rescue procedures, as needed and complete additional objectives to verify subsystems and validate data.

Artemis II marks the first crewed mission around the moon in more than 50 years, carrying four astronauts farther into space than any humans have travelled in history.

- ANI
Assam and Puducherry achieved historic voter turnout records of 85.38% and 89.83% respectively, surpassing their previous highs. Kerala also witnessed a strong participation of over 78% in the assembly polls held across 296 constituencies. The Election Commission, led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar, monitored the largely peaceful process through 100% live webcasting for the first time. Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the high democratic engagement of voters in their respective states.

Assam and Puducherry set historic highs with over 85% and 89% voter turnout. Kerala sees strong 78% participation. ECI lauds peaceful, high-tech polls.

New Delhi, April 9 Voting for assembly polls created a record on Thursday as Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll-participation by recording 85.38% and 89.83% voter turnout.

The turnout was also high in Kerala at 78.03 per cent.

Polling was also held in four byelections in three states.

The polling began today at 7 am. Election Commission said that the polling had been "by and large peaceful barring a few incidents".

"Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll-participation today by recording 85.38% and 89.83% respectively. Previously, the highest poll-participation in Assam and Puducherry was 84.67% (2016) and 86.19% (2011) respectively, an Election Commission release said.

It said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr SS Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi kept a close watch on the polling through live-webcasting which was ensured in 100% of the polling stations for the first time in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.

In his remarks, Gyanesh Kumar said that Assembly Elections 2026 in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry "are a historic testimony not only for India but for the entire democratic World".

"On behalf of ECI, I congratulate each and every elector of Assam, Puducherry and Kerala for this historic achievement. Chunav ka Parv, Matdaata ka Garv," he said.

A total of 296 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in Assam and Kerala and the UT of Puducherry with a total electorate of over 5.31 crore went to polls today, along with the bye- elections in four assembly constituencies in Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura.

As part of the International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP), 38 delegates from 22 countries witnessed the poll proceedings.

The release said over 2.5 lakh polling staff reached the respective polling stations last night itself.

Mock polls were completed before 7 am today in the presence of over 1.8 lakh Polling Agents appointed by 1,899 contesting candidates and polling began peacefully at all 63,084 polling stations simultaneously.

"Presiding Officers updated the Voter Turnout figures at the close of poll before leaving the polling station as per ECI's latest instructions resulting in minimal delay in updation of approximate voter turnout trends," the release said.

It said a number of new voter-friendly initiatives such as easily identifiable colour photos of candidates on EVM ballot papers, Mobile Deposit Facility (MDF), newly designed Voter Information Slips (VIS) for easy readability and limit of electors upto 1,200 per polling station were ensured in these elections.

Polling stations were also provided with wheelchairs and tagging of volunteers to assist PwD voters. Transport facility was also provided to assist PwD voters in reaching their polling stations.

Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed gratitude to voters for large participation.

"Only a very short campaign time was available this time. However, the enthusiasm of the political activists who worked tirelessly despite the scorching summer heat is worth mentioning. The people who reached the polling booths despite the bad weather gave a glimpse of Kerala's high sense of democracy and high commitment to the country. This huge turnout is highly commendable," he said in a Facebook posts.

The Chief Minister praised the role of election officials, police and central force members, health workers, volunteers, and others who ensured the smooth conduct of elections across the state.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said people have voted to protect "our land, our identity, and our culture from illegal infiltration".

"Today, for the first time, our people have come out in unprecedented numbers -- voting shoulder to shoulder, matching and even surpassing our opponents in turnout. In many polling booths, participation is crossing 95 per cent. This is not ordinary. This is historic. Assam has risen above language and caste. Our people have voted with one clear resolve -- to protect our land, our identity, and our culture from illegal infiltration and demographic aggression," he said in a post on X.

"The message is loud and clear: Assam will not surrender. Assam will fight. Assam will survive. Assam will endure," he added.

Sarma and Vijayan were among the early voters. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy also cast his vote, maintaining his long-standing tradition of riding his motorcycle to the polling booth. The results will be declared on May 4.

- ANI
Puducherry recorded the highest voter turnout at 89.20% in the single-phase Assembly elections held on Thursday. Assam followed closely with 85.10% polling across its 126 constituencies, while Keralam witnessed a significant 77.50% participation. Prominent leaders, including the Chief Ministers of all three regions, were among the early voters. The counting of votes for all regions is scheduled for May 4.

Puducherry leads with 89.20% voter turnout in Assembly elections, followed by Assam at 85.10% and Keralam at 77.50%. Counting on May 4.

Guwahati/Thiruvananthapuram/Pudhucherry, April 9 High voter turnout marked the single-phase Assembly elections held on Thursday in Assam, Keralam, and Puducherry.

According to the latest Election Commission data at 7.30 PM, Puducherry recorded the highest turnout of 89.20 per cent among the regions. Assam followed closely with a high of 85.10 per cent polling across its 126 constituencies, while Keralam also witnessed significant participation at 77.50 per cent.

Voting concluded for crucial polls in Assam, Keralam and Puducherry, with the voters coming out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.

Prominent leaders, including Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pinarayi Vijayan, were among the early voters. Counting of votes for all regions is scheduled for May 4.

Polling officials sealed the electronic voting machine (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in booths where polling had concluded.

Voting was held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam, and 30 in Puducherry.

Senior leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan, were among the early voters. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy also cast his vote, maintaining his long-standing tradition of riding his motorcycle to the polling booth.

In Keralam, over 2.6 crore electors were eligible to decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies in these elections.

Of the 2,69,53,644 registered voters across the state, there were 1,38,27,319 women voters, and the number of male voters stood at 1,31,26,048. Officials said that there were 277 third-gender voters in the state.

Nearly 4,24,518 voters fell in the 18-19 age group, while 2,04,608 voters were aged 85 years and above. To facilitate safe and secure polling, a total of 30,471 polling stations were set up. UDF is aiming to unseat the CPI(M)-led LDF government, which has been in power for the past decade. The BJP has expanded its base and is challenging both the LDF and UDF.

In Assam, more than 2.5 crore electors were eligible to exercise their franchise for the 126-member legislative assembly with 722 candidates in the fray. Of 2,50,54,463 electors, 1,25,31,552 were male voters and 1,25,22,593 were female. There were 318 transgender voters.

This contest in the northeastern state, largely between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led alliance, was marked by acrimony and sharp exchanges.

In Puducherry, 10,14,070 electors were eligible to cast their votes for 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The electorate included 5,39,125 female voters, 4,74,788 male voters, and 157 voters belonging to the third gender category. A total of 24,156 voters are in the age group of 18-19 years.

The ruling NDA, which includes the All India NR Congress and the BJP, is being challenged by the Congress-DMK alliance. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is seeking to make it triangular.

- ANI
The Assets Under Management (AUM) for passive investments in India have witnessed explosive growth, reaching approximately Rs 15 lakh crore in 2026 from just Rs 1.63 lakh crore in 2020. This surge is supported by over 5 crore investor folios, highlighting rapid retail and institutional adoption. NSE Indices launched the Nifty India FPI 150 Index to provide foreign investors access to top liquid Indian stocks. The industry continues its strong momentum with consistent monthly net inflows, cementing passive investing as a mainstream financial solution.

NSE Indices reports passive investment AUM surged to ~Rs 15 lakh crore with over 5 crore folios, marking its mainstream adoption in India.

By Saurav Mukherjee, Mumbai, April 9 NSE Indices on Thursday organised a press meet in Mumbai, where it elaborated on its outlook for passive investing in India. It stated that the total Assets Under Management in passive investments surged from Rs 1.63 lakh crore in 2020 to approximately Rs 15 lakh crore in 2026.

At the meet, Aniruddha Chatterjee, CEO of NSE Indices, discussed details regarding the evolution of index investing in India and the specific launch of the Nifty India FPI 150 Index.

Speaking to ANI, Chatterjee said, "Today, we believe that passive investment has become mainstream and has entered a phase where people view it as part of their overall financial solutions. It is our responsibility to provide a framework that investors can understand easily and transparently to effectively guide, channelise, and allocate their assets in a diversified manner."

On the differentiation between active and passive investing, Chatterjee added, "If you are investing in an active strategy, someone else is deciding which stocks to buy and sell. However, in a passive strategy, fund managers do not take a personal call; they simply replicate an index strategy that is available to them."

He further noted that because of the index's performance and construction, investors benefit from the ability to verify all information, which is readily available in the public domain. The NSE Indices CEO also mentioned that this gives investors the leverage to choose passive products that accurately track the particular market.

However, he also urged caution, stating that investors should understand the risks involved in any market investment and that passive investing should be viewed as a long-term approach.

When asked about the current number of passive investors in India, Chatterjee said, "I don't have the exact count of unique investors, but looking at the number of folios linked to passive investment funds, we have surpassed 50 million. There are more than 5 crore folios available in the country where investment is flowing into either ETFs or index funds."

Chatterjee also noted that the entire passive investment landscape has moved into a new phase.

Currently, the Nifty India FPI 150 Index comprises of the top 150 stocks from the Nifty 500, ensuring accessibility for foreign investors in India. These stocks are selected based on a six-month average foreign investible free-float market capitalization (M-Cap), covering the most liquid and high free-float stocks.

Meanwhile, the Indian passive funds industry continued to grow in January 2026, following strong investor participation.

A report released by NSE Indices at today's press meet stated that AUM rose to Rs 15.02 lakh crore, reflecting a healthy month-on-month increase of 5-8 per cent.

The industry also witnessed net investment inflows of Rs 39,073 crore, marking the 63rd consecutive month of positive flows. While a significant portion of the investment flowed into gold and silver ETFs, equity-orientated passive schemes attracted Rs 8,746 crore in net inflows.

NSE Indices' report also added that the number of passive fund folios has breached the 5-crore mark, underscoring the rapid adoption of ETFs and index funds. Passive investing is no longer a niche segment but is increasingly becoming an integral part of retail and institutional portfolios, the report concluded.

- ANI
Polling in Kerala concluded with a 75.01% voter turnout, with queues extending past the official deadline. The state now enters a tense wait until counting begins on May 4, which will determine control of the State Secretariat. The ruling LDF, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is optimistic about improving its seat count, while the opposition UDF projects a sweeping comeback. The BJP, however, forecasts a hung Assembly, adding intrigue to Kerala's traditionally bipolar politics.

Kerala records 75% voter turnout as political fronts LDF, UDF, and BJP make confident claims ahead of the decisive May 4 results.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 At 6 p.m. on Thursday, the curtain officially fell on what is often hailed as the 'festival of democracy', as polling across Kerala drew to a close.

Yet in several booths, the democratic spirit lingered a little longer, with voters patiently waiting to exercise their franchise even past the deadline.

By and large, the State witnessed an almost incident-free voting process.

At the official close of time, the turnout, according to the Chief Electoral Officer, as tabulated at 5 p.m., stood at 75.01 per cent of the 2.71 crore voters who had cast their votes.

Incidentally, at the 2021 Assembly polls, 75.75 per cent of voters had voted. With queues seen in many booths after 6 p.m., it remains to be seen if the final figure touches 80 per cent. If it happens, it would be the first time since 1987 that the 80 per cent mark is breached.

With voting now behind, the State enters a phase of heightened anticipation.

All eyes are set on May 4, when counting begins at 8 a.m. across centres, and the political fate of Kerala will begin to unravel.

The question that now grips the electorate and political players alike is simple yet decisive: who will hold the key to the State Secretariat for the next five years?

In the days leading up to the verdict, confidence and claims are running high across all three major political fronts.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and steered organisationally by party secretary M. V. Govindan, has exuded optimism.

Both leaders have asserted that the front will improve upon its current tally of 99 seats in the 140-member Assembly, a claim that, if realised, would mark a significant consolidation of power.

The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), however, has dismissed these projections outright.

Veteran Congress leader A. K. Antony, along with the party's current leadership, including V. D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, State president Sunny Joseph, and his predecessor K. Sudhakaran, have projected a sweeping comeback.

Their collective assertion is bold; the UDF is poised to cross the 100-seat mark, signalling what they describe as a decisive mandate for change.

Adding a third dimension to the contest, the Bharatiya Janata Party has put forth a markedly different forecast.

State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has predicted a hung Assembly, a scenario that, if it unfolds, could dramatically alter Kerala's traditionally bipolar political landscape.

His projection gains intrigue given the BJP's limited electoral footprint in the State, having secured a solitary seat in 2016, which it failed to retain in 2021.

For now, these claims remain in the realm of political rhetoric, as Kerala enters a quiet yet tense interlude.

By noon on counting day, the numbers will replace narratives, and the verdict of 2.71 crore voters will stand revealed, clear, conclusive, and impossible to contest.

Until then, Kerala waits.

- IANS
Bangladesh's new government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has a significant opportunity to strengthen its historically deep bilateral relationship with India. India has proven to be a reliable partner, recently ensuring fuel supplies to Bangladesh despite global market tensions. Early, quiet diplomatic engagements, including a military intelligence visit, suggest institutional channels remain active. The partnership is crucial for regional stability, economic growth, and leveraging the strong cultural and people-to-connections across the shared border.

As Tarique Rahman leads Bangladesh, a new chapter opens for India-Bangladesh relations, built on historical ties, energy cooperation, and regional stability.

Dhaka, April 9 Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh's new government has an opportunity to reaffirm one of the most significant bilateral relationships the country has ever had - with India - the local media reported this week.

India, it said, has repeatedly proved to be a reliable partner for Bangladesh, having fostered economic growth, infrastructure development and advancing regional cooperation.

"The political transition in Bangladesh following the 2026 elections has opened a new chapter in South Asian diplomacy. With the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing a parliamentary majority and its leader Tarique Rahman now leading the country, both Dhaka and New Delhi stand at an important moment," an editorial in the 'Dhaka Tribune' detailed.

"India has watched the developments carefully but with cautious optimism. The reality is that India has great expectations from the new Bangladeshi leadership. History suggests that Tarique Rahman is unlikely to be disappointed if he chooses to work with India as a trusted partner," it added.

According to the report, early signals of engagement between both nations have surfaced, with Bangladesh's military intelligence chief quietly visiting New Delhi in March, holding discussions with senior Indian security and intelligence officials.

"While such visits rarely attract public attention, they are often crucial for maintaining strategic stability and trust between neighbouring countries. The visit indicated that despite political changes in Dhaka, institutional channels of cooperation between India and Bangladesh remain active and constructive," the report mentioned.

"Few bilateral relationships in the region are as deep or historically rooted as the one between India and Bangladesh. The relationship is fundamentally shaped by the events of 1971 when India played a decisive role in Bangladesh's liberation from Pakistan, supporting the Mukti Bahini resistance movement and helping establish an independent Bangladesh," it added.

The report highlighted that recent developments underscore the practical value of this partnership.

Despite concerns over a potential global fuel supply disruption due to the recent tensions in West Asia, it said, India has upheld its energy commitments to Bangladesh.

"In March 2026, India released around 5,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh under the existing bilateral supply arrangement, helping ensure stability in Bangladesh's fuel supply at a time when energy markets worldwide are facing uncertainty," the report stated.

Beyond trade and infrastructure projects, it said, the relationship between India and Bangladesh lies in its people-to-people connection.

"The two countries share a 4,000 kilometre border, one of the longest land borders in the world. Millions of families share linguistic, cultural and historical ties across this frontier. Educational exchanges, tourism, medical travel and religious pilgrimages bring citizens of the two countries together every year," the report noted.

New Delhi, it said, views stability and prosperity in Bangladesh as a strategic priority contributing to security in India's northeast, boosting connectivity with Southeast Asia and driving regional economic growth across the Bay of Bengal region.

Highlighting the significance of a stable partnership, the report further said, "This is where the expectations from Tarique Rahman become significant. As Bangladesh's new leader, he inherits a country facing complex challenges, including economic pressures, political polarisation, and increasing geopolitical competition in the region. Balanced diplomacy and regional cooperation will therefore be crucial for Bangladesh's continued growth."

- IANS
The Baramati Assembly by-election will proceed with 23 candidates after the withdrawal deadline passed. The Congress party officially withdrew its candidate, Akash More, following high-level emotional appeals from political allies. State Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal cited the recent death of leader Ajit Pawar and appeals from his family and NCP colleagues as the reason for the strategic withdrawal. The spotlight remains on NCP nominee and Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, who is now pitted against 22 others, including independents and controversial figures.

23 candidates, including Sunetra Pawar, contest Baramati bypoll after Congress withdraws citing emotional appeals following Ajit Pawar's death.

Baramati, April 9 In all, 23 candidates, including Nationalist Congress Party nominee and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, are in the fray for the Baramati by-election slated for April 23. 

Thursday was the last day to withdraw nomination papers.

Even though the Congress party nominee, Akash More, has withdrawn from the race, there will not be an unopposed election, as Sunetra Pawar is pitted against 22 candidates, mostly independents.

Earlier, a total of 53 nominees had filed their nominations by April 6, the last date for filing nominations.

Of the 53 nominations, 24 had withdrawn by Wednesday, while another six had stepped out of the race, leaving 23 in the electoral fray. Despite the mass withdrawals, the spotlight remains on two controversial figures, including Bigg Boss fame Abhijit Bichukale and Karuna Munde-Sharma. 

Speculation was rife regarding their potential withdrawal after the Congress move; however, neither candidate showed up at the election office today. As they failed to withdraw their applications by the deadline, their candidacies remain valid, ensuring that the by-election will proceed to a vote.

With 23 candidates now officially in the ring, the administrative machinery is gearing up for the polls. The withdrawal of the mainstream Congress candidate has significantly altered the math for the remaining contenders, making the April 23 vote a crucial litmus test for the local leadership.

Earlier today, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee officially announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election. 

State President Harshwardhan Sapkal confirmed the decision during a press conference today, marking the final day for withdrawing nominations.

Addressing the media, Sapkal explained that the initial decision to contest, taken on March 15, was a strategic ideological move against the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, a series of high-level emotional appeals from across the political spectrum led to a change in stance.

"Ajit Pawar was a tall leader of Maharashtra, and his accidental death has left a deep void in the State's political landscape," Sapkal stated. 

He added that while the Congress remains ideologically opposed to the BJP, it cannot ignore Maharashtra's cultural and emotional traditions.

Sapkal revealed that several top leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi had reached out to the Congress leadership to request a withdrawal. 

NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar reached out multiple times, including as recently as Wednesday and Thursday morning, emphasising the long-standing relationship between Ajit Pawar and the Congress party.

Senior NCP leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, made personal telephonic appeals for the sake of political grace and tradition, said Sapkal.

Sapkal noted that NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar had provided counsel on the matter, and NCP SP working president Supriya Sule had expressed similar sentiments regarding a dignified tribute to the departed leader.

The breakthrough came following a meeting with Rohit Pawar. Sapkal mentioned that Rohit Pawar visited to seek cooperation and expressed regret over certain "immature remarks" made by others against the Congress recently, acting on behalf of the family to mend ties.

"Ultimately, our senior leadership discussed the situation at length. While we were prepared to fight this election, we have chosen to prioritise harmony, civility, and Maharashtra's political culture," Sapkal said.

"Considering Ajit Dada's long association with the Congress and the emotional appeal from his family and colleagues, we are withdrawing our candidate, Akash More," he added.

- IANS
The Congress party has withdrawn its candidate, Akash More, from the Baramati Assembly by-election. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare thanked the Congress leadership for this gesture, which he described as an act of political maturity. Tatkare revealed that senior NCP leaders contacted Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge to facilitate the withdrawal. Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal cited emotional appeals and Ajit Pawar's legacy with the party as reasons for the strategic retreat.

NCP's Sunil Tatkare thanks Congress for withdrawing its Baramati bypoll candidate, citing Ajit Pawar's legacy and high-level talks with Kharge.

New Delhi, April 9 Following the withdrawal of the Congress candidate Akash More from the Baramati by-election, Nationalist Congress Party State President Sunil Tatkare expressed his appreciation for the move, describing it as a gesture of "political magnanimity."

Speaking to the media, Tatkare welcomed the development, noting that the decision clears the path for a more streamlined contest. 

He specifically thanked the Congress leadership for their "understanding and maturity" in the current political climate. 

Tatkare took a moment to reflect on Ajit Pawar's long-standing history with the Congress party, highlighting their past collaboration.

"Ajit Pawar won elections on a Congress ticket in 1991 and 1992. Between 1999 and 2014, while the Democratic Front government was in power, he served as Minister and Deputy Chief Minister alongside Congress. I welcome their recent decision and thank them on behalf of the people of Baramati," he stated.

Revealing the efforts behind the scenes, Tatkare disclosed that the NCP leadership had reached out to the highest levels of the Congress party to ensure the withdrawal. 

He confirmed that both he and senior leader Praful Patel had contacted Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the matter.

Addressing past precedents, Tatkare drew a parallel to the Nashik by-elections, famously referred to as "Sahyadri rushing to the aid of the Himalayas," though he noted that such historical contexts have now shifted.

In response to criticism from Congress State President Harshvardhan Sapkal regarding the NCP's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tatkare remained firm. 

"We are part of the National Democratic Alliance, and we have taken an open and transparent stand. While his [Sapkal's] political knowledge is vast, I, too, have spent many years in Congress and have worked extensively within that framework. Today, however, my focus is simply on expressing gratitude for their cooperation," he concluded.

Earlier, Sapkal officially announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election. 

Addressing the media, Sapkal explained that the initial decision to contest, taken on March 15, was a strategic ideological move against the BJP. However, a series of high-level emotional appeals from across the political spectrum led to a change in stance.

"Ajit Pawar was a tall leader of Maharashtra, and his accidental death has left a deep void in the State's political landscape," Sapkal stated.

"While we remain ideologically opposed to the BJP, we cannot ignore the cultural and emotional traditions of Maharashtra," he added. 

"Considering Ajit Dada's long association with the Congress and the emotional appeal from his family and colleagues, we are withdrawing our candidate, Akash More," he added.

- IANS
The BJP has released its manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly elections, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlining key priorities. The party pledges a strict 'detect, delete and deport' policy against illegal infiltration and cattle smuggling. It promises a corruption-free recruitment system, economic revival through investments and new ports, and significant women empowerment measures. These include free public transport for women, 33% reservation in government jobs, and dedicated women's police stations.

BJP's West Bengal manifesto promises zero tolerance on infiltration, transparent recruitment, economic development, and major women empowerment initiatives.

Kolkata, April 10 The Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, on Friday released the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' for the forthcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal scheduled for later this month. Zero tolerance against infiltration, evolving a transparent and corruption-free state recruitment mechanism, economic progression, and women empowerment were among the top priorities in the Patra.

After releasing the manifesto, the Union Home Minister said that if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal this time, it will adopt a zero-tolerance policy on the issue of infiltration.

"We will adopt the 'detect, delete and deport' mechanism and drive out each illegal infiltrator from the state and hence secure not only the state but the entire country. Besides securing the International Borders with the state, the issue of cattle smuggling will be handled strictly," the Union Home Minister said.

At the same time, he said that a transparent, corruption-free state recruitment mechanism should be implemented, with vacant state government posts filled strictly based on merit, eliminating the risk of cash-for-jobs. He also said the priority of his party is to ensure permanent jobs and not contractual jobs.

"Youths will be provided with Rs 15,000 to prepare for competitive exams. In addition, those who have been deprived of jobs due to corruption will be given a relaxation of up to five years in age," he said.

As regards economic development, he said that the priority of the BJP-led government would be to improve the financial health of the state by attracting big-ticket investments and thus ensure employment generation. He also hinted towards a change in the current land policy in the state that nullifies any sort of state role in land procurement for the industry.

"Four new satellite townships will be created in the state, the locations for which will be selected in due course. The goal is to further develop the future potential. There is a separate plan for the development of Haldia Port in the East Midnapore district. There are plans to develop special deep-sea ports at Tajpur and Kulpi. Emphasis will also be given to tea and jute industries. West Bengal will be made a major export destination for the Blue Economy," Shah said.

Regarding women's empowerment, the BJP's manifesto promises 100 per cent free transport for females. At the same time, the manifesto also promised investigations into cases of crimes against women by a special committee of retired judges.

"There will be 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in all state government jobs. There will be women's police stations in all mandals. There will be women's desks in every police district. There will be work for them both in the day and at night. Our Chief Minister will never have to advise women not to go out at night," said Shah.

- IANS
The ancient city of Bhaktapur has commenced the vibrant Biska Jatra festival to welcome the Nepali New Year. The celebrations feature synchronized performances of traditional Dhime drum music and dance by the Newa community in traditional attire. A central ritual involves pulling a massive wooden chariot carrying deities Bhairavnath and Betal around the city's Taumadhi Square. The nine-day festival, believed to date back to the Malla Dynasty, uniquely follows a solar rather than lunar calendar.

Bhaktapur kicks off the nine-day Biska Jatra with traditional Dhime music, dance, and a chariot procession to welcome the Nepali New Year.

Bhaktapur, April 9 Nepal's ancient city of Bhaktapur has, from Thursday, started early celebrations to welcome the Nepali New Year with music and festivities.

On the eve of the formal start of Biska Jatra, the nine-day-long festivity of the ancient city of Bhaktapur, dozens of denarians and vicenarians performed a synchronised musical performance.

Every beat of the Dhime, the traditional double-headed cylindrical drum, tells a different story, and the dance narrates a story which carries its own significance.

"The performance was made by the Newa community. It is performed to welcome the Nepali New Year, the Bikram Sambat. It is performed by Newars in their traditional attire, which is generally understood as Newa dress (the Haku Patasi)," Manish Ghimire, an attendee of the cultural performance on the stairs of Nepal's tallest temple, the Nyatapola, told ANI.

The temple, which stands in the ancient Taumadhi Square of Bhaktapur, is packed with revellers and devotees during the Biska Jatra, which, as per folklore, signals the arrival of the Nepali New Year.

"It was really cool. Every single person was dancing in a well-coordinated way, and there was not even a single mistake made by the performers, which made it really nice to watch and beautiful as well," Ghimire added.

Biska Jatra, one of the popular religious festivals of Kathmandu Valley, starts with the ascension of Lord Bhairab onto a chariot built in front of the Nyatapola temple, the tallest temple in Nepal. Two groups of locals struggle to pull the chariot to either side amid a show of strength, which has been followed for ages.

The three-storey chariot, made of wood in the pagoda style, is pushed and pulled around the settlements with the statues of Bhairavnath and Betal as a part of this festival. This festival of cultural and historical importance is celebrated for nine days and eight nights.

Believed to have started during the Malla Dynasty, Biska Jatra formally starts four days before the beginning of the Nepali New Year.

According to a myth, whoever marries a local princess dies on the very first night of the marriage. Later, a brave young man married the princess. During the night, two snakes attacked him, and the young man killed them.

Biska Jatra is the only festival that does not follow the lunar-based Nepali calendar. It commences after a special Tantric ritual is performed in the Bhairab Temple in Taumadhi Tole in Bhaktapur.

- ANI
The Bihar government has mandated prior permission from Sub-Divisional Officers for organizing weddings and social functions to regulate LPG usage. Applicants must submit wedding invitations and guest details, with commercial cylinders being compulsory and domestic ones strictly prohibited. This move aims to prevent misuse and shortages, especially with potential global supply disruptions from West Asia. Officials state the policy is designed to ensure fair LPG distribution and avoid public inconvenience during the peak wedding season.

Bihar govt requires SDO permission for weddings to regulate LPG use, banning domestic cylinders to prevent shortages during the global fuel crisis.

Patna, April 9 In view of the ongoing global petroleum crisis and rising concerns over LPG availability, the Bihar government, on Thursday, issued a major directive regulating fuel usage during wedding ceremonies and social functions.

As per the new notification, prior permission from the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) has been made mandatory for organising weddings, tilak ceremonies, and other public functions in the coming months.

The Bihar government has laid down strict instructions to ensure proper use and availability of LPG.

It has made SDO permission mandatory before organising any wedding or social event.

Applicants must submit a copy of the wedding invitation card along with the application, and details of expected guests and the required number of cylinders must be mentioned in the form.

Use of commercial LPG cylinders is compulsory, and domestic cylinders are strictly prohibited for such functions.

The SDO will evaluate the application and estimate demand.

Based on this, oil companies will supply commercial cylinders proportionately.

The allocated commercial gas must be used strictly for the approved function only.

The law enforcement agencies will closely monitor functions, and they will take strict action against violators.

To streamline LPG supply during the peak wedding season from April 15, the state government has outlined a structured process.

As per the provisions, cooks and caterers must register for commercial LPG.

Oil companies have been directed to complete registrations within five to seven days.

The state government noted that domestic LPG cylinders are often misused during large functions, leading to shortages for regular households.

With potential supply disruptions due to global issues -- particularly in West Asia -- the state aims to prevent LPG backlog, ensure fair distribution, and avoid a crisis during peak wedding season.

Officials emphasised that this move is intended to prevent inconvenience to the general public during the upcoming wedding season and ensure uninterrupted LPG supply for both households and event organisers.

- IANS
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed satisfaction with the high voter turnout in the Assembly elections, seeing it as a sign of a strong democratic culture. He specifically noted a surge in participation among Hindu and indigenous communities. Sarma reiterated his confidence that the BJP-led alliance would secure more than 90 seats in the 126-member Assembly. The Election Commission reported a record 85.38% turnout, surpassing the previous record set in 2016.

Assam CM Himanta Sarma cites record voter turnout and confidence in BJP-led alliance securing over 90 seats in the 126-member Assembly.

Guwahati, April 9 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the high voter turnout in the ongoing Assembly elections, stating that the enthusiasm shown by voters, particularly among Hindu and indigenous communities, reflects a strong commitment to the democratic process. 

Speaking after polling concluded, Sarma said there has been a visible surge in participation among local and indigenous voters. 

He termed the development as a positive sign for democracy, adding that such active engagement strengthens the electoral system and reflects public trust in governance. 

Commenting on the overall rise in voter turnout, the Chief Minister said that the increased participation is an encouraging indicator and shows that people are more aware and eager to exercise their democratic rights. 

He noted that peaceful polling and enthusiastic voter response point towards a vibrant democratic culture in the state. 

Sarma also exuded confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance's prospects, reiterating his earlier claim that the coalition would secure more than 90 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly.

He said that the response from voters across constituencies suggests a clear mandate in favour of the ruling alliance. 

The Chief Minister further said that the higher turnout would ultimately benefit the democratic framework and ensure a stronger, more representative government.

He added that the final outcome will reflect the aspirations of the people, as Assam witnessed one of its most participative elections in recent years. 

Assam on Thursday recorded its highest-ever voter turnout in a Legislative Assembly election, with an impressive 85.38 per cent polling, reflecting strong public participation across the state, according to the Election Commission of India. 

The turnout surpassed the previous record of 84.67 per cent registered during the 2016 Assembly elections, marking a significant milestone in the state's electoral history. 

Officials described the polling process as largely peaceful, with only a few minor incidents reported from scattered locations. 

As per provisional data shared by polling authorities, female voters slightly outnumbered male participation, with women recording a turnout of 85.96 per cent compared to 84.80 per cent among men. The turnout among third-gender voters stood at 36.84 per cent 

- IANS
The Bombay High Court has permitted a diagnostic check of EVMs and VVPATs from the Chandivali Assembly Constituency used in the 2024 Maharashtra elections. The process, scheduled to begin on April 16 in Borivali East, follows an application by Congress candidate Naseem Khan. The state's Chief Electoral Office has clarified that this is not the first such inspection in Maharashtra, noting that 17 candidates underwent verification processes in 2025. The inspection will be conducted by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in the presence of the candidate or his representative.

Bombay High Court allows EVM diagnostic check for Chandivali assembly seat. Congress candidate Naseem Khan's request to be processed from April 16 in Borivali.

Mumbai, April 10 Mumbai Suburban District Collector has issued a notification regarding the inspection and verification of a set of Electronic Voting Machines and VVPATs used in the 168-Chandivali Assembly Constituency during the Maharashtra General Assembly Election 2024. The process, specifically a diagnostic check, is set to commence on April 16 in Borivali East.

The verification follows an application submitted by Congress candidate Naseem Khan in the Bombay High Court. While Khan had initially requested the inspection and paid the prescribed fees in November 2024, the process required clearance from the High Court, delaying the inspection.

In February 2026, the High Court granted permission to proceed with the diagnostic check for 20 voting machines selected from the constituency.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, informed on April 3 that a two-day schedule has been fixed to conduct verification starting at 9:30 AM on April 16. According to the official notification issued by Sub-District Election Officer Archana Kadam, Naseem Khan, one of his representatives and other election candidates are requested to be present for the inspection and verification of the burnt memory/Microcontroller of EVM VVPAT machines.

This procedure aligns with the Supreme Court directions, allowing candidates to request a 5 per cent check of the machines used in their respective constituencies.

Addressing the claims that this is the first EVM inspection being done in Maharashtra, the state Chief Electoral Office clarified that such reports are incorrect. Under the Election Commission's 2024 and 2025 guidelines, verification processes were already carried out for 17 candidates across various constituencies between February and August 2025. The Chandivali case was simply deferred until now to comply with the specific legal protocols mandated by the High Court.

"The reports claiming that such an EVM inspection is happening for the first time in Maharashtra are incorrect," the CEO said in an X post.

- ANI
Israel has issued a sharp rebuke to Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, calling his statement for Israel's "annihilation" outrageous and intolerable. Asif had accused Israel of being "evil" and committing genocide in Lebanon, complicating ongoing peace negotiations. The incident adds strain to a fragile ceasefire and embarrasses Pakistan, which had previously fumbled the terms of the truce. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has simultaneously denied any ceasefire in Lebanon, vowing to continue military operations against Hezbollah.

Israel condemns Pakistan Defence Minister's call for its "annihilation," questioning Pakistan's neutrality as US-Iran peace talks falter.

Tel Aviv, April 10 Israel on Thursday put Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in his place, strongly objecting to the latter's statement and questioning Pakistan's neutrality as a mediator in US-Iran negotiations.

In a statement, Israel's Prime Minister's Office rebuked Khawaja Asif, stating that his "call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous" and slammed Pakistan's government over its conduct.

"Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," Israel's Prime Minister's Office said.

This comes after Khawaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," he said.

"I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he added.

The Pakistan Defence Minister's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad.

This adds more embarrassment after Pakistan's fumble in clearly defining the terms of the two-week ceasefire. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal--a claim firmly dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu again asserted that there is "no ceasefire in Lebanon" and vowed to continue military operations with "full force" against Hezbollah.

"I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said.

- ANI
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar conducted a briefing for 326 central observers deployed for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He emphasized the strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct and directed prompt action on any complaints. Observers were instructed to ensure elections are free, fair, and conducted in a festive atmosphere without inducement or violence. Key logistical directives included checking webcasting arrangements, ensuring adequate facilities at polling stations, and verifying proper training for polling staff.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar briefed 326 central observers for the April 23 Tamil Nadu polls, stressing strict MCC enforcement and fair elections.

New Delhi, April 10 Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday briefed the 326 Central Observers - General, Police, Expenditure - for the April 23 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, stressing the strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.

During the review meeting, the CEC also directed prompt action in case of any complaints of violations.

He also instructed the Observers to ensure that Elections are held in a festive mood, free and fair, and free of any kind of inducement, intimidation, or violence.

A total of 326 Central Observers and Special Expenditure Observers, along with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu, attended the briefing via videoconferencing, the statement said.

The CEC addressed the Central Observers along with Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, said a statement.

For the 234 Assembly constituencies in the southern state, the ECI has deployed 136 general observers, 40 police observers, and 150 expenditure observers, it said.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar told the observers that webcasting monitoring control room arrangements should be properly checked and a trial run conducted in the presence of all the staff posted there for monitoring, who should be well trained to identify and flag errors.

The Commission also told the observers to publicise their contact numbers and place and time of hearing the complaints from the public/political parties/candidates, or their agents.

They were also directed to oversee if trainings of Presiding Officers have been done properly with special emphasis on timely feeding of two-hourly and close of poll voter turnout and other data on voter turnout module of ECINET, proper application of indelible ink, filling up of form 17-C and sharing with the polling agents present at close of poll, deletion of mock poll data amongst others.

With a view to ensuring a friendly experience for voters, CEC Gyanesh Kumar directed the observers to ensure the availability of assured minimum facilities at all polling stations, including a mobile phone deposit facility and benches in voter queues.

They were also directed to ensure adequate drinking water and arrangements for shade at all polling stations in view of the hot weather, the statement said.

- IANS
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar chaired a review meeting with central observers for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, instructing them to ensure a free, fair, and festive electoral process. The Commission also celebrated the conclusion of voting in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, with the CEC calling the elections a historic testimony for the democratic world. Assam and Puducherry broke their own records for highest-ever voter turnout, reaching 85.38% and 89.83% respectively. The data revealed higher participation rates among female voters compared to male voters across all three states.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar directs observers for free & fair Tamil Nadu polls, hails record voter turnout in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry as a democratic testimony.

New Delhi, April 10 Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, on Friday held a review meeting with Central Observers deployed across Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

The meeting included General, Police, and Expenditure Observers tasked with overseeing the electoral process in the state, where polling is scheduled to be held on April 23, 2026.

The Commission instructed the Observers to ensure that Elections are held in a festive mood, free & fair and free of any kind of inducement, intimidation or violence.

Earlier on April 9, with the conclusion of Assembly polls voting, Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday congratulated the voters of Assam, Puducherry, and Keralam, calling the polls a "testimony" for the "entire democratic world".

He stated that "Assembly Elections 2026 in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are a historic testimony not only for India but for the entire democratic World. On behalf of ECI, I congratulate each and every elector of Assam, Puducherry and Kerala for this historic achievement. Chunav ka Parv, Matdaata ka Garv."

Polling for the General elections for the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Keralam and Puducherry took place on Thursday.

Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll participation today by recording 85.38 per cent and 89.83 per cent, respectively. Previously, the highest poll participation in Assam and Puducherry was 84.67 per cent (2016 GELA) and 86.19 per cent (2011 GELA), respectively, according to a press note from ECI.

Assam recorded a total turnout of 85.38 per cent, with female participation (85.96 per cent) slightly higher than male (84.80 per cent), while the third gender turnout was 36.84 per cent.

Keralam had a total turnout of 78.03 per cent, with females (80.86 per cent) participating at a higher rate than males (75.01 per cent) and a 3rd gender turnout of 57.04 per cent.

Puducherry showed the highest overall participation at 89.83 per cent, with the 3rd gender category achieving the highest rate in this group at 91.81 per cent.

- ANI
Taiwan's President has warned that engaging with or appeasing authoritarian regimes like China risks eroding sovereignty and democratic freedoms. He emphasized that Taiwan's democratic system is a vital pillar of freedom in Asia and that U.S. support remains strong due to shared values. The president argued true peace requires strength, outlining plans to significantly increase defense spending, including a proposed $40 billion package for a multi-layered air defense system. He criticized opposition lawmakers for delaying this crucial defense bill, calling for political unity to safeguard national security.

Taiwan's President warns against appeasing China, highlights defense buildup, and stresses US-Taiwan ties amid regional tensions.

Taipei, April 10 The Taiwanese President cautioned that engaging with authoritarian regimes like China could erode both sovereignty and democratic freedoms. His remarks came ahead of a high-profile meeting between the Chinese President and the Chinese Nationalist Party figure, as reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, in a social media post, Lai highlighted China's increasing use of "grey zone" tactics and military pressure in the Taiwan Strait, warning that such actions threaten regional stability.

He reiterated that Taiwan's democratic system and open society stand in stark contrast to authoritarian governance, making Taiwan a vital pillar of freedom in Asia. Marking the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, Lai highlighted its enduring significance alongside the Six Assurances in shaping US-Taiwan ties.

He described the partnership as grounded in shared democratic values and human rights, adding that it remains central to maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific. Lai emphasised that support for Taiwan in the United States continues to enjoy a rare bipartisan consensus. He argued that safeguarding Taiwan is essential for protecting democratic ideals globally, reinforcing the island's strategic importance along the First Island Chain.

Meanwhile, Cheng's visit to China, framed by her as a "peace mission", has drawn scrutiny. Lai countered that peace cannot be achieved through concessions, stating that history shows compromise with authoritarian powers often results in diminished sovereignty rather than stability.

The president stated that true peace depends on strength, which in turn requires sustained investment. Taiwan has increased its defence budget beyond 3 per cent of GDP and aims to raise it further to 5 per cent by 2030. Plans include a proposed US$40 billion defence package to develop a multi-layered air defence system, as highlighted by The Taipei Times.

However, Lai criticised opposition lawmakers for stalling the proposal in the legislature, warning that delays could weaken Taiwan's defences and undermine international confidence. Calling for unity, he urged all political factions to prioritise national security and demonstrate Taiwan's resolve to defend its democratic system, as reported by The Taipei Times.

- ANI
Nitish Kumar is set to take his oath as a Rajya Sabha MP in New Delhi, marking a significant transition from his role as Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister. JDU MLA Jayant Raj Kushwaha described the event as a procedural formality, praising Kumar's transformative 20-year tenure. Senior NDA leaders, including Bihar Deputy CMs, have arrived in Delhi for the ceremony. Meanwhile, state BJP President Nitin Nabin dismissed any speculation of internal NDA differences, asserting all decisions are proceeding orderly under Kumar's leadership.

JDU MLA Jayant Raj Kushwaha calls Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha oath a formality, marking a major transition from his record CM tenure.

Patna, April 10 Janata Dal MLA Jayant Raj Kushwaha on Friday reflected on a major turning point in Bihar's political history as Nitish Kumar is scheduled to take his oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi today.

Speaking to ANI, he marked the end of an era, as Kumar prepares to transition from his record-breaking tenure as Chief Minister to a role in national politics, adding that taking the oath as a Rajya Sabha MP is a procedural step.

"The CM has taken the decision. Only formalities are left today. He has been elected to the Rajya Sabha, and it is just a formality that needs to be completed," Kushwaha told ANI.

Praising Kumar's tenure, he added, "In 20 years, you are seeing where Bihar has reached. The tenure of the Honourable Chief Minister will be remembered even after 20-25 years."

Nitish Kumar, who recently secured his election to the Rajya Sabha, is scheduled to take the oath in the national capital today. Following his election, Kumar resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) on March 30, paving the way for his transition to Parliament.

Senior leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Choudhary, arrived in Delhi and are expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony.

Meanwhile, Bihar BJP President Nitin Nabin dismissed speculation of any rift within the NDA over the anticipated appointment of a new Chief Minister in the state. He said that all decisions are being taken in an orderly manner under Kumar's leadership.

"There are no differences anywhere; everything is proceeding as per schedule. Nitish Kumar is taking the oath of office in the Rajya Sabha on the 10th," Nabin said, adding that the BJP continues to uphold "gathbandhan dharma."

Nitish Kumar, one of India's most seasoned political leaders, began his career as an MLA in 1985 and later served as a Union Minister under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He first assumed office as Bihar Chief Minister in 2005 and remains the state's longest-serving leader.

- ANI
The first coal dispatch has commenced from the Gare Palma Sector-2 mine in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, marking a key step in India's energy sector. This coal block, developed for Maharashtra's state power utility, will directly supply fuel to thermal power stations in Maharashtra, ensuring a more stable supply. The mine, with vast reserves and a high production capacity, is projected to generate nearly Rs 29,000 crore in revenue for Chhattisgarh through various levies. Furthermore, the project promises significant socio-economic benefits, including over 3,400 direct jobs, community development initiatives, and implemented environmental safeguards.

First coal dispatch from Chhattisgarh's Gare Palma Sector-2 mine begins, securing fuel for Maharashtra's power plants and boosting local economy.

New Delhi, April 9 In a significant development for India's energy sector, the first coal dispatch from the Gare Palma Sector-2 coal mine in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district officially commenced on Thursday.

The move is expected to strengthen fuel supply to Maharashtra's power plants and reinforce long-term energy security.

The coal block is being developed for Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited, the state-run utility responsible for a major share of electricity generation in Maharashtra.

With the start of dispatch, coal from Chhattisgarh will now directly support thermal power stations in Maharashtra, ensuring a more stable and reliable fuel supply.

The Gare Palma Sector-2 mine is estimated to hold around 655 million tonnes of coal reserves and has a peak production capacity of 23.6 million tonnes per annum.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate substantial revenue for Chhattisgarh through royalties, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) contributions, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and other levies.

The total direct revenue potential is projected to be nearly Rs 29,000 crore over time. Beyond revenue, the project is set to drive local economic growth.

It is expected to create over 3,400 direct jobs, while also generating indirect employment across sectors such as transportation, construction, hospitality, and ancillary services.

This is likely to provide a significant boost to livelihoods in the region.

The project also places emphasis on community development through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

An initial outlay of Rs 35 crore has been earmarked for programs in healthcare, education, sanitation, infrastructure, and skill development.

Additionally, 2 per cent of the project's annual net profit will be invested in local development efforts.

Rehabilitation and resettlement plans are being implemented for 1,679 families across 14 affected villages.

Environmental safeguards have also been integrated into the project design. Measures such as afforestation, development of green belts, pollution control systems, water conservation, and post-mining land restoration are being undertaken to maintain ecological balance.

- IANS
The Indian National Congress has released its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, centered on a vision of "Transforming Tamil Nadu." Key pledges include a Universal Basic Income of 2,000 per month for women-led families and a promise to fill 3 lakh government jobs within 300 days. The party also commits to significant public safety measures, including recruiting 40,000 new police personnel, with 10,000 being women commandos. The election, scheduled for April 23, is shaping up as a multi-cornered contest involving the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-led NDA, and actor Vijay's new party.

Congress unveils Tamil Nadu election manifesto with promises of Universal Basic Income, 3 lakh government jobs, and 10,000 women police commandos.

Chennai, April 9 In the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 23, the Indian National Congress on Thursday released its manifesto aimed at "Transforming Tamil Nadu."

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, and State Congress chief K Selvaperunthagai were present during the unveiling.

The manifesto pledges to transform the state with major initiatives targeting employment, public safety, healthcare, and law and order.

One of the highlights of the election document is the promise of Universal Basic Income (UBI). The party has pledged Rs 2,000 per month for every family, with direct cash transfers into the bank accounts of women. The scheme will cover all Ration Card holders across the state.

Along with that, INC has set a strict timeline for tackling unemployment. Their "3 Lakh Govt. Jobs in 300 Days" initiative promise includes filling all vacant positions across government departments and publishing department-wise vacancy lists for transparency. They will also create a transparent recruitment calendar for better clarity about jobs.

Public safety is a major point in their manifesto, with plans to recruit 40,000 new police personnel. which will comprise 10,000 Women Commandos to be inducted into the force. The party also pledged to build a world-class call centre integrating police, fire, child helpline, and ambulance services with "Dial 100" as the unified number for all emergencies.

The party shared their aim to position Tamil Nadu as a Global Spiritual Tourist Centre by promoting historical places of worship, offering multilingual guides, and heritage tours.

On the health front, the party promises a "Rabies Free TN" with 100% dog vaccination and sterilisation by 2030, alongside an infrastructure push for pothole-free roads and a "Near Zero Road Accident Deaths" target.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, covering a total of 234 constituencies in the State. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

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. The Congress is contesting 28 seats as part of its alliance.

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
BJP candidate Pradyut Bordoloi cast his vote in Nagaon district, stating he was unable to transfer his voting rights to the Dispur constituency he is contesting from. He commented on the controversy involving allegations about Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife owning multiple passports, suggesting the Congress's claims backfired. Bordoloi is facing a contest against a rebel BJP loyalist, Jayant Kumar Das, who is now an independent candidate. Polling for the Assam Legislative Assembly is currently underway, with results expected on May 4.

BJP candidate Pradyut Bordoloi casts vote in Nagaon, addresses voting rights issue and comments on passport allegations against CM's wife.

Nagaon, April 9 Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Pradyut Bordoloi, on Thursday, cast his vote for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections in Nagaon, stating that he was unable to transfer his voting rights to Dispur constituency.

Bordoloi, who switched to the BJP from Congress ahead of the Assembly elections, is contesting from the Dispur seat, while he is a voter in Nagaon district.

Pradyut Bordoloi told reporters, "I have just cast my vote. I couldn't transfer my voting rights when I decided to file my nomination as a BJP candidate from Dispur. Since it did not get transferred, I have just cast my vote here now. I am heading back to Dispur."

Addressing the fake passports allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, Bordoloi said that the statements backfired for Congress.

"Never imagined they also have a dirty tricks department. But they did a sloppy job, and it boomeranged back to them," the BJP leader said.

Chairperson of Congress' Media and Publicity Department, Pawan Khera, had alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma owned three passports and the couple, along with their son, owns a business worth Rs 52,000 crore in the United States. Assam CM, however, had denied the claims.

Riniki Bhuyan Sharma had lodged an FIR against Khera, and the Assam Police carried out searches at his residence, after which the Congress leader approached the Telangana High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

Meanwhile, the former Congress heavyweight Pradyut Bordoloi, now wearing saffron, is contesting against a veteran BJP loyalist, Jayant Kumar Da, who is now fighting as a rebel independent candidate. Das, who was recently expelled from the BJP for six years, is now campaigning as an independent candidate, setting the stage for an intense "rebel versus turncoat" showdown.

Polling for the Assam Legislative Assembly is underway today, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, campaigning in Asansol, declared that the "cup of the Trinamool Congress' sins has finally run over" in West Bengal. He promised a "double-engine" government after the upcoming assembly elections, asserting that the demand for change is echoing across the state. Modi accused the TMC of holding back Bengal's development and looting its resources, positioning liberation from the party as essential for progress. The rally is part of the BJP's intensified campaign ahead of the two-phase polls on April 23 and 29, with results due on May 4.

PM Narendra Modi pledges a double-engine government in West Bengal, asserting the "cup of TMC's sins has run over" ahead of the April assembly polls.

Asansol, April 9 Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the "cup of the Trinamool Congress' sins has finally run over" in West Bengal. He also assured a double-engine government in the state after the upcoming polls scheduled to be held on April 23 and 29.

Speaking at a public gathering here, PM Modi said, "In Bengal, the cup of the TMC's sins has finally run over. The next government in Bengal will be a double-engine government. After the 4th of May, Bengal will enter a new era of development."

He further said that the change in Bengal has become an indelible reality, with Asansol and the rest of the state demanding it, reaching Durgapur, Raniganj, Saltora, and Raghunathpur. "Change in Bengal has now become an indelible reality. The entirety of Asansol now desires change. All of Bengal desires change. This resounding echo will travel from here all the way to Durgapur; it will reach Raniganj, Saltora, and Raghunathpur. This is the voice of every single person in Bengal," the PM said.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for a shift in governance, calling liberation from the TMC essential for the state's development.

"For Bengal's progress, freedom from TMC is necessary, because while the entire country is moving ahead at a rapid pace, TMC is pushing Bengal backwards," Modi said.

Highlighting alleged corruption and mismanagement, he added, "The resources here, the potential here, and the opportunities for the youth - all are under the control of TMC's goons. The wealth of Bengal that should be used for development is being openly looted."

The rally in Asansol was part of a series of campaign events across West Bengal as the BJP intensifies its outreach ahead of the Assembly elections, aiming to consolidate support against the ruling TMC.

The 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 Trinamool Congress 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
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Israel has strongly criticised remarks made by Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, calling them outrageous and raising doubts over Islamabads credibility as a neutral mediator in ongoing Middle East tensions, AzerNEWS reports.

In a statement, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office said that calls for Israels annihilation are unacceptable from any government, particularly one positioning itself as a facilitator of peace. The response followed controversial comments by Asif on social media, in which he referred to Israel in highly critical terms, drawing widespread condemnation.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also denounced the remarks, describing them as blatantly antisemitic and stressing that Israel would continue to defend itself against threats to its security.

Pakistan has recently been credited with mediating a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran and is expected to host further talks in the coming days. However, the latest statements have cast uncertainty over its role in the diplomatic process.

In his comments, Asif also referenced ongoing conflicts involving Israel in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon. The development comes amid heightened tensions across the region, as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilise the situation and sustain a fragile ceasefire.
Actor Sonam Kapoor shared a candid, unfiltered selfie on Instagram Stories holding her newborn son, proudly showcasing her under-eye dark circles with the caption "Dark circles zindabad." This lighthearted post acknowledges the sleep deprivation common with a new baby. Kapoor and her husband Anand Ahuja welcomed their second child, a baby boy, on March 29, 2026. She had previously shared the first photos from the hospital shortly after the birth.

Sonam Kapoor shares an unfiltered selfie with newborn, embracing "dark circles zindabad" in a relatable post for new parents.

Mumbai, April 10 Actor Sonam Kapoor has struck a chord with fans after sharing a candid and unfiltered glimpse into her life as a mother to a newborn.

On Friday, Sonam Kapoor shared an unfiltered selfie on her Instagram Stories, in which she is seen holding her newborn son, who rests gently against her shoulder. Dressed in a brown top with her hair neatly pulled back, the actor clicked a selfie, highlighting her under-eye dark circles.



Accompanying the image was a witty caption that read, "Dark circles zindabad", a lighthearted acknowledgement of the sleep deprivation that often comes with parenting a newborn.



This candid update comes shortly after Kapoor and her husband, Anand Ahuja, welcomed their second child, a baby boy, on March 29, 2026.



Earlier on April 3, the actor had shared the first glimpse of her newborn with fans through a series of hospital photos. One image showed Kapoor resting on a hospital bed while cradling her baby wrapped in a white cloth, while another captured a quiet moment as she enjoyed a meal during her hospital stay.



The post was accompanied by a heartfelt note thanking the medical team.



The couple, who married in 2018, had announced the birth on Instagram soon after their son's arrival.



Their first child, Vayu, was born in 2022. Kapoor had revealed her second pregnancy in November 2025, delighting fans with photos that showcased her baby bump.





- ANI
Actor Simran Ahuja expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the plans to implement the Women's Reservation Bill. She described the legislation as a "dawn" for all girls and women who wish to work for their families and country. The bill, which guarantees 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has received support from numerous other celebrities. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the reservation is the "need of the hour" and any delay in its implementation would be deeply unfortunate.

Actor Simran Ahuja expresses gratitude to PM Modi, calling the Women's Reservation Bill a transformative dawn for women and girls in India.

Lucknow, April 9 Actor Simran Ahuja has expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the plans to implement the Women's Reservation Bill in the Parliament.

Speaking to ANI, Simran Ahuja shared, "We are truly overwhelmed and elated. Our gracious, humble thanks to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Along with being inspired and empowered, the amendments, which are for all the girls, ladies and women, are to excel in our endeavours. So thank you to our Prime Minister for giving us so many opportunities."

She further described the move as the "dawn for all the girls and ladies who want to work for their families and their country."

Ahuja voiced her support for women and their dreams.

The Women's Reservation Bill, which proposes 33 per cent representation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has been hailed by many celebrities as a transformative move toward gender equality in India's legislative processes.

Stars like Shweta Tripathi, Priya Malik, Hrishitaa Bhatt, Dipika Chikhlia, Mukesh Rishi, and Himani Shivpuri weighed in on the same, expressing support for the bill.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi higlighted that reservation for women in legislative bodies was the "need of the hour". He said that any delay in bringing this reservation will be "deeply unfortunate".

"Reservation for women in legislative bodies is the need of the hour! This will make our democracy even more vibrant and participative. Any delay in bringing this reservation will be deeply unfortunate. Expressed my thoughts on the issue in this Op-Ed," PM Modi posted on X.

The PM's remarks come as the Union cabinet on Thursday approved a draft amendment bill to the Women's Reservation Act that will ensure its implementation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The amendment bill guarantees 33 per cent reservation in legislative bodies to women.

- ANI
Congress MP Manickam Tagore expressed deep sorrow over the death of veteran leader Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, recalling their time together in Parliament. The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee also mourned the passing of the former Union Minister of State for Health. Choudhury, affectionately known as "Dalu da," served as an MP and MLA, representing the Maldaha Dakshin constituency. His legacy of service and dedication to the people of Malda was highlighted by all who paid tribute.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore and West Bengal PCC mourn the passing of veteran leader and former Union Minister Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury.

New Delhi, April 9 Congress MP Manickam Tagore expressed deep grief on Thursday over the passing of Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, the veteran leader from Malda affectionately known as "Dalu da."In a heartfelt post on X, Tagore recalled his long-standing association with the senior leader during their shared tenures in Parliament and lauded his dedication to public service."Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Janab A.H. Khan Choudhury Sahab, affectionately known as Dalu da. I fondly remember my association with him during 2009-2014 and again from 2019-2024, when we had the opportunity to sit together. His warmth, humility, and deep commitment to public service left a lasting impression on me," Tagore wrote.The Congress MP emphasised that Dalu da's legacy in Malda would remain a point of reference for future leaders. "A respected leader, Dalu da's contribution to the people of Malda will always be remembered with gratitude and respect," he added.Tagore extended his condolences to the bereaved family, specifically mentioning his Lok Sabha colleague and Malda MP, Isha Khan Choudhury."My heartfelt condolences to my colleague in Lok Sabha and Malda MP Isha Khan Choudhury and the entire bereaved family in this hour of grief. May the Almighty grant him eternal peace and give strength to his loved ones to bear this irreparable loss," he posted.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday also expressed grief and informed that Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury (Dalu Babu) breathed his last on Wednesday at 10 PM.

"It is with a heavy heart that the Indian National Congress mourns the passing of veteran leader and former Union Minister, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury (Dalu Babu), who breathed his last tonight at 10 PM. A towering figure in Bengal politics and a beloved representative of Malda, Dalu Babu's life was dedicated to the welfare of his people and the ideals of the Congress party. His legacy of service, simplicity, and leadership will continue to inspire us. Our deepest condolences to the Khan Choudhury family and his countless followers. May his soul rest in peace," West Bengal Congress posted on X.Born on January 12, 1941, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury is remembered by his spouse, Ruth Khan Choudhury and son Isha Khan Choudhury. Isha Khan currently represents the Maldaha Dakshin Lok Sabha constituency, the same constituency represented by his father. Abu Hasem was a member of the West Bengal Assembly for two terms, between 1996-2006. On September of 2006, Choudhury won the by-elections for the Maldaha Dakshin Lok Sabha seat. In October of 2012, he was appointed as the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

- ANI
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer is actively courting India as a key economic partner following his first official overseas trip to the country. The visit focused on building substantive relationships to attract Indian investment, particularly in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. Key outcomes include a formal innovation partnership with Hyderabad's T-Hub and a deal for a Delaware company to integrate hydrogen tech with Indian solar energy. Meyer is pitching Delaware not just as a corporate legal domicile but as a thriving business destination, leveraging the success of the state's Indian-American community as a bridge for future collaboration.

Governor Matt Meyer details his India trip, highlighting clean energy deals, startup partnerships, and pitching Delaware as a hub for Indian businesses expanding to the US.

Washington, April 10 After his first official overseas trip, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer is betting on India's economic rise to bring investment and innovation to his state, framing the partnership as a long-term economic strategy.

"This was my first foreign trip as governor. My first official trip," Meyer told IANS in an exclusive interview, describing his recent India visit designed to prioritise substance over symbolism. "We... went on a trip that was all about building real relationships, not just doing stuff for media but real relationships that create real opportunity for Delaware and strengthen the broader partnership between India and the United States."

For Meyer, the choice of India was deliberate. He described it as "the most populous country in the world, the largest democracy... and one of the most dynamic places in the world for innovation, talent, entrepreneurship, and growth."

The trip spanned New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, and focused on attracting investment, building research partnerships and positioning Delaware as a destination for Indian companies looking to expand in the United States.

Meyer said the visit yielded "incredible accomplishment," pointing to agreements in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. A Delaware-based company signed a deal with a major Indian solar energy provider to integrate hydrogen technologies into renewable energy systems. "It's infusing hydrogen energy into the green solar energy... proliferating across India," he said.

The governor also highlighted growing interest from Indian firms in establishing operations in Delaware. Referring to a renewable energy company, he said its executives are expected to visit the state "to begin site selection for manufacturing... that they're now expanding to Delaware."

Another potential investment came from an international medical air transport provider. "They're interested in establishing operations in the United States. Like so many others, they're choosing Delaware," Meyer said.

A key outcome of the trip was a formal partnership between Hyderabad's T-Hub and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, the state's economic development agency. "That partnership is already delivering results... Indian startup companies... looking to grow beyond India's borders... and American companies looking to partner to get into India's markets," Meyer said.

He also pointed to engagement with India's technology industry body. "We had a great meeting with Nasscom's leadership... and about 15 leading Indian companies," he said, adding that some of those companies were already visiting Delaware to continue discussions.

Beyond business deals, Meyer framed the visit as part of a broader economic alignment between democracies. "When democracies work together across borders, we can create jobs together... expand opportunity... and... make progress on the biggest challenges facing the world," he said.

He also reflected on India's economic transformation. "The tremendous growth story that is India... the number of people... emerging out of poverty, building a middle class," he said, adding that his objective was to ensure Delaware becomes part of that trajectory.

To Indian businesses, Meyer offered a direct pitch. Delaware, he said, is more than a legal domicile for corporations. "Delaware is the number one place for companies to incorporate... Over two thirds of the Fortune 500... have their corporate home in Delaware," he noted.

"What we're trying to tell them is that it's not just a place to file your corporate legal work. It's also a great place to open a headquarters... extremely business friendly... the public and private sector are hustling... to make sure your business can thrive and grow," he added.

Meyer also emphasised the role of the Indian diaspora in shaping the state's economic landscape. "Indian Americans come to Delaware, they thrive... in just about every sector...medical, legal, finance, IT and tech... chemical industry... and... the political space as well," he said.

That success, he suggested, can serve as a bridge for future investment and collaboration. "How do we make sure that more Indians... choose Delaware?" he asked.

At the same time, Meyer offered a candid assessment of the broader policy environment. "I'm not a fan of many of our president's policies... we need to reduce barriers... create incentives for Indian investors... and... lower the costs for Delaware companies going to India," he said.

He acknowledged that federal actions could influence perceptions abroad. "I think it's bad... there's definitely a concern... that the things... are doing active harm to our relationship with... countries like India," Meyer said.

Still, he underscored the importance of state-level engagement in sustaining ties. "America is not just what you see on TV... there are states here who are open for business," he said, describing such outreach as a counterbalance to national policy uncertainties.

The visit also included meetings with senior Indian leaders, including the foreign minister and ministers handling science, technology and education, as well as state-level leadership in Maharashtra and Telangana, reflecting a multi-layered engagement strategy.

Looking ahead, Meyer said the trip should be seen as a starting point rather than a one-off initiative. "Our goal in this trip is for it to be a relationship... a leap forward in a continuing relationship between India and... Delaware," he said.

Delaware's outreach reflects a broader trend of US states increasingly engaging directly with foreign partners to attract investment, talent and technology. Despite its small size, Delaware plays an outsized role in global business due to its corporate-friendly legal system and concentration of registered companies.

- IANS
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited Delhi University to support a signature campaign for the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, which reserves seats for women in legislatures. She emphasized that true change requires women in decision-making roles to address societal issues. Gupta credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic law and urged young people to help turn it into a widespread movement. After the event, she informally interacted with students and faculty, stressing the importance of accessible dialogue for people-centric governance.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta joins a signature campaign for the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, urging youth support for women's political representation.

New Delhi, April 10 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday visited the Arts Faculty at Delhi University to support a signature campaign backing the Nari Shakti Vandan Act that promotes greater political representation for women.

The law reserves one-third of the women's quota in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.



Addressing the gathering, she underlined the urgent need to increase women's participation in governance and policymaking.



Chief Minister Gupta said meaningful change can only happen when women occupy decision-making positions, enabling them to address issues that directly affect society, families and their own lives.



She pointed to Delhi government initiatives such as 'Lakhpati Bitiya' and 'Anmol', describing them as outcomes of a sensitive and inclusive approach aimed at strengthening women's empowerment and social security.



The event also highlighted the importance of women's leadership and equal representation through messages like 'It's time for women to lead' and 'Empowered women, prosperous nation.'



The Chief Minister described the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Act' as a historic step and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its passage. She said the legislation carries forward the journey from 'Beti Bachao' to 'Beti Badhao.'



She noted that the demand for greater political representation for women has been decades in the making.



Tracing its roots back to 1931, she said the law enacted in 2023 reflects a long and persistent struggle.



She emphasised that ensuring its effective implementation is now a collective responsibility.



The Chief Minister urged young people to actively support the initiative and help turn it into a mass movement, adding that true democratic strength lies in equal participation in decision-making.



Expressing confidence in the law's impact, CM Gupta said it would redefine political representation in the country and help build a stronger, more balanced and progressive democracy.



A large number of students, teachers and citizens attended the event and extended their support to the campaign. People were encouraged to register their participation by giving a missed call to 9667173333.



After the campaign, the Chief Minister interacted informally with students and women faculty members at a tea stall on campus.



Over tea, she listened closely to their views, experiences and suggestions.



The interaction, she said, reflected the importance of open and direct communication between public representatives and citizens, noting that the simpler and more accessible this dialogue is, the more effective and people-centric policymaking becomes.





- IANS
The Delhi Development Authority, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India, will launch a Heritage Week programme starting April 13. The initiative aims to deepen public awareness and encourage community participation in preserving Delhi's cultural identity. Activities include heritage walks, photography and sketching competitions, exhibitions, and a cultural night. DDA Vice Chairman N. Saravana Kumar emphasized that heritage conservation is integral to the city's sustainable urban development.

DDA and ASI launch Heritage Week from April 13-18 with walks, competitions, and exhibitions to promote Delhi's historical conservation.

New Delhi, April 10 The Delhi Development Authority, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India, will launch a Heritage Week programme on April 13 to promote the Capital's heritage, an official said on Friday.

The initiative, from April 13 to 18, will aim to help people, especially the youth, connect with Delhi's art and culture and will include an exhibition/documentation of conservation efforts in the Mehrauli area, the official said in a statement.

DDA Vice Chairman N. Saravana Kumar said, "Delhi's heritage is a living legacy that must remain central to the city's future. Through Heritage Week, DDA seeks to strengthen public connection, especially among the youth, with these invaluable historical spaces."

"Our continued focus is to ensure that heritage conservation, ecological restoration, and public place-making move together as integral elements of Delhi's balanced and sustainable urban development," he said.

Through Heritage Week, DDA seeks to deepen public awareness and pride in Delhi's heritage assets, encourage community participation and youth engagement, and showcase its ongoing efforts in heritage conservation and urban ecology, the statement said.

The larger objective is to inspire the public across age groups to value, experience, and actively participate in preserving the city's cultural and historical identity, it said.

The week-long initiative includes student engagement activities, a photography competition, a student dialogue competition, a sketching and drawing competition, a story-writing activity, exhibitions, and a cultural night programme, said the statement.

As part of the pre-event celebrations, the DDA, in collaboration with the School of Heritage Research and Management (SHRM) at B.R. Ambedkar University, is also organising heritage walks, said the statement.

Heritage walks were held on April 3, 4, and 5 on "Sufis, Sultans and Settlers - listening to the tales they whisper to us."

The heritage walk witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, families, and heritage lovers, further reinforcing public interest in reconnecting with Delhi's rich history.

The fourth Heritage Walk at Sanjay Van is scheduled for Saturday, the statement said.

- IANS
The Delhi Government has announced a five-day celebration from April 10-14 to honor the 136th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The highlight is the "Bhim Jyoti Utsav" to be set up near India Gate, featuring a special gallery on his life and literature. The event will include cultural performances, exhibitions, and workshops aimed at spreading Ambedkar's ideals and constitutional values. Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh urged public participation, stating the festival symbolizes national unity and is a tribute to Ambedkar's "Nation First" message.

Delhi govt announces grand 5-day celebrations, including Bhim Jyoti Utsav near India Gate, to mark the 136th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

New Delhi, April 9 Delhi Minister for Social Welfare and SC/ST/OBC Welfare Ravinder Indraj Singh announced a series of programmes from Friday till April 14 as part of celebrations to mark the 136th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.

He invited all citizens to participate, stating that this year Baba Saheb's birth anniversary will be celebrated in Delhi in a grand and enthusiastic manner, a statement said on Thursday.

Ravinder Indraj Singh said a major highlight will be the "Bhim Jyoti Utsav" to be organised near India Gate, in the Kasturba Gandhi Marg area, where rich literature related to Baba Saheb and important aspects of his life will be displayed through a special gallery.

He informed that visitors will get an opportunity to explore and understand various aspects of Baba Saheb's life, thoughts and struggles.

In addition, several folk-cultural programmes, performances and diverse activities will be organised to take his ideas to the masses, he said.

Ravinder Indraj Singh said that the platform will reflect the spirit of national harmony. Saints, social workers, intellectuals and individuals working towards unity and social cohesion from across the country will participate in the event.

He emphasised that Baba Saheb's core message was "Nation First" and that he always prioritised national interest.

He stated that this mega festival, to be organised from April 10 to April 14, will serve as a true tribute to Baba Saheb. He urged the public to participate in large numbers and become part of this historic celebration.

The Minister added that while different opinions may arise on various issues from time to time, the nation remains united in its respect for Baba Saheb and his ideals. This event will symbolise that unity and harmony.

He also informed that under "Bhim Jyoti Utsav - 2026", large-scale programmes will be organised across various locations in the capital, ensuring participation from all sections of society.

This event is not just a celebration but a powerful campaign to spread Baba Saheb's thoughts, the core values of the Constitution and the message of social harmony.

The programme series will include floral tributes, public participation activities, the "Constitution Fest", exhibitions, awareness campaigns, cultural performances, walkathons, interactive sessions, workshops, quiz competitions and art exhibitions. These activities aim to educate youth and students about the Constitution, their rights and duties.

- IANS
Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh digitally disbursed 1,000 scholarships to 500 meritorious MCD students, sponsored by the Sungrow Company. He simultaneously launched a new web application for parents of children in 1,514 corporation schools to monitor homework, attendance, and classwork. Senior MCD officials highlighted new educational schemes and the launch of 24 Nigam-SHRI schools, modeled after central and state government initiatives. The event emphasized using modern technology to advance child education in line with national visions.

Delhi Mayor disburses 1000 scholarships to 500 MCD students and launches a new web app for parents to track school activities and performance.

New Delhi, April 9 Delhi Mayor Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh today disbursed scholarships directly into the bank accounts of 500 meritorious students of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with just a single click. The scholarships were sponsored by the Sungrow Company.

According to Delhi MCD, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of MCD, Satya Sharma; Chairman of MCD's Education Committee, Yogesh Verma; Additional Commissioner Sanjeev Mittal; Director of Education Nikhil Tiwari; Sudhir Bhatnagar from the SARD NGO; Varun from the Sungrow Company, and senior officials of MCD's Education Department, teachers and students were also present on the occasion.

Delhi's Mayor said that the future of the nation is being shaped within the schools of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. He said that over the past year MCDs Education Department has launched several new schemes, and concerted efforts are being made to ensure the holistic development of the students. He urged the MCD teachers to also teach the students with complete dedication and devotion.

Mayor Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh announced that the Education Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has today launched a web app for 1,514 Corporation schools, enabling parents to access information regarding their children's homework, classwork, attendance, and other details from their homes.

Satya Sharma, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of MCD, said that it is a privilege for the Corporation to have such excellent teachers in its schools. She emphasised that education is a fundamental necessity for every child, and today, this vital task is being carried out with utmost dedication in the schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Yogesh Verma, Chairman of the MCDs Education Committee, said that it is the vision of the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi that we educate children using modern and advanced technology.

He said that, working in this direction, this web application is being launched today. He added that with the help of QR codes, parents will be able to scan and access information regarding school-related activities from the comfort of their homes.

Yogesh Verma expressed his gratitude to the Sungrow company for providing scholarships worth 1,000 each to 500 students of the MCD schools. Yogesh Verma said that a list of 500 talented student-athletes from Class 5 of the MCD schools has been published on the website, and any school is welcome to offer them admission.

Yogesh Verma also informed that, modelled after the PM-SHRI and CM-SHRI school initiatives, MCD has launched 24 Nigam-SHRI schools. Yogesh Verma released a brochure highlighting the achievements of the Education Department over the past year.

- ANI
Delhi Police Commissioner Pratap Singh interacted with Indian Information Service probationers, emphasizing a shift towards citizen-centric and technology-driven policing. He highlighted initiatives like Hello Delhi Police and the use of AI and predictive analytics for crime prevention and traffic management. The Commissioner addressed the dual role of social media as a tool for outreach and a source of challenges like misinformation and online fraud. He concluded that transparent communication and public trust are essential for safety in the capital.

Delhi Police Commissioner Pratap Singh highlights tech-driven law enforcement, social media challenges, and citizen-centric initiatives to IIS probationers.

New Delhi, April 10 Delhi Police Commissioner Pratap Singh on Friday interacted with probationary officers of the Indian Information Service at Police Headquarters, Delhi, sharing insights on citizencentric policing, technologydriven law enforcement, and the challenges posed by social media in the digital era.

During the session, the Commissioner underlined Delhi Police's commitment to transparency and public engagement, noting that policing today must adapt to evolving expectations of citizens.

He said initiatives such as Hello Delhi Police and Hello Police Station are designed to strengthen accessibility and responsiveness, while the force's broader vision aligns with the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.

He highlighted the increasing role of technology in policing, pointing to the use of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and integrated traffic management systems.

"Digital policing is no longer optional; it is central to how we manage crime prevention, cyber security, and traffic regulation in a city of over 20 million residents," he said.

The Commissioner also addressed the complexities of social media, describing it as both a tool for outreach and a challenge in combating misinformation, hate speech, and online fraud.

He emphasised the need for officers to remain agile in responding to these issues while maintaining public trust.

The interaction comes at a time when the Delhi Police has been expanding its cybercrime units and adopting smart policing initiatives, including echallan systems and integrated command centres for traffic management.

The force has also launched awareness campaigns to protect citizens from online scams and fraud.

The Indian Information Service probationers, who are undergoing training before being posted across ministries and media divisions such as the Press Information Bureau, Doordarshan, and All India Radio, were briefed on how effective communication between law enforcement and the public can strengthen governance.

The Commissioner concluded by stressing that citizencentric policing, combined with transparent communication, is essential for building trust and ensuring safety in the capital.

- IANS
The Registrar General of India announced that over 5.72 lakh households have already used the self-enumeration facility for the upcoming Census 2027. This marks a significant shift for India's first-ever digital census, allowing citizens to submit details online. The census will be conducted in two main phases: Houselisting from April-September 2026 and Population Enumeration in February 2027. The government has approved an outlay of over Rs 11,700 crore for the national exercise, which will also include caste enumeration.

India's first digital census gains momentum as over 5.72 lakh households use the online self-enumeration portal for Census 2027. Learn about the phases and schedule.

New Delhi, April 10 The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India on Friday announced that more than 5.72 lakh households have availed of the self-enumeration facility for Census 2027 so far, reflecting growing participation in the country's first-ever digital census.

In a post on X, the Registrar General of India informed families choosing to provide their details online have adopted a faster, smarter and more convenient method of contributing to the national census exercise.

"More than 5.72 lakh households have availed of the Self-Enumeration facility so far, reflecting growing participation in the digital initiative of Census 2027. By choosing to provide their details online, these families have embraced a faster, smarter and more convenient way to contribute to nation-building," it posted.

The self-enumeration facility for Phase I -- Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) -- is currently underway in select states and Union Territories. Citizens in states where the window is open have been urged to self-enumerate through the official portal.

Census 2027 will be India's 16th census and the eighth since Independence. For the first time, citizens will have the option of self-enumeration through a digital platform. The census will be conducted in two phases.

Phase I covers Houselisting and Housing Census, being carried out over a period of 30 days across states and UTs between April and September 2026, with a 15-day self-enumeration window preceding the house-to-house enumeration work. In this phase, information about the condition of houses, amenities available to the household and assets possessed by the household will be collected. Questions of Phase I of the Census have been notified in January 2026.

Phase II-Population Enumeration (PE) will be conducted during February 2027 (UT of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of UT of Jammu and Kashmir and States of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Phase II will be conducted during September 2027.

As decided by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), enumeration of castes will also be done during the second phase of the Census. In phase II, information on demographic, socio-economic, education, migration, fertility, etc. will be collected from each individual. Exact dates of the Population Enumeration and questions to be covered in this Phase will be notified in due course.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi (New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board), Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim will do the Houselisting and Housing Census from April 16 to May 15, along with a period of self-enumeration from April 1 to 15.

Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana will start Houselisting Census from May 1 to May 30, with a period of self-enumeration from April 16 to April 30. The government has come out with state-wise dates for houselisting and housing census.

The Union Government has approved an outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore for Census 2027.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar handed over 90 electric buses to Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, highlighting a shared commitment to eco-friendly mobility. The visit also featured the inauguration of Mauritius's first dedicated renal transplant unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, a major milestone for the nation's healthcare. Jaishankar emphasized the unit as a transformative humanitarian achievement that will reduce patient burden and provide treatment closer to home. The Minister's engagements underscored India's deepening bilateral cooperation with Mauritius across sustainable development and health infrastructure.

EAM Jaishankar hands 90 electric buses to Mauritius PM, inaugurates first renal transplant unit, boosting green mobility and healthcare ties.

Port Louis, April 11 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his high-level visit to Mauritius, handed over 90 electric buses to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, emphasising New Delhi's push for sustainable transport and deepening bilateral cooperation through a green partnership initiative.

In a post on X on Friday, Jaishankar said the buses symbolise a shared commitment to eco-friendly mobility and reflect the growing Green Partnership between the two nations.

"Handed over 90 electric buses to PM of Mauritius @Ramgoolam_Dr, reaffirming our shared commitment to sustainable public transportation. These buses will be a moving symbol of Green Partnership," his post read.

Further strengthening ties beyond infrastructure, the visit also marked a significant step in healthcare cooperation. Jaishankar inaugurated Mauritius's first dedicated renal transplant unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Port Louis, a project seen as a milestone in the island nation's medical capabilities and India's long-standing development partnership.

Jaishankar described it as a transformative moment for patients and families in Mauritius, calling it both a medical and humanitarian achievement.

In a post on X, he said, "Delighted to join PM @Ramgoolam_Dr in inaugurating the Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. The new facility will improve tertiary healthcare access for kidney patients and add to the stellar health partnership."

Speaking at the inauguration of the Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Mauritius, the EAM said, "The inauguration of Mauritius' first dedicated Renal Transplant Unit is indeed a landmark achievement. It is not just a medical milestone, it is a moment of hope," he said.

Emphasising the practical benefits for patients, he added, "It means that treatment can now happen closer home, closer to near and dear. It means less anxiety, it means less financial burden, and it means greater comfort for families. And most importantly, it means a second chance for life for many."

Jaishankar participated in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, a key platform convened to discuss maritime security, regional stability and sustainable economic development in the Indian Ocean region.

The conference, jointly organised by India, serves as an important forum for Indian Ocean littoral states to strengthen cooperation on shared challenges, including climate change, maritime security, and trade connectivity.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, focusing on developments in West Asia and the security of international shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The discussion included condolences for Indian lives lost in the regional conflict and followed the recent US-Iran ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global oil transit chokepoint, making its security a priority for energy-importing nations like India and Japan. The talks underscore the ongoing strategic dialogue between the two nations, which also includes collaboration on defence technology and economic security.

EAM Jaishankar and Japan's FM Motegi held talks on West Asia developments and securing international shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Port Louis, April 10 External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, held a telephonic conversation with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi on Friday, discussing developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Following their conversation, EAM Jaishankar wrote, "Good to speak with FM Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan. Discussed developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Appreciate his condolences for the Indian lives lost in the conflict."



The talks between the two ministers came after a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week.



The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and is a vital route for global oil supplies. A significant share of the world's seaborne crude passes through the strait, making any disruption a major concern for energy-importing nations.



Last month, EAM Jaishankar met his Japanese counterpart Motegi on the sidelines of G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in France.



"Always nice to meet my friend FM Toshimitsu Motegi, this time on the sidelines of G7 FMM," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.



On March 6, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a meeting with Special Advisor to Japan's Prime Minister, Sadamasa Oue and discussed strengthening Defence technology and economic security.



"Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Sadamasa Oue, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan. They had a productive exchange of views on strengthening the Defence technology and economic security pillars of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.



In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi on her victory in Japan's House of Representatives election.



In his message, PM Modi expressed confidence that he and Takaichi will continue to take the friendship between India and Japan to greater heights.



"Congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives! Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity. I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights," he wrote on X.





- IANS
EAM S Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with foreign ministers of Bhutan and Nepal in Mauritius, discussing stronger partnerships and regional cooperation.

Port Louis, April 10 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his counterparts from Nepal and Bhutan on the sidelines of the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, in Mauritius on Friday.

After his meeting with the Bhutanese counterpart D N Dhungyel, EAM Jaishankar stated that the partnership between two nations continues to progress and prosper.



"A warm conversation today with Foreign Minister of Bhutan D N Dhungyel in Port Louis. Our unique and time-tested partnership continues to progress and prosper," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.



EAM Jaishankar also met Nepal's counterpart Shishir Khanal and discussed realising the full potential of bilateral partnership by deeper collaboration in various sectors. It was the first meeting between two ministers after Khanal assumed office as Nepal's Foreign Minister in March.



"Glad to meet FM Shishir Khanal of Nepal this afternoon. Congratulated him on his appointment. Discussed realising the full potential of the India-Nepal partnership by deeper collaboration in different sectors," EAM Jaishankar stated.



According to the statement released by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EAM Jaishankar and Khanal discussed matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen ties.



"Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Shisir Khanal, currently in Port Louis, Mauritius for the 9th Indian Ocean Conference (10-12 April 2026), held a bilateral meeting with Dr S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India. Dr Jaishankar congratulated him on assuming office," Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X.



"The two leaders reviewed the longstanding, multifaceted Nepal-India relationship. Both sides held constructive and forward-looking discussions on matters of mutual interest, reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations," it added.



EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Mauritius, where he is attending the 9th Indian Ocean Conference and also holding discussions with counterparts from other participating nations.



Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar met his Seychelles counterpart Barry Faure on the sidelines of the conference and expressed New Delhi's commitment to support Victoria in meeting current economic challenges.



He also called on Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.



EAM Jaishankar noted that the conversation reflected the warmth of the friendship between two nations and commitment to further advance ties.



"Honoured to call on President Dharambeer Gokhool of Mauritius. Conveyed warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our conversation reflected the warmth of our friendship and the steadfast commitment to further advancing India-Mauritius partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.



The External Affairs Minister also called on former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and expressed appreciation for his commitment to bilateral partnership.



"Pleased to meet former Prime Minister and leader of MSM Party Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Value his strong commitment to India Mauritius partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.





- IANS
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure in Mauritius, reinforcing India's commitment to supporting Seychelles's economy. The meeting highlighted the ongoing implementation of a $175 million Special Economic Package, which includes grants and a line of credit. This follows India's recent shipment of 250 metric tonnes of food grains as immediate assistance. The partnership focuses on digital infrastructure, maritime security, and sustainable development as per a joint vision adopted earlier this year.

EAM Jaishankar meets Seychelles FM Barry Faure, reaffirming India's $175 million Special Economic Package and food grain aid to support the island nation.

Port Louis, April 10 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Seychelles counterpart Barry Faure on the sidelines of 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius on Friday, expressing New Delhi's commitment to supporting Victoria in meeting current economic challenges.

"Great meeting FM Barry Faure of Seychelles on the sidelines of 9th Indian Ocean Conference. India is committed to supporting Seychelles in meeting current economic challenges. Welcomed the steps in implementing the Special Economic Package," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Mauritius, where he is attending the 9th Indian Ocean Conference and also holding discussions with counterparts from other participating nations. He is also meeting Mauritius leadership to review the entire spectrum of bilateral ties.

On Tuesday, India sent a consignment of 250 metric tonnes of food grains to Seychelles, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced while adding that New Delhi will be sending more assistance to the country as part of its USD 175 million Special Economic Package.

"A consignment of 250 MT foodgrains sent to Seychelles. More to follow under the USD 175 million Special Economic Package committed to Seychelles," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

In February, during his State Visit to India, Seychelles President Patrick Herminie had acknowledged New Delhi's support for the development, security needs and aspirations of the archipelagic island nation through Lines of Credit (LoCs), grants, capacity building and High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP).

Herminie met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on February 9 and the two leaders held discussions covering entire spectrum of bilateral relations, agreeing to also work closely in digital transformation. Noting the need for Seychelles to digitise governance for the benefit of its people, India agreed to make efforts on the buildout of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including digital payments, as per the needs and requirements of Seychelles.

According to the 'Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages' (SESEL) adopted by both countries, PM Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to remaining a reliable partner in national development agenda of Seychelles, with a focus on sustainability, defence, maritime security, capacity building, resilience and inclusive growth.

"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," the statement detailed.

- IANS
The Union Education Ministry organized a session on Indian Knowledge Systems as part of Sadhana Saptah 2026. Experts discussed integrating India's intellectual traditions into modern education, research, and governance practices. The event highlighted the role of these systems as a multidisciplinary framework to enrich fields like science and engineering. The session reaffirmed the commitment to building a knowledge-driven and adaptive governance ecosystem under Mission Karmayogi.

Experts and officials discuss integrating Indian Knowledge Systems into modern education, research, and citizen-centric governance under Mission Karmayogi.

New Delhi, April 9 Relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems in contemporary education, research, and governance remained in focus, as experts led by officials of the Union Education Ministry held week-long discussions, an official said on Thursday.

Syed Ekram Rizvi, Joint Secretary (Administration) in the Department of Higher Education, highlighted the role of the Capacity Building Commission under Mission Karmayogi in offering a range of online courses aimed at enhancing knowledge, skills, and capacity for citizen-centric governance.

The interactive session was organised by the Department on Indian Knowledge Systems as part of Strengthening Adaptive Development and Humane Aptitude for National Advancement (Sadhana) Saptah 2026, observed from April 2 to 8, said a statement.

The week marked the Foundation Day of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and the completion of five years of Mission Karmayogi, India's landmark initiative for citizen-centric governance.

The experts highlighted how India's rich intellectual traditions can inform modern approaches to problem-solving, innovation, and policymaking.

The session emphasised the continuing relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems in shaping holistic education and the importance of embedding traditional wisdom into governance practices for sustainable national advancement.

The session was attended by the senior officials of the Ministry of Education's Department of Higher Education.

By bringing together thought leaders and practitioners, the Department of Higher Education reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing a knowledge-driven, adaptive, and humane governance ecosystem under Mission Karmayogi.

The session was designed to foster structured peer learning and meaningful deliberations on the relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems in contemporary education, research, and governance.

The key highlight of the event was the address by Mohan Raghavan, Associate Professor at IIT Hyderabad's Department of Biomedical Engineering. He was the founding Head of the Department of Heritage Science and Technology and is also associated with Artificial Intelligence.

Raghavan shared insights from his interdisciplinary work that bridges technology, science, and India's knowledge traditions.

He highlighted that while the market potential of Indian Knowledge Systems is significant, its true strength lies in its transformative role in higher education.

He emphasised that Indian Knowledge Systems should not be viewed as a separate discipline but as a multidisciplinary framework that can enrich existing academic fields such as science, engineering, humanities, and management.

- IANS
Election officials inspected a helicopter carrying BJP leader K Annamalai upon his arrival in Ooty for campaigning, as part of routine checks under the Model Code of Conduct. The incident occurs amid heightened political activity and intensified surveillance ahead of Tamil Nadu's single-phase Assembly elections on April 23. Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, referencing past legal allegations. In a separate development, election and tax authorities conducted searches linked to a former DMK functionary accused in an international drug trafficking case.

Election flying squad inspects helicopter carrying BJP leader K Annamalai in Nilgiris as Tamil Nadu intensifies surveillance ahead of April 23 polls.

Ooty, April 10 Election flying squad officials on Friday conducted a search of a helicopter carrying BJP leader K Annamalai during his arrival in Ooty for an election campaign in the Nilgiris district.

Annamalai, a BJP Working Committee member and former Tamil Nadu BJP president, had travelled from Coimbatore to Ooty by helicopter to campaign in support of BJP candidate Bhojarajan, who is contesting from the Ooty Assembly constituency. Upon landing, the election flying squad officials inspected the helicopter as part of routine checks being carried out during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.

Officials examined the aircraft shortly after Annamalai's arrival, as authorities continue to intensify surveillance across poll-bound regions to ensure compliance with election norms and prevent any violations.

The development comes amid heightened political activity in Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 23, with counting of votes set for May 4.

Meanwhile, political exchanges between major parties have intensified in the run-up to the polls. Earlier in the day, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, referring to past allegations related to the 2G spectrum case. He remarked that if she continued to trust Chief Minister MK Stalin, she could face legal trouble again. He also alleged that the DMK is controlled by the Karunanidhi family.

Responding to criticism from the opposition, Kanimozhi, who has been actively campaigning for DMK candidates, accused rival leaders of being disconnected from the public. She said the election was crucial to safeguarding the "self-respect" of Tamil Nadu and urged voters to support DMK candidates.

In a related development earlier this week, election flying squads, along with Income Tax authorities, conducted searches at multiple locations linked to Jaffer Sadiq, a former DMK functionary accused in an alleged international drug trafficking case. Officials are probing allegations that funds may have been stockpiled for distribution to voters.

- ANI
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has highlighted an innovative electric stove technology that generates flame-like burners, similar to LPG. He emphasized that integrating this appliance with the government's PMSuryaGhar rooftop solar initiative could significantly reduce India's dependence on LPG for cooking. The minister urged Indian manufacturers to adopt and scale this technology domestically to suit local needs. This push aligns with broader government efforts to promote renewable energy, cut emissions, and enhance energy security.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi promotes an electric stove that mimics LPG flames, saying it combined with solar power can cut India's LPG use.

New Delhi, April 10 When combined with the government's PMSuryaGhar initiative, which enables households to generate electricity through solar power, a new electric stove technology that mimics LPG flames could significantly reduce India's dependence on liquefied petroleum gas, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Friday.

In a post on social media platform X, Joshi shared his impressions of an innovative imported cooking stove that uses electricity to produce flame-like burners similar to those used in LPG-based cooking.



He described the technology as impressive and highlighted its potential to transform the way households cook, particularly in the context of India's push toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.



"Yesterday, an Indian company demonstrated an imported stove that uses electricity to generate flame-like burners, similar to LPG, for cooking," Joshi said.



"I was truly impressed by this innovative technology and would like to see Indian manufacturers adopt and scale it domestically," he added.



The minister noted that the technology, if adopted and scaled by Indian manufacturers, could play a crucial role in reducing reliance on LPG cylinders.



He emphasised that integrating such appliances with rooftop solar schemes like PMSuryaGhar would make cooking not only cleaner but also more cost-effective for households over time.



"When combined with PMSuryaGhar, which enables electricity generation through solar power, this innovation could be a game changer in reducing dependence on LPG," the minister explained.



Meanwhile, India has been actively promoting renewable energy adoption at the household level, with schemes encouraging rooftop solar installations gaining traction in both urban and rural areas.



Joshi's remarks come amid broader efforts by the government to reduce fossil fuel dependence and promote energy self-sufficiency.



By combining solar power generation with efficient electric cooking technologies, policymakers see an opportunity to cut subsidy burdens, lower emissions, and enhance energy security.



The minister also expressed hope that domestic manufacturers would take note of the innovation and develop indigenous versions suited to Indian cooking needs, potentially opening up a new segment in the clean energy appliance market.





- IANS
Elon Musk and Telegram CEO Pavel Durov have publicly questioned WhatsApp's privacy practices, citing a new class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges WhatsApp intercepts and shares private user messages with third parties like Accenture, despite its encryption claims. Meta has forcefully rejected these accusations as "categorically false and absurd," defending its use of the Signal protocol. The public clash adds another layer to the long-standing rivalry between tech leaders Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Elon Musk and Pavel Durov claim WhatsApp shares private messages, urging users to switch. Meta denies the "absurd" allegations from a new lawsuit.

Texas, April 10 Owner of X, Elon Musk as well as CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov have questioned the privacy practices of popular messaging Meta-owned platform WhatsApp.

Musk on Thursday posted on X "can't trust WhatsApp."

The billionaire entrepreneur's response comes in the light of a new US class action lawsuit, which claims that the Meta-owned app intercepted private messages of users despite its claims of bulletproof end-to-end encryption and even shared them with third parties like Accenture.

In another post, Musk urged users to switch to X Chat for messaging and voice/video calls, saying it "comes with this great benefit of actual privacy."

Meta immediately hit back, rejecting these accusations and defending WhatsApp's encryption system.

"The claims in this lawsuit are categorically false and absurd. WhatsApp has been end-to-end encrypted using the Signal protocol for a decade so your messages cannot be read by anyone other than the sender and recipient.

Similarly, in a social media post, Durov said, "WhatsApp's "encryption" may be the biggest consumer fraud in history -- deceiving billions of users." Despite its claims, it reads users' messages and shares them with third parties."

Telegram, Durov said, "has never done this -- and never will."

The rivalry between the two tech moghuls Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Meta) has been long-standing.

After Musk acquired Twitter (now X), Meta launched Threads in July 2023, directly aiming to challenge X.

In 2025, Musk launched a meme highlighting his AI chatbot, Grok, as superior to Meta AI.

In June 2023, Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage fight. Zuckerberg, who trains in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, responded via Instagram, "Send me location."

The class action lawsuit against WhatsApp was filed in California federal court in January this year against Meta Platforms Inc., WhatsApp LLC, Accenture PLC and Accenture LLP.

The lawsuit claims that the defendants wrongfully intercepted and shared private WhatsApp messages with third parties.

The complaint alleges this occurs despite WhatsApp's marketing materials and in-app messages stating that "not even WhatsApp" can see personal messages.

The plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and request declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of statutory, compensatory, exemplary and punitive damages for themselves and all class members.

- ANI
The Indian Medical Association's Haryana branch has issued an urgent warning that empanelled hospitals may collectively withdraw from the Ayushman Bharat scheme by April 20, 2026, due to unresolved financial and operational issues. Hospitals are facing severe financial strain as reimbursements, including dues dating back to September 2025, remain unpaid despite a mandated 15-day payment timeline. The IMA also highlights the non-implementation of a decision to include its representatives in key committees and the absence of regular committee meetings for the past five months. This potential mass exit threatens to disrupt free medical treatment for hundreds of thousands of underprivileged patients in Haryana under the world's largest public healthcare scheme.

IMA Haryana warns empanelled hospitals will surrender from Ayushman scheme by April 20 if long-pending reimbursements and committee issues aren't resolved.

Chandigarh, April 10 A major healthcare crisis could be looming in Haryana as the Indian Medical Association Haryana branch has warned that empanelled hospitals may collectively withdraw from the Ayushman Bharat Yojana if long-pending issues are not resolved urgently.

In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the CEO of the Ayushman Bharat Health Protection Authority, Haryana, the association highlighted multiple operational and financial challenges being faced by hospitals under the scheme.

"We would like to draw your attention towards many problems being faced by the Ayushman empanelled hospitals," the letter stated.

The IMA flagged severe delays in payments as one of the most critical issues. According to the letter, hospitals are supposed to receive reimbursements within 15 days of filing claims, but dues dating back several months remain unpaid.

"Payments are much delayed, payments of even Sep 25 are still pending, Hospitals have long pending payments and are under extreme financial strain," the association said.

The association also pointed out that a decision taken in January 2025 to include IMA representatives in empanelment and grievance committees has not yet been implemented.

"Empanelment and Grievance Committees were approved to have IMA Haryana President or his representative as a member... but it is still to be implemented," the letter noted.

Another key concern raised was the absence of regular meetings of these committees, which has impacted hospital onboarding and approval of new specialities.

"Meetings of these Committees are supposed to be held every month but have not been held for the last 5 months," the letter added.

Citing mounting pressure, the IMA revealed that empanelled hospitals have already taken a collective stand.

"In an online meeting held on 7th April, all empanelled hospitals have unanimously decided to submit their surrender letters," the association stated.

The IMA has urged immediate government intervention, warning that services under the scheme could soon come to a halt.

"We request your good self to look into this matter urgently; else it may not be possible for the empanelled hospitals to continue providing Ayushman services after 20th April 2026."

If the hospitals withdraw from the scheme, the free medical treatment currently being provided to hundreds of thousands of underprivileged patients could be severely disrupted.

Launched in 2018, the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the world's largest public healthcare scheme that aims at providing health insurance of up to Rs 5 lakhs to each eligible household annually. It aims to make quality healthcare more affordable for over 12 crore vulnerable families.

AB-PMJAY is one pillar of the larger Ayushman Bharat scheme launched in 2018, a health initiative designed to provide equitable health coverage, especially for rural and economically weaker sections, according to a release from PIB HQ.

The other pillars under Ayushman Bharat include Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs (AAM), which ensure that primary healthcare is accessible to people near their homes or through a phone call.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is another pillar that digitally links all health facilities, from village clinics to big hospitals. It aims to develop the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. It will connect different stakeholders of the healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.

PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), launched in 2021, builds robust healthcare capacity from village health centres to district hospitals.

- ANI
Foreign affairs expert Sagiv Steinberg warns that the current calm between the US and Iran is deceptive and hostilities could reignite at any moment. He highlights that the ceasefire does not cover the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which continues to see daily strikes. Conflicting statements from involved nations, particularly regarding Lebanon's inclusion in the truce, create major uncertainty. The situation is further complicated by a White House ultimatum concerning the Strait of Hormuz, with key negotiations set for Saturday.

Foreign affairs expert Sagiv Steinberg warns the US-Iran ceasefire is extremely fragile, with Israel-Hezbollah clashes threatening to reignite wider conflict.

Tel Aviv, April 10 Director General and Director of Communications at the Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs, Sagiv Steinberg, warned that the ceasefire between the US and Iran can be broken at any second, expressing doubts over the outcome of the negotiation talks in Islamabad.

Speaking with ANI, Sagiv Steinberg said, "When you view it in the Israeli-US-Iran war, everything seems to be quiet now. But as far as we can see what happens with the Strait of Hormuz, the dialogue between the US and Iran, we don't know what will happen with the conversations in Islamabad on Saturday. Now everything is calm, but everything can erupt in a second again."

Speaking about Israel's continuous attack on Lebanon, Steinberg said, "When we look at the second front, it's the Israeli-Lebanon front that influenced the first front of the Israeli-American-Iran front. There is no ceasefire over there. Since the morning, Israel has bombed and destroyed Hezbollah terrorists, and Hezbollah fired on the north of Israel at the civilians"

Speaking on the conflicting statements of Pakistan over Lebanon's inclusion in the temporary ceasefire agreement, Steinberg said, "No one knows what goes on over there. No one knows what the true proposal is that is on the table. But we can hear what the Vice President, Vance, said, and we can hear what the spokesperson of the White House said. Lebanon is not a part of this game because Lebanon and Hezbollah decided to start a war with Israel."

"The White House supports the Prime Minister's tweet, and we will have to wait until Saturday, and maybe earlier... There is an ultimatum from the White House to open the Strait of Hormuz, and we will have to see where it goes, whether it goes into Saturday or even earlier, and the bombing of Iran will erupt again," he added.

The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

- ANI
Industry body FICCI has flagged early stress signs from the West Asia conflict across sectors, calling for proactive risk mitigation. Its report recommends a two-pronged strategy for businesses focusing on financial resilience and operational continuity. Key suggestions include securing emergency funding lines, hedging currency risks, and diversifying supply chains and energy sources. The report also urges government support through faster customs clearances and force majeure advisories for public contracts.

FICCI urges govt & industry to mitigate West Asia conflict risks with financial hedging, supply chain diversification & emergency MSME funding.

New Delhi, 9 April Apex business chamber FICCI on Thursday indicated that early signs of stress due to the West Asia conflict are visible across sectors, warranting proactive measures to mitigate immediate risks and build long-term resilience.

In a report titled West Asia Conflict: Implications for India and Imperatives for Industry and Government, FICCI suggested a two-pronged strategy for industry, focused on financial resilience and operational continuity. Firms are encouraged to secure additional funding lines and hedge currency risks to protect cash flows.

As part of the industry wishlist, the report urged the Government to consider the provision of emergency financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises and issuance of advisories to address force majeure-related risks in public procurement contracts, ensuring that businesses are not penalised for delays caused by factors beyond their control. The need for fast-tracking customs clearances, particularly for time-sensitive imports, is also considered important.

The report stated that the uncertainty surrounding the duration and escalation of the West Asia conflict makes it imperative for businesses to prepare for multiple scenarios, ranging from short-term disruptions to prolonged instability.

On the financial front, companies were advised to undertake scenario-based planning by developing a "Middle East Crisis" version of their budgets, with necessary actions to optimise sales, margins, and capital expenditure depending on the sector's sensitivity to the crisis. Firms are encouraged to secure additional funding lines and hedge currency risks to protect cash flows.

At the same time, businesses must proactively assess the financial health and continuity risks of key suppliers and customers. Reviewing insurance coverage and strengthening cybersecurity protocols are also identified as critical components of risk management in an increasingly uncertain environment.

To address operational disruptions, the report outlined several short-term measures. These include prioritising demand and aligning production schedules with the availability of critical inputs, optimising logistics through shipment consolidation, and enhancing coordination with global shipping lines. Some companies have already established cross-functional "war rooms" to manage real-time supply shortages and ensure business continuity.

Flexibility and diversification of the energy mix are other key recommendations. Industry players are encouraged to explore multi-fuel options, including biofuels and electrification of processes, as well as increase reliance on alternative energy sources such as solar power, piped natural gas, and coke oven gas. In parallel, firms should adopt energy efficiency measures, including conducting energy audits, optimising equipment usage, and leveraging artificial intelligence-driven monitoring systems for operational efficiency.

Beyond immediate measures, the report underscored the importance of undertaking structural shifts by the industry to ensure long-term resilience.

It is important to ensure diversification of supply chains for critical inputs. Companies are encouraged to reduce dependence on specific geographies by expanding their global supplier base, developing domestic sourcing capabilities, or undertaking backward integration of critical components, wherever feasible.

The report also highlighted the need to accelerate the energy transition by increasing the share of renewable energy through captive generation and open access, and investing in green hydrogen.

Logistics resilience is another focus area. Businesses are encouraged to explore alternative trade routes, enhance the use of multimodal transport, and invest in digital technologies to achieve real-time supply chain visibility.

- IANS
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri engaged in a series of high-level meetings in Washington D.C. to strengthen India-US strategic ties. Key discussions with FBI Director Kash Patel focused on robust cooperation in countering terrorism, organized crime, and narcotics. Meetings with State Department and Pentagon officials covered enhanced collaboration on security, defence, the Quad, and critical technology supply chains. The visit also included talks on broadening economic relations and reviewing the bilateral defence partnership.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held high-level meetings in Washington with FBI, State Dept, and Pentagon officials to boost counter-terrorism, defence, and economic ties.

Washington DC, April 10 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held several high-level interactions aimed at deepening the India-US ties during his visit to Washington. He met FBI Director Kash Patel and discussed cooperation in countering terrorism. During his meeting with Allison Hooker, the Foreign Secretary discussed working closely on security, defence and economy.

Sharing the details of the meeting in a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US said, "Vikram Misri met Director FBI Mr. Kash Patel today. Both had a useful exchange of views on the robust India-U.S. cooperation in countering terrorism, organized crime, and narcotics."

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, wrote on X, "Met with @VikramMisri Indian Foreign Secretary Misri to discuss how we can work closer together on security, defense, and the economy. We are finding practical ways to make both Americans and Indians safer and more prosperous, including through the Quad."

Earlier, he also met the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present at the meeting, during which they discussed the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

"Welcome to the White House, Vikram Misri! Productive meeting with Marco Rubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Sergio Gor said in a post on X.

Earlier, Misri engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior United States officials, focusing on the volatile situations in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific while reviewing strategic defence and trade relations.

The Foreign Secretary's itinerary included significant talks at the Pentagon with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby. This encounter followed their recent dialogue in New Delhi during the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting, after Colby's visit to India last month to push forward the bilateral defence partnership.

Continuing the focus on security cooperation, Misri met with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Mike Duffey.

These discussions were aimed at bolstering defence industrial ties, technology sharing, and supply chain integration, adhering to the framework of the Major Defence Partnership established last year.

Beyond the Pentagon, the Foreign Secretary moved to the Department of Commerce for meetings with Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt.

The talks were geared towards widening the scope of cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies, alongside the development of secure supply chains.

- ANI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a productive meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, setting the stage for Rubio's upcoming visit to India next month. The discussions focused on strengthening the bilateral relationship, with emphasis on trade, critical minerals, defence, and Quad cooperation. Misri also engaged in a series of high-level talks at the Pentagon and Department of Commerce, reviewing strategic defence ties and exploring cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies. These meetings aimed to build resilient supply chains and sustain the momentum of the India-US Major Defence Partnership.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held strategic meetings in Washington with US officials, focusing on defence, trade, and Quad cooperation ahead of a key visit.

Washington DC, April 10 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is on a three-day visit to Washington, had a "productive" meeting with US State Secretary Marco Rubio, who will visit India next month.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present at the meeting, during which they discussed the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

"Welcome to the White House, Vikram Misri! Productive meeting with Marco Rubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Sergio Gor said in a post on X.

Earlier, Misri engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior United States officials, focusing on the volatile situations in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific while reviewing strategic defence and trade relations.

The Foreign Secretary's itinerary included significant talks at the Pentagon with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby. This encounter followed their recent dialogue in New Delhi during the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting, after Colby's visit to India last month to push forward the bilateral defence partnership.

Commenting on the meeting, the Indian Embassy in the US noted on X that the discussion aimed at "sustaining the momentum of India-US defence exchanges."

The embassy further detailed that Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri had "another wide-ranging conversation with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby at the Pentagon, covering the ongoing developments in the Indo-Pacific region and West Asia."

Continuing the focus on security cooperation, Misri met with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Mike Duffey.

These discussions were aimed at bolstering defence industrial ties, technology sharing, and supply chain integration, adhering to the framework of the Major Defence Partnership established last year.

The embassy described this engagement as a "fruitful interaction with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Mike Duffey @USDASDuffey at the Pentagon."

Beyond the Pentagon, the Foreign Secretary moved to the Department of Commerce for meetings with Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt.

The talks were geared towards widening the scope of cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies, alongside the development of secure supply chains.

"Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri met Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler @BISgov and William Kimmitt @TradeGov to expand cooperation in commercial and critical technologies - key to transforming the India-US partnership for the 21st century. They also discussed building resilient and trusted supply chains," the embassy stated.

- ANI
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma launched the curtain-raiser for the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) 2026, scheduled for May in Jaipur. The event aims to create a unified platform connecting farmers with scientists, investors, and policymakers to adopt modern practices. The government will deploy awareness chariots at the Gram Panchayat level to disseminate scheme information and collect farmer feedback. Highlighting the state's agricultural strength, the CM urged farmers to adopt scientific methods and water conservation techniques while detailing existing support schemes.

Rajasthan CM launches GRAM 2026, a global agritech meet to connect farmers with experts, investors, and modern technology to boost income.

Jaipur, April 10 Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated that the prosperity of farmers is central to the progress of both the state and the nation. Reaffirming the government's commitment to strengthening Rajasthan's agricultural ecosystem, he said efforts are being made to enhance farmers' income through innovation, technology, and policy support.

Addressing the curtain-raiser event of the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM 2026), scheduled from May 23 to 25 in Jaipur, the Chief Minister said the event will provide a unique platform bringing together farmers, scientists, investors, and policymakers.

"GRAM 2026 will facilitate meaningful dialogue and enable farmers to benefit from global expertise, modern technologies, and advanced agricultural practices," he said.

To ensure wide outreach, the Chief Minister announced that awareness chariots will be deployed at the Gram Panchayat level from April 15. These will disseminate information about farmer welfare schemes and include suggestion boxes to gather direct feedback from farmers.

Highlighting Rajasthan's strong agricultural performance, the Chief Minister noted that the state ranks first in the production of millets, mustard, oilseeds, barley, and guar; second in moong and groundnuts; and third in soybean production.

He urged farmers to adopt scientific farming methods, minimise the use of chemical fertilisers, and rely on soil testing to maintain long-term soil fertility. He also stressed the adoption of modern irrigation techniques, such as sprinkler systems, to conserve water.

The Chief Minister said that micro-irrigation systems have been installed across 4.8 lakh hectares, while 12,476 water storage tanks (diggis) and over 32,918 km of irrigation pipelines have been developed.

Under the Chief Minister Mangala Livestock Insurance Scheme, more than 1.2 million livestock have been insured free of cost. Additionally, mobile veterinary services have treated nearly 6 million animals, benefiting over 1.5 million livestock owners.

He added that under the Mukhyamantri Dugdh Utpadak Sambal Yojana, milk producers are receiving Rs 5 per litre as financial assistance.

The Chief Minister highlighted that during the 'Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit,' 2,539 MoUs worth over Rs 430 billion were signed in the agriculture sector.

He also noted that under the PM-KISAN scheme, farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually, supplemented by Rs 3,000 under the state's Chief Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, with plans to increase this support further.

Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena said the government is focussed on transitioning farmers toward modern, technology-driven agriculture. He added that GRAM 2026 will connect farmers with global experts and innovations.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Sharma unveiled the GRAM logo and released the official brochure. The event was attended by Animal Husbandry Minister Joraram Kumawat, Minister of State for Cooperatives Gautam Kumar Dak, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, senior officials, and a large number of farmers.

- IANS
The Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha's Gujarat unit has resolved to secure a "grand victory" in the upcoming local self-government elections. The resolution came during the first meeting of its newly constituted state unit in Gandhinagar. State president Hemang Joshi emphasized organizational strength and urged workers to publicize government welfare schemes. Leaders outlined plans for campaigns and digital engagement to mobilize support, particularly among the youth.

Gujarat BJP Yuva Morcha plans for decisive win in local elections, emphasizing outreach, digital engagement, and organizational strength.

Gandhinagar, April 9 The Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha's Gujarat unit on Thursday resolved to work towards a "grand victory" in the upcoming local self-government elections, as its newly constituted state unit held its first meeting at the party's state headquarters in Gandhinagar.

The meeting was chaired by the state Yuva Morcha president, Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi, in the presence of state in-charge Kirit Patel, according to party leaders.

Addressing party workers, Joshi emphasised organisational strength, discipline, and teamwork as central to expanding the party's reach.

He said that a strong and coordinated structure was essential to carry the party's ideology to the "last person in society".

He called on Yuva Morcha members to remain active in their respective areas and maintain continuous contact with people.

"Through sustained communication and outreach, workers must take the public welfare initiatives of the BJP's central government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as those of the state government led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, to every citizen," he said.

Joshi also outlined plans for upcoming programmes, campaigns, and social initiatives, and urged workers to adopt digital platforms to strengthen engagement with young people.

He said efforts should focus on making the organisation more dynamic while contributing to positive social change.

Kirit Patel, addressing the gathering, described the Yuva Morcha as the "centre of strength" of the party.

He urged office-bearers to carry out their responsibilities with commitment and work towards achieving organisational goals.

Referring to the forthcoming local elections, he said the role of the Yuva Morcha would be significant in mobilising support.

Party workers present at the meeting expressed a collective commitment to securing a decisive victory for the BJP in the elections.

Discussions during the meeting covered organisational matters, membership drives, training programmes and social service activities.

Leaders also advised workers to strengthen grassroots engagement, maintain dialogue with local communities, and better understand public concerns.

Among those present were state general secretaries Naresh Desai, Devangi Maiyad, and Bhavin Shiroya, along with office-bearers, cell conveners, executive members, and district and city unit representatives of the Yuva Morcha.

- IANS
The Haryana State Commission for Women has written to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressing urgent concern over songs promoting gun culture and abusive content. The letter specifically references the controversy around the song "Tatteri," alleging it tarnishes the dignity of school-going girls. It states such material contradicts national women empowerment initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. The Commission has urged the government to take strict action against creators and implement regulatory measures.

Haryana Women's Commission writes to CM Nayab Singh Saini, urging action against songs promoting gun culture and abusive content impacting youth.

Panchkula, April 10 The Haryana State Commission for Women has written to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressing "urgent concern" over the promotion of gun culture, violence, and abusive content in songs, alleging that such material is negatively impacting youngsters, particularly school-going students.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister on April 9, State Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia expressed concern about the recent controversy surrounding a song titled "Tatteri" by a well-known rapper, saying that it has "sparked widespread concern across the state" and allegedly "tarnished the image and dignity of school-going girls."

She wrote that the Commission is concerned about the increasing use of abusive and objectionable language in songs and the glorification of weapons and violence. She said this trend is having a "serious and negative impact on youngsters, particularly school-going students, who are highly impressionable."

"Recently, an incident related to the song "Tatteri" sung by a well-known rapper has sparkedwidespread concern across the state. It has been observed that the portrayal and references in the song have tarnished the image and dignity of school-going girls, which is deeply disturbing and unacceptable in a civilised society. Such content not only disrespects women but also promotes unhealthy attitudes among the youth," the letter read.

The Commission also said that while the Government of India has taken "significant steps towards women empowerment," including "33% reservation for women" and campaigns like "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao."

The letter further reads, "It is noteworthy that the Government of India has taken significant steps towards women's empowerment, including providing 33% reservation for women to ensure their equal participation in society. Initiatives like "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" further emphasise the importance of protecting and educating the girl child. In such a scenario, the promotion of derogatory content against women in songs stands in direct contradiction to these national efforts."

The Commission Chairperson later urged strict action and regulatory measures. "In view of the above, I humbly request your esteemed office to take strict and immediate action against such content creators who promote harmful and disrespectful themes. I also urge the government to introduce stringent regulations, monitoring mechanisms, and clear guidelines to prevent the release of such content in the future. Additionally, awareness campaigns may be initiated to educate youth about the adverse effects of such influences," it added.

The Commission has urged the state government to take the matter seriously and implement necessary measures to safeguard the dignity of individuals and ensure a healthy environment for the younger generation.

- ANI
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava visited AIIMS Mangalagiri to review key hospital services as part of the Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 cleanliness drive. The fortnight-long initiative, inspired by the Prime Minister's vision, aims to promote a clean and sustainable work environment across institutions. This visit coincides with other recent government actions to bolster public health preparedness, including the launch of an Integrated Disease Surveillance Program. Furthermore, the National Disaster Response Force has been trained to manage biological emergencies, highlighting a coordinated national strategy.

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava reviews AIIMS Mangalagiri facilities, highlighting cleanliness and healthcare quality during Swachhata Pakhwada.

New Delhi, April 10 Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava reviewed the key hospital facilities, including OPD, ABHA registration, radiology, oncology, and emergency services, during her visit to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Mangalagiri, the Ministry of Health said.

The visit is a part of Swachhata Pakhwada 2026, being held from April 1 to 15.

"During her visit to AIIMS Mangalagiri for #SwachhataPakhwada (1-15 April 2026), Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava reviewed key hospital facilities, including OPD, ABHA registration, radiology, oncology, and emergency services. The visit underscored the focus on cleanliness, patient experience, and strengthening quality healthcare delivery," the MoHFW said on X.

The "Swachhata Pakhwada" is a concept inspired by the Prime Minister's vision. It is a fortnight-long cleanliness drive aimed at promoting the spirit of Swachh Bharat and fostering a clean and sustainable work environment.

Earlier on March 24, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). The initiative aims to provide early warnings and ensure prompt response to any bio-emergencies, including outbreaks and other public health crises.

To streamline crisis response, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed for effective management of such emergencies. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also issued guidelines addressing biological disasters, including bio-warfare and bio-terrorism. These guidelines outline potential bio-agents, their key characteristics, epidemiological clues for early detection, and protocols for prevention and treatment (NDMA).

Further strengthening operational readiness, battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been trained to manage bio-emergencies efficiently. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai noted that the initiative is a step forward in ensuring coordinated, nationwide preparedness against biological threats. (ANI)

According to the Health Ministry, noted that the visit is a part of Swachhata Pakhwada 2026, being held from April 1 to 15.

"During her visit to AIIMS Mangalagiri for #SwachhataPakhwada (1-15 April 2026), Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava reviewed key hospital facilities, including OPD, ABHA registration, radiology, oncology, and emergency services. The visit underscored the focus on cleanliness, patient experience, and strengthening quality healthcare delivery," the MoHFW said on X.

The "Swachhata Pakhwada" is a concept inspired by the Prime Minister's vision. It is a fortnight-long cleanliness drive aimed at promoting the spirit of Swachh Bharat and fostering a clean and sustainable work environment.

Earlier on March 24, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). The initiative aims to provide early warnings and ensure prompt response to any bio-emergencies, including outbreaks and other public health crises.

To streamline crisis response, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed for effective management of such emergencies. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also issued guidelines addressing biological disasters, including bio-warfare and bio-terrorism. These guidelines outline potential bio-agents, their key characteristics, epidemiological clues for early detection, and protocols for prevention and treatment (NDMA).

Further strengthening operational readiness, battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been trained to manage bio-emergencies efficiently. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai noted that the initiative is a step forward in ensuring coordinated, nationwide preparedness against biological threats.

- ANI
Hezbollah launched rocket and drone attacks on the Israeli border towns of Avivim and Kiryat Shmona, stating it was retaliation for continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir declared there is no ceasefire on Israel's northern front and that military operations against Hezbollah are ongoing and expanding. Zamir claimed the conflict has significantly weakened Iran, which in turn has isolated Hezbollah by cutting off funding and weapons. The situation is complicated by a dispute over whether the US-Iran ceasefire agreement includes a halt to Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah rockets hit Avivim & Kiryat Shmona, retaliating for Israeli strikes. IDF's Zamir says "no ceasefire" on northern front, vows continued ops.

Beirut, April 10 Hezbollah on Friday stated that it carried out attacks on the Israeli border areas of Kiryat Shmona and Avivim in response to continued strikes by Israel in Lebanon despite a two-week ceasefire in place following over a month-long conflict in West Asia.

In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters launched a barrage of rockets targeting Avivim at around 1:30 pm (local time), describing the attack as retaliation for what it called the repeated "enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on southern villages" in Lebanon.

The group further claimed that earlier in the day, at approximately 12:00 pm, it had also targeted the Kiryat Shmona barracks using a squadron of offensive drones.

Hezbollah stated that the attacks were carried out "in defense of Lebanon and its people," alleging that while it had adhered to the ceasefire, Israel had continued its military operations.

"This response will continue until the 'Israeli'-American aggression against our country and our people comes to an end," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said that Israel remains in a state of war on its northern front and will continue military operations against Hezbollah, asserting that there is no ceasefire in place in the region.

In remarks released by the military, Zamir said, "The IDF is in a state of war; we are not in a ceasefire on the northern front. We continue to operate here--this is our primary operational focus."

He added that while Israel is currently under a ceasefire arrangement with Iran, operations could resume there "at any moment, and with great intensity."

Speaking about ongoing operations in Lebanon, Zamir said Israeli forces are expanding their activities and building on what he described as "historic" achievements and emphasised that the military is employing a wide range of capabilities against Hezbollah positions.

The IDF chief also claimed that Iran has been significantly weakened as a result of the conflict, adding that this has had a direct impact on Hezbollah's position.

"Iran before this war is not the same Iran--it is much weaker. The blow Iran has sustained also affects Hezbollah, because Hezbollah understands that it is now isolated," he said, alleging that the group has been cut off from key sources of funding and weapons.

Zamir further stated that Israeli forces had recently carried out high-level strikes in Beirut and the Beqaa region, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and claimed that the group has been forced to shift positions from its strongholds in southern Beirut to other areas.

"Hezbollah encounters our fighter jets, both at the border and deep within Lebanon. It encounters our ground forces--we are removing the direct threat to our communities," he said.

Highlighting the broader operational posture, Zamir said Israeli forces are active across multiple fronts, including Gaza and Syria, in addition to Lebanon and noted that troops are forward-positioned to create a defensive buffer between hostile forces and Israeli communities.

In the past week, more than 40 terrorists were eliminated, and more than 50 Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites were dismantled, the IDF stated.

The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah targets, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

- ANI
Congress leader Rashid Alvi interprets the record high voter turnout in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry as a clear sign of anti-incumbency, expressing confidence that the Congress will form governments in all three regions. He specifically criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's conduct, alleging it breaches constitutional decorum. The Election Commission described the polling as historic, with female voter participation surpassing male turnout in Assam and Kerala. Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Himanta Biswa Sarma also praised the voter participation following the peaceful conclusion of polls.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi claims high voter turnout indicates anti-incumbency, predicts Congress govt formation in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.

New Delhi, April 10 Congress leader Rashid Alvi asserted that the high voter turnout recorded in the Assembly elections 2026 across Assam, Keralam, and Puducherry reflects strong anti-incumbency, expressing confidence that the Congress is poised to form governments in all three regions.

Speaking to ANI here on Friday, Alvi said, "The turnout in every state is very high. It's 85% in Assam and around 80% in Pondicherry too. So, I am not an astrologer, but whenever the percentage of votes is high, it is a sign of anti-incumbency."

Alvi further claimed that public sentiment is tilting in favour of the Congress, particularly in Kerala. "We were already sure that the people of Assam are with the Congress. I think that in Kerala even BJP people say that a Congress government will be formed. After this polling, it can be said that in Assam and Puducherry too, a Congress government will be formed," he added.

Taking a swipe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Alvi criticised his political conduct, alleging it does not align with the decorum expected of a constitutional office. "The attitude of the Chief Minister there does not seem appropriate. He is abusing big leaders. In a country where culture is held in such high esteem, how can people tolerate such behaviour?" he questioned.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India described the polling exercise as historic. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar congratulated voters, stating that the elections were a "testimony" to democratic participation globally.

According to the ECI, Assam recorded a turnout of 85.38 per cent, surpassing its previous high, while Puducherry witnessed 89.83 per cent voter participation, also a record. Keralam reported a turnout of 78.03 per cent. Notably, female voter participation exceeded male turnout in both Assam and Keralam.

Following the polls, Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised voters for their commitment despite challenging weather conditions, calling the turnout "highly commendable." Similarly, Sarma termed the election a "movement" to protect Assam's cultural identity.

Polling for 296 Assembly constituencies across the three regions was conducted peacefully, with over 5.31 crore eligible voters participating. The Election Commission ensured 100 per cent live webcasting of polling stations, marking a first for these elections.

- ANI
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire, expressing hope it leads to lasting regional peace. She simultaneously raised concerns about the continued closure of the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. Mufti cited Pakistan's concrete steps and her father's advocacy for dialogue as models for the current situation. The ceasefire remains fragile due to a dispute over whether it includes a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti welcomes US-Iran truce, hopes for regional peace, and raises concern over Srinagar's Jamia Masjid closure.

Kulgam, April 10 People's Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire and expressed hope that it could pave the way for "lasting peace" in the region.

"We welcome the move and hope that it would pave the way for lasting peace in the region," Mufti said on Thursday.

"While the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque has reopened after remaining closed for nearly 40 days, the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar continues to remain closed, which is concerning," Mufti alleged.

She added, "Pakistan had taken certain concrete steps during the prevailing war-like situation, which eventually led to the announcement of a ceasefire. Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had long advocated dialogue and reconciliation as the only viable path to peace. The same approach needs to be adopted in the present circumstances"

Her remarks come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu again asserted that there is "no ceasefire in Lebanon" and vowed to continue military operations with "full force" against Hezbollah.

"I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said.

Earlier, Tehran had accused Israel of violating the agreement by attacking Lebanon, as it stated that the ceasefire in Lebanon is part of the truce.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

- ANI
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh visited the Peterson Space Force Base in the US for high-level strategic discussions. He met with General Gregory M Guillot, Commander of US NORTHCOM, to discuss complex operational modalities. The visit underscores the expanding military synergy and follows the recent trip of US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel J Paparo to India. These exchanges aim to strengthen interoperability and advance shared security interests in the region.

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh visits Peterson Space Force Base for strategic talks with US commanders, highlighting growing India-US military cooperation.

Washington, DC, April 9 The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, currently on an official visit to the United States, visited the Peterson Space Force Base to engage in high-level strategic discussions.

During the visit, the Air Chief Marshal interacted with General Gregory M Guillot, the Commander of US NORTHCOM.

Marking the visit, the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, shared his welcome in a post on X, stating, "We welcome Air Chief Marshal AP Singh to the U.S. and look forward to increased cooperation with India."

The engagement underscored the expanding military synergy between the two nations.

The Indian Air Force noted that the leaders held a "productive exchange of perspectives on complex operational modalities," reflecting the growing depth of the bilateral defence partnership.

The Air Chief Marshal's arrival in the United States on April 6 set the stage for these high-level interactions, aimed at further strengthening the India-US defence partnership.

Upon his landing, he was received by the Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

In a post on X, Ambassador Kwatra expressed his "pleasure to host and welcome CAS, Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh as he begins his visit to the United States to further strengthen the India-US defence partnership and sustain the strong and growing ties between the two Air Forces."

This visit follows a period of intense bilateral engagement, including the recent trip of Admiral Samuel J Paparo, Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, to India from February 14-19.

Admiral Paparo's visit focused on collaborating on "India-US shared security interests" and reinforcing the nations' close military ties.

An official statement from the US Indo-Pacific Command noted that the Admiral's time in New Delhi, Chandimandir, and Bengaluru underscored "India's vital role in advancing regional security and strengthening military interoperability across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains."

During his stay in New Delhi, Admiral Paparo met with senior Indian defence officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, to discuss "safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific region."

The momentum of these exchanges was further highlighted in Chandimandir, where Admiral Paparo visited India's Western Command alongside US Ambassador Sergio Gor to discuss "operational security dynamics along India's western and northern fronts."

The comprehensive nature of the partnership was showcased in Bengaluru, with visits to the Aeronautical Development Agency and National Flight Test Center.

These stops highlighted the "expanding defence industrial collaboration and aerospace innovation" that continue to define the modern India-US security relationship.

- ANI
The Israel Defense Forces announced the elimination of Maher Qassem Hamdan, a commander of the Hezbollah-linked Lebanese Resistance Brigades, along with eight other militants in southern Lebanon. In a separate operation in Gaza, the IDF killed Abd al-Rahman Ammar Hassan Khudari, an Islamic Jihad militant who took part in the October 7 attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. The military also confirmed a strike in Beirut that killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, the nephew and personal secretary of Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naim Qassem. These operations targeted key personnel and infrastructure, including strategic crossings used for weapons transfer.

Israeli forces kill senior Lebanese Resistance Brigades commander and Islamic Jihad militant involved in the October 7 attacks in separate targeted strikes.

Tel Aviv, April 9 The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said it had eliminated multiple terror operatives in separate operations, including a senior commander of the Lebanese Resistance Brigades in southern Lebanon and a militant involved in the October 7 attack in Gaza.

In a statement on Telegram, the IDF said it struck and killed Maher Qassem Hamdan, identified as the commander of the Lebanese Resistance Brigades in the Chebaa area of southern Lebanon, on Wednesday. Hamdam was eliminated along with eight additional militants while allegedly fleeing from the Chebaa area to Sidon.

According to the IDF, Hamdan was responsible for recruitment, weapons supply, and financing activities for the group, which it said is funded and directly linked to Hezbollah, and the military added that members of the group had been involved in attacks against IDF personnel and Israeli civilians.

In a separate joint statement with the Israel Security Agency (ISA), the IDF said it had also eliminated Abd al-Rahman Ammar Hassan Khudari, a militant affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.

The statement said Khudari had allegedly infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack and had been planning further operations targeting IDF troops. The strike also killed three additional terrorists linked to Hamas, the IDF added.

The Israeli military said its forces, along with ISA personnel under the Southern Command, remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire arrangement and will continue operations to neutralise any immediate threats.

Earlier, the IDF stated that they killed the nephew and personal secretary of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem in a strike carried out in Beirut last night.

In a statement issued on Telegram, the IDF said that Ali Yusuf Harshi, identified as the personal secretary and nephew of Qassem, was eliminated during overnight operations in the Lebanese capital.

The military described Harshi as a close associate and advisor who played a key role in managing and securing the Hezbollah leader's office.

"Yesterday (Wednesday), the IDF struck in the Beirut area and eliminated Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem. Harshi was a close associate and personal advisor to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem and played a central role in managing and securing his office," the statement read.

The IDF further stated that it carried out a series of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in and around Beirut.

According to the statement, two strategic crossings used by Hezbollah operatives for movement between the northern and southern parts of the Litani River were hit, allegedly disrupting the transfer of weapons, including rockets and launchers.

- ANI
India will soon position a Defence Attache in Mauritius to strengthen defence and security engagements. The two nations are in the final stages of concluding a government-to-government agreement for the supply of oil and gas to enhance Mauritius' energy security. During his visit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted ongoing cooperation in community development, healthcare, education, and renewable energy projects. Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam expressed gratitude for India's consistent support, especially during global challenges.

EAM Jaishankar announces a Defence Attache for Mauritius and a final-stage oil & gas supply agreement, boosting strategic partnership amid global energy crisis.

Port Louis, April 9 India will soon position a Defence Attache in Mauritius and is in the final stages of concluding a government-to-government agreement for the supply of oil and gas to the island nation amid the energy crisis due to the conflict in West Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Thursday.

Speaking during a joint launch of projects and exchange of MoUs with Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, as part of his two-day visit to the country, Jaishankar highlighted the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations across sectors, including defence, energy, healthcare, and development cooperation.

"Defence and security cooperation form another vital pillar of our bilateral ties. During this visit, we just saw a presentation on the Royalty payment of USD 45,000, representing revenues earned from the sale of Mauritian nautical charts produced through our joint hydrography service. This is a tangible reflection of the trust and mutual benefit that define our maritime cooperation. I am also happy to announce that we would be very soon positioning a Defence Attache in Mauritius. This will surely strengthen our growing engagements," the EAM stated.

Jaishankar also underlined the importance of energy cooperation amid global uncertainties due to the conflict in West Asia, stating that India and Mauritius are finalising an agreement for the supply of oil and gas to enhance Mauritius' energy security.

"Our 'Enhanced Strategic Partnership' today truly extends across all sectors. The ongoing crisis in West Asia, as the Hon'ble Prime Minister reminded us, has underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, especially in the energy sector. We are finalising a Government-to-Government agreement for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security for Mauritius," he stated.

Jaishankar reiterated India's continued support for Mauritius' developmental priorities, noting that 100 community development projects are being implemented across Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Agalega. Eleven such projects were jointly inaugurated during the visit.

He announced that Phase II of the programme, valued at 500 million Mauritian Rupees, will further expand grassroots development initiatives.

"The 100 community development projects being carried out by India across Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Agalega are the shining embodiment of this philosophy, delivering tangible benefits to the doorsteps of ordinary Mauritians in every corner of this island. Earlier in this event, we just had the privilege of inaugurating 11 of these projects alongside Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. In the coming years, Phase II of our community development programme, valued at Mauritius Rupees 500 million, will build upon this strong and enduring foundation," he stated.

The External Affairs Minister also highlighted India's contribution to Mauritius' healthcare sector, including the inauguration of a Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and noted that India has supported multiple health facilities across the island and is working toward completing an AYUSH Centre of Excellence.

In education, a new agreement between India's University Grants Commission and Mauritius' Higher Education Commission was signed to boost academic collaboration.

India and Mauritius are also strengthening ties in renewable energy, including solar power projects and sustainable transport initiatives such as the supply of electric buses.

Jaishankar noted that Mauritius will be the first country to have a dedicated iGOT Karmayogi digital platform for civil servant training, marking a new phase in capacity-building cooperation.

Prime Minister Ramgoolam expressed gratitude to India for its consistent assistance, especially during challenging times.

"I would like to reiterate our deepest gratitude to the Government of India for the generous assistance being extended to us. India has always stood by us, especially in trying moments of our history. India's support is indeed a glimmer of hope at such a difficult moment, when the world is going through an unprecedented turmoil and when all countries are reeling under the impact of the war in the Middle East," he said.

"We both strongly believe that it is only through diplomatic channels that this crisis will come to an end," he added.

Ramgoolam confirmed that Mauritius is also in the process of finalising the oil and gas agreement with India and highlighted progress on key bilateral issues, including maritime security, digital connectivity, and a USD 680 million special economic package.

"As mentioned, we had a very productive exchange of views on a range of issues of mutual interest, including the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, maritime security, digital connectivity, and the implementation of the special economic package worth USD 680 million. Mauritius would like to thank the Government of India for the issuance of the In-contract Amendment Rules 2026...We are in the process of finalising a government-to-government agreement on oil and gas," he said.

India and Mauritius elevated their relationship to an "Enhanced Strategic Partnership" during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mauritius in March 2025.

Jaishankar further stated that the partnership reflects deep historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties and aligns with India's broader foreign policy priorities, including the Neighbourhood First policy and engagement with the Global South.

- ANI
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh met with the Prime Minister's Defence Adviser to review and strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. The discussions covered consultation mechanisms, training exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives between the two nations. Concurrently, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Bangladeshi counterpart in New Delhi to discuss strengthening the multifaceted relationship. These high-level engagements signify a recalibration of ties following a recent political transition in Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh review defence cooperation, discuss regional security, and affirm their historic bond during high-level diplomatic meetings.

Dhaka, April 9 India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma held a meeting with Defence Adviser to Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Brigadier General AKM Shamsul Islam and underlined the importance of sustained development of bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed security and defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh, including bilateral consultation mechanisms, training exchanges, capacity building initiatives and exchanges between the defence institutes of the two countries and discussed ways to further strengthen their defence ties.

"High Commissioner Pranay Verma called on H.E. Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. A.K.M Shamsul Islam, Defence Advisor to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 08 April 2026. They underlined the importance of sustained development of India-Bangladesh ties, and affirmed the unshakeable bond between the two countries rooted in their shared sacrifices during Bangladesh's Liberation War of 1971. They reviewed their wide ranging security and defence cooperation, including bilateral consultation mechanisms, training exchanges, capacity building initiatives and exchanges between the defence institutes of the two countries," Indian High Commission in Bangladesh posted on X.

"They discussed ways to further strengthen their defence ties as an important component of their overall bilateral relationship. They also exchanged views on common security challenges and agreed to work together to promote peace, security and stability in the region. High Commissioner conveyed India's willingness to closely work with the Government of Bangladesh to enhance their multifaceted cooperation based on mutual interest and mutual benefit," it added.

Meanwhile, 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.

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 and Bhutan have signed two key agreements to streamline their bilateral power trade during a visit by India's Power Minister Manohar Lal. The pacts include the tariff protocol for the jointly inaugurated 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project and a technical framework for reactive energy accounting to enhance grid stability. Minister Lal met with Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Energy Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering, reaffirming commitment to clean energy cooperation. The visit also established an enhanced institutional framework to regularly coordinate on future initiatives in non-hydro energy, transmission, and financing.

India and Bhutan sign tariff and grid stability agreements to streamline bilateral power trade and enhance hydropower cooperation during Manohar Lal's visit.

New Delhi, April 9 India and Bhutan on Wednesday signed the tariff protocol of Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, and the Methodology for Reactive Energy Accounting of the Reactive Power Exchange to streamline bilateral power trade, according to the Ministry of Power.

The two agreements were signed at a meeting between India's Power Minister Manohar Lal and Bhutan's Minister for Energy & Natural Resources Lyonpo Gem Tshering in Thimphu.

The 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on November 11, 2025 and commenced export of surplus power to India from September 19, 2025, at a mutually agreed starting tariff. The signing of the tariff protocol marks another step in mutually beneficial hydropower cooperation between the two countries.

The second agreement on Methodology for Reactive Energy Accounting of the reactive power exchange is a technical framework aimed at enhancing grid stability, improving efficiency in cross-border electricity exchange, and streamlining bilateral power trade.

Manohar Lal arrived in Bhutan on Wednesday for a four-day visit. His visit marks another important step in the deepening of India-Bhutan bilateral ties.

The Indian minister called on Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment of the two nations to advance cooperation in clean energy and sustainable development, the statement said.

India and Bhutan share exemplary bilateral relations, characterised by mutual trust, understanding, and close cooperation across sectors. The visit underscores the shared vision of both countries to further strengthen collaboration in energy security and sustainable development.

Manohar Lal held discussions with Bhutan's Energy Minister that focused on strengthening ongoing cooperation in the hydropower sector and on future avenues in renewable energy and regional power trade.

Expanding the scope of cooperation in the power sector, India and Bhutan have established an enhanced bilateral institutional framework mechanism. This mechanism will enable regular review and coordination of ongoing and future initiatives between the two countries to further strengthen collaboration. Key areas of cooperation include non-hydro energy, cross-border transmission, project financing, capacity building, and institutional partnerships, the statement said.

The Indian minister's engagements during the visit are expected to pave the way for new avenues of collaboration, contributing to the continued prosperity and well-being of both nations, the statement added.

- IANS
Union Minister Piyush Goyal held high-level virtual meetings with key Gulf partners following the recent ceasefire in the region. He emphasized the importance of dialogue, stable trade flows, and coordinated efforts to address supply chain disruptions, particularly for essential food items. Goyal separately engaged with UAE and Bahraini counterparts, condemning attacks and thanking them for assisting the Indian diaspora. Both sides stressed the need for predictable maritime trade and explored alternate logistics routes to strengthen economic cooperation.

India's Piyush Goyal holds talks with Gulf leaders to ensure stable trade flows and resilient supply chains following regional ceasefire.

New Delhi, April 10 Amid evolving geopolitical developments in the Gulf region, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday held a series of high-level virtual meetings with key Gulf partners -- underlining the importance of supply chain resilience, stable trade flows, and deeper economic cooperation following the recent ceasefire.

In his interaction with Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Goyal expressed optimism that the ceasefire in the region would hold and pave the way for long-term peace and stability.

He reiterated that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving differences and highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between India and GCC nations, which continue to anchor robust economic relations.

The minister assured India's full support in addressing any supply chain disruptions, particularly in essential food items, and appreciated measures taken by GCC countries to strengthen logistics networks and explore alternate trade routes.

Both sides stressed the need for coordinated efforts to maintain smooth and predictable trade flows amid regional uncertainties.

In a separate call with Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi of the United Arab Emirates, Goyal welcomed the ceasefire and underscored the critical role of uninterrupted trade in sustaining strong bilateral ties.

He conveyed India's unequivocal support to the UAE while condemning recent attacks and thanked the Emirati leadership for assisting the Indian diaspora during the crisis.

Goyal lauded the UAE's proactive logistics measures, including the use of multimodal transport and alternate routes, while highlighting India's efforts to support exporters and maintain steady supplies of essential goods.

Goyal also held discussions with Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro of Bahrain, where both sides emphasised the importance of restoring stability and ensuring predictable trade flows, particularly through maritime routes.

He expressed confidence in the region's recovery from recent disruptions and reiterated India's solidarity with Bahrain, condemning attacks on critical infrastructure and voicing support for maritime safety.

- IANS
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a 20-minute phone call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to discuss the escalating situation in West Asia. The ministers focused on ensuring the safety of international shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz. They welcomed recent announcements by the United States and Iran as positive steps toward de-escalation. Both leaders agreed to continue close coordination and promote multilateral cooperation to enhance energy and resource supply resilience.

EAM Jaishankar and Japanese FM Motegi discuss de-escalation in West Asia, safe navigation in Hormuz Strait, and multilateral energy cooperation.

New Delhi, April 10 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Japanese counterpart on Friday to discuss the developments in West Asia and international shipping via the Strait of Hormuz.

The call between the leaders lasted for approximately 20 minutes.

Sharing the details of the conversation in a post on X, EAM also appreciated the message of condolence for the lives of Indians lost in the conflict during his call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

"Good to speak with FM Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan. Discussed developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Appreciate his condolences for the Indian lives lost in the conflict", EAM wrote on X.

Sharing the details of the call, the Japanese Foreign Ministry noted that the leaders appreciated the recent announcement by US and Iran.

The Japanese Foreign Minister called for closer coordination with the international community and EAM Jaishankar noted that Delhi and Tokyo would continue to work closely with each other.

The two leaders underlined the need to promote multilateral cooperation to enhance energy resilience and resource supply

"In light of the current situation in the Middle East, Minister MOTEGI expressed his condolences regarding the casualties among Indian nationals. In addition, Minister MOTEGI stated that Japan welcomes the recent announcement by both the United States and Iran as a positive development. He also stated that what matters most is that de-escalation, including the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, is steadily achieved, and expressed his hopes that a final agreement will be reached promptly through the negotiations between the United States and Iran. He further stated that he would like to closely coordinate with the international community, including India", the statement said.

"In response, Minister Jaishankar stated that India will continue to work closely with Japan so that de-escalation of the situation would be realized, including the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Both Ministers concurred that Japan and India will continue to communicate closely with each other. Furthermore, both Ministers concurred on promoting multilateral cooperation, including Japan and India, to enhance the resiliency of energy and resource supply", it added.

The call between the leaders comes after US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire following weeks-long conflict that impacted several countries in West Asia and Gulf in light of US-Israeli military operations in Iran.

- ANI
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate India's first indigenous Quantum computer testing facility at SRM University, Amaravati on World Quantum Day. The Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility (AQRF) establishes sovereign quantum infrastructure, positioning Amaravati as the anchor node of a national quantum hardware network. The facility will host demonstrations, including the Amaravati 1Q and 1S systems, and is part of the broader Amaravati Quantum Valley aiming to be a top global hub. The initiative focuses on indigenous hardware, skill development, and has garnered significant academic and industry partnerships.

Andhra Pradesh launches India's first sovereign quantum computing testing facility in Amaravati, marking a major leap in the National Quantum Mission.

Amaravati, April 9 Marking World Quantum Day on April 14, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will formally launch India's first indigenous Quantum computer testing facility at SRM University, Amaravati.

He will also virtually inaugurate the Quantum facility centre at Medha Towers in Gannavaram near Vijayawada.

The state government announced that Andhra Pradesh will be the first state to commission such a facility, with Amaravati Quantum Valley set to emerge as an international hub for Quantum computing.

As per the schedule, the Chief Minister will witness a live quantum system initiation, with the processor cooling process triggered virtually on the Amaravati 1Q system, as the system is housed at Medha Towers. At the same time, the Amaravati 1S system will function as an open-access setup, fully visible to attendees during the demonstration.

With the establishment of the Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility (AQRF), India now has sovereign quantum infrastructure. Amaravati becomes the anchor node of a national quantum hardware network, positioning India to design, test, certify, and manufacture quantum systems for global use, a top official said.

Technologies developed through AQRF include cryogenics, precision electronics, and quantum-grade fabrication, with strategic spillovers into defence, healthcare, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Under the National Quantum Mission, Amaravati Quantum Valley will host an IBM 133-qubit Quantum computer and has engaged over 80 industry and academic partnerships, positioning it among the top five global quantum hubs.

The launch of AQRF on World Quantum Day adds an indigenous hardware dimension to Amaravati Quantum Valley's portfolio, complementing its existing quantum cloud, skilling, and innovation infrastructure.

Giving details of the programme, PS Pradyumna, Secretary to the Chief Minister, stated that it is a dream come true for the people of Andhra Pradesh, with the initiative of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu making the country's first indigenous Quantum Computing testing facility a reality on April 14.

He said the Chief Minister insisted on bringing indigenous hardware component manufacturing ecosystems to Amaravati to promote Quantum technology. SRM University contributed to this direction and made it accessible to students.

The secretary noted that people have enjoyed the benefits of computer technology for more than three decades, and now it is time to switch to Artificial Intelligence and Quantum technology. 

He added that the Chief Minister stressed the need to update youngsters' skills to meet the requirements of emerging quantum technology. 

Following his call, lakhs of students enrolled in skill training programmes. At the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai alone, 2.5 lakh students enrolled for training.

- IANS
India's Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom is anticipated to be operational by May 1, while a similar pact with Europe is targeted by the end of this year. Industry leader Ravi Sam stated these deals will open vast new markets for Indian exporters across sectors, providing relief from long-standing tariffs and anti-dumping duties. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India's active negotiations with over 20 more countries, building on several recent FTAs. The government's strategy focuses on agreements with high-purchasing-power developed nations to foster export growth without creating domestic competition.

India's trade deals with UK and Europe near finalization, set to open huge markets for exporters, especially textiles, says industry leader.

New Delhi, April 10 India's Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom is expected to take effect by May 1, while a similar agreement with Europe may be finalized by the end of the year, said Ravi Sam, Vice Chairman of Texprocil, during a business leaders' meeting in Coimbatore attended by commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

"Now Ministers are assured it should be around the first of May that the UK will come into play, and also Europe will be by the end of the year. With both this happening, it's going to open a huge market for the Indian exporters, not just textiles, across the board," said Sam after his meeting with Minister Goyal.

Sam noted that these agreements will give a major boost to Indian exporters, especially the textile sector, which has faced difficulties accessing Western markets due to tariffs and duties.

According to Sam, the FTAs will open large new markets not just for textiles but for multiple industries, offering relief to manufacturers amid global trade uncertainties.

He added that exports have been a long-standing concern, as Indian businesses have struggled for years with high tariffs and anti-dumping duties in the UK and European markets. He expressed optimism that the new agreements will improve the situation.

"For almost two decades, we've been having these unfortunate tariffs put on us and anti-dumping duties, etc. And we've been losing out on the whole of Europe and the UK. I think this is very good news. So we really hope, like the minister says, we get a very proactive government which works with the central government and many of our wishes come true, starting from the airport," Sam added.

He described Coimbatore as a fast-growing Tier-II city with strong economic potential and a positive business environment.

The developments come as the Union government intensifies its trade diplomacy. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who addressed the business leaders in Coimbatore on Friday, noted that India is currently in discussions with at least 20 more countries to open market access. These negotiations follow nine free trade agreements signed over the last three and a half years, which have already provided preferential access to 38 developed nations.

Goyal said discussions are underway with regions including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Eurasia, and Israel.

He emphasised that India's FTAs are focused on developed countries with high purchasing power, where local industries do not directly compete with Indian businesses. This approach helps Indian exporters grow without facing unfair competition at home.

The minister added that nearly two-thirds of global trade is now open to Indian businesses through these agreements, creating significant expansion opportunities.

He also praised Coimbatore as a key hub of entrepreneurship in South India, noting that its MSMEs play an important role in shaping government policies.

- ANI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held key meetings at the Pentagon with senior US defence officials, including Under Secretaries Elbridge Colby and Mike Duffey. The discussions focused on deepening defence industrial, technology, and supply chain linkages between the two nations, building on the framework of their Major Defence Partnership. Conversations also covered ongoing developments in the Indo-Pacific region and West Asia, sustaining momentum from recent talks in New Delhi. Concurrently, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is on a US visit, meeting with US Northern Command leadership to strengthen operational cooperation.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets US officials at Pentagon to strengthen defence industrial links and discuss Indo-Pacific, West Asia developments.

Washington DC, April 9 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held wide-ranging interactions with US Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby that covered the developments in West Asia and also focused on ways to further deepen the defence industrial, technology and supply chain linkages between New Delhi and Washington.

The details of his meeting were shared by the Indian Embassy in the US in a series of posts on X.

The meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colby comes shortly after the latter's visit to New Delhi, where he met with senior officials to advance key elements of the 2026 National Defence Strategy. His visit saw discussions aimed at advancing the framework for the India-US defence partnership.

"Sustaining the momentum of India-US defence exchanges, Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri had another wide ranging conversation with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby at the Pentagon, covering the ongoing developments in the Indo-Pacific region and West Asia. This follows right after their recent meeting in New Delhi, on the sidelines of the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting."

In another post on X, the Indian Embassy shared that Foreign Secretary Misri had a fruitful interaction with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition & Sustainment Mike Duffey at the Pentagon that focused on deepening defence industrial, technology and supply chain linkages between India and the US, in line with the ambitious goals laid out in the Framework for the bilateral Major Defence Partnership signed last year.

The Foreign Secretary also met Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt to expand cooperation in commercial and critical technologies. They also discussed building resilient and trusted supply chains.

Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is also on an official visit to the United States.

The Indian Air Force shared the details of his visit in a post on X.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh visited the Peterson Space Force Base and interacted with General Gregory M Guillot, Commander US NORTHCOM.

The leaders held a productive exchange of perspectives on complex operational modalities and reflected on the strength of the growing partnership.

- ANI
US Vice President JD Vance, during a visit to India, highlighted the complementary strengths of the two nations, specifically praising India's startup technology infrastructure. Separately, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor attended a dinner with President Donald Trump, where they discussed global stability and the future of US-India relations. Ambassador Gor also met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to advance cooperation on artificial intelligence and Indian pharmaceutical investment in the US. These engagements underscore ongoing high-level efforts to deepen the strategic and commercial partnership between Washington and New Delhi.

US VP JD Vance calls India's startup tech "most exciting." US Ambassador Sergio Gor discusses India-US ties with President Trump and Commerce Sec. Lutnick.

New Delhi, April 9 The US Embassy in India on Thursday posted a quote wherein US Vice President JD Vance had said that India and the US have much to offer one another.

The Embassy quoted Vance as saying that India has the most exciting start-up technology in the world.

In a post on X, the Embassy said, ""India and the United States have so much to offer one another. We've got great hardware -- the leading artificial intelligence hardware in the world. You have one of the most exciting start-up technology infrastructures anywhere in the world." - VP Vance during his visit to India in April 2025".

Earlier on Tuesday (local time), US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor who is in the United States attended a dinner at the White House and said that during the dinner he discussed US-India ties with President Donald Trump.

Gor called the evening memorable, and praised 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."

- ANI
The Indian Army has approved Colonel Shrikant Purohit's promotion to the rank of Brigadier. This decision follows directions from the Armed Forces Tribunal, which had stayed his retirement while considering his plea for promotion. Purohit's career progression was affected by his arrest and lengthy legal proceedings in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, from which he was acquitted in 2025. The development administratively closes a long-running service dispute.

Indian Army promotes Col Shrikant Purohit to Brigadier after AFT intervention, following his acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

New Delhi, April 10 The Indian Army has cleared Colonel Shrikant Purohit for promotion to the rank of Brigadier, marking a significant development in a long-running service dispute linked to his career progression and earlier legal proceedings in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

According to official inputs, the decision follows earlier directions from the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), which had stayed his retirement scheduled for March 31, 2026, after hearing his plea seeking consideration for promotion.

The tribunal's intervention ensured that his service tenure remained active while his statutory complaint regarding promotion and service benefits was adjudicated.

In its earlier order, the AFT had taken note of Colonel Purohit's petition, in which he sought promotion to the ranks of Colonel and Brigadier. He had argued that his career progression was adversely affected due to his arrest in connection with the Malegaon blast case and the prolonged legal proceedings that followed.

As per the detailed background of the case, Colonel Purohit was arrested in 2008 and remained in custody until 2017, when he was granted bail by the Supreme Court. He subsequently resumed service in the Indian Army and continued his duties. In July 2025, a Special NIA Court in Mumbai acquitted him in the Malegaon blast case.

The tribunal had earlier issued notice to the Union of India and other respondents, seeking their response on why the relief sought by the officer should not be granted. During the hearings, his counsel had argued that despite a long and otherwise unblemished service record, his promotion was not considered due to circumstances linked to the case.

In its findings, the AFT also observed that his retirement should be kept in abeyance until a final decision on his statutory complaint was reached. The tribunal had noted both his acquittal and his post-rejoining service record while considering interim relief.

Official sources now confirm that following these proceedings, the Army has approved his elevation to the rank of Brigadier, subject to procedural formalities.

The development brings closure, at least at the administrative level, to a key aspect of a service matter that had remained under legal scrutiny for years, while reinforcing the tribunal's earlier observations on reconsideration of his career progression.

- IANS
The Indian Army has cleared Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for promotion to Brigadier. This follows the Armed Forces Tribunal staying his scheduled retirement while hearing his plea for promotion, which he argued was hindered by the prolonged Malegaon blast trial. Purohit was acquitted in July 2024 by a Mumbai NIA court, which found the prosecution's case insufficient. The 2008 blast in Maharashtra killed six people and injured nearly a hundred.

Indian Army promotes Lt Col Prasad Purohit to Brigadier after AFT stays retirement and his acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

New Delhi, April 10 The Indian Army has cleared Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for promotion to the rank of Brigadier, sources said on Friday.

The development comes shortly after the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) stayed his retirement, which was due on March 31, 2026, while hearing his plea seeking promotion and related service benefits. The tribunal had issued notice to the Ministry of Defence and directed that his retirement remain on hold until a decision is taken on his statutory complaint.

Purohit had approached the tribunal claiming that his career progression had been adversely affected due to the prolonged trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, in which he was an accused before being acquitted. He argued that the delay in the judicial process denied him a fair opportunity for promotion within the Army hierarchy.

The Mumbai NIA court on July 31 had acquitted Purohit and six others in the Malegaon blast case, observing that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The verdict came after years of investigation and trial proceedings.

Originally, 11 people were accused in the case; however, the court ultimately framed charges against seven.

The other six who were acquitted alongside Purohit included former MP Sadhvi Pragya, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhankar Dhar Dwivedi (Shankaracharya) and Sameer Kulkarni.

The Malegaon blast incident occurred on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in the Bhikku Chowk area of Malegaon city in Maharashtra, killing six people and injuring 95 others.

The case was handed over to the NIA in 2011 from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), following which extensive investigations and examination of hundreds of witnesses were carried out over nearly 17 years before the acquittal of all accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and all other charges.

- ANI
The Indian Army conducted a major live-fire exercise named 'Brahmastra,' showcasing the formidable combat capabilities of its Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters in the Pokhran desert. The drill involved precision strikes using Hellfire missiles, rockets, and onboard guns to simulate real battlefield engagements and test operational coordination. Colonel Vikrant Sharma emphasized that the Apache, alongside indigenous platforms like the LCH Prachand, significantly boosts the Army's ability to provide immediate, lethal fire support to ground forces. The exercise underscores the Army's focus on leveraging advanced, network-centric warfare technology to maintain a decisive edge in modern, contested battlefields.

Indian Army demonstrates Apache attack helicopter's precision strikes in 'Brahmastra' exercise. See live-fire drills, advanced weaponry, and operational readiness.

Jaisalmer, April 9 The Indian Army on Thursday demonstrated the combat strength of its latest attack helicopter, the Boeing AH-64 Apache, during a live firing exercise 'Brahmastra' at the Pokhran Firing Range.

The demonstration by the army underlined its growing focus on high-precision, network-centric warfare.

The Apaches carried out precision strikes using AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, rockets and onboard gun systems, hitting designated targets with accuracy in a simulated battlefield environment.

The exercise aimed to test both operational readiness and coordination between pilots and ground crews. The Boeing AH-64 Apache is among the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters in the world.

It is equipped with a 30 mm chain gun, can carry Hellfire anti-tank missiles and Hydra rockets, and features advanced targeting systems such as the Longbow radar and night-vision sensors. The Indian Army's latest attack choppers also have the ability to operate in all-weather conditions, including at night.

Speaking to ANI, Colonel Vikrant Sharma, Commanding Officer of the Apache 451 Squadron, said the drill focused on preparing personnel for real combat situations through sustained training and system checks.

"During this firing exercise, our pilots practised simulator training, mission planning, and target engagement continuously. Our technical team checked the helicopters and weapon systems and made them available for firing. Successful firing has proved the accuracy, combat capacity, and preparation of our pilots," he said.

He added that in modern warfare, attack helicopters play a crucial role in providing immediate fire support to ground forces, with operational control remaining firmly with land commanders. "In today's network-centric war, attack helicopters provide immediate fire support to the land force commander, and the ownership and control of it are completely with the land forces. "In the future, drones, loitering munitions, artillery fire, and counter-UAS systems will be used by the land forces in the tactical battle space, i.e., in the air-literal, and the control of this air-literal will also be with the land forces," the Indian Army Officer said.

Colonel Sharma noted that the induction of Apache helicopters, along with indigenous platforms such as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand and Weapons Systrem Integrated version of the Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra, has significantly increased the Army's combat capabilities.

"Today, with the inclusion of Apache, Prachand, and Rudra helicopters in the Indian Army, there has been a big change in our combat capabilities. Our pilots are a wonderful confluence of courage, skill, and technical efficiency, and they are always ready to help our army in every future conflict," he said.

Col Sharma further said that the Apache's advanced sensors and precision strike capability improve the Army's ability to detect and neutralise threats quickly, making ground operations more coordinated and effective.

"The induction of Apache helicopters in the Indian Army has significantly strengthened the combat effectiveness. The Apache attack helicopters bring with them an overwhelming operational capability, combining precision firepower, advanced sensors, and the ability to operate effectively in complex and dynamic battlefield environments. As an integral component of our battle doctrines, the Apache significantly enhances our ability to identify, engage, and neutralise hostile targets with speed and accuracy, enabling more coordinated and coherent ground battle operations," he added.

Calling the exercise Brahmastra a success, Colonel Sharma said it reflects the Army's growing combat capability and technological edge in an evolving threat environment.

"In today's evolving threat landscape, where the battlefield is increasingly contested, the Apache provides a critical edge. Its capabilities to detect and neutralise low-flying aerial threats while simultaneously delivering lethal firepower against ground targets make it a force multiplier of exceptional value. The successful conduct of today's Apache firing practice stands as a clear testament to the Indian Army's growing combat prowess and technological edge. It also reaffirms the professionalism, skill, and dedication of our aircrew and ground crew. Their proficiency ensures that these advanced capabilities are translated into tangible operational effectiveness on the battlefield," Col Sharma said.

Lieutenant Colonel Kshitiz Goel, an Apache pilot, said the success of the exercise was due to close coordination between aircrew and maintenance teams, with both sides working in tandem to ensure mission readiness.

"Well, from both pilot and maintenance perspective, the preparation has been comprehensive and mission-oriented. The aircrew have undergone intensive training, planning, and rehearsal to refine target acquisition and engagement procedures. Simultaneously, maintenance teams have carried out meticulous inspections, servicing, and weapon system checks to ensure helicopters and their armament remain in optimal condition," he said, adding that,"Continuous interaction between pilots and technicians helps address every detail, ensuring reliability."

Further, Col. Goel mentioned that the integrated effort ensured a high level of precision and safety, with successful firing of gun ammunition, rockets and Hellfire missiles conducted during both day and night operations.

"This integrated effort has enabled us to achieve a high degree of precision and lethality during firing, reinforcing our capability to deliver accurate and effective firepower while maintaining the highest standard of safety and operational readiness. During this firing, we have been able to successfully fire gun ammunition, rockets, and Hellfire missiles both during day and night," Col Goel noted.

- ANI
Fitch Ratings reports that banks across South and Southeast Asia face gradually building credit pressure due to global uncertainties. Indian lenders are expected to remain relatively resilient, supported by strong structural fundamentals and domestic funding. However, they face earnings pressure from tightening liquidity and potential margin compression as the RBI's flexibility narrows. Despite these challenges, the sector remains stable with sufficient buffers to absorb stress.

Fitch Ratings says Indian banks remain resilient to regional credit stress but face margin compression and liquidity constraints. Learn the key risks.

New Delhi, April 10 Banks across South and Southeast Asia are likely to face gradually building credit pressure amid global uncertainties, with Indian lenders remaining relatively resilient but exposed to margin compression and liquidity constraints, according to a recent report by Fitch Ratings.

The report noted that external factors such as geopolitical tensions could impact funding conditions and asset quality across the region.

However, Indian banks are expected to remain relatively resilient due to strong structural fundamentals. Fitch said Indian lenders are better placed than many regional peers to handle moderate stress in operating conditions.

It said, "Indian banks appear better placed than many regional peers to absorb a moderate deterioration in operating conditions."

At the same time, Indian banks may face pressure on earnings as liquidity tightens. The report said margin pressure could increase as the Reserve Bank of India's ability to inject liquidity becomes limited.

It said, "margin pressure for Indian banks could increase... as the [RBI's] flexibility to inject... liquidity... has narrowed".

Fitch added that continued global risks could reduce sector margins by 20-30 basis points by FY27, and may lower operating profits by around 30-40 basis points.

Despite these challenges, the report said Indian banks remain stable, with sufficient earnings buffers to absorb potential stress.

It also highlighted that the banking system's liquidity surplus has declined to about 0.5 per cent of deposits.

Fitch noted that steps taken to support the rupee could further tighten liquidity, though currency volatility is unlikely to have a major direct impact on Indian banks.

Overall, while banks in the region face gradual credit pressure, Indian lenders are supported by strong domestic funding and sovereign backing, helping maintain stable credit ratings.

- ANI
Three Indian fishermen from Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal have been repatriated from Sri Lanka and are en route to their homes. They were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in February for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. Their release on March 31 followed concerted diplomatic efforts by central and state governments, along with legal steps initiated by a Puducherry leader. The longstanding issue of Indian fishermen being arrested is described by a Sri Lankan MP as a complex, economic problem rooted in competing livelihoods.

Three Indian fishermen return home after release from Sri Lanka, following diplomatic and legal efforts over maritime boundary arrest.

New Delhi, April 10 Three Indian fishermen who were repatriated from Sri Lanka are on their way to homes on Friday, according to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.

In a post on X, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, through their official X handle 'India in Sri Lanka', said, "Three Indian fishermen repatriated from Sri Lanka today and are on their way home."

Earlier on Tuesday, 30 Indian fishermen arrived in Sri Lanka and made their way back home safely. 21 of them were from Ramanathapuram, while 9 others were from Karaikal.

The fishermen, hailing from Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal regions, had ventured into the sea on February 15 in two boats for fishing.

They were alleged to have crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line, and were thus apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, who seized their boats and took them to Sri Lanka.

The fishermen were later produced before a court in Mallakam and subsequently lodged in a prison in Jaffna.

Following the incident, both the Central and State governments initiated diplomatic efforts for their release. Additionally, Puducherry-based LJK leader Charles Martin took legal steps through lawyers to secure the fishermen's release.

As a result of these combined efforts, the Sri Lankan government released all the fishermen on March 31. They were then handed over to officials of the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

After undergoing medical examinations and being issued emergency travel documents, the fishermen departed from Colombo by flight and arrived at Chennai International Airport.

Upon arrival, they completed customs and immigration formalities. The Fisheries Department officials later escorted them in a special vehicle to their respective hometowns.

Previously, Sri Lankan MP Harsha de Silva told ANI that the issue of Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka is a perennial issue and will not go away soon because both sides depend on fishing for a living.

"This is a perennial issue, you know it's not going away because I think on both sides of the straits, you know, folks are depending on fish for their living. These are not, you know, big corporates these are small fishermen, and when the Indian trawlers come, and you can see the satellite images, you know, they do not come in dozens but rather in hundreds, and they go back, so the issue, I think, is a complicated one. You can't just say this is the line so you stay here, and you know somehow stay on this," he said.

Silva then said that it is more of a legal issue than a political one.

"Yes, every foreign minister and deputy foreign minister worked on this. It is about bottom trawling and whether bottom trawling is a traditional fishing method, and you know, does it destroy the seabed? But as I said, I think the solution is economics-related, not legal," he said.

The issue of frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities has remained a longstanding concern between the two countries, particularly affecting fishing communities in Tamil Nadu.

- ANI
Meta has announced that Instagram is expanding its revamped teen safety accounts in India, inspired by 13+ movie ratings criteria. Teenagers under 18 will be automatically placed into a default setting that hides or does not recommend content with strong language, risky stunts, or potentially harmful behaviors. The platform is introducing a stricter 'Limited Content' filter and will prevent teens from following accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate material. This proactive update aims to reassure parents by providing a safer, age-appropriate experience by default.

Instagram rolls out updated teen accounts in India, using 13+ movie ratings to automatically hide inappropriate content and require parental permission to change settings.

New Delhi, April 10 Meta on Thursday said that its popular social media platform Instagram is taking a significant step towards ensuring a safer online environment for teenagers in India. The platform is expanding its revamped teen Accounts, inspired by movie ratings criteria for 13-year-olds and parent feedback. This move by Meta is aimed at providing content to teenagers that is similar to content in an age-appropriate movie, by default.

As part of this update, teenagers under 18 will be automatically placed into an updated 13+ setting, and they won't be able to opt out without a parent's permission. The new setting will hide or not recommend posts with strong language, certain risky stunts, and additional content that could encourage potentially harmful behaviours, Meta said.



Instagram's updated policies are designed to protect teens from inappropriate content. The platform will proactively identify content that goes against its age-appropriate guidelines and use improved technology to enforce these rules. Teens will no longer be able to follow accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate content, and they won't be able to see or interact with such content.



The platform is also introducing a new, stricter setting called 'Limited Content,' which will filter even more content from the Teen Account experience. This setting will also remove teens' ability to see, leave, or receive comments under posts.



"We recognise no system is perfect, and we're committed to improving over time," said Instagram. The company hopes that this update will reassure parents that it's working to show teens safe, age-appropriate content on Instagram by default, while also giving them more ways to shape their teens' experience.



Instagram's move to customise feed for teenagers is to prioritise teen safety and responsible content curation. By aligning its policies with established movie ratings criteria and incorporating parent feedback, the platform is taking a proactive approach to ensuring a safer online environment for its young users.





- ANI
The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi held a ceremony to hoist the national flag, marking 40 days of public mourning for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Simultaneously, the embassy expressed deep condolences over the death of senior Iranian leader and former Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi. It strongly condemned the circumstances of his death, labeling the attack by "US-Israel" aggressors as a "criminal act" and modern-day barbarity. Kharrazi, a key political figure, succumbed to injuries from a strike on his Tehran residence earlier in the week.

Iran's embassy in New Delhi holds ceremony on 40th day of mourning for Ayatollah Khamenei, condemns the "criminal" killing of former FM Kamal Kharrazi.

New Delhi, April 10 On the occasion of the 40th day of public mourning of the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, a ceremony was held at the Iranian embassy in India on Friday to hoist the flag of Iran.

In a post on X, the Iranian Embassy said, "On the occasion of the 40th day of public mourning for the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a ceremony was held at the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi to hoist the sacred flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The Iranian embassy in India also expressed deep condolences over the death of senior Iranian leader Kamal Kharrazi who was Head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Senior International Advisor to the Supreme Leader, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs. The embassy called it a "criminal act" and vowed that Iran will continue on its path of "dignity and independence".

In a post on X, the Iranian Embassy said, " The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India expresses its deepest condolences on the martyrdom of Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, Head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Senior International Advisor to the Supreme Leader, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs."

The statement strongly condemned the circumstances surrounding his death and called the attack by US-Israel a 'criminal act', adding, "Undoubtedly, this criminal act by aggressor enemies once again reveals their inhumane nature and modern-day barbarity, demonstrating that in the face of the will of the Iranian nation, they resort to nothing but violence and terror."

Kharrazi died after succumbing to injuries sustained in an attack earlier this week, Iranian state media reported.

Kharrazi was reportedly injured in a strike that targeted his residence in Tehran. He passed away on Thursday night. His wife had also died in the same attack earlier this week, Press TV stated.

Kharrazi was a senior figure in Iran's political establishment. Kharrazi held several key positions following the Islamic Revolution. He served as Iran's foreign minister from August 1997 to August 2005 and was also a member of the Expediency Discernment Council.

He was heading the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, an advisory body established in 2006 that reports directly to Iran's supreme leadership and provides strategic guidance on foreign policy and international affairs.

Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials and military commanders were killed in the West Asia conflict, which began on February 28. As of now, both sides have reached a temporary ceasefire and agreed to hold further negotiations in Islamabad.

However, the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance as Israel continues to strike southern Lebanon, despite Iran's claims of the region being included in the temporary agreement.

- ANI
Iran has unequivocally ruled out any negotiations concerning its nuclear enrichment programme, declaring the right to enrich as non-negotiable. The statement from Iran's nuclear chief comes amid a fragile two-week ceasefire and scheduled high-stakes talks aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia. The Iranian position directly contradicts demands from the US, with former President Donald Trump having pushed for Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme entirely. Iran dismisses Western calls to curb its activities as unrealistic and asserts external pressure will not succeed.

Iran's nuclear chief states enrichment rights are non-negotiable, dismissing US-Israeli pressure amid ceasefire talks in West Asia.

Tehran, April 9 Iran on Thursday firmly ruled out any negotiations over its nuclear enrichment programme, reiterating that its right to enrichment is non-negotiable, even as it links the issue to ongoing efforts to bring a complete end to hostilities in West Asia with the US and Israel, as reported by Iran's state news agency ISNA.

According to ISNA, Mohammad Eslami, Vice President for Nuclear Affairs and head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said that external pressure, referring to the US and Israel, to limit Iran's enrichment activities would not succeed, asserting the Islamic Republic's "right to enrichment is non-negotiable."

He further stated that no authority could prevent Iran from pursuing its nuclear programme.

"The enemies' demands regarding limiting enrichment will not come to pass... The right to enrichment is non-negotiable... No law or individual can stand in our way," Eslami said, as quoted by ISNA.

Dismissing calls from Western countries to curb Tehran's nuclear activities, Eslami said such demands were unrealistic.

"The enemies' claims and demands to restrict Iran's enrichment programme are mere pipe dreams that will die with them," he said, as quoted by ISNA.

This comes amid a fragile two-week ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities in West Asia between Iran and US-Israel coalition forces, with high-stakes talks scheduled to take place in Islamabad between the concerned parties to negotiate a comprehensive and lasting end to the conflict.

As part of the proposed deal, US President Donald Trump pushed for Tehran to completely give up its nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, a demand that Iran firmly rejected, reiterating its long-standing position.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump 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 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.

- ANI
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has indicated Tehran's cautious willingness to proceed with peace negotiations in Pakistan, despite what he called a "very critical night" of military escalation. He placed responsibility on Washington to restrain Israel and warned that a lasting peace is impossible unless it includes all regional stakeholders, specifically Lebanon. However, Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of violating the temporary ceasefire agreement, citing breaches in Lebanon, Iranian airspace, and uranium enrichment rights. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated these violations threaten the upcoming talks, with Tehran warning it may withdraw from the negotiations.

Iran's Deputy FM says peace talks are on track but warns US must control Israel. Tehran insists on including Lebanon in any Middle East settlement.

London, April 9 Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has signalled Tehran's cautious readiness to proceed with peace negotiations, despite a night of intense military escalation. Speaking to ITV News, a British broadcasting television network, Khatibzadeh emphasised that recent Iranian military actions were a necessary response to ongoing provocations.

Reflecting on the immediate lead-up to the current truce, the Deputy Foreign Minister described the volatility of the situation. "Last night was a very critical night because we had no option but to respond to these new atrocities," he stated, adding that subsequent diplomatic efforts mediated by Islamabad helped stabilise the situation.

"Then there were a few back and forth exchanges and a few messages through Pakistanis, and we hope that America could control its ally and this time honour their words, actually, and be committed to what we agreed," Khatibzadeh remarked, placing the onus on Washington to restrain Israel.

Despite the fragile nature of the ceasefire, the Iranian official confirmed that plans for high-level talks remain on track. "So at this moment that I'm talking, I hope that we can proceed to go to Pakistan, and this is the programme and the agenda that we are working on," he said, noting that the American side appeared to be moving in the same direction.

Looking ahead to the summit, Khatibzadeh expressed a desire for a comprehensive resolution. "As my understanding, the American side also is working on that, so we hope that we can meet soon in Pakistan to reach a settlement and agreement for permanent peace in the whole Middle East," he told ITV News.

When questioned about Tehran's commitment to Lebanon and whether further Israeli strikes would cause Iran to withdraw from the agreement, the Deputy Foreign Minister insisted that Iran stands by its diplomatic word. "Iran has shown to everybody that it hardly negotiates, but when it negotiates, it honours its words and tries to commit to what has been agreed upon," he asserted.

However, he warned that lasting stability is impossible if certain regions are excluded or if the underlying causes of conflict are ignored. "And Iran is very much committed to what is happening in the whole Middle East. The root cause of all the problems in the Middle East for many decades has been this wreck and rogue behaviour of the Israeli regime," Khatibzadeh claimed.

The Deputy Foreign Minister further argued that a selective peace would be unsustainable, stressing that all regional stakeholders must be considered. "And nobody can think of peace in the Middle East, lasting peace in the Middle East, unless there is an inclusive agreement for everyone involved," he added.

Khatibzadeh reiterated that the inclusion of Lebanon is a collective obligation rather than a solitary demand from Tehran, stating, "So this is not just for Iran; it is the responsibility for everybody to make sure that Lebanon is included in any peace settlement that is going to happen."

This insistence on Lebanese inclusion highlights the current friction, as Israel's continued operation in Lebanon has threatened the temporary ceasefire, with Iran accusing the US-Israel side of violating the agreement.

Consequently, Tehran has threatened to leave the negotiations set to take place in Islamabad this weekend.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who will lead Tehran's delegation for talks in Islamabad, has accused the Israeli side of violating three key clauses of the "10-point proposal" on which the temporary ceasefire was agreed.

The three clauses that Ghalibaf accused the US and Israel of breaching include the violation of the ceasefire in Lebanon, the violation of Iranian airspace, and the denial of Iran's right to enrich uranium.

"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.

Listing the violations, Ghalibaf cited non-compliance regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon, a commitment he noted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif explicitly declared as "an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and other regions, effective immediately."

He also cited the "entry of an intruding drone into Iran airspace," which was destroyed in the city of Lar in Fars Province, and the "denial of Iran's right to enrichment," included in the sixth clause of the framework.

Ghalibaf added that "bilateral ceasefire or negotiations are unreasonable" as the clauses have been violated before the talks began.

On the other hand, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the ceasefire in Lebanon was not included in the temporary agreement.

"I insisted that the temporary ceasefire with Iran not include Hezbollah. And we continue to strike them forcefully," Netanyahu said.

He further detailed recent military successes, stating, "Today, we dealt Hezbollah the greatest blow it has suffered since the pagers. We attacked 100 targets in 10 minutes, in places that Hezbollah was certain were immune."

Netanyahu expressed determination to achieve Israel's objectives through negotiation or by "resuming the fighting." Israel's primary objective is to prohibit Iran from enriching uranium, which Tel Aviv believes will be used to make a nuclear weapon.

"I want to make this clear, We still have goals to complete, and we will achieve them either by agreement or by resuming the fighting. We are prepared to return to combat at any moment required. Our finger is on the trigger," he warned, noting the ceasefire is a "milestone on the path to achieving all goals."

Despite these tensions, the diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran is still set to take place in Islamabad this weekend, where both sides are expected to hold direct talks aimed at ending weeks of intense hostilities.

The US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, and the Iranian delegation will be led by Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

- ANI
Iran has reiterated that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of its blocked assets are essential preconditions before it will engage in talks with the United States. The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, has traveled to Islamabad for the planned negotiations, expressing cautious optimism. A major point of contention is the scope of the existing fragile ceasefire, with Iran insisting it includes halting Israeli operations in Lebanon, a claim disputed by the US and Israel. The Iranian delegation is expected to be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Iran demands a Lebanon ceasefire and release of its blocked assets before negotiations with the US in Islamabad, as a fragile truce hangs in balance.

Tehran, April 10 Uncertainty surrounds the prospects of talks between Iran and the United States to find a complete solution to end the conflict in West Asia after Tehran reiterated that key preconditions must be met before negotiations can begin.

Speaker of Iran's Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, in a post on X, said that two measures agreed upon between the parties remain unfulfilled, stressing that progress on these issues is essential before any dialogue can take place.

According to Ghalibaf, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets are set as the preconditions before negotiations can take place in Islamabad.

"Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," Ghalibaf said in his post.

The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah targets, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, earlier in the day, departed for Pakistan's capital of Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran, expressing optimism about the negotiations while warning against any lack of sincerity from Tehran.

Addressing reporters before departure, Vance said the United States is open to constructive engagement if Iran approaches the discussions in good faith.

"We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," he said.

However, he cautioned that Washington would not respond favourably if Iran attempts to act in bad faith during the talks.

"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance added.

Vance will be leading the US delegation to Islamabad for talks this weekend.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation.

The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time.

The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks.

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.

Iran has yet to confirm if senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States, as reported by the state media.

- ANI
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has publicly warned the United States that allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "kill diplomacy" would be a "dumb" choice, as a fragile two-week ceasefire begins. The warning came amid reports of Israeli attacks on Lebanon just hours after the truce took effect, killing hundreds and injuring over a thousand. Araghchi held separate calls with his Russian, French, Spanish, and German counterparts to discuss the ceasefire and violations. Peace talks are scheduled to begin in Islamabad, with Iran's side reportedly headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Iranian FM Araghchi warns the US against Israeli PM Netanyahu undermining ceasefire. Talks begin as fragile truce holds after 40 days of conflict.

Tehran, April 10 Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned the United States against allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "kill diplomacy," as a fragile ceasefire took hold following 40 days of fighting.

In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi said, "Netanyahu's criminal trial resumes on Sun(day). A region-wide ceasefire, incl(uding) in Lebanon, would hasten his jailing."

He added that if the United States lets Netanyahu "kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice. We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it."

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that "time is running out," stressing that Lebanon and the "resistance axis" are "inseparable" parts of the ceasefire.

Also on Thursday, Araghchi discussed the ceasefire with his Russian, French, Spanish and German counterparts in separate phone calls, Xinhua news agency reported quoting statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Iran took a responsible approach, and that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, promised for two weeks under the ceasefire, will be provided if the United States adheres to its commitments.

In a call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Araghchi expressed regret over Israeli ceasefire violations and attacks on Lebanon, urging international action. Barrot welcomed the ceasefire and stressed the need to stop Israeli attacks against Lebanon.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the attacks on Iran "illegal," and urged all parties to remain committed to the diplomatic path.

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 Iranian side will be reportedly headed by Qalibaf.

Israel has said the ceasefire does not cover the conflict in Lebanon, a position disputed by Iran and mediator Pakistan. Hours after the ceasefire came into effect, Israel launched its largest single-day attack on Lebanon, which has killed more than 300 and injured over 1,100.

- IANS
Iranian state media has firmly denied international reports that senior officials traveled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States. Iranian sources state talks remain on hold until Israeli attacks stop in Lebanon and a US-backed ceasefire is fulfilled. Meanwhile, Pakistan has made security preparations in Islamabad, waiving visa requirements for delegates. The situation is further strained by a war of words between Pakistani and Israeli officials, risking the fragile ceasefire.

Iran rejects reports its officials traveled to Pakistan for US negotiations, stating talks are on hold until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon.

Tehran, April 10 Iran's official news agencies have firmly rejected the reports in international media claiming that senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States, Press TV reported on Friday.

Referring to Tasnim News Agency, who quoted a well-informed source on Thursday night, Press TV said that neither Araghchi nor Ghalibaf have left the country and they continue to remain in Tehran, actively carrying out their national duties amid regional developments.

Iranian state broadcaster Press TV citing Tasnim news discarded the claims and a report by Wall Street Journal of senior officials travelling to Islamabad for talks with Washington. Citing comments by a senior official, sources told Tasnim news that until Israeli attacks do not stop in Lebanon and the US fulfills its commitment to ceasefire in the country, the talks would remain on hold.

The source told Tasnim, "The news from some media outlets that an Iranian negotiating team has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, to negotiate with the Americans is completely false."

As per Press TV, Iran's Fars News Agency also categorically rejected the Wall Street Journal report, underlining that Iran has "no plans to attend peace talks with the American side until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon."

Citing a source, Fars refuted claims of any Iranian negotiating delegation travelling to Islamabad.

In spite of the reports from Iran, Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar in a post on X said that visa requirements for delegates and journalists coming to Islamabad have been waived off for the talks scheduled to take place in Islamabad.

The Pakistan capital is on red-alert, with heightened security as 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed, Dawn reported.

Despite the preparations by the self-styled mediator, there has been no clarity on when the talks will be held.

Meanwhile, Israeli envoy to US, Yechiel Leiter, lambasted Pak Defence Minister over his recent remarks on Israel, calling the country a "problem" instead of being a "mediator".

In a post on X he affirmed, "Even if it is to your dismay, Israel is here to stay. That's not for negotiation."

Israel has responded with fury to Pakistan Defence Minsiter Khawaja Asif's statement, denouncing Islamabad's mediation pitch and vowing to defend itself against "terrorists" who want Tel Aviv's destruction.

In a strong-worded response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rebuked Pakistan over its Defence Minister's statement, calling jewish state "cancerous", which Sa'ar said is "calling for Israel's annihilation."

This comes after Khawaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," he said.

"I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he added.

The Pakistan Defence Minister's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad.

This adds more embarrassment after Pakistan's fumble in clearly defining the terms of the two-week ceasefire. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal--a claim firmly dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

- ANI
The Israel Defence Forces announced it killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, in a strike in Beirut. The IDF also conducted major coordinated strikes across Lebanon, targeting over 100 Hezbollah headquarters, weapons sites, and command centers. This escalation comes just a day after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire agreement. IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir vowed to continue strikes against Hezbollah to protect northern Israel.

IDF eliminates Hezbollah leader's nephew in Beirut and hits over 100 targets in Lebanon, escalating regional tensions after US-Iran ceasefire.

Jerusalem, April 9 The Israel Defence Forces said on Thursday that it has killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, personal secretary of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, in Beirut. Harshi was also nephew of the Hezbollah chief who heads the Lebanese group backed by Iran.

In a statement shared on X, the IDF said that it has also hit two key crossings used by Hezbollah for moving weapons south of the Litani River and 10 weapons storage sites, launchers and command centres in southern Lebanon.

"ELIMINATED: Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem in Beirut. A close associate and personal advisor, Harshi played a key role in managing and securing Qassem's office. The IDF also struck two key crossings used by Hezbollah to move weapons south of the Litani River, along with 10 weapons storage sites, launchers and command centers in southern Lebanon," IDF posted on X.

The development comes a day after the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire agreement.

Earlier, IDF claimed it has killed a Hamas terrorist operating under the guise of a journalist. The IDF claimed that Muhammad Samir Muhammad Washah was actively involved in planning attacks against IDF troops and posed a threat to forces in the area.

In a post on X, IDF stated, "ELIMINATED: Muhammad Samir Muhammad Washah, a Hamas terrorist operating under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist. Washah, a key terrorist in Hamas' rocket & weapons production HQ, was also involved in the production and transfer of weapons through Gaza. The terrorist was actively involved in planning attacks against IDF troops & posed a concrete threat to forces in the area."

On Wednesday, IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir, overseeing the wave of strikes against Hezbollah, said that Israel will continue to strike Hezbollah and use every operational opportunity, according to his statement shared by IDF on X.

He further said, "We will not compromise the security of the residents of northern Israel. We will continue to strike with determination."

The IDF said on Wednesday that it has completed the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion. According to the statement, IDF hit more than 100 Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays and command-and-control centers in Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon.

"In 10 minutes, the IDF completed the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion. The strike targeted 100+ Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command-and-control centers in Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon, including: Intelligence command centers and central headquarters used planning terror attacks, Infrastructure of firepower and naval arrays, responsible for launching missiles, Assets of the Radwan Force, and the Aerial unit-Hezbollah's elite units," IDF posted on X.

- IANS
Authorities have established 140 Kisan Khidmat Ghar centres across Rajouri district to serve its 312 panchayats. These centres aim to be a one-stop solution, providing farmers with seeds, fertilisers, and digital access to government schemes. The initiative has also generated employment by hiring educated local youth to operate the facilities. Additionally, the centres offer financial services, expert agronomic advice, and real-time market information to support farmers.

140 Kisan Khidmat Ghar centres established in Rajouri to provide farmers with seeds, fertilisers, digital services, and expert advice, boosting rural employment.

Rajouri, April 10 In a step aimed at strengthening rural outreach and generating employment, 140 Kisan Khidmat Ghar Centres have been established across Rajouri district to serve 312 panchayats, officials said.

Speaking to ANI, Agriculture Department Officer and Nodal Officer (KKG) Ravi Sharma said the centres were set up to provide farmers with a one-stop solution for agricultural inputs and services without running around.

"Rajouri district has 312 panchayats. The government grouped them, sometimes one, two or three together, and shortlisted 160 locations, finally opening 140 Kisan Khidmat Ghar centres. The government aims to give farmers a one-stop solution for seeds, fertilisers and other services without running around," he said.

He further said the government provided financial infrastructure support.

"Before opening, the government provided full infrastructure worth about Rs 8.5 lakh per centre. Young educated locals, graduates or diploma holders in agriculture, horticulture, and sericulture, were invited through advertisements," Sharma added.

According to him, applications were received from across panchayats and selected candidates are now operating the centres, contributing to employment generation in rural areas.

"With 140 centres established, this scheme is bringing employment and direct support to thousands of farmers across the district," he said.

The Kisan Khidmat Ghars are meant to function as one-stop service centres for farmers. They provide digital access to platforms such as the 'Daksh Kisan Portal' for skill development and the 'Kisan Sathi Portal', through which farmers can apply for more than 120 government schemes. The centres also facilitate booking and availability of quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.

In addition, financial services such as micro-ATMs and POS machines have been introduced, enabling farmers to carry out digital transactions and access schemes like the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). Farmers can also seek expert advice on soil health, plant diseases, and crop management, along with real-time market price information and crop forecasting.

- ANI
MEA says visits by Jaishankar and Hardeep Puri aim to secure India's energy supplies and support neighbours like Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

New Delhi, April 10 The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that the visits by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to Gulf nations are aimed at strengthening India's energy security amid evolving regional dynamics in West Asia.

Speaking during an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that the visits are being undertaken under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bolster India's energy partnerships and ensure stable supplies.



"Under the directions of the Prime Minister, our Ministers are visiting Gulf countries to strengthen energy security. As you know, the External Affairs Minister is presently visiting Mauritius, from where he will be travelling to the UAE on April 11 and 12, 2026. He will hold discussions with leaders in the UAE to foster stronger India-UAE ties," Jaiswal said.



He further noted that India continues to extend support to neighbouring countries in meeting their energy requirements, stating that 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products were delivered to Sir Lanka two weeks ago.



"Even as we work to strengthen our own energy security, we are also providing support to neighbouring countries, at their request, to meet their energy needs. We supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka two weeks ago," he added.



Jaiswal also informed that India is in the process of finalising a government-to-government agreement with Mauritius for the supply of oil and gas, which is expected to play a key role in reinforcing the island nation's energy security.



EAM is currently on a two-day visit to Mauritius, scheduled for April 9-10, as part of the first leg of a four-day diplomatic tour that includes the UAE.



Following his engagements in Mauritius, the minister will travel to the United Arab Emirates on April 11 to review the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UAE leadership.



Meanwhile, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is currently on a visit to Qatar from April 9 to 10.



Describing Qatar as a key energy partner, the MEA spokesperson said that Puri held discussions with his Qatari counterpart to enhance cooperation in the energy sector.



"Our Minister conveyed greetings and a message of solidarity and support--on behalf of the Prime Minister--to His Highness the Amir of Qatar, as well as to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar," Jaiswal said.



He added that the Qatari Energy Minister reaffirmed the country's commitment to remain a reliable energy supplier to India and expressed interest in further strengthening bilateral energy ties.



Puri arrived in Doha on Friday afternoon for a two-day official visit, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.



Following his arrival, he met Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi.



Puri conveyed greetings and a message of solidarity and support on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.



Both ministers discussed all aspects of the strategic relationship between the two countries, including high-level engagements, trade, investment, energy, culture and people-to-people ties. They expressed hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region and further strengthening of bilateral relations between India and Qatar.



Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to remain a reliable energy supplier and expressed his willingness to continue and strengthen energy cooperation with India.





- ANI
BJP poised to get first Bihar Chief Minister

Emotional poster campaign urges him to stay

JD(U) supporters have launched a poster campaign pleading with Nitish Kumar not to leave Bihar as he prepares to transition to national politics via the Rajya Sabha. Kumar, who resigned as an MLC, arrived in Delhi and hinted at a leadership change in Bihar within days. This development has accelerated political activity, with a BJP Core Committee meeting in Delhi to finalize government formation. For the first time, Bihar is poised to have a Chief Minister from the BJP, with the swearing-in likely after the inauspicious period of Kharmas.

JD(U) supporters urge Nitish Kumar not to leave Bihar as he moves to Delhi for Rajya Sabha, hinting at a BJP CM for the state soon.

Patna, April 10 Amid strong indications that Nitish Kumar is set to transition to national politics by taking oath as a Rajya Sabha member, supporters of the Janata Dal have launched an emotional appeal urging him not to leave Bihar. A poster campaign led by JD worker Krishna Patel has surfaced across party offices and various locations in Patna.

The poster features images of Nitish Kumar, his son Nishant Kumar, and JD(U) state President Umesh Kushwaha.

The message on the poster reads as a heartfelt plea: "Do not abandon Bihar; do not leave us-the people of Bihar-orphaned."

It further states that Nitish Kumar's leadership provides unmatched security and stability, adding that while his mission remains incomplete, Nishant Kumar could carry it forward.

Nitish Kumar, who has served as Bihar's Chief Minister since November 2005, was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on March 16.

Subsequently, he resigned from his position as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on March 30.

He arrived in Delhi on Thursday and is scheduled to take oath as a Rajya Sabha MP today.

Speaking to the media upon his arrival, Nitish Kumar indicated that he may now remain based in Delhi and hinted at a leadership transition in Bihar within the next three to four days.

This development has accelerated political activity in the state.

Following his return to Patna, the process of forming a new government is expected to gather pace after the 13th of the month.

A crucial meeting of NDA constituents has already been convened.

Sources suggest that the formation of the new government will take place after the conclusion of Kharmas, an inauspicious period in the Hindu calendar.

Discussions are underway regarding the swearing-in ceremony, which is likely to be held at the historic Gandhi Maidan.

In a significant political shift, Bihar is poised to have a Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the first time.

A BJP Core Committee meeting is being held in Delhi, attended by senior leaders, including both Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, to finalise the road map for government formation.

- IANS
Jenna Ortega has revealed she was on the verge of quitting acting as a teenager, struggling with the transition out of children's television. Her uncertainty lasted for months until she landed the role of Ellie Alves in the second season of Netflix's 'You'. That experience on set immediately rekindled her love for the profession. Since that breakthrough, her career has flourished with leading roles in major films and the hit series 'Wednesday'.

Jenna Ortega reveals she considered quitting acting as a teen before her breakthrough role in Netflix's 'You' changed her career trajectory.

Washington, April 9 Actor Jenna Ortega has recently revealed that she was on the verge of stepping away from acting before landing her breakthrough role in the hit Netflix series 'You.'

As per Variety, Ortega shared that she had begun questioning her future in the industry as a teenager after transitioning out of children's television.

"I didn't know what else I was gonna do," Ortega said in an interview, reflecting on a period of uncertainty after leaving early projects.

As per Variety, she explained that she had to reintroduce herself to casting directors and prove her range, which made her consider quitting altogether. "It just felt like a good time to call it quits if I was going to," she added, noting that discussions about stepping away had gone on for months with her team.

Ortega began her career with roles in shows such as 'Richie Rich' and 'Stuck in the Middle'.

However, the uncertainty of transitioning into more mature roles led her to briefly consider ending her acting journey.

The turning point came in 2019 when she was cast as Ellie Alves in season 2 of 'You'. Her character, the neighbour of Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, marked a significant shift in her career.

Recalling her experience on set, Ortega said she immediately connected with the work. "I loved it and had the best time," she said, adding, "I thought, 'Yeah, there's no way I could let this go,'" as quoted by Variety.

Since then, Ortega's career has seen a steady rise. She has headlined films such as 'X', 'Scream VI', 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' and 'Death of a Unicorn'.

She also leads Netflix's Emmy-winning series 'Wednesday'.

- ANI
The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully completed the Second Integrated Air Drop Test for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated ISRO, calling it a significant milestone for the mission scheduled for 2027. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed preparations are progressing for the first of three planned uncrewed missions. Concurrently, selected astronauts have begun high-altitude acclimatization and experiments in Ladakh as part of their training.

ISRO completes a critical air drop test for Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission, with a crewed launch targeted for early 2027.

New Delhi, April 10 Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation for the successful completion of the Second Integrated Air Drop Test for Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission scheduled for launch in 2027. He described the achievement as a significant milestone in preparing for the ambitious mission.

Taking to social media platform X, Singh wrote, "Congratulations ISRO for the successful accomplishment of Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for Gaganyaan, India's first Human Space flight scheduled next year."

He further noted, "The second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) was successfully conducted at Satish Dhawan Space Station, Sriharikota. This marks an important milestone towards the readiness for the Gaganyaan mission."

India's first human spaceflight will be launched from Sriharikota in 2027. Although the mission has faced multiple delays due to its technological complexity, India has been developing the capabilities indigenously. Notably, such critical spaceflight technologies are closely guarded, and no country shares them.

The government has allocated approximately Rs 10,000 crore for the Gaganyaan programme. The mission is now in its final phase, with the first crewed flight expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Earlier, on April 8, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that all preparations for the uncrewed Gaganyaan missions are progressing smoothly. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 2nd International Conference on Smart Spacecraft Mission Operations, he said, "We are meeting just before the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission. This is no ordinary mission but a crucial one for India. There will be three uncrewed missions before the final crewed launch. All activities for the first mission are progressing well, though challenges remain."

The conference was also attended by former ISRO chiefs A.S. Kiran Kumar and S. Somanath, along with ISRO centre directors, students, and representatives from space startups.

Meanwhile, India's human spaceflight preparations advanced further on April 4, as four selected astronauts began a high-altitude experiment in Ladakh under the "Mission Mitra" (Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Reliability Assessment). The programme aims to evaluate human performance in extreme environments.

The astronauts, including Group Captain Shubhnashu Shukla and P. Balakrishnan Nair, arrived in Leh earlier this week for acclimatisation. The mission is supported by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, medical experts, and psychologists, marking another crucial step in India's journey towards human space exploration.

- IANS
BJP State Vice President R Sreelekha has expressed strong confidence in a landmark victory for the NDA in the ongoing Kerala Assembly elections, citing high anti-incumbency against the ruling LDF. She accused the LDF government of corruption, ministerial arrogance, and temple looting, stating that people desire change after ten years. Sreelekha also dismissed the UDF as an agent of significant change, arguing that only an NDA government would remove hurdles between the state and central governments. Polling is underway across 140 constituencies, with over 2.6 crore voters deciding the fate of 883 candidates.

BJP candidate R Sreelekha predicts a landmark NDA win in Kerala, citing high anti-incumbency against LDF and frustration with corruption.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 R Sreelekha, Bharatiya Janata Party State Vice President and Vattiyoorkavu Assembly constituency candidate, on Thursday, expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance would secure a ''landmark victory'' in the ongoing Keralam Assembly elections.

Speaking to ANI, Sreelekha said, "I am confident that NDA will make a landmark victory in Keralam this time. This is the right time. The anti-incumbency is very high. People want NDA to come. Everywhere I go, I get a feeling that people are voting for NDA."

Targeting the Left Democratic Front (LDF), she stated that voters were frustrated with corruption, arrogance of ministers, and temple looting.

"People are fed up with the corruption, arrogance of the Ministers, temple looting because all of these people do want a change and this 10 years is too much," Sreelekha added.

Sreelekha noted that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would not bring significant change, but stressed that an NDA government would improve coordination between the state and central governments.

She said, "In the place of LDF, UDF is not going to come because there will not be much change. But if NDA comes, then the hurdle between the state government and central government will be removed, and it will be a change for the better."

Polling began at 7 am across all 140 constituencies in Keralam, with voters turning out steadily to decide the fate of 883 candidates. According to the Election Commission of India, voter turnout stood at 33.28 per cent till 11 am.

Over 2.6 crore electors will decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies in Keralam. Of the 2,69,53,644 registered voters across the state, there are 1,38,27,319 women voters, and the number of male voters stands at 1,31,26,048. Officials said that there are 277 third gender voters in the state.

Among the electorate, nearly 4,24,518 voters fall in the 18-19 age group, while 2,04,608 voters are aged 85 years and above. To facilitate safe and secure polling, a total of 30,471 polling stations have been set up.

While the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF is looking for a historic third consecutive term, the Congress-led UDF is attempting to come back to power amid anti-incumbency trends in the state.

Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote in Kannur for the 2026 Assembly elections, where he is contesting from the Dharmadham constituency. He is aiming for a historic third consecutive term, facing challenges from the UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed and the BJP's K Ranjith. The opposition is employing a "Dual Front" strategy to counter the LDF's stronghold by highlighting local issues and anti-incumbency. Polling for the 140-seat Kerala Legislative Assembly is currently underway, with results scheduled for May 4.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan casts his vote in Kannur, contesting from Dharmadham against UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed and BJP's K Ranjith.

Kannur, April 9 Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday cast his vote for the 2026 Assembly elections at a polling booth in Pinarayi RC Amala Basic Upper Primary School in Kannur.

Pinarayi Vijayan is eyeing a historic third consecutive term from the Dharmadham constituency. While the constituency is a storied fortress for the Left, the 2026 race is shaping up to be more than just a victory lap, both from the United Democratic Front led by Congress, and BJP led National Democratic Alliance.

The UDF have fielded VP Abdul Rasheed against the Chief Minister, whereas on the other hand, K Ranjith is contesting on the BJP's ticket.

Pinarayi Vijayan won comfortably in 2016 and 2021, and the CM is banking on the completion of major bypasses and local development projects. Moreover, Kannur remains the soul of the CPIM, and a win here reinforces the party's "invincibility" narrative, while also showcasing Kerala as a modern, tech-forward state. In 2021, Vijayan won by over 50,000 votes.

The opposition isn't letting the CM walk over the finish line without a fight. This year, the challenge is characterised by a "Dual Front" strategy designed to chip away at the LDF's massive lead. UDF, banking on anti-incumbency, is highlighting local grievances, youth unemployment, and allegations of administrative overreach.

According to the Election Commission of India, in Dharmadam, there are a total of 1,84,844 electors, out of which 85,665 are male voters, while the other 99,179 are female.

During the 2021 elections, Vijayan ended up securing 95,522 (59.8 per cent) votes against the United Democratic Front candidate C Raghunathan, who received 28.4 per cent of the total votes polled.

In 2016, the Kerala CM, who contested from the seat for the first time, secured a victory by a margin of 30,905 votes from UDF's Mambaram Divakaran. Vijayan had received 87,329 votes, whereas a total of 50,424 electors voted for Divakaran.

Polling for the 140-seat Keralam Legislative Assembly is underway today, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

Both the incumbent LDF and the Opposition Congress-led UDF are eyeing to breach the 71-seat mark, while the BJP-led NDA is looking to enter the Assembly via the gateway opened in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation polls.

- ANI
Polling for the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 commenced across 140 constituencies, with actor Kunchacko Boban casting his vote early in Alappuzha and emphasizing civic duty. The Election Commission reported a 33.28% voter turnout by 11 am from a total electorate exceeding 2.69 crore, which includes a significant number of first-time voters. The election is a key contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). Extensive security measures and polling infrastructure have been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.

Actor Kunchacko Boban votes in Kerala Assembly elections 2026, urging responsible participation. Voter turnout hits 33.28% by 11 am with over 2.69 crore electorate.

Alappuzha, April 9 Polling for the high-stakes Keralam Assembly Elections 2026 began at 7 am on Thursday across all 140 constituencies, with actor Kunchacko Boban among the early voters, casting his ballot at a polling station in Alappuzha.

Speaking after voting, the actor emphasised the importance of civic responsibility. "As an ordinary citizen, it is my right to utilise my vote. I think I have utilised my voting power responsibly for myself, for the country, and for the people," he said.

He added that voters are electing representatives to address pressing issues, expressing hope that prevailing concerns in both the country and his native place would be resolved by the elected government.

According to the Election Commission of India, voter turnout reached 33.28 per cent by 11 am, indicating a steady participation rate in the initial hours of polling.

Keralam has a total electorate exceeding 2.69 crore, including 1.38 crore women and 1.31 crore men, along with 277 voters from the third gender category.

Notably, nearly 4.24 lakh first-time voters aged between 18 and 19 are participating in this election, while more than 2 lakh voters are above the age of 85.

To ensure smooth conduct of the polls, authorities have established 30,471 polling stations and deployed approximately 1.46 lakh trained personnel across the state. Security arrangements have been intensified, with over 1,200 police teams stationed on the ground.

The election is being closely watched as a contest between the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF), seeking a third consecutive term, and the United Democratic Front (UDF), which is aiming to return to power.

Vote counting is scheduled to take place on May 4.

- ANI
Students from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences formed a human 'Vantara' logo to thank Anant Ambani on his birthday. The Reliance Industries Executive Director marked the occasion by announcing scholarships, learning trips to the Vantara wildlife centre, and a pledge to offer 30 jobs annually to KISS graduates. Celebrations were held across India, including a special event at Jaipur's Elephant Village. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan were among those extending birthday wishes.

Anant Ambani announced scholarships, Vantara visits, and Reliance jobs for KISS tribal students on his birthday, celebrated nationwide.

Mumbai, April 10 The students of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Foundation on Friday formed a human display inspired by the 'VANTARA' logo to express gratitude to Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani on his birthday, as he announced scholarships, learning opportunities, and job offers for students.

He announced a series of major initiatives for KISS students on the occasion of his birthday, including jobs in the Reliance group.

The announcements support scholarships for KISS students for the current academic year, and an opportunity for toppers from KG to PG levels to visit Vantara, a massive wildlife centre in Gujarat set up by Shri Ambani, allowing them to gain valuable learning experiences. Significantly, 30 KISS graduates will be offered jobs every year across various companies of the Reliance Group, opening sustainable career pathways for tribal youth.

Meanwhile, celebrations have begun across the country to mark Anant Ambani's 31st birthday, with a wave of festive spirit visible among the people. Well-wishers and members of various communities have come together to commemorate the occasion through charitable initiatives, social gatherings, and more.

A special event was organised at Jaipur's Hathi Gaon (Elephant Village) to celebrate Anant Ambani's birthday.

The celebration featured a colourful setup with pink and white balloons, a red carpet, and a long table laid with fruits, including bananas, watermelons, and papayas, which elephants enjoyed.

Anant Ambani, earlier this month, announced Rs 18 crore in contributions towards temple infrastructure and animal welfare in Kerala, including Rs 6 crore in donations to the Rajrajeshwaram and Guruvayur temples and a Rs 12 crore commitment to restore the historic East Gopuram at Rajrajeshwaram, alongside new initiatives for the care of temple elephants.

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have led the early line of wishes for Anant Ambani.

Taking to their respective social media handles, SRK and Salman shared birthday posts for Anant Ambani and sent much warmth and greetings.

- ANI
South Korea's media watchdog has approved new regulations requiring bulk messaging service providers to implement anti-spam safeguards to maintain their certification. Providers must meet 16 criteria, including banned-word filters and measures to prevent unlawful use, and will face annual reviews. The government will cancel certifications if messages linked to illegal activities like drugs or gambling are detected. This follows a revised law imposing heftier fines on illegal spammers and non-compliant mobile carriers.

South Korea's media watchdog approves new regulations requiring bulk SMS providers to implement anti-spam safeguards, with fines for violations.

Seoul, April 10 South Korea's media watchdog on Friday approved regulations requiring bulk phone text messaging service providers to implement safeguards against illegal spamming as a condition for maintaining their certification.

The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) made the announcement after holding its first regular meeting since its launch in October 2025, as part of the government's efforts to curb illegal messaging activities, reports Yonhap news agency.

In detail, messaging service providers must meet 16 criteria, including banned-word filtering systems and measures to prevent unlawful use, to qualify for bulk transmissions.

The government will cancel certifications if messages linked to illegal activities, including drugs, gambling and illegal lending, are detected. Certified providers will undergo an annual review to ensure continued compliance with the standards.

The proposed regulations are subject to review by the Ministry of Government Legislation and approval by the Cabinet.

"The policy will strengthen the government's oversight of distributors. We will continue efforts to prevent public inconvenience caused by illegal spam," KMCC Chairperson Kim Jong-cheol said in a release.

In March, the Cabinet approved a revised communication law to impose fines of up to 6 percent of relevant sales on illegal spam senders, as well as on mobile carriers that fail to properly prevent them.

The revision came amid criticism that the previous regulation only imposed fines of up to 30 million won (US$20,200) on spam senders, raising concerns that the level of punishment was too low compared with the gains from such illegal activities.

Earlier this month, the media watchdog chief called on Google to pursue shared growth in South Korea's application ecosystem as the U.S. tech giant moves to revamp its commission policy for its app market.

Kim Jong-cheol met with Wilson White, vice president of global affairs at Google, in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, to discuss areas of cooperation ahead of the implementation of the new commission policy, the watchdog said.

- IANS
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy personally visited the home of a critically ill 24-year-old woman, Pooja, in Nanjangud after a video highlighting her condition went viral on social media. He spent 45 minutes with the distressed family, who are in severe financial crisis, with Pooja bedridden after multiple failed surgeries and her husband also injured and unable to work. The minister provided immediate financial assistance and assured the family a leased house would be arranged within ten days. He also intervened to expedite compensation for the husband's bus accident and directed local officials to secure the family's medical treatment and livelihood.

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy visits a critically ill woman in Nanjangud, assures financial aid, a leased house, and medical support after her plight went viral.

Mysuru, April 10 Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy visited the residence of a critically ill woman in Hullalli village of Nanjangud taluk in Mysuru district on Friday, and extended support to her family after a video highlighting her condition went viral on social media.

The woman, identified as 24yearold Pooja, has been bedridden for several months due to severe health complications. A youth had recorded and shared a video of her condition on social media, urging people to circulate it until it reached Kumaraswamy. After watching the video, the minister personally visited her home to assess the situation and offer assistance.

Kumaraswamy spent nearly 45 minutes interacting with Pooja, her husband Ravi, and her parents Kumar and Sheela. 

He assured the family of his support and comforted them during the visit. The family was visibly emotional upon his arrival, and Pooja broke down on seeing the minister.

The minister also gathered details about the family's condition from local residents, Janata Dal (Secular) leaders, panchayat officials, and the tahsildar. 

He appreciated the youth, Chetan, who had shared the video and helped raise awareness of the issue.

Pooja has been undergoing treatment for a spinal condition, but complications from the treatment have affected both her legs. She has already undergone surgery on one leg, which was unsuccessful, and recently underwent another operation on the other leg. Despite multiple surgeries, her condition has not improved, and she remains unable to walk.

The family is facing severe financial hardship. They do not own a house and are currently living in a small rented home, struggling to pay a monthly rent of Rs 3,000. Pooja's father had earlier sold their house and a small piece of land to fund her treatment. Her husband, Ravi, is also bedridden after being injured in a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus accident, leaving the family without any source of income.

Moved by their plight, Kumaraswamy provided immediate financial assistance for medical treatment.

He also assured the family that arrangements would be made to provide them with a leased house within a week to ten days. He entrusted local leaders, including MLA Harish Gowda and MLC Manjegowda, with the responsibility of arranging the accommodation and monitoring the family's condition.

The minister also spoke to the house owner by phone, requesting more time for the family on humanitarian grounds and offering to pay the lease amount himself. However, the owner informed him that the house was being put up for sale. 

Kumaraswamy then directed local leaders to make alternative arrangements and said he would also discuss the matter with the Mysuru Deputy Commissioner and the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer.

The family also raised concerns about Ravi's accident case, stating that there had been no progress in court proceedings. Kumaraswamy immediately spoke to the concerned lawyer and later contacted the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, urging him to facilitate compensation for the family.

The Managing Director assured that the matter would be resolved, possibly through a Lok Adalat.

The minister instructed the tahsildar to arrange a small shop for the family's livelihood and directed party leaders to ensure medical treatment for both Pooja and her husband in Mysuru. MLC S.N. Manjegowda also assured support for the education of the couple's children.

Several leaders, including MLA Harish Gowda, MLC C.N. Manjegowda, former MLA Mahadev, and Ashwin Kumar, along with other Janata Dal (Secular) members, were present during the visit.

Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy, along with his wife Anita Kumaraswamy, visited Chamundi Hills and offered prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari. He later visited Nanjangud and offered prayers at the Sri Nanjundeshwara temple, praying for the welfare and prosperity of the state.

- IANS
Laos is implementing comprehensive measures to ensure the 2026 Lao New Year is celebrated safely and meaningfully. Authorities are tightening controls on noise, fireworks, and traffic, with extra police deployed to reduce accidents. Provinces like Champasak and Savannakhet are organizing cultural activities to showcase heritage and boost local tourism. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to stabilize markets and prevent price gouging during the holiday period.

Laos prepares for Lao New Year 2026 with enhanced safety, traffic controls, and cultural activities to ensure a joyful and traditional festival.

Vientiane, April 10 Laos is gearing up for the 2026 Lao New Year celebrations, with preparations underway across the country to ensure a joyful, safe, and culturally meaningful festival.

The Lao New Year is the most important festival in the Lao calendar. This year's holiday will be observed from April 14 to 16.

Authorities have introduced a wide range of measures aimed at maintaining public order, preserving traditions, and enhancing safety during the holiday period, Xinhua News Agency reported.

A notice issued on Tuesday outlined restrictions on noise levels, requiring the controlled use of sound equipment to avoid disturbing local communities. Controls have also been tightened on fireworks, including rockets and sky lanterns, while stricter guidelines have been introduced to reduce risks during the celebrations.

Road safety remains a key priority, as travel typically increases during the holiday. The Lao Ministry of Public Security has announced the deployment of additional traffic police at key locations, along with stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to reduce accidents and ensure safe travel for the public.

The government is also encouraging more modest celebrations, urging the public to limit unnecessary travel and consider using electric vehicles to conserve fuel amid ongoing global economic and energy challenges. Authorities have been instructed to ensure sufficient supplies of essential goods and to closely monitor prices to prevent increases during the holiday.

At the provincial level, preparations are also in full swing. In Champasak province, officials are organising a series of cultural, religious, and tourism activities aimed at showcasing Lao heritage and boosting the local economy. Meanwhile, Savannakhet province has issued detailed guidelines calling for orderly, meaningful, and cost-conscious celebrations, with an emphasis on cultural preservation, public security, and environmental cleanliness.

Local officials have also stepped up efforts to stabilise markets, banning unauthorised price increases and deploying inspection teams to monitor markets and retail outlets during the holiday period.

These measures are intended to ensure that Lao New Year 2026 is celebrated in a safe, orderly, and festive manner, while upholding the nation's long-standing cultural traditions.

- IANS
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, while in Goa for a conference, addressed the local Marwari-Rajasthani community. He stated their hard work and determination strengthen Goa's cultural diversity and economic prosperity. Birla highlighted the community's widespread global presence and their role in embodying the spirit of "Ek Bharat - Shreshth Bharat". He also expressed encouragement at the rapid progress and growing workforce participation of women.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, in Goa, commended the Marwari-Rajasthani community for strengthening cultural diversity and economic growth.

Panaji, April 9 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is in Goa to inaugurate the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Zone VII Conference, addressed members of the Marwari-Rajasthani community living in the state.

Speaking on this occasion, he said that he was very pleased to meet Marwari-Rajasthani brothers and sisters in Goa, a state rich in tourism, art, and culture.

He noted that the presence of the hardworking people of Rajasthan further strengthens Goa's cultural diversity and economic prosperity.

Birla noted that there is hardly any place in the country or the world where members of the Rajasthani community are not based. People from the state, through their hard work, determination, and innovation, not only prosper but also embody the spirit of "Ek Bharat - Shreshth Bharat", he said, according to a release.

Expressing happiness at the large participation of women in the event, Lok Sabha Speaker said that women are progressing rapidly in various fields today, and their growing participation in the workforce is encouraging.

Birla extended his best wishes to everyone and said that the role of the Marwari community in the development of the nation and society should continue to grow stronger, and that their efforts for public welfare should be successful.

Later, in a post on X, Birla asserted that his interaction with the Rajasthani community brought him immense joy.

"Today, meeting Rajasthani brothers and sisters in Goa brought immense joy. Rajasthani emigrants, hailing from various parts of Rajasthan, have enhanced the prestige of Marudhara across the country and around the world. With excellence in fields such as education, business, startups, and more, you have also preserved your culture and traditions," he said.

"My heartfelt greetings to all Rajasthani emigrants who tirelessly contribute to the progress of their birthplace and place of work with their capabilities," he added.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after he took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha, praising his commitment to good governance and his indelible contribution to Bihar's development. Kumar's oath marks a significant shift, ending his long association with the Bihar Legislative Council. With this move, he joins a select group of leaders who have served in all four legislative bodies in India. Senior JD-U leaders have backed Kumar, asserting his governance model will continue to guide Bihar.

PM Narendra Modi praised Nitish Kumar's governance & experience as the Bihar CM took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP, marking a career shift.

New Delhi, April 10 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Bihar Chief Minister and JD supremo Nitish Kumar after he took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "His commitment to good governance has been appreciated everywhere. He has made an indelible contribution to the development of Bihar."



He further praised Nitish Kumar for being "one of the most experienced leaders in the country".



The Prime Minister expressed happiness at Kumar's return to Parliament. "It will be a great pleasure to see him in Parliament once again. He has also served for many years as a Member of Parliament and Union Minister," he said.



PM Modi also exhibited confidence that the Bihar Chief Minister's long political experience "will further enhance the dignity of Parliament".



"Heartiest congratulations to him on taking oath as a Rajya Sabha MP, and heaps of best wishes for his upcoming term," the Prime Minister said.



Notably, Nitish Kumar's oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha marked a significant shift in his long political career.



He had arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, accompanied by Sanjay Jha and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, to complete the necessary formalities related to his induction into the Upper House of Parliament.



With this development, Kumar has joined a select group of leaders in the country who have served in all four legislative bodies -- the State Legislative Assembly, State Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha.



This is being seen as a unique distinction in his long political career.



He was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 this year and subsequently resigned from his position as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on March 30.



This resignation also marks the end of Nitish Kumar's long association with the Bihar Legislative Council.



Significantly, senior leaders of the Janata Dal-United on Friday strongly backed Kumar, asserting that his governance model will continue to guide the state even as he embarks on a new parliamentary role as a Rajya Sabha member.





- IANS
Maharashtra's Environment Minister Pankaja Munde announced the state is finalizing a dedicated River Rejuvenation Authority to shift focus from beautification to pollution control. The authority will enforce strict action against industries and local bodies discharging untreated sewage into rivers. Minister Munde directed immediate removal of encroachments and mandated sewage treatment plants for all housing societies. She expressed grave concern after inspecting polluted sites on the Indrayani and Pavana rivers, calling for citizen and industrial cooperation.

Maharashtra announces a new River Rejuvenation Authority to tackle pollution, focusing on sewage treatment and strict action against violators.

Pune, April 10 Maharashtra's Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Pankaja Munde, on Friday announced that the government is in the final stages of establishing a dedicated River Rejuvenation Authority, as the primary focus must shift from river beautification to absolute pollution control. 

The Authority is tasked with curbing rising water pollution and ensuring the effective implementation of environmental policies. 

The Minister was speaking at a highlevel review meeting held at the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

Minister Munde highlighted the critical issue of untreated sewage from local bodies, private entities, and industries being discharged directly into riverbeds. 

She noted that while many industries have installed Sewage Treatment Plants, many remain nonfunctional due to poor maintenance. 

"Moving forward, we will not limit ourselves to merely issuing notices. Direct and stringent action will be taken against industries violating norms," she warned.

Minister Munde instructed that the Pune and PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporations must immediately remove encroachments along riverbeds. Every housing society must be mandated to have its own Sewage Treatment Plant. 

Local administrations must ensure every stream is connected to a Sewage Treatment Plant so that only treated water enters the rivers.

The meeting also addressed deteriorating air quality. Minister Munde pointed out that construction sites failing to use proper covers contribute significantly to dust pollution. 

She directed the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation to issue immediate notices to such sites and enforce air pollution mitigation measures.

Technical presentations regarding the rejuvenation of the Indrayani, Pavana, and MulaMutha rivers were delivered by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority Chief Engineer Rinaj Pathan and PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni, said the release.

Following the meeting, Minister Munde conducted an onsite inspection of the Raw Water Pumping Stations at Talawade (Indrayani River) and Rawet (Pavana River). 

Upon witnessing toxic foam, sewage, and water hyacinth in the Indrayani, she expressed grave concern. 

"Preserving the sanctity of the Indrayani river is our priority," Minister Munde stated.

She directed officials to take immediate steps to clear water hyacinth and stop the flow of industrial effluents. 

She said that while the government is taking firm steps, achieving clean, flowing rivers can only be achieved through citizen cooperation and the industrial sector's strict adherence to regulations.

- IANS
Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has voiced his support for conferring the Bharat Ratna on Mangal Pandey, a key figure in the 1857 uprising against British rule. Tiwari stated that while Pandey's legacy surpasses the award, the recognition is important. Mangal Pandey, a sepoy in the British East India Company, sparked a major rebellion by attacking British officers in Barrackpore. His execution on April 8, 1857, became a defining moment in India's struggle for independence.

Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari endorses the demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on freedom fighter Mangal Pandey, calling his legacy greater than the award.

Ballia, April 10 Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has supported the demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on Mangal Pandey, one of the earliest icons of India's freedom struggle. He remarked that while Pandey deserves the country's highest civilian award, his legacy is far greater than any honour.

Speaking to reporters, Tiwari said he had not been fully aware of the demand earlier but now considers it justified.

"It is a very valid demand. Mangal Pandey truly deserves the Bharat Ratna. If Uttar Pradesh Minister Dayashankar Singh takes this initiative forward, I will also support it. In fact, Mangal Pandey is far above the Bharat Ratna, but recognition is important, and I will raise my voice for it," he stated.

Mangal Pandey, whose name resonates strongly in India's independence movement, was born on July 19, 1827, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. He served as a sepoy in the British East India Company's 34th Bengal Native Infantry. However, it was his act of defiance in 1857 that turned him into a symbol of resistance against colonial rule.

April 8 marked the 169th death anniversary of the revolutionary, whose actions are widely seen as a catalyst for India's first large-scale uprising against British authority. The unrest was triggered by the introduction of the Enfield rifle cartridges, which were rumoured to be greased with animal fat -- deeply offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. Although the British denied these claims, mistrust and anger spread rapidly among the sepoys.

Tensions eventually reached a breaking point on March 29, 1857, when Mangal Pandey openly rebelled at Barrackpore and attacked British officers. His actions ignited a wave of resistance that soon spread across northern and central India.

Following his arrest, Pandey faced a court-martial but remained firm in his stance, asserting that his rebellion was a personal decision. He was executed by hanging on April 8, 1857, a moment that became a defining chapter in India's struggle for independence.

Pandey's sacrifice inspired many others, and the uprising of 1857 evolved into a broader movement involving both soldiers and civilians. April 8 is remembered as the First War of Independence, laying the foundation for India's eventual freedom. His legacy continues to inspire generations of Indians.

His contribution to the Indian freedom movement was acknowledged in 1984 with a commemorative postage stamp issued by the Government of India.

- IANS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit India next month following a productive meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Washington. The talks centered on bolstering bilateral ties in defense, trade, critical minerals, and technology, including cooperation under the Quad framework. Regional security developments, particularly in West Asia, were a prominent part of the discussions during Misri's series of high-level US engagements. The meetings underscored the growing strategic convergence between India and the US across economic and security domains.

US Secretary Marco Rubio signals India visit after meeting Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Washington, focusing on defense, tech, and Quad cooperation.

Washington, April 10 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit India next month following a "productive meeting" with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, as both sides push forward cooperation in defence, trade and critical technologies.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the talks focused on "our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad."

"Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Gor said, indicating a likely high-level engagement aimed at further strengthening ties. Misri's meeting with Rubio was held at the White House.

The meeting with Rubio marked the centrepiece of Misri's Washington visit, underlining the growing strategic convergence between the two countries across economic and security domains.

Separately, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met Misri and "reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries," according to a statement by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

"The leaders reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries and shared news about the situation in the Persian Gulf and other global and regional priorities," the statement said.

Regional security developments, particularly in West Asia, figured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exchanging views amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Misri also held talks with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, where the two sides "took stock of the India-US bilateral agenda since the Foreign Office Consultations held in December last year."

They further "shared assessments on recent developments in West Asia, as well as regional issues of mutual interest," the Indian Embassy said.

Economic and technology cooperation remained a key pillar of the engagement. In a meeting with Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, both sides agreed to deepen collaboration in emerging sectors.

"They agreed to take forward cooperation under Pax Silica and the broader economic and technology engagements, including in AI and critical minerals," the embassy said.

In addition to official meetings, Misri interacted with Washington's strategic community, engaging with think tanks on the "current state and future trajectory of India-US bilateral ties."

These discussions examined "the opportunities to be seized and the challenges to be addressed in a rapidly evolving world order," along with the implications of ongoing geopolitical developments for global energy, food and economic security.

- IANS
Delhi's Irrigation and Flood Control Minister inspected pre-monsoon desilting work at the Delhi Gate and Barapulla drains. The Delhi Gate drain, covered for nearly 40 years, is being opened and cleaned thoroughly for the first time. Desilting at these key drains is over 70% complete, with thousands of tonnes of silt already removed. The minister emphasized that this work aims to provide significant relief from waterlogging in several central and south Delhi areas this monsoon.

Delhi's flood control minister reviews progress as over 14 lakh tonnes of silt removed. 40-year-old covered drain opened for first time to prevent waterlogging.

New Delhi, April 10 In a push to monsoon preparedness, Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Friday conducted an on-ground inspection of desilting work at the Delhi Gate drain and the Barapulla drain.

The visit highlighted both the scale and seriousness of efforts underway to tackle waterlogging in the capital before the onset of rains, said an official statement.

The Minister said that desilting at the Delhi Gate drain has already crossed 70 per cent, with over 21,000 metric tonnes of silt removed so far.

"The work is progressing at a fast pace, with visible on-ground deployment of machinery and manpower," he said.

"This is not just about cleaning drains; it is about correcting years of neglect and ensuring that Delhi is prepared before the rains arrive. The Delhi Gate drain, which remained covered for nearly 40 years, is now finally being opened and cleaned properly. This will make a real difference on the ground," he said.

He said at the Barapulla drain, desilting work is nearing 78 per cent completion, with more than 31,000 metric tonnes of silt cleared.

In a major development, the Delhi Gate drain, which had remained covered with slabs for nearly 40 years, is now being opened up for thorough cleaning.

For decades, the covered structure had severely restricted proper desilting, contributing to repeated waterlogging in nearby areas. 

For the first time in 40 years, slabs are being dismantled to allow complete access to the drain, enabling deep cleaning and restoring its carrying capacity, the statement said.

Reviewing the overall progress of Irrigation & Flood Control Department (IFCD) drains, the Minister informed that out of 77 identified drains, nearly 50 per cent desilting has already been completed, with more than 14 lakh metric tonnes of silt removed so far. 

The department has set a target of 28 lakh metric tonnes, and work is being carried out continuously to meet this goal within timelines.

Parvesh Sahib Singh said, "Our focus is clear: start early, work with urgency, and complete desilting on time. The progress at Barapulla and Delhi Gate shows that work is happening seriously, not just on paper. With both these drains being strengthened, areas like Daryaganj, Jama Masjid, Feroz Shah Road, ITO, South Extension, and Okhla are expected to get significant relief from waterlogging this monsoon."

The Minister emphasised that desilting work across the rains this year is being closely monitored with accountability at every level to avoid delays and ensure quality execution.

- IANS
A new 400 kV transmission line has been commissioned to strengthen the power infrastructure for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The line will add significant transfer capacity, improve voltage levels, and reduce transmission losses. The long-delayed project faced numerous technical and logistical challenges, including permissions near a radio telescope. Its completion is expected to relieve load on existing lines and improve overall grid reliability for the growing region.

Maharashtra commissions Babhaleshwar-Kudus 400 kV line, adding 3000 MW capacity to enhance Mumbai region's grid reliability and reduce transmission losses.

Mumbai, April 9 The Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited successfully commissioned its ambitious Babhaleshwar-Kudus 400 kV transmission line on Thursday, strengthening power infrastructure in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The newly operational line is expected to enhance the stability, reliability, and efficiency of power supply across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Ahilyanagar districts. The project will help reduce transmission losses by approximately 5 MW and improve voltage levels across the region, said the Mahatransco in a statement.

Importantly, the double-circuit transmission line will enable an additional power transfer capacity of up to 3000 MW, ensuring better management of rising electricity demand in the fast-growing Mumbai region.

Originally approved in 2010 and targeted for completion by 2013, the project faced multiple delays due to technical and administrative challenges. However, with coordinated efforts by various government agencies and expedited governance, the project was finally completed in March 2026.

The project involved the installation of 715 transmission towers across a total line length of approximately 228 km. Of these, 485 towers and 304 circuit km of stringing work were completed under the Nashik division, while 230 towers and 152 circuit km were completed under the Vashi division.

Execution of the project posed several challenges, including obtaining special permissions for passing through the vicinity of the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune district. Additional hurdles included land compensation issues, forest clearances, right-of-way (RoW) constraints, and logistical challenges in transporting materials. In forested areas, materials had to be transported manually, while in certain sections, work was completed using advanced hotline stringing techniques, said the statement.

The commissioning of this line will reduce the load on the existing Padghe-Babhaleshwar transmission lines and significantly improve overall grid reliability. It will also provide an additional power source to the Kudus substation, helping meet the increasing electricity demand in the Mumbai region.

Mahatransco credited the success of the project to the cooperation and support of local public representatives, revenue authorities, police, and forest departments.

- IANS
Election officials have begun conducting mock polls at various booths in Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In Kerala, over 2.6 crore electors will decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies. Assam has more than 2.5 crore eligible voters for its 126 seats, with webcasting enabled at all polling stations for monitoring. Puducherry's Chief Electoral Officer confirmed the deployment of sector officers for its 30 assembly seats.

Election officials conduct mock polling in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry ahead of voting. Get key voter statistics and polling details.

New Delhi, April 9 Ahead of the voting in Assam, Keralam and the Union Territory of Puducherry, the officials conducted mock polls at various polling booths on Thursday.

The Mock polls are underway at polling booth 262 at Anappara Government School in Pathanamthitta in Keralam.

Mock polling is underway for the Assam Assembly Elections at polling station numbers 115 and 116 in Kamrup Metropolitan District and at polling station no. 9 at Girls' High School at Thrippunithura.

Voting preparation is also underway in Puducherry.

Voting will be held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam, and 30 in Puducherry in this phase of the election. Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23, and West Bengal on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4. The polling will begin at 7 am.

In Keralam, over 2.6 crore electors will decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies.

Of the 2,69,53,644 registered voters across the state, there are 1,38,27,319 women voters, and the number of male voters stands at 1,31,26,048. Officials said 277 voters have been registered in the 'third gender category.'

Among the electorate, nearly 4,24,518 voters fall in the 18-19 age group, while 2,04,608 voters are aged 85 years and above

To facilitate safe and secure polling, a total of 30,471 polling stations have been set up, which comprises 119 logistic and voter machine distribution centres and 41 vote counting centres.

In Assam, more than 2.5 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise for the 126-member legislative assembly. There are 722 candidates in the fray.

Of 2,50,54,463 electors, 1,25,31,552 are male voters and 1,25,22,593 females. There are 318 voters in the Transgender category and 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.

To strengthen the monitoring mechanism, webcasting facilities have been arranged in accordance with the Commission's directions, a release said.

Webcasting has been enabled in all 31,490 polling stations, including 31,486 main polling stations and 4 auxiliary polling stations.

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.

In Puducherry, 10,14,070 electors are eligible to cast their votes to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly.

The electorate includes 5,39,125 female voters, 4,74,788 male voters, and 157 voters belonging to the third gender category.

A total of 24,156 voters fall in the age group of 18-19 years, while 6,034 voters belong to the senior citizen category, aged 85 and above.

Speaking with ANI, Puducherry Chief Electoral Officer P Jawahar said that 110 sector officers have been deployed across 1,099 polling stations, out of which 209 stations are categorised as vulnerable.

- ANI
Wheat procurement at the Minimum Support Price has commenced in Madhya Pradesh, with the state government adding a Rs 40 bonus to the central rate, bringing the total to Rs 2,625 per quintal. Farmers arriving at the Udaram Aswani Warehouse in Bhopal expressed satisfaction with the pricing, which they report is significantly higher than recent mandi prices. They also praised the improved arrangements at the procurement centre, including proper weighing, stacking, and waiting facilities with shade and water. Warehouse operators note a steady influx of farmers and a system that prioritizes slots for small landholders.

Wheat procurement at MSP with Rs 40 bonus starts in Bhopal. Farmers praise improved arrangements and better pricing compared to mandi rates.

Bhopal, April 10 Wheat procurement at the Minimum Support Price has commenced across Madhya Pradesh, including the state capital Bhopal, from April 9, with farmers expressing satisfaction over pricing and arrangements at procurement centres.

The state government is providing an additional bonus of Rs 40 on the MSP rate of the Government of India for wheat at Rs 2,585 per quintal, taking the total to Rs 2,625 per quintal. Procurement operations have started at the Udaram Aswani Warehouse situated in Kolukhedi, Bhopal with farmers from Kajlas and Bhauri arriving to sell their produce.

Farmers arriving at the centre expressed pleasure over the arrangement, procurement process and pricing at the centre.

A farmer from Barkheda, Ramswaroop Mewada, said, "I have brought 49.5 quintals of wheat to the procurement centre here. There is a fixed rate of the government Rs 2,625 per quintal (Rs 2585 and Rs 40 additional bonus) which is much better than that of mandi prices. Wheat is selling between Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,300 per quintal in Mandi a few days back. The arrangements here are good, with proper weighing and stacking facilities."

He further explained there were adequate arrangements for farmers waiting at the center as well such as tent shades and chairs for sitting along with fresh cool drinking water in clay pots.

"We are completely satisfied with the arrangement and procurement facility here," he added.

Another farmer from Bhauri said he brought around 40-45 quintals of wheat and appreciated the improved facilities at the procurement center.

"We are receiving a good rate for the crop. There is a better arrangement of weighing than that of previous years. It is beneficial for us, and we are satisfied. There is a slight delay in procurement but quite a good facility. Earlier, procurement was done at society level, but this time arrangements here are better," he said.

Manohar, a farmer from Bakania village, who brought around 50 quintals of wheat, also appreciated the arrangements at the procurement centre and described it as satisfactory.

Meanwhile, Warehouse operator Ravi Kumar Aswani said that following the directives of the state government, weighing of wheat began here and there was an arrangement of procuring wheat from two societies (Kajlas and Bhauri) here at Udaram Aswani Warehouse.

"As per arrangements, we have a storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tonnes. A small portion is occupied by rice, while the remaining space has been kept vacant for wheat. Since morning, farmers have been arriving continuously, and we expect nearly 200 trolleys to reach by evening," Aswani said.

He further informed that priority is being given to small farmers whose slots have been booked first, while slots for other farmers will be scheduled gradually.

- ANI
Authorities in Bhopal continued a demolition drive to remove illegal structures within the 50-meter catchment area of the Upper Lake, a designated Ramsar site. The joint team from the Municipal Corporation and district administration targeted constructions on private land in the Lalghati area. Officials stated that 63 encroachments were identified, with 44 on private land and 17 on government land. The action is part of ongoing enforcement of the Bhoj Wetland Rules, which prohibit construction in the protected zone around the lake.

BMC and district administration demolish illegal structures within 50m of Upper Lake's Full Tank Level to protect the Ramsar wetland site.

Bhopal, April 10 A joint team of the Municipal Corporation and the district administration continued their demolition drive to remove the illegal structures built within the catchment area of the Upper Lake's Full Tank Level on Friday, an official said.

The team of Bhopal Municipal Corporation and the district administration carried out action in Lalghati area in the state capital and demolished the illegal structures built on private lands within a specified 50-metre zone of the Upper Lake's FTL.

During the operation, adequate police personnel were deployed, and officials were also present at the site to ensure smooth execution.

"Bhoj wetland is a ramsar site and the lake's Full tank level (FTL) was jointly decided by teams of Municipal Corporation, Revenue department, Forest Department and district administration. After that we identified illegal encroachment within a 50-metre zone of the lake's FTL (catchment area), finding 63 constructions which include 44 on private land and 17 on government land," Tehsildar Harsh Vikram Singh told ANI.

He added, "Additionally, 121 encroachments were found in slum areas. We decided to remove encroachment on private land on April 10-11 while April 15-16 on government land. Today, the municipal corporation carried out an action on illegal encroachment on private land within the radius of the catchment area."

Meanwhile, anti-encroachment operations in charge Mahesh Gaur said that the action was being carried out to remove the structures built unauthorised in catchment areas and along the upper lake edges.

"An action is underway to remove the structures that are built illegally and without permission in catchment areas and along lake edges. So far, 10 identified encroachments have been demolished since morning and the action will be continued further," Gaur said.

Earlier this week, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation and district administration jointly carried out demolition action in the Bhadbhada area in the city in accordance with the Bhoj Wetland Rules, which prohibit any construction within the specified 50-metre zone of the Upper Lake's FTL.

- ANI
The Gujarat Police has launched NARIT AI, an artificial intelligence tool designed to strengthen the investigation of narcotics cases under the NDPS Act. Built on Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, it analyzes FIRs to provide real-time legal analysis, procedural guidance, and evidence checklists. The tool, developed in collaboration with a Mumbai-based AI startup, is trained on landmark court judgments and legal frameworks to minimize errors. Officials state it will act as a 'force multiplier' to improve conviction rates by ensuring procedural compliance and anticipating defense arguments in court.

Gujarat Police launches NARIT AI, an AI tool to analyze narcotics cases, improve legal compliance, and boost conviction rates in NDPS investigations.

Gandhinagar, April 10 The Gujarat Police has introduced an Artificial Intelligence-based investigation tool designed to strengthen the handling of narcotics cases and improve conviction rates, in what officials say is the first such system deployed by any state police force in India.

The application, named 'NARIT AI' (Narcotics Analysis and RAG-based Investigation Tool), was launched in Gandhinagar as part of the state's zero-tolerance approach to drug-related offences.

It is intended to assist investigating officers in dealing with cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, by providing real-time legal analysis and procedural guidance.

Built on Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, the system analyses First Information Reports (FIRs) uploaded by officers and generates detailed reports assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a case.

It compiles relevant legal provisions, case law and investigation procedures, and offers suggestions on legal remedies, compliance requirements and evidence collection.

"This is the first kind of AI-based tool being used by any state police or law enforcement agency in India," officials said, adding that the initiative is aimed at making investigations more effective and strengthening cases during court trials to ensure punishment for the accused.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the state remained committed to dismantling drug networks.

"Gujarat state is determined to eliminate drug-related crimes. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to dismantle this entire network. All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure effective investigation of drug-related crimes and to build a strong legal case against the accused, and with the help of technology, this work will become even stronger," he said.

The application has been developed by the Western Railway Police in the Vadodara division in collaboration with a Mumbai-based AI startup.

It has been implemented under the guidance of Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP), Dr K. L. N. Rao and Surat City Police Commissioner, Anupam Singh Gehlot, with Western Railway Vadodara SP, Abhay Soni leading the initiative.

Soni said the tool addresses a long-standing challenge in narcotics investigations, where procedural lapses have led to acquittals despite strong evidence.

"Earlier, investigations were carried out only by specially trained police staff, which led to workload and administrative delays. This tool will act as a 'force multiplier' by using advanced RAG-based AI technology and will empower every investigating officer to conduct proper investigations as per rules, thereby improving the conviction rate in NDPS cases. As this application is trained on High Court and Supreme Court landmark cases, bare acts, and government guidelines, the possibility of 'hallucination' is very low, and it assists investigating officers in conducting scientific investigations," he said.

Police officials said procedural compliance remains one of the biggest challenges in drug-related cases.

The application is designed to help officers avoid such lapses by identifying weaknesses in FIRs, advising on required steps, outlining what should and should not be done during investigations, and providing a checklist of evidence.

The generated reports can also be used while taking final decisions, improving the quality and consistency of investigations.

The system has been trained on landmark judgments of High Courts and the Supreme Court, as well as on legal frameworks including the NDPS Act, 1985, and the bare acts of BNS, BNSS and BSA, along with government guidelines and circulars.

It operates on a closed database and does not rely on open internet searches, a feature intended to reduce the likelihood of inaccurate outputs.

In line with recent guidelines of the Gujarat High Court on the use of artificial intelligence, the application is classified as a private AI system developed specifically for Gujarat Police and is not available to the general public.

In addition to supporting investigations, the tool can assist during court proceedings by anticipating possible defence arguments and suggesting responses based on established case law from High Courts and the Supreme Court, helping to present cases more effectively during trial.

- IANS
Parth Sunetra Ajit Pawar was sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the Nationalist Congress Party. The oath was administered by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan in New Delhi. In a social media post, Pawar committed to honestly raising the voice of the people and contributing to national development in the Upper House. His entry follows the death of his father, former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, with concurrent political developments around the Baramati Assembly by-election.

Parth Pawar, son of late Ajit Pawar, sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP. He commits to representing the people in the Upper House.

New Delhi, April 9 Representing the Nationalist Congress Party, Parth Sunetra Ajit Pawar on Thursday took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha in the presence of Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan.

The ceremony was attended by senior NCP leaders, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar.

In a post on X, Pawar wrote, "Today, in the presence of the Honourable C. P. Radhakrishnan, the Vice President of the country and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, at New Delhi, I took the oath of membership of the Rajya Sabha on behalf of the Nationalist Congress Party. On this occasion, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra State, Honourable Sunetra Ajitdada Pawar, senior esteemed leaders of the party were present."

Pawar also emphasised his commitment to raising the voice of the people in the Upper House. "Keeping in mind the trust of the people and their expectations, I will make an honest effort to effectively raise my voice in the Rajya Sabha, to present the case of the people, and to contribute to the development of the country," he wrote.

His entry into the Upper House comes after the death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and his father, Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash, headed to Baramati earlier this year.

Earlier on Thursday, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar called for an unopposed by-election to the Baramati Assembly constituency while maintaining that the decision to withdraw its candidate in favour of Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar is up to Congress.

Congress has fielded Akash More against the Mahayuti candidate and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar, who needs to be part of the Assembly to be in the Deputy CM's seat.

"Congress has decided to contest the election. It is a national party, so we can't say anything to them. But if I am asked, I would like to advise Congress that it would be best to have an unopposed election in Baramati. The decision is up to Congress," Pawar told reporters here.

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule also urged Congress to withdraw Akash More's candidature.

- ANI
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has asserted that the BJP-led NDA has no credibility and is a "zero-seat party" in Kerala as voting proceeds across the state. He expressed satisfaction with the high early voter turnout, calling it a positive sign for democracy. Tharoor highlighted the prospects of the Congress-led UDF, hoping for a more comfortable majority than in 2011. He also commented on the Women's Reservation Bill, crediting the Congress and Sonia Gandhi for initiating it.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor dismisses NDA's credibility in Kerala polls, highlights strong voter turnout and UDF's prospects. Get the latest updates.

New Delhi, April 9 Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday asserted that the BJP-led NDA has "no credibility" in Kerala, describing it as a "zero-seat party," even as voting got underway across the state with an encouraging turnout.

"I certainly don't think, and I have been making it very clear, that the NDA is a zero-seat party in Kerala. It has no credibility when it comes to any issue of government formation. There are barely two seats out of 140 where they are even considered as viable contenders," Tharoor told IANS after casting his vote.

He expressed satisfaction over the early voter turnout, calling it a positive sign for democracy. "So I've come to vote today in my usual booth, and I'm very pleased to see we've had a very good turnout. This looks like an election where Kerala voters are coming out in large numbers to vote, and that's a very good sign. It means that the people of Kerala are not leaving it to the political activists and cadres to come and decide..." he said.

Highlighting the electoral prospects of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), Tharoor added, "Last time we had an opportunity to run the government in 2011, the people gave us a very, very narrow majority. This time I'm hoping for a better number, a more comfortable basis for our government to make a real difference."

He also dismissed the NDA's presence in the state, saying, "I've been running through the state. I haven't seen very many signs at all of any NDA credible presence. In a couple of constituencies out of 140, people say they have a chance; they're viable. But these are all three-cornered fights where UDF, LDF and NDA are all fighting. So I would not at all assume that the NDA would have any chance even of guaranteed victory anywhere."

Polling is underway across all 140 constituencies in Kerala, with voters turning out in significant numbers, making it one of the most closely-watched elections in the state in recent years.

Meanwhile, Tharoor also commented on the Women's Reservation Bill. He reiterated the Congress party's stance: "We are the ones who initiated it. It was actually Sonia Gandhi who brought the first Women's Reservation Bill during the UPA government. So we want women's reservation - the question is what is the mechanism, what is the change they want to bring? We have seen media rumours; we have not seen the Bill."

- IANS
Kerala's Assembly election witnessed a remarkable surge in voter participation, with nearly 50% of the 2.71 crore electorate casting their ballots by 1 PM. This brisk pace has raised expectations that the state could finally breach the 80% turnout mark, a threshold not crossed since 1987. The current voter enthusiasm contrasts with the 77% turnout in 2016 and the 75% in the last election, injecting fresh uncertainty into the tightly contested race. Officials and parties are closely watching to see if the afternoon surge can sustain and potentially challenge the state's historic high of 85% recorded in 1960.

Nearly 50% of Kerala's 2.71 crore voters cast ballots by 1 PM, raising prospects of breaking the 80% turnout record last seen in 1987.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 Kerala's high-stakes Assembly election gathered remarkable momentum on Thursday, with nearly 50 per cent of the state's 2.71 crore electorate having exercised their franchise by 1 p.m., raising expectations that the final turnout could challenge long-standing records.

With polling set to close at 6 p.m., all eyes are now on whether the state will breach the elusive 80 per cent mark and possibly inch closer to its historic high of 85 per cent recorded in 1960.

The steady stream of voters across urban and rural booths alike has injected fresh uncertainty into an already tightly contested election.

Officials led by Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Khelkar had set an ambitious target of 85 per cent turnout this time.

While that benchmark remains challenging, the brisk pace of voting has made crossing 80 per cent a realistic possibility, something Kerala has not achieved since 1987, when turnout last touched that level.

In recent electoral cycles, participation has remained robust but below the 80 per cent threshold.

The 2016 Assembly election, which brought Pinarayi Vijayan to power, recorded a turnout of around 77 per cent.

Five years later, when he secured a historic re-election, the figure dipped slightly to about 75 per cent.

This time, with a revised electoral roll placing the total voter base at 2.71 crore, the early surge has left political parties watching developments closely.

Higher turnout levels have traditionally produced unpredictable outcomes in Kerala, often reshaping electoral arithmetic in the final stretch.

Across constituencies, long queues and enthusiastic participation cutting across age groups and regions have become a defining feature of the day.

Polling officials attribute the strong response to heightened voter awareness, competitive campaigning, and a keen sense among the electorate about the stakes involved.

As the day progresses, the central question remains: Will the surge sustain through the afternoon and push Kerala into record territory, and more importantly, who stands to gain from a higher voter turnout?

- IANS
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Mauritius reinforced the strategic partnership with concrete outcomes across multiple sectors. Key achievements included the inauguration of 11 community projects, a new renal transplant unit, and the handover of 90 electric buses to promote green mobility. The launch of a dedicated iGost Karmayogi platform and progress on the Special Economic Package 2025 further deepened institutional and developmental cooperation. The visit underscored India's commitment to a sustainable, people-centric partnership under its Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR.

EAM Jaishankar's Mauritius visit yielded key pacts in health, education, green mobility & infrastructure, boosting India's Neighbourhood First policy.

New Delhi, April 11 External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Mauritius has delivered a series of impactful outcomes across health, education, infrastructure, and green mobility, reaffirming India's commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and support for the Global South.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit underscored a shared focus on sustainable and peoplecentric partnership.

Among the key outcomes was the signing of a Letter of Exchange between the governments of India and Mauritius for the implementation of projects under the Special Economic Package 2025.

Eleven High Impact Community Development Projects were inaugurated across Mauritius, covering areas such as sustainable development, energy, sports, and infrastructure.

The visit also marked the launch of the first dedicated iGOT Karmayogi platform for a partner country, aimed at enhancing capacity building and governance.

In the health sector, Jaishankar inaugurated a Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, while India handed over 90 electric buses to Mauritius to promote green mobility.

Educational cooperation was strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding between the University Grants Commission of India and the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius.

Additionally, India handed over a royalty cheque of USD 45,000 from the sale of nautical charts, in line with the protocol on navigational chart sales.

India and Mauritius share deep historical and cultural ties, with Mauritius hosting one of the largest Indian diasporas.

Bilateral relations have been marked by close cooperation in trade, investment, and development projects.

India has consistently supported Mauritius in areas ranging from infrastructure to capacity building, reflecting its broader commitment to the Indian Ocean region under Vision MAHASAGAR.

Ambassador Randhir Jaiswal noted that the visit highlighted India's role as a proactive partner in sustainable development, while Mauritius reaffirmed its appreciation for India's continued support.

- IANS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the expulsion of Spanish representatives from the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre in Kiryat Gat. The move is a direct response to Spain's sharp criticism of recent Israeli military strikes in Lebanon. Spanish leaders, including Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and President Pedro Sanchez, have condemned the attacks as a violation of international law. The coordination centre was established as part of a U.S.-led plan to facilitate aid into Gaza.

PM Netanyahu removes Spanish representatives from Kiryat Gat coordination centre following Spain's condemnation of Israeli military strikes in Lebanon.

Tel Aviv, April 10 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the expulsion of Spanish representatives from the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, following strong criticism from Spain over Israeli military strikes in Lebanon.

In a strongly worded statement, Netanyahu accused Spain of defaming Israeli soldiers and taking a hostile stance against the country.

"Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us. Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world. Therefore, I have instructed today to remove Spain's representatives from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel," he said.

He further warned that countries criticising Israel instead of what he termed "terrorist regimes" would not be considered partners in shaping the region's future.

"Those who attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes will not be our partners regarding the future of the region. I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price," Netanyahu added.

The move comes after Spain sharply criticised Israel's recent military actions in Lebanon despite the announcement of a ceasefire deal.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, speaking during a session of the Foreign Affairs Committee, described the situation as dire.

"The situation in Lebanon is critical, extremely serious, and a disgrace to the conscience of humanity. The attacks must cease immediately. Spain supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, the Lebanese government, and UNIFIL," Albares said.

Earlier this week, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez also condemned the strikes in a post on X, calling for urgent international action.

"Just today, Netanyahu launches his harshest attack against Lebanon since the offensive began. His contempt for life and international law is intolerable. It's time to speak clearly: Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire. The international community must condemn this new violation of international law. The European Union must suspend its Association Agreement with Israel. And there must be no impunity for these criminal acts," Sanchez stated in his post on X.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), operating under US Central Command (CENTCOM), was established in October 2025 to coordinate and streamline the delivery of humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from the international community into the Gaza Strip as part of Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.

- ANI
US Vice President JD Vance firmly denied that Lebanon was ever part of the truce negotiations between the United States and Iran. This contradicts public claims made by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had presented the deal as a Pakistani initiative. A Financial Times report suggests Pakistan was pushed by the White House to broker the temporary ceasefire, acting more as a messenger than a neutral mediator. The diplomatic confusion and a blunder by Sharif on social media have exposed Pakistan's limited independent role and put the PM in an embarrassing position.

JD Vance refutes claims Lebanon was included in US-Iran truce talks, contradicting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and exposing diplomatic missteps.

Budapest, April 9 US Vice President JD Vance firmly discarded the claims of Lebanon being a part of the truce talks between Washington and Tehran, as the precarious two-week ceasefire comes into place.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure from Hungary, on whether Lebanon was included in the peace proposal, Vance said that the United States never made any such promises. He underlined that the ceasefire was aimed at a focus on Iran, and American allies--both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.

"We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case. What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran and the ceasefire would be focused on America's allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states."

The remarks by Vance has put Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in a tight spot after he had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal--a claim firmly dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The embarrassment to the self-styled mediator's claims comes as a part of the carousel of chaos Islamabad has seen in the last few hours.

Pakistan had attempted to present itself as a peacemaker between the US and Iran, but the new details from a Financial Times report suggest that it was rather pushed by White House to broker the temporary ceasefire with Iran.

The report posed serious questions about Pakistan's independent diplomatic stance as it suggests that Islamabad was not a neutral broker but rather a convenient channel for the US to push the temporary ceasefire deal.

Financial Times, citing the people familiar with the talks, reported that the US leaned on Pakistan to present Washington's proposal to Iran, making the country a mere messenger between the two sides rather than having an active neutral participation.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, who was the first one to suggest a two-week ceasefire in public, was reduced to a spectator with Army chief Asim Munir playing a central role, holding urgent discussions with US officials, including Donald Trump, JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff.

The blunder from Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif on a social media post, in a rush to claim credit, also exposed limited say over the deal.

Sharif, who framed the deal as Pakistan's initiative, mistakenly included a subject line at the top of his post: "draft -- Pakistan's PM message on X"

Pakistan's attempt to cast itself as a neutral player also came under threat when a drone attack hit the Saudi petrochemical hub of Jubail, a Financial Times report revealed.

Islamabad had signed a mutual defence pact with Riyadh last year. Pakistan still stayed neutral, allowing it to engage in diplomatic efforts.

The diplomatic doublespeak over Lebanon puts the US-Iran peace deal in danger.

As tensions escalate, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday that the country declared a day of mourning after a wave of Israeli strikes killed at least 254 people and injured more than 1,165 in a single day on Wednesday.

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.

Meanwhile, Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, reaffirmed Tel Aviv's objective is to achieve a situation without "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure" in Southern Lebanon as Israel continues to strike Lebanon after the ceasefire with Iran.

- ANI
NDA to decide new leadership in meeting with PM Modi

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as a Rajya Sabha member, confirming his imminent resignation from the state's top post. He stated he would step down in a matter of days, paving the way for new leadership in Bihar. High-level NDA meetings are scheduled in Delhi, involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to finalize the next Chief Minister and government formation. The transition underscores a significant political shift, with allies pledging to continue the development-focused 'Nitish Model'.

Nitish Kumar to take Rajya Sabha oath, confirms imminent resignation as Bihar Chief Minister. NDA meeting with PM Modi to decide successor.

Patna, April 10 Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal Chief Nitish Kumar will take oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Both Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Choudhary arrived in the national capital on Thursday and are likely to attend the oath-taking event.

Following his election to the Rajya Sabha, Kumar resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) on March 30.

On Thursday, Nitish Kumar arrived in New Delhi and later confirmed that he would soon resign as Chief Minister.

Speaking to reporters on the reason behind his move, he had said, "I have accomplished a lot of work in Bihar. Now I felt that I should remain here, and that is what I am doing."

He further added, "I will step down from my role there and work here. I will resign in three or four days. New individuals will be appointed as Chief Minister and Ministers."

Nitish Kumar was accompanied by Sanjay Jha, National Working President of the Janata Dal (United), and Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary.

Earlier, Sanjay Jha had indicated that the process of forming a new government in Bihar would begin after April 13.

Nitish Kumar's latest remarks have now made it clear that the transition is imminent.

Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Vijay Choudhary stated that the entire NDA, including leaders from the BJP and its allies, is united in carrying forward Nitish Kumar's governance model.

"We will continue to work on the 'Nitish Model' under which Bihar has achieved significant progress over the past two decades. This legacy will guide our future path," he said.

Following his swearing-in as a Rajya Sabha member, Nitish Kumar is likely to participate in a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to chart the roadmap for the formation of the next government in Bihar.

According to sources, top leaders of the NDA are expected to finalise the name of the next Chief Minister of Bihar and the distribution of ministerial portfolios.

These decisions are likely to be taken in the presence of PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Nitish Kumar, underscoring the meeting's significance.

Meanwhile, Bihar's Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha have also reached New Delhi. They are expected to participate in a BJP core committee meeting, where discussions regarding leadership and power-sharing arrangements in Bihar are likely to take place.

These high-level deliberations come amid an ongoing political transition in Bihar, with Nitish Kumar having already indicated his decision to step down as Chief Minister shortly after moving to the Rajya Sabha. The developments suggest that the NDA is moving swiftly to ensure a smooth leadership transition and formation of a new government in the state.

- IANS
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar stated the West Bengal elections are a direct contest between the BJP and Trinamool Congress, dismissing any concern about Aam Janata Unnayan Party's Humayun Kabir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, campaigning in the state, sharply criticized the TMC government for an alleged protocol lapse during President Droupadi Murmu's visit. He framed the incident as an insult to the tribal community, women, and the Constitution. Assembly polling is set for two phases in late April, with results due in May.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar says BJP-TMC direct fight in Bengal, dismisses Humayun Kabir. PM Modi slams TMC for protocol lapse with President Murmu.

Balurghat, April 10 Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday said there is a direct fight between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in West Bengal polls.

"We have no reason to worry about Humayun Kabir, nor do we have the time. There is a direct fight between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. What Humayun Kabir will do is Humayun Kabir's matter," he told ANI, answering a query on the purported viral video of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir.

Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed rallies in West Bengal on Thursday, slammed TMC over "lapses in the protocol" during the visit of President Droupadi Murmu for a tribal conference in West Bengal.

"What kind of mentality does a TMC have that can insult even the country's first tribal woman President? How much arrogance is there? President Droupadi Murmu ji had come here for a major event of the Santhal community; no matter which government is in power in the country, it is your duty under the Constitution to give due respect to the President. But this arrogant TMC government doesn't consider even the country's President to be anything," he said.

"Is it just because our President Ji is the daughter of the tribal community that you feel entitled to insult her? This is an insult to all tribals of the country, this is an insult to all women of the country, this is an insult to the Constitution of the country," he added.

- ANI
The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps successfully concluded Operation HimSetu, evacuating 1,321 tourists and 84 locals stranded in Sikkim within a 48-hour window. The operation was executed seamlessly in coordination with civil administration and the Border Roads Organisation, with no incidents reported. A key to the mission's success was the construction of a temporary footbridge to restore connectivity and enable safe movement. This swift response follows a similar incident in late March where hundreds of tourists were stranded by landslides in North Sikkim.

Indian Army's Trishakti Corps evacuates 1,321 tourists and 84 locals in 48 hours during Operation HimSetu in Sikkim, restoring connectivity.

Gangtok, April 9 The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps completed the evacuation of stranded civilians under Operation HimSetu, rescuing 1,321 tourists and 84 locals within 48 hours despite adverse weather conditions.

The operation was carried out in a coordinated and seamless manner without any reported incidents, the Army said.

The evacuation effort was executed in close coordination with the civil administration and the Border Roads Organisation. Connectivity in the affected area was restored by constructing a temporary footbridge, which enabled the safe movement of stranded individuals.

The mission was led by Trishakti Corps under the aegis of the Eastern Command, showcasing swift response and effective disaster management capabilities.

Earlier on March 25, another similar incident took place when around 150-200 tourists were left stranded in Chungthang after multiple landslides were triggered by heavy rainfall in North Sikkim, according to DC Anant Jain.

Jain said the landslides occurred along key routes connecting Gangtok to Lachen and Chungthang to Lachen, leaving tourists en route to Lachen stuck at Chungthang.

- ANI
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned Israel's renewed military strikes in Lebanon as a blatant violation of the existing ceasefire agreement. He warned that such actions signify deception and could trigger severe responses from Iran, undermining diplomatic efforts for peace. The situation is complicated by a disagreement between Washington, Tehran, and Jerusalem over whether the ceasefire applies to Hezbollah targets. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that operations against Hezbollah will continue with force.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warns Israel that continued strikes in Lebanon violate the ceasefire and could trigger severe Iranian actions.

Tehran, April 9 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday slammed Israel over its renewed strikes in Lebanon, despite a two-week ceasefire deal in place to halt the hostilities in West Asia, saying that such actions violate the deal and threaten regional stability.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian described Israel's incursions into Lebanon as a blatant violation of the ceasefire and called the continued attacks a sign of deception and lack of commitment to potential agreements.

He cautioned that the ongoing strikes could undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at completely ending the hostilities in the region, while warning that such actions can trigger Iran to take severe actions against Israel.

Pezeshkian reiterated that repeated aggression by the "Zionist regime" against Lebanon constitutes a serious breach of the ceasefire framework.

"Renewed aggression by the Zionist regime against Lebanon blatantly violates the initial ceasefire. Such actions signal deception and non-compliance, rendering negotiations meaningless. Our hands remain on the trigger. Iran will never forsake its Lebanese brothers and sisters," the Iranian President stated in the post.

The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah targets, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also affirmed that Israel will persist in its military operations against Hezbollah, following a series of intense and lethal strikes across Lebanon.

In a statement shared via his personal account on X, the Prime Minister emphasised the continued scale of the offensive, noting that the military is "continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination".

- ANI
The government has intensified monitoring of LPG distribution, conducting over 1.16 lakh raids and suspending 53 distributors for violations. Officials assure that domestic LPG supply remains fully stable at 100% for households, with no shortages reported. Despite global supply chain impacts from geopolitical tensions, over 51 lakh cylinders were delivered in a single day, demonstrating strong distribution capacity. The supply of 5-kg cylinders has also been increased for vulnerable groups like students and labourers.

Government intensifies LPG monitoring with massive raids and distributor suspensions, assures 100% domestic supply stability despite global tensions.

New Delhi, April 9 The Centre on Thursday said it has intensified monitoring of LPG supply across the country, conducting over 1.16 lakh raids so far and suspending around 53 LPG distributors for violations, even as it maintained that there is no shortage of domestic LPG.

Speaking during the daily Inter-Ministerial Briefing on developments in West Asia, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said strict enforcement measures are being undertaken to ensure smooth distribution and prevent irregularities in the system.

She stated, "Yesterday, around 3,300 raids were conducted, in which more than 600 cylinders were seized. So far, around 1,16,000 raids have been carried out. Oil marketing companies have issued 1,870 show-cause notices to LPG distributors, and around 53 LPG distributors have been suspended".

Despite the ongoing geopolitical situation impacting global supply chains, the government reiterated that domestic LPG supply remains fully stable.

"Domestic consumers have been prioritised and supply for household use has been ensured at 100 per cent. There has been no dry-out reported at any LPG distributor," she said.

India meets around 60 per cent of its LPG requirement through imports, and the current geopolitical tensions have affected supply conditions. However, the government has taken steps to ensure uninterrupted availability for households.

She also shared that on Wednesday, more than 51 lakh LPG cylinders were delivered to homes in a single day, reflecting strong supply and distribution capacity. Digital systems have also improved efficiency, with online booking reaching 98 per cent and OTP-based delivery at 92 per cent.

On the commercial side, she noted that the LPG supply has been impacted but is being gradually restored. Currently, commercial LPG supply has reached around 70 per cent. Bulk supply has also been resumed for key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, agriculture, packaging, and paints.

To support vulnerable sections, the secretary shared that the supply of 5-kg LPG cylinders has been increased, especially for students and labourers. Demand for these smaller cylinders has seen a sharp rise in recent weeks.

The government said it is closely monitoring the situation through control rooms set up across states and union territories, along with district-level monitoring committees.

Officials added that crude inventories remain adequate and refineries are operating at optimal capacity, ensuring steady LPG production.

- ANI
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has ignited a major diplomatic controversy by posting sharply critical remarks about Israel on social media, calling it "evil" and a "cancerous state." The comments drew swift condemnation from Israeli authorities and US Congressman Josh Gottheimer, who labeled them hateful and unacceptable. The controversy casts a significant shadow over Pakistan's role as a host and mediator for sensitive high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran. Observers question Pakistan's perceived neutrality, with critics arguing the remarks undermine its position at a critical diplomatic juncture.

Pakistan's Defence Minister faces condemnation from Israel and US lawmakers over inflammatory remarks about Israel, casting doubt on Pakistan's mediator role in US-Iran talks.

Washington, April 10 A fresh diplomatic row erupted after Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif posted sharply critical remarks about Israel, drawing swift condemnation from Israeli authorities, US lawmakers and experts at a sensitive moment in ongoing ceasefire efforts.

Asif wrote on X that "Israel is evil and a curse for humanity," alleging that "genocide is being committed in Lebanon" and that "innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon." He added: "I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell."

The comments came less than 50 hours before high-stakes diplomatic talks in Islamabad, where Pakistan is hosting discussions between US and Iran linked to broader regional tensions.

Reacting sharply, Israel's Prime Minister's Office said: "Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace."

US Congressman Josh Gottheimer also criticised the remarks, calling them "vile rhetoric targeting Jews and Israel." He said: "Hateful rhetoric like this is beyond unacceptable and unproductive at this fragile moment. This is not diplomacy and must be condemned."

The controversy has cast a shadow over Pakistan's role as a mediator. Islamabad has been positioning itself as a venue for talks involving the United States and Iran, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Criticism also emerged from other commentators. Emily Schrader described the remarks as a "Jew hating diatribe," quoting Asif's statement that "Israel is evil and curse for humanity....I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell." She added: "Pakistan is not an impartial actor and they should not be permitted to mediate anything."

Former US official Ellie Cohanim also questioned Islamabad's role, saying: "Many of us were concerned by the idea of the country which harbored & sheltered 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden to serve as any kind of 'mediator' role." She added that "with this statement Pakistan managed to blow any notion of objectivity or distance from the radical Islamist agenda."

Observers noted that the timing of the post - as delegations were arriving and security arrangements were being finalised - raised questions about the host country's perceived neutrality.

The remarks also follow earlier confusion over a ceasefire announcement attributed to Pakistan's leadership. That announcement had suggested the ceasefire applied "everywhere including Lebanon," a position later contradicted by Israel, which clarified that Lebanon was not included.

The Israeli position, as reiterated by its leadership, is that operations in Lebanon are separate from the broader ceasefire framework. The Israeli military has continued operations against Hezbollah, including what was described as a major bombardment on April 8.

The sequence of events - first the ceasefire scope ambiguity and now the defence minister's comments - has led to criticism that Pakistan's role as mediator is being undermined at a critical juncture.

Despite the controversy, preparations for the talks in Islamabad have continued, with extensive security measures in place and international delegations already on the ground.

The diplomatic stakes are high. The talks are being described as one of the most significant US-Iran engagements in decades, with regional stability hanging in the balance.

- IANS
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani expressed confidence that Sindh could one day separate from Pakistan and reunite with India. He made these remarks at a New Delhi event where the Constitution was released in the Sindhi language. Devnani highlighted the historical and cultural ties of the Sindhi community to India, praising their resilience since Partition. The event was attended by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and MP Shankar Lalwani, among other dignitaries.

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani expresses confidence that Sindh could separate from Pakistan and become part of India again.

Jaipur, April 10 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani on Friday expressed confidence that, one day, Sindh could separate from Pakistan and become an integral part of India. 

He stated that the Sindhi community has never viewed itself as refugees, but rather as selfreliant achievers (Purusharthi), and has never wavered in its allegiance to India and the Sanatan tradition.

Assembly Speaker Devnani was addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest on Friday at the Vice President's Enclave in New Delhi, during a ceremony where Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released editions of the Constitution of India in the Sindhi language (Devanagari and Persian scripts) on the occasion of Sindhi Language Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, Assembly Speaker Devnani noted that although Sindh is currently a part of Pakistan, it was an integral part of India before independence. 

He recalled that even after enduring the anguish of the Partition on 14 August 1947 and driven by their commitment to the Sanatan tradition, millions of people from the Sindhi community left behind their homes and assets worth crores to migrate from Pakistan. Yet, even 79 years after independence, they have not abandoned their faith and allegiance to their country, India.

He asserted that the day is not far when Sindh could separate from Pakistan and once again become an integral part of India.

Speaking at the programme as Chief Guest, Devnani highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the Sindhi community and its enduring connection with India. 

He stated that although Sindh is currently part of Pakistan, it was historically an integral part of India and remains deeply rooted in its civilisational heritage.

Referring to the contribution and resilience of the Sindhi community, he said that despite the hardships of Partition in 1947, the community rebuilt itself through hard work and enterprise.

"The Sindhi community has never considered itself refugees, but Purusharthi, selfreliant and industrious citizens who have consistently contributed to nationbuilding," he said.

Vasudev Devnani also expressed confidence that historical and cultural ties would continue to strengthen, adding that the community's legacy remains integral to India's identity.

The event was attended by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal and Lok Sabha MP Shankar Lalwani, along with a large gathering of members of the Sindhi community from across the country.

The programme was organised by the Legislative Department (Official Languages Wing, Regional Unit) of the Ministry of Law and Justice. 

Highlighting the significance of the publication, Vasudev Devnani noted that the Sindhi language, included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 1967, has reached a new milestone with the availability of the Constitution in both Devanagari and Persian scripts. 

He described the development as a "historic and proud moment" for the community.

He also emphasised the rich legacy of the Indus Valley Civilisation and its connection to India's cultural roots, noting that the Sindhi diaspora continues to make significant contributions globally through enterprise, innovation, and resilience.

More than 200 delegates from states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi attended the event, along with prominent members of the Sindhi community and various dignitaries.

- IANS
Pakistan's sugar industry is urging the government to allow exports to address a massive production surplus. Total production is nearing 8 million tons against consumption of about 6.6 million, creating a glut. Holding the excess stock is financially unsustainable for mills as domestic prices have fallen below production costs. Exporting the estimated 767,000 tons of surplus could generate hundreds of millions in urgently needed foreign exchange.

Pakistan faces a 1.32M ton sugar surplus. Mills urge exports to ease financial strain and earn $400-500M in foreign exchange.

Lahore, April 10 Pakistan's sugar industry has urged the government to allow immediate exports of excess production, warning that mounting stocks are becoming economically unsustainable. The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association believes that exporting surplus sugar could provide much-needed relief to both the industry and the country's dwindling foreign exchange reserves, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, a PSMA representative revealed that by mid-November 2025, leftover inventory from the previous season stood at 271,704 metric tons, including both locally produced and imported sugar.

Production during the ongoing crushing season, which began in November 2025, has already reached 7.573 million metric tons as of March 31, 2026, and is expected to touch 7.6 million tons once all mills conclude operations. In addition, seasonal sugar beet output between April and June is projected to contribute another 86,809 metric tons, pushing total production close to 7.958 million tons. However, consumption levels remain significantly lower. Data indicates that annual sugar consumption is expected to rise modestly to 6.638 million tons, factoring in population growth in the country.

This imbalance has resulted in a projected surplus of 1.32 million metric tons. Even after setting aside a strategic reserve equivalent to one month's consumption, an excess of approximately 767,000 tons remains. Industry stakeholders argue that holding such large stocks is financially burdensome, especially as domestic sugar prices have dropped below production costs due to rising sugarcane prices and input expenses, as highlighted by The Express Tribune.

The situation is further aggravated by Pakistan's growing import bill, particularly for oil, amid escalating global prices linked to geopolitical tensions. The PSMA estimates that exporting the surplus sugar could generate between $400 million and $500 million in foreign exchange, as reported by The Express Tribune.

- ANI
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed strong confidence in the Left Democratic Front's victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, stating that public trust will overcome opposition propaganda. He is contesting from the Dharmadam constituency, aiming for a historic third consecutive term against UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed and BJP's K Ranjith. The Chief Minister is banking on completed infrastructure projects and local development to secure his seat, which is considered a CPI(M) fortress. Polling for the 140-seat Kerala Legislative Assembly is currently underway, with results expected to determine if the LDF can maintain its hold on power.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan expresses confidence in LDF's 2026 win, citing public trust and dismissing opposition propaganda. Details on Dharmadam race.

Kannur, April 9 Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday expressed confidence in the Left Democratic Front's victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, saying that the public trusts the ruling alliance.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Kannur, Vijayan said that "false and communal propaganda" cannot defeat the LDF.

"False propaganda cannot defeat the LDF. We always trust the people, and the people trust us. We have travelled with the people for the last ten years, and that journey must continue. We are with the people, and the people are with us. Communal propaganda cannot defeat us," he said.

Pinarayi Vijayan is eyeing a historic third consecutive term from the Dharmadam constituency. While the constituency is the fortress for the Left, the 2026 race is shaping up to be more than just a victory lap, both from the United Democratic Front led by Congress, and BJP led National Democratic Alliance.

The UDF have fielded VP Abdul Rasheed against the Chief Minister, whereas on the other hand, K Ranjith is contesting on the BJP's ticket.

Pinarayi Vijayan won comfortably in 2016 and 2021, and the CM is banking on the completion of major bypasses and local development projects. Moreover, Kannur remains the soul of the CPIM, and a win here reinforces the party's "invincibility" narrative, while also showcasing Kerala as a modern, tech-forward state. In 2021, Vijayan won by over 50,000 votes.

According to the Election Commission of India, in Dharmadam, there are a total of 1,84,844 electors, out of which 85,665 are male voters, while the other 99,179 are female.

During the 2021 elections, Vijayan ended up securing 95,522 (59.8 per cent) votes against the United Democratic Front candidate C Raghunathan, who received 28.4 per cent of the total votes polled.

Polling for the 140-seat Keralam Legislative Assembly is underway today, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

Both the incumbent LDF and the Opposition Congress-led UDF are eyeing to breach the 71-seat mark, while the BJP-led NDA is looking to enter the Assembly via the gateway opened in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation polls.

- ANI
Union Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with Kuwait's Commerce Minister Osama Khaled Boodai to discuss expanding bilateral trade and sectoral collaboration. The talks occur against a backdrop of historical ties, as the Indian Rupee was once legal tender in Kuwait. Meanwhile, Kuwait's air defences intercepted a wave of Iranian drones targeting vital oil installations and power stations, causing severe material damage. Kuwait remains a crucial energy partner for India, being a top supplier of crude oil and LPG.

Piyush Goyal holds virtual meeting with Kuwaiti counterpart to expand trade as Kuwait intercepts Iranian drone attacks on oil facilities.

New Delhi, April 9 Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, on Thursday held a virtual meeting with Osama Khaled Boodai, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait.

The two held talks on expanding bilateral trade relations.

In a post on X, Goyal said, "Held a fruitful virtual meeting with H.E. Osama Khaled Boodai, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait. Exchanged views on expanding bilateral trade relations and deepening collaboration across key sectors."

India and Kuwait traditionally enjoy friendly relations, which are rooted in history and have stood the test of time. India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait, and until 1961, the Indian Rupee was a legal tender in Kuwait. Till the discovery and development of oil, Kuwait's economy revolved around its fine harbour and maritime activities, which included ship building, pearl diving, fishing and voyages to India on wooden dhows carrying dates, Arabian horses and pearls that were traded for wood, cereals, clothes and spices, as per a statement by MEA.

Meanwhile, several Gulf nations have reported missile and drone attacks on their territories, hours after Iran and the United States announced a two-week ceasefire, as per Al Jazeera.

Kuwait said its air defences were intercepting a wave of Iranian drones launched since 8 am (05:00 GMT), according to its army. Kuwait's Defence Ministry said in a statement that its air defence systems responded to "intense hostile Iranian attacks," adding that a total of 28 drones were dealt with.

"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," it added, as per Al Jazeera.

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 the attack, it added.

India has consistently been among the top trading partners of Kuwait. Kuwait remains a reliable supplier of crude oil and LPG to India, meeting our crucial energy needs. During FY 2024-25, Kuwait was the 6th largest Crude supplier and 5th largest supplier of LPG to India and it met about 3.5% of India's total energy needs.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Integrated Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex at Balotra, Rajasthan, on April 21. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma stated the Pachpadra Refinery will be a key pillar for national energy security and provide fresh momentum to the state's economy. The refinery, with a revised project cost of Rs 79,459 crore, will have an annual refining capacity of nine million metric tonnes and produce a range of petrochemicals. The project is expected to reduce import dependence, generate significant employment, and benefit sectors like pharmaceuticals, paints, and packaging.

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's first integrated refinery-petrochemical complex in Rajasthan's Balotra on April 21, boosting energy security and economy.

Jaipur, April 9 Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the country's first Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Integrated Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex at Balotra on April 21. 

He stated that the Pachpadra Refinery will emerge as a key pillar of national energy security and provide fresh momentum to Rajasthan's economic development.

The Chief Minister issued necessary directions to officials to ensure that the Prime Minister's visit becomes a historic and well-organised event. Sharma was chairing a high-level review meeting at the Chief Minister's Office on Thursday to assess preparations for the proposed visit. 

He informed that the Prime Minister will also address a public gathering and flag off liquefied petroleum gas tankers produced at the refinery.

The Chief Minister directed officials to make comprehensive arrangements at the venue, including seating, drinking water, medical facilities, uninterrupted power supply, parking, traffic management, and security. 

He instructed the Traffic Police and Transport Department to coordinate closely to ensure smooth traffic flow and adequate parking. Directions were also issued regarding plantation activities within the refinery premises.

Sharma highlighted that, in addition to petrol and diesel, the Hindustan Refinery and Petrochemical Limited refinery will produce polypropylene, Linear Low-Density Polyethylene, High-Density Polyethylene, benzene, toluene, and butadiene.

These products will significantly benefit sectors such as transportation, pharmaceuticals, paints, and packaging. 

He added that the project will strengthen energy self-reliance, reduce dependence on imports in the petrochemical sector, and generate substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities for youth, along with avenues for skill development. 

The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited refinery at Pachpadra is poised to play a crucial role in meeting both state and national energy demands.

The revised project cost stands at Rs 79,459 crore, with an annual refining capacity of nine million metric tonnes. The refinery will process a blend of 1.5-2.5 million tonnes of Rajasthan crude and 6.5-7.5 million tonnes of imported crude. Spread across approximately 4,400 acres, the facility has already commenced commercial liquefied petroleum gas production.

Senior officials present at the meeting included Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma, along with representatives from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and other concerned departments.

- IANS
President Droupadi Murmu has nominated veteran journalist-politician Harivansh Narayan Singh to the Rajya Sabha, a move praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi highlighted Singh's invaluable contributions to journalism and public life, calling him a respected intellectual. This renomination is widely viewed as recognition of his parliamentary experience and balanced perspective honed from his journalism career. It will mark Harivansh's third term in the Upper House, where he previously served as Deputy Chairman.

President Droupadi Murmu nominates Harivansh Narayan Singh to Rajya Sabha. PM Modi praises his invaluable contributions to journalism and public life.

New Delhi, April 10 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday praised veteran journalist-turned-politician Harivansh Narayan Singh following his nomination to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu, calling his contributions to journalism and public life "invaluable".

In a post on X, the Prime Minister congratulated Harivansh and wrote, "Harivansh Ji has made invaluable contributions to journalism and public life. He is a respected intellectual and thinker. Through his deep insights and perspectives, he has enriched the proceedings of the House over the past few years. I am pleased that the Hon'ble President has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. My heartfelt best wishes to him for the upcoming parliamentary term."



Harivansh, a former Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, has had a long and steady journey from Indian journalism to active politics. His renomination is being widely seen as recognition of both his parliamentary experience and the balanced, nuanced perspective he brings from his years in journalism.



His previous Rajya Sabha term concluded on April 9, sparking speculation over his future role. The President's decision has now put those discussions to rest, with many observers viewing the move as a signal of continuity, stability, and reliance on experienced leadership in parliamentary functioning.



This will be Harivansh's third term in the Upper House. He first entered the Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2014 and later rose to prominence as Deputy Chairman in 2018, a position to which he was re-elected in 2020. His calm demeanour and balanced approach in conducting House proceedings have often drawn praise, particularly during periods of political deadlock.



Before entering politics, Harivansh had a distinguished career in journalism, notably with a regional publication, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening it as a credible publication. His work largely focused on grassroots issues, rural India, and social concerns, earning him a reputation as an impartial and trustworthy voice.



This grounding in journalism has significantly influenced his political style. As Deputy Chairman, he consistently sought to foster dialogue between the treasury and opposition benches, reflecting a fact-based and balanced approach rarely seen in contemporary politics.





- IANS
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has praised the peaceful and enthusiastic completion of polling for the state's 140-seat Legislative Assembly. In a Facebook post, he thanked voters, political activists, and officials for ensuring a smooth democratic process despite a short campaign and bad weather. Vijayan, who is seeking a historic third consecutive term from Dharmadam, highlighted the achievement of conducting polls without any untoward incidents. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, with the LDF, Congress-led UDF, and BJP-led NDA all vying for a majority.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan thanks voters and officials after peaceful assembly polls. High turnout showcases state's democratic commitment. Results on May 4.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday lauded Kerala's voters for their enthusiastic participation in the ongoing elections, noting that polling in the state has been completed peacefully.

In a Facebook post, Vijayan expressed his heartfelt thanks to all voters who exercised their right to vote and contributed to the democratic process.

"Only a very short campaign time was available this time. However, the enthusiasm of the political activists who worked tirelessly despite the scorching summer heat is worth mentioning. The people who reached the polling booths despite the bad weather gave a glimpse of Kerala's high sense of democracy and high commitment to the country. This huge turnout is highly commendable," he wrote.

The Chief Minister further praised the role of election officials, police and central force members, health workers, volunteers, and others who ensured the smooth conduct of elections across the state.

"It is a great achievement that we were able to complete the polls peacefully without any untoward incident anywhere in the state. Special appreciation goes to the election officials who worked around the clock for the successful implementation of this massive process, the police-central force members who provided security, health workers, volunteers and others who worked at various levels," he added.

Vijayan concluded his message by reiterating Kerala's democratic spirit and calling for continued progress in the state.

"Heartfelt greetings once again to Kerala's sense of democracy and people's participation. Let us move forward together, for New Kerala," he wrote.

Pinarayi Vijayan is eyeing a historic third consecutive term from the Dharmadam constituency. While the constituency is the fortress for the Left, the 2026 race is shaping up to be more than just a victory lap, both from the United Democratic Front led by Congress, and BJP led National Democratic Alliance.

Polling for the 140-seat Keralam Legislative Assembly was completed today, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

Both the incumbent LDF and the Opposition Congress-led UDF are eyeing to breach the 71-seat mark, while the BJP-led NDA is looking to enter the Assembly via the gateway opened in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation polls.

- ANI
Private equity investment in India's real estate sector saw a significant 66% year-on-year increase, reaching $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Domestic investors were the dominant force, contributing $817 million, with a strong focus on office assets in cities like Gurugram and Pune. The hospitality sector and alternative asset classes like student housing also captured notable shares, indicating a trend towards portfolio diversification. Analysts note this marks a shift, with domestic capital leading as foreign inflows remain cautious amid global uncertainties.

Private equity in Indian real estate surged 66% YoY to $1.2B in Q1 2026. Domestic investors dominated, with offices and hospitality leading.

New Delhi, April 9 Private equity investment into India's real estate sector rose 66 per cent yearonyear to $1.2 billion in Q1 2026, a report said on Thursday.

The report from Savills India said office assets accounted for 41 per cent of total investment volume in Q1 2026 with the capital concentrated in Gurugram and Pune, while the hospitality sector captured 17 per cent of the real estate sector.

Domestic investors dominated equity inflows, contributing $817 million, or 66 per cent of the quarter's total.

Around 63 per cent of domestic investments were directed towards the office sector, while the residential sector and alternative asset classes (such as student housing and co-living) accounted for 18 per cent and 13 per cent of total domestic investments, respectively.

Significant inflows into the hospitality sector during the quarter and other emerging asset classes reflect a continued shift towards portfolio diversification, the report said.

"Q1 2026 marks a strong start for India's real estate sector in terms of equity investments. In a departure from trends observed in recent quarters, domestic investors took the lead in investment activity, as foreign inflows remained cautious amid global uncertainties," Sumeet Bhatia, Managing Director, Capital Market Services, Savills India, said.

Sumeet said the firm remains optimistic about the year ahead, but the evolving trajectory of capital inflows will be critical to watch amid a persistently challenging environment.

Activity in India's private equity market improved in the Q1 2026, with total equity investments reaching $3.83 billion, surging 0.9 per cent sequentially and 66.4 per cent yearonyear, a recent report said.

Asia Pacific has become the world's most dynamic office market, with India leading the growth and broader region driven by younger, ESGaligned assets and demand that outpaces the US and Europe, another report had said.

- IANS
Voting began smoothly for the 30-member Puducherry Assembly on Thursday. BJP state President V.P. Ramalingame expressed strong confidence that the NDA would form the next government. Meanwhile, Congress leader and former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy claimed the situation was favourable for the opposition INDIA bloc, accusing the incumbent government of corruption and misrule. The election is expected to be a keen contest between the major political alliances.

Voting underway for 30-member Puducherry Assembly. BJP's Ramalingame predicts NDA win, while Congress's Narayanasamy says situation 'favourable' for INDIA bloc.

Puducherry, April 9 Voting for the Puducherry Assembly elections got underway on Thursday with both the BJP and the Congress expressing strong confidence in forming the next government in the Union Territory.

Polling started on a smooth note across Puducherry early in the morning, as voters turned up steadily at polling stations to cast their ballots for the 30-member Assembly. The Union Territory currently has a 33-member Assembly, of which 30 members are elected by the public.

At present, Puducherry is governed by an alliance between the All India N.R. Congress and the BJP. As the electoral process began, BJP state President V.P. Ramalingame voiced optimism about the NDA's prospects.

Speaking to IANS, Ramalingame said, "Today is a very good day. All the citizens are showing great interest in voting for our nation. Everything is going very well. NDA is going to form the government."

Ramalingame is contesting from the Raj Bhavan (General) Assembly constituency, where he faces competition from Congress candidate R Kumaran and DMK nominee Vignesh Kannan, making it a closely watched contest.

On the other hand, the Congress also projected confidence in its chances, asserting that the electorate is looking for a shift in governance. The party accused the current BJP-led administration of widespread corruption and governance failures.

Congress leader and former Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, after casting his vote, told IANS, "I exercise my democratic right by going to the booth and standing in the queue to vote. It is the duty of every citizen of India to go and cast their vote. In Puducherry, the situation is very favourable for the INDIA bloc."

He further criticised the incumbent government, stating, "Under the current government, there is a total misrule. There is corruption everywhere, unemployment is rising, and crime against women."

"Therefore, the people of Puducherry want a clean government which is going to take care of the welfare of the people, create employment opportunities, improve healthcare and education. Hence, the INDIA bloc will form a government this time."

Narayanasamy had earlier, on March 24, decided not to contest the Assembly elections, citing concerns that discussions around his candidature were causing friction within the alliance during seat-sharing negotiations with the DMK.

Polling commenced at 7 a.m. across 1,099 polling stations and is scheduled to continue until 6 p.m. Officials have indicated that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a peaceful and orderly voting process.

With all major political players in the fray, the election is expected to witness a keen contest as parties compete to secure control of the Union Territory.

- IANS
Sundra village in Rajasthan's Barmer district has received clean household tap water for the first time since independence, ending a decades-long crisis. The water has traveled 728 kilometers from the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River via a major canal project. Residents, who previously traveled 15-20 km for potable water or relied on saline groundwater, now have a transformative amenity. The project, overcoming desert and border security challenges, symbolizes inclusive development for remote regions.

For the first time since independence, Sundra village in Barmer, Rajasthan, receives clean drinking water via tap from the Narmada Canal project, ending a long crisis.

Jaipur, April 10 In a historic development, Sundra village, located along the IndiaPakistan international border in Barmer district of Rajasthan, has, for the first time since independence, received clean drinking water through household tap connections. 

This milestone marks not only the arrival of a basic amenity but also the end of decades of hardship and the beginning of a new chapter of hope and dignity, confirmed officials on Friday.

Established in 1734, Sundra was once among the largest Gram Panchayats in the country, spanning nearly 1,345 square kilometers. 

Situated about 170 kilometres from the district headquarters, life in this remote desert region has long been shaped by extreme conditions and acute water scarcity. 

Groundwater in the region has traditionally been highly saline, making it unsuitable for both human and livestock consumption. 

Even governmentinstalled tube wells failed to provide relief, forcing residents to travel 15 to 20 kilometres to fetch potable water from neighbouring villages.

The village also bears the legacy of displacement during the IndoPak Wars of 1965 and 1971, when residents were evacuated due to its sensitive border location. 

Since then, the community has endured both natural and geopolitical challenges. The longstanding water crisis has now been addressed through the Narmada Canalbased Drinking Water Project. 

Water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River has travelled an extraordinary distance of 728 kilometres to reach Sundra. The project, implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 513 crore, aims to supply drinking water to over 200 villages.

Key infrastructure includes 16 Central Water Reservoirs, more than 80 Elevated Service Reservoirs, and multiple pumping stations. 

Despite challenges such as laying pipelines across dunes, power constraints, and security restrictions in border areas, the project has been completed. 

For the residents of Sundra, access to tap water is transformative. Elderly villagers are witnessing access to clean drinking water at their doorstep for the first time.

The shift is expected to significantly improve public health, reduce the burden on women, and enhance overall quality of life. 

The arrival of Narmada water in Sundra stands as a powerful symbol of inclusive development, demonstrating that even the most remote regions can be transformed through sustained effort, planning, and innovation.

- IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated General Phan Van Giang on his appointment as Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, expressing confidence in growing bilateral defence ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately congratulated To Lam on his election as Vietnam's President, pledging to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The India-Vietnam relationship was elevated to this strategic level during PM Modi's 2016 visit to Vietnam. Both nations are actively working to strengthen their multi-dimensional cooperation, having celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2022.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and PM Modi congratulate Vietnam's new leadership, aiming to deepen the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

New Delhi, April 9 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday extended warm greetings to General Phan Van Giang on his appointment as the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Vietnam, stating that India looks forward to deepening longstanding defence ties.

General Phan Van Giang was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, concurrently serving as Minister of National Defence, on April 8.

Vietnam's 16th National Assembly approved this during its first session, as part of the new government for the 2026-2031 term under Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. He is one of six Deputy Prime Ministers.

Taking to X, Singh said, "Warm congratulations to General Phan Van Giang on his appointment as the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."

He exuded confidence that the India-Vietnam partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength in the years ahead.

"India looks forward to further strengthening our longstanding defence ties and deepening cooperation across security, military exchanges and defence industry collaboration under your continued leadership. Confident that our partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength in the years ahead," the Defence Minister added.

Earlier, on April 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated To Lam on his election as Vietnam's President and expressed readiness to work with him to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

He expressed confidence that the time-tested friendship between the two nations will continue to grow under To Lam's leadership.

"Heartiest congratulations to Mr To Lam on his election as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I am confident that under his leadership, the time-tested friendship between our two countries will continue to grow from strength to strength. I look forward to working closely together to further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the progress and prosperity of our people and the region," PM Modi posted on X.

PM Modi's congratulatory message came after Vietnam's National Assembly on April 7 confirmed Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) General Secretary To Lam as the country's president for the 2026-2031 tenure.

India and Vietnam share close and warm bilateral relations that are denominated as a comprehensive strategic partnership. India-Vietnam relations were elevated to 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' during PM Modi's visit to Vietnam in 2016, according to the Indian Embassy in Vietnam statement.

The development of India-Vietnam relations is guided by a "Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People" adopted by PM Modi and the then-Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during the Virtual Summit held on December 21, 2020.

In 2022, India and Vietnam celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and both countries are working together actively to further strengthen their multi-dimensional cooperation.

- IANS
US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized NATO allies for failing to support the United States, renewing his controversial interest in acquiring Greenland. His comments follow a temporary ceasefire agreement reached between the US and Iran, with further diplomatic talks planned. Trump's past threats regarding Greenland had previously strained transatlantic relations, prompting European calls for greater security independence. He also highlighted the large US troop deployments in Japan and South Korea while questioning the reciprocal support from allies.

Donald Trump criticizes NATO allies for not aiding the US, renews interest in acquiring Greenland, and references a temporary US-Iran ceasefire.

Washington DC, April 9 US President Donald Trump seemed to have shifted his focus back to acquiring Greenland after a temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran, signalling out NATO allies' lack of cooperation during the conflict in the West Asia region.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump slammed NATO for not being with the US in times of need as he reminded them of Greenland, signalling his renewed interest in the Arctic territory.

"NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again. Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice!!!" Trump said.

This comes after the US and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire over a "workable" 10-point plan, agreeing to hold further diplomatic engagement in Islamabad this weekend. Both sides will hold direct talks aimed at ending weeks of intense hostilities following the outbreak of war.

Trump's earlier threats to seize Greenland had unsettled European capitals and strained transatlantic relations, prompting calls within the European Union for greater unity and independence on security matters. France and Germany had urged the EU to consider deploying its Anti-Coercion Instrument before Trump backed away from launching a trade war, claiming a "framework" deal had been reached on US access to Greenland's strategic mineral resources.

During the war with Iran, Trump had repeatedly called out NATO allies for "not helping" the US.

"Japan didn't help us, Australia didn't help us, South Korea didn't help us, and then you get to NATO -- NATO didn't help us," Trump said at a White House news conference on Wednesday.

Trump added of US assistance to the nations: "We've got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea; we have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un."

Trump's last series of threats stemmed from Washington's claims that Greenland's strategic location and mineral resources are vital to its security against Russia and China, but the leadership in Denmark, Greenland and Europe have rejected the idea, emphasising their right to self-determination.

- ANI
The Russian Embassy in London has firmly rejected claims by British Defence Secretary John Healey regarding Russian submarine activity near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic. The embassy stated the claims were impossible to believe or verify, countering the narrative of a British-led operation to track such submarines. Healey had directly addressed President Vladimir Putin, warning that any attempt to damage cables or pipelines would have serious consequences. The Russian response also accused London of making aggressive threats and shifted blame for past pipeline sabotage to Western nations.

Russian embassy in London calls British Defence Secretary's claims of tracking Russian subs near undersea cables "neither credible nor verifiable."

London, April 10 The Russian Embassy in Britain dismissed a claim by British Defence Secretary John Healey of Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic as neither credible nor verifiable.

Earlier Thursday, Healey said Britain and Norway had led a month-long operation to track Russian submarines near key undersea cables and pipelines in the North Atlantic, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Russian embassy said in a statement that it was "impossible to either believe or verify" Healey's claim that Britain spent weeks repelling the "aggression" of an alleged Russian submarine in neutral waters using "only a single vessel and a surveillance aircraft."

A British warship and aircraft were deployed to deter the "malign" activity by Moscow and there was "no evidence" of any damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic, he added.

Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, Healey said: "We see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences."

London had recently issued "extremely aggressive statements and threats" targeting merchant ships operating in the interests of Russian companies and their partners, the embassy added, warning that "if these threats are translated into action, there will be consequences."

The embassy said Russia does not threaten undersea infrastructure critical to Britain, nor does it use aggressive rhetoric on the issue, noting that the responsibility for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines "rested with Western countries."

- IANS
Indian equity benchmarks, the Sensex and Nifty, fell sharply, ending a five-day winning streak due to rising oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran ceasefire. Selling pressure was broad-based, with banking stocks being major drags, while metal stocks provided some support. Despite the weakness in frontline indices, the broader mid-cap and small-cap segments showed resilience and ended in positive territory. Market experts cited profit-booking after the recent rally and cautioned that the Nifty needs to sustain above 24,000 to confirm bullish strength.

Indian stock markets ended a 5-day winning streak as rising oil prices and US-Iran ceasefire uncertainty triggered profit booking and volatility.

Mumbai, April 9 Indian equity benchmarks declined on Thursday, snapping their five-day gaining streak, as rising oil prices and uncertainty around the US-Iran ceasefire weighed on investor sentiment.

The Nifty closed 0.93 per cent lower, falling 222.25 points to settle at 23,775.10. The Sensex also slipped sharply, ending 1.20 per cent or 931.25 points down at 76,631.65.

Commenting on Nifty technical outlook, experts said that the intraday charts showed price action remained range-bound with a slight negative bias, marked by the formation of lower highs, indicating sustained selling pressure throughout the session.

"A decisive and sustained move above 24,000 is required to improve sentiment and confirm strength, while failure to hold above 23,600 could expose the index to further downside pressure," an analyst stated.

Selling pressure was seen in key frontline stocks, with Jio Financial Services, InterGlobe Aviation, and Larsen & Toubro emerging among the top losers in the Nifty pack.

Despite the weakness in benchmark indices, broader markets showed resilience. The Nifty MidCap and Nifty SmallCap indices managed to end in positive territory, gaining 0.25 per cent and 0.20 per cent respectively.

On the sectoral front, banking stocks dragged the market lower, with the Nifty Private Bank and Nifty Bank indices underperforming their peers.

In contrast, metal stocks provided some support, with the Nifty Metal index emerging as the top sectoral gainer.

Investor sentiment remained cautious amid rising geopolitical tensions. Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expressed deep distrust toward the United States, citing repeated violations of agreements.

He pointed to Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon and reported drone activity in Iranian airspace as reasons for the strained situation, according to a statement shared on social media.

Experts stated that the renewed concerns over the stability of the ceasefire and the uptick in oil prices added to market volatility, leading to profit booking after the recent rally.

Meanwhile, the Indian rupee's five-day rally came to a grinding halt, retreating in tandem with its Asian peers.

"Spot USDINR is expected to trade within a range of 92.50 to 93.40, as traders balance global energy risks and domestic capital outflows," a market expert stated.

- IANS
South Korean stocks declined in morning trading as uncertainties persisted over the terms of a US-Iran ceasefire agreement. The benchmark KOSPI dropped nearly 1%, led by losses in major tech shares like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. In contrast, oil refiners such as SK Innovation traded higher as geopolitical tensions supported crude oil prices. Analyst Han Ji-young noted the market was showing resilience despite the ongoing disagreements between Washington and Tehran.

South Korea's KOSPI fell amid US-Iran tensions over ceasefire terms, impacting Samsung, SK hynix. Oil refiners gained as crude prices rebounded.

Seoul, April 9 South Korean stocks lost ground late on Thursday morning as Washington and Tehran remained divided over the terms of a two-week ceasefire, including whether it includes ending Israel's offensive against Lebanon.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 57.93 points, or 0.99 percent, to 5,814 as of 11:20 am (local time), reports Yonhap news agency.

The United States and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement on Tuesday (U.S. time), including the reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Uncertainties surrounding tensions in the Middle East, however, continued as the U.S. and Iran were divided over whether the ceasefire includes ending Israel's offensive against Lebanon.

"Washington and Tehran are also at odds over Iran's uranium enrichment and jurisdiction over the Strait of Hormuz," Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said.

Han noted that although the market is taking a breather, the South Korean stock market is not likely to experience any extreme volatility.

"With the U.S. market closing higher despite reports of disagreements during trading hours, the market is becoming more resilient to the war," Han added.

In Seoul, top market cap Samsung Electronics fell 2.38 percent, and SK hynix lost 2.42 percent.

Oil refiners traded higher as global crude prices rebounded amid geopolitical uncertainties, with SK Innovation rising 3.32 percent and S-Oil climbing 5.89 percent.

Carmakers traded mixed, with Hyundai Motor falling 0.98 percent, while its sister Kia added 1.07 percent.

Leading online search engine giant Naver slipped 0.99 percent, and Kakao shed 0.84 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,479.9 won against the greenback at 11:20 a.m., down 9.3 won from the previous session.

- IANS
Actor Shanthnu Baghyaraj and others plead with netizens to stop spreading leaked footage from Vijay's final film, Jana Nayagan, calling it devastating.

Chennai, April 10 Actor Shanthnu Baghyaraj on Friday joined several film directors and producers in urging netizens not to share the leaked clips from actor Vijay's eagerly awaited last film, 'Jana Nayagan'.

Taking to his X timeline, Shanthanu, without mentioning the name of the film or the actor it featured, made an earnest appeal to netizens. He wrote,"Someone's dream is bleeding online. Please let's not turn their hard work into a forwarded clip. Let the film breathe on screen and not die on your phone."



Actor Sibi, the son of popular actor Sathyaraj, too expressed shock at the leak and urged people not to share the leaked clips from the much-awaited film.



He wrote, "Shocked and disturbed to hear about the footages being leaked from #Jananayagan! Whoever did this must understand all the money,effort and hard work involved in making a movie.Sincerely request everyone to refrain from watching and spreading the videos!"



Director Gaurav Narayanan called for action against those who had leaked the clips.



Taking to his X timeline, he wrote, "#JanaNayagan Cinema is not a take-it-for-granted industry. Thousands of people's daily bread depends on it. Whoever leaked and trying to spread the links should be punished. @KvnProductions @actorvijay Anna #directorhvinoth @Jagadishbliss and rest of the team be strong."



Earlier in the day, well known Tamil film producer Dhananjayan had expressed the view that all those sharing the video on the platform X using fake handles must be blocked immediately by the cyber cell.



Taking to his X timeline to condemn the leak, he wrote, "All those sharing the video on tweets using fake handles must be blocked immediately by cyber cell."



He also urged the production house KVN productions, which has produced the film, to lodge a complaint and stop the leaked clips from spreading further.



He wrote, "Team #JanaNayagan @KvnProductions must complain and stop further spread of the footage. Reading the insta post of #HVinoth makes me sad. Stop conspiracy theories, just stop sharing the videos on tweets and reels guys. Don't kill the revenues and future of Tamil Cinema."



Earlier, the producer had, in an earlier tweet, expressed shock at several scenes of the film being leaked online.



He had said, "Shocked to see many scenes of #JanaNayagan being leaked online including introduction scene, climax scene etc. Now many are tweeting that full film is leaked, which is devastating. This is outrageous and highly condemnable whoever is responsible for this."



He further said, "@KvnProductions must move the court immediately and get all such links are removed and taken down before it's too late and the film is watched by millions. Film business is becoming dangerous and highly unpredictable with these kind of dangers all around a film. How much more you guys will target #ThalapathyVijay 's last film. ???"



For the unaware, a five-minute clip, believed to be from actor Vijay's eagerly awaited last film 'Jana Nayagan', was allegedly leaked and is now doing the rounds on social media, much to the disdain of its makers.



The leaked clip, which contains Vijay's introductory scene and a portion of a song, triggered concern and anger in the film industry, with several producers and directors expressing solidarity with the makers of 'Jana Nayagan'.





- IANS
Actor Shweta Tripathi has emphasized the need for proportionate representation of women across all spheres, including Parliament. She noted that while the Women's Reservation Bill is a significant beginning, its effective implementation is the key challenge. Tripathi asserted that women must be their own agents of change and not wait for superheroes. Her comments come amid government plans to increase Lok Sabha seats and reserve a portion for women.

Actor Shweta Tripathi discusses the Women's Reservation Bill, stressing the need for proportionate representation of women in Parliament and all industries.

By Nikita Bishay, New Delhi, April 9 Actor Shweta Tripathi, known for her nuanced performances across film and shows, has equally used her voice beyond the camera to advocate for social changes.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Women's Reservation Bill, Shweta emphasised how true progress comes when women are given proportionate opportunities across all spheres of life, further adding how the dynamics have started changing.

In a conversation with ANI, the 'Mirzapur' star shared, "I feel like things are now changing. I feel like, there's me, there's Kiran Rao... There are also writers like Juhi Chaturvedi. There is no competition between men and women. But when it comes to the women population, whether it's in the parliament, behind the camera, or in any industry, it has to be proportionate."

Noting that the representation of women in Parliament has been low in comparison to the overall population, the actor explained how the changing laws will reach every household in the country.

"The representation of women in Parliament or in the Legislative Assemblies is still low in comparison to the population. But the policies, the laws, will affect every household. Women need to be heard and need to be accepted," she added.

Shweta also weighed on the need to learn from the past to ensure a smooth and faster transition toward equality.

Acknowledging that the Women's Reservation Bill marks a significant step forward, the challenge lies with its effective implementation, she said.

"This is the beginning, and everything has a beginning. It happens little by little... we will progress, we will go back two steps, and it's very heartbreaking and very frustrating. It is the same with the Women's Reservation Bill, but we have to be at it," Shweta said.

The actor also spoke about how public figures must voice their thoughts on such matters, further explaining that the responsibility equally lies with everyone, including women themselves.

"Women don't need to wait for superheroes to bring a change. They must be their own superheroes," Shweta asserted.

The remarks came in the backdrop of the government's ongoing plans 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.

On the work front for Shweta Tripathi, she will be next seen in the much-awaited 'Mirzapur: The Film'. It is set to hit theatres on September 4, 2026.

- ANI
The Ministry of External Affairs has reported that approximately 8.15 lakh passengers have travelled from the West Asia region to India since the conflict escalated on February 28. Despite airspace restrictions in countries like Kuwait and Israel, flights continue from open areas, with rerouting through hubs like Jordan and Egypt. India's embassy in Tehran has specifically facilitated the transit of over 2,100 Indian nationals, including students and fishermen, through Armenia and Azerbaijan. High-level diplomatic engagements are ongoing, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Minister Hardeep Singh Puri scheduled for visits to the UAE and Qatar, respectively.

MEA reports massive passenger movement from West Asia to India since Feb 28, with airspace closures and ongoing diplomatic efforts for citizen safety.

New Delhi, April 9 Since the inception of the conflict in West Asia on February 28, after US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, around 8,15,000 passengers have travelled to India from the region as hostilities escalated, the Ministry of External Affairs stated on Thursday.

According to an official release on the inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in the region, officials from the MEA said that India continues to closely monitor developments in West Asia and remains actively engaged with countries across the region to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens.

The officials noted that despite airspace restrictions in the region, flights from countries where operations remain feasible are continuing.

"Flights continue to operate from countries where airspace remains open. Since 28 February, around 8,15,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India," the release stated.

In the UAE, around 85 limited non-scheduled flights are expected today, while travel from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar is ongoing. Airspace closures in Kuwait and Israel have necessitated rerouting via alternate hubs such as Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

The MEA also highlighted that the Embassy of India in Iran has facilitated the transit of 2,170 Indian nationals to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India, including 971 students and 657 fishermen.

"The Embassy of India in Tehran has so far facilitated movement of 2,170 Indian nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India, including 971 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen. Israeli airspace remains closed. Travel of Indian nationals continue to be facilitated through Jordan and Egypt to India. Iraq airspace is now open, though flight operations have not yet resumed. Travel of Indian nationals continue to be facilitated through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to India," the statement added.

The officials also stated that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates from April 11 to April 12 to meet UAE leadership and review bilateral cooperation under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and also noted that Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, will undertake an official visit to Qatar from April 9 to April 10.

According to a statement issued by the MEA on Wednesday, the EAM's visit to the UAE is part of a two-leg foreign visit.

The EAM is currently on a two-day visit to Mauritius, as part of leg one of his visit from April 9 to April 10, during which he will participate in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference.

- ANI
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi has publicly urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the cabinet's decision to suspend the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project. She argues the metro is a crucial long-term solution for the city's traffic congestion and expanding urban needs. Sarangi highlights that significant public funds have already been invested and that delay will lead to cost escalation. She emphasizes that metro projects are public goods subsidized by states, not immediate profit-making ventures.

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi urges CM Mohan Majhi to reconsider suspending the Bhubaneswar Metro, citing public need over profit.

Bhubaneswar, April 10 BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the state cabinet's decision to suspend the proposed Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project, stating that some infrastructure initiatives are undertaken for the public good and not for profit.

In a post on X, Sarangi said she had personally taken up the matter with the Chief Minister and also shared her written submission regarding the issue.

"I have spoken to Hon'ble CM Sri @MohanMOdisha & requested him to kindly consider revisiting the State Cabinet Decision of suspending the implementation of Metro Rail Project for Bhubaneswar. "Some projects are done for public good and not for profit ." My written submission," she wrote on X.

In a detailed letter dated April 8, Sarangi said the abrupt closure of the project does not align with public demand and long-term urban planning needs of the state capital and its adjoining areas.

"The Metro Rail is the most viable long-term solution which can transform public transport in the city and adjoining areas, including Cuttack, Jatni and Khurda," she wrote, adding that the project would significantly improve mobility for senior citizens, women, students, working professionals and differently-abled persons.

Highlighting Bhubaneswar's rapid urban expansion, she said the city was "almost at a tipping point" due to rising traffic congestion and pressure on existing public transport systems, stressing the need for a "high-capacity, cost-efficient and modern public transport system."

Sarangi also argued that the decision to shelve the project was not based on a comprehensive assessment of public interest. "Some of the reasons cited for premature closure of the project do not seem to have been based on a factual analysis of the need for such a project," she stated.

Emphasising the broader developmental impact, she said the metro project would also boost tourism and economic activity. "It will position Bhubaneswar as a forward-looking, investment-friendly city and will support the Government's vision for Viksit Odisha," the letter said.

She further pointed out that public funds had already been invested in the project. "Till date, Rs 274 crore have been spent from the State exchequer," she noted, cautioning that any delay could lead to significant cost escalation in the future.

Sarangi also underlined that metro systems across India are not purely profit-driven projects. "None of the metros in India have been implemented with an anticipation of immediate profitability. These are all subsidised by the concerned state governments," she wrote.

Referring to the growing demand for the project, she said there is "visible public support for the Metro Rail Project in Bhubaneswar" and warned that ignoring it could weaken public trust in development commitments.

Urging a rethink, she requested the state government to "revisit and reconsider the State Cabinet decision taken on 4th April, 2026," and offered cooperation in facilitating approvals and central-level coordination for funding support.

- ANI
South Korea has appointed former Ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha as its special envoy to Iran to coordinate the safe passage of its vessels and nationals. The move comes after a phone call between the South Korean and Iranian foreign ministers, with 26 South Korean-related ships currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The envoy's mission is part of broader diplomatic efforts as the Middle East situation escalates, involving talks between Israel and Lebanon and upcoming US-Iran negotiations. The goal is to secure safe transit not just for South Korean interests but for all ships in the volatile region.

South Korea appoints a special envoy to Iran to secure safe passage for its vessels and nationals stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid regional conflict.

Seoul, April 10 The foreign ministry on Friday appointed former Ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha as its special envoy to Iran and will send him to Tehran soon to coordinate the safe passage of South Korean vessels and nationals amid the Middle East conflict, officials said.

The ministry announced the appointment of Chung, currently ambassador for polar affairs, a day after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held phone talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.

During the talks, Cho announced the decision to dispatch a special envoy to Iran to discuss the situation in the Middle East and bilateral issues between South Korea and Iran, Yonhap news agency reported.

A total of 26 South Korea-related vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz under the control of Iran, which has said it will offer safe passage in coordination with its armed forces, but is warning of attacks on ships attempting to pass without permission.

"With the dispatch (of the special envoy), the foreign ministry plans to share views on the Middle East situation and discuss passage not only for our nationals, vessels and crews, but for all ships," the ministry said.

Meanwhile situation in the Middle East escalating quickly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday approved direct talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, in a move seen as potentially reinforcing ceasefire efforts.

Netanyahu earlier said no formal ceasefire agreement exists between Israel and Lebanon.

The US and Iran are expected to begin negotiations over the weekend to formalize the ceasefire terms. US President Donald Trump said overnight he is optimistic about reaching a deal, while warning Tehran against interfering with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

- IANS
Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta visited Dharmasangh Mahavidyalaya in New Delhi, paying respects to Pujya Swami Abhishek Brahmachari Ji. He participated in Gau Seva and interacted with students, praising the institution's role in promoting Vedic knowledge. The Governor emphasized that spiritual institutions are key to preserving India's civilisational values during times of rapid change. He urged the youth to adopt discipline, compassion, and service, calling for a holistic education that combines knowledge with cultural awareness.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta visited Dharmasangh Mahavidyalaya in Delhi, highlighting the role of spiritual education in nurturing youth.

New Delhi, April 10 Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta on Friday visited Dharmasangh Mahavidyalaya at Civil Lines, New Delhi, where he paid obeisance to revered saint and Mata Lalita devotee, Pujya Swami Abhishek Brahmachari Ji, and sought his blessings.

According to an official release, the Governor was received by Mahavir Prasad Jaipuria, President of the Mahavidyalaya Trust, Himanshu Rai, Director of IIM Indore, and other eminent dignitaries present on the occasion.

During his visit, Kavinder Gupta participated in Gau Seva within the campus, terming it a reflection of India's enduring cultural and spiritual traditions. He also interacted with students during a dialogue programme organised by Rohit Kumar Singh, National Convenor of Yuva Chetna.

Addressing the gathering, the Governor paid glowing tributes to Dharam Samrat Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj, whose vision laid the foundation of the institution. He observed that the Mahavidyalaya continues to uphold and promote Vedic knowledge, playing a significant role in nurturing socially responsible and culturally aware youth, a release stated.

Highlighting the relevance of spiritual institutions in modern times, Gupta said that such institutions act as guiding forces in preserving India's civilisational ethos amid rapid societal transformations.

The Governor urged the youth to imbibe discipline, compassion, and a sense of service, emphasising that true education lies in the harmonious blend of knowledge, character, and cultural awareness. He also underlined the importance of Gau Seva as an integral part of Indian tradition and encouraged students to actively associate with such practices.

The Governor appreciated the efforts of the Mahavidyalaya in fostering holistic development and expressed confidence that its students would contribute meaningfully to nation-building, a release added.

- ANI
Pakistan's military engagement with the Afghan Taliban has created an unexpected strategic blowback by enabling the revival of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). With the Taliban distracted by the war, ISKP has gained crucial operational space to rebuild its strength and networks. Intelligence officials warn that the group, while currently aided by Pakistan's tactics, maintains its core objective of targeting India and establishing a caliphate. Furthermore, the prolonged conflict is also providing regrouping opportunities for other anti-Pakistan militant groups like the TTP and BLA.

Pakistan's conflict with the Afghan Taliban has inadvertently strengthened ISKP, giving the terror group space to rebuild and refocus on India and Kashmir.

New Delhi, April 10 When Pakistan entered into a war with the Afghan Taliban, little did it realise that it was indirectly making the Islamic State Khorasan Province stronger. Today, the ISKP has become a stronger force, and even the recruitments have shot up considerably.

For the Afghan Taliban, the ISKP was always an enemy. When the Taliban refused an offer from Abu Bakr al-Bhagdadi, the founder of the Islamic State, to battle together in Afghanistan, both outfits ended up becoming enemies.

The Taliban wanted no interference from the Islamic State and decided to stay away. This led to the formation of the ISKP in Afghanistan, and since then, it has been in a battle with the Taliban.

The ISKP was formed to take control over Afghanistan and set up a Caliphate in Pakistan, while also targeting India. The speed at which the outfit was set up and carried out attacks at will, especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan, baffled many. However, after the Taliban took over Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops, the trajectory of the ISKP went down considerably.

By 2023, the outfit was largely decimated as the Afghan Taliban took on the terror group. The Taliban managed to sustain its pressure until late 2025. By this time, the Afghan Taliban's ties with Pakistan had strained considerably. Pakistan then accused the Taliban, without proof, that it was providing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) a launchpad.

Even as the Taliban continued to deny this, Pakistan decided to attack Afghanistan. The ISKP was quick to shift sides. The outfit which viewed Pakistan as an enemy was now being backed by the same country.

In fact, Islamabad reached out to the ISKP to help it battle both the Taliban and the TTP.

While this has helped the ISKP a great deal, the real change began once the war began. With the Taliban busy with the war, the ISKP has had time to rebuild and create a bigger operational space.

An official explained that a weakened Taliban automatically translates into a stronger ISKP. This is another nuisance that Pakistan has created, the official said.

The ISKP, while trying to build a stronger base in Afghanistan, has its attention largely focused on India. It has been striking deals with the Pakistani establishment about furthering its agenda in Jammu and Kashmir.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISKP is, in fact, relieved that Pakistan is at war with the Afghan Taliban. It has been given breathing space as the Taliban is busy elsewhere.

The war being prolonged only means the ISKP gets more time to rebuild into a strong group, the official added.

Another official said that Pakistan is so blinded by the war that it fails to realise that the ISKP can turn against it very soon. The ISKP, after its formation, had trained its guns against Pakistan. Some of the notable attacks that the ISKP has carried out in Pakistan include a suicide bombing in September 2023 in Mastung, Balochistan, in which 52 people were killed. It also attacked a Shia Mosque in Peshawar in March 2022.

The ISKP feels that the true Islamic laws are not being followed in Pakistan, and it is time to convert it into an Islamic State.

While the war does help strengthen the ISKP, Pakistan has failed to understand that this conflict is also giving both the TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) breathing time. Both these groups are in a battle with the Pakistan establishment, and they would use this time to regroup and hit harder, another official said.

- IANS
Actor Sunny Deol marked the one-year anniversary of his action thriller "Jaat" with a nostalgic social media post. He shared highlights from the film and praised director Gopichand Malineni and co-stars Randeep Hooda and Vineet Kumar Singh. Deol concluded his message by teasing that good news about the sequel, "Jaat 2," is coming soon. The sequel was announced last year with Malineni confirmed to return as director.

Sunny Deol celebrates one year of 'Jaat', praises cast and director, and teases exciting news about the sequel 'Jaat 2' coming soon.

Mumbai, April 10 Actor Sunny Deol has shared an exciting update about the highly-awaited "Jaat 2" as his 2025 action thriller "Jaat" completed a year of release on Friday.

Reminiscing about all the madness, action, and fun they had while shooting the drama, Sunny dropped a video compilation of some highlight moments from the actioner on social media.



"One year of Jaat's release ... and what a ride it was! Still reminiscing about the madness, the action, and the sheer fun we had while shooting this film. Every day on set was filled with energy, passion, and that unmistakable Jaat spirit. Truly one of the most enjoyable journeys (sic)", Sunny wrote on his official Instagram handle.



Lauding his director, Gopichand Malineni, and his co-stars Randeep Hooda and Vineet Kumar Singh, the 'Border 2' actor went on to add, "A big shoutout to @dongopichand for his vision and for bringing this world alive so powerfully. And @randeephooda and @vineet_ksofficial wishing you both nothing but the best always. It was a pleasure sharing the screen with you."



Towards the end of the post, Sunny hinted that they will be sharing an exciting update regarding "Jaat 2" shortly.



"And... maybe it's time to gear up again...Some good news about Jaat 2 coming soon! #1YearOfJaat #Jaat," he concluded.



Last year, the makers announced the sequel through a special poster, along with the caption, "#Jaat on to a New Mission! #Jaat2." Gopichand Malineni will return as director for the second instalment of the hit franchise.



Backed by Mythri Movie Makers, in collaboration with Zee Studios and People Media Factory, "Jaat" features Sunny, Randeep, Vineet, Regena Cassandrra, and Saiyami Kher in pivotal roles, along with Ramya Krishnan, Jagapathi Babu, Prashant Bajaj, Zarina Wahab, P. Ravi Shankar, and Babloo Prithiveeraj as the ancillary cast.



"Jaat" shares the tale of a mysterious passenger whose obsessive demand for an apology puts him at loggerheads with a ruthless labourer-turned-crime boss.





- IANS
The Indian Air Force has launched the 'Super Sukhoi' upgrade program to indigenise its Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter fleet. Led by HAL and DRDO, the program focuses on integrating Indian avionics, radars, and weapons systems. A key goal is developing a common launcher to deploy various missiles without physical swaps, enhancing operational flexibility. This move aims to reduce logistical dependence on Russia and align with the national 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.

The Indian Air Force's 'Super Sukhoi' program aims to indigenise the Sukhoi-30 MKI fleet with homegrown launchers, avionics, and missiles to boost self-reliance.

New Delhi, April 10 In a major drive to achieve 'atmanirbharata' in defence preparedness and military prowess, the Indian Air Force has undertaken a major indigenisation program to give the fighter jet fleets an edge by equipping them with cutting-edge components and homegrown launchers.

Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets fleet, that fire BrahMos - one of the most lethal missiles, are undergoing indigenisation under the "Super Sukhoi" upgrade program, where they will be empowered with indigenous technology and given necessary upgrades.

The project led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and DRDO seeks to integrate Indian avionics, radars, and weapons to reduce their dependence on Russia and upgrade them with locally developed warfare systems.

Notably, the Su-30 constitutes the largest segment of the IAF's fighter fleet.

An overhaul of the entire weaponry system is in the works under the 'Super Sukhoi' program. There are plans to upgrade the avionics, radar systems, and engines of 84 Sukhoi aircraft.

Under the initiative, the focus is on indigenisation of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missile launchers, as well as the missiles themselves. While several indigenous missiles are already being inducted, the current plan aims to make every component-from launchers to missiles-entirely indigenous.

The Su-30 MKI aircraft was originally procured from Russia. Currently, launchers and adapters supplied by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) are utilised to mount weapons or other equipment onto the aircraft. These launchers are limited in payload capacity, and a separate launcher is required for each weapon type.

Owing to logistical challenges in swapping launchers, the IAF is seeking to equip it with a "common launcher" system that would enable the seamless deployment of various missile types without physically changing the launcher itself.

Efforts have been set in motion to closely align the project with 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative. The Air Force's roadmap encompasses not only the indigenous development of launchers but also emphasises the development of indigenous air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. The air-to-ground missile is part of India's next-generation series of air-dropped precision-guided munitions.

Notably, the IAF procured a total of 272 Sukhoi-30 aircraft from Russia, of which 50 were delivered as fully built units, while the remaining 222 fighter jets have been manufactured domestically by HAL under a licensing agreement since 2000.

Sukhoi-30 remains the sole fighter jet capable of carrying and launching the BrahMos missile; hence, it's crucial to maintain the fleet strength, as it can carry a substantial payload of bombs and missiles.

- IANS
Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha and Minister Ponnam Prabhakar participated in a yoga session in Hyderabad to kick off the state's Health and Wellness Week. The event, themed "Prevention is Better than Cure," aimed to spread public awareness about integrating yoga into daily life for wellness. This follows another recent initiative where Minister Narasimha led a human chain and "Red Run" on the Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge to promote AIDS awareness. The government's concerted efforts focus on educating citizens to eliminate the social stigma associated with HIV while advocating for preventive healthcare.

Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha leads yoga session for Health Week, emphasizing preventive care and AIDS awareness in Hyderabad initiatives.

Hyderabad, April 10 Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha and state Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Friday participated in a yoga session organised by the AYUSH Department at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad as part of the 'Praja Palana - Pragati Pranalika' Health Week celebrations.

The yoga session was held under the theme "Prevention is Better than Cure," aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of preventive healthcare and wellness among the public.

Speaking to ANI, Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said the Telangana government is observing Health and Wellness Week to promote healthy living practices.

"Today's program is about yoga. The government of Telangana has organised a health and wellness week. We are going to send a message to the common man about the importance of yoga--that yoga is a part of your daily life," he said.

The ministers also performed yogasanas during the session along with participants as part of the awareness initiative.

Earlier, Health Minister Narasimha on Thursday also led a human chain on the Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge in Hyderabad as part of the 'Praja Palana - Pragati Pranalika' initiative to promote awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Speaking to ANI, the minister said the government organised an AIDS awareness "Red Run" programme to educate citizens and remove social stigma associated with the disease.

"We have organised an AIDS awareness red run program. AIDS should not be a social stigma and every citizen should be aware of what it is, how we can get infected, the prevention... It is generally a sexually transmitted disease and we must take all the precautions. Testing is important, particularly for pregnant women... It is not a social stigma anymore," the health minister said.

- ANI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a series of high-level meetings in Washington to advance India-US cooperation across trade, defense, and critical technologies. Key outcomes included the launch of a new Trade Facilitation Portal aimed at supporting "Mission 500" for exporters and deepening defense industrial and supply chain linkages. The talks spanned the Pentagon and Department of Commerce, focusing on aligning economic and strategic priorities in areas like emerging technologies and secure supply chains. The visit is part of sustained high-level exchanges following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's recent trip, reflecting the broadening scope of the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's US visit focused on deepening trade, defense industrial ties, and critical tech collaboration through high-level meetings.

Washington, April 9 India and the United States stepped up engagement across trade, defence and critical technologies as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a series of high-level meetings in Washington during his three-day visit.

The talks spanned the Pentagon and the Department of Commerce, alongside a public-facing push to expand trade ties through a new digital platform.

Misri joined Ambassador Vinay Kwatra to launch the India-USA Trade Facilitation Portal, described by the Indian Embassy as "another step in the direction of unlocking the full potential of trade between India and the US."

The portal is aimed at supporting "Mission 500", with registrations now open for exporters. Officials said the initiative seeks to ease market access and deepen commercial linkages.

At the Pentagon, Misri held a "fruitful interaction" with Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Mike Duffey.

"The two principals discussed ways to further deepen the defence industrial, technology and supply chain linkages between India and the US, in line with the ambitious goals laid out in the Framework for the bilateral Major Defence Partnership signed last year," the embassy said.

He also met Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby for a "wide ranging conversation" on developments in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia. The meeting followed their recent interaction in New Delhi.

The defence talks underscored the growing focus on industrial cooperation, technology transfer and supply chain integration between the two countries.

At the Department of Commerce, Misri met Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt to expand cooperation in commercial and critical technologies.

"They also discussed building resilient and trusted supply chains," the embassy said.

The series of meetings reflected a coordinated push to align economic and strategic priorities, especially in areas such as emerging technologies and secure supply chains.

The visit follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's trip to Washington in February and is part of a steady tempo of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

Parallel military engagement added to the momentum. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, on an official visit to the United States, visited Peterson Space Force Base and interacted with General Gregory M. Guillot for what the Indian Air Force described as a "productive exchange of perspectives on complex operational modalities".

Scenes from Washington showed a mix of formal meetings, corridor exchanges and industry events, reflecting the broadening scope of the partnership.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit provides an opportunity to review the "full spectrum of India-US bilateral relations" and advance cooperation across key sectors, including trade, defence, science and technology, as well as regional and global developments of mutual interest.

India and the United States have in recent years expanded cooperation under a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with defence, technology and supply chains emerging as key pillars.

Bilateral trade has grown steadily, with both sides aiming to scale it further. Initiatives such as the new trade portal are expected to support exporters and deepen economic integration.

- IANS
Focus on Ease of Doing Business

Tripura has positioned itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in Northeast India, attracting over Rs 2,000 crore in investment commitments at a business conclave in Bengaluru. State officials highlighted sustained public investment, governance reforms, and a strategic focus on enhancing the Ease of Doing Business to reshape the state's economic profile. The event resulted in 44 Letters of Intent and MoUs across diverse sectors like IT, manufacturing, agri-processing, and tourism. Officials emphasized Tripura's untapped potential, skilled talent pool, and its strategic geographical advantage for cross-border trade with Bangladesh as key investment drivers.

Tripura emerges as a top NE economy, securing Rs 2,000 crore in investment interest at a Bengaluru conclave through policy reforms and strategic location.

Bengaluru/Agartala, April 11 Tripura has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Northeastern region, with GDP performance comparing favourably with other states, a top official said.

Tripura Industries and Commerce Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, while addressing a Business Conclave in Bengaluru, said on Friday that sustained public investment, improved governance outcomes, and a growing focus on private sector participation are steadily reshaping perceptions about the state's economic potential.

Addressing the gathering, the senior IAS officer said that the Tripura government is proactively strengthening the Ease of Doing Business framework through a series of policy reforms, procedural simplifications, and time-bound approval mechanisms.

He emphasised that Tripura offers significant untapped potential across both emerging and traditional sectors.

This is supported by a skilled talent pool, improving connectivity, and a responsive institutional framework.

He encouraged industry participants to explore long-term partnership opportunities with the state.

The Bengaluru roadshow and Business Conclave was organised as a focused outreach initiative aimed at engaging industry leaders, investors, start-ups, and institutional stakeholders from southern India.

The roadshow resulted in the signing of 44 Letters of Intent (LoIs) and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), amounting to investment commitments worth more than Rs 2,000 crore across multiple sectors.

The programme presented a comprehensive overview of Tripura's industrial ecosystem, highlighting recent infrastructure developments, progressive policy initiatives, and sector-specific investment opportunities, with a strong emphasis on investment facilitation and ease of doing business.

Highlighting Tripura's strategic geographical location, Gitte underscored the state's growing economic and trade engagement with Bangladesh, which is significantly enhancing regional connectivity and improving access to international markets.

He noted that this strategic positioning is creating fresh opportunities across logistics, value-added manufacturing, services, and cross-border trade-linked industries.

Providing a detailed sectoral perspective, Industries and Commerce Department Director Deepak Kumar outlined investment opportunities across priority sectors such as IT and digital services, electronics and technology-enabled manufacturing, education and skill development, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, tourism and hospitality, agri and food processing, bamboo, rubber and agarwood-based industries, renewable energy, urban infrastructure, real estate, handloom and handicrafts, as well as manufacturing and allied industries.

Kumar elaborated on the state's investor-centric incentive framework, availability of industrial land, identification of suitable project locations, and the end-to-end facilitation support being extended to investors from project conceptualisation to implementation and operationalisation.

He emphasised that the department is committed to ensuring ease of entry, faster approvals, and continued post-investment handholding for all investors.

Pradeep Krishnaraj, Director of Skill Development, highlighted Tripura's structured and industry-linked skilling ecosystem.

He noted that it is supported by flagship programmes and partnerships designed to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled manpower aligned with emerging sectors and investor requirements.

Megha Jain, Director of the Urban Development Department, outlined Tripura's planned urban development initiatives, including integrated townships and redevelopment projects.

These are aimed at supporting sustainable growth, modern infrastructure, and enhanced private sector participation through PPP-based models.

The Business Conclave featured detailed departmental presentations, interactive discussions, and one-to-one B2G meetings.

During these sessions, senior state government officials engaged directly with participating investors to understand business interests and clarify policy and procedural aspects.

Officials said that the Bengaluru roadshow successfully strengthened Tripura's engagement with the southern India business ecosystem, while reinforcing the state's positioning as an investment-ready, reform-driven, and rapidly emerging economy in the Northeast.

The event marks an important step ahead of the 'Destination Tripura: Business Conclave 2026', which is scheduled to be held in Agartala.

- IANS
Union Minister Manohar Lal visits Punatsangchhu hydro projects, reaffirms India's commitment to Bhutan's sustainable energy development and bilateral ties.

Thimphu, April 10 Union Minister Manohar Lal on Friday highlighted the strength of India-Bhutan ties during his visit to key hydropower projects in Bhutan, including the Punatsangchhu-I and II hydroelectric projects, and stressed their role in clean energy generation and bilateral cooperation.

In a post on X, the Union Minister said, "Visited the powerhouse of the Punatsangchhu-II HEP and reviewed its operational performance. The project has emerged as a key contributor to Bhutan's energy sector, generating substantial power and revenue while enabling clean energy exports to India."



He added, "Appreciated its efficient execution and operations and reaffirmed India's continued commitment to supporting Bhutan's sustainable energy development."



The minister also visited the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project and reviewed the facilities and interacted with workers. He said, "Visited the powerhouse of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project and reviewed the facilities, along with an interaction with the workforce on site."



Underscoring the importance of bilateral collaboration, the Union Minister said, "Hydropower cooperation continues to be a cornerstone of India-Bhutan relations, advancing sustainable energy generation while strengthening economic ties and deepening our enduring partnership."



Marking a key milestone, he participated in the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project alongside Bhutan's Energy Minister Gem Tshering.



He said, "Today, on the occasion of the foundation stone laying for the dam construction work of the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, I had the privilege of participating alongside Bhutan's Minister of Energy, Hon'ble Lyonpo Gem Tshering ji."



Highlighting the broader significance of the projects, the Union Minister added, "The Punatsangchhu-1 and 2 Hydroelectric Projects form the strong bedrock of India-Bhutan energy cooperation, reinforcing trust, mutual progress, and long-term strategic partnership between the two countries, alongside the production of clean energy."



He further emphasised their mutual benefits, stating, "These projects not only accelerate Bhutan's economic prosperity but also provide stability to India's energy needs."



Earlier on Thursday, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal met Bhutan's Energy Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering and planned to hold discussions on deepening the energy partnership between New Delhi and Thimphu.



The Union Minister is on a three-day visit to Bhutan.



Sharing the details in a post on X, the Union Minister on Thursday informed that he also met the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Sandeep Arya.



He added, "During this visit, detailed discussions will be held on further strengthening India-Bhutan energy relations."





- ANI
A bus carrying 48 pilgrims from Maharashtra overturned on the Gorakhpur-Varanasi highway in Ghazipur district, resulting in two fatalities and approximately 35 injuries. Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav directed local officials to ensure swift medical care for all injured passengers. The deceased have been identified as two women from Akola and Buldhana districts, while the injured are being treated at Ghazipur Medical College, with three in critical condition. The pilgrims were on a religious tour and heading to Varanasi after visiting Ayodhya and Nepal.

A pilgrim bus overturned in Ghazipur, UP, killing two and injuring 35. Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment.

Ghazipur, April 10 As at least two people were killed and around 35 others injured after a bus carrying pilgrims from Maharashtra overturned near Naisara village in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav on Friday reviewed the situation and directed officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured.

According to officials, the accident occurred on Thursday. Assistant Private Secretary to Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav, Gopal Dike, told IANS that he received a call from a person whose father was among the pilgrims travelling in the bus. The caller requested immediate assistance for hospital admission and treatment.

Dike said that upon being informed about the incident, Prataprao Jadhav promptly contacted the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and health officials, instructing them to provide swift and adequate medical support. The local administration quickly arranged treatment facilities, ensuring that the injured received timely care, medicines, and food.

The incident took place on the Gorakhpur-Varanasi highway near Naisara village under the Nandganj police station limits. The bus, which was heading towards Varanasi, lost control and overturned. Authorities confirmed that two women -- Annapurna (50) from Akola and Saraswati (70) from Buldhana -- lost their lives in the incident.

All injured passengers were admitted to the Ghazipur Medical College and Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. The condition of three passengers remains critical, and a team of specialist doctors has been deployed for their care.

Reports indicate that a group of 48 pilgrims from Maharashtra had travelled to Uttar Pradesh on a religious tour. After visiting Ayodhya and Nepal, they were en route to Kashi Vishwanath Dham when the accident occurred.

Soon after receiving information, a police team from Nandganj police station, along with senior officers, rushed to the spot and initiated rescue operations. Further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

- IANS
The United States has adjusted its metal tariffs, shifting the calculation basis to the full customs value of products, which South Korea's trade minister says will reduce administrative burdens for companies. While the change led to a 17% reduction in the number of affected items, the government remains vigilant as the US may later expand the list. Concurrently, South Korea and the US held their first official talks to implement a Technology Prosperity Deal signed last year. The working group aims to strengthen cooperation in AI, biotech, space, and digital infrastructure.

South Korea says revised US metal tariffs will lower administrative burdens for companies, though impact varies by item. Minister vows support.

Seoul, April 9 The United States' recent adjustment of its metal tariffs will likely reduce the overall administrative burden on South Korean companies, though the impact may differ by item, Seoul's trade minister said on Thursday, vowing efforts to help companies minimise their burden.

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo made the assessment during a meeting with officials from industries affected by U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper imports, as well as their derivatives, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, reports Yonhap news agency.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump simplified its tariffs on such products earlier this week so that they take effect based on their "full customs value." Previously, the U.S. imposed metal duties based on the value of the metal content in each of the products -- a more complicated calculation process.

With the simplification of U.S. tariffs, the overall administrative burden on domestic companies and uncertainties related to customs clearance are expected to decrease, Yeo said.

Under the new U.S. system, the number of products subject to the metal tariffs went down by 17 percent, with cosmetics, chemical, furniture and other products excluded from the list, according to the ministry.

Yeo, however, said the government will remain vigilant as the U.S. may include additional items in the list of derivatives subject to tariffs after a planned review of the system, while continuing efforts to devise necessary support measures for companies.

Meanwhile, South Korea and the US held their first follow-up talks on Thursday to flesh out the details of an agreement signed last year on technology cooperation, the science ministry said.

The meeting, held virtually, marked the launch of a working group on the Technology Prosperity Deal, signed on the sidelines of a South Korea-U.S. summit held in October in Gyeongju, a city located some 275 kilometers southeast of Seoul, where the countries' leaders attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

"During the first official meeting, the two countries discussed the structure and operation of the working group, as well as final goals and areas of cooperation through related activities," the Ministry of Science and ICT said in a release.

The two countries will seek to strengthen ties in various cutting-edge sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, biotechnology and space, it added.

- IANS
US Congressman Josh Gottheimer strongly criticized Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for his social media post calling Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity." Gottheimer stated such rhetoric is unacceptable and counterproductive as Pakistan attempts to mediate talks. Asif's post, which he later deleted, accused Israel of genocide in Lebanon and used inflammatory language. The incident adds tension to already fragile diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire in West Asia.

US Rep. Josh Gottheimer calls Pakistani minister's anti-Israel rhetoric "unacceptable" and counterproductive to fragile ceasefire talks.

Washington DC, April 10 US Congressman Josh Gottheimer slammed Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over his statement concerning Israel, calling the rhetoric "unacceptable" and counterproductive amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to find a complete end to the conflict in West Asia.

In a post on X, Gottheimer stated that such remarks from a top Pakistani official amid such times, when Islamabad is trying to act as a mediator between the US and Iran, were a "spewing vile rhetoric targeting Jews and Israel."

"This is nuts! While Pakistan is leading ceasefire talks, their defense minister is spewing vile rhetoric targeting Jews and Israel. Hateful rhetoric like this is beyond unacceptable and unproductive at this fragile moment. This is not diplomacy and must be condemned," his post read.

This comes after Khawaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," the post read.

"I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," it added.

The Pakistan Defence Minister's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad.

Asif later deleted his post after intense backlash and condemnation.

Separately, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also weighed in on the broader situation, strongly backing Israel and criticising those supporting groups hostile to it.

In a post on X, Huckabee said, "Equating Israel stopping Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis & their 'Mother Ship' Iran is equating John McClane & Hans Gruber in that great Christmas movie classic 'Die Hard.' People who support the terrorists over Israel are sick & demonic. Full stop."

His remarks referenced John McClane and Hans Gruber from the film Die Hard to draw a comparison in support of Israel's actions against groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as the Houthis.

The comments come at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia, with ongoing hostilities involving Israel and multiple regional actors, alongside diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire.

- ANI
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a series of high-level meetings in Washington D.C. with senior US officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The discussions focused on the volatile security situation in the Persian Gulf and strengthening the strategic partnership across defense, technology, and trade. Key talks covered the implementation of the Pax Silica initiative, cooperation in semiconductors, AI, and critical minerals, and bolstering the Major Defence Partnership. The meetings set the stage for further high-level engagements, including an upcoming visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to India.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets top US officials, discussing defense, tech, and the volatile Persian Gulf situation to strengthen bilateral partnership.

Washington DC, April 10 Strengthening the strategic bridge between New Delhi and Washington, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Thursday.

The high-level meeting, held at the State Department, comes at a pivotal moment for global diplomacy as both nations navigate the complex security landscape in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.

In a statement by the US State Department attributed to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, it was noted, "Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri today in Washington. The leaders reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries and shared news about the situation in the Persian Gulf and other global and regional priorities."

During his visit to the United States, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also met Jacob Helberg, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and discussed deepening India-US tech cooperation.

Sharing the details of his meeting in a post on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that they discussed the shared vision for resilient supply chains and collaboration in semiconductors, critical minerals, quantum, AI, nuclear energy and next steps in implementing the Pax Silica initiative.

The meeting with Helberg comes on the heels of his visit to India earlier in February, when India joined the Pax Silica initiative.

Earlier, Misri met FBI Director Kash Patel and discussed cooperation in countering terrorism. During his meeting with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, the Foreign Secretary discussed working closely on security, defence and economy.

He also held a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on the bilateral ties ahead of the latter's visit to India next month.

"Welcome to the White House, Vikram Misri! Productive meeting with Marco Rubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Sergio Gor said in a post on X.

Yesterday, Misri engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior United States officials, focusing on the volatile situations in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific while reviewing strategic defence and trade relations.

The Foreign Secretary's itinerary included significant talks at the Pentagon with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby. This encounter followed their recent dialogue in New Delhi during the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting, after Colby's visit to India last month to push forward the bilateral defence partnership.

Continuing the focus on security cooperation, Misri met with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Mike Duffey.

These discussions were aimed at bolstering defence industrial ties, technology sharing, and supply chain integration, adhering to the framework of the Major Defence Partnership established last year.

Beyond the Pentagon, the Foreign Secretary moved to the Department of Commerce for meetings with Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt. The talks were geared towards widening the scope of cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies, alongside the development of secure supply chains.

- ANI
The White House announced the United States will maintain full military readiness in the Middle East despite a new two-week ceasefire with Iran. Officials stated no immediate drawdown of forces is planned, as the administration takes a cautious approach, deeming the truce fragile. The White House credits sustained military pressure, including Operation Epic Fury, for forcing Iran to agree to the ceasefire. However, the same strikes have disrupted Iran's command and control, potentially complicating its ability to coordinate compliance in the short term.

White House says no US troop drawdown in Middle East as fragile two-week Iran truce begins. Military readiness remains key to strategy and negotiations.

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.

- IANS
US Vice President J D Vance has departed for Pakistan to engage in talks concerning Iran, stating the US is ready to negotiate in good faith. He aligned his remarks with guidance from President Donald Trump, warning Iran against trying to "play" the United States during the process. The talks are taking place amidst a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, representing a dual-track approach of engagement and deterrence. India is monitoring the situation closely due to its stakes in regional stability and energy flows from the Gulf.

US Vice President J D Vance travels to Pakistan for Iran negotiations, offering an "open hand" for good faith talks while warning against attempts to "play" the US.

Washington, April 10 US Vice President J D Vance on Friday set off for Pakistan for talks on Iran, saying Washington is ready to "extend the open hand" if Tehran negotiates in good faith, while warning against attempts to "play" the United States.

"We're looking forward to negotiation. I think it's going to be positive," Vance told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force Two for Islamabad.

He reiterated that the US approach would depend on Iran's willingness to engage constructively, aligning his remarks with guidance from President Donald Trump.

"As the President of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance said. "If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive."

The Vice President emphasised that the administration is entering the talks with a defined framework.

"So we're going to try to have a positive negotiation. The President gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we're going to see," he said.

Officials have not yet released a detailed schedule for the Pakistan visit, leaving key elements of the trip unclear.

The talks come in the middle of a two-week ceasefire between US and Iran. The Vice President's remarks reinforced that dual-track approach of engagement and deterrence.

India is closely watching the developments given its stakes in Gulf stability and energy flows. Any breakthrough or setback in US-Iran talks could have implications for oil prices and regional security calculations.

Previous attempts at US-Iran engagement have produced limited results, with deep mistrust and competing strategic priorities often derailing progress. The current round of talks is seen as another test of whether both sides can find common ground under shifting geopolitical conditions.

- IANS
US Vice President JD Vance has departed for Islamabad to lead negotiations with Iran, expressing cautious optimism for positive talks. The discussions follow an immediate two-week ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the prolonged conflict in West Asia. Vance stated the US is open to engagement if Iran negotiates in good faith but warned Washington would not be receptive to being played. The Iranian delegation is reportedly led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, while the US team includes Jared Kushner.

US Vice President JD Vance leads delegation for talks with Iran in Islamabad, aiming to end West Asia conflict under a two-week ceasefire.

Washington DC, April 10 US Vice President JD Vance on Friday departed for Pakistan's capital of Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran, expressing optimism about the negotiations while warning against any lack of sincerity from Tehran.

Addressing reporters before departure, Vance said the United States is open to constructive engagement if Iran approaches the discussions in good faith.



"We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," he said.



However, he cautioned that Washington would not respond favourably if Iran attempts to act in bad faith during the talks.



"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance added.



Vance will be leading the US delegation to Islamabad for talks this weekend.



According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation.



The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time.



The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks.



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.



However, Iran's state media is yet to confirm if senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States.



Meanwhile, Pakistani media confirmed the arrival of the Iranian delegation for the talks to be held tomorrow.





- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced the removal of the pilgrim cap for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra following a review meeting. He assured that all state departments are fully prepared, with detailed plans for roads, water, transport, safety, and disaster management. Dhami highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's deep connection with the state and the progress on major projects like the Char Dham all-weather roads. The Chief Minister also revealed that PM Modi's upcoming visit will include the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a major boost for connectivity.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami announces no cap on pilgrims for Char Dham Yatra, detailing extensive safety and infrastructure preparations.

Dehradun, April 10 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said the goverment has decided that there will be no cap for now on the number of pilgrims for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, following a review meeting on preparations. He assured that all departments are fully prepared to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage.

He stated that all preparations for the Char Dham Yatra are progressing smoothly, with the state government prioritising the safety and convenience of devotees.

Addressing the media after a review meeting, Dhami said, "A review meeting was held to review the preparations for the Char Dham Yatra (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath)... All the departments are ready and committed to ensure that the devotees don't face any problem."

He added that extensive discussions were held on infrastructure and safety arrangements. "From roads to drinking water, transport, safety measures, disaster management, heli-services, and addressing cyber challenges--everything was discussed in detail," he said, emphasising that the government aims to ensure a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage experience.

"For now, we have decided to remove the cap on the number of pilgrims so that there are no restrictions. We've relaxed the standards for the number of pilgrims allowed," he said.

Addressing concerns over recent snowfall, the Chief Minister said that while seasonal snowfall has occurred, all arrangements will be streamlined before the yatra begins. He also underlined that officials have been directed to complete all development works within fixed timelines, ensuring quality and regular monitoring.

Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit, Dhami highlighted his strong connection with Uttarakhand.

"Prime Minister Modi has a deep bond with our state, 'Devbhoomi' Uttarakhand. Since he became Prime Minister, several major projects have moved forward--the Char Dham all-weather roads, expansion of health services like AIIMS, and increased heli-services. He personally undertook the Adi Kailash Yatra and designated Mana as the 'first village' of India," he said.

"Whether it's promoting winter tourism or providing assistance during disasters, the Prime Minister has always encouraged and supported us. During this visit, he will be giving us a major gift--the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is about to be operational. This will provide immense convenience to people across the country, especially those travelling between Delhi and Uttarakhand," he added.

- ANI
A five-minute clip from actor Vijay's upcoming and postponed film 'Jana Nayagan' has been leaked online, showing an introductory scene and a song portion. The leak has triggered widespread concern and condemnation from film industry professionals, with director Arvindh Srinivasan leading calls against piracy. He urged the public not to share the footage and for the technical team to investigate the source of the breach. The film's release was previously postponed from its scheduled Pongal date after being referred to a Censor Board Revising Committee.

A leaked clip from Vijay's postponed film 'Jana Nayagan' circulates online, prompting strong condemnation from Tamil film industry professionals.

Chennai, April 10 A five-minute clip, believed to be from actor Vijay's eagerly awaited last film 'Jana Nayagan', has now been allegedly leaked and is doing the rounds on social media, much to the disdain of its makers.

The leaked clip, which contains Vijay's introductory scene and a portion of a song, triggered concern and anger in the film industry, with several producers and directors expressing solidarity with the makers of 'Jana Nayagan'.



Director Arvindh Srinivasan was among the first to condemn the leak from the film. He took to his social media timelines to express concern and to express solidarity with the makers.



He wrote, "The leak of the #Jananayagan edit reference watermarked footage is deeply concerning and unacceptable. As a filmmaker, I strongly condemn this incident. A lot of hard work, trust, and creative effort goes into every stage of filmmaking, and such actions undermine the integrity of the entire process."



Arvindh Srinivasan further said, "I stand with the #Jananayagan team during this time. At the same time, it is important that the concerned edit/technical team takes responsibility to thoroughly investigate and identify the source of this breach."



Urging people not to share the leaked footage, he said, "I urge everyone: Do NOT share or circulate the leaked footage, Ignore such content wherever you see it, Report it immediately. Let's support ethical practices and respect the people who bring stories to life. #RespectCreators #StopPiracy #StandWithCinema #TamilCinema #Jananayakan #Vijay."



It ay be recalled that the release of the film, which was originally scheduled to hit screens for Pongal in January this year, had to be postponed after the film, which was sent to the Censor Board for clearance, was referred to a Revising Committee under Rule 24 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules.



Directed by H. Vinoth, 'Jana Nayagan' boasts a powerful ensemble cast featuring Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, and Gautham Vasudev Menon.



The makers of 'Jana Nayagan' had announced their decision to postpone the film through a statement.



KVN Productions, while announcing their decision to postpone the release of Jana Nayagan, said,"It is with a heavy heart that we share this update with our valued stakeholders and audiences. The release of 'Jana Nayagan', eagerly awaited on January 9, has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control."



The production house further said, "We deeply understand the anticipation, excitement, and emotions surrounding this film, and this decision has not been an easy one for any of us. The new release date will be announced at the earliest.Until then, we humbly request your patience and continued love. Your unwavering support is our greatest strength and means everything to the entire Jana Nayagan team."





- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a video message urging collective support for the Women's Reservation Bill, stating it is essential for achieving a developed India by 2047. He highlighted that the Union Cabinet has approved a draft amendment to operationalize the act by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Modi called on citizens to motivate all political parties to ensure the bill's passage during the upcoming Parliament sessions. He described any delay in implementing women's reservation in legislative bodies as "deeply unfortunate" and a historic necessity.

PM Modi urges collective support to pass the Women's Reservation Bill, calling it essential for a developed India by 2047. Read his appeal.

New Delhi, April 9 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared a video message urging collective support for the Women's Reservation Bill, stating that empowering women is essential to achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Taking to Instagram, the PM Modi said, "Reservation for women in legislative bodies is the need of the hour! This will make our democracy even more vibrant and participative. Any delay in bringing this reservation will be deeply unfortunate. Expressed my thoughts on the issue in an article."

In his video message, PM Modi addressed "mothers, sisters, and daughters", highlighting the country's goal of becoming a developed nation by the time it marks 100 years of Independence in 2047. Drawing from his experience of over two decades in public office, he emphasised that the full strength of "Matru Shakti" and "Nari Shakti" must be harnessed for national development.

"A few years ago, we passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam with the support of all political parties. There is a shared aspiration that women should have 33 per cent representation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections," he said.

The Prime Minister noted that in recent days, discussions have been held with various political parties, most of which have expressed support for the initiative. He described the current atmosphere around the issue as positive and encouraging.

Referring to his article, PM Modi urged citizens to read and share it widely, and to motivate political parties to support the legislation. He called for collective action during the upcoming Parliament sittings on April 16, 17, and 18.

"I request everyone to come together and encourage all parties so that we can pass this important bill and celebrate it collectively," he said, expressing hope for a broad consensus on the issue.

PM Modi underscored the urgent need for reservation for women in legislative bodies, describing it as a transformative step that would make India's democracy more vibrant and participative. In the Op-Ed and a series of posts on social media platform X, the Prime Minister called for unity among Members of Parliament to ensure the timely passage of the long-pending legislation.

Highlighting the importance of the proposed reform, the Prime Minister stated that any delay in implementing women's reservation would be "deeply unfortunate". He emphasised that the move is not merely a policy decision but a historic necessity to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure equal representation.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet approved a draft amendment Bill to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

- IANS
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to voters in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry as polling commenced for 296 assembly seats. In a social media post, he criticized the incumbent governments, citing unemployment in Kerala and a weakened social fabric in Assam. He urged voters to choose a path of unity, welfare, and honest governance. The high-stakes single-phase elections will see results declared on May 4.

As voting begins, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge urges citizens to vote for a government that "listens, cares, and delivers" on key issues.

New Delhi, April 9 Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged voters to exercise their constitutional voting right as voting across 296 seats in Keralam, Assam and Puducherry commenced earlier in the day.

In an 'X' post, Kharge pointed out the rising unemployment, financial distress, and growing uncertainty within Keralam under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime, while highlighting the responsibility of its people to showcase the nation what "progressive thinking truly means."

"My dear sisters and brothers of Keralam, You have always stood for education, dignity, secular values, and social justice. You have shown the nation what progressive thinking truly means. Now, once again, the responsibility lies in your hands. Over the past years, you have faced rising unemployment, financial distress, and growing uncertainty. Farmers, plantation workers, youth, and small business owners have all asked a simple question: "Where is the relief? Where is the opportunity?" Kerala's strength has always been its unity in diversity. Do not let division or distraction weaken that strength. I appeal to all to come out in large numbers and vote for a government that listens, cares, and delivers. Vote for justice. Vote for a better Keralam!," Kharge wrote in his 'X' post.

Furthermore, Kharge expressed confidence about the "palpable change" in Assam, while emphasising the weakened state unity by the BJP government in the past ten years. He urged people to restore the path of unity, welfare, and real development, adding that their vote would restore its pride and future.

"The change is palpable in Assam in this 2026 Assembly election. In the past 10 years, Assam's unity has been deliberately weakened - its social fabric strained, its resources exploited, and false narratives spread for political gain. Now is the time for the people of Assam to come together and defeat politics of division, exclusion, and apathy with the power of their vote. Choose a path of unity, welfare, and real development. Your vote can restore Assam's pride and future. I especially urge first-time voters to step out and vote for harmony and progress. Jai Hind Jai Assam," Kharge wrote on 'X'.

The Congress chief also highlighted the growing corruption, unemployment, drugs, paper leaks and misuse of Puducherry land, stressing that the elections are time for statehood, jobs, safety, honest governance, and dignity for every citizen of the Union Territory.

"My dear sisters and brothers of Puducherry, Today is your moment to step out and vote against corruption, unemployment, drugs, paper leaks and misuse of your land and resources. It is time to for statehood, jobs, safety, honest governance, and dignity for every citizen. Use your vote to safeguard your children's future, to restore Puducherry's progress, and to bring back a government that truly works for the people! Vote for change. Vote for integrity. Jai Hind Jai Puducherry," he said.

Polling began for high-stakes electoral battles in two states, Assam and Keralam, as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry, on Thursday at 7 am with the Election Commission making arrangements for free, fair and smooth polling.

Voters queued outside polling stations to cast their votes in a single-phase assembly election.

Voting will be held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam, and 30 in Puducherry in this phase of the election. Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23, and West Bengal on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

In Keralam, over 2.6 crore electors will decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies. Of the 2,69,53,644 registered voters across the state, there are 1,38,27,319 women voters and the number of male voters stands at 1,31,26,048.

Officials said 277 voters have been registered in the 'third gender category.'Among the electorate, nearly 4,24,518 voters fall in the 18-19 age group, while 2,04,608 voters are aged 85 years and above

To facilitate safe and secure polling, a total of 30,471 polling stations have been set up, which comprises 119 logistic and voter machine distribution centres and 41 vote counting centres.

Left Democratic Front holds 99 seats in the current assembly and is aiming for a third consecutive term based on its performance and welfare schemes. The LDF created a record in 2021 as it retained the southern state, which, over the decades, has seen power alternating between the coalitions led by CPI(M) and Congress.

In Assam, more than 2.5 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise for 126-member legislative assembly. There are 722 candidates in the fray.

Of 2,50,54,463 electors, 1,25,31,552 are male voters and 1,25,22,593 females. There are 318 voters in the Transgender category and 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.

To strengthen the monitoring mechanism, webcasting facilities have been arranged in accordance with the Commission's directions, a release said.

Webcasting has been enabled in all 31,490 polling stations, including 31,486 main polling stations and 4 auxiliary polling stations.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.

The Congress has stitched a six-party alliance to take on the ruling BJP-led NDA, which is seeking its third successive term in office.

In Puducherry, 10,14,070 electors are eligible to cast their votes to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly.

The electorate includes 5,39,125 female voters, 4,74,788 male voters, and 157 voters belonging to the third gender category.

A total of 24,156 voters fall in the age group of 18-19 years, while 6,034 voters belong to the senior citizen category, aged 85 and above.

In Puducherry, the contest involves the ruling NDA, which includes NR Congress and BJP and the Congress-DMK alliance. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is seeking to make it triangular.

- ANI
Polling began on Thursday for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. In Kerala, over 2.6 crore voters will decide among 883 candidates, with the ruling LDF aiming for a historic third consecutive term. Assam sees over 2.5 crore voters and a contest where the BJP-led NDA seeks a third term against a Congress-led alliance. All votes across the three regions will be counted on May 4.

Polling underway for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry. Over 4 crore voters to decide fate of ruling coalitions. Results on May 4.

New Delhi, April 9 Polling began for high-stakes electoral battles in two states, Assam and Keralam, as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry, on Thursday at 7 am with the Election Commission making arrangements for free, fair and smooth polling.

Voters queued outside polling stations to cast their votes in a single-phase assembly election.

Voting will be held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam, and 30 in Puducherry in this phase of the election. Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23, and West Bengal on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

In Keralam, over 2.6 crore electors will decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies. Of the 2,69,53,644 registered voters across the state, there are 1,38,27,319 women voters and the number of male voters stands at 1,31,26,048.

Officials said 277 voters have been registered in the 'third gender category.'Among the electorate, nearly 4,24,518 voters fall in the 18-19 age group, while 2,04,608 voters are aged 85 years and above

To facilitate safe and secure polling, a total of 30,471 polling stations have been set up, which comprises 119 logistic and voter machine distribution centres and 41 vote counting centres.

Keralam Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar on Tuesday said that 1.46 lakh trained polling personnel have been dispatched to polling stations.

"As part of the arrangements for Kerala Assembly elections, we have the total electorate of 2.71 crores, and the service voters are 53,984... We will be counting the votes in 140 strong rooms and 43 locations. We have 1.46 lakh polling personnel who have been trained and will be dispatched to all the polling stations," he said

"We have FIRs against 180 people in terms of election-related activities, and more than 1,200 police teams are very actively working in the field... We are ensuring that all the new initiatives by the Election Commission are implemented properly," he added.

The election is seen as a contest between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF, with the BJP-led NDA, which has been gaining vote share, also hopeful of its prospects in the southern state.

Left Democratic Front holds 99 seats in the current assembly and is aiming for a third consecutive term based on its performance and welfare schemes. The LDF created a record in 2021 as it retained the southern state, which, over the decades, has seen power alternating between the coalitions led by CPI(M) and Congress.

In Assam, more than 2.5 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise for 126-member legislative assembly. There are 722 candidates in the fray.

Of 2,50,54,463 electors, 1,25,31,552 are male voters and 1,25,22,593 females. There are 318 voters in the Transgender category and 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.

To strengthen the monitoring mechanism, webcasting facilities have been arranged in accordance with the Commission's directions, a release said.

Webcasting has been enabled in all 31,490 polling stations, including 31,486 main polling stations and 4 auxiliary polling stations.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.

The Congress has stitched a six-party alliance to take on the ruling BJP-led NDA, which is seeking its third successive term in office.

In Puducherry, 10,14,070 electors are eligible to cast their votes to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly.

The electorate includes 5,39,125 female voters, 4,74,788 male voters, and 157 voters belonging to the third gender category.

A total of 24,156 voters fall in the age group of 18-19 years, while 6,034 voters belong to the senior citizen category, aged 85 and above.

Speaking with ANI, Puducherry Chief Electoral Officer P Jawahar said that 110 sector officers have been deployed across 1,099 polling stations, out of which 209 stations are categorised as vulnerable.

He added that following the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, flying squads and helplines are being used to track violations."The Election Department of Puducherry, through its district and returning officers, has made extensive arrangements. Logistics are crucial, with polling parties and materials being dispatched to stations on time. This process is tracked using drones and 110 sector officers across 1,099 polling stations... On security, multi-level measures are in place. Of these, 209 polling stations are categorised as vulnerable, where central armed police forces are deployed alongside local police to prevent incidents," he said.

"Enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct is strict during the 48-hour silence period. Campaigning is banned, liquor outlets are closed, and inducements are closely monitored. Drones, flying squads, and the helpline are used to track violations in real time... Technology plays a key role, especially in regions like Mahe and Yanam, which are far from Puducherry. Drone feeds from these areas are monitored live in 4K quality," he added.

In Puducherry, the contest involves the ruling NDA, which includes NR Congress and BJP and the Congress-DMK alliance. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is seeking to make it triangular.

The term of the legislative assembly is set to expire on June 15.

- ANI
The Ministry of External Affairs reports continued limited flight operations from Gulf countries with open airspace to India, including around 95 flights from the UAE and 8-10 from Qatar today. Travel for Indian nationals from countries with closed airspace, like Kuwait, is being facilitated through neighboring nations such as Saudi Arabia. Indian missions are operating 24/7 helplines and have assisted in moving over 2,000 Indians from Iran via third countries. A dedicated control room is coordinating efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of the Indian community in the region.

Over 95 UAE & 10 Qatar flights to India today as MEA facilitates travel for Indian nationals from Gulf amid regional airspace restrictions.

New Delhi, April 10 Flights are continuing to operate from Gulf countries where airspace remains open, while around 8,43,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India since 28 February, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs issued on Friday.

In the United Arab Emirates, airlines continue to operate limited nonscheduled commercial flights between India based on operational and safety considerations, with around 95 flights expected on Thursday.

Flights also continue to operate from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to destinations in India. With the Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 8-10 flights to India on Thursday.

Bahrain's airspace is open. Gulf Air is planning limited flight operations from Bahrain to India and is currently operating nonscheduled flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India. Travel of Indian nationals from Bahrain continues to be facilitated through Saudi Arabia.

The Kuwait airspace remains closed. Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways are operating nonscheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India. 

Due to airspace closure, travel of Indian nationals from Kuwait continues to be facilitated through Saudi Arabia to India, the ministry said.

The Embassy of India in Tehran has so far facilitated the movement of 2,180 Indian nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India, including 981 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen, the statement said.

Israel's airspace is partially open with restricted flight operations. Travel of Indian nationals continues to be facilitated through Jordan and Egypt to India.

Iraq's airspace is open with restricted flight operations. Travel of Indian nationals continues to be facilitated through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to India, the statement added.

Meanwhile, a dedicated special control room at the Ministry of External Affairs remains operational and works in tandem with Indian Missions, while maintaining regular contact with State Governments and Union Territories. Efforts remain focused on ensuring the safety, security, and welfare of the Indian community in the Gulf region, the statement said.

Indian Missions and Posts continue to operate 24/7 helplines and are proactively assisting Indian nationals. 

Updated advisories are being issued regularly, including information on local government guidelines, flight and travel situations, and consular services.

Indian Missions also remain actively engaged with Indian community associations, professional groups, Indian companies, and other stakeholders in the region, the statement added.

- IANS
Actor Sivakarthikeyan has strongly condemned the alleged leaks of the upcoming film 'Jana Nayagan,' starring Thalapathy Vijay. He urged the public to avoid piracy and respect the hard work of the filmmaking team by waiting for its theatrical release. The production house, KVN Productions, has issued a statement confirming that significant portions of the film have been illegally circulated online. They have warned that sharing or viewing the leaked content is a criminal offense and have initiated forensic investigations to trace the source.

Actor Sivakarthikeyan condemns piracy of Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan,' urging fans to wait for theatrical release as producers launch investigation.

Chennai, April 10 Renowned actor Sivakarthikyan lashed out at the alleged leaks of Thalapathy Vijay's film Jana Nayagan, calling for strict action against the people responsible for it.

Taking to his X handle, Sivakarthikeyan urged the people to avoid piracy and wait for the theatrical release of the film.

"Every film is made with the passion, blood and sweat of hundreds of people - please avoid piracy. Kindly wait for the theatrical release and watch it in theatres. Whoever is responsible for this must face strict action. Respect the talents. Respect the hard work. Respect the industry," wrote Sivakarthikeyan.

Earlier, the film's production house, KVN Productions, issued a strong statement asking people not to share or watch the leaked content.

KVN Productions, which is backing the film, took to X on Friday evening to share a statement confirming that parts of the movie, and in some cases almost the entire film, have been illegally circulated on social media and other platforms.

The team called it a serious case of "digital piracy" and said they are taking the matter very seriously.

"It has come to our notice that certain scenes and clips from the said film and in some cases most of the film have been illegally accessed, copied and circulated by unidentified persons, posing a serious threat of digital piracy."

"We hereby notify that downloading, viewing, storing, forwarding, sharing, uploading or circulating of such leaked content through WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, websites, torrents or any other medium constitutes a criminal offence and a violation of copyright laws," the statement further read.

The team also warned people that even watching or forwarding such content is a crime. Stressing that every online movie is "traceable", they said strict steps are already being taken.

"Every digital action is traceable, and we have already initiated necessary investigations, including forensic investigations and complaints against persons involved, and are actively identifying all others in the chain of circulation. Strict civil and criminal proceedings will be pursued against every offender without exception," it read.

Jana Nayagan, which is said to be Vijay's final film before his full-time move into politics, has already faced delays due to certification issues. The movie is directed by H Vinoth.

The film was earlier expected to release during Pongal on January 9.

- ANI
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has issued a fierce condemnation of Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, for calling Israel a "cancerous state" and "evil." Sa'ar labeled the comments blatant antisemitic blood libels and a call for Israel's annihilation. The exchange jeopardizes fragile ceasefire talks, already strained by Pakistan's diplomatic missteps regarding Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed there is no ceasefire in Lebanon and pledged continued military action against Hezbollah.

Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar rebukes Pakistan's defense minister for antisemitic remarks, vowing to defend against "terrorists." Ceasefire at risk.

Tel Aviv, April 10 Israel has responded with fury to Pakistan Defence Minsiter Khawaja Asif's statement, denouncing Islamabad's mediation pitch and vowing to defend itself against "terrorists" who want Tel Aviv's destruction.

In a strong-worded response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rebuked Pakistan over its Defence Minister's statement, calling jewish state "cancerous", which Sa'ar said is "calling for Israel's annihilation."

"Israel views very gravely these blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to "mediate peace". Calling the Jewish state "cancerous" is effectively calling for its annihilation. Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar said in a post on X.

This comes after Khawaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," he said.

"I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he added.

The Pakistan Defence Minister's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad.

This adds more embarrassment after Pakistan's fumble in clearly defining the terms of the two-week ceasefire. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal--a claim firmly dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu again asserted that there is "no ceasefire in Lebanon" and vowed to continue military operations with "full force" against Hezbollah.

"I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said.

- ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah pledges Uniform Civil Code implementation in West Bengal within six months if BJP wins the 2026 state elections.

Kolkata, April 10 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in West Bengal within six months if the Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power in the state.

Shah made these remarks as he released the party's manifesto, "Sankalp Patra", earlier in the day for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026.



Addressing a programme in Kolkata after releasing the party's manifesto, Shah said several BJP-ruled states have already implemented the UCC to ensure that a single, uniform set of laws applies to all citizens across states.



"Several BJP-ruled states have implemented the Uniform Civil Code. Within six months, we will implement the UCC in Bengal and ensure that a single, uniform set of laws applies to all citizens across the state," he said.



He further said the party would take steps to stop infiltration and cattle smuggling across the state's borders.



"We will not only seal Bengal's borders against infiltrators but also ensure that not a single cow is smuggled out of India through Bengal," Shah said.



Speaking about the party's election manifesto, Shah said the "Sankalp Patra" presents a roadmap to address concerns of various sections of society in the state that would bring every section of Bengal out of despair.



"This manifesto is a path to bring every section of Bengal out of despair. It will show a new way out for farmers surrounded by various kinds of fears. This manifesto will also place before the people of Bengal the roadmap for the developed India envisioned by Prime Minister Modi," he said.



The Union Home Minister further claimed that people in the state are seeking political change.



"The people are frightened and disillusioned. The people want change from the heart. Today we are working as the main opposition party in the Bengal Assembly," he said.



Shah further said that a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge will be constituted to investigate all instances of political violence, and additionally, three White Papers will be introduced to address corruption, political violence, and the restoration of law and order.



"We will constitute a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate all instances of political violence--regardless of which party was targeted--and ensure that every case is brought to its logical conclusion. Three White Papers will be introduced to address corruption, political violence, and the restoration of law and order," said Shah.



The manifesto, themed around the concept of "Sonar Bangla" (Golden Bengal), promises a radical shift in governance, focusing heavily on national security, youth employment, and women's safety. Listing key commitments, Amit Shah said the BJP has outlined 15 major promises in its manifesto, aimed at addressing governance, development, and security concerns in West Bengal.



Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.





- ANI
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For the first time, scientists have used a cutting-edge cell therapy called CAR-T to treat a patient with three different life-threatening autoimmune diseases that had resisted years of treatment. The patient, who once required daily blood infusions, has been in remission without needing additional treatment for a year since the CAR-T therapy. The case report, publishing April 9 in the Cell Press journal Med, suggests that CAR-T therapies can help treat complex and severe autoimmune diseases.

The treatment was extremely efficient in getting rid of all three autoimmune conditions at once. After being sick for more than a decade, the patient is now in treatment-free remission and able to return to an almost normal life. This therapy significantly improved her quality of life." Fabian Muller, corresponding author, University Hospital of Erlangen, Germany

In 2025, Muller and his team met a 47-year-old female patient with severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys red blood cells.

In addition to AIHA, she had been diagnosed with two other autoimmune diseases with nearly opposing symptoms. She had immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)-a disorder that caused her dysregulated immune system to destroy her platelets, increasing the risk of bleeding-and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome-a disease that raises the risk of dangerous blood clots in her vessels.

Since the patient's diagnoses more than a decade ago, she had undergone nine different lines of therapy, including antibody treatments, steroids, and immune-suppressing medications. None had a lasting impact.

When she met with Muller's team, who had successfully treated patients with severe rheumatological autoimmune diseases-including lupus, a disorder that causes the body's immune cells to go haywire and attack healthy tissues-the patient was reliant on daily blood transfusions to manage her anemia and permanent blood thinner medication to prevent clots.

Because all standard treatments had failed, the team provided her with CAR-T cell therapy, a type of "living drug" that uses a patient's own immune cells to attack harmful cells, which has been used to treat several cancers, including leukemia, or cancer of the blood, and lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph nodes. Dysregulated B cells appeared to be driving this patient's three illnesses.

To develop the therapy, the team extracted the patient's white blood cells and isolated her T cells, immune cells that actively scan the body for infected or abnormal cells and destroy them. The researchers then re-engineered the patient's T cells to recognize a protein called CD19, which is present on B cells-immune cells that produce antibodies. They then infused the CAR-T cells back into the patient to look for and eliminate all her B cells.

The clinical effects were striking. The patient needed her final blood transfusion just one week after the treatment. Two weeks later, she reported feeling stronger and was able to carry out everyday activities. Three weeks after the treatment ended, her levels of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, doubled and returned to normal, suggesting her immune system was no longer destroying her red blood cells.

At the same time, the therapy improved her other autoimmune conditions. Her levels of antiphospholipid antibodies-associated with dangerous blood clots-gradually fell and remained negative. Her platelet counts also stabilized.

"After more than ten years of illness, the patient's blood counts normalized within just a few weeks. The speed and depth of the response was remarkable," Muller says.

He adds that the reason why the therapy worked so effectively was likely because the CAR-T cells could go into different tissues throughout the body and eliminate all dysregulated cells, both in mature and developing stages. When the patient's B cells eventually returned months later, they consisted almost entirely of naive cells, suggesting the treatment reset her immune system.

It has been a year since her treatment ended, and the patient still does not require transfusions or other treatments. While she still has lower white blood cell counts and mild elevations in liver enzymes associated with potential damage to her bone marrow and liver, the team says these conditions may be related to years of prior treatments rather than the CAR-T therapy itself.

"We believe that using CAR-T therapy earlier for patients with severe autoimmune disease could help prevent complications from years of ineffective treatments," Muller says. "If we can intervene sooner, we may be able to stop the disease process, avoid organ damage, and give patients their lives back."

This work was supported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Erlangen, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space in Germany, the German Research Foundation, the Bayerisches Zentrum fur Krebsforschung, the Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung, and the Staedtler Foundation.
PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic substances that can be found in many products and foods, including firefighting foam. These substances are highly persistent, and certain types of PFAS remain in the body for a long time.

In the current study, researchers have investigated the prevalence of asthma among over 11,000 children born in the county of Blekinge, Sweden, between 2006 and 2013. This follows the discovery in 2013 of high levels of PFAS in the drinking water in Ronneby municipality in Blekinge. Following fire drills at the F17 regiment, a third of the town's residents had been exposed to drinking water contaminated by firefighting foam. The contamination had been ongoing for over 30 years, but when the women became pregnant, it was not yet known that the drinking water in parts of Blekinge was contaminated. PFAS can cross the placenta, which means that the mother's exposure during pregnancy also results in exposure for the foetus.

To estimate the foetuses' exposure, the researchers used the mothers' residential addresses during the five years prior to the child's birth. This data was then linked to the municipality's information on water supply. The women were divided into different groups, ranging from low exposure to very high exposure. "Very high exposure" was defined as the mother having lived at an address with heavily PFAS-contaminated drinking water for all five years. "High exposure" meant having lived at such an address for at least one of the five years prior to giving birth.

The children in the study were followed from birth up to the age of 12. The results show that no increased incidence of asthma was observed in children whose mothers had been exposed to intermediate levels of PFAS during pregnancy.

"But we saw a clear link between very high PFAS exposure and a higher incidence of asthma. The risk of developing asthma was around 40 per cent higher among children of mothers with very high PFAS exposure," says Annelise Blomberg, a researcher in occupational and environmental medicine at Lund University.

The researchers took into account other factors that might influence the link between mothers' PFAS exposure and their children's asthma. They compared children with very high exposure to children with low exposure who had similar backgrounds, for example in terms of socio-economic status and smoking during pregnancy. During the follow-up period, 16 per cent of the children with low exposure developed asthma, compared with 27 per cent in the group with very high PFAS exposure.

We can only observe this link. We cannot say for certain that the increase is specifically due to PFAS, but we have done our best to rule out other factors that might influence the results." Anna Saxne Joud, researcher, associate professor of epidemiology at Lund University

She says that we are all exposed to PFAS to some extent, through a wide range of products and foods. It is important to note that the current study found an increased incidence of asthma only at very high levels of exposure. Previous studies, which have mainly examined populations with lower exposure, have produced mixed results.

Further research is now needed, note Annelise Blomberg and Anna Saxne Joud. It is important to investigate whether similar results can be observed in other populations with very high PFAS exposure. According to the researchers, it is also urgent to clarify whether PFAS can affect lung function, even at lower exposure levels.

"We will also refine our exposure models for Ronneby in order to pinpoint the timing and intensity of PFAS exposure even more accurately. This would improve our ability to analyse how exposure at different stages of development can affect children's health," says Annelise Blomberg.

More about the study

The 11,488 children in the study were divided into groups based on the level and duration of their mothers' exposure to PFAS in drinking water during the five years prior to the children's birth. The breakdown was as follows:

Very high exposure: 194 children (mothers who had lived at addresses with heavily contaminated drinking water for all five years) High exposure: 479 children (the mother had lived at such an address for at least one year prior to giving birth) Moderate: 1,591 children (the mother lived in Ronneby, but not at an address with heavily contaminated water) Control group: 9,224 children (the mother lived in Blekinge, but not in Ronneby)

The researchers on the study: "This study differs from previous epidemiological investigations in that it includes participants with very high exposure to PFAS. This provides a greater range of exposure than is usually observed in population-based studies. This makes it possible to assess potential health effects at high PFAS concentrations, which is relevant for highly exposed populations worldwide."

Regarding the study's limitations: "Although we used detailed Swedish registers to carefully adjust for important confounding factors such as the mother's age at delivery and smoking during pregnancy, we cannot rule out other sources of unmeasurable confounding, such as parents' smoking habits after the birth. Our study was unable to take into account the parents' own childhood asthma, but we adjusted for the presence of parental asthma during the study period."

"Prenatal PFAS exposure was estimated based on the mother's home address. This means that we were unable to take into account changes over time in PFAS levels in drinking water or individual differences in exposure. Nor can the study distinguish the effects of exposure during fetal development from exposure in early childhood, as many children continued to live at exposed addresses after birth."
A three-dimensional experimental system has been developed to study the response to drugs in low-grade glioma, a tumor of the central nervous system that often occurs in children. The project, developed by the University of Trento, Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital and Sapienza University of Rome, is a breakthrough in the study, understanding and treatment of the disease. The results have just been published in the international journal Molecular Cancer.

Glioma is a tumor of the central nervous system that originates from glial cells, which support neurons in the brain. In the less aggressive, slow-progressing forms, gliomas are often found in children and youth. Glial tumors alone make up almost 40% of all tumors of the central nervous system. Low grade gliomas are less aggressive than others, but still difficult to interpret biologically.

The scientific community is committed to understand, one by one, the numerous dark sides of the disease and to develop more targeted and effective treatments. The results of this Italian study, just published in the international journal Molecular Cancer, are a leap forward in research to better understand the onset, progression and mechanisms underlying the progression of the disease and to design new therapies.

Researchers have focused in particular on trying to reproduce the heterogeneity of low-grade pediatric glioma in an experimental system. For this purpose, organoids of the human forebrain, the most anterior and developed part of the brain, had already been developed. Organoids are three-dimensional cell cultures, miniature structures that replicate, at least in part, human organs. In this case, the research team tried to reproduce in the laboratory the part of the brain to be investigated to better understand the disease. The organoids make it possible to observe the disease in a slightly more realistic environment, compared to single-layer cell cultures, and to improve drug screening before carrying out clinical trials with patients. The group of researchers has therefore developed organoids from pluripotent stem cells, which are capable of differentiating into almost all types of cells in the body, and used them to develop the tumor.

Luca Tiberi, professor of the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology of the University of Trento and head of the Armenise Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer at the Cibio Department, reports: "In the study, we create a system in which to study low-grade tumors. The path we have taken is based on organoids that we generate in the laboratory from pluripotent cells. Once we have generated the brain organoids, we make them sick with glioma." He continues: "In these organoids we can reproduce some characteristics of the development of both the human brain, under normal conditions, and the glioma, to examine various important phases. Organoids however still have considerable limitations, as they do not have an immune system, a vascular system, no metabolism, and are not connected to a complete organism. Blood vessels, in particular, are essential not only for the transport of nutrients and oxygen, but also to establish metabolic and cellular interactions that are crucial for the development of the tumor. Overall, these gaps prevent us from studying the different contributions to tumor onset and growth, as well as the tumor's response to external stimuli. Without all the components, organoids provide only a partial representation of glioma biology and its mechanisms."

Crucially, the Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital participated in the molecular and epigenetic characterization of the systems and in the study of the response to drugs, strengthening the connection between experimental research and clinical practice.

These experimental study systems represent a fundamental step towards more reliable preclinical systems for pediatric tumors. We have shown that organoids reproduce in a slightly more faithful way the molecular characteristics of low-grade gliomas, compared to cells in single-layer culture, and are more similar to the patients' tumors." Miele also underlines the translational value of the work: "The possibility of integrating molecular profiles, such as DNA methylation and gene expression, in the study of drug response, makes these systems particularly important for preclinical research. In fact, they allow us to more accurately evaluate the effectiveness of treatments before their experimental use in patient studies." She adds: "They can improve the selection of therapeutic strategies and contribute to the development of more targeted approaches, especially in cancers such as low-grade pediatric gliomas, for which the experimental systems available until now were limited." Evelina Miele, of the Onco-Hematology, Cell Therapy, Gene Therapies and Hemopoietic Transplant Unit

"Sapienza University of Rome contributed to the study by selecting targeted experimental strategies and characterizing the immunohistochemical profile of the models, that is, by studying in detail the proteins expressed by cancer cells," explains Elisabetta Ferretti, professor of the Department of Experimental Medicine of Sapienza University. "It was a real team effort with colleagues from the Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomical Pathological Sciences, who have been working on brain tumors for years, following the work of our common mentor and inspiration, Professor Felice Giangaspero, who laid the foundations of our ongoing research. We are very happy to have helped to create experimental systems for the study of low-grade pediatric glioma that will help to better understand this disease and guide future therapies."

The goal is to overcome the current limits of organoids. "Our work lays the foundations for platforms that are more and more representative of the heterogeneity of patients and their responses to treatments over time," concludes Tiberi. "The horizon for us now is to achieve increasingly reliable experimental systems, from a physiological and clinical point of view, for research on pediatric glioma."
A new study finds that combining the current medications for Alzheimer's disease with small molecules derived from micronutrients found in grapes, berries, peanuts and turmeric is a safer and more effective way to treat the disease.

Individuals with Alzheimer's have a buildup of toxic amyloid proteins in the brain. Researchers from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo combined amyloid-destroying small molecules with anti-amyloid antibodies that are already used in Alzheimer's treatment. They found that it neutralized the clumping of proteins that accumulate in the brain, leading to better outcomes.

Alzheimer's is the major cause of dementia. Dementia affects nearly 750,000 people in Canada, with a million cases expected by 2030. Alzheimer's has no cure and current medications only relieve a patient's symptoms. Anti-amyloid antibody therapies on their own can slow the disease, but they also come with risks that can be fatal, including brain swelling and bleeding.

We already know the small molecules resveratrol or curcumin, which are found in some common foods, block the buildup of amyloid. What's new and exciting is our combination of these molecules with the anti-amyloid antibodies. This approach could allow clinicians to use lower doses of antibodies, potentially reducing the risk of serious treatment-related side effects." Dr. Praveen Nekkar Rao, professor in the School of Pharmacy at Waterloo

Since there are few effective treatments for Alzheimer's, researchers at Waterloo studied whether using two treatments together could work better than using just one. They chose resveratrol and curcumin because they are natural compounds known to reduce amyloid buildup and inflammation.

"I was inspired by chemotherapy, which involves taking multiple medications for effective treatment," Nekkar Rao said. "Alzheimer's is a complex disease, but there are very few combination therapy approaches. Our results show that the way forward is definitely combination therapy."

The researchers emphasize that the study does not suggest that people should start consuming resveratrol or curcumin to prevent or treat dementia. You would have to consume an unsafe amount in order to reach the brain. The next phase of the research will focus on designing next-generation drugs that can reach the brain more effectively, interact favourably with amyloids and pair seamlessly with antibody treatments.

The study appears in ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
Children who don't go to the dentist are less likely to participate in school-based cavity prevention programs, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.

Our study suggests that children who may need these services the most are the ones least likely to receive them." Shulamite Huang, health economist and study author, assistant professor of epidemiology and health promotion, NYU College of Dentistry

In addition, the study found that improving participation in state-wide school dental programs to reach those at high risk for tooth decay could yield significant savings for state Medicaid programs and health care systems, averting up to $2.4 million in emergency department charges annually in New York.

Children miss more than 34 million hours of school each year to receive emergency dental care. In recent years, hospitals have seen a sharp increase in emergency room visits for pediatric dental issues.

To prevent tooth decay and the related pain and infections that land kids in the ER, some schools offer cavity prevention programs. New York State recently announced a $10 million initiative to expand access to school-based dental programs and improve children's oral health.

Research shows that school dental programs, which use non-invasive treatments like sealants, are effective at preventing cavities. But parents must opt in for their kids to receive care in school, and it's unclear if these programs reach those who are most in need.

Huang and her colleagues evaluated data from more than 63,000 children living in the Bronx and covered by Medicaid, including more than 1,000 children who participated in school-based cavity prevention programs in local elementary schools. They looked at Medicaid claims data to see whether children had visited a dentist outside of school or received emergency dental care.

The researchers found that kids who already had a history of dental care were more likely to participate in school-based cavity prevention programs. In contrast, children with no prior dental visits were 18 percent less likely to participate in these programs. Children with a history of dental emergencies (and probably at high risk for tooth decay) were also less likely to participate in school-based programs.

The researchers then calculated the potential cost savings of expanding school-based dental care across New York State and improving participation among the children most at risk for tooth decay. They estimate that optimizing recruitment to enroll high-need children in school programs could save the state up to $2.4 million annually in dental-related emergency department costs (not including dental care related to accidents or injuries).

"This has staggering implications for Medicaid costs," said Huang. "As New York expands access to school-based dental care, improving recruitment strategies and reorienting outreach to high risk-children could save the state millions and offset some of the costs of expanding care."

Additional study authors include Ryan Richard Ruff of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Heather Gold of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Scarlett Wang of NYU Wagner School of Public Service. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (K25 DE028584-01A1 and K25 DE028584-02S1).
Like most bacteria, Vibrio cholerae lives under constant attack from viruses. To survive, bacteria equip themselves with antiviral immune systems. Previous work showed that V. cholerae carries a large genetic element called a sedentary chromosomal integron (SCI). This structure contains hundreds of small mobile DNA units known as "gene cassettes" arranged in a long array, like a chain of pearls.

While the function of many cassettes remains unknown, about ten percent encode antiviral immune systems. However, most of these genes are located far from the start of the array and remain silent. Prevailing models proposed that cassettes could be internally reshuffled to activate them, yet no such rearrangements have been observed in the pandemic lineage of V. cholerae for more than sixty years.

This raises a key question: if internal reshuffling is rare, how are cassette-encoded immune systems activated, and how do new cassettes enter the array at all?

Testing DNA uptake in the lab

To address this question, a team led by Melanie Blokesch at the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology at EPFL investigated whether the SCI might capture gene cassettes from genetic material entering the cell from the outside.

A key feature of this process is natural competence, the ability of bacteria to take up free DNA from their surroundings. V. cholerae becomes naturally competent when it grows on chitinous surfaces, a polymer found in the shells of crustaceans that is abundant in aquatic environments.

In the laboratory, the team mimicked these conditions by growing bacteria on chitin and supplying DNA from different Vibrio cholerae strains or from other Vibrio species. They then tracked whether newly acquired gene cassettes were inserted into the first position of the SCI array.

Horizontal transfer takes the lead

Publishing in Science, the researchers show that V. cholerae can efficiently acquire new SCI gene cassettes from extracellular DNA. In aquatic habitats, DNA is released when bacterial cells are killed by viruses, antimicrobial compounds, or bacterial weapons. Nearby competent bacteria can take up this DNA and incorporate selected fragments into their own SCI.

A loose comparison would be the following. Imagine your grandmother passes away and, as a farewell gift, hands over the immunity she built up against the Spanish flu a century ago, immediately protecting you from that same virus. Wouldn't that be amazing? This is essentially what we show that V. cholerae can do." Melanie Blokesch, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology at EPFL

The team also showed that cassettes inserted in this position are functional. Several defense systems provided protection against viruses that infect Vibrio species, known as vibriophages.

A static pandemic lineage

An important exception emerged. In the pandemic 7PET lineage of V. cholerae, the SCI appears largely static. The authors propose that this reflects adaptation to a human-associated niche. However, if pandemic strains were to encounter environmental conditions that enable SCI cassette acquisition, they could expand their antiviral defenses.

"This possibility matters because vibriophage-based approaches are currently being explored to prevent cholera in endemic regions, and such evolutionary flexibility could ultimately affect how effective these strategies remain," says Melanie Blokesch.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has convened the historic first Global Forum of Collaborating Centres-one of the world's largest and most diverse public health networks-bringing together representatives from over 800 institutions designated as WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs) across more than 80 countries.

At the meeting, scientists highlighted the health threats emerging in today's fragmented world-challenges that not only create an urgent need for action but also open new opportunities to mobilize efforts toward better health solutions. The Forum concluded today with a renewed sense of commitment across the broad network, moving beyond rigid scientific projects toward more dynamic and integrated partnerships.

Rooted in one of WHO's core constitutional functions, the Collaborating Centres network has enhanced the Organization's scientific foundations since its earliest years. In 1949, the Second World Health Assembly affirmed that WHO should advance health research not by creating its own institutions, but by coordinating, supporting, and leveraging existing expertise across the world.

Over the past 77 years, the WHO CC network has expanded to include many of the world's leading public health, academic, research, and technical institutions. Today, it remains a powerful asset- strengthening WHO's global norms and standards, supporting innovation, collaborative research and capacity building-helping turn scientific knowledge into life-saving action worldwide.

WHO's network of collaborating centres is an immensely valuable but under-utilized resource for global health. It brings together the world's leading institutions to translate evidence into action to support countries, strengthen health systems, and protect populations. Collaborating centres are a powerful demonstration of international cooperation, and what it means to stand with science." Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

The Global Forum leverages the momentum and is aligned with the international One Health Summit, which gathers leaders from across human, animal, and environmental health disciplines. It is also a central event of the World Health Day 2026 campaign under the theme "Together for health. Stand with science."

"Science is at the heart of everything we do to protect and improve health," said Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist. "The global network of WHO collaborating centres represents an extraordinary concentration of scientific expertise and public health leadership. Together, they form a powerful force for knowledge, innovation, and action. At a time of growing global health challenges, this spirit of trusted scientific collaboration is not only valuable - it is indispensable to protecting lives and shaping a healthier future for all."

WHO is also expanding its global community of CCs to confront emerging health threats with greater strength and unity. A key initiative is the creation of the CORC (Collaborative Open Research Consortia)-networks of leading research institutions that bring together thousands of scientists worldwide.

Their mission is bold and essential: to accelerate the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for Disease X - the unknown pathogen that could spark the next pandemic. By joining forces, the networks aim to build the scientific readiness the world will rely on when that moment comes.

The Global Forum participants emphasized that strong international cooperation remains essential, particularly amid reductions in global health financing. Coordinated global responses, collective investment and collaboration are critical in preventing local health crises from becoming global emergencies.

WHO has announced the next Global Forum will be held in 2027 to further strengthen this historic collaborative platform.
Traditional Quality Control (QC) methods are reactive. They lack integration between software and hardware, and are not standardized, which can lead to compromised data quality and integrity.

The QSee Performance Test is a semi-automatic solution for routine system checks and monitoring of timsTOF platforms. It includes specific consumables, verified techniques, and automated reporting.

Here, we introduce the QSee Performance Test, describe its implementation, and provide examples to highlight the benefits of a system-focused QC workflow for routine and long-term performance monitoring.

Introducing the QSee Performance Test

High-resolution LC-TIMS-MS platforms have transformed small-molecule analysis by delivering unprecedented sensitivity, speed, selectivity, and structural insights via collisional cross-section (CCS) measurements and ion-mobility-cleansed MS/MS spectra.

These advantages, however, are reliant on the instrument continually operating at peak performance. In metabolomics and lipidomics research, dependable analytical performance is critical for maintaining data integrity and extracting significant biological insights.

Reproducibility is equally important. Without it, inter-laboratory evaluations and consistent outcomes cannot be attained across research. The complexity of biological materials, as well as the demands of high-throughput contexts such as clinical research, frequently challenge reproducibility.

QC strategies for mass spectrometry exist, but their execution is often fragmented, manual, and reactive. As a result, issues such as instrument drift, contamination, or hardware malfunctions may only be discovered after data collection, leading to costly reruns, data loss, or compromised study results.

To address these issues, the QSee Performance Test takes a proactive, standardized approach to system monitoring.

It uses a predetermined combination of synthetic standards, specialized LC columns, and automated data evaluation to provide repeatable performance checks with minimal human effort.

The integration with Bruker's TwinScape allows for long-term surveillance of LC-MS system stability and variability. This allows researchers to uncover instrument drift or contamination before it affects analytical results.

Figure 1. Workflow scheme of the QSee Performance Test solution. The QSee Performance Test integrates standardized procedures for sample preparation, short LC gradients, automated data acquisition, software-driven evaluation of key parameters in 4D workflows, and automated reporting to deliver a comprehensive system-performance assessment for LC-TIMS-MS platforms. Results are automatically uploaded to the digital repository TwinScape for longitudinal analysis. Image Credit: Bruker Daltonics

This article presents the principles that underpin the QSee Performance Test solution, outlines its process, and demonstrates its impact on data quality in metabolomics and lipidomics research.

QSee has been validated across various laboratories and platforms, demonstrating its reliability as a tool for ensuring data quality in real-world metabolomics applications.

Methods

Instrumentation and setup

Table 1 shows the instrumentation provided by the Qsee Performance Test program. The workflow was tested with various instrument configurations, including varied combinations of LC and MS systems.

QC sample: QSee 8-Mix

The QSee 8Mix is a synthetic reference mixture composed of eight chemicals (Table 2).

It is dissolved in water and supplied in ready-to-use aliquots stored at -20 C. Each QSee test run uses a single aliquot, with triplicate injections in both positive and negative ion modes.

Chromatographic conditions

The LC and MS acquisition parameters are provided as preset method sets. Table 3 lists the appropriate parameters. Chromatographic separation is performed using Bruker reversed-phase columns, namely Bruker Bio-AQ (C18 material, recommended for 4D-Metabolomics) and Bruker Bio-LP (C8 material, suggested for 4D-Lipidomics).

Five-minute LC gradients allow for quick runs while maintaining enough LC resolution for performance measurement. To collect MS and MS/MS data, optimal prm-PASEF (parallel reaction monitoring) methods are used.

Running the QSee performance test

The graphical user interface of the QSee Performance Test Software takes the user through the workflow in three successive steps (Figure 2):

Collection of essential data in 1. Checklist Definition of sequence in 2. Batch setup Examination of results in 3. Reporting

Figure 2. The graphical user interface of the QSee Performance Test offers three perspectives to guide the user through the workflow. Image Credit: Bruker Daltonics

The checklist allows users to provide file names and choose the appropriate instrument configuration and acquisition software. Each QSee test batch contains 15 injections, which cover samples and blanks in both polarities. A comprehensive test runs for about 90 minutes in total.

The QSee 8-Mix automatically evaluates and reports on the following parameters for each compound

Collisional cross section (CCS error)

Retention-time deviation (RT error)

mSigma (isotopic-pattern quality)

Mass accuracy ( m/z error)

error) Peak area

The QSee software generates an overview report from the collected data, with clear pass/fail comments for each parameter. A second, more extensive report can be used to evaluate individual peak parameters across the test batch, which are displayed in an easy-to-understand traffic-light grade.

QSee results can be uploaded to TwinScape immediately, allowing longitudinal monitoring and trend analysis of one or more systems within a laboratory.

Usefulness of QSee shown in field tests

The real-world examples below demonstrate QSee's ability to proactively detect system anomalies, maintain data integrity, and assure repeatability across platforms and studies.

Data was collected over a 12-month period from several labs and LC-TIMS-MS platforms. The successful application of QSee testing in these labs demonstrates its value as a reliable, proactive quality-control tool for metabolomics researchers.

1. lon source contamination detection

The automatic assessment detected a significant decrease in peak regions across numerous compounds in the QSee 8-Mix. TwinScape validated a progressive drop in QSee compound peak regions after numerous QSee runs (Figure 3).

The root cause of the instrument's failure was determined to be ion-source contamination. Following cleaning, signal intensities returned to normal levels, showing both the problem and the efficiency of the early intervention.

Impact: Using the proactive QSee technique and taking quick corrective action (source cleaning) saved important samples and staff time that would have been wasted attempting to rescue a low-quality dataset.

Figure 3. Manual review of peak area trends for QSee 8-Mix compounds in TwinScape over five test runs. While the peak areas declined over time, they returned after proactive source cleaning. Image Credit: Bruker Daltonics

2. LC pump leak identification

In two consecutive QSee runs, all QSee standards showed a modest increase in retention time (RT). Manual TwinScape trend analysis (Figure 4) demonstrated a progressive increase in RT inaccuracy, requiring a hardware inspection.

A minor leak in pump B was detected and repaired by replacing a check valve. The retention times eventually reverted to their predicted values.

Impact: Early discovery prevented additional RT instability and possible damage to the LC pump. The corrective intervention ensured consistent chromatographic performance in subsequent analyses, a necessary condition for effective, automated data processing.

Figure 4. Manual review of the QSee 8-Mix retention times and errors over a period of about a month. The retention times deviated due to a leak in the LC, but returned to expected values after the leak was fixed. Image Credit: Bruker Daltonics

3. Climate control failure

TwinScape detected excessive instrument temperatures during a multi-day batch run, as indicated by hardware readback measurements (Figure 5).

These temperature discrepancies were manually linked to a malfunction in the laboratory's climate control system. Although there was no immediate data loss, and QSee confirmed that data quality was unaffected, this occurrence demonstrated the significance of monitoring environmental parameters as part of routine quality-control operations.

Impact: TwinScape's ability to track hardware parameters alongside analytical measurements provides an important layer of operational safety and enables guided troubleshooting.

Figure 5. Manual review of instrument readback values in TwinScape shows a significant increase in internal system temperatures. Image Credit: Bruker Daltonics

4. Identification of poor instrument tuning

The QSee test identified a failure in mass calibration in negative ion mode on a timsTOF device (Figure 6). A closer look at the mass spectra revealed poor signal quality, which might be improved by retuning the apparatus. Following the hardware correction, the mass calibration reverted to normal performance, and the spectrum quality was restored.

Impact: Failed QSee tests may indicate hardware faults, such as insufficient TIMS or mass calibration, due to missing quality parameters. Identifying these abnormalities early enables targeted corrective action and prevents poor data quality in subsequent analyses.

5. Longitudinal performance monitoring

Over a six-month period, QSee was used to track system performance on several LC-TIMS-MS systems. In QSee testing, where the LC-MS system passed all criteria, qualifiers like retention times, mass accuracy, and CCS deviations were within tight tolerances.

Both a timsTOF Pro-Elute and a timsMetabo-Agilent setup (positive and negative polarity, with more than 100 injections per configuration and polarity) had standard deviations of ( t R ) < 0.002 min, ( m/z) < 1.25 ppm, (mSigma) < 25, and ( CCS) < 0.3 %. This repeatability demonstrates the workflow's robustness and applicability for large-scale studies.

Impact: Consistent performance across time and locations enables multicenter studies and ensures data comparability in interlaboratory reviews.

Figure 6. MS signal quality before (top) and after (bottom) hardware retuning of a timSTOF device. Image Credit: Bruker Daltonics

6. User experience and workflow

Users emphasized the ease of incorporation into their usual lab practices. With setup timeframes of less than 30 minutes and automatic reporting, QSee reduces operator burden while increasing system confidence.

When pushing the boundaries of metabolomics and lipidomics-based discovery research, the importance of data quality is paramount. By integrating QSee Performance Testing into our lab routine, we are conveniently benchmarking our LC-TIMS-MS system performance before each experiment. The slim and intuitive workflow makes this a straightforward check, and the results provide assurance and peace of mind that we are consistently producing high-quality data. Our confidence in the results has never been higher, thanks to this comprehensive solution. It is truly a game changer for our lab. Dr. Christoph Trautwein, Director Core Facility Metabolomics, University of Tubingen

These examples indicate that QSee is more than just a quality control tool; it also protects scientific integrity. QSee enables researchers to focus on discovery rather than troubleshooting by detecting issues early, providing immediate feedback, and enabling long-term surveillance.

Conclusion

Ensuring the reliability of analytical data is critical in metabolomics, lipidomics, pharmaceutical research, and other applications. As studies expand in size and complexity, having access to transportable system-performance monitoring solutions becomes increasingly crucial. The QSee  Performance Test meets this demand by providing an elegant and effective solution.

Performance Test meets this demand by providing an elegant and effective solution. Its integration with TwinScape  allows researchers to track instrument health over time and identify faults early. This proactive performance test provides high trust in results - batch after batch, study after study.

allows researchers to track instrument health over time and identify faults early. This proactive performance test provides high trust in results - batch after batch, study after study. QSee, which has been verified across many laboratories and platforms, can help with not just routine QC for LC-TIMS-MS experiments, but also longitudinal system surveillance and troubleshooting. In clinical metabolomics, lipidomics, and pharmaceutical research, QSee enables researchers to focus on science rather than on system diagnostics.

QSee is more than just a performance test. It is a useful tool for guaranteeing constant instrument performance and reliable data quality.

References

Mosley, J.D., et al. (2024). Establishing a framework for best practices for quality assurance and quality control in untargeted metabolomics. Metabolomics, 20(2). DOI: 10.1007/s11306-023-02080-0. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11306-023-02080-0. Bruker Store. (2026). Qsee 8-Mix. (online) Available at: https://store.bruker.com/products/qsee-8-mix. Bruker. (2026). TwinScape. (online) Available at: https://www.bruker.com/en/products-and-solutions/mass-spectrometry/ms-solutions/twinscape.html. Bruker. (2024). TASQ. (online) Available at: https://www.bruker.com/en/products-and-solutions/mass-spectrometry/ms-software/tasq.html. Lippa, K.A., et al. (2022). Reference materials for MS-based untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics: a review by the metabolomics quality assurance and quality control consortium (mQACC). Metabolomics: Official Journal of the Metabolomic Society, (online) 18(4), p.24. DOI: 10.1007/s11306-021-01848-6. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11306-021-01848-6. Li, Y. and Li, L. (2019). Retention time shift analysis and correction in chemical isotope labeling liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for metabolome analysis. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 34(S1). DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8643. https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.8643. FutureLearn. The application of quality control samples. (online) Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/metabolomics/0/steps/10703. Cambridge Isotope Laboratories. (2026). Metabolomics QC Kits. Available at: https://isotope.com/metabolomics-mixes-and-kits/metabolomics-qc-kit-msk-qc-kit.

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A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Pentagon to roll back its press restrictions, ruling that the Defense Department violated an earlier court directive to ease limits on reporters covering the building. US District Judge Paul Friedman again ruled in favor of the New York Times and reporter Julian Barnes, who sued last year claiming the Pentagon's media rules infringed on First Amendment and due process rights. Friedman already invalidated several of the Trump administration's tighter controls on journalists with Pentagon press credentials, which had prompted some outlets, including CBS News , to leave their offices there.

After that March ruling, the Pentagon issued revised rules that removed media office space from the building and required all reporters to be escorted by government personnel. Friedman found those changes unlawful as well, saying the department had effectively reinstated an improper policy despite the court's injunction. "The Department cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking 'new' action," he wrote. Friedman included what the Washington Post called "an unusually sharp rebuke of the Trump administration."

"The curtailment of First Amendment rights is dangerous at any time, and even more so in a time of war," the judge wrote. "Suppression of political speech is the mark of an autocracy, not a democracyas the Framers recognized when they drafted the First Amendment." Friedman ordered a Pentagon official with direct knowledge to submit a sworn statement by April 16 detailing how the department is complying with the ruling.
Beijing may have scored some diplomatic points with President Trump by stepping into the Iran crisis just enough to matterwithout taking real risks. China's quiet push helped coax Tehran into talks that led to a two-week cease-fire, a role other mediators like Pakistan and Turkey did more to secure but that Trump has publicly credited to Xi Jinping, the Wall Street Journal reports. Analysts say that's no accident: Xi is stacking up diplomatic IOUs ahead of next month's Trump-Xi summit, where he's expected to seek relief on tariffs and tech controls, and a softer US line on Taiwan, in exchange for help on flash points from the Strait of Hormuz to North Korea.
White House staffers have received a pointed reminder: Don't turn insider access into winning wagers. Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that the White House Management Office emailed all staff about the issue on March 24, a day after President Trump first paused his threat to "obliterate" Iran's power plantsand 15 minutes after an unusually large spike in oil futures trading. About $760 million in oil futures changed hands in under two minutes before Trump's public announcement. Three Polymarket accounts later made more than $600,000 correctly betting on this week's timing of an Iran ceasefire, fueling suspicions that someone was trading on advance knowledge.

The White House confirmed the email and denied any wrongdoing, with spokesman Davis Ingle telling the BBC that suggestions administration officials "are engaged in such activity without evidence is baseless and irresponsible reporting." Ingle said President Trump has been "crystal clear" that "members of Congress and other government officials should be prohibited from using nonpublic information for financial benefit." There are already rules banning federal employees from profiting from insider information, but an official who received the email tells the Journal that it was a worthwhile "refresher" because suspicious bets are "hot in the news."

There's no evidence yet of leaks or illegal betting, but the episode underscores how prediction marketsand their anonymityare testing old ethics rules, the Journal reports. Some Democrats want to crack down: Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Andy Kim have proposed banning prediction markets tied to war, arguing they "are turning war into a casino game, and creating a market for national security leaks."
The US refugee pipeline has been almost entirely narrowed to one country: South Africa. Since the current fiscal year began in October 2025, 4,499 refugees have been admitted, government data shows; all but three Afghans came from South Africa, a dramatic departure from the 125,000 people from 85 countries accepted in the last full year of the Biden administration, the BBC reports.

The sharp shift follows President Trump's move to freeze most refugee admissions while opening a path for Afrikaners, a white minority group in South Africa that he describes as persecuted. South Africa's government has rejected Trump's claims of a "white genocide" as unfounded, pointing to an open letter from prominent Afrikaners who denounced that narrative, with some labeling the US relocation program racist. (The Conversation reports Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson have also pushed the "white genocide" claim.)

Tensions have flared: Pretoria's ambassador to Washington was expelled after accusing Trump of stoking supremacist politics, and Trump later clashed with President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office over the issue. The arrivals, which began with 68 South Africans last May, surged in early 2026, with 2,848 arriving in February and March; Texas now hosts the largest cluster, at 543.

A Washington state refugee resettlement group recently sued the Trump administration over its refugee policies, the Seattle Times reports. The Trump-era refugee program, the lawsuit says, is a "discriminatory entity serving a 95% white population at the expense of refugees who have waited years for the chance to safely resettle in the United States."
With baby Arthur too young for the measles vaccine and a sibling due in June, the Otwells grew nervous when the threat of the highly contagious virus started factoring into their grocery runs. "We go to the Costco that was kind of a hotbed," said John Otwell. "A lot of people just don't get it; they think it's just a cold. It's not." By Arthur's 9-month checkup, the South Carolina outbreak had exploded into the nation's worst in more than 35 years, surpassing last year's in Texas. That meant that under state guidance, Arthur could get his first dose of the MMR vaccinefor measles, mumps, and rubellaearlier than the usual 12 to 15 months old. Their new baby won't be able to get the shot until at least 6 monthsa prospect that worries parents of infants wherever measles spreads.

Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak, reports the AP. The disease can wreak havoc on their fragile bodies, making them so sick they stop eating and drinking. They can develop pneumonia or brain swelling, and sometimes die. Babies depend entirely on herd immunityat least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks. But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection in South Carolina and across the nation. In Spartanburg County, the outbreak's epicenter, less than 90% of students have gotten required vaccines. "Babies become sitting ducks," said Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a Columbia pediatrician. "The burden is on all of us to protect all of us."

South Carolina's measles outbreak, totaling about 1,000 cases, has slowed. But measles is spreading in many states, with 17 outbreaks this year and 48 last year, and the US on the verge of losing its status as a country that has eliminated measles. Dr. Jessica Early never thought she'd have to deal with measles, but she and other doctors began offering an approved infant MMR dose as early as 6 months old. Her practice also started giving the second MMR doseusually for ages 4 to 6 years oldearly.

Increasingly, some policymakers push a view of vaccination as an issue of individual freedom and parents' rights, rather than one of public health to safeguard the population as a whole. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine crusader, has sought to remake vaccine policy and oversaw billions in public health cuts. Last year, an AP investigation found that Trump administration officials were directing activists to push anti-science legislation in statehouses. Nationally, around 350 anti-vaccine bills had been introduced as of late October, AP found, including at least eight in South Carolina. This year, a state bill would prohibit requiring vaccines for children under 2. "In other words, it would get rid of those requirements in the day cares," Greenhouse said. "And for people like me, that is a gut punch that is terrifying."
President Trump is under fire again for how he talks about immigrationthis time for posting graphic, uncensored video of a woman being killed with a hammer outside a Florida gas station. The April 2 surveillance footage from Fort Myers shows an attack on a clerk identified as Nilufa Easmin , an immigrant from Bangladesh, per Gulf Coast News . Local media describe the suspect, Rolbert Joachin, as an unhoused Haitian immigrant. Trump on Thursday called him an "illegal immigrant" and "animal" who, along with other Haitians, was granted temporary protected status under the Biden administration. He said the video is "one of the most vicious things you will ever see." The Department of Homeland Security had posted a blurred version of the video earlier in the day.

The "shocking" post fits a pattern, per the Guardian: Trump has repeatedly highlighted violent crimes and linked them to immigration, sometimes inaccurately. In his State of the Union address, he described the killing of Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska in North Carolina in graphic terms and blamed "open borders," even though the man charged in that case was born in the US. Trump has also repeatedly targeted Haitians with temporary protected status, falsely claiming during the 2024 campaign that they were "eating the pets" in Ohio.

The Trump administration's effort to terminate protective status for Haitians has been blocked by a federal judge, though Trump argued that the Florida murder "should be enough for these Radical Judges to STOP impeding my Administration's Immigration Policies," per CNN. Critics, including Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council, say the sharing of the video is aimed at stoking fear and inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment, per the Guardian. Joachin, 40, was arrested the same day of the killing and is being held on charges of murder, criminal mischief, and property damage. He'd allegedly demanded money from the clerk a day prior to the murder after he was unable to withdraw cash from a gas station ATM, per the Fort Myers News-Press.
Chuck Schumer's big bet in Maine is looking wobbly. The Senate Democratic leader recruited popular Gov. Janet Mills, 78, to run in the Democratic primary in order to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins in the fall, the Washington Post reports. Collins is seen as vulnerable, and her seat is a must-win target for Democrats' hopes of controlling the chamber. Mills, however, is badly trailing 41-year-old liberal challenger Graham Platner, with public and private polls (like this one ) showing him up by 25 to 40 points. In fact, the oyster farmer backed by progressives including Sen. Bernie Sanders has told allies he's already shifting his attention from the June primary to the November general election, per Axios .

No major Democratic groups are currently on air for Mills, frustrating her allies and prompting questions about why Schumer recruited her if he wouldn't back her up. "If you take Schumer at his word, and he was really high on Janet, then why wouldn't they be in Maine in the beginning of the quarter? It boggles my mind," a person close to Mills' campaign tells the Post. Mills has begun running attack ads over comments Platner made years ago on social media downplaying sexual assault, but Platner's lead is so big, it may not help. The Maine drama mirrors a broader backlash against party elders in primaries from Michigan to Iowaand raises the risk that Schumer may have misjudged both Mills' moment and the appetite of the base.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of President Trump's strongest allies in Europe, is suddenly putting daylight between herself and him, reports Politico . "As is normal among allies, we must clearly say even when we do not agree," Meloni told the Italian parliament on Thursday. She spelled out examples, including the Iran war, Trump's tariffs, his disparagement of European soldiers in Afghanistan, and the aggressive US stance on Greenland. "The West stands on two legs: the European and the American one," she said. "If they don't move in the same direction, it risks paralysis."

Meloni also highlighted for the first time publicly Rome's refusal to let a US military aircraft bound for the Middle East land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily, underscoring that Italy did not back or participate in the war in Iran. Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal notes that Meloni also issued a rare criticism of Trump after his remarks about wiping out the Iranian civilization. "It is crucial to clearly distinguish between the responsibilities of a regime and the fate of millions of ordinary citizens," she said. "Iran's civilian population cannot and must not pay the price for the sins of its leaders."

The recalibration comes with Meloni reeling from a stinging defeat in a referendum last month widely seen as a judgment on her leadership. In a New York Times essay, Anna Momigliano, editor of the Italian newspaper Corriera della Serra, puts it this way: As Trump's "popularity craters to new lows in Europe, and the continent begins to find a backbone in its dealings with him, Ms. Meloni is discovering that being a favorite of the U.S. president can be a liability, too."
A man imprisoned for nearly 30 years before being exonerated won a landmark election in New Orleans promising to fix a judicial system that failed him. Now, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and the GOP-controlled Legislature are racing to eliminate his job before he can be sworn in, the AP reports. Calvin Duncan won 68% of the vote last November to become the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court after pledging to reform the justice system based on his own experience fighting to access court records while in a maximum security prison.

Duncan's swearing-in is scheduled for May 4. He told the AP he believes he's being retaliated against by Louisiana officials who have long denied his innocence, even though his name is listed on the National Registry of Exonerations. Republicans say it isn't personal and defend the effort as a step toward government efficiency. "The citizens of New Orleans overwhelmingly said: 'I want to give this person a chance, he can make a difference,'" Duncan, a Democrat, told lawmakers during a March committee hearing. "What this bill does, it says: 'Thank you but you wasted your time.' It disenfranchises everybody."

"It's a slap in the face not only to the people who elected me, but to every voter across Louisiana," Duncan said in a statement last week, per WWL-TV. "I have been fighting for our rights my entire life, and I won't quit until I've done the job the people elected me to do."

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry told the AP that eliminating Duncan's elected office was about improving "government efficiency" and "cleaning up a system in Orleans Parish that has been plagued by dysfunction and corruption for years." Proponents of consolidating the criminal clerk of court with the civil clerk of court say the offices are combined in other parishes. Terminating the criminal clerk of court position would save the state an estimated $27,300, according to the office of the legislative auditor, which added that the costs of combining clerks' offices were "unknown."

The bill's Republican author, Sen. Jay Morris, who represents a district in north Louisiana, acknowledged that once Duncan's elected position is eliminated, the civil clerk of court might struggle to handle the influx of cases. The solution, he says, is to "hire someone."

Other New Orleans elected judicial officials whose jobs may be eliminated in the future would be allowed to serve out their terms, but not Duncan. Morris told lawmakers that the goal is to pass the law in time to prevent Duncan from taking office before the start of his four-year term. The bill, on track to be passed by the GOP-controlled House and approved by Landry, would immediately go into effect with the governor's signature.

"I have never seen something so barbaric," Sen. Royce Duplessis, a Democrat representing New Orleans, said on the Senate floor. "I understand politics and I know you all are going to vote how you are going to vote. But just know, when we are all done here, history has a record." Duplessis proposed an amendment that would delay the merger until the end of Duncan's term, but it was voted down, the Lens reports.

Duncan, 62, was the driving force behind a 2020 US Supreme Court decision that ended nonunanimous jury convictions. He has also founded a nonprofit dedicated to expanding incarcerated people's access to the court system. He has said being elected to the clerk's office was the culmination of his life's work.




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Police in Australia say a kangaroo crash never happened, but a homicide did. Northern Territory authorities have charged a 33-year-old man with murdering his 27-year-old partner after he allegedly told emergency services their Jeep hit a kangaroo on a remote Outback highway early Sunday and his partner had "stopped breathing," the Guardian reports The woman was found dead in the vehicle with "visible facial injuries," while the man also had "some injuries," police said. NT Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve said officers at the scene quickly formed the view the woman had been assaulted, and her death was treated as suspicious.

Grieve said "further information obtained" led police "to believe the deceased was a victim of assault perpetrated by the male earlier that morning." He said there was damage to the front of the vehicle, and investigators are trying to determine whether it was "pre-existing or whether it was fresh." He said police haven't been able to find any evidence of a kangaroo strike. The couple, who had been on a road trip from Queensland's Sunshine Coast region to the Northern Territory since April 1, were believed to have been parked on the side of the Barkly Highway for several hours before the 5:50am emergency call. Grieve said police believe the assault happened around 1:30am, the NT Independent reports.

An autopsy is underway to confirm the cause of death. Blayze James Noble, who has been in custody since Sunday, was charged with murder Thursday night, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports. Relatives of the victim, Christine Marshall Hunter, say they are "trying to process the shock and grief of losing her so suddenly." Her younger sister, Jazmyne Lecerf, tells the ABC that she was "loving," "protective," and "had a presence that could light up a room.
Police in San Francisco say a man threw a Molotov cocktail at the mansion owned by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman before dawn on Friday, reports the New York Times. Nobody was injured, and it's not clear if Altman was home at the time. The assailant fled on foot, and police arrested a 20-year-old man about an hour later, around 5am, at the headquarters of Altman's company, per SFGate. The unidentified suspect was allegedly threatening to burn down the headquarters. Charges are still pending.
State Rep. Corey Paris, D-Stamford, and state Sen. Douglas McCrory, D-Hartford, confer in the House of Representative chambers during a recess Thursday before a vote on legislation increasing oversight of legislative budget earmarks. The FBI is investigating the role McCrory played in delivering millions in earmarked state funds to a Hartford-based nonprofit community group linked to him. Paul Hughes/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  The state House of Representatives took a bipartisan first step toward increasing oversight of legislatively directed budget earmarks that are an aspect of a federal criminal investigation involving a Democratic state senator and the distribution of funds to Hartford-based nonprofits and companies operated by a close associate.

House members voted unanimously Thursday to send to the state Senate an earmark transparency bill that Gov. Ned Lamont proposed to establish uniform policies and procedures for how state agencies distribute and oversee legislatively directed funds. The governor's bill is modeled after a policy that Lamont instituted in February.

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Earmark spending has come under more intensive scrutiny following the release of a forensic state audit that found potential fraud involving the use of earmarked state funds at a Hartford-based nonprofit community organization linked to a local state senator and the public disclosure of a related FBI investigation into the senator's role in delivering the funds and directing how the money was spent.

State Sen. Douglas McCrory, D-Hartford, stands accused in a state-funded audit of using his position as a state senator to steer at least $1.7 million in taxpayer funds through the now defunct Blue Hills Civic Association to benefit one of his close associates, Sonserae Cicero-Hamlin. Federal prosecutors are also conducting a grand jury investigation probing that personal relationship and the connection with state grants. McCrory has denied any wrongdoing related to the state funds that he directed to the Blue Hills Civic Association. He has not been charged criminally, nor has anyone else in the matter.

The unanimous House vote positions McCrory and the 35 other senators to grant or deny final legislative approval to the oversight bill before the legislative session adjourns May 6.

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House and Senate Republicans had been advocating for greater oversight and more extensive reporting requirements than what Lamont originally proposed and what the House approved Thursday.

During the House debate, House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, and other House Republicans described the compromise bill as a good beginning and foundation for future earmark reforms.

"This is a good first step, and, you know, should this go well, next session I'll be back here saying, 'Let's take step two,'" said state Rep. Tammy Nuccio, R-Tolland, the ranking House Republican on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee.

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The earmark transparency bill directs the state Office of Policy and Management to adopt policies and procedures for executive branch agencies that oversee the administration of legislative earmarks and maintain an online database detailing all legislatively directed funds. It also imposes reporting requirements for recipients of earmarked funds, distributing agencies, and OPM.

Under the bill, legislatively directed funds, or earmarks, are defined as an appropriation by the General Assembly that authorizes a set amount of funding for a specific recipient, including grants, loans, or other forms of economic assistance. The definition excludes funding for disaster or emergency responses, funding directed to state agencies or municipalities, funding for formula-driven or competitive grant awards, or funding authorized by the State Bond Commission.

The legislature's budget office reported that the two-year state budget approved last year includes 321 earmarks across 16 executive branch agencies totaling approximately $89 million. The state Department of Economic Community Development was directed to distribute 200 of those spending earmarks.

This $89 million total excludes $25.6 million in earmarks to support nonprofit youth programs intended to reduce violence and involvement in the juvenile justice system that are distributed through the judicial branch. Members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Issues Caucus select those recipients.

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The earmark transparency bill only applies to executive branch agencies that distribute legislatively approved earmarks. It exempts the judicial and legislative branches and the public higher education system.

The earmark transparency bill prohibits executive branch agencies from entering into contracts distributing earmarked funds unless legislation appropriating the funds identifies the recipients by their legal name and office address and describes the purpose of the earmark. It also imposes the same identification requirements on any subgrantees or subcontractors.

But the legislation does not require that individual legislators or groups of legislators requesting the earmark be identified. This was a condition that House and Senate Republicans had proposed to increase transparency. They pointed to requirements that members of Congress must post their requests for "congressionally directed spending" publicly and certify in writing that neither they nor their immediate family have any financial interest in the projects.

"I've said it on this floor and I'll say it again, it's pretty bad when the federal government has a better process than we do when it comes to earmarks, when they have more transparency in how they are granting earmarks than we do," Nuccio said.

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The legislation requires the OPM secretary to file quarterly reports to the legislature's Appropriations, Finance, Revenue and Bonding and Government Oversight committees providing an overview of the status of budget earmarks for the current fiscal year, including a full accounting of all the funds that have been disbursed during the previous quarter and plans for spending the remaining funds.

Starting Jan. 1, 2028, recipients of earmarked funds must submit annual reports detailing how the money has been spent to the executive branch agencies that disbursed the funds, including how much any subgrantees or subcontractors received and how those funds were spent. Starting March 1, 2028, executive branch agencies submit reports to OPM summarizing those annual reports. The bill requires OPM to publish the annual reports from executive branch agencies and recipients on the required public database no later than June 30, 2028.

If the governor reduces any legislatively approved earmarks, the bill also requires the OPM secretary notify the bipartisan legislative leadership within seven days and include an explanation for the reduction. Under state law, the governor may cut 5% of any line-item in the state budget, but the reductions cannot exceed 3% of any of the 13 appropriated funds that make up the state budget.

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The estate of Conor Hylton is suing Bridgeport Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital after Hylton, 26, died in August 2024 while a patient in Bridgeport Hospital's Milford campus. Courtesy of Faxon Law Group File -- The Emergency Department at Yale New Haven Hospital photographed on December 9, 2021. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Getting admitted to the hospitals intensive care unit  for any reason  can be frightening and overwhelming for patients, who by definition are critically ill and need close, specialized care.

More than 5 million people are admitted to the ICU annually across the U.S. And yet, despite only making up a small fraction of hospitals beds, ICU care is considered one of the major drivers of hospital expenses.

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Some hospitals have turned to integrating telemedicine technologies into the ICU as a way - they say - to better support the bedside staff and cut costs for patients who have shorter stays. Better known as a tele-ICU, the model allows off-site ICU clinicians to virtually connect, collaborate, and support the on-the-ground care team as they provide critical treatment.

Using a two-way video and audio device, tele-ICU clinicians monitor multiple patients simultaneously, enabling them to quickly detect changes, access relevant medical information, and provide tailored treatment to bedside staff.

Having a remote clinical team that monitors ICU patients is a model dating back to the 1970s, but it became more commonplace after the COVID-19 pandemic. Health organizations looked to tele-ICUs as a way not only to reduce care costs and improve access to specialty care but also to fill clinical gaps during an ongoing workforce shortage without hiring more.

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Different than telehealth in other care settings, it is designed to enhance care for critically ill patients by adding another layer of expert oversight, not replacing bedside care, read a statement from Connecticut Hospital Association to CT Insider. Nationally, its estimated (as of 2020) that tele-ICU is used in roughly 1318% of ICUs, primarily to expand access to critical care expertise.

The clinical model, however, made national headlines last month after a North Haven family alleged that their son died while receiving care at one of Yale New Haven Healths tele-ICU.

Virtual patient monitoring programs often vary in size and how they are incorporated into day-to-day care.

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Yale New Haven, for example, launched its Insight Tele-ICU in 2015 to support care teams at Greenwich Hospital and the St. Raphaels campus.

Now, operating from 7pm to 7am, the Insight staff  made up of ICU "intensivist" physicians, critical care nurses and advanced practice providers  monitor patients in more than 200 rooms across the system, all while based out of a designated digital center in Stratford.

The systems interface is run by EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR), one of the commonly used software tools adopted by hospitals. The tele-ICU program, in particular, grew slowly over the years; however, Yale leaders pushed to expand it in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yale officials said in a 2021 interview with Healthcare IT News that the tele-ICU helps keep patients closer to home by supporting care in local ICUs, while also improving safety and efficiency and reducing staff burden.

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Outside of Yale New Haven Health, however, its unclear how common tele-ICUs are in Connecticut. Many hospitals and health systems across the state have embraced electronic health records and virtual visits, using these platforms to support remote patient monitoring and telehealth programs.

Spokespeople from UConn Health, Trinity Health, Middlesex Health and Stamford Health said their systems dont operate tele-ICU programs.

Hartford HealthCare did not respond to questions about tele-ICU; however, its website indicates it relies on virtual programs in other ways, such as through a stroke provider network and a 24/7 on-demand virtual care platform that triages patients concerns and suggests the provider who could best help them.

The malpractice lawsuit filed against Yale New Haven alleges that 26-year-old Conor Hylton was not properly monitored or cared for after he was admitted to the tele-ICU, which the family attorney described as a fake ICU.

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In August 2024, Hylton, a University of Connecticut dental student, walked into Bridgeport Hospitals satellite campus in Milford with severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

A medical analysis included in the lawsuit states that Hylton was diagnosed with pancreatitis, dehydration, metabolic acidosis and alcohol withdrawal. He was admitted to the tele-ICU as his condition worsened.

While at the tele-ICU, according to the lawsuit, staff didnt give Hylton the required alcohol withdrawal assessments or properly monitor his fluid levels. Hyltons parents were allegedly not notified about his deteriorating health.

No on-site physician assessed Hylton for hours, the lawsuit claims. In addition, the doctor assigned to oversee him allegedly never saw him at all, even after being notified of his decline, instead monitoring him remotely.

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The lawsuit argues that the lack of communication between providers, and delayed documentation and care were all contributing factors in Hyltons death.
FILE - Amanda Darrow, director of youth, family and education programs at the Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City, poses with books that have been the subject of complaints from parents, including "Gender Queer" by Meir Kobabe, on Dec. 16, 2021. Rick Bowmer/AP FILE - An LGBTQ+ section appears at Fabulosa Books in the Castro District of San Francisco on June 27, 2024. Haven Daley/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  A coalition of publishers and literary agencies are teaming with PEN America on an initiative meant to counter a growing trend of harassment against members of the literary community.

PEN America, the century-old free expression organization, announced Friday that it was launching the U.S. Safety Program, which would provide safety training and other resources for authors amid a wave of censorship efforts around the country.

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We have heard from countless authors, illustrators, and translators who are under siege, fending off a steady stream of abuse and threats, online and at book events, said Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, co-chief executive officer of PEN America. Through this new program, the literary and publishing community is stepping up together because writers should not be forced to choose between their safety and their voice.

Viktorya Vilk, who directs PEN's digital safety efforts, told The Associated Press that she first noticed a rise in harassment against journalists a decade ago, around the time Donald Trump was first elected president, and has seen it spread to writers and educators over the past couple of years. Maia Kababe, Jon Evison and George Johnson are among the authors of censored works who have spoken out about being harassed and threatened and even physically assaulted.

Ashley Hope Perez, whose young adult novel Out of Darkness became a target for censors over its depictions of sex and sexual abuse, says she had to take down her office email and telephone. I got hate mail and all kinds of ugly phone calls, says Perez, who teaches at Ohio State University.

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According to PEN, it has raised nearly $1 million through contributions from Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers and Penguin Random House among others. This spring, Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Egan and Lee Child will be among the writers auctioning off character names for future novels, with the proceeds benefiting the safety program. PEN will be building on other programs from recent years, including digital safety workshops held for Hachette authors in 2023.

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There have probably never been as many threats to authors safety as there are currently in the U.S, Hachette CEO David Shelley said in a statement. Were proud to support this much-needed program from PEN America that will give writers a wide range of professional resources to help them deal with threats to their safety, online and offline.
FILE - Offset arrives at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, March 17, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP FILE - Rapper Offset makes a guest appearance during Metro Boomin's set at Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, at The Novo, in Los Angeles, Aug. 8, 2023. Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP FILE - 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) Mark Von Holden/Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  The rapper Offset has been released from the hospital after being shot earlier this week outside a Florida casino, a spokesperson said Friday.

Offset, one-third of the influential hip-hop trio Migos, was shot Monday night following a fight at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, just north of Miami.

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On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Offset confirmed that the rapper was in stable condition, but his exact condition was unknown. Police said the injuries were not life-threatening.

Offset has been released from the hospital and he is up and walking," a representative for Offset said on Friday. "Were incredibly grateful to the doctors, nurses, and the entire hospital staff who took such great care of him.

The rapper shared his own statement on social media Friday, writing, Thank you to everyone whos checked in on me and showed me love! Im good.but Im planning to be better! Im focused on my family, my recovery, and getting back to the musicrealizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses...

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Lifes a gamble and Im still playing to win, he concluded.

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Earlier this week, officers detained two people. The rapper Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt, was arrested in connection with the altercation that occurred before the shooting, the Seminole Police Department in Florida said. He was charged with disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a valid license.

The second person detained at the scene has not been charged and investigators were working to identify others involved, police said in a statement Tuesday.

Offset, born Kiari Kendrell Cephus, launched his career with Migos, one of the most popular hip-hop groups of all time. The Atlanta trio is celebrated for their rapid-fire triplet flow, an often-imitated delivery that changed the trajectory of trap.

The group had several multiplatinum selling singles, including Bad and Boujee, which went No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, Stir Fry, and Narcos." Migos released four full-length albums across their career.

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More than three years ago, Offsets cousin Takeoff, another member of Migos, was shot and killed at a Houston bowling alley.

As a solo artist known for his idiosyncratic style  a melodic, aggressive finesse  Offset has released three full-length albums.

He was also previously married to the rapper Cardi B. 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.
A file photo of a Hartford police cruiser. Police arrested Uber driver Herton Udene Joseph after he stabbed a passenger in what he claims was self-defense on Thursday night, according to police. Courtesy of Hartford Police Department

EAST HARTFORD  Police arrested an Uber driver after he allegedly stabbed a passenger late on Thursday night.

The driver, 44-year-old Herton Udene Joseph, came to Manchester police shortly before midnight on Thursday to report he had stabbed a passenger in self-defense during an Uber ride that originated at a Buffalo Wild Wings, according to East Hartford police officer Marc Caruso.

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Close to two hours later, at 1:44 a.m., East Hartford police responded to a gas station on the 100 block of School Street, where they found the stabbing victim with "serious wounds to his upper chest and back," according to Caruso. The victim was transported to Hartford Hospital for treatment.

Police determined the stabbing took place near the intersection of School Street and Prestige Park Road in East Hartford, Caruso said.

Joseph remained at the Manchester police station throughout the night, where his vehicle was seized by police. He was charged with first-degree assault and tampering with evidence, and is being held on a $150,000 bond, according to Caruso.

Caruso declined to share what the tampering charge was for, and said the investigation is ongoing.
The owner of a Connecticut tax preparation company was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury in New Haven for filing several fraudulent tax returns, prosecutors said. Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut

NEW HAVEN  The owner of a Connecticut tax preparation company was indicted on federal tax fraud charges Wednesday for filing several fake returns to save her clients money, federal prosecutors said.

Jessey Guzman, 36, was charged with 33 counts of aiding in the preparation of a false income tax return and four counts of making and subscribing a false return, according to David X. Sullivan, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut.

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Sullivan said Guzman, a former New Britain resident who now lives in Hughestown, Pennsylvania, filed the fraudulent returns on behalf of clients through her tax preparation New Britain business, Jackys Multiservices LLC.

During the 2019 through 2022 tax years, Guzman falsified information on certain tax returns she prepared for clients to reduce her clients tax liability, increase their tax refund or increase the size of their tax credits, Sullivan said.

Sullivan said Guzman also fabricated W-2s to fraudulently indicate her clients were employees of a purported New London construction business that she established in 2013 known as Molina and Family Construction LLC.

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The documents were also changed to show false wages from the company and false federal income tax withholdings before being filed with the Social Security Administration and the IRS, Sullivan said.

Additionally, Guzman prepared and filed fake documents reporting business, rental property and education and child care expenses, Sullivan said.

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The indictment also alleges Guzman prepared and filed false tax returns for her and her spouse claiming wages from the construction company and the withholding of federal taxes, Sullivan said.
The U.S. headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield. Carol Kaliff /Hearst Connecticut Media The U.S. headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield. David W. Harple/File photo The U.S. headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield. H John Voorhees III /Hearst Connecticut Media

WATERBURY  A group of 95 people with cancer diagnoses has filed a class action lawsuit in state Superior Court alleging that Ridgefield-based pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim did not warn the public about cancer risks associated with the recalled heartburn drug Zantac.

[Boehringer Ingelheim] had little incentive to investigate the dangers in a product that was producing over $1 billion in annual sales, reads a 64-page complaint filed by a West Haven attorney on behalf of the people with cancer. Instead, [Boehringer Ingelheim] turned a blind eye to the fact that ranitidine transforms, over time and under particular conditions, into  a well-known cancer-causing compound.

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Ranitidine is the generic version of Zantac, which made headlines in 2020 when the federal Food and Drug Administration issued what amounted to a recall due to unacceptable levels of a probable human carcinogen in the heartburn drug, launching thousands of lawsuits across the country.

The latest class-action lawsuit in Waterbury Superior Court is a Connecticut case, the lead attorney argues, because substantial activities related to  ranitidine-containing products were performed by [Boehringer Ingelheim] in Connecticut.

[Boehringer Ingelheim] made decisions regarding the design, testing, regulatory communications and processes, marketing strategy, labeling and warnings content for ranitidine-containing products in the state of Connecticut, writes attorney Craig Raabe in a Feb. 24 complaint.

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Raabe is referring to the Germany-based companys U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield  a 300-acre campus that crosses into Danbury and employs 2,000 people in 14 buildings. In December BI pledged to invest $10 billion in research and development in the United States through 2028, part of a broad agreement with the Trump Administration to lower the cost of medicines for American patients.

The Connecticut lawsuit charges that a Waterbury man and 94 people from other states would not have contracted cancer were it not for BIs intentional and/or reckless disregard for human life.

[The people] are individuals who suffered personal injuries and/or death as a result of using [Boehringer Ingelheims] dangerously defective ranitidine-containing products, the lawsuit alleges.

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Attorneys for Boehringer Ingelheim had not yet responded to the charges in court by Friday. Officials at the companys U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.



The company made national headlines a year ago when a jury in Chicago found in its favor following a trial of two men who alleged they developed prostate cancer as a result of taking Zantac.

While Boehringer sympathizes with both plaintiffs, the outcome of this case is entirely consistent with the totality of the scientific evidence, which shows that Zantac does not cause any type of cancer, the company said in a statement, according to a published report.

BI is no stranger to high profile lawsuits.

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In 2014 the company announced it agreed to pay $650 million to settle thousands of state and federal lawsuits questioning the safety and marketing of its blood-thinning drug Pradaxa.
Michael Brennan. The Milford police chief is recommending Patrol Officer Michael Brennan be terminated after he was accused of fleeing an off-duty crash in February. Courtesy of the Milford Police Department The Milford Police Department in a file photo. The Milford police chief is recommending Patrol Officer Michael Brennan be terminated after he was accused of fleeing an off-duty crash in February. Hearst Connecticut Media

MILFORD  A Milford police officer was placed on leave and is being recommended for termination after he was suspected of fleeing a crash, according to police.

An investigation found that Patrol Officer Michael Brennan was off-duty on Feb. 28 when he crashed into the front porch of a home on New Haven Avenue and left the scene, the Milford Police Department said. On March 2, detectives began a criminal investigation into the incident while the Internal Affairs Unit conducted a separate, administrative investigation.

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As a result of the criminal investigation, Milford police arrested Brennan, 41, on March 14, charging him with evading responsibility, interfering with an officer and traveling too fast for conditions. He was released on a promise to appear and arraigned in state Superior Court in Milford on April 7.

Milford police Chief Keith Mello said in a statement Friday that, after a comprehensive Internal Affairs investigation, he recommends to the Milford Board of Police Commissioners that Brennans employment be terminated.

The Internal Affairs Investigation determined that Officer Brennan was not truthful regarding his involvement in the incident, Mello said. Such conduct is a clear violation of the standards of integrity, accountability, and professionalism that are fundamental to this department and the law enforcement profession.

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Our community places its trust in us to uphold the law and to always conduct ourselves with integrity  both on and off duty, Mello continued. When that trust is compromised, it is our responsibility to take decisive action.

The Internal Affairs investigation concluded on April 1, and Brennan was placed on administrative leave pending the final disposition of the investigation, according to Mello.

The recommendation will be presented to the Milford Board of Police Commissioners at its next meeting on April 13, Mello said.

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This recommendation reflects our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards and ensuring accountability within our ranks, Mello said. No individual is above the law or exempt from the expectations we are sworn to uphold.
Marcos Alex Mendez Torres, 26, of New Haven, has been charged with child exploitation offenses for engaging in sexual activity with minors, officials said. Connecticut State Police / Contributed Photo

NEW HAVEN  A city man who was arrested two years ago for kidnapping a 15-year-old girl has been charged with federal child exploitation offenses for engaging in sexual activity with minors he met online, officials said.

Marcos Alex Mendez Torres, 26, of New Haven, was charged by criminal complaint and appeared in Hartford federal court Thursday, according to a news release from David X. Sullivan, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut.

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Sullivan said Mendez Torres is accused of using the social media usernames nozuto and demoniodedinero to communicate with girls online and to coerce his victims into to engage in sexual activity.

He said Mendez Torres began communicating in 2022 with an approximately 11-year-old girl in Pennsylvania over the online game platform Roblox, and used Discord and Snapchat to talk to the girl between 2022 and 2024.

Sullivan said Mendez Torres traveled to Pennsylvania in March 2024 to engage in sexual activity with the teen. He said Mendez Torres then traveled to Ohio with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with a 12-year-old he met online.

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Mendez Torres has been detained since he was arrested in June 2024 by the Connecticut State Police and charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old Connecticut girl he met on Snapchat.

Mendez Torres was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children, and transfer of obscene materials to a minor. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

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In addition to the kidnapping and new federal charges, Mendez Torres also faces state charges on two counts of second-degree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact. Mendez Torres has pleaded not guilty to both the kidnapping and sexual assault charges, and both cases are still pending at the Middlesex Judicial District courthouse.
A mural of slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska hangs from an apartment building in New Haven, Conn. on April 9, 2026. Nathaniel Rosenberg/Hearst Connecticut Media A mural of slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska hangs from an apartment building in New Haven, Conn. on April 9, 2026. Nathaniel Rosenberg/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A two-story high mural depicting Iryna Zarutska  a Ukrainian refugee whose stabbing death in North Carolina last August has become a cause celebre for the American right  was recently affixed to a downtown apartment building.

That mural on a row of brownstones on Trumbull Street is one of close to a dozen such displays erected across the country, in an artistic campaign bankrolled in part by Elon Musk, after security footage of Zarutska's brutal killing while on a commuter train circulated widely online last year.

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Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian, was killed while riding a train in Charlotte, N.C. Her alleged murderer, a 35-year-old man named Decarlos Brown Jr., who was caught on camera stabbing Zarutska, has an extensive criminal record and a history of schizophrenia.

Earlier this week, a state psychiatric facility determined Brown was "incapable to proceed" in a murder trial for Zarutska's killing, due to his mental condition.

Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have sought to turn Zarutska's death into a broader referendum on policing and criminal justice reform efforts in Democratic-run communities. In North Carolina, lawmakers passed "Iryna's Law," which rolled back the use of cashless bail and took a step towards reintroducing the death penalty.

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The mural program, which is run by Remember Iryna, a group organized by tech CEO and Republican donor Eoghan McCabe and financed in part by a $1 million donation from Musk, has popped up in Washington, DC, Miami and New York, among other locales.

In Providence, R.I., last week, Mayor Brett Smiley, a Democrat, panned a planned Zarutska mural, and the piece was ultimately moved to a smaller location after blowback from residents.

But so far, aside from some grousing on Reddit and Facebook threads and a disapproving statement from the mayor, the reaction in New Haven has been more muted.

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A mural of slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska hangs from an apartment building in New Haven, Conn. on April 9, 2026. Nathaniel Rosenberg/Hearst Connecticut Media

Remember Iryna and Kumail Zar, the West Haven-based owner of the Trumbull Street property where the mural hangs, did not respond to requests for comment.

Mayor Justin Elicker described Zarutska's death as a "tragedy" and the simultaneous lack of support for people dealing with severe mental health crises as "deeply troubling."

"While people have the right to free speech and freedom of expression, in my view, putting up a mural or banner that aims to stir controversy as opposed to facilitate thoughtful dialogue on such an important issue is not a constructive way to move things forward," Elicker said.

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But for whatever reason, the tinderbox of national political issues attached to the mural  debates around policing and mental health, race (Brown is Black), immigration and public safety on transit  have failed to ignite in the Elm City.

A spokesperson for Elicker confirmed his office has not received any calls or emails about the mural. Christine Kim, the alder who represents the area between the city's downtown and graduate-student-heavy East Rock neighborhood where the mural was posted, says she hasn't heard any complaints either.

"We are a part of an important fabric of the rest of the city, but also the country and the world," Kim said. "But we can only try to deal with what is here and what's affecting people in our community, and the most important thing is that we try to take care of each other."

It's not as though the mural is hard to see. Despite some obstruction by a tree, it stands more than 20 feet tall and is posted in an area with both high foot traffic and a steady stream of cars merging onto a nearby ramp to Interstate 91.

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But unlike in Providence, where the backlash drew national media attention, the murals' New Haven neighbors seem to have paid it no mind.

Ben Keller, the Connecticut-based artist who painted the mural, did not respond to a request for comment, though he did share photos and video of the work on social media.

Keller told the New Haven Independent, which first reported on the display, that he had taken on the work to honor Zarutska, whose death he said should not be political.

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Outside the mural on Trumbull Street on Wednesday afternoon, two residents of the brownstones where the mural hangs stopped to talk, though both declined to give their names.

Both said they had not received any notice of the mural's installation, which occurred sometime last week.

One of the two residents said the most annoying part for him was that the installers screwed bolts into his wall while he was on an evening work call, causing an unexpected ruckus.

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That resident said he didn't understand what was so controversial about the mural, describing it as "anger porn."
Gov. Ned Lamont speaks outside the Capitol Friday, April 20, 2026. He was voicing concerns over the recent detaining of a Cheshire High School student by ICE. Jim Michaud/Hearst CT Media Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Attorney General William Tong speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Sen Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General William Tong, and Governor Ned Lamont head to the podium area on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Gov. Ned Lamont speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Gov. Ned Lamont speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Attorney Lauren Petersen speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Attorney General William Tong speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Jack Fazzino speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Cheshire School Board Chair Samantha Rosenberg speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Liz Linehan speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks regarding the ICE detained Cheshire teen on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  Standing on the steps of the state Capitol Friday morning, everyone from Gov. Ned Lamont and Sen. Richard Blumenthal down to members of the local school board rallied to the cause of a Cheshire High School student detained by federal immigration officials earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, 135 miles away, 18-year-old Rihan sat inside a county jail in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he's been held since Monday.

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Four cars full of agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested the Cheshire honor student while he was driving with his uncle about half a mile from the family's Cheshire home, where an American flag hangs out front every day, said one of his attorneys, Lauren Petersen.

"This family did everything right," Petersen said at Friday's press conference. "It's the government that's not following its own rules."

It's the second time in less than a year ICE agents have arrested a member of Rihan's family. Six masked ICE agents arrested his father, Zia, last July during a routine visit to a federal immigration office in East Hartford. Zia had worked as an interpreter for U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan, and his case quickly became national news, with Blumenthal in particular championing his cause.

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ICE released Zia in October after a federal district judge ordered that he be granted a bond hearing and an immigration judge determined he was not a flight risk and did not pose a danger to the community.

Attorneys for Rihan and Zia asked that they only be referred to by their first names, citing concerns for their safety and the safety of their relatives who are still in Afghanistan.

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Attorney General William Tong speaks outside the Capitol Friday, April 20, 2026. He was voicing concerns over the recent detaining of a Cheshire High School student by ICE. Jim Michaud/Hearst CT Media

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Friday afternoon to CT Insider that Rihan was arrested on federal immigration violations, issued a notice to appear before a judge and will remain in ICE custody pending proceedings, noting he will receive full due process. DHS did not specifically name the violations. His lawyers maintain that he is fully compliant.

Biden-era parole programs let in 190,000 Afghan nationals with a vetting process that was demonstrably inadequate," DHS said in a statement to CT Insider. "No overseas criminal background checks were performed, social media accounts were not screened, and there was no systematic cross-referencing of information. In many cases, entry was granted on the basis of a single recommendation. Under Secretary Mullin, DHS has been going full throttle on vetting illegal aliens who came in through Bidens fraudulent parole programs and working to get the criminals and public safety threats OUT of our country.

Blumenthal expressed the same outrage Friday over Rihan's arrest that he'd displayed during his three-month campaign to get Zia released.

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"Zia was detained by ICE illegally," Blumenthal said. "Now they are detaining his son because they failed in the effort to get Zia. So Rihan has become ICE's latest victim in that family."

"What ICE is doing here is beyond cruelty," the Connecticut Democrat added. "It's beyond brutality. It's un-American."

Zia "has a target on his back" and "will be tortured or killed" if ICE deports him back to Afghanistan, Blumenthal said.

The senator vowed Friday to vote against any additional funding for ICE or its sister agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, until sweeping reforms are put in place. Those reforms are the cause of a partial shutdown of the federal government that is entering its eighth week.

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Lamont said he was proud to be standing there Friday with Blunenthal and state Attorney General William Tong, and he called on Connecticut residents to take action.

"I need people to stand up," the governor said. "There's too many people quiet. Too many people saying, 'This is the issue of the day. Maybe something will change tomorrow.' It doesn't change unless people stand up."

In his remarks, Tong made a personal appeal to the ICE agents who detained Rihan.

"These agents must have children," he said. "You must have families. How would you feel if this happened to your kid? Would you want law enforcement to treat your teenager this way?"

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks outside the Capitol Friday, April 20, 2026. He was voicing concerns over the recent detaining of a Cheshire High School student by ICE. Jim Michaud/Hearst CT Media

Rihan's family came to the United States in 2024 on humanitarian parole, a temporary immigration status that was set to expire this coming October, court records show. Rihan applied for legal permanent residency  commonly called a green card  in June, and that application is still pending. His father also has a pending asylum application that includes him.

ICE revoked Rihan's humanitarian parole after his arrest, court filings show.

Rihan's attorneys have filed a petition in federal district court Monday asking a judge to order his release. Rihan has never been arrested or charged with any crime, and he does not have any criminal history, his attorneys said in that court filing. U.S. District Judge Vernon Oliver of the District of Connecticut is hearing that case, which is ongoing.

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While Petersen spoke about Rihan's legal situation at Friday's press conference, the focus was on the support officials said the high school student has from both state officials and the local Cheshire community.

Speaker after speaker spoke about how the teenager came to the United States knowing little English and is now a straight-A student and about his desire to go on in his studies and eventually become a cardiologist.

Cheshire state Reps. Liz Linehan and Jack Fazzino were visibly emotional as they stood on the steps of the Capitol, at times grasping hands or locking arms with those around them in a show of solidarity and support.

Linehan grew emotional at the podium as she said Rihan is a classmate of her daughter.

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"This young man deserves dignity," she said. "He deserves compassion. He deserves the opportunity to return home to Cheshire. That's where his home is. He deserves the opportunity to finish his senior year and graduate with his classmates."

Fazzino, whose district includes Meriden, mentioned the case of Kevin, a then 16-year-old student at Maloney High School who spent six months in federal immigration detention after he was detained by ICE last year before his release in December  just in time for his Christmas birthday.

"I know what this road is," Fazzino said. "For those of us who've been down this road before, it's one that requires a lot of endurance. But let's be the village that this family needs right now."

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"The world is telling us there is an us and there is a them," he added. "There is only us."
File photo of Southern Connecticut State University campus in New Haven. The school community is mourning first-year student NaZiyah Walton, 18, of Farmington, who died Feb. 11. Hearst Connecticut Media

Federal immigration officials have moved a Southern Connecticut State University student they arrested last week to a detention facility in Louisiana, government records show  potentially complicating efforts for her release.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Keyla Vasquez-Zuniga in Middletown on March 31, the agency said in a statement.

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As of Thursday afternoon, ICE's online detainee locator placed Vasquez-Zuniga at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, in Basile, Louisiana. NBC Connecticut reported Monday that Vasquez-Zuniga was at a facility in New Hampshire.

ICE did not respond to questions from CT Insider about when it transferred Vasquez-Zuniga to Louisiana or whether it plans to deport her.

In its statement to CT Insider, ICE said Vasquez-Zuniga entered the United States on a six-month tourist visa in October 2021 but overstayed her visa  a violation of federal immigration law but not a criminal offense. It also said she had a previous arrest for first-degree criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct, although the department did not specify where the arrest occurred.

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CT Insider could not locate any pending criminal cases or convictions under Vasquez-Zuniga's name in online Connecticut court records.

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Vasquez-Zuniga "will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings," ICE said. "Under President (Donald) Trump and Secretary (Markwayne) Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S."

It wasn't clear Thursday who is representing Vasquez-Zuniga or whether she has family in the area.

ICE has a pattern of moving people out of New England to large immigration detention facilities in Louisiana and Texas, according to Erin ONeil, owner and lead attorney at the East Hartford firm Norte Immigration Law. O'Neil practices in Connecticut but lives in Louisiana. She has not been involved with Vasquez-Zuniga's case.

The move to Louisiana from New England can make a case harder both legally and logistically, according to O'Neil.

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On the logistical front, ONeil said it can be harder  and much more expensive  for family and attorneys to visit someone at remote Louisiana facilities.

I have visited several of the detention facilities in Louisiana personally, and theyre in the middle of nowhere," she said. "Theyre deep in pine country or backwoods country in Louisiana, several hours from the major airports. So its very difficult for family or attorneys to visit in person. So that creates hurdles."

Legally, Louisiana falls under the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which handed down a ruling in early February limiting the ability of people detained by ICE to challenge their detentions in federal courts covered by the district.

That ruling my not apply in Vasquez-Zuniga's case, since she overstayed a visa rather than crossing into the United States illegally, O'Neil said. Still, O'Neil said such a transfer makes fighting a detention case "much more difficult."

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"There are options," O'Neil. "Its important to pursue all the available options. Unfortunately, once youre detained, it becomes more difficult. So its important to be proactive now if youre out of status."

An analysis of government data by CT Insider previously found that two of the top 10 facilities ICE held Connecticut residents in during the first six months of the second Trump administration were in Louisiana. There are no long-term ICE detention facilities for adults in Connecticut.

News of Vasquez-Zuniga's arrest broke April 3 when Southern Connecticut State University's interim president, Sandra Bulmer, released a letter letting students, faculty and staff know ICE had detained an unnamed student away from the university's New Haven campus.

"We understand that this situation may cause concern for students, faculty, staff, and families," Bulmer wrote. "Our priority remains the safety, well-being, and dignity of everyone at Southern. We are committed to supporting anyone affected and making sure our campus remains a safe and welcoming place for all."

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Bulmer's letter said ICE made the arrest "in another municipality."
Kamala Harris, former Vice President and 2024 Presidential candidate, arrives during the National Action Network (NAN) Convention in New York, Friday, April 10, 2026. Angelina Katsanis/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  After chants of run again! filled the room, former Vice President Kamala Harris told African American activists on Friday that she's actively considering another presidential bid.

I might. I am thinking about it, Harris told Rev. Al Sharpton after he asked directly whether she was going to run for president in 2028.

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Kamala Harris, former Vice President and 2024 Presidential candidate, speaks during the National Action Network (NAN) Convention in New York, Friday, April 10, 2026. Angelina Katsanis/AP Kamala Harris, former Vice President and 2024 Presidential candidate, speaks with Reverend Al Sharpton during the National Action Network (NAN) Convention in New York, Friday, April 10, 2026. Angelina Katsanis/AP

Harris comments came during the National Action Networks annual convention, where more than a half-dozen potential candidates appeared this week , hoping to make inroads among Black voters  who comprise one of Democrats most powerful blocs.

The Democrats' next presidential primary season wont begin in earnest until after Novembers midterm elections, but this weeks conference showcased a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded competition.

For now, at least, there is no clear early favorite. But there did appear to be a favorite at Sharpton's conference.

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Harris, the nation's first Black female vice president and the Democrats' presidential nominee in 2024, earned the only standing ovation and the largest crowd of any other 2028 prospect this week.

Sharpton noted that Harris earned more votes in her losing 2024 campaign than even former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

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Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history, Sharpton said.

Harris has raised the possibility of another presidential bid before in the 15 months since she left office. She also recently launched a political action committee and began to travel across the United States to support Democrats, especially across the South.

Still, some in the party have shifted their focus to a new generation of Democratic leaders given Harris' struggle in the last presidential contest.

The convention lineup this week featured Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.

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Buttigieg, speaking shortly after Harris left the stage, received soft applause from a room that was about half-empty. Some cheered when he mentioned supporting federal workers and minority businesses, but many attendees had streamed out of the packed auditorium after Harris speech in an effort to grab a selfie with the former vice president.

Buttigieg, like many other 2028 prospects this week, laughed off a question about whether he would seek the presidency again.

Harris was more explicit.

Three times she repeated, I'm thinking about it, when Sharpton asked her about a 2028 White House run.

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I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States. I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the situation room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires, Harris said.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/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 FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Nov. 18, 2025, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP President Donald Trump walks through Statuary Hall with House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., as he departs Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks to reporters outside the chamber after passing a measure by unanimous consent that would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, if the House agrees, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, April 2, 2026. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's search for an off-ramp from the war with Iran is getting bumpy inside his Republican Party.

In the decade since Trump's America First movement rose to power by rejecting military intervention, his coalition has rarely been tested the way it is now. Trump's exit efforts  first through threats of annihilation, then with a ceasefire that is proving precarious  are doing little to paper over tensions that have festered since the war began six weeks ago.

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Laura Loomer, a conservative activist close to the president and often one of his top boosters, rejected the notion of brokering a deal with Iran. In an interview, she knocked Vice President JD Vance for being in charge of talks expected to start Saturday in Pakistan, as he takes on a larger diplomatic role ahead of a potential 2028 White House run.

I support President Trump, Loomer said in an interview. I just dont believe in negotiating with Islamic terrorists.

Vance's office did not respond to a request for comment.

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Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a Trump supporter-turned-critic, called for the president to be removed from office through the Constitution's 25th Amendment after he said earlier this week that a whole civilization will die tonight unless Iran made a deal. Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News anchor who now hosts a podcast, unloaded on Trump with a profane critique and asked, Cant he just behave like a normal human?

During a recent taping of The Charlie Kirk Show, the host wondered what would end first, their episode or the ceasefire deal.

Despite the growing criticism, Republican leaders in Congress were largely silent. Many were privately uncomfortable with Trump's threats on social media and were concerned about how the war would play out, especially in an election year. But with Congress on recess for the opening two weeks of April, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have offered little public reaction to Trump's moves.

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Some said the developments were simply unfolding too quickly.

How do you go up and give a presentation or speech in a situation where every 12 hours, the baseline story has a new gradient?" Rep. Dave Schweikert, an Arizona Republican who is running for governor, said in an interview. In many ways, it is the sin of arrogance thinking you can go out and talk about something when the story is still unfolding.

A factor in the midterms?

That leaves Republicans in an uncertain position, much like the state of the war. The party already faces fierce headwinds ahead of the November midterms, and some say its best bet is for voters to forget about Iran by then.

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My hope is that it will be long behind us by the time votes are cast, said Chris Wilson, a veteran Republican strategist. "Fortunately for the GOP, foreign policy flare-ups rarely decide midterm elections on their own, especially when voters are far more focused on the economy and prices at home."

For now, Trump and his White House are expressing confidence. Trump hailed a big day for World Peace after the ceasefire was first announced. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt heralded a victory for the United States of America that the president and our incredible military made happen.

In a social media post, Trump dismissed his detractors, including podcasters such as Kelly, as stupid people who will say anything necessary for some 'free' and cheap publicity.

Some of the president's supporters in Congress are pushing back at the suggestion that Trump has become too entangled overseas at the expense of domestic priorities.

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Part of America First is making sure that the homeland stays safe and Iran is a factor in our safety, Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn., said in an interview. We are all hopeful that the ceasefire does hold and that Iran lives up to their side of the agreement.

Recent elections are cause for GOP concern

Any president's party typically loses seats in Congress during a midterm election year and races this week offered a fresh reason for concern for Republicans.

Republican Clay Fuller won Greenes district by about 12 percentage points. She had a 29-percentage-point win two years earlier, and Trump carried the district by almost 37 percentage points. In Wisconsin, the liberal majority on the state Supreme Court grew this week when a Democratic-backed candidate won by a double-digit margin.

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That follows strong performances for Democrats in other recent races, including the Florida state legislative district that is home to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

Only about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approved of how Trump was handling his job as president, according to Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polling last month. That share is largely unchanged since he returned to office in January 2025. But it is also roughly where Trump was at this point in his first term, when Democrats went on to gain 40 House seats in the 2018 midterms.

While Trump still has deep support from Republicans, there are signs that he risks frustrating his supporters if the U.S. becomes involved in a prolonged war. Although 63% of Republicans back airstrikes against Iranian military targets, the March survey found, only 20% back deploying American ground troops. Rising gas prices could pose a problem, with about 6 in 10 Republicans saying they are at least somewhat concerned about affording gas in the next few months, though they are less worried than the rest of the country.

People are willing to endure some short-term pain

Republicans who have spent time with voters over the recess say they believe the party has political breathing room to navigate the war.

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Kustoff said constituents across his rural northwestern Tennessee district seemed generally supportive of Trump's actions in Iran, even when they have been accompanied by higher prices at the pump.

My takeaway is that people are willing to endure some short-term pain as it relates to gas prices if the situation with Iran is resolved," he said.

But as they return to Washington next week, Republicans face a series of difficult choices.

At the outset of the war, some GOP lawmakers said Trump would need to seek approval from Congress if the conflict lasted longer than 60 days, a deadline that would approach near the end of April if the ceasefire did not hold. The administration is seeking billions of dollars in additional spending for the war, setting up a vote that could put budget-conscious Republicans in a difficult spot before the fall campaigns.

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Democrats are also moving to force another vote on a war powers resolution that would curb Trump's options in Iran. A similar effort failed last month, but another vote could add pressure on Republicans, depending on how the ceasefire plays out.

Schweikert described the war powers vote as the dance of parties.

Their job is to try to embarrass us and our job as the majority is to try to make things work, he said. It's just the job.

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___
People applaud during Gov. Ned Lamonts address during the opening day of the 2026 legislative session on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, in his State Capitol office, said many pieces of legislation will die without votes in the House and Senate when the General Assembly adjourns at midnight May 6. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media The House moments after gaveling into session Wednesday at the state Capitol in Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  The General Assemblys midnight May 6 adjournment is breathing down the necks of state lawmakers  with more than 600 bills and resolutions piled up and awaiting action.

The bills include a variety of controversial legislative items, such as new rules on homeschooling; action on Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics; and proposed amendments to the second year of the state budget. Each of those  which lawmakers call talkers  may take full days of debate.

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With the House of Representatives taking off all of next week to coincide with April school vacation, there will be time for about a dozen full days of debate and votes before the session ends. That will be just in time for the Republican and Democratic state conventions in mid-May to nominate candidates and start the election season.

Leaders on both sides of the aisle this week acknowledged the looming adjournment.

As for the 1,000 bills introduced at the start of the 13-week session in February that were culled by less than half after public hearings and redrafting, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter said the tsunami is deceptive.

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My only concern is that it creates false hope in people, Ritter, D-Hartford, said in his State Capitol office. We literally do not have the time to pass 10% of the bills that got out of committee. But chairs get pressured to do certain things. I understand it. Sometimes youre doing things because a rep asked you to do it, a senator asked you to do it.

Even bills voted out of committee early in the session have to be redrafted by nonpartisan staff and analyzed for fiscal impact, which can take weeks. Some bills have to be referred to other committees.

The reality is, the long session is when you should be tackling a lot of bills, Ritter said, saying that advocates sometimes blame majority leaders when bills expire without votes.

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Time killed your bill. We just dont have time. So we will prioritize a handful of 'talkers' that we can run and the rest will be smaller bills, he said.

Pointing out that its a part-time legislature, Ritter said, we also have some big bills that need to get worked out as well. I think we all understand that were waiting for things to percolate, but we just dont have the time. People have to understand that.

By the week of April 20, more legislation should be fully drafted and ready for the sprint through the last few days, Ritter said.

As always we are walking, not racing to the end, said House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford. I think we are going to have to prioritize what were going to focus on. I prefer that. By not being in session as much, you would hope that there was work behind the scenes trying to move the budget along.

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In even-numbered years, state lawmakers meet from February until early May in the so-called short session to craft the second year of the biennial budget that takes effect on July 1. In odd-numbered years, after legislative elections, the General Assembly meets from January into June to create a new two-year budget.

The state Constitution and legislative rules limit the introduction of proposed bills in short sessions to budget-related matters.

Legislators introduced 1,100 House and Senate bills in the 2026 legislative session. Through Tuesday, legislative committees collectively had advanced 620 bills and resolutions, usually appointments to state boards, departments and commissions.

The Government Administration and Elections Committee approved 61 bills and resolutions, leading all committees. The Labor and Public Employees Committee was second with 48 bills, followed by the Planning and Development Committee with 40; the Public Health Committee and Public Safety and Security Committee with 39 each; the Human Services Committee with 36; and the Environment Committee with 35.

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State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, co-chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, agreed that his panel approved a lot of legislation, including a framework for universal mail-in balloting. That's because there were many important ideas to address, he said.

Were a committee that likes to do the work, Blumenthal said in an interview on the floor of the House of Representatives. Were lucky to have some of the best partisan and nonpartisan staff in the building and filled with a lot of ambitious legislators who want to get a lot done for the people of Connecticut.

Even if a bill does not become law, Blumenthal said that through the public hearing and drafting process it becomes better and that may contribute to its eventual passage in the future.

In the last short legislative session in 2024, lawmakers introduced more than 1,400 bills and sent 175 bills to Gov. Ned Lamont, who signed 173 and vetoed two. Last year, legislators filed about 5,000 pieces of legislation in the longer, six-month session, and Lamont signed 198 bills, vetoed three and use his line-item veto authority on two bills.

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But no legislative proposal will be truly dead until the General Assembly adjourns after 12:01 a.m. May 7.

Legislative rules require that bills have a public hearing to be considered for a committee vote to advance to the House or Senate for further action. Laws need passage in both chambers to go to the governor.

In the 2024 session, the content or concepts originating in 122 bills was incorporated into other legislation that was eventually enacted in 33 new laws, according to the Office of Legislative Research. In the short 2022 session, the content or concepts originating in 166 bills was put into 36 public acts that became law.

Some bills are likely to be combined this year to possibly save time in debates, said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven.

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I think we can always manage the priorities that come out of every committee, Looney said outside his State Capitol office. In the end, sometimes bills wind up being combined, so you dont have as many bills that you actually vote on and still cover the same subject matter. Thats something that we wind up doing often, where you have the creation of so-called 'aircraft-carrier' bills that sometimes happens. The funnel does get narrower at the end, so the things that need to get done ultimately get done.

Looney said he would like the sessions in odd-numbered years to run to the end of June, and for the even-years' sessions to start in January  rather than February  and end in early May. That would need an amendment to the state Constitution, however.

With the governors office and solid majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats would have themselves to blame if anything fails to win approval by May 6, said Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield.

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Universal Hotel Liquidators will be moving into the former Dick's Sporting Goods space at the Meriden Mall at the beginning of May. Steven Goode/Hearst Connecticut Media The Meriden Mall has added Adventure Palace. Steven Goode/Hearst Connnecticut Media The Meriden Mall has added Santos Kitchen to the food court. Steven Goode/Hearst Connnecticut Media The Meriden Mall has lost TJ Maxx. Steven Goode/Hearst Connnecticut Media

MERIDENAfter years of losing tenants and shoppers, the Meriden Mall has added some in 2026.

Adventure Palace, a virtual reality gaming and amusement center for children, opened earlier this year and a new vendor, Santos Kitchen, recently doubled the number of dining options available in the food court to two. Those gains were offset by T,J, Maxx moving out recently, though.

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Now Universal Hotel Liquidators is making the move from its long-time West Haven location to the mall in the former Dick's Sporting Goods space.

The sporting goods chain moved out in April 2024 and UHL is hoping to open May 1.

The company is one of the largest suppliers of five-star hotel furniture and liquidation inventory in the U.S. According to the company's website, it sells commercial furnishing products at wholesale prices to hotels, motels and businesses throughout the East Coast.

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Its products include beds, couches, lamps, tables, dressers, mirrors and artwork.

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"We're excited for this move because it brings us closer to many of our customers and allows us to better serve all of Connecticut," David White, president of Universal Hotel Liquidators, said in a release. "The Meriden Mall offers a fantastic space for our growing business, and we look forward to welcoming both new and returning customers to our new showroom."

The transition, White said, marks an important step in the company's evolution because the additional space will allow it to expand inventory, streamline operations and deliver an even better experience for shoppers.

A spokesperson for the mall said that the company is a trusted New England retailer that provides shoppers with affordable, commercial quality furniture.

"We look forward to seeing the brand thrive here and to the energy and momentum it will bring to the property," the spokesperson said.

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Meriden Economic Development Director Joseph Feest said the city looks forward to many years of success for the company as the Meriden Mall continues to reshape itself from retail to a broader mix of commercial businesses.
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Jason Gill, founder and President of the Caroline Grace Gill Foundation, holds a card that was mailed to all Brusly residents introducing the Pursuit Alert system and the app that was adopted by the Brusly Police Department while in front of the first cruiser to feature the system on Thursday, December 19, 2024 in Brusly, Louisiana.
PLYMOUTH-based frigates HMS St Albans and HMS Somerset have been at the forefront of a major British military operation to intercept and expose a covert Russian naval mission in UK waters.

In a statement released today, 9 April 2026, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that the Royal Navy has spent several weeks tracking a Russian attack submarine and specialised vessels targeting critical undersea infrastructure.

The operation began when an Akula-class Russian attack submarine entered international waters in the High North. However, British intelligence quickly established that the submarine was acting as a distraction.

While the Akula drew attention, specialist units from Russias Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (known as GUGI) were identified conducting nefarious activity near critical undersea fibre optic cables and pipelines. These subsea cables are essential for over 99 per cent of the UKs international data traffic and global banking.

Two Plymouth-based Type 23 frigates were central to the response:

HMS St Albans: Deployed alongside RFA Tidespring and Merlin helicopters to track the Akula-class submarine 24/7. The crew covered thousands of miles and used sonobuoys to maintain a constant lock on the vessel.

HMS Somerset: Conducted a separate 10-day intensive monitoring operation in the English Channel and North Sea, shadowing a Russian fleet that included a destroyer, a frigate, and a Kilo-class submarine.

The MoD confirmed that once the UK and its allies (including Norway) began overt tracking to signal the Russians were no longer hidden, both the GUGI units and the attack submarine abandoned their operation and retreated back toward Russia.

Defence Secretary John Healey, speaking from Downing Street, warned that Russian activity around the UK has increased by 30 per cent over the last two years.

To Putin, I say this: we see you, we see your activity over our underwater infrastructure. You should know that any attempt to damage it will not be tolerated and would have serious consequences, Mr Healey said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised that the operation was crucial to protecting the British public from the economic impact of infrastructure sabotage.

The government has now pledged an additional 100 million to support P-8 submarine-hunting aircraft and is investing in the Atlantic Bastion programme. This project will combine autonomous systems with the Royal Navys existing fleet of warships to bolster the protection of the UKs undersea interests.

While the Russian vessels involved in this specific operation have retreated, the Royal Navy remains ready to respond should they return to British waters.
An iconic silhouette will return to the skies over Devon next week as a special commemorative Spitfire flight marks 90 years since the legendary aircraft first took to the air.

The Supermarine Spitfire, the backbone of Britains aerial defense during the Second World War, is being celebrated with a nationwide tour.

On 16 April, a two-seat Spitfire, painted in the distinctive silver livery of the original K5054 prototype, is scheduled to touch down at Exeter Airport.

The flight is a collaboration between the Royal Air Force and Spitfires.com, aimed at honoring the 1936 maiden flight of R.J. Mitchells masterpiece.

The aircraft is expected to depart from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, crossing the "English Riviera" before arriving in Exeter. Historians note the route is one steeped in significance, mirrored by the young fighter pilots who patrolled the South West coast during the Battle of Britain.

Arrival: Thursday, 16 April, scheduled for 10.55am at Exeter Airport. Departure: Friday, 17 April, bound for Southampton Airport, the city where the Spitfire was originally built.

Aviation enthusiasts are in for a rare treat during the Cornwall-to-Devon leg. The nimble fighter is expected to be joined in formation by a "giant of the skies", an RAF A400M Atlas transport aircraft.

The contrast between the 1930s design and the modern military transporter is intended to showcase nine decades of British aviation evolution.

The aircraft will remain at Exeter overnight before continuing its journey east to Southampton on 17 April, completing a symbolic link between the Spitfire's wartime heritage and its birthplace.
Drivers filling up in North Devon are among millions across the UK feeling the strain of the longest unbroken run of diesel price rises on record, according to the RAC.

A full tank of diesel for a typical 55-litre family car now costs 105.22 nationally, up 27 since the end of February. Petrol has risen to 87 for the same size tank, 14 more than before the conflict began.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: The average prices of both petrol and diesel have now increased every day for the last 40 days. For diesel this is a new record for consecutive daily price rises since 2015, and for petrol it matches the run of rises seen at the end of June 2022.

What are North Devon drivers paying?

Barnstaple is currently the cheapest place to fill up in North Devon, with diesel at least 4p per litre cheaper than Bideford, saving drivers of a typical family car around 2.20 every time they fill up.

Price data from PetrolPrices.com shows that local forecourts are currently tracking below the national record, though rural areas are bearing higher costs.

In Barnstaple, Asda's automated forecourt on 10 April was selling petrol at 152.7p and diesel at 186.7p per litre, with Tesco Extra close behind at 152.9p and 186.9p respectively.

Drivers in Bideford are paying slightly more, with Asda and Texaco both selling diesel at 190.7p per litre as of 10 April. Petrol in the town was available from 154.7p.

In Ilfracombe, the Murco station on 8 April was offering petrol at 153.9p and diesel at 186.9p, while TotalEnergies at Hele Bay Garage was charging 154.9p for petrol and 187.9p for diesel as of 9 April.

Some relief expected

Despite the record streak, the RAC says the rate of increases is now slowing. Oil has fallen back below $100 a barrel for two consecutive days, reducing wholesale costs for fuel suppliers.

Mr Williams said: The rate of price increases has slowed due to oil falling back below $100 for the last two days. This has reduced wholesale costs which should, if sustained, lead to the price of petrol coming down.

He added that drivers should not expect unleaded to rise much further for now, and that the record diesel price of 199p now shouldn't be surpassed.

Motorists looking for the cheapest fuel in their area can use comparison sites such as PetrolPrices.com to find their nearest competitive forecourt.

Local fuel price data: PetrolPrices.com, 10 April 2026. National figures and quotes: RAC, 10 April 2026.

Cheapest Fuel in North Devon: Friday 10 April 2026

Location Fuel Type Station Price (ppl) Last Updated Barnstaple Petrol Asda Automat 152.7p 10 Apr Barnstaple Petrol Tesco Extra 152.9p 10 Apr Barnstaple Petrol Tesco 152.9p 10 Apr Barnstaple Diesel Asda Automat 186.7p 10 Apr Barnstaple Diesel Tesco Extra 186.9p 10 Apr Barnstaple Diesel Tesco 186.9p 10 Apr Bideford Petrol Texaco (Bideford Service Station) 154.7p 09 Apr Bideford Petrol Asda 154.7p 10 Apr Bideford Petrol Morrisons 154.9p 10 Apr Bideford Diesel Texaco (Bideford Service Station) 190.7p 09 Apr Bideford Diesel Esso (Blights Motors) 190.7p 10 Apr Bideford Diesel Asda 190.7p 10 Apr Ilfracombe Petrol Murco 153.9p 07 Apr Ilfracombe Petrol TotalEnergies (Hele Bay Garage) 154.9p 09 Apr Ilfracombe Petrol Unbranded (Golden Coast) 154.9p 08 Apr Ilfracombe Diesel Murco 186.9p 08 Apr Ilfracombe Diesel Murco Woolacombe 186.9p 08 Apr Ilfracombe Diesel TotalEnergies (Hele Bay Garage) 187.9p

Source: PetrolPrices.com
Something strange happened in Wuhan on the night of March 31st. Over 100 self-driving robotaxis suddenly stopped working, leaving some passengers locked inside for up to 90 minutes. Some people simply couldnt open the car doors, while others were too scared to get out because they were in the middle of heavy traffic.

According to the Wuhan Municipal Public Security Bureaus Traffic Management Bureau, starting at 8:57 pm, reports started coming in regarding robotaxis operating in the city that had suddenly stopped working. It was later revealed that over 100 robotaxis had malfunctioned simultaneously, all belonging to the same company, Apollo Go (), an autonomous ride-hailing service run by the Chinese IT company Baidu.

One passenger said they were trapped in a taxi for about an hour and a half and posted about the ordeal on social media.

I called the robotaxi customer service, but couldnt get through at all at first, the woman said. I called again and again, but every person I spoke to just said they had dispatched a specialist. After 10:30 PM, my rescue request was cancelled, and I was left stranded on an overpass, surrounded by dump trucks.

The frightened passenger was eventually rescued, but they criticised Apollo Gos customer service, claiming they offered only useless responses instead of real emergency procedures.

Videos circulating on social media showed robotaxis stopped in the middle of various streets around Wuhan, with their signal lights blinking. Although some were involved in light collisions with other vehicles, no passenger injuries were reported.

As for what caused this bizarre simultaneous malfunction, Apollo Go described it as possibly a system failure, but no further explanation regarding the details of the incident was provided.

Preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that a system failure was the cause of the disruption, a press release reads.

Apparently, Apollo Gos robotaxis are controlled by a centralised management system, in addition to the onboard systems of each vehicle. That means that, if any kind of malfunction occurs in the centralised management system, it will affect not just one vehicle, but multiple vehicles that are in operation simultaneously.

Although the mysterious malfunction fortunately caused no injuries or serious accidents, it did raise some serious questions regarding the safety of unmanned robotaxis. An investigation in this case is still ongoing, but its unlikely that Baidu will release too many details to the public.
Smart glasses have been around for a while now, and though still far from a popular gadget, AI-powered versions have seen increasing adoption by young students in China who use them to boost their chances of acing exams.

A recent report by Rest of the World revealed that AI smart glasses with integrated large language models are all the rage among Chinese students looking to cheat their way through difficult exams. Equipped with cameras and audio features, powered by large language models, these glasses can scan texts and exam questions and provide answers in augmented reality, without anyone noticing.

Early versions of smart glasses looked bulky and cumbersome to wear, but modern eyewear from companies like Xiaomi and Alibaba has slick designs that are very hard to distinguish from conventional eyeglasses. Although AI smart glasses were banned from national college entrance exams and civil service exams, they are still being used during regular school exams, with surprising results.

In an experiment conducted by researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a student wearing smart glasses equipped with an AI model like ChatGPT 5.2 placed among the top five out of 100 students, with an average score of 92.5 out of 100. The average score among all students was 72.

With prices ranging from from $270 to more than $1,000, AI smart glasses are not worth the investment for students seeking to use them exclusively on exams. But thats where secondhand marketplace platforms like Xianyu come into play, offering dozens of rental options, with prices ranging from 40 yuan to 80 yuan ($6 to $12) a day, depending on the model.

Vivian, a university student in Hebei province, told Rest of the World that she uses her AI smart glasses to cheat on any subject she thinks she might fail, and also rents them out to other students in need. Using a small remote that looks like a ring, wearers can scan texts and questions and then feed them to AI models that display the answers on the lens, without anyone else noticing.
Melania Trump

The $40M Amazon documentary Melania obviously didnt cut it. It probably made things worse.

Desperate to get her popularity rating into positive territory, Melania Trump delivered an out-of-the-blue statement to reporters on April 9, saying she had no relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Donald Trump must have fumed. He launched a war partly to make the world forget about the Epstein files, and now his wife put the sexual predator front and center while he is desperately searching for off-ramps to end his Iranian crisis.

The First Lady claims her six-minute appearance was designed to clear her good name. Since Melania's popularity rating checks in at -12 percent, its going to take a lot more than a one-shot event to make that happen.

She blew off her Oct. 23, 2002 Dear GI email to Epsteins henchwoman, Ghislaine Maxwell, as casual correspondence, a trivial note.

In it, she complimented Maxwell on her photo that ran in New York Magazine and suggested that she should give her a phone call.

FLOTUS wrote: I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! She signed off: Love Melania. That sure sounds pretty chummy.

Melanias pitiful PR play seriously backfired. She called on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors, give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony.

Those Epstein survivors quickly shot down that idea as a distraction. Fifteen of them signed a statement, trashing Trump for shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

They also said Melanias photo-op diverts attention from Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors identities.

Epstein survivors believe they have already shown courage by coming forward, testifying and filing reports. "Now its time for those in power to do theirs, they wrote.

Instead of wasting everyone's time, Melania should whisper into the ear of her hubby, who has the power to deliver justice to the Epstein survivors.

That could get the First Ladys popularity back into the plus column. She enjoyed a three percent positive score in January 2025.

Remember the Antipopes Team Trump has denied reports that it tried to pressure Pope Leo into supporting its military adventures.

Thats good news.

The Pentagon was apparently upset to learn that peacenik Pope Leo said during his January State of the World address: War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading.

Its totally insane that a Pentagon chowderhead referred to Avignon in his January meeting with the Vaticans US ambassador Cardinal Christophe Pierre.

Thats like shouting Remember the Alamo in the streets of Mexico City

Seven antipopes presided in Avignon Palace from 1309 to 1376 because of a dispute between the French royals and Rome.

Where does Team Trump expect to base its antipope? Mar-a-Lago, which enjoys fine winter weather, probably has the inside track. It may lack grandeur of the Avignon Palace, but it will do in a pinch.

Pope Leo will soon score his own PR points. He declined a White House invite to attend July 4 festivities in Philadelphia.

On that day, he will be on the Italian island of Lampedusa, an entry point for migrants crossing the ghetto Mediterranean. Will Leos speech at Lampedusa, take aim at Team Trumps harsh anti-immigration policies? Stay tuned.
Mike Sitrick

Mike Sitrick has bought his firm Sitrick And Company back from RGP, the Dallas-based management consulting firm. He sold the strategic communications powerhouse for $43.4M in Oct. 2009.

Sitrick praised RGP for living up to its promise that he would have the ultimate responsibility for the strategy, direction, management and operation of his firm. "Their new management wanted to concentrate on their core business, offered to sell me back the business, and I agreed."

In a message to RGP team members, CEO Roger Carlile called S&C a strong business with a talented team and a distinct identity in the market. Returning it to its leadership is the right outcome for the business, for its clients, for RGP.

The deal is expected to close within 45 days.

Carlile noted that the S&C divestiture is part of a broader transformation to simplify RGPs structure. He will concentrate future investments in the services and client relationships where it delivers the greatest impact.

RGP posted a $24.5M nine-month loss on $345.9M revenues for the period ended Feb. 28.
One of the Midlands most recognisable business voices, Ronan Berry, has been appointed Managing Partner at OReilly Consulting Group (ORC), as SMEs across Ireland face increasing pressure from complex employment legislation and ongoing hiring challenges.

A native of Killeigh and now based in Tullamore, Berry is best known as the presenter of Taking Care of Business on Midlands 103, where he has spent more than eight years interviewing business leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs.

His appointment marks a return to ORC, where he previously worked in 2018, bringing a combination of frontline HR experience, strategic communications expertise and deep insight into the realities facing SME owners.

Berry said Irish SMEs are under growing strain as regulatory complexity increases, pointing to ongoing uncertainty around the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

Theres a real sense of confusion among business owners right now. Theyre trying to do the right thing, but the guidance isnt always clear and the timelines keep shifting. That creates risk and pressure, particularly for smaller organisations without in-house HR teams.

READ NEXT: Tullamore by-pass blocked as fuel protest protest escalates on third day

He also highlighted a sharp rise in demand for employment permits, with more than 31,000 issued last year, as businesses struggle to source talent locally.

Were seeing more SMEs look internationally to fill roles. That brings opportunity, but also complexity. Employers need clear, practical support, not generic advice.

ORC, part of the AllPro People Group founded by Offaly native David Gleeson, has recently expanded its services to include employment permits, responding directly to this demand.

READ NEXT: Offaly man plays leading role in fuel protest in Dublin's O'Connell St

Gleeson, originally from Blueball, said Berrys appointment reflects the companys focus on delivering high-quality, expert-led support to SMEs.

Ronan brings a rare combination of operational experience, strategic insight and communication expertise. He understands the pressures SME owners are under because hes worked alongside them and spoken to them every week for years.

ORC differentiates itself through a hands-on model, offering direct access to experienced HR professionals rather than call centres or scripted advice.

Berry will continue to present Taking Care of Business on Midlands 103 alongside his new role.

For more information, visit hrconsultants.ie
A number of Offaly councillors have voiced their opposition to a road upgrade which would cause an awful lot of trouble.

The potential upgrade of the R402, which runs from Edenderry to Tullamore, to a national road was discussed at the April meeting of the Edenderry Municipal District.

The Cathaoirleach, Fine Gael councillor Liam Quinn, raised the issue and asked what would be required for the upgrade to happen. He also outlined why he would oppose such an upgrade.

Cllr Quinn said: This was kind of discussed here previously and I didnt really fight it or make much of an issue on it because I didnt think it would go anywhere.

Can I ask the engineers what would be required for that because I dont think its something I would agree to.

READ NEXT: PICTURES: Veterans memorial held at Tullamore Courthouse in Easter Sunday Commemoration

My understanding of it is it creates an awful lot of trouble as regards getting planning permission.

If youre a local landowner, even if you live on the lane of a national road, its very difficult to get planning.

He continued by saying that Offaly County Council should look to prioritise the issues that exist on local roads across the district.

To be fair to everyone in the chamber at the minute, weve looked to meet the Department [of Transport] about our roads issues as is.

Weve an awful lot of work to do upgrading all of our third class roads and smaller roads and I dont want to put an awful lot of effort into something that number one, might not happen and number two, dilutes the work were trying to do to get funding for other roads that are terribly problematic in the area at the minute.

In response to Cllr Quinn, Executive Engineer Rory Moore outlined the challenges that would be faced in upgrading the road.

Mr Moore said: The one thing that would be directed to my mind is the provision of space to carry out such a scheme.

All the national roads that have been constructed, theres quite a wide carriageway plus a hard shoulder required to facilitate the construction of a national road.

If you look at here and Daingean and even further along to Tullamore, the amount of enabling works required to achieve that width, to construct or bring a road up to the classification of a national road would be extensive in terms of land take.

It would be very, very doubtful that the Department would consider that feasible in this day and age if you were to enter into agreements with all of the landowners along that route to assess and take the necessary amount of land to be able to develop that.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail councillor Claire Murray-Smale outlined why she had previously supported the upgrade of the road.

Cllr Murray-Smale said: Before the local elections I thought this was something that would ultimately improve things for our roads budget.

Maybe in my ignorance I thought that if we had a national route, that the money that we could get from that we could put into the smaller, regional routes and it could be an answer to a lot of problems that we have.

She continued by saying that after conversations with council engineers, she realised that that funding would not be able to be used on local roads.

She also described the required acquisition of lands, which could be used for residential houses, as counterproductive at best.

Cllr Murray-Smale continued: I suppose it could stop us from getting grants and funding that we can get to improve our local, rural towns and villages.

So I suppose Ive done a U-turn on it because it doesnt make financial sense and its not feasible at all.

It would be very counterproductive to what our roads budget is trying to do, she concluded.

These sentiments were also echoed by Independent Ireland councillor Fergus McDonnell, who said that the money should be used to maintain existing local roads.
Offaly band Chasing Abbey have announced the postponement of their upcoming Australian tour due to uncertainty over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The award-winning music act were set to perform four shows across Australia between April 17-25 including gigs in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.

The Tullamore trio put out a statement on social media confirming the news which was captioned: "This was such a hard decision to make and we are so so sorry, hopefully peace prevails soon take care and see you soon ".

Their accompanying statement read: "Australia, Due to the ongoing uncertainty following the conflict in the Middle East along with rising travel costs, we regretfully announce the postponement of our upcoming Australian tour."

It continued: "This decision was not taken lightly, we had really been looking forward to returning to Australia and seeing you all again, but ongoing uncertainty and rising costs have mad the tour not viable at this time."

They concluded their statement by confirming: "All dates will be rescheduled for later this year and will be announced soon. All tickets remain valid, and refunds are available at point of sale for those unable to attend the new dates. Gra Mor!

READ MORE: Tullamore broadcaster appointed Managing Partner at HR firm as SME pressures mount

The 2026 Australian tour was set to be another memorable outing for the Irish band who have earned a reputation for electrifying high-energy live performances as they combine electronic production with influences from traditional Irish music.

Many fans reacted to the news on social media including the large contingent of Irish people living down under.

One user commented: "Right decision. I was so looking forward to it. Aussies travel in huge numbers to Ireland. We leave Ireland but Ireland never leaves us. Stay safe and keep writing songs."

Another person wrote: "Oh no, I was so looking forward to seeing you- I was coming to Melbourne especially. Completely understand your decision, you have to stay safe and look after yourselves and your loved ones."

A final user said: "Totally gutted to not seeing you in Perth, you were going to be the last gig I see here before I head home to Ireland, However, totally understand the cost for getting here and internal flights are now off the scale. Wishing you all well, Keep safe and very much look forward to catching you at home."

It's been an eventful week for Chasing Abbey as not only have they had to cancel their Australian tour but they have also released a new single in support of the ongoing fuel protests which have been taking place all over Ireland recently.

Upon the release of their new song, the band illustrated their support for the protestors by posting: "We stand with the protests and deeply oppose the governments response to them. These people deserve immediate assistance to ensure their livelihoods are not lost."

They added: "At the same time, its important to remember a major root cause of the issue at hand, and that is warmongering, violent countrys waging war across the Middle East. We can all stand up for what is right together."

A video of the new music can be viewed below:
A PEACEFUL fuel protest was held in Cloghan today (Thursday the 9th) with just one side of the road blocked by traffic, allowing ease of passage for all road users and contradicting the sometimes false narratives that in other parts of the country the protests were sometimes impeding the emergency services going about their important jobs.

In Cloghan there was only the very slightest hold up for commuters. Many passers by honked their horns in support of the

protest and some shouted encouragement from their vehicles.

The protest lined the Shannonbridge road, main street and the main Athlone road into the busy village.

Locals taking part in the all day protest, starting from 7 in the morning, told The Midland Tribune they would be there for as long as it would take to solve the acute problem of very high oil prices which, they said, could very well put them out of business.

The Midland Tribune saw that the traffic flowed easily through the village during the protest. Some protesters were even helping traffic to get through, including an ambulance which arrived and drove easily through, with no difficulty.

There was great goodwill from the local business people and they provided the protesters with sandwiches, hot food and tea.

Ferbane man Niall Moore (pictured below; photo by Rose Mannion) even brought along his fold up bed, in preparation for staying for the long haul.

READ NEXT: Fuel protesters block Birr Road all day Wednesday
Binder promoted to Yuit Communications president

Binder has been promoted to president of Yuit Communications, where he will lead the agency's strategy, operations, and continued growth.

Born in Anchorage and raised in a military family, Ryan returned to Alaska during high school. He studied in San Diego and graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Ryan began his career in political organizing and strategic communications, building a strong foundation in messaging, audience engagement, and data-driven decision-making. He later transitioned into advertising, where he has spent his career developing and leading high-performing media programs.

Since joining Yuit Communications, Ryan has played a key role in advancing the agency's advertising capabilities, helping scale its paid media practice and strengthen a more integrated, data-driven approach to marketing. His work has supported organizations across Alaska, national, and international markets, spanning industries including telecommunications, healthcare, and Alaska Native corporations.

In his new role as president, Ryan will focus on strengthening client partnerships, modernizing the agency's operations, and continuing to build Yuit's leadership in measurement, analytics, and AI-driven marketing. His approach centers on helping organizations better connect marketing investment to real business outcomes.

Yuit Communications is a full-service advertising agency based in Anchorage, Alaska, specializing in strategic marketing, creative development, and performance-driven advertising.

The agency works with organizations across Alaska, the Lower 48 and international markets, including more than half of Alaska Native corporations. Yuit serves clients in industries such as telecommunications, healthcare, tourism, energy and government.

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March monthly international rig count 1,058, down 54 from February and down 37 from March 2025; land rigs down 44, offshore down 10

Judy Patrick

Baker Hughes' U.S. rotary drilling rig count was 548 on April 2, up by five from the previous week and down 42 from 590 a year ago. The domestic rig count has ranged from the 530s through the 550s since the beginning of June.

For 2025, the count peaked in February and again in March at 593, hitting its low point in August at 526. For 2024, the count peaked in March at 629, hitting its low point in June at 581. In 2023 the count peaked in January at 775, bottoming out in November at 616.

A drop of 17 to 731 in May 2023 was the steepest weekly drop since June of 2020, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the count also dropped by 17 to 284 in June, following drops as steep as 73 rigs in one week in April. The count continued down to 251 at the end of July 2020, reaching an all-time low of 244 in mid-August 2020.

When the count dropped to 244 in mid-August 2020, it was the lowest the domestic rotary rig count had been since the Houston based oilfield services company began issuing weekly U.S. numbers in 1944.

Prior to 2020, the low was 404 rigs in May 2016. The count peaked at 4,530 in 1981.

The count was in the low 790s at the beginning of 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, where it remained through mid-March of that year when it began to fall, dropping below what had been the historic low in early May with a count of 374 and continuing to drop through the third week of August 2020 when it gained back 10 rigs.

The April 2 count includes 411 rigs targeting oil, up by two from the previous week and down 70 from 481 a year ago, with 130 rigs targeting natural gas, up by three from the previous week and up 26 from 104 a year ago, and seven miscellaneous rigs, unchanged from the previous week and up by two from a year ago.

Forty-five of the rigs reported April 2 were drilling directional wells, down two from the previous week; 485 were drilling horizontal wells, down two; and 16 were drilling vertical wells, up by four from the previous week.

Alaska rig count unchanged

Texas (233) was up two rigs from the previous week, while Louisiana (40), New Mexico (103), Utah (14) and Wyoming (16) were each up by a single rig.

North Dakota (27) was down one rig week-over-week.

Rig counts in other states were unchanged from the previous week: Alaska (11), California (7), Colorado (11), Ohio (11), Oklahoma (44), Pennsylvania (18) and West Virginia (8).

Baker Hughes shows Alaska with 11 rotary rigs active April 2, unchanged from the previous week and up by one from a year ago when the state's count was 10.

The rig count in the Permian, the most active basin in the country, was up by one from the previous week at 242 and down by 52 from 294 a year ago.

International rig count down 54 in March

Baker Hughes' monthly international rig count for March, issued April 2, was 1,058, down by 54 from February and down 37 from a count of 1,095 in March 2025, with land rigs down 44 to 839, month over month, and offshore rigs down 10 to 229.

Baker Hughes began providing a monthly international rig count in 1975. The international count excludes North America, which is included in the company's worldwide figures.

The Middle East accounted for the most rigs in the international totals for March, 500, followed by Asia Pacific with 190, Latin America with 143, Europe with 124 and Africa with 101.

The U.S. rig count averaged 550 in March, down by one from 551 in February and down 43 from March 2025, while the Canadian count for March averaged 183, down 39 from 222 in February and down 11 from March 2025.

Worldwide the rig count averaged 1,791 in March, down 94 from 1,885 in February and down 91 from 1,881 in March 2025.
The U.S. Department of the Interior said April 3 that it is combining functions of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement into the Marine Minerals Administration.

The department said the "action is intended to improve coordination and increase efficiencies across offshore leasing, permitting, inspections and environmental oversight, while maintaining all existing regulatory protections and rigorous safety standards.

"This is about building an agency that reflects where we are today and where we need to go," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "The Department is applying what we've learned over the past decade to deliver clearer coordination, better service to the public and stronger, more integrated oversight of offshore energy development."

The department said it is reunifying BOEM and BSSE, with the new agency, MMA, overseeing development of the nation's offshore energy and marine mineral services.

The department said for aims for the consolidation are: improving coordination and consistency; reducing duplication of efforts; strengthening oversight and environmental safeguards; and modernizing organizational structure.

The transition will be phased beginning with internal alignment activities. There will be no regulatory rollbacks: existing requirements remain in full effect, the department said. A new website and branding with the Marine Minerals Administration's full digital presence will be launched in the coming months.

Bureau created in 2010

The bureaus were created in 2010, splitting up the former Minerals Management Service following the Deepwater Horizon blowout and explosion which killed 11 crew members and created a marine disaster when the well the rig was drilling flowed unchecked.

The Obama administration split MMS into BOEM and BSSE, a move then-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said would establish "a separate and independent safety and environmental entity" within the agency, separating the development, policing and revenue functions of MMS, which was established in 1983.

The ultimate split separated the agency's royalty collecting branch into the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
Chugach Electric talks to House Energy about four potential Southcentral sites

Chugach Electric Association

During a March 31 meeting of the House Energy Committee officials from Anchorage based Chugach Electric Association told legislators that the utility has identified four Southcentral Alaska sites for the potential development of hydroelectric power stations. The sites are at Canyon Creek on the Kenai Peninsula, north of Cooper Landing; Godwin Creek near the Fourth of July area of Seward; Caribou Creek, north of the Glenn Highway to the east of the Matanuska Glacier; and Boulder Creek, north of the Glenn Highway near Chickaloon.

Moving into feasibility study

Dustin Highers, Chugach Electric vice president of corporate programs, emphasized that at this point the utility is moving into a feasibility study phase for the potential projects and has not yet made any decisions about developing any of the projects. The feasibility study will include an assessment of factors such as who the projects would impact and what the level of impact would be, Highers said. And hydroelectric projects typically involve high up-front costs that are recovered over long time periods.

Highers said that Chugach Electric is really, really in the first stages of this effort.

The potential facilities

The Canyon Creek facility, located on U.S. National Forest Service land, would be a run of river system with a capacity of about 6 megawatts and an estimated construction cost in the range of $14 million to $58 million. A small rock-fill embankment dam would direct the water flow through a propellor style water turbine generation system.

The Godwin Creek system, on the other hand, would involve a water reservoir in a basin formed as a result of a retreating glacier. The project would involve the construction of two dams. It would have a capacity of about 16 megawatts using two conventional hydropower turbines. The project would impact federal, state and City of Seward land. Cost is estimated in the range of $50 million to $199 million.

The Caribou Creek system would have a capacity of about 18 megawatts. It would consist of a large hydroelectric dam feeding water into a powerhouse with two turbines. This project would impact Cook Inlet Region Inc. and state land. The estimated cost is in the range of $70 million to $281 million.

The Boulder Creek system would involve a dam and reservoir north of the Glenn Highway, delivering water through a tunnel to a powerhouse about a mile northeast of Chickaloon. Two turbines would deliver a total capacity of 8.5 megawatts. Boulder Creek has an estimated cost of $118 million to $472 million.

The value of hydroelectric systems

Arthur Miller, Chugach Electric chief executive officer, told the committee that the utilitys interest in hydroelectric projects comes as part of a strategy to strengthen the utilitys generation portfolio, while also diversifying that portfolio as a means of achieving generation strength for the long term.

It also  helps us meet our long term decarbonization goals, Miller added.

Overall, Chugach Electric has a strategic objective of reducing its carbon intensity by at least 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

Currently Chugach Electric relies on natural gas for about 80% of its power generation with renewable energy sources accounting for the remaining 20%. This year the utilitys hydropower, the lowest cost power source, accounted for most of that 20% of renewable, Miller said. The hydropower comes from Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project, the Cooper Lake Hydroelectric Project and the Eklutna Project. Bradley Lake is owned by the Alaska Energy Authority; Cooper Lake is owned and operated by Chugach Electric; and the Eklutna project is jointly owned by Chugach Electric, Matanuska Electric Association and the Municipality of Anchorage.

Given the benefits that Chugach Electric has obtained from these existing hydroelectric systems, including stable pricing, the ability to use the systems for regulating intermittent renewables, and the ability to use hydropower to dispatch additional generation when necessary, the utility absolutely embraces hydroelectric projects, Miller said.

Chugach Electric has also improved its power generation efficiency through the construction of the gas fueled Southcentral Power Project in Anchorage and the acquisition of the modern Plant 2A gas fueled plant in Anchorage through the acquisition of Municipal Light & Power, Miller commented. The utility has also installed some solar power generation at its power plants and has implemented a community solar project, he added. Chugach Electric obtains some of its electricity supplies from the Fire Island Wind Farm.

Chugach Electric is also seeing the benefits of operating an economic dispatch arrangement with Matanuska Electric Association and sharing a battery energy storage system with that utility, Miller said.

Started with 158 potential sites

Highers said that, in identifying potential new hydroelectric projects, Chugach Electric had begun with around 158 potential project sites. The utilitys project team then narrowed down the list, using a variety of criteria including location, the distance from the nearest road and the distance from the nearest transmission line. Another evaluation factor was the potential cost of building a facility at a specific site  there is a cost per kilowatt hour of power generation, above which a power generation facility would not be economically feasible.

Another significant concern is the potential impact of a power generation plant on fish habitat and fisheries.

We know this is a huge issue for hydro and hydro development, Highers said, commenting that the utility was looking for sites where a dam would not be placed at a location where fish live.

Another major consideration was potential impacts on local tribes and the wilderness areas and water bodies that they depend on.

Ultimately, the project team knocked down the initial 158 possibilities to the four that now are being evaluated, one run of river system and three water storage systems, Highers said.

At this point Chugach Electric has applied for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission preliminary permits and Alaska Department of Natural Resources water right permits for the four projects. And the utility has begun the processes for stakeholder consultation and site characterization. Work has not yet started on preliminary designs for the facilities, nor on preparing pre-feasibility reports.

According to a chart presented by Chugach Electric, construction might start in 2033.
Poker Pro Who Claimed to Have Been Kidnapped Sentenced to Prison

Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Michigan poker player George Janssen was sentenced on Friday to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud, PokerNews has learned from the United States Attorneys Office.

Janssen, a four-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner, MSPT champion and former car dealer, pleaded guilty in August 2025 after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) charged him with one count of financial institution fraud over an auto loan scheme where he defrauded several credit unions out of nearly $4 million.

On Friday, Judge David M. Lawson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan sentenced Janssen to 36 months in prison and an additional three years of supervised release, a US Attorney's Office spokesperson told PokerNews on Friday afternoon. He was further ordered to pay $908,235 in restitution to multiple victims.

Sentencing Follows Kidnapping Story, FBI Investigation

Janssen's sentencing marks the conclusion of a story that gained international attention and began with the poker player being found bloodied and zip-tied on the side of a rural Michigan road in December 2023.

George Janssen's vehicle found abandoned in November 2023

George Janssen's vehicle that was found by a family member

Janssen, who has $505,291 in Hendon Mob earnings, claimed to have been kidnapped in November 2023 and held ransom in a basement by gang members as part of an extortion scheme. He alleged he was initially approached by the gang members while he was leaving a poker tournament in Detroit, according to police records obtained by PokerNews.

A letter believed to be written by George Janssen

The initial investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office into the Fargo-like tale also produced what was supposedly a coded ransom letter spelling out the word "kidnap" and photos of Janssen's vehicle left abandoned and cryptically scattered with $50 bills.

George Janssen's vehicle that was found by a family member

Apparently, it was all an elaborate story Janssen made up to evade his money troubles, though he was never charged with falsely reporting a crime and the FBI and DOJ have not explicitly made such an accusation.

The FBI filed a criminal complaint against Janssen in February 2025, alleging that he "knowingly executed a scheme or artifact (sic) to defraud to obtain money, funds or other property" owned by nearly two dozen financial institutions."

According to the complaint, Janssen, a used car dealer, along with associates, none of whom faced criminal charges, had cashed more than $3.93 million in fraudulent auto loan checks from various banks and credit unions.

In the weeks before he went missing, prosecutors say Janssen lost his license to sell cars in Michigan for a five-year period and allegedly deposited $1.4 million in bad checks.

The financial institutions George Janssen admitted to defrauding

While he was missing, the FBI and other agencies were notified of "several loans which had gone unpaid" taken out by close associates of Janssen. The FBI said multiple friends of Janssen approached law enforcement "to clear their name and express concern they had been defrauded by Janssen, who convinced them to take out multiple vehicle loans."

The DOJ formally charged Janssen with one count of financial institution fraud, a felony, in July, and he pleaded guilty a month later.

Janssen's attorney Keith E. Corbett said in an April court filing that the fraudulent auto loan scheme could be traced back to financial hardship that Janssen's car dealership experienced during the Coronavirus pandemic.

"As the economy slowed down George was faced with significant challenges in his business," Corbett wrote. "These problems cause(d) him to engage in the activities that resulted in the charges in this case. It was always George's intention to pay the money back and ensure no one suffered financial harm."

Paying for His Crime by Playing Poker

Poker tournaments have been Janssen's primary source of income since his 2025 arrest, according to court documents.

"He has been quite open with the probation department about his efforts to earn an income from playing poker," his attorney wrote. "He has provided records which make it clear that he can earn a living playing poker."

A court filing referencing George Janssen's poker playing

Ahead of sentencing, Janssen asked the court for a lighter sentence of 24 months, half the minimum sentencing guidline of 51 months, so he could spent time with his family and make headway on his nearly seven-figure restitution by playing poker.

"It is Mr. Janssen's intention to pay restitution to all affected parties with the proceeds of his poker winnings," his attorney, Keith E. Corbett of Barone Defense Firm, said in a recent court filing.

"After his release from federal custody, he will be able to pursue playing a larger venue which will allow him to earn more money than he can at local venues ... Spending four years in prison will help nobody."

George Janssen won a poker tournament amid sentencing for financial crime

Just weeks after pleading guilty, took down an event at Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek in Michigan for $18,556.

This year, he has won a $200 buy-in bounty tournament at Michigan's Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort for $2,553 and finished third in a $300 buy-in event at the same venue for $4,323.

Share this article

Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for three Global Poker Awards for his writing. Follow on

In this Series
No Charges Yet But Authorities Still Plan to Keep $2,000,000 Seized from The Lodge

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link

In the 955th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow for a special episode devoted to the latest update in The Lodge saga.

The popular poker room near Austin, Texas, was raided back on March 10, and authorities had a 30-day window, until April 9, to file for civil asset forfeiture. Despite not yet filing any criminal charges, authorities did file a document with the 480th Judicial District Court in Williamson County that explained why the state is holding on to over $2 million in assets despite no criminal charges being filed.

The future of The Lodge Card Club is uncertain now that the state can hold onto the money. But Thursdays outcome doesnt mean this is the end for the major poker club, nor does it ensure criminal charges will never be filed. The nine-page court document indicates the state is no longer pursuing money laundering allegations against the Texas card room and instead is focusing on the alleged illegal gambling aspect.

What does this mean for the future of poker in Texas? There may be some clues in the court documents, which the crew explores in full.

Find out all about those stories and more in the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Oh, and be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

PokerNews Podcast drops every day this week at approximately 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to A newdrops every day this week at approximately 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!

Time Stamps

Time Topic 00:00 Welcome to the show 00:42 Authorities file before deadline 03:00 Focus on illegal gambling; money laundering dropped 05:30 The Texas poker model under fire? 12:00 Raking tournaments? 15:30 Isnt Texas supposed to be land of the free? 19:00 Where did the money come from? 21:27 Could a settlement be in store? 23:17 What are economic benefits?

Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show  tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway on X.

Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! You can also find us on Spotify as well as our new page on SoundCloud!

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Chinese authorities stress regulation on competition order in power, battery energy storage sector

Xinhua) 08:57, April 10, 2026

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Four Chinese authorities on Thursday convened a meeting with enterprises in the power and battery energy storage sector, to better regulate competition and promote orderly industry development.

The meeting, jointly held by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration, underscored the importance and urgency of addressing involution-style competition in the sector.

It called on companies to firmly resist unreasonable and unfair competitive practices and safeguard a healthy and orderly market environment.

The meeting also stressed stronger product quality oversight, intensified efforts to combat intellectual property infringement, and measures to address the spillover of excessive competition into overseas markets.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Teri Errico Griffis is the senior business reporter and assistant editor at The Post and Courier, focusing on retail and real estate. An award-winning journalist, she previously worked as a Southeast commerce reporter for the Journal of Commerce and a reporter for the Charleston Regional Business Journal where she covered all facets of business in the Charleston region. Raised in Connecticut and New York, she has called South Carolina home since 2012.
Greenville, SC (29601)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low near 60F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low near 60F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Actor and activist Yomi Fabiyi has alleged that his colleague, comic actor Olanrewaju Baba Ijesha James, betrayed him after he was released from prison.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Fabiyi led protests and produced a controversial film, Oko Iyabo, among other things, in an attempt to prove the innocence of Baba Ijesha in the case of sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl.

This newspaper reported that in November 2025, he regained his freedom, three years after an Ikeja Special Offences Court convicted and sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment in July 2022.

Since his release, Baba Ijesha has granted interviews and released a song, Eniwaye Daran, to prove his innocence in the case that led him to prison.

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Betrayal

However, in a viral video obtained by this newspaper on Wednesday, Mr Fabiyi, who had defended Baba Ijesha since his release, expressed betrayal by Baba Ijesha.

He said: It was God who decided that Baba Ijesha would go through what he went through, because he thought he had arrived and was released from prison and that someone had laid down his life for him.

I laid down my life, carried the cross and dropped everything I had built for myself to save him from life imprisonment. I do good to people, yet they repay me with evil, and God continues to reward me in His own way.

Baba Ijesha went behind me to tell a man to threaten me so I would not say anything about his case after telling him the steps I was taking. The man then sent me a voice note. He knew what I went through to secure his release. Anyway, he knew what I told him back. I have not heard that in my entire life. I know the stress I went through before we had an appeal on Baba Ijeshas case.

Evil

Additionally, Mr Fabiyi maintained that Baba Ijesha did him evil, noting that no one does evil without receiving it in return.

He stated that despite Baba Ijesha and others who had repaid him with evil, he would continue to do good to people and tell the truth.

When he released his song, he thought he wanted to mock me and started mentioning peoples names, but did not mention mine. Sometimes we should pray not to fight on behalf of someone God is punishing. If God removes someone from a battle and sees that the person did not learn, He will send him back into the battle.

I almost lost everything when I was fighting for Baba Ijesha, and some people still looked at me in a bad way, as if I supported a paedophile. I was embarrassed by a lady at the American Embassy because of Baba Ijesha. I was a custodian of human rights. I have not seen a celebrity who fights against rape like me, said the actor.

Backstory

This newspaper reported that upon Baba Ijeshas release, the Lagos State Government listed his name on the sex offenders register.

The state government also clarified that he was not exonerated of his sexual assault offences.

The clarification was in response to Mr Fabiyis claim that Baba Ijesha was exonerated of his offences.

The government urged residents and media platforms to disregard such claims.

The government cautioned Mr Fabiyi and other platforms that promoted the reports to desist from circulating false claims regarding the case.
Nigerian actress and producer Bolaji Ogunmola has apologised to her fans, particularly those of Yoruba origin, over scenes in her film Imperfect Match that contained derogatory remarks about Yoruba women.

Released on 13 March 2024, the film, which featured IK Ogbonna, Charles Born, and others, sparked controversy after scenes in which Ogbonna made offensive comments about Yoruba people and their food culture went viral.

In one of the scenes, he (Ogbonna) entered the kitchen, met Ogunmolas character preparing ewedu soup, and remarked that it smelled like a soak-away.

In another scene, he told her, Yoruba girl, you people are very dirty. Are you not seeing my house? Everywhere is clean. Now that you have entered here, I will be seeing tissue up and down, your pants will be hanging on the staircase, that bra that is like cotton, I will come and see it in my parlour.

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The scenes went viral and sparked outrage on social media, with users accusing the film of promoting harmful tribal stereotypes.

Some individuals called for her cancellation, the removal of the film from YouTube, and other appropriate sanctions.

This, they said, was for portraying the Yoruba tribe disparagingly and unacceptably.

No stereotypes

However, the 33-year-old, in a statement posted on her X page on Thursday, stated that the film was made as a comedy depicting two tribes.

She added that it portrayed a series of disagreements and conflicts before a resolution rooted in love.

The actress said: The insult and threat to life and livelihood I have experienced (DMs saying all sorts of threats to take my YouTube page, even as far as wishing my parents death and ending my career) in the last 3 days has been extremely disturbing. We never intended, 3 years ago, to make a film that would stereotype any tribe that was fictionalised.

We truly and genuinely just wanted to make a film people will love and know that we can co-exist as a united nation. I was subtly trying to explain why I couldnt do anything at the time, or why I insisted on a different direction, because I was honestly an actor on set in this scene, even though I produced it. On set, my director has the final say, thats why in films its a film by the named director, not the producer, not the actor.

Ignorance time

Furthermore, she stated that she would not have portrayed Yoruba culture in such a manner, noting that she is a Yoruba woman born in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

According to her, at the time the film was released, neither she, the scriptwriter, nor anyone else was aware that it could promote harmful tribal stereotypes.

I am not a script writer, I didnt write that script, nor did we actively include the phrase to disrespect or ascribe a tribe that I am extremely proud to belong to. I am Yoruba, omo Ibadan ponbele ni mi.

To my people and lovers of my work. I am not a disrespectful person, nor would I knowingly agree to a stereotypical agenda. Never. I also dont like trouble or drama. Thats why I would rather leave the room. Again, this is duly noted, and we truly apologise, and as the producer, I take full responsibility, said Bolaji.

This is not the first time netizens have called out Bolaji over a film she has produced or featured in.

In November 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that she faced backlash over a kissing scene with Daniel Etim-Effiong in Summer Rain.

Etim-Effiong played Adimchi Amadi, while Bolaji portrayed Murewa.
Young Nigerian filmmakers took centre stage as winners emerged at the prize-giving ceremony of the iREPEcobank Smartphone Filmmaking Workshop and Competition, held at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre in Lagos on Thursday.

The event, which followed the 15th edition of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival, celebrated creativity, storytelling, and the growing influence of mobile filmmaking among emerging talents.

Executive Director Femi Odugbemi announced that three outstanding entries were recognised from a shortlist of 10 films, selected from over 120 participants and 37 submissions.

Their short film, a smartphone task, was to spotlight Africas growing arts through the lens of Ecobank.

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The top prize of 1 million was awarded to Lady Hephzibah and Dera Chuks for their film Long Lived.

Imoh David secured second place with More Than a Bank, earning 750,000, while Ikeme Ucheckukwu Sixtus came third with Threads of Identity, The African Truth, winning 500,000.

Reacting to their win, the first-prize winners expressed their appreciation to the organisers and sponsors.

We are deeply grateful for giving us the platform to showcase our talent and the impact of our training. This opportunity means so much to us, not just for the exposure, but for the belief in what we are building.

Winning the 1 million prize is a huge milestone, and we do not take it for granted. Its a reminder that passion, preparation, and purpose truly align when opportunity meets readiness.

Creating this short film together was a powerful experience, and this win reflects the strength of our partnership.

Collaboration is powerful because it turns individual ideas into a shared vision, and shared visions always go further, the duo said.

Passion is the key to filmmaking

Renowned filmmaker and Head of Faculty for the workshop, Tunde Kelani, charged participants and winners to embrace their roles as storytellers and agents of change.

Today, you are all here to change the world, he said.

Congratulating them on completing the programme, Kelani added, Congratulations to all of you, for not just dancing, but completing your own process so congratulations.

He stressed that while the training had equipped them with the tools to begin their careers, passion remains essential.

You have realised, you have received everything you have to start with. But one important thing is your passion. The people that you see, and the ones that are with you, are going to be the rock in terms of the foundation for your progressive life.

You can have the best equipment, you can have everything, but never forget that you need to develop passion. Passion will help you Keep your imagination. You keep going, from one step, you discover something else. And I believe that, if you stay committed that is better for you. So, I wish you well. Thank you very much, he said.

Projecting culture

Speaking at the ceremony, the Head of SMEs, Partnerships and Collaboration at Ecobank, Omoboye Odu, emphasised the banks commitment to supporting creatives, particularly during Womens Month.

Its Womens Month, and this represents a lot. I liked what you put together, and yes, youre very correct. Were intentional about projecting culture. Were intentional about projecting creatives into film, the arts, fashion, and music. So, you understood the message, you understood what everybody represents. Well done, well done, well done, she said.

She also encouraged greater female representation in the creative industry, adding, Theres another woman out there, we want to see her on the stage.

Also present at the event was the Head of Corporate Communications at Ecobank, Austen Osokpor, who congratulated the participants and commended the initiative for spotlighting African culture and the arts.

The smartphone filmmaking initiative, organised in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria, was designed to equip young creatives with practical skills in documentary storytelling using mobile devices, while promoting African identity and culture.

The iREP Documentary Film Festival, which was themed Transformation, was held from 18 to 22 March in Lagos.

Organised by the Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Films in Africa (FPDFA), it featured over 30 curated documentaries, screenings, panels, and industry events.

The festival attracted notable figures from Nigerias film industry.

More Pictures:
Three days into the ceasefire declared by the warring parties in the Middle East, the fragile truce appears to be holding, but for Israels continuous attacks on Lebanon.

On Wednesday, the first day of the ceasefire, there were isolated cases of drone and missile attacks in Arab countries with no deaths reported. Most of the attacks have since ended by Thursday.

However, Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Wednesday caused over 250 deaths, according to official figures.

Direct talks are expected to commence in Pakistan today, with US Vice President JD Vance leading the American team and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation.

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PREMIUM TIMES presents some major developments from the last 24 hours.

Trump says Iran doing very poor job on opening Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump on Thursday said Iran is doing a very poor job at allowing oil vessels to move through the Strait of Hormuz.

He also warned the country against imposing tolls on ships seeking to pass through the strategic waterway.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote, Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!

Iran says US cannot allow Israel violate ceasefire

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has said that it would be dumb for the US to allow Israel to jeopardise the regional ceasefire by its attacks on Lebanon.

Mr Araghchi attributed Israels continuous attack on Beirut to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus trial coming up Sunday, stating that he might have ulterior motives for continuing the war.

A region-wide ceasefire, including Lebanon, would hasten his jailing.

If the US wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice. We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it, Mr Araghchi wrote.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office had insisted that the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon.

But the statement contradicted Pakistans earlier comment that the agreement included a cessation of Israels campaign in Lebanon.

Pakistan issues visa on arrival for participants, journalists

Preparations have continued for Pakistan-mediated peace talks expected to begin in Islamabad this weekend.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, announced in a post on X that the country will issue visas on arrival to all delegates and journalists from participating nations visiting in relation to the Islamabad Talk 2026.

He said all airlines have been asked to permit boarding for such individuals without a visa.

He also stated that immigration authorities in Pakistan would issue the visas on arrival.

Pakistan welcomes all delegates, including journalists from participating nations, travelling in relation to the Islamabad Talks 2026.

To this end, all airlines are requested to permit boarding to all such individuals without a visa. Immigration authorities in Pakistan will issue them a Visa on Arrival, he said.

Arab economies contracted by 7 per cent

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said the economies of Gulf States will be contracted by 7 per cent due to the war.

Al Jazeera reports that UN officials had disclosed that Arab economies contracted by 7 per cent, with the Gulf being the most affected due to the war.

The body estimated last month that the states are likely to lose $194 billion due to the war.

An estimated rise in unemployment of up to 4 percentage points or 3.6 million jobs lost. This more than the total jobs created in the region in 2025, these reversals will push up to 4 million people into poverty, UNDP wrote in an analysis.

It also cautioned that even minor military escalation or unintended incidents in the Strait could quickly unsettle global energy markets and provoke sharp price fluctuations.

READ ALSO: Factors that contributed to Trump accepting ceasefire with Iran

IMF says two countries seek emergency funds

The International Monetary Fund has indicated that two countries have approached the institution for urgent financial support due to the economic and trade impacts of the war.

The current head of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, also stated that the organisation had examined two requests for emergency financing.

She, however, did not disclose the countries involved.

The IMF regularly provides financial assistance to nations facing debt difficulties, though its support programmes have sometimes been criticised for the conditions attached to them.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Israel to reverse an evacuation order affecting a densely populated area of Beirut, warning it could severely disrupt critical health services.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said the Israeli Defence Forces issued an evacuation order for Beiruts Jnah area, which includes two major referral hospitals  Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital.

Mr Ghebreyesus said both facilities are currently operating at full capacity and are treating patients injured during recent strikes.

He warned that the directive threatens critical health services.

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Evacuation and affected civilians

Mr Ghebreyesus noted that relocating patients from the affected hospitals would be extremely difficult due to a lack of alternative facilities.

At this time, no alternative medical facilities are available to receive approximately 450 patients from the two hospitals (including 40 patients in the ICU), rendering their evacuation operationally unfeasible, he said.

He added that the hospitals are already overwhelmed, including caring for victims of the 8 April strikes.

He also said the evacuation zone also includes key public health infrastructure and shelters housing thousands of civilians.

This zone also encompasses the mophleb complex, and hosts five shelters accommodating more than 5000 people, he said.

Reacting to the development, the WHO DG urged Israeli authorities to reconsider the directive.

I urge Israel to reverse this order and ensure the protection of all health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians, he said.

Escalating tensions in Lebanon

The evacuation order comes amid escalating hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah, which have intensified in recent months alongside broader regional tensions involving Iran.

The latest escalation marks one of the most severe rounds of fighting in Lebanon since the 2006 war, as cross-border violence expands and civilian risks increase.

Recently, the Israeli forces have carried out a series of coordinated airstrikes targeting what they described as Hezbollah positions, including sites in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and parts of Beirut.

The strikes have increasingly affected urban areas, raising concerns about the safety of civilians and the impact on critical infrastructure.

Hezbollah also responded with rocket and drone attacks into Israeli territory, escalating tensions and raising fears of further confrontation between both sides.

Reports indicate that the renewed violence has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with many residents forced to flee affected communities.

Linked to broader regional tensions

The conflict in Lebanon is closely tied to wider tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The regional crisis intensified in February following direct confrontations between Israel and Iran, which triggered a broader security situation across multiple countries.

Although diplomatic efforts, including a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, have sought to limit escalation, hostilities have persisted across different fronts.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that escalating conflict across the Middle East has displaced more than four million people and triggered widespread attacks on healthcare.

In its latest global situation report released on 9 April, the health agency warned that the crisis is deepening humanitarian needs across several countries, with health systems increasingly under pressure.

According to the report, Iran has recorded about 3.2 million displaced persons, while Lebanon has over 1.4 million (1,049,328) displaced people.

Casualty figures across affected countries also remain high. Iran reported 32,314 injuries and 2,362 deaths, while Lebanon documented 5,873 injuries and 1,739 deaths.

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Iraq recorded 300 injuries and 109 deaths, while Israel reported 7,183 injuries and 24 deaths.

The organisation noted that the figures remain estimates and may change due to evolving data.

Attacks on healthcare

The WHO said attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel have increased significantly across the region, particularly in Lebanon.

It confirmed 106 verified attacks on healthcare in Lebanon, resulting in 158 injuries and 57 deaths among health workers and patients. Iran recorded 23 of such attacks, while Israel reported six.

Attacks on health care have increased across the region, undermining health system functionality and violating international humanitarian law, the report stated.

In Lebanon, the attacks have affected hospitals, ambulances and health workers, with incidents occurring at an average of nearly three per day over the past five weeks.

It also reported that paramedics and emergency responders have been injured or killed while attending to casualties, sometimes during repeated strikes on the same locations.

Ceasefire, a limited relief

While a two-week ceasefire has provided some reprieve in Iran, the WHO said the pause does not address broader health challenges in the region and does not apply to Lebanon.

The organisation warned that humanitarian access and operational space remain critical challenges, particularly as airspace restrictions and rising transportation costs continue to affect the delivery of medical supplies.

Despite these constraints, it noted that there are currently no major shortages of medical supplies, with global production of key health commodities remaining stable.

Water, disease risks emerge

The report highlighted growing concerns over damage to critical infrastructure, particularly water systems.

The WHO said it is aware of four strikes on water desalination facilities in Iran, Bahrain and Kuwait, warning that disruptions could lead to water shortages, hospital shutdowns and outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

Several countries in the region depend on desalination for 70100 per cent of their drinking water, the organisation said.

It added that the main health threats include trauma injuries, disruption to care for chronic diseases, and the risk of disease outbreaks in overcrowded shelters.

It also warned of radiological, nuclear and industrial chemical risks, as well as worsening mental health conditions, with increased psychological distress and relapse of existing conditions amid limited access to care.

Damaged facilities

In Iran, the WHO reported that the Pasteur Institute, a major public health institution, was severely damaged on 2 April.

Strikes on power plants are also increasing the risk of disruption to essential health services, particularly for patients requiring dialysis and chemotherapy.

The WHO said Iran has indicated that its strategic reserves of medicines remain adequate, with imports of essential medicines continuing.

The organisation added that it is developing a comprehensive response plan while supporting the Ministry of Health through procurement, vaccine coordination with UNICEF, and plans to rehabilitate damaged health facilities.

Vulnerable populations at risk

In Lebanon, the WHO said vulnerable groups  including children, older persons, displaced persons and people with disabilities  are disproportionately affected, bearing the brunt of the crisis.

The organisation noted that about 10 to 12 per cent of internally displaced persons are currently living in collective shelters, where access to primary healthcare remains limited and uneven.

An estimated 75,000 to 100,000 people remain in southern Lebanon, scattered across small pockets in multiple districts, despite ongoing hostilities.

The agency said mobile clinics are operating across South and Nabatieh governorates, moving between villages and shelters, although their operations are constrained by security conditions and evacuation orders.

The report warned that overcrowded shelters and inadequate services are increasing the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, highlighting the need for strengthened disease surveillance and rapid response systems in shelter settings.

Emergency response under threat

The WHO said attacks on healthcare in Lebanon remain high, averaging approximately 2.9 incidents per day over the past 37 days.

The organisation reported that paramedics and civil defence personnel have been injured or killed while responding to emergencies, including incidents where responders were struck during repeated attacks on the same locations.

Ambulances and emergency responders continue to be exposed to both direct and indirect fire, it said, warning that such conditions are undermining rescue operations and leaving the injured with diminishing chances of survival.

Treatment support, disease prevention

The WHO said it continues to support Lebanons health system with assistance from the European Union, particularly in ensuring access to essential medicines.

The organisation noted that it is sustaining the supply of noncommunicable disease and mental health medicines through the primary healthcare network, while also covering the hospitalisation costs for trauma care of non-Lebanese patients.

To date, 44 patients have been supported across nine hospitals, the report stated.

The WHO added that, at the request of the Ministry of Public Health, it has developed educational materials for use in shelters, focusing on disease prevention, early detection, containment measures, and food safety.

Other areas of support include strengthening surveillance systems, supporting the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, and reinforcing health service delivery and supply chains.

Incidents compound crisis

In the occupied Palestinian territories, the WHO reported that a staff member working with its office in Gaza was killed on 6 April, prompting the suspension of medical evacuations through the Rafah crossing.

The organisation said the suspension will remain in place until further notice.

In Syria, the agency warned of indirect health threats, including injuries from falling debris and unexploded ordnance, alongside an ongoing measles outbreak in Hassakah in the northeast.

In Israel, the WHO said hospitals are treating a growing number of patients for traumatic stress following the escalation.

It added that the Ministry of Health also reported that four people were killed in a missile attack on Haifa on 7 April, with hospitals responding to multiple mass casualty incidents.

READ ALSO: WHO urges Israel to reverse evacuation order affecting hospitals in Beirut

Regional spillover

Beyond the immediate conflict zones, the WHO reported incidents including the killing of three people in a shooting near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, according to media reports.

Azerbaijan has also sent a third humanitarian aid convoy to Iran, including food, medicines, and medical supplies totaling 200 tonnes.

The organisation noted that cross-border population movements into neighbouring countries  including Turkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan  have remained steady, with no large-scale influx reported.

Response and funding gap

The WHO said it is coordinating regional response efforts, focusing on disease surveillance, emergency care, mental health support, and continuity of essential services.

It also emphasised the need for backup systems for health facilities, improved immunisation coverage, and strengthened early warning systems.

Engaging with communities, understanding their concerns and monitoring needs is important as the crisis evolves, the organisation said.

To support its response, the WHO said it has launched a $30 million funding appeal covering Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Jordan and Syria for the period between March and August.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of soldiers during a coordinated terrorist attack on a military formation in Benisheikh, Borno State, describing the fallen troops as unforgettable heroes.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked three military bases in Pulka, Mungono and Benisheikh where the commanding officer of 29 Task Force Brigade, Oseni Braimah, and other soldiers were reported killed on 9 April.

The Defence Headquarters confirmed the attack on Benisheikh, but said the midnight attack was repelled. Michael Onoja, defence spokesperson, explained that many soldiers were killed during the invasion. However, he was silent on the reported killing of Mr Braimah, a brigadier general.

In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday night, the president extended condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and the Nigerian Armed Forces, urging them to remain resolute despite the loss.

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Mr Tinubu commended the courage of the troops, noting that they fought gallantly to repel the insurgents and prevent them from overrunning nearby communities.

From the reports I have received, our armed forces have been conducting sustained, intense land and air offensives against the insurgents, neutralising many of their fighters and commanders. The insurgents counterattack is a sign of desperation, the president said.

He specifically paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, stating that their sacrifice in defence of the nation would not be forgotten.

The government will never forget their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will not be in vain. Because of the courage and dedication of our troops on the frontline, our resolve to defeat terrorism and all forms of violence across Nigeria is stronger than ever, he added.

While mourning the loss, Mr Tinubu urged military commanders and personnel across all theatres of operation not to be discouraged, but to remain steadfast in the fight against insurgency and banditry.

I urge the Military High Command and our troops do not lose heart, do not be weary, do not be discouraged. Our officers and men should continue to serve with honour, courage, and patriotism, he said, assuring that the government would continue to provide necessary equipment and prioritise troop welfare.

The president also called on Nigerians and the media to support the Armed Forces, cautioning against narratives that undermine ongoing military efforts.

These soldiers are our heroes; unforgettable and irreplaceable, he stated.

Mr Tinubu further extended his condolences to the government and people of Borno State, reaffirming the federal governments commitment to working with the state to achieve lasting peace and total victory over insurgency.
No fewer than 61 bodies of security operatives and civilians killed in Tuesdays bandit attack on Bagna and Erena communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been recovered.

Residents said the corpses were retrieved from surrounding bushes days after the abduction.

While the civilian victims have since been buried in Erena, the remains of the slain security personnel were deposited at the Minna General Hospital mortuary.

A resident of Erena, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the casualties included vigilantes and other security operatives, as well as civilians.

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However, police authorities reportedly confirmed only three vigilantes killed in the attack.

Among the victims was the vigilante commander, identified as Manga. He was said to have been rescued alive after sustaining gunshot wounds during a gun battle with the attackers but later died from his injuries.

Residents commended the efforts of security operatives who responded to the attack, noting that the assailants were eventually repelled.

However, they criticised the government for allegedly failing to act on prior intelligence that could have prevented the incident.

Meanwhile, tension has continued to mount in nearby communities.

On Thursday, residents of Bassa in Bassa/Kukkoki ward fled their homes following rumours of an impending bandit invasion.

Videos circulating on social media showed women and children scrambling to board canoes in search of safer locations.

The attack has displaced hundreds of residents, many of whom are now taking refuge at Zumba Central Primary School and other locations within Shiroro LGA.

READ ALSO: Terrorists blow up bridge in Niger State

A fleeing farmer, Rabiu Iliyasu, said residents abandoned their homes after noticing aerial bombardments around their community.

In the morning on Thursday, we started seeing planes bombing areas around us. The security operatives withdrew because they were not informed, to avoid accidental casualties. Once they left, we also fled because there was no protection, he said.

Another resident, Suleiman Abdullahi, said rumours of bandits gathering near Bassa prompted security forces to advise residents to either take cover or evacuate.

Residents noted that the area had enjoyed relative peace over the past year before the resurgence of attacks on Tuesday.
A former lawmaker and security consultant, Aliyu Gebi, has denied allegations that he supplied false intelligence to foreign embassies, saying his contributions have been twisted into something sinister and reaffirming his loyalty to Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Gebi was arrested by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) on 3 April and later granted bail. Sources with direct knowledge of the matter told the newspaper that he was taken into custody for allegedly providing what they described as false intelligence to foreign embassies.

According to our sources, the intelligence purportedly led some airlines to suspend or cancel flights to Nigeria. The sources also said Nigerian authorities subsequently engaged with embassies that received the information. However, they believed that the United States relied on the intelligence and issued an advisory, citing the worsening security situation.

At the time of publication, PREMIUM TIMES could not reach Mr Gebi for comment. His phone was switched off, and messages sent to him via SMS and WhatsApp were not delivered, raising suspicion that it may have been confiscated by the SSS.

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Gebi denies allegations

On Friday, Mr Gebi reached out to this newspaper by phone to clarify his position. He also shared a written rejoinder with our reporter.

The former lawmaker dismissed the allegations against him. He said he was not arrested but was only invited by the SSS to assist with an ongoing investigation.

He said his interaction with the SSS was voluntary and conducted in a cooperative manner.

I was not arrested. I was invited to aid an ongoing investigation, and I honoured that invitation, he said.

According to him, the agency requested access to his electronic devices, including his mobile phone, as part of its enquiries, and he complied fully.

In the rejoinder he also shared on his X handle, Mr Gebi stressed that he would never act against Nigerias interests or undermine its security institutions, describing himself as a committed patriot.

He suggested that the allegations against him being investigated by the SSS were twisted by his traducers.

First, let me make something clear: I can never speak ill of our heads of security agencies, my president, or my country, he stated. So, for anyone to twist my contributions into something sinister is deeply painful. But I am a patriot. And patriots take the good with the bad, on behalf of the nation they love.

He said he did not provide any intelligence that influenced foreign embassies to issue advisories against Nigeria.

Was it the so-called false intelligence about Abuja that made the United States issue a travel advisory covering 23 states? Let us be serious, he stated.

This newspaper reported that the US advised its citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria and also asked non-essential workers to leave the country. It subsequently shut its embassy in Abuja. It based its decision on the security situation in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has rejected the USs stance, urging Nigerias partners to ensure balanced, up-to-date reporting that reflects the progress being made toward securing Nigeria.

Providing context, Mr Gebi recalled that during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, he publicly defended Nigeria when the United States considered evacuating embassy personnel. He said his record demonstrates his consistent support for the country.

The record is there. I did not hide. I did not run, he said.

The former lawmaker acknowledged the efforts of Nigerias security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the SSS, and the military, noting that progress is being made in addressing insecurity.

He, however, raised broader questions about intelligence-sharing arrangements with foreign partners, suggesting that countries with established on-ground assets should already possess critical information.

The Americans are here with boots and intelligence assets. Do they truly need someone to tell them that something is going to happen? he asked.

If we have reached a point where we have to inform them of impending danger, then perhapswe need to reevaluate the relationship, based on the intelligence-sharing pact we have, he added.

Reaffirming his commitment to Nigeria, Mr Gebi said he would continue to defend the countrys integrity.

I love my country. I have bled for my country. And I will never stop defending it, he said.
Nigerias National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, and former minister Oby Ezekwesili are among the prominent figures expected to gather in Abuja for a symposium honouring veteran journalist, author, and rights activist, Chido Onumah, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

The event, themed Formation or Nation Building: Nigerias Troubled Quest for a Modern Federal Republic, will, on Friday, bring together some of the countrys most respected voices in democracy, media, and civil society to reflect on Nigerias political trajectory and celebrate one of its most committed public intellectuals.

Mr Ribadu will attend as Special Guest of Honour, while Mr Fayemi will chair the session.

The National Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Universities Alumni (ANUA), Yakubu Ochefu, will deliver the keynote address.

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The panel of discussants includes Ms Ezekwesili, Mr Falana, Samson Itodo, executive director of YIAGA Africa, and journalist Ebenezar Wikina.

MacArthur Foundations Amina Salihu will moderate the session.

PREMIUM TIMES Publisher Dapo Olorunyomi, a close associate of Mr Onumah, will serve as Chief Host while Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, co-host of Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, will anchor the event as Master of Ceremonies.

Who is Chido Onumah?

Mr Onumah brings to his 60th birthday a career spanning over three decades across journalism, rights activism, academia, and social mobilisation  work that has taken him across Nigeria, West Africa, North America, and Europe.

He currently coordinates the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) in Abuja, an organisation focused on whistleblowing and whistleblower protection through its accountability and good governance project, Corruption Anonymous (CORA). He also chairs the board of the Scotland-based Whistleblowing International Network (WIN).

Mr Onumah co-founded the Media & Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue Foundation (MILID Foundation), a not-for-profit organisation that advances media and information literacy through research, education, and civic participation. He additionally coordinates the Socialist Library and Archives (SOLAR), an initiative aimed at digitising and preserving socialist, radical, and progressive history, culture, and literature.

He is co-publisher of Ikengaonline, a specialised online newspaper launched in March 2022 to promote accountability, good governance, and investigative journalism in Nigerias South-east.

His earlier career took him to Ghana, where, from 1996 to 2000, he served as Associate Editor of The Insight, a radical and progressive newspaper in Accra. During the same period, he was Assistant Editor of African Agenda magazine  the journal of Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa) and coordinated the West African Human Rights Committee, while also serving as correspondent for the New York-based Africa Observer magazine.

From 2002 to 2004, Mr Onumah served as Director of Africa Programmes at the Panos Institute in Washington, D.C., supporting journalists across West Africa and the Caribbean in covering underreported issues, including HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation, and ethnic and religious conflict.

Between 2006 and 2008, he headed the civil society and crime prevention unit at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he developed a civil society anti-corruption agenda for Nigeria.

Mr Onumah holds a first degree in Philosophy from the University of Calabar, a masters degree in Journalism from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, and a doctorate in Communication and Journalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.

A Prolific Author

He is the author of several books, including Time to Reclaim Nigeria (2011), Nigeria is Negotiable (2013), We Are All Biafrans (2016 and 2018), The Politics of State Robbery (2018), Death of a Nation: Biafra and the Nigerian Question (2018), and Ndi Igbo, Leadership, Nationhood, the Nigerian Dilemma and Why We Are All Biafrans.

He has also edited numerous volumes, among them Edwin Madunagu at 75: Tributes and Reflections (2021); Misinformation Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Laws and Regulations to Media Literacy (with Peter Cunliffe-Jones, Assane Diagne, and others, 2021); Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices (2020); Testimony to Courage: Essays in Honour of Dapo Olorunyomi (with Frederick Adetiba, 2019); Making Your Voice Heard: A Media Toolkit for Children and Youth (2004); Anti-Corruption Advocacy Handbook (with Comfort Idika-Ogunye, 2006); Youth Media: A Guide to Literacy and Social Change (with Lewis Asubiojo, 2008); Understanding Nigeria and the New Imperialism (with Biodun Jeyifo, Bene Madunagu, and Kayode Komolafe, 2006); and Sentenced in Gods Name: The Untold Story of Nigerias Witch Children (with Lewis Asubiojo, 2011).

Awards and Recognition

His work has earned him multiple international honours, including the Jerry Rogers Writing Award from the University of Western Ontario, Canada (2002); the William C. Heine Fellowship for International Media Studies, also from the University of Western Ontario (2001); the Alfred W. Hamilton Scholarship from the Canadian Association of Black Journalists (2001); the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) Award for Excellence in Journalism in Nigeria (1999); and the Clement Mwale Prize for Courage in Journalism from Africa News Service in Kenya (1997).
Ikumapayi Adebanji, a Nigerian game developer, has called on the National Assembly to amend the countrys Cybercrimes Act by removing imprisonment penalties from certain provisions.

Mr Adebanyi the call on Thursday during a conversation with PREMIUM TIMES in Abuja.

The developer, who has worked with studios in the United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, said the law has been used to target, arrest, and prosecute activists for expressing dissenting opinions.

He argued that the Act appears to be an attempt to silence critics, urging lawmakers to review sections that prescribe jail terms and replace them with alternative penalties.

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Mr Adebanji, who was recently honoured by the National Assembly Nigerian Students (NANS) as an icon of youth development in recognition of his contributions to youth advancement in Nigeria.

The Cybercrimes Act appears to be too rigid. Although it is necessary, but (it) needs to be amended to remove imprisonment penalties on some of the sections. Take for instance, security agencies had used the law to prosecute critics for dissenting opinions, he said.

Mr Adebanjis call for amendment comes at a time when the Nigerian government and security agencies are using the Cybercrimes Act to silence critics. The law covers a wide range of digital crimes, including hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, financial fraud, and online terrorism.

Section 24 of the Act criminalises the sending of messages through computer systems that are grossly offensive, false, or cause annoyance, inconvenience, or insult to another person. The section carries penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment for up to three years.

Since its passage, section 24 has generated criticism from human rights groups, media organisations, and civil society organisations. Authorities, particularly police and state security agencies have used the law to arrest and prosecute journalists, activists, and online critics for expressing dissenting opinions or publishing investigative reports.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said at least 29 journalists and critics have been charged with the Act since it was enacted in May 2015.

Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and author was arrested, detained and charged based on the section after discussing judicial corruption in his book.

Addressing technological gaps

Mr Adebanji also highlighted structural challenges in Nigerias tech ecosystem, particularly the lack of access to basic tools for young people.

He noted that he contributes a portion of his salary monthly to support young people in acquiring essential tools.

From my experience, the answer begins with access and example. Talent is everywhere in Nigeria, but access is not. Many aspiring developers lack the basic tools needed to begin their journey  something as fundamental as a laptop can be the difference between potential and progress.

Recognising this, I have made it a personal commitment to contribute a portion of my salary every month toward helping young people acquire the tools they need to start learning and building in tech.

It is a small but deliberate effort to bridge the gap between ambition and opportunity. Each laptop placed in the hands of a motivated individual represents more than hardware; it represents a shift in direction, a chance to choose creation over exploitation, he said.

He, however, stressed that individual efforts are insufficient, calling on more tech professionals to support the next generation through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and community building.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Tinubu over what he described as a troubling pattern of absentee leadership that raises serious questions about his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him by the Nigerian people.

The criticism, delivered in a press statement signed on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, aenior special assistant on public communication to Atiku, comes amid widespread concern about the presidents conduct in recent public engagements, which many observers say reflects a troubling detachment from the weighty obligations of governance.

The statement singled out Mr Tinubus recent stopover in Jos, Plateau State, following a devastating terrorist attack, as emblematic of his disengaged style of leadership.

Mr Shaibu further stressed that it was troubling and unacceptable that Mr Tinubu, after embarking on a two-day working visit to Lagos, failed to make meaningful appearances at several scheduled public events.

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The visit to Jos

Plateau State has in recent months witnessed recurring communal violence and attacks by armed groups, prompting national outrage and calls for stronger federal intervention. The presidents visit was widely anticipated as an opportunity to reassure affected communities and demonstrate leadership presence.

Instead, opposition figures say the brevity of the trip reinforced concerns about a detached presidency at a time of deepening insecurity.

Official reports indicate that the president spent barely 10 minutes at the Jos Airport before departing for Lagos, a gesture widely perceived as perfunctory and dismissive of the gravity of the tragedy.

The brief visit, many argue, failed to provide the reassurance or leadership expected of a sitting president in the aftermath of such incidents, leaving communities affected by the attacks feeling overlooked and abandoned.

This perfunctory stop in Jos, followed by near-invisibility in Lagos, reflects a troubling pattern of detachment at the highest level of government, Mr Shaibu said.

Lagos engagements

Following the Plateau visit, Mr Tinubu proceeded to Lagos for what was officially described as a working visit. While the presidency listed several projects for commissioning, Mr Shaibu alleged that the president remained largely out of public view.

According to the statement, since arriving in Lagos, Mr Tinubu has remained largely confined to his private residence, participating minimally in the engagements that were meant to validate the so-called working visit.

The statement acknowledged Mr Tinubus attendance at the commissioning of the Iperu Airport in neighbouring Ogun State, but criticised the event as resembling a partisan gathering rather than a formal state function.

It further noted that key projects in Lagos, including the OpebiMendeOjota Link Bridge and a Multi-Agency Complex, were not personally inaugurated by the president. Instead, the duties were delegated to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a move the opposition described as evidence of disengagement.

Mr Shaibu warned that the current approach to governance falls short of the solemn responsibilities of the presidency, emphasising that leadership is not a ceremonial privilege but a duty that demands presence, responsiveness, and an unwavering sense of purpose.

The statement urged Mr Tinubu to urgently recalibrate his approach, to engage fully with the responsibilities of his office, and to demonstrate the seriousness of purpose required to address the mounting challenges facing the nation.

Failure to do so, the statement concluded, would amount to a grave disservice to the Nigerian people, who rely on active and committed leadership to navigate the nation through complex security, economic, and social challenges.

Backstory

Mr Tinubus trip to Jos came against the backdrop of renewed violence in Plateau communities, where coordinated attacks on villages had led to significant casualties and displacement.

Security agencies had come under pressure to contain the situation, while civil society groups and political leaders called for decisive federal action.

The presidents visit was expected to achieve three key objectives: demonstrate solidarity with victims, assess security deployments, and signal stronger federal commitment to ending the violence.

Rather than visiting the community or hospitals where victims are receiving treatment, his engagement was confined to the airport, prompting widespread frustration.

The perceived brevity of Mr Tinubus stopover has sparked debate about whether those objectives were effectively met.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, is set to convene the first-ever Abuja Dialogue aimed at placing youth leadership at the centre of national discourse.

The dialogue, scheduled to hold on Monday, 13 April 2026, in Abuja, under the theme, Scaling Excellence: Youth Leadership as Strategic Infrastructure for National Transformation, is a precursor to the Lagos Leadership Summit.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, who disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a news conference to announce arrangements for the event, noted that the dialogues emphasis is on young Nigerians, not as a matter of rhetoric or aspiration, but as a strategic priority

He said, Central element of this initiative is the recognition that youth leadership and development must move beyond the language of inclusion and toward a more structured understanding of responsibility.

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While inclusion provides access, responsibility requires preparation, and it is this preparation that ultimately determines whether young people are able to contribute meaningfully within systems that demand competence, discipline, and accountability.

The Abuja Dialogue will therefore focus on identifying the mechanisms through which this preparation can be achieved, including the role of structured training, institutional exposure, mentorship, and performance evaluation in building leadership capacity over time, he added.

Mr Hadejia said the Office of the Vice President recognises that while building youth leadership at scale cannot be achieved through isolated efforts, it requires deliberate collaboration with institutions that are committed to leadership development at different levels.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to grooming young leaders through structured programmes that drive leadership exposure, thereby ensuring that change-driven individuals are equipped not only with knowledge, but with the capacity to apply that knowledge within real-world contexts, he noted.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, thanked the Office of the Vice President and the Lagos State Government, describing them as like-minded institutions engaged in ongoing discussions that would chart a new course for the youth population.

She explained that while the LJLA was established to mainstream human capital development and empower Nigerian youths, the Abuja Dialogue will attract key stakeholders to brainstorm on how to scale youth initiatives from being palliative to being systematic.

Mrs Agbaje-Okunade added that although the Academy was created and endorsed by the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, its founding vision for youth development has expanded and is now set to spread across the nation.

She noted that the dialogue is focused on attracting relevant stakeholders and authorities to create a system that enables young people to pivot through the provision of an enabling environment.

She expressed optimism that the outcome of the dialogue will help institutionalise youth development initiatives in Nigeria.

For his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, stressed that the governor, like his principal, President Bola Tinubu, is renowned for prioritising youth empowerment.

He disclosed that the dialogue has received strong endorsement from the Lagos State governor and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

He added that the nation must begin to see youth development and innovation as a national priority, one that requires sustained media coverage and spotlighting.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

10th April, 2026
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed a viral video alleging an ongoing terrorist attack in Abuja, describing the content as misleading and deliberately designed to incite panic among residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a statement issued on Friday, the Force spokesperson Anthony Placid said there was no record of any such attack in the nations capital, stressing that the claims circulating online were entirely false, misleading, and malicious.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the video was fabricated using unrelated footage sourced from online platforms to create a false narrative aimed at undermining public confidence in the security architecture of Abuja.

The police further disclosed that a suspect, identified as Pam Joseph, has been arrested in connection with the creation and dissemination of the video.

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Although PREMIUM TIMES could not locate the suspects social media account to verify whether he was the original source of the video, it has since gone viral on X and other social media platforms.

The video, which features a selfie of a young man in what appears to be a developing area, is accompanied by gunfire.

The arrest, the police said, followed credible intelligence and digital forensic investigations linking the suspect to the origin and spread of the content.

The Force reiterates that while citizens have the right to freedom of expression, such rights do not extend to the deliberate spread of misinformation capable of threatening public peace and national security, the statement read.

Police, however, warned the public against sharing unverified information, urging citizens to exercise caution and responsibility on digital platforms to avoid causing unnecessary fear or disorder.

The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

This comes amid tension stirred by an advisory issued by the US Department of State, which asked its citizens to leave Nigeria over a deteriorating security situation.

The US listed more than 20 states as volatile and further advised its citizens to reconsider travelling to the West African country. However, the Nigerian government has disputed the advisory, urging Nigerias partners to ensure balanced, up-to-date reporting that reflects the progress being made toward securing Nigeria.
The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered a machete, mobile phones, cash, and a Bajaj motorcycle during a routine patrol in the Idimu area of Lagos State.

The Command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday via X, noting that the suspects were intercepted in the early hours of Tuesday, 7 April, at about 2:00 a.m. around the Car Wash Bus Stop, near First Bank, Idimu.

According to the statement, patrol officers stopped the suspects who were riding on a motorcycle, after which a search was conducted.

The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Mustapha (20), Salisu Sannusi (30), and Jamiu Sahidu (26).

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A search on the suspects led to the recovery of a machete concealed in their clothing, army camouflage uniform, four (4) mobile phones, one (1) power bank, suspected to have been unlawfully taken from the owners, some squeezed naira notes and a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number AKD 40 OM, reportedly used for mobility in carrying out their criminal operations, Mrs Adebisi stated.

She said preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects have been involved in a series of armed robberies targeting unsuspecting members of the public before fleeing the scenes.

The statement added that the suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue, with efforts ongoing to conclude the case and ensure appropriate prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Tijani Fatai, reaffirmed the Commands commitment to sustaining public safety and tackling crime across the state.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Commands emergency hotlines.

The Punch Newspaper reported recently that the police arrested 47 suspects involved in armed robbery, cultism, theft and other violent crimes across Lagos State.

According to the report, the police recovered 14 firearms, including 10 locally made pistols and four pump-action guns, along with ammunition, vehicles, mobile phones, laptops, and other items linked to criminal activities.

Mr Fatai said the operations led to several arrests across different parts of the state.

In Amukoko, operatives arrested a suspected armed robber, Jamiu Yahya, also known as Elesin, after acting on intelligence. A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of a pistol, live cartridges, and suspected charms.

In Ajegunle, another suspect, Sunday Daniel, was arrested in connection with cult-related activities. Police said he admitted to being a member of the Aiye confraternity and provided useful information for further investigations.

In another operation, 21 suspects were arrested in Ajao Estate during a late-night raid at a hotel where suspected cult members had gathered to celebrate a birthday. Items recovered included a locally made firearm, mobile phones, and cult-related materials.

Separately, officers also dismantled a vehicle theft syndicate and recovered a Toyota Sienna and a Toyota Camry, while three suspects were arrested for vandalising vehicles in another part of the state.
After becoming the first humans in more than 50 years to fly around the moon, the four Artemis II astronauts face the final major challenge of their mission with their return to Earth.

Ive actually been thinking about entry since 3 April 2023, when we got assigned to this mission, US astronaut Victor Glover said when asked how he was feeling about the return during a news conference from the Orion capsule.

He described it as riding a fireball through the atmosphere.

In a complex manoeuvre, the crew  made up of Mr Glover, fellow US astronauts Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman as well as Canadian Jeremy Hansen  is due to splash down in the Pacific near San Diego at around 5:07 p.m. on Friday (0007 GMT Saturday).

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At times, their capsule is expected to reach speeds of up to about 38,400 kilometres per hour, exposing the astronauts to extreme physical strain.

Orion is set to be exposed to intense heat as it re-enters Earths atmosphere, with the astronauts protected by a special heat shield.

Communications with mission control are due to drop out for around six minutes.

The capsule is then expected to be slowed by parachutes before splashing down in the Pacific.

READ ALSO: US suspends visa operations in Abuja Embassy

NASA said the latest weather forecasts and final exterior images of Orion looked good.

The four Artemis II astronauts were the first humans to travel near the moon in more than 50 years.

They lifted off last week aboard the Orion capsule on NASAs Space Launch System rocket from Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida before flying around the moon.

During the mission, they travelled farther from Earth than any humans before.

(dpa/NAN)
At least eight people have been killed in a late-night attack on Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The PUNCH reports that the assailants struck around 11 p.m. on Thursday, opening fire on residents and killing members of an extended family, while injuring others and leaving several persons unaccounted for.

The victims were identified as Iliya Mangut Dakus, Luck Titus Dakus, Habila Istifanu Dakus, Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus and Innocent Barnabas Makwin.

The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers operated for hours without resistance.

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There was an attack last night at Mbwelle village. So far, eight persons have been confirmed dead this morning, Mr Mallai said.

He added that the prolonged nature of the assault has heightened anger among residents.

The attack lasted for several hours with no visible security presence to repel the attackers, he said, noting that some community members are already considering protests over what they see as a failure of protection.

A youth leader in the area, Christopher Luka, also confirmed the killings, describing the incident as devastating.

The gunmen came around 11 p.m. and started shooting sporadically. They targeted one family mostly. We have eight confirmed dead, some seriously injured, and others still unaccounted for, he said.

Efforts to get official confirmation from the police were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls as of the time of filing this report.

The media officer of the Joint Task Force, Chinonso Oteh, said he would revert but had not yet done so.

Pattern of recurring attacks

The latest killings add to a string of recent attacks across Plateau State, particularly in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South local government areas.

Earlier this week, gunmen ambushed travellers returning from mining sites along the Bokkos Road, killing one person and injuring others.

On the same day, another resident was killed in Riyom while returning home.

Community groups, including the Berom Youth Moulders Association, have warned that the attacks appear coordinated and persistent, with armed groups targeting rural routes and farming communities.

The group lamented that the violence has continued despite the presence of security forces and prior intelligence on flashpoints.

The renewed violence follows a series of deadly incidents in Plateau, including recent attacks in Jos North and surrounding communities that prompted curfews, protests, and high-level visits by government officials.

Residents say the latest assault in Bokkos shows that rural communities remain exposed, with calls growing for more effective security deployment and rapid response to distress situations.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Isabella Oshodin and her company, Bob Oshodin Organisation Ltd, in a $12 million money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge, James Omotosho, held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt or establish the existence of any predicate offence.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that the judgement was delivered on 10 March but could only confirm it on Friday after obtaining a certified true copy of the verdict.

The judge ruled that although conspiracy is often difficult to prove through direct evidence, the prosecution did not present any direct or circumstantial evidence showing that the defendants had a meeting of the minds to carry out unlawful activity.

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He added that no agreement or coordinated intention was established to support the allegation.

The court also found that the prosecution failed to prove that the funds received by the defendants were proceeds of unlawful activity, a key requirement under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

Mr Omotosho stated that there was no credible evidence linking the funds to any criminal breach of trust or other illicit conduct.

The EFCC had alleged that the funds were unlawfully from the Office of the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.

A PREMIUM TIMES investigation published in November 2014 shed light on how Mrs Oshodin and her husband acquired properties in the United States after receiving funds transferred by the NSA office.

However, the court held that the allegation that the defendant received funds from the NSA office unlawfully was not supported by reliable evidence. It noted that witnesses were unable to confirm that the payments were made for unlawful purposes or that the funds were diverted or improperly appropriated.

Mr Omotosho further held that the prosecution did not prove that the defendants knew or ought to have known that the funds were illicit.

He emphasised that criminal liability under the law requires proof of knowledge or reasonable suspicion that the funds were proceeds of crime.

In reaching its decision, the court relied on documentary evidence presented by the defence, including a contract of sale relating to a factory owned by the defendants.

The defence maintained that the funds represented payments for the purchase of the factory and for training programmes for ex-militants from the Niger Delta.

The judge found that the contract of sale was consistent with the defences explanation and noted that attempts by the prosecution to discredit the document were inconclusive.

The court also faulted the prosecution for failing to call key witnesses, including Mr Dasuki, whom it described as a vital witness capable of clarifying the purpose of the payments.

It held that the absence of such testimony created gaps in the prosecutions case, which must be resolved in favour of the defendants.

On allegations that the defendants used proceeds of crime to acquire properties abroad, the court held that the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence.

It noted that no credible documentation was produced to establish ownership or confirm the alleged transactions.

Mr Omotosho described the prosecutions case as speculative and reiterated that assumptions cannot replace credible evidence in criminal proceedings.

He concluded that the prosecution failed to establish any unlawful conduct or link the funds to illicit activity.

Accordingly, the court discharged and acquitted the defendants on all counts.

How it started

Mrs Oshodin, her husband Robert Oshodin, and their firm were arraigned on 25 amended charge bordering on alleged money laundering and related offences.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/114/2019, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired in 2014 to commit money laundering within the jurisdiction of the court.

The prosecution also accused the defendants of transferring millions of dollars from Nigeria to accounts in the United States, including payments to Portfolio Escrow Company, Wells Fargo Bank, and Robin G. Mathis PLLC.

It maintained that the defendants knew or ought to have known that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

Other counts alleged that the defendants possessed about $12 million and various sums in naira believed to be proceeds of criminal breach of trust.

The EFCC further alleged that part of the funds was used to acquire properties in the United States, including real estate in Los Angeles, California, and McLean, Virginia, through corporate entities.

The trial

Mrs Oshodin and her company pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them.

The prosecution lawyer, H. M. Mohammed called 12 witnesses to establish the case against the defendants. Those invited include Faruk Idiaro of Access Bank, Remigius Ugwu of Zenith Bank, Moses Oluwatosin Shittu of Union Bank, Aderemi Ezekiel Olaoluwa of First Bank and Jackson Joseph Edet of the EFCC.

Others were Sweet Adesuwa Okundaye of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Architect Yunusa Yakubu, Richard Okolocha, Mariam Oricha, Yazidu Ibrahim, Hassan Saidu, and Shuaibu Salisu.

He tendered several documents, including bank statements, account opening records, and correspondence involving financial institutions and government agencies.

Bank officials who testified confirmed that large sums were paid into accounts linked to the defendants from the Office of the National Security Adviser, with transaction narrations referencing government sources.

An EFCC investigator told the court that the investigation was based on intelligence indicating that payments were made without supporting contracts or approvals.

He also alleged that funds traced to the defendants were used to acquire properties abroad.

Officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser testified that payment instructions were processed based on directives from the National Security Adviser, sometimes without detailed documentation.

However, they stated that they were not aware of any contract relating to the alleged sale of the defendants factory.

Under cross-examination, some witnesses acknowledged gaps in the investigation, including the absence of a comprehensive forensic audit and limited access to internal records of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

In her defence, her legal team led by Adegboyega Awomolo, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), also called the first defendant, Mrs Oshodin, as a witness.

Mrs Oshodin maintained that the funds were legitimate payments linked to the sale of the companys factory and related business activities, including training programmes.

She denied any involvement in money laundering.

Both the prosecution and defence presented their final written addresses, with the prosecution urging the court to convict and the defence arguing that the essential elements of the offences had not been proved.

After reviewing the evidence, the court held that the prosecution failed to discharge the burden of proof required in criminal cases and resolved all doubts in favour of the defendants.

Backstory

An investigation by this newspaper found that the case against the Oshodins emerged from broader allegations surrounding Mr Dasuki.

In June 2012, then-President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Mr Dasuki to coordinate Nigerias counter-terrorism efforts against Boko Haram.

According to the investigation, within two months in the role, Mr Dasukis office approved the transfer of N270 million to Robert Oshodin, a Nigerian furniture manufacturer based in the U.S., and his wife.

It said that over Mr Dasukis time in office, his office made dozens of transfers totalling millions of dollars into the couples accounts.

Bank documents reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES show payments were designated for consulting services and special ops.

In mid-2014, the report stated that Mr Dasukis office wired $12 million to the Oshodins for a counter-radicalisation campaign.

The report found that at the time, their account held only $50,000.

EFCC investigators alleged that the couple and Mr Dasuki conspired to embezzle over N100 billion from government coffers during Boko Harams insurgency, though no funds have been fully recovered.

PREMIUM TIMES, in collaboration with The Washington Post, retraced key financial dealings, including the Oshodins investment of public funds in U.S. real estate.

The couple purchased multiple properties, including a $9.5 million historic mansion in Los Angeles and two homes near Washington, D.C., through their California-based firm, 1812 Corporation.

Records show additional acquisitions of 14 other U.S. properties worth nearly $24 million between 2012 and 2015. Some purchases closely coincided with transfers from Mr Dasukis office.

The report also said that the EFCC has not been able to seize the properties due to jurisdictional constraints.

In 2019, another judge John Tsoho, who is now the Chief Judge of the court, ruled that EFCC could not permanently deprive the Oshodins of their U.S. properties without following proper legal procedures, including mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs).
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has suspended some officers overseeing the LagosSeme border corridor over extortion allegations.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Service Public Relations Officer of NIS, Akinsola Akinlabi, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, said the personnel would be on be on suspension pending the outcome of an investigation.

The comptroller-general, who ordered an immediate investigation into the matter, condemned the alleged misconduct, describing it as unacceptable and a breach of the agencys core values and operational standards.

The service said the decision followed reports circulating online accusing some officers of engaging in extortion at the busy international route linking Nigeria and Benin Republic.

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As part of initial disciplinary measures, the NIS said it had relieved the controllers overseeing the affected commands of their duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

It added that the probe would seek to identify officers involved and ensure that appropriate sanctions are applied without delay.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, KN Nandap, pcc, mmis, fsmn, fspsp unequivocally condemns the actions depicted in these reports as such conduct is unacceptable and stands in direct violation of the core values, ethics, and operational standards of the Service.

Consequently, the CGI has temporarily relieved the Comptrollers in charge of the affected Commands of their duties and has directed a thorough investigation surrounding these incidents, in order to identify all officers involved, and ensure that appropriate disciplinary measures are applied with immediate effect, the statement read.

The NIS also reassured the public of its commitment to professionalism and transparency, stressing that it would not tolerate conduct capable of undermining public trust.

It urged members of the public to report cases of misconduct through its official communication channels, including its social media platforms and contact centre lines.

Persistent corruption concerns

The latest allegations are not isolated as the Nigeria Immigration Service has repeatedly faced accusations of extortion and harassment at the Seme Border, one of West Africas busiest land corridors.

The border route, which connects Nigeria to neighbouring Benin Republic, handles heavy traffic from traders, transporters and migrants. However, it has long been associated with complaints of bribery and illegal checkpoints operated by security officials, often slowing movement and increasing the cost of cross-border trade.

In January 2026, the NIS came under scrutiny after a report alleged that its officers demanded as much as N2 million from a Nigerian traveller heading to Mali, eventually collecting N200,000 before allowing her to proceed. The agency later acknowledged the report and promised an investigation, reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

Similar accusations have surfaced over the years, with travellers and transport operators frequently reporting harassment and demands for unofficial payments at multiple checkpoints along the corridor.
Troops of the Nigerian militarys Operation Enduring Peace have killed at least 10 suspected terrorists and recovered weapons during coordinated clearance operations in parts of Plateau State.

The military spokesperson for the Joint Task Force, Chinonso Oteh, said in a statement that the operation, carried out on Thursday across Daba and Seri villages in Wase and Kanam local government areas, targeted known criminal routes and hideouts.

Troops established strategic blocking positions between Dutsen Zaki and the Odare Forest and engaged a large group of terrorists mounted on motorcycles, Mr Oteh said.

The criminals were decisively engaged with superior firepower, leading to the neutralisation of 10 terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

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He added that troops also launched follow-up operations after reports of an attack on commuters along the Razat and Kafi Abu axis, forcing the assailants to retreat into nearby forests.

According to him, Troops conducted cordon and search operations across Suma Suga and Takwok villages and adjoining mountainous areas, recovering three AK-47 rifles, three magazines, eight rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, two motorcycles, and fuel supplies believed to be for logistics.

He noted that a national identity card and a suspects photograph were also recovered, which could aid ongoing investigations.

The latest military action comes amid a surge in violent incidents across Plateau State, including recent attacks in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South, where gunmen have killed residents, ambushed commuters and targeted rural communities.

In one of the latest incidents, at least eight people were killed in Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area after gunmen attacked a family late at night.

Similar ambushes on travellers returning from mining sites and attacks along rural roads have heightened fears among residents.

READ ALSO: Gunmen kill eight in fresh Plateau attack

Residents have called for sustained patrols along known flashpoints, improved surveillance of forest corridors, and quicker response to distress calls to prevent further loss of lives.

Security agencies say ongoing clearance operations under Operation Wutan Daji are aimed at dismantling armed groups and restoring stability. Still, many communities insist that long-term safety will depend on consistent presence and early intervention rather than post-attack responses.

Photo: One out of the ten suspected terrorists killed and recovered weapons during coordinated clearance operations in parts of Plateau State
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a dramatic turn on Friday as one of the claimants to the partys national chairmanship, Nafiu Gombe, ruled out honouring David Mark-led factions invitation for reconciliation talks.

Mr Gombes declaration followed a recent lamentation by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently joined the Mark-led faction of the party, about Mr Gombe allegedly failing to show up for a meeting. Mr Kwankwaso, who spoke in a Hausa interview, said he waited for hours in vain for Mr Gombes arrival.

But Mr Gombe, in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, said he would not honour any invitation to a meeting convened by what he described as illegitimate leaders of the party, insisting that he remains the lawful head of the ADC.

His comments come amid growing tension following the entry of high-profile politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Mr Kwankwaso and former Senate President David Mark, who chairs the faction of the new high-profile members and their supporters.

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I will not respond to any invitation for talks. They do not have the authority to summon me, Mr Gombe said, dismissing overtures for dialogue.

They came through the backdoor

Mr Gombe accused the new entrants of bypassing the partys constitutional procedures, saying they joined the ADC through the window, not the door.

According to him, due process must be followed before any individual or group can assume leadership roles or influence party structures.

He added that his immediate focus is on repositioning the party to challenge the administration of President Bola Tinubu in future elections, rather than engaging in internal negotiations.

Court battle looms

The dispute has already spilled into the courts, with rival factions seeking judicial interpretation on the legitimate leadership of the party.

Mr Gombe expressed confidence in the legal process, saying a favourable ruling would enable him to restructure the party and remove individuals he considers improperly admitted.

If I win in court, I will expel those who did not follow due process, they have to return to the constitution and follow it to the later he said.

In a controversial policy proposal, Mr Gombe also advocated for generational change within the party, suggesting an age cap for candidates seeking elective office under the ADC platform.

The ADC will prioritise youth inclusion. Anyone above 55 years should not be given the partys ticket, he said.

Background

The ADC has been grappling with internal divisions, but the crisis intensified in recent months following the influx of influential politicians seeking an alternative platform amid shifting alliances in Nigerias opposition landscape.

The development has split the party into two blocs: the original leadership structure and a group of new entrants with significant political capital.

This has raised critical questions about the legitimacy of leadership, adherence to party rules, and control of party machinery ahead of future elections.

As the courts prepare to adjudicate on the leadership tussle, the future of the ADC remains uncertain.

The legal battles loom at a time when the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has cautioned judges to reject cases that touch on the internal affairs of political parties.

The ADCs leadership crisis took a dramatic turn recently after a Court of Appeal ruling, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) interpreted to mean that it is barred from recognising any of the leadership factions for now.

The NBA, in a statement signed by its president, Afam Osigwe, on Friday, expressed grave concerns over increasing interference by courts in the internal affairs of political parties
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has bowed to pressure from the opposition to postpone its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general election.

The decision was announced on Friday in a statement by INEC spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, following a meeting between the commission and its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Following deliberations, the commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election, the statement said.

Initial decision

INEC had, in an internal memo dated 2 April and signed by Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, asked all RECs to embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The commission said the decision to conduct the exercise stems from the need for a credible voter register.

Controversy

But the commission faced heavy criticism for the exercise, with some political parties accusing it of a ploy to disenfranchise millions of Nigerians.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), currently embroiled in another controversy with the commission over the suspension of its recognition, described the planned voter revalidation exercise as a recipe for chaos.

The ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said requiring already registered voters to revalidate their details less than 10 months before the polls would suppress turnout, deepen voter apathy and unfairly exclude those unable to travel.

The party also questioned why such a major exercise is emerging just days before its proposed commencement, cautioning the INEC against actions that could be perceived as aiding electoral manipulation.

Also, the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki described the timing of the planned voter revalidation exercise as suspicious.

The timing of the exercise is suspicious, especially with the manner in which the commission has been acting. The question is, why now? Why wasnt it done a year or two ago? This can be seen as an attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians, the publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, said.
Suspected Boko Haram fighters fleeing from an offensive by a joint team of vigilantes from Nigeria and the Benin Republic have killed five forest guards in Kwara State.

Residents and local security sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the guards were attacked in their sleep at an elementary school in Nuku, Kaiama Local Government Area.

The assailants, believed to be under the command of Mallam Sadiku, also set operational motorcycles ablaze before retreating toward the Bani forest, which links the Old Oyo National Park.

A vigilante commander and a forest guard in neighbouring Kemanji said the attackers stormed Nuku at about 3:30 a.m. The Kwara police command confirmed the incident, noting that a mobile police camp was targeted.

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Police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi acknowledged the deaths and said a patrol vehicle was extensively damaged, adding that officers repelled the assault.

Terrorists fleeing offensive

Security sources said the attack followed sustained pressure from a cross-border operation involving vigilantes from northern Benin and Babana in Niger State, who had moved against suspected terrorist enclaves around Kainji National Park.

The joint vigilante teams have been engaging the Boko Haram fighters since Wednesday, and they have been on the run since then, said Mohammed Mora, a vigilante member in Kaiama. He added that operatives from Babana reported pursuing the group through the Kainji forest.

According to him, the pursuit has been complicated by the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The vigilantes encountered seven bombs while trailing them through the forest, he said, noting that each device detonated before the team reached the targeted points.

Another forest guard said the fighters were likely moving toward Old Oyo National Park.

Residents saw them crossing into the Bani axis leading to the park, he said. Previous intelligence suggests another faction operates there.

Boko Haram in Kainji

The Kainji axis has increasingly emerged as a convergence point for multiple armed groups, where jihadist factions operate alongside criminal bandits.

In July 2025, intelligence sources warned that the Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction had relocated to Kainji National Park, spanning parts of Niger and Kwara states, after abandoning its stronghold in Shiroro.

From this new base, the group escalated attacks, carrying out mass abductions, including of students, and raids on rural communities.

In November 2025, it attacked St. Marys Catholic School in Niger State, abducting hundreds of students and staff, who were later released in batches after ransom payments were reportedly made.

Earlier this year, the faction struck communities in Woro (Kwara) and Kasuwan Daji (Niger), killing more than 100 people and abducting at least 170 women and children. The victims were later featured in propaganda videos circulated on TikTok.

Since establishing itself in the area, the group has attacked multiple villages across both states. Analysts warn that the scale and coordination of its operations suggest possible links with Ansaru, which is connected to Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), one of the most active al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel.

Although Nigerian security forces, working with regional counterparts, have launched repeated offensives against these groups, the fighters often disperse into dense forest corridors to evade capture and regroup.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said on Friday that 386 terrorists were convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja during a four-day mass trial.

Mr Fagbemi said the convicts were part of 508 defendants prosecuted by his office. This gives about two-third conviction rate.

The Nigerian government, on Tuesday, started the mass trial of suspected terrorists charged with terrorism offences at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Some of the trial judges are Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, and Akpan Ekerete.

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Addressing journalists at the end of the trial on Friday, Mr Fagbemi said eight defendants were discharged while two others were acquitted, adding that 112 cases were adjourned until the next phase of the special proceedings.

In total, we brought about 508 cases. Of these 508, we were able to secure 386 convictions. Eight discharges, two acquittals and 112 adjourned to the next session or phase, he said.

He said the proceedings demonstrated adherence to due process, adding that only those found culpable were convicted.

Anybody who is not guilty will not be sent to jail. The fact that we brought them to court also speaks to the fact that they recognise the oversight function of the judiciary, and this is what has taken place, he said.

He added that the trials were conducted under public view with the presence of key stakeholders, including representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), civil society organisations and the media.

He said the process sent a clear signal against terrorism and its financing in Nigeria.

As far as the Nigerian space is concerned, there is no space for them. We will not be able to accommodate them. We have been able to bring them to justice, he said.

The AGF commended the Federal High Court and its leadership, headed by Chief Judge John Tsoho, and the team of judges led by Binta Nyako, for their role in the special sitting.

He said transparency was central to the process and added that convicted persons would undergo rehabilitation as part of post-sentencing measures aimed at reintegration.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said on Friday that it recorded 659,617 complaints from January to March.

The tally represents a sharp decline by about 50 percent from the cumulative 1,171,634 human rights complaints received by the commission in the last quarter of 2025.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that in November 2025 alone, the complaints received were more than half of what it recorded in the first quarter of 2026.

There is no immediate explanation for the steep decline in the number of human rights abuses reported to the commission in the last three months, but the tallies fit with the fluctuating patterns of the records across months.

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Friday was the first time the NHRC would release a quarterly report of the complaints. The report have always been a monthly trend since inception in 2024.

The consolidated quarterly report released on Friday identified law enforcement and human dignity as the most prevalent complaint categories, with over 130,000 reports.

Giving a month-by-month breakdown of the complaints at the NHRC headquarters in Abuja, the Senior Human Rights Adviser of the commission, Hilary Ogbonna, said 180,341 complaints were recorded in January, 223,144 in February, and 256,132 in March.

Shedding light on the figures, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, said, The first quarter of 2026 reflects a complex and evolving human rights environment, shaped by insecurity, socio-economic pressures, and institutional challenges.

While the cumulative summary of the report ranked law enforcement and human dignity as the highest, Mr Ojukwu reflected on the most common issues in each of the three months under review.

He noted that the freedom of discrimination emerged as a common complaint in January.

This underscores persistent structural inequalities and highlights the need for stronger safeguards against discriminatory practices in both public and private spheres, he said.

He noted that law enforcement and the protection of human dignity ranked highest in February, signifying the need for accountability, professionalism, and human rights compliance within law enforcement institutions.

According to the report, March recorded frequent complaints about freedom from discrimination breaches, a trend Mr Ojukwu described as concerning.

The geopolitical breakdown of the complaints indicated the North-central region led the quarterly chart with 276,099 complaints, followed by the North-east with 123,939, the North-west with 126,313, the South-east with 82,839, the South-south with 25,370, and the South-west with 25,057.

Child rights violations

Among the grave violations, the commission said it recorded 1,647 cases of child abandonment.

It added it recorded 1,303 cases of children caught between custody battles, 1,111 child labour cases and 1,074 cases of children forced into marriage.

While presenting the report, Mr Ogbonna highlighted several cases of defilement, especially in Niger State.

For instance, the commission presented eight cases of child defilement, among which a 19-year-old was said to have sexually assaulted a 12-year-old with his fingers. He also referenced another case of a 19-year-old allegedly raping two girls aged four and five. According to the commission, there was also another case of a 59-year-old raping a 10-year-old.

This disturbing trend reflects the vulnerability of children in Nigeria despite the existence of the Child Rights Act. In October 2025, the Nigerian Senate passed amendments to the Criminal Code Act, prescribing life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, and removed the option of fines.

Yet the delays in judicial processes stall justice for the young victims. In August, PREMIUM TIMES reported how a pastor, Amos Isah, in Abuja, returned to the pulpit after allegedly defiling a 14-year-old. The case has since stalled.

Kidnappings and killings

In the three months under focus, the NHRC recorded 992 killings and 651 kidnappings. The commission said bandits are the perpetrators responsible for 525 deaths, followed by Lakurawa blamed for 162, Boko Haram, 113; unknown gunmen, 74, and others, 118.

The commission presented the top 10 states. It noted that 170 deaths occurred in Kwara, 91 in Niger, 89 in both Benue and Borno, 86 in Plateau, 81 in Zamfara, and 62 in Kebbi.

Others include 59 deaths in Katsina State, 42 in Kogi State, and 30 in Adamawa State.

The continued prevalence of insecurity-related killings and abductions all point to the urgency of translating policy commitments into concrete action, the report stated.

Some of these killings are linked to incidents of insurgency, which have led to displacements and impacted economic livelihood. Mr Ojukwu cited the recent Palm Sunday attack in Jos, Plateau State, and reported incidents in Nasarawa State as examples.

On 29 March, gunmen attacked Angwan Rukuba, killing several residents. This attack triggered violence, which led to a 48-hour curfew hampering economic activities in the state.

The attack also led to the loss of two students at the University of Jos. The tragic deaths and unrest indirectly represent an attack on education.

Mr Ojukwu emphasised that the first quarter report is not merely a presentation of data but a clear call to action.

He urged for more responsive governance and renewed national commitment to the protection of human dignity.

We must work to build a Nigeria where human rights are not only guaranteed in law, but realised in the daily lives of all people, Mr Ojukwu said.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, sentenced Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years imprisonment for supplying petroleum products to members of Boko Haram.

Mr Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, was convicted by trial judge Peter Lifu on one count of aiding and abetting terrorism filed by the federal government.

He was said to have sought to run for a senatorial seat in the 2015 general elections. His party then was not indidated.

The convict was prosecuted along with over 500 terrorism suspects during the just-concluded mass-trial overseen by more than 10 judges in separate courtrooms at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, said 386 suspects were convicted during the four-day trial that ended on Friday. Mr Fagbemi said a total of 508 cases were brought before the court during the exercise. The rest were either acquitted or had their case postponed for further hearing.

Mr Habeeb admitted during the summary trial that fuel from his filling station was sold to members of the Boko Haram sect in the North-east, but argued that the transactions might have been carried out by his attendants without his direct involvement.

During the trial, he appealed to the court for mercy, stating that he had remained in custody for more than 10 years without contact with his family.

He told the court that he has two wives and six children, adding that his prolonged detention had separated him from them for years.

The prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, opposed the plea for leniency, arguing that the supply of logistics to terrorists contributed to killings and displacement of civilians.

Mr Kaswe urged the court to impose a 20-year sentence, noting that the defendant had already spent over 10 years in detention.

In his judgment, Judge Lifu held that there was no evidence linking the defendant directly to Boko Haram membership or weapons training, stressing that the case was limited to the supply of fuel to the group.

The judge also noted that the prosecution did not dispute the claim that the defendant had been in custody for over 10 years.

He subsequently sentenced Mr Habeeb to 10 years imprisonment and ordered that the sentence should take effect from the date of his arrest and detention.

The judge further directed that he be released from custody upon completion of the necessary release formalities to allow for rehabilitation and reintegration.

Nigeria has grappled with terrorism for about 15 years during which terrorist organisations like Boko Haram and its splinter groups have killed thousands of people and displaced many more. The attacks, which was initially restricted to the North-east, has spread to the North-west and the North-central zones of the country. Some states sharing borders with the North-central region have also seen waves of terrorist attacks.

The mass trial comes amid a surge in attacks by various terrorist groups in the country. In the last few days, deadly attacks have been recorded in Borno State.

Many of the suspects that underwent trial in the last few days had been in military detention for years.
The Federal Government has approved the deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system across Nigerias domestic airports as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security and improve passenger data management.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Friday via his official X page, noting that he had signed a concession agreement for the rollout of the VPASS system.

Yesterday, I signed a concession agreement on behalf of the Federal Government for the deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system, known as VPASS, across Nigerias domestic airports as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security, enhance data integrity, and improve revenue generation, he said.

Mr Keyamo said the approval followed regulatory clearance from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Executive Council.

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According to him, the initiative is designed to address inconsistencies in passenger data and tighten identity verification processes within the domestic aviation system.

The initiative is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data arising from inconsistent airline records, while also addressing unauthorised boarding practices, he said.

He added that the system would ensure proper identification of passengers and close existing loopholes in airport security.

The system will ensure that all passengers on domestic flights are properly identified, thereby closing existing gaps that allow individuals to bypass Standard Identification Procedures, he said.

Mr Keyamo noted that while strict identity verification measures already apply to international travel, the VPASS system would extend similar standards to domestic operations.

He added that the system would be implemented through a concession arrangement, with infrastructure deployment expected to precede public sensitisation.

The project is expected to involve collaboration with agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which oversees airport operations in the country.
Academics, politicians, technocrats, journalists, and civil society leaders gathered in Abuja on Friday evening to honour veteran journalist, author and rights activist Chido Onumah, as he turned 60.

The event, held at the Shehu YarAdua Centre, was marked by warm tributes, intellectual discourse, and a shared reflection on Nigerias democratic journey  all centred on a man whose life has been devoted to it.

The symposium was themed Formation or Nation Building: Nigerias Troubled Quest for a Modern Federal Republic, and brought together some of the countrys most respected voices in democracy, media, and civil society.

Born in April 1966, Mr Onumah has built a career spanning more than three decades across journalism, rights activism, academia, and social mobilisation  work that has taken him across Nigeria, West Africa, North America, and Europe.

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National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, a close associate of Mr Onumah, paid tribute to the activists.

I am so happy to be here. Chido is special and he means a lot to me. He was part of my life at the most critical moments and went through the most difficult period with me, Mr Ribadu said.

I had to come and identify with him. Chido was with me at the EFCC, at Oxford, and later at Maryland. He is very dear to me.

Earlier, Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, in his goodwill message, said Nigerias project of nationhood remains work in progress.

Nation building is unfinished business. We have to keep working to ensure the Nigerian project is achievable, he said.

We need a genuine democracy. Citizens must hold politicians feet to the fire and demand that they do the right thing.

Mr Fayemi also acknowledged Mr Onumahs consistent contributions to Nigerias democratic struggles, dating back to the years of military rule.

Nigeria must move forward

In his keynote address, Yakubu Ochefu, a professor, challenged the country to look beyond the well-worn explanations for its failures.

For decades, the discourse surrounding Nigerias challenges has remained trapped in familiar diagnoses  corruption, poor leadership, and the so-called oil curse. While these explanations capture some symptoms, they fail to probe the underlying maladies, he said.

A new wave of scholarship is reframing the conversation, bringing structural, systemic, and psychological perspectives to the fore. This shift is essential if we are to understand not just what ails Nigeria, but why previous remedies have consistently missed the mark.

Mr Ochefu urged Nigerians to move beyond diagnosing symptoms and begin envisioning cures that address the root causes of the nations enduring crisis.

On the Nigeria youth question and the digital republic, the speaker argued that every significant democratic breakthrough in Nigerias history had been driven by young people  from the 1930s West African Students protests against colonialism in London, the 1961 Anti-Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact protests, the 1978 Ali Must Go demonstrations, the 1989 Anti-SAP riots, and the pro-democracy struggles of the 1990s through NADECO, the June 12 agitations, and the 2020 EndSARS movement.

Time and again, when parliament failed, the streets became the true legislature, the speaker said.

Yet, the speaker noted a generational disconnect between baby boomers forged in street battles, and todays Gen Z, described as the Homo Digitalis: a generation born into a digital world, carrying the legacy of three generations and operating at speeds that leave traditional institutions behind.

Their strengths are transformative  digital nativism that pushes for transparency and global awareness, network effects that turn a single tweet into a movement more powerful than any media campaign, and a data-driven mindset that demands evidence over rhetoric, the speaker said.

The speaker argued that as Nigeria evolves, its vision of a modern federal republic must account for citizens increasingly disconnected from ancestral origins and more united by shared economic and digital interests. The tension between a 19th-century bureaucratic structure and a 21st-century digital population, the speaker noted, has become one of the defining challenges of the nation-building project.

While the government clings to Federal Character in physical appointments, a new generation is creating a borderless nation online, with the tech and fintech ecosystem emerging as Nigerias most successful export, the speaker said.

Concluding, the speaker issued a stark warning and a challenge: Our greatest threat is the absence of a true social contract. The frameworks exist, but what is missing is the political courage to act.

Our capitalist ruling class must understand that the raid is over  the forest has been seriously depleted. The only sustainable path forward is to build the estate. If they persist as raiders, what legacy are we leaving our children? But as landowners of a thriving Nigerian estate, we protect our wealth and, for the first time, build a true home.

Panel discussion

The symposiums panel session was moderated by Farida Salihu and featured former Minister Oby Ezekwesili, Samson Itodo, executive director of YIAGA Africa, and journalist Ebenezar Wikina.

Ms Ezekwesili called for a decisive shift in civic posture. It is not enough to criticise leaders. We need to move from complaining to demanding action, she said.

Mr Itodo said Nigeria has drifted remarkably into a no red lineculture where power, money, and status override values, institutions, and the rule of law.

In healthy societies, there are clear boundaries that even the most powerful cannot cross. But the Nigerian case reveals a deeper moral fracture. In Nigeria, there is no price for crossing the line because there is no line. This pervasive culture destroys the moral fabric of society and it makes the country operate like a banana republic. Redrawing red lines is therefore the beginning of politics of accountability.

Mr Wikina observed that Nigeria has been defined by several missions but has consistently lacked a unifying vision for the future. After the colonialists left, we did not really have a vision of what we wanted to achieve, he said.

What we need to do is question our political leaders  tell them what we want. We have tried for too long to develop Nigeria from Abuja. We need a process that moves from the states to the federal level, not the other way around.

To mark the occasion, Mr Onumahs associates announced the publication of a book in his honour.

PREMIUM TIMES publisher Dapo Olorunyomi said the volume, titled The Green Pimpernel, would feature 60 contributors celebrating Mr Onumahs life and legacy.

He is always available, Mr Olorunyomi said. Chido sacrifices everything for everybody.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday fixed 13 April for judgment in a suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, seeking to restrain former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The judge, Musa Liman, fixed the date for judgement after lawyers representing various sides in the case made their final submissions, presenting their opposing positions on the dispite at Fridays hearing.

Mr Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State on the platform of the ADC, instituted the suit through his lawyer Ibrahim Idris, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The suit, filed on 15 February, listed the ADC, its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, Mr Mark, Mr Aregbesola and the Independent National Electoral Commission as first to fifth defendants respectively.

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Mr Abejide asked the court to nullify the alleged handover of the partys leadership from Mr Nwosu to Mr Mark as the interim national chairman of the party and Mr Aregbesola as interim national secretary.

He argued that the transfer of leadership, said to have taken place on 2 July 2025 at the Shehu Musa YarAdua Centre, Abuja, was illegal, unlawful, null and void.

The plaintiff also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Messrs Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the party on the grounds that their emergence did not comply with the law.

He further urged the court to restrain INEC from recognising them as party officials. He contends that their appointment did not meet the requirements of Section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

However, the defendants, through their lawyers, urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of merit.

The defence lawyers, including those representing the ADC and the INEC, opposed the suit.

While ADC was represented by Shaibu Aruwa, who is also a SAN, Mr Nwosu was represented by lawyer, P. I. Oyewole.

Mr Mark was represented by Realwan Okpanachi and Mr Aregbesola was represented by I. R. Abdullahi. INEC was represented by Anthony Onyeri.

The defence lawyers argued, among others, that Abejide lacked locus standi to institute the action and that the issues raised bordered on the internal affairs of a political party, which are not justiciable.

The defendants further contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

They also maintained that, contrary to the plaintiffs claim, the Mark-led committee emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting of the party held on 29 July 2025, and not 2 July 2025.

They described the suit as academic and urged the court to dismiss it with substantial costs.

INECs lawyer also told the court that the commission filed an eight-paragraph counter-affidavit with an exhibit marked INEC-1 in opposition to the suit and urged the court to dismiss the case.

ADC leadership crisis and protests

The leadership crisis in the party began after the resignation of the partys former executives led by Mr Nwosu and the emergence of a new National Working Committee led by Mr Mark on 29 July 2025.

The development triggered a legal challenge when Nafiu Bala, a former vice-national chairperson of the party, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking recognition as the partys rightful leader under its constitution.

INEC was joined as the fourth defendant in the suit.

While the case was pending, the Federal High Court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending determination of the substantive suit.

The Court of Appeal later dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the Mark-led faction and ordered all parties, including INEC, to maintain the status quo earlier ordered by the Federal High Court, pending further determination of the matter.

The Court of Appeals decision later became central to the dispute over the partys leadership structure.

Following the ruling, INEC received letters from both factions on 16 March.

The Mark-led faction asked the commission not to recognise Mr Bala and to maintain its position pending resolution of the dispute, while the Bala faction asked INEC to give effect to the Court of Appeal judgment of 12 March in its favour.

INEC later removed the names of Mr Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary from its website on 1 April.

The dispute later escalated into a protest in Abuja, where party members accused INEC of bias and warned that the handling of the crisis threatened internal democracy within the party.

Mark-led ADC challenges INEC actions in court

In another development, the Mark-led leadership also approached the same Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to reverse the decision of INEC, by removing its leadership from the commissions official records and portal.

In a motion on notice filed on 7 April through his lawyer Sulaiman Usman SAN, Mr Mark asked the court for a mandatory injunction setting aside INECs action and restoring the names of the partys National Working Committee in its records pending determination of the substantive suit.

He also sought an order directing INEC to resume recognition of the partys leadership and to monitor its congresses and other internal processes.

The application was brought on the ground that the Court of Appeal had ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, which the applicants said referred to the leadership structure existing before the dispute.

The Mark-led faction argued that INEC misinterpreted the appellate courts decision when it withdrew recognition of its leadership, saying the action created a vacuum and disrupted the partys administration.

The team also sought accelerated hearing of the suit and argued that the dispute raised fundamental issues affecting the partys structure and political participation, and required urgent determination to prevent further institutional uncertainty.

The legal battle is playing out amid criticism by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of courts intrusion into internal affairs of political parties.

The NBA, in a statement signed by its president, Afam Osigwe, on Friday, expressed grave concerns over increasing interference of the courts in such matters.

This emerging trend of subverting the clear letters of the Electoral Act and dragging courts into the internal affairs of political parties through disingenuous litigation, forum shopping, and mala fide applications designed to secure undemocratic political advantage, bodes no good for our democracy, the statement said.

Such practices, if not immediately curbed, would directly contradict the clear intendment of the Electoral Act and risk transforming the judicial processes into avenues for political score-settling or electoral manipulation.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on the Senate of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) to suspend its plan to confer an honorary doctorate on Tanzanias President, Samia Hassan, citing concerns over alleged human rights violations in her country.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that NSUK is expected to honour President Hassan with a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) during its eighth combined convocation scheduled for 11 April, which also marks the universitys 25th anniversary.

The announcement has, however, sparked controversy, following reports of a crackdown on post-election protests in Tanzania after the 2025 presidential election.

President Hassan won the October 2025 election with 98 per cent of the vote, but the process was widely criticised after major opposition figures were barred from contesting, including opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who remains in detention on treason charges.

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International media reports, including investigations by CNN, and findings by Human Rights Watch, alleged that security forces used excessive force during protests that followed the election.

The reports claimed that unarmed protesters were shot in several locations, with videos and eyewitness accounts pointing to widespread casualties.

Human Rights Watch also accused authorities of using live ammunition and carrying out other abuses during the crackdown.

The Tanzanian government has acknowledged that there were casualties but has not released official figures. It has also dismissed higher death toll claims, insisting that the situation has been exaggerated.

President Hassan, in her defence, said the unrest was not a peaceful protest but a coordinated attempt to destabilise the country. She maintained that security forces acted within reasonable limits to restore order.

In a statement shared with this newspaper on Friday, Mr Falana, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the planned honour raises serious moral and legal concerns, especially given the allegations surrounding the Tanzanian governments response to the protests.

He argued that universities should uphold values of justice and human rights, and avoid actions that could be seen as endorsing alleged abuses.

He warned that proceeding with the award could be interpreted as tolerance for impunity, adding that honorary degrees should reflect integrity and public service, not controversy.

Mr Falana also urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to step in and review the decision in line with its guidelines on honorary degrees, which stress transparency, merit, and due process.

I urge the National Universities Commission (NUC) to immediately, transparently and effectively investigate whether NSUKs decision complies with the NUCs February 2026 guidelines on the conferment of honorary degrees. Pending this, the NUC should ask the NSUK to suspend or reconsider the proposed conferment.

The National Universities Commission (NUC)s February 2026 guidelines on the conferment of honorary degrees emphasise that such awards must remain exceptional distinctions reserved for individuals of proven integrity, outstanding achievement, and demonstrable contributions to society.

The guidelines caution universities against the indiscriminate or routine granting of honorary degrees, noting that these honours are symbolic and must not be treated as equivalent to earned academic qualifications.

Likewise, universities are required to ensure that nominees meet clearly defined criteria consistent with the values, credibility, and academic integrity of the Nigerian university system. The guidelines place a duty of due diligence and accountability on university governing councils and senates, requiring rigorous vetting processes, transparent justification for selections, and careful assessment of reputational risks, Mr Falana stated.

At the time of filing this report, NSUK had not responded to the criticism.
Chido is a recipient of many awards, including the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy Award for excellence in journalism and the Clement Mwale Prize for courage, as well as various academic distinctions in Canada. At 60, Dr Chido Onumah is a testament to a purposeful life. He has demonstrated that consistency over time breeds excellence and drives reform through effective journalism and advocacy.

He writes as if ink were conscience,

as if each sentence were summoned

from the tribunal of truth

not borrowed, not softened, not sold.

In a land where silence is often safer,

He chooses the harder grammar of courage,

arranging words like witnesses

who refuse to forget what they have seen.

Chido

Your name moves through corridors of power

not as a whisper,

But as a question that will not kneel.

You have made journalism a moral archive,

each column a ledger of accountability,

Each argument is a quiet rebellion

against the easy amnesia of nations.

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You do not write to decorate history

You interrogate it.

You do not flatter the present

You unsettle it.

In your prose lives the stubborn clarity

of one who knows

that truth is not neutral,

that justice has a vocabulary,

and that language, when sharpened,

can cut through the fog of power.

Like the griots of old,

You remember for us

But you also warn,

You insist,

You provoke the future

to answer for the present.

For the committed intellectual

does not measure success in applause,

but in the trembling of falsehood,

in the discomfort of the powerful,

in the awakening of those

who had forgotten how to question.

And so you write

not because it is easy,

But because it is necessary.

Nigeria listens,

even when it pretends not to!

Dr Chido Onumah was born on 10th April 1966. He was born at a time when the nation was walking the path of identity formation for national interest and development. To many outside the immediate family, the birth of Chido was just one of the many deliveries  nothing outside the ordinary. And now, sixty years since birth, Chidos life speaks volumes, not as a mere recount of professional achievements, but one of sustained identity for justice, accountability, and truth advocacy. To celebrate him at 60 is to appreciate a man who has consistently chosen the uncommon  the uncommon route of truth-telling, institutional engagements, and principled engagement along the corridors of power.

Chido had his primary education in the Army Children School, Apapa, and attended Awori Ajeromi Grammar School for post-primary education. He had his undergraduate studies at the University of Calabar, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1991. It was at this point that he began to develop a strong affinity for analytical reasoning, ethical engagements, and thoughtful criticism. These core values would later define his distinctive journalism and style of advocacy.

Upon graduation, he enrolled at the University of Ontario, Canada, to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Journalism in 2002. As a university student, he won the Jerry Rogers Writing Award and the William C. Heine Fellowship for International Media Studies. He did not immediately pursue his deed. It was not until 2019, that he crowned his academic pursuits with a Ph.D in Communication and Journalism from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.

Chido is not just particular about practice; he is equally committed to scholarship within his chosen profession.

During the formative years as a professional, Chido was a familiar face in newsrooms across Nigeria and West Africa. He was a trainee at The Guardian in Lagos. He was a political and human rights correspondent for Sentinel and The News at a time when journalism in this field required courage. He was the Associate Editor for Weekly Insight in Ghana and a member of the coordinating team for the West African Human Rights Committee, where he led investigations into human rights violations and mobilised support campaigns for detained journalists and political prisoners. Almost at the same time, he corresponded for Africanews Service in Nairobi, Kenya, and was the Africa Observer in New York. Chidos formative years were intentional towards building a purposeful career.

By the early 2000s, Chido had successfully transitioned transnationally. At the Panos Institute in Washington, DC, he oversaw Africa Programmes, with the responsibility for shaping journalism curricula and training emerging reporters in conflict, diversity, and human rights reporting. He built a synergetic work relationship between African and Caribbean journalists working on HIV/AIDS. The synergy was to ensure early reporting for quick intervention.

He returned upon the inauguration of the nations anti-graft agency, and joined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he led the Civil Society Unit and coordinated the Fix Nigeria Initiative. At the EFCC, Chido worked as a member of an institution within a society seeking to develop anti-corruption agendas through the training of journalists in investigative reporting, running ethics workshops, enabling strategic partnerships, and collaborations with youth groups, womens groups, faith-based organisations, and concerned professional bodies on integrity and accountability. He was critical in producing drafts and templates that translated complex international anti-corruption laws into accessible tools for citizens. His work was a blend of governance and public education.

Between 2008 and 2010, he served as Research Assistant to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at St Antonys College, University of Oxford, and later at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC. Throughout this period, his support for anti-corruption advocacy remained relentless globally. He wrote speeches, prepared reports, and contributed to money-laundering cases against politically exposed persons.

Yet, if there is anything that consistently defines Chidos global footprint, it is Media and Information Literacy (MIL). In 2004, he became the Coordinator of the African Center for Media and Information Literacy in Abuja. In this capacity, he champions a team of dedicated individuals in pushing for informed citizen participation in politics, aiming to build a culture in which citizens can critically assess, analyse, and create information.

Chido is a global leader. As Co-Chair of the Global Alliance on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL) and Coordinator of the Pan African Alliance on Media and Information Literacy (PAMIL), he has worked closely with UNESCO country offices and ministries of education to develop policies and curricula that fit MIL into institutional education systems. As a consultant to UNESCO in Paris since 2010, he has been critical to the development of global MIL policies and indicators, effectively representing Africa within global contexts. Since 2010, Chido has served as Graduate Assistant and Visiting Lecturer at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, teaching travel journalism, multiculturalism, international reporting, and media literacy. Out of the classroom, Chido has robust volunteer commitments. He is a Board Member of the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN), promoting whistleblowing, protecting whistleblowers, and reestablishing public trust. At the same time, he promotes cross-cultural learning and digital inclusion initiatives at the World Computer Exchange Initiative.

His bibliography reflects Nigerias contested journey. Starting with Nigeria is Negotiable to We Are All Biafrans, and then Time to Reclaim Nigeria to Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years; Sixty Voices, his works ride along the complexities of nationhood, democracy, and the unfinished business of justice. He has edited volumes on children, youth, journalists, and public intellectuals.

Chido is a recipient of many awards, including the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy Award for excellence in journalism and the Clement Mwale Prize for courage, as well as various academic distinctions in Canada. At 60, Dr Chido Onumah is a testament to a purposeful life. He has demonstrated that consistency over time breeds excellence and drives reform through effective journalism and advocacy.

Happy 60th birthday, Chido.

Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland.
Thank you, Uncle Chido, for being a man of remarkable and enduring humility; a true and exemplary Nigerian; a believer in the capacity and potential of young people; and a consistent supporter of those who are striving to build a better nation. Thank you for your transparent honesty and integrity, and for being, in every sense, a fine gentleman.

Uncle Chido, as he is fondly called by me and by many of his younger friends and mentees, is one of the most humble people I have been privileged to know. If humility were a person, it would be Uncle Chido. He does not merely wear humility like a garment; he embodies it. It shows not only in his appearance, but also in the way he speaks and in his disposition toward life. I have no doubt that this rare quality will feature prominently in many of the tributes that will be written about him as he marks his 60th birthday.

I first met Uncle Chido in 2010 during the preparations for the 2011 general elections. A friend had invited me to join a group of passionate young people who believed in the candidacy of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was running for the office of president at the time. On the campaign, Uncle Chido was one of two remarkable individuals I met who worked closely with the Team Ribadu volunteer movement, which we constituted and coordinated. The other was Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, fondly called Uncle Dapsy, the publisher of Premium Times and the CEO of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

What I later came to understand was that both Uncle Chido and Uncle Dapsy had previously worked with Mallam Ribadu when he served as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). While Uncle Dapsy served as chief of staff to Mallam Ribadu, Uncle Chido was the pioneer coordinator of the Crime Prevention Unit, also known as the Fix Nigeria Initiative. In that role, he coordinated programmes designed to mobilise civil society against corruption and help build a culture of accountability around the EFCCs anti-graft work. The initiative connected the EFCC with NGOs, media organisations and citizens, strengthening public participation in the anti-corruption agenda. This was a demonstration of Uncle Chidos brilliance and his commitment to public accountability.

During the campaign, Uncle Chido, alongside Uncle Dapsy, placed enormous confidence in the energy and potential of young people. They encouraged us, provided support, and lent us their experience and insight. With that backing, we were able to mobilise young Nigerians across the country in support of Mallam Ribadus candidacy. Through that experience, I witnessed Uncle Chidos deep commitment to the cause of a new and working Nigeria. I saw his genuine passion for young people. I also saw other qualities that define him; loyalty, gentle courage, quiet fearlessness, and transparent honesty, among others.

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Uncle Chido is also a thoroughly detribalised Nigerian. This was unfortunately misunderstood during the administration of former President Buhari when the State Security Service (SSS) briefly detained and invited him for questioning on account of the title of his book, We Are All Biafrans. Had they taken the time to read the book, they would have understood that it was not an endorsement of secession, but a powerful commentary on the economic marginalisation experienced by many Nigerians across ethnic and regional lines.

The central argument of the book is that the Nigerian state is structurally flawed and that many of the countrys recurring crises flow from that flawed foundation. In the collection of essays written between 2013 and 2016, Uncle Chido uses Biafra as a metaphor rather than a secessionist idea. His point is that many groups across Nigeria feel marginalised or excluded; in that sense, we are all Biafrans  citizens who feel alienated by the structure and governance of the country. This concern for Nigeria and its future runs through his many writings, including 60 Voices at 60, a book he published to commemorate Nigerias 60th independence anniversary, which focused on reflections and solutions to the countrys enduring challenges.

Without any doubt, Uncle Chido is a model of a truly patriotic Nigerian. I count it a privilege to know him and to have developed a relationship with him. He has been an inspiration to many of us younger compatriots, consistently challenging us to continue believing in Nigeria and to sustain our quest for the realisation of its greatness. It is rare to spend thirty minutes with Uncle Chido without the conversation turning to Nigeria  its challenges and the possibilities of overcoming them. His work in the media and information literacy space is driven by a deep commitment to raising an informed and responsible citizenry. In every sense, he is a true and exemplary Nigerian.

One quality of Uncle Chido that has touched me personally is his loyalty to friends, especially in moments when they need support. If he is in town, he will make time to attend and support important moments in the lives of those around him. He has attended my conferences and even church events, including naming ceremonies. I have seen him do the same for many others  standing by colleagues during seasons of celebration as well as moments of grief. Uncle Chido is simply a beautiful human being, and I am grateful that our paths crossed.

Thank you, Uncle Chido, for being a man of remarkable and enduring humility; a true and exemplary Nigerian; a believer in the capacity and potential of young people; and a consistent supporter of those who are striving to build a better nation. Thank you for your transparent honesty and integrity, and for being, in every sense, a fine gentleman.

I pray that God grants you many more years in good health, wisdom and prosperity. May you live to see Nigeria, and indeed Africa, rise from its present challenges into the fullness of its promise in Jesus name. Amen!!!

Happy 60th birthday, Uncle Chido.

Olumide Fred Adetiba is the co-founder and executive director of the Madiba Foundation for Good Governance, Abuja.
How a man can be so good and yet so genuine remains the most astonishing thing about Chido. Dr Ike Okota his friend, once told us in the office, if you cannot work with Chido, then take a look at yourself because you are the problem. Similarly, on his fifty-fifth birthday, I remarked that although he does not advertise religiosity, he lives a life that would make a saint proud  kind, humble, honest, and modest in his needs  an evangelisers nightmare.

There are some people who come into your life and you wish you had never met them. Yet there are others whom you meet and begin to wonder where they have been all your life. Dr Chido Onumah belongs firmly to the latter category  those rare individuals you encounter, connect with instantly, and wish you had known much earlier.

Although I had followed him for years through his weekly column in The PUNCH, I first met Chido in person in 2015 in Abuja. I had been co-opted into a team on a national anti-corruption assignment, of which he was a key member. From the highly cerebral and sometimes polemical tone of his newspaper writings, I had formed an image of an aggressive, bullish, and impatient activist. The man who stood before me, however, bore no resemblance to that mental portrait. Instead, he was calm, measured, and strikingly gentle.

The first thing that stood out was how soft-spoken he is. He chooses his words with the care of a seasoned stylist, as though unwilling to squander language. Equally impressive is his patience. Even when someone advances an argument that seems illogical, Chido allows the person to finish before responding. That capacity to listen  genuinely and without interruption  is rare. It is a virtue not commonly found in public intellectuals or activists.

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That first meeting laid the foundation for what I would be understating if described merely as friendship. What Chido and I share is brotherhood. From that encounter years ago, hardly a day has passed without some form of communication between us. As the Igbo would say of enduring relationships, one party often holds the key to sustaining the bond. There is no prize for guessing that Chido holds that key in virtually all his friendships. If you do not call him, he will call you. If you forget him, he will remember you. Whether he is older than you or not is immaterial  he makes time.

When Chido is your friend, you gain far more than companionship. You gain a confidant, a counsellor, and a dependable ally. Your children gain a caring uncle who takes genuine interest in their academic progress and general wellbeing. Few friends are willing to listen to your personal struggles  family tensions, marital strain, unemployment, health concerns  without seeing them like sob stories, or making you feel diminished for sharing. Chido not only listens; he engages. Like a trained therapist, he first calms you, then begins to deploy his expansive network of contacts and social capital in search of practical solutions, beginning with accurate information. In this, he exemplifies the Igbo saying, Onye nwere madu ka onye nwere ego  he who has people is wealthier than he who has money.

In the field of information management and communications, Chido is exceptionally well-rounded. Though he first studied Philosophy at the University of Calabar, he has become one of the finest communications practitioners of his generation. Over three decades, he has practised journalism across three continents, working in Nigeria, Ghana, the United States, and India. A firm believer in lifelong learning, he later earned a doctorate in Communications from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Disturbed by the under-reporting and misrepresentation of the South-East and their implications for governance, Chido co-founded the Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiative (IMCAI), publishers of Ikengaonline in March 2022. The platform has grown into a leading accountability-focused online newspaper in the region. Through Ikenga, he and his colleagues have strengthened journalism in the South-East, promoting ethical reorientation, investigative rigour, and mentoring programmes for reporters and campus journalists.

A noiseless activist, Chido has long earned his place as a civic leader in Nigeria and beyond. His activism began in student union politics at the University of Calabar and at the level of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), grounded in radical, pro-democracy ideals. He was deeply involved in the resistance against military rule, particularly during the nationwide struggles that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.

He was among the small circle of courageous journalists who defied the Abacha military regime to continue reporting at great personal risk. At a time when routine reportage could lead to detention or worse, he served as a reporter with The News and Tempo magazines, then edited by Bayo Onanuga. It was a period that tested the resolve of media practitioners, and Chido stood firm.

Never one to abandon journalism, he later pivoted toward media and information literacy to enhance journalisms role in promoting accountability. He co-founded the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), where he serves as coordinator. Through AFRICMIL and its flagship initiative, Corruption Anonymous (CORA), he has become a leading advocate of whistleblower protection in Nigeria.

Although Nigeria adopted a Whistleblower Policy nearly a decade ago, Chido and his team have consistently pushed for comprehensive legislation to provide legal protection for whistleblowers. Working alongside the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) and other civil society actors, they have sustained advocacy for stronger institutional safeguards. His commitment has gained international recognition, culminating in his appointment as Chair of the Board of the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN).

With the return of democracy in 1999, when President Olusegun Obasanjo established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Chido, an anti-governmentalist, found himself serving in government as one of the Commissions pioneer staff members. Despite his activist disposition, he embraced the opportunity to contribute his institution-building expertise.

As Personal Assistant to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, then chairman of the EFCC, he provided critical executive and strategic support during the Commissions formative years. At a time when the institution lacked infrastructure and experienced personnel, Chido helped shape its communications and policy direction. That era is still widely regarded as the EFCCs golden period, characterised by missionary zeal and patriotic commitment.

Chido is not merely an activist; he is also a committed public intellectual. An avid reader and disciplined researcher, he believes in interrogating ideas rigorously and documenting facts carefully. He has authored and edited several influential books, including We Are All Biafrans; Time to Reclaim Nigeria; Nigeria is Negotiable, Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices; and Testimony to Courage: Essays in Honour of Dapo Olorunyomi (co-edited with Frederick Adetiba). He also co-edited Understanding Nigeria and the New Imperialism: Essays 20002006.

For someone with such a demanding schedule, his literary output is remarkable. His organisational discipline is equally noteworthy. He documents everything. Unlike the average Nigerian tailor or seamstress who overestimates his or her retentive memory, Chido writes things down  whether reading a book, watching a documentary, or attending a lecture. He once told me that this habit has been invaluable to his writings. Observing him for even a day at work may be more enriching than reading volumes on so called habits of successful people.

Perhaps the most admirable dimension of Chidos life is his devotion to family. For an Igbo man, family extends beyond the nuclear household, encompassing a wide network of relatives and obligations. Chido does not shy away from these responsibilities. I have watched him balance professional commitments, activism, and writing while still making time for his loved ones.

Distance and time zones pose no barrier. Even from Nigeria, he keeps close watch over his children abroad, assisting with schoolwork and maintaining daily contact. Having lost his mother at barely thirteen, he matured early, assuming responsibility for his younger siblings  bonds that remain strong to this day. That early responsibility perhaps explains his versatility: he can cook, clean, and adapt to virtually any situation.

His devotion to his aged father is equally profound. Since I have known him, he has never failed to travel to be with, and celebrate his fathers birthday each year. That is the essential Chido.

I remember when Chido introduced his spouse to me, I jokingly advised her to take good care of my brother. She wondered why everyone said the same thing and asked who would then take care of her. With a smile I assured her she was in good hands because caring for others is simply Chidos default mode.

How a man can be so good and yet so genuine remains the most astonishing thing about Chido. Dr Ike Okota his friend, once told us in the office, if you cannot work with Chido, then take a look at yourself because you are the problem. Similarly, on his fifty-fifth birthday, I remarked that although he does not advertise religiosity, he lives a life that would make a saint proud  kind, humble, honest, and modest in his needs  an evangelisers nightmare. I also once told him, half in jest, that if I were a woman and he proposed marriage, I would refuse. Shocked with disbelief, he asked why. I told him he was simply too good. But the truth is this: As he turns 60, Chidos life contradicts that weather beaten phrase, too good to be true but bears out the parallelism, too good, yet so true.

Happy Birthday my brother, Chido!

Uche Ugboajah is Editor-in-Chief, Ikengaonline.
The National Council on Skills (NCS) has commended Governor Uba Sani for the successful inauguration and establishment of the Kaduna State Council on Skills at its last session.

In a letter conveying the commendation, Vice President Kashim Shettima stressed that the council particularly noted Governor Sanis leadership in chairing the State Council, a move that aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda and sets a benchmark for other sub-national entities.

By creating a dedicated institutional framework for skills development, Kaduna State has demonstrated a proactive commitment to addressing the unemployment gap and fostering human capital development in line with our national objectives, he pointed out.

Vice President Shettima emphasised that the milestone of creating the Kaduna State Council on Skills is a testament to Governor Sani administrations vision of integrated economic growth.

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The Vice President further said that the National Council on Skills views the Kaduna Model as a vital template for the Bottom-Up approach to skills acquisition, which is essential for ensuring that our vocational and technical training initiatives reach the grassroots effectively.

While urging the governor to maintain the momentum, the Vice President said that NCS looks forward to continued collaboration between the National Secretariat and Kaduna State Council to harmonise standards and scale the impact of our interventions.

It is noteworthy that Governor Sani has expanded technical and vocational education as well as skills acquisition, by establishing three state-of-the-art Kaduna State Institute of Vocation Training and Skills Development (KIVTSD).

The three Skills centres which are located in Soba, Rigachikun and Samarun Kataf towns, in Zones 1, 2 and 3 senatorial districts respectively, are expected to produce 12,000 artisans annually.

The artisans who are being taught welding, aluminum fabrication, fashion design, solar panels installation and other courses, will be issued certificates after completing their respective programmes.

Kaduna State Government is also partnering with the National Board For Technical Education (NBTE) for the relevant certification of the courses.

The governor also plans to remodel the Panteka Market which has about 38,00 artisans, into an industrial hub, working in such areas as welding and fabrication, carpentry and joinery as well as masonry.
The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) has awarded Governor Dauda Lawal the Infrastructure Governor of the Year honour for his administrations giant strides in the Urban Renewal project across Zamfara.

The governor received the award at the second edition of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) awards held at the NAF conference centre, Abuja.

A statement by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the BON acknowledged Zamfara states unprecedented and transformative achievements in infrastructure, recognising excellence beyond the broadcasting industry.

He added that Governors Bassey Otu of Cross River and Uba Sani of Kaduna, the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, along with John Momoh, Shyngle Wigwe, Abubakar Jijiwa, and Saa Ibrahim, were among the prominent Nigerians honoured at the 2026 Nigeria Broadcasting Awards.

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The statement read in parts, The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, an umbrella body for public and private broadcasters in Nigeria, was established in 1973 to promote the interests of the broadcasting industry and ensure high standards in media practices.

The organisation conducted a thorough months-long selection process aimed at recognising professional excellence and raising standards for media practice across Nigeria.

The Awards Selection Committee was chaired by Dr Danladi Bako, former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The awards panel included veterans and representatives from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and the NBC.

The selection committee cited numerous reasons for awarding Governor Dauda Lawal, notably his significant progress across sectors, particularly for transforming Gusau into a modern State Capital.

Zamfara has witnessed unprecedented achievements under Governor Dauda Lawal, including the historic construction of a modern International Airport in the State.

Apart from urban renewal projects, as well as the construction and outfitting of General Hospitals, Governor Dauda Lawals administration has built, refurbished, and equipped over 800 schools across the 14 local government areas of the State.

This recognition by the highest broadcasting authority in Nigeria will motivate the governor to dedicate more effort to his mission to serve and rebuild Zamfara state.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that his administration will return missionary schools in the state to their original owners as part of efforts to strengthen partnerships in the education sector.

The governor made this known on Friday while receiving the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Michael Francis Crotty, who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, alongside the Catholic Bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Francis Obafemi Adesina, the Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta, Peter Odetoyinbo, and other church officials.

Mr Abiodun acknowledged the longstanding contributions of religious bodies to the education and health sectors, stressing that government alone cannot drive development without the active involvement of private and faith-based institutions.

We will return all missionary schools to their owners. It is not our policy to do it alone. We need to join hands with private individuals, and we encourage further partnership with the Church to expand development, he said.

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The governor described Ogun State as a hub of religious harmony and a growing destination for religious tourism, noting that faith-based organisations continue to play a vital role in sustaining peace and development.

He highlighted the impact of the Catholic Church, citing its global population of about 1.2 billion, with an estimated 34 million adherents in Nigeria and about 1.2 million in Ogun State, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.

According to him, the peaceful coexistence among adherents of different religions in the state has significantly contributed to its socio-economic progress.

The services rendered by religious bodies help in achieving peace in the state. Our people believe you more than politicians because they believe politicians make promises without fulfilling them. The role of faith-based organisations is duly appreciated, Mr Abiodun added.

While attributing the successes recorded by his administration to the support and prayers of the faithful, the governor congratulated the Papal Nuncio on his appointment, expressing confidence in his capacity to succeed.

Do not doubt that you will do well in your chosen path, and this visit will benefit both the Church and the state, he said.

Earlier, Rev Michael Francis Crotty commended the governor for promoting religious harmony and providing a conducive environment for the Churchs activities in the state.

Your provision of a stable and supportive political environment has significantly enhanced the mission of the Catholic Church in your state, and we are grateful for that, he said.

He urged the state government to sustain collaboration with the Church, particularly in the health and education sectors, where both institutions share common goals.

Rev Crotty also lauded the governor for initiating the process of returning schools to their original owners, expressing optimism that Catholic schoolsespecially those in the dioceses of Ijebu-Ode and Abeokutawould be among those returned.

The Catholic Church is willing to collaborate with the state in strengthening human development, which is central to the mission and social teaching of the Church, he added.
New campaign celebrates meaningful life "firsts" through the EV2

EV2 positioned as Kia's smallest EV and entry point to the brand's electric line-up

Fully integrated 360-degree European campaign spans TV, cinema, product films, print, and social-first content

Second campaign phase to introduce creator-led in summer 2026

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Europe has launched "The Power of Firsts", a new integrated campaign marking the introduction of the EV2, the smallest EV in the brand's line-up and its entry point into electric mobility.

Developed in collaboration with INNOCEAN Berlin, the campaign positions the EV2 as an enabler of new experiences. Moving beyond purely product messaging, it connects with new and emerging customer groups through emotionally grounded storytelling while reinforcing Kia's progressive brand identity.

The Kia EV2: every journey begins with a first #Kia #EV2 #MovementThatInspires Kia Europe has launched The Power of Firsts, a new integrated campaign marking the introduction of the EV2 The Kia EV2 offers the best of Kia in its most compact electric car yet

Celebrating new beginnings

"The Power of Firsts" builds on a simple insight: first experiences shape how we see the world. Whether it is a first independent drive, a first creative step, or a first shared adventure, these moments often mark key transitions into new life chapters.

"The EV2 represents a significant step in broadening access to electric mobility within Kia's line-up," said David Hilbert, Marketing Director at Kia Europe. "With 'The Power of Firsts', we want to place the focus on the human experience. The campaign positions the EV2 as a companion to meaningful first moments and demonstrates Kia's ambition to connect with customers in an authentic, meaningful way that reflects how they live today."

"A campaign of this nature is, coincidentally, a first for Kia," added Gabriel Mattar, CCO at Innocean Berlin. "It evolves over time, going from a traditional film to a social second chapter. A testimony of Kia's constant search for innovation and inspiration in everything they do."

The creative execution presents a distinctly forward-looking narrative. A series of intimate vignettes portrays meaningful "firsts", all subtly connected through the presence of the EV2. Each story is crafted to resonate broadly, appealing to diverse audiences while avoiding age-based or life-stage stereotypes.

A fully integrated 360-degree approach

"The Power of Firsts" launches as a multi-channel platform across Europe. The first phase of the campaign includes a hero film for television, cinema, and digital platforms, supported by dedicated product films, print executions, digital assets, and tailored social-first content for platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

The campaign has been designed modularly. This maintains a consistent narrative while allowing for adaptation across formats and markets. Neutral photography and digital assets support the EV2 product website and online brochure.

The second chapter of "The Power of Firsts"

The campaign will be expanded in summer 2026 with a second phase, featuring collaborations with content creators from different disciplines. Each will revisit a defining personal "first" with the EV2 integrated into their story. Two creators introduced in the main film will continue their involvement. This approach embeds the campaign naturally within social platforms and maintains long-term engagement beyond the initial launch.

Expanding Kia's electric portfolio

As the smallest EV in Kia's line-up, the EV2 plays a strategic role within the brand's growing electric portfolio. It complements Kia's larger EVs by offering a compact, design-led and emotionally distinctive electric car that captures the essence of the brand. Through progressive storytelling, the EV2 is positioned to resonate with both existing and new customer segments.

About Kia Europe

Kia Europe is the European sales and manufacturing division of Kia Corporation  a global mobility brand that is creating innovative, pioneering, and leading sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies around the world. As a Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider, Kia is spearheading the popularisation of electrified and battery electric vehicles and developing a growing range of mobility services, encouraging people around the world to explore the best ways of getting around.

Kia Europe, headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, employs in total over 5,500 employees from 40 nationalities in 39 markets across Europe and the Caucasus. It also oversees European production at the company's state-of-the-art facility in Zilina, Slovakia. Kia's innovative products continue to attract great acclaim, notably the EV6 battery electric vehicle, becoming the first Korean car to be named European Car of the Year in 2022.

Further information can be found here: www.press-eu.kia.com

About INNOCEAN

INNOCEAN, launched in 2005 as the marketing vanguard for Hyundai Motor Group, evolved rapidly into a true global marketing communications company, with over 3,800 employees and a worldwide network consisting of 23 overseas operations.

Its European network, with almost 400 employees from 50+ nationalities, builds bespoke international teams in proximity to clients across its offices in Frankfurt am Main (also serving as the regional HQ), London, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, and Istanbul.

The agency has accelerated its expansion since the set-up of a European Creative Hub in Berlin. In 2018, it hired Gabriel Mattar and Ricardo Wolff as European COO and ECD respectively, to lead a tight-knit, award-winning international creative team based at the Hackescher Markt.

Kia Europe Media Office

Contact. pr@kia-europe.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2953300/kia_EV2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2953298/Kia_Europe.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2953299/compact_electric_car.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2827711/5908776/Kia_Motors_Europe_Logo.jpg
PHILADELPHIA, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: FCO) announces that the Special Meeting of Shareholders was held and adjourned today, to allow for the solicitation of additional proxies to achieve the requisite quorum. The Fund has set a new adjournment date for its Special Meeting of Shareholders of Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:00 pm Eastern Time.

Shareholders of the Fund are being asked to vote on two proposals to approve:

An Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between the abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: FCO) and abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: FAX) The liquidation and dissolution of FCO.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you cast your vote for the reorganization and liquidation of the fund pursuant to the plan of Reorganization as described in the Joint Proxy Statement.

Shareholders are directed to the supplemental proxy materials that they will receive in the mail for further information. The proxy statement, as supplemented to date, is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website, www.sec.gov.

Important Information

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

The value at which a closed-end fund stock trades on a stock exchange is a function of external market factors that are not under the control of the Fund's Board or Investment Advisor. Closed-end fund shares may therefore trade at a premium or a discount to net asset value at any given time. Shareholders should be aware that a fund trading at a premium to net asset value may not be sustainable, and a fund's discount to net asset value can widen as well as narrow. Shareholders of a fund trading at a premium who participate in that fund's dividend reinvestment plan should note the reinvestment of distributions may occur at a premium to net asset value.

About Aberdeen Investments

Aberdeen Investments Global is the trade name of Aberdeen's investments business, herein referred to as "Aberdeen Investments" or "Aberdeen". In the United States, Aberdeen Investments refers to the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited.

Aberdeen Investments is one of the world's largest asset management firms with extensive experience in managing closed-end funds dating back to the 1980s. As of December 31, 2025, Aberdeen Investments had approximately $525 billion in assets under management.

SOURCE Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc.
APDA Advocates Secure Important Spots on Council with Appointment of Cathi Ann Thomas, MS, RN, CNRN and David G. Standaert, MD, PhD

NEW YORK, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) applauds the announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. regarding the appointment of members to the Advisory Council on Parkinson's Research, Care, and Services. Established in 2024 under the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act, the Council brings together a broad range of Parkinson's disease (PD) expertise and lived experience. APDA is thrilled with the selections of Cathi Ann Thomas, MS, RN, CNRN and David G. Standaert, MD, PhD  two dedicated, long-standing APDA partners and fierce advocates for the PD community.

The Advisory Council is comprised of public members representing a broad range of expertise in Parkinson's disease and key government officials. They have been charged with the evaluation and prioritization of federally funded initiatives in PD research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, clinical care, and programs. They are also tasked with identifying ways to reduce the financial burden of Parkinson's disease, improve health outcomes and quality of care, and address environmental triggers and underlying factors contributing to Parkinson's disease.

"APDA applauds the Administration's commitment to the National Parkinson's Plan and wholeheartedly congratulates the Council members," said Leslie A. Chambers, President & CEO, APDA. "As part of its work, we are urging the Council to set firm, reasonable reporting timelines that will enable it to produce meaningful reports that include an estimate of the investments needed to prevent, diagnose, treat, and ultimately cure Parkinson's disease, as well as ways to prioritize improving the quality of life of those living with Parkinson's and their families."

APDA-Affiliated Leaders Appointed to the Council:

Cathi Ann Thomas, MS, RN, CNRN, is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Program Director of the Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC), based at Boston Medical Center. As an Information & Referral Coordinator for APDA she has been developing patient programs and services both locally and nationally, including Parkinson Good Start, PRESS, Care Partner Support series, Support Group facilitator training, and more. As a member of a multidisciplinary research team at BUMC, an APDA Center for Advanced Research, she has also participated in more than 50 clinical research studies in Parkinson's.

David G. Standaert, MD, PhD, is the John N. Whitaker Professor and Chair of Neurology at the Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, site of an APDA Center for Advanced Research. He serves as the Chair of APDA's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) which oversees and guides the annual competitive review process for APDA research grants, ensuring it is rigorous, fair, and scientifically sound.

The Council will be co-chaired by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) and will convene soon to begin its work. APDA's Department of Public Policy will be monitoring this progress and keeping the PD community updated.

Advisory Council on Parkinson's Research, Care, and Services Membership:

Per the enacted law, the Council must be comprised of a specific mix of representation from the PD community. The official members are as follows:

Two Patient Advocates, including at least one individual who is living with young onset PD :

Israel Robledo

Sara Whittingham, MD

Family Caregiver:

Jessi Keavney, MBA

Health Care Provider:

Cathi-Ann Thomas, RN, MS, CNRN

Two Biomedical Researchers with Parkinson's Related Expertise:

Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD

David Standaert, MD, PhD

A Movement Disorders Specialist Who Treats People with Parkinson's:

Michael Okun, MD

A Dementia Specialist Who Treats People with Parkinson's:

Bradley F. Boeve, MD

Two Representatives from Parkinson's-related Nonprofit Organizations:

Deborah Brooks, MBA

Jessica Shurer, MSW

Government Officials

Amy Bany Adams, PhD -- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health

Nancy Beck, PhD  Environmental Protection Agency

Maria Bellantoni, MD  Indian Health Service

Teresa Buracchio, MD  Food and Drug Administration

John Duda, MD  Department of Veterans Affairs

Stephanie E. Haridopolos, MD  Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General

Roger Klein, MD, JD  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Gayathri Kumar, MD Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health

Mary Lazare, MA, MS  Administration of Community Living

Shari Ling, MD  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Daniel Monson, PhD  Department of Defense

Edda Thiels, PhD  National Science Foundation

Vacant  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

About the American Parkinson Disease Association

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting Parkinson's disease (PD) by providing the support, education, research, and community that helps everyone impacted by PD live life to the fullest. Through a nationwide grassroots network of Chapters and Information & Referral (I&R) Centers, APDA works tirelessly to raise public awareness of this chronic neurologic movement disorder and deliver outstanding patient services, resources, and educational and wellness programs to the approximately one million people living with PD in the United States and their care partners and families. Envisioning a world without PD, APDA's national research program and Centers for Advanced Research aim to provide better treatments and unlock the mysteries of the disease. APDA is also committed to advancing public policy solutions that improve lives and move us toward a cure. Founded in 1961, APDA has raised and invested more than $338 million in its efforts to support the PD community. Learn more at www.apdaparkinson.org.

SOURCE American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.
LIBOURNE, France, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceva Animal Health, the world's fifth largest animal health company, majority-owned by its management team, today announces the appointment of Sebastien Huron as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This move forms part of a broader governance evolution, following Marc Prikazsky's decision to appoint a Deputy CEO and move to a dual leadership structure in which he becomes Executive Chairman, overseeing long term strategic priorities, while Sebastien Huron steers the Group's operational management and chairs the Executive Committee.

Sebastien Huron  Deputy CEO Marc Prikazsky  Executive President and Sebastien Huron  Deputy CEO

Strengthening strategic and operational focus

As Executive Chairman, Marc Prikazsky will concentrate on Ceva's long-term agenda, including strengthening the trusted and longstanding relationships the company maintains with its investors, leading customer focused innovation, developing future leaders, and reinforcing Ceva's role in addressing major global challenges.

Marc Prikazsky commented: "This governance evolution reflects the scale Ceva has reached and our ambition to reinforce both strategic focus and operational excellence. I am delighted to welcome Sebastien, whose experience, global outlook and deeply human leadership will be key assets. I have full confidence in his ability to lead our teams with ambition, courage and pragmatism. Sebastien and I will work closely to ensure continuity while accelerating Ceva's next phase of development."

A global profile and proven leadership

A veterinarian trained at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, Sebastien Huron began his career in 1994 at Mars Inc. in France, working in marketing for the pet food division. Later that year, he moved to Brazil to join Roussel-Uclaf / Hoechst Roussel Vet, where he spent six years in various leadership roles across marketing, R&D and business development for Latin America and Brazil.

In 2000, he relocated to the United States to join Intervet, first as Director of the Market Development Group for North America, then as Director of the Companion Animals Business Team.

He returned to Europe in 2006, taking responsibility for Southern Europe at Virbac before being appointed Area Director for Europe in 2008. He later joined the Group's Executive Board and became Head of Global Business Operations. From 2017 to 2024, he served as CEO of Virbac, leading the company through a period of record organic growth.

With over 30 years of experience across different continents, Sebastien has developed deep expertise in strategy, marketing, R&D, industrial operations and general management.

He is widely recognized for his collaborative leadership, multicultural vision and strong customer orientation.

Reflecting on his appointment, Sebastien Huron stated:

"I am honored to join Ceva at a moment when the company has an exceptional strategic foundation and a strong culture of innovation. I have always admired the entrepreneurial spirit and passion of Ceva's teams. My priority will be to support them with energy, experience and an entrepreneurial mindset so that, together, we can accelerate the Group's development and continue to deliver meaningful value for our customers and partners worldwide."

About Ceva Animal Health

Ceva Animal Health (Ceva) is the 5th global largest animal health company, led by experienced veterinarians, whose mission is to provide innovative health solutions for all animals to ensure the highest level of care and well-being. Our portfolio includes preventive medicine such as vaccines and animal welfare products, pharmaceutical solutions for farm and companion animals, as well as equipment and services to provide the best experience for our customers.

With more than 7,200 employees located in 47 countries, Ceva strives daily to bring to life its vision as a One Health company: "Together, beyond animal health".

2025 turnover: 1.92 billion

www.ceva.com

Contact:

Emilie Barrail

Group head of external communication

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2953126/Ceva_Animal_Health_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2953127/Ceva_Animal_Health_2.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2952036/Ceva_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Ceva Animal Health
SAN FRANCISCO, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- City College of San Francisco (CCSF) invites San Francisco Bay Area communities to its largest annual open house event, CCSF Connect 2026, on Saturday, April 18th, at 11:00am  2:00pm at the Student Success Center building on CCSF Ocean Campus (50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112), the new home of Student Resource Programs and Support Services.

CCSF Connect is a fun and yet helpful annual community event which allows its event attendees to meet CCSF communities and learn more about various academic programs, resource programs, and support services the college provides for students' successful journey and long-lasting meaningful impact. The event offers free food, free parking, campus tours, fun games, live jazz music, exclusive CCSF giveaways, and special raffle prizes.

CCSF offers over 1,000 courses in over 150 academic disciplines throughout the year. There is always a course or program that you would find interesting or relevant to your needs. CCSF has many possibilities from obtaining degrees and certificates, university transfers to career development, personal enrichment, and life-long learning.

Sign up at CCSF.EDU/Connect2026 to attend this fun event today! Bring your friends, family, and colleagues to this event and learn how we can help you shape your future through our academic resources as well as other support resources.

To inquire about the event or any academic and resource programs at CCSF, please contact the CCSF Outreach and Recruitment office at [email protected] or 415.239.3557.

For media inquiries, please contact Meg Hudson in the CCSF Outreach and Recruitment Department at [email protected] or 415.452.5463.

About CCSF: Bringing higher education opportunities since 1935, and now celebrating its 90th anniversary, City College of San Francisco is an urban community college serving over 40,000 students annually at various locations throughout San Francisco. To learn more about CCSF, visit our website at CCSF.EDU or sign up for our information sessions at CCSF.EDU/INFO.

SOURCE City College of San Francisco
Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm to discuss their rights and options at no cost or obligation. We would handle any matter on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses.

Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights.

NEW YORK, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders.

If you currently own Archer-Daniels stock and are a long-term shareholder, you may be able to seek corporate governance reforms, the return of funds back to the company, a court-approved financial incentive award, or other relief and benefits. Please click here to learn more about your legal rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or [email protected] or [email protected]. Our firm would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses.

Why Your Participation Matters:

Shareholder involvement can help improve a company's policies, practices, and oversight mechanisms to create a more transparent, accountable, and effectively managed organization, which can enhance shareholder value.

Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Halper Sadeh LLC

One World Trade Center

85th Floor

New York, NY 10007

Daniel Sadeh, Esq.

Zachary Halper, Esq.

(212) 763-0060

[email protected]

[email protected]

https://www.halpersadeh.com

SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP
Transaction strengthens emagine's delivery capabilities and access to high-quality talent across the region

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- emagine announces today that it has acquired Gentis' consulting operations in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, expanding its European presence to include Belgium and Luxembourg while also strengthening its presence in France.

Gentis is a Belgium-founded consulting firm with a 15-year track record of building a scaled, multi-country platform across Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. Supported by more than 270 consultants deployed on assignments with long-standing client relationships across these markets, the acquired business represents Gentis' consulting operations. It also provides emagine with immediate access to established local teams, deep delivery capabilities, and a well-embedded regional footprint.

In addition to geographical expansion, this transaction further enables the delivery of near- and off-shore services to an existing client base in new countries.

"This is about improving how we serve our clients while significantly expanding our European footprint," said Anders Gratte, CEO of emagine. "It gives us faster access to high-quality talent and more consistent delivery. We are excited to execute in these new markets and deliver for clients from day one, combining strong local expertise with more efficient, technology-enabled ways of matching talent to demand. We are very pleased to welcome the Gentis team to emagine."

"What made Gentis work was never just commercial performance, it was the way we operated: with trust, with directness, and with genuine care for the people in our business," said Stephanie Reniers, Co-Founder & CEO, Gentis Group. "When we looked at emagine, what stood out was not only the strategic fit but the cultural one. A Nordic approach to leadership, built on equality, openness and strong relationships, is not a claim we take lightly. It is the foundation we have tried to build ourselves. We are confident that what we hand over will be well looked after."

Media Contact:

Andrew Green

[email protected]
SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer S.A. (the "Company") hereby informs its shareholders and the investors in general that its Board of Directors has elected Mr. Felipe Santana Santiago de Lima as Executive Vice President, Financial & Investor Relations, effective April 13, 2026.

Currently the Company's Global Director of Treasury, Mr. Felipe Santana, has 18 years of experience at Embraer, with leadership roles across strategic areas including financial operations, treasury, insurance, customer finance, and shared services. Throughout his career, he has developed solid expertise in corporate finance and treasury, with exposure to capital markets, liability management, relationships with investors and financial institutions, aircraft financing, and risk management, in addition to extensive experience leading teams, with a strong focus on financial discipline, efficient capital allocation, and consistent results delivery.

The Company emphasizes that the appointment of the new Executive Vice President, Financial & Investor Relations ensures continuity in its financial management, does not affect its strategy, operations, or financial commitments, and reaffirms its confidence in the strength of its position and in the execution of its business plan focused on sustainable growth.

The Company wishes Mr. Felipe Santana every success in his new role.

Sao Jose dos Campos, April 10, 2026.

Francisco Gomes Neto

Executive Vice President, Financial & Investor Relations

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
PUNTA GORDA, Fla., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- How can homeowners in Florida build smarter, more efficient homes that stay cool and affordable year-round? That question is explored in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Home Building Expert Paul H Schaefer II of Sage Homes LLC in Punta Gorda, Florida. The article breaks down how design choicesfrom roofing materials to HVAC systemsimpact comfort, durability, and long-term energy savings across Punta Gorda and Charlotte County.

Paul H Schaefer II, Owner of Sage Homes Speed Speed

Designing a green home in Florida starts with understanding how the state's warm, humid climate affects daily living. The HelloNation feature explains that homeowners can achieve meaningful energy reductions by working with an energy efficient home builder Punta Gorda residents trust, who understands how each building component influences cooling and insulation performance. Every part of a house, from roof to foundation, contributes to how well it manages heat, moisture, and energy costs.

The roof plays the most critical role. According to the article, homes on Florida's Gulf Coast receive constant sunlight, and dark shingles or tiles can absorb heat that radiates into the living space below. Light-colored or reflective roofing materials are key to lowering attic temperatures and reducing the load on air conditioning systems. Many energy efficient builders in Punta Gorda now recommend metal roofs with solar-reflective coatings or specialized shingles designed for heat deflection.

Insulation is the next major factor. The HelloNation article details how spray foam insulation, applied to the underside of the roof deck, creates a tight air barrier that blocks both heat and humidity. This method helps maintain steady indoor temperatures and prevents moisture buildupa frequent issue in Florida's humid climate. When combined with proper ventilation, spray foam insulation can significantly reduce the energy required to cool a home.

Windows also play an essential role in Florida green building strategies. The article highlights how low-emissivity (e-coated) windows reflect infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through. This type of glass keeps interiors bright while reducing the amount of heat entering the home. With less solar gain, homeowners can rely less on air conditioning, saving money on electricity throughout the year.

HVAC efficiency is another central theme in the HelloNation feature. High-efficiency air conditioning systems equipped with variable-speed blowers and programmable thermostats allow more precise temperature control while using less power. Pairing these systems with a whole-home dehumidifier keeps indoor moisture levels balanced and prevents overcooling. Paul H Schaefer II emphasizes that the best results come from properly sizing the HVAC unit to the home's layout and square footage, ensuring consistent comfort and performance.

The article also discusses how solar panels are becoming a valuable addition to energy-efficient homes in Florida. With abundant sunshine, solar systems can generate enough electricity to offset or even surpass household energy needs. However, the HelloNation feature notes that before installing solar panels, homeowners should first optimize insulation, windows, and HVAC systems. Once a home's energy demand is minimized, solar power delivers even greater returns on investment.

Appliances and lighting complete the efficiency equation. Builders focused on Florida green building are now incorporating LED lighting, Energy Star-rated appliances, and tankless water heaters during the design phase. Integrating these systems early ensures that every element of the home works together for maximum performance. Paul H Schaefer II explains that this whole-home approach is what separates standard construction from true energy-efficient design.

Reflective roofing, spray foam insulation, e-coated windows, and HVAC efficiency are just part of a larger strategy to make homes more sustainable. The HelloNation feature emphasizes that these upgrades go beyond meeting state codethey create living spaces that remain cool and comfortable while reducing long-term energy bills. As Schaefer notes, investing in smart design pays off through durability, lower maintenance, and improved quality of life.

In Punta Gorda and across Charlotte County, interest in sustainable construction continues to grow. Homeowners increasingly recognize that an energy-efficient design is not just environmentally friendly but also a sound financial decision. Working with an energy efficient home builder Punta Gorda residents trust ensures that every choicefrom roof color to appliance selectioncontributes to a home built for Florida's future.

Building Green: Florida's Guide to Efficient Home Design features insights from Paul H Schaefer II, Home Building Expert of Punta Gorda, FL, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation
WOODBRIDGE, N.J., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. is pleased to announce a favorable decision in the matter involving One Greenwood vs. the Township of Montclair, following a ruling issued by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Essex County, on March 30, 2026, as well as the approvals of a redevelopment agreement and 30-year PILOT for a transformative redevelopment of the Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair. Our client, BDP Holdings, purchased the property in 2021, at which time the Township had been considering a redevelopment plan after years of planning for redevelopment at the site. The Township adopted a redevelopment plan in 2024, which was then challenged in court by a Montclair property owner, alleging that the redevelopment plan was unlawful, not supported by the evidence and findings, procedurally defective and unreasonable.

The court dismissed the plaintiff's claims and entered judgment in favor of the Township of Montclair and BDP Holdings, affirming the validity of the redevelopment plan. The decision clears a potentially substantial impediment to the redevelopment of the site and is a significant outcome for BDP and the Township.

Meanwhile, after a long period of negotiation, the Township approved a 30-year PILOT agreement for the project at the end of this March and executed a redevelopment agreement for the project with BDP last week.

Wilentz Shareholders Anne S. Babineau and Laurie E. Meyers represented BDP in the negotiations of the agreements with the Township and Wilentz Shareholder Robert Beckelman represented BDP in the litigation, with the assistance of Wilentz Associate Anna Monforth.

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. is one of the largest and most enduring law firms in New Jersey, offering legal services to corporate, individual and governmental clients across a broad range of practice areas. Wilentz lawyers have practiced at the forefront of landmark cases, regulatory matters and high-profile transactions since its founding by David T. Wilentz in 1919. The firm is based in Woodbridge, New Jersey, with offices in Perth Amboy, Red Bank, New York City, and Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.wilentz.com.

Results achieved in prior matters are not meant to be a guarantee of success as the facts and legal circumstances vary from matter to matter.

Media Contact:

Lisa McDonald

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

732-855-6183

SOURCE Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.
The event will feature a keynote from Junior Achievement Miami Board Member Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO and Founder of MoonPay and the Soto-Wright Foundation

MIAMI, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of their largest-ever year, and during Financial Literacy Month, Junior Achievement of Greater Miami will hold its 4th Annual JA Company Program Competition. It will take place on April 14, 2026, at Miami-Dade College, and is open to the media and board members with RSVP.

Junior Achievement

In the JA Company Program, high school students conceptualize and create their own real, operating companies from concept. Now, at the final competition, top teams will have the opportunity to pitch them to a panel of live investors and judges, who will determine the top companies for the 2025-26 school year.

This year, 2,054 Miami students at 20 schools created 70 student-run companies  a JA Miami record. These have been whittled down to a selection of 10 top teams, who will present their work to a live panel of judges that includes JA Miami board members, top local entrepreneurs, and other community leaders. The 10 teams presenting come from six high schools in Miami-Dade County.

The top team selected by this year's judges will receive $400 per student team member and a recommendation to go on to Junior Achievement USA's national competition this summer.

JA Miami's Company Program is one of the largest in the United States, and has been a model for Junior Achievement USA and other areas of this international nonprofit. Last year, the top two Miami teams were chosen to present at the national Future Bound Summit. One team, from Coral Gables Senior High School, won the prestigious ICE Best Financial Performance Award. The other, from Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, won the Student Choice Award.

The Competition event, open to media with RSVP, will include a keynote from Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO and Founder of MoonPay, as well as the Soto-Wright Foundation, and a JA Miami board member. Lourdes Diaz, Chief Academic Officer of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, will also speak.

"This program represents so many exciting parts of the JA Miami program: it's a great lesson for students in entrepreneurship and innovation, and it connects them with local mentors and business leaders," said Lourdes de la Mata Little, Junior Achievement Miami President and CEO. "This is a fantastic way for students to learn real-world skills, while we build a talent pipeline for the Miami tech and innovation community. We're very excited to collaborate with everyone from the mentors and volunteers, the teachers and principals, and our M-DCPS Superintendent's team to bring this to Miami once again this year."

The JA Company Program is open to high school students at participating schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Through the curriculum, students come together to start a small business. They go through the stages of choosing concepts, researching their market, creating a budget and physical prototypes, creating the items they'll sell or designing the services they'll provide, marketing, sales, and then close out their business at the end of the year with a profit-loss statement.

To attend, or for wrap-up details and photos, please email [email protected].

About: Junior Achievement of Greater Miami reaches over 38,000 public students from Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties per year. They provide free lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship, delivered in our public schools with the help of our education partners and volunteers from the local community. JA Miami was awarded the coveted Five Star Status for 2023-2024 from JA USA, as well as the 2024 NOVO Award from the Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Contact: Annmarie Pisano, [email protected]

SOURCE MoonPay; JA Miami
FCS leader to share insights on evolving oncology care models and workforce transformation at statewide industry summit

FORT MYERS, Fla., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) will join colleagues at the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) 2026 Spring Congress featuring the Business of Oncology Summit, April 10  11 in Orlando.

"Events like the FLASCO Spring Congress provide an important opportunity for oncology leaders to collaborate, share insights, and explore innovative approaches that are shaping the future of cancer care," said FCS Assistant Managing Physician, David Wenk, MD.

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Joins Oncology Leaders to Help Shape the Future of Cancer Care at FLASCO 2026

Richard McDonough, MD, director of advocacy & policy, will serve as a panelist on From Traditional Practice Models to a Redefined Oncology Workforce: How Oncology is Being Practiced and Structured Today. Dr. McDonough will also host a fellows and residents reception, which provides the opportunity for oncology fellows and resident physicians with an interest in oncology to network with FLASCO physicians and others. A past president of FLASCO, Dr. McDonough, currently serves on its board of directors.

"As the oncology landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that we adapt how care is delivered, strengthening our workforce, embracing new care models, and ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality, accessible treatment," said Dr. McDonough.

The Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) is a statewide non-profit organization committed to facilitating and promoting multidisciplinary efforts for oncology practitioners and industry professionals to improve patient care in Florida.

About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)

For more than 40 years, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has embraced innovation to deliver world-class care and drive the dramatic transformation of oncology care through its robust clinical research program.

FCS provides patients with access to a wide range of clinical trials, positioning it as a leader in research among private oncology practices in Florida and across the country. Through its robust clinical research program with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and a suite of independent site management programs, with advanced clinical trial matching technology, FCS offers patients innovative therapies close to home. Each year, FCS conducts more than 180 active clinical trials that directly elevate patient care and accelerate progress in oncology. Many of the cancer drugs approved by the FDA in the U.S over the past decade were accessible to patients at FCS through clinical trial participation before receiving approval.

Our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians is committed to delivering tailored treatment plans that make the best use of cutting-edge precision oncology advancements to enhance patient outcomes.

SOURCE Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
YIWU, China, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the complexity and volatility of the global trade environment, consumers worldwide remain steadfast in their pursuit of festive experiences and an enhanced quality of life. In Yiwu, the peak season for Christmas exports kicked off as expected in March, driving the entire industry chain into full swing.

Product display images available on Yiwugo.com

Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world. According to data from Yiwugo, search and order volumes for Christmas-related products, such as Christmas trees and Santa Claus decorations, have been steadily increasing since March. This seasonal surge is supported by long-established manufacturers with deep industry roots, many of whom have been operating for more than a decade, and some for over 20 years.

"Christmas Gift": Leveraging Guangdong's Craftsmanship to Fulfill Yiwu's Global Orders

Lu Fei, the head of Christmas Gift, brings over 20 years of experience in the Christmas gift industry. To guarantee exceptional product quality, the company has established its production base in Guangdong, capitalizing on the region's superior craftsmanship and robust supply chain resources. Committed to rigorous manufacturing standards, it steadfastly rejects low-quality mass production.

"Yiwugo has provided our company with substantial growth opportunities," Lu Fei remarked. His store ranks among the platform's Top 20 across all industries, with average daily traffic recently exceeding 5,000 visitors. Impressively, over 70% of online trial-order customers have been converted into long-term major offline clients.

Christmas Gift specializes in Christmas figurines, miniature Christmas trees, and nutcrackers, offering nearly 10,000 product varieties, many of which are protected by proprietary patents. The company maintains stringent quality control throughout the production processes: telescopic products undergo multiple tests to ensure seamless operation and durability, while illuminated items are crafted to meet the highest industry standards. At its Guangdong production base, Christmas trees alone undergo up to nine surface-finishing techniques, far exceeding basic coating requirements.

The company is dedicated to launching new product series every six months. This year, its newly introduced miniature Christmas tree display box, known for its elegant design, secured a single order of over 80,000 units from a US client. Since April, repeat orders from South American customers have remained strong, while several long-term partners have each recorded annual purchases surpassing RMB 1 million.

Shengfa: Craftsmanship as the Foundation of Quality Excellence

With over two decades of industry experience, Shengfa Industry and Trade Co., Ltd. has consistently placed product quality and R&D innovation at the core of its competitiveness. Its Christmas trees, LED fiber-optic trees, wreaths, rattan products, and related items are exported to markets across the Middle East, Europe, Japan, the ROK, South America and beyond.

Under the leadership of Chen Yongnian, the company remains firmly committed to maintaining the highest quality standards. All materials are 100% virgin, and the flocking on the artificial plants is dense and flawless, leaving no room for compromise or substandard workmanship. Before each batch departs the factory, every product undergoes a minimum of five comprehensive inspections. These stringent quality controls have allowed Shengfa to maintain its partnerships with several established European traders for over a decade. In Brazil, a major client operating more than 2,000 supermarkets records annual purchases exceeding RMB 3 million.

More than 80% of Shengfa's core production team members are highly skilled technicians with over eight years of experience. The company regularly hosts training sessions to maintain its commitment to quality excellence through craftsmanship. Chen Yongnian noted that in 2025, the company forged partnerships with several prestigious clients through Yiwugo, reinforcing its confidence in expanding its presence on this platform.

With the Christmas procurement season now in full swing, clients from Brazil and other South American markets have begun placing early orders. As a result, the company's production schedule is fully booked through August.

From Online Traffic to Offline Deals: Yiwugo Connects Merchants to the Global Market

In Yiwu, many Christmas goods manufacturers have followed a similar development path to that of Christmas Gift and Shengfa. As the official platform for Yiwu's commodities market, Yiwugo is dedicated to integrating online and offline channels, wholesale and retail operations, and domestic and cross-border trade, thereby bridging global buyers and local producers. Through this model, the platform delivers end-to-end services from online inquiries and sample dispatch to offline transactions.

As the peak season gains momentum, a wide range of new Christmas products will be shipped by Yiwu merchants through Yiwugo to destinations around the world. Behind this global journey are factory workers, Yiwugo's business operators, and quality controllers, whose dedication and professionalism help ensure the timely delivery of Christmas products to markets worldwide, reflecting the craftsmanship and warmth of Chinese-made goods.

SOURCE Yiwugo.com
BHB Group, a 17-year Goldfish Swim School franchisee, recognized for pioneering leadership, proven scalable growth and unwavering commitment to the Golden Experience

TROY, Mich., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BHB Group, a large, multi-unit franchisee of Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC, has been named the 2026 Most Valuable Performer (MVP) Single Brand Leadership Award recipient by Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine.

BHB Group joined Goldfish Swim School in 2009 as the company's very first franchise group. Since then, the group has dedicated 17 years to building what is now a large multi-unit ownership group in the Goldfish Swim School system, with 33 schools in nine states. BHB Group is led by Katie Lee and Brian and Hope Bayer, who bring people-first leadership, operational excellence and steadfast commitment to the brand's water safety mission.

Presented at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference in late March, the MVP Single Brand Leadership Award recognizes franchisees who demonstrate outstanding leadership, scalable multi-unit growth and an exceptional commitment to brand excellence and community impact within a single franchise system.

"This award is a true reflection of Katie, Brian and Hope's extraordinary dedication to building something bigger than any one location," said Chris McCuiston, CEO and Co-Founder of Goldfish Swim School Franchising. "From opening our very first franchise school in Farmington Hills nearly two decades ago to leading a large multi-unit ownership group today, their commitment to people, quality and the mission of water safety is an inspiration to every franchisee in our network. We are incredibly proud to have this team as a cornerstone of the Goldfish family."

BHB Group employs more than 2,000 team members and has provided swim lessons for kids to thousands of families across its locations, all rooted in the Goldfish mission: that every child deserves to be safe in and around the water, and that every family deserves an exceptional Golden Experience. Each of those children represents a family that trusted BHB to deliver on that promise, and that responsibility drives the team every single day.

"This recognition belongs to every person on the BHB team: the people who show up every day committed to bringing the Goldfish experience to new markets and deepening our impact, one pool, one family and one community at a time," said Katie Lee, Partner at BHB Group. "Growth never changes our standards. Brian, Hope and I are thankful to Chris and Jenny McCuiston for bringing this vision to life and making 17 years feel like just the beginning."

With more than 200 locations across North America, Goldfish Swim School serves families in major metropolitan areas and suburban communities. Parents can find their nearest location and enroll in swim lessons at goldfishswimschool.com/locations.

Visit goldfishswimschool.com/franchise-opportunities or call 248-801-1850 for detailed franchise information.

About Goldfish Swim School

Founded in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Troy, Michigan-based Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children aged 4 months through 12 years. Classes are led by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly environment using a research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay. Our curriculum delivers guided, safety-focused lessons that help children make accelerated, measured progress in both swimming skills and confidence. Since opening its first franchised location in 2009, the brand has grown to over 200 schools in over 40 states and Canada, with an additional 150-plus in development. Goldfish is ranked No. 78 overall in Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 and has been recognized as the No. 1 swimming lessons franchise for 10 consecutive years, was ranked No. 30 in Franchise Times' 2025 Fast & Serious List and is rated as a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review for 2026.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rachel Tabacnic

[email protected]

817-329-3257

SOURCE Goldfish Swim School
DALLAS, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP expanded its Litigation and Intellectual Property & Technology practices with the addition of Phillip Aurentz as a shareholder in its Dallas office. Aurentz joins from Sidley Austin LLP.

"Greenberg Traurig's commitment to Texas runs deep, and our continued growth in the state reflects a deliberate focus on bringing in legal talent where our clients need it most. Phillip's litigation and intellectual property background will contribute to the work we do in Texas," said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Greenberg Traurig's Executive Chairman. "More so, Phillip's arrival is a direct reflection of the firm's broader hiring strategy. He joins on the heels of Beverly G. Oliver as part of a deliberate and ongoing effort to attract top talent to our offices."

Aurentz is a firstchair trial lawyer who is experienced representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex, highvalue litigation across state and federal courts. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, the majority of which involved technically sophisticated patent disputes with millions of dollars at stake on both sides of the aisle. His trial practice spans a wide range of industries, including computing, oilfield services, heavy equipment, medical devices, and banking. Known for taking cases through trial, Aurentz regularly handles patent litigation, commercial disputes, business torts, contract matters, and False Claims Act cases.

"Phillip has an enterprising spirit and drive that is a natural fit for the culture we have built here in Texas. We are excited to welcome him to the team," said Joseph F. Coniglio, co-regional operating shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's Texas offices and managing shareholder of the firm's Dallas office.

A significant portion of Aurentz practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, including patents, trade secrets, and other intellectual property matters.

"Phillip has spent nearly two decades handling Intellectual Property disputes in the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, and that experience has produced a strong level of courtroom credibility. His background in the subject matter, along with his experience in the field, makes him a great addition to our team," said Scott J. Bornstein, executive vice president and co-chair of the firm's Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice.

Aurentz's legal work has been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, IAM Patent 1000 for Texas Litigation, Legal 500, and The Best Lawyers in America. Prior to practicing law, he worked as a production gas plants project engineer, which informs his approach to technology-heavy disputes.

"I am thrilled to join Greenberg Traurig and specifically its Texas offices, which are on such a clear and exciting growth trajectory," Aurentz said. "The flexibility the firm offers in how it approaches client service is a true differentiator, and I look forward to working collaboratively across the platform to deliver the best possible outcomes for clients."

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 3,100 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm's broad geographic and practice range enables the delivery of innovative and strategic legal services across borders and industries. Recognized as a 2025 BTI "Best of the Best Recommended Law Firm" by general counsel for trust and relationship management, Greenberg Traurig is consistently ranked among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100, NLJ 500, and Law360 400. Greenberg Traurig is also known for its philanthropic giving, culture, innovation, and pro bono work. Web: www.gtlaw.com.

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP
AUSTIN, Texas, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than one year since being acquired by IgniteTech, Khoros today announced Iris AI, an AI-native social media management and brand care platform that unifies social listening, publishing, engagement and analytics into a single intelligent system for Khoros customers. Iris AI replaces the fragmented toolset that customers have navigated for years with one platform designed for speed, accountability and simplicity.

Named for the Greek goddess who carried messages between gods and mortals, Iris AI does what its namesake did: it carries your brand's voice and your customers' signals across every channel, fast, precise and connected.

The problem Iris AI solves is not subtle. Brand care teams today operate across disconnected tools that don't share context. When a customer issue moves from social media to a support queue to an escalation path, context disappears at every handoff. Agents start over. Customers repeat themselves. Managers lose visibility into what's happening and why.

Iris AI eliminates that fragmentation. Every interaction, every channel and every team member operates within a single system where context follows the conversation from first contact to resolution.

"Most brand care platforms are held together with duct tape," said Eric Vaughan, CEO of IgniteTech and Khoros. "You've got a social listening tool that doesn't talk to the care queue, a care queue that doesn't talk to analytics and analytics that arrive two weeks after the moment has passed. Iris AI is one system. One view. One source of truth. That's what brand care should have always been."

What Iris AI Delivers

Iris AI gives brand care and social media teams capabilities that have historically required three separate platforms: AI-driven content creation, scheduling and cross-channel publishing; social listening across billions of sources in 187 languages; intelligent engagement routing and response recommendations; and analytics that turn social signals into strategic advantage.

The platform's AI engine handles intelligent triage, routing incoming interactions to the right agent based on topic, sentiment, urgency and agent expertise. When AI can resolve an inquiry directly, it does. When human judgment is required, the handoff includes full context so the agent never starts from scratch.

Since acquiring Khoros in May 2025, IgniteTech's internal operations, driven by AI, have achieved ticket resolution rates from 5% to 60%, reduced support backlogs by 82% and cut platform downtime by 97%.

"We built a complete X/Twitter channel management platform in ten days," said Vaughan. "Not a prototype. Not a demo. A production-quality capability that customers could use on their own systems. That's what happens when you stop treating AI as a feature you add and start treating it as the foundation you build on. Because we fully transformed into an AI-DNA company, we were able to rewrite over 15 years of legacy technical debt across multiple products into one cohesive, AI-generated codebase in less than a year. And the best part of this announcement for customers is Iris AI is fully data compatible. Customers get an entirely new platform from the neck up with zero data migration. That's the difference between transforming a product and rebuilding it."

Built for the Way Brand Care Actually Works

Iris AI supports real-time monitoring and response across X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Reviews, YouTube, TikTok and more, with new channels deployable in days rather than quarters. AI-powered moderation flags brand risks in real time. Sentiment analysis identifies emerging issues before they escalate. Every interaction is tracked end-to-end, giving managers a clear view of team performance, response times and resolution quality without manual reporting.

"The brands that win at customer engagement are the ones that show up fast, respond smart and never drop context," said Vaughan. "Iris AI is built for exactly that. Not for the way brand care worked five years ago. For the way it needs to work right now."

Two Forces. One Chorus.

Iris AI is one half of a complete AI-native customer engagement platform. Alongside Aurora AI, Khoros' reimagined community product, Iris AI completes a system that covers community forums, brand care, social media management and customer service, all AI-native and all sharing context. That pairing isn't accidental. Khoros was born when Lithium Technologies and Spredfast merged because community and social were never supposed to be separate disciplines. Aurora AI and Iris AI are the AI-native expressions of that same conviction.

Your customers are a chorus. Khoros helps you conduct it. Aurora AI is where "the chorus comes into the light," turning questions into enduring knowledge and peer connection into scale. Iris AI is the messenger that carries what matters into every social stream.

Every interaction across Aurora AI and Iris AI feeds a shared intelligence layer that learns your customers, your brand voice and your business. The platform listens, illuminates what matters and orchestrates action at scale. That is what separates Khoros from a market full of tools that attempt to manage channels but don't connect them.

The two largest publicly traded companies in social media management have both seen significant enterprise customer losses and sharp stock declines over the past year. Their financials are public. One offers no community platform at all. The other has one but is seeing its largest enterprise accounts decline year over year. Neither connects social intelligence to community knowledge at the data layer.

"Sprout and Sprinklr are both public companies, so anyone can read the story," said Vaughan. "One doesn't have community. The other is losing the enterprise. We're the only ones rebuilding community, care, social and analytics at once, AI-native from the ground up, everything connected, 187 languages. At some point the market stops debating architecture and starts following results."

Sell, Design, Build

Khoros did not build Iris AI behind closed doors and unveil it on launch day. For months, the team used AI-accelerated prototyping to create working previews and put them directly in front of Khoros customers. Small teams ran short iterations over days, not quarters, showing customers where the product was heading and incorporating their feedback in real time. Features were validated before they were built. Priorities were set by the people who would use the platform, not by a roadmap committee.

"We don't pitch slides anymore," said Vaughan. "We prototype fast, show customers something real and ask them what's wrong with it. Then we fix it and show them again. By the time we ship, customers have already shaped the product. That's how you build something people actually want instead of something that just demos well."

These announcements coincide with the relaunch of the Khoros digital presence at khoros.ai. "This isn't a domain change," said Vaughan. "It's a signal. We fundamentally transformed this company, and khoros.ai is where that story lives."

About Khoros

Khoros exists because two companies refused to pick a lane. When Lithium Technologies, the pioneer of online brand communities since 2001, merged with Spredfast, a leader in social media management, they built a bridge between community and social that no one else had. For 25 years, that bridge has been Khoros's competitive advantage. Today, powered by IgniteTech and rebuilt as AI-native, Khoros connects community, care, social and analytics through Aurora AI and Iris AI. The platform has powered over 4,000 communities, generates 1.8 billion site visits per year and saves brands more than $500 million annually in support costs. Visit khoros.ai to learn more.

About IgniteTech

Founded in 2010, IgniteTech is a leading AI-first enterprise software company. With a track record of successful acquisitions and rapid innovation, IgniteTech's solutions power businesses worldwide. The company's 2025 acquisition of Khoros expanded its portfolio to include one of the most widely deployed digital-first customer engagement platforms in the enterprise market, with over 4,000 communities powered since 2001 and 1.8 billion site visits per year. IgniteTech is rebuilding the entire Khoros platform as AI-native, including Aurora AI for community engagement and Iris AI for social media management and brand care. Visit khoros.ai to learn more.

For Media Inquiries: [email protected]

For Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Follow: LinkedIn / X

All trademarks referenced herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Khoros, LLC
New evidence and expert consensus underscore proton therapy's role in expanding treatment options and addressing rising cancer rates in adults under 50 years old

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT), the nation's leading organization dedicated to increasing patient access to advanced cancer treatments, convened more than 70 national speakers to review advances in proton therapy research, identify areas for new research, and frame the policy and patient access implications for cancer care. Participants represented leading U.S. cancer centers, including National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) members, including physicians, physicists, dosimetrists, patient advocates, and healthcare administrators across NAPT's 54-member network. The 2026 National Proton Conference (NPC) was held on March 19-21, 2026, in Nashville, TN.

Key Clinical Findings Presented

Conference keynote presentations centered on new landmark Phase III trial data and emerging clinical evidence across multiple disease sites, including:

Significant Increase in Survival for Head and Neck Cancer (Oropharyngeal)

Steven J. Frank, MD, FASTRO, executive director of technology innovations and deputy division head of strategic programs for Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, presented findings from the landmark Phase III randomized controlled trial published in The Lancet (Frank et al., Lancet, January 10, 2026; Vol. 407:174184). Key data points:

10% improvement in 5-year overall survival for patients treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) vs. intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

Significantly reduced high-grade toxicity with IMPT, including less feeding tube (gastrostomy) dependence, reduced dry mouth (xerostomia), improved swallowing, and less immune suppression

The study is the largest randomized Phase III trial comparing IMPT to IMRT and the first to demonstrate an overall survival benefit for proton therapy. Oropharyngeal cancer  the most common head and neck cancer subtype  is increasingly associated with HPV infection and is disproportionately affecting younger adults.

NAPT recognized Dr. Frank at the 2026 NPC with its Accelerator Award for Clinical Achievement, honoring exceptional clinicians who demonstrate leadership in proton therapy and play a pivotal role in advancing patient access and outcomes.

Effective Treatment and Reirradiation Outcomes for Lung Cancer and Other Thoracic Malignancies

Charles B. Simone II, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, Chief Medical Officer of the New York Proton Center and Full Member in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, addressed the role of proton therapy in thoracic malignancies. Dr. Simone is an internationally recognized expert in proton therapy for thoracic cancers and serves as the Proton Collaborative Group (PCG) President of the Board of Directors and Chair of the PCG Lung Committee. Clinical highlights:

Proton therapy is effective across thoracic malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, thymic malignancies, and thoracic sarcomas

IMPT reduces radiation to surrounding healthy tissue  critical in thoracic malignancies given their proximity to the heart, esophagus, and spinal cord  translating to fewer toxicities and better quality-of-life outcomes

Reirradiation of previously treated thoracic tumors is an emerging and growing indication for proton therapy, offering treatment options to patients with limited alternatives

"Proton therapy can treat tumors to higher radiation doses more safely, allowing for select patients to have improvements in tumor control and overall survival relative to traditional radiation therapy," said Dr. Simone. "There are also biological properties of proton therapy that make the modality more effective at actually killing tumors and engaging the immune system to attack cancer cells. One of the most important benefits of proton therapy is the ability to retreat a cancer that has received prior radiation therapy  offering potentially curative treatment options to patients who otherwise have none."

Rising Cancer Rates in Adults Under 50, Benefits of Proton Therapy

Conference presentations underscored a clinically significant trend: cancer incidence in adults under 50 is increasing across multiple disease sites.

According to the National Cancer Institute, an analysis of 33 cancer types found that the incidence of 14 cancer types has risen among people under age 50 , including breast, colorectal, kidney, uterine, pancreatic, testicular, and several lymphoma subtypes. National Cancer Institute (Shiels et al., Cancer Discovery, May 2025)

, including breast, colorectal, kidney, uterine, pancreatic, testicular, and several lymphoma subtypes. National Cancer Institute About 60,480 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer are estimated in the U.S. in 2026, with 13,150 deaths . More than 1 in 5 cases (20%) occur in people younger than 55  as noted above . American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2026)

of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer are estimated in the U.S. in 2026, with . More than . American Cancer Society Clinicians at ASCO 2025 reported that nearly 20% of lung cancer patients currently being diagnosed have never smoked  a proportion that is rising. Young-onset lung cancer (defined as age 50 and under) is increasingly seen in never-smokers, particularly women, who are frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Lung Cancer Today (Lung Cancers Today / ASCO 2025 Expert Panel)

"Proton therapy's tissue-sparing properties are of particular clinical importance for younger patients, who face a longer life expectancy post-treatment," said Jennifer Maggiore, Executive Director, National Association for Proton Therapy. "This year's NPC brought together clinical and patient advocacy leaders to address these trends, discuss the latest data advances, and develop effective strategies, including NAPT's new "Let's Talk Protons" initiative, to drive awareness and improve access to proton therapy across the United States."

"Let's Talk Protons" Educational and Awareness Initiative

During NPC 2026, several leading physicians were interviewed to share their insights on treatment advances and potential outcomes for patients as part of NAPT's new "Let's Talk Protons" educational and awareness initiative. The initiative will include 1:1 video discussions among leading clinicians on the latest research and benefits of proton therapy across breast, prostate, pediatric, lung, head and neck, brain, and other cancers. Launching in May 2026, the videos will be featured on NAPT's YouTube channel and website, and will be paired with educational materials for patients, including disease and treatment backgrounders.

For more information about proton therapy, and where to find a proton therapy center, go to proton-therapy.org.

About the National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT)

The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1990 to educate and increase awareness about the clinical benefits of proton therapy. Its members include 54 of the nation's leading cancer centers, many of which are National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) members. The mission of NAPT is to work collaboratively to raise public awareness of the clinical benefits of proton therapy, ensure patient choice and access to affordable proton therapy, and encourage cooperative research and innovation to advance the appropriate and cost-effective utilization of proton therapy.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE The National Association for Proton Therapy
FELLSMERE, Fla., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Wave Academy announced today that it has earned Cognia Accreditation, a nationally recognized mark of quality for schools and education providers.

"Accreditation by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Next Wave Academy with a nationally recognized validation of the work we are doing," said Co-Dean Monica Reyes Welsch. "It demonstrates to our families and community our commitment to excellence, our openness to feedback, and our dedication to continuously improving on behalf of the students we serve."

Cognia is a global nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, districts, and education service providers. It recognizes institutions that meet rigorous performance standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. To earn accreditation, schools must undergo a comprehensive process that includes both internal reflection and external evaluation. Accredited institutions commit to ongoing improvement and can maintain their status for a six-year term.

"Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of ensuring all students can flourish in engaging and equitable learning environments," said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, President and CEO of Cognia. "We commend Next Wave Academy for meeting high standards and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning."

Cognia serves more than 40,000 public and private institutions across over 90 countries, bringing a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning through accreditation, assessment, and continuous improvement services.

Next Wave Academy is currently enrolling students in grades 610 for the 20262027 school year. With limited spaces remaining, families are encouraged to apply soon to secure placement. Through Florida's Step Up for Students scholarship program, many families are able to attend Next Wave Academy at little to no cost, making high-quality, personalized education more accessible than ever.

About Cognia

Cognia is a global, nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping institutions and other education providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, and improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Find out more at cognia.org

About Next Wave Academy

Next Wave Academy is not just a middle and high schoolit is a movement in education. Designed for the next generation of leaders, creators, and visionaries, the school blends academic mastery with self-discovery, entrepreneurship, and human development. Through small class sizes, mentorship-driven teaching, and experiential learning, students are encouraged to build confidence, think critically, and develop a strong sense of responsibility to themselves and their communities. At Next Wave Academy, students don't just learn what to thinkthey learn how to see, question, create, and lead.

Media contact:

Monica Reyes-Welsch

[email protected]

772.918.8956

SOURCE Next Wave Academy
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- One America News Network, ("OAN") announced today that it will air a long-form interview program this weekend featuring Tommy Robinson, a controversial activist and independent journalist who has exposed Islamization and grooming gangs in the U.K. The two-hour interview will air this Saturday at 10 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Pacific and Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific.

Tommy Robinson, a controversial activist and independent journalist Robert Shillman, known as Dr. Bob, host of the podcast Life Lessons with Dr. Bob

Robert Shillman, known as Dr. Bob, host of the podcast Life Lessons with Dr. Bob, provides Robinson with the opportunity to tell his story, including the good, the bad, and the politically incorrect that has impacted Robinson's hometown and his country. Shillman, founder of Cognex Corp and a passionate mega-philanthropist, has a proven history of conducting compelling long-form, one-on-one interviews with a number of newsmakers, world leaders, and controversial figures on a wide range of topics.

"OAN is committed to delivering thought provoking interviews and viewpoints on topics that are of great interest to our viewers. Robinson tells his story in an honest, no-holds-barred fashion, sharing his personal concerns for his hometown and country. We encourage viewers to join us for this compelling interview this weekend," stated Richard Levine, President of Distribution for OAN.

About One America News Network, ("OAN"):

One America News Network, ("OAN") launched on July 4, 2013, with a mission to provide an independent and credible source of U.S. and international news 24/7. The network operates news bureaus in Washington, D.C., and California, and draws on additional newsgathering resources including U.S. Pool feeds, the Associated Press, and Reuters.

OAN produces sixteen hours of live news each weekday, along with four one-hour prime time weekday talk shows.

OAN and OAN Plus reach tens of millions of households through major cable, satellite, and streaming platforms nationwide, including Charter Communications' Spectrum TV, Dish Network, YouTube TV, and Sling, along with over 100 additional video platforms across the US and worldwide.

The network also offers a 24/7 live streaming service through the "OAN Live" app, available on nearly all major streaming devices. For more information about One America News Network, please visit www.OANN.com.

Press Contact:

Ryan Critchley  Press Relations

Herring Networks, Inc.

(858) 270-6900

[email protected]

SOURCE Herring Networks, Inc., dba One America News Network
SHANGHAI, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oricell Therapeutics Holdings Limited ("Oricell"), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering innovative cancer immunotherapies, today announced the cumulative closing of a pre-IPO financing round in excess of $110 million. The round was co-led by Vivo Capital, Beijing Medical and Health Care Industry Investment Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, and a leading global healthcare fund. The syndicate included an international sovereign wealth fund, E-Town Capital, Luxin Venture Capital, NGS Super, Elikon Investment, and Talon Capital.

Proceeds will be strategically allocated to accelerate Oricell's global expansion and clinical development, while strengthening its technological capabilities and paving the way to capital market milestones.

As a frontrunner in cell therapy, OriCell is focused on engineering CAR-Ts with global clinical impact, having already secured confirmatory proof-of-concept (POC) data across multiple pipelines. By leveraging its proprietary triad: the OriAb antibody screening and engineering platform, the OriArmoring functional enhancement platform, and the OnGo (Fast) rapid CMC manufacturing expertise, the company has built a differentiated portfolio that positions it at the vanguard of the global CAR-T race.

OriCell's lead asset, Ori-C101, is a GPC3-targeted autologous CAR-T therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Having successfully navigated investigator-initiated trials (IIT) and a registrational Phase 1 study, the program is now gearing up for pivotal trials. Clinical readouts have demonstrated a best-in-class efficacy and safety profile, with data highlighted at major forums including the ASCO Annual Meeting. With these promising results, Ori-C101 is positioned to become the first-in-class CAR-T therapy approved globally for HCC.

Beyond its lead asset, Oricell is aggressively advancing a diverse portfolio of next-generation modalities, including secreted, rapid-production, and in vivo CAR-T programs.

Dr. Huanfeng Yang, Chairman and CEO of Oricell Therapeutics, stated: "This financing is a testament to the global potential of our science and the dedication of our team. As we approach key inflection points in our clinical programs, our priority is clear: expedite the global development of our core assets and deepening our research into revolutionary technologies, including in vivo CAR-T and solid tumor CAR-T. We are committed to delivering transformative therapies that offer real hope to cancer patients worldwide, positioning Oricell as a dominant force in the global immunotherapy arena."

Mr. Shan Fu, Managing Partner at Vivo Capital, commented: "While cell therapy is undoubtedly the future of oncology, solid tumors remain the industry's toughest nut to crack. Oricell distinguishes itself not just through best-in-class clinical data for its GPC3 CAR-T, but also through a pragmatic and visionary roadmap for next-generation modalities like in vivo CAR-T. We have high conviction in their integrated 'Platform and Pipeline' strategy and believe they are poised to set the new standard of care in the field. Vivo Capital is eager to deploy our global network to accelerate Oricell's expansion into international markets."

Mr. William Hu, Managing Partner at Qiming Venture Partners, stated: "As an early investor that has stood with Oricell since the Pre-A round, we have witnessed every milestone of its journeyfrom technological exploration to pipeline realization, and from local innovation to global expansion. We look forward to Oricell leveraging breakthrough cell therapy solutions and stronger clinical data to define the next generation of cancer care, bringing hope to patients worldwide."

About Oricell Therapeutics

Oricell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation cell therapies to address unmet needs in oncology and immunology. Powered by a proprietary technology triad: OriAb (antibody discovery), OriArmoring (T-cell enhancement), and OnGo CMC (rapid manufacturing), Oricell has advanced a diversified pipeline targeting both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. This technical prowess and global strategy are exemplified by the development of another core candidate, OriCAR-017. Supported by compelling data from IIT in China, the program paved the way into global development, rapidly securing IND approvals from both China NMPA and US FDA, along with FDA Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Fast Track Designation (FTD). OriCAR-017 has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and robust efficacy in both IIT and registrational clinical trials, with data featured at leading global conferences including 2022 ASCO, 2022 EHA, 2024 ASCO, and published in top-tier academic journals The Lancet Haematology. These milestones underscore Oricell' capabilities in regulatory strategy, clinical development, and global execution, reflecting its commitment to transforming the future of cell therapy and delivering new hope to patients worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.oricell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" which are not historical facts, but instead are predictions about future events based on the beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the management of Oricell Therapeutics Holdings Limited ("the Company" or "Oricell"). The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievement implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Oricell Therapeutics Holdings Limited
Official OECD preliminary data for 2025 shows a 23% decline in global ODA from 2024  historic decrease

Projections from ISGlobal research and The Lancet Global Health suggest this level of ODA decrease could lead to 9.4 million or more preventable deaths by 2030

Rockefeller Foundation urges governments, the private sector, and philanthropy to coordinate urgently to protect decades of progress

NEW YORK, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rockefeller Foundation is issuing an urgent call for a global, coordinated response in light of preliminary official data released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today confirming a 23% decline in official development assistance (ODA) from 2024 to 2025. As the largest single-year reduction in decades, the precipitous drop in ODA in 2025 surpasses the Barcelona Institute for Global Health's (ISGlobal) modeling assumptions, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, that were published in The Lancet Global Health earlier this year. Projecting an initial ODA decline of 15.8% in 2025, with funding cuts continuing and worsening through the end of this decade, ISGlobal warned that at least 9.4 million additional people, including 2.5 million children under the age of five, could die by 2030 across 93 low- and middle-income countries.

"The OECD's data show that an 80-year consensus on working together to help the suffering is falling apartbut people in country after country around the world still want to save these lives," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "We urgently need to invest in new models of development that can endure in the 21st century. By focusing resources on those suffering acutely, harnessing new technology, and supporting country-led investments in food security, health, and energy, the world can save the 9 million or more lives at stake if we do not act."

Rockefeller Foundation refuses to accept this as the new normal and will work with all those who want to meet the moment Post this

For the first time in nearly three decades, the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany have now reduced their development assistance for two years running. The data, released today as part of the OECD's preliminary 2025 ODA figures exceed the OECD's own projections from mid-2025, which had forecast a decline of 918%.

Millions More Lives at Risk:

In February 2026, The Lancet Global Health published The Impact of Two Decades of Humanitarian and Development Assistance and the Projected Mortality Consequences of Current Defunding to 2030: Retrospective Evaluation and Forecasting Analysis, a peer-reviewed study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), supported by The Rockefeller Foundation through its charitable offshoot, RF Catalytic Capital. Based on an initial 15.8% cut in ODA from 2024 to 2025, with the funding cuts continuing and worsening through the end of this decade, it modelled two scenarios which found that at least 9.4 million additional deaths  including 2.5 million children under the age of five  could occur by 2030 across 93 low- and middle-income countries, which are home to 75% of the world's population.

The Rockefeller Foundation's Response:

The support for ISGlobal's research is part of The Rockefeller Foundation's Build the Shared Future Initiative, through which the 113-year-old philanthropic organization aims to inspire and inform global cooperation and international development work that matches the challenges of the 21st century. Work being advanced by The Rockefeller Foundation includes, but is not limited to:

Building political will and support for International Cooperation, including by investing in research and evidence, to ensure policymakers understand the human cost of funding decisions, including continued support for ISGlobal's analysis and launching the Development Finance Observatory in 2025 with ONE Data and Google.org  with its initial analysis finding that over the last decade, China shifted from a net provider of finance for low- and middle-income countries (transferring US$48 billion) to a net extractor (pulling US$24 billion out), while multilateral lenders stepped up, boosting net financing by 124% and now providing 56% of net flows, or US$378.7 billion between 2020-2024.

Demonstrating new models for development that can drive impact in this environment, including catalyzing partnerships with philanthropic organizations, multilateral institutions, and the private sector. This includes committing more than US$100 million since 2024 with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet to support Mission 300, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank's ambitious effort to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. It also includes advancing a first-of-its-kind School Meals Accelerator to reach an additional 100 million children by 2030, which founding partners, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the World Food Programme (WFP) launched in January this year with additional support from France and the Global Partnership for Education.

Reinvigorating financing flows to support global development, including optimizing the balance sheets of development funders to enable more financing, mobilizing more private capital, and supporting countries with addressing historically high debt service burdens.

Urgent Action Needed:

The Rockefeller Foundation urges donor governments to recommit to working together to help those around the world most in need. The Foundation also calls on the private sector, philanthropic organizations, and multilateral institutions to step forward with new commitments and innovative financing models.

"For 113 years, The Rockefeller Foundation has invested in the well-being of humanity around the world. We know from experience that progress is not inevitable  it must be planned, earned and sustained. What we are witnessing now is a choice by wealthy nations to walk away from commitments that were saving millions of lives. We refuse to accept this as the new normal and will work with all those who want to meet the moment," concluded Dr. Shah.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

Investing $30 billion over the last 113 years to promote the well-being of humanity, The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on unlikely partnerships and innovative solutions that deliver measurable results for people in the United States and around the world. We leverage scientific breakthroughs, artificial intelligence, and new technologies to make big bets across energy, food, health, and finance, including in affiliation with our public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC). For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn, Instagram @rockefellerfdn, YouTube @RockefellerFdn, and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.

SOURCE Rockefeller Foundation
NEW YORK, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers Class A common stock of Snowflake Inc. (NYSE: SNOW) between June 27, 2023 and the close of the market on February 28, 2024 (4:00 p.m. ET), inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 27, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

So what: If you purchased Snowflake Class A 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 Snowflake class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22950 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 April 27, 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 repeatedly made positive statements about the state of its business, including positive statements about customer usage of, and new developments for, its products. At the same time, defendants failed to disclose that: (1) product efficiency gains, Iceberg Tables and tiered storage pricing were expected to have a material negative impact on consumption and revenues, and (2) as a result, defendants' positive statements about consumption patterns, revenues, and demand for Snowflake products lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Snowflake class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22950 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.
WHIPPANY, N.J., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Students 2 Science (S2S), a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that inspires and empowers students with transformative STEM opportunities, is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Trustees.

The new trustees represent a wide variety of fields, extensive tenure at some of the biggest companies in the state, and a strong commitment to making STEM education accessible to every student in the state of New Jersey.

The new trustees:

Lloryn Hubbard , Director, Clinical Trial Diversity & Community Engagement, Daiichi Sankyo US

, Director, Clinical Trial Diversity & Community Engagement, Daiichi Sankyo US Sunitha Lakshminarayanan , Biopharmaceutical Executive

, Biopharmaceutical Executive Cory Krutis, Principal, KPMG US

"I am proud to welcome Lloryn, Sunitha, and Cory to our Board of Trustees. Each were selected because they represent areas of industry that will assist Students 2 Science as we work towards future expansion," said Students 2 Science co-founder and President Paul Winslow. "We strive to ensure Students 2 Science's Board of Trustees represent diverse backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise. Our newest members bring with them a breadth of talent and experience that, combined with their passion for STEM education, will be invaluable to S2S and the students we serve."

"I'm excited to welcome this outstanding group of leaders whose experience and perspective add real horsepower to our board as we continue to scale S2S's impact," said Board Chair Karnel Walker.

Biographical information about the new trustees: https://www.students2science.org/staff-and-board-of-trustees/

About Students 2 Science

Students 2 Science is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire and empower all students through hands-on learning experiences, encouraging them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to strengthen the future workforce. Since its founding in 2009, and with Technology Centers in Whippany and Newark, NJ, the organization has reached over 300,000 students through virtual and in-person STEM programming by partnering with 190 schools, school districts, charter school networks and community organizations. To learn more about Students 2 Science, click here.

SOURCE Students 2 Science, Inc.
In the news release, The Impact Forum, Co-Founded by Adam and Gila Milstein, Raises Over $1.1 Million at Miami Beach Dinner to Combat Antisemitism and Support Israel, issued 10-Apr-2026 by The Impact Forum over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

The Impact Forum, Co-Founded by Adam and Gila Milstein, Raises Over $1.1 Million at Miami Beach Dinner to Combat Antisemitism and Support Israel

Biannual gathering unites 175 philanthropists to fund nonprofits fighting antisemitism,

championing American values, and supporting Israeli families affected by war

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Impact Forum, co-founded by Adam and Gila Milstein, hosted 175 philanthropists at a dinner event in Miami Beach, Florida on March 19, 2026, raising more than $1.1 million to support nonprofit organizations working to combat antisemitism, strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, champion American values, and support Israeli families impacted by the ongoing conflict.

The evening brought together a community of like-minded donors and civic leaders united by a shared commitment to strategic philanthropy. Comedian, actor, and writer Elon Gold served as the event's emcee, guiding attendees through a program that spotlighted four organizations making outsized impact with innovative approaches to some of the most pressing challenges facing Jewish communities today.

Featured Organizations

The forum showcased presentations from four nonprofits selected for their strategic impact and mission alignment:

IDF Widows and Orphans Organization is the sole organization recognized by the Israeli government to represent and support the spouses and children of fallen IDF soldiers and other security personnel. Their work provides critical support to the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Israel's security.

Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) empowers students to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction while degrading the influence of Israel's detractors on college campuses. ICC serves as the central organizing force uniting all major pro-Israel campus organizations, ensuring strategic alignment while deploying a powerful suite of political tools to support pro-Israel students.

Coleven is a nonprofit dedicated to disrupting the financial networks that fuel terrorism, violence, and hate. By targeting the economic infrastructure behind extremism, Coleven addresses threats at their source.

TalkIsrael Academy is a nonprofit dedicated to reshaping the conversation about Israel through the power of social media. It identifies, trains, and mentors a growing network of hundreds of content creators to develop their unique voices, build strong personal brands, and share authentic stories that resonate with Gen Z audiences. TalkIsrael highlights Israel's vibrant everyday lifepeople, food, music, art, and innovationcreating a more relatable and human narrative online.

A Growing Movement in Strategic Philanthropy

The Impact Forum, which Adam and Gila Milstein co-founded in Los Angeles in 2017, has experienced significant growth in recent years. What began as an intimate gathering of local philanthropists has expanded into a national movement, with dinners now held quarterly and drawing donors from across the country.

"The Impact Forum has seen unprecedented growth since October 7," said Adam Milstein. "Donors and community leaders are gathering not just to show solidarity but to take meaningful action. The Miami dinner demonstrated that the philanthropic community is more energized and united than ever in its commitment to fighting antisemitism, supporting Israel, and championing the values that strengthen American democracy."

The forum's model reflects Adam Milstein's philosophy of "Philanthropic Synergy" and "Strategic Force-Multiplication," connecting established donors with innovative, high-impact nonprofits that often operate below the radar of traditional philanthropic networks. By fostering collaboration and shared purpose, the Impact Forum enables philanthropists to collectively support organizations that punch above their weight.

About Adam Milstein

Adam Milstein is a venture philanthropist, business investor, and community leader. Born in Haifa, Israel, he served in the IDF during the Yom Kippur War and graduated from the Technion in 1978. He earned an MBA from USC and is a Managing Partner at Hager Pacific Properties, a private commercial real estate investment firm. Milstein and his wife Gila established the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation in 2000, which supports a network of nonprofits that strengthen American values, support the U.S.-Israel alliance, and combat hatred and bigotry in all forms. For more information, visit https://www.milsteinff.org/.

About the Impact Forum

The Impact Forum was co-founded by Adam and Gila Milstein in Los Angeles in 2017. It brings together a community of like-minded philanthropists to empower and meet with exceptional nonprofit organizations that fight antisemitism, support the State of Israel, strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, and champion American values. For more information, visit https://www.impactforumfoundation.org/.

Media Contact: [email protected]



Correction: An earlier version of this release required an update to the links.

SOURCE The Impact Forum
Advancing next-generation RNA therapeutics beyond the liver through breakthrough delivery technologies

SUZHOU, China and BOSTON, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivatides Therapeutics, a global biotechnology company focused on developing extrahepatic RNA-targeting therapeutics, announced the successful closing of an oversubscribed $54 million Series A financing. The round was co-led by Qiming Venture Partners and a leading industry fund, with participation from Highlight Capital, a leading venture fund, and TF Capital. Existing investor Apricot Capital also continued to support the company with additional investment. Proceeds from the financing will be used to further advance Vivatides' extrahepatic delivery platform, accelerate multiple pipeline programs into clinical development, and expand its global team and R&D network. As an emerging player in the RNA therapeutics field, Vivatides has completed both its seed and Series A financings within less than one year of founding, underscoring strong investor confidence in the company's technological innovation and execution capabilities in extrahepatic RNA delivery.

RNA therapeutics, with their broad target space, high specificity, and durable efficacy, are poised to become the third major therapeutic modality following small molecules and antibodies. However, traditional RNA therapeutics have largely been limited to liver-targeted applications due to delivery challenges. Diseases involving extrahepatic tissues remain significantly underserved and represent the next major frontier for innovation.

With advances in extrahepatic delivery technologies, RNA therapeutics are rapidly expanding beyond rare diseases into large, chronic disease areas such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and oncology, unlocking substantial market potential.

Founded in 2025, Vivatides has been dedicated to the innovation and translation of proprietary extrahepatic RNA delivery technologies. The company's globally experienced leadership team includes experts from leading RNA therapeutics companies. The team has previously led or played key roles in multiple extrahepatic RNA programs, several of which have progressed into clinical development. Leveraging this deep expertise, Vivatides has built a differentiated extrahepatic delivery platform with capabilities spanning both siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides (ASO). The company has achieved key advances in ligand conjugation, delivery efficiency, tissue targeting specificity, and safety, with encouraging in vivo results already demonstrated. Combined with strong capabilities in sequence design and target discovery, the platform enables rapid parallel advancement and expansion of a diversified pipeline.

"Extrahepatic delivery is the key that will unlock RNA therapeutics from niche rare diseases to broad chronic indications," said Keming Zhou, Founder of Vivatides Therapeutics. "We are honored to have the support and recognition of leading investors. This financing will accelerate the evolution of our platform and pipeline, advancing innovative RNA therapeutics into extrahepatic disease areas. We believe that overcoming delivery barriers will enable RNA therapeutics to transform treatment paradigms across a wide range of diseases. We also look forward to engaging with more long-term, value-driven partners to bring transformative therapies to patients worldwide."

Dr. Kan Chen, Partner at Qiming Venture Partners and Co-leads Qiming's investments in the healthcare sector, commented: " We have long been optimistic about the application potential of small nucleic acid drugs across a broader range of disease areas. Continuous advances in extrahepatic targeting technologies are steadily expanding their clinical frontiers. Vivatides Therapeutics has demonstrated solid technological expertise and efficient execution capabilities in this field, with encouraging progress achieved on its platform. We look forward to the company driving further technological breakthroughs, accelerating the clinical translation of its pipeline, and delivering safer and more effective innovative therapies to patients worldwide."

Dr. Wei Ding, Partner at Apricot Capital, commented: "As an early investor in Vivatides' seed round, we are delighted to see the company successfully complete its Series A financing and welcome new investors. Since its founding, Dr. Zhou and his team have consistently exceeded expectations with exceptional execution in platform development and pipeline advancement. We look forward to Vivatides translating its differentiated platform into breakthrough therapies that benefit patients worldwide and leading the next wave of extrahepatic RNA therapeutics."

Following the financing, Vivatides will further accelerate preclinical optimization and IND-enabling studies, expand its R&D and management teams, and continue to strengthen its extrahepatic delivery platform. Looking ahead, the company will remain focused on addressing unmet medical needs in high-prevalence extrahepatic diseases, becoming a leader in RNA therapeutics and delivering more effective and safer treatment options to patients worldwide.

SOURCE Vivatides Therapeutics
BENTON HARBOR, Mich., April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation today announced plans to further expand its industry-leading U.S. manufacturing footprint with the addition of a new, state-of-the-art production facility. Located in Perrysburg, Ohio, this will be the company's 11th factory in the United States and its 6th in the state of Ohio, further solidifying the company's position as a cornerstone of American industrial growth.

Whirlpool Corporation Clyde Operations

Whirlpool Corporation acquired an existing building, previously used for solar panel manufacturing, and will invest over $60 million to transform the facility, including new advanced manufacturing technologies and automation, to produce appliance components and subassembly work for washers and dryers. The development of the new plant will take place over the next two years, creating between 100-150 new jobs. This new facility will serve as a vital hub for Whirlpool Corporation's U.S. operations, providing critical support to nearby Ohio plants.

"Whirlpool Corporation is leaning into our commitment to U.S. manufacturing," said Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool Corporation chairman and CEO. "When there is a level playing field, our American workers can out-compete anyone in the world. This investment is proof of our confidence in that workforce and our determination to win by producing high-quality, innovative products in the U.S."

This announcement follows a period of significant domestic investment for the company, including a $300 million investment in the company's laundry operations announced in October, which is aimed at increasing capacity, by adding a new production line and 400-600 new jobs.

"This new facility represents an evolution in American manufacturing," said Kristin Day, Whirlpool Corporation vice president of U.S. manufacturing. "By creating a hybrid environment where cutting-edge automation meets human ingenuity, we are not just building applianceswe are building the future domestic production for our industry. Our people remain the foundation of our success, and these tools will empower them to reach new levels of precision and efficiency."

Approximately 80% of the major appliances Whirlpool Corporation sells in the U.S. are produced domestically, with the company spending $23 billion in manufacturing, labor and logistics in the past decade. Last year alone, the company spent more than $6 billion with U.S. suppliers.

The investments are subject to the final approval of incentives. Assistance from JobsOhio and a tax credit from the State of Ohio are pending review and approval.

Whirlpool Corporation expects to hold a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility later this year.

For more information about Whirlpool Corporation and its U.S. manufacturing footprint, click here.

Official Statements of Support

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer: "The Trump Administration's agenda is accelerating America's industrial resurgence by reducing trade barriers and ensuring that American workers and businesses can compete on even footing. Today's investment by Whirlpool Corporation demonstrates how an America First trade policy can strengthen the country's manufacturing base, create jobs, boost domestic production and support local economies."

Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH): "Whirlpool is investing in the American worker and Ohio is leading the way in reindustrializing the American Heartland and an American manufacturing renaissance. Whirlpool and its workforce are a great reflection of American resilience and proof that we can not only make things in America but make them better."

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09): "For decades, we've fought to keep the heart of American manufacturing beating right here in Northwest Ohio. This major investment by Whirlpool proves that when we back our domestic producers, our communities thrive. I am proud to see this commitment to our local workforce, which strengthens our Great Lakes regional economy and ensures that America continues to lead the world in building the products that power our homes and our communities."

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05): "This investment will strengthen our domestic supply chain in Ohio. When companies like Whirlpool invest in expanding American manufacturing, they create good-paying jobs, strengthen supply chain resilience, and help keep our nation competitive. This new development will bring additional jobs to Perrysburg, further boosting our local economy and creating more opportunities for Ohio workers."

Perrysburg Mayor Mark Weber: "This is exactly the kind of investment we're proud to see in Perrysburg. It means good jobs for our residents, continued growth for a strong local employer and a clear vote of confidence in both our workforce and our community. It's a great day for our city, and I look forward to welcoming Whirlpool to Perrysburg."

Wood County Commissioner Craig LaHote: "Whirlpool has a strong record of success in our region, and we're excited about their plans to bring new opportunities and investment to Wood County. The company's decision to expand here speaks to our strong workforce and business environment, and we look forward to working with them as a new corporate partner in Wood County."

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net salesclose to 90% of which were in the Americas41,000 employees and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation
Electric vehicle battery news from China has recently included "Rhinos," "Golden Bells," and the oft-heralded "holy grail" distinction. The descriptors are from a variety of companies that are working on promising solid-state EV batteries, according to a roundup published by Electrek.

While solid-state packs have yet to be mass produced for EV use, companies are planning for testing and trial runs to vet the latest models  a signal that the potentially transformational tech could be ready for scaled use.

The packs are lighter, charge faster, provide longer ranges, and are safer than traditional batteries. Solid-state versions have a firm middle, or electrolyte, instead of a flammable liquid. But Top Speed reported that they have been costly and hard to manufacture.

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Versions from the Chinese brands mentioned in Electrek's story  Dongfeng Motors, Changan Automobile, and Chery among them  are set to be tested. Some promise a range of nearly 1,000 miles.

"With gas prices soaring, how's a long-range EV sound now?" Electrek's Peter Johnson wrote.

Dongfeng has started testing its 620-mile battery in extreme cold. Chery's Rhino-series of semi-solid and fully solid-state batteries has an up to 932-mile range, and the company plans to validate and start producing them through next year. Changan's all-solid Golden Bell can deliver a similar range, with in-car vetting set for later this year.

Chinese brands already produce 75% of the world's commonly used lithium-ion battery cells, according to the Center for European Policy Analysis. But companies elsewhere are developing solid-state packs as well.

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Boston-based Factorial has been working with Mercedes-Benz to test a version in a lightly modified EQS, delivering a 745-mile range during trials, for example.

Most Chinese EV technology hasn't made it stateside due to longstanding trade policies meant to protect the American sector from cheaper imports, NPR explained. Forbes reported that the lack of an established dealership network is also a setback. But news from a meeting between Ford CEO Jim Farley and President Donald Trump indicated that the door has opened slightly for Chinese brands to be sold in America, with clearly defined advantages for the United States that would need to be provided.

EVs are already a great way to save money on gas and maintenance  up to $1,500 a year on average. Charging up at home adds to the value by avoiding fees levied at public ports, saving hundreds of dollars annually. Qmerit's experts can help you level up to a Level 2 charger, which is significantly faster than using a standard outlet. Qmerit provides free, instant estimates, ensuring you get the best price on the installation.

Home solar can provide independence from the grid by generating homegrown electricity via the sun to charge your ride. TCD's solar partner EnergySage connects customers with vetted installers as part of its resources that can save you up to $10,000 through curating competitive bids.

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Electrek's story also included updates from BYD, a world-leading brand from China that has developed unique battery chemistries and a Flash charging system that combine to produce 621 miles of range and a 10% to 97% charge in nine minutes.

While China is a dominant EV tech developer, Factorial, Tesla, Rivian, and Ford are other brands making headlines, with the latter company promising "Skunk Works"-caliber innovation that's on the way.

"While China aims to maintain its lead on the global market with new battery chemistries, Japan, Europe, Korea, and even the U.S. are racing to bring the promising new battery tech to market," according to Electrek.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
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Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

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Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... 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.

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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.

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Lisa Uhlman is an equities reporter at Proactive Investors, covering ASX-listed companies across the mining, energy, biotech and emerging tech sectors. With a background in legal and financial journalism, Lisa brings a sharp analytical lens to market news and corporate developments. Prior to joining Proactive, she reported for national trade publications and newswires, with a focus on court reporting, regulatory affairs and ESG-related business issues. Based in Sydney, she is... Read more

About the publisher

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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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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.

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Ever since Elon Musk bought Twitter, gearheads and tech investors have had exactly one question: how will his unfiltered opinions affect Tesla? A late-night post on X, the platform he now owns, just gave us our clearest answer yet.

Early Friday morning, the Tesla CEO responded to a video clip of venture capitalist and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel. In the clip of Piers Morgan Uncensored, Thiel offered an opinion of his political opponents, stating, Perhaps the shocking thing is how poorly this rhetoric translates or how, you know, how low testosterone the left actually is.

Musks simple, one-word reply to the post was Not wrong.

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Not wrong  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2026

From Electric Vehicles to Political Jabs

Make no mistake, this is a move you would never see from the head of another major automaker. Imagine Jim Farley at Ford or Mary Barra at General Motors using their social media to endorse politically charged, biological commentary about half of their potential customer base. Its unthinkable. The heads of the Detroit Big Three are laser-focused on moving metal, not wading into the muck of the ongoing American culture war.

For years, Tesla managed to build a brand that appealed across the political spectrum. Early adopters included environmentally conscious liberals in California and tech-obsessed libertarians in Texas. A Tesla Model S in the driveway was a status symbol of forward-thinking, regardless of your voting record. Musks increasing willingness to engage in pointed political commentary online directly challenges that broad-based appeal.

Is the Cybertruck the New Political Banner?

This change in tone from the CEOs office seems to find a physical home in the Tesla Cybertruck. With its brutalist stainless-steel exoskeleton and aggressive, unconventional styling, the Cybertruck has been positioned as a defiant statement against the automotive establishment from day one. Its a vehicle that feels tailor-made for buyers who see themselves as different  or wanting something different at least. Its very different to the popular Model 3 and Model Y.

By openly agreeing with Thiels rhetoric, Musk is aligning his personal brand, and by extension the Tesla brand, with a specific, combative political viewpoint. Its about actively choosing a side in a way that could energize one part of the market while deliberately alienating another, regardless of free speech.

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The ultimate question is whether this matters on the showroom floor. Will potential buyers, impressed by the 340-mile range of a Model Y Long Range or the jaw-dropping acceleration of the Cybertruck, be swayed by the CEOs online activity? For now, Teslas product leadership gives it a powerful shield, but as legacy automakers roll out increasingly competitive EVs, the man behind the brand might become a bigger factor than ever before.
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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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If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Washington, April 10 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit India next month following a "productive meeting" with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, as both sides push forward cooperation in defence, trade and critical technologies.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the talks focused on "our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad."

"Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Gor said, indicating a likely high-level engagement aimed at further strengthening ties. Misri's meeting with Rubio was held at the White House.

The meeting with Rubio marked the centrepiece of Misri's Washington visit, underlining the growing strategic convergence between the two countries across economic and security domains.

Separately, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met Misri and "reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries," according to a statement by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

"The leaders reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries and shared news about the situation in the Persian Gulf and other global and regional priorities," the statement said.

Regional security developments, particularly in West Asia, figured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exchanging views amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Misri also held talks with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, where the two sides "took stock of the India-US bilateral agenda since the Foreign Office Consultations held in December last year."

They further "shared assessments on recent developments in West Asia, as well as regional issues of mutual interest," the Indian Embassy said.

Economic and technology cooperation remained a key pillar of the engagement. In a meeting with Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, both sides agreed to deepen collaboration in emerging sectors.

"They agreed to take forward cooperation under Pax Silica and the broader economic and technology engagements, including in AI and critical minerals," the embassy said.

In addition to official meetings, Misri interacted with Washington's strategic community, engaging with think tanks on the "current state and future trajectory of IndiaUS bilateral ties."

These discussions examined "the opportunities to be seized and the challenges to be addressed in a rapidly evolving world order," along with the implications of ongoing geopolitical developments for global energy, food and economic security.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Tehran, April 10 : Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned the United States against allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "kill diplomacy," as a fragile ceasefire took hold following 40 days of fighting.

In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi said, "Netanyahu's criminal trial resumes on Sun(day). A region-wide ceasefire, incl(uding) in Lebanon, would hasten his jailing."

He added that if the United States lets Netanyahu "kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice. We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it."

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that "time is running out," stressing that Lebanon and the "resistance axis" are "inseparable" parts of the ceasefire.

Also on Thursday, Araghchi discussed the ceasefire with his Russian, French, Spanish and German counterparts in separate phone calls, Xinhua news agency reported quoting statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Iran took a responsible approach, and that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, promised for two weeks under the ceasefire, will be provided if the United States adheres to its commitments.

In a call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Araghchi expressed regret over Israeli ceasefire violations and attacks on Lebanon, urging international action. Barrot welcomed the ceasefire and stressed the need to stop Israeli attacks against Lebanon.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the attacks on Iran "illegal," and urged all parties to remain committed to the diplomatic path.

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 Iranian side will be reportedly headed by Qalibaf.

Israel has said the ceasefire does not cover the conflict in Lebanon, a position disputed by Iran and mediator Pakistan. Hours after the ceasefire came into effect, Israel launched its largest single-day attack on Lebanon, which has killed more than 300 and injured over 1,100.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Washington, April 10 : The United States must deploy its private sector more aggressively across global markets to counter China's expanding footprint, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said, calling commercial diplomacy a "key foundation" of American foreign policy.

Washington, April 10 (IANS) The United States must deploy its private sector more aggressively across global markets to counter China's expanding footprint, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said, calling commercial diplomacy a "key foundation" of American foreign policy.

Framing economic engagement as central to both geopolitical competition and long-term global stability, Landau argued that Washington must better mobilise its businesses to compete abroad.

"The one question that I wake up thinking about every single day is how do we ensure that the U.S. private sector is beating out the Chinese entities in every corner of the globe?" he said in his address at the Atlantic Council's Global Prosperity Forum.

Landau acknowledged that many countries prefer US firms but often turn to China due to the latter's consistent presence and financing. "You can't beat something with nothing. The Chinese are here Where's the American private sector?" he said.

He argued that Washington must address barriers such as perceived risk, lack of information, and regulatory complexity that deter US companies from investing abroad. "We may exaggerate some of the risks," he said, adding that the government should help firms "assess risks correctly" and "mitigate those risks."

At the core of his approach is what he described as a "three-legged stool" of commercial diplomacy: expanding export markets, encouraging US investment overseas, and attracting foreign direct investment into the United States.

"The overall objective is we are trying to make our country more prosperous," Landau said, stressing that economic engagement is not zero-sum. "The whole point is that you find win-win situations that benefit both sides."

He also pushed back against criticism that a stronger commercial focus makes US foreign policy overly transactional. "All relationships are based on some sense of mutual benefit," he said.

Landau said the Western Hemisphere remains a "natural focus" for US engagement, citing proximity and supply chain integration.

He pointed to Venezuela as a potential long-term opportunity, describing it as a "very, very rich country" whose economy has sharply deteriorated.

More broadly, he argued that economic development can help stabilise politically fragile regions. "Economic prosperity is the key element to almost all of these conflicts," he said, citing examples where investment projects helped bridge political divisions.

On global conflicts, Landau said the US is working toward a "lasting and effective ceasefire" in the Middle East, adding that Washington has "effectively accomplished the military objectives" of degrading adversarial capabilities.

He also underscored the importance of access to capital in developing economies, calling it "the lifeblood of the whole system."

He urged closer coordination between government and business. "What can I do for you to make your life easier?" he said, describing his message to corporate leaders.

The Atlantic Council forum highlighted growing consensus among policymakers and financial institutions that private capital will be critical to global growth. Speakers noted that most new jobs in emerging markets are expected to come from the private sector, not governments.

In recent years, the US has increasingly emphasised economic statecraft alongside traditional diplomacy, particularly in response to China's Belt and Road Initiative. Washington has expanded tools such as the US International Development Finance Corporation to support overseas investment and manage risk.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Cyber Police Station of Delhi's South-West district has busted a major nexus involved in fake loan app fraud under Operation Cyhawk 4.0, arresting two more accused and uncovering links to virtual numbers originating from Pakistan and Bangladesh, officials said on Friday.

According to police, the latest arrests take the total number of accused held in the case to six. The two newly arrested individuals have been identified as Karan Kumar (24) and Shami Ahmad (27), both residents of Kapashera. Two mobile phones containing incriminating WhatsApp chats were recovered from their possession.

The case pertains to an online financial fraud scheme in which unsuspecting victims were lured through fake loan applications offering unsecured loans. After disbursal, the accused allegedly extorted money by threatening to circulate morphed images of the victims.

Police said the investigation began after a mule bank account in Kapashera, registered in the name of a 23-year-old local resident, was flagged during analysis of suspicious transactions. "The associated complaints were found to be related to fake loan app scams, following which a case was registered and an investigation launched," an official said.

Based on leads from earlier arrests, investigators tracked additional accounts linked to the fraud. A Bank of India account in the name of Karan Kumar was found to be involved in multiple complaints, prompting further investigation and leading to the arrests.

During interrogation, Karan Kumar allegedly admitted that he had provided his bank account on a commission basis to co-accused Shami Ahmad, who in turn passed it on to another person for use in cyber fraud activities.

Police revealed that the accused were in touch with other members of the syndicate using virtual numbers from Pakistan and Bangladesh. "Multiple incriminating WhatsApp chats were recovered regarding operation of fake loan apps, management of mule accounts and receipt of cheated money," the police said.

Investigators are now probing whether these virtual numbers were operated by handlers based abroad or by India-based criminals masking their identity.

Explaining the modus operandi, officials said once a victim downloaded the fake loan app, access to their phone data was obtained by the fraudsters. Loans were issued with hidden terms, and victims were later threatened using manipulated images. The cheated money was routed through mule accounts using UPI and later converted into cryptocurrency such as USDT to conceal the trail.

Both accused are reported to be Rapido drivers and were allegedly drawn into the racket through local contacts offering easy money in exchange for bank account access.

Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace the money trail, police added.
New Delhi, April 10 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday signalled a major political push in West Bengal, asserting that the state is ready for change as he arrived to release the BJP's election manifesto, or 'Sankalp Patra', in Kolkata.

In a post on X, HM Shah said, "Bengal, weary of TMC, now seeks change. Today in Kolkata, I will release BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' on the basis of freeing Bengal from TMC's 'reign of terror'. Thereafter, I am eager to connect with the brothers and sisters of the state through a public meeting in Debra, West Medinipur, and a roadshow in Kharagpur."

The visit comes amid intensified political activity in the state, with the Bharatiya Janata Party stepping up its campaign against the ruling Trinamool Congress ahead of key elections.

According to party sources, the manifesto is expected to focus heavily on allegations of corruption and misgovernance against the Trinamool Congress government. The BJP is likely to promise a White Paper detailing what it describes as 15 years of irregularities under the current regime.

The party is also likely to highlight a crackdown on alleged mafia networks operating in sectors such as coal, sand and stone mining, positioning law and order as a central campaign issue.

On the welfare front, the BJP may promise financial assistance of Rs 3,000 per month for beneficiaries of the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, along with a similar monthly support for unemployed youth under a proposed 'Yuva Sathi' programme.

In addition, the manifesto is expected to outline plans to develop Singur as an industrial hub and propose major infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity between North and South Bengal, including the expansion of roads and airports.

Addressing long-standing demands of state government employees, the party is also likely to promise clearance of all pending Dearness Allowance dues within 45 days of coming to power.

Party leaders said the 'Sankalp Patra' is designed to combine sharp political attacks on the ruling party with welfare assurances and development-focused commitments as the BJP seeks to expand its footprint in the state.

Reiterating his message, HM Shah said in his post on X that the party's vision is centred on "freeing Bengal from TMC's 'reign of terror'" and connecting directly with people through public outreach programmes across the state.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, April 10 : The Delhi Police on Friday busted an interstate illicit liquor supply chain, apprehending one accused and seizing 1,700 quarters of illegal liquor along with a vehicle used for transportation.

The Special Staff of the East District intercepted the illegal operation following sustained surveillance and field intelligence. The police recovered a large quantity of liquor marked "For Sale in Haryana Only", which was being smuggled into Delhi. A car used in transporting the contraband was also seized.

According to East District Police, a total of 34 cartons containing 1,700 quarters (180 ml each), amounting to 306 litres of illicit liquor, were recovered during the operation. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Delhi Excise Act at Kalyanpuri Police Station.

The crackdown was carried out as part of a special drive initiated under the direction of senior officers to curb interstate liquor smuggling. A dedicated team comprising Head Constable Amit, Constable Himanshu, and Constable Shivam was formed under the leadership of Inspector Jitendra Malik, in charge of Special Staff, East District. The operation was conducted under the close supervision of ACP (Operations) Pawan Kumar.

On April 4, during routine patrolling in the Kalyanpuri area, the team received specific information about a white car transporting a large consignment of illicit liquor. Acting promptly, the team reached Trilokpuri Main Road around 4.40 p.m., where they spotted the suspected vehicle. Two unidentified individuals were seen unloading cartons from the car.

When signalled to stop, both suspects fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle and the cartons. Despite a brief chase, they managed to escape through narrow lanes. Upon inspection of the vehicle and the surrounding area, the police recovered the entire consignment of illicit liquor.

During the course of the investigation, the police team identified and apprehended Sachin Kumar (25), a resident of Trilokpuri, Delhi. He is the owner of the premises where the liquor was being unloaded and stored for distribution.

Police records reveal that the accused has prior involvement in excise-related offences, including cases registered in 2018 and 2025 at Kalyanpuri Police Station.

Further investigation is underway to trace and apprehend other individuals involved in the interstate supply network.
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It seemed that tariffs would kill any chance of Kia's Tasman pickup reaching the U.S., and it still may not, but the Korean marque has just announced new plans for a body-on-frame midsize truck that will arrive before the end of the decade. At the automaker's annual investor day, CEO Ho Sung Song said that Kia is aiming for annual U.S. sales of 1.02 million vehicles and a 6.2 percent market share (across all model lines) by introducing a new line of electrified vehicles, which includes extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). Kia is venturing into a highly competitive space that includes the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, the Ford Ranger, and the Chevrolet Colorado, to name a few, but it most likely won't be doing all the work on its own.

New Kia Pickup to Share Hyundai Bones with Hybrid Power

Sebastian Cenizo/Ideogram

Sister company Hyundai just announced its own plans to introduce a new midsize pickup that will take visual cues from the striking Boulder concept revealed at this year's New York International Auto Show, which seems to indicate that the incoming Kia truck won't necessarily be a restyled Tasman; it makes sense for Hyundai and Kia to work together using learnings from the Tasman and styling from the Boulder. Whatever the basis of this new pickup, both range-extender hybrid and all-electric powertrains will be offered, something Kia's CEO sees as "untapped" territory, reports Automotive News (subscription required). But it won't be untapped for long, and Kia is aware that it must be conservative with targets; Kia wants to sell 90,000 units of its new truck per year, and while that's a lofty target, the Toyota Tacoma, for example, shifted over 274,000 units last year.

Related: Hyundai's Toyota Tacoma Rival Will Be More Rugged Than the Santa Cruz

Overcoming brand stigmas and proving reliability in the demanding midsize truck space will be immense challenges, but as Ho Sung Song's comments indicate, if Kia can hit the nail on the head the first time it enters America's truck market, there's plenty of potential for growth.

Kia Is Entering a Market That Will Get Competitive Fast

Sebastian Cenizo/Ideogram

Volkswagen-owned Scout Motors is set to introduce range-extender and all-electric versions of its new Traveler pickup and Terra SUV by the end of the decade, and the vast majority of its pre-order interest has been for the EREV powertrain. On a more mainstream front, the Ford F-150 Lightning is becoming an EREV, too, so while this area of the market may have room for exponential growth through today's lens, the landscape will be considerably more saturated by the time Kia's offering arrives.

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Along with off-road capability, towing capacity, styling, and interior room, Kia will need to be on par with or ahead of rivals in terms of range and interior tech. Can it meet the demands of American buyers? Well, Kia and Hyundai are both far more respected in the U.S. (and rightfully so) than they were just two short decades ago, and they have to start somewhere in the truck game if they want to be as revered as Toyota and its ilk two decades from now. Given how impressive Hyundai Motor Group's brands are and intend to be, we wouldn't bet against it becoming impossible for truck buyers to ignore them soon.

Note: The images in this article are AI-generated renders and should not be considered official Kia concepts.

This story was originally published by Autoblog on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New Delhi, April 10 : With over 14 lakh Anganwadi centres, Anganwadi Didis are reaching pregnant mothers, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and children, serving nearly 8.9 crore beneficiaries, according to Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi.

She emphasised that 'Poshan Maah' and 'Poshan Pakhwada' have taken the shape of a true 'Jan Andolan', with crores of activities taking place across the country.

"Our Anganwadi workers, Anganwadi helpers, and ASHA Didis are diligently carrying forward the Prime Minister's vision and goals to every household with collective efforts to bring them to fruition. The mandate of the Ministry of Women and Child Development is extensive, and we are reaching every household and every child across the country," she said while addressing an event here.

"Our children are the future of the nation and will carry forward the resolve of a Viksit Bharat. Ensuring that they receive better nutrition is a responsibility we must all take forward together as a Jan Andolan," she added, urging states to learn from one another, adopt and adapt best practices, and encourage stronger performance within districts, especially in aspirational districts.

The minister also emphasised that 'Poshan' is a continuous process and called for greater time, care, and community participation to support the overall and mental development of children.

In continuation of this national movement, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the 8th edition of 'Poshan Pakhwada', marking the commencement of a nationwide campaign from April 9 to April 23.

Minister of State Savitri Thakur said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, eight Poshan Maahs and seven Poshan Pakhwadas have been organised since 2018.

Highlighting the theme of Poshan Pakhwada 2026, "Maximizing Brain Development in the First Six Years of Life," she emphasised that this period is critical, as over 85 per cent of brain development occurs in the early years, with the first 1,000 days being especially important.

She noted the need to move beyond nutrition alone and focus equally on responsive caregiving and early learning to ensure holistic child development.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, April 10 : Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Friday, announced its decision to withdraw from its previously announced alliance with former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir and the new political outfit floated by the latter for the forthcoming two-phase Assembly polls in West Bengal.

AIMIM's decision comes after a video-cum-audio clip was released by the Trinamool Congress on Thursday, where Kabir was reportedly seen making controversial statements with an unidentified person, hinting at making plots to divide the minority votes in West Bengal, thus benefiting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

AIMIM announced on its official social media handle X its decision to snap an electoral alliance with Kabir.

According to the statement, AIMIM contests elections with the sole aim of giving marginalised communities an independent political voice; however, amid the latest revelations over Kabir's statement, it has decided to withdraw from the electoral alliance with the latter.

AIMIM has also clarified that it would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal independently and without any electoral understanding with any other political party.

"Humayun Kabir's revelations have shown how vulnerable Bengal's Muslims are. AIMIM cannot associate with any statements where the integrity of Muslims is brought into question. As of today, AIMIM has withdrawn its alliance with Kabir's party. Bengal's Muslims are one of the poorest, neglected, and oppressed communities. Despite decades of secular rule, nothing has been done for them. AIMIM's policy to contest elections in any state is to give the marginalised communities an independent political voice. We will be contesting the Bengal elections INDEPENDENTLY and will have no alliance with any party going forward," the social media statement issued by AIMIM read.

On Thursday, Trinamool Congress accused Kabir of striking a Rs 1,000 crore deal with the BJP to divide minority votes in those West Bengal Assembly constituencies where his candidates are contesting in the forthcoming polls in alliance with AIMIM.

Trinamool Congress also released a purported clip where Kabir was reportedly heard conversing with an unidentified person on these lines.

The allegation from Trinamool Congress, however, drew a swift rebuttal from Kabir, who said the clip released by the Trinamool was a fake one and also threatened to sue Trinamool Congress for making such reportedly baseless allegations against him.
London, April 10 : The Russian Embassy in Britain dismissed a claim by British Defence Secretary John Healey of Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic as neither credible nor verifiable.

Earlier Thursday, Healey said Britain and Norway had led a month-long operation to track Russian submarines near key undersea cables and pipelines in the North Atlantic, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Russian embassy said in a statement that it was "impossible to either believe or verify" Healey's claim that Britain spent weeks repelling the "aggression" of an alleged Russian submarine in neutral waters using "only a single vessel and a surveillance aircraft."

A British warship and aircraft were deployed to deter the "malign" activity by Moscow and there was "no evidence" of any damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic, he added.

Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, Healey said: "We see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences."

London had recently issued "extremely aggressive statements and threats" targeting merchant ships operating in the interests of Russian companies and their partners, the embassy added, warning that "if these threats are translated into action, there will be consequences."

The embassy said Russia does not threaten undersea infrastructure critical to Britain, nor does it use aggressive rhetoric on the issue, noting that the responsibility for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines "rested with Western countries."
April 10 : Lucknow: In Uttar Pradesh, a significant transformation is being witnessed in making youth self-reliant through the CM Yuva scheme. Due to the efforts of the government led by Yogi Adityanath, innovation-driven start-ups are rapidly emerging across the state. This has not only generated employment for thousands of youth but has also enabled them to become job creators.

Through the CM Yuva initiative, more than 10,000 innovative enterprises have been established so far in the state, indicating a rapid rise in entrepreneurial confidence among young people. Notably, youth are moving beyond traditional businesses and making their mark in modern and emerging sectors.

According to Sarveshwar Shukla, Nodal Officer of CM Yuva and Joint Commissioner Industries, schemes like CM Yuva have not only expanded employment opportunities but are also playing a key role in realizing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

He stated, "Out of the total enterprises established so far under the scheme, 10 percent are based on innovative models. As per the vision of the Chief Minister, a target has been set to increase this to 25 percent in the current financial year 2026-27."

Sector-wise data shows that food and restaurant businesses have emerged as the top choice among youth, with the highest number of 763 enterprises established. Other sectors with active participation include computer training with 370 enterprises, pathology sampling with 260, fast food with 253, franchise-based models with 253, and online teaching with 189 enterprises.

Additionally, emerging sectors such as gyms with 170 enterprises, mobile IT and digital platforms with 120, travel and tourism with 117, and cloud kitchens with 117 enterprises are also witnessing rapid growth.

In district-wise performance, Lucknow ranks first with 287 enterprises. It is followed closely by Azamgarh with 286 enterprises and Hardoi with 262 enterprises. Other leading districts include Jaunpur with around 250 enterprises, Ambedkar Nagar with 241, Kanpur with 236, Varanasi with 229, Raebareli with 225, Bareilly with 208, and Firozabad with 197 enterprises. This initiative has provided a new direction to the start-up culture in the state.

Banks have played a vital role in strengthening the start-up ecosystem. Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank has provided loans to the highest number of innovative models, totalling 2,133.

Other major contributors include State Bank of India with 1,549, Bank of Baroda with 1,170, Punjab National Bank with 1,018, Bank of India with 774, Central Bank of India with 589, Canara Bank with 585, Indian Bank with 573, Union Bank of India with 399, and UCO Bank with 182. Their financial support has significantly accelerated the growth of start-ups led by youth.
Seoul, April 10 : The foreign ministry on Friday appointed former Ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha as its special envoy to Iran and will send him to Tehran soon to coordinate the safe passage of South Korean vessels and nationals amid the Middle East conflict, officials said.

The ministry announced the appointment of Chung, currently ambassador for polar affairs, a day after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held phone talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.

During the talks, Cho announced the decision to dispatch a special envoy to Iran to discuss the situation in the Middle East and bilateral issues between South Korea and Iran, Yonhap news agency reported.

A total of 26 South Korea-related vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz under the control of Iran, which has said it will offer safe passage in coordination with its armed forces, but is warning of attacks on ships attempting to pass without permission.

"With the dispatch (of the special envoy), the foreign ministry plans to share views on the Middle East situation and discuss passage not only for our nationals, vessels and crews, but for all ships," the ministry said.

Meanwhile situation in the Middle East escalating quickly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday approved direct talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, in a move seen as potentially reinforcing ceasefire efforts.

Netanyahu earlier said no formal ceasefire agreement exists between Israel and Lebanon.

The US and Iran are expected to begin negotiations over the weekend to formalize the ceasefire terms. US President Donald Trump said overnight he is optimistic about reaching a deal, while warning Tehran against interfering with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
April 10 : Lucknow: The Agriculture Department is spreading awareness among farmers following incidents of fire in fields and threshing grounds in some districts of the state.

The department has instructed agriculture officers posted in various districts to reach out to farmers and make them aware that many are currently troubled by unseasonal rains, while incidents of fire have also been reported in some areas. In such a situation, farmers should be advised to protect their threshing grounds from cigarettes, bidis and other flammable materials.

Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi has directed officials of the Agriculture Department to remain in continuous contact with farmers these days. They have been asked to maintain regular communication so that farmers facing any difficulties can receive timely support.

The Agriculture Department has appealed to farmers that currently crops such as mustard, gram, lentil and pea are undergoing harvesting, threshing and storage. Wheat, which is cultivated over the largest area, is likely to suffer damage due to rainfall occurring in different regions over the past few days. Farmers have therefore been advised to take special precautions during harvesting and threshing.

The department has advised that if standing crops in the fields have become wet, farmers should allow them to dry for one or two days. If the crop has already been harvested and is lying in rows in the field, ensure that water does not accumulate there or tie the bundles and keep them upright.

If the harvested crop lying in the threshing ground has become wet, it should be spread out to allow air and sunlight so that it dries quickly, and only then should threshing be carried out. If the grains have become wet, they should be stored only after the moisture content reduces to about 10 percent.

Seed-producing farmers have also been advised to pay special attention to cleanliness while harvesting with combine harvesters. Considering the current moisture conditions, storage areas, bins, sacks and walls should be properly fumigated during storage so that the storage facility remains clean, dry and free from pests. With a little caution and proper management, potential losses due to rainfall can be significantly reduced.
April 10 : Lucknow: Acting on the directions of CM Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi conducted an aerial survey on Thursday of the districts most affected by the disaster, including Barabanki, Ayodhya, Ambedkarnagar, Azamgarh, Amethi, Sultanpur, Fatehpur, Unnao, and Lucknow.

The government has taken swift action to assess the extensive crop damage caused by unseasonal rains, strong winds, and cyclonic conditions in the state this week.

The Deputy CM and Agriculture Minister assured farmers that the government stands firmly with them during this difficult time.

The Yogi government is committed to providing all possible assistance, including financial aid, to affected farmers.

Farmers were informed that, as per the Chief Ministers directives, strict instructions have been issued to district administrations to conduct detailed surveys to accurately assess crop losses and ensure immediate relief to farmers.

Following the aerial survey, review meetings were held in Azamgarh and Fatehpur to assess the ground situation.

District Magistrates, Chief Development Officers, Deputy Directors of Agriculture, and other concerned officials attended these meetings.

During the discussions, the progress of crop surveys was reviewed in detail.

Officials were directed to complete the survey work of affected crops at the earliest and submit a comprehensive report to the government so that relief funds can be disbursed to affected farmers without delay.
Mumbai, April 10 : In a shocking case of molestation and sexual harassment in a tech firm in Maharashtra's Nashik, the city police have apprehended the company's Human Resource (HR) official -- the latest arrest in the case following the unearthing of an 'organised racket' operating within the office for about three to four years.

Mumbai, April 10 (IANS) In a shocking case of molestation and sexual harassment in a tech firm in Maharashtra's Nashik, the city police have apprehended the companyas Human Resource (HR) official -- the latest arrest in the case following the unearthing of an aorganised racketa operating within the office for about three to four years.

The HR official, identified as Ashwini Ashok Chainani, was taken into custody from Puneas Loola Nagar after an initial investigation established that complaints of the victims were not acted upon, and he kept dithering over the issue.

A case has been registered under Crime Registration Number 163/2026, pursuant to Sections 75, 78, 79, 49, 356, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

Police are interrogating him regarding the flagrant violation of women workers at the corporate office and for alleged inaction on their complaints.

The unravelling of the horrifying case of harassment of female employees at the tech office in Nashik, barely 200 kms from Mumbai, sent shockwaves in the police as well as the district administration.

Following complaints of sexual harassment and also aforced conversionsa, the police sprang into action and nabbed at least six accused. The HR person is the seventh person to be arrested, who is based out of Pune.

Nine First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged at different police stations in the case, while six arrests have been made so far.

According to complainants, they were sexually harassed and threatened with dire consequences if they reported to the police, for about 3-4 years. They were also subjected to repeated bullying and religious slurs.

Owing to the gravity of crime, the state administration has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the complaints and launch a thorough probe into 'harassment and conversion' complaints.

Most of the complainants are said to be in the age group of 18-25 and purportedly hail from poor families. The accused exploited their poor background to the hilt and subjected them to constant harassment and making obscene advances, hoping that they wouldnat get questioned or caught.

Some of the victims lodged formal complaints with the companyas HR under the POSH Act- the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, but claimed that no action was taken.

The police nabbed the HR official for alleged suppression of ongoing harassment at the workplace and glossing over their complaints.
New Delhi, April 10 : President Droupadi Murmu on Friday nominated senior Janata Dal (United) leader Harivansh to the Rajya Sabha for a third consecutive term of six years, extending his tenure in the Rajya Sabha until 2032.

The decision puts an end to speculation regarding Harivanshas continuation in Parliament, especially after reports that he might vacate his seat to accommodate JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar on one of the partyas allotted seats. Kumar is expected to take the oath as a Member of Parliament soon and step down as Bihar Chief Minister.

As per the current composition of the 245-member Rajya Sabha, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a majority with around 141 seats. This includes 105 members from the BJP, along with representation from allies such as the AIADMK, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and JD(U), among others.

Harivanshas nomination has been made under Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, which empowers the President to nominate individuals with distinguished contributions in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service. The government, in an official notification, stated that the nomination fills a vacancy arising from the retirement of a nominated member.

The move comes immediately after the completion of Harivanshas second term as a JD(U) representative from Bihar. A seasoned politician and former journalist with decades of experience, he currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Harivansh, who will turn 70 in June this year, was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2014. Over the years, he has been part of several key parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Defence, the Select Committee on the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, and the Joint Committee on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

He first assumed office as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on August 9, 2018, and served until April 2020. After a brief interval, he was re-elected to the position on September 14, 2020, and has continued in the role since then, playing a significant part in the functioning of the Upper House.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patna, April 10 : Amid strong indications that Nitish Kumar is set to transition to national politics by taking oath as a Rajya Sabha member, supporters of the Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) have launched an emotional appeal urging him not to leave Bihar. A poster campaign led by JD(U) worker Krishna Patel has surfaced across party offices and various locations in Patna.

The poster features images of Nitish Kumar, his son Nishant Kumar, and JD(U) state President Umesh Kushwaha.

The message on the poster reads as a heartfelt plea: "Do not abandon Bihar; do not leave usthe people of Biharorphaned."

It further states that Nitish Kumar's leadership provides unmatched security and stability, adding that while his mission remains incomplete, Nishant Kumar could carry it forward.

Nitish Kumar, who has served as Bihar's Chief Minister since November 2005, was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on March 16.

Subsequently, he resigned from his position as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on March 30.

He arrived in Delhi on Thursday and is scheduled to take oath as a Rajya Sabha MP today.

Speaking to the media upon his arrival, Nitish Kumar indicated that he may now remain based in Delhi and hinted at a leadership transition in Bihar within the next three to four days.

This development has accelerated political activity in the state.

Following his return to Patna, the process of forming a new government is expected to gather pace after the 13th of the month.

A crucial meeting of NDA constituents has already been convened.

Sources suggest that the formation of the new government will take place after the conclusion of Kharmas, an inauspicious period in the Hindu calendar.

Discussions are underway regarding the swearing-in ceremony, which is likely to be held at the historic Gandhi Maidan.

In a significant political shift, Bihar is poised to have a Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the first time.

A BJP Core Committee meeting is being held in Delhi, attended by senior leaders, including both Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, to finalise the road map for government formation.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
But youll have to move to Japan and enter a lottery system to try and get it.

The Subaru WRX STI is back. Well, sorta. The Fuji Heavy Industries-owned automaker just launched the model that everyones been clamoring for.

But if youve been following STIs new vehicle launches over the past few years, and had a sneaking suspicion that it might be forbidden fruit, sadly, you would be correct. You have to be living in Japan to get one, and you also need to enter a lottery to have a chance to score one.

Subaru, why you keep doing this to us?

The JDM-only Subaru WRX STI Sport# is real, and limited to 600 units. - Credit: Subaru

The model in question is the production version of the Subaru WRX STI Sport#. And no, its not another appearance package or half-assed attempt at giving the world a true WRX STI.

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It is legitimately a WRX STI through and through, with all the performance modifications that would normally define and separate the STI from the standard WRX. Or, if youre really extreme, its the closest thing to a modern iteration.

The only thing missing, technically, is the WRX STIs signature giant rear spoiler. - Credit: Subaru

Not too long ago at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Subaru revealed the WRX STI Sport# Concept. And now, the model is out for real and is up for grabs.

Lots of subtle performance upgrades and weight reduction, bro

More than just an appearance package, the WRX STI Sport# does have some meaningful performance upgrades. - Credit: Subaru

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What do those performance upgrades entail? STI fitted upgraded electronically controlled ZF shock absorbers that the company tuned specifically for WRX application.

The firm also adds a shock tower brace and additional control arm stiffeners to improve steering feedback, overall handling composure and stability. The stoppers benefit from an upgraded kit by Brembo with six-piston clamps up front and two-piston units at the back.

This unique WRX STI Sport# earns the distinction as Japans first manual-equipped WRX STI based on the current WRX. - Credit: Subaru

The upgrades dont just concern the handling and braking, either. STIs engineers also did some work on the turbo boxer four.

Despite the output remaining the same as the WRX at 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, STI nevertheless massaged the engine. Engineers reduced the weight tolerances of the connecting rods and pistons by almost 50 percent compared to the WRXs engine.

Despite producing the same power, STI engineers reworked the internals to make the turbo boxer four more responsive. - Credit: Subaru

Other tweaks include reducing mass on the flywheel, clutch and even the crankshaft for increased throttle responses. And the result is what Subaru STI calls one of its most balanced engines.

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Subaru STI also went the extra mile to shed weight by omitting the models cumbersome driver-assist technology. As such, the WRX STI Sport# does without the EyeSight X safety equipment, power folding mirrors and other interior amenities, all to create the purest-driving WRX STI yet.

The WRX STI Sport# gets some serious track-ready brakes from Brembo. - Credit: Subaru

The only thing thats missing is the WRX STIs iconic big rear spoiler. In its place is the same trunk lip spoiler equipped on the R-Black Limited STI Performance Edition.

Youll have to live in Japan, among other things, to get one

The WRX STI Sport# is the most potent WRX to date. - Credit: Subaru

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But there are a few hurdles youll have to overcome if you really want one. Like other recent STI launches, unfortunately, you have to live on Japanese soil to qualify to get one.

Thats on top of the fact that Subarus running a lottery system for a run of just 600 units destined for production.

Subarus helping to save the manuals, even if it is only in Japan. - Credit: Subaru

Additionally, the WRX STI Sport# is even special for the Japanese Domestic Market as its the first WRX STI made available with a six-speed manual.

If youre lucky enough to be living in the Land of the Rising Sun, youll have to set aside roughly 6,105,000 or the USD equivalent of about $38,400. But dont lose all hope if you live outside of Japan.

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Subaru and STI have openly admitted that theyre open to producing a more readily available WRX STI model for global export. Well have to wait a wee bit longer to see what theyre brewing.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his). Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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.
New Delhi, April 10 : There has been a rising concern over the number of Pakistani-origin individuals settled abroad who have associated themselves with the Islamic State. Such persons, according to Indian agencies, pose a big risk to the United States, Canada and Europe.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that these persons are trying to harm Indian interests abroad. The Islamic State has been targeting individuals of Pakistani origin with the intention of recruiting them and asking them to hit Indian interests abroad.

The official said this is more or less like what the ISI expects the Khalistan elements to do. The ISI seeks to have Indian interests hit with the help of both Khalistani elements and Islamic State-inspired persons, the official also said.

Under the radar of these elements are the Hindu Temples, Indian diplomatic missions, and locations linked to the Jewish-Indian community. This signals a major plot by the ISI which goes beyond India. It is looking for similar recruits in several other countries as well, and the intention is to hurt India internationally as well.

The ISI is devising several strategies so that it can target India. In recent months, investigations by multiple agencies revealed that the ISI was looking to set up homegrown modules. It has stepped up its propaganda narrative so that the youth tend to self-recruit and run modules.

The Faridabad module was one such example of this plan. In addition to trying to target India by setting up homegrown terror modules, it has decided to club this with a plan that goes beyond India.

The recent confession of a Pakistani-origin man in Canada is proof that the ISI has activated its international plans. Muhammad Shahzzeb Khan, a man of Pakistani origin, confessed before a US federal court to plotting an attack on a Jewish centre in Brooklyn.

Based out of Canada, he was arrested in September 2024 near the US-Canada border while trying to illegally enter the United States with the help of a human smuggler. He now faces the possibility of life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to charges related to terrorism.

He said that he was planning to strike at a Jewish centre on October 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.

Another official said that with such plans in place, the Indian missions need to remain on a state of high alert. The ISI has been tapping into lone actors to carry out such attacks, the official added.

While such an attack would hurt Indiaas interests, it also creates fear and panic among the Indian diaspora.

The Khalistanis have done this in the US, the UK and Canada, and now the ISI wants the Islamic State terrorists to do the same.

While the Khalistan threat is immense, the plan that the ISI wants to undertake through these lone actors is extremely dangerous.

Another official said that such attacks are aimed at massive destruction. It is also meant to send a signal to India that its citizens and interests are not safe anywhere.

For the ISI, such attacks are of utmost importance, following the embarrassment Pakistan faced after Operation Sindoor. This operation carried out by the Indian Armed Forces to avenge the Pahalgam attack led to the destruction of massive terror infrastructure both in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan. In a bid to avenge this and save face, the ISI has come up with multiple plans to hurt India both within and abroad.
April 10 : Lucknow: In the Yogi governments vision to establish Uttar Pradesh as the spiritual capital of the world, the Buddhist Circuit is set to emerge as a significant milestone. Stretching from Sarnath to Kushinagar and from Shravasti to Kapilvastu, this spiritual corridor is no longer just a center of religious faith. It is rapidly evolving into a powerful medium for global tourism, investment, and cultural diplomacy.

The recently concluded International Buddhist Conclave 2026 in Kushinagar has added a new chapter to this journey, opening doors to global investment and marking a major step forward in the states development.

Uttar Pradeshs Buddhist Circuit continues to strengthen, and the numbers tell its success story. In 2025, more than 8.2 million tourists visited six major Buddhist sites: Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Kaushambi, Sankisa, and Kapilvastu.

This surge reflects how Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a must-visit spiritual destination for Buddhist followers and tourists worldwide. These sites are being enhanced with modern amenities, improved road and air connectivity, digital guidance systems, and world-class tourism services to ensure a seamless and enriching experience for international visitors.

The Buddhist Circuit is also giving a strong boost to the local economy. It is creating new opportunities in the hospitality sector, transport services, tour guiding, handicrafts, and local products.

The International Buddhist Conclave 2026, held recently in Kushinagar, has once again placed the city at the center of the global spiritual map.

More than 2,300 Buddhist devotees participated in the grand event, while experts and delegates from Thailand, Japan, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal gave it a truly international character. Most notably, investment proposals worth 3,000 crore were received during the conclave, underscoring that the Buddhist Circuit is not only a land of faith but also a fertile ground for investment and development.

Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths vision for religious tourism, Uttar Pradeshs economy is steadily gaining strength.

The Tourism Departments roadmap, Viksit Uttar Pradesh @2047, will further accelerate this growth, with the Buddhist Circuit playing a key role.

The state aims to increase its contribution to tourism-based Gross Value Added (GVA) from the current 9.2 percent to 16 percent by 2047.

Additionally, there is an ambitious plan to expand the number of UNESCO-recognized heritage sites in the state from seven to twenty.

The land where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, attained Mahaparinirvana, and where his followers kept the flame of knowledge alive for centuries is now ready to carve a new global identity as Uttar Pradesh.

The state governments well-planned policies, successful international events, and growing investment proposals are collectively shaping this vision into reality.
Kabul, April 10 : : One person was killed and 15 others were injured when a vehicle crashed into a residential house in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province, a local police official said on Friday.

The accident occurred on the outskirts of Pul-e-Alam, the provincial capital, due to reckless driving, provincial police spokesman Mawlawi Ahmadullah Anas said, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The injured were taken to nearby health facilities, where their conditions were reported to be stable, he added.

In a separate incident in neighbouring Nangarhar province on Wednesday night, one person was killed and 35 others injured in another road accident.

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in Afghanistan, where reckless driving on congested roads and the poor condition of highways, often lacking proper signage, contribute to frequent crashes in the war-torn country.

On April 3, two commuters were killed and 13 others sustained injuries as a passenger bus veered from the road in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province, provincial police spokesman Khalid Sarhadi said.

The deadly mishap took place on the main road in Qarabagh district on April 3, the official said, adding that efforts are underway to search for a missing boy.

Blaming reckless driving for the accident, Sarhadi said an investigation into the accident is underway.

On March 28, one commuter was killed and 10 others sustained injuries as a mini-bus struck two motorists in east Afghanistan's Laghman province, said a statement of the provincial police office.

A mini-bus, according to the statement, struck a three-wheel rickshaw and a motorbike simultaneously due to carelessness in the provincial capital Mehtarlam on March 28, killing one on the spot and injuring 10 others, including five children and two women.

All the injured commuters have been shifted to the hospital for medical treatment, the statement said, calling on drivers to respect traffic rules and regulations while driving to avoid road accidents.
Patna, April 10 : Nitish Kumar on Friday took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha, marking a significant shift in his long political career.

He had arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, accompanied by Sanjay Jha and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, to complete the necessary formalities related to his induction into the Upper House of Parliament.

With this development, Nitish Kumar has joined a select group of leaders in the country who have served in all four legislative bodies -- the State Legislative Assembly, State Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha.

This is being seen as a unique distinction in his long political career.

He was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 this year and subsequently resigned from his position as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on March 30.

This resignation also marks the end of Nitish Kumar's long association with the Bihar Legislative Council.

He first became a member in 2006 and went on to serve four consecutive terms -- 2006-2012, 2012-2018, 2018-2024, and 2024 onwards -- before stepping down.

Since assuming office as Chief Minister in November 2005, Nitish Kumar has consistently held his position through membership in the Legislative Council, rather than contesting Assembly elections.

Although he was earlier elected as an MLA from Harnaut in 1985 and also served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, his tenure as Chief Minister has largely been anchored in the Upper House of the State Legislature.

Following his resignation from the Legislative Council, constitutional norms also necessitate that he step down as Chief Minister.

Upon arrival in New Delhi on Thursday, Nitish Kumar explained the reasoning behind his move, "I have accomplished a lot of work in Bihar. Now I felt that I should remain here, and that is what I am doing."

He further added, "I will step down from my role there (Patna) and work here (New Delhi). I will resign in three or four days. New individuals will be appointed as Chief Minister and Ministers."

Nitish Kumar's transition to the Rajya Sabha marks the beginning of a new chapter in his political journey, which began in 1985.

His formal induction into the Upper House is expected to further shape Bihar's political landscape in the coming months.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Quetta, April 10 : Pakistani forces were attacked in an ambush in Balochistan's Turbat, where a Baloch armed group had earlier imposed a road blockade, resulting in severe casualties, local media reported.

Quetta, April 10 (IANS) Pakistani forces were attacked in an ambush in Balochistanas Turbat, where a Baloch armed group had earlier imposed a road blockade, resulting in severe casualties, local media reported.

Citing sources, The Balochistan Post reported that the attack occurred on Thursday after the group blocked the road on the outskirts of Turbat for about three hours before taking control of a nearby police post and seizing weapons.

After entering the area, a military convoy of six vehicles was ambushed near the Mashallah Hotel, leading to an exchange of fire lasting over 40 minutes.

During the clash, military quadcopters were also targeted, with forces suffering casualties and material losses, though the extent of the damage remains unverified.

The armed group reportedly damaged a communication tower and two surveillance cameras near Shahdad Hotel in the same area.

In separate incidents, these Baloch fighters conducted snap-checking in the Dasht area of the Mastung district in Balochistan, establishing a second blockade.

Additionally, a gas pipeline near Sibi Teaching Hospital in the province was reportedly destroyed in a blast, causing a disruption to gas supply in the area.

Amid the escalating attacks on Pakistani forces, a military camp in the Mastung district was targeted in a series of drone attacks on Thursday evening.

The strikes reportedly targeted a camp at Maro Kund in the Spilinji area, with multiple drones used in the attack, The Balochistan Post reported, citing sources.

Reports suggest that the attack unfolded over a brief period and resulted in casualties among Pakistani troops, though the extent of the losses could not be independently verified.

This incident follows a similar drone strike targeting a military camp in Kalat district, for which the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, in the wake of a wave of coordinated attacks reported across Balochistan.

Pakistani military and police personnel have come under escalating attacks by Baloch militant groups in recent days, resulting in heavy casualties and damage to the infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Balochistan continues to reel under relentless atrocities by the Pakistani forces, marked by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch civilians at an unprecedented level.
Mumbai, April 10 : Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in India witnessed a sharp slowdown in inflows in March as net inflows into gold ETFs more than halved to Rs 2,266 crore during the month, according to data released by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) on Friday.

This marks a significant decline from February, when investors had poured a net Rs 5,255 crore into these funds.

The drop came due to geopolitical uncertainties, particularly surrounding tensions involving the United States and Iran, weighed on investor sentiment.

Gold ETFs, which track the price of physical gold, are considered a convenient and tax-efficient investment option as they eliminate the need for storage and security concerns associated with holding the metal physically.

At present, there are 25 such schemes available to investors in India. The dip in inflows came at a time when gold prices corrected sharply.

In the domestic market, gold prices fell around 11 per cent in March, mirroring the decline in the benchmark Nifty index during the same period.

The fall in prices appears to have dampened investor appetite, even as gold traditionally serves as a safe-haven asset during periods of uncertainty.

Despite the slowdown in inflows, the total assets under management (AUM) of gold ETFs remained robust.

As of March 31, the AUM stood at Rs 1.71 lakh crore. This figure also reflects the impact of earlier gains in bullion prices, which had supported overall asset growth.

Globally, however, the trend was even more pronounced. Data from the World Gold Council showed that gold ETFs recorded outflows of $12 billion in March, marking the largest monthly withdrawal on record.

The sharp outflows disrupted expectations of what was anticipated to be the strongest quarter for global gold ETF inflows.

Even so, on a broader horizon, gold ETFs globally have managed to log a seventh consecutive quarter of net inflows, as per the report.
Bhopal, April 10 : The Madhya Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, will observe 'Nari Shakti Vandan' fortnight across the state from April 10 to April 25 to spread awareness about the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also known as the Women's Reservation Act.

Also it would celebrate the leadership and contributions of women in various fields. The state government has directed that the event be celebrated as a grand public festival.

The campaign will begin with conferences at all divisional headquarters. During these events, women public representatives and successful women entrepreneurs will be felicitated and will share their experiences.

The Department of Women and Child Development will organise 'Nari Shakti Padayatras (women's empowerment marches)', in every Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency, with participation from women across different sections of society.

To involve the youth, a 'Nari Shakti Vandan Wall' will be created where young people can express their thoughts through paintings and messages.

On April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, special Gram Sabhas will be held in all Gram Panchayats. These assemblies will include discussions on the Women's Reservation Act and tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Seminars and workshops will also be conducted in Panchayats, urban local bodies, and educational institutions.

Women from Self-Help Groups and beneficiaries of schemes such as Lakhpati Didi and Ladli Behna will play an active role.

Lectures and competitions will be organised in schools, colleges, and universities to help the younger generation understand the importance of women's empowerment.

Public representatives have been asked to participate actively in all events, a government official said.

Madhya Pradesh has made notable progress in women's economic participation. As per recent data, out of the state's 24.34 lakh Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, around 411,000 units, or 17 per cent, are operated by women.

Under the Start-up Policy unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during last year's Global Investors Summit, 3,476 out of 7,264 registered start-ups, amounting to 48 per cent, are led by women entrepreneurs, the official said.

The Madhya Pradesh MSME Development Policy 2025 offers special incentives to encourage women in business. Women investing in plant and machinery can avail a capital subsidy of up to 48 per cent on investments up to Rs 10 crore.

For women from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the subsidy goes up to 50 per cent, while it stands at 40 per cent for those in the general category.

The Start-up Policy and Implementation Plan 2025 provides 18 per cent financial assistance to women-led startups, with aid up to Rs 18 lakh per tranche and a total limit of Rs 72 lakh.

These initiatives reflect the Madhya Pradesh government's focussed efforts towards women's empowerment and its contribution to the vision of a self-reliant India.

The Nari Shakti Vandan fortnight is expected to further strengthen public awareness and inspire greater participation of women in leadership roles across the state.
New Delhi, April 10 : Senior leaders of the Janata Dal (United) on Friday strongly backed Nitish Kumar, asserting that his governance model will continue to guide the state even as he embarks on a new parliamentary role as a Rajya Sabha member.

Speaking on the development, JD(U) Bihar State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha said, "In Bihar, our leader has drawn a long line of development, and under his leadership, the government is functioning effectively. The 'Nitish model' will continue to be implemented in Bihar, and everything will remain on the path of progress."

On the future leadership of the party, Kushwaha also expressed confidence in Nishant Kumar, stating, "There is no doubt that Nishant Kumar is the future; he represents the future of Bihar as well as our party. He is promising, well-educated, and a young leader...."

Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Vijay Chaudhary said Nitish Kumar's decision to move to the Rajya Sabha was his own. "...He has taken this decision himself, and we have always respected his decisions, which is why we are respecting it now as well," he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Bihar Minister Madan Sahni remarked, "His journey has been remarkable, and he has done very good work. The entire Bihar is saddened; people are emotional..."

Adding to the chorus, JD(U) National General Secretary Harshvardhan Singh said, "He changed history, he transformed Bihar. Whoever takes the charge in future, he will have to meet the line drawn by Nitish Kumar, and for many years in future, 'Nitish model' will work."

Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha, marking a significant milestone in his long political career. He had arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, along with party leaders Sanjay Jha and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, to complete the formalities.

With this move, Nitish Kumar has joined a rare group of Indian leaders who have served in all four legislative bodies -- the State Legislative Assembly, State Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and now the Rajya Sabha -- a unique distinction in public life.

He was elected unopposed to the Upper House on March 16 and resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council on March 30, bringing to an end his nearly two-decade-long association with the body, where he served multiple consecutive terms since 2006.

The development marks a new phase in Bihar politics, even as JD(U) leaders emphasise continuity in governance under the "Nitish model".
Port Louis, April 10 : External Affairs Minister (EAM), S Jaishankar, held a telephonic conversation with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi on Friday, discussing developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Following their conversation, EAM Jaishankar wrote, "Good to speak with FM Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan. Discussed developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Appreciate his condolences for the Indian lives lost in the conflict."

The talks between the two ministers came after a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and is a vital route for global oil supplies. A significant share of the worldas seaborne crude passes through the strait, making any disruption a major concern for energy-importing nations.

Last month, EAM Jaishankar met his Japanese counterpart Motegi on the sidelines of G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in France.

"Always nice to meet my friend FM Toshimitsu Motegi, this time on the sidelines of G7 FMM," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

On March 6, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a meeting with Special Advisor to Japan's Prime Minister, Sadamasa Oue and discussed strengthening Defence technology and economic security.

"Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Sadamasa Oue, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan. They had a productive exchange of views on strengthening the Defence technology and economic security pillars of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.

In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi on her victory in Japan's House of Representatives election.

In his message, PM Modi expressed confidence that he and Takaichi will continue to take the friendship between India and Japan to greater heights.

"Congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives! Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity. I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights," he wrote on X.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 10 : As sections of Pakistani media claimed that the country's diplomatic intervention in the Iran-US crisis merits consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize, political leaders from the BJP and Shiv Sena on Friday dismissed the idea as 'a joke.' They argued that if those accused of promoting terrorism are considered for such an honour, then even Adolf Hitler would qualify for the Nobel Prize.

The debate gained traction after US President Donald Trump stated that he had agreed to a ceasefire "based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan," adding that they had "requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated that Tehran had accepted the ceasefire "in response to the brotherly request of Prime Minister Sharif," further fuelling claims of Pakistan's diplomatic role.

Reacting to it, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC questioned Pakistan's credibility in seeking global recognition for peace efforts.

"I don't know who Pakistan is a puppet of. They are not even capable of dreaming of a Nobel Prize, let alone receiving one for mediating in global conflicts. The so-called ceasefire and meetings they talk about have not even taken place," she told IANS.

She further said that Pakistan's leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, should first address internal challenges.

"They must eliminate the toxicity and terrorism within their own country before claiming any international diplomatic success. The truth about terrorism needs to be brought into the public domain. Only then can they aspire to be taken seriously on the global stage," she added.

Calling the Nobel Peace Prize discussion "premature and misplaced", Shaina NC said that Pakistan must first understand the implications of nuclear escalation and its global consequences.

"Given their track record of allegedly sheltering terrorists, their leadership should prioritise internal peace. India has not forgotten Pakistan's actions, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will respond at the appropriate time. The Nobel Peace Prize is a distant dream for them," she asserted.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo criticised the very notion of awarding a Nobel Prize in such circumstances. "There is nothing amusing about giving a Nobel Prize to countries accused of promoting terrorism. Pakistan claims to have mediated between the US and Iran, but there is no clarity on the terms or outcomes of such mediation," he said.

He added that rewarding such claims would undermine the credibility of the Nobel Peace Prize itself. "If those accused of promoting terrorism are considered for the Nobel Peace Prize, then by that logic, even Hitler should be given the award," Shah Deo remarked.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 10 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against a Siliguri-based accused and a company incorporated by him in connection with a major "digital arrest" cyber fraud case involving the cheating of a senior citizen in Delhi of nearly Rs 23 crore, an official statement said on Friday.

The case, which was transferred to the CBI following directions from the Supreme Court of India, pertains to a sophisticated cyber fraud in which the victim was allegedly intimidated through fake legal notices and impersonation of law enforcement and judicial authorities via video calls.

According to the agency, the accused, identified as Sagnik Roy, has been arrested and is currently in judicial custody. The charge sheet also names a company, Securing World Social and Economic Development Council, which was allegedly used as a front to facilitate the fraudulent transactions.

CBI investigations revealed that the bank account operated by the accused and his company was used to receive the defrauded amount from the Delhi-based senior citizen. The victim was coerced into transferring funds under the pretext of a so-called "digital arrest"  a tactic used by cybercriminals to instil fear by falsely claiming that the target is under legal scrutiny or detention.

Officials said the accused persons posed as law enforcement and judicial officers during video calls, creating a sense of urgency and fear, which ultimately led the victim to transfer substantial sums of money.

Further probe has uncovered that the same bank account was also linked to at least two other cyber fraud cases registered in different parts of the country. The account was allegedly used to receive proceeds of crime, which were later siphoned off through a network of mule accounts to obscure the money trail.

The agency issued an advisory to the public, urging citizens to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes, particularly those involving "digital arrest" tactics. It clarified that there is no legal concept of a "digital arrest" and cautioned people against panicking or complying with such fraudulent calls.

Citizens have been advised not to share personal or financial information with unknown callers and to verify the authenticity of any such claims with the concerned authorities. The agency also warned against fraudulent investment schemes and impersonation calls made in the name of law enforcement or regulatory bodies.

The public has been urged to promptly report any suspicious activity to the national cybercrime portal or local law enforcement agencies to prevent such crimes and assist in timely action.
New Delhi, April 10 : The political row over the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) withdrawing its alliance with the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) intensified on Friday, with leaders across party lines trading sharp accusations and counter-allegations.

Speaking to IANS, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that recent revelations, including a purported video and claims of a Rs 1,000 crore deal, have exposed what he described as the "real conduct, character, and face" of the BJP.

"They seek votes by dividing people and regional parties on the basis of caste and religion. Asaduddin Owaisi has always helped the BJP," Tiwari said.

Taking a dig at Owaisi he added, "Humayun is like a younger brothernow let's see when the elder brother's video comes out. These are like brothers separated at the Mela. Knowingly or unknowingly, Owaisi does things that end up benefiting the BJP."

Echoing similar sentiments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, said the split would ultimately benefit the BJP. "Owaisi adopts such tactics for this purpose. He is a learned person and a barrister, so he should exercise restraint," Raut said, urging Opposition unity against the BJP.

"Your enemy is the BJP; the BJP is the enemy of the country. If you consider yourself a patriot, you should not engage in any political moves that might help the BJP," he added.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson, Udaiveer Singh, launched a broader attack on the BJP-led government, claiming that forces opposing the Constitution and democracy were in power. He also backed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying she was the only leader capable of defeating the BJP and had "saved Bengal".

Meanwhile, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh downplayed the controversy surrounding AJUP chief Humayun Kabir, questioning the credibility of the allegations. "Who made this video? Who will give Rs 1,000 crore to Humayun Kabir? He has no relevance, holds no ground in politics, so there is no point in such propaganda," Ghosh said.

In Mumbai, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC criticised both AIMIM and the Trinamool Congress, accusing them of indulging in "appeasement politics". She said the NDA alone focusses on development and claimed that the situation in West Bengal was marked by fear.

Adding to the BJP's defence, party spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo rejected the allegations outright and suggested possible misuse of technology. "It seems clear to us that Humayun Kabir is very close to Mamata Banerjee and is working as her B-team. The video that has gone viral todayit is hard to say, with AI technology, who can make whom say what," he said.

He further termed the allegations "completely baseless" and asserted that the party would pursue legal action.

The controversy erupted after AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, announced its decision to withdraw from its alliance with AJUP, after the Trinamool Congress on Thursday released a purported video allegedly showing Kabir in a conversation implying links with political figures. This triggered a fresh political slugfest ahead of upcoming electoral battles.

While Opposition parties accused Owaisi of indirectly aiding the BJP, the BJP dismissed the claims as politically motivated.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, April 10 : Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Friday emphasised the critical role of Cost Audit in building an efficient, transparent and competitive economy, stating that cost competitiveness is imperative for India as it advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Inaugurating the National Seminar on 'Cost Audit for Viksit Bharat' organised by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) here, the Governor said that the vision of a developed India goes beyond economic growth and industrial expansion. "It is about ensuring that every rupee spent, every resource used and every decision taken contributes meaningfully to national progress," he said.

Describing Cost Audit as a "strategic instrument of economic governance", the Governor noted that it helps improve efficiency, reduce wastage and ensure optimal utilisation of resources across sectors. He said that in an increasingly competitive global environment, innovation and quality must be complemented by cost efficiency to give India a decisive advantage.

The Governor said that with India entering into Free Trade Agreements and facing increased global competition, Cost Audit serves as a vital diagnostic tool for benchmarking, continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

He further underlined the role of Cost Audit in promoting transparency and accountability, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, healthcare, telecom, education and emerging areas, such as Artificial Intelligence and data infrastructure, where pricing has a direct impact on citizens.

Referring to his role as Chancellor of 29 universities in Maharashtra with over three million students, the Governor observed that many students are not adequately aware of the professional opportunities offered by ICMAI.

He urged the Institute to reach out to universities and colleges, especially in smaller cities, to create awareness about its courses and examinations and encourage more students to join the profession.

The ICMAI national seminar focuses on the strategic importance of cost audit in enhancing transparency, improving efficiency and fostering Vishwas (trust) among stakeholders, while contributing to Value creation and aligning with the broader national Vision of "Viksit Bharat". It also provides a platform for meaningful discussions on emerging trends and the future direction of the CMA profession in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Bengaluru, April 10 : Bollywood star Ranveer Singh on Friday told the Karnataka High Court that he is willing to work with the complainant to revise the wording of his apology affidavit in a case related to his mimicry of a character from the film 'Kantara: Chapter 1'.

The statement came after the complainant argued that the actor's affidavit did not show genuine remorse.

The court was hearing Singh's petition seeking to quash an FIR registered against him over the incident, which took place during the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa last year.

During the event, Singh allegedly mimicked a role played by actor Rishab Shetty in the film and reportedly referred to a deity as a "female ghost," which led to objections.

Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for Singh, informed Justice M. Nagaprasanna that an affidavit of apology had already been filed. He said the actor had also stated in the affidavit that he would visit the concerned temple to offer prayers.

However, the complainant's counsel argued that the affidavit lacked clarity and did not adequately express remorse. The counsel pointed out that the intention mentioned in the affidavit had not been properly conveyed and sought a more specific and clear apology.

Poovayya then referred to portions of the affidavit, where Singh stated that he was not aware that his actions would offend worshippers and expressed regret for the incident. He also mentioned that Singh had already issued an unconditional public apology after realising the impact of his remarks.

The complainant's counsel insisted that a more precise affidavit be submitted. In response, Poovayya assured the court that he would work with the complainant to draft a revised version that would address their concerns.

After hearing both sides, the court adjourned the matter to April 23 and directed that a revised affidavit be filed to the satisfaction of the complainant.

It may be recalled that Ranveer Singh had drawn criticism after referring to a deity as a "female ghost" while enacting a scene of divine possession at the IFFI in Goa. The remarks sparked outrage, with many people taking to social media to accuse the actor of hurting religious sentiments.

Responding to the backlash, Ranveer Singh issued an apology on Instagram for imitating Kannada actor Rishab Shetty's performance in the film 'Kantara: Chapter 1'. He expressed regret over the incident and said he sincerely apologised for his actions.

However, following the controversy, an FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by an advocate under Sections 196, 299, and 302, which relate to promoting enmity, outraging religious feelings, and deliberately hurting religious sentiments.

Ranveer Singh has approached the court seeking to quash the FIR. The High Court had earlier stayed any punitive action against him and cautioned that, as a public figure, he must be mindful of his words and actions and avoid hurting the religious sentiments of any community.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, April 10 : The government has allowed exports of basmati and non-basmati rice to certain European countries without the mandatory certificate of inspection for a period of six months, according to an official notification issued on Friday.

The requirement for an inspection certificate, issued by the export inspection agency, will continue to apply only to European Union member states, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. All other European countries have been exempted from this requirement for the six-month period, the notification said.

The move is aimed at facilitating exports amid rising global demand for Indian rice.

Earlier, the government had said rice exports reached $12.95 billion in 2024-25, while exports of pulses and millets stood at $855 million and $59.20 million, respectively.

The figures highlight growing international demand for diversified and climate-resilient cereal crops, reinforcing Indiaas role in global food and nutrition security.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier noted that rice exports have grown by 62 per cent between 2014 and 2025.

Rice production in India is largely concentrated in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab are among the leading wheat-producing regions in the country.

Earlier in February, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the supply of rice in support of global humanitarian operations aimed at combating hunger. In this pact, FCI will supply 200,000 metric tonnes of rice (up to 25 per cent broken) to WFP.

The agreement will be valid for a period of five years from the date of signing and may be extended by mutual consent. The price will be mutually agreed on an annual basis, with the current price fixed at Rs 2,800 per quintal up to 31 March 2026.
Kathmandu, April 10 : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected that Nepal's economic growth will decelerate significantly in the current fiscal year 2025-26 due to the impact of last year's civil unrest and the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving the United States, Iran, and Israel.

Kathmandu, April 10 (IANS) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected that Nepal's economic growth will decelerate significantly in the current fiscal year 202526 due to the impact of last year's civil unrest and the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving the United States, Iran, and Israel.

In its flagship economic publication released on Friday, the ADB said Nepal's economy is expected to grow by 2.7 per cent in FY202526, which ends in mid-July, down from 4.6 per cent in FY202425.

According to the latest assessment, the slowdown follows the aftermath of the Gen-Z movement in early September last year, when youth-led protests erupted over a social media ban, weak government accountability, and limited employment opportunities. The protests eventually forced the then government led by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to resign, deepening political instability. However, the outcome of the federal election held on March 5 is expected to pave the way for improved political stability in the coming months, the ADB said.

Following the elections, Nepal has formed a new government with a nearly two-thirds majority led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

While internal political conditions appear to have stabilised, the conflict in West Asia continues to pose significant downside risks to Nepal's economy through rising global oil prices, declining tourist arrivals, and a potential drop in remittancesparticularly from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which account for around 40 per cent of Nepal's total remittance inflows, the ADB noted.

In South Asia, Nepal's economy is expected to perform worse than most countries in the region, except for Maldives and Afghanistan.

"While renewed political stability is expected to support reforms and bolster economic confidence, substantial downside risks remain, particularly from the Middle East conflict, which is affecting oil prices, tourism, and remittance flows," said Arnaud Cauchois, ADB Country Director for Nepal.

According to the report, all three sectors of the economy  agriculture, industry, and services  are expected to perform weaker in the current fiscal year compared to the last fiscal year.

Agricultural growth is expected to slow to 2.7 per cent in FY202526 from 3.3 per cent in FY202425 due to a decline in paddy production caused by delayed monsoon rains and floods in October 2025. The industrial sector is projected to see growth fall to 2.8 per cent from 4.5 per cent over the same period, as weaker investor sentiment and delayed capital spending weigh on manufacturing and construction.

The services sector is also expected to slow, with growth projected to decline to 2.8 per cent in FY202526 from 4.2 per cent in the previous fiscal year.

This is attributed to weaker performance in wholesale and retail trade and sluggish real estate activity. Additionally, the impact of the West Asia conflict on tourism is expected to weigh on the sector, as disruptions at key Middle East transit hubs during Nepal's peak spring climbing season (March to May) could reduce tourist inflows.
New Delhi, April 10 : India and Qatar have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic ties across key sectors including trade, energy and cultural exchanges, as Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri held high-level talks in Doha during his two-day official visit, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Friday.

Puri, who arrived in Doha on April 9, met Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, where both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations.

The discussions covered high-level engagements, trade and investment opportunities, energy cooperation, as well as cultural and people-to-people ties, reflecting the growing depth of the India-Qatar partnership.

"Both Ministers discussed all aspects of the strategic relations between the two countries including high level engagements, trade, investment, energy, culture and people-to-people relations," the ministry said.

"They hoped for early return of peace and stability in the region and further strengthening of the bilateral relationship between India and Qatar," it added.

During the meeting, Puri conveyed greetings and a message of solidarity on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

He also recalled the recent telephonic conversations between PM Modi and the Amir in March 2026 following the onset of regional tensions, during which both leaders underscored the need for peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.

PM Modi had also expressed gratitude for Qatar's continued support to the Indian community residing there.

The two ministers expressed hope for an early restoration of peace in the region and agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Al-Kaabi reiterated Qatar's commitment to being a reliable energy partner for India and emphasised continued collaboration in the energy sector.

The leaders also welcomed the two-week ceasefire announced on April 8, stressing the importance of ensuring uninterrupted global energy supplies.

They highlighted the need for freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of global commerce to maintain stable supply chains.

Puri thanked his Qatari counterpart for hosting him, and both sides agreed to remain in close contact in the coming weeks as they work towards advancing mutual interests.
New Delhi, April 10 : Defence veterans on Friday mocked Pakistan over reports that it "mediated" a ceasefire between US and Iran. Accusing Pakistan of miscommunicating between Iran and the US, they emphasised on the fact that Israel and Pakistan don't share great bilateral relations.

After America and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, US President Donald Trump stated that he had agreed "based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan," adding that they had "requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated that Tehran had accepted the agreement "in response to the brotherly request of Prime Minister Sharif," further fuelling claims of Pakistan's diplomatic role.

Indian Army Captain (Retired) Anil Gaur told IANS, "Pakistan is not working like an honest peace broker."

He accused the nation of miscommunication. "Pakistan didn't sent the entire draft (conditions) provided by Iran to the US and vice versa," he alleged.

"One who is mediating has a very crucial role. It needs to clearly convey things between the parties, so that both parties understand the basis of the negotiation," Captain Gaur said.

About Israel's issues with Pakistan, he cited the latter's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's now-deleted post on X where he called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity" for attacking Lebanon amid a US-Iran ceasefire.

Notably, Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, had previously put forward his apprehension regarding Pakistan's role of "mediator", saying Tel Aviv does not look at the country as a "credible player".

Captain Gaur also accused Pakistan of only thinking about "it's own benefit."

He further said that the country is giving itself unnecessary importance and that "Pakistan is lost in it's dreams".

Moreover, he alleged that Pakistan is working only to stay close to America. He gave an example of the controversy which erupted following reports that an early version of Shehbaz Sharif's post on X included 'Draft  Pakistan's PM Message on X'.

Captain Gaur said, "The draft of the tweet came from America and he just posted it as it is."

"Rather it should take care of its own internal matters," he added.

Commodore (Retd) Uday Bhaskar described the role of Pakistan more as a "facilitator" in the talks scheduled to happen in Islamabad.

He said, "The word peace maker has different connotation. So in my view it would be more appropriate to call Pakistan as an enabler or facilitator."

While underlining that Israel and Pakistan do not have a great bilateral relationship, he said, "The talks are between USA and Iran as the main principles. Israel is not in the talks. It has expressed it's discomfort with Pakistan as the facilitator."

Taking a dig over reports of Pakistan claiming a Nobel Prize, he said, "Good luck to Pakistan. US President Trump also wants a Nobel prize, so good luck to them."

However, Commodore Bhaskar cautioned that due to Israel's role, he was not very hopeful about the results of the talks.

"Israel's role has been negative so far, that is why I am not very optimistic about the success of these talks. It cannot happen that USA and Iran will come to an agreement and Israel keeps on attacking Lebanon and any other countries it so wishes with impunity," he said.
Kabul, April 10 : At least 148 people have been killed and 216 others injured in Afghanistan in the past two weeks following heavy rains, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes and lightening that has struck several parts of the country, local media reported on Friday citing updates released by the Afghan disaster authorities.

Nangarhar province in Eastern Afghanistan was among the worst-hit areas of Afghanistan in the latest wave of extreme weather conditions, Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press reported. According to the authorities, 24 people were killed and 33 others injured in Nangarhar in the past two days, with many deaths related to collapsing roofs, floodwaters and storm-related damage. At least 1,149 homes were destroyed while roads, farmland and local infrastructure suffered extensive damage, as per the reports.

Over 7,500 families have been impacted, showcasing how seasonal storms cause humanitarian emergency in rural and poorly protected areas. Key roads have been damaged, disrupting connectivity between Kabul and several provinces of Afghanistan. Stranded residents were airlifted from some areas as floods waters swept through villages and urban neighbourhoods.

The weather authorities have warned that more extreme weather conditions could lie ahead, sparking fears that casualties and destruction could further increase in the coming days, Khaama Press reported. In recent years, Afghanistan has faced repeated climate and disasters, including floods, earthquakes and droughts, which have impacted fragile communities of the country.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has said that severe seasonal flooding has caused extensive damage across Afghanistan over the past two weeks, Afghanistan-based Tolo news reported on Friday.

According to the report, the heavy rains and resulting floods from March 26 to April 6 hit communities in several provinces of Afghanistan, inundating hundreds of villages, Xinhua News Agency reported. More than 73,000 people have been impacted by the disaster.

More than 9,000 homes have been damaged and over 15,500 acres of agricultural land has been destroyed in Afghanistan, sparking concerns about food security in the impacted regions.
Kolkata, April 10 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday outrightly rejected any deal between former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir's party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for 'polarising' Assembly elections in West Bengal, stating that the two are poles apart.

He took a swipe at the Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, hinting that the ruling party was behind the viral audio clip of Humayun Kabir, in which the latter purportedly "assures" state BJP leaders of "unflinching support in dislodging the Trinamool from power".

Amit Shah, when questioned about the 'Kabir-BJP deal' to create a religious divide in poll-bound Bengal, said, "You aren't aware of Mamata's capabilities; she can make 2,000 such videos."

Ruling out any possibility of alliance with Kabir's party, he said, "Humayun Kabir and the BJP are two poles apart -- North Pole and South Pole. We would rather sit in opposition for another 20 years, rather than aligning with a party that calls for building the Babri masjid in Bengal."

The controversy over the Rs 1,000 crore deal broke out after Trinamool leaders held a press conference on Thursday, in which they labelled Humayun Kabir as the 'B-team' of the BJP and claimed that the party had entered into a clandestine agreement to create and foment religious divide in the upcoming elections.

In the press conference held by West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas on Thursday, an audio clip purportedly of Humayun Kabir was released, in which they claimed that Kabir and his newly floated Aam Aadmi Unnayan Party (AAUP) were "assuring the BJP of support in elections".

In the unverified audio clip, Kabir was reportedly heard assuring an unidentified person that if the BJP could ensure attracting the majority of the Hindu votes this time, he would be instrumental in ensuring the division of the Muslim voters, and he would do that to throw the Trinamool Congress out of power in the state.

In the purported audio clip, Kabir was also heard claiming to be in regular touch with the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and assuring that he and his party will give cent per cent support to the new BJP chief minister.

The alleged leaked tape created a flutter in political circles, with the ruling Trinamool accusing the BJP of attempting to influence the elections with money power.

Following this, Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM snapped ties with the fledgling party and on Friday announced its decision to withdraw from the alliance with Humayun Kabir and his new political outfit.
Moscow, April 10 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing Kyiv's willingness to abide it.

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will remain in effect from 4 pm (Moscow time) on April 11 and until the end of April 12, leading Russian news agency Tass reported.

The statement reads, "By decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared ahead of the Orthodox Easter - from 4:00 p.m. [Moscow time, 1:00 p.m. GMT] on April 11 until the end of April 12, 2026 [9:00 pm GMT]."

Russian soldiers have been ordered to cease combat operations in all directions during the ceasefire from April 11-12. However, they have been asked to stand ready to repel any enemy attack.

The statement reads, "Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Commander of the Joint Grouping of Forces - Army General Valery Gerasimov have been instructed to halt combat operations in all areas for this period. Russian troops are to remain ready to repel any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions on its part."

Meanwhile, Zelensky stated that Ukraine had proposed a ceasefire during the Easter Holidays and would act accordingly.

"Ukraine has repeatedly stated that we are ready for symmetrical steps. We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly. People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well," Zelensky posted on X.

The ceasefire comes as talks to end the war between Ukraine and Russia remain stalled.

On April 3, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow has repeatedly said that to stop Russia's military action in Ukraine, Kyiv must withdraw from Donbass.

When asked about reports alleging that Russia had set a deadline for withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers, he responded, "There are no deadlines, itas not true."

"We have repeatedly said that in order to stop the hot stage of the special military operation, Ukraine needs to pull back troops from Donbass. This has to be done," Tass quoted Peskov as saying.

He stated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers from Donbass would contribute to the transition to a political and diplomatic settlement of the war between Moscow and Kyiv.

Peskov said, "For this, [Vladimir] Zelensky must take political responsibility and make an appropriate decision. But there are no deadlines here. This should be done today, or better yet, it should have been done yesterday."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 10 : The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has arrested the kingpin of a well-organised cheating racket that targeted vulnerable women at hospitals and temples across the national Capital, officials said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Paro (38), a resident of Bawana, had been absconding since 2023 and was declared a Proclaimed Offender in two cases. She was wanted in at least three cheating cases registered in different police stations of Delhi.

According to police, the gang operated with a consistent modus operandi, targeting unsuspecting women who appeared alone or vulnerable, particularly at hospital premises and temple areas. The incidents were reported from multiple locations across the city, indicating a coordinated pattern of crime.

In one of the cases, registered as FIR No. 99/2023 at I.P. Estate police station, one accused had earlier been arrested, but Paro, who played a key role in planning and executing the crimes, managed to evade arrest and went into hiding.

Taking serious note of the recurring pattern, the Central Range of the Crime Branch was tasked with identifying and apprehending the mastermind behind the racket. A dedicated team was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Vinay Kumar and supervised by ACP Satendra Mohan.

The team conducted an extensive month-long investigation, analysing CCTV footage from nearly 50 locations, including hospital premises and temple areas. Through sustained surveillance, technical analysis, and local Intelligence inputs, the accused was finally traced and apprehended on April 9 from Bawana.

Police revealed that the accused and her associates would initiate conversations with potential victims on the pretext of offering help or sharing personal experiences. They would then gradually manipulate the victims psychologically, often creating a sense of urgency or fear, including warnings of bad luck or imminent danger.

Once the victim was sufficiently confused or disoriented, the accused would deceitfully remove or get the victim convince to part with their gold ornaments and valuables before fleeing the spot.

In one such incident dated April 18, 2023, a woman was targeted at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and was cheated of her gold jewellery using a similar tactic.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Paro is educated up to Class 8 and lives in jhuggi clusters in Bawana. She got married in 2012 and has three children. Her husband is reportedly a habitual drinker, and due to financial distress, she gradually got involved in criminal activities, eventually emerging as the leader of the gang.

Further verification confirmed that she had been declared a Proclaimed Offender by a court at Tis Hazari Courts in November 2023 and had been evading arrest since then.

Police said she is involved in at least three cases, including FIR No. 99/2023 and FIR No. 84/2023 registered at I.P. Estate police station, and FIR No. 75/2023 registered at Mandir Marg police station, all under Sections 420/34 of the IPC.

Further investigation is underway to identify and arrest her associates and to ascertain her involvement in other similar cases, police added.
New Delhi, April 10 : India's digital payment system Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is set to mark its 10th anniversary on April 11, after growing 12,000-fold in volume and over 4,000 times in terms of value.

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) Indiaas digital payment system Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is set to mark its 10th anniversary on April 11, after growing 12,000-fold in volume and over 4,000 times in terms of value.

The payment system scaled from 17.86 million transactions worth Rs 6,952 crore in FY17 to 218.98 billion transactions amounting to nearly Rs 285 lakh crore in FY26, data from analytics firm Tracxn showed.

Transactions rose gradually in the initial years a" to 915 million in FY18 and 5.39 billion in FY19 a" before UPI entered the mainstream in FY20 facilitating 12.52 billion transactions worth over Rs 21 lakh crore.

The pandemic years accelerated adoption as volumes jumped to 22.33 billion in FY21 and 45.97 billion in FY22, and again it doubled to 83.75 billion transactions in FY23.

The payment app recorded 130.13 billion transactions in FY24 and 185.87 billion in FY25.

In 2025, UPI processed 228.5 billion transactions, marking a 33 per cent yeara'ona'year increase, while total transaction value touched Rs. 299.74 trillion, another report said.

Merchant acceptance infrastructure expanded in 2025, with UPI QR codes increasing 15 per cent YoY to 731.38 million.

Pointa'ofa'sale terminals grew 15 per cent to 11.48 million. Bharat QR deployments eased slightly as the ecosystem consolidated around UPI-led acceptance models, the report said.

Onea'month UPI transaction value stood at about Rs 28 lakh crore, roughly 70 per cent of the economyas total currency stock, underscoring that digital payments volumes remain large relative to cash.

Meanwhile, Indiaas digital payments ecosystem saw a strong comeback in March 2026, with the UPI registering its highest-ever monthly transaction volume since its launch in 2016, according to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India.

UPI processed 22.64 billion transactions in March, marking a sharp rise from 20.39 billion transactions recorded in February. The March figure also surpassed the previous high of 21.70 billion transactions seen in January. On a year-on-year basis, transaction volumes grew by 24 per cent.

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Port Louis, April 10 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar called on Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool on Friday, conveying greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.

EAM Jaishankar noted that the conversation reflected the warmth of the friendship between two nations and commitment to further advance ties.

"Honoured to call on President Dharambeer Gokhool of Mauritius. Conveyed warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our conversation reflected the warmth of our friendship and the steadfast commitment to further advancing India-Mauritius partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

EAM Jaishankar also met former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and expressed appreciation for his commitment to bilateral partnership.

"Pleased to meet former Prime Minister and leader of MSM Party Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Value his strong commitment to India Mauritius partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.

On Thursday, EAM Jaishankar called on Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and conveyed warm greetings of PM Modi.

Describing the India-Mauritius partnership as wide-ranging and substantive, Jaishankar noted remarkable progress in the last one year across multiple domains.

"Pleased to call on Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius. Conveyed best wishes of PM Narendra Modi. Our wide-ranging partnership has witnessed remarkable and substantive progress in the last one year. Discussed its various facets including development cooperation, health, education, capacity building, mobility, technology, maritime security, and people-to-people ties. As well as developments in West Asia and their impact. Deeply value PM Ramgoolam's strong commitment for the enduring India-Mauritius friendship," he wrote on X.

EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Mauritius from April 9-10. During his visit, he is also attending the 9th Indian Ocean Conference.

In the second leg of the visit, EAM Jaishankar will be on an official visit to the UAE from April 11. During the two-day visit, he will meet the UAE leadership to review close cooperation and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 10 : K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and a Member of Parliament, on Friday accused Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, of engaging in 'clear witch-hunting' against Congress leader Pawan Khera after making false allegations against another Congress leader, Gaurav Gogoi and his wife.

Speaking to reporters, Venugopal said, "This is a witch-hunt by Himanta Biswa Sarma. He has made clear-cut false allegations against Gaurav Gogoi and his wife. How many times has he made such baseless claims? If there was any truth to these allegations before the elections why didn't he present any proof?"

He further criticised the Assam Chief Minister for what he described as contradictory statements.

"The person who made false allegations against Gaurav Gogoi and his family is now accusing Pawan Khera of mischief. This is nothing but a clear case of witch-hunting," he added.

Venugopal also expressed confidence about the Congress party's prospects in Kerala.

"We are going to win in Kerala. We will form the government in the state," he asserted.

On April 7, Assam Police registered a case against Pawan Khera, including charges of forgery, defamation, and criminal conspiracy, linked to remarks targeting the family of Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.

Earlier in the day, Telangana High Court granted interim relief to Pawan Khera in the case registered against him by Assam Police.

The High Court granted anticipatory bail to Khera for one week to enable him to file an application for regular bail before the concerned court.

Justice K. Sujana, who had reserved orders on Khera's petition on Thursday, pronounced the same on Friday.

Khera had approached the High Court for transit anticipatory bail to enable him to approach courts in Assam.

Appearing for Khera, Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the FIR registered by Assam Police was a result of political vendetta.

Singhvi stated that the FIR had been loaded with every possible charge to exert pressure on a political opponent. He argued that even if the Congress leader's statements turned out to be wrong, the case was one of defamation, and there was no reason to arrest him.

"Khera is not absconding. He is ready to cooperate. He came to this court only because he was in Hyderabad with his wife when he learnt about the FIR," Singhvi said.

Appearing for Assam Police, Advocate General of Assam, Devajit Saikia, challenged the maintainability of the anticipatory bail petition in Hyderabad. He submitted that Khera, a resident of Delhi, has not shown any reason why he cannot file the petition in Assam.

Assam Police have booked Khera in a case of alleged defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

The case was registered against him after he claimed that Riniki Bhuyan holds multiple foreign passports and undisclosed assets abroad.

A team of Assam Police on Tuesday visited Khera's residence in Delhi, but he was not present there.

Police also put up barricades and placed security outside the residence of Khera and his wife, Neelima's house in Hyderabad.

The controversy began after Khera's press conference on Sunday, in which he claimed that Riniki Sarma held three passports, undeclared luxury properties in Dubai and also shell companies in the US.
Chatra : April 10 (IANS) A gruesome incident has come to light from the Scheduled Caste Residential Girls' School located at the Hunterganj block headquarters in Jharkhand's Chatra district. A 14-year-old minor student, who was residing in the school hostel and studying in Class 3, was found to be pregnant during a medical examination.

Chatra (Jharkhand) April 10 (IANS) A gruesome incident has come to light from the Scheduled Caste Residential Girlsa School located at the Hunterganj block headquarters in Jharkhandas Chatra district. A 14-year-old minor student, who was residing in the school hostel and studying in Class 3, was found to be pregnant during a medical examination.

It is alleged that the schoolas headmaster himself assaulted the student. Following this revelation, there is an atmosphere of anger and fear not only within the school premises but across the entire district.

As soon as information about the incident was received, the victimas family members reached the school and staged a strong protest, alleging major lapses and negligence in the security arrangements by the management. Considering the seriousness of the case, the police acted swiftly and arrested the accused headmaster.

Sensing the situation deteriorating, Hunterganj Police Station in-charge Prabhat Kumar reached the spot along with police personnel and pacified the agitated villagers. The police, under security cover, brought the student and the accused headmaster, Shankar Prasad, to the police station, where they were questioned for several hours in the presence of senior administrative officials.

Taking immediate cognisance of the sensitivity of the case, Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Shree acted promptly. A large team of officials, including AC Arvind Kumar, SDO Mohammad Jahur Alam, the Women Police Station in-charge, and REO Ambuja Raj, was deployed to record the studentas statement. DC Keerthi Shree has also constituted a high-level inquiry committee to probe the matter thoroughly.

Local public representatives have also taken a strong stand on the issue. Zila Parishad Chairperson Mamta Kumari termed the incident heinous and said she would personally meet the DC and SP to demand justice for the victim. She also advocated the strictest punishment for the guilty.

Nawadih Mukhiya and Basanti Panna also demanded that the investigation be conducted in a completely fair and scientific manner so that the real culprit is punished and no innocent person is implicated.

The police have arrested the accused headmaster, Shankar Prasad, and the process of sending him to judicial custody is underway.

Meanwhile, the victim is being provided with necessary medical care and is also undergoing counselling.
Kottayam, April 10 : A sharp political row has erupted in Kerala with the BJP leaders P.C. George and his son Shaun George on Friday launching a strong offensive against sections of the Catholic Church, alleging political partisanship.

P.C. George who contested on a BJP ticket from the Poonjar constituency accused certain religious leaders of supporting the Congress-led UDF.

They claimed that appeals were made from within Church-led institutions to vote for the UDF in the Assembly elections.

He alleged that some in the clergy were acting with political motives and warned that those engaging in politics would be treated as political actors.

He also raised the issue of foreign funding, asserting that all institutions must comply strictly with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and disclose accounts of funds received from abroad.

Echoing the attack, Shaun George criticised the Christian leadership accusing them of adopting an anti-BJP stance.

He asked what benefits the Church had derived from leaders like AICC General Secretary, K.C. Venugopal, and Rajya Sabha member Jose K. Mani.

He further claimed that decisions related to the FCRA had been influenced by pressure exerted by his side and warned that if the Church distances itself from the BJP, they would also do the same.

Shaun George also took a swipe at the sitting Pala Assembly constituency legislator Mani C. Kappan, ridiculing his electoral prospects in Pala and expressing confidence about his own vote share, while declining to predict the final margin.

The son was engaged in a triangular poll battle with Kappan and Mani.

The remarks come in the backdrop of a keenly fought contest in the Pala constituency, where political camps are closely tracking vote consolidation, including the influence of Church-backed voters and anti-incumbency sentiments.

P.C. George, a seven-time legislator who has traversed multiple factions of the Kerala Congress before floating his own party, merged his outfit with the BJP in 2024.
April 10 : Lucknow: The Yaksh App of UP Police is playing a crucial role in putting criminals behind bars. Within just 90 days, the Yaksh App has helped solve more than a dozen criminal incidents, giving a new dimension to smart policing and strengthening crime control.

Through this app, serious crimes such as kidnapping, murder, robbery and theft have been solved. With the help of the Yaksh App, police are not only reaching suspects quickly but have also significantly reduced the time taken to crack cases. It may be noted that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the Yaksh App during the Police Manthan program to give a new direction to smart policing in Uttar Pradesh.

DGP Rajeev Krishna said, The Yaksh App was launched under the concept of smart policing in line with the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Yaksh App provides features such as a digital database of criminals in the state, location-based mapping of CCTV cameras, and analytical tools.

Earlier, investigators had to rely on traditional registers like the Village Crime Notebook, but now the entire criminal history can be accessed within minutes.

DGP Rajeev Krishna further said, In a kidnapping case registered in Hardoi, the Yaksh App revealed a shocking truth during the investigation. It was found that the person who was allegedly kidnapped had actually been in jail for the past two and a half years. Similarly, the robbery of a public service center operator in Jaunpur on March 11, 2026, was solved within hours. Police analyzed footage from 42-43 CCTV cameras through the Yaksh App, which helped identify suspects and track their location. Following this, three accused were arrested in an encounter and about 1.30 lakh in cash was recovered.

In addition, two robbery incidents that occurred within an hour in the Kakori area of Lucknow were solved within 48 hours. By analyzing the suspects identities, mobile locations, and activities through the Yaksh App, police arrested both criminals.

Furthermore, in Raebareli, the app helped expose an eight-member interstate vehicle theft gang. Through the apps database and geo-tagging, police obtained the criminal history of the accused and arrested them through a planned operation.

The Yaksh App also played a key role in arresting an accused involved in the murder of his mother-in-law and brother-in-law in Bareilly. As soon as the suspects photo and record were obtained from the app, police arrested him.

In Agra, the app helped save an elderly man from false molestation allegations. Through CCTV footage and facial recognition, the real accused were identified and arrested.

In districts such as Meerut, Hathras, Farrukhabad, Kanpur and Gonda, several theft and pickpocketing gangs have been exposed with the help of the Yaksh App.

In Meerut, four members of a pickpocket gang were arrested; in Hathras, a jewelry theft accused was traced; in Kanpur, a gang involved in stealing from a jewelry shop was busted; and in Gonda, thefts taking place in schools were uncovered through the app.

Key features of the app

- Statewide digital database of criminals accessible to police units

- Location-based mapping of CCTV cameras for rapid evidence collection

- Each criminal assigned a unique Criminal ID, enabling smooth information sharing between districts

- Multi-angle photographic records of criminals for accurate identification
Bengaluru, April 10 : The Karnataka High Court bench, led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha, dismissed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in connection with the Hindi exclusion row involving the Karnataka government and imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners.

The PIL was filed against a statement made by the Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on how third language subjects, including Hindi, will not be considered for evaluation in the Class 10 board exams.

The petition was filed by Bengaluru residents H.N. Chandana and S. Venkatesh.

The petitioners alleged that the state government's sudden announcement while examinations are ongoing has created uncertainty among lakhs of students in Karnataka.

They said that this decision violates the rights to equality and education guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

The counsel representing petitioner Chandana submitted that the State Education Minister's statement indicated that Hindi was being done away with, which may not be a correct view.

A division bench led by the Chief Justice Bakhru criticised the petition, saying it was based on a controversial issue and public opinions rather than any clear statement by the state government.

The Chief Justice said that the case was filed over just a few words reported in a newspaper and not on any official statement.

The bench said there was no actual announcement that Hindi would be removed, and described the petition as a 'publicity interest litigation' rather than a genuine public interest case.

Initially, the court imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner.

However, after hearing further arguments, the bench increased the penalty to Rs 1 lakh.

Although pro-Kannada organisations welcomed the state government's decision to award grades instead of marks for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) third language examination, it faced opposition from several quarters, including some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

Amid the controversy, the Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot himself intervened and wrote a letter to the State Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, asking the state government to reconsider its decision.

The Chairperson of the State Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti has also written to the state government regarding the matter underlining the importance of Hindi.
Thiruvananthapuram/Bhopal, April 10 : A marriage that was publicly celebrated as a symbol of Kerala's social inclusivity has come under intense legal and political scrutiny after it emerged that the bride was allegedly a minor, leading to the registration of a POCSO case against her husband, Farman Khan, by the Madhya Pradesh Police.

The case was filed following an enquiry by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, which found that the girl popularly known as the 'Kumbh Mela viral star' Monalisa Bhosle was born on December 30, 2009, and was only 16 at the time of her marriage.

The Commission has also alleged that a fake birth certificate was created to facilitate the wedding and has summoned the DGPs of Kerala and Madhya Pradesh to appear in Delhi on April 22.

The development has cast a shadow over the high-profile wedding held on March 11 at a temple in Poovar, near Thiruvananthapuram, which had drawn significant attention and political endorsement.

The ceremony, conducted amid dramatic circumstances, took place hours after the couple sought police protection at the Thampanoor station, citing threats and opposition from the woman's family.

What made the event politically significant was the presence of top CPI(M) leadership, including party State secretary M.V. Govindan, State Education Minister V. Sivankutty, CPI-M Thiruvananthapuram District Acting Secretary A.A. Rahim, also a Rajya Sabha MP who attended, had then hailed the marriage as emblematic of Kerala's progressive ethos, describing it as "the real Kerala story" where people of different backgrounds could live in harmony.

At the time, police had acted on the couple's assertion that the woman was an adult and had the legal right to choose her partner.

Monalisa, a native of Indore, and Farman Khan from Maharashtra, had reportedly chosen Kerala anticipating resistance elsewhere due to their interfaith relationship, which began about 18 months ago through social media.

The revelation of her minor status now raises serious questions over the circumstances leading to the marriage, the role of local authorities, and the political endorsement it received, turning what was projected as a narrative of personal liberty into a contentious legal battle.
Quebec passes expanded secularism law targeting daycare workers, public prayer

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-secularism-bill-9.7151637?

CAQ government gets support of PQ in adopting Bill 9

Jean-Francois Roberge, Quebec's minister responsible for secularism, tabled Bill 9 last November. It passed on Thursday. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

The Quebec government adopted legislation on Thursday that puts limits on praying in public and extends a ban on wearing religious symbols to daycare workers.

Bill 9, titled An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Quebec, builds on two previous laws passed under Premier Francois Legault.

Legault's Coalition Avenir Quebec, as well as the Parti Quebecois, voted in favour of the legislation, while the Liberals and Quebec Solidaire voted against.

The law will:

Ban subsidized daycare workers from wearing religious symbols, with a clause exempting those already in their position.

Prohibit public institutions, such as hospitals, from only offering food based on a religious tradition, such as halal or kosher meals.

Phase out public subsidies for religious private schools that select students or staff based on religious affiliation.

Ban prayer spaces in public institutions including universities, with some exceptions, as well as group prayers in public spaces such as parks without municipal authorization.

Jean-Francois Roberge, Quebec's minister responsible for secularism, said when he tabled the bill last fall that it was an attempt to ensure the "religious neutrality of the state" and "equality for all citizens."

The bill also invokes the notwithstanding clause pre-emptively, shielding it from challenges under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It's the latest in a series of secularism laws passed in Quebec. Last October, the government also adopted a law banning religious symbols worn by any school employee who interacts with a student.

That law expanded on Bill 21, which banned religious symbols worn by public employees deemed to be in positions of authority, including teachers, judges and police officers.

Bill 21, passed in 2019, is subject to a Supreme Court challenge. Arguments were heard in March, and a decision isn't expected for several months.

Like its predecessors, Bill 9 has been criticized by religious groups and civil liberties advocates as an attack on minorities for political gain.

The Ligue des droits et libertes, a civil liberties group, said the new rules will have "disastrous consequences" for many Quebecers.

"It is as if we are telling today's Quebec society that it is legitimate for a government, in the name of its majority, to openly flout the rights of certain minorities," Paul-Etienne Rainville, the group's political affairs officer, said in a statement.

The law was passed on Legault's final day at the National Assembly as premier. He will stay on as MNA of L'Assomption after the his party chooses a successor to replace him  as party leader and premier  on April 12.

A secularism law some women say makes them feel like 'outsiders' heads to Canada's top court
Chandigarh, April 10 : Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Friday said the state government should announce the implementation of a crop insurance scheme for farmers during the special Vidhan Sabha session scheduled for April 13.

He has also written a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the issue.

Jakhar said although the government of India has already implemented a crop insurance scheme, the state government has not notified it.

"By doing so, the Chief Minister is committing a major injustice toward farmers."

He said farmers in Punjab are currently facing severe natural calamities and unseasonal rains and hailstorms have caused large-scale crop damage. Earlier, floods in 2023 and 2025 also led to massive destruction, and even now many farmers have not received compensation because no crop insurance scheme is in place in Punjab.

"Even today, farmers remain worried about how their losses due to such disasters will be compensated," he said.

He reminded the Chief Minister that three years ago it was announced that the state government would introduce its own agricultural insurance scheme in place of the Central government's Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

However, despite three years passing and farmers suffering losses worth thousands of crores, the scheme is still awaited.

Jakhar said since the state government has called a special Assembly session on April 13 the Chief Minister should fulfill his promise and, without delay, announce Punjab's own crop insurance scheme during this session so that farmers can be compensated during natural disasters.

He further advised that if the state government's financial condition is weak, it should immediately implement the Central government's crop insurance scheme, which is already operational in other states and has proven beneficial for farmers.

While speaking to the media here, Jakhar suggested that instead of spending heavily on advertisements, the government should allocate funds from the already debt-burdened state treasury towards paying insurance premiums for farmers. He also demanded that the government should immediately release the pending DA for employees and pensioners.
Agartala, April 10 : More than 13,500 Central and state security personnel will be deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the politically significant elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) scheduled for April 12, top officials said on Friday.

The 30-member TTAADC, consisting of 28 elected representatives and two members nominated by the state government, administers nearly 70 per cent of Tripura's 10,491 square km geographical area, making it a strategically vital constitutional body.

Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag said that the Central government has, at the last moment, provided 24 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), comprising around 1,500 personnel, for election duty.

"Of the 24 CAPF companies, 12 belong to the Border Security Force (BSF), 10 to the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and two to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). By Saturday, these forces will be deployed across all 28 TTAADC constituencies," the state police Chief told the media.

In addition, around 12,000 personnel from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and the state police will also be deployed to maintain law and order during the elections.

According to the DGP, of the total 1,257 polling stations, 311 have been categorised as highly critical, 693 as vulnerable, and 253 as normal.

He emphasised that comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner.

DGP Anurag also appealed to the voters to exercise their vote without fear and cooperate with authorities to uphold the tradition of peaceful elections in the state.

State Election Commission (SEC) Secretary Anurag Sen said that a total of 9,62,697 voters, predominantly from tribal communities, are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming state elections, which includes 4,80,666 women voters.

The elections have drawn participation from three national parties -- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front, and the Congress -- along with two regional parties, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), besides several local parties and Independent candidates.

Altogether, 173 candidates are contesting across the 28 Assembly seats.

The SEC officials said that the BJP, TMP, and the Left Front have fielded candidates in all 28 seats, Congress in 27, and the IPFT in 24 seats.

Additionally, 38 Independent candidates and nominees from smaller parties are also in the fray.

Meanwhile, the BJP's two tribal-based allies -- TMP and IPFT -- are contesting separately after failing to reach an electoral alliance for the TTAADC polls.

The BJP, led by Chief Minister Manik Saha and state party President Rajib Bhattacharjee, the Left Front led by CPI-M Politburo member and Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, the Congress led by Congress Working Committee member and former Minister Sudip Roy Barman, and the TMP led by party Chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma have all carried out intensive campaigns to gain control of the council.

Since 2021, the TMP, an ally of the BJP, has governed the strategically important council, which is widely regarded as the second most significant constitutional body in the state after the Tripura Assembly.

The TTAADC was constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in June 1985 to promote the socio-economic development of tribal communities, who have always played a crucial role in Tripura's political landscape.

Tribals account for nearly one-third of the state's 4.2 million population.
Jaipur, April 10 : Former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal, arrested in connection with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, was on Friday remanded to three days of custody by the ACB Court. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had sought a five-day remand for further interrogation.

During the hearing, ACB officials informed the court that the case involves large-scale fraud and serious financial irregularities. They argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to thoroughly investigate the alleged scam and uncover the full extent of wrongdoing.

The defence, however, objected to the arrest, claiming that Agarwal had not been informed of the grounds for his detention. His lawyers argued that the case had been pending for a considerable period and questioned the need for arrest at this stage. They also cited Supreme Court guidelines, which mandate that the accused must be informed of the grounds of arrest and provided a copy of the remand application before being produced in court.

Speaking to the media before the hearing, Agarwal denied surrendering under pressure. aI have neither surrendered nor been brought here under duress. I have come of my own volition to cooperate with the investigation. I have faith in the justice system, he said while adding, 'Satyameva Jayate'. Agarwal was arrested on Thursday after being taken into custody in New Delhi and brought to Jaipur, where his formal arrest was recorded.

The ACB has alleged that Agarwal was involved in manipulating tender conditions using forged certificates to facilitate the approval of projects worth up to Rs 50 crore. He is also accused of misusing his official position and committing irregularities in the tender process under the Jal Jeevan Mission. So far, 10 individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, while three accused remain absconding.

Standing warrants have been issued against them, and proceedings to attach their properties are underway. In its efforts to track down Agarwal, the ACB conducted raids at around 260 locations over 51 days, deploying 18 teams. He reportedly changed hideouts multiple times, evading arrest despite continuous surveillance. Inputs suggested he had been hiding in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Mumbai.

Following court orders declaring him a fugitive and initiating action to attach his suspected assets, Agarwal appeared before authorities. He was medically examined on Thursday night and produced in court on Friday.

With a three-day remand granted, the ACB will now interrogate him regarding the alleged irregularities in the JJM scam and identify those who may have assisted him while he was on the run. Look-Out Circulars had also been issued earlier to prevent the accused from fleeing the country.
Chandigarh, April 10 : In a major step towards strengthening social welfare delivery, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday transferred Rs 1,665.25 crore directly into bank accounts of beneficiaries under 18 different government schemes.

Addressing the media here, the Chief Minister said in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the "double-engine government is continuously working for women's empowerment and their economic development".

The Chief Minister said on Friday that the sixth instalment under the 'Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi' scheme has been released. A sum of Rs 203.28 crore has been transferred to 9.68 lakh women beneficiaries. With this, the total disbursement under the scheme has reached Rs 1,038.05 crore across six instalments.

Highlighting future plans, the Chief Minister said in the Budget 2026-27, a budgetary provision of Rs 6,500 crore has also been earmarked for the scheme. The Chief Minister said under 15 social security pension schemes, Rs 1,144.55 crore has been directly transferred to 35.55 lakh beneficiaries. These include old-age pension, disability pension, and other welfare pensions.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, he said during the Congress regime, pensions were not processed for six months to even a year and even when they were processed, there was corruption. Now the state government has adopted a 'pro-active governance model', wherein eligibility is automatically determined through the Parivar Pehchan Patra database.

"This has eliminated the need for applications and office visits, enabling citizens to receive benefits seamlessly at their doorstep," CM Saini said. The Chief Minister said under the Dayalu Scheme, financial assistance of Rs 298.07 crore was provided on Friday to 7,875 families.

He said so far, Rs 2,118.23 crore has been disbursed to 56,223 families. "With today's release, the total assistance has reached Rs 2,416.30 crore, benefiting 64,098 families," said CM Saini.

In a significant step towards empowering the farmers belonging to the Scheduled Castes, a subsidy of Rs 19.35 crore has been released to 645 farmers for the purchase of tractors. Under this scheme, each eligible farmer is provided a subsidy of Rs 3 lakh.

CM Saini said in the tragic incident during duty in Faridabad, where two firefighters working under Haryana Kaushal Rojgar Nigam (HKRN) lost their lives, the government has decided to provide immediate relief of Rs 30 lakh to each family. Out of this, Rs 10 lakh per family will be given through the Haryana Parivar Suraksha Nyas and Rs 20 lakh per family from the CM Relief Fund. In addition, one dependent from each family will be given a job under HKRN.
Jaipur, April 10 : The Rajasthan government on Friday directed officials to ensure that all dilapidated but repairable school buildings across the state are repaired well before the monsoon sets in.

A meeting to this effect was held under Rajesh Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary (School Education), to assess key schemes, activities, and pressing issues of the Education Department.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, he referred to last yearas incident in Jhalawar, where the roof of a school building collapsed, killing seven children and injuring over 25 others, raising serious concerns about infrastructure safety in government schools.

The Additional Chief Secretary stressed that such incidents must not be repeated and called for time-bound action to identify and repair vulnerable structures. He also instructed officials to prepare and implement a comprehensive action plan for the construction of new school buildings wherever required, prioritising areas with unsafe or inadequate infrastructure.

During the meeting, Rajesh Yadav reviewed the progress of several flagship schemes and issued necessary guidelines for their effective implementation. These included Samagra Shiksha, the PM-SHRI Scheme, Free Uniform DBT, ICT Labs, Tablet Distribution, Gyan Sankalp, the Chief Ministeras Vidyadan Fund, Braille Textbooks, Special Educators, Atal Tinkering Labs, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), Bal Vatika, Composite School Grants, Transport Vouchers, and Vocational Education.

He also reviewed the functioning of key institutions such as the Rajasthan State Textbook Board and the Rajasthan State Open School, along with the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

The Language and Library Departments were also assessed for their role in improving learning outcomes.

Reiterating the governmentas commitment to strengthening school education, he called for better coordination among departments and timely execution of all schemes to ensure quality education and safe infrastructure for students.

State Project Director and Commissioner Dr Rashmi Sharma, Joint Secretary Mahendra Kumar Khinchi, Additional State Project Director-II Ashok Kumar Meena, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
New Delhi, April 10 : Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, director general, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, on Friday said that Indian users shifting from LPG to inductionabased cooking amid shortages caused by the West Asia war could add 13-27 gigawatts of additional power demand at the distribution level.

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, director general, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, on Friday said that Indian users shifting from LPG to inductionbased cooking amid shortages caused by the West Asia war could add 1327 gigawatts of additional power demand at the distribution level.

The wide band of 1327 GW range is due to complexity of demand estimations because of the diverse usage patterns across regions, differences in climate, socioeconomic conditions, and cooking habits, Panigrahy said.

A significant impact on overall demand is yet to be seen, Panigrahy said, according to multiple reports.

India imports about 90 per cent of its LPG through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been disrupted by the West Asian conflict, prompting users to shift to electric induction stoves.

Piyush Singh, Additional Secretary, Power Ministry had said that India expects to add over 22 GW of capacity between April and June, including 3.5 GW of thermal, 10 GW of solar, 2.5 GW of wind, 1.9 GW of battery energy storage and 750 MW of hydro power. Further, additional capacities in pump storage and hybrid projects will contribute to the country's supply.

The power ministry has deferred maintenance of 10 GW of coal-based power plants by three months to be able to meet the country's power demand in view of the West Asia war which has resulted in shortages of gas supplies.

"During this period, plants go to maintenance, however, considering requirement and loss of gas based supply we have deferred maintenance," Singh said. He estimated peak power demand could reach 271 GW this year.

The official said that gasfired plants have been allowed to import their own LNG and that the government is monitoring coal supplies as they focus on capacity additions.

Global LNG export volume declined to 8.6mmt for the week ending March 7 and to 7.8 mmt in the subsequent week, from about 9.6 million tonnes per week in Feb 2026, largely due to a fall in Qatar's shipments from 1.7 million tonnes to 0.06 million tonnes.

IANS

aar/pk
London, April 10 : UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Friday reiterated Britain's call for freedom of navigation, making it clear that the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened, without restrictions or tolls.

"In my Mansion House speech, I made clear: the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened, without restrictions or tolls. The blocking of this vital waterway is hitting trade around the world and prices here at home. Freedom of navigation means navigation must be free," Cooper, also the Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, posted on X.

On Thursday, the UK Foreign Secretary stated that London has been working with partners to support the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and to promote a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict.

"We're working with allies across the world to help people back here in the UK," said Cooper.

Last week, Cooper led talks with more than 40 countries, where discussions were held on the urgent need to restore freedom of navigation for international shipping.

"A swift resolution to this conflict is the best way to protect security, including for our citizens in the region, and crucially to help those feeling the impact on the cost of living here at home. The UK has been clear throughout that we need to de escalate and reopen the Strait. We will continue to work with the shipping, insurance and energy sectors to restore confidence in the route as quickly as possible. Iran must cease all mining, drone attacks, and other attempts to block commercial shipping in the Strait immediately," said Cooper in a statement issued after the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran was announced on April 8.

Also calling for an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon, Cooper insisted that it is vital that the proposed talks on Saturday lead to a full end to the conflict and ensure that Iran does not continue to threaten the Strait or its neighbours.

"We will continue to work internationally to support this ceasefire, to promote progress on negotiations, and to restore and protect security and stability for the region, and freedom of navigation for the world," the UK Foreign Secretary mentioned.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently on a tour of the Gulf, meeting Gulf partners and discussing diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire.

"On the visit, the Prime Minister will make clear his governmentas commitment to de-escalation, and hold further talks on practical efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz following promising progress reported as a result of the ceasefire. As announced by the Prime Minister last week, the United Kingdom is continuing to lead the international effort, convening allies from across the world to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened," read a statement issued by 10 Downing Street ahead of the visit on Wednesday.
Mumbai, April 10 : Actress Chitrangda Singh has informed through her latest social media post that her account on X (Earlier known as Twitter) has been hacked.

The 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi' actress further revealed that they are in the process of retrieving her account. Until then, she has requested the netizens to ignore any recent activity or messages from her handle.

Taking to the Stories section of her official Instagram handle, Chitrangda wrote, "Hi everyone, my account on Twitter has been hacked. We are in the process of retrieving the same. Please ignore any recent activity or messages from it until it's resolved. Thank you (sic)."

Talking about her professional commitments, Chitrangda will next be seen sharing screen space with Salman Khan in "Maatrubhumi", which was previously called "Battle of Galwan".

Earlier, talking about being a part of the much-awaited drama, she termed the experience as "truly special".

She took to her official Instagram handle and penned a note expressing her gratitude for being a part of the war drama.

"Posted @withregram a @skfilmsofficial Simplicity and Elegance personified...Welcoming @chitrangda to the Battle Of Galwan team Thank you so much for making me part of this .. it is truly special ! I look forward to working with the whole team," she went on to write on the photo-sharing app.

Made under the direction of Apoorva Lakhia, "Maatrubhumi" is a cinematic adaptation of the real-life events of June 15, 2020, when our Indian soldiers clashed with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. The drama will reportedly share the tale of Colonel Santosh Babu (played by Salman Khan) and the 16 Bihar Regiment,who were tasked with enforcing a disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The core cast of the movie also includes Abhilash Chaudhary and Ankur Bhatia in prominent roles, along with others.

--IANS

pm/
Noida, April 10 : In a major development in the suspicious death of Amity University student Harshit Bhatt, the Noida Police have registered an FIR under murder charges, acting on a complaint filed by the victim's family.

The case falls under the jurisdiction of Noida's Sector-126 police station, where three students, who were reportedly with Harshit at the time of the incident, have been named in the FIR.

Police officials said a detailed investigation has been initiated to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death.

According to preliminary information, the incident occurred at a water-filled, pond-like pit in Noida's Sector-94.

Harshit Bhatt had reportedly gone there with three of his friends. During the course of entering the water or bathing, he drowned, leading to his death.

The incident had raised suspicions from the outset, prompting Harshit's family to demand a thorough and impartial probe.

The deceased's family has alleged that the death was not accidental and hinted at a possible conspiracy. They have levelled serious accusations against the three students present at the spot, following which police registered a case under relevant sections pertaining to murder.

Harshit's family members have also urged authorities to closely examine the statements and conduct of those present during the incident, asserting that crucial details may have been overlooked initially.

Police officials said that the three accused students will be summoned for questioning soon, and their statements will be recorded as part of the investigation.

Authorities will also rely on evidence collected from the site, along with the post-mortem report, to determine the sequence of events.

Investigators are working to establish whether the death was the result of negligence, foul play, or a premeditated act.

For now, the case remains under active investigation, with police examining all possible angles based on available evidence.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that India is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and remains in touch with the Gulf nations.

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia in New Delhi on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is also working to strengthen its energy security and providing support to neighbouring nations as per their request to meet their energy needs.

"We are closely following developments in West Asia. We continue to reach out to countries in the Gulf region. On the directions of the Prime Minister, our ministers are visiting Gulf countries to strengthen energy security. As you know, External Affairs Minister is presently visiting Mauritius, from where he will be travelling to the UAE on 11th and 12th April, 2026. He will hold discussions with leaders in the UAE to foster stronger India-UAE ties. Even as we work to strengthen our energy security, we are also providing support to our neighbouring countries as per their request to meet their energy needs," said Jaiswal.

"We supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum product to Sri Lanka two weeks ago. We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius. Leaders of both countries have expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's support to them during the West Asia crisis," he added.

Jaiswal also mentioned about Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri's ongoing visit to Qatar, where he met country's leadership and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of solidarity.

"Our Minister of Petroleum is visiting Qatar on the 9th and 10th of April. Presently, he is in Qatar. Qatar is an important supplier of energy to India. He has had engagements with his Qatari counterpart...Our Minister conveyed greetings and message of solidarity and support on behalf of the Prime Minister to His Highness the Emir of Qatar and to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar. Qatar Energy Minister reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to remain a reliable energy supplier and look forward to continuing and strengthening energy relations and cooperation with India," the MEA spokesperson mentioned.

During the briefing, Jaiswal also stated that India is "deeply concerned" over the reports of civilian casualties in Lebanon, emphasising that the direction of recent events is very disturbing. He called for adherence to international law and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

"We are deeply concerned by reports of a large number of civilian casualties in Lebanon. As a troop contributing country to the UNIFIL that is invested in Lebanonas peace and security, the direction of events is very disturbing. India has always emphasised the protection of civilians as the foremost priority. Observing international law, and respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is essential. Our Embassy in Lebanon remains in close touch with the Indian community for its safety and security," Jaiswal stated.

According to the MEA spokesperson, there are about 1,000 Indian nationals in Lebanon currently.

His statement comes after a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin on Saturday. However, Israel has said that the ceasefire does not cover military action in Lebanon.

On April 8, Israel Prime Minister's Office expressed support for the US decision to suspend strikes on Iran. However, it mentioned that the two-week truce does not include military operations in Lebanon.

Hours after the temporary truce was announced between the United States and Iran, Israel claimed of giving Hezbollah one of the biggest blows by attacking "100 targets in 10 minutes" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire deal.
Business / Companies

by Stephen Jakes

The Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, has hailed growing momentum in Zimbabwe's horticulture sector as farmers in the eastern region secure direct export agreements with Chinese buyers ahead of an anticipated zerotariff policy between Zimbabwe and China.Speaking during the Zimbabwe-China Horticulture Buyers Engagement 2026, the Minister said the development marks a significant milestone in positioning Manicaland as a leading hub for highvalue agricultural exports.The agreements are expected to unlock new market opportunities for local producers, particularly as the zerotariff framework lowers barriers to entry for Zimbabwean horticultural products into the vast Chinese market."This milestone is a clear testament to the province's strategic role in driving horticulture growth," Mugadza said, noting that increased investment across the value chain is already transforming production capacity.Key areas of focus include irrigation systems, agroprocessing, coldchain infrastructure, logistics and strengthened market linkages  all critical for meeting international export standards.Manicaland farmers have already established dominance in crops such as macadamia nuts, avocados and tea, while expanding into highvalue produce including blueberries, pecan nuts and chillies aimed at global markets.The initiative aligns with government's Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan, which seeks to build a US$1 billion horticulture industry by 2030.Officials say the strategy is part of broader efforts to diversify Zimbabwe's export base, enhance foreigncurrency earnings and improve rural livelihoods through agricultureled growth.Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to creating an enabling environment for farmers by attracting investment, strengthening infrastructure and facilitating access to international markets.As global demand for fresh and processed horticultural products continues to rise, Manicaland's expanding footprint in export markets signals a promising shift towards valueadded agriculture and increased competitiveness on the world stage.
Kochi, April 10 : A magistrate court in Ernakulam on Friday granted bail to Malayalam film director Ranjith, who was arrested in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by a young actress.

The court allowed the bail subject to conditions, even as the prosecution opposed the plea, citing concerns over possible witness influence.

The prosecution argued that the key witnesses in the case were associated with the filmmakeras projects and that granting bail could enable him to influence them and derail the investigation.

It further contended that Ranjith had not fully cooperated with the investigating officer during his three-day custodial interrogation earlier this month.

However, the defence countered that no fresh custody application had been filed and pointed out that the accused had not challenged either his arrest or the earlier custody order.

The counsel also emphasised Ranjithas willingness to cooperate with the probe, assuring the court that he would appear before the investigating officer whenever required.

Ranjith informed the court that he would not attempt to influence witnesses or enter areas where they are present, and that he continues to take medication as prescribed by his doctor.

The case stems from a complaint alleging that the director attempted to sexually assault the actress inside a caravan during a film shoot in Fort Kochi earlier this year.

Following the complaint, Ernakulam police registered a First Information Report and recorded the survivoras confidential statement before proceeding with the arrest.

Ranjith was taken into custody from Thodupuzha on March 31 and later remanded to judicial custody.

He has been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 74, 75 and 79, which pertain to assault, sexual harassment and acts intended to outrage the modesty of a woman.

The director who was lodged at the Ernakulam Sub Jail walked out of the jail after the bail papers were presented to the jail officials.

All along, he has denied the allegations, maintaining that the case against him is false.
Noida, April 10 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday targeted Pakistan, saying that some of the youth in that country are using their energy to fuel terrorism.a Noida, April 10 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday targeted Pakistan, saying that some of the youth in that country are using their energy to fuel terrorism.

Speaking at the Convocation ceremony of Noida International University in Noida, the Defence Minister said, "When India's youth channel their energy correctly, they create technology that makes the world better. On the other hand, some Pakistani youth are using this same energy to fuel terrorism."

He said youth are indeed an inexhaustible reservoir of energy. "This very energy forms the foundation of creation and development, and if it goes astray, it can also become the cause of destruction," he said.

India's rich cultural heritage plays a crucial role in guiding our youth in the right direction, he said.

The Defence Minister called upon the youth to achieve their dreams through dedication.

"Your circumstances, struggles, and dreams are what make you unique. Therefore, recognise your abilities and strengths, and then move forward with complete dedication," he said.

"See the beauty of the world, pursue your dreams, and enjoy life, but never forget your duties and responsibilities. This balance is the key to true happiness and success," he said.

The Defence Minister also hailed the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the nation's economy forward.

In a post on X, he said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, India has become the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. India's semiconductor sector is now taking off rapidly, and the country's bio-economy has grown more than 16-fold over the past 11 years."

In a separate development, the Defence Minister expressed grief at the passing away of Maha Vir Chakra awardee Colonel Sonam Wangchuk (Retd), a brave heart of the 1999 Kargil war.

In a post on X, Rajnath Singh Mantri paid a glowing tribute to Colonel Wangchuk, describing him as a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army, renowned for his gallantry, resolute leadership, and unwavering commitment to duty.

"A proud son of Ladakh, he exemplified the spirit of the region - resilient, steadfast and deeply rooted in service to the nation, while standing as a symbol of India's unity in diversity," he said.

"His courageous actions of leading by personal example during Operation Vijay inspired his men under the most demanding conditions at high altitude. His life remains a testament to courage, sacrifice, and national integration, and his legacy will continue to inspire coming generations," said Rajnath Singh.

--IANS

rch/dan


Mathura, April 10 : At least six people have died and over a dozen are feared missing after a boat carrying devotees capsized in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district on Friday, triggering a massive rescue operation and drawing condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the incident, saying he was "deeply pained" by the mishap. Extending condolences to the bereaved families, he said, "My condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected."

The Chief Minister termed the incident "extremely tragic and heart-rending" and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He said instructions had been issued to concerned authorities to immediately reach the spot, ensure effective rescue efforts, and provide proper medical treatment to the injured.

"I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the departed souls, give strength to the grieving families to bear this immense loss, and ensure a speedy recovery for the injured," he said.

The incident occurred in the Yamuna River near the iconic Kesi Ghat in Mathura when a boat carrying devotees capsized on Friday afternoon.

According to District Magistrate CP Singh, the mishap took place around 2:45 p.m. when nearly 30 people from Ludhiana were boating in two boats. One of the boats reportedly sank following a collision with a floating pipa bridge.

"So far, six bodies have been recovered, while around 1617 people have been rescued alive," the DM said, describing the accident as "very unfortunate."

Initial reports indicate that the boat was carrying around 25 pilgrims and locals when it capsized in the river near Kesi Ghat (also known as Shringar Ghat). More than a dozen people are feared missing, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation.

Teams from the local police, district administration, and trained divers have been deployed at the site. Rescue personnel are continuing efforts to trace the missing, even as authorities monitor the situation closely.

The Chief Minister has instructed officials to ensure that all necessary medical assistance is provided to the injured and that relief measures are carried out on priority.

Further details are awaited as the rescue operation continues.
Kathmandu, April 10 : Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday inducted two new ministers into his Cabinet, filling previously vacant ministerial positions.

According to the Prime Ministeras Secretariat, lawmaker Ramji Yadav has been assigned the portfolio of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, which had remained vacant following the dismissal of former minister Dipak Kumar Sah, who was embroiled in controversy over the appointment of his wife as a board member of the Health Insurance Board.

Similarly, lawmaker Gauri Kumari Yadav has been appointed Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies a" a portfolio previously held by the Prime Minister himself since the beginning.

New Labour Minister Yadav was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Saptaria"2 constituency on a ticket from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Likewise, the Industry Minister was elected from the Mahottaria"4 constituency in the parliamentary elections held on March 5 as an RSP lawmaker.

Previously, both ministries had been under Prime Minister Shah's direct charge. The newly-appointed ministers are yet to take the oath of office from President Ram Chandra Poudel.

With these appointments, Prime Minister Shah now leads a 16-member Cabinet, a relatively smaller size compared to past governments.

Shah formed the Cabinet on March 27 as the RSP emerged as the largest party with a nearly two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives.

The sweeping victory of the relatively new political force, established in 2022, propelled former rapper Shah a" also the former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City a" as its Prime Ministerial candidate, a move that many believe swayed voters in favour of the RSP.

Since the formation of the new government, the Shah-led administration has launched a series of initiatives aimed at promoting good governance. Its move to investigate former Prime Ministers K P Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' - along with businessmen considered close to these leaders - on money laundering charges, has been widely acclaimed.

--IANS

scor/as
Mathura, April 10 : The death toll in the tragic boat capsizing incident in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district rose to 10 on Friday. Several people still remain missing as rescue operations have intensified.

The toll was confirmed by DIG Agra Range Shailesh Kumar Pandey, who said search efforts were underway to locate the missing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the incident, saying he was "deeply pained" by the mishap. Extending condolences to the bereaved families, he said, "My condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected."

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the incident "extremely tragic and heart-rending" and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He said instructions had been issued to concerned authorities to immediately reach the spot, ensure effective rescue efforts, and provide proper medical treatment to the injured.

"I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the departed souls, give strength to the grieving families to bear this immense loss, and ensure a speedy recovery for the injured," he said.

The incident occurred in the Yamuna River near the iconic Kesi Ghat in Mathura when a boat carrying devotees capsized on Friday afternoon.

According to District Magistrate CP Singh, the mishap took place around 2:45 p.m. when nearly 30 people from Ludhiana were boating in two boats. One of the boats reportedly sank after colliding with a floating pipa bridge.

"So far, several people have been rescued alive, while search operations are ongoing," officials said, adding that multiple teams of police, district administration, and divers have been deployed at the site.

More than a dozen people are still feared missing, and efforts are continuing on a war footing to trace them. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have prioritised relief and medical assistance for survivors.

Further details are awaited.
Chandigarh, April 10 : Punjab BJP President, Sunil Jakhar on Friday lashed out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for not implementing the Central government's Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in the state. He accused CM Mann of "handing over" his responsibilities to AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal.

Sponsored by the Central government, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a crop insurance scheme that brings together multiple stakeholders, including farmers, insurance companies, financial institutions and government agencies, on a single platform.

Speaking to IANS, Jakhar said, "There are still some states where the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has not been implemented. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had said three years ago that Punjab would not implement the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and would instead introduce its own state crop insurance scheme. Now three years have passed."

He alleged that last year, farmers suffered major losses and added that "about 4.5 lakh acres of land was damaged."

Adding to his allegations against the Punjab Chief Minister, Jakhar said, "CM Bhagwant Mann has handed over the responsibilities of the chief minister's post to AAP National Convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal."

"And what will Kejriwal know about the plight of farmers. People also understand this," he said.

He accused the elected members in Punjab of "surrendering" to the AAP chief. "These people, who have been elected within a democracy, have surrendered themselves to Kejriwal. And Kejriwal does not feel any pain about the people of Punjab," he alleged.

Further accusing CM Mann, Jakhar said that the Chief Minister has neither implemented the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana nor has he brought his own crop insurance scheme.

He emphasised that farmers are getting stuck amid all this.

The Punjab BJP chief said, "Chief Minister (Mann) is forgetting that this is not a joke. This is the question of the lives of lakhs of farmers. As a Chief Minister it is his responsibility to implement the Centre's scheme. If not then he should implement his own scheme."
Port Louis, April 10 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met with his counterparts from Nepal and Bhutan on the sidelines of the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, in Mauritius on Friday.

After his meeting with the Bhutanese counterpart D N Dhungyel, EAM Jaishankar stated that the partnership between two nations continues to progress and prosper.

"A warm conversation today with Foreign Minister of Bhutan D N Dhungyel in Port Louis. Our unique and time-tested partnership continues to progress and prosper," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

EAM Jaishankar also met Nepal's counterpart Shishir Khanal and discussed realising the full potential of bilateral partnership by deeper collaboration in various sectors. It was the first meeting between two ministers after Khanal assumed office as Nepal's Foreign Minister in March.

"Glad to meet FM Shishir Khanal of Nepal this afternoon. Congratulated him on his appointment. Discussed realising the full potential of the India-Nepal partnership by deeper collaboration in different sectors," EAM Jaishankar stated.

According to the statement released by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EAM Jaishankar and Khanal discussed matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen ties.

"Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Shisir Khanal, currently in Port Louis, Mauritius for the 9th Indian Ocean Conference (10a"12 April 2026), held a bilateral meeting with Dr S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India. Dr Jaishankar congratulated him on assuming office," Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X.

"The two leaders reviewed the longstanding, multifaceted Nepala"India relationship. Both sides held constructive and forward-looking discussions on matters of mutual interest, reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations," it added.

EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Mauritius, where he is attending the 9th Indian Ocean Conference and also holding discussions with counterparts from other participating nations.

Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar met his Seychelles counterpart Barry Faure on the sidelines of the conference and expressed New Delhi's commitment to support Victoria in meeting current economic challenges.

He also called on Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.

EAM Jaishankar noted that the conversation reflected the warmth of the friendship between two nations and commitment to further advance ties.

"Honoured to call on President Dharambeer Gokhool of Mauritius. Conveyed warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our conversation reflected the warmth of our friendship and the steadfast commitment to further advancing India-Mauritius partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

The External Affairs Minister also called on former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and expressed appreciation for his commitment to bilateral partnership.

"Pleased to meet former Prime Minister and leader of MSM Party Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Value his strong commitment to India Mauritius partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.
Bhubaneswar, April 10 : The Odisha Cabinet on Friday approved 11 key proposals across five departments during a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Among the major decisions, the Odisha Cabinet has approved the construction of bus stands with all the advanced amenities under the ambitious "Atal Bus Stand" scheme across the state.

"For the purpose of "Enhanced Public Transport Infrastructure and Facilities across the State of Odisha", the Odisha government has taken a transformative step by launching the scheme titled 'Atal Bus Stand (ABS)' with the objective of Construction/Development/Renovation/Operation, Maintenance and Management of bus stands across the state," the state government told in an official statement.

The scheme aims to integrate all public bus stands in Odisha, including those under earlier initiatives and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), into a single framework for uniform standards and efficient management statewide.

Under the Atal Bus Stand Scheme, bus stands will be developed at the district headquarters, Sub-Divisional headquarters, block headquarters, ULBs, including tourist and other important locations in Odisha.

The bus stands will be categorised into "A", "B" and "C" class provisions of bus stands, as per requirement of public and need for considerable bus transportation and communication facility in the area.

The "Atal Bus Stand (ABS)" Scheme will be implemented by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation under the Commerce and Transport Department, and the state government has approved a total budget of Rs 3,400 crore for its implementation till Financial Year (FY) 2031a"32.

Briefing the media on the other key proposals getting Cabinet approval on Friday, Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg said that the Water Resources Department accounted for five major proposals, reflecting the state government's focus on infrastructure development and farmer empowerment.

She also added that among them, a Rs 135 crore irrigation project in Cuttack district was approved to irrigate 3,641 hectares of land across 76 villages through an underground pipeline system, also supporting micro-irrigation.

Under this project, a reservoir will be constructed across the Hadua river near Kharod village in Cuttack district along with an extensive distribution system to provide assured irrigation facilities to 3,641 hectares of cultivable command area in the drought-prone regions of the Narasinghpur, Badamba and Tigiria blocks of Cuttack district.

Highlighting drinking water management, Garg said the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department has introduced a comprehensive Operation and Maintenance Policy for Rural Drinking Water Supply-2026.

The policy involves community participation through village-level committees, gram panchayats, and self-help groups to ensure better water quality, distribution, and upkeep of infrastructure.

In the energy sector, a major infrastructure project was approved for setting up a 2x500 MVA grid substation at Basudevpur in Keonjhar district at a cost of Rs 1,647 crore.

The project, to be completed in three years, will strengthen power supply in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts.

Chief Secretary Garg also reiterated that the Cabinet decisions underline the state government's priority on infrastructure growth, irrigation expansion, improved public services, and administrative reforms.
Surat, April 10 : Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Co-Spokesperson and Valsad MP Dhaval Patel on Friday reacted to remarks made by Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, referring to him as the "leader of the 'tukde-tukde gang' at JNU" and linking his comments to a series of statements by Opposition leaders that he said were 'derogatory' towards Gujaratis.

The controversy stems from a speech delivered by Kanhaiya Kumar at a rally in Bongaigaon in Assam on Friday, where he made a veiled reference to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah while speaking on infiltration and governance issues.

"When I came here, a journalist told me that the issue here is of infiltration. I told that the biggest infiltrator has come from Gujarat and he will be driven out along with (Assam Chief Minister) Himanta Biswa Sarma," Kumar said at the rally.

Reacting to Kanhaiya Kumar's remarks, Dhaval Patel told IANS, "This is not the first time such a statement has been made. A few days ago, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Gujaratis are illiterate and fools. This reflects the level of hatred they (Congress) have towards 6.5 crore Gujaratis."

He alleged that the Opposition supports infiltrators, adding that such statements reflect a broader ideological position.

"Kanhaiya Kumar was associated with the 'tukde-tukde gang' at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The basis of his statement comes from an ideology that India should be divided, with Tamil Nadu separate, Gujarat separate, Assam separate, and Jharkhand separate. The Congress and the Opposition support infiltrators," Minister Patel said.

He also referred to earlier remarks by Opposition leaders, saying, "Earlier, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had also said in Assam that Gujaratis are scamsters. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said that Gujaratis did not contribute to the freedom struggle. The reason behind this hatred is that for the last 30 years, the people of Gujarat have rejected Congress and other opposition parties along with their anti-national and anti-development thinking."

He also added, "People like Kanhaiya Kumar stage protests in support of infiltrators. This is not only about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but reflects the 'anti-Gujarati' mindset of Kanhaiya Kumar."

Kanhaiya Kumar's remarks come in the wake of a controversy involving the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who sparked a row during a rally in Kerala with comments about the people of Gujarat.

Congress Chief Kharge later apologised for his statement a few days afterwards.
New Delhi, April 10 : Artificial intelligence will soon become an integral part of governance and everyday life, but it must be used as an enabling tool rather than a replacement for human intelligence, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh said on Friday.

Addressing VAKTAVYA 2026 here, Singh highlighted the growing importance of emerging technologies and said AI is no longer optional but inevitable.

He stressed that while AI can significantly aid research, analysis and decision-making, it should work alongside human intelligence in a "hybrid model" rather than overshadow it.

The minister also spoke about India's progress in the energy sector, highlighting the indigenously developed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) as a major milestone towards self-reliant energy security.

"The reactor uses plutonium with liquid sodium as a coolant, allowing higher energy output with lower input, and will help pave the way for thorium-based reactors in the future, leveraging India's vast thorium reserves," he said.

On the startup ecosystem, Singh said India has emerged as one of the leading startup hubs globally, with more than two lakh startups now operational.

"Nearly half of these are coming from tier-2 and tier-3 cities such as Sonipat, Panipat and Surat, showing how innovation is spreading beyond major urban centres," he mentioned.

He also pointed to the rising participation of women in entrepreneurship.

Highlighting education reforms, Singh said the National Education Policy has brought a major shift by giving students more flexibility in choosing subjects and exploring interdisciplinary learning.

"This allows students to align their education with their interests and career goals," he noted.

The minister also referred to initiatives like the VAIBHAV programme, which connects Indian scientists abroad with institutions in the country, and the Pratibha Setu portal, which helps link UPSC aspirants with potential employers if they do not make it to the final selection.

During his interaction with students, Singh encouraged them to adopt a broader mindset and explore opportunities beyond traditional career paths.

He said the current era offers unprecedented opportunities due to technological advancements and policy reforms, urging young people to make the most of them and contribute to India's growth.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
News / Africa

by Stephen Jakes

The 2nd Africa Urban Forum has opened in Nairobi, placing the continent's urgent housing crisis at the centre of discussions on economic growth, governance and longterm stability.Held under the theme "Adequate Housing for All: Advancing Socioeconomic Transformation towards the Realisation of Agenda 2063," the African Unionconvened forum has drawn policymakers, urban planners, development experts and civic leaders from across the continent.Speakers at the opening session described urbanisation as Africa's defining development reality, warning that the continent's future will be shaped not by whether cities grow, but by how they grow."Africa is already urbanising at an unprecedented pace. The real question is whether this growth will be planned, inclusive and resilient," one speaker said, noting that cities are expected to absorb hundreds of millions of new residents in the coming decades.Central to the discussions is the recognition that housing is a cornerstone of economic transformation, not merely a social service. Delegates emphasised that adequate housing underpins dignity, drives job creation and strengthens social cohesion.However, Africa's cities continue to face massive housing deficits, forcing millions into informal settlements with limited access to water, sanitation and electricity. Experts warned that failure to address these gaps risks deepening inequality and fuelling social and political tensions.Urban governance also emerged as a key concern, with speakers highlighting cities as frontline spaces for peace and security. Wellmanaged urban areas, participants noted, can foster trust between citizens and governments, while poorly governed cities may become hotspots of exclusion and instability.The forum underscored the need for integrated urban planning, calling for closer alignment between housing, infrastructure development and climate resilience. Delegates stressed that fragmented approaches will be insufficient to meet the scale of Africa's urban challenge.Particular attention was given to the intersection between urbanisation and water and sanitation, in line with the African Union's 2026 thematic focus. As cities expand, pressure on water systems and sanitation services is intensifying, raising concerns about public health and environmental sustainability.Participants also linked the housing agenda to Agenda 2063, the AU's longterm vision for a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable continent.As deliberations continue, the forum is expected to generate policy recommendations aimed at accelerating affordable housing delivery, strengthening urban governance and ensuring that Africa's rapid urban growth becomes a driver  rather than a barrier  to development.For many attending, the message is clear: Africa's future will be built in its cities, and housing will determine whether that future is equitable and sustainable.
Kolkata, April 10 : After the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Friday released "Sankalp Patra" (election manifesto) for assembly polls in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, drew a comparison between the manifesto proposals and the promises of higher returns on investment by chit fund or Ponzi entities.a Kolkata, April 10 (IANS) After the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Friday released "Sankalp Patra" (election manifesto) for assembly polls in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, drew a comparison between the manifesto proposals and the promises of higher returns on investment by chit fund or Ponzi entities.

"BJP's promises are like those made by the chit funds. Their promises have no value. The promises in the BJP's manifesto to pay Rs 3,000 as monthly allowances to the unemployed youths and women are yet another 'jumla'. The BJP first tried to take control of West Bengal through different central agencies. When they failed at that, they are now trying to allure women and youths with false promises of financial assistance. BJP does not believe in the federal democracy system," Abhishek Banerjee told media persons after a couple of hours.

Shah released a manifesto in Kolkata.

Speaking on the occasion, he once again attacked the BJP and the Union government over the special intensive revision in West Bengal. 

He said that before releasing the manifesto, the Union Home Minister should have first apologised to the people of West Bengal for the harassment they faced over the revision. 

He added that the BJP will remain as the opposition party for the next 20 years only because of the kind of harassment that the people of West Bengal faced because of this exercise.

He also said that the BJP had past instances of forgetting promises made before elections. 

"They promised to bring back black money. Nothing had happened on these lines. The country's economy was affected by the unplanned implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. Now they are up to snatching the basic rights of the people," Abhishek Banerjee said.

Speaking on the occasion, he also explained why the West Bengal government disapproved of the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state. 

"We had opposed Ayushman Bharat because had we implemented it, almost 90 per cent of the people in the state would not have got the insurance benefits, because of the conditions imposed on the scheme. So we implemented the Swastha Sathi scheme, with no conditions. Anyone can avail themselves of the state's own scheme," said Abhishek Banerjee.
Bhopal/Khandwa April 10 : A tragic road accident on Friday claimed one life and left 36 people injured, 14 of them critically, when a speeding truck carrying around 40 passengers overturned on the Moondi-Sanawad highway near Dudgaon under the Punasa outpost area in Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh.

Bhopal/Khandwa April 10 (IANS) A tragic road accident on Friday claimed one life and left 36 people injured, 14 of them critically, when a speeding truck carrying around 40 passengers overturned on the Moondia"Sanawad highway near Dudgaon under the Punasa outpost area in Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh.

The deceased has been identified as 60-year-old Babulal, a resident of Talwadiya village. The victims, all belonging to the Gurjar community, were returning from a traditional amameraa ceremony (a customary wedding-related event) at Thukra Devla village when the tragedy struck. The group had travelled from Talwadiya (Attar) in a joyful mood that quickly turned into mourning.

According to police officials, the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle but lost control. The overloaded truck veered off the road and overturned, falling about 25a"30 feet away. Many passengers were trapped under the vehicle, leading to chaotic scenes as locals rushed to the spot to rescue the injured using private vehicles and ambulances.

The police officials have also said the truck driver was trying to zip past another truck. They are gathering evidence and taking statements from injured people. The injured were first taken to Sanawad hospital and later shifted to Khandwa district hospital.

Fourteen of them are critically injured, including those with severe head and limb injuries, and have been referred to MY Hospital in Indore for advanced treatment, the officials said.

Police officials have attributed the accident primarily to overloading, rash overtaking, and driver negligence. Further investigation is underway to examine the driveras condition, the mechanical aspects of the vehicle, and the exact sequence of events. Most of the injured were from the same community, which left the region in shock.

Local administration is providing all possible medical and logistical support to the affected families. Police have registered a case in the matter, and an investigation is going on into why the truck driver was allowed to carry people unchecked, especially during festive family gatherings.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Congress on Friday came out in support of party leader Pawan Khera after he was granted interim relief by the Telangana High Court in connection with a case registered against him by the Assam Police for alleged defamatory charges against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. Hailing Khera as a "hero", the grand old party said that the Election Commission (EC) should have investigated the allegations against Chief Minister's wife.

The Telangana High Court granted anticipatory bail to Khera for one week to enable him to file an application for regular bail before the concerned court.

Khera had approached the Telangana High Court for transit anticipatory bail to enable him to approach courts in Assam.

Welcoming the court's judgment, Congress MP Tariq Anwar said, "The manner in which the Assam Police pursued him (Pawan Khera) and made it appear as though he had committed some grave crime."

Given that the controversy cropped up just before Assam voted in the Assembly elections on April 9, Anwar noted that the EC should have interfered in the matter.

"The pertinent question is that the Election Commission should have taken cognisance of the allegations levelled against the Assam Chief Minister's (Himanta Biswa Sarma) wife and should have conducted an investigation into the matter and also given a court judgment at the earliest about whether the allegations are correct or not," he told IANS.

Anwar also said, "But it seems that the Election Commission does not have any role to play in the entire election process."

Extending support for Khera, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of harassment.

He said, "Whatever Pawan Khera said was right. This is their (BJP's) way of doing politics. So they are doing harassment. Pawanji (Khera) is also fighting back. He has become a hero for us."

Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain told reporters, "We have not yet received the answer to the questions raised by Pawan Khera and the party. Their (BJP's) answer is police action and to scare and threaten people."

Upon his arrival for the Congress Working Committee meeting, AICC in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh Alwar said that the case against Pawan Khera reflects the "frustration" of Assam Chief Minister Sarma.

"Corruption has taken place (in Assam), 'Mafia Raj' and syndicates are also happening. Congress has revealed all their (Assam-led BJP government's) scams happening for the past five years," he told reporters.

Moreover, Alwar accused the incumbent BJP-led government in Assam of failing to deliver its poll promises.
Chennai, April 10 : Union Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday stressed on the significance of synergy and jointness among officers of the Indian defence forces.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of the 81st Staff Course of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, the Union Defence Secretary highlighted the institution's role in shaping future senior military leadership.

Rajesh Kumar Singh interacted with the student officers, including 44 foreign participants, and congratulated them on the successful completion of the prestigious Staff Course, acknowledging their dedication and hard work.

The Union Defence Secretary praised the contribution of the officers towards strengthening cooperation and fostering strong relationships between their respective countries and India, and wished them a successful future ahead.

He highlighted DSSC's vital role in shaping future senior leadership of the Defence Forces, commending the training conducted at the College, with appreciation for initiatives promoting synergy and jointness among defence officers.

The convocation ceremony was attended by the Defence Attaches of a few friendly countries.

Established in 1948, DSSC is a premier Tri-service training institution that provides professional education to selected mid-level officers of the Indian Defence Forces as well as from friendly countries.

The institution aims to enhance their capabilities for higher responsibilities.

Over the years, more than 2,000 international officers and 19,500 Indian officers have trained at DSSC, many of whom have gone on to hold key leadership positions in governments and militaries worldwide.

Last month, the Union Defence Secretary oversaw the signing of contracts, worth a total of Rs 858 crore, for the procurement of Russian Tunguska Air Defence Missile System and a maintenance contract with Boeing for the depot-level inspection of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft of the Indian Navy.

The contract for the procurement of Tunguska Air Defence Missile Systems, valued at Rs 445 crore, for the Indian Army, was signed with Russia's JSC Rosoboronexport.

These state-of-the-art missiles will enhance India's multi-layered air defence capabilities against aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles.

The contract for the Inspection (Depot Level) of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft for the Indian Navy under "Buy Indian" category with 100 per cent indigenous content, valued at Rs 413 crore, was signed with Boeing India Defense Private Limited, a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Boeing, in the presence of senior officials of the Ministry of Defence.
Seoul, April 10 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Friday reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing high-level exchanges and strategic communication with China, as he met with Beijing's top diplomat, China's foreign ministry said.

Kim made the remarks during his meeting in Pyongyang with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who has been on a two-day visit since Thursday.

In a press release shown on the ministry website, Kim was quoted as telling Wang that North Korea "stands ready" to "further develop its friendly and cooperative relations with China," and "strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance strategic communication to contribute to the well-being of the two peoples as well as to global peace and stability."

Kim also told him it is in the common interests of both countries to further deepen their bilateral relations amid the volatile international landscape, a policy he said North Korea was firmly pursuing, according to the ministry, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Kim voiced full support for Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision for building a community for a shared future and China's "legitimate" territorial claims to Taiwan, the ministry said.

Wang reaffirmed China's commitment to working with the North to make progress on agreements reached between the two sides, as well as to boosting exchanges and practical cooperation.

Their meeting came a day after Wang met one-on-one with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.

Choe told Wang that Pyongyang is willing to strengthen ties with Beijing as the two nations mark the 65th anniversary of signing a comprehensive treaty on cooperation this year, according to the North's state media Friday.

Wang's trip came months after Kim and Xi pledged to deepen bilateral ties during their summit talks in Beijing last year.

In Thursday's talks, Choe told Wang that bilateral ties have been advanced to a "higher new level" under an agreement reached between the two leaders and that the North would further deepen the bilateral friendship under the common ideology of socialism.

Wang also recalled that Xi and Kim held a "historic" meeting in Beijing in September last year, during which, he said, they presented "landmark" guidelines for taking the bilateral friendship to a new level.

"It is the unwavering intention of the Chinese party and the government to greatly safeguard, solidify and develop China-North Korea friendship, regardless of how the international situation changes," the KCNA quoted Wang as saying.

The ministers also agreed to increase various exchanges and cooperation to mark this year's 65th anniversary of their Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance and to strengthen "strategic communication" and cooperation between their countries' foreign policy bodies.

In a banquet hosted for Wang later on Thursday, he referred to "a plot of escalating isolation and pressure by the United States and other Western forces," saying North Korea had made new achievements in this context.

The remarks could suggest that North Korea and China may align more closely in foreign policy, including toward Washington, as US President Donald Trump is expected to visit China next month for talks with Xi.

There has been speculation that Trump could seek a meeting with Kim on the occasion of his trip to China, reviving the one-on-one diplomacy he pursued during his first presidential term.

The KCNA, however, did not provide details on whether the foreign ministers' meeting addressed issues related to Washington or Trump's trip to China.

China's Xinhua News Agency reported Wang on Friday paid tribute to the graves in Pyongyang of Chinese soldiers killed while fighting for the North in the 1950-53 Korean War.

Wang expressed gratitude to the North Korean side for repair work on the graves, calling the site a foundation for the blood-forged relations between the two countries.
New Delhi, April 10 : The political landscape in New Delhi and Bihar witnessed a significant churn on Friday as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha, triggering a wave of reactions from leaders across the political spectrum, ranging from praise by NDA allies to sharp criticism by opposition parties.

Welcoming Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha membership, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha lauded the Chief Minister's leadership, saying that Bihar had witnessed steady progress under him.

"He (Nitish Kumar) has been our (NDA) leader; under his leadership, Bihar has progressed. He led the NDA government in taking Bihar from good governance towards prosperity. Every NDA worker is proud today," Deputy CM Sinha said.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh described Nitish Kumar's entry in Rajya Sabha as a significant and celebratory occasion.

"What could be a more joyous moment than this," he said, hailing Nitish Kumar's move to the Upper House and underscoring his continued relevance in national politics.

Giriraj Singh further drew a contrast with previous governments in Bihar, asserting that Nitish Kumar's 20-year tenure would be "written in golden letters" for establishing a harmonious society and ensuring development.

In contrast, Union Minister Singh criticised the 15-year rule of Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, alleging it would be remembered as a period of "jungle raj" marked by crime and lawlessness.

Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) Chief Upendra Kushwaha extended his congratulations, expressing optimism about Nitish Kumar's new role.

"He (Nitish Kumar) has my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for this new beginning (as a Rajya Sabha member). Now, while staying in Delhi, Nitish Kumar will serve Bihar and the nation as a Rajya Sabha member," Kushwaha said.

However, Opposition INDIA bloc leaders raised concerns over the implications of Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha move.

RJD leader and Bihar's Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Tejashwi Yadav, mounted a sharp attack, alleging that Nitish Kumar's move to the Upper House of Parliament was not voluntary.

"So what if he (Nitish Kumar) has taken an oath? Has he taken the oath as the country's Prime Minister? We had already said that this is just a formality. He (Nitish Kumar) is doing it under pressure, even if he doesn't want to," Yadav said.

He also claimed that visible signs of pressure could be seen in recent public appearances by Nitish Kumar.

"You can see how much pressure there is, just look at the video footage, when the Bihar Chief Minister is giving a speech, the line gets cut, and when he is speaking in the Assembly House, the session is adjourned," the LoP alleged.

Congress leader Husain Dalwai questioned the political fallout in Bihar, suggesting that the Bharatiya Janata Party had effectively sidelined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"We extend our congratulations, but what will happen to Bihar now? It means the BJP has succeeded in removing him (Nitish Kumar) from Bihar. This suggests Bihar will completely go into BJP's hands, which is not a good thing," Dalwai said.

Echoing similar apprehensions, NCP-SP leader Fauzia Khan conveyed her best wishes to the Bihar Chief Minister but raised broader concerns about the state of democracy.

"If even such big Chief Ministers start working as mere election tools of the government, what will happen to the country? This picture is visible everywhere -- those who resist are being punished," she remarked, calling it akin to an "undeclared democracy".
Chennai, April 10 : In a major development within the Congress party, Alka Lamba, President of the All India Mahila Congress, has ordered the removal of Hzeena Syed from her post as President of the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Mahila Congress, citing alleged anti-party activities.

The decision comes nearly two years after Hzeenaas appointment and has triggered significant political discussion in the state.

Hzeena Syed was appointed to the position on April 21, 2024, succeeding Sudha Ramakrishnan, who stepped down to contest the general elections from the Mayiladuthurai constituency as a Congress candidate. At the time, Hzeena was regarded as a strong organisational leader, having previously served as National Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress.

Over the years, she established herself as a prominent face of the Congress, frequently representing the party in television debates and public forums. Her articulate presentation of party positions and active engagement in political discussions earned her recognition among both party cadres and the general public.

Hzeenaas political journey spans more than a decade, with over 12 years of service in the All India Mahila Congress. During this period, she held several key roles, including All India Secretary, Tamil Nadu Congress spokesperson, and election in-charge for multiple states.

She began her political career early, rising through the ranks of the Students Congress and Youth Congress, where she held important responsibilities.

Coming from a traditional Congress family, Hzeena Syedas association with the party has deep roots. Her father was a freedom fighter, and her long-standing involvement in the Congress has been shaped by both legacy and personal commitment. Despite her extensive contributions, the party leadership has taken a firm stance, stating that her removal was necessary to maintain organisational discipline.

The official order also indicates that further action may be considered in accordance with party rules if required.

The sudden decision has created a buzz within the Congress party and Tamil Naduas political circles, with many awaiting further details on the developments that led to her removal.
Kolkata, April 10 : The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Friday trashed the allegations raised by the Trinamool Congress on Thursday, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of having a clandestine understanding with former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir to divide minority voters in West Bengal.a Kolkata, April 10 (IANS) The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Friday trashed the allegations raised by the Trinamool Congress on Thursday, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of having a clandestine understanding with former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir to divide minority voters in West Bengal.

On Thursday, Trinamool Congress released a videocumaudio clip in which Kabir was reportedly seen making controversial statements with an unidentified person, hinting at plots to divide minority votes in West Bengal, thus benefiting the BJP, and also entering into a Rs 1,000 crore deal with the saffron camp for that purpose.

Although Kabir himself described the clip as fake and Artificial Intelligencegenerated, his erstwhile political ally, Asaduddin Owaisiled All India MajliseIttehadul Muslimeen, on Friday morning, announced its decision to withdraw from the alliance it had previously announced with Kabir.

On Friday, Shah, who was in Kolkata to release the BJP's election manifesto for the forthcoming assembly elections in West Bengal later this month, also trashed the allegations raised by the Trinamool Congress. 

He said that the BJP would prefer to sit on the opposition benches in West Bengal for the next 20 years rather than join hands with someone like Kabir, whose only agenda is to build the Babri Mosque in West Bengal.

"You have no idea about Mamata Banerjee's capability. She can make 2,000 such clips. But Humayun Kabir and the BJP are ideologically the North Pole and the South Pole.

"There can never be an understanding between him and us. We should sit in the opposition bench for 20 years rather than join hands with that person who wants to build a Babri Mosque in West Bengal," the Union Home Minister told media persons on Friday.

Meanwhile, Kabir, on Friday, also claimed that if the ruling Trinamool Congress is unable to justify the authenticity of the clip, he would file a Rs 2,000 crore defamation suit against the state's ruling party. 

On Thursday, he said that while Rs 1,000 crore was a big amount, he does not have even a onecrore deal with the BJP.
Nairobi, April 10 : INS Trikand, a frontline guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, on Friday departed Kenya's Mombasa following a highly successful Operational Turnaround (OTR) which included professional exchanges, community outreach, while strengthening maritime cooperation with the Kenyan Navy.

According to the Indian Assistant High Commission in Mombasa, the ship's OTR witnessed a blend of wellness, engagement and professional exchanges.

"An early morning yoga session saw enthusiastic participation from local residents and Kenya Navy personnel. The Commanding Officer of INS Trikand, along with the Defence Advisor at the High Commission of India, called on Brig. MS Shemote, Commander of the Kenya Navy Fleet, at Kenya Navy Base Mtongwe. Specialist officers also visited the Kenya Navy Training College, sharing insights on training curriculum and infrastructure development," the Indian Assistant High Commission posted on X.

On Friday, the personnel from INS Trikand visited Mji Wa Salama Children's Home in Mombasa, where they distributed dry rations and engaged warmly with the children as part of community outreach efforts.

The ship was also opened to visitors, with guided tours providing insights into its operational capabilities, while a friendly volleyball match between the Indian Navy and the Kenyan Navy further strengthened the camaraderie.

Earlier on Thursday, Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India's Western Naval Command, and Adarsh Swaika, Indian High Commissioner to Kenya, co-hosted a deck reception onboard INS Trikand, reaffirming the deep maritime and cultural linkages between India and Kenya.

The event was attended by Kenya Navy Commander Major General Paul Otieno as Chief Guest, Deputy Governors of Kilifi and Taita Taveta, distinguished representatives of the Kenyan navy, members of the diplomatic corps, and prominent members of the Indian diaspora.

The reception provided a platform to celebrate shared values of friendship, trust and cooperation, while highlighting the commitment of both nations towards regional peace, stability and security, further enhancing India-Kenya partnership.

INS Trikand, a frontline guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, arrived at Mombasa on April 7, as part of its ongoing deployment in the South West Indian Ocean region.

The port call by INS Trikand aligned with India's vision of MAHASAGAR  Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions  and aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and bilateral ties between India and Kenya.
New Delhi, April 10 : The government has approved 52 new applications under Round III of the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for Textiles, which are expected to attract an investment of Rs 6,708 crore. a

While five of these applications are for mana'made fibre apparel, 19 are for mana'made fibre fabrics, 18 for technical textiles, and 10 for the multiple segment, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Textiles on Friday.a

The investment in these textile manufacturing units is expected to generate a turnover of Rs 21,186 crore. The approved proposals are expected to provide a significant boost to the textile sector, particularly in the segments of mana'made fibre fabrics, mana'made fibre apparel, and technical textiles. a

These investments will enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities, promote innovation, and strengthen Indiaas position in the global textile market, the statement said.a

The Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for Textiles is a key initiative of the Government of India aimed at promoting higha'value textile production, attracting investment, and generating employment opportunities across the country. a

The scheme participant companies have reported investments of Rs 944.48 crore, turnover of Rs 4,473 crore, and exports of Rs 363.55 crore for the three quarters of FY 2025a'26.a

The Government remains committed to supporting the growth and competitiveness of the textile industry through targeted policy interventions and stakeholder collaboration, the statement said.a

Indiaas textiles sector recorded a surge in investment and exports in 2025, fuelled by government incentive schemes and economic reforms that facilitated ease of doing business.a

The government has approved the setting up of seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks with worlda'class infrastructure, including a pluga'anda'play facility with an outlay of Rs 4,445 crore for a period of seven years up to 2027a'28. a

These parks are coming up in Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navsari), Karnataka (Kalaburagi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), and Maharashtra (Amravati), according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Textiles on Wednesday.a

So far, investment MoUs with expected investment potential of over Rs 27,434 crore have been signed, and 100 per cent of the land has been acquired and handed over to the special purpose vehicle. a

After the approval of sites by the Centre, infrastructure works worth Rs 2,590.99 crore for providing infrastructure till the park gates have been started by all seven state governments.a
News / Agriculture

by Stephen Jakes

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has restructured one of Zimbabwe's most critical government portfolios, splitting the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development into two separate ministries.The development was announced on 10 April 2026 in a statement issued by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya.Under the new arrangement, the portfolio has been divided into the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development.Vangelis Peter Haritatos has been appointed Minister of Lands and Rural Development, while Anxious Jongwe Masuka has been reassigned to head the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development.The restructuring, effected in terms of Section 104 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, takes immediate effect.The move signals a significant shift in the administration of land policy, agricultural production and water resource managementkey sectors that underpin Zimbabwe's economy and food security.Government officials say the separation of the functions is expected to enhance focus, improve efficiency and strengthen oversight in both land administration and agricultural development.
New Delhi, April 10 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Congress over alleged remarks made by its leaders about Gujaratis, accusing it of indulging in "divisive and abusive politics" after repeated electoral setbacks.

BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar over his reported comments on Gujaratis, alleging that such statements reflect a broader pattern within the party.

"This is not a shop of love; they are 'bhaijaan' of hatred. What Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said earlier, calling people from Gujarat and North India uneducated and uncivilised, and then pretending to apologise, is not a coincidence. This is a deliberate and planned strategy; it (Congress) has become an industry of spreading lies," Poonawalla said.

He also questioned whether the Gujarat Congress unit endorsed such remarks, asserting that the party resorts to "abusing people, pitting one state against another, and inciting divisions over caste and religion" whenever it loses elections.

"This reflects their (Congress) mindset. The Congress has become 'anti-Gujarat'," Poonawalla added.

BJP leader Rohan Gupta also criticised the Congress over their 'anti-Gujarat' remark and said, "Congress leaders have developed a habit of insulting Gujarat in any way possible to further their politics."

Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted Congress leader Husain Dalwai, claiming that insulting the public has become a defining trait of the grand old party.

"Insulting the public has become the identity of the Congress party. This is not the first time that Congress leaders have abused people who vote for the BJP, meaning millions of citizens," he said.

He also referred to past remarks by Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala calling public 'demons' if they vote for the BJP, alleging that the Congress has repeatedly disrespected voters.

"They (Congress) consider themselves above the people and place dynastic politics above democracy. This is not an isolated case involving Husain Dalwai; it has become the character of the Congress party," the BJP Spokesperson said.

Contrasting the BJP's approach, Shehzad Poonawalla said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party view the public as supreme.

"The BJP considers people as supreme, like God, regards them as divine, and sees itself as their servant," he added.
Imphal, April 10 : The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army's Red Shield Division on Friday reiterated that the Indian Army remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all communities in Manipur, officials said.

Defence Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Rawat said that the GOC emphasised the Indian Army's role as a neutral and dependable force, dedicated to protecting lives and maintaining peace across the state.

As part of ongoing outreach efforts, the GOC visited remote and isolated villages of Sinaikeithei and Tingpibung, inhabited by Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, to assess the ground situation and engage directly with residents.

During the visit, the Army officer interacted with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and village headmen, holding constructive discussions aimed at fostering mutual understanding and identifying peaceful pathways to address the ongoing tensions.

Highlighting the importance of dialogue and cooperation, the GOC urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards restoring harmony and long-term stability in the region.

"Reassuring the villagers, the GOC conveyed that the Indian Army remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all communities," Lieutenant Colonel Rawat said.

The visit underscores the Indian Army's sustained efforts to build trust, strengthen community ties, and contribute to lasting peace in Manipur.

Meanwhile, Manipur Police have arrested six individuals for violating curfew at Ahallup Makha Leikai in Imphal East district.

The accused also allegedly assaulted police personnel on Thursday and attempted to snatch weapons.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Yangoijam Borish Singh (23), Mangsatabam David Singh (21), Pangambam Nivash Meitei (22), Laitonjam Romen Singh (22), Phairenjam Tony (21), and Ningthoujam Denish Singh (22).

In a separate operation, security forces apprehended two individuals at T. Khullen Naka Check Post in Senapati district for possession of contraband methamphetamine tablets valued at nearly Rs 4 crore.

A car and four mobile phones were also seized during the operation.

Security forces, including central and state agencies, continue to intensify crackdowns on militant activities, with search operations and area domination drives being conducted in fringe, mixed-population, and vulnerable areas across multiple districts.

A total of 113 nakas and checkpoints have been established across both Valley and hill districts to curb the movement of suspicious individuals and vehicles.

Additionally, security personnel are providing escorts to vehicles, including trucks transporting essential commodities, along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).

Enhanced security arrangements and convoy protection remain in place in sensitive stretches to ensure the safe passage of goods and commuters.

The Manipur Police have also urged the public to refrain from believing rumours and to remain cautious about fake videos circulating on social media.

"The veracity of any circulated video or audio clip should be verified through the Central Control Room. Uploading or sharing unverified or misleading content on social media will invite legal action," a police statement warned.
Mumbai, April 10 : In a move to address the growing housing crisis for the rising population in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed the administration to establish and implement a robust mechanism for affordable rental housing.

Highlighting the influx of people coming to Mumbai for employment and business, the Chief Minister also called for the development of a dedicated portal to streamline the process for citizens.

During a high-level meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis emphasised that affordable rental options are a necessity for those migrating to Mumbai and other major metropolitan areas.

He stressed that the system should operate on a demand-supply basis, ensuring that citizens can find housing that fits their budget.

"The system must ensure that all proceedings follow legal agreements. Coordination is key to ensuring that neither the house owners nor the tenants face any difficulties," the Chief Minister said.

To simplify and strengthen the enforcement of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, Chief Minister Fadnavis issued several key directives with regard to empowering authorities, scalability, formal notification, speeding up legal redressal, special courts, evening courts and infrastructure.

"Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) are to be appointed as competent authorities under the Act. The system should be designed such that as police jurisdictions or stations expand, the number of competent police officers increase automatically. Official notifications will be issued to include these duties within the DCPs' formal work schedules," the Chief Minister said.

Recognising the massive backlog of rental disputes, Chief Minister Fadnavis proposed a multi-pronged approach to clear pending cases through the establishment of 100 Special Courts dedicated to resolving rent-related judicial matters.

Retired judges will be appointed to preside over these courts, he said.

"With the court's permission, "Evening Courts" will be initiated to fast-track long-pending cases. If dedicated space is unavailable for these courts, the state government will secure premises on a lease basis to ensure operations begin immediately," the Chief Minister added.
Bengaluru, April 10 : State-run Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) has achieved a record-breaking hydropower generation of 15,509 million units during the financial year 2025-26, marking the highest output in its history.

Bengaluru, April 10 (IANS) State-run Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) has achieved a record-breaking hydropower generation of 15,509 million units during the financial year 2025a"26, marking the highest output in its history.

Karnataka Energy Minister K. J. George on Friday attributed the record performance to good rainfall and efficient maintenance of power stations. He praised the efforts of KPCLas Managing Director, officers and staff for achieving the milestone.

The achievement surpasses the previous record of 13,853 million units generated in 2024a"25. The milestone comes as Karnataka continues to rank among the leading states in hydropower generation, with an installed capacity of 3.63 gigawatts, according to official data.

According to the statement, the total generation was recorded across multiple river basins and projects, including four stations each in the Sharavathi and Kali valleys, two each in the Varahi and Cauvery valleys, and one each in the Krishna and Tungabhadra river systems.

KPCL Managing Director and Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Gaurav Gupta said the corporation has consistently worked to meet the stateas power demand. He highlighted that even some of the oldest hydropower stations, including Shivanasamudra, Shimsha and Sharavathi, along with the Mahatma Gandhi Hydel Power Station at Jog Falls, have performed strongly due to improved maintenance practices.

The Sharavathi and Varahi valley power stations together generated 8,696 million units, setting another record during the year. The Sharavathi valley exceeded its target of 4,800 million units by generating 5,642 million units, while the Mahatma Gandhi Hydel Power Station at Jog Falls produced 643 million units against a target of 549 million units.

The Varahi Hydroelectric Project recorded a significant jump, generating 1,599 million units against a target of 1,060 million units. Other projects, including Bhadra, Shimsha and Mani Dam, also exceeded their respective targets.

Several individual stations achieved record production levels. The Mahatma Gandhi station at Jog Falls surpassed its previous record of 550 million units to generate 643 million units. The Gerusoppa project recorded 644 million units, slightly above its earlier peak, while the Varahi project set a new high of 1,599 million units.
London, April 10 : The Baloch National Movement (BNM) staged a protest in London outside the Prime Minister's House against ongoing human rights violations across Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, collective punishment, and the "genocide" of civilians by the Pakistani forces.

London, April 10 (IANS) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) staged a protest in London outside the Prime Minister's House against ongoing human rights violations across Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, collective punishment, and the "genocide" of civilians by the Pakistani forces.

The demonstrations held this week were part of the month-long BNM Global Campaign running from March 10 and brought together a large number of members of the Baloch diaspora.

According to the BNM, during the protests, a structured awareness campaign was launched, with activists distributing pamphlets at key political, media, and tourist locations across the city to raise awareness about the current situation in Balochistan.

These locations, it said, included the Prime Minister's Office, the British Parliament, the headquarters of the media outlet BBC, and other prominent public places.

Addressing the participants, senior BNM leader Hassan Dost Baloch stated that Pakistan is "making the mistake of believing it can suppress the Baloch national movement through genocide."

Recalling the sacrifices of Baloch national leaders and the BNM leadership in 2009, he noted that "the movement has intensified since then, and today the Baloch nation is closer than ever to achieving its freedom."

He added that "the ongoing state actions in Balochistan are, in fact, clear evidence of Pakistan's failure and defeat."

The BNM mentioned that other speakers at the protest - including human rights activists Abid Abdullah, Jasim Baloch, and Ahmed Abdul Hameed - also expressed their views and stressed the urgent need for greater international attention to the dire situation in Balochistan.

Last week the BNM organised a peaceful protest in South Korea's Busan, highlighting the persistent human rights abuses in Balochistan and systematic military repression by Pakistani forces.

Held as part of its ongoing global campaign, the BNM said the protests aimed to raise international awareness and demand justice and freedom for the Baloch people, with informative pamphlets widely distributed to passers-by.

Addressing the participants, BNM member Bakhtawar Baloch delivered a speech in the Korean language to explain the dire situation in Balochistan to the local public and media while calling for global solidarity against the atrocities by Pakistani forces.

"The participants raised strong slogans demanding freedom for Balochistan and strongly condemning the brutality of the Pakistani army. Slogans echoed calls for an end to enforced disappearances, the release of all missing persons, justice for victims, and freedom from occupation and repression," the BNM stated.
Dehradun, April 10 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged the Union government to improve air connectivity from Dehradun to the key religious destinations of Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.a Dehradun, April 10 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged the Union government to improve air connectivity from Dehradun to the key religious destinations of Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.

In response to the Chief Minister's request, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu informed him through a formal letter that 254 weekly roundtrip flights are currently operating from Dehradun to 11 destinations: Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Shamshabad (Hyderabad), Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune, and Kullu. These services are being run by major carriers, including IndiGo, Alliance Air, Air India, and Air India Express.

The Minister clarified that India's domestic aviation sector is fully deregulated. Airlines enjoy complete freedom to choose aircraft types, routes, and markets based on their own operational and commercial viability. 

He added that the final decision to start or expand services on any route lies with the individual airline operators.

However, in response to the state's request, the Civil Aviation Ministry has forwarded the request for new or enhanced flight services from Dehradun to Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya to all scheduled domestic airlines for their consideration.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed optimism about the development. 

He stated that under the guidance of PM Modi, the Central Government is continuously supporting Uttarakhand to expand air services across the state. 

"This initiative will enable the people of the state to establish direct connectivity with Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya," said CM Dhami.

The proposed routes hold special significance for Uttarakhand, as thousands of devotees from the state frequently travel to these holy cities for religious purposes. 

Direct flights would significantly reduce travel time and offer greater convenience to pilgrims and general passengers alike.

The Uttarakhand government has been actively working with the Centre to strengthen air connectivity, including recent successful launches of services to remote hill areas. 

The state continues to press for better links to major pilgrimage and commercial hubs.

The development is expected to boost tourism, religious travel, and overall economic activity in the region once the new routes become operational. Both the state and central governments are hopeful that domestic airlines will soon respond positively to the shared proposal.
New Delhi, April 10 : United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Friday said he had a "productive interaction" with US Secretary of State Wright and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi, focusing on the future of USaIndia energy cooperation.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of India's historic passage of the Sustainable and Holistic Advancement of Nuclear Technology and Infrastructure (SHANTI) Bill, which paves the way for expanded civil nuclear collaboration.

Ambassador Gor noted that the US is ready to cooperate with India not only in civil nuclear energy but also in other areas such as coal gasification and liquefied petroleum gas exports.

"The SHANTI Bill marks a significant milestone in India's energy policy. We are committed to working with India to strengthen clean and secure energy pathways," he said.

The SHANTI Bill, passed earlier this year, is aimed at modernising India's nuclear energy framework, enhancing safety standards, and opening avenues for international partnerships.

India has long sought to diversify its energy mix, balancing renewable expansion with nuclear power to meet rising demand while reducing carbon emissions.

Civil nuclear cooperation has been a cornerstone of USIndia strategic ties since the landmark 2008 nuclear agreement, which allowed India access to nuclear technology despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty.

The latest legislation is expected to accelerate joint projects, including reactor construction, fuel supply, and technology transfer.

Officials also discussed broader energy linkages, including US support for India's clean energy transition, investments in coal gasification technology, and the potential for increased US liquefied petroleum gas exports to India.

The meeting underscores the growing strategic convergence between Washington and New Delhi in energy security, climate action, and technology partnerships, all of which are seen as critical to India's longterm development goals under Viksit Bharat 2047.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, April 11 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Mauritius has delivered a series of impactful outcomes across health, education, infrastructure, and green mobility, reaffirming India's commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and support for the Global South.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit underscored a shared focus on sustainable and people'centric partnership.

Among the key outcomes was the signing of a Letter of Exchange between the governments of India and Mauritius for the implementation of projects under the Special Economic Package 2025.

Eleven High Impact Community Development Projects were inaugurated across Mauritius, covering areas such as sustainable development, energy, sports, and infrastructure.

The visit also marked the launch of the first dedicated iGOT Karmayogi platform for a partner country, aimed at enhancing capacity building and governance.

In the health sector, Jaishankar inaugurated a Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, while India handed over 90 electric buses to Mauritius to promote green mobility.

Educational cooperation was strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding between the University Grants Commission of India and the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius.

Additionally, India handed over a royalty cheque of USD 45,000 from the sale of nautical charts, in line with the protocol on navigational chart sales.

India and Mauritius share deep historical and cultural ties, with Mauritius hosting one of the largest Indian diasporas.

Bilateral relations have been marked by close cooperation in trade, investment, and development projects.

India has consistently supported Mauritius in areas ranging from infrastructure to capacity building, reflecting its broader commitment to the Indian Ocean region under Vision MAHASAGAR.

Ambassador Randhir Jaiswal noted that the visit highlighted India's role as a proactive partner in sustainable development, while Mauritius reaffirmed its appreciation for India's continued support.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Amaravati, April 11 : The Telugu Desam Partyaled coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has approved investment proposals worth Rs 9.36 lakh crore since assuming office in June 2024, Minister for Information and Public Relations and Housing Kolusu Parthasarathy said on Friday.

Amaravati, April 11 (IANS) The Telugu Desam Partya'led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has approved investment proposals worth Rs 9.36 lakh crore since assuming office in June 2024, Minister for Information and Public Relations and Housing Kolusu Parthasarathy said on Friday.

Briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the minister said the proposals cleared so far are expected to generate employment for 9.62 lakh people.

The Cabinet approved 16 projects in information technology, electronics, and communications, involving an investment of Rs 17,459 crore. These projects are projected to create jobs for 36,411 people.

Among the major decisions was approval for data centre projects in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts.

The Cabinet also cleared Credence Realtyas proposal to establish an IT Park in Visakhapatnam. Recognised under the aIT Campus Developera category of the Andhra Pradesh IT and Global Capability Centre Policy (4.0) 2024a'29, the project will receive applicable incentives.

Recommended by the State Investment Promotion Board, the project entails an investment of Rs 386.88 crore and is expected to create 6,500 jobs.

Approval was also granted for the allocation of two acres of land to Feuji Software Solutions Private Limited for an IT/ITeS campus in Visakhapatnam under the Andhra Pradesh Land Incentive for Tech Hub Policy (4.0) 2024a'29.

The project involves an investment of a425 crore and has the potential to generate 2,500 jobs.

The Cabinet cleared the allocation of 0.4 acres of land to Sritech Data Limited for a Cable Landing Station in Visakhapatnam, to be built with an investment of Rs 1,800 crore.

Parthasarathy said approval was also given to PG Technoplast Private Limited for manufacturing facilities for refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners in Phasea'1, along with expansion of PCB vertical capacity, setting up a research and development centre, and a Component Vendor Park in Phasea'2.

The project entails an investment of Rs 1,305 crore and is expected to create 2,910 jobs.

--IANS

ms/dan
Bengaluru/Agartala, April 11 : Tripura has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Northeastern region, with GDP performance comparing favourably with other states, a top official said.

Tripura Industries and Commerce Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, while addressing a Business Conclave in Bengaluru, said on Friday that sustained public investment, improved governance outcomes, and a growing focus on private sector participation are steadily reshaping perceptions about the state's economic potential.

Addressing the gathering, the senior IAS officer said that the Tripura government is proactively strengthening the Ease of Doing Business framework through a series of policy reforms, procedural simplifications, and time-bound approval mechanisms.

He emphasised that Tripura offers significant untapped potential across both emerging and traditional sectors.

This is supported by a skilled talent pool, improving connectivity, and a responsive institutional framework.

He encouraged industry participants to explore long-term partnership opportunities with the state.

The Bengaluru roadshow and Business Conclave was organised as a focused outreach initiative aimed at engaging industry leaders, investors, start-ups, and institutional stakeholders from southern India.

The roadshow resulted in the signing of 44 Letters of Intent (LoIs) and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), amounting to investment commitments worth more than Rs 2,000 crore across multiple sectors.

The programme presented a comprehensive overview of Tripura's industrial ecosystem, highlighting recent infrastructure developments, progressive policy initiatives, and sector-specific investment opportunities, with a strong emphasis on investment facilitation and ease of doing business.

Highlighting Tripura's strategic geographical location, Gitte underscored the state's growing economic and trade engagement with Bangladesh, which is significantly enhancing regional connectivity and improving access to international markets.

He noted that this strategic positioning is creating fresh opportunities across logistics, value-added manufacturing, services, and cross-border trade-linked industries.

Providing a detailed sectoral perspective, Industries and Commerce Department Director Deepak Kumar outlined investment opportunities across priority sectors such as IT and digital services, electronics and technology-enabled manufacturing, education and skill development, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, tourism and hospitality, agri and food processing, bamboo, rubber and agarwood-based industries, renewable energy, urban infrastructure, real estate, handloom and handicrafts, as well as manufacturing and allied industries.

Kumar elaborated on the state's investor-centric incentive framework, availability of industrial land, identification of suitable project locations, and the end-to-end facilitation support being extended to investors from project conceptualisation to implementation and operationalisation.

He emphasised that the department is committed to ensuring ease of entry, faster approvals, and continued post-investment handholding for all investors.

Pradeep Krishnaraj, Director of Skill Development, highlighted Tripura's structured and industry-linked skilling ecosystem.

He noted that it is supported by flagship programmes and partnerships designed to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled manpower aligned with emerging sectors and investor requirements.

Megha Jain, Director of the Urban Development Department, outlined Tripura's planned urban development initiatives, including integrated townships and redevelopment projects.

These are aimed at supporting sustainable growth, modern infrastructure, and enhanced private sector participation through PPP-based models.

The Business Conclave featured detailed departmental presentations, interactive discussions, and one-to-one B2G meetings.

During these sessions, senior state government officials engaged directly with participating investors to understand business interests and clarify policy and procedural aspects.

Officials said that the Bengaluru roadshow successfully strengthened Tripura's engagement with the southern India business ecosystem, while reinforcing the state's positioning as an investment-ready, reform-driven, and rapidly emerging economy in the Northeast.

The event marks an important step ahead of the 'Destination Tripura: Business Conclave 2026', which is scheduled to be held in Agartala.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's banking sector has launched a legal challenge against the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, intensifying a long-running dispute over the tax treatment of interest expenses that lenders say is hurting profitability and restricting lending.The conflict centres on the interpretation of the Income Tax Act, under which interest expensesconsidered a core cost of bankingwere disallowed in calculating taxable income. Banks argue this artificially inflates profits and results in excessive tax obligations.The situation has been worsened by the retrospective application of the rule to the period between 2019 and 2024, creating significant tax liabilities across the sector. The case is being pursued through the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe.CBZ Holdings Limited chairman Luxon Zembe warned that the tax assessments are undermining banks' ability to support economic growth."These tax positions reduce profits and shrink the pool of funds available for lending, which ultimately affects economic activity," he said.Other banks have also reported major financial impacts. NMBZ Holdings Limited disclosed additional tax charges running into tens of millions, while FBC Holdings Limited faces potential liabilities exceeding US$18 million when provisional assessments are included.FBC chief executive Trynos Kufazvinei said the uncertainty has already affected operations, revealing that the bank nearly suspended about US$80 million in foreign credit lines due to the punitive tax treatment.In a partial policy reversal, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube acknowledged the issue in the 2026 National Budget, confirming that interest expenses would now be tax-deductible from January 1, 2026.However, banks argue the change does not address the substantial liabilities accumulated in previous years, which remain the subject of the legal dispute.The case highlights growing tension between revenue collection efforts and financial sector stability, with business groups such as the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce warning that aggressive tax enforcement is disrupting operations and discouraging investment.The outcome of the legal battle is expected to have far-reaching implications for Zimbabwe's investment climate, banking sector stability, and broader economic growth.
Technology

Physicians Digital Services, LLC Expands Healthcare Marketing Services Across South Dakota and Washington

United States  April 08, 2026  Physicians Digital Services, LLC, a healthcare-focused digital marketing company, has announced the expansion of its healthcare marketing services across South Dakota and Washington. This expansion enables medical practices in both states to access specialized digital marketing solutions designed exclusively for the healthcare industry.

With this expansion, Physicians Digital Services will provide healthcare providers across South Dakota and Washington with structured, data-driven marketing strategies that enhance online visibility, increase patient inquiries, and support long-term practice growth. The company works exclusively with healthcare organizations, ensuring that its services align with healthcare industry regulations, patient communication standards, and evolving market dynamics.

Key Highlights of the Expansion:

Healthcare-Specific Expertise:

Tailored marketing solutions for medical, dental, behavioral health, and specialty practices across South Dakota and Washington.

State-Level Market Focus:

Strategies customized to meet the unique needs of healthcare providers operating within diverse healthcare environments across both states.

Patient-Centered Approach:

Strong emphasis on ethical patient acquisition, transparency, and building trust within local communities.

Comprehensive Digital Services:

Services include website optimization, local SEO, content strategy, online reputation management, and healthcare branding.

The expansion into South Dakota and Washington reflects the increasing demand for healthcare-focused marketing services that prioritize compliance, patient trust, and sustainable growth. Physicians Digital Services continues to expand its presence across the United States, delivering reliable and results-driven digital marketing solutions tailored specifically for healthcare organizations.

About Physicians Digital Services, LLC

Physicians Digital Services LLC (also known as PDS) is a healthcare marketing company that provides digital marketing solutions exclusively for medical and healthcare practices. PDS supports clinics, private practices, and healthcare organizations nationwide, delivering patient-focused marketing strategies tailored to the healthcare industry.

Media Contact

Physicians Digital Services, LLC

Email: info@physiciansdigitalservices.com

Website: https://physiciansdigitalservices.com/

Phone: +1 630-233-9651

Address: 3250 Lacey Rd Suite 215, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Business

EDERRA Signs Letter of Intent with Dr. Anand Swaroop of Cepham for Strategic Production Partnership to Build the Infrastructure Behind the Next Generation of Cognitive Functional Nutrition

OCEANSIDE, Calif. and SOMERSET, N.J., March 30, 2026  EDERRA today announced it has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI), dated March 26, 2026, with Cepham for a strategic manufacturing and production partnership designed to support EDERRAs functional superfood product line, including its flagship formula, EMPWR+.

Under the LOI, the parties intend to negotiate definitive agreements under which Cepham would provide production and operational support to help EDERRA scale manufacturing in phases, strengthen sourcing and packaging execution, and accelerate product innovation.

The partnership represents a key milestone in EDERRAs evolution from an emerging brand to a scalable wellness platform as demand grows for EMPWR+, its functional greens formula designed to support cellular detox and defense, gut health, cognitive performance, and longevity.

Rather than building manufacturing infrastructure internally, EDERRA is pursuing an asset-light scaling strategy by partnering with established science and manufacturing operators, a model increasingly adopted by next-generation wellness companies seeking to scale efficiently while maintaining integrity.

EDERRAs brand is built around a farm-to-body philosophy that connects consumers more directly to ingredient sourcing and transparency. Cepham brings decades of experience in nutraceutical ingredient development, manufacturing quality systems, and global supply chain management.

Investors today are funding execution engines, not just products, said Vladi Delsoglio, Founder and CEO of EDERRA. This LOI represents an important step toward building a scalable operational foundation that matches our farm-to-body promise. By aligning with Cephams science-first and operations-driven approach, we aim to de-risk supply, accelerate disciplined production expansion, and deploy capital more efficiently while focusing on demand generation and distribution.

EDERRA is building a brand that treats sourcing and transparency as a core product feature, said Dr. Anand Swaroop, President of Cepham. That philosophy aligns closely with our commitment to safety, science, and sustainability. We are excited to explore a partnership designed to help EDERRA scale while preserving the integrity, traceability, and quality expectations that modern consumers and sophisticated investors expect from next-generation wellness companies.

The agreement also reflects growing investor interest in the longevity economy, functional nutrition, and preventive health sectors expected to experience sustained growth as healthcare continues to shift toward prevention and performance optimization.

As functional nutrition increasingly blurs the lines between supplements, food, and performance health, companies capable of combining brand development, scientific credibility, and operational scale may define the next decade of the category.

This is about building a company designed to last decades, not just ride a trend, Delsoglio added. Execution ultimately separates brands that get attention from brands that build categories.

About EDERRA

EDERRA is a California-based functional wellness company developing superfood formulations focused on longevity, cognitive performance, gut health, and daily wellness optimization. Its flagship product, EMPWR+, reflects the companys farm-to-body philosophy, emphasizing ingredient transparency, sourcing integrity, and measurable functional benefits designed for modern wellness routines.

For more information, visit:

www.ederralyfe.com

About Cepham

Cepham is a U.S. nutraceutical company specializing in the development and manufacturing of evidence-based ingredients and delivery systems for the natural health industry. The companys capabilities span ingredient research and development, manufacturing, and global supply chain operations.

For more information, visit:

www.cepham.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expectations, intentions, and anticipated benefits related to the Letter of Intent and any potential definitive agreements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. EDERRA undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Recently, collaborators received a medal, a festival brought together YA authors, mystery writers spoke at an event, an author visited a bookstore abroad, community heroes joined an author event, and an author launched his series finale.

Guests of Honor

The Bodley Medal ceremony took place at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, England, on March 26, honoring Julia Donaldson (r.) and Axel Scheffler, creators of the beloved picture book series The Gruffalo. The award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the world of literature and libraries. The evening coincided with the cover reveal for the pairs forthcoming picture book, Gruffalo Granny (Dial), their first Gruffalo book in 20 years.

YA All Day

The 2026 North Texas Teen Book Festival took place last month, gathering authors for a day of more than 40 panels. Here, (from l.) moderator Brandi Grant appears with authors Soman Chainani, Chloe Gong, and Helen Haywood Henry at the NTTBF YA keynote.

Truth Be Told

On March 28, Books of Wonder in New York City gave Alyson Gerber a warm welcome for her event celebrating the latest book in The Liars Society series, A Secret Escape (Scholastic Press). The third novel follows Jack and Weatherby as they compete for a slot in a secret society that promises wealth beyond their dreams. Gerber (l.) held a conversation with E. Lockart about crafting stories with thrilling competitions at their core.

Trip of a Lifetime

Author-illustrator Supriya Kelkar recently made a trip to India, where she stopped by the Happy Book Stall to sign copies of her picture book And Yet You Shine: The Kohinoor Diamond, Colonization, and Resistance (Candlewick). The story traces the famed Kohinoor diamond, and how it fell into the hands of the British monarchy.

This Book Is on Fire

On March 29, author Carrie Finison (third from l.) hosted a Touch a Truck event to celebrate the release of her new picture book, Touch a Truck Day, illustrated by Viola Wang (Chronicle). The book offers readers a peek into a series of different vehicles. The Acton Fire Department in Acton, Mass., brought out two fire trucks and the fire department ambulance, and dozens of kids had the opportunity to explore the inside and outside each one. Here, Finison is joined by local firefighters who attended the event.

Its Going Down

On March 19, author Marc J. Gregson launched Downfall (Peachtree Teen), the final book in his Above the Black trilogy, with an appearance at Poppy Books & Gifts in Spanish Fork, Utah. Here, Gregson signs copies for an attendee.
The American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees have reached a settlement in ALA et al. v. Keith Sonderling et al., a case to prevent the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. On April 9, all the parties agreed to a voluntary dismissal of the case.

This agreement comes in the same week that the executive branch dropped its appeal of State of Rhode Island v. Trump, a case in which 21 states attorneys general were awarded a permanent injunction in their effort to protect IMLS and other agencies.

Last June, District Court Judge Richard J. Leon of the District of Columbia chose not to grant the preliminary injunction requested by ALA and AFSCME in ALA v. Sonderling. Instead, the plaintiffs made a motion for summary judgment last August, and the case proceeded to briefing on the merits. This settlement is welcome news for library supporters.

Parties to the settlement have agreed that IMLS will continue to award grants, contracts, cooperative agreements and other forms of assistance, to the full extent of Congressional appropriations except as otherwise authorized by law and that IMLS is required to comply with various statutory requirements. The settlement notes that parties agree to cooperate fully.

ALA president Sam Helmick celebrated the decision. When the administration began shuttering IMLS last year, Helmick said in a press statement, libraries across the country started cutting hours, staff, and services people rely on. According to Helmick, This settlement protects life-changing library services for communities across the country. ALA will continue to defend every American's freedom to read and learn.

Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward, the organization that represented the plaintiffs along with Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP, wrote in a statement that the dismissal is proof that litigation works and that this settlement ensures that the Trump-Vance administrations unlawful attempt to dismantle a congressionally mandated agency will not prevail.

Today is a victory for every community that depends on libraries and museums as gateways to opportunity, learning, and connection, agreed AFSCME president Lee Saunders, who called IMLS an essential institution that supports the vital services we provide to communities across the country.

This weeks news brings closure to the two IMLS cases and gives relief to those concerned about their statutory and competitive grants for 2026. However, the Trump administration's proposed budget for fiscal 2027 does not including any funding for IMLS, and library advocates already have been lobbying their representatives to support appropriations for the agency. A year of diligent action has resulted in courtroom successes, yet the tug-of-war over the future of IMLS goes on.
Childrens author and writing instructor Marsha Wilson Chall, known for her evocative picture book texts often drawn from childhood memories, died March 29 in Maple Grove, Minn. She was 72.

Chall was born November 7, 1953, in Minneapolis, and grew up an only child in Des Moines, Iowa, where she discovered her passion and natural talent for writing. Ive always written, she stated in her website autobiography. As a child I kept diaries, wrote plays and puppet shows, and summertime neighborhood newspapersChuckies Tonsils Out at Last!  In a 1996 interview in the Minnesota English Journal, Chall recalled her father as a wonderful storyteller, and her mother as having the vision of an artist, influences that helped guide her in her writing.

Chall studied English literature at Drake University in Des Moines, where her professors encouraged her to consider creative writing as a career, and where she won a campus literary contest with one of her stories. She earned her BS in education from Drake in 1975 and that same year relocated to Minnesota. Settling in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Chall taught remedial and developmental reading at Hennepin Technical College for several years and then landed a position as an adult literacy instructor at Adult Options in Education in the Hopkins School District 1983. During this time, she was raising two children, a daughter and a son; working toward a graduate degree; and continuing to write. In 1984, she received an MA in education from the University of Minnesota.

I was awakened to childrens literature by reading picture books with my kids, she wrote on her website. The lush illustrations and poetic language appealed to me. Chall turned her hand to this artform by signing up for a class at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis called Writing Fiction for Children, taught by author and editor Susan Pearson, who also founded a long-running writing group for Minnesota authors to which Chall belonged.

In 1989, Chall sold her first picture book manuscript, inspired by the childhood summers she spent at her familys rustic cabin in the north woods of Minnesota. It was published as Up North at the Cabin (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard), illustrated by Steve Johnson, in 1992, and received warm critical praise. Challs first early chapter book, Mattie, illustrated by Barbara Lehman, which follows the exploits of second-grader Mattie and her little brother Emmett, was released the same year from Lothrop, Lee & Shepard. More recent works included One Pups Up, illustrated by Henry Cole (S&S/McElderry, 2010), and The Secret Life of Figgy Mustardo (HarperCollins/Tegen, 2016). In all, she published 12 books for young readers, and was the inspiration for her daughter Lindsay Matvick, currently publicity manager at Lerner Publishing Group, to enter the childrens book industry. Id say that children are the best kind of people we have to offer, Chall wrote on her website. Like the pediatrician, Im working with fresh material, not the damage of a lifetimes wear and complications. Its great work if you can get it.

Throughout her publishing career, she continued to teach writing workshops and college courses, including at Metropolitan State University and most recently at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minn., in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program. Teaching teaches the student and the teacher, she wrote in her website bio. Plato said that she who dares to teach must never cease to learn. I learn something about the way stories work every time I read, teach, or write one.

And in an interview with the Bookology website, Chall suggested that one of the secrets to thriving in all her endeavors lay in something that she told herself every day: Show up. For my writing, for my family and friendshumans included, for my students. And always for dinner.

Childrens book author Trisha Speed Shaskan shared this remembrance: Marsha was a firecracker who lit up every room she entered. Within minutes, she could quip about the antics of her dog Scout, then dive into the psychic distance in a story. As part of the MFAC faculty at Hamline University for 15 years, Marsha shared her deep understanding of childrens literature, the craft of writing, and her warmth and kindness with her peers and students. As a beloved mentor and friend to countless people in our community, Marsha will be deeply missed. Thankfully, her stories live on in her books such as Up North at the Cabin, a heartfelt tribute to her favorite place.

And Mary Rockcastle, author, and director of the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Hamline University, paid tribute: Marsha was a vital part of our MFAC faculty from its beginning in 2007 until she retired in 2022. She was a vibrant, warm, insightful, and intelligent mentor for students whose own published books and well-received critiques moved many to the next level and transformed their writing lives. A member of our faculty who was beloved by fellow teachers, students who knew her, and staff, she was a shining light and will be sorely missed.
Pharmaceutical industry urges ICH to expand E22 guideline to cover caregiver input

FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. (credit: Ferdous Al-Faruque)

The International Council on Harmonization (ICH) E22 guideline should incorporate caregiver feedback, according to responses submitted by industry groups and manufacturers to a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) public consultation.

Caregiver feedback is particularly important in cases where patients are too young to provide their own input or are incapacitated and unable to do so, the commenters noted.

In addition, both the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) proposed including definitions for terms such as patient experience data (PED), patient-reported outcomes (PRO), and clinical outcome assessments (COAs).

The ICH E22, released in November 2025, includes harmonized considerations regarding the use, design, analysis, and submission of (PPS) to inform drug development. The guidance recommends that the PPS should be included in modules 2 and 5 of the Common Technical Document (CTD) (RELATED: ICH announces new topics, adopts harmonized template for clinical trial protocols, Regulatory Focus 26 November 2025).

FDA released the guideline for public comment in February 2026. The deadline for public comment was 7 April 2026.

The guidance states that common uses of PPS include identifying treatment priorities; informing the selection of endpoints for subsequent clinical trials; and determining what constitutes a meaningful change of an endpoint.

Twelve interested parties commented on the guidance.

Respondents recommend inclusion of caregiver preference studies

BIO, PhRMA, and Thermo Fisher Scientific recommended expanding the guidance to include caregiver preference studies when patients cannot provide input.

The current scope excludes caregiver preference studies, despite their critical importance in disease areas where patients are unable to directly provide preference information. While this is particularly relevant in pediatric populations, it also applies broadly to conditions involving cognitive impairment or diminished decision-making capacity (e.g., Alzheimers disease and other dementias, certain psychiatric or neurological disorders, and severe disabilities). In these contexts, caregivers (including parents and study partners) frequently act as appropriate proxies or agents of the patient, and their preferences may represent the most relevant and feasible source of input, BIO wrote in their comments.

According to comments from PhRMA, there are many therapeutic contexts in which patients may be unable to provide preference information, e.g., due to young age, psychiatric disorders, dementia, or disability. In these instances, common practiceand in some cases, the only option for measuring preferenceis to assess the preferences of parents or other caregivers in their role as agents of the patient.

Thermo Fisher Scientific said that scoping caregiver preference studies out leads to a lack of guidance on undertaking preference studies to inform the relative desirability of treatments in these contexts, which is potentially inequitable. Suggest including a more nuanced discussion on this and including caregiver studies in scope when caregiver preferences are relevant to treatment decisions. We agree that caregiver preferences should not be used in lieu of patient preferences when the patient is able to make their own treatment decisions and it is feasible to elicit their preferences.

BIO and PhRMA suggest harmonized definitions

BIO and PhRMA suggested including definitions for terms such as patient experience data (PED), patient-reported outcomes (PRO), and clinical outcome assessments (COAs), as well as a glossary at the end of the guideline.

BIO states that as the first ICH guideline focused on patient preference studies within the broader patient experience data (PED) landscape, the absence of a harmonized PED definition may limit clarity and consistent interpretation. Additionally, the distinction between PPS and other PED types, particularly PROs and COA, is not clearly described, making it difficult to understand scope boundaries and exclusions.

PhRMA concurred on the need for a definition of PED. Given that this is the first ICH guideline to discuss a specific type of patient experience data (PED), we suggest that FDA and ICH consider including a harmonized definition of PED, drawing from existing definitions provided by regulatory bodies and consortia.

Not requiring PPS studies in certain situations supported

Two respondents indicated their support for the guidance provision, stating that PPS studies may not always be necessary.

The guidance states that although most studies are designed for a specific set of attributes and therapeutic context, there may be existing relevant PPS literature that can address the intended research objective and question(s). Ongoing and future studies should take existing relevant literature of sufficient quality into consideration to avoid unnecessary burden on the patient community.

Faegre Drinker Consulting wrote that the guideline appropriately acknowledges that de novo patient preference studies may not always be justified, particularly when high-quality evidence exists. This principle is important for several reasons: It helps reduce unnecessary burden on patients and caregivers who may already be frequently asked to participate in research. It discourages redundant studies that provide little incremental value. It supports efficient use of limited research resources, especially in rare disease contexts where patient populations are small.

The Lupus Foundation concurred. The guideline appropriately acknowledges that de novo patient preference studies may not always be justified, particularly when high-quality existing evidence is available.

BIO says PPS should be in the labeling

BIO further suggested that PPO information should be included in product labeling where relevant to prescribing decisions.

BIO states that declaring labeling placement 'outside the scope of this guideline' means PPS evidence may be submitted to regulators, but never reach prescribers or loop back to patients. An ICH harmonisation guideline should not leave the most clinically impactful destination for PPS data unaddressed.

The group said, the FDA has demonstrated through the rituximab SC approval . that inclusion of PPS data in labeling is feasible in some cases. Given this precedent, the guideline should address that this is a possibility.

According to Genentech, which co-developed the drug with IDEC Pharmaceuticals, FDA used extensive patient information from nearly 2,000 patients in approving Rituxan Hycela (subcutaneous rituximab)in 2027.

BIO also suggested that the guideline be more tailored to drug development and to differentiate between early drug development, late-stage development, and in the postmarketing realm.

The guideline applies a broadly uniform standard without distinguishing between trial phases or development stages. This creates two risks in practice: sponsors may cite early-phase context to avoid PPS altogether, while regulators may apply the same expectations to Phase 1 safety studies as to late-stage confirmatory trials. Neither outcome serves patients or science. PPS is valuable and most feasible at specific points in development (e.g., endpoint selection, benefit-risk assessment ahead of Phase 3, post-marketing label updates), and the guideline should reflect this.

Thermo Scientific suggests inclusion of vaccines

In its comments, Thermo Scientific suggested that the guideline clarify that vaccines are in scope.

We assume vaccines are in scope and would suggest explicitly stating this in the footnote (as an example of a preventive medicinal product). PPS can generate structured insights about the relative importance of characteristics, also referred to as attributes, that are considered by patients when making decisions about drugs (or other medicinal products). Suggest stating vaccine as an example of a preventive medicinal treatment in the footnote.

Comments
It hasn't received much attention outside of the defense industry, but the executive order President Trump signed in February establishing the America First Arms Transfer Strategy has ushered in some profound changes in U.S. priorities.

The order reframes U.S. arms transfers as an instrument of industrial policy. Namely, it outlines using foreign purchases to rebuild domestic production capacity, prioritizes the platforms most critical to the U.S. National Security Strategy, and rewards partners who invest in their own defense. Applied to the Indo-Pacific, this framework shows India as an ideal defense partner under this defense strategy.

What the EO Does

The America First Arms Transfer Strategy is primarily an industrial directive. Its first objective is to use foreign arms sales to build production capacity for weapons that the Secretary of War determines most operationally relevant to executing the U.S. National Security Strategy. Practically, this is akin to how many production lines function or plan by building a catalogue of the most critical weapon systems and platforms that need to be prioritized.

The second objective is to use foreign capital to support domestic reindustrialization. This largely translates into foreign partners investing in the United States, which helps the country to expand production lines and improve supply chain resilience. Related to this, the strategy also wants to incentivize nontraditional defense companies to enter the industrial base.

The third objective follows directly from the second: arms transfers must reinforce U.S. acquisition and sustainment activities, building supply chain resilience without adding to backlogs on priority components that affect American or partner readiness. The logic is disciplined and focused on the fact that foreign sales should strengthen the industrial base, not strain it.

Partner prioritization comes fourth in the order's stated objectives, but it is the criterion that carries the most strategic weight: the U.S. will prioritize transfers to partners that have invested in their own defense, occupy critical geography in U.S. plans and operations, or contribute to American economic security.

The strategy also aims to address issues of delayed deliveries. The previous partner-first approach resulted in production backlogs, cost overruns, and years-long delivery delays as orders were mismatched to production capabilities. Within 120 days, the Secretary of War is directed to submit a sales catalog of prioritized platforms, the systems the U.S. wants to produce at scale and wants allies to buy. This is supply-driven, not demand-driven. Washington decides what it needs to manufacture and then identifies buyers who advance that goal. A Promoting American Military Sales Task Force will oversee implementation and publish quarterly performance metrics. The old model let partner demand shape U.S. sales. This one inverts it, basing the catalog on platforms most critical to U.S. operational requirements.

Where India Fits In

India meets the EO's criteria across the board and does so without U.S. military aid or a formal alliance obligation.

The 2025 National Security Strategy explicitly calls for a readjustment of global military presence toward the Western Hemisphere. It still maintains that the Indo-Pacific remains a critical theater but with a clear condition: regional partners must step up. As the NSS states, allies must "spend  and more importantly do  much more for collective defense." The strategy commits to keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open but places the burden of that commitment increasingly on capable partners in the region. India, often regarded as a net security provider in the region, is the kind of partner this logic demands.

On the industrial logic, India is not simply a buyer anymore as its own defense ecosystem matures. Today, Indian conglomerates are actively investing in U.S. industrial capacity. JSW Steel revived a steel mill in Mingo Junction, Ohio, originally built in 1872 and idle for nearly a decade, by investing over $80 million to restart operations, creating jobs and producing steel that qualifies under Buy America requirements.

Reliance Industries recently committed to backing the first major oil refinery to be built in the United States in nearly 50 years, at the Port of Brownsville, Texas. Bharat Forge, a major exporter of 155mm artillery shell bodies, has signed agreements with U.S. defense companies AM General and Mandus Group to co-develop next-generation artillery platforms, and is also investing in North Carolina in manufacturing aluminum forgings.

Indian defense and space startups increasingly treat the U.S. not just as a market but as a place to put down roots. Digantara, a Bengaluru-based space surveillance startup, opened an office in Colorado Springs, secured contracts with U.S. Space Command, and was selected for the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD contract vehicle. NewSpace Research and Technologies has signed research agreements with both the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.

This investment flow within the United States and U.S. supply chains reflects a deliberate alignment of interests. Further, India's own Atmanirbhar Bharat policy, which prioritizes self-reliance in defense production, means India prioritizes collaboration through co-development and co-production, localizing supply chains within its own industrial base wherever possible rather than drawing from U.S. production capacity. That is precisely what the EO's third objective calls for - arms transfers that reinforce acquisition and sustainment without straining existing supply chains.

But its on the fourth criterion where India truly shines. India is a serious military power with U.S. platforms already deeply integrated into its force structure, and it funds all of it independently. Ranked 4th globally by the 2026 Global Firepower Index, India maintains the world's second-largest standing army and operates a fleet of U.S.-origin systems including P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, Chinook and Apache helicopters, GE jet engines, and more. None of it came through U.S. aid or charity. India pays for its own defense, just as the EO envisions a partner doing.

Geography makes the case further. India sits at the center of the Indian Ocean, flanks the Strait of Malacca, and shares a contested land border with China. In February 2026, the Indian Coast Guard, in what was its first-ever such operation,intercepted three U.S.-sanctioned, Iran-linked tankers approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai, dismantling an international oil smuggling network operating in its exclusive economic zone. It was an unsolicited act of enforcement that aligned directly with U.S. sanctions policy.

The America First Arms Transfer Strategy rewards partners that fund their own defense, buy the platforms Washington needs to produce at scale, and hold critical ground in the Indo-Pacific. India meets all three criteria; on its own terms, through its own investment, and with a geographic position no other partner can replicate. The strategic case for deepening U.S.-India defense cooperation was already strong. The EO makes it a matter of stated U.S. policy.

Kriti Upadhyaya is a Visiting Fellow for India Policy in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation.
Disney/Fred Hayes

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/09/2026



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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.

Whitney Leavitt has teased that she may actually be done with , which recently paused production on its fifth season.Whitney, a 32-year-old original Mormon Wives cast member, addressed her future on the Hulu reality series during a Wednesday, April 8 appearance on Good Morning America."We're figuring it out in real time. I don't really know," Whitney said while sitting alongside her Season 34 Dancing with the Stars partner, Mark Ballas "I feel sometimes that it's time to venture out."Whitney is currently starring as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on Broadway in New York City."Like, this is what I'm passionate about," Whitney said of performing.Whitney made her Broadway debut on February 2. Her role as Roxie was scheduled to end on March 15, but due to an "overwhelming demand," she extended her role in the production from March 23 through April 5.And then in March, Mark announced he'd be joining Whitney in Chicago for a four-week limited engagement from April 6 through May 3.A little over a month into Whitney's Broadway run, Hulu released the fourth season of on March 12.Several days later, filming paused on Season 5 of Mormon Wives due to domestic assault allegations Dakota Mortensen filed against MomTok creator Taylor Frankie Paul An insider close to the cast told People at the time that the Mormon Wives cast members -- who also star in #MomTok videos alongside Taylor -- refused to film with Taylor and no longer wanted to be associated with her And a source close to production claimed the cast was "overwhelmed" and "getting tired" of Taylor's behavior.Whitney previously addressed the scandal during an interview with Interview Magazine last month."I have a lot of emotions about it and I'm still processing everything that's happening," she said at the time, "but the safety of human beings, especially children, comes first."Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper also explained on the March 25 episode of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast that Hulu executives and SLOMW producers "paused" production on Season 5 "for a moment" after Dakota filed a police report -- and then production resumed."So they were like, 'For everyone's mental health, let's take a beat,' and then a little bit before news [of Dakota's police report] broke -- when we knew it was probably going to -- us girls decided," Jessi recalled.But Jessi claimed the Mormon Wives "unanimously" banded together and made the decision in Taylor's best interest and not out of anger or resentment."We were starting to hear things before it leaked, and we just didn't want to be filming and say the wrong thing on-camera, not knowing the full story yet," Jessi explained."We didn't want to have to process all of this information for the first time and then also be speaking about it, you know? So we just thought for everyone's mental health... [a break was] probably the best thing for everyone in this situation."Jessi went on to tease of the future of the series, "Clearly there is no shortage of drama in our lives, so if we get another season, it's going to be good!... Now we can [talk about everything]."Not only did Mormon Wives halt, but The Bachelorette also announced its decision to cancel Taylor's season on March 19 after a 2023 video leaked that showed Taylor punching, kicking and throwing metal stools at Dakota in the presence of her young daughter Indy.Whitney noted on GMA how her MomTok social circle is definitely more dramatic than stars on Broadway."Do you see what's going on in the world right now?!" she quipped, seemingly referring to Taylor's legal troubles.As for the latest on Taylor and Dakota's legal battle, they both recently filed protective orders against one another.A Utah court commissioner ruled on Tuesday, April 7 that Taylor will only be allowed supervised visits with her and Dakota's son Ever until their next scheduled hearing on April 30, 2026, The Associated Press reported.On April 30, the court will try to decide on the dueling restraining orders and possibly alter the pair's current custody arrangement.Despite having concerns about both parties, the Utah commissioner gave Dakota custody of Ever for the time being to due Taylor's history of volatile behavior directed at Dakota in front of her children.While there are multiple February incidents currently being investigated by police, Taylor was also arrested in 2023 for her fight with Dakota.Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in August 2023 in exchange for the dismissal of four other charges.Taylor ultimately reached a plea deal that -- assuming its terms and conditions were followed -- would reduce her aggravated assault charge to a misdemeanor in August 2026, according to Us Weekly.
Israel Weapon Industries ARAD 5 has finally landed in the United States! Developed in 2019, the ARAD 5 is a short-stroke piston AR designed for modern users. Taking some notes from the HK 416 platform, the ARAD 5 has a lot of features that make it stand out from the sea of black rifles normally seen.

Features

Semi-Monolithic Upper : Enables the use of varied optics and thermals while maintaining a rock-solid zero.

: Enables the use of varied optics and thermals while maintaining a rock-solid zero. Modular Handguard : M-LOK rails at the 3, 6, and 9 oclock positions for maximum versatility.

: M-LOK rails at the 3, 6, and 9 oclock positions for maximum versatility. IWI QD CamLok System : Features the same fast, easy barrel-change retention system found in the world-famous Tavor X95 and Tavor 7.

: Features the same fast, easy barrel-change retention system found in the world-famous Tavor X95 and Tavor 7. Short-Stroke Gas Piston : A highly dependable system with a 2-position gas regulator, ensuring reliability across environments and suppressed/unsuppressed configurations.

: A highly dependable system with a 2-position gas regulator, ensuring reliability across environments and suppressed/unsuppressed configurations. MIL-SPEC AR-15 Lower Receiver

MSRP: $1,500

AMERICAN-ISRAELI RIFLE

Everything about the ARAD 5 is a mix of American and Israeli. From design to manufacturing, this is a mutt of a rifle. The barrel blank, lower receiver, and lower internal parts are all made in the United States. The piston system, gas block, barrel extension, and upper receiver parts are imported from IWI in Israel.

Good news, this means this rifle doesnt run into any weird importation laws. Bad news, this kind of leaves the American ARAD 5 as the slightly watered-down version of the ARAD.

The ARAD has found a home with several governments and top-tier units around the world, and those contract rifles feature a CHF Chrome Lined barrel and full-ambi lower receiver. But the American ARAD 5 uses a MIL-SPEC AR-15 receiver with no ambi controls and a 4150 CMV barrel.

While the barrel material difference isnt a huge deal, the lack of chrome lining is notable for longevity, especially in this FRT/FRS world. Missing out on the ambi-lower is a major bummer, but at least the MIL-SPEC lower is fully parts compatible with other standard AR-15 parts.

That said, the most important bits of the ARAD are still here. Short-stroke piston, thick barrel, adjustable gas block, semi-mono handguard/upper receiver, and the IWI QD CamLok system for the barrel.

INTERNAL CHANGES

Differences between the ARAD and a normal AR-15 are easy to spot on the outside, but the inside is more interesting (at least to me). One look at the BCG and its obvious that this isnt what youre used to seeing.

ARAD 5 on top, Walker Defense Research AR-15 BCG on bottom

Nearly all modern military black rifles share some common parentage. The AR-15, AR-18, and HK 416 can be seen in one form or another almost everywhere. The ARAD BCG is no exception. Thicker, rounded bolt lugs, spring-loaded firing pin, oversized firing pin, BCG safety lever, and dual ejectors make the ARAD 5s BCG a non-standard and very robust system.

RANGE TIME

This pre-release ARAD 5 didnt have much time to see the range, so long term testing will have to wait. But so far, this is a solid rifle. Weight is heavy and balanced to the front, not surprising with a piston rifle. Handguard feels incredible and rock solid. Wider on the bottom than most handguards, this gives a more connected feel when shooting off a bag or prop.

B5 Systems buttstock and grip are often what get added to my personal rifles, so these feel right at home for me.

The magazine that shipped with the ARAD 5 isnt the standard Gen 2 PMAG were used to seeing paired with almost every other AR-15 on the market. Instead, IWI classed it up by sending the PMAG M3 Windowed magazine. This 3rd-generation PMAG has some improvements that make it a better magazine overall, plus the addition of the window for easy round counting.

LOOSE ROUNDS

Were excited about the ARAD 5 and will be following up with a complete review once weve had enough time to get rounds downrange. With an MSRP of only $1,500, this is a surprisingly well-priced piston rifle.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Methodist Revival Church (MRC) is facing a deepening leadership crisis after a faction aligned to Bishop Philemon Munyaradzi Chamburuka broke away, triggering a protracted legal battle over control of the church.The dispute has spilled into the High Court of Zimbabwe, which ruled against the Chamburuka-led faction, ordering it to surrender all church assets, equipment, and documentation to the main body. The court also barred the faction from using the MRC name, symbols, and insignia.In a decisive judgment, Justice Rodgers Foroma Manyangadze nullified Chamburuka's purported inauguration as bishop of the church and ordered him to pay legal costs on an attorney-client scale.Founded in 2011 by Bishop Phillip Mupindu following a split from the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, the MRC now finds itself grappling with internal divisions reminiscent of its own origins.According to court records, the MRC filed summons against the Chamburuka faction in May 2023 under Case Number HC 3300/23. Although Chamburuka initially entered a defence, his failure to submit pre-trial conference documents led the matter to proceed unopposed, culminating in the court ruling.The conflict has not subsided. The church has since filed a fresh chamber application for contempt of court under Case Number HC 25/2025, accusing Chamburuka and his associates of defying the ruling.In affidavits submitted by MRC board of trustees coordinator, Itai Zvenyika Munyoro, the faction is accused of continuing to use the church's name and symbols, reoccupying church premises, and disrupting services in Harare, Mutare, Rusape, and Murehwa."They are unlawfully using the name, signs, and symbols of the applicant and have returned to premises they were evicted from," reads part of the application, which also alleges that the group is blocking congregants from accessing church services.The court papers further state that Chamburuka has continued presenting himself as a bishop of the MRC despite the standing court order declaring his appointment null and void.The matter is compounded by a pending application filed by Chamburuka in November 2024 seeking rescission of the judgment, which remains unresolved.Several clergy members have been cited in connection with the dispute, including Reverends Gwinyai Ndembera, Fungai Tapera, Thoko Jokwiro, and Pastor Happy Chipapami, among others.Meanwhile, Chamburuka denied claims that he presided over an Easter conference at a contested MRC church in Vengere, Rusape, while Reverend Reginald Kuziwa Mujeni also dismissed reports that he hosted the bishop."I did not host him. I only met him in town. Anyone with evidence that he attended my church should produce it," said Mujeni, adding that he remains unaffiliated to either faction.As legal proceedings continue, the deepening rift threatens the unity and operations of the church, with both sides locked in a battle for legitimacy and control.
At 2:42 a.m. on March 28, the University of Georgia Police Department (UGAPD) was dispatched to Bolton Dining Commons in response to a report of trespassing.

After arriving on scene, police observed an unknown female individual sitting alone at a table on the northwest side of the building. The individual was not wearing shoes. Police spoke separately with dining hall staff and the individual.
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Despite a recent dip in share price, Bharti Airtel is strategically positioning itself for future growth through significant investments in its Nxtra data centre business, anticipated tariff hikes, and robust performance in its African operations, alongside efforts to expand its subscriber base in India's rural markets.

Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Key Points Bharti Airtel is expected to implement a 10-12 per cent tariff hike in the next two quarters, likely following Reliance Jio's anticipated hike before its IPO.

Investments in Nxtra Data, including a recent $1 billion infusion, aim to expand data centre capacity to 1 gigawatt, targeting a 25 per cent-plus market share in a high-growth segment.

Lower capital expenditure over FY2026-28, following the peak of 5G rollout, is expected to aid Bharti Airtel's deleveraging efforts.

Bharti Airtel has seen consistent subscriber growth and market share gains, with significant opportunities in underpenetrated rural markets and a large base of 2G/3G users ready for mobile broadband upgrades.

Airtel Africa's Average Revenue Per User (Arpu) estimates have been upgraded, contributing positively to the company's overall financial outlook.

The Bharti Airtel share price has fallen, albeit less than the Nifty (Hexacom has lost more than the Nifty).

There are concerns about Bharti"s investments in data centres via Nxtra and in its non-banking financial company (NBFC), Airtel Money.

But the India performance is steady and Africa is doing well.

The market expects a tariff hike soon, given that key rival, Reliance Jio, is expected to hike tariffs before its initial public offering (IPO).

Strategic Business Areas and Capex Outlook

Bharti has three key business areas  homes (the fibre business), enterprises, and data centres (DC).

Capex would continue but growth is likely to accelerate.

Given that the intensity of 5G rollout has peaked, lower capex over FY2026-28 (about 22 per cent of revenue versus 30 per cent in the last 3-4 years) could help with deleveraging.

Bharti has seen 2.9 per cent annual growth in subscribers, with 9.7 per cent growth in data subscribers over FY21-26, which has meant market share gains.

There are serious growth opportunities given underpenetrated rural markets.

The mobile broadband subscriber base may also grow since 20 per cent subscribers are still on 3G/2G networks.

A tariff hike of 10-12 per cent in the next two quarters is likely.

Apart from tariff hikes, data monetisation may push average revenue per user (Arpu) up.

Data consumption has grown at 31 per cent annually over the past five years.

Nxtra Data and Airtel Money Investments

Homes and enterprises (including DCs via Nxtra) contributed 24 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively of Bharti"s FY25 India revenue and operating profit.

Nxtra"s 10-12 per cent market share offers headroom for high growth in a fast-growth segment.

The recent $1 billion investment in Nxtra will lead to capacity expansion to 1 gigawatt (Gw) offering 25 per cent-plus market share.

The equity investments in Airtel Money will be less than 5 per cent of free cash flow (FCF) over the next five years and Airtel Money has access to over 400 million potential customers.

Bharti may generate enough FCF to accelerate deleveraging (and offer dividends in the range of payout of 35-40 per cent of FCF).

A weaker rupee could improve returns from Africa.

Q4FY26 Estimates and Market Dynamics

Analysts estimate Q4FY26 to be a steady quarter. Wireless Arpu growth for all players will be low.

Wireless operating profit margins are likely to be similar to Q3FY26.

Indus Towers could see a healthy increase in co-locations driven by Vodafone Idea"s rollout.

Bharti should see subscriber additions similar to that in Q3FY26.

Data consumption is likely to be up 3-4 per cent quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q).

Fixed wireless access is likely to have increased, with steady subscriber additions.

Rental revenues for Indus may grow 1 per cent Q-o-Q. Relief on the adjusted gross revenue or AGR case could be around $4 billion.

The listing of RJio could be a rating catalyst only if it boosts telcom valuations.

Nxtra Data's Expansion and Financials

Nxtra Data"s $1 billion investment is led by Alpha Wave Global ($435 million), Carlyle ($240 million), and Anchorage Capital ($35 million) with the balance ($290 million) from Bharti.

A capacity ramp-up from 300MW to 1Gw targets 25 per cent market share.

Bharti retains a controlling stake of about 61 per cent, with Nxtra valuations at $3.1billion.

Nxtra"s business is co-location with a pan-Indian network of 14 large and over 120 Edge data centres.

Nxtra"s FY25 revenue was Rs 2,080 crore and operating profit was Rs 790 crore with a profit of Rs 220 crore.

The financials are part of Bharti"s "Airtel business" division accounting for 10 per cent share.

Nxtra uses 49 per cent renewable energy and has partnered with Google to build a gigawatt-scale AI data centre ($15 billion investment).

Financial Health and Future Outlook

Bharti has received the final call of Rs 15,800 crore on partly paid shares from a rights issue (about 7 per cent equity dilution).

This will aid it to achieve near-zero bank debt.

In 9MFY26, FCF was Rs 47,800 crore ($5.5bn), consolidated post leases and capex.

The gearing ratio was at 1.

Bharti Airtel"s revenue market share (RMS) is up at about 36 per cent although market-leader RJio has also grown RMS. Bharti aims to increase data subscriber penetration from the current 70 per cent penetration of its 342 million India mobile subscriber base.

Consensus FY28 India Arpu estimates for Bharti Airtel (Bharti) and Bharti Hexacom (Hexacom) have been downgraded.

But Airtel Africa (where Bharti holds 62 per cent) Arpu estimates have been upgraded.

Consensus Arpu estimate for FY28 end is up 3.5 per cent.

The current correction could be an entry opportunity.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
India's defence sector is gearing up for a significant 'super cycle' of growth, propelled by increasing geopolitical conflicts and a strategic national focus on indigenous manufacturing, promising substantial opportunities for domestic defence companies.

IMAGE: Akashteer, India's key asset in Operation Sindoor. Photograph: Press Information Bureau India

Key Points Global military expenditure has surged by 8.6 per cent CAGR over the last three years, driven by geopolitical conflicts and technological advancements, with nations investing in missile defence, UAVs, space systems, and electronic warfare.

India, as the world's largest defence importer and fourth-largest spender, is fostering an indigenous defence industrial ecosystem, potentially leading to a sustained, technology-intensive capital expenditure 'super cycle' for domestic players.

The Defence Acquisition Council has approved Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) worth Rs 2.38 trillion for various defence services and the Coast Guard, covering surveillance, combat, and long-range strike capabilities.

Key Indian defence companies like Bharat Electronics (BEL), Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), and Bharat Dynamics (BDL) are set to benefit from strong order books and indigenisation efforts, with significant projects and deliveries expected in the coming fiscal years.

Astra Microwave (AMPL) is demerging its space, hydrology, and meteorology division to focus purely on defence and aerospace, while Zen Technologies anticipates substantial growth from simulator and anti-drone orders, driven by subsidiary performance.

The global defence sector is being driven by geopolitical conflicts and technological change.

Global military expenditure has risen 8.6 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the past three years, which is more than twice the long-term average.

Nations are inducting missile defence systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), space systems, and electronic warfare.

India's Strategic Defence Push

India is a key player as the world's largest defence importer and the fourth largest defence spender.

Policy is driving creation of an indigenous defence industrial ecosystem.

This may lead to a sustained, technology-intensive capex super cycle for domestic defence players.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given approvals for additional acceptance of necessity (AoN) worth Rs 2.38 trillion.

The AoNs run across defence services and Coast Guard and cover a wide range in terms of focus, including surveillance, combat, and long-range strike capabilities.

These include Russian S400 long-range surface-to-air missile system, 155 mm Dhanush guns and a fleet of medium transport aircraft.

There's also approval for air defence tracked systems, armour-piercing tank ammunition and high-capacity radio relays, among others.

Key Procurements and Indigenisation Efforts

The Indian Air Force (IAF) may procure remotely-piloted strike aircraft and overhaul of Su-30 aero engine aggregates.

The Coast Guard may receive heavy-duty air cushion vehicles.

All these may be procured through imports or indigenisation.

Defence companies have strong order books and may benefit from exports.

There are near-term challenges in procurement of imported components.

Localisation is not only strategically desirable; it also results in margin gains.

Major Players and Future Outlook

One of the key beneficiaries of the defence capex is Bharat Electronics (BEL) which may develop the electronics suites for Navy's corvette programme for orders of Rs 12,000-15,000 crore by the first half (H1) of FY27.

The finalisation of a QRSAM order of Rs 30,000 crore is also expected in early FY27.

Hindustan Aeronautics' (HAL's) deliveries of Tejas Mark 1A fighter jet may begin in early FY27, after progress on key IAF requirements such as missile-firing trials, certification of weapons systems, and integration of Israeli-origin radar with the indigenous electronic warfare suite.

HAL says these will be done by April 2026.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a pact with HAL for six advanced light helicopters (ALH) Mk-III for Rs 2,900 crore.

HAL has also received Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) nod for light combat helicopters (LCH) 'Prachand' order worth Rs 65,000 crore.

Bharat Dynamics (BDL) has completed the first off-production model (FOPM) for advanced Akash weapon systems and may deliver these in the near term.

It has localised over 90 per cent of components for Akash and Astra missile systems.

This cushions possible supply chain risks. BDL is to commission its new facilities at Ibrahimpatnam, Telangana, and it is expecting order inflows of Rs 15,000 crore in FY27.

Astra Microwave (AMPL) has taken a board decision to demerge its space, hydrology and meteorology division as a separate entity, completing the demerger by Q1FY28.

AMPL will focus on defence and aerospace markets and retain stake in existing joint ventures (JVs) and manage wholly-owned subsidiaries, to be a pure-play defence & aerospace company.

Astra Space Technologies (ASTPL) will be in the new space, meteorology and hydrology businesses, operating as an independently-listed entity with a mirror shareholding identical to AMPL.

Zen Technologies may benefit from incremental orders and improved subsidiary performance while standalone business will gain from simulator and anti-drone orders.

In FY25, subsidiary revenue contribution was Rs 50 crore, which may rise to Rs 500 crore by FY28, driven by subsidiaries, ARIPL (100 per cent stake) and UTS (51 per cent stake).

The management says Zen's supply chain is currently not impacted by the Iran War.

Investment Considerations and Challenges

Defence revenues are always lumpy.

Investors need to monitor the finalisation of large projects in discussions like QRSAM, and next-generation corvettes.

Export order wins and government-to-government deals with other countries are another possible revenue stream while global supply chain issues are also a concern, given the geopolitics.

Based on FY27 estimated earnings, BEL is trading at price-to earnings (PE) of 41.5x. HAL is trading at 23.5x PE. More clarity on Tejas deliveries, where engines have been an issue, could boost the valuations.

BDL is trading at 36.2x PE.

AMPL is trading at 37.1x PE  the demerger may unlock value.

Zen is trading at 36.7x PE  the subsidiary performances are worth reviewing since growth would be driven by them.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
The logic of war plus the gathering storms in US politics as the midterms loom large leave him with no real alternative but to negotiate, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

IMAGE: People stand amidst the rubble of a building of the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points US-Iran talks are set to begin in Islamabad, positioning Pakistan as a key diplomatic broker in a fragile West Asian truce.

Pakistan's rising diplomatic role follows geopolitical missteps, with Islamabad leveraging timing to gain strategic relevance in global negotiations.

The truce remains fragile amid contradictions, including sanctions disputes, ongoing Israeli military actions and competing geopolitical interests.

Israel's continued operations in Lebanon and Iran's retaliatory posture risk derailing negotiations, making the ceasefire highly unstable.

Closure of the Strait of Hormuz and escalating regional tensions add pressure on the US to sustain negotiations and prevent wider conflict.

A Tass report with Islamabad dateline confirmed a few hours ago that the US-Iran talks will be held on Saturday at the Serena Hotel in the city 'and are expected to last several days.'

The incredible blunder of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel just two days before the vicious US and Israeli attack on Iran played into the hands of Pakistan's diplomacy, which has been on the rise since then in West Asian politics.

It is culminating this weekend in the country's appearance at the centre stage of international diplomacy as the principal broker of the US-Iran truce that is poised to lead to the first high-level political talks between the United States and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

This is another landmark event in Pakistan's international diplomacy after facilitating the Sino-American detente (external link) 55 years ago.

Ignoring the scornful remarks on Pakistan's role by high officials and spokesmen of the ruling elite in Delhi belittling the leaders in Islamabad as 'Dalal', 'Postman', 'Courier', etc, Pakistan shrewdly walked through the door opened by Modi innocently by his untimely visit to Israel, to stride into the vortex of the war in the Persian Gulf in an improbable role of 'Vishwaguru' (world leader).

Be that as it may, the US-Iran truce looks fragile and ridden with contradictions. But then, arguably, it is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.

The famous quote about quitting by the Irish poet and playwright Samuel Beckett comes to mind, 'Ever tried, Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.'

The contradictions in the current scenario are not easy to reconcile without a resolute political will in the White House to end the war.

It is a bitter pill to swallow for Trump to settle on Iran's terms, but the logic of war plus the gathering storms in US politics as the midterms loom large leave him with no real alternative but to negotiate.

It may seem the US sanctions are the main hurdle to a deal. Not really. Of course, it is the irreducible minimum for Tehran.

But once at least, on July 27 last year, in the context of the first American attack on Iran's nuclear sites, Trump himself had written, 'During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery.' (See the US Congressional Research Service report U.S. Sanctions on Iran (external link) dated August 19, 2025.)

IMAGE: A band plays as workers of the Awami Rickshaw Union celebrate while holding posters of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after US President Donald Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, in Lahore, April 8 ,2026. Photograph: Murtaza Ali/Reuters

Again, immediately after the present truce declaration on Monday, Trump announced that Washington is in talks with Iranians regarding the reduction of tariffs and sanctions.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump hinted at what was already agreed upon at the Geneva talks: 'The United States, in cooperation with Iran, will unearth and remove all nuclear 'dust' buried deep underground.' (See the transcript of Omani foreign minister's interview with CBS News (external link), February 27, 2026)

According to Trump, this nuclear material is 'now under strict satellite surveillance, and nothing has been touched since the date of the attack'.

Indeed, paradoxically, the Iran nuclear issue was virtually resolved through negotiations already when Trump launched the war.

Admittedly, Trump since posted another announcement that the US will impose a 50% import tariff on goods from any country that provides military weaponry to Iran; there would be no exceptions or waivers in this regard.

But that is a template of another war that Trump has been waging -- weaponisation of tariffs in trade.

Russia and China, who likely provide military assistance to Iran, will not be deterred.

What Iranian military really needs is technology to preserve the deterrent capability (external link) of its missiles and enhancement of air defence capabilities and vital intelligence inputs.

IMAGE: A woman holds a placard with a picture of the late leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, during a ceremony marking 40 days since Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in Israeli and US strikes, in Tehran, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

To my mind, the most intractable issue in Tehran's 10-point plan to end the war (external link) is its demand that there should be an end to the war on all fronts, including Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel, on the other hand, while pro forma welcoming Trump's truce offer, has added the caveat that its military operations in Lebanon will continue (external link).

This is a potential 'deal breaker'. Israel has intensified its attacks in Lebanon (external link) on Wednesday hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning in which at least 182 people have been killed and hundreds were wounded.

It was one of the deadliest days of Israeli aggression (external link).

Predictably, Iran's reaction has been decisive. The IRGC's aerospace commander General Seyed Majid Mousavi stated, 'Aggression towards Lebanon is aggression towards Iran.'

He declared that IRGC is preparing a 'heavy response'.

Meanwhile, Tehran reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz and also attacked Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline connecting the Red Sea port of Yanbu and related oil facilities of American oil companies.

IMAGE: Burnt cars at the site of an Israeli strike carried out in Al-Mazraa in Beirut, Lebanon, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Raghed Waked/Reuters

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz puts renewed pressure on Trump. The big question is whether he is willing or capable capable to rein in Israel, which is, of course, the ultimate litmus test of the durability of Trump's truce offer.

In reality, Israel is viscerally opposed to an end to the war until Iran is reduced to a 'failed State'.

This is because, first and foremost, Israel is worried about the 'unfinished business' of Iran's missile capability; second, Tehran's toll system in the Strait of Hormuz is also a money spinner capable of generating an income out of toll fee of around $64 billion (external link), which, along with $100 billion by selling oil and gas in $CNY (settled in Chinese yuan instead of US dollars) may potentially boost Iran's GDP by around one-fifth -- apart from reshaping the global energy markets (external link).

Three, in geopolitical terms, Israeli swagger that it vanquished the resistance groups in the past 2-3 years of war now turns out to be baloney, as Hezbollah is back to staging increasingly more audacious rocket attacks on Israel.

Fourthly, Netanyahu will face some tough questions during the upcoming parliamentary election (external link) in Israel as to what has been achieved in the war on Iran as well as his culpability in the October 7 attacks in 2023 by Hamas; and, finally, if peace dawns, Israel will inevitably face a tsunami of international opinion demanding a resolution of the Palestine problem, the root cause of the Middle East crisis, which is antithetical to the Zionist project of Greater Israel.

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar served the Indian Foreign Service for 29 years.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
News / National

by Staff reporter

The man who once posed as a medical professional at Mpilo Central Hospital is now trading his white coat for prison overalls, delivering a stark warning from behind bars: crime does not pay.Taurai Prosper Vanhuvaone, who shocked the nation after successfully impersonating a doctor and defrauding patients, is currently serving an 84-month sentence at Bulawayo Prison.Speaking during the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Inmates' Family Week, Vanhuvaone reflected on his fall from grace and urged others to avoid following in his footsteps."My advice to those outside is this: never think you are too clever to be caught," he said. "When you engage in criminal activity, you know subconsciously that what you are doing is wrong. The day I was arrested was the day my reformation truly began."Now 10 months into his sentence, the disgraced impostor says prison life has humbled him. Once moving through hospital corridors as a "specialist," he now spends his days participating in prison programmes focused on rehabilitation.Despite his medical deception, Vanhuvaone declined to work in the prison clinic, saying the environment would be too traumatic. Instead, he has found solace in music and fitness, joining the prison choir and taking part in aerobics sessions.He maintains that he is committed to reform and rebuilding his life, although he acknowledges that public trust may take time to restore."I think society should be the judge based on my actions going forward. Reintegration is a process," he said.Vanhuvaone's sentence could be reduced to 42 months if he repays the money he defrauded from victims  many of whom were vulnerable patients seeking medical care.Family support has been a crucial part of his coping mechanism. Visits from his fiance, mother, and siblings during Family Week have helped him deal with isolation and reflect on his actions.He also praised the family visitation programme run by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, describing it as essential for emotional healing and suggesting it be held more frequently.As he continues serving his sentence, Vanhuvaone emphasised the importance of accountability among inmates and the broader public."True change only comes when you accept responsibility. If you're wrong, you're wrong. It isn't the end of the road, but you must acknowledge your mistakes," he said.His case remains a cautionary tale about deception and its consequences  and a reminder that redemption begins with honesty.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee sharply criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning his handling of infiltration, security failures, unfulfilled job promises, and the BJP's stance on corruption and the Uniform Civil Code.

Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Key Points Abhishek Banerjee questions Amit Shah's focus on infiltration, citing security lapses in Pahalgam and New Delhi terror attacks.

Banerjee challenges the BJP's promise of job creation, highlighting the gap between promises and actual employment figures.

The TMC leader criticises the BJP's proposed Uniform Civil Code, alleging it will negatively impact SC, ST, and OBC communities.

Banerjee accuses Amit Shah of being surrounded by individuals facing corruption charges, undermining the BJP's anti-corruption stance.

Abhishek Banerjee questions the status of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, asking if she is considered an infiltrator.

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his continued focus on infiltration in poll speeches, and questioned the ministry's role in failing to prevent the terror attacks in Pahalgam and New Delhi last year.

Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee also sought clarity on whether former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been given shelter by the BJP-led Centre, would be considered an infiltrator.

Referring to Shah's pledge to act against infiltrators, the TMC national general secretary alleged that the Union minister had been "playing the same record over and over again" on the issue.

"If we talk about infiltration, what is the status of deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina who has been staying in India for the past one and a half years? Is she a Bangladeshi infiltrator?" he said.

He also questioned the Centre over recent terror incidents, saying, "How did Amit Shah fail to stop the terror attack in Pahalgam where 26 Indians were killed? How did terrorists sneak into Delhi and kill 10 people? Why did Shah fail to give them security?"

Accusations of Corruption and Unfulfilled Promises

On the BJP's promise to bring out a white paper on alleged corruption in West Bengal, Banerjee said the Centre was yet to release details of funds sent to the state under central schemes such as MGNNREGA, despite his demand on March 14, 2024.

The TMC MP, considered number 2 in the party hierarchy, further alleged that Shah was "surrounded by people facing corruption charges a from (Assam CM) Himanta Biswa Sharma to (Bengal BJP leader) Suvendu Adhikari."

"There are multiple ED, CBI probes against many such tainted leaders. You are holding press conferences with these people. Shah should stop talking about the cut money culture," he said.

Banerjee also displayed a photograph, claiming it showed a coal mafia figure greeting Shah in Asansol, and questioned the lack of action against such individuals.

Employment and Welfare Criticisms

He criticised the BJP over employment, alleging it had failed to fulfil its 2014 promise of creating two crore jobs annually.

"After 12 years in power, there should have been 24 crore jobs. Let Amit Shah just show if 5,000 employment opportunities were created in an entire state in all these years," he said.

On women's safety and welfare, Banerjee accused Shah of ignoring crimes in BJP-ruled states and termed the party's promise of providing Rs 3,000 per month to women as a "new Jumla".

The TMC leader cited an earlier promise made to women voters in Delhi and claimed it remained unfulfilled.

"Till now, not a single Delhi woman has got even Rs 500. In contrast, over 2.4 crore women are getting money under Lakshmir Bhandar in Bengal. Every month each woman of a family is getting Rs 1500 (general) and Rs 1700 (SC and ST)," he said.

"BJP's pledge is not one by a political party.. It is like the promise of a chit fund company which has no guarantee," Banerjee alleged.

Opposition to Uniform Civil Code

Opposing Shah's proposal to implement a Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal, Banerjee alleged it would adversely affect SC, ST and OBC communities.

Referring to Shah's "detect, delete, deport" call, he claimed it was aimed at targeting Bengali-speaking people across religions.

"Of those deleted, unmapped, under adjudication by Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, there are 57,50,000 Hindus and 31 lakh minorities," he said.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee confronts Amit Shah over his infiltration rhetoric in West Bengal, raising questions about national security failures and the status of Sheikh Hasina.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Abhishek Banerjee challenges Amit Shah's claims about infiltration in West Bengal, accusing him of spreading misinformation.

Banerjee questions the Home Ministry's failure to prevent terror attacks in Pahalgam and Delhi.

Banerjee asks if former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, sheltered by the BJP, should be considered an infiltrator.

Banerjee demands a white paper on central funds released to West Bengal, countering allegations of 'cut money culture'.

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for repeatedly raising the issue of infiltration in his poll speeches in West Bengal, and questioned the ministry's role in failing to prevent the terror attacks in Pahalgam and New Delhi last year.

Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee also asked Shah to clarify whether former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been given shelter by the BJP-led Centre, should be termed an infiltrator.

Referring to Shah's pledge to take strong action against infiltrators and hunt them down to the farthest corners, the TMC national general secretary alleged that the Union minister had been "playing the same record over and over again" and spreading misinformation on the issue.

"If we talk about infiltration, what is the status of deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina who has been staying in India for the past one and a half years? Is she a Bangladeshi infiltrator?" he said in the press meet.

Security Concerns and Accusations

Continuing his attack, Banerjee said, "How did Amit Shah fail to stop the terror attack in Pahalgam where 26 Indians were killed? How did terrorists sneak into Delhi and kill 10 people? Why did Shah fail to give them security?"

Demands for Transparency

On Shah's promise to bring out a white paper on the alleged cut money culture, Banerjee said those pointing fingers at the TMC should remember that they are yet to publish the white paper on the amount of money sent to Bengal under central projects like MGNNREGA.

The TMC leader said he demanded that the Centre release a white paper on funds released to the state on March 14, 2024, in an X post but did not receive a reply so far.
Amidst growing global concerns, India urgently calls for peace in West Asia, emphasising the conflict's detrimental impact on energy security, international trade, and food supplies.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses the inaugural session of the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, on Friday. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo

Key Points India expresses deep concern over the ongoing conflict in West Asia, emphasising the need for a swift return to peace and stability.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar highlights the significant economic impact of the conflict on global energy supplies, fertiliser availability, and overall food security.

India firmly opposes the targeting of civilians, infrastructure, and commercial shipping, advocating for safe and unimpeded navigation through critical trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz.

India welcomes the recent ceasefire between the US and Iran, hoping it will pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region.

Jaishankar underscores the importance of addressing underlying issues to prevent future recurrences of similar conflicts and their associated economic disruptions.

India on Friday underscored the necessity of a swift return to peace in West Asia as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described the crisis as 'deeply' concerning and underscored New Delhi's unwavering stance against the targeting of civilians, infrastructure, and global trade routes.

In an address at the Indian Ocean Conference, Jaishankar also flagged concerns over the economic impact of the conflict, especially on energy, fertilisers and food security.

The external affairs minister's remarks came against the backdrop of uncertainty over the two-week ceasefire reached between Iran and the United States following Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

Tehran has been maintaining that Lebanon has been covered under the deal, while the US and Israel disputed the Iranian assertion.

"All of us are deeply concerned about the conflict and would like to see an early return to normalcy. We firmly opposed the targeting of civilians, of infrastructure and of commercial shipping," he said.

"It is essential that the navigation remains safe and unimpeded. The relevant point here is that each one of us has felt the economic impact of this conflict very deeply," he said in the presence of foreign ministers from several Indian Ocean countries.

"When energy is scarce and expensive, it has an overarching implication for the entire society."

Impact on Global Trade and Economy

Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).

West Asia has been a major source of India's energy procurement.

There have been growing global concerns over disruptions in commercial shipping through the Strait.

Iran has allowed ships belonging to its friendly countries to transit through the waterway.

Jaishankar argued that when trade is constricted, it impacts various other sectors beyond business.

"When fertilisers are more difficult to procure, its food security consequence is obvious. These have become the immediate challenges as we meet here in this conference. But there are underlying issues that we also need to address because there is no guarantee that such scenarios will not recur," he said.

India on Thursday had welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran and called for unimpeded freedom of navigation and flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz while hoping that lasting peace will return to West Asia.

Iran and the US are set to hold talks in Islamabad either Saturday or Sunday to find ways to resolve the West Asia conflict.

US Vice President J D Vance is heading to Pakistan to lead the US delegation at the talks.
Two inter-state arms dealers have been arrested in Uttarakhand for allegedly supplying illegal weapons to a terror associate linked to the Al Badr group, sparking a wider investigation into terror financing and arms smuggling.

Photograph: Reuters

Key Points Two inter-state arms dealers arrested in Udham Singh Nagar for allegedly supplying weapons to a terror associate.

The accused allegedly supplied arms to Rehan Mir, an overground worker for Al Badr, in 2021.

Police recovered rifles, pistols, a revolver, and ammunition from the suspects' vehicle.

Investigation revealed suspicious financial transactions involving bank accounts in Jammu and Kashmir.

Police are investigating a wider network of terror financing and illegal arms smuggling.

The Udham Singh Nagar police has arrested two inter-state illegal arms dealers for allegedly supplying weapons to a Jammu and Kashmir-based terror associate, officials said on Friday.

The accused, Harendar Singh alias Honey, a resident of Sitarganj, and Nikhil Verma alias Ranu, both aged 27, had allegedly supplied arms to Al Badr's overground worker (OGW), Rehan Mir alias Irfan Mir in 2021, they said.

Udham Singh Nagar SSP Ajay Ganpati said that during a search operation in SIDKUL phase II on Wednesday, police stopped a white Swift car without a license plate, and recovered two rifles, two pistols, one revolver and 344 cartridges from the vehicle.

During interrogation, the accused told the police that they planned to hide the illegal arms in the jungle of Chorgalia, the SSP said.

Ganpati said that an examination of the accused's mobile numbers and bank accounts also revealed that suspicious financial transactions were taking place involving various bank accounts in Jammu and Kashmir, including Rehan.

He said a case was also registered against Rehan and Honey by the Delhi Police Special Cell, in which both are wanted.

The SSP said police are collecting more information about Rehan and have briefed the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Delhi Police on the development.

Police said the accused also revealed that Indrajit Sandhu, a Pulbhatta resident, and Pawan Sandhu are the kingpins in the matter, adding that efforts are underway to arrest them.

A case under the Arms Act has been registered, and an investigation into the suspected network of terror financing and illegal arms smuggling is underway, they said.
The Bombay High Court has ruled that HDFC Bank must refund Rs 38 lakh to a Pune businessman who fell victim to cyber fraud, emphasising the bank's responsibility in protecting customers from unauthorised online transactions and SIM swapping scams.

Key Points Bombay High Court orders HDFC Bank to refund Rs 38 lakh to a businessman defrauded via unauthorised online transactions.

The court cited the businessman's lack of fault and relied on RBI guidelines regarding customer protection in electronic banking transactions.

The fraud involved SIM swapping, where fraudsters duplicated the user's mobile number to gain access to OTPs.

The court emphasised that the burden of proving customer negligence lies with the bank, and prompt reporting of fraud entitles the customer to zero liability.

HDFC Bank is directed to refund the amount with interest, highlighting the importance of bank security measures and customer protection against cybercrime.

The Bombay High Court has ordered HDFC Bank to refund Rs 38 lakh to a Pune-based businessman, who lost the amount to a digital fraud, observing that the account holder was not at fault.

A bench of Justices Bharti Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande, in its order of April 6, held that account holder Subodh Korde was entitled to zero liability under guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as the online transactions transferring money from his account to beneficiaries added unauthorizedly were not initiated by him.

Korde lost the amount through eight unauthorized online transactions executed within just 40 minutes on July 15, 2021. The fraud was preceded by the addition of three unknown beneficiaries and a sudden increase in his transaction limit from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 40 lakh a day earlier.

Korde claimed he had not authorised the transactions, nor had he received OTPs. However, the bank denied liability claiming it had sent OTPs and intimation messages to the account holder.

The HC, in its order, relied on a police investigation report which clearly stated that Korde had not received any messages from the bank.

The man had claimed he was facing network issues on his SIM card at the time.

Interestingly, BSNL, the petitioner's network provider, confirmed that Korde's SIM card had been swapped fraudulently multiple times between July 12 and July 15, 2021.

SIM Swapping and Fraudulent Transactions

The court noted it was a "clear case of SIM swapping", where fraudsters gain access to OTPs by duplicating a user's mobile number.

"This is precisely the methodology adopted. The petitioner did not receive any OTP as the SIM card was cloned," the court noted.

RBI Guidelines and Customer Protection

Relying on the RBI's July 6, 2017 circular on 'Customer Protection - Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions', the HC said, "The burden to prove customer negligence lies on the bank. If a customer is not at fault and reports promptly, the liability is zero."

The court pointed out that Korde had acted swiftly after learning about fraudulent transactions from his account.

The court directed HDFC Bank to refund Rs 38.04 lakh within eight weeks with 6 per cent annual interest, which would increase to 8 per cent in case of delay.
Mamata Banerjee challenges Narendra Modi's statements on West Bengal's fish production, highlighting increased output and exports during her administration in a heated political debate.

Photograph: @AITCofficial/X

Key Points Mamata Banerjee claims West Bengal's fish production significantly increased under her leadership, disputing Narendra Modi's assertions.

Banerjee alleges that Modi's claims are misleading, stating that West Bengal leads in fishling production and has increased fish production by 1.72 lakh metric tonnes.

The Chief Minister highlights that fish exports from West Bengal to other states exceed imports by 76,000 tonnes, with significant international exports.

Modi had criticised the TMC government for failing to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production, promising BJP would enhance fisheries and seafood sector.

Banerjee also stated that 90 per cent of West Bengal's egg requirement is produced within the state.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said fish production in West Bengal increased significantly during her tenure, as she sought to rebut Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the state lagged in pisciculture.

Banerjee was addressing an election rally in this North 24 Parganas district town in support of TMC candidates.

"Modi Babu said more fish is produced in Bihar than in Bengal and that these are sold to other states; it has to be so because the people in Bihar are not allowed to eat fish," the TMC chief alleged.

In his bid to take the wind out of the sails of Banerjee, who has been claiming that the BJP would impose restrictions on eating fish if it wins the assembly polls, Modi said in an election rally in the state on Thursday that the TMC government failed to match fish production with its high demand in West Bengal.

West Bengal's Fish Production Figures

Banerjee said fish production in the state increased by 1.72 lakh metric tonnes to 23.74 lakh metric tonnes during the TMC regime, asserting that the state leads in fishling production.

"Fish production in salty water stands at 1.98 lakh metric tonnes," she said, claiming that earnings of the fisherfolk have also increased.

"Fish imports from other states have decreased from 1.12 lakh metric tonnes to 1.02 lakh metric tonnes during our government's tenure," the CM said.

Modi had said that although Bengal has high demand for fish, the state imports it from other states.

"In the last 15 years, the TMC government has taken no worthwhile step to enhance supply and attain self-sufficiency in fish production," he said at the election rally on Thursday.

Promises for the Fisheries Sector

The PM promised the people of West Bengal that the BJP would make the state self-sufficient in fisheries and the seafood sector, while highlighting that the Centre has set up a dedicated ministry for the welfare of fisherfolk and allotted a record budget for them.

At Friday's poll rally, Banerjee said West Bengal also sends fish to other states.

Fish exports to other states exceeded imports by 76,000 tonnes, she said.

"Export of fish to other countries stood at 1.45 lakh metric tonnes," the chief minister said.

Banerjee added that 90 per cent of West Bengal's egg requirement is produced within the state.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A Bengaluru student tragically died by suicide after reportedly failing her exams, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and raising concerns about academic pressure.

Key Points A 17-year-old student in Bengaluru allegedly committed suicide after reportedly failing three subjects in her Pre-University Course exams.

Police investigation suggests the student was distressed about her exam results, leading to the suspected suicide.

No suicide note was found, but the student's hall ticket was discovered at the scene.

Friends became concerned when she didn't respond to calls and messages, leading to the discovery of the incident.

A second-year Pre-University Course student allegedly died by suicide at her residence here, hours after the exam results were announced, police said on Friday.

Tanushree (17), a science student, reportedly failed in three subjects, which is suspected to be the trigger behind her taking such an extreme step, they said.

However, no suicide note was recovered from the spot, except her hall ticket, which was found lying on the bed.

According to police, the incident came to light on Thursday around 3.30 pm, shortly after the results were announced.

She hung herself from the ceiling fan when no one was at home. Her mother had gone to work, a senior police officer said.

Investigation Details

Citing preliminary inquiry, the officer said it is a clear-cut case of suicide. She was apparently distressed over failing in three subjects and had also called her friends to discuss the same.

When she did not respond to their calls and messages later, her friends decided to check on her, he said.

Based on her mother's complaint, a case of unnatural death has been filed, with Hebbal police investigation indicating it to be a case of suicide, police added.
Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of importing voters for the Assam elections and plotting similar interference in West Bengal, raising concerns about electoral integrity and potential cultural restrictions.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks at an election rally in West Bengal. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X

Key Points Mamata Banerjee alleges the BJP brought 50,000 people from Uttar Pradesh to Assam to influence the assembly elections.

Banerjee claims the BJP is attempting to replicate these tactics in West Bengal by transferring officers and bringing in people, money, and drugs.

She raises concerns about the deletion of 90 lakh names from West Bengal electoral rolls, claiming a significant portion are Hindus.

Banerjee accuses the BJP of potentially imposing restrictions on non-vegetarian food choices in West Bengal if they come to power.

She criticises the Prime Minister for failing to protect West Bengal migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday claimed that the BJP brought people from outside for the Assam elections as it was not confident of victory with the votes of the northeastern state's residents.

Addressing an election rally at Tentulia in North 24 Parganas district, she alleged that no agency in the country was neutral under the BJP government at the Centre as "the saffron party has bought them all".

"A trainload of 50,000 people was brought to Assam from Uttar Pradesh," she claimed.

Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly were held in a single phase on Thursday.

"Even a snake can be trusted, but not the BJP," she added, as acrimony between the TMC and the BJP gained temperature ahead of the two-phase assembly polls in West Bengal.

The TMC chief alleged that the BJP was trying to use the same ploy in West Bengal to bring in people from outside, which is why officers were transferred.

A large number of police and administrative officers were transferred in West Bengal by the Election Commission soon after the announcement of the polls.

"People, money and drugs are being brought in, but our workers will fight it out and win," she said.

Concerns Over Electoral Rolls

Banerjee said 90 lakh names have been deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

The TMC chief said that as per a newspaper report, out of 90 lakh names deleted, 60 lakh are those of Hindus and 30 lakh of Muslims.

She said that the BJP should never be trusted, claiming that in the NRC exercise in Assam, out of 19 lakh names delisted, 13 lakh were Hindus and 6 lakh were Muslims.

Asking the electorate to consider her as the TMC's candidate in all 294 seats in the state, Banerjee said, "If you want a Trinamool Congress government under my leadership, then I am the candidate in all seats."

The TMC chief claimed that the names of many Scheduled Caste persons have been deleted from the rolls, while maintaining that the names of electors have been deleted in her constituency as well.

"I am not worried, I have faith in people; we will get all the remaining votes on the voter list," the TMC chief said.

Allegations of Cultural Restrictions

She alleged that a BJP government would impose restrictions on non-vegetarian food choices of the people of West Bengal.

"People here eat according to their choice, but such is not the situation in BJP-ruled states," she said.

She claimed that fish is not allowed to be consumed in Bihar, which is why it is exported to other states.

Criticism of Modi Government

Alleging that migrant workers from West Bengal suffer atrocities in BJP-ruled states, Banerjee said, "You (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) cannot protect West Bengal's people in other states, but promise a 'Sonar Bangla' at rallies."

"You should dream of a 'Sonar Bangla' only after ensuring security for people of West Bengal in BJP-ruled states," she said.
BJP leader Sobha Surendran faces scrutiny in Kerala after allegations of 'cash-for-vote' surfaced during the recent Assembly elections, prompting investigations and counter-claims.

Photograph: Courtesy Facebook

Key Points BJP leader Sobha Surendran is under investigation for alleged 'cash-for-vote' activities during the Kerala Assembly polls.

A video surfaced showing a woman allegedly offering money to an elderly woman, sparking the controversy.

The Congress party filed a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing Surendran of distributing cash to voters.

Surendran claims the incident is a 'conspiracy' against her and has filed a counter-complaint.

The District Returning Officer is conducting an inquiry, and police have also initiated an investigation into the matter.

BJP leader Sobha Surendran on Friday appeared before the District Returning Officer in Kerala and gave her statement as part of the probe into the "cash-for-vote" allegation against her.

Surendran contested as a BJP candidate from the Palakkad constituency in the Assembly polls held on Thursday. The results for all 140 constituencies will be declared on May 4.

The controversy arose after a video, allegedly recorded by Congress workers and aired on television channels, showed a woman offering something to an elderly woman. Another group then opened her hand, revealing a small roll of Rs 500 currency notes on April 8.

The visuals also showed Surendran getting out of her car and arguing with a few men who had filmed the incident, questioning how they could have recorded her without her permission.

The Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that Surendran was involved in distributing cash to voters.

Surendran, in turn, filed a complaint with the Commission, alleging that the incident was part of a "conspiracy" against her.

According to officials, following the complaint, the Palakkad District Collector directed the District Returning Officer to conduct an inquiry and submit a report.

As part of the inquiry, Surendran appeared before the officer, and her statement was recorded this afternoon.

The District Returning Officer is expected to submit a report to the collector soon, which will then be forwarded to Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar.

Police have also registered a case in connection with the incident and initiated an investigation.
The BJP's West Bengal election manifesto focuses on cracking down on infiltration, providing financial aid to women and unemployed youth, and improving conditions for state employees.

IMAGE: Union home minister Amit Shah launches the BJP's manifesto, titled 'Sankalp Yatra 2026', for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 in Kolkata on Friday. West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and West Bengal Assembly LoP Suvendu Adhikari present. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points BJP promises a 'detect, delete, and deport' policy against infiltrators in West Bengal to strengthen border security.

The BJP manifesto pledges Rs 3,000 monthly assistance for every woman and unemployed youth in West Bengal.

The BJP commits to establishing the Seventh Pay Commission for West Bengal state employees within 45 days of assuming power.

The BJP promises 33% reservation for women in all government jobs, including the police force, in West Bengal.

The BJP aims to secure West Bengal's borders and end cattle smuggling.

Mixing hardline promises on infiltration, the Uniform Civil Code and 'Ram Rajya' with a welfare-heavy package for women, unemployed youth and farmers, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday unveiled its West Bengal poll manifesto in what appeared to be its sharpest bid yet to prise away the social coalition that has kept the Trinamool Congress in power since 2011.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah turned the 'Sankalp Patra' release programme in Kolkata into a pitch wrapped in welfare promises, Bengali symbolism and a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking to frame the election as a direct contest over identity and welfare.

He promised that if voted to power, the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code in Bengal within six months, appoint a 'son of Bengal' as chief minister and establish what he called 'Ram Rajya' in the state.

Defending the UCC promise amid TMC attacks that it was majoritarian, Shah said the proposal did not originate with the BJP.

"It is the Constituent Assembly that recommended it. Is having the same law for every citizen appeasement? Or is it appeasement when one citizen is allowed four marriages and another only one?" he said.

The manifesto also promised strict laws against 'love jihad' and 'land jihad' and a law guaranteeing every citizen the freedom to practise religion and faith.

Shah also declared that a BJP government would adopt a 'detect, delete and deport' policy against infiltrators.

"We will move with zero tolerance towards infiltration," he said, promising to seal Bengal's borders, stop cattle smuggling and clear government land of 'encroachers and infiltrators'.

Key Promises on Border Security and Citizenship

The manifesto promised 'citizenship and rehabilitation for all Hindu refugees', many of whom allege large-scale deletions from voter rolls in SIR exercise.

The BJP said that within 45 days of coming to power, it would provide all land needed for border fencing and introduce modern scientific patrolling in rivers and canals with the Centre's help.

The manifesto promised three white papers on 15 years of alleged TMC corruption, deterioration of law and order and political violence in the state.

It also promised a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate political violence and take every case 'to its logical conclusion', regardless of which party suffered.

Welfare Initiatives and Employment

The BJP also sought to breach the TMC's strongest bastion -- women voters.

The party promised Rs 3,000 a month for every woman in Bengal, free travel on all state-run buses, 33 per cent reservation for women in all government jobs, including the police, and one women's police station in every block.

Pregnant women would receive Rs 21,000 and six nutrition kits, while two women battalions of the State Reserve Police Force named after Matangini Hazra and Rani Rashmoni would be created.

A special police unit called the 'Durga Suraksha Squad' and a self-defence training force for women were also promised.

The BJP's Rs 3,000 promise is widely being seen as a direct counter to the TMC's flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

The TMC, in its own manifesto, has promised to raise Lakshmir Bhandar to Rs 1,500 for women from the general category and Rs 1,700 for SC and ST women.

The BJP also sought to tap discontent among unemployed youth, promising them Rs 3,000 a month and an additional Rs 15,000 to prepare for competitive examinations.

The party seeks to outbid the TMC, which has offered Rs 1,500 a month to unemployed youth.

Those who lost jobs because of the school recruitment scam and other corruption-related cases would be given age relaxation of up to five years, while the BJP also promised 'transparent, merit-based' recruitment and permanent jobs for deserving candidates.

Shah also attempted to exploit the long-running resentment among state government employees over pending Dearness Allowance, promising DA parity with the Centre and implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission within 45 days.

For farmers, the BJP promised to raise annual assistance under PM-Kisan to Rs 9,000 by adding Rs 3,000 from the state government.

It also promised one crore jobs and self-employment opportunities, a startup network and 75 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis'.

The BJP also wrapped its Hindutva plank in the language of Bengali pride and culture, seeking to blunt the TMC's long-running charge that the saffron party is 'anti-Bengali' and culturally alien to the state.

Shah assured Bengalis that a BJP government would not interfere with their food habits and no one will stop people from eating fish and eggs.

Seeking to consolidate its hold over North Bengal, which accounts for 54 assembly seats, the manifesto promised constitutional recognition for Rajbanshi and Kurmali languages, an AIIMS, IIT, IIM, sports university and a fashion designing institute in the region.

A cancer hospital, a special development plan for Haldia port, deep-sea ports at Tajpur and Kulpi, four townships and a 10-year plan to turn Kolkata into a globally recognised 'living city' also featured in the document.

Darjeeling would be developed as a heritage tourism destination, while the hills would be developed 'keeping Bengal united'.

The BJP also spoke about its CM face.

"Bengal's CM will be someone born in Bengal, who speaks Bengali and is capable. If the state is run from Delhi, that is still better than being run from Bangladesh."
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) collected US$13.6 million in radio and motor vehicle licence fees during the first half of 2025, government has said, with officials indicating that the figure could have increased further under a new enforcement model introduced mid-year.The disclosure was made by Information Minister Zhemu Soda while responding to questions from opposition legislator Discent Bajila in Parliament.According to Soda, the revenue was collected through a blended currency system, with 20% paid in United States dollars and 80% in local currency converted at the interbank rate.He said the funds have been used to strengthen ZBC's broadcasting infrastructure, expand coverage, and support local content production initiatives."The total revenue collected from radio licencing fees during the period is US$13.6 million," Soda said, adding that the money has helped address historical funding gaps caused by low compliance levels.He said part of the funds has gone toward upgrading transmission systems, acquiring production equipment such as HD cameras and editing tools, and improving live coverage capabilities for national events and emergencies.Soda also highlighted ongoing projects including the upgrading of facilities such as Montrose Studios, which has reportedly transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasting systems.He added that infrastructure expansion has also reached areas such as Maphisa, where a transmitter with an 80-kilometre coverage radius was installed ahead of Independence commemorations.The revenue collection system has since been strengthened following the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act of 2025, which mandates the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) to collect ZBC licence fees alongside vehicle licensing and insurance payments.Officials argue the arrangement has improved compliance and created a more stable funding stream for the state broadcaster, enabling investments in transmitters, mobile production units, and local programming initiatives.Government says the broader objective is to increase local content production and reduce reliance on imported programming, while enhancing signal reach across the country.Critics, however, have in other forums raised questions about compulsory broadcasting fees linked to vehicle licensing, arguing that such mechanisms reduce consumer choice, though those concerns were not addressed in Parliament during the latest exchange.
A BSF constable was killed in Manipur's Ukhrul district during a patrol, raising concerns about ongoing ethnic clashes and security in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points BSF constable Mithun Mandal was fatally shot while on patrol in Ukhrul district, Manipur.

The attack occurred amidst ongoing ethnic clashes between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities.

Manipur's Chief Minister condemned the killing and offered condolences to the constable's family.

Security forces have launched search operations to apprehend the militants responsible for the attack.

The incident highlights the continued security challenges in Manipur due to ethnic tensions.

A Border Security Force constable was shot dead on Friday while on patrolling duty in Manipur's Ukhrul district, officials said.

Constable Mithun Mandal from West Bengal was "struck by a bullet fired from an unknown direction around 4.30 pm", an official said.

Mandal, who hailed from Bhagjan Tola village of West Bengal, was taken to a hospital in Imphal, where he died around 6 pm.

Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killing, and offered condolences to his family members.

"Strongly condemn the tragic martyrdom of Constable Mithun Mandal (170 Bn, BSF), who was fatally injured by a bullet from an unknown direction while on patrol at Mongkot Chepu, Ukhrul today. He succumbed at RIMS, Imphal.

"A brave son of West Bengal, his sacrifice in the line of duty will never be forgotten. My deepest condolences to his bereaved family. Prayers for strength and peace in this hour of grief. Om shanti," Singh said.

Context of the Attack

Kuki village Mongkot Chepu and neighbouring Tangkhul Naga has been witnessing gunfights, after ethnic clashes broke out between two communities in February.

Singh, in another post, said, "The state government stands in solidarity with the family, and we remain resolute in our commitment to uphold peace, security, and justice."

Search operations and area domination by security forces are underway to nab the "militants" behind the attack, the Manipur Police said in a statement.
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against a man for his alleged involvement in a sophisticated digital arrest scam that defrauded a retired banker of Rs 23 crore through impersonation and intimidation.

Key Points The CBI has filed a chargesheet against Sagnik Roy for allegedly defrauding a retired banker of Rs 23 crore in a digital arrest scam.

The scam involved impersonating law enforcement and judicial authorities to intimidate the victim via video calls.

The victim was confined to his home under 'digital arrest' and coerced into transferring funds to accounts linked to the accused.

The CBI investigation revealed the same bank account was used in other cyber fraud cases across India.

The victim was tricked into believing his Aadhaar card was linked to terror funding and was threatened into silence.

The CBI has filed a chargesheet against a man for allegedly duping a retired banker from Delhi's upscale Gulmohar Park of Rs 23 crore in a digital arrest scam, officials said on Friday.

After taking over the investigation on March 15 on the orders of the Supreme Court, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) moved quickly to investigate and filed a chargesheet against Siliguri-based Sagnik Roy and his company, Securing World Social and Economic Development Council, which had allegedly received the retired banker's stolen funds, the officials said.

Roy was arrested by Delhi Police, which was earlier probing the case.

Details of the Digital Arrest Scam

"During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the accused and his company's current bank account were used to receive the fraud amount. These funds were linked to a "Digital Arrest" scam targeting a senior citizen in Delhi," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The senior citizen had been defrauded of close to Rs 23 crore through intimidation, fake notices and impersonation of law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities over video calls, the statement said.

The CBI also found that the same bank account was used in at least two other cyber fraud cases registered at separate locations in India.

"This account was used to receive proceeds of crime, which were subsequently siphoned off through a network of mule accounts," the agency said.

Victim's Ordeal and Modus Operandi

For more than a month, the 78-year-old victim was kept confined to his house under digital arrest last year and was let out only to make runs to his banks to shore up money and give it to the frauds who posed as CBI and Enforcement Directorate officers, it said.

By the time his ordeal ended, the victim had lost Rs 23 crore.

On August 1, 2025, the man received a call from a person claiming to be from a mobile connection company. The caller told him that his Aadhaar card had been used in Mumbai to issue a connection allegedly linked to terror funding cases.

The call was then diverted to people posing as Mumbai Police officers, who insisted on speaking over WhatsApp.

"The moment I was connected with (people posing as) police, they started pressuring me by saying that my Aadhaar had been used for terror funding, terror activities and many other serious offences," the victim had told PTI after the incident last year.

He said he was warned against revealing the matter to anyone, even his family members and if he did, they would be counted as co-accused and put behind bars.

The victim said the scammers sent him forged Reserve Bank of India certificates after each transfer. He said he was told the money would be returned and that a nodal officer from the RBI would contact him.
Dushyant Chautala accuses the Haryana government of failing its farmers by not providing adequate crop procurement and timely compensation for weather-related losses, sparking calls for investigation and policy clarification.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Dushyant Chautala alleges inadequate crop procurement arrangements in Haryana mandis, leaving farmers in distress.

The Haryana government is criticised for slow compensation payouts to farmers affected by unseasonal rain and crop damage.

Chautala demands a CBI probe into alleged irregularities involving diversion of government funds through private banks.

The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader accuses the BJP of lacking a clear stance on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

Chautala questions the Haryana Chief Minister's priorities, citing time spent in Punjab and use of private helicopters.

Former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala on Friday alleged that farmers in the state are facing hardship due to the failure of the BJP government to ensure proper crop procurement arrangements and timely compensation for losses caused by unseasonal rain.

Addressing a press conference in Panchkula, Chautala said the government had neither made adequate arrangements for procurement in mandis nor taken effective steps to provide relief to farmers affected by crop damage.

Citing official data shared by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, he said that out of 17.37 lakh metric tonnes of wheat arrivals in mandis, only 3.92 lakh metric tonnes had been procured so far, while payments worth merely Rs 13 crore had been made to farmers.

Chautala claimed that the total payable amount for the procured wheat stands at around Rs 1,030 crore, indicating that less than one per cent of payments have been cleared.

He alleged that even basic arrangements such as biometric systems and availability of gunny bags were lacking in mandis.

Criticism of Compensation and Government Spending

Further, criticising the government for limiting compensation orders to only four districts, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader alleged discrimination against farmers and said unseasonal rain and hailstorms had caused significant damage to wheat and mustard crops across several districts, including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Bhiwani, Hisar, Yamunanagar, Panchkula and Ambala.

He also expressed concern that the state government had not yet approached the Centre for compensation under crop loss norms.

On alleged irregularities involving diversion of government funds through private banks, Chautala said such large-scale scams could not occur without political patronage.

He demanded a detailed account of the funds and called for a probe by central agencies, including the CBI, instead of limiting the investigation to the state vigilance bureau.

Chautala also questioned the chief minister's priorities, alleging that despite the prevailing situation in Haryana, Saini was spending time in Punjab and using private helicopters at the cost of public funds, while government helicopters remained non-functional.

Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Issue

On the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, he accused the BJP of not taking a clear stand and urged the chief minister to clarify the government's position.

Responding to a question on political developments, Chautala said his party, the JJP, continues to strengthen its organisation despite attempts by rivals to weaken it.
The Congress party is urging the BJP government to adopt a unified national approach to restore India's historic role as a principled and credible voice for peace on the global stage, criticising current foreign policy decisions.

Key Points Congress urges the BJP government to take the opposition into confidence and adopt a unified national approach to restore India's role as a principled voice for peace.

The party welcomes the ceasefire between the US and Iran as a step towards de-escalation and diplomacy in West Asia.

Congress criticises the BJP government's foreign policy for undermining India's energy security, straining ties with neighbours, and weakening its role in the Indian Ocean Region.

The party claims the BJP's policies have allowed Pakistan to rehabilitate its global image and gain leverage over India on bilateral issues.

Congress asserts that the BJP government must prioritise national interest over electoral considerations and heed the advice of India's foreign policy experts.

The Congress party has urged the BJP-led Centre to take the opposition into confidence, and urgently recalibrate and adopt a unified national approach to restore India's historic role as a principled, proactive and credible voice for peace.

The opposition party welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran as a vital step towards de-escalation, renewed diplomacy and constructive dialogue and ultimately, lasting peace in West Asia.

In a resolution adopted at a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at the Indira Bhawan here, the party said the targeted assassinations of heads of state, waging war in violation of international law and attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are unconscionable crimes against both humanity and a rules-based world order.

"Any meaningful resolution must be anchored in the principles of the Geneva Conventions, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Charter -- particularly the prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State (Article 2 [4]) and the peaceful settlement of disputes (Article 2 [3])," the Congress said in the resolution.

The document said this pause also provides an opportunity to assess the costs for India.

In the recent past, India's energy security has been undermined, the country's ties across its extended strategic neighbourhood have been strained, its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region has weakened and its moral leadership within the Global South has eroded, it noted.

Criticism of BJP's Foreign Policy

"Equally worryingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's myopic, xenophobic and unprincipled internationalism has not only alienated India from its neighbours, but also undermined decades of painstaking efforts by successive Indian governments to diplomatically isolate Pakistan.

"By ceding strategic and diplomatic space, the BJP government has handed Pakistan the room to rehabilitate its global image, and whitewash its track record of fomenting regional instability through support for cross-border terrorism targeting India, Afghanistan and Iran," the resolution said.

The Congress said the government's "incompetence" has allowed Pakistan to claim a pivotal role in the great power competition in Asia, which will also give Islamabad leverage over New Delhi on crucial bilateral issues through third-parties, effectively internationalising India-Pakistan matters.

"Given the unprecedented polycrisis we face, the BJP government must stop subordinating the national interest to electoral and ideological considerations, and disregarding the counsel of India's foreign policy establishment.

"Instead, the BJP government must take the Opposition into confidence, urgently recalibrate and adopt a unified national approach to restore India's historic role as a principled, proactive and credible voice for peace and a just international order," the resolution adopted at the CWC said.
In a brazen Delhi robbery, two gunmen on a motorcycle stole 1 lakh from a man and his grandfather in Madhu Vihar, firing a gun during their escape, prompting a police investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two motorcycle-borne assailants robbed a man and his grandfather of approximately 1 lakh in Delhi's Madhu Vihar.

The incident occurred near a banquet hall in Joshi Colony, targeting the family of a wholesale FMCG business owner.

During their escape, the assailants fired a gun in the air to deter pursuit, later discarding the stolen bag and firearm.

Police have registered an FIR and are investigating the robbery, reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspects.

Two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire in the air and robbed a man and his grandfather of around Rs 1 lakh in east Delhi's Madhu Vihar area, police said on Friday.

The incident took place around 10:30 pm on April 9 near a banquet hall in Joshi Colony. The complainant's grandfather runs a wholesale FMCG business in Noida's Sector 62, they said.

"The family had just returned home along with an employee and had alighted from their vehicle when the assailants approached them," a senior police officer said.

One of the accused brandished a firearm and threatened the victims. The duo then snatched a bag containing approximately Rs 1 lakh in cash.

"Hearing the commotion, a family member attempted to chase the accused in a car and managed to hit their motorcycle, briefly destabilising them. However, the assailants managed to escape on foot," the officer said.

During their escape, the accused fired in the air to deter pursuit and later discarded the robbed bag containing cash as well as the firearm used in the crime, police said. Both items have been recovered.

Police Investigation Underway

An FIR has been registered, and multiple teams have been deployed to trace the accused. Police are scanning CCTV footage from the area and nearby routes to establish the identity and movement of the suspects. Further investigation is underway, the officer said.
Following the tragic drowning of a toddler in a Delhi farmhouse swimming pool, police have arrested a contractor and are investigating potential negligence and safety violations.

Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo

Key Points A contractor has been arrested in connection with the drowning of a toddler in a swimming pool at a Delhi farmhouse.

Police are investigating potential negligence and safety lapses at the construction site and swimming pool area.

The farmhouse owner's role is under scrutiny as authorities examine safety measures around the pool.

The toddler's family, who were working at the construction site, discovered the child's body in the pool after he went missing.

A contractor involved in the construction of a swimming pool at a farmhouse in south Delhi's Mehrauli, where a two-and-a-half-year-old child drowned earlier this week, was arrested on Friday, police said.

The role of the farmhouse owner is also under investigation, they added.

The child allegedly fell into the swimming pool at the farmhouse on Wednesday evening. The family of the deceased toddler said the boy was playing near a construction site in the area, as he often did.

"That evening, we were working at the construction site near the farmhouse while he was playing nearby. Around 6.15 pm, he went back home after telling us he was hungry," said Vipin, the child's maternal grandfather.

He said the child's mother fed him, after which he stepped out again, saying he was going to visit his aunt who lived nearby.

Vipin further said he worked as a mason and was engaged in construction work near the farmhouse along with the child's father, identified as Bengali Majhi. The family had been staying in the area for the past three months after moving to the capital from Bihar's Bhagalpur in search of work.

"He would usually move around between the houses and come to the work site to play. He was familiar with the area," he added.

When the child went missing soon after, the family began searching for him.

Around 7 pm, his grandmother noticed a set of clothes lying near the swimming pool of the farmhouse, raising suspicion.

"When we saw the clothes near the pool, we rushed there, but it was too late," Vipin lamented.

When the family reached the pool, the child's body was floating in the water. He was pulled out but could not be saved, the grandfather said.

"We had never imagined something like this would happen. He would never go near the pool or touch the water," he said.

The child was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead, police said.

Investigation into Negligence

"We are examining whether adequate safety measures, such as barriers or supervision around the pool, were in place," a police officer said, adding that further investigation is underway.
A Delhi court denied bail to a man who impersonated an Army officer to deceive a woman, underscoring the severity of privacy violations and the importance of informed consent in relationships.

Key Points Delhi court rejects bail for a man who impersonated an Army officer to deceive a woman, citing lack of consent.

The accused is charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act for voyeurism and sharing private images.

The court emphasised the seriousness of circulating private photographs without consent, affecting the victim's dignity and privacy.

The court found the relationship was induced by misrepresentation and concealment, not based on free and informed consent.

Granting bail in such cases could undermine the seriousness of offences involving privacy and dignity violations, the court stated.

A Delhi court has rejected the bail plea of a man who impersonated a high-ranking Army official to deceive a woman into a relationship, observing that the relationship did not arise out of free and informed consent, and granting bail in such a case undermines its gravity.

Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar Gautam dismissed the bail application filed by the accused in a case under Section 77 (voyeurism and disseminating images of private acts) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66E (violation of privacy by capturing/sharing private images) and 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

According to the prosecution, the accused concealed his real identity and deliberately impersonated a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army to gain the trust of the complainant. He induced the complainant into a relationship and obtained her private photographs on the false pretext of marriage.

The accused circulated these private photographs with third persons, including the complainant's acquaintances, when she refused to continue the relationship.

The defence counsel argued that the accused had been languishing in judicial custody since February 6. He also argued that the matter arose out of a consensual relationship between the accused and the complainant that eventually turned sour due to personal and monetary disputes.

The prosecution's counsel argued that incriminating material had been gathered from the mobile phones of the complainant and other persons that had been seized and sent for forensic examination. He also highlighted that a similar bail application pertaining to the case had been dismissed by a separate magisterial court on March 20 and no substantial change in circumstances was noted thereafter.

Court's Observations on Deception and Consent

"The contention of the applicant that the relationship was consensual cannot be accepted at this stage in view of the allegations of deception and subsequent exploitation. The conduct of the accused, particularly the alleged act of circulating private photographs, reflects a serious abuse of trust and prima facie establishes culpability.

"The gravity of the offence, coupled with the manner in which it has been committed, disentitles the applicant from the discretionary relief of bail," said the court in an order dated April 6.

The court noted that the relationship between the accused and the complainant was induced by misrepresentation and concealment of material facts, such as his identity and marital status, meaning it was not based on free and informed consent.

"At the outset, it is observed that the present case is not a simple case of a failed consensual relationship. The allegations reflect a calculated act of deception, inducement and subsequent exploitation," the court observed.

Privacy Violation and Dignity

The court junked the defence counsel's argument that the case was filed for monetary recovery over a personal dispute, considering the material collected during the investigation corroborates the prosecution's story.

"Circulation of private photographs without consent is a serious offence affecting the dignity and privacy of an individual and cannot be trivialised as a mere fallout of a failed relationship," said the court, adding that the actions of the accused reveal a clear intent to exploit and harass the complainant.

"This court is of the considered opinion that granting bail in such circumstances may send a wrong signal and undermine the seriousness of offences involving violation of privacy and dignity," the court observed, dismissing the bail application.
Delhi Police have successfully dismantled a jewellery theft racket by arresting a woman accused of targeting vulnerable women at hospitals and temples, stealing their valuables through manipulation and deceit.

Photograph: Reuters

Key Points Delhi Police arrested Paro, a 38-year-old woman, for allegedly leading a jewellery theft racket.

The gang targeted vulnerable women at crowded public places like hospitals and temples in Delhi.

Paro and her associates would manipulate victims into handing over their gold ornaments and valuables.

Police analysed CCTV footage from 50 locations and conducted surveillance to apprehend Paro.

Paro, who is married with three children, turned to crime due to financial distress and family issues.

The Delhi Police has arrested a 38-year-old woman, the alleged kingpin of a racket targeting other women at hospitals and temples, stealing their jewellery and other valuable items, an official said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Paro, a resident of Bawana, was wanted in at least three cases and had been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases in 2023, he said.

According to the police, the gang operated by identifying women who appeared to be alone or in a vulnerable condition at crowded public places such as hospital premises and temple complexes. The accused and her associates would approach the victims under various pretexts, including offering help or engaging them in casual conversation.

They would then gradually manipulate the victims, creating confusion or fear to lower their alertness, before deceitfully taking away gold ornaments and other valuables, police said.

In one such case registered at the I P Estate police station in 2023, a woman was targeted at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital and her jewellery was stolen in a similar manner.

Investigation and Arrest

"A crime branch team was specifically tasked to crack the pattern of such offences. After analysing CCTV footage from around 50 locations and conducting sustained surveillance for nearly a month, the team zeroed in on the accused and apprehended her from Bawana on April 9," the officer said.

Accused's Background

Police said Paro, who studied up to class 8, turned to crime due to financial distress and family issues. She is married and has three children. She was found involved in cases registered at the I P Estate and Mandir Marg police stations under cheating charges. Efforts are underway to trace her associates, police said.
Delhi Police dismantle a fraudulent call centre in Govindpuri, arresting 11 individuals involved in a nationwide weight-loss product scam that lured victims into making repeated payments.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted a fraudulent call centre, Herbitecture Healthcare, operating from Govindpuri, arresting 11 people.

The call centre allegedly scammed people across India by advertising weight-loss products on social media and inducing repeated payments.

The investigation began after a Gurugram resident filed a cyber fraud complaint regarding a Rs 13,200 loss.

The accused gained victims' trust by initially delivering products before requesting further payments and then ceasing contact.

The alleged kingpins, Sandeep Chaudhary and Ashwini Kumar, have been arrested and further investigation is underway.

The Delhi Police has arrested 11 persons, including two alleged kingpins, after they busted a fraudulent call centre operating from south Delhi's Govindpuri area, an official said on Friday.

The racket, run under the name Herbitecture Healthcare, allegedly duped people across the country by advertising weight-loss products on social media platforms and luring customers into making repeated payments, police in a statement said.

The action followed analysis of a cyber fraud complaint of Rs 13,200 registered on the NCRP portal by a Gurugram resident, which led police to a mule bank account used to siphon off funds from multiple victims, they said.

Details of the Raid and Seized Items

During the raid on Thursday, police found over 30 employees, including tele-callers, engaged in the operation. A total of 35 mobile phones, three laptops, a desktop, 15 SIM cards, returned parcels, and bank-related documents were seized.

The police said the accused initially delivered products to gain trust before inducing victims to make further payments on false promises and then cutting off contact.

Arrest and Investigation

The arrested kingpins have been identified as Sandeep Chaudhary and Ashwini Kumar alias Tushar, both of whom had prior experience in similar operations. Further investigation is underway, the police said.
Delhi Police dismantle a counterfeit auto parts operation, arresting three individuals and seizing Rs 10 lakh worth of fake components, highlighting the risks to consumer safety and the importance of vigilance when purchasing spare parts.

Key Points Delhi Police arrest three individuals for manufacturing and supplying counterfeit two-wheeler spare parts.

Raids in Inderlok, Jhandewalan, and Mangolpuri Industrial Area led to the seizure of fake auto components worth Rs 10 lakh.

The accused were producing and distributing counterfeit brake shoes and packaging material with fake branding.

A printing manufacturing unit used to produce counterfeit labels and packaging was also busted.

The counterfeit auto parts racket posed a serious risk to consumer safety and caused losses to genuine manufacturers.

Delhi Police have apprehended three people for their alleged involvement in the manufacturing and supplying of counterfeit two-wheeler spare parts.

Acting on information, a team of the crime branch conducted coordinated raids in Inderlok, Jhandewalan and Mangolpuri Industrial Area, leading to the seizure of fake automobile components and packaging material worth around Rs 10 lakh.

The accused have been identified as Riyazuddin (51), Anil Kumar (60) and Arjun Kumar (49), all residents of Delhi. They were engaged in producing and distributing counterfeit brake shoes and packaging material bearing trademarks of reputed companies.

Details of the Seizure

"During the operation, police recovered approximately 1,040 pairs of duplicate brake shoes, around 14,000 fake MRP stickers, 400 counterfeit packaging boxes, over 67,000 plastic packing materials with fake branding, and 10 printed rolls. A printing manufacturing unit used to produce counterfeit labels and packaging was also busted," the officer said.

Police said the accused were operating a well-organised network to circulate spurious spare parts in the market, posing a serious risk to consumer safety and causing losses to genuine manufacturers.

Investigation Ongoing

A case has been registered. During interrogation, it was found that two of the accused were previously involved in similar offences. Further investigation is underway, police added.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has raised concern that the Presidential hospital rehabilitation programme has made limited progress in addressing the deteriorating state of public health infrastructure across the country.The programme, launched in June 2025 under the National Development Strategy 2 framework, was intended to upgrade major referral hospitals and rural health centres, including Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Mpilo Central Hospital, and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.However, according to the commission, many facilities continue to struggle with ageing infrastructure, equipment shortages, and worsening service conditions, raising doubts about the pace and effectiveness of reforms.Speaking during World Health Day commemorations, ZHRC chairperson Jessie Majome said the health sector remains under severe strain despite ongoing policy commitments.She highlighted shortages of essential medicines for chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and mental health conditions, alongside a lack of diagnostic equipment, including CT scanners and dialysis machines.Majome also pointed to the poor condition of hospital infrastructure, including non-functional mortuaries, outdated incinerators, and persistent water and sanitation challenges affecting patient care.The commission warned that without urgent intervention, the gap between policy intentions and lived realities in public health facilities will continue to widen, undermining constitutional guarantees of access to healthcare.Health sector stakeholders have echoed similar concerns. Community Working Group on Health director Itai Rusike said sustainable progress toward universal health coverage depends on stronger public financing and reduced reliance on out-of-pocket spending and external support.He argued that health systems in Zimbabwe and across the region require long-term investment in both infrastructure and human resources to improve equity and service delivery.The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been allocated ZiG30,4 billion in the 2026 national budget, representing about 15% of total expenditurealigning with the Abuja Declaration benchmark on health funding commitments.Despite this allocation, stakeholders say a stronger shift toward preventive care, improved staffing distribution, and modernised infrastructure is needed to stabilise the sector and improve outcomes, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Delhi Police dismantle a sophisticated cyber fraud ring preying on individuals seeking overseas employment, arresting three suspects involved in the elaborate visa and job scam.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted an interstate cyber fraud racket offering fake overseas jobs and visa services.

Three individuals, Nand Kishor Prasad, Ahmad Hayat Khan, and Mustaq Khan, have been arrested in connection with the scam.

The fraudsters used social media and fake websites to lure victims and extract money ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 90,000.

Police seized smartphones, laptops, passports, fake visas, and forged documents during the raid.

The mastermind, Shadab (aka Mohd Khusnood), is currently absconding, and further investigation is underway.

The Delhi Police has busted an interstate cyber fraud racket that duped people under the pretext of providing overseas jobs and visa services, arresting three people, an official said on Friday.

The accused have been identified as Nand Kishor Prasad, Ahmad Hayat Khan and Mustaq Khan. Police identified Shadab, also known as Mohd Khusnood, as the mastermind who generated leads through online platforms; however, he is absconding.

According to the police, action was taken after a victim complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), alleging that he was induced via social media to pay money for an overseas job and visa. After receiving payment, the suspects stopped responding.

Police registered a case, and technical surveillance led them to a location in Rani Bagh. During the raid, the accused was apprehended.

Modus Operandi of the Cyber Fraud

Police said the syndicate operated in a structured manner, targeting victims via social media and messaging platforms with fake overseas job offers. Victims were redirected to fake websites and shown forged visa documents to gain their trust.

"The accused collected between Rs 15,000 and Rs 90,000 from each victim before cutting off contact," a senior police officer said.

Evidence Seized and Ongoing Investigation

During the raid, police recovered six smartphones, two laptops, four desktop computers, 14 passports, a pen drive containing fake visas, forged documents, fake stamps and seals.

Digital evidence, including chats and transaction details, has also been seized. Further investigation is underway.
A labourer's death in Delhi's Ghazipur poultry market after a drunken fight has led to the arrest of two co-workers, highlighting the tragic consequences of alcohol-fueled disputes.

Key Points A 34-year-old labourer died following a drunken altercation with co-workers at Delhi's Ghazipur poultry market.

Police arrested two co-workers, Mohammad Mohfiz and Moolchandra, in connection with the labourer's death.

The fight reportedly started over a trivial issue after the men consumed liquor together.

The victim, Ranjeet Kumar Pandit, sustained fatal head injuries during the altercation.

The weapon used in the assault, a wooden piece, and the victim's mobile phone have been recovered by the police.

A 34-year-old labourer was killed following a drunken scuffle with his co-workers at the Ghazipur poultry market in east Delhi, police said on Friday, adding that two accused have been arrested in the case.

The deceased has been identified as Ranjeet Kumar Pandit, a native of Jharkhand's Godda, who was working as a labourer and residing in a temporary tin shed at a construction site in the Murga Mandi area.

Police said information was received at Ghazipur police station at around 5.20 am on April 9 from LBS Hospital regarding a man being brought dead. Ranjit had been taken to the hospital by his co-worker and neighbour, Mohammad Mohfiz.

During inspection, police found injury marks on the victim's head and blood stains inside the room where he was staying. No eyewitness was initially found, and a case was registered,

During the course of investigation, inconsistencies were noticed in Mohfiz's statement regarding the timeline of the incident and the delay in taking the injured to the hospital.

Investigation and Arrests

"Sustained interrogation led to the revelation that he, along with another co-worker, Moolchandra, was involved in the incident," a senior police officer said.

All three men had consumed liquor together on Wednesday night, during which a quarrel broke out over a trivial issue. The dispute escalated after the victim allegedly took one of the accused's mobile phone, leading to suspicion and a heated argument, police said.

In the course of the altercation, the victim slapped Moolchandra, who then picked up a wooden object and struck him on the head, causing fatal injuries, the officer said.

Police said Mohfiz kept a hold on the victim during the assault and later delayed taking him to the hospital.

Both accused -- Mohammad Mohfiz (38), a resident of Saharsa in Bihar, and Moolchandra (33), a native of Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh -- have been arrested.

The weapon of offence, a wooden piece, along with the victim's mobile phone, has been recovered. Further investigation is in progress, police added.
A 72-year-old doctor in Mumbai fell victim to a sophisticated cyber scam involving fraudsters impersonating Mahanagar Gas Limited, resulting in a 10,000 loss.

Key Points A Mumbai doctor was scammed out of 10,000 by cyber criminals posing as Mahanagar Gas Limited personnel.

The scammers claimed the doctor had not paid his gas bill and threatened to discontinue supply.

The doctor was tricked into downloading a file that gave the criminals access to his bank account.

Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act.

A 72-year-old doctor was duped of Rs 10 lakh by cyber criminals posing as Mahanagar Gas Limited personnel, a police official said on Friday.

Dr Neelkamal Harishchandra Tandon received a call claiming he had not paid his gas bill and that supply to his residence would be discontinued, the Chembur police station official said.

"The caller asked him to download a file to complete the bill payment online. After he downloaded the link, the accused got access to his bank account. They transferred Rs 10 lakh from it to another account," the official said.

A case was lodged on Friday under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act, he said.
Delhi Police cracked down on illegal IPL betting, arresting four individuals in Karol Bagh for their involvement in a betting racket during a Delhi vs. Gujarat match.

Photographs: BCCI

Key Points Four individuals have been arrested in Delhi for allegedly engaging in illegal betting on an IPL match.

The arrests followed a police raid in Karol Bagh, where the suspects were caught in the act.

Mobile phones used for placing and recording bets were seized as evidence.

The accused confessed to regularly participating in IPL betting using mobile phones, prompting further investigation.

Four people were apprehended for allegedly indulging in illegal betting on an Indian Premier League (IPL) match, police here said on Friday.

The accused were caught while placing bets on a match between Delhi and Gujarat, they said.

Acting on specific information, a team conducted a raid at a premises in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area on April 8 and found four men actively engaged in betting activities, a senior police officer said.

Two mobile phones used for placing and recording bets were seized from the spot. The accused have been identified as Himanshu (30), Aman Jain (34), Akash Garg (31) and Ashish Kumar (35).

Investigation Details

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they had been regularly involved in IPL betting and used mobile phones. Further investigation is underway, he added.
Responding to a major financial scandal, the Haryana government has ordered a CBI investigation into the Rs 590-crore IDFC First Bank fraud, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and accountability.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Haryana government orders CBI investigation into the Rs 590-crore IDFC First Bank fraud case.

The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB) had previously investigated the fraud, arresting several individuals.

The alleged fraud involved the diversion of Haryana government funds intended for fixed deposits.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini emphasises the government's zero-tolerance approach to corruption and wrongdoing.

The Haryana government had already recovered the entire amount involved, along with interest.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday said the BJP government works with a zero-tolerance approach towards any wrongdoing, noting that they had immediately ordered an investigation into the Rs 590-crore IDFC First Bank scam case.

Earlier, Haryana's State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB) were investigating the IDFC First Bank fraud case.

According to the IDFC First Bank, the alleged Rs 590-crore fraud was committed by its employees and others in accounts held by the Haryana government with the private sector lender.

The SV & ACB has arrested a number of people in the case, of which two are ex-IDFC First Bank employees, and the rest are private persons who own a partnership firm.

According to the police and ED allegations, Haryana government funds were supposed to be deposited by various departments of the state in the bank in FDs, but were allegedly diverted by the accused for their personal purpose, the sources said.

The SV & ACB were also probing a Rs 150-crore discrepancy in accounts of Panchkula Municipal Corporation at a local Kotak Mahindra Bank branch.

Responding to a question on the bank fraud issue, the chief minister told the reporters that the government remains accountable to the public.

"Our government works with a zero-tolerance approach towards any wrongdoing," Saini said.

He said the investigation into the bank-related matter has now been handed over to the CBI, and the entire amount involved has already been recovered, along with interest.

Speaking to reporters here, Chief Minister Saini mentioned that the Haryana government had set up a committee when the IDFC First Bank case first came to light.

"We had earlier formed a committee headed by the Finance Secretary," he said.

Committee Formation and Responsibilities

During the budget session of the state Assembly, Saini had said that the committee has been constituted to examine the matter in detail and fix accountability of the employees and officers concerned.

The committee is headed by Arun Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance Department).

Among other things, the committee was to examine the decision taken by concerned government departments to deposit substantial government funds in these banks, issues relating to non-reconciliation by government departments, any lapses, procedural deficiencies, or systemic failures in this regard.

The committee shall also examine various provisions of the state's banking policy and its enforcement, address compliance of the prescribed policy framework by the department, identify accountability, if any, and recommend appropriate corrective and preventive measures to ensure that such lapses do not recur.
The Hazaribag treasury scam investigation has uncovered a massive 28 crore embezzlement, leading to multiple arrests and a widening probe into financial irregularities and potential corruption within the police department.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Hazaribag treasury scam has escalated, with the embezzlement amount now reaching 28 crore.

Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the Hazaribag treasury scam, including police constables and their wives.

The investigation into the Hazaribag treasury scam has expanded to Gaya, Bihar, focusing on the assets of the accused.

Authorities have frozen 21 suspicious accounts, securing 1.6 crore as part of the Hazaribag treasury scam investigation.

Political parties are trading blame over the Hazaribag treasury scam, with the ruling JMM asserting a zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

Two more persons were arrested in the Hazaribag Superintendent of Police (SP) Office treasury scam, taking the total number of arrests to five, and the embezzlement amount has also increased to Rs 28 crore, an official said.

Hazaribag Deputy Commissioner Shashi Prakash Singh told reporters on Friday that besides three police constables arrested on Thursday, identified as Shambhu Singh, Rajnish Singh and Dhirendra Singh, two more persons were arrested, namely Kajal Kumari wife of Shambhu Singh and Khusboo Kumari, wife of Rajnish.

All five have been remanded to judicial custody, the official said.

"The scam amount rose to Rs 28 crore after continuous investigation from Rs 15.41 crore," the official added.

The deputy commissioner said that teams have been sent from Hazaribag and Barhi to Gaya in Bihar to investigate the matter.

"During investigation, it was learnt that Shumbhu Kumar, who hailed from Gaya, owned crores of rupees. He has two buildings worth Rs 8 crore in Hazaribag and Gaya, which include a four-storied building in Gaya. During the investigation, it was found that the amount was invested mostly in immovable properties," the deputy commissioner said.

The team investigating the matter includes Treasury Officer Ujjwal Chaurasia, Additional Collector Santosh Kumar Singh, Land Reform Deputy Commissioner (LRDC) Rajkishore Prasad, District Transport Officer Baijnath Kamti, Nazarat Deputy Collector (NDC) Pradip Kumar and Bank of India's Lead District Manager (LDM) for Hazaribag district.

Hazaribag Superintendent of Police Anjani Anjan told reporters that those responsible for this scam will not be spared and strict action will be taken against them.

"The investigation is still continuing, and we expect to come out with more details after the completion of the probe," the SP added.

On Thursday, three treasury employees-Shambhu Kumar, Rajnish Singh, and Dhirendra Singh-had been arrested for allegedly embezzling Rs 15,41,41,485 from two bank accounts of the Hazaribagh district treasury over the past eight years.

Hazaribag Deputy Commissioner had on Thursday said that the arrests came after the State Finance Department identified suspicious transactions through data analysis. During initial questioning, the accused reportedly admitted their involvement in the financial irregularities.

"It was found that temporary pay IDs were used to illegally withdraw government funds, which were then transferred to various suspect bank accounts. Following the probe, 21 suspicious accounts were frozen, securing Rs 1.6 crore in the process. A formal FIR has been registered at Lohsingna police station by the district treasury officer," the release added.

All the three are employed in the accounts branch of the police department posted at Hazaribag.

Political Reactions to the Treasury Scam

Meanwhile, ruling JMM on Friday countered BJP over allegations linked to illegal withdrawals from treasuries, saying the issue is not recent but dates back nearly 14 years to the tenure of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das (2014-2019).

JMM Central General Secretary and spokesperson Vinod Pandey said the controversy being raised by the BJP is rooted in administrative lapses during its own rule, where lack of transparency and accountability allowed such practices to grow. He argued that current developments are a consequence of that period.

JMM asserted that the government led by Hemant Soren is acting with a "zero tolerance to corruption" approach and has already initiated a probe into the matter.

"The ongoing action reflects the administration's commitment to tackling corruption," Pandey added.

Opposition, BJP, on Thursday, had criticised the Hemant Soren-led government over the treasury scams that surfaced in Bokaro and Hazaribag.

Party spokesperson Ajay Sah had stated that if an impartial and thorough investigation is conducted into this entire matter, the unmasking of several influential and "white-collar" figures is inevitable.

He further added that incidents such as the manipulation of date of birth clearly demonstrate that the capability for technical tampering existed, and feared that these points point toward the existence of a large-scale, organised racket.

"A scam of such magnitude would be impossible to execute without the patronage of senior police officials," he had alleged.

He had demanded either a judicial inquiry or an investigation by the CBI into the matter.
The Hazaribag treasury scam investigation intensifies as more arrests are made and the total embezzlement amount escalates to Rs 28 crore, revealing a complex web of financial irregularities and illicit asset accumulation.

Photograph: Kind courtesy DSK Developers

Key Points Two more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Hazaribag SP Office treasury scam, bringing the total arrests to five.

The amount embezzled in the Hazaribag treasury scam has risen to Rs 28 crore following further investigation.

Authorities are investigating the source and destination of the embezzled funds, including properties in Hazaribag and Gaya.

Temporary pay IDs were used to illegally withdraw government funds, which were then transferred to various suspect bank accounts.

The Hazaribag Superintendent of Police has assured that those responsible for the scam will face strict action.

Two more persons were arrested in the Hazaribag Superintendent of Police (SP) Office treasury scam, taking the total number of arrests to five, and the embezzlement amount has also increased to Rs 28 crore, an official said.

Hazaribag Deputy Commissioner Shashi Prakash Singh told reporters on Friday that besides three police constables arrested on Thursday, identified as Shambhu Singh, Rajnish Singh and Dhirendra Singh, two more persons were arrested, namely Kajal Kumari wife of Shambhu Singh and Khusboo Kumari, wife of Rajnish.

All five have been remanded to judicial custody, the official said.

"The scam amount rose to Rs 28 crore after continuous investigation from Rs 15.41 crore," the official added.

The deputy commissioner said that teams have been sent from Hazaribag and Barhi to Gaya in Bihar to investigate the matter.

Investigation Details and Asset Recovery

"During investigation, it was learnt that Shumbhu Kumar, who hailed from Gaya, owned crores of rupees. He has two buildings worth Rs 8 crore in Hazaribag and Gaya, which include a four-storied building in Gaya. During the investigation, it was found that the amount was invested mostly in immovable properties," the deputy commissioner said.

The team investigating the matter includes Treasury Officer Ujjwal Chaurasia, Additional Collector Santosh Kumar Singh, Land Reform Deputy Commissioner (LRDC) Rajkishore Prasad, District Transport Officer Baijnath Kamti, Nazarat Deputy Collector (NDC) Pradip Kumar and Bank of India's Lead District Manager (LDM) for Hazaribag district.

Hazaribag Superintendent of Police Anjani Anjan told reporters that those responsible for this scam will not be spared and strict action will be taken against them.

"The investigation is still continuing, and we expect to come out with more details after the completion of the probe," the SP added.

Initial Arrests and Modus Operandi

On Thursday, three treasury employees-Shambhu Kumar, Rajnish Singh, and Dhirendra Singh-had been arrested for allegedly embezzling Rs 15,41,41,485 from two bank accounts of the Hazaribagh district treasury over the past eight years.

Hazaribag Deputy Commissioner had on Thursday said that the arrests came after the State Finance Department identified suspicious transactions through data analysis. During initial questioning, the accused reportedly admitted their involvement in the financial irregularities.

"It was found that temporary pay IDs were used to illegally withdraw government funds, which were then transferred to various suspect bank accounts. Following the probe, 21 suspicious accounts were frozen, securing Rs 1.6 crore in the process. A formal FIR has been registered at Lohsingna police station by the district treasury officer," the release added.

All the three are employed in the accounts branch of the police department posted at Hazaribag.
Former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal has been remanded to police custody amid allegations of a multi-crore scam within the Jal Jeevan Mission, sparking a major corruption investigation.

Key Points Former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal has been remanded to police custody for three days in connection with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is investigating the multi-crore JJM scam, alleging corruption in the tender process.

Agarwal claims he is cooperating with the investigation and denies surrendering to authorities.

Eleven people have been arrested in the JJM corruption case, with three still at large.

A court here on Friday sent former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal to a three-day police remand in connection with the alleged multi-crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, officials said.

"The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had sought five days' custody, but the court granted three days' remand," defence counsel Amit Singh told reporters.

Speaking to reporters before being produced in court, Agarwal denied surrendering, saying he had come on his own to cooperate with the investigation.

"I have neither surrendered nor have I been brought. I have come of my own will to cooperate. I have faith in justice Satyamev Jayate," he said.

Defence counsel Amit Singh said the court granted three-day police custody, and Agarwal will be produced again on April 13.

The ACB arrested the retired IAS officer in New Delhi on Thursday.

A total of eleven people have been arrested in the JJM corruption case so far, while three are still evading arrest.

Details of the Alleged Corruption

Preliminary investigation revealed that firms -- Ganpati Tubewells and Shyam Tubewells -- submitted fake certificates in the tender process, and the accused officials allegedly took no strong action despite knowing about it.
Amidst escalating Israeli strikes in Lebanon, India voices deep concern over the rising civilian casualties, urging protection and adherence to international law for lasting peace in the region.

IMAGE: Rescuers assisted by heavy machinery work at the site of an Israeli strike carried out on Wednesday, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, April 10, 2026. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Key Points India expresses deep concern over rising civilian casualties in Lebanon due to Israeli air strikes.

India, a troop contributor to UNIFIL, is disturbed by the escalating violence and its impact on Lebanon's peace and security.

India emphasises the protection of civilians and adherence to international law in the context of the Lebanon conflict.

India welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire and hopes for lasting peace in West Asia, while monitoring the security situation in Lebanon.

The Indian embassy in Lebanon is in close contact with the Indian community to ensure their safety and security.

India on Friday voiced 'deep concern' over reports of mounting civilian casualties in Lebanon.

New Delhi's comments came amid increasing Israeli strikes on Lebanon that triggered uncertainty over the stability of a precarious United States-Iran ceasefire agreement.

Tehran has been maintaining that Lebanon has been covered under the deal while the US and Israel disputed the Iranian assertion.

At least 300 people were killed in Israeli air strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese authorities.

"We are deeply concerned by reports of a large number of civilian casualties in Lebanon," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.

"As a troop contributing country to the UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) that is invested in Lebanon's peace and security, the direction of events is very disturbing," he said.

"India has always emphasised the protection of civilians as the foremost priority. Observing international law, and respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is essential," he added.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said India continued to reach out to the countries in the Gulf region and referred to the ongoing visit of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to Qatar.

Jaiswal also noted the upcoming visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the United Arab Emirates that is expected to focus on exchanging views on the West Asia conflict.

India on Thursday had welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran and called for unimpeded freedom of navigation and flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz while hoping that lasting peace will return to West Asia.

India's Focus on Citizen Safety and UN Peacekeepers

On the precarious security situation in Lebanon, Jaiswal said Indian embassy there remained in close touch with the Indian community for its safety and security.

Earlier this month, India condemned the deadly attacks on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon and called for the "inviolability" of the mission.

The reaction had come following the deaths of two Indonesian 'Blue Helmets' that has sparked global concerns over the safety of UN peacekeepers in the conflict zone.

The fatalities occurred against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in cross-border violence between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah.
Amritpal Singh Mehron, the prime suspect in the brutal murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, has been arrested following his deportation, bringing a crucial development to the high-profile case.

IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Key Points Amritpal Singh Mehron, the main suspect in the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, has been arrested after being deported from the Middle East.

Mehron was apprehended at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and taken to Bathinda, where he was remanded in police custody for five days.

Kanchan Kumari, known as 'Kamal Kaur Bhabhi' on Instagram, was found dead in Bathinda in June 2025, with Mehron fleeing to the UAE after the incident.

Two other accused individuals previously stated they killed Kumari due to her 'immoral and vulgar content' on social media.

Mehron had allegedly threatened other female social media influencers in Punjab before fleeing the country.

Amritpal Singh Mehron, the key accused in the murder case of social-media influencer Kanchan Kumari, was arrested by the Punjab Police on Friday, after he was deported to India from the Middle East, a top officer said.

Police did not disclose the name of the country that had deported Mehron.

After being arrested at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in the early hours of Friday, Mehron was brought to Bathinda by a Punjab Police team.

In Bathinda, he was produced before a court that sent him to police custody for five days.

"We had sought seven days' remand, but the court gave five days' remand," a police official told reporters in Bathinda.

Earlier, police had said Mehron, 30, a Moga resident and a self-styled radical Sikh leader, fled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the killing of Kumari in June 2025. Police in Bathinda had issued a lookout circular for him.

The 30-year-old influencer, known on Instagram as "Kamal Kaur Bhabhi", was found dead in an abandoned car at a parking lot in Bathinda.

Earlier, three accused were arrested in connection with the killing. Of the three, Jaspreet Singh of Moga and Nimratjit Singh of Tarn Taran had said they had killed Kumari for uploading "immoral and vulgar content that hurt the (Sikh) community's sentiments".

In a post on X, Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Mehron was deported to India and arrested at the IGI Airport in the early hours of Friday.

"In a major breakthrough, @BathindaPolice, with the support of #OFTEC (Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell) under the Counter Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police, and central agencies apprehends fugitive Amritpal Singh Mehron -- the main accused in the sensational murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Bhabhi in June 2025 at Bathinda -- following his deportation from the Middle East," the DGP said.

"On 11.06.2025, the accused, along with three associates, abducted and murdered the victim and abandoned her body in a car parked at Adesh Hospital, #Bathinda. His accomplices have already been arrested in the case," he added.

Yadav further said that Mehron had fled the country after committing the crime to evade legal proceedings.

"Punjab Police, in close coordination with central agencies, traced his location to the Middle East and initiated extradition proceedings. He was subsequently detained and deported to #India, where he was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport, #Delhi, in the early hours of April 10, 2026.

"@PunjabPoliceInd reiterates its zero-tolerance policy against organised crime and anti-national elements, and remains steadfast in ensuring a safe and secure #Punjab," the DGP said.

In a video that surfaced on social media after Kumari's killing, Mehron was purportedly seen saying that the influencer was killed by two of his accomplices due to her "immoral and vulgar content" on social media. He had also warned others creating "objectionable content" to refrain from such activities.

Mehron was also accused of issuing threats to at least two other Punjab-based women social media influencers, police had said earlier.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is grappling with a significant manpower shortage, operating with only 14 000 officers against an ideal establishment of 50 000, government has revealed.The shortfall has raised concerns over the force's ability to effectively respond to crime, maintain public order, and provide adequate nationwide coverage amid rising security demands.Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe told Parliament that the current staffing level translates to one police officer serving approximately 1 143 citizens, based on Zimbabwe's population of about 16 million.He said government's long-term target is to expand the force to 50 000 officers to better align with population needs and international policing benchmarks."At the moment, we have 14 000 police officers," Kazembe said, adding that the shortfall reflects both recruitment constraints and attrition through resignations, retirements, and career changes.He noted that the recruitment pipeline is limited, with about 1 000 to 2 000 recruits trained annually, making it difficult to offset losses and rapidly scale up the force.Kazembe also said expansion efforts depend on approval from Treasury and the Public Service Commission, which control hiring and funding allocations.International standards, including guidance often referenced by the United Nations, suggest a minimum ratio of roughly one officer per 450 citizens to ensure effective policing. On that basis, Zimbabwe would require about 35 000 officers to meet baseline coverage.However, experts note that even the government's 50 000 targetequivalent to roughly one officer per 320 citizenswould still be a gradual improvement rather than an oversupply, given regional comparisons and rising crime challenges.Across Africa, police-to-population ratios vary widely, with many countries operating below recommended thresholds. Even more resourced systems, such as South Africa, face strain despite a comparatively stronger ratio.Analysts warn that without increased investment in recruitment, training capacity, and retention strategies, the staffing gap could continue to undermine public safety and stretch policing resources further in the coming years.
An international cyber fraud syndicate employing illegal SIM Box technology to execute digital arrest and investment scams has been dismantled in Delhi, highlighting the growing threat of sophisticated cybercrime targeting Indian citizens.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted an international cyber fraud syndicate using illegal 'SIM Box' technology.

The syndicate used SIM boxes to route international calls through local numbers, evading detection and targeting Indian victims.

Victims were coerced into transferring money under the guise of police verification and fake investment schemes.

Two individuals were arrested in Delhi, revealing a network linked to handlers in Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

The investigation uncovered a large-scale operation involving hundreds of SIM cards, mobile phones, and sophisticated networking equipment.

A major international cyber fraud syndicate using illegal 'SIM Box' technology to dupe people through digital arrest scams and fake investment schemes has been busted in Delhi, with two accused arrested, police said on Friday.

The Delhi Police's Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit unearthed a well-organised network with links to handlers based in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, they said.

According to the police, the syndicate routed international calls through illegal GSM gateways, allowing foreign fraudsters to contact Indian victims using local mobile numbers, thereby evading detection.

"The accused, identified as Vaibhav Raj, 29, and Anil Kumar, 28, were arrested from Mayur Vihar in east Delhi," a senior police officer said.

Police said the breakthrough came when suspicious telecom patterns were detected on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

Further analysis led investigators to a rented flat in GD Colony, where an active SIM Box setup was being operated.

"During the raid, police recovered a 32-slot SIM Box, over 350 SIM cards, mobile phones, a laptop, and networking equipment, indicating large-scale illegal routing of calls," the officer added.

The accused acted as facilitators for overseas handlers by maintaining the infrastructure, arranging SIM cards, and operating mule bank accounts to launder the proceeds of crime.

Modus Operandi of the Cyber Fraud

The modus operandi involved impersonating officials from agencies such as the police, CBI and customs. Victims were falsely told that cases had been registered against them and were threatened with arrest.

They were then coerced into transferring money into so-called verification accounts under the pretext of investigation, police said.

The accused used applications such as remote access software to enable foreign operators to control systems and carry out fraud in real time, police said, adding that they have revealed a wider transnational network, and further investigation is underway.
Jharkhand's Finance Minister has launched a statewide investigation into alleged fake salary withdrawals from government treasuries, uncovering potential fraud and prompting a review of financial procedures.

Key Points Jharkhand Finance Minister orders statewide investigation into alleged fake salary withdrawals from government treasuries.

The investigation was prompted by confirmed cases of fraudulent withdrawals in Bokaro and Hazaribagh treasuries.

Authorities are reviewing long-standing postings of accountants and bill clerks to prevent further irregularities.

The Finance Minister has directed a review of districts where accountants and bill clerks have been posted for long durations.

Reports of similar irregularities have also emerged from Palamu, prompting a thorough inquiry.

Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore on Friday ordered a statewide investigation into alleged fake salary withdrawals from government treasuries.

He has also written to the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police, directing a review of districts where accountants and bill clerks have been posted for long durations.

In a separate communication to the Finance Secretary, the minister has sought a detailed probe report into withdrawals made under salary heads across the state.

The directives were issued following inputs from the Principal Accountant General, during which cases of fraudulent withdrawals have already been confirmed in Bokaro and Hazaribagh treasuries.

Five people have been arrested in the Hazaribag Superintendent of Police (SP) Office treasury scam of Rs 28 crore.

While in Bokaro, investigations have revealed that more than Rs 6 crore was allegedly withdrawn from the treasury's salary disbursement account by a police department accountant.

Reports of similar irregularities have also emerged from Palamu.

The Palamu Deputy Commissioner has been asked to conduct a thorough inquiry and submit a report, after which further clarity on the matter will be established.

The Finance Minister has also noted that under the treasury code, responsibility for such withdrawals lies with the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDOs), but no concrete action has been taken so far on this aspect.

He has instructed authorities to review long-standing postings of accountants and bill clerks and take action in line with the finance department guidelines, which mandate transfer of such personnel after three years in a single posting.
A grieving father is demanding a CBI investigation into his son's death at a Bengaluru university, alleging it was murder and not suicide, citing inconsistencies at the scene and suspected evidence tampering.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A father alleges his son's death at a Bengaluru university was a cold-blooded murder, rejecting the university's suicide claim.

The father cites inconsistencies at the scene, including disturbed bedding and insufficient blood, raising suspicions of foul play.

Jharkhand minister Dipika Pandey Singh has urged for a fair and transparent investigation into the death of Lakshya Mishra.

The father believes university officials are tampering with evidence and insists only a CBI investigation can uncover the truth.

A central government official posted in Jharkhand on Friday alleged that his 21-year-old son's death on a university campus in Bengaluru was a "cold-blooded" murder and demanded a CBI inquiry, rejecting the institution's claim of suicide.

Anjani Kumar Mishra (49), technical assistant with the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) and posted in Gumla district, said he was informed in the early hours of April 7 that his son Lakshya Mishra had died, allegedly after falling from the ninth floor of the university hostel building.

Mishra reached Bengaluru the same day and visited the hostel, where he inspected his son's room and surroundings.

Father's Suspicions and Claims

Claiming inconsistencies, he said the condition of the pillow cover and bedsheet appeared disturbed, and the injury marks on the body were not consistent with a fall from such a height. He also said the gap in the window grill appeared too narrow for an adult body to pass through.

Mishra said he also visited the alleged spot of the fall and found only a small amount of blood, which "did not match" the university's version of events.

"I have a gut feeling that before the incident, there was an unusual gathering of students in his room, but the university officials are hiding these things," he claimed.

"Lakshya was our only child. We were planning a grand celebration of his birthday next month. Now, he is no more. He was pursuing B.Tech at the university and was a second-year student," he said.

Political Response and Investigation

Meanwhile, Jharkhand minister Dipika Pandey Singh took cognisance of the matter and called the incident deeply disturbing.

In a post on X, she said: "This is a deeply disturbing case. Lakshya Mishra from Jharkhand was a bright, young student with immense promise, whose life has been tragically cut short under suspicious circumstances."

"I urge Hon'ble Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah ji and Dy CM D K Shivakumar ji to ensure a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation. A grieving father deserves answers, and the family deserves justice. We cannot allow such cases to be brushed aside a accountability is essential," she added.

The deceased's father said the post-mortem was conducted on April 8 and a case has been registered at the Yelahanka Town police station.

"Only the CBI can solve my son's death case, because university officials are continuously involved in tampering with the evidence at the crime scene," he said.
Facing impeachment proceedings over corruption allegations, Allahabad high court judge Yashwant Varma has resigned, preempting parliamentary removal and securing his pension benefits.

IMAGE: Media persons outside the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma. Photograph: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo

Key Points Allahabad high court judge Yashwant Varma resigned to avoid impeachment proceedings related to corruption allegations.

Varma's resignation ensures he will receive pension benefits, which would have been forfeited if he had been removed by Parliament.

The resignation halts the probe by a committee formed under the Judges (Inquiry) Act.

Criminal proceedings can be initiated against Justice Varma now that he is a private citizen, should the government choose to do so.

Calling himself a victim of a vilification campaign, Allahabad high court judge Yashwant Varma has withdrawn from an inquiry being conducted by a Lok Sabha-appointed panel for his impeachment, saying his continued participation would legitimise an earlier inquiry, where he was asked to 'answer the unanswerable' question on the source of money found from his Delhi residence.

Embattled judge Varma, who has been facing the heat after wads of burnt currency notes were found from his residence in New Delhi last year, submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on April 9, rendering the impeachment proceedings against him infructuous.

The purported discovery of a huge stash of cash took place after a fire broke out at the Lutyens' Delhi residence of Justice Varma, then a Delhi high court judge, at around 11:35 pm on the night of Holi on March 14, 2025, prompting fire-department personnel to rush to the spot and douse the flames.

In a separate letter, addressed to the judges of the Inquiry Committee appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Justice Varma has expressed his 'anguish' and listed out the reasons for withdrawing himself from the ongoing inquiry, a condition precedent before the initiation of an impeachment motion in Parliament.

"I have been subjected to a vilification campaign for over a year based on unfounded allegations which would have never met even bare threshold known in law on the basis of which a court would have deemed it appropriate to take cognisance in ordinary circumstances," Justice Varma (57) has said in the letter.

In the 13-page letter, he has said in his over-13-year career as a high court judge, he was not once alleged to have indulged in corruption or judicial impropriety.

The judge has further alleged that 27 of the 54 witnesses, who did not speak against him, were dropped from the apex court's in-house inquiry committee proceedings 'without any explanation', and 'no charge was ever made, and no evidence whatsoever was led to show that any cash was placed in the storeroom by me or at my instance, or even with my knowledge or consent'.

He has contended that the charge against him rested entirely upon impermissible presumptions and should never have been put to him.

Reiterating his defence, Justice Varma has said he was physically absent when the alleged incident took place at his residence and was on a planned vacation, and that the alleged facts of the offence 'defy ordinary logic and common sense to suggest that I would have chosen such a location to store 'cash''..

Background of the Impeachment Proceedings

The judge has strongly rebutted the proceedings undertaken by the two committees and claimed that they too 'rest on the bare and undisputed facts that a storeroom existed within the allotted premises and that cash was allegedly found there'.

"If that alone is considered sufficient for a finding of misbehaviour, the entire exercise leading evidence was unnecessary. The burden of proof has been effectively reversed without any foundational case being made out," he has said in the letter.

Justice Varna has said it was impossible for him to reconcile with the state of affairs that lack 'fairness or due process'.

"In these circumstances, I would be doing myself and the institution the greatest disservice by continuing to participate in the present proceedings, thereby legitimising a process that calls upon me to answer the unanswerable -- where did the money come from," he has said.

In his letter, Justice Varma has said he was profoundly disappointed that despite the solemn nature of these proceedings, which carry the potential consequence of removing a high court judge from his constitutional office, the committee did not intervene despite the shocking manner in which the proceedings unfolded.

"Even after the pattern of selectively dropping witnesses became evident, the Committee took no steps to summon the dropped witnesses or any other relevant persons in order to ascertain the truth. Instead, it proceeded to require me to lead all evidence in my 'defence' when no foundational case had been established. This course has left me with no choice but to withdraw," the judge has said.

He has said a rational and fair inquiry would have recognised the complete absence of a 'prima-facie' case and dropped the proceedings at this stage, rather than requiring him to prove multiple negatives and disprove unsubstantiated presumptions.

"I therefore withdraw from these proceedings with immediate effect and have instructed my advocates accordingly. I withdraw with the deepest sadness, conscious of the gravity of my decision and with the hope that history will one day record the unfairness with which a sitting High Court judge was treated and that has marked this entire episode from its inception," Justice Varma has said in the letter.
Amritpal Singh Mehron, the prime suspect in the brutal murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, has been apprehended after being deported from the Middle East, bringing a crucial development to the high-profile case.

IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Key Points Amritpal Singh Mehron, the primary suspect in the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, has been arrested after being deported from the Middle East.

Mehron allegedly fled to the UAE after Kumari's murder in June 2025, prompting a lookout circular from Bathinda police.

Kumari, known as 'Kamal Kaur Bhabhi' on Instagram, was found dead in an abandoned car, with earlier arrests made of accomplices who cited her 'immoral content' as motive.

Punjab Police, in coordination with central agencies, tracked Mehron to the Middle East and initiated extradition proceedings leading to his arrest at Delhi airport.

Mehron was allegedly seen in a video claiming Kumari was killed due to her social media content and warning others against creating 'objectionable content'.

Amritpal Singh Mehron, the key accused in the murder case of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, was on Friday arrested by Punjab Police after he was deported to India from the Middle East, a top officer said.

Police did not specify the country he was deported from.

Earlier, police had said that Mehron, 30, a Moga resident and a self-styled radical Sikh leader, fled to the UAE after the killing of Kumari in June 2025. Police in Bathinda had issued a lookout circular for him.

The 30-year-old influencer, known on Instagram as "Kamal Kaur Bhabhi", was found dead in an abandoned car in a parking lot in Bathinda.

Earlier, three accused were arrested in connection with the murder. Of the three, Jaspreet Singh of Moga and Nimratjit Singh of Tarn Taran had said that they had killed Kumari for uploading "immoral and vulgar content that hurt the (Sikh) community's sentiments".

In a post on X, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that fugitive Mehron was deported to India and arrested at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of Friday.

"In a major breakthrough, @BathindaPolice, with the support of #OFTEC (Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell) under the Counter Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police, and central agencies apprehends fugitive Amritpal Singh Mehron -- the main accused in the sensational murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Bhabhi in June 2025 at Bathinda -- following his deportation from the Middle East," DGP said.

"On 11.06.2025, the accused, along with three associates, abducted and murdered the victim and abandoned her body in a car parked at Adesh Hospital, #Bathinda. His accomplices have already been arrested in the case," he said.

Yadav further said that after committing the crime, Mehron fled the country to evade legal proceedings.

"Punjab Police, in close coordination with central agencies, traced his location to the Middle East and initiated extradition proceedings. He was subsequently detained and deported to #India, where he was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport, #Delhi, in the early hours of April 10, 2026.

"@PunjabPoliceInd reiterates its zero-tolerance policy against organised crime and anti-national elements, and remains steadfast in ensuring a safe and secure #Punjab," the DGP said.

Mehron's Alleged Confession and Threats

In a video that surfaced on social media after Kumari's killing, Mehron was purportedly seen saying that the influencer was killed by two of his accomplices due to her "immoral and vulgar content" on social media. He had also warned others creating "objectionable content" to refrain from such activities.

Mehron was also accused of issuing threats to at least two other Punjab-based women social media influencers, police had said earlier.
Congress leader Pawan Khera has been granted temporary anticipatory bail by the Telangana High Court following allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, sparking a debate over political motivations and legal procedures.

Photograph: Manvender Vashist Lav/PTI Photo

Key Points Telangana High Court grants Congress leader Pawan Khera one-week temporary anticipatory bail in a case filed by Assam police.

The case stems from Khera's allegations against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, regarding multiple passports and undeclared foreign property.

Congress alleges political vendetta by the Assam government, while the Assam Advocate General denies any political motivation.

Khera's residential address in Hyderabad was presented to the court, with his lawyer arguing he resides with his wife in the Telangana capital.

In some relief to senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, the Telangana High Court on Friday granted temporary anticipatory bail for one week to the party spokesperson in a case registered against him by the Assam police over his allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife.

During the hearing of a petition filed by Khera, Justice Sujana Kalasikam said, "The petitioner is granted time for one week to file an application before the concerned court. Granting relief to the petitioner for one week with the conditions."

The Congress leader on April 5 had alleged that the Assam CM's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, has multiple passports and foreign property, which were not declared in the chief minister's election affidavit for the April 9 Assembly polls in that state.

The case against Khera was registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station 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).

Khera, who filed the petition in the High Court on April 7, showed his residential address in Hyderabad. He requested the court to release him on bail in the event of his arrest.

Legal Arguments and Political Context

Congress MP and senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who argued virtually for Khera on Thursday, alleged political vendetta in the case by the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government.

Singhvi, describing Assam CM Himantha Biswa Sharma as a "Constitutional Cowboy," said Khera was in Hyderabad when the FIR was filed against him by Guwahati police and that he co-resides with his wife who is a resident of the Telangana capital. She had also contested in polls in the southern state.

Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia, who argued against Khera's petition on Thursday, had stressed that there was no political vendetta against the Congress leader and that the petition was not maintainable before the Telangana HC.

He further said the complainant is a lady (Sarma's wife) and not a political person. The allegations made by Khera are devoid of any truth, he said.

An Assam police team had earlier visited Khera's Delhi residence for questioning in connection with the case.

Sarma on Tuesday slammed the Congress for "not verifying" the documents based on which it brought 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)".
Amid the West Asia conflict, Iran has set preconditions, including a Lebanon ceasefire and asset release, for negotiations with the United States, as US Vice President J D Vance heads to Islamabad for crucial talks.

IMAGE: A bulldozer works at the site of Israeli strike, in Tyre, Lebanon, on April 10, 2026. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points Iran insists on a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets as preconditions for talks with the United States.

The US and Iran have differing views on whether the ceasefire agreement extends to Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

US Vice President J D Vance is leading a delegation to Islamabad for talks with Iran, expressing cautious optimism.

The talks aim to resolve the

ongoing conflict in West Asia following a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

Uncertainty surrounds the prospects of talks between Iran and the United States to find a complete solution to end the conflict in West Asia after Tehran reiterated that key preconditions must be met before negotiations can begin.

Speaker of Iran's Parliament, M B Ghalibaf, in a post on X, said that two measures agreed upon between the parties remain unfulfilled, stressing that progress on these issues is essential before any dialogue can take place.

According to Ghalibaf, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets are set as the preconditions before negotiations can take place in Islamabad.

"Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," Ghalibaf said in his post.

Ceasefire Agreement in the Balance

The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah targets, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

US Delegation Heads to Islamabad

Meanwhile, US Vice President J D Vance, earlier in the day, departed for Pakistan's capital Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran, expressing optimism about the negotiations while warning against any lack of sincerity from Tehran.

Addressing reporters before departure, Vance said the United States is open to constructive engagement if Iran approaches the discussions in good faith.

"We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," he said.

However, he cautioned that Washington would not respond favourably if Iran attempts to act in bad faith during the talks.

"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance added.

Vance will be leading the US delegation to Islamabad for talks this weekend.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation.

The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time.

The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks.

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.

Iran has yet to confirm if senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States, as reported by the state media.
A Mumbai man has been arrested and charged under the SC/ST Act for allegedly abusing Babasaheb Ambedkar during a fight, sparking legal action and raising concerns about caste-based discrimination.

Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters

Key Points A man named Prem Sagar Amarnath Sahani was booked for allegedly abusing Babasaheb Ambedkar during a fight in Mumbai's Dharavi area.

The incident occurred in the Kumbharwada locality of Dharavi.

Sahani allegedly hurled caste-based abuses and made objectionable remarks about Ambedkar during a fight with Ravishankar Jaiswar.

Sahani was booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following Jaiswar's complaint.

A man was booked on Friday for allegedly abusing Babasaheb Ambedkar during a fight in Mumbai's Dharavi area, a police official said.

The Dharavi police station official identified the accused as Prem Sagar Amarnath Sahani (33).

"The incident took place in Kumbharwada locality. During a fight with one Ravishankar Jaiswar (33), Sahani hurled caste-based abuses and made objectionable remarks about Babasaheb Ambedkar," he said.

Sahani was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on the complaint of Jaiswar, the official said.
A 34-year-old man was killed in Delhi's Ghazipur poultry market following a drunken fight with a friend, leading to an arrest and ongoing investigation.

Key Points A 34-year-old man, Ranjeet, was killed in Delhi's Ghazipur poultry market after a drunken argument with his friend.

The accused, Moolchand, a tractor driver, has been arrested by Delhi police.

The fight started after Ranjeet allegedly took Moolchand's mobile phone while intoxicated, leading to a verbal argument and physical altercation.

Moolchand allegedly struck Ranjeet on the head with a wooden plank during the fight, causing fatal injuries.

A 34-year-old man was killed by his friend following a drunken scuffle at the Ghazipur poultry market in east Delhi, official sources said on Friday.

The accused, a tractor driver identified as Moolchand, has been arrested, the source said.

He further said the incident occurred on Wednesday night when the victim, Ranjeet, a native of Jharkhand, got into an argument with the accused after consuming alcohol.

"Ranjeet, who worked as a labourer at the market and lived in a temporary tin shed there, was intoxicated and stepped out with Moolchand's mobile phone. Suspecting it to be stolen and later found with Ranjeet led to a verbal argument," the source said.

"During the fight, Ranjeet allegedly slapped Moolchand. Enraged, the accused picked up a wooden plank and hit him on the head," the source said.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to injuries during treatment. A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress.

Moolchand has been arrested, the source added.
A 25-year-old man tragically died after being stabbed in Faridabad, with police investigating a potential love affair as the motive behind the violent crime.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed in Faridabad after an argument outside a hotel.

Police suspect the stabbing was motivated by a dispute related to a love affair.

One suspect, identified as Sunny, has been arrested and the murder weapon recovered.

The family of the deceased alleges police negligence during the incident.

Police are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the Faridabad stabbing.

A 25-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death following an altercation with three youths outside a hotel near the Badarpur border under Sarai Khawaja police station area here, an official said on Friday.

It is suspected that the attack was prompted by a love affair linked dispute, he added.

The police have detained a young man and a woman in this connection, claiming the main accused who stabbed the deceased has been arrested.

The main accused was identified as Sunny, a resident of Badoli village in Haryana's Palwal, and residing in Santosh Nagar in Faridabad. The knife used in the crime has also been recovered.

The family of the deceased, however, alleged two police personnel from the Sarai Khawaja police station were present when the incident took place, claiming that the cops failed to intervene during the incident, but later took the man who stabbed him into custody.

According to police, the deceased -- Sachin Mehra, a resident of Surya Vihar colony under Palla police station -- worked as a sweeper at a private hospital. Around 11 pm on Thursday that Sachin had gone to Red Lion Oyo hotel to meet a friend who worked there.

During this time, the three men allegedly followed him to the hotel and started assaulting him outside the establishment. Subsequently, Sunny pulled out a knife and stabbed Sachin repeatedly, leaving him seriously injured.

A police team reached the spot upon receiving information and shifted Sachin to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police sources said the two other men -- identified as Gyasi and Aditya -- managed to escape from the scene. The young woman was also reportedly present at the time of the murder.

Police Investigation and Arrest

"An FIR was registered and the main accused Sunny was arrested. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had quarrelled with the victim over a love affair with a woman, and attacked him with a knife. We are conducting raids to nab the remaining accused and further probe is underway," Sarai Khawaja Station House Officer Rakesh Kumar said.

A post-mortem of the body has been conducted and it has been police handed over to the deceased's kin, he added.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A government directive instructing local authorities to purchase and distribute copies of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's revised and translated biography, A Life of Sacrifice, has triggered widespread criticism from analysts and civic groups, who say it risks turning public institutions into tools of political promotion.The instruction, issued by the Local Government ministry through permanent secretary John Basera in a March 31 memo, requires all councils to procure the book at US$17 per copy, or US$15 for bulk orders of 100 or more. Councils have also been directed to distribute the books to schools.The directive has raised concerns about whether scarce public resources are being diverted from essential services such as water supply, waste management and road maintenance.Political analyst Vivid Gwede said compulsory procurement of political biographies is inappropriate in democratic settings."Biographies, even of political leaders, are personal accounts that should be read out of private interest, not enforced," he said, warning against what he described as "cult of personality" tendencies.Analyst Rejoice Ngwenya also criticised the move, calling it "deeply worrying" and suggesting it reflected excessive political desperation.He argued that teachers' unions and civil society groups should challenge the directive in court if it is enforced.The Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Associations (ZURRA) also expressed concern, saying local authorities should not be compelled to divert funds from pressing service delivery needs to purchase political publications.The organisation argued that such directives undermine constitutional principles of devolution and local authority autonomy, and warned against the misuse of public funds for non-core expenditures.Analyst Ruben Mbofana added that, given the structure of public administration, councils may feel obliged to comply even if the directive is officially described as voluntary.He also raised concerns about the decision to distribute the books to schools, saying it bypasses the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and sets a precedent for introducing politically-linked material outside established approval systems.Government spokesperson Gabriel Masvora, however, dismissed claims of coercion, saying the purchase of the books is voluntary.Zanu PF central committee member Esau Mupfumi defended the initiative, saying the biography reflects the country's Vision 2030 agenda and should be widely read.He further argued that the President's leadership role makes the publication relevant to all citizens.The controversy comes amid broader debates over the increasing visibility of presidential symbolism in public spaces, including the renaming of infrastructure projects and unofficial commemorations linked to the President's birthday, which supporters have promoted as Munhumutapa Day.The historical reference draws from the ancient Mutapa Empire, which once covered parts of present-day Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and is often invoked in nationalist historical narratives.
In Manipur, six individuals have been arrested for allegedly attempting to steal weapons from police and violating curfew orders amidst heightened tensions following a bomb blast in Bishnupur.

Key Points Six individuals were arrested in Manipur for allegedly attempting to snatch weapons from police officers.

The arrests were made following a curfew imposed in response to a bomb blast in the Bishnupur district.

Those arrested are accused of assaulting police personnel and attempting to steal their weapons.

The incident occurred in the Ahallup Makha Leikai area, under the jurisdiction of the Heingang police station.

Six persons have been arrested for allegedly trying to snatch weapons from police personnel and violate a curfew imposed in the region in view of the evolving situation since the bomb blast in Bishnupur district, police said on Friday.

Those arrested have been identified as Yangoijam Borish Singh (23), Mangsatabam David Singh (21), Pangambam Nivash Meitei (22), Laitonjam Romen Singh (22), Phairenjam Tony (21), and Ningthoujam Denish Singh (22).

They were arrested at Ahallup Makha Leikai, under the Heingang police station area, on Thursday. Police said the curfew violators assaulted personnel of the force and attempted to snatch arms from them.
Following the murder of a sarpanch, a wave of burglaries has struck Massajog village in Beed, India, raising concerns about security and law enforcement effectiveness.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Six houses in Massajog, Beed, were burglarised, resulting in the theft of gold and cash.

The brother of slain sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was among those targeted in the burglaries.

CCTV cameras installed in the village after the sarpanch's murder were non-operational during the thefts.

Thieves stole from three houses, while attempts to burgle three others were unsuccessful.

Copper cables belonging to local farmers were also stolen in a separate incident.

Thieves broke into six houses in Massajog in Beed district, including that of slain sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's brother, and stole gold and cash cumulatively worth Rs 4 lakh, a police official said on Friday.

Massajog in Kaij tehsil here hit the national headlines after Deshmukh was murdered in December 2024 for allegedly trying to stop an extortion attempt on a renewable energy firm.

Incidentally, 18 CCTV cameras that were installed in the village in December last year were found to be non-operational, the official admitted.

Details of the Burglaries

"Six houses were broken into by thieves on Thursday night, including the house of Dhananjay Deshmukh, Santosh Deshmukh's brother. They stole items worth Rs 4 lakh. At Deshmukh's house, the thieves had to leave empty handed as those inside got up in time. In all, they managed to steal from three houses, while attempts in the other three failed," the official said.

In another incident, copper cables belonging to 40 farmers were stolen, he added.
Delhi Police have successfully apprehended Kusum, the alleged kingpin of a major multi-state drug syndicate, under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), after a two-month-long operation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrested Kusum, the alleged leader of a multi-state drug syndicate, under MCOCA.

Kusum had been evading arrest and was a proclaimed offender in an NDPS case.

The drug syndicate operated across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, involving Kusum's family members.

Kusum frequently changed locations and communication methods to avoid capture.

Kusum has a long history of involvement in multiple NDPS cases since 2003.

Delhi Police has arrested an alleged kingpin of a multi-state drug syndicate, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000, under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), an official said on Friday.

Kusum, 54, a resident of Sultanpuri, had been absconding for a prolonged period and was declared a proclaimed offender by a Rohini court in connection with an NDPS case, the officer said.

The arrest was made following a nearly two-month-long operation, police said.

"Acting on inputs, on April 9, the police team laid a trap and apprehended her in Delhi's Shahdara after she attempted to flee upon being identified by an informer," the officer said.

Drug Syndicate Operations

During interrogation, Kusum revealed her role as a key figure in an organised drug trafficking network operating across Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The syndicate allegedly involved her close family members, including her daughters Deepa and Chiku, who have already been arrested under MCOCA, as well as her brother and other associates, they said.

To avoid arrest, she frequently changed locations, mobile phones and SIM cards, and refrained from using smartphones, police said.

Kusum's Criminal History

"Kusum has a long criminal history, with involvement in multiple NDPS cases registered since 2003 across various police stations and units, including the Crime Branch and Narcotics division," the officer added.
After nearly 15 years, two accused in the 2011 Mumbai triple bomb blasts case have been granted bail by a special court, which cited prolonged incarceration and violation of their right to a speedy trial.

Key Points Two accused in the 2011 Mumbai triple bomb blasts case were granted bail after nearly 15 years in jail.

The special court cited prolonged incarceration and violation of the right to a speedy trial as reasons for granting bail.

The court granted bail on parity, as co-accused in the case have been granted bail by the Bombay High Court on similar grounds.

The court clarified that the bail was granted solely on the grounds of prolonged jail, refraining from expressing any opinion on the merits of the prosecution case.

The accused are required to execute a PR bond of Rs 1,00,000 each and adhere to conditions such as not leaving the court's jurisdiction without permission.

Two accused in the 2011 Mumbai triple bomb blasts case, who are in jail for nearly 15 years, were granted bail on Friday by a special court which cited their prolonged incarceration and violation of the right to a speedy trial while giving them relief.

The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court allowed the bail plea of the accused, Naquee Ahmed Shaikh and Haroon Naik, upon executing a PR (personal recognizance) bond of Rs 1,00,000 each with one or more solvent local sureties in the like amount, and also imposed certain conditions on them.

Special judge Satyanarayan R Navander, in his ruling, asserted that "the right to speedy trial of the accused has to be considered by the trial court not only in letters but also in spirit."

Further, the court considered the duo's bail on parity as co-accused in the case have been granted bail by the Bombay High Court on similar grounds.

The special judge clarified that the bail plea was being allowed solely on the grounds of prolonged jail and the court "consciously refrains from expressing any opinion on the merits of the prosecution case".

The prosecution argued that trial courts lack inherent powers of constitutional courts to grant bail based on delay.

However, Judge Navander asserted that "trial courts must also uphold the spirit of the Constitution".

"The provisions of the Constitution are to be considered not only by the constitution courts, but by the trial court as well," the judge noted.

Background of the 2011 Mumbai Bombings

The 13/7 blasts refer to three coordinated explosions that took place at Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar and Dadar in Mumbai on July 13, 2011, killing 27 people and injuring over 130.

Charges against the accused, numbering around a dozen, were framed in September 2019, eight years after the initial arrests.

The trial in the case was currently being conducted on a day-to-day basis. Until now, 203 witnesses have recorded their testimony and more than 100 still remain to be examined.

The MCOCA court noted that even with "expeditious conduct of trial, it is likely to take considerable time for completion".

Thus, the special judge allowed the bail plea of Shaikh and Naik upon executing a PR bond of Rs 1,00,000 each with one or more solvent local sureties in the like amount.

The judge asked the duo not to leave the court's jurisdiction without its permission and directed them to surrender their passports.

He also asked them not to make any attempt to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial is set to resume in Jerusalem after weeks of suspension due to emergency measures, bringing renewed focus to the long-running legal proceedings.

IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photograph: Moti Kimchi/File Photo/Pool via Reuters

Key Points Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial is resuming after a suspension due to emergency restrictions.

The trial will take place at the Jerusalem District Court, focusing on ongoing cross-examination in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000.

The suspension of court proceedings was part of broader restrictions introduced after the outbreak of war on February 28.

Case 4000, the Bezeq-Walla affair, which includes allegations of bribery, is considered the most serious of the three cases against Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has denied all charges and pleaded not guilty, becoming the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to testify as a criminal defendant.

The criminal trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to resume on Sunday after weeks of suspension due to emergency restrictions imposed on the judiciary amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, The Jerusalem Post reported.

According to The Jerusalem Post, citing an official court notice, the hearing will take place at 9.30 am at the Jerusalem District Court and will involve testimony from a defence witness.

The notice further stated that with the lifting of emergency measures, Israel's judicial system is returning to normal functioning.

As per the standard schedule, hearings will be held in Jerusalem on Sundays, while sessions from Monday to Wednesday will take place at the Tel Aviv District Court.

The suspension of proceedings was part of broader restrictions introduced by Israel's Justice Ministry after the outbreak of war on February 28.

During this period, courts operated under a 'special emergency' format, limiting activity to urgent cases.

The arrangement had been extended multiple times, with the latest directive in effect until Thursday, The Jerusalem Post reported.

With the emergency framework now lifted, Netanyahu's trial--along with other non-urgent criminal and civil cases--is returning to the regular court calendar.

Substantively, the case will resume from the ongoing cross-examination phase in the long-running corruption trial involving Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu, who was indicted in 2019, has denied all charges and pleaded not guilty.

He began testifying in December 2024, becoming the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to take the stand as a criminal defendant.

Prosecutors commenced cross-examination in June 2025 after months of direct examination by the defence.

Focus on Case 4000: The Bezeq-Walla Affair

Prior to the interruption, proceedings were largely focused on Case 4000, also known as the Bezeq-Walla affair, which is considered the most serious of the three cases, as it includes allegations of bribery, The Jerusalem Post reported.

During the last hearings before the pause, prosecutors questioned Netanyahu over issues related to the Bezeq- Yes, merger; his ties with businessman Shaul Elovitch; and an alleged 'directive meeting' with former Israeli Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber--an allegation Netanyahu has denied, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The resumption of hearings marks a continuation of the trial rather than the beginning of a new phase, bringing back into focus one of Israel's most high-profile legal proceedings, which has faced repeated delays due to political developments and ongoing conflicts.
Despite Pakistan's preparations for potential talks, Iran denies sending officials to negotiate with the US, while Israel condemns Pakistan's Defence Minister's remarks, adding complexity to the fragile ceasefire efforts.

IMAGE: Police officers stand at a check post on a road leading to the Serena hotel. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Key Points Iranian news agencies refute reports of Iranian officials engaging in secret negotiations with the United States in Pakistan.

Pakistan's preparations for potential talks are underway, including relaxed visa requirements and heightened security in Islamabad.

Israeli officials have strongly criticised Pakistan's Defence Minister's remarks about Israel, further complicating the already fragile ceasefire efforts.

Pakistan's attempt to mediate faces challenges, including a lack of clarity on the terms of the ceasefire and criticism from key players.

Iran's official news agencies have rejected the reports in international media claiming that senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States.

Referring to Tasnim News Agency, who quoted a well-informed source on Thursday night, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV said that neither Araghchi nor Ghalibaf have left the country and they continue to remain in Tehran, actively carrying out their national duties amid regional developments.

Press TV citing Tasnim discarded the claims and a report by The Wall Street Journal of senior officials travelling to Islamabad for talks with Washington.

Citing comments by a senior official, sources told Tasnim that until Israeli attacks do not stop in Lebanon and the US fulfills its commitment to ceasefire in the country, the talks would remain on hold.

"The news from some media outlets that an Iranian negotiating team has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, to negotiate with the Americans is completely false," the source told Tasnim.

As per Press TV, Iran's Fars News Agency also categorically rejected The Wall Street Journal report, underlining that Iran has "no plans to attend peace talks with the American side until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon."

Citing a source, Fars refuted claims of any Iranian negotiating delegation travelling to Islamabad.

No Official Word On Arrival Delegates

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amir Moghadam in a statement confirmed that a 10-member Iran delegation would arrive in Islamabad.

"Despite skepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime to sabotage the diplomatic initiative, invited by Hon PM Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran," he said on X on Thursday.

Hours later, he deleted the statement amidst the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, which was subjected to aerial attacks by Israel, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Iran's president also, in a tweet, cast doubts over the process of talks if Israel continued its policy of attacks on Lebanon.

Officials have not provided any timeline for the arrival of delegates due to security reasons, adding to the mystery as the day of the dialogue has arrived, but not the parties involved in the conflict.

Despite uncertainty, Pakistan was geared up to host the two sides.

Pakistan's Role as Mediator Under Scrutiny

In spite of the reports from Iran, Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar in a post on X said that visa requirements for delegates and journalists coming to Islamabad have been waived off for the talks scheduled to take place in Islamabad.

The Pakistan capital is on red-alert, with heightened security as 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed, Dawn reported.

Despite the preparations by the self-styled mediator, there has been no clarity on when the talks will be held.

Israel's Criticism of Pakistan

Meanwhile, Israeli envoy to US, Yechiel Leiter, lambasted Pak Defence Minister over his recent remarks on Israel, calling the country a "problem" instead of being a "mediator".

In a post on X he affirmed, "Even if it is to your dismay, Israel is here to stay. That's not for negotiation."

Israel has responded with fury to Pakistan Defence Minsiter Khawaja Asif's statement, denouncing Islamabad's mediation pitch and vowing to defend itself against "terrorists" who want Tel Aviv's destruction.

In a strong-worded response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rebuked Pakistan over its Defence Minister's statement, calling jewish state "cancerous", which Sa'ar said is "calling for Israel's annihilation."

This comes after Khawaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," he said.

"I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he added.

The Pakistan Defence Minister's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad.

This adds more embarrassment after Pakistan's fumble in clearly defining the terms of the two-week ceasefire.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal--a claim firmly dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Islamabad Under Tight Security

A thick security blanket covered the capital, Islamabad, which was on 'red alert' ahead of talks.

Officials said that more than 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed to ensure multi-layered security for the visiting delegates. Police and paramilitary Rangers personnel were deployed and are being helped by the army.

The Red Zone housing key buildings are being protected by the army and the Rangers, which was open at one place through the Margalla Road, and only authorised officials and residents would be allowed to go through it.

The upcoming negotiations are being closely watched globally, as their success or failure could have far-reaching implications for West Asia's security, global energy markets, and international diplomacy.

With inputs from PTI
Donald Trump has condemned Iran's strategy regarding the Strait of Hormuz, viewing it as an attempt to leverage negotiations for a peace deal and potentially disrupt international trade flows.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump criticises Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in peace deal negotiations, calling it 'extortion'.

Iran considers imposing transit fees on vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz, potentially impacting global energy shipping.

Iran suggests transit fees could be paid in Iranian rial under a parliamentary proposal.

US Vice President J D Vance expresses optimism about negotiations with Iran but warns against insincerity.

US delegation, including Jared Kushner, to meet with Iran to discuss ending the conflict in West Asia.

United States President Donald Trump has slammed Iran over its control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage in their negotiations for a peace deal, noting that Tehran does not have any 'cards' in their hands apart from the critical waterway.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised Tehran's proposal to impose transit fees on vessels crossing the Strait, stating that 'the only reason' the US did not obliterate the Islamic Republic is to negotiate.

'The Iranians don't seem to realise they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!' the post read.

In a separate post, he also took aim at Iran's communication strategy, saying, 'The Iranians are better at handling the Fake News Media, and 'Public Relations,' than they are at fighting!'

The remarks come amid renewed debate over transit policies through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route.

Iran's Proposal for Transit Fees

Earlier, Head of Iran's Parliament National Security Commission, Ibrahim Azizi, said that under a parliamentary proposal, transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz could be required to be paid in Iran's national currency, the rial.

According to a post on X by the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai, Azizi stated that under the Strategic Action Plan for Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian government may, if necessary, sign an agreement with Oman.

However, he clarified that this is a secondary provision and not the core element of the plan.

'Under a parliamentary proposal, transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz would be paid in Iran's national currency, the rial. In the Strategic Action Plan for Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz, the government may, if necessary, sign an agreement with Oman; though this is a secondary provision, not the core of the plan,' the post read.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints, with any regulatory or fee-related changes drawing global attention due to its impact on international oil and trade flows.

US Involvement and Negotiations

Meanwhile, US Vice President J D Vance, earlier in the day, departed for Pakistan's capital Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran, expressing optimism about the negotiations while warning against any lack of sincerity from Tehran.

Addressing reporters before departure, Vance said the United States is open to constructive engagement if Iran approaches the discussions in good faith.

"We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," he said.

However, he cautioned that Washington, DC would not respond favourably if Iran attempts to act in bad faith during the talks.

"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance added.

Vance will be leading the US delegation to Islamabad for talks this weekend.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation.

The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning.

The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks.
Maharashtra's opposition leaders acknowledged a sense of discomfort within the ruling party, fueling speculation about the state's political stability.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Photograph: @mieknathshinde/X

Key Points Maharashtra opposition leaders dismiss rumours of a potential split within the Shiv Sena-UBT and joining the Eknath Shinde-led party.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar acknowledges a 'sense of discomfort' within the Shiv Sena despite being in power.

NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh questions the existence of 'Operation Tiger', aimed at inducing defections, calling it speculative.

Opposition leaders claim Shiv Sena-UBT MPs are united and firmly support Uddhav Thackeray, making a major political upheaval unlikely.

Eknath Shinde has dismissed the reports as baseless and said the aim of such rumours was to create sensation.

Senior Opposition leaders in Maharashtra on Friday claimed there was a "sense of discomfort" within the Shiv Sena despite being in power, but dismissed as speculative the reports that a section of opposition Shiv Sena-UBT will split and join the Eknath Shinde-led party.

They denied the possibility of any major political upheaval in the state in the near future.

Over the past few days, there has been a buzz that the Shiv Sena has secretly launched 'Operation Tiger' in a bid to induce defections among leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena-UBT.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the ruling Sena, on Friday dubbed the reports as "baseless" and said the aim of such "rumours" was to "create sensation".

Opposition Leaders' Statements

Talking to reporters in Nagpur, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, "Despite being in power, there appears to be a sense of discomfort in the Shiv Sena, including among its top leaders like Eknath Shinde and his ministers."

When asked about reports that Shinde held a secret meeting with Sena-UBT MPs in Thane and that there has been a buzz that a section of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party will join the ruling Sena, he said, "What is the harm in meeting ruling alliance ministers for development works of their constituencies? I don't see any possibility of political realignment."

Not all the claims doing rounds necessarily reflect the ground reality, the Congress Legislature Party leader said.

NCP-SP leader and former home minister Anil Deshmukh questioned the existence of the "Operation Tiger", terming it as speculative.

He claimed that Members of Parliament belonging to Uddhav Thackeray's party were united and firmly backed their leader.

Given this unity, the likelihood of any major political upheaval or split in the near future appears remote, Deshmukh said.

The Sena-UBT has 10 MPs. This includes nine members in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha.

The 2022 Shiv Sena Split

In 2022, Shinde led a rebellion within the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena, breaking away from Uddhav Thackeray's leadership with a group of MLAs.

He subsequently got the party's name and its bow-and-arrow symbol.
Israel has vehemently condemned Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's "outrageous" and "blatantly antisemitic" remarks calling for the annihilation of Israel, casting a shadow over Pakistan's claims of being a neutral peace mediator.

IMAGE: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity".

Key Points Israel's Prime Minister's Office denounced Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's call for Israel's annihilation as "outrageous" and "intolerable".

Asif's remarks, which included calling Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity", have led Israel to question Pakistan's credibility as a neutral peace arbiter.

The Pakistani minister's comments come as Pakistan is reportedly mediating a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran and preparing to host peace talks.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also condemned the remarks as "blatant antisemitic blood libels".

In a strong denouncement of "outrageous" remarks made by Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Israel has raised doubts about his country's role as a "neutral arbiter".

"Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X.

"This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," the PMO said Thursday evening.

Pakistan's Mediation Efforts Questioned

Pakistan has been credited with mediating a temporary two-week ceasefire between US and Iran and is preparing to host peace talks over the weekend.

However, Asif, in a social media post, called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity", giving a call "to get rid of European Jews".

Asif also claimed that as "peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon".

"Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," Asif said.

"I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell," he added.

International Condemnation

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also condemned Asif's comments, saying, "These blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to mediate peace."

"Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar said.
On Saturday, April 11, 2026, Pakistan is set to host crucial US-Iran talks aimed at solidifying a fragile ceasefire and de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.

On Friday, security was beefed up in Islamabad as the capital prepares for high-stakes talks, amid a warning from Iran's leadership that Israeli strikes on Lebanon would render negotiations meaningless.

The talks will be held at the Serena Hotel following a two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 between the two warring nations, with Pakistan acting as a mediator.

IMAGE: A man rides his motorbike past a billboard installed alongside a road in Islamabad. Photograph: Waseem Khan/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers stand guard on a road leading to the president's house in the background in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A man rides a motorcycle past Pakistani Rangers standing guard and securing the Red Zone area in Islamabad. Photograph: Asim Hafeez/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers set up a roadblock for security measures near the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers stand at a check post on a road leading to the Serena Hotel. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A police bus with riot gear moves along a road leading to the Serena Hotel. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A view of the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A roadblock for security measures near the Serena Hotel. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers stop a motorbike while guarding a road leading to the Serena Hotel. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A helicopter flies in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: Shipping containers are put up to block a road for security measures at the D Chowk area in Islamabad, near the president's house. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: Soldiers arrive at the D Chowk area in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A man rides a motorcycle past President House. Photograph: Waseem Khan/Reuters

IMAGE: A convoy believed to be carrying officials from Saudi Arabia moves along a road in Islamabad. Photograph: Waseem Khan/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers equipped with riot gear walk at D Chowk area, near President House in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A security personnel with a sniffer dog stands outside the ministry of foreign affairs in Islamabad. Photograph: Asim Hafeez/Reuters

IMAGE: People look towards a television screen as US President Donald Trump along with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is shown on a local television channel at a barber shop in Islamabad. Photograph: Waseem Khan/Reuters

IMAGE: Army soldiers sit in a truck in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: Members of the media report with the President House building in the background. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: A man walks past Digital Satellite News Gathering vehicles parked along a road near President House in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

IMAGE: An army soldier disperses locals who arrive to visit the Faisal Masjid in Islamabad. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
News / National

by Staff reporter

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has formally written to the Speaker of the National Assembly requesting the immediate initiation of impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa in terms of Section 89 of the Constitution.In a detailed letter dated 10 April 2026, ATM President Vuyo Zungula argues that recent findings from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), when read together with the Section 89 Independent Panel Report, raise serious and corroborated concerns of executive misconduct, constitutional breaches, and possible criminal wrongdoing linked to the handling of the Phala Phala farm burglary.The party says the developments warrant urgent parliamentary intervention and the establishment of an independent panel to assess whether impeachment proceedings should proceed.Zungula's letter places significant weight on the IPID report, which allegedly found that senior members of the South African Police Service, including the Head of the Presidential Protection Unit, engaged in unlawful conduct in relation to the 2020 burglary at the President's Phala Phala farm.The ATM claims the report confirms concealment of a crime, unlawful interrogation of suspects, misuse of state resources, bribery allegations, and failure to open a formal criminal case.The party argues that these findings point to a "parallel and unlawful investigation" conducted outside established SAPS procedures.A key component of the ATM's argument is sworn affidavit evidence attributed to Major-General Wally Rhoode, which allegedly suggests that he acted on instructions linked to President Ramaphosa to "attend to the matter and report back."Zungula argues that this affidavit, combined with subsequent actions carried out without formal SAPS processes, strengthens the inference of presidential knowledge or involvement in the handling of the burglary.The letter further alleges that the use of state security resources and coordination with senior officials close to the Presidency raises constitutional concerns about the blurring of public and private interests.ATM contends that the matter engages several constitutional provisions, including the President's duty to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution.It also argues that failure to report the theft of foreign currency to law enforcement authorities may constitute a breach of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), which requires reporting of serious offences.The party further states that the alleged use of state machinery for a private matter, if proven, would amount to serious misconduct and abuse of power.Citing prior Constitutional Court rulings on parliamentary accountability, the ATM has urged the Speaker to immediately initiate Rule 129A procedures, including the appointment of an independent panel to assess the evidence.The party wants the IPID report and related materials formally submitted for review, arguing that Parliament has a constitutional obligation to act without delay or political bias.Zungula warns that failure to proceed could undermine public trust in constitutional institutions and set a precedent of unaccountability at the highest level of government.The call adds renewed political pressure on President Ramaphosa over the long-running Phala Phala saga, which has remained a divisive national issue since it first emerged.While the Presidency has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that due processes were followed, ATM insists the cumulative findings from multiple reports justify impeachment consideration under Section 89 of the Constitution.
Delhi Police dismantled a Pakistan-backed terror module involved in espionage and arms smuggling, exposing a covert surveillance network targeting sensitive military locations across multiple states.

IMAGE: Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit has dismantled a key module of an international syndicate operating out of Cambodia and several Southeast Asian countries on Friday. Photograph: Delhi Police/ANI Photo

Key Points Pakistan-linked espionage network used CCTV grid to monitor Army movement.

Solar-powered cameras transmitted live footage to handlers across border.

11 accused arrested; links to arms smuggling and reconnaissance.

Network mapped troop patterns, raising fears of terror planning.

Massive crackdown likely averted major security threat; probe continues.

An espionage network with direct links to Pakistan has been unearthed, revealing how handlers across the border were remotely monitoring real-time movement of Indian Army personnel through a covert grid of solar-powered CCTV cameras installed at strategically sensitive locations across northern India, an official said on Friday.

Surveillance Grid Across Key Northern States

The surveillance network spanned key cities including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Patiala and Moga in Punjab, Ambala in Haryana, Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and Bikaner and Alwar in Rajasthan -- all of which are crucial due to the presence of Army cantonments, proximity to the international border and their role as major troop movement and logistics corridors.

According to police, the cameras were deliberately positioned to capture activities near military installations, highways used for troop mobilisation and border-linked infrastructure.

Live Feed to Pakistan Handlers

What makes the operation particularly alarming is that these devices were transmitting live footage directly to Pakistan-based handlers, allowing them to "sit across the border and watch Indian Army movements unfold in real time".

The module, busted by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in a coordinated operation, led to the arrest of 11 accused involved in espionage, arms smuggling and reconnaissance activities.

The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran in Punjab; Anmol and Sahil of Firozpur in Punjab; Atul Rathee, Rohit and Ajay from Delhi; Gurjeet of Kapurthala; Rimpledeep of Fazilka; Salwinder alias Kalu and Boota Singh of Fazilka in Punjab; and Harpreet of Moga in Punjab.

Pakistan Link, Modus Operandi

Investigators said the network was operating under instructions from Pakistan's intelligence agency, with operatives on the ground tasked with installing surveillance equipment and relaying sensitive visuals.

The use of solar-powered CCTV cameras ensured uninterrupted surveillance even in remote or low-access areas, making detection difficult and allowing the network to function continuously without relying on conventional power sources.

"The cameras were fitted with SIM cards procured using fake identities and were linked to mobile applications, enabling seamless real-time transmission of footage across the border," Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said.

Reconnaissance and Strategic Intent

The police said the accused had conducted detailed reconnaissance before installing the devices, carefully selecting vantage points that offered clear visibility of Army cantonments, border roads and movement routes of security forces. The footage was then analysed by handlers in Pakistan to map patterns, assess vulnerabilities and potentially plan further activities.

"The intention was not just passive surveillance but strategic monitoring of defence movement patterns over a period of time," the officer said, adding that such inputs could have been used for planning terror strikes or facilitating cross-border operations.

Crackdown in Two Phases

"The crackdown was carried out in two phases. In the first operation, six accused were arrested from Punjab and Delhi, with the recovery of nine CCTV cameras, four pistols, including three foreign-made weapons, and 24 live cartridges. The second phase, based on inputs from military intelligence, led to the arrest of five more operatives actively involved in reconnaissance and data sharing," the Additional CP said.

"One of the key accused, Manpreet Singh from Punjab, was found to be in direct contact with Pakistan-based handlers and played a central role in coordinating communication and facilitating the movement of illegal arms. Others, including field operatives, were responsible for physically installing the cameras and maintaining the network on the ground," the officer said.

Larger Conspiracy Suspected

The police said the bust has potentially averted a major security threat, as inputs suggest that the module was also exploring plans to target security establishments using explosives and other means. The integration of espionage with arms trafficking and terror planning points to a larger and well-coordinated conspiracy backed by external elements.

Security agencies are now analysing digital evidence, including mobile phones and data retrieved from the CCTV systems, to identify further links, handlers and sleeper cells.

The probe is ongoing, with officials not ruling out more arrests in the coming days.

Profiles of Accused

Sharing the profile of the accused, the officer said that Manpreet Singh has completed BCA. He came in contact with the Pak handlers through an encrypted app.

Anmol, a 10th pass, is engaged in wallpaper pasting work. He installed CCTV cameras at nine locations with the help of his associate Sahil.

Sahil is a 12th pass, engaged in wallpaper pasting work. He assisted Anmol in fixing cameras.

Atul Rathee, with a master's degree in business from New Zealand, received four foreign-made pistols from Manpreet and three country-made pistols from an arms trafficker.

Rohit holds a master's degree in business. He accompanied Atul Rathee to receive arms from Punjab.

Ajay, a graduate, received a country-made pistol from Rohit.

Gurjeet Singh, who has studied up to the 12th standard, established contact with Pak-based handlers through his cousin who was engaged in cross-border narco smuggling. He conducted reconnaissance of Army Cantt and shared photos and videos with the Pak handler.

Rimpledeep Singh, who has studied up to the 12th standard, collected and shared sensitive information, including images and videos of Army and BSF Camps.

Harpreet Singh alias Happy, who completed his education up to 10th standard, acted on the instructions of the Pak handler to facilitate drug trafficking across the international border and planned installations of the solar-powered CCTV cameras.

Salwinder Singh alias Kalu, who has studied up to the 10th standard, is presently working as a DJ operator. He accompanied Rimpledeep Singh in conducting reconnaissance and assisting in sharing photos and videos of the Army and paramilitary installations.

Boota Singh has passed 12th and was involved in cross-border smuggling of narcotics.
What began as a war of words has now turned into a sharp political and legal confrontation, with both sides digging in.

IMAGE: Congress leader Pawan Khera addresses a press conference in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The political clash between Pawan Khera and Himanta Biswa Sarma escalated from allegations into a legal and national controversy.

Allegations against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma triggered a defamation complaint, leading to an FIR and police action in Assam.

Khera has approached multiple high courts seeking anticipatory bail as Assam Police initiated procedural action in the case.

Sarma defended police action, dismissing criticism and making sharp remarks targeting Khera and the Congress party.

Even as the electioneering heat begins to slow in Assam, the political temperature refuses to dip.

The controversy surrounding Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has intensified, mirroring the soaring mercury across the state and spilling onto the national stage.

What began as a war of words has now turned into a sharp political and legal confrontation, with both sides digging in.

From allegations to FIR

The row traces back to a press conference in New Delhi where Khera alleged that Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, held passports of three countries and had assets in the UAE and Wyoming.

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and defamatory. Following her complaint, an FIR was lodged against Khera in Assam, triggering swift action.

With the Assam police initiating steps in the case, Khera approached the Gauhati and Telangana high courts, seeking anticipatory bail.

'Police, not militants': CM's sharp retort

Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the police were acting strictly as per law.

He said that the Assam police had moved in after the FIR was filed and had visited Khera's residence as part of the process. 'The police is a slave of the law and will act accordingly,' he said.

The chief minister said he had deployed the police -- not 'ULFA, NDFB or Kuki militants' -- after Khera, adding that objections would have been justified only if such militant outfits had been used.

'He cannot complain if the police visit his residence,' Sarma said. 'If someone is found guilty, the police can go to his place. They are paid by the government to carry out that duty.'

Row reverberates nationally

The controversy has drawn sharp reactions from the Congress leadership at the national level.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have criticised the Assam government's actions, alleging misuse of state machinery and calling it an attempt to target Opposition voices.

With voting now concluded, the Khera episode shows no signs of ebbing. Instead, it has emerged as a parallel political narrative, adding to the intensity of the current political climate.

With legal proceedings underway and rhetoric sharpening on both sides, the confrontation is expected to continue, keeping the spotlight firmly on Assam even beyond polling day.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
In a major crackdown on financial crime, retired Punjab National Bank officials and others have been convicted for a Rs 1.57 crore loan fraud, highlighting the importance of banking regulations and due diligence.

Key Points Eight individuals, including three retired PNB officials, have been convicted in a 2016 loan fraud case.

The fraud caused a loss of Rs 1.57 crore to Punjab National Bank.

The convicted officials include a retired Assistant General Manager, Chief Manager, and Senior Manager.

The accused submitted forged documents to obtain the loan, and bank officials failed to follow due diligence.

The court sentenced the accused to rigorous imprisonment and imposed fines.

A special CBI court here on Friday convicted eight persons including three retired officials of Punjab National Bank (PNB) in a 2016 loan fraud case that had caused a loss of Rs 1.57 crore to the lender.

The court sentenced retired Assistant General Manager Gurinder Singh, retired Chief Manager KGCS Iyer and retired Senior Manager K E Surendranath to two years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of them, said a CBI release.

Among the other accused, Sanjay Patel, director of M/s Jalpa Enterprise Pvt Ltd, was sentenced to three years' RI along with a fine of Rs 50,000. Hitesh Domadiya was also sentenced to three years' RI with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

Satish Davra and Vaishali Davra were sentenced to two years' RI with a fine of Rs 50,000 each. Ramilaben Bhikadiya was given two years' RI and fined Rs 50,000. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on M/s Jalpa Enterprise Pvt Ltd.

Details of the Loan Fraud

The case was registered on August 22, 2016, against Shailesh Satasiya, proprietor of M/s Shree Kali Textiles, and others.

In July 2011, the accused applied for a term loan of Rs 3.70 crore and cash credit limit of Rs 40 lakh at a Surat branch of PNB for purchasing 44 water jet loom machines and for other business operations.

The loan proposal was recommended by Surendranath and Iyer, and sanctioned by Gurinder Singh on July 29, 2011. The machines were hypothecated with the bank as primary security, while additional collateral included plots and residential flats.

Investigation Findings

As per the CBI, the accused submitted forged documents to obtain the loan, and the bank officials sanctioned credit facilities without following due guidelines and accepted the fake documents as genuine.

It caused a loss of nearly Rs 1.57 crore, excluding interest, to the bank, the agency said.
The Supreme Court has refused to intervene in the Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case, leaving the decision on Santosh Kumar Singh's parole and remission to the Delhi High Court, which is already reviewing the case.

Key Points The Supreme Court refused to hear a plea challenging the denial of parole extension to Santosh Kumar Singh in the Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case.

The Delhi High Court is already reviewing the main matter related to Singh's remission and is scheduled to hear it on May 18.

The Supreme Court has requested the Delhi High Court to expedite the disposal of the case, considering the incident's age and Singh's time in jail.

Mattoo's brother opposes Singh's premature release, arguing that the Sentence Review Board rightly rejected his plea.

The High Court had previously directed Singh to surrender before considering his plea for remission.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear a plea challenging the denial of extension of parole granted to convict Santosh Kumar Singh in the 1996 Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted that the main matter related to remission is already pending before the Delhi High Court and coming up for hearing on May 18.

The bench granted liberty to Singh to seek advancement of his hearing on the plea before the high court and expeditious disposal.

"It is needless to say that if such a request is made, the high court shall consider it, having regard to the facts of the case that the incident occurred on January 23, 1996, and the petitioner has been in jail for 31 years, including remission," the bench said.

The top court requested the high court to dispose of the matter at the earliest in accordance with law.

Counsel for Singh contended that the high court has passed a very drastic order, directing him to surrender and his client has been serving his sentence in an 'open jail', which allows him to exit the jail complex daily between 8 am and 8 pm for gainful employment.

On March 19, the high court directed Singh to surrender after Mattoo's brother strongly opposed his plea for premature release.

It had said that the court would consider Singh's plea for remission only after he surrendered.

Mattoo's brother has contended that the sentence review board (SRB) has rightly rejected his plea for remission.

Singh, who was granted parole last year, has remained out of jail after he managed to secure several extensions from the high court while his plea for remission was pending.

Background of the Priyadarshini Mattoo Case

Mattoo, 25, was raped and murdered in January 1996 and Singh, then a law student at Delhi University, was acquitted by a trial court on December 3, 1999. However, the high court overturned the verdict on October 27, 2006, convicting Singh, son of a former IPS officer, and sentencing him to death.

In October 2010, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction but commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment.

High Court's Previous Observations

In July last year, the high court set aside the SRB's decision refusing the premature release of the convict, saying his reformative conduct was not considered.

The high court said it found an element of reformation in Singh and referred the matter back to the SRB to consider afresh his plea for premature release.

"No effort was made to evaluate the petitioner's (Singh) demonstrable reformative progress, including advanced educational qualifications, documented good conduct and participation in rehabilitation programmes," it had said.

The court had noted that Singh was presently lodged in an open prison.

The placement in such a prison category is a reflection of the "positive reformative conduct" of the convict and this was a critical indicator of reform which the SRB has failed to even acknowledge, let alone evaluate, it had said.

The court said the SRB's decision to reject Singh's premature release plea could not be sustained as the rejection order neither disclosed a meaningful application of mind nor reflected a reasoned analysis of the reformative efforts made by him.

While deciding Singh's case, the high court had said the board's holding that the convict's conduct in jail was not an indicator of what they might do outside "not only effectively nullifies the probative value of the convict's post-conviction conduct and reformative efforts" but also reflects a "patently erroneous and arbitrary approach" that undermines the very purpose of the remission policies.

It had said Singh became eligible for premature release after undergoing imprisonment for 20 years, including remission.

In the minutes of the SRB meetings of 2024, the board correctly acknowledged that the 2004 policy was applicable, as it was in force on the date of his conviction.

In his 2023 petition before the high court, Singh had sought the quashing of the recommendation of the SRB rejecting his premature release in the October 21, 2021, meeting. Thereafter, his case was considered in a 2024 meeting and again rejected.
The Punjab government is offering substantial cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 28 wanted gangsters, including those operating from overseas, in an effort to crack down on organised crime and restore law and order in the state.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Punjab government announces cash rewards ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of 28 proclaimed offenders, including foreign-based gangsters.

The 'Gangster Free Punjab' initiative targets prominent figures like Goldy Brar, Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, and Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, many of whom operate from abroad.

BJP criticises the Bhagwant Mann government, alleging a failure to control gangster culture and questioning the efficiency of law enforcement agencies.

Punjab Police has established an Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) to expedite the extradition of foreign-based gangsters.

The government assures informers that their identities will be kept confidential, encouraging public participation in the effort to combat organised crime.

The Punjab government on Friday issued full-page newspaper advertisements announcing cash rewards ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for those providing "credible and reliable" information leading to the arrest of 28 proclaimed offenders, including foreign-based gangster Goldy Brar.

The BJP, however, alleged the Bhagwant Mann government had "completely failed" in stamping out the gangster culture in Punjab, saying the announcement for public awards to help catch gangsters reflected the poor state of the law and order machinery.

Several gangsters, whose names and photos have been released in the "Gangster Free Punjab" advertisement, operate from abroad. Prominent names among those listed include Goldy Brar, Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, Rohit Godara, Balwinder Singh Doni, Gaurav Patyal, and Mohammad Yaseen Akhtar, one of the suspects wanted in the killing of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique.

The government announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for fourteen gangsters and Rs 5 lakh for the other fourteen. Information can be shared by calling on the helpline 93946-93946, and the identity of the informers will be kept confidential, the advertisement said.

Gangsters on the List

Among those listed for the Rs 10-lakh reward is Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar of Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, designated "terrorist" by India in 2024 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A former member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, he is now part of the Brar-Rohit Godara-Kala Jatheri gang. Brar went to Canada on a student visa, and is believed to be in the US at present.

Rohit Godara, a resident of Rajasthan, who had fled India and now operates from abroad, also figures in the list.

Another on the list is Canada-based Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, whose name had also figured in the RPG attack at the Punjab Police's intelligence headquarters in Mohali four years ago.

Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda is a designated terrorist of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), while Gaurav Patyal is a foreign-based kingpin linked to the Davinder Bambiha gang.

A Rs 10-lakh reward has also been announced against Balwinder Singh Doni alias Doni Bal, Prabhdeep Singh alias Prabh Dasuwal, both of whom claimed responsibility for the murder of a village Sarpanch at a wedding in Amritsar in January.

A Rs 5-lakh reward has been announced against Mohammed Yaseen Akhtar, Jobanjeet Singh, Gurdev Singh, Nishan Singh Jourian, Rajesh Kumar and Jaskaran Singh.

The Punjab Police had earlier said Mohammad Yaseen Akhtar (22), a resident of Jalandhar, and one of the suspects in NCP leader Baba Siddique's murder, was already facing nine heinous criminal cases, including those for murder and attempt to murder.

Police Efforts and Political Reactions

Punjab Police has established an Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) to expedite the extradition of foreign-based gangsters.

DGP Gaurav Yadav had earlier said,"Punjab Police will nab the miscreants from any nook, in or outside the country, and make them face the law. We will not leave any space for gangsters. Their entire network will be eliminated. Just as the drug-free Punjab campaign, which has seen substantive progress, we will make the state gangster-free."

Meanwhile, BJP General Secretary Tarun Chugh in a statement said, "It is a shocking reflection of collapse of law and order in Punjab. A government that has to announce cash rewards for citizens to catch gangsters has clearly failed in its primary duty."

Questioning the efficiency of law and order agencies, Chugh said instead of ensuring public safety, the entire system appears busy serving political masters. "Under Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal's leadership, Punjab has become a flourishing state for gangsters and mafias."

Punjab deserves better than "this state of insecurity and helpless governance," he added.
An undertrial prisoner accused of rape has died in a Pratapgarh jail in Uttar Pradesh, with authorities investigating a suspected suicide.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points An undertrial prisoner, Deepak alias Rahul, accused of rape, died in Pratapgarh district jail.

Police suspect the death was a suicide due to severe burn injuries sustained within the jail premises.

The deceased was lodged in jail since November 1, 2025, following orders from a special POCSO court.

A forensic team is conducting a detailed probe, and the body has been sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

An undertrial prisoner lodged in the district jail here in connection with a case of rape has allegedly died of suicide on Friday, police said.

"Prima facie, the incident appears to be a case of suicide. The inmate suffered severe burn injuries in the jail premises under suspicious circumstances," Jail Superintendent Rishabh Dwivedi said.

However, the exact cause will be ascertained after investigation, he said.

The deceased, Deepak alias Rahul -- a resident of Purwa Mirzapur in Rasoolabad area of Unnao district -- was lodged for rape since November 1, 2025, following orders of a special POCSO court, the officer said.

The said case was registered against him at Kandhai police station in Pratapgarh.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, while a forensic team is conducting a detailed probe.
A retired rationing officer in Mumbai has been acquitted in a 2015 corruption case after the court found the prosecution's evidence to be unconvincing, highlighting significant loopholes in the investigation.

Key Points A special court acquitted a retired rationing officer in a 2015 corruption case due to insufficient evidence.

The prosecution failed to provide convincing evidence to support the bribery allegations against the officer.

The court highlighted loopholes in the prosecution's evidence, including the failure to call a key witness.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau's investigation was criticised for not properly examining evidence related to the alleged bribe money.

A special court here on Friday acquitted a retired assistant rationing officer in a 2015 corruption case, ruling that the prosecution "failed to adduce cogent and convincing evidence".

Sanjay Sawardekar was acquitted of all the charges by Special Judge for Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases Shayana Patil.

In June 2015, complainant Hitesh Ganatra alleged Sawardekar and another senior officer had demanded Rs 1 lakh to execute a government order related to transferring a rationing shop licence in the name of the complainant's son.

The amount was later reduced to Rs 80,000, with the accused instructing the complainant to leave the money in his office drawer, the prosecution said. Later, the Anti Corruption Bureau laid a trap and held the public servant with the bribe amount.

Court Findings and Evidence Shortcomings

The court highlighted several loopholes in the prosecution's evidence. It also pointed out that the prosecution did not call the complainant's son to testify, despite him being the "prime witness" who was allegedly present during the initial bribe demands.

Although the ACB claimed the money was treated with anthracene powder, the IO failed to examine the desk drawer or the hands of the panch witness under UV light to confirm the presence of the powder, the court said.

"Thus, the prosecution has failed to adduce cogent and convincing evidence in support of the case," the court said.
The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the Ghaziabad police for their handling of a horrific child rape and murder case, demanding accountability and a thorough, court-monitored investigation into potential police misconduct and failures.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Key Points The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the Ghaziabad police for their insensitive handling of a four-year-old girl's rape and murder case.

The court has ordered senior Ghaziabad police officials to appear with case records and is considering a court-monitored investigation by a special investigation team (SIT).

The Supreme Court expressed concern over the police's initial failure to register the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the rape charge.

The court questioned the police's account of an 'encounter' with the accused, raising doubts about the investigation's integrity.

The Supreme Court has directed the police and hospitals involved to protect the victim's and her family's identity and to cease any harassment of the family.

The Supreme Court on Friday lambasted Ghaziabad police's "insensitive approach" in the investigation of the rape and murder case of a four-year-old girl and summoned senior officials, including the police commissioner, on April 13 with case records.

The top court observed that a court-monitored, time-bound probe either by a special investigation team (SIT) or a central agency was needed in the case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of the submissions of senior lawyer N Hariharan, appearing for the victim's father, a daily wager, and expressed its displeasure over the manner in which the state police had conducted the investigation so far in the case.

"My conscience was revolted the moment I saw it (the video evidence)," Hariharan told the bench and urged judicial intervention in the case.

"The most shocking part of the alleged offence is that it exhibits complete indifference and insensitive approach of two alleged private hospitals as well as the local police," the CJI said.

"The FIR was registered one day after the incident. Hospitals refused admission. A blunt object was inserted into the private part of the child. The post-mortem report shows.

"The police only wanted to investigate this as a murder. The police report says the child was dead when the case came to them. There is a video recording showing that the child was alive. The neighbours are given notices that you are breaching peace. Please see the video," Hariharan told the court.

The bench issued notices to the state government, station house officer of the concerned police station, the two private hospitals -- Khajan Singh Mannvi Health Care and St Joseph (Mariam) Hospital -- and the executive magistrate.

The bench said the trauma of the victim's family was further compounded when the matter was reported to local police.

"Instead of taking cognisance, the petitioner and the family members were physically assaulted. They were asked to remain silent about the incident. The FIR was lodged on the next day, that is on March 17," the order noted.

The bench noted that no offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act or the rape charge was added in the FIR, though the case apparently involved sexual assault.

"It further seems that having realised the seriousness of the offence, the accused was apprehended and arrested on March 18," it said.

Concerns Over Police Investigation

The bench also expressed suspicion over the police's "encounter" narrative and asked how the accused was having a gun when he led the police party to the place of the incident.

"How did the person in custody have a gun with him? You say that he was taken to identify a handkerchief and then he shot at the police and police shot at him. Please read the police report," the bench asked.

"You do all this hanky panky and then file a chargesheet," the CJI said while refusing to accept the submissions of the state counsel that the investigation had already been completed.

"We are satisfied that a court-monitored time-bound SIT or a central agency is required. Issue notice. Standing counsel of the state of UP be served. Let a status report be filed.

"Commissioner of police, Ghaziabad, and SHO Nandgram police shall remain personally present. Let notice be served on the private hospitals (which refused admission to the victim child). List the case on Monday," the bench ordered.

It directed the police and the hospitals to ensure that the identity of the victim and her family members is not disclosed and that they should redact any such information from the records.

It also asked the state police not to harass the victim's family members.

On March 16, the victim was allegedly lured away by a neighbour on the pretext of buying chocolates. When the child did not return, her father launched a search for her and found her lying unconscious and soaked in blood.

The court expressed dismay that the two private hospitals in Ghaziabad refused to admit the bleeding child and she was eventually declared dead at a government hospital.
The Supreme Court of India has clarified the legal distinctions between suspending sentences after conviction and granting pre-trial bail, emphasizing the need for caution in appellate court decisions.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points The Supreme Court differentiates between the legal standards for suspending a sentence after conviction and granting bail before a trial.

Post-conviction, the presumption of innocence is replaced by a judicial determination of guilt, requiring appellate courts to exercise caution when considering sentence suspension.

The Supreme Court emphasised that sentences for serious offences should not be suspended routinely; appellate courts must consider the nature of the crime and the trial court's findings.

The doctrine of constructive liability under Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code means that participants in a crime with common intent are equally liable.

The Supreme Court overturned a High Court decision to suspend sentences in a 2016 murder case, ordering the accused to surrender.

The Supreme Court on Friday said parameters governing suspension of sentence post-conviction are qualitatively distinct from those applicable at the stage of pre-trial bail.

The observation came from a bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan while setting aside Patna High Court orders that suspended the sentences awarded to two convicts in a 2016 murder case during the pendency of their appeal.

The bench said upon conviction, the presumption of innocence stands displaced by a judicial determination of guilt and the appellate court is required to exercise its jurisdiction under section 389 of the CrPC with due circumspection and restraint.

Section 389 of the erstwhile Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) dealt with the suspension of sentence pending appeal and the release of the appellant on bail.

The court delivered its verdict on two separate appeals filed by the informant in the case, challenging the high court orders that suspended the sentences awarded by the trial court to two persons during the pendency of their appeal and released them on bail.

Key Differences in Sentence Suspension

"At the outset, it must be emphasised that the parameters governing suspension of sentence post-conviction are qualitatively distinct from those applicable at the stage of pre-trial bail," the bench said.

Referring to an earlier verdict of the top court, the bench noted that it was categorically held that sentences in serious offences must not be suspended as a matter of routine and that the appellate court must apply its mind to the nature of the offence, the manner of its commission and the gravity of the findings recorded by the trial court.

"A perusal of the record indicates that the prosecution case is founded on ocular evidence, which has been duly appreciated and accepted by the trial court," the bench said.

It said without considering the same in a proper perspective, the high court erred in granting suspension of sentence to one of the accused and releasing him on bail.

It said the reliance placed by the high court on the circumstance that the fatal shot was attributed to another co-accused, while one of the accused was convicted with the aid of section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, was "wholly misconceived".

Section 34 of the erstwhile IPC dealt with acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.

"The doctrine of constructive liability under section 34, IPC, is well settled; where an offence is committed in furtherance of a common intention, each participant is equally liable for the act done in execution thereof," the bench said.

It said the high court was not justified in granting suspension of sentence in the matter.

Allowing the appeals, the bench directed both the accused to surrender before the trial court within two weeks, failing which the trial court would take necessary steps to secure their custody in accordance with law.

Background of the Case

An FIR was lodged in 2016 in Buxar, alleging that the informant, along with his elder brother, was proceeding towards his village on a motorcycle when the accused caught hold of the latter and fired a gunshot at his head, causing fatal injuries.

The accused had also allegedly fired at the informant, who had narrowly escaped.

The trial court had, in August 2018, convicted some of the accused in the case after which they filed an appeal before the high court.

During the pendency of the appeal, the high court suspended the sentence and released two of the accused on bail.
A school van fire in Muzaffarnagar, India, resulted in serious burn injuries to five children and the driver, prompting an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A school van fire in Muzaffarnagar has left five children and a driver with serious burn injuries.

The incident occurred near Samaspur village involving a van from Ashish English Academy.

Authorities suspect a short circuit as the primary cause of the school van fire.

Police and fire brigade teams responded to rescue the injured, who were taken to a nearby hospital.

An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the school van fire incident.

Five children and a driver sustained serious burn injuries after a school van caught fire near Samaspur village in the district on Friday morning, police said.

Circle Officer Ravishankar said the incident occurred when a van belonging to the Ashish English Academy was carrying around 10 children.

On receiving information, police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Investigation into the Cause

Prima facie, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, the officer added.

The vehicle has been seized and further investigation is underway, police said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says prosecutors are pushing for a 15-year prison sentence as sentencing proceedings in his firearm discharge case approach in the East London Magistrate's Court.Malema is expected to return to court next week for sentencing after being convicted on multiple firearm-related charges linked to a 2018 incident during the EFF's fifth-anniversary rally at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.During the rally, Malema was filmed discharging a firearm into the air in front of a large crowd of supporters.In October last year, Magistrate Twanet Olivier found him guilty of unlawfully discharging a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and reckless endangerment.Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg, Malema said the State was seeking the maximum possible punishment."The state is going for the kill, they want a 15-year jail term and we are prepared legally," he said. "We will see next week but they are going for the kill."Malema is due to appear in court on Wednesday and Thursday next week for the sentencing phase, where the court will determine his punishment.Despite his conviction, the EFF leader has indicated he intends to challenge the ruling, maintaining that the case against him is flawed and politically motivated.The matter has drawn sustained public attention given Malema's prominence in South African politics and the seriousness of the charges.The upcoming sentencing is expected to be closely watched, as it will determine whether one of the country's most influential opposition figures faces a custodial sentence or an alternative penalty.
Assam Police have launched an investigation into a polling day incident, searching the residence of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi after a clash between AJP and BJP workers in Khowang.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Assam Police searched the residence of AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi in connection with a polling day incident.

The search followed allegations that the BJP was running an IT cell in Khowang constituency.

A physical altercation occurred between AJP and BJP workers, resulting in injuries to AJP leaders.

Police are investigating the incident to determine the activities at the BJP office in Khowang.

A search operation was reportedly conducted in the residence of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president and Assembly election candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi on Friday in connection with an incident that had happened on polling day, a police officer said.

He said the search was carried out as per legal provisions.

Gogoi was the opposition alliance's candidate from Khowang constituency in Dibrugarh district, with polling held in a single phase across the state on Thursday.

"With regard to the incident that had happened in Khowang yesterday, after following technical input, police team reached the particular location and followed legal search procedure," Dibrugarh Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Abhijit Dilip told PTI.

AJP leaders and members, present at the location, claimed that police "failed" to show any search warrant.

"An extensive search was carried out for nearly two hours. When we asked, why they had come and where was the warrant, the police team could not show anything," they said.

Background of the Incident

Another police officer had said on Thursday that AJP had alleged that BJP was running an IT cell at a house in the area in Khowang constituency.

"A group of AJP workers reached there along with police. After some time, AJP leaders Samudra Barua, Swakhyar Borgohain and Chitrakamal Handique also went there. Following a heated exchange of words, the AJP workers and BJP activists got involved in a physical brawl, in which the three AJP leaders were injured," the officer had said.

The SSP had said that the building "seems to be a party office and further investigation is underway to ascertain what exactly was going on there", with no arrests made on the polling day.
Police in Una, India, successfully dismantled a sex racket operating from a roadside eatery, rescuing three women and arresting three men in a targeted raid.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Una police busted a sex racket operating out of a local 'dhaba' following a tip-off.

Three women were rescued during the raid, and three men were taken into custody.

Police used an undercover team member posing as a customer to infiltrate the operation.

An investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the illegal activities.

Una Police on Friday busted a sex racket operating out of a local 'dhaba' (roadside eatery), rescuing three women while taking three men into custody, officials said.

Acting on a tip-off, police laid a trap by sending a team member posing as a customer to the dhaba and conducted the raid, they said.

During the raid, the involved women and men were found in compromising circumstances, the police said.

Una SP Sachin Hiremath confirmed that the police rescued three women and detained three other individuals.

Further interrogation of those detained is underway, he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah vows to implement the Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal within six months if the BJP wins, promising a Bengali chief minister and addressing concerns about food habits.

Key Points Amit Shah pledges to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal within six months if the BJP wins the state elections.

The BJP promises to appoint a 'son of Bengal' as the chief minister, distancing itself from dynastic politics.

Shah accuses the TMC of appeasement politics and clarifies that the BJP will not interfere with the food habits of Bengalis.

Shah dismisses allegations of any understanding with Humayun Kabir to split minority votes, asserting the BJP's opposition to such tactics.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in West Bengal within six months of the BJP coming to power in the state, and the BJP will make a "son of Bengal" the chief minister.

At a press conference after unveiling the BJP's Assembly poll manifesto -- 'Sankalp Patra' -- he accused the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC of practising appeasement politics, and sought to counter TMC's allegation that the BJP would interfere with the food habits of Bengalis.

Uniform Civil Code and Appeasement Politics

"The recommendation for the Uniform Civil Code is not of the BJP. It is of the Constituent Assembly," Shah said, defending the push for the uniform civil law and claimed that it remained unimplemented for decades because of "appeasement politics".

"It was due to appeasement politics that the UCC was not implemented for so long. In whichever states we have formed governments, we have implemented them, and we will do it in Bengal too," he said.

The BJP, in its manifesto, has promised to implement the UCC within six months of coming to power in West Bengal.

"There will be one law for every citizen in Bengal," Shah said.

In a remark clearly aimed at sharpening the BJP's pitch, he said, "What is appeasement? Is it allowing one person to have four wives, or asking everyone to follow the law of the land?"

Chief Ministerial Candidate

The former BJP chief also sought to address a question that has long dogged his party in Bengal -- who would be its chief ministerial face.

"We are not a dynastic party where, after the aunt, the nephew would take over. I can assure the people of Bengal that our chief minister will be a Bengali and a citizen of Bengal," he said.

Dismissing Allegations and Addressing Concerns

Referring to videos of Humayun Kabir released by the TMC, in which the suspended party leader purportedly claims proximity with BJP leaders to split minority votes, Shah dismissed the speculation.

"Humayun Kabir and the BJP are at two opposite poles. Rather than having an understanding with such a party, we would prefer to sit in the opposition," he said.

Shah further alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was capable of manufacturing political narratives through videos. "You do not know Mamataji's capabilities. She can create many such videos," he said.

Seeking to blunt one of the TMC's most effective lines of attack, Shah said a BJP government would not interfere with Bengal's food culture. "Consumption of fish and eggs will not be stopped. This is a rumour by the TMC," he said.
A speech-impaired woman in Thane, Maharashtra, has been acquitted of arson and murder charges in her daughter-in-law's death due to conflicting evidence and inconsistencies in the victim's dying declarations, raising questions about the investigation.

Photograph: Pixabay.com

Key Points A Thane court acquitted a speech-impaired woman accused of setting her would-be daughter-in-law on fire due to 'glaring inconsistencies' in the victim's statements.

The court highlighted conflicting dying declarations, one implicating the accused and another suggesting the fire was accidental.

The prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, with the court noting the lack of examination of a key medical officer and insufficient chemical analysis.

Defence argued that the victim's dying declarations were inconsistent and potentially influenced by interested parties.

The judge emphasised the possibility of the victim being influenced when making statements, leading to the accused's acquittal.

A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted a 48-year-old speech-impaired woman accused of killing her would-be daughter-in-law, citing "glaring inconsistencies" and "contrary versions" in the dying declarations of the victim.

A copy of the order dated April 8 was made available on Friday.

Additional Sessions Judge (Bhiwandi) N K Karande ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused Kamal Chandrakant Kanoja, a resident of Vikramgad in Palghar district.

The prosecution alleged that Kanoja poured kerosene on Amita Gotarna, the would-be wife of her stepson, and set her ablaze on October 27, 2020. Gotarna, who lived with the family of the accused, sustained 72 per cent burns and later succumbed to her injuries at Nashik Civil Hospital.

Defence Counsel Ramrao S Jagtap argued that Gotarna's dying declarations were inconsistent and potentially tutored by interested witnesses, including her father and brother.

Conflicting Dying Declarations

The court's decision hinged on two conflicting dying declarations. While the one given to the police implicated the accused, the other, recorded by a magistrate and admitted as evidence, stated that the fire was an accident, noting "nobody was present there".

The court further highlighted the failure to examine the medical officer who supposedly certified the victim's fitness to give a statement.

The judge pointed out the possibility of the victim being influenced, and also noted that the chemical analysis reports were insufficient to link the speech-impaired woman to the crime.

"The prosecution has not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt," the judge concluded, ordering that Kanoja be released immediately.
A 64-year-old man from Thane, Maharashtra, fell victim to a sophisticated digital arrest scam, losing nearly 28,000 after fraudsters posing as police officers made false accusations of money laundering and terrorism via WhatsApp.

Photograph: Reuters

Key Points A 64-year-old man in Thane was allegedly scammed out of approximately 28,000 in a digital arrest scam.

The scam involved WhatsApp calls from individuals posing as police officers, falsely accusing the victim of money laundering and terrorist links.

The victim was coerced into transferring money to various bank accounts under the guise of 'verification and investigation purposes'.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the scam, tracing the accused and analysing digital evidence.

A 64-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane district was allegedly duped of nearly Rs 28 lakh in a digital arrest scam, police said on Friday.

The complainant, a resident of Ronak City in Kalyan West, alleged that between April 1 and April 7, he received multiple WhatsApp video and audio calls from unknown persons, including from international numbers, the police said.

"The callers introduced themselves as police officials and claimed that the complainant's bank accounts were linked to a money laundering case and terrorist activities," said an official from Khadakpada police station.

Details of the Scam

The accused persons threatened to "arrest" the senior citizen and coerced him into transferring money for "verification and investigation purposes", the official said.

Under pressure and fear, the man transferred Rs 27.9 lakh to bank accounts provided by the accused during the course of the calls, police said. The man later realised that he had been defrauded. On his complaint, the police registered a case on Wednesday.

Police Investigation

"An investigation is underway to trace the accused persons and identify the bank accounts used in the fraud. We are also analysing call data records and digital evidence," the investigating officer said.
Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran regarding alleged fees imposed on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions amid fragile ceasefire agreements and ongoing disputes with Israel over Lebanon.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, April 6, 2026 . Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump warns Iran against charging fees to tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump accuses Iran of 'dishonorable' conduct regarding oil passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tensions rise as disagreements over the ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel widen, especially concerning Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asserts there is 'no ceasefire in Lebanon' and vows continued military operations against Hezbollah.

Netanyahu instructs cabinet to open negotiations with Lebanon for Hezbollah disarmament and a peace agreement.

United States President Donald Trump said there are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz and warned Tehran against it.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait -- They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!"

In another post, Trump accused Iran of "doing a poor job" at allowing oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, reminding Tehran of the temporary ceasefire agreement.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!" he said.

This puts the already fragile ceasefire in jeopardy as the disagreement between both parties continues to widen before the negotiations in Islamabad begin.

Ceasefire Agreement Disputes

Earlier, Tehran had accused Israel of violating the agreement by attacking Lebanon, as it stated that the ceasefire in Lebanon is part of the truce.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

Israel's Position on Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that there is "no ceasefire in Lebanon" and vowed to continue military operations with "full force" against Hezbollah.

"I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said.

Netanyahu further stated that he has instructed the Cabinet to open direct negotiations with the Lebanese government to achieve "disarmament of Hezbollah" and "historic peace agreement".

"Following repeated requests from the Lebanese government, last night I instructed the Cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon to achieve two goals. First, the disarmament of Hezbollah. Second, a historic peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon," he said.
Amit Shah unveiled the BJP's ambitious manifesto for West Bengal, promising a Uniform Civil Code, a local chief minister, and an end to appeasement politics if elected.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the launch event of the BJP's manifesto, titled 'Sankalp Yatra 2026', for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 in Kolkata on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Amit Shah promised to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal within six months if the BJP wins the election, aiming for equal laws for all citizens.

The BJP pledged to appoint a 'son of Bengal' as chief minister, emphasising local leadership and good governance, contrasting with dynastic politics.

Shah addressed concerns about the BJP's influence from Delhi, assuring that a Bengali-speaking and capable leader would govern the state.

The BJP vowed to expel illegal infiltrators while granting citizenship to refugees, clarifying their stance on immigration in West Bengal.

Shah criticised the TMC's opposition to 'Ram Rajya,' defining it as a concept of good governance that the BJP aims to establish in West Bengal.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday turned the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto launch into a hard-edged ideological pitch, promising Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal within six months, a 'son of Bengal' as chief minister and 'Ram Rajya' in the state.

Launching the 'Sankalp Patra', he sought to blend the party's stance against infiltration and appeasement with a welfare push and an attempt to blunt the Trinamool Congress's attack that the Bharatiya Janata Party would interfere with Bengali food habits.

"There will be one law for every person in Bengal," Shah said at a press conference after unveiling the manifesto.

Uniform Civil Code and Equal Rights

Defending the UCC promise amid repeated attacks by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that such a code amounted to appeasement politics, the former BJP chief said the idea did not originate with his party.

"The recommendation for a Uniform Civil Code is not of the BJP. It is of the Constituent Assembly. It was due to appeasement politics that the UCC was not implemented for so long. In whichever states we have formed governments, we have implemented them; and we will do it in Bengal too."

Shah asked whether the UCC amounted to majoritarianism.

"The Constitution is based on the principle that every citizen, regardless of religion, should be treated equally. Is having the same law for every citizen appeasement? Or is it appeasement when one citizen is allowed four marriages and another only one? The UCC ends appeasement," he said.

A Chief Minister from Bengal

Shah also addressed a question that has long dogged the BJP in Bengal -- who would be its chief ministerial face.

"We are not a dynastic party where, after Didi, her nephew automatically becomes the leader," he said, in an oblique reference to Abhishek Banerjee.

"Any Bengali can become the chief minister. The BJP's chief minister in Bengal will be someone who belongs to Bengal. He will be capable, qualified and able to establish good governance."

Shah sought to undercut the TMC's repeated charge that the BJP was trying to run Bengal from Delhi.

"That will not happen. Bengal needs good governance. Bengal's chief minister will be someone born in Bengal, who speaks Bengali and is capable. If the state is run from Delhi, that is still better than being run from Bangladesh," he said.

The reference to Bangladesh dovetailed with the BJP's campaign around infiltration.

"Mamata Banerjee has a different definition of infiltrators. By infiltrators, I mean those who are not citizens of India. We will expel all such infiltrators and give citizenship to refugees. Infiltrators and refugees are two different things," Shah said.

Asked if the BJP would publish a white paper on infiltration, he said, "That will come once we form government (in West Bengal). We will tell you exactly how many infiltrators there are and how the current government created fake entries."

'Ram Rajya' and Good Governance

Shah also seized on TMC leader Akhil Giri's remark that Bengal did not need 'Ram Rajya'.

"Ram Rajya is a concept of good governance, one that Mahatma Gandhi himself spoke about during the freedom struggle," he said.

"If Mamata Didi does not want even that, she need not worry -- she has very little time left. From May 5, the BJP would be in power. We will establish Ram Rajya here, which means good governance."

Asked whether a BJP government would ban fish and eggs, Shah shot back: "Why do you ask such a question?"

Terming it a rumour spread by the TMC, he said, "Didi keeps making such claims. Now she is saying that all her welfare schemes will be stopped. Wherever the BJP has come to power, we have not stopped a single pro-poor scheme of the previous government. What will stop, however, is the cut money that goes into implementing these schemes."

Asked whether the BJP was now embracing the same 'freebies culture' it once criticised, Shah argued that Bengal had been pushed into distress by the Left and the TMC.

"When someone is sick, you give them medicine and strength. That is not called a freebie. These measures are meant to support Bengal's women, youth and men, and also fishermen," he said.

Projecting confidence despite the BJP's failure to dislodge the TMC in 2021, Shah said the party would cross the line this time.

"We are certain that this time the BJP will form a government with a full majority. I want to appeal to the people of Bengal not to be afraid of anyone. Fear will end only when there is change. Vote fearlessly in this election and initiate that change."

Referring to the violence in Malda and allegations that judicial officers had been confined or threatened, Shah said, "The Supreme Court has taken note of it, so has the EC. They have ensured that elections this time will be free of fear."

The Union home minister also dismissed a TMC video purportedly showing suspended leader Humayun Kabir claiming proximity to BJP leaders.

"You do not know Mamata Banerjee's capabilities. She can make 2,000 such videos. Humayun Kabir and the BJP are at opposite poles. We would rather sit in the opposition for 20 years than sit with those who talk about building a Babri Masjid in Bengal," he said.

Shah distanced himself from the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls. "This is a matter for the Election Commission and the Supreme Court. We are not carrying out the SIR. The Election Commission is doing it," he said.

Shah made one final promise pitched at two important communities in north and western Bengal.

"We will make efforts to include the Kurmali and Rajbanshi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and the Bengal government will work with the Centre for this," he said.
A tragic boat accident in Vrindavan's Yamuna River has claimed the lives of 10 Punjab pilgrims, highlighting the dangers of unregulated boat trips and sparking urgent rescue efforts.

Key Points A boat capsized in the Yamuna River in Vrindavan, India, killing 10 Punjab pilgrims and leaving several injured or missing.

The accident occurred near Kesi Ghat when the boat hit a submerged pontoon drum, a remnant of a dismantled bridge.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is coordinating with Uttar Pradesh authorities to provide assistance and support to the victims and their families.

Rescue operations are underway involving multiple agencies, including police, SDRF, fire services, and the Army, to search for the missing individuals.

The Ludhiana administration has established control rooms to assist families affected by the Vrindavan boat tragedy.

What began as a devotional journey to Mathura turned into an unimaginable tragedy for several families from Ludhiana and Jagraon after a boat carrying tourists, primarily from Punjab, capsized in Yamuna in Vrindavan on Friday, leaving 10 people dead, 22 injured and five missing.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath and assured him of every possible support.

According to an official statement issued here, Mann in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government for relief and rescue operations.

Most of the victims were from Jagraon and Dugri areas of Ludhiana, officials here said, adding that a group of about 120 pilgrims from Jagraon's Shri Banke Bihari Club had left for a four-day trip to Vrindavan in two buses on April 9.

"They had gone with lot of enthusiasm and I was present to see them off on Thursday. They told me also to come along, but I said you are telling me at the last minute and may be next time," former MLA S R Kaler told reporters in Jagroan.

A boat carrying tourists, primarily from Punjab, capsized in Yamuna in Vrindavan on Friday afternoon, leaving 10 people dead, 22 injured and five missing, officials said.

The accident occurred near Kesi Ghat when the boat carrying over two dozen tourists moved into deeper waters and hit a floating pontoon, they said.

Authorities noted that a pontoon bridge had recently been dismantled in the area due to rising water levels, leaving some pontoon drums in the river, one of which the boat is believed to have collided with.

Punjab CM Mann, in a post on X, said, "Today, a boat carrying residents of Jagraon city (Punjab) for darshan in Vrindavan capsized in the Yamuna River near Mathura while carrying 32 people... it is with great sorrow that I must inform you that some devotees have died by drowning."

"I spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Ji... every possible assistance will be provided to the victims. I am in contact with the Uttar Pradesh government...," he added.

The deceased have been identified as Kavita Rani (49), Charanjit (40), Sapna Hans (55), Rikesh Gulati, Madhur Behl, Asha Rani, Pinki Behl, Anju Gulati, Ishan Kataria, Minu Bansal, according to an official statement.

Those missing have been identified as Manik Tandon, Pankaj Malhotra, Rishab Sharma, Yash Bhalla and Monika.

Among the 22 injured, Pinki, Manju, Savita, Tanish Jain, Rekha, Rajinder Kaur, Saroj and Dolly are undergoing treatment, while the condition of others is stated to be stable, according to the statement.

Search operations are being carried out by police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire services, civil defence teams, the Army and local divers, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are also expected to join the efforts soon, officials said.

Medical authorities at the Vrindavan Joint Hospital said the deceased include six men and four women.

Community Impact and Response

In Ludhiana, Pawan Kumar Kataria told reporters that his grandson Ishan Kataria left in bus for Vrindavan on Thursday.

He said the entire group was in a happy mood when they left from Ludhiana, but little did he know that a tragedy would struck his family.

Pawan Kumar said his grandson was just 25 years old and was unmarried.

A man from Jagraon, survived the accident but lost two members of his family. Still in shock, he recalled while talking to his friend on mobile phone in Jagraon, how the group had gone to Vrindavan as part of a four-day trip which ended in the tragedy.

"Many in our neighbourhood had gone. They were in a happy mood. When we heard about the news today, it came as a shock. We tried to contact them over phone, but there was no response," said a woman crying bitterly.

Helpline Numbers and Assistance

The Ludhiana administration has set up dedicated control rooms in Ludhiana and Jagraon -- 01624223226 (SDM Jagraon office) and 01612403100 (Deputy Commissioner Office Ludhiana).

Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said authorities in Punjab are already in contact with their counterparts in Vrindavan, adding that most victims of the tragedy are from Dugri and Jagraon areas in the district.

Jain said special teams comprising both civil and police officers were dispatched to Vrindavan for better coordination among the authorities and he is constant touch with Mathura Deputy Commissioner.

"Ludhiana administration has announced that injured can avail free of cost treatment and they can contact on the helpline numbers which we have issued," he said, adding that many families whose kin have either died or have been injured have left for Mathura.

The administration is in touch with the kin and has assured every possible assistance which is being facilitated in coordination with the UP authorities.

Political Reactions

Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu also expressed shock and grief at the incident.

"Extremely shocked by the tragic news of the boat accident of devotees from Jagraon in Vrindavan. No words can heal the pain of losing a loved one on a spiritual journey," Bittu said in a post on X.

Bittu said the administration is working tirelessly on-site for relief and rescue.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini termed the incident as extremely tragic and heart-wrenching.

"...My deepest condolences are with all the grieving families. At the same time, I pray for the swift recovery of the injured," Saini said.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal and Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also expressed their condolences.
A special court in Uttar Pradesh has sentenced nine individuals, including Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants, to eight years in jail for illegal immigration, human trafficking, and possession of fraudulent documents, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat these crimes.

Key Points Nine individuals, including five Rohingya and three Bangladeshi migrants, have been sentenced to eight years in prison for illegal immigration and human trafficking in Uttar Pradesh.

The arrests stemmed from an investigation initiated in July 2021 at Ghaziabad railway station, where illegal documents were discovered and victims were rescued.

The accused were found guilty of possessing fake documents and engaging in human trafficking, leading to their conviction by the NIA/ATS trial court.

The court imposed a fine of Rs 2,500 on each of the convicted individuals in addition to the eight-year prison sentence.

A court here has sentenced nine persons including five Rohingya and three Bangladeshi migrants to eight years' rigorous imprisonment after convicting them of illegal immigration, possession of fake documents and human trafficking, the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad said in a statement on Friday.

In a statement issued here, the ATS said Mohammad Noor alias Nurul Islam (Bangladesh), Rahmatullah (Rohingya), and Shabiullah (Rohingya) were arrested from Ghaziabad railway station on July 26, 2021 in connection with illegal immigration, possession of illegal documents and human trafficking, and three supposed victims including two girls were rescued.

A case was subsequently registered against the accused and based on the evidence collected during the investigation, the names of Abdul Shakoor alias Gunny (Bangladesh), Ale Miyan (Bangladesh), Mohammad Ismail (Rohingya), Mohammad Rafiq alias Rafiqul Islam (Rohingya), Mohammad Hussain (Rohingya), and Bappan alias Arshad Miyan (a resident of Tripura) came to light, the statement said.

They were subsequently arrested and sent to jail. After completing the investigation, the ATS submitted a chargesheet against the accused.

In an order issued Thursday, NIA/ATS trial court convicted the nine persons and pronounced the quantum of punishment.

The court found the accused guilty of illegal immigration, possession of fake documents and human trafficking, and sentenced them to eight years of rigorous imprisonment each, also imposing a fine of Rs 2,500 on each of them, the ATS said.
Two men in Uttar Pradesh have been arrested for their alleged connections to a Pakistan-linked handler operating from Dubai, accused of inciting anti-Hindu sentiment and promoting anti-national activities.

Key Points Two men in Uttar Pradesh were arrested for alleged links to a Dubai-based handler with ties to Pakistan.

The handler, Aqib, is accused of inciting anti-Hindu sentiment and encouraging anti-national activities.

An Instagram video allegedly showed Aqib displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives.

The case has been handed over to the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for further investigation.

Police officials involved in the initial investigation, who gave Aqib a clean chit, have been suspended.

Two men were arrested in this Uttar Pradesh district on Friday for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Dubai, police said.

Circle Officer, Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi said Uvaid Malik and Jalal Haider were arrested following inputs on their alleged links with Aqib, a resident of Meerut currently staying in Dubai.

According to police, Aqib had earlier come into the spotlight after a video surfaced on Instagram purportedly showing him displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives.

Allegations Against Aqib

During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that Aqib used to incite youngsters against Hindus and encourage anti-national activities, the officer said, adding that detailed questioning of the accused is underway.

On April 6, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Jha said the video first surfaced in November last year. Aqib, a native of Sathla village in the Mawana area of Meerut, was allegedly seen in the video brandishing weapons.

Following the viral clip, a case was registered at the Nangal police station by sub-inspector Vinod Kumar. However, the then station house officer and investigating officer Satyendra Singh had recorded Aqib's statement and filed a final report, stating that the weapons seen in the video were toys, effectively giving him a clean chit.

ATS Takes Over Investigation

Police said fresh developments have now revealed Aqib's suspicious links and the probe has been handed over to the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

The SP said action has been taken against the officials concerned, with the then SHO and investigating officer suspended and Circle Officer Nitesh Pratap Singh removed from his post.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is today expected to officially commission the new Greenfields Shopping Centre in Harare, marking a significant addition to the country's growing commercial infrastructure.The modern retail mall, strategically located near the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show grounds, is set to improve convenience for residents while boosting economic activity through job creation and increased investment.The facility features a mix of retail outlets, fast food franchises, banking services, and mobile network providers, positioning it as a comprehensive commercial hub aimed at meeting diverse consumer needs.Developed under a public-private partnership between the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show and a consortium of private investors, the project reflects broader efforts to modernise Zimbabwe's retail sector and attract capital into commercial real estate.Officials say the mall aligns with Government's policy thrust of promoting a private sector-led economy, while also supporting the formalisation of business activities.The Greenfields Retail Centre is expected to contribute to Gross Domestic Product growth by stimulating trade, enhancing service delivery, and creating employment opportunities within the retail and services sectors.Authorities believe such developments are key to transforming urban commercial spaces and positioning Zimbabwe as an attractive destination for both local and international investors.
The Delhi Juvenile Justice Board has refused bail to two minors implicated in a Holi killing, citing concerns over public safety, potential community unrest, and the minors' own well-being, emphasising the importance of rehabilitation under the Juvenile Justice Act.

Key Points Delhi's Juvenile Justice Board denied bail to two minors involved in a Holi-related killing, citing potential threats to public peace.

The court emphasised the minors' safety and rehabilitation under the Juvenile Justice Act as primary concerns.

The JJB highlighted the risk of community tension and potential retaliation if the minors were released.

The decision prioritises the 'best interest of the child' principle, ensuring their protection and structured support.

The court acknowledged the impact on the minors' education but prioritised safety and rehabilitation due to credible risks.

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) here has denied bail to two minors who were arrested in connection with the killing of a man during a clash between two families on Holi in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar.

On March 4, 26-year-old Tarun died after being injured in a clash between two neighbouring families of different communities. The altercation was triggered after a water balloon thrown by a girl from one community accidentally hit a woman from the other.

While hearing the bail applications filed by the two accused minors, presiding officer Chitranshi Arora said that their release could "disturb public peace, and undermine public confidence in the justice delivery system".

Their release could also expose them to physical and psychological danger, it said.

In its order dated April 9, the board said, "The premature release of the CCLs (Children in Conflict with Law) who are named and alleged participants in the incident is likely to aggravate the prevailing situation, disturb public peace, and undermine public confidence in the justice delivery system."

The JJB noted submissions of the investigating officer that the incident triggered tension between communities in the area and had a pronounced impact on public order and social harmony.

It said the continued protective custody of the minors was not punitive but necessary to secure their care, protection, psychological stability and rehabilitation, which are integral to the concept of justice under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

"This board also finds that the release of the child litigants (minors) at this stage is likely to expose them to physical and psychological danger. The community tension arising out of the incident...indicates a real and tangible risk of retaliation, intimidation, or emotional harm, which the board cannot ignore," it said.

While acknowledging concerns about disruption of the minors' education, the board said such considerations could not override issues of safety, protection and rehabilitation when credible material suggested that release could be detrimental.

"The principle of the best interest of the child remains the guiding star of all decisions under the JJ Act," the board said, adding that continued protective custody would ensure their safety, counselling, education and medical needs in a structured environment.

The JJB said that granting bail at this stage could expose the minors to harm and defeat the ends of justice under the rehabilitative framework of the Juvenile Justice Act, and accordingly rejected their bail pleas.

"This board is satisfied that their release at this stage would... defeat the ends of justice as understood within the rehabilitative and protective framework of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015," it said.

Earlier, the incident triggered protests by some groups, during which two vehicles linked to some of the accused were set on fire. Police have since arrested multiple accused in connection with the case.
US Vice President JD Vance is leading a delegation to Pakistan for crucial talks with Iran, seeking a path towards de-escalation and constructive engagement in the West Asia conflict.

IMAGE: US Vice President J D Vance boards Air Force Two for expected departure to Pakistan for talks on Iran, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on April 10, 2026. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via Reuters

Key Points JD Vance heads to Pakistan for high-stakes US-Iran talks.

Talks delayed to Saturday; Iranian delegation arrival unclear.

Iran sets ceasefire in Lebanon, asset release as pre-conditions.

Confusion after envoy deletes post confirming delegation visit.

Islamabad under red alert with massive, multi-layered security deployment.

United States Vice President J D Vance on Friday left for Pakistan to participate in peace talks with Iran to end their war, even as there was no official word about the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, which has been placed under high security.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while announcing a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, had said that the US and Iran would hold talks in Islamabad on April 10.

He had tagged the presidents of the US and Iran in his statement on X.

Before he departed for Pakistan, Vice President Vance said he was looking forward to the negotiations with Iran and that he expected the Islamabad talks to be 'positive'.

He also said President Donald Trump gave him 'some pretty clear guidelines' on negotiations.

'As @POTUS said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,' Vance said before boarding the plane.

Talks Delayed, Arrival Uncertain

There was no word about when the Iranian delegation would arrive, but social media was abuzz with reports that Pakistan had set up a special security corridor to escort the delegation from Iran.

The talks are now scheduled to be held on Saturday, according to official sources, a day later than the date set by Prime Minister Sharif.

Iran Signals Pullout, Sets Conditions

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran has threatened to withdraw from the Islamabad talks if Israeli attacks on Lebanon do not cease.

In a post on X on Friday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is likely to be part of the high-profile delegation, said that two conditions must be met before the start of negotiations.

"Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," he said.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who held a telephone call with the country's ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Shibani, asserted that the US must live up to its ceasefire commitments, which he said included ensuring the truce covers Lebanon.

Confusion Over Iranian Delegation

Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amir Moghadam, on Thursday confirmed that a 10-member Iranian delegation would arrive in Islamabad.

'Despite scepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime to sabotage the diplomatic initiative, invited by Hon PM Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran,' he said on X on Thursday.

Hours later, he deleted the statement amidst the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, which was subjected to aerial attacks by Israel, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had said that the Israeli attack on Lebanon blatantly violated the initial ceasefire and would render negotiations meaningless.

Officials have not provided any timeline for the arrival of delegates due to security reasons, adding to the mystery.

Massive Security Arrangements in Islamabad

Despite uncertainty, Pakistan geared up to host the two sides.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday announced "Visa on Arrival" for delegates and journalists travelling to Pakistan for talks. This facility, extended for the duration of the talks, does not cover third-country nationals.

'Pakistan welcomes all delegates, including journalists from participating nations, travelling in relation to the Islamabad Talks 2026. To this end, all airlines are requested to permit boarding to all such individuals without a visa. Immigration authorities in Pakistan will issue them Visa on Arrival,' Dar posted on social media Friday morning.

A thick security blanket covered the capital, Islamabad, which was on 'red alert' ahead of talks.

More than 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed to ensure multi-layered security for the visiting delegates, officials said.

The Red Zone, housing key buildings, is being protected by the army and the Rangers, and only authorised officials and residents are allowed to go through it.

The upcoming negotiations are being closely watched globally, as their success or failure could have far-reaching implications for West Asia's security, global energy markets, and international diplomacy.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reviewed the security arrangements in Islamabad ahead of the arrival of the Iranian and US delegations.

Naqvi directed that all possible measures be taken for the security of the incoming delegations.

He was told that the Red Zone had been sealed, and a control room had been established in the ministry to monitor the situation.

Police also set up special checkpoints at the entrances and exits of the city, while all patrol units and special squads are patrolling throughout the city, and police are taking all possible measures to protect the lives and property of citizens.
Superstar Vijay's upcoming film Jana Nayagan has been leaked online, sparking outrage and legal action within the Tamil film industry as concerns about piracy and financial losses escalate.

IMAGE: A still from Vijay's Jana Nayagan.



Key Points Superstar Vijay's Jana Nayagan film has been leaked online in HD, causing significant concern for the Tamil film industry.

KVN Productions has initiated legal proceedings against those involved in the illegal access and distribution of the film's content.

Industry figures like Sivakarthikeyan and G Dhananjheyan have voiced strong opposition to piracy and called for immediate action.

The film's leak comes after delays due to issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and amidst speculation about its political themes.

The leak of Jana Nayagan could result in substantial financial losses for distributors awaiting the film's theatrical release.

In a major blow to the Tamil film industry, superstar Vijay's highly anticipated film Jana Nayagan has been leaked online in high definition ahead of its theatrical release, prompting the makers to initiate swift criminal proceedings.

The leak surfaced early Friday morning, with several clips -- including the actor's five-minute introduction scene and the title card -- circulating widely on social media platforms like X, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

Sources suggest the footage may have been recorded during a private test screening or a post-production session.

KVN Productions, through its legal counsel, Vijayan Subramanian, issued a public notice confirming that "certain scenes have been illegally accessed and disseminated".

Speaking to PTI, the counsel said, when the notice was drafted, only a few scenes were leaked.

However, he admitted that since morning, links to full film are being circulated online.

The notice warned that any downloading, storing, or circulating of such content on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and others constitutes a serious criminal offence and copyright violation, making every involved person liable.

"The client has already initiated legal action against identified individuals," the counsel told PTI, but refused to reveal more details.

Industry Response to the Jana Nayagan Leak

Meanwhile, actor Sivakarthikeyan voiced strong opposition to piracy, urging the audience to avoid leaked content and wait for the theatrical release.

"Every film is made with the passion, blood and sweat of hundreds of people - please avoid piracy. Kindly wait for the theatrical release and watch it in theatres. Whoever is responsible for this must face strict action," posted Sivakarthikeyan on his official X account.

Prominent producer and industry analyst G Dhananjheyan also called for immediate intervention.

"All those sharing the video on tweets using fake handles must be blocked immediately by the cyber cell," he wrote on X.

He also said that he spoke with the Regional Censor Officer, Chennai and briefed him on this urgent matter.

"He is ready to support and request the Information & Broadcasting Ministry at Delhi to remove all links and act against those posting the videos and links," Dhananjheyan added.

Background and Potential Impact

The leak comes at a particularly sensitive time for the project, which has been mired in a months-long legal battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

While Vijay's fans are urging each other in various social media platforms not to circulate the link online, some netizens speculate that the political theme of the film might have contributed to the timing of the leak.

Originally slated for a January 10 release, the film was delayed after the board initially refused certification following a complaint about its alleged objectionable portrayal of the defence forces.

The makers recently withdrew their writ petition from the Madras High Court to pursue a resolution through the board's revising panel.

'Jana Nayagan', featuring an ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, and Prakash Raj, is widely touted as Vijay's final film before he transitions fully into active politics.

Trade analysts fear the leak could cause significant financial losses to distributors who have been waiting for the theatrical debut for months.
A new report reveals the White House played a direct role in shaping Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's social media plea to Donald Trump regarding the Iran deadline, highlighting behind-the-scenes efforts to de-escalate tensions.

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 The White House reportedly influenced Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's social media post requesting Donald Trump to extend the Iran deadline.

Sharif's post urged Trump to extend the deadline and Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks to allow for diplomatic efforts.

The US and Iran reportedly agreed to a conditional ceasefire, with Pakistan attempting to mediate a lasting peace.

The New York Times reported that the White House had seen and approved Sharif's statement before it was posted.

The White House was 'directly involved' in shaping a social media post by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in which he 'earnestly' requested United States President Donald Trump to extend his April 7 deadline on Iran for two weeks, according to a media report.

The New York Times said the 'White House was directly involved in shaping the message' that was shared on X on Tuesday by Sharif in which wrote '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,' he said.

Sharif also requested Iran 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 conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region,' he added.

The US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire on Wednesday, followed by a face-to-face meeting in Islamabad to settle the differences and convert the ongoing truce into a lasting peace.

Describing it as a 'last-ditch public plea', the NYT report said Trump's 8 pm deadline for Iran was fast approaching, and 'Pakistan was trying to orchestrate an off-ramp for both sides'.

'So Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to social media,' it said, noting that Sharif had tagged Trump and other top advisers in his post.

NYT said Sharif adopted 'Trumpian parlance' when he wrote the post Tuesday afternoon.

White House Approval

But behind the scenes, the White House had already seen and signed off on the statement before Sharif posted it, the NYT report said, citing a person briefed on the communication.

'And it showed that the White House - even as Mr. Trump was threatening to wipe out Iran's civilization unless Tehran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz - was actively looking for a way out of the crisis as the deadline drew near on Tuesday,' the report said.

The NYT report further said a White House official denied that Trump wrote the statement, a speculation that arose when social media users pointed out that Sharif had initially posted the statement with the header: '*Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X*.'

Trump's Threat

At 8.06 am on April 7, Trump had threatened in a post on Truth Social that 'a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again'.

"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 radicalised 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 had said.
A family tragedy in Pali, Rajasthan, sees a woman and her two sons found dead in a suspected suicide, prompting a police investigation into the role of depression and other potential factors.

Key Points A woman and her two sons were discovered dead in their Pali, Rajasthan home, prompting a police investigation.

Authorities suspect suicide as the cause of death, with depression potentially linked to illness as a contributing factor.

A suicide note and a bottle of poison were found at the scene, suggesting a premeditated act.

Police are exploring other possible angles in addition to depression to determine the full circumstances of the tragedy.

A woman and her two sons were found dead at their house in a posh locality of Rajasthan's Pali city, with police suspecting suicide, officials said on Friday.

The bodies were found on Thursday evening at a residence in Ashapura township on Jodhpur Road after the house remained locked for two days, they said.

According to the police, the elder son, Narpat Lal (34), was found hanging from a ceiling fan, while his mother, Shanti Devi (59), and younger son Raghuveer (26) were lying on the floor.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Madan Singh said two mobile phones and a suicide note were recovered from the spot, along with a bottle of poison near the bodies of Shanti and Raghuveer.

Police said the note suggests the family took the extreme step due to depression linked to illness.

However, they added that other possible angles are being investigated.
Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 20-year-old youth found at a Gurugram school, with a forensic team collecting evidence to determine the cause.

Key Points A 20-year-old youth was found dead at a government school in Gurugram.

Police suspect the youth was killed by a blow to the head with a heavy object.

An investigation is underway, including forensic analysis and CCTV footage review.

Authorities are working to contact the deceased's family and determine the circumstances of his death.

A 20-year-old youth was found dead at a government school in Heli Mandi under the Pataudi area here on Friday, police said.

The deceased, Ravi -- a resident of Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh -- was allegedly killed by a blow to the head with a heavy object, they said.

The police were called by the school staff, who discovered the body in the morning. A forensic team has been called to the scene to collect evidence, they added.

The education department was also informed about the incident, the police said.

The police are trying to contact the deceased's family, and are scanning the nearby CCTV cameras to find out how he reached the school, a senior police officer said.
The core issues to be settled -- access to Hormuz, Israel's aggression in Lebanon, the question of Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and compensation -- are thorny enough to require weeks of patient negotiation.

The most likely outcome of the opening sessions is that both sides take the measure of each other, establish what is and is not negotiable, and return home without having broken anything. That would count as progress.

Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.

IMAGE: A damaged vehicle and rubble at the site of an Israeli strike in Tallet El Khayat, Beirut, Lebanon, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters

The guns have mostly fallen silent.

A two-week ceasefire hangs over the Persian Gulf and the wider region and yet, even as the clock counts down to peace talks in Islamabad, the terms of the ceasefire continue to be disputed, and what is on the table in terms of an agenda depends on who you ask.

IMAGE: LPG, chemical and oil tankers anchored near the Fos-Lavera oil hub in Marseille, France, March 26, 2026. Photograph: Manon Cruz/Reuters

Strait of Hormuz Disruption Deepens

Meanwhile, the world's most critical energy artery, the Strait of Hormuz, remains virtually paralysed (external link).

Shipping traffic has slowed to a trickle, with barely a handful of vessels moving in the last 24 hours against the normal daily average of well over a hundred as Iran asserts its own rules of passage, warns of mines, and effectively demands a toll even while insisting the waterway is open. [Reuters (external link)]

Oil Supply Shock Hits Markets

The result, as fresh data shows, is the biggest single disruption to global oil supply in history.

The picture grows more complicated when you consider that Saudi energy facilities (external link), including the Ras Tanura refinery complex and the vital East-West pipeline, have taken fresh hits, knocking out hundreds of thousands of barrels per day (external link) of production and throughput. [Reuters (external link)]

Oil prices have responded accordingly, with Brent pushing toward the high nineties and analysts warning of further spikes if the strait does not get unblocked quickly.

This puts immediate pressure on every importing economy, India very much included.

Key Points Strait of Hormuz traffic has nearly halted, severely restricting global oil shipments and disrupting one of the world's busiest energy routes.

Iran is asserting control over passage, warning of mines and imposing conditions despite claiming the waterway remains open.

Attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure have reduced production capacity, compounding supply concerns and tightening global oil availability.

Oil prices are rising sharply, with analysts warning of further spikes if shipping disruptions in the Gulf persist.

Diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan aim to stabilise the situation, but major disagreements continue between the United States and Iran.

IMAGE: Satellite view showing smoke billowing at a Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, after a reported attack, April 8, 2026. Photograph: European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2/Handout/Reuters

Saudi Oil Facilities Under Attack

Diplomacy, meanwhile, is attempting to catch up with events on the ground.

Pakistan has thrust itself into the ambitious role of mediator, hosting what are billed as make-or-break US-Iran talks in Islamabad this weekend.

Islamabad's investment is not casual: Both Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir have staked considerable political capital on preventing the kind of anarchy that could spill across their border.

The hope is that bringing the Americans and Iranians back to the table can convert the ceasefire into something durable. But the fault lines are already visible.

Iran made clear it will not even send a delegation unless the ceasefire is explicitly extended to Lebanon and 'elsewhere' -- a pre-condition that pulls Hezbollah and the wider axis of resistance into the conversation. (Latest reporting says that the Iranian delegation has landed in Islamabad. It remains to be seen whether Lebanon, particularly Hezbollah, will see this as an abandonment.)

Trump Pressure Mounts on Iran

In Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu, with his corruption trial resuming on Sunday, has suddenly signaled a tactical pivot: He now says he will initiate direct talks with the Lebanese prime minister on disarming Hezbollah and establishing "peaceful relations."

Whether this is genuine de-escalation or a maneuver to keep the larger deal alive remains to be seen; either way, it underscores how domestic political calendars are now shaping battlefield and negotiating timetables.

In Washington, the strain is audible. President Trump has taken to lashing out in multiple directions: castigating (external link) various hitherto MAGA-leaning talking heads for breaking the faith, telling reporters that both Israel and Iran have already violated the ceasefire (external link), demanding that Iran stop charging toll (external link) for the use of Hormuz and calling it (external link) dishonorable, saying that NATO needs (external link) to send ships to Hormuz within days or else, and once again floating the idea of an American pull-out from the alliance.

At the same time, reports of continued US troop and asset movements toward the Gulf suggest the administration is keeping its military options very much on the table even as it pushes for a diplomatic off-ramp.

IMAGE: A motorcyclist passes near President House in Islamabad as Pakistan prepares to host US-Iran peace talks, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Waseem Khan/Reuters

Pakistan Hosts US-Iran Talks

The negotiating team being dispatched to Islamabad -- a group that includes Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff -- carries with it the baggage of earlier, unsuccessful efforts and a clear deficit of trust from the Iranian side.

There is also an imbalance in qualifications. On the US side J D Vance, a war sceptic who has spoken both for and against the war, leads the delegation.

Neither Kushner and Witkoff have diplomatic qualifications. And they are up against highly skilled career diplomats Mohammad Bagher Galibaf, a former air force pilot, professor, and speaker of the Iranian parliament, and Seyid Abbas Araghchi, the erudite minister of foreign affairs.

IMAGE: A cargo ship sails near the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

Asking Vance, Kushner and Witkoff to pull off the multiple miracles required (Hormuz access, Lebanon, nuclear parameters, compensation) feels like a high-stakes gamble in an atmosphere already thick with mutual suspicion.

This, then, is the true nature of the current stasis. It is not peace so much as a high-pressure pause in which every actor is calculating, posturing, and waiting for the other to blink first.

Pakistan is attempting to play honest broker on a stage far larger than its usual brief.

Trump is trying to project strength while visibly impatient.

Iran is leveraging its control of the Strait.

Israel is balancing military reality against legal and political deadlines at home. [Reuters (external link)]

IMAGE: Protestors protest over LPG shortages and rising fuel prices in Patna, April 3, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

And beneath it all, the oil market, the shipping lanes, and the global economy are already feeling the cost of uncertainty.

How long this uneasy limbo can hold is the only question that matters right now.

One misinterpreted signal in the strait, one walkout in Islamabad, one strike in Lebanon, and the region could tip back into open conflict with consequences that will be measured not just in barrels and tankers, but in the price ordinary citizens pay at the pump from Mumbai to Manchester.

IMAGE: People carry a coffin of a victim killed in an Israeli strike outside Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Emilie Madi/Reuters

Netanyahu can't stop fighting. But is he winning the war? (external link)

In the Wall Street Journal, Anat Peled presents a sober battlefield accounting.

Despite over 20,000 strikes, Iran's regime survives, Hezbollah remains a 'potent threat', and Gaza's Hamas is still resisting.

The central tension -- operational success accumulating into strategic gain -- is crystallised by a former Israeli intelligence official.

Iran discovered something important, he says: that they control the arteries of the international economy. That discovery is now the dominant fact of the ceasefire.

IMAGE: Activists burn posters of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest against the conflict in Manila, Philippines, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Eloisa Lopez/Reuters

Israel Complicates Trump's Push for Peace With Iran (external link)

IMAGE: Heavy machinery clears debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Ain Al Mraiseh, Beirut, Lebanon, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Raghed Waked/Reuters

The most useful mapping of the Trump-Netanyahu fault line comes from Michael Crowley in the New York Times.

Lebanon is where the divergence is sharpest: For Netanyahu it is an existential priority; for Trump it is, in one analyst's phrase, 'a tertiary concern at best'.

The key insight here is the domestic political logic that structures Netanyahu's every move.

Trump's approval makes 'Trump asked me to do this' a viable excuse with the right flank, and Netanyahu will use it to absorb pressure while continuing to fight.

IMAGE: Books recovered from the debris at a strike site in El Khayat, Beirut, Lebanon, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters

Iran's Battered Leaders Emerge From War Confident -- and With New Cards (external link)

The Iran point of view comes from Yeganeh Torbati and Erika Solomon in the New York Times.

The regime's calculus is the mirror image of Netanyahu's: Just surviving two of the world's most powerful militaries is, in Iran's framing, a 'divine win'.

Control of the Strait of Hormuz has become, as one analyst notes, a more immediately usable lever than the nuclear program ever was.

The darker undercurrent: A population that is broadly dissatisfied, watching their country in ruins, governed by a leadership now more emboldened to suppress dissent and race toward a bomb.

Netanyahu-Trump Divisions on Iran War Threaten to Box In US (external link)

Ben Bartenstein of Bloomberg reports on the internal fault lines on both sides.

The key disclosure: Netanyahu was told of the ceasefire terms only shortly before the announcement, was not consulted on the Lebanon clause, and immediately challenged them with the biggest single Lebanon strike of the war.

The internal Washington divide: Kushner and Witkoff pressing the campaign, Rubio and Vance urging caution, has now shifted, for the moment, toward the latter.

The question the piece leaves hanging: Whose war aims was the US serving?

IMAGE: Damaged buildings at Kafr Kila following Israeli military activity along the Israel-Lebanon border, April 9, 2026. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters

Lebanon's 10 Minutes from Hell (external link)

In the Financial Times, Raya Jalabi produces a ground-level piece that sits beside all the geopolitical analysis.

One hundred targets in ten minutes, at least 303 dead -- a higher toll than the 2020 Beirut port explosion.

The detail that lingers is this: Displaced Lebanese had begun returning home, believing the ceasefire covered them.

The strikes came without warning. Israel called it Operation Eternal Darkness.

Trump Is Wishcasting Victory in Iran (external link)

The transcript of a Radio Atlantic conversation between Adam Harris, Tom Nichols and Nancy Youssef is the sharpest read on American accountability.

The core diagnosis: This was a regime-change war from day one; the CIA director reportedly called the 'regime will fall' scenario 'farcical', and when it didn't happen, the administration had no strategic direction to fall back on.

Nichols' formulation is worth the read: operational successes without strategic direction don't get you toward victory.

Youssef's observation on Iran is equally pointed: One side had no clear aims; the other had one: to survive.

Donald Trump Is the War's Biggest Loser (external link)

The Economist's leader, in this week's edition, does not equivocate.

The three war aims -- taming Iran, toppling the regime, eliminating the nuclear threat -- have all fallen short. Iran has a new supreme leader, harder-line than his father.

The nuclear programme is degraded but not dismantled, and the incentive for Iran to race toward a bomb has increased.

The Gulf states are asking whether they can depend on America.

The piece's closing argument on the 'might is right' fallacy is the most pointed editorial judgment in today's reading.

The Costs of Trump's Iran-War Folly (external link)

IMAGE: Shipping routes face restrictions with vessels requiring permission to pass through Iranian territorial waters amid heightened tensions. Photograph: Kind courtesy @iribnews_irib/X

Through this war, staff writer Susan B Glasser of the New Yorker has produced a series of forensic pieces (external link). This one is among her sharpest.

The immediate metric of failure, she says, is this: As of Thursday, only seven ships transited the Strait despite a ceasefire supposedly conditioned on its 'complete, immediate, and safe' opening.

Glasser's larger frame: Trump has traded one Supreme Leader Khamenei for another, harder-line one, while authorising Iran to charge tolls on a waterway that was previously free.

The parallel to Putin, back in 2022, ordering his generals to invade Ukraine with their dress uniforms packed and ready for a victory parade in Kyiv, is apt. And damning.

A Ceasefire Will Not Prevent the Iran War's Economic Harm (external link)

The Economist presents the economic ledger.

Brent is projected to end the year around $75, roughly a quarter above pre-war expectations.

Qatar's Ras Laffan export facility lost 17% of its capacity and will take years to repair.

A fertiliser shortage has already disrupted planting seasons across the northern hemisphere and parts of Africa.

The silver lining, energy disruption accelerating the push toward renewables, is real, but comes as cold comfort for the importing economies that will feel the cost first.

NATO Labors to Avoid Becoming Another Casualty of the Iran War (external link)

In the New York Times, Anton Troianovski examines the position of the alliance.

Trump's fury at NATO for not backing a war he launched without consulting them has deepened a gulf that predates this conflict.

The reported option of moving US troops from 'unhelpful' Western European countries to Poland and Romania is the practical expression of that anger.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's diplomatic phrasing -- 'we have the political home front to take care of' -- is a carefully calibrated understatement.

Trump Officials Deny Threatening Vatican Over Pope Leo's Criticisms (external link)

In the Financial Times, Amy Kazmin looks at an outlier.

Yesterday, the Internet was abuzz with reports that the Pentagon had summoned (external link) the US representative of the Vatican for a 'bitter lecture'.

The provocation appears to have been Pope Leo (external link) saying that God rejects the prayers of leaders who wage wars.

The reported invocation, by the Pentagon, of the Avignon papacy [Wiki (external link)] as an implicit threat to an American-born pope who called for US citizens to lobby Congress against the bombing is, whatever its accuracy, a signal of how far the administration's tolerance for dissent has shrunk.

The Vatican's core objection, to Hegseth's framing of the campaign as a religious war, a crusade, goes to the deepest legitimacy question the war has raised.

1979 Is the Year That Explains Donald Trump (external link)

I saved this piece for The Atlantic by Jonathan Lemire and Isabel Ruehl for the end because this is the historical lens through which everything else looks different.

Trump's Iran hawkishness is not new. It dates to a 1980 NBC interview and has not substantively changed in 46 years.

The madman theory, the take-the-oil instinct, the regime-change fantasy: All of it was on the record before he was president.

The Pentagon, the Atlantic notes, has a plan for a ground invasion of Kharg Island awaiting Trump's approval if the ceasefire fails.

That is an idea he had floated to The Guardian in 1988.

In passing...

This weekend, the focus is on Islamabad.

The two delegations meet on Saturday, and the gap between them is wide enough that expecting a breakthrough in the first session would be optimistic to the point of naivety.

The core issues to be settled -- access to Hormuz, Israel's aggression in Lebanon, the question of Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and compensation -- are thorny enough to require weeks of patient negotiation.

Trump is not present, but he will be briefed at every stage. His Truth Social will reflect his changing moods depending on how the negotiations are going.

That is not going to make 'patient negotiation' easy.

The most likely outcome of the opening sessions is that both sides take the measure of each other, establish what is and is not negotiable, and return home without having broken anything. That would count as progress.

A walkout, a fresh strike in Lebanon, or an Iranian move in the strait would count as the alternative.

This blog will be back Monday. By then, we should know which way the first weekend went.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
News / National

by Staff reporter

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), George Charamba, has dismissed comparisons between the ongoing Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 and the 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) as baseless and misleading.In remarks posted on his X account, Charamba described the analogy as "fatuous," arguing that there is no rational basis to equate the proposed constitutional reforms with the racist declaration made by Ian Smith.His comments follow a report by Change Radio, which published a story questioning whether the proposed amendments could be viewed as a "modern-day UDI.""One has to be extremely ignorant and ahistorical, or a paid scrubber of settler colonial history to compare Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 and Ian Smith's white-privileging Unilateral Declaration of Independence," Charamba said.He emphasised that UDI was rooted in the Rhodesian Front's rejection of a non-racial democratic order and its attempt to preserve minority white rule by denying the black majority voting rights.Charamba argued that, in contrast, the current constitutional amendment process is being undertaken within the framework of Parliament's legal mandate and in line with global legislative practices."How such an obnoxious, racially supremacist piece of legislation compares with changes meant to retain Parliament of Zimbabwe's true constitutional role simply boggles the mind," he said.He also criticised sections of the media for publishing such comparisons, describing it as a reflection of poor editorial judgment.The remarks come as Parliament continues to gather public input on the proposed amendments following nationwide public hearings held between March 30 and early April. The consultation process is part of a 90-day window set to close on May 17.Charamba further accused what he termed "anti-Zimbabwe media" and externally funded activists of misrepresenting the reform process, which he said has received significant public backing.He also questioned international coverage of the developments, including reports by BBC that characterised the proposed changes as a "power grab."The Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 remains a subject of national debate, with supporters defending it as a necessary legal reform and critics raising concerns over its broader implications for governance and democratic processes.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain showers early, then clear overnight. Low 36F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain showers early, then clear overnight. Low 36F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Mostly sunny. High near 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 38F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain showers early, then clear overnight. Low around 35F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain showers early, then clear overnight. Low around 35F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has called on residents to intensify efforts to restore the city's cleanliness as it prepares to host the 2026 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).Once celebrated as the "City of Kings" for its spotless streets and well-maintained surroundings, Bulawayo has in recent years experienced a decline in hygiene standards, with illegal dumping and littering becoming increasingly prevalent.Coltart said the month of April is critical for the city, as it gears up to welcome local and international visitors for the prestigious trade showcase."It is vital that we present our best possible face to the world and nation," he said, urging a united approach involving councillors, city officials, and residents.The mayor emphasised that maintaining cleanliness should not rest solely on municipal authorities, but requires active participation from all residents in their respective communities.Echoing the call, Bulawayo Residents Association chairperson Winos Dube said community involvement is essential to restoring the city's reputation."We cannot run away from the fact that everybody has a role to play in making sure our city is clean," Dube said.He pointed to littering as a major challenge, noting that some residents continue to dispose of waste irresponsibly even after council-led clean-up campaigns.The appeal comes amid rising concern over accumulating waste in both the central business district and residential suburbs, with authorities warning that failure to address the issue could tarnish the city's image during one of Zimbabwe's biggest economic events.
TALDYQORGHAN, Kazakhstan -- In a trial that could be the latest bellwether for growing Chinese influence in Kazakhstan, 19 activists who organized demonstrations against China's mass internment camps in Xinjiang are expected to be sentenced by a Kazakh court.

In a small courtroom in Taldyqorghan, a town close to Kazakhstans southeastern border with China, the activists delivered their final statements on April 9 in closed-door proceedings that have been under way since late January. The court announced that the judge will deliver a verdict on April 14.

I can't say anything else because the judge has forbidden the participants in the trial from making the facts public, Oralkhan Aben, who is serving as the public defender for her husband Tursynbek Kabi, one of the defendants, told reporters when she emerged from the courthouse after the session. I disagree with the charges against my husband.

The defendants are members or supporters of Naghyz Atazhurt, an unregistered advocacy group that works with families who have relatives missing in Xinjiang. They are charged with "inciting interethnic hatred" in connection with a November 13, 2025, protest that was filmed and posted online.

In those videos, they can be seen burning small Chinese flags and a portrait of Chinese leader Xi Jinping while chanting slogans against Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party, and calling for the release of a naturalized Kazakh citizen from Xinjiang who has been detained in China since July 2025.

The case is widely seen as a gauge of Chinas influence in Kazakhstan, after evidence emerged that prosecutors acted following a diplomatic complaint from Beijing. It highlights the tension between domestic activism over Xinjiang -- where more than 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Muslim minorities have been sent to mass detention camps -- and the governments strategic relationship with China.

China Puts On The Diplomatic Pressure

The trial has been closed to members of the public and journalists, at the request of one of the defendants.

The case has received international attention and has been monitored by international advocacy groups. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the legal basis for the case brought forward by Kazakh prosecutors and called for the release of the demonstrators. US Congressman James McGovern also called for their release in January in a note sent to the Kazakh Embassy in Washington.

Only a select few people involved in the trial were present outside the courthouse. A special police unit was deployed inside the building, with a police bus, an ambulance, and fire trucks stationed outside.

A day before the final statements, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence 18 of the 19 defendants to either five years in prison or five years suspended, Shynkuat Baizhanov, a lawyer for several of the defendants, told RFE/RL. Prison terms were sought for roughly half of those charged, he added.

The provision that includes inciting interethnic hatred" carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment under Kazakh law.

Court documents reviewed by RFE/RL show that a diplomatic note sent by the Chinese consulate in Almaty to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry served as the basis for investigators to open the criminal case.

The note, obtained by RFE/RL, describes the November 2025 protest as an open provocation against the dignity of the Peoples Republic of China and an insult to the image of the Communist Party of China and Chinas leader," and calls for Kazakh authorities "to seriously investigate [the incident.]"

The indictment against the demonstrators says that the protest "negatively impacted the two nations' friendship and that the Chinese side has expressed serious concerns regarding the incident. [China's] Consulate General expressed hope that the action will be properly investigated."

The Kazakh Foreign Ministry told RFE/RL in January that the Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan met with Kazakh officials in November 2025 following the protest and that it was discussed, but did not comment on the contents of the diplomatic note.
Hungarians are voting in parliamentary elections on April 12 as war continues to rage in neighboring Ukraine and their governments relationship with Russia is under intense scrutiny.

Opinion polls suggest that after 16 years in office, Prime Minister Viktor Orban may be about to lose power to opposition leader Peter Magyar. But Orban has defied the polls in the past.

The outcome of the elections will not only be closely watched in Kyiv and Moscow. Hungarys troubled relationship with many countries in the European Union means that EU nations are also keenly interested in the outcome of the vote, while Washington has expressed strong support for Orban.

Why It Matters

Orban has created a pivotal role for Hungary.

As an EU member, it has managed to block or water down many EU decisions on sanctions against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It has also prevented some EU support for Ukraine.

Recently, he stopped a 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) loan for Kyiv for 2026 and 2027, initially agreed by EU leaders in December 2025. Last month, Hungarian police seized two vans carrying more than $80 million in cash and 9 kilograms of gold bars, along with seven Ukrainian citizens, who were en route from Austria to their home country in what was considered the regular transportation of monetary instruments.

These steps came after Orban accused Ukraine of stopping deliveries of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline. Ukraine says the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes and repairs would take time.

All of these issues have fed into the election campaign, as have leaked telephone calls in which Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto appeared to be briefing his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on high-level EU meetings.

After first denying it, Hungary's foreign minister then confirmed that he not only speaks to Russian colleagues before and after EU meetings, but also to counterparts from Israel, Serbia, Turkey, and the United States.

Scenario 1: Orban Wins

Ahead of the elections, US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that Orban has my complete and total endorsement. The two leaders have close ties based on ideological proximity and personal chemistry.

If Orban wins, this close relationship can be expected to continue.

EU officials have told RFE/RL they would expect Orban to mellow somewhat and allow some vetoes to be lifted if he manages to remain in office.

But they also expect, broadly speaking, continuity -- as do political analysts that RFE/RL spoke to.

The only change here now is that he didn't really account for the dependence on Ukraine [for Russian oil] and that gives some strong cards to the Ukrainians, said Zsuzsanna Vegh, program officer at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin.

Transit through the Druzhba pipeline is essential at the moment for Hungarian energy supply and, if there is no quick resolution to [Irans blockade of the] Strait of Hormuz, then this may really be a point where Ukraine can put some pressure on Hungary as well, she added.

Botond Feledy, head of Brussels-based Red Snow Consulting, said an Orban victory would see an entrenchment of Hungarys existing foreign policy trends.

He foresaw relationship deterioration with the EU and hence potentially some political support from Trumpseeing Hungary as the good pupil of the [Make America Great Again] ideology on the continent. And the Russians will just use it as they have used it before, without any emotional attachment and as long as it is useful.

However, he added, he did expect movement on some issues once polling day is past, such as the seized Ukrainian gold.

I understand Orban saying something along the lines that he will incrementally unblock Ukrainian funds once he is back in government, he said. It will be up for negotiation.

The Hungarian government did not respond to RFE/RLs request for comment on future foreign policy steps.

Scenario 2: Magyar Wins

Magyars primary focus in the election campaign has been on domestic issues, particularly an anti-corruption campaign.

In an interview with RFE/RL in October 2025, he indicated that his foreign policy instincts would be cautious.

In particular, he said that there would be no quick end to Russian fossil fuel imports, despite EU pressure for Hungary -- and neighboring Slovakia -- to fall into line with steps taken by other member states to fully cut energy ties with Moscow by 2027.

Hungary currently imports around 95 percent of its natural gas supplies from Russia, while during the first half of 2025 some 92 percent of its oil imports came from Russia.

I understand him not being willing to take early risks by declaring potential objectives that he cannot fulfill, Fedely said.

The main issue is that those contracts are still confidential, and any incoming government or Peter Magyar cannot really estimate what actually those contracts with Russia contain, he added.

The currently fluid situation on international energy markets caused by the Iran war only adds to the uncertainty here.

Magyar has made broad statements about shifting Hungarys foreign policy away from Moscow and towards the EU and NATO.

He has avoided being too specific on Ukraine beyond indicating that he does not support moves to grant Ukraine accelerated EU membership. But analysts did expect a change of tone from Magyar if he wins.

His campaign rhetoric on Ukraine has been muted, has been very restrained. He does not dare to just openly confront Viktor Orban on this question, Dalibor Rohac, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told RFE/RL.

But the postelection reality in which Peter Magyar will have to repair Hungary's relationship with the EU and Hungary's allies and restore Hungary's place in Europe...will make it inevitable that Hungary will become a more constructive partner, including for Ukraine, he added.

Vegh voiced a similar view.

The attitude and the approach generally would be different. I think there would be an attempt for partnership towards the EU's policies regarding Ukraine, she said.

In his RFE/RL interview, Magyar also praised Trump for his Gaza peace initiative and for putting pressure on Russia to agree to peace, or at least a cease-fire in Ukraine.

When JD Vance visited Budapest on April 7, the vice president also stated the White Houses support for Orban, but added that the United States would "work with whoever wins this election."
David Schenker, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near Eastern Affairs, told Current Time that all options are on the table for President Donald Trump as the US and Iran remain "very far" apart as they head into negotiations in Pakistan.

In an interview on April 10, Schenker, who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2019 to 2021, said he viewed the US operation in Iran as a significant conventional military success.

However, he said that some of the most significant issues in the conflict, such as Iran's uranium enrichment program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, have yet to be resolved. He also said Iran's leadership may be "less flexible" than it was before he war.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RFE/RL: First of all, this cease-fire, what do you consider it to be? A strategic victory for the US or some kind of a chance for the Iranian regime to regroup itself? What do you see?

David Schenker: I think that the cease-fire reflects a growing frustration from the administration in Washington that they weren't able to effect regime change and that the prices of oil and global commodities were spiking. For Iran, they've taken, absorbed, an enormous amount of punishment and are also looking for a way out of this war.

No doubt the United States has accomplished much on the battlefield. The US military has degraded Iran's conventional capabilities, further set back their industrial base, their nuclear program, their navy. And at the same time, [they] don't have a good political outcome.

There's still the persistent problem of Iranian enrichment, the possession of the 450 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, and now the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. So, these are on the agenda at the talks, but I think both sides are very far away. I think Iran believes that it holds the leverage right now.

RFE/RL: What went wrong in this case? Was it some kind of misjudgment at the beginning, a plan not good enough, or maybe something else?

Schenker: No, I think that the military had a great plan to degrade Iran's industrial base for production of advanced ballistic missiles and drones, to set back even further the nuclear program, to take care of the navy, the Air Force, the ability to have anti-aircraft systems, and also to target senior regime officials.

The problem was, and I think the administration was aware of this beforehand, it is exceedingly rare to be able to change a regime with air power, and the administration is reticent to use ground forces for the high risk of casualties.

So, I think the administration had a success in setting back Iran's regional hegemonic ambitions, but still hasn't got something in place -- an agreement that's going to take on the nuclear program. So, it's still to be determined, the final outcome. But, as it stands, it's some accomplishments, but insufficient, I think, for where the administration had hoped to be.

RFE/RL: As for the regime itself, do you think it has become actually stronger in this month than it was before all those strikes?

Schenker: No, I think that there has been leadership change, but not regime change. I think that regime is still there. Essentially, what you had before was Ali Khamenei with the IRGC, [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps, being the power behind the throne. I think now the IRGC is actually sitting on the throne. I think they actually have full control over the nature of the country. And that perhaps it's even more ideological, less pragmatic, and probably less flexible than it was prior to the war.

But I wouldn't say that it's stronger. I think they've lost a lot. Even with the Strait of Hormuz closed while oil prices are up, the United States could, if the closure of the Strait of Hormuz persists, prevent any ships from leaving the Strait of Hormuz. And this would be particularly painful for Iran in addition to the other countries, our friends on the west side of the Persian Gulf, who currently aren't exporting through the Strait of Hormuz anyway.

RFE/RL: You mentioned the ground forces. Do you think there is no possibility that some kind of ground operation will start, or are the chances above zero?

Schenker: I wouldn't say the chances are zero. I think it depends on the outcome of these negotiations, if the Iranians are willing to make a concession on enrichment, on the disposition of the 450 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which, by the way, is enough to build ten bombs or so. I think that a solution can be found to wind down this war.

But, as we saw in the day leading up to the cease-fire, the threats from the president, not only the expletives in the tweets, but also the threat to wipe out Iranian civilization, clearly the president was frustrated with the status quo, with the ongoing operations not pushing the needle, and so was looking or considering some sort of escalation, not only to include threats against perhaps the electric grid, but also desalinization.

So, I wouldn't take the troop deployments off the table. The president has talked about Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export location. But there are other areas and islands that can be looked at as well. But all these entail greater risk. Once again, I think the president has preferred, traditionally, the shorter, highly intensive military campaigns that don't use or deploy ground forces just because of the high level of risk.

RFE/RL: I also wanted to ask you about the US-NATO relationships because there's been some frustration there. How do you think these relationships will develop in the future? Because it looks like at the moment they're on completely opposite sides on a lot of issues.

Schenker: The relationship between the Trump administration [and NATO], both during the first term and particularly during the second term, has been problematic, a real challenge. During the first term, the president really pushed NATO states to meet their obligations to spend 2 percent of their GDP on national defense. They were well short of it. I think the president's harping on this issue proved to be prescient. The Europeans were in a terrible position when Russia invaded Ukraine, unable to do what's necessary to help defend Ukraine or provision Ukraine.

Now, it's focused on demanding assistance from NATO with the Persian Gulf, with restoring the freedom of navigation. The president never consulted our partners, our allies on the war. And now he's expecting them to deploy. In the first instance, these states don't have large and highly capable navies. So, they don't really have the assets necessary. But, they're also reticent to do so, to put their own people in harm's way, particularly after the president didn't consult them.

I think from the president's side, the US side, there is one issue that is important, which is for decades the United States has guaranteed freedom of navigation around the world by itself, largely without any assistance. And the question is whether the United States should be expected to do so alone and in perpetuity. I think that given the demands not only on the United States, but on the US military around the world, and the use of these waterways, not only the Strait of Hormuz, but Bab al-Mandab, the South China Sea, and elsewhere, what the involvement should be of other countries, including NATO partners -- I think that's the question on the table now.

I think the Europeans probably could have handled this a little better than just saying no. But, this remains an extremely important and effective alliance, particularly to counter Russian aggression. I think it would be a shame if the president discarded it or walked away from it because of differences over the Persian Gulf.

RFE/RL: Talking about Russian aggression, do you think that Vladimir Putin is one of the biggest winners at the moment because of this war? Oil prices went up, he can now continue the war [against Ukraine] without looking back at his budget. Who do you think are the biggest winners and losers at the moment?

Schenker: Putin is the main benefactor. Higher oil prices, less attention being paid to Ukraine. But at the same time, I think it's important to mention, Iran was quite an ally to Russia, sending Russia drones, advanced missiles, helping Putin in the war effort. I think they're going to be hard pressed to do so going forward.

China is now, I think, in the catbird seat diplomatically. It has the most influence over Iran of perhaps any other country and can benefit from a diplomatic role here. On the other hand, prior to the war, China was buying Iranian oil at $30 a barrel, well below the $60-70 market price. That's not happening anymore. But, to be fair, I think China does benefit from the US having this war. They get to see firsthand US capabilities and operating procedures. And the US has also expended a great deal of munitions during this campaign, which makes us, the United States, less prepared for any future contingencies in Asia, perhaps.

Finally, I think the big losers so far are the countries of the Persian Gulf, which have endured significant missiles and drones over the past 50 days. They have withstood it. They are highly resilient. But, they're quite worried right now that the United States is not going to cut a deal with Iran that takes their concerns into consideration. And of course, they're most concerned that this war will end with Iran having a greater degree of control over the Strait of Hormuz.

RFE/RL: If you were asked a month ago whether you supported this kind of operation, would you still support it?

Schenker: Listen, I think it depends what the objective was. If the objective was to set back Iranian capability to meddle in Arab countries, destabilize the region, I think from a conventional point of view that has been accomplished.

On the other hand, the president's stated objective, he had many. One of them was regime change. That's fallen short. The other was getting to an acceptable solution or endgame on the nuclear front. And we're still not there. I can't say whether I'd support it or not until I find out what the final agreement is in Pakistan. If there are concessions on the nuclear front and the strait is open, I think it's quite possible this past 50 days all would have been worth it.
WASHINGTON -- When NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte took the stage at the Reagan Institute on April 9, he delivered a message of pragmatism rather than panic: NATO is not a spent force in crisis, but a cornerstone in transition.

"This alliance is not 'whistling past the graveyard,'" Rutte declared, a pointed rebuttal to the oft-heard narrative of institutional decline.

Instead, he sketched a vision of rejuvenation, a "stronger Europe within a more robust NATO" anchored by the indispensable weight of US leadership.

Yet beneath the polished optimism of the podium lies a more jarring reality. The central question of his Washington visit remains: Has Rutte successfully reconciled the deepening transatlantic tensions, or has he merely found a more sophisticated way to describe them?

Diplomatic Olive Branch

Rutte's core thesis was as much a diplomatic olive branch as an economic argument. He contended that the United States has already secured its long-sought victory in the grueling dispute over European burden-sharing.

After years of sustained pressure -- reaching a fever pitch under US President Donald Trump -- European allies are answering the call. They are aggressively scaling up defense budgets, expanding industrial capacity, and committing to a new benchmark of 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). This shift, Rutte argued, is fundamentally reordering the alliance's DNA.

"The era of unhealthy dependence is ending," he asserted, framing the transition as the birth of a "true partnership."

And by focusing on the progress achieved rather than the friction endured, Rutte implicitly invited Washington to declare victory and move forward.

The Discordance Of Public and Private Diplomacy

The fragility of this "victory" was on full display just 24 hours earlier. Rutte's meeting with Trump at the White House was, by his own description, "frank and open."

While the personal rapport between the two remains intact, the optics, this time around, were underwhelming. Unlike their previous, more performative encounters, there was no joint press appearance -- no shared stage to project a unified front.

Despite Rutte's separate consultations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the political atmosphere remained fraught.

Trump again publicly disparaged the alliance as unreliable, reviving historical grievances and complaints regarding Greenland. Rutte, ever the diplomat, acknowledged the friction, noting Trump's frustrations stemmed from a feeling that "too many allies were not with him."

Rutte's counterargument was firm: The majority of Europeans have now delivered exactly what Washington demanded. This "dual-track" reality -- where operational robustness is undercut by political volatility -- remains the defining paradox of the modern alliance.

Friction Points: The Iran Case Study

Recent fissures over Iran have laid bare the persistence of coordination gaps. Rutte conceded that some allies were "a bit slow" to back US initiatives, attributing the hesitation to a lack of prior consultation.

While Europe now provides essential logistics and basing support, the episode exposed a recurring fault line: the demand for predictability versus the reality of unilateral action.

Notably, no European capital has committed to direct military involvement in any US-led effort to force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Furthermore, Spain's refusal to grant airspace access for certain US operations serves as a stark reminder that political alignment does not always translate to military synchronicity.

Structural Strength Vs. Political Fragility

David Cattler, who served as NATO's assistant secretary-general for intelligence and security until 2023, suggests these strains are more than just growing pains. Speaking to RFE/RL, Cattler -- now the founder of Ironhelm Works and a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis and the International Center for Defense Studies -- warned that the alliance is militarily potent but politically brittle.

"This goes beyond routine transatlantic friction," Cattler observed. "The risk is not a dramatic rupture but a gradual erosion of cohesion that subtly alters how allies plan and act."

Regarding burden-sharing, Cattler noted that while the fiscal trajectory is positive, the debate has evolved. "It is no longer just about aggregate spending; it is about alignment. Allies can adapt to pressure, but they struggle to adapt to unpredictability."

In his view, the primary concern is not any specific policy, but how allies decipher the often-contradictory signals emanating from Washington.

Cattler also warned that a more autonomous Europe must be handled with care to ensure it reinforces, rather than fragments, collective deterrence.

As Washington pivots toward the Indo-Pacific, he stressed that NATO's "North Star" must remain Euro-Atlantic security -- a mission that cannot be diluted without risking the alliance's primary purpose.

Congressional Continuity

While the executive branch sends mixed signals, the US Congress is attempting to project a bedrock of stability.

In a rare display of bipartisanship, a group of senators led by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina issued a joint statement on April 9 reaffirming their "ironclad" commitment to the 75-year-old alliance.

The group, which included heavyweights from across the ideological spectrum, highlighted that any US withdrawal from NATO would legally require Senate approval.

While they echoed Trump's insistence that allies carry their weight -- acknowledging that his pressure campaign had yielded results -- they cautioned that political ambiguity in Washington serves only to embolden adversaries in Moscow and Beijing.

Rutte's Washington sojourn did not bridge the transatlantic divide, but it did map its modern contours.

On one hand, NATO is functionally superior to its recent past: it is better funded, more self-aware, and militarily capable. On the other, the currency of political trust remains devalued by unpredictability and divergent global priorities.

Rutte's primary achievement was the rebranding of these tensions -- transforming them from signs of an alliance in decay into the necessary friction of an alliance in metamorphosis.
A former top Russian Defense Ministry official was sentenced to 19 years in prison for his role in a snowballing, politically charged corruption investigation that has rattled the top levels of Russias military amid the war on Ukraine.



Pavel Popov, a former general who served as deputy defense minister until he was sacked by President Vladimir Putin following his arrest two years ago, is one of at least four other former military officials who have been under investigation for embezzlement and bribery.



Russian news agencies said Popov was also stripped of his rank and military honors and fined 85 million rubles ($1.1 million). He did not attend the hearing at the Moscow military court due to health reasons, the reports said.



The case that prosecutors built against Popov stemmed from a project called Patriot Park, a Moscow-region military theme park that opened in 2016 and includes displays of Soviet and Russian hardware and exhibitions.

Prosecutors accused Popov of siphoning budget funds meant for the park and forcing contractors to build a private home and a bathhouse, among other things. He was also accused of receiving millions of rubles in bribes from head of Bamstroyput, the construction company involved in the Patriot Park project.



All the officials who face criminal investigations, including Popov, worked at the Defense Ministry under the leadership of Sergei Shoigu, who was pushed out as defense minister in May 2024 and moved over to head the Security Council, a Kremlin advisory board chaired by Putin and made up of top military, law enforcement, and security agency officials.



The bribery and other criminal allegations that the other officials face also stem from Bamstroyput, which Russian news reports say was a major contractor for the Emergency Situations Ministry when it was headed by Shoigu.



Last year, Timur Ivanov was sentenced to 13 years in prison on embezzlement charges. Last month, Ruslan Tsalikov, another former deputy defense minister and a longtime Shoigu ally dating back to Shoigus 21-year stint at the Emergency Situations Ministry, was arrested on corruption charges.



Shoigu was frequently criticized for his leadership during the all-out war on Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the St. Petersburg restaurateur who built a formidable private mercenary force, was unsparing in his criticism of Shoigu. Two months after Priogzhin staged an abortive mutiny in 2023, was one of the loudest critics of the wars conduct. He died in a plane crash widely believed to be an assassination.



Shoigu is a longtime confidant of Putin. For that reason, veteran Kremlin watchers say it is highly unlikely he would face substantial blowback or criminal liability from the prosecutions of his former subordinates.
US President Donald Trump announced a two-week cease-fire with Iran after he said the Islamic Republic agreed to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint in the transit of oil, gas, and many other commodities and goods vital to the global economy.

Shortly after US-Israeli strikes against Iran began on February 28, Iran warned vessels in the strait that they would not be allowed to pass and began firing on them. Shipping via the strait fell drastically, immediately forcing oil and gas prices up.

Iran wants any peace deal to include a right for it to collect fees from ships passing through Hormuz, which handles some 20 percent of global maritime oil trade. Just 38 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, all ships transiting it must go via the territorial waters of either Iran or Oman.

Iranian officials told The New York Times that the fee could be as high as $2 million per ship, but that it would be split with Oman. With around 130 ships crossing the strait every day before the war, the toll would be a windfall for Iran. But would it be legal?

Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ships must be allowed to go through the Strait of Hormuz for free. The convention does not allow countries to interfere with, or impose tolls on, ships transiting through straits that connect one part of the high seas, or an exclusive economic zone, to another. Iran has signed, but not ratified, the convention.

The United States is not formally a party to it, but recognizes most of its provisions as part of customary international law and not only tends to abide by them but actively enforces freedom of navigation as a principle.

The US military routinely conducts Freedom of Navigation operations, or FONOPS, to challenge what it calls excessive maritime claims by other countries -- including Iranian restrictions on transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Some countries in control of other critical chokepoints do collect fees -- but the rules differ depending on how a chokepoint is classified. UNCLOS covers natural straits used for international navigation but says nothing about man-made canals, which are governed instead by their own specific treaties.

It also explicitly exempts straits that were already governed by a long-standing international convention before UNCLOS came into force. That leaves three categories: canals, grandfathered straits, and straits governed by UNCLOS -- and only the last one is required to be free.

Egypt collected about $4 billion in 2024 for 13,213 ships passing through the Suez Canal -- a man-made waterway governed not by UNCLOS but by the Convention of Constantinople of 1888, which allows Egypt to set fees for use of infrastructure it owns and operates. The Panama Canal works the same way.

Turkey collects fees for transit through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, where passage is governed not by UNCLOS but by the Montreux Convention of 1936, which carves out the straits entirely from UNCLOS's transit passage rules.

Charging for passage through Hormuz would be a first among straits that fall under UNCLOS, and some countries in and outside the region, while welcoming the cease-fire, have voiced concerns about the imposition of tolls.

The Foreign Ministry of Qatar, one of the major exporters through the strait, stressed the importance of insuring... the freedom of international navigation and trade in accordance with the rules of international law. A European Commission spokesperson said freedom of navigation must be ensured with no payment or toll.

To pass through the Strait of Malacca, which sees about 22 percent of the world's maritime oil traffic, ships must enter the territorial waters of Singapore, Malaysia, or Indonesia.

Under UNCLOS, the strait is free to transit, and Singapore has declared it will not negotiate with Iran for passage through Hormuz. "There is a right of transit passage, it's not a privilege to be granted by the bordering state It is not a toll to be paid," the country's foreign minister said on April 7.
Arild Syvertsen is one of many retired sailors reliving traumatic memories of the Strait of Hormuz amid the current crisis in the waterway. We have this [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] flashing up again during this war, he told RFE/RL from his home in Norway, seamen that were there in the 1980s are having a bad time because all of the memories are coming back." Syvertsen captained vessels through the Strait of Hormuz during the height of the tanker war, a 1981-1988 conflict that echoes todays crisis in the Persian Gulf. The tanker war was an offshoot of the Iran-Iraq war that began in 1980 with Iraqs invasion of Iran. The conflict soon spread to the waters of the Persian Gulf as Iraq, and then Iran, targeted the other side's oil facilities and shipping.

By the mid 1980s Iraq, using French-supplied jets and anti-ship missiles, was targeting neutral vessels carrying Iranian oil, while Iran used naval frigates and speedboats to attack third-country tankers using Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabian ports. Both Arab countries were backing Iraq in the war. Hundreds of ships were attacked in the maritime conflict and more than 100 merchant sailors were killed. Despite the risks, sailors were convinced to serve on tankers transiting the Persian Gulf in part by hazard pay, or danger money, that in some cases doubled their salaries for each day they spent in risky waters. Syvertsen said senior crewmen also felt an obligation to keep energy supplies moving through the vital waterway. We wanted to do our duty because the ship owners told us that we had to hold the Hormuz Strait open and get energy out, otherwise the economy of the whole world would collapse, he said.

Olav Myklebust worked as an engineer aboard ships plying the Persian Gulf through the 1980s and survived two attacks from Iraqi aircraft. During one of those strikes, off the coast of Dubai, an anti-ship missile narrowly missed his boat before slamming into a nearby vessel, killing several people inside the engine room. He still works today as an oil tanker manager. The industry veteran said the same tactics ships used in the 1980s to avoid detection are probably being adopted by some of the vessels that have transited the Strait of Hormuz in recent days. Tankers in the gulf in the 1980s moved mostly under the cover of darkness, he said. No lights, no lanterns, and all portholes of crew quarters blacked out. We were hardly using the radar, only on and off, because that can give a signal to shore. So that is what they will do [today], they slip through. Additionally, he said, ships may be switching off the transponders used to avoid collisions since such devices also flag vessel locations to maritime tracking websites.

Syvertsen, who has written a book about the conflict, remains heavily affected by a decision he made as a tanker captain nearing the Strait of Hormuz in August 1987. Traveling by night through the Persian Gulf, Syvertsen's blacked-out ship moved in radio silence as he attempted to slip his ammonia tanker unnoticed through the Strait of Hormuz. A sudden flash of light on the sea nearby indicated another vessel attempting the same crossing was coming under attack from a swarm of Iranian speedboats. We saw the rockets and we heard it on the VHF [radio]. The captain was desperate, Syvertsen recalls. As a frantic mayday message arrived over the radio, the retired seaman said, I was in conflict with myself. Turning to offer assistance would be near-suicidal, but the Norwegian could pass on the call for help by radio in what sailors refer to as a mayday relay. But I knew if I called him and sent out a relay, the attacking Iranian vessels will know there is another tanker close by, Syvertsen said. He made the decision to remain silent. I had to think about the other 24 people on board on our ship and just continue in the dark with no reply.

After hundreds of ships were attacked by Iraq and Iran through the 1980s, the US sent warships to escort tankers through the Gulf. But the intervention would have tragic consequences. In May 1987 the USS Stark was hit by two Exocet missiles fired from an Iraqi jet. Baghdad later said the pilot mistook the warship for a tanker. Thirty-seven American sailors were killed in the incident. A year later, after "liberalized rules of engagement were issued to US ships escorting tankers in the Persian Gulf, the USS Vincennes mistook an Iranian passenger jet for an incoming warplane. After warning the aircraft to change course, the Vincennes fired two missiles that blasted the aircraft out of the sky. All 290 people aboard the plane were killed. The Iran-Iraq war ended in August 1988 and a month later US naval vessels ended the operation to escort tankers through the Persian Gulf.
US Vice President JD Vance has departed Washington for Islamabad for their first peace talks of the war in what could be the most consequential diplomatic encounter between the United States and Iran in over four decades.

Before boarding Air Force Two, Vance said on April 10 that he expects "positive" negotiations even as disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and Israel's bombardment of Lebanon continue to cloud prospects for a deal to end the war.

"We're looking forward to negotiation. I think it's going to be positive," he said, while leaving open the possibility of a harder line. "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive."

He added that President Donald Trump has given us some pretty clear guidelines, so were going to see.

Vance will lead the American delegation alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran has sent Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who has been vociferous in anti-US statements in recent weeks.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the talks would start and April 11 and called it a "make or break situation," mutiple media outlets reported. The sides are likely to speak indirectly through Pakistani officials rather than meeting talking face-to-face.

Pakistan declared two days of public holidays in the capital ahead of the talks, as authorities often do for major diplomatic events for security reasons. The Serena Hotel in Islamabad's heavily fortified Red Zone, where over 10,000 police, paramilitary, rangers, and army personnel have been deployed, was cleared of guests on April 8 to host the event.

World Energy Crunch

Trump has assailed Tehran for its plan for the crucial Strait of Hormuz, suggesting it was "dishonorable," even as top US and Iranian officials were due to gather.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!" Trump wrote on social media.

"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait -- they better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" he wrote in a separate post.

A crucial demand by Trump as part of the two-week cease-fire deal is the free flow of shipping through the strait, which Iran effectively closed in the immediate aftermath of the US-Israeli strikes on February 28 as a retaliatory measure.

Tehran has vowed to reopen shipping, although only with coordination with the Iranian military and through payment of a toll. Ships have never previously been charged to transit the strait, considered an international waterway not under any country's authority.

In a sign of how tricky the talks may be, Qalibaf wrote on April 10, after Vance's plane had departed, that two measures of the temporary truce, a cease-fire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets, "have yet to be implemented."

"These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," he said in a post on social media.

Not long afterward, Trump suggested Iran has few options other than negotiations. The Iranians dont seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways, he wrote in a post. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!

Earlier, Trump told the New York Post that the United States was reloading warships with weaponry and suggested they would strike Iran hard if the talks fail.

"Were loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made.... And if we dont have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively," he said.

Asked whether he thought the talks would be successful, he said: Were going to find out in about 24 hours. Were going to know soon.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon have been a major point of contention, with the United States and Israel saying Lebanon is not inckluded in the cease-fire.

The bottleneck of oil and gas tankers created by Iran's blocking of the strait has led to a worldwide energy crunch and rising prices. The potential for a toll being charged has shocked leaders throughout the globe. The European Union, Britain, Greece, and others denounced Iran's plan.

Bloomberg reported that shipping companies would be expected to pay up to $2 million per vessel, while the Financial Times said payments to Iranian authorities would be only in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on a three-day visit to the Persian Gulf, rejected the possibility that Tehran could charge for letting ships use the vital strait.

"Our position is 'open' means open for safe navigation," he told British TV. "That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through."

The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said, "We urge all involved to fully respect the ceasefire across the region, cease all military operations, and fully ensure freedom of navigation as well as free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law."

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose country receives some 95 percent of its oil supplies from the Middle East, urged in a call with Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian that he calm tensions and ensure the safety of vessels through the strait.

A statement attributed to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and read out on state TV on April 9 appeared to underscore Tehran's intention to control the strait.

The statement said Iran "will definitely bring the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new stage," but did not provide details. "Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights."

Khamenei has not been seen since the outbreak of war amid speculation about his well-being following February 28 air strikes that killed his father and other several members of his family.

Israel, Lebanon To Talk

Separately, but nearly as important, Israeli and Lebanese representatives will meet in Washington next week, a State Department official told RFE/RL.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered intensified attacks in Lebanon, where a heavy Israeli bombardment targeting Hezbollah militants has shaken the US-Iran ceasefire deal.

Along with condemning the actions of Hezbollah  deemed a terrorist organization by the United States  and Iran's attacks throughout the region, many world leaders also assailed Israel for the massive attacks in Lebanon that have killed more than 300 people over the past two days, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The United States and Israel insist that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire agreement with Tehran, while Iranian officials say it was and that further attacks on its Hezbollah allies will likely break the truce.

The EU's Kallas on April 9 said that "Israeli actions are putting the US-Iran cease-fire under severe strain. The Iran truce should extend to Lebanon."

Israeli strikes on Lebanon are "wrong" and "should stop," Starmer said during his trip to Gulf nations.

With reporting by Alex Raufoglu in Washington, Reuters, and AFP
News / National

by Staff reporter

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is expected to arrive in Beitbridge this morning to officiate at the lighting of the Independence Flame at Juliet Assembly Point, marking the start of this year's commemorative roadshow.The ceremony will launch the Independence Flame journey across Matabeleland South's seven districts before culminating at the national celebrations in Maphisa Growth Point.The lighting of the flame symbolises freedom, unity and national pride, forming a key part of Zimbabwe's Independence commemorations.Chairperson of the Beitbridge State Functions Committee, Mrs Sikhangezile Mafu, said all preparations for the event had been completed."We are ready to receive the Vice President. Our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that Zezani Assembly Point is transformed and that we have flawless celebrations," she said.Mafu added that transport arrangements had been made to ensure broad community participation."We have arranged buses to transport community members from all wards so that they can be part of this historic celebration," she said, urging residents to attend in large numbers.The Independence Flame roadshow is expected to build momentum ahead of the main Independence Day commemorations, which will be held in Matobo District.The venue, officially known as Juliet Assembly Point, holds deep historical significance in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle. It served as a key rendezvous centre for freedom fighters from ZANLA and ZIPRA during the ceasefire period.Following the Lancaster House Conference, assembly points such as Zezani were established to facilitate the demobilisation process under Commonwealth supervision.Thousands of fighters gathered at these centres to register, surrender weapons and prepare for the transition to independence.Juliet Assembly Point remains the only such site in Matabeleland South and is one of 16 established nationwide.The site, located at a former Rural Infrastructure Development Agency campsite, is now being upgraded by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ).Completed works include the installation of an Independence Flame stand, flagpoles, a soldier's silhouette monument, and interpretive facilities designed to preserve and showcase the country's liberation history.The Independence Flame initiative forms part of broader government efforts to document and preserve Zimbabwe's liberation heritage while fostering unity and patriotism.As the flame travels across districts, it is expected to draw communities together in remembrance of the sacrifices made during the struggle for independence.
Kyiv and Moscow pledged to halt fighting for 32 hours to mark Orthodox Easter, as US-backed peace negotiations to end Russia's four-year war falter and Washington focuses on its own war with Iran.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had repeatedly proposed a holiday truce and that it will "act accordingly" after Russian President Vladimir Putin also ordered his troops to halt fire during the holiday.

The truce was set to begin at 3 p.m. Central European Time on April 11 and run through the end of the day on April 12, which is when Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter.

"People need an Easter without threats and a genuine move toward peace, and Russia has no chance to return to attacks even after Easter, Zelenskyy said in a post to Telegram on April 10.

The Kremlin said Putin had instructed Russian military command "to cease combat operations in all directions for this period." Russia's forces were prepared to "counter any possible provocations by the enemy," the statement said.

Speaking to Current Time on April 10, some local residents in Ukraine's major eastern city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region said that while they were trying to be hopeful, they doubted that the fighting would indeed stop.

"This is a holy day I hope [it will happen]," one woman said. She burst out laughing shortly after being asked how many of such truces had actually been realized.

"It is hard to believeWe need to have our [Easter bread] blessed. But it means putting the lives of our loved ones at risk," another man said, standing behind an anti-drone net stretched across the street.

Other people who spoke with Current Time further emphasized that the Easter truce would last only a little more than a day, saying they did not expect it to make a significant difference in the four-year-old conflict.

Russia has repeatedly rejected longer-term or indefinite cease-fires, saying a comprehensive deal is needed to end the conflict -- which became an all-out war in February 2022.

During earlier truces, both sides accused the other of using the time to resupply and redeploy troops.

Efforts to negotiate an end the Russian war have ground to a halt as US President Donald Trump's administration shifts focus to the conflict with Iran.

Despite multiple meetings between Ukrainian, Russian, and US negotiators, there has been no definitive breakthrough, with talks stalling over Moscow's hardline territorial demands and international security guarantees for Kyiv.

The Kremlin's lead envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, traveled to the United States on April 9 for talks with US counterparts. Dmitriev would not be meeting any Ukrainian negotiators, and talks would focus on economic issues, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

There was no immediate confirmation of the talks from the White House.

Fighting on the ground in Ukraine has bogged down, with Russia occasionally capturing additional Ukrainian territory but suffering massive losses in the process.

Ukraine has also suffered heavy losses, although neither side regularly discloses casualty figures. Western estimates say the combined dead and wounded tally for both sides could top 2 million by the summer.

Russia controls an estimated 19 percent of Ukrainian territory, most of it taken early following the February 2022 invasion. Its demands for a peace settlement include the withdrawal of all Ukrainian forces from sliver of Donetsk territory that remains under Ukrainian control. That territory contains a critical line of defenses for Ukraine-- the so-called "fortress belt."

"I think that Putin understands he can't fully occupy Ukraine. Its just that sometimes he shares messages with our partners that are not what he truly thinks," Zelenskyy said in a post to X.

"He suffers tremendous losses and doesn't have enough well-trained people on the battlefield. He is trying to find an off-ramp that looks like a victory," he wrote. "That's why he is trying to push us out of Donbas via diplomacy, through dialogue with the United States."

Oil In The Black

Dmitriev's meetings come on the eve of an April 11 deadline for the Trump administration to decide whether to extend sanctions waiver on Russian oil.

After US and Israeli forces attacked Iran, global oil prices skyrocketed, sending domestic gasoline prices in the United States soaring, and rattling the White House, which is girding for a tough mid-term congressional election this fall.

Seeking to push oil prices down, the Trump administration issued a limited waivers for the sale of Russian oil -- which has been critical for Moscow to fund its war on Ukraine.

The move unnerved some European allies who say the waiver sends the wrong message to Moscow. Kyiv sought to temper Moscow's oil profits by intensifying its strikes on oil infrastructure deep inside Russia.

In a new development, the Ukrainian military said on April 10 that it had struck two oil drilling platforms in a rare attack on Russia's oil production in the Caspian Sea, located around 1,000 kilometers from the front lines.

The platforms are an "important link in supplying fuel and grease materials to the Russian occupying army," the statement said. It added that Ukraine intends to continue targeting such objects until Russian military aggression stops completely.

The Kremlin did not immediately comment on the attack.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reassigned Fungayi Jessie Majome from her position as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to a new role as commissioner in the Public Service Commission, in a move that comes shortly after the commission issued a critical report on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) public hearings.The reassignment, announced in a government press statement issued by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Rushwaya, takes immediate effect and is in terms of Section 202 of the Constitution.Majome's redeployment follows her recent public briefing in which she presented the commission's findings on nationwide consultations around CAB3. While acknowledging strong public turnout and participation, she described the process as falling short of constitutional standards.Speaking at a press conference in Harare, Majome said the hearings reflected both progress and "serious shortcomings," with the commission deploying monitoring teams between March 30 and April 4 to assess compliance with human rights principles.She noted that although attendance was high and included a broad cross-section of society, the process was marred by incidents of intimidation and exclusion, particularly targeting those opposed to the proposed amendments."Whilst those in support were able to give their views, the Commission noted the harassment and intimidation of dissenting voices," Majome said.The commission reported cases where participants were allegedly threatened, silenced, denied opportunities to contribute, and in some instances physically attacked. It also cited "controlled participation" at certain venues, including restricted access and vetting of attendees.Majome highlighted an incident in Mhondoro-Ngezi where individuals allegedly used whips to vet participants, warning that such actions violated constitutional rights including freedom of expression, equality and personal security.Despite these concerns, the commission acknowledged efforts by the Parliament of Zimbabwe to publicise the hearings and facilitate submissions, noting that many contributors expressed support for the proposed amendments.CAB3 proposals include extending presidential and parliamentary terms, altering the method of electing the president, transferring management of the voters' roll, and restructuring independent commissions.The timing of Majome's reassignment has drawn attention, coming immediately after the release of the commission's adverse findings, although authorities have not indicated any direct link between the two developments.Her move to the Public Service Commission places her within a key institution responsible for overseeing the administration and management of the civil service, marking a significant shift from her previous role at the helm of the country's human rights watchdog.
Some filling stations around the county are beginning to run out of fuel due to the ongoing protests and blockades. This comes as protestors this morning blocked the N4 Boyle to Carrick-on-Shannon road near to Carrick.

Luke Mee of Daybreak Knockcroghery said that he expects to run out of diesel by this evening.

We still have a few thousand litres of petrol left, he said.  But diesel will be out, we were lucky to keep going this long because we got a delivery two days ago. The rule of thumb is it usually takes two days for most of the country to run out. He added that the Knockcroghery station is supplied by the Foyne Fuel Depot in Limerick.

He fully agrees with the fuel protests. The Government needs to stop the carbon tax, Mr Mee said. I think theyre getting it totally wrong. Out of a litre of fuel, costing 2, we get less than five cent. If its 3 a litre we get less than 5 cent. Were on a commission basis, regardless of price. And then the Government had the cheek to say filling stations were price gouging, considering theyre getting 1.20 or 1.30 in tax per litre. They are the ones who have been cleaning up. We are getting some abuse over these prices and its staff who has to listen to it. Most of the public are very understanding but you get the odd one saying youre price gouging.

He said that even if the station runs out of fuel, it will continue to serve the local community as a local shop. We have to keep going, he said. They have billions there in the rainy day fund, if this isnt a rainy day, I dont know what is? They are able to give millions of euro in aid to other countries. Dermot Lyons of Lyons Mace in Castlerea said that his filling station on the Knock Road is now completely empty of fuel but he hopes to receive a delivery this evening.

We are out since 8.30 a.m., both petrol and diesel, he said. He also highlighted that the price of a fuel delivery has increased significantly because of the US-Iran war.

I made the order on Tuesday and I had enough to bring me to Monday, but yesterday evening we had four days of customers in the one day. There were three of us on the pumps and the Gardai ended up coming out for an hour because of the traffic. I have never seen a queue like it, out as far as the Lidl junction. He reiterated that filling stations only receive a tiny fraction of the sale of fuel.

Then you put drive off on top of that, he said. He also said that staff have experienced abuse from some members of the public, with one person refusing to pay for some of their fuel.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein TD for Roscommon/Galway Claire Kerrane has said that dialogue and not the Army will end the ongoing protest in relation to rising fuel costs.

I remember during Storm Eowyn when people in the West of Ireland were over two weeks without power, there were calls for the Army to be deployed. Households without electricity, without heating and without water. These calls were ignored by Government.

Today, Government talk of use of the Army to intervene in a protest that can be ended in a matter of minutes if Government agree to engage with the sectors protesting, not represented by any existing organisation.

This threat of the Army being sent in only escalates a serious situation already. People arent protesting for the fun of it. Their livelihoods are on the line. They are desperate. They need to be heard.

And now, queues at petrol stations as people fear running out of petrol and diesel.

From day 1 of this war and all along, Government have been too slow to act.

The only way this will be solved is through engagement and dialogue. Government need to listen, stressed Deputy Kerrane.
This April offers audiences in the opportunity to experience both homegrown local theatre, and a major work from one of Irelands most acclaimed theatre-makers, at The Dock Arts Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Following a series of sold-out performances of The Anatomy of Burke and Hare in 2025, Naming Cows Theatre Company returns to The Dock to present Yellowing, a fast paced and intimate two hander inspired by real family history.

Spanning from 1952 to 2015, Yellowing traces the emotionally layered story of Aodren and Nolwen as they navigate young love, war, separation, and the haunting persistence of memory.

One partner struggles with dementia, the other with the imprint of conflict  together rediscovering their early twenties through fractured recollection.

The production stars Carrick-on-Shannon man Darragh Gilhooly  whose previous film and television credits include Acorns Harry Wild as Matt Gaffey and AMCs Sanctuary: A Witchs Tale as Jake Bolt  and Willow Brodie Hayes, a multidisciplinary actor, artist, and a recent graduate from the Gaiety School of Acting.

The Dock also welcomes KING, the remarkable fifth collaboration between Fishamble and award winning performer and writer Pat Kinevane.

Directed by Jim Culleton, KING tells the story of Luther, a man from Cork named in honour of his grandmothers hero, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luther rarely leaves his apartment except for essential errands  and to perform as an Elvis impersonator. Through Luthers world, the play explores themes of prejudice, privilege, loneliness, and resilience.

Yellowing by Naming Cows Theatre Company will be staged on Friday and Saturday, April 17th and 18 April at 8 p.m. at The Dock Arts. KING by Fishamble Theatre Company Will be staged on Friday, April 24th April at 8 p.m..

Tickets available from www.thedock.ie or 071 965 0828.
Amazon's CEO Andy Jassy is standing firm on the company's big spending in artificial intelligence, as he highlighted in his annual letter to shareholders. He believes that the hefty investments made today will lead to much stronger growth and cash flow down the line.

Looking ahead, Amazon plans to allocate around $200 billion for capital expenditures by 2026, focusing mainly on AI infrastructure like data centers, chips, and networking.

Jassy made it clear that they're not holding back, aiming to be a top player in AI with the rising need for computing power.

In addition, Amazon shared that its cloud division's AI-related revenue has hit a $15 billion annual run rate. The custom chip segment, which features Graviton and Trainium processors, has exceeded $20 billion and is seeing impressive triple-digit growth.

Jassy pointed out major client commitments, including over $100 billion linked to OpenAI, which he sees as proof that Amazon's spending strategy is on the right track. He mentioned that the bulk of this investment should start paying off in the coming years.

Even though some investors were worried, Amazon's stock actually went up after the letter. The company seems to be sticking to its strategy of focusing on long-term growth rather than immediate profits.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The DirectorGeneral of Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Fulton Mangwanya, is reported to have been dismissed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, according to unverified claims circulating this week.Reports allege that Mangwanya was removed amid internal tensions within government and accusations of misconduct, including nepotism and abuse of office. The same reports further claim that he has been replaced by former ambassador to China, Paul Chikawa.However, there has been no official confirmation from the Government of Zimbabwe or the Central Intelligence Organisation regarding these developments.Authorities have not publicly addressed the allegations, which remain unsubstantiated. In the absence of formal communication, the claims should be treated with caution.Developments involving senior government and security appointments are typically communicated through official channels, including the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Asian stock are trading mostly higher on Friday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, as traders remain cautiously optimistic about easing of hostilities in the Middle East. Concerns remain about the fragility of the ceasefire in the Middle East, with Iran accusing the U.S. and Israel of violating the agreement. Asian markets ended mostly lower on Thursday.

Iran permitted restricted ship movement via the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel attacked Lebanon ahead of U.S.-Iran talks.

Subscribe to continue reading the article. This article is part of our premium content offering.Subscribe with a RTTNews subscription.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa's decision to remove Fungayi Jessie Majome from her position as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has triggered an escalating legal and constitutional debate, with senior lawyers describing the move as unlawful and procedurally flawed.Advocate Thabani Mpofu said the reassignment of Majome to the Public Service Commission amounts to a removal from office that does not comply with the Constitution."A member of an Independent Commission can only be removed under Section 237(2) of the Constitution," Mpofu said, adding that Section 237(3) requires the same procedure used in removing a judge.He explained that this process includes the appointment of a tribunal, typically on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, and a formal finding of misconduct or incapacity before removal."Reassigning Jessie Majome constitutes removal from office and is unconstitutional," Mpofu argued, dismissing reliance on Section 202 as legally irrelevant to the protections afforded to independent commissioners.Constitutional lawyer Musa Kika echoed similar concerns, pointing to Section 237(3), which explicitly states that the procedure for removing judges applies to members of independent commissions.Kika outlined that removal from such bodies is a formal legal process - not a political decisionand must be based on specific grounds, including inability to perform duties, gross incompetence, gross misconduct, or ineligibility.He said the Constitution requires the President to appoint a tribunal to investigate allegations, with the affected office bearer entitled to a fair hearing before any decision is made."The removal process is designed to prevent arbitrary dismissal mirroring judicial removal procedures to protect the commission's independence," Kika said.Meanwhile, lawyer and politician Doug Coltart questioned whether due process had been followed, directing his concerns to government spokesperson Nick Mangwana."Were the legal requirements for the removal of a member of an Independent Commission complied with by the President? What are the President's grounds for removing her?" Coltart asked.He also queried whether the decision could be linked to the ZHRC's recent report on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), which highlighted irregularities during public hearings.Legal experts warn that failure to follow constitutional procedures in removing members of independent commissions risks undermining their autonomy and eroding public confidence in governance institutions.The controversy has placed renewed focus on the constitutional safeguards designed to ensure that bodies such as the ZHRC operate independently and without political interference.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A small number of African-linked vessels have become some of the first non-Iranian ships to cautiously navigate the Strait of Hormuz following a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, amid heavily restricted maritime traffic and continued uncertainty over access to the vital oil route.Ship-tracking data shows that while limited crossings have resumed, overall movement through the chokepoint remains far below normal levels, with hundreds of vessels still stranded in the wider Gulf region.Among the early vessels to transit after the ceasefire was the Gabon-flagged oil tanker MSG, which carried about 7,000 tonnes of Emirati fuel oil destined for India, according to maritime tracking data.A Liberia-flagged tanker, Daytona Beach, also successfully crossed the strait shortly after departing Iran's Bandar Abbas port.However, not all vessels have been permitted to proceed freely. A Botswana-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker, Nidi, reportedly reversed course after being instructed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to follow designated routes, highlighting Tehran's continued operational control over maritime movement in the area.Iran has required ships to coordinate their passage and adhere to specified corridors, citing ongoing security risks despite the ceasefire.Data from market intelligence firm Kpler indicates that only around a dozen vessels have crossed since the ceasefire, compared to the usual daily average of more than 100 ships.Industry monitoring groups report that more than 600 vessels, including over 300 tankers, remain stranded in or near the Gulf, contributing to delays in global supply chains and increased shipping costs.The constrained flow of oil shipments has prompted diplomatic engagement from energy-importing countries, including several African states.Iran's ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, told a gathering in Cape Town that reports of a complete shutdown of the route were inaccurate, insisting that only vessels linked to the United States and Israel were being restricted.He added that shipments bound for countries such as China and India had been allowed to continue under specific arrangements, and suggested that similar arrangements could be extended to South Africa.Reports also suggest that Iranian authorities are considering formalising their control of the waterway through a structured fee system, including proposals for a multimillion-dollar charge per vessel and possible cryptocurrency-based levies on oil shipments.The developments have raised concern among global shipping operators and energy markets, with analysts warning of prolonged volatility if restrictions persist.The situation comes amid ongoing diplomatic friction between Washington and Tehran. US President Donald Trump has criticised Iran's handling of maritime access, warning against any attempt to impose additional fees on shipping.Iranian officials, meanwhile, have accused the United States of failing to uphold ceasefire commitments, underscoring the fragility of the current arrangement.While limited movement through the Strait of Hormuz has resumed, analysts say the system remains highly controlled and unpredictable, with global energy flows still exposed to sudden disruption.
If it feels like more people are voting early in Virginia right now, youre not imagining it. New data shows early voting in the states latest special election is outpacing the pace seen during the 2025 gubernatorial race, signaling heightened voter engagement. For everyday Americans, especially those watching policy changes that impact taxes, healthcare, and retirement, this surge matters.

Higher early turnout can shape not just election outcomes, but also the timing and direction of future policies. It also reflects how voting habits are evolving, with more people choosing convenience over Election Day crowds. Heres whats driving this early voting surge and why it could have broader implications.

Early Voting Numbers Are Already Beating 2025 Levels

Early voting turnout in Virginias special election is running ahead of the 2025 gubernatorial pace. Thats a significant benchmark, since gubernatorial elections typically draw strong participation.

Reports show a steady stream of voters across the state taking advantage of early voting options. In some cases, ballot totals have already surpassed comparable points in last years election cycle.

As of late March, more than 500,000 early ballots had already been cast statewide. That level of participation is impressive given that early voting only began in early March. It shows that voters are not waiting until Election Day to make their voices heard. Instead, many are choosing to vote as soon as the window opens.

A High-Profile Issue Is Driving Turnout

One major factor behind the surge is the significance of the issue on the ballot. The special election centers on a proposed change to congressional district maps. This type of decision can influence political representation for years to come. Because of that, voters across the political spectrum are paying close attention. Heightened awareness often leads to higher participation, especially during early voting periods.

Early Voting Has Become More Accessible

Virginias early voting system has expanded in recent years, making participation easier. Voters now have weeks (not just days) to cast their ballots before Election Day. This extended window reduces scheduling conflicts and long lines. It also allows people to vote at a time thats most convenient for them. As a result, early voting is becoming the preferred method for many residents.

On top of that, political campaigns have increasingly emphasized early voting strategies. Both major parties are urging supporters to vote as soon as possible. This helps campaigns lock in votes early and focus resources on remaining voters. It also reduces uncertainty heading into Election Day.

But its important to note that, while overall participation is high, turnout patterns differ across regions. Some areas are seeing stronger engagement than others during early voting. Data suggests certain districts are outperforming others in early participation rates.

Why This Surge Could Have Lasting Impact Beyond This Election

This early voting surge isnt just about one special election. It reflects a broader change in voter behavior. As participation becomes easier, more people are choosing to engage earlier in the process. That shift can influence not only election outcomes but also how policies are shaped and implemented. In the long run, the rise of early voting could redefine what Election Day really means.

Have you voted early before, or do you prefer waiting until Election Day? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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The legal battle isnt over, even after a life sentence. In one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent years, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump is now heading back to court. Just months after receiving a life sentence, a new phase of legal challenges is underway, with a judge scheduling hearings that could shape what happens next.

For many Americans, especially those concerned with safety, justice, and political stability, this case carries significant weight. Its not just about one crime, but about how the legal system handles extreme threats to public figures. Heres whats happening now and why this case is far from finished.

The Life Sentence That Sparked the Next Legal Battle

The case centers on Ryan Routh, who was convicted of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump in 2024. A federal judge sentenced him to life in prison after a jury found him guilty on multiple charges.

Prosecutors argued the attack was carefully planned and posed a serious threat to national security. The judge emphasized the premeditated nature of the plot when delivering the sentence. However, almost immediately after sentencing, the next legal phase began.

Within days of receiving his sentence, Routh filed an appeal challenging the outcome. Appeals are common in high-profile cases, especially when the stakes are this high. His legal team is expected to argue issues related to trial procedures and sentencing decisions. These challenges can take months or even years to resolve in federal court. This is the first major step in what could become a lengthy legal fight.

A New Hearing Has Been Scheduled

As part of the appeals process, a judge has now scheduled additional court proceedings. These hearings will address key legal questions raised by the defense. In many cases, such hearings focus on whether errors occurred during the trial. They can also determine whether new evidence or arguments should be considered. This stage is critical because it sets the direction for any potential changes to the sentence.

Defense attorneys typically focus on procedural or constitutional issues during appeals. That may include claims about evidence handling, jury instructions, or legal representation. In this case, Routh had represented himself at trial, which could become a point of contention. His team may argue that this impacted the fairness of the proceedings. If successful, these arguments could lead to a new trial or sentencing review.

Possible Outcomes of the New Legal Fight

There are several ways this case could unfold from here. The court could uphold the life sentence, leaving the conviction unchanged. It could also order a new trial if significant errors are found. In some situations, a sentence can be reduced without overturning the conviction. Each possibility carries major implications for both the defendant and the justice system.

Do you think life sentences should be final, or should every defendant have the right to appeal? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

The High Court has brought finality to the high-profile divorce between Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his estranged wife Sonja Louise Madzikanda, issuing a consent order that includes a US$5 million maintenance settlement and a detailed parenting arrangement for their minor children.The ruling, handed down before Justice Tsanga on Thursday, formally ends a protracted legal dispute that had attracted significant public attention and frequent online commentary.Under the terms of the order, Chivayo is required to pay a total of US$5 million into a bank account controlled by Madzikanda, with oversight retained by the businessman.Court documents indicate that US$2.2 million has already been paid, while the remaining US$2.8 million must be settled within 30 days.The court further ordered that Chivayo will be responsible for all reasonable living expenses of the children for an initial 12-month period, allowing Madzikanda time to establish and grow an investment portfolio intended to sustain future expenses.After that period, the children's expenses are expected to be funded from returns generated by those investments, provided they are sufficient.The consent order also sets out a detailed parenting plan granting Madzikanda primary residence of the children.Chivayo is entitled to one uninterrupted week of access per month, all weekends, and alternating public holidays. The court further stipulated that during his allocated time, he must be personally present and cannot delegate childcare responsibilities to third parties.Additional provisions ensure specific access on birthdays and Father's Day, including requirements for direct collection and return of the children within the same day where applicable.Justice Tsanga also directed that any future disputes between the parties must first be resolved through mediation or legal representatives before approaching the courts, in an effort to reduce further litigation.The court noted that property division arising from the marriage will be dealt with separately under case HCHF 62/2026, with both parties ordered to bear their own legal costs.The settlement marks the end of one of Zimbabwe's most closely followed celebrity divorce proceedings, concluding months of public exchanges and legal wrangling.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zanu-PF yesterday urged former MDC Bulawayo South National Assembly member Mr David Coltart to provide police and State security with full details on opposition MDC-T's banditry activities that were targeted at toppling the legitimate Government of President Mugabe in 2006.The revolutionary party's comments were triggered by Mr Coltart revelations in his book released recently that opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in 2006 trained bandits in South Africa in preparation for a violent takeover of power in Zimbabwe.In an interview, Zanu-PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the matter was not a party issue, but security issue."Obviously, the security authorities would want that information," said Khaya Moyo adding that the security would want to know more about Mr Coltart's revelations."I am not aware of this. Coltart knows better because he was a member of the MDC and a former Rhodesian military man."MDC-T spokesman Mr Obert Gutu said he was yet to read the book by Mr Coltart before commenting on the matter."I am yet to read his book," said Mr Gutu."As a lawyer and researcher myself, it will be inappropriate for me to comment on his book before I have had an opportunity to read it." Mr Gutu, however, said MDC-T was not a bandit organisation."It is a lawful democratic political party that believes in non-violent and constitutional takeover of state power. We remain the largest and most popular political party in Zimbabwe," he said.Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba refused to comment yesterday.In his memoirs, "The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe", Mr Coltart a a founding secretary for legal affairs in the MDC a revealed how the split in the original party came about because of Mr Tsvangirai's knack for violence.According to Mr Coltart, Mr Tsvangirai not only engaged in intra-party violence where he used "agents provocateurs" such as one Tonderai Ndira, but sought to escalate violence into a nationwide confrontation with the ruling Zanu-PF.He said at party level, Mr Tsvangirai had become paranoid as he thought that there were efforts to muscle him out of leadership, especially when the party had proposed during constitutional amendments presented to Parliament that a national president needed to have at least a university degree.Mr Coltart said Mr Tsvangirai also felt that the only way he could wrestle power from Zanu-PF was through violence.It was on this basis that Mr Tsvangirai refused to participate in the re-introduced senatorial elections, causing the split in October 2005.Mr Coltart said the use of violence, which was meted against officials such as Peter Guhu and Trudy Stevenson resulted in the split of the party.But, it was the training of bandits that shocked Mr Coltart and which led him to cut ties with Mr Tsvangirai and opted to join the other faction that was then being led by Arthur Mutambara.The training camp for MDC operatives in South Africa, he said, was being conducted "by ex-South African policemen under the supervision of an ex-Rhodesian soldier"."There was confusion as to whether the training was 'offensive' or 'defensive', but weapons were clearly involved," said Mr Coltart."The South African National Defence Force had been bribed to allow these trained men back across the border," he said.Mr Coltart says he had learnt about the development from two journalists who had filmed the training operation. He concluded that the operation "appeared to be chronically amateurish" and would also play into the hands of the ruling party.
News / National

by Walter Nyamukondiwa

A self-styled prophet was recently slapped with a 22-year jail term for indecently assaulting two women who sought spiritual deliverance at his shrine before raping them.Iden Muzvondiwa Chabvutagondo (27) would insert a cooking stick in the privates of his clients and later rape them as part of the rituals to cast out evil spirits tormenting them.Chabvutagondo of Mapfumo Village in Zvimba, who denied the charges, was found to be unreliable during the trial as he was contradicting himself.As a result, Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze found Chabvutagondo guilty of two counts of indecent assault and a further two counts of rape involving two women.The prosecutor, Miss Chipo Hungwe, proved beyond reasonable doubt that Chabvutagondo systematically lured the women with conditions that eventually led to their abuse.Mr Mawadze said Chabvutagondo preyed on the women's vulnerabilities and took advantage of his position. He said religious leaders should not misuse the gifts they have to abuse their followers."From the evidence led, it is clear that the women had been converted as one of them went to the shrine on more than one occasion," he said.The magistrate said the spirit misled Chabvutagondo when he chose to indecently assault and rape the two women.Such people, he said, should be taken away from society for a long time.For purposes of sentencing, the two counts of indecent assault were treated as one, attracting a 10-year jail term which was reduced to seven years after three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.The other two counts of rape were also combined and he was sentenced to 18 years before three years were set aside.
Author/artist Vicky Lyfoung's debut upper middle-grade memoir, Hmong: A Graphic History, smoothly translated by Kao-Ly Yang, evocatively explores her French-born Hmong identity. Lyfoung was born near Paris in 1990 to Hmong refugee parents, and her childhood was marked with racist taunts, microaggressions, and questions about her ethnicity. At 15, Lyfoung watched a documentary, Laos, la Guerre Oubliee (Laos, the Forgotten War), that changed her life: "It was precisely that moment... that I began to want to know the history of my people."

To better understand herself as a diasporic young Hmong woman, she turned to diligent research. Although specific origins are unclear, the Hmong were "nomadic mountain people from Northern China." Repeated, vicious displacements began in 2000 BCE and populations eventually settled in Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. The French colonized Laos in 1893, recruiting the Hmong to cultivate poppies for opium, and later to serve as guerilla fighters. The U.S. military followed the French with promises of safety (ostensibly from Communism), then abandoned the country to violent turmoil. Fleeing was the only chance of survival for Lyfoung's family, instigating a perilous journey through Laos, Thailand, and arriving in France in 1977.

Lyfoung displays an unblinking vulnerability and proud admiration as she reconstructs her parents' challenging, isolating experiences as non-French-speaking refugees. Her stark black-and-white panels with impermeable borders suggest a tightly controlled narrative as she concisely condenses sprawling political and cultural history into an approachable, informal graphic novel for young readers. Her rounded characters--more cartoonish cute than realistic--help temper the inhumane brutality she bravely refuses to elide. Stalwartly bearing witness, Lyfoung promises, "I am proud to be Hmong--and will be until the day I die." --Terry Hong
Second-generation Korean Canadian Jane Park's gorgeous debut novel, Inheritance, achingly encapsulates an immigrant family coming to terms with their closest, yet least empathic, relationships: with each other. Anne Kim and her older brother, Charles, were born in Canada, and their parents tell Anne that they moved from Korea for her and Charles's sake. Eventually the family settles in rural Crow Plains, Alberta, where they own and operate a grocery store.

Thirty years later, in 2014, the father has died of a sudden stroke. Anne, now a New York City lawyer with a degree from Yale, returns to Edmonton to help her mother deal with the funeral and aftermath. Charles needs to be picked up from rehab, and she resents him for always forcing her to be the responsible one. Self-admitted "fuckup" Charles also bares hard truths: "You were lucky to be the one to leave and be able to send money and help from a clean distance. I stayed and got my hands dirty." Anne comes to realize how little she knows of their parents: she learns that their father was actually from North Korea; their mother lost an aunt who was rejected after surviving being a comfort woman for the Japanese military.

Park narrates between the "now" that is 2014 and the 1980s and 1990s of the siblings' growing up--and apart--with each time jump effortlessly revealing intricate details of outsider identities, racial tension, societal judgments, cultural divides, mental illness. She meticulously examines the complicated dynamics of a fractured family, of suffocating traditions and splintering rejections, while leading cautiously toward accepting honesty and the possibility of healing. --Terry Hong
Debut author Che Yeun's Tailbone presents a tense, chilling portrait of a teenager's perilous journey into unprepared independence. In 2008, as the global financial crisis hits Seoul, the unnamed 17-year-old narrator is a high school senior unsure she'll graduate with her falling grades. She instead skips classes and roams "the loud, polluted streets of my childhood." Home is made miserable by her abusive father, who only comes home in an alcoholic stupor to berate her mother trapped in eternal subservience.

She leaves home abruptly, becoming "just another hollow teenager bobbing along the stream of Seoul." Traveling to "one of these ghost neighborhoods," she enters "an unrecognizable world" where she takes a room in a women-only lodging house. The current inhabitants of the dilapidated building are unmoored young women, often referred to as a single entity: "girls." They chase dreams of glamour and love while relying on "old desperate idiot men to feed their hunger for pretty things." Juju is the one who stands out, and she teaches the narrator about taking out questionable loans in a parent's name. Juju reluctantly cares, possibly too much, attempting to protect the teen from devolving into one of the women pulled away by "creeps and cars and nightclubs."

Yeun writes with glaring clarity, exposing a tortuous cycle of twisted hope and bleak reality, exacerbated by a sweeping financial downturn that further threatens the girls' already tenuous existence. Societal--and personal--judgment stifles these girls, already openly commodified, but Yeun hauntingly commits to amplifying their humanity, as they confess uncertainty, fight invisibility, savor fleeting moments of kindness and empathy. --Terry Hong
Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp is a spectacular picture book memoir about the childhood experience of Japanese American activist Minoru Tonai, who died in 2023, co-written by Jolene Gutierrez (The Ofrenda That We Built), illustrated by animator Chris Sasaki (Home Is a Window).

In 1941, Min is a California boy who enjoys collecting rocks. His life begins to change when FBI agents visit his home, suspecting his greengrocer father of being a spy because of his Japanese ethnicity. After the December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor bombing incites war, FBI agents take Min's father. The boy, his mother, and two siblings are forced to abandon their home, possessions, and dog. Reduced to "family 12803," they're first "herded into a stinking horse stall" at Santa Anita Park, before being incarcerated in Amache Relocation Center in Colorado for the duration of the War.

Tonai and Gutierrez brilliantly use a personal story to depict the unjust treatment and imprisonment of "more than 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry during World War II." The authors gorgeously capture young Min's doubts, fears, and questions, gifting him agency through an inner narrative. Min's love of stones, a hobby he shares with his beloved father, becomes an affecting motif that signals resilience and strength. Sasaski masterfully controls light and shadow in their digital art, using spare, lilac-hued details--Min's mother's dress, desert blooms--to suggest tenacious hope. Extensive backmatter is appended: standouts include an essay about evolving language and friends' and associates' letters of support for Min's father to the FBI. This formidable trio transforms ignominious history into "something beautiful." --Terry Hong
Marking World Quantum Day on April 14, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will formally launch indigenous Quantum Computers testing facility for the first time in the country at SRM university in Amaravati and simultaneously virtually launch the Quantum facility centre at Medha towers in Gannavaram near Vijayawada. With this Andhra Pradesh is going to emerge as first state to commission indigenous Quantum computers testing facility in the country and Amaravati Quantum Valley to emerge as International Quantum Computers hub.

As per the schedule the Chief Minister will witness a live quantum system initiation with the cooling process of the processor on the Amaravati 1Q system being triggered virtually as the system is housed at Medha towers. At the same time Amaravati 1S system will function as an open access set up fully visible to all attendees during the demonstration. With setting up of Amaravati Quantum Reference facility, India has now open sovereign quantum infrastructure. Amaravati becomes the anchor node of a national quantum hardware network positioning India to design, test, certify an manufacture quantum systems for the world. The Technologies developed through AQRF include cryogenics, precision electronics, quantum grade fabrication, which have strategic spill over into defence, healthcare and semi conductor manufacturing.

The Andhra Pradesh Governments flagship programme Quantum technology hub under Indias National Quantum Mission, Amaravati Quantum Valley will be hosting an IBM 133-qubit Quantum computer and has engaged 80 plus industry and academic partnerships, positioning it t be among the top five global quantum hubs. The launch of AQRF on World Quantum Day adds an indigenous hardware dimension to Amaravati Quantum Valleys portfolio, complementing its existing quantum cloud, skilling and innovation infrastructure.

With the initiative of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Quantum journey started in April last year in Amaravati Quantum Valley. Amaravati declaration was made during Amaravati Quantum Valley workshop held in Vijayawada on June 30, 2025, in which Chandrababu Naidu unveiled his amibitious vision to transform Amaravati into a global capital of Quantum technology. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister underscored the integration of Quantum computing in governance, medicines, vaccine production , aerospace, drones and education. He decalred that a fully operational Quantum computing Ecosystem will be set up in Amaravati.

Giving details of the launching programme of Quantum Computers testing facility centre to media persons here today, PS Pradyumna, Secretary to Chief Minister stated that its a dream come true for people of Andhra Pradesh, with the initiative of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naiu for the first time in the country indigenous Quantum Computing testing facility is going to be launched on April 14. He said the Chief Minister insisted on bringing indigenous hardware component manufacturing eco system in Amaravati to promote Quantum technology. The SRM university contributed in this direction and made it accessible to students.

The secretary said people enjoyed the fruits of computer technology for more than three decades and now it is time to switch over to AI and Quantum technology. He said the Chief Minister stressed the need for updating skills of youngsters as per the requirements of emerging quantum technology and following his call lakhs of students got enrolled for skill training progrmme. In IIT Chennai itself 2.5 lakh students enrolled for skill training programme.

SRM university Vice-chancellor Ch Satish Kumar and Quantum technology experts were present.
India is set to send an official delegation to Washington later this month to accelerate ongoing trade discussions

Both nations are actively working to resolve pending issues and move closer to finalizing the bilateral trade agreement

Senior officials from India and the US are holding high-level meetings to review and strengthen cooperation across trade, defense, and technology

The United States is preparing to host an Indian delegation in Washington later this month, signaling renewed momentum in trade discussions between the two countries. Both sides aim to push forward negotiations on the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), which remains a key priority.

The update comes during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misris ongoing three-day visit to the US. He is meeting senior officials to review cooperation across trade, defense, and technology, while also discussing global and regional issues. The visit reflects continued engagement at the highest levels between the two nations.

resolving pending issues in the trade agreement. Talks are expected to focus on advancing the deal, which had earlier reached a framework stage but is yet to be finalized. Delays occurred due to changes in US tariff policies following legal and administrative developments. Officials from both countries emphasized the importance ofin the. Talks are expected to focus on advancing the deal, which had earlier reached a framework stage but is yet to be finalized. Delays occurred due to changes in US tariff policies following legal and administrative developments.

Earlier discussions between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also helped shape the next steps in negotiations. These talks took place on the sidelines of a global trade meeting and aimed to strengthen economic collaboration.

Also Read: India Urges Firms to Leverage US Trade Portal for Growth

The timing of these developments is significant, as global trade dynamics continue to shift. Recent geopolitical changes, including developments in West Asia, could also influence trade and energy flows worldwide.

India and the US remain committed to strengthening their economic partnership. The upcoming visit is expected to play a crucial role in accelerating progress and bringing both sides closer to finalizing the agreement.
Israel strongly condemns remarks made by Pakistans defense minister, calling them unacceptable and inflammatory

The controversial statements trigger a sharp diplomatic backlash, raising concerns over Pakistans credibility

Rising tensions threaten to impact ongoing peace efforts and mediation initiatives in the region

Israel has strongly criticized Pakistans Defense Minister Khawaja Asif over his recent controversial statements, calling them unacceptable and inflammatory. The sharp response comes at a time when Pakistan is trying to position itself as a neutral mediator in regional peace efforts.

Israels destruction cannot be tolerated, especially from a government that claims to support peace. Israeli officials questioned Pakistans credibility in ongoing diplomatic engagements, highlighting concerns over its role in mediation. The Israeli Prime Ministers Office reacted firmly, stating that calls for, especially from a government that claims to support peace. Israeli officials questioned Pakistans credibility in ongoing, highlighting concerns over its role in mediation.

The controversy began after Asif posted a series of remarks on social media, where he described Israel in harsh terms and made statements that drew widespread criticism. His comments included strong allegations related to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon, which he linked to broader geopolitical tensions.

Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also condemned the remarks, calling them antisemitic and inappropriate for a country involved in peace negotiations. He emphasized that Israel will continue to defend itself against threats to its existence.

Also Read: No Change in Petrol and Diesel Prices Despite West Asia Tensions

The diplomatic row comes at a sensitive time. Pakistan has recently been credited with facilitating a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran and is expected to host further peace talks soon. The latest exchange, however, risks undermining those efforts and escalating tensions further.

As global attention remains focused on conflict resolution in the region, such statements could complicate diplomatic progress and strain international relations.
Most multinational conglomerates delegate leadership training to HR departments or external consultants. QI Group takes a different approach: its two co-founders personally facilitate the company's core development programs, spending weeks each year leading intensive sessions for employees they've selected from operations spanning more than 30 countries.

The company, which operates across wellness, luxury goods, education, and hospitality sectors, has built a four-tier leadership framework that begins with invitation-only programs and extends through executive mentorship. These programs are complemented by formal diversity, community engagement, and sustainability commitments that shape both leadership training and internal mobility. Participants include employees from a workforce representing approximately 46 nationalities and speaking more than 50 languages collectively.

Workforce Composition and Development Context

QI Group has over 2,000 employees. They range in age from 19 to 65, reflecting a multigenerational workforce. Millennials and Generation Z account for roughly 63% of employees, a demographic profile that informs the structure and pacing of leadership development programs.

Women comprise approximately 49% of the total workforce and hold about 44% of management positions.

Foundational Leadership Programs

The Zone

The Zone functions as QI Groups primary foundational leadership experience. The four-day program is invitation-only and facilitated by executive chairman Vijay Eswaran. Participation is extended to selected employees, board members, and business partners.

The program emphasizes structured self-assessment, purpose identification, and personal leadership orientation. Rather than focusing on operational skills, The Zone centers on individual values, behavioral patterns, and long-term intent within the organization. It emphasizes that leadership is rooted in patience, composure, and consistency, qualities framed as daily practices rather than abstract ideals.

STEER

STEER is the second major leadership program and operates as a three-day intensive facilitated by deputy chairman Joseph Bismark. The acronym STEER refers to five leadership dimensions examined during the program:

Service : commitment to providing meaningful support

Teamwork : understanding interdependence within organizations

Enrichment : attention to mental, emotional, and physical well-being

Excellence : performance standards and accountability

Resolve: clarity of identity, purpose, and role alignment

Each component is addressed through guided discussion and reflective exercises. The program is designed to establish a shared leadership vocabulary across regions and business units.

Advancement and Talent Pipeline Programs

QI Rising

QI Rising is a fully funded leadership development initiative targeting employees identified for advancement potential. Participants continue in their existing roles while completing structured training focused on self-awareness, team leadership, and ownership mindset development. The program is positioned as a talent pipeline rather than a standalone credential.

iLead Womens Mentoring Program

The iLead Womens Mentoring Program pairs experienced female executives with women managers across QI Groups operations. The initiative is designed to support career progression, leadership confidence, and cross-regional mentorship. It operates alongside broader workforce diversity efforts, including targeted leadership development for women in management roles.

Second Echelon (2E)

Second Echelon, abbreviated as 2E, is the most selective leadership development track within the organization. This mentoring program is facilitated directly by the founders and is designed to cultivate the next generation of senior leadership. Participation is limited, and the program emphasizes long-term organizational stewardship rather than near-term role advancement.

Community Engagement and Sustainability Integration

Employee development at QI Group is closely linked to community and sustainability initiatives. Through its Employee Community Impact program, staff have collectively contributed more than 125,000 volunteer hours since 2013. Employees are encouraged to allocate up to 12 hours annually to community service activities.

Environmental initiatives include the Green Legacy program, which has planted more than 25,000 trees across 11 countries since 2021.

Organizational Structure and Recognition

QI Group operates dual command centers, with corporate headquarters in Hong Kong coordinating global activities and an operational hub in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The Malaysian facility, QI Tower, is a 15-story building recognized as the first existing high-rise in Malaysia to receive Singapores Green Mark Gold certification .

The company has received repeated recognition as one of Asias Best Companies to Work For since 2011, with its Hong Kong office receiving an Employer of the Year award from HR Asia for 10 consecutive years.

Philanthropic Alignment and Leadership Philosophy

QI Group channels approximately 10% of annual revenues to the RYTHM Foundation, which partners with more than 100 grassroots organizations across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Foundation initiatives focus on education access for children with special needs, skills training for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, and rural community development .

Leadership training across all programs is informed by a servant-leadership philosophy. The companys founders have described leadership as an act of service, a principle that underpins both development programs and advancement pathways within the organization.
FCC to vote on banning Chinese labs from testing US-bound electronics

Reuters reports 75% of electronics testing currently happens in China

Move follows wider US restrictions on Chinese tech firms and imports

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is intensifying its scrutiny of Chinese technology infrastructure by shifting focus to device testing laboratories. The agency is preparing to vote on April 30 on a proposal that could bar Chinese-owned or Chinese-controlled labs from testing electronic devices such as smartphones, cameras, and computers intended for use in the United States.

This proposed action follows earlier restrictions imposed by the FCC, which last year prohibited US electronics from being tested in labs owned or controlled by the Chinese government. That decision led to the removal of 23 testing laboratories from the approved list. However, despite those measures, the FCC noted that a large number of China-based labs continue to play a significant role in testing electronics destined for the US market.

According to the report, the FCC estimates that nearly 75% of all electronic devices are currently tested in laboratories located in China. The agency is expected to consider public comments following the upcoming vote before finalizing any decision on a broader ban. Alongside this proposal, the FCC will also vote on a separate measure aimed at creating a streamlined approval process for devices tested in laboratories based in the United States or in countries considered to pose no national security risk.

Chinese technology companies and supply chains. In recent years, the FCC has steadily expanded its restrictions, including actions targeting telecommunications, surveillance, and consumer electronics equipment. This development is part of a broader and ongoing effort by US authorities to address national security concerns linked toand supply chains. In recent years, the FCC has steadily expanded its restrictions, including actions targeting telecommunications, surveillance, and consumer electronics equipment.

Last week, the FCC proposed expanding import restrictions on Chinese equipment manufacturers beyond earlier measures introduced in 2022. In 2021, several major Chinese firms, including Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua, were added to the FCCs 'covered list', identifying them as potential security risks. More recently, the agency has tightened rules on Chinese drones and consumer routers, further limiting market access.

Chinese company Hikvision has previously stated that it opposes retrospective removal of previously approved authorizations, calling such actions unfair.
by Leila Ekendiz 28

Lisa Shan 28, from Beijing, China, chose Skidmore in upstate New York for the freedom to explore interests from the arts to the sciences. The studio arts major is now using wearable art to explore themes of home, distance, and connection.
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There are quite a few people who would like to talk shop with Sydney laundromat chain owner Omer Tas. After opening Stacks Laundry in the inner-west suburb of Marrickville three years ago, he has expanded the self-service outlet to a chain of seven. His inbox has become bloated with messages from real estate agents and property developers, as well as plenty of entrepreneurial types, eager for tips on how they, too, can make good money by doing what he does. The interest is not unwelcome, but has come with an annoying side effect: it has attracted new rivals nearby. Because of the interest in this as an investment, its getting more saturated, its getting more competitive, he says. Its a bit like, if you want to open, go find another suburb, you know? Omer Tas, founder of Sydney laundromat chain Stacks Laundry, in the Harris Park store. Wolter Peeters In Melbourne, Soap Bar co-founders Constance Bernard and Ben Shaw have spent 13 years smoothing out the wrinkles of their business, both figuratively and literally. When they first opened their laundromat in 2013, they did something unusual at the time: added a coffee machine, put on some music, and let people play Jenga while they waited for their clothes to wash and dry. Within five years, the number of rivals in a five-kilometre radius tripled. Bernard also runs a Facebook group of laundromat owners across the country as a community forum to exchange advice, but more than 20 new people join the group every passing week.

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Most of them underestimate the amount of work that goes into it. The depth of technical knowledge needed to successfully establish and operate a laundromat goes far beyond what any Facebook group can provide, says Bernard. Many come in feeling well-prepared, only to find that the gaps in their knowledge translate into very expensive lessons. Unlike their fluorescent-lit predecessors with hard plastic chairs and the vibe of a hospital waiting room, the new generation of swish-looking laundromats  backlit by neon lights and furnished with free Wi-Fi, pot plants, and sometimes massage chairs  are designed to be inviting spaces to linger in. Soap Bar laundrette and cafe in Melbourne. Most of them are built with the same frictionless feel of a fast-food franchise: while most laundromats still take coins, newer washers and dryers are built for tap-and-pay readers. Done well, some laundromats have become an unofficial urban third space  public places separate to home or work. One obvious explanation for the boom in fancy laundromats is the post-COVID population surge, the growing number of apartment towers and shrinking unit sizes, all of which have naturally lifted demand in high-density, high foot traffic areas. But its appeal as a business opportunity has also been fanned online: social media content from corporate-suits-turned-launderers flogging the merits of laundromats as a passive income stream has inflated interest in buying and owning one as a legitimate commercial venture. Operators upload their experiences to YouTube, divulging financial breakdowns and sharing lessons learnt. Some TikTok videos are essentially coin ASMR (which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and is a popular category of online content where people enjoy the sound of something) of people filming themselves pouring buckets of loose change. In a video typical of TikTok account laundromatmoney, which has amassed 2 million views, Californian entrepreneur Carlos Ochoa pulls out fat wads of bills from a machine and feeds it into a cash-counting machine.

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A lot of people think, Oh, having a laundromat is such a great business, it just runs itself,  says Tas. But you also get phone calls for things that go wrong  peoples washing getting stuck in the machine, a burst water pipe, he adds. People dont see that side of things. Not everyone who wants to have a crack will make a good go of it. People constantly misjudge the amount of investment required to open a laundromat, says Kishore Aggarwal, who founded a payments platform that specialises in laundromats. You do get people rushing in, you know, like its a gold discovery, but its actually not. Its like any other business. The work involved in this passive income investment is understated. I wouldnt call it passive income, says Tangerpay chief strategy officer Damian Hudson. Maybe semi-passive.

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The business of washing The upsides of running a laundromat are intuitive: as a self-service venture, the wages bill isnt excessive; unlike retail stores or cafes, theres no inventory or perishable goods to manage; and washing your clothes is essential, making it fairly recession-proof. But the numbers can add up quickly. The upfront investment in opening a new laundromat sits at around $300,000, according to Tangerpay estimates, but this figure can easily increase depending on the equipment, amenities and the design and quality of the fit-out. It costs about $700,000 to open a Stacks Laundry, says Tas, who engaged Adelaide boutique architect firm Faculty Designs. Each commercial-grade washer and dryer starts from about $10,000 per machine and can go upwards of $30,000; for Stacks Laundry, the outlay for machines alone amounts to $400,000. Then there are the costs for the engineering designs and the ventilation ducts, which alone costs about $40,000. Location is everything: Laundromats that are close to amenities like shops and cafes will be much more successful, says Stacks Laundry founder Omer Tas. Wolter Peeters An average laundromat will bring in about $9000 to upwards of $20,000 a month for highly patronised outlets. But the busier it gets, the heftier the bills; gas, electricity, water, and hospital-grade detergent and softener cost about $1500 each a month. Cleaners, who come in every day to clear out the lint drawers and tidy up, cost $2000 a month. Rent can cost between $2500 and $8000 or more a month.

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For Tas, expenses round out at $12,000 per laundromat, per month. Most operators aim for a profit margin of about 30 to 40 per cent, according to Tangerpay estimates. Some of our stores need to hit about $15,000 to break even, says the Sydney-based entrepreneur. But industry newcomers are eroding profit margins. Kirrawee, in Sydneys south, was once dominating as Stacks best-performing store. Once rivals opened nearby, revenue dipped by 20 to 30 per cent. Ive got seven laundromats; three of them are doing really well, to help pay for the other four. And Im opening so many, so its kind of balancing each other out. Related Article Wellbeing Fitness junkies, zen seekers and the social wellness crowd: The modern face of Australias sauna culture Its here that serious operators investment in equipment and service quality, attentiveness to customer experience, and prompt maintenance can cut through. Tas has invested in high-grade American Speed Queen washers, branding and architectural design, and has learnt to seek locations in shopping centres and car parks to capture high foot traffic. Operators who have learnt to manage the machines themselves and can diagnose and fix equipment will save significant sums on calling out technicians, says Soap Bars Bernard. Those who cant will find it very difficult to sustain the business, let alone achieve a return on an investment that can exceed half a million dollars.

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BusinessSmall businessCommercial real estate Roxy Jacenko wants $10m for her office, as pub barons swoop on Imperial Hotel Carolyn Cummins April 10, 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

Capital Gain PR maven Roxy Jacenko is aiming to get a handy $10 million from the sale of her former headquarters in Sydneys upmarket eastern suburbs as she joins her husband, Oliver Curtis, in Singapore. The founder of the Sweaty Betty PR firm has moved to be with Curtis who, after a stint in prison, now runs artificial intelligence infrastructure start-up Firmus. Roxy Jacenko snapped up 7-13 Elizabeth Street for $2.6 million. Instagram Jacenko, who stepped down from her business four years ago, paid about $2.66 million for the freehold site at 713 Elizabeth Street, Paddington, in 2014. The property was also in the news in 2019 for an infamous poo jogger incident, which sparked a police investigation.

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The 290-square-metre landholding sits on a prominent corner site. It has three street frontages and a north-facing view overlooking Strong Memorial Reserve. It comes with a lease to Sydney Sothebys International Realty until May 2027. Jacenko said that when she was starting the business, she had considered taking a floor in a large, characterless building in Darlinghurst or Surry Hills. Instead, she bought the Paddington site with a view to developing it into apartments or townhouses. That [Darlinghurst] space was functional, but completely uninspiring. Paddington offered something entirely different, Jacenko told Capital Gain. The leafy streets, the village energy, the proximity to great schools, cafes and retail, and it created an environment that worked on every level. As a tenant, you enjoy the address. As a landlord, you own the asset that the address creates. Paddingtons non-traditional commercial profile meant that scarcity worked in our favour  there simply werent many buildings like it, and that scarcity has only grown more pronounced over time. James Cowan, of Colliers, is advising on the sale through a public auction on May 12.

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Mac attack The McDonalds outlet in Yass, regional NSW, is being sold by private investor Chris Garnaut as a freehold with a long lease to the fast food giant. The buyer of the 1713 Yass Valley Way property will become a partner with McDonalds and will receive 6.5 of every dollar spent at the restaurant, without any operational risk, capital expenditure obligations or management complexity, with a triple net lease structure. The buyer of the 1713 Yass Valley Way property will become a partner with McDonalds. Getty Images McDonalds Yass, which sits on a 3571-square-metre freehold site with nearly 200 metres of frontage to the Hume Highway, has recorded compounded annual sales growth of 4.26 per cent since 2003. The lease has generated a 150 per cent increase in rental income over that period.

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Related Article Commercial real estate Luna Park owners buy Bankstowns grim-looking pub in $54m deal No price was disclosed, but as a guide, JLLs recent sale of a McDonalds restaurant in Hampton Park achieved a 2.78 per cent yield, and other recent similar transactions settled in the mid to high 3 per cent range. In Australia, McDonalds operates more than 1000 restaurants, generating revenue of $2.22 billion in the 2024 fiscal year, a 3.7 per cent year-on-year increase. The company has committed to investing a further $450 million to remodel half of its store network. JLLs David Mahood, Sebastian Fahey and George Daley have been appointed to sell the property. Gaming pub snapped up

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A large consortium, including pub barons Nicholas Quinn, Sean OHara, Arthur Laundy and Craig Laundy, has paid $20 million for the Imperial Hotel in Singleton, in regional NSW. The pub transaction, which follows a recent record-breaking sale of The Tamworth Pub Group for $160 million, reflects the popularity of the pub sector. The hotel, set on a 3522-square-metre corner site at 183-185 John Street in Singletons main retail precinct, has 23 gaming machines and a 3am trading licence. Pub barons have paid $20 million for the Imperial Hotel in Singleton. Singleton, about 200 kilometres north-west of Sydney, has experienced ongoing population growth and investment, supporting demand for hospitality and gaming venues. JLL Hotels & Hospitality groups Kate MacDonald and Greg Jeloudev managed the sale.

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Key St Leonards site on market The last piece of the 88 by JQZ mixed-use precinct at 558 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, on Sydneys lower north shore is for sale with a price tag of about $170 million. Completed in 2023, 558 Pacific Highway is a 14-storey office tower that has direct access to the St Leonards railway station and bus interchange. It has 17,394 square metres of net lettable area of office space and retail. JQZs $1.3 billion site also has two residential towers, one 47 and the other 26 storeys. Colliers agents Matthew Meynell, Tyler Talbot, Catherine Scott and Alex McColl, together with CBREs James Parry and Mitch Noonan, have been appointed to manage the sale.

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carolynannecummins@gmail.com The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureBooksCinema The Housemaid author reveals her true identity  and day job as a doctor treating brain disorders Ben Stockton April 10, 2026  10:55am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A bestselling author whose hit books include The Housemaid has revealed her true identity. Known to her fans by her pseudonym Freida McFadden, the thriller novelists real name is Sara Cohen, she told USA Today. The author we knew as Freida McFadden at the premier of The Housemaid last year. She has revealed her real name. Getty Images Im at a point in my career when Im tired of this being a secret. Im tired of people debating if Im a real person or if Im three men, she said. The mystery over McFaddens true identity had continued even as she topped bestseller lists and her books were picked up for film and TV adaptations.

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A film adaptation of her novel The Housemaid, starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney, was released in late 2025 and has grossed almost $US400 million (($565 million) worldwide, according to IMDb. More books and adaptations are slated, including a sequel to The Housemaid, which will star Kirsten Dunst, Deadline reported. Amazon MGM Studios picked up Dear Debbie, McFaddens latest novel, before it had been published. Released in January 2026, the book has spent the past 10 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. McFadden said she wrote under a pseudonym because she did not want her books to interfere with her job as a doctor. My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was [ready to] step back from my doctor job, so it wouldnt be like everyone I work with suddenly knew and it compromised my ability to do my job, she said.

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Treats brain disorders She stopped full-time employment in 2023 and now works once or twice a month, she said. And while it may look like a disguise, McFadden said she wears a wig because I have no idea how to style my hair. Before she revealed her true identity, McFadden was already known to be a doctor who treats brain disorders. Sydney Sweeney as housemaid Millie Calloway in The Housemaid. Daniel McFadden/Lionsgate via AP She had previously said in interviews that her self-published debut, The Devil Wears Scrubs, was based on her experience at medical school.

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She told The New York Times in 2024 that a lot of my books have medical stuff in them, and I dont want people saying, Is this based on me? It feels unprofessional. Even though her real name is now public, she said she would still like to be known as Freida. I feel like I have shared the real me all along, and everything Ive told them has been the truth, she said. Even though the name will be a surprise, nothing else will. Ive always been genuine with my readers. The Telegraph, London

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New Flavours at The Streets of Barangaroo is a tightly curated dining series bringing together some of Australias most compelling chefs for a pair of one-off menus for one night only. This is about access  to talent, to technique, to moments that dont come around twice.

As a Herald subscriber, you have the opportunity to redeem a 10 per cent discount on the first 10 tickets to the New Flavours at The Streets of Barangaroo in partnership with Good Food events.

New Flavours at the Streets of Barangaroo Good Food Events

Watermans x Agnes - Wednesday, April 22 | $159pp

What happens when you take the Mediterranean elegance of Watermans and throw it into the literal fire of Agnes? You get a collab so prestigious its almost intimidating. Bentley Groups newest two-hatted venue Watermans, known for its refined, produce-led take on Mediterranean cooking will be teaming up with Brisbanes Agnes for one night only. Subscribers have the chance to get a 10 per cent discount on ticket bookings through the link here. This discount applies to the first 10 tickets only, so dont delay. Get your tickets.

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When: Wednesday, April 22, 6.30pm

Where: Watermans Restaurant, Barangaroo

Price: $159pp (Herald subscribers get 10 per cent off for the first 10 tickets)
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LifestyleHealth & wellnessMenopause Hangovers getting worse? Menopause could be to blame Lauren Ironmonger April 10, 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

Janine Duncan had, by her own admission, always been a heavy drinker. Im part of Generation X and was brought up with a certain alcohol culture, the we can drink as much as men type thinking, says the 52-year-old. Working in real estate, where heavy drinking was normalised, and then having two sons, which exposed her to mummy wine culture, meant her consumption went unnoticed. But when she entered her 40s, something changed. Janine Duncan, 52, quit drinking alcohol over two years ago after finding it worsened her menopause symptoms. Luis Enrique Ascui

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I was experiencing anxiety and brain fog. I wasnt sleeping well. I was having terrible night sweats that were waking me up 10 times a night, and I was having horrendous periods, she says. These symptoms fuelled more drinking. I was in a high-powered role and under a lot of pressure from work. Id get in the door, start cooking dinner, pouring lots of wine. Id still go to bed at 9.30pm, but I would drink a bottle in that time easily. What Duncan didnt realise until later was that she was in perimenopause  and her experience was far from uncommon. Drinking to cope A 2025 survey from Macquarie University of women over 40 in Sydney found many respondents, like Duncan, were self-medicating menopausal anxiety symptoms with alcohol.

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Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but symptoms can start appearing earlier during perimenopause. Editor's pick Menopause Weight gain, brain fog and anxiety: Is it menopause, or just clever marketing? Professor Rebecca Mitchell from Macquarie Universitys Health at Work Research Centre led the study alongside the Northern Sydney Local Health District Alcohol and Tobacco Program team. She says its findings are particularly significant in light of broader drinking trends in Australia. While overall consumption of alcohol has declined over the past few decades, older women are bucking this trend. According to 2022 research, one in five Australian women aged 40 to 65 are binge-drinking, a statistic thats up from 2001.

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Research on menopause and alcohol is still emerging but one 2025 study of almost 1000 British women found that while some used alcohol to cope, others avoided it entirely because it worsened menopausal symptoms. Meanwhile, a longitudinal analysis of over 3000 American women found that while women who identified as excessive drinkers were more likely to decrease their drinking over all stages of menopause, those who identified as non-excessive drinkers were more likely to increase consumption in the early peri- and postmenopausal stages. Eventually, Duncan visited her gynaecologist, who helped her connect the dots between her worsening menopause symptoms and alcohol (and also put her on hormone replacement therapy). She challenged herself to 100 days alcohol-free and never looked back. Now over two years sober, the experience has been life-changing. The improvement in my mental health has been second to none. Its the best thing I ever did for it. My only regret is I didnt stop sooner, she says.

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How alcohol affects menopausal symptoms Alcohol has a negative effect on some of perimenopause and menopauses most common symptoms, says Dr Erin Morton, adjunct associate professor at the University of Southern Queensland and founder of Bespoke Clinical Research. Editor's pick Menopause The common but little known way menopause affects your body Symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, depression and anxiety are worsened by drinking, even though alcohol may feel like it can help in the short term, she says. In the long term, alcohol can also have an effect on things postmenopausal women are already at greater risk of, says Morton.

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Alcohol can cause issues with bone density, so that enhances the chances of osteoporosis. It also has issues with heart disease, with our diabetic and cardiovascular functions affected by our hormones dropping, theres increased cholesterol, increased blood pressure, she says. And, Morton says, alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen, where even small amounts can increase the risk of cancer. Caroline Gurvich, a clinical neuropsychologist and an associate professor at Monash University, says age can reduce peoples ability to metabolise alcohol, particularly women. She also says the transition occurs at a life stage when many are stretched and stressed, raising teenagers, caring for elderly parents and navigating busy careers. On the other hand, she says there are some women who have the capacity for freedom that they might not have had for years, and so theyre re-engaging in their social life. And in Australia, that often entails alcohol.

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Womens tolerance for alcohol can decline with age, while drinking can exacerbate some of menopauses most common symptoms. iStock Knowledge is power Mitchell says a key takeaway from the Macquarie survey was the power of information. After receiving a brief intervention (receiving information that alcohol increases the severity of menopausal symptoms), researchers found respondents intention to decrease alcohol consumption rose. It was not every woman, not every time, but its very significant, she says.

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Mitchell says there are currently no clinical guidelines for perimenopause in Australia, which can mean women dont receive the right treatment for their symptoms, or that they are dismissed. Editor's pick Alcohol I gave up booze five years ago: these are the 10 questions I always get asked While she thinks awareness and education around menopause have increased over the past decade, stigma  around menopause and alcohol consumption in women  persists. Gurvich encourages women struggling with menopausal symptoms to know there is help available, whether its in the form of hormone therapy or psychological help, and to avoid relying on alcohol where possible. That is going to be much more beneficial in the short and long term compared to using alcohol as a coping strategy, she says.

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Dr. Nicole Lee, chief executive of not-for-profit Hello Sunday Morning, says it can be helpful to talk to others, since women who drink at risky levels tend to do so alone. Hello Sunday Mornings Daybreak App offers free 24/7 peer support to those looking to change their relationship with alcohol. Theres a whole load of lifestyle changes that can be really beneficial, Lee says. Making sure youve got a good sleep routine  if youre having sleep problems, go talk to your doctor about it. You dont have to suffer through that. Do things that bring you joy. Yoga, if youre into that, meditation, things that are me time, and things that replace the relaxing effects of alcohol. Where to learn more and get help Talk to your GP, contact your local hospital and ask for their drug and alcohol clinic or speak to your gynaecologist.

Talk to a friend or find a peer support group. Some options include Hello Sunday Morning, Cuppa, Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART Recovery. You can also find local and international groups dedicated to women and sobriety on Facebook, including Sober Awkward.

For more information on menopause and womens health, Healthy Hormones and Jean Hailes are good places to start.

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National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015 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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This story is part of the April 11 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories .

Patrick Radden Keefe has made a career out of following the money, the myths and the people caught in between, his books blending dogged investigative work with the propulsive energy of a mystery thriller. He grew up in Massachusetts, studied law and later landed at The New Yorker, where hes since developed a reputation as a leading voice in narrative non-fiction (the journalists journalist). The 49-year-old is the author of six books, including the bestselling Rogues, Empire of Pain, and Say Nothing  the last of which became an award-winning TV series he executive-produced. He has also ventured into audio with the podcast Wind of Change, a twisty tale of Cold War intrigue. His latest book, London Falling, is out on April 14, and he will be discussing it on stage as a guest of the Sydney Writers Festival on May 19. Youve sat across from billionaires, gangsters and grieving parents. Youre very good at drawing people out. If I want to get the most honest version of you today, what would you recommend I do? Oh gosh, I feel like I only have one speed. I tend to be pretty honest. Everything with me is quite close to the surface. Im exactly the sort of person I would want to talk to as a journalist. When you look across your books  Empire of Pain about the Sackler dynasty; Say Nothing about the Troubles in Northern Ireland; and now London Falling, about the story behind a mysterious death  it seems you are drawn to people who are very good at shaping their own reality. Where does that fascination come from? Im drawn to stories that have some of the qualities of fiction and, specifically, big characters who can take you through a story. I think we tend to latch on to larger-than-life characters, and I certainly do. Its not that I have a plan or strategy but I have found, looking back on the things that interest me, its often people who have very forceful personalities. Theyre charismatic, sometimes a little bit indifferent to the rules, and they have a tendency to reshape the world. I find those people endlessly intriguing. Its not necessarily that I approve of them; sometimes, I think theyre terrible people  but in a way that seems worth exploring. Most of the time, you dont get the satisfying click that you get at the end of an Agatha Christie mystery. Patrick Radden Keefe Which brings us to your latest book, London Falling. When did this story come to your attention? In the summer of 2023, I was living in London because we were producing a TV series called Say Nothing, based on my [2018] book. I was on set one day chatting to a guy who was a guest of the director, and he figured out that I was a magazine journalist. And he said: I might have an interesting story for you. He told me he had these close friends who had a son named Zac, who died in 2019 when he was 19 in mysterious circumstances. He went off the balcony of a luxury building overlooking the Thames and died in the Thames River. After he died, his parents made this terrible discovery that he had a secret life they hadnt known about. He had been moving around London with an alter ego, pretending he was the son of a Russian oligarch. Hed gotten mixed up with some bad people and then died in this very mysterious way, and theyd never been able to figure out what had happened. We just talked for a couple of minutes about this and I knew in that moment, If the family is on board and they want to tell me their story, this is what Ill spend the next year doing. Who was Zac Brettler? Zac Brettler grew up in a family where he had a mother and a father, Rachelle and Matthew, and an older brother, Joe. They were upper middle-class and lived in a nice neighbourhood, Maida Vale, in West London. He went to an expensive private school. To one way of looking at things, he was a kid with all the advantages. Zac was born in the year 2000, and the course of his life coincided with this period of time during which London was really changing very dramatically.

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There was a huge amount of foreign money that was coming into the city, a lot of it on the part of Russian oligarchs, or oligarchs from the former Soviet Union. These billionaires came, in part, because the welcome mat was laid down for them by British authorities. You had the presence of this mega wealth in London and London was reinvented as a destination for money and people who had it. Zac went to this fancy private school, and he was surrounded by the children of oligarchs. And so even though he was quite well-off, he began to feel as though he was quite poor. And he would say to his parents, We should buy a nicer house, we should buy a better car. And he slowly became more and more fascinated by these oligarch kids, and then eventually, unbeknownst to his parents, he decided that he would become one of them. After Zac Brettler (above) died in 2019, his parents discovered he had been pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch. Chrysa DaCosta (Courtesy of Picador) Where did the police investigation end up? When I say the words Scotland Yard, you still think its quite good branding, right? Your first impulse is to think of it as a world-class police department. And I think one of the things that I had to learn, and the family had to learn, is that thats a bit out of date. In fact, there are some real let-downs. And in this case, the Brettlers were assured by the police that no stone would be left unturned. And then they just didnt do much. The reality is that if a kid goes off a balcony into the river, your first instinct is to think that this kid committed suicide, and the Brettlers strenuously did not believe that is what happened. Im kind of an independent outsider  I spent a couple of years looking into this  and I dont think he committed suicide, either. But if youre the police and what lies behind door number two feels a bit exotic, if it feels like you might be pulling on strange foreign interests and theres a level of intrigue that might be tough for a resource-strapped police department to take on, then theres a strong tendency to say, Well never know, but it looks like suicide to me, and thats pretty much what the police did. How do you know if you want to write a book about a story? Ive been writing for The New Yorker for 20 years now. What I love about my job is that I parachute into a story I dont know anything about. I spend six or eight or 10 months really trying to understand it as best I can and talking to as many people as I can. I figure out what the story is, and then I write my version of it, and then I walk away, and Im done. And I like that. There have been exactly four occasions when Ive finished one of these quite long pieces for The New Yorker and felt as though Id really just scratched the surface, as though there was more there. And each of those times Ive written a book, and this is the fourth one. Zac Brettlers parents, Matthew and Rachelle. What was it about the case of Zac Brettler? It started to feel to me as though you could tell a story that was doing a number of things at once. It was, on the one hand, a mystery story; a thriller in the sense that this boy dies under really questionable circumstances, and its not clear what happened. His parents are hoping to figure it out. Initially, they trust the police, and they think the police will get to the bottom of it but the police dont, and so the parents become detectives themselves and get to the bottom of what happened to their son. But on a deeper level, it felt as though there was a story that you could tell about London and how it had changed in recent decades. You do reach a conclusion in your book about what you think happened that night. Did you hesitate before committing it to the page? Ive been in this situation in the past. My book Say Nothing is about a murder in 1972 and at the end, I think I figured out who the murderer was. I gave a lot of thought to whether or not I should name that person, and I ultimately decided, I am 100 per cent certain, Im going to name this person. Those are fraught decisions. There are legal considerations, and there are ethical considerations. The way I write is that Im presenting it all to you, not as if Im God telling you exactly what happened. Im Patrick, Im this person whos really wrestled with this and heres my best guess of what happened. The tricky thing with [Zacs] story is theres a bunch of little micro-mysteries within that that I didnt solve, and Im OK with that. In some ways, I feel as though thats the way life is. Most of the time, you dont get the satisfying click that you get at the end of an Agatha Christie mystery. You dont get Sherlock Holmes explaining every last detail.

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Youre the father of two teenage sons. Did writing this book make you think about how well you really know them? It did, yes. I have two boys with a similar age gap [about two years] to Joe and Zac Brettler. Adolescence has always been a difficult thing for the people going through it and their families. I think its particularly difficult now. The advent of smartphones and social media has changed the texture of human existence and the way in which we perceive the world. Im hardly alone in worrying about that with my own kids and what it means for them to grow up in a world thats so mediated by screens, and a world in which every kind of impulse that you might have in a moment is registered by an algorithm that then tries to pull you further along that path, whatever that path might be. There was no way for me to write the book and not think about my own experience. The luxury Thames-side apartment building where Zac Brettler, 19, fell to his death. James Veysey/Shutterstock You often interrogate big institutions  pharmaceutical empires, paramilitary groups, now Londons Metropolitan Police. Is your working mantra to distrust everything  and should we all be like that? Theres an old joke I always think about. Some grizzled city desk editor at a newspaper is giving advice to a young cub reporter. And what the city desk editor says is, You know, if your mum tells you that she loves you, check it out. My own mother is a retired professor of philosophy, and one of the more sceptical people Ive ever met. She takes nothing for granted. And I think if youre a reporter, its good to be that way. You dont want to be credulous. I think fixed ideas are generally not a great thing. Now youve got such a significant reputation, does that change how sources interact with you? Its only an issue when its an issue, and a lot of the time its not. Literary fame as a construct is sort of a slightly funny idea, right? Because we live in a universe in which most people dont read The New Yorker, much less books. Im working on a big story for The New Yorker right now, and very few of the people who Im approaching know who I am or know my work. Sometimes I will encounter somebody who knows my work, and most of the time thats helpful. I think my work is pretty rigorous, and Im pretty careful, and if you actually engage with the work that Ive done, you get a sense of the kind of approach that I would take. Sometimes, if they have something to hide, they dont want to talk to me. They stay far away. Do you ever have any fears for your personal safety? On the one hand, I dont think what I do is all that risky. I look at war reporters who really put themselves in harms way in a way that I dont. I dont want to make my life sound too melodramatic or courageous. At the same time, of course, I have to be careful, because Im dealing sometimes with people who have the capacity for violence and a history of violence. I think that the important thing is that I am always very transparent and straightforward. I set ground rules in advance. I behave honourably. I do my work honourably. Im not cavalier about these things. Im pretty careful, but I sleep pretty well at night. Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe: Im not cavalier about these things. Im pretty careful, but I sleep pretty well at night. Grainne Quinlan How do you reckon with the fact that, once a book is out, these real people become characters in the culture? They essentially become public property. Do you think about the consequences of that shift?Gosh, its such a great question, and I think about this all the time. In the interest of transparency, I will often say to people that what I am creating in a book or an article is not going to be like a photo of you. Its going to be more like a painting; its very clearly filtered through somebody elses sensibility. And I try to prepare people for that as best I can. The version of the story is the most truthful as I see it but I also have a degree of subjectivity. In the case of the Brettlers, its going to be really strange. They will get on the Tube in London, and theres a decent chance theyll see somebody reading this book, which contains these unbelievably intimate details about their family. Thats a strange position to be in.

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NationalNSWRoads Blue Mountains highway avoids worst-case scenario for fix Matt O'Sullivan April 10, 2026  2:10pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Key points Geotechnical testing has confirmed it will be possible to repair a damaged section of the Great Western Highway.

However, Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says it is clear the project will take longer than three months.

Blue Mountains residents have been forced to make a 25-minute detour while the road is closed, impacting fuel budgets and local businesses.

Fixing a critical highway across the Blue Mountains will be possible  avoiding the prospect of a more costly alternative route  but the time to repair it will hinge on the exact solution experts decide on. A stretch of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass has been shut indefinitely since March 12 after engineers discovered serious cracking and ground movement in a stone causeway built by convicts nearly 200 years ago. The section of the Great Western Highway that was at risk of collapse due to the deterioration of the fill between its two sandstone walls that were built by convicts. Wolter Peeters Geotechnical testing over the past month has found the bedrock under the causeway remains strong, but stone and other rock used above it as fill between two sandstone walls has deteriorated significantly, resulting in voids and gaps within the structure. Serious cracking and defects in the road, and bulging of the sandstone walls, risked the causeway collapsing.

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The findings from the geotechnical investigations will be used to decide on a solution for the closed section of the highway, which had been used by up to 12,000 vehicles a day. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the geotechnical work had confirmed the underlying bedrock remained strong, which meant the government could focus on repairing the damaged section and reopening it as quickly as possible. We know we can restore the road on the same alignment. This will save a significant amount of time. It will mean we wont have to go into finding another route, she said. Aitchison again declined to put a timeframe on the likely length of time the highway will be shut, although Premier Chris Minns has previously conceded it will require a complicated rebuild, which would not be quick.

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Its clear that it will be longer than three months, but Im not going to put a figure out there because that would be irresponsible, Aitchison said on Friday. We want to be having a solution, and then that will inform the timeframe. She said the government wanted the best engineers and other experts to give options to restore access, not necessarily trying to rebuild the causeway, but on the same alignment. The closed section of the Great Western Highway, which has serious cracking and ground movement. Wolter Peeters Motorists, who are enduring high fuel prices due to the Iran war, have been forced to use Darling Causeway and Chifley Road for a 25-minute detour, which is also placing financial pressure on business owners who rely on passing traffic. NSW Coalition leader Kellie Sloane said residents and businesses disrupted by the closure deserved timely answers from the government about how long it would take to repair, as well as reassurances about the support they would receive if it was not fixed soon.

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There is no clarity about how long these repairs will take, she said. Related Article Roads Mind-blowing: How a convict-built crossing closed a Blue Mountains highway Blue Mountains Labor Mayor Mark Greenhill said early indications suggested the causeway was fixable, avoiding the prospect of a costly alternative alignment such as a tunnel or a new highway, which would take years. If they can fix this at site and get the Great Western Highway reopened faster, that is a much better outcome, he said. Greenhill said financial support for businesses severely disrupted by the failure of a state government road remained unresolved. To my mind, the state government needs to address that issue, he said.

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Aitchison acknowledged the toll the highways closure had on locals and businesses across the Blue Mountains and Central West, who relied on the arterial route to Sydney. Related Article Public transport Sydney-Wollongong commuters finally get start date for new intercity trains We are working our way through what kind of assistance can be done. But my priority as roads minister is restoration of the route as soon as possible, she said. Adding to woes for local businesses, another road in the Blue Mountains, Mount Wilson Road, has been closed to visitors since April 3 due to increased safety risks following severe weather. Greenhill said he hoped the council would be able to repair Mount Wilson Road, which connects to the Bells Line of Road, within two months. 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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NationalNSWPolice I have not tasted the gin: Former police commissioner cleared of misconduct over gifts scandal Riley Walter April 10, 2026  2:36pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The states policing watchdog has cleared former NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb of serious misconduct over the controversial taxpayer-funded purchase of dozens of personalised bottles of gin from a friends Hunter Valley distillery. In findings released on Friday, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) said while Webb, who resigned as commissioner last May, did not personally choose the supplier of the alcohol  known as Commissioners Gin  she failed to declare her years-long friendship with Hope Estate owner Michael Hope when she became aware of the potential personal conflict of interest. The controversy plagued the final months of her tenure. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has cleared former NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb of misconduct. Louise Kennerley The LECCs report on Operation Askern  established to investigate an anonymous complaint in September 2023 about Webbs potential conflict of interest in purchasing the gin  recommended that NSW Police introduce a policy to govern the purchase and distribution of gifts by the commissioner, and consider the appropriateness of alcohol as a corporate gift. Webb axed the gifting policy amid intense pressure following revelations in NSW parliament about the potential conflict of interest. Karen Webb inherited the practice of gifting bottles of alcohol from her predecessor, Mick Fuller. Janie Barrett

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Webb had authorised the purchase of 50 bottles of the gin at $85 each to be given as gifts to visiting dignitaries, a tradition she inherited from her predecessor, Mick Fuller, when she was appointed NSWs first female commissioner in 2022. Hope Estate was the same supplier used by Fuller, who had gifted commemorative shiraz bottles. Webb maintained she did not become aware that Hope Estate had supplied the gin until after the order was placed. She told the LECC she believed she was not required to disclose the purchase of the gin from Hope Estate because the agreement was a pre-existing arrangement, she did not choose the supplier, and that there was nothing about the association that would reflect negatively on NSW Police. I do not have a bottle of the gin nor have I even tasted the gin. Karen Webb, in evidence to the LECC No official decision of mine was capable of being compromised by the commercial arrangement, Webb told the LECC. I do not have a bottle of the gin nor have I even tasted the gin.

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There was no evidence to suggest Webb knew that Hope Estate was the supplier of the gin until after the purchase was made, the LECC found. Related Article Public service NSW police commissioner failed to declare link to gin supplier In late 2024, after initially clearing Webb of misconduct, the LECC broadened the scope of Operation Askern into the nature of the relationship between Webb and Michael Hope, a business associate of her husband, and whether it resulted in the then-commissioner engaging in misconduct. After reviewing text messages and emails between the pair over almost two years, the LECC found that Webb had understated her relationship with Hope, but that it did not amount to misconduct. Webb resigned as commissioner 18 months before the end of her five-year contract after intense criticism of her performance in the role handling major incidents.

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NSW Police said it welcomed the findings and would consider the LECCs recommendations. 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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NationalNSWNote From The Editor The truth some people do not want to hear Jordan Baker April 10, 2026  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Fifteen years ago, Ben Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award in the Australian honours system, for valour in battle. Today he is on remand in prison alongside domestic abusers and drug dealers, facing five counts of war crimes  murder. When journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters broke the news of his arrest on Tuesday, it marked a significant development in a story that was first brought to the attention of the Australian public by the Herald eight years ago, when McKenzie and Masters revealed the Victoria Cross winner had allegedly been involved in war crimes during his service with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012. Ben Roberts-Smith has been charged with multiple war crimes, eight years after the Herald first reported on allegations relating to his time serving in Afghanistan. Matthew Absalom-Wong Despite their meticulous reporting of allegations that Roberts-Smith executed or ordered subordinates to execute civilians and unarmed prisoners, the former soldier has had powerful backers who hailed him as a patriot, attacked us for reporting the allegations, and bankrolled his prolonged, multimillion-dollar defamation case (he lost the case, the appeal and his High Court bid). The fallout from his arrest this week on an aircraft arriving from Brisbane airport  his towering frame flanked by police officers as he was escorted off his flight  has only widened the gulf between his cheer squad and those who not only believe in the importance of upholding international humanitarian law, but also understand that nobody, not even an Australian Victoria Cross winner, should be above the law (Roberts-Smith has always insisted he is innocent of the allegations).

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Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart has long been one of Roberts-Smiths most ardent admirers. She reflected the views of many on the right of politics, including One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, this week when she said our soldiers suffered to serve Australia and she found the criminal investigation puzzling. Even US billionaire Elon Musk weighed in on his social media platform X, saying the arrest sounds insane. Ben Roberts-Smith is escorted off his flight by AFP officers upon arrival at Sydney Airport on Tuesday. AFP The theme of Roberts-Smiths supporters is that war is tough for soldiers, and Australians should stop fussing over details and get behind them. At best, this is a worrying misunderstanding of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), in which every Australian soldier is trained. LOACs aim is to reduce the suffering of war. It stipulates that civilians and prisoners  people Roberts-Smith is alleged to have killed, or ordered to be killed  must be protected. There was a time when both the left and right of Australian politics would have regarded honour, restraint and moral character as essential to the ideal of a patriotic soldier. Not any more. While its worrying that politicians and billionaires have abandoned this idea, its even more concerning for the Australian War Memorial to have done so. As historians pointed out to our reporters Clay Lucas and Nick Newling on Thursday, allowing Roberts-Smiths medals and uniform to be displayed in the memorials Hall of Valour even now (albeit with a note about his criminal charges in a panel) undermines its commitment to historical truth. Leaving up the exhibit sends a message to the children filing through on their primary school pilgrimage that the memorial prizes battle heroics over integrity and ethics. The exhibit should be removed, at least until the criminal proceedings are finished.

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We must remember, though, this saga involves soldiers who chose to break the SASRs so-called code of silence to speak up about their comrades alleged war crimes. Their actions gave the victims families the comfort  after a very long wait  of seeing the alleged perpetrator being held to account, and they displayed moral courage that reflects the best of Australias defence force personnel. Keeping the Ben Roberts-Smith display in the War Memorials Hall of Valour undermines the institutions commitment to historical truth. Alex Ellinghausen It would have been easier for these soldiers to turn a blind eye. It would have been easier, too, for McKenzie and Masters  who have faced enormous blowback  to have overlooked the alleged cruelty of a supposed war hero, or for the Herald to have demurred from publishing their investigation. But The Sydney Morning Herald stands for integrity, accountability and courage. Our role is to tell our readers the truth, even if its a truth that some people do not want to hear. 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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NationalVictoriaCity life Cheers, my dears: Tenants celebrate Nicholas Buildings centenary Carolyn Webb April 11, 2026  9:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Making perfumes for a living, Samantha Schrader sensed she would fit right in working in Melbournes Nicholas Building. Schrader loved the idea of being among a community of independent creators, whether they be jewellers, shoemakers or fashion designers. Samantha Schrader (front), Anna Prifti (right) and Stephen McLaughlan (far right) and other tenants hold a 1920s-style party to celebrate the centenary of the Nicholas Building. Wayne Taylor And so two years ago, she rented a fourth-floor room. It felt like the right place to be, said the owner of the brand Perfume Playground. I wanted to be part of a bigger community, of people who are either creating things with their hands or at least designing something from the heart. As the city changed, the Nicholas Building  designed by architect Harry Norris and built for the Nicholas pharmaceuticals family  has remained a hub for artists and small traders. On Friday, current and former tenants gathered to toast its centenary.

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In the Flinders Lane Gallery on the first floor, partygoers sipped Bees Knees cocktails, dressed in 1920s-style clothing or modern nods to it, and listened to jazz-era tunes. In the 1920s, the Nicholas Building was the cats meow, a Chicago-style skyscraper boasting a neoclassical-style ground floor arcade and a G.J. Coles variety store. Modern skyscraper for Swanston Street trumpeted The Herald newspaper on the buildings opening day, March 12, 1926, detailing its Queensland maple timber fittings and tiled corridors. Gallery owner Stephen McLaughlan says we are lucky that this lovely building is still here when so many others have been razed. The Nicholas Building is announced in The Herald, Melbourne in March 12, 1926. The Herald

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McLaughlan, who has rented an eighth-floor studio since 1994, said former tenant Mark Ferrie, a former member of The Models rock band, was a graphic designer who moved in next door and designed McLaughlans gallery invitations for decades. The Nicholas Building circa 1934. Other famous tenants have included artist Vali Myers and ex-criminal Gregory David Roberts, who worked on his novel Shantaram here. Milliner Louise Macdonald, a tenant since 1996, says anyone can drop in, including billionaire Gina Rinehart, who once tried on a few hats but didnt buy. In the 1990s, Macdonald remembers, there was an elocutionist next door, and podiatrist Verna Synan, who was based down the corridor from Macdonalds eighth-floor studio, had a constant stream of elderly clients.

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In recent years, rents in the building have increased, and Macdonald considered leaving, but she likes the high ceilings, windows that open and having a cuppa with friends. She didnt want to work in a conventional office. The 10-storey building, which has been owned by a group of families since 1973, went up for sale in 2021, at an expected price of $80 million. But a prospective investors proposed rejuvenation, including opening up spaces for public events, came to nothing after governments declined to help fund it. Tenants of the Nicholas Building in 1930, four years after its opening. Sands and McDougall directory

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Artist and gallery owner Anna Prifti, who suggested the centenary party, has been a tenant for a year, having visited friends and attended exhibitions there for years. Prifti said the building was surprisingly quiet and felt like a step back in time. Its got a beautiful energy, Prifti said. You are surrounded by like-minded people. 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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NationalVictoriaCourts Substantial greed: Juice bar owner accused of fatal fire for insurance payout Carla Jaeger April 10, 2026  7:09pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The man accused of orchestrating a fatal arson at his own Chapel Street juice bar was motivated by substantial greed, a Melbourne court heard on Friday. Ibrahim Haddara, 28, allegedly ordered two arson attacks at his Golden Lounge Dessert and Juice Bar in Prahran in December 2024 and January 2025 in an attempt to make an insurance claim for the damage. The scene of the arson attack on the Chapel Street business in January 2025. Penny Stephens The allegations against Haddara, who faces half a dozen criminal charges, were aired during a bail application at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday. Detective Senior Leading Constable Ian Walk, of the arson and explosive squad told the court Haddara had arranged two arson attacks through his associates, Ali Mustafa and his brother, Mohammed, to make an insurance claim.

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The Mustafa brothers are accused of recruiting David Gaddie and Christian Bedford to carry out the first arson attack on December 6, 2024. CCTV footage shows two men breaking open the door of the Chapel Street premises about 4am before dousing the juice bar in fuel and setting it alight, the court heard. Walk said despite the damage, Haddara did not make an insurance claim after the fire. Investigators at the scene of the alleged arson attack in Chapel Street, Prahran, in January 2025. Penny Stephens In the early hours of January 15, 2025, Gaddie and another co-accused, Scott Mathieson, allegedly returned to the scene about 4am armed with four 20-litre fuel containers. After stepping out of the juice bar, Gaddie ignited the premises, sparking a fuel-air explosion that blew the shopfront onto the road and engulfed Gaddie in flames, the court heard.

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CCTV footage captured Mathieson driving to the front of the juice bar, before jumping out of an orange Holden commodore to help Gaddie  who was still on fire  into the vehicle, police said. It is alleged the men then drove past The Alfred hospital but failed to stop to assist Gaddie, instead driving to Mathiesons Fitzroy apartment. Mathiesons girlfriend then allegedly called emergency services, telling Triple Zero that Gaddies skin was peeling off. An ambulance arrived at the Fitzroy premises about 45 minutes after the fire, where he was treated at The Alfred but died five months later. Walk said a pathologists report concluded that Gaddie died from complications arising from burns that covered 72 per cent of his body. Forensic examinations later conducted by the major crimes squad located large pieces of Gaddies burnt skin on the doors of the car, as well as a public toilet block the men stopped at, the court heard.

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Haddara allegedly contacted his insurance broker the same day as the arson attack to lodge a claim, recording loss and damages that totalled about $900,000. These arson attacks have not been driven by drug or alcohol use; theyve been driven by substantial greed  or a significant debt, Walk told the court. In opposing bail, Walk said the alleged crimes displayed a high level of organisation and were well resourced. The co-accused persons were not prepared to [commit the alleged arson] themselves, but recruited vulnerable people who were drug and alcohol affected to commit the attacks, the detective said. Walk detailed several phone calls between the accused men, including a text message allegedly sent by Haddara two days before the fatal fire that referred to Gaddie by his nickname.

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The arson detective also said a car bought by Haddara was used by the men to carry out the attacks. Bedford told police that Gaddie said Haddara had orchestrated the arson to make an insurance claim, the court heard. Related Article Crime Four charged over fatal Prahran blaze Haddaras lawyers argued the evidence against Haddara was weak and did not directly link him to the crimes. In granting bail, magistrate Stephen Ballek said the prosecutions case was clearly circumstantial, but added circumstantial cases could still be strong.

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Ballek said the imposition of strict bail conditions would satisfy any risks outlined by the prosecution. Haddaras father, Abdul, agreed to provide a $20,000 surety to the court for his sons release. He [has] never been in trouble in his life, Abdul told the court. 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 NationalVictoriaEducation Teachers threaten to stage half-day strikes across Victoria Caroline Schelle Updated April 10, 2026  2:30pm ,first published 12:36pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Teachers at Victorian government schools have agreed to embark on half-day strikes during term two after the government failed to present a new pay offer to the states public educators. The further-planned industrial action will include rolling stoppages across the state, but not another full-day strike. Victorian teachers outside Parliament House in Melbourne while on strike on March 24. Joe Armao In a warning to the state government and parents across the state, the Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said on Friday the half-day strikes would occur throughout the next school term, which runs from late April to late June. Theyll commence in the third week of term, and it will see regions of the state take stop-work action ... multiple local schools in a particular geographic area will all stop work at the same time, and then they will converge and rally at a local state Labor MPs office, Mullaly said.

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The third week of term two starts on Monday, May 4. The half-day strikes mean there will not be morning classes at impacted schools, he said. There will also be a ban on educators writing comments in school reports, attending meetings, implementing any new Department of Education programs or initiatives and responding to department emails. Talks between the AEU and the Department of Education over the industrys push for better pay and working conditions resumed on Friday morning and continue. But Mullaly said the government failed to put forward a new offer after the union previously rejected the governments offer of a 17 per cent pay rise over four years with a 1.5 per cent overtime allowance.

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The government has previously said its offer would bring Victorian state school teachers  the nations lowest paid public education workforce  to parity with their interstate counterparts. The union is seeking a 35 per cent pay rise over three years. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly. Ruby Alexander Mullaly said the union and the government continued to negotiate on an almost daily basis. When asked about calls from union members who wanted to see more full-day stoppages in a repeat of the March 24 strike  in which 35,000 teachers, principals and school support staff brought the Melbourne CBD to a standstill  Mullaly said nothing was off the table. The decisions that are made are done through our democratic processes. Nothing weve decided so far rules out further escalation if thats whats warranted, he said.

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Premier Jacinta Allan said on Friday the government continued to meet with the teachers union and wanted to see state educators being paid more. Related Article Schools Parents warned of more disruption after thousands of striking teachers sweep through CBD We want Victorian teachers to get a pay rise and the conditions that support them and their outstanding work they do in delivering great public education to kids right across the state, she said. Addressing the AEU leadership, Allan said the best way to get that outcome is to stay at the negotiating table. Education Minister Ben Carroll, also the deputy premier, said he was committed to getting a deal for teachers and was hopeful a deal could soon be reached.

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We are doing everything we can to strike a good deal for Victorian school teachers. They deserve competitive wages with their interstate counterparts, he said. There was widespread anger among teachers and high-profile resignations from the AEU in 2022, following the previous pay deal, which was worth 2 per cent a year. A group of unionists running on a strike now ticket pulled in 37 per cent of the vote in internal elections in late 2024. Education Minister Ben Carroll (left) and Premier Jacinta Allan on a school visit in November. Justin McManus Union membership fell from about 48,000 in 2018 to less than 42,000 at the most recent elections. But on March 24, organisers told the large crowd at the strike that union membership numbers had grown to more than 60,000 after a sustained recruitment campaign linked to the current round of pay talks.

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Related Article Schools Victorian teachers strike reflects a crisis decades in the making Opposition education spokesman Brad Rowswell said Labors political dithering led to the threat of further strikes. [That] has real-world consequences for parents who will be impacted, students who will again miss out on face-to-face learning and teachers who rightly feel undervalued, he said. Rowswell said teachers deserved a fair pay rise, and the government needed to settle the pay deal urgently. 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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One of the first times Dezi Freeman ran from police, his friend Bruce Evans tried to negotiate on the phone between him and the local cops. Hed gone through a tunnel on foot and popped up on the other side of the freeway, and they couldnt catch him, so I offered to help de-escalate things, recalls Evans, who was also facing charges at the time for breaching COVID restrictions. They had been standing back to back without masks, part of a regular protest in the regional town of Benalla during pandemic lockdowns, and Evans was confident they had a solid legal case. Instead, Dezi did a runner, he says. When he called me, he was hiding under a pile of leaves. I kept asking him, Why did you run? Loading Years later, on August 26, 2025, when Freeman gunned down police serving a warrant on him and then disappeared into the wilderness of Porepunkah, Evans was no longer shocked. Freemans hatred of police and the system had boiled over by then, beyond his fights with them at protests and in court, Evans says. The last text Freeman sent him  just days before the August shooting  declared that he no longer cared if he was caught driving without a licence. They can shoot me, Freeman had told Evans. Like many of Freemans friends, Evans doesnt believe the official story of the shooting and the extraordinary seven-month manhunt that followed, ending in a shootout and Dezis death last week at a remote property near Walwa  more than 100 kilometres from where he vanished into the Porepunkah forest.

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But I know he shot those police, says Evans. Bruce Evans, a friend of Dezi Freeman. Jason South A memorial, papered with childrens drawings, has sprung up inside the nearby Wangaratta police station for the two officers Freeman shot dead: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. They were among 10 officers who approached Freeman and his family that day in August at the renovated bus where they had been living off-grid to serve a search warrant on Freeman over child sexual offences. A third officer was seriously injured in the confrontation, and a female sergeant also narrowly escaped when the gun Freeman turned on her jammed and didnt fire. In the shadow of Mount Buffalo, where Freeman vanished with two stolen police guns, locals who were raided during the early manhunt say they are now wary police will come knocking again, as authorities search for those who might have offered him aid. Mallets property was raided by police not long after Freeman killed two police officers in Porepunkah. Eddie Jim Until surprise intelligence from someone close to the fugitive arrived last month, police had come to believe that Freeman was dead. Surveillance was silent, and exhaustive searches of the bush had turned up nothing. Now detectives are certain he had help on the run  associates bringing him supplies or aiding his travel through treacherous terrain that had recently been hit by fires and snow.

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Last weekend, two of Freemans associates were arrested in the area, though they have since been released without charge. As a flurry of holidaymakers descended on the tourist towns of Bright and Porepunkah, locals were quick to say they had spotted more undercover police in town as well. You can tell by their clothes, some told this masthead. Police dress too well to be your average tourist, and their haircuts are too smart. (An observation that quickly ruled this reporter out of suspicions.) The town of Bright is drawing tourists again as autumn begins. Eddie Jim Still, those who knew Freeman, say its not surprising that the experienced bushman evaded police for so long. Former bikie and local blacksmith Stephen Mallett was part of the same prepper group as Freeman, who train to survive in the bush and are known to leave feeder trails  stashes of supplies  along prepared routes. Here in the states alpine north-east, the scrub is thick and unforgiving, Mallett says  its almost impossible to stray from the path unless you know the land, or you end up up to your neck in blackberries. Police sources say its just as difficult to run physical surveillance of properties bordered by forest. In the late 1990s, Freeman (right) was part of hippie festivals known as Rainbow Gatherings, which are centred on community, sustainability and living off grid. Beth Knights For bushmen like Freeman and Mallett, those wilds are full of hidden shelters and shortcuts too  including waterfalls and abandoned huts  much of which went unsearched by the army of police who descended on Mount Buffalo during the manhunt, locals told this masthead.

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They went looking the wrong way, says Mallett, who was raided by police early on at his home in Bright but cleared of involvement in helping Freeman evade authorities. I always thought hed go north, probably in a kayak, up the Murray River, and there they found him, up near the border. He ran rings around them. Jim Rech, a former friend of Freemans from the area, recalls years earlier Freeman pointing out key spots on Mount Buffalo  higher ground with 360-degree views where Freeman said he had already hidden strategic stashes of supplies, should he ever need them. Dezi didnt want to ever be caged. And he knew everything about that mountain, says Rech, who was also raided repeatedly but found not to be helping Freeman. He was prepared in his head. He was going to be gone where theyd never find him or go down fighting. His two favourite movies were Rambo and Dances with Wolves. But its been so hard on [his wife] Mali and his kids. I wish hed thought more about that. I tried to warn him [he was] taking things too far. A gate, manned by solar-powered video surveillance, bars access to the property where Freeman shot dead two police officers in August. Eddie Jim Many of those close to Freeman spoke of his recent stand-offs with child protection services, some of whom had surrounded the remote Porepunkah property where he was living before the August shooting, over concerns about homeschooling arrangements of his children. Former friends cited his long-standing problem with female police officers, in particular, who he had thought should be submissive, as well as previous patterns of erratic behaviour that had forced him to move on from other off-grid communities.

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A risk assessment determined specialist officers werent needed that day in August to serve the warrant on Freeman  though such a trained squad would later handle the storming of his hideout near Walwa. Even after the shooting  which followed the killing of two police officers and a neighbour by a family of conspiracy theorists in Wieambilla, Queensland, in 2022  associates of Freeman insist the sovereign citizen movement isnt dangerous. Mallet says he was concerned tactical police could shoot his dogs during a raid on his Bright home early in the Freeman manhunt. Eddie Jim Related Article Courts Death threats against judges among soaring safety incidents linked to sovereign citizens Its not like were running an organised militia up here, says Mallett, though he admits some, including himself, are prepping for the event of civil war. Mallet, Evans and Rech were among more than 100 people raided by police during the manhunt around Porepunkah, and say distrust in police there has never been higher. I snub my nose at all authorities, though, even sovereign citizens. Im an outlaw biker, says Mallett. But after a tactical squad descended on his house, Mallett says he nearly left town in shame.

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NationalWAMining Inside WAs battle for billions as Gina Rinehart and rival heirs await defining verdict on iron ore fortune Carla Hildebrandt April 11, 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

After more than a decade of courtroom warfare, Gina Rinehart is facing a defining moment that could reshape her mining empire and test her standing as Australias richest person, as a judgment looms in a bitter fight with rival heirs and members of her own family. A ruling to be handed down in WAs Supreme Court on Wednesday will decide who gets paid, and how much, from some of the countrys richest iron ore royalty streams, with billions of dollars at stake. Gina Rinehart and her company Hancock Prospecting, started by her father Lang (far right), is defending claims to its Hope Downs iron ore tenement in the Pilbara from Wright Prospecting, started by Peter Wright (left). Composite image The case, which has been afoot since 2010, centres on claims by Wright Prospecting and DFD Rhodes that they are entitled to a share of lucrative royalty streams generated by Hancock Prospectings Hope Downs operation, a vast iron ore project co-owned by Rio Tinto in WAs Pilbara. Those assets generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, with royalty streams widely understood to be worth hundreds of millions annually.

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The dispute traces back to the partnership between Rineharts father, Lang Hancock, and fellow prospector Peter Wright, two school friends-turned-business partners who helped open up the Pilbara to iron ore mining. Related Article Courts Succession showdown: WAs iron ore heirs face off over multibillion-dollar deal Their alliance, dubbed the Hanwright partnership, formed the basis of early iron ore discoveries that would later underpin one of Australias largest private fortunes. By the early 1980s, the relationship had begun to fracture as the pair clashed over how to divide their assets. When the case was finally aired in court in 2023, correspondence and agreements between the pioneering prospectors were pored over to determine who was entitled to what  and how much their heirs would stand to inherit.

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Hancock wrote to Wright: We have to do our best to solve the problem now rather than pass it on to the next generation. But that never happened. Wright Prospecting, backed by the descendants of Peter Wright including billionaire Angela Bennett and the children of Michael Wright, Peters oldest son, argues the original partnership entitled both sides to share equally in any assets from those discoveries. The estate of another early prospector, Don Rhodes, represented by his company DFD Rhodes, has also made a claim, arguing it is entitled to a smaller share of about 1.25 per cent.

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That claim is derived from the role Rhodes played in discovering the Hope Downs iron ore deposit, with the terms set out in an agreement inked in 1969. However, Hancock Prospecting rejects the royalty claims from both Wright Prospecting and DFD Rhodes, maintaining it rebuilt the business and developed the projects after regaining control of key tenements from the state. Bianca Rinehart and John Hancock arrive at WAs Supreme Court in 2023. Trevor Collens In July 2023, on the eve of the case being aired in court, Hancock Prospecting unsuccessfully attempted to have a confidentiality order hide more than 16,700 pages of documents. Rineharts children stake their own claim on royalties

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Rineharts eldest children, Bianca Rinehart and John Hancock, entered the legal battle in 2016 after launching their own long-running dispute with their mother over trust money and inheritance. Related Article Courts Without merit: Gina Rineharts eldest children lose last-ditch bid for files That private dispute has centred in part on claims they were entitled to as much as 49 per cent of Hope Downs. In April 2024, the pair sought access to 82 confidential documents they believed could support their case  only for the Supreme Court to reject the bid as without merit. Justice Natalie Whitby criticised the effort as a drain on court resources, noting the dispute over those documents took six days of hearings and involved a court book spanning 6000 pages.

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Mining giant Rio Tinto, as the joint venture partner in Hope Downs, will also be impacted by the outcome, with potential ramifications for how joint-venture agreements are interpreted. The long-running litigation has spanned more than a decade, involving more than 50 court rulings and hearings that ran for 51 days. It has included counterclaims, disputes over closed versus open court proceedings and complex fights over evidence and privilege. On Wednesday, the matter will finally come to a head when Justice Jennifer Smith hands down her decision. However, volleys of appeals from all sides are anticipated to be filed as soon as the court adjourns, raising the prospect of the complicated and sprawling legal fight dragging on even longer. 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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PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Opinion Its Albaneses moment of truth, but hes in a race against time Peter Hartcher Political and international editor April 11, 2026  5:00am

April 11, 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

Parliament House in Canberra is a kind of time machine. The various parties can gather together physically, yet they can be decades apart in time. Starting on the insurgent right, Pauline Hanson prefers to be in the 1950s. White Australia is in force, Indigenous Australians arent allowed to vote, all industry is protected and electricity comes from coal only. Illustration by Simon Letch On the left, the Greens like to imagine that its 2050. The energy transition is complete. Trucks, tractors and aircraft are all-electric and carbon fuels are banned. Farms are fertilised organically and all identities are equal, although some are more righteously angry than others. The provincial conservative Nationals are in the late 1960s. White Australia is out of favour but trade protectionism is firmly in favour. Tariffs are high, loss-making manufacturers are subsidised. Renewable energy is the Snowy Hydro. Coal is beautiful.

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As for the Liberals, Angus Taylor is in the late 1980s. Immigrants generally are OK, but some particular types are less OK. Women are welcome to vote but not to lead; climate change is a fringe fetish; and the free market reigns supreme. Andrew Hastie has other plans, but thats all they are for now. Then theres Labor. Encumbered by exigencies of office, it has less scope for fantasising. Anthony Albanese came to power hoping that he could hold the status quo he inherited from Scott Morrison but with some adjustments. The free-market 1980s and 90s prevailed broadly but with some 21st-century government intervention at the margin to accelerate the renewable energy transition, to promote some essential manufacturing and to encourage home building. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Energy Minister Chris Bowen (left) at Ampols Lytton Oil Refinery in Brisbane on Thursday. Dominic Lorrimer There were traditional Labor-style catch-up equity measures for the low-paid, some social benefits like Medicare and childcare were bolstered, but there was no Shorten-esque threat to redistribute wealth with the politics of envy.

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Albanese hasnt been as timid as alleged  the social media ban for kids was a big call, for example. His governments embrace of Asia and the Pacific has been energetic. But, broadly, no sudden moves. He would make Labor the natural party of government by, as far as possible, being all things to all people. But crisis has struck, repeatedly. Albaneses unthreatening, slow-moving incrementalism was designed for a comfortable country, a cautiously conservative electorate and a stable world. His government has been mugged by reality. National Party leader Matt Canavan stood on the stage at the National Press Club this week and called Albanese Captain Status Quo. Australia, said Canavan, was trapped in the thinking of the Thatcher and Reagan era of the 1980s and 90s, and, in a fun flourish, he added: But I dont think microwaved Milton Friedman is going to save the day. Albanese was here at this stage last week just saying more of the same. More of the same, the same status quo, said Canavan. But he, like just about everyone, overlooked the most important line in Albaneses speech: There is no security in maintaining a status quo that doesnt work for people, said the prime minister. Change, he said, was urgent.

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This was not the speech that Albanese had intended to give. When it was conceived at the end of last year, it was to be a speech that gave an accounting of promises kept. Last year hed promised a year of delivery and this was to be his statement of mission accomplished. It was supposed to build trust with a sceptical electorate. Instead, he sent a signal that times had changed. And so had his thinking. This is the only rational response to todays reality. Since Australias 2025 election, US President Donald Trump has upended the global trading system with his Liberation Day tariffs. A fracturing of the Coalition combined with economic frustration to deliver some four million voters into Pauline Hansons arms, based on current polling. Islamist terrorists conducted a massacre on Bondi Beach. Now Trump has accepted Benjamin Netanyahus invitation to a war on Iran, and together theyve ushered in an oil shock with world-shaking economic consequences to follow. Irans defiant control over the Strait of Hormuz has given us a sobering lesson that supply chains are fragile lifelines. And we are vulnerable. We needed to be reminded. Wed forgotten the same lesson delivered by COVID a few short years ago.

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The oil crisis, says Lowy Institute China expert Richard McGregor, is about something much bigger that could play out in our region, and with far greater ramifications. Related Article Opinion

Anthony Albanese Never waste a crisis, comrade. But can Albonomics meet the moment? Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser Irans chokehold on Hormuz has given China a real-life example of something they have been practising for years to do to Taiwan, McGregor writes in The Australian Financial Review. Disruption of the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea or the East China Sea would interfere with the worlds most valuable commercial artery. The short-term economic impact on the Australian economy and budget of any blocking of our resource exports would be calamitous. For our partners, it would be existential. Sceptics will say that China would not take such a risk. It could entangle its own supply lines, surely. But Chinas planners have long put national security at the heart of economic and trade policy by building what is in many respects a war economy, McGregor says. Beijing is positioned to take the initiative if it so chooses. And there remain over a thousand days of Trumps term.

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers has told business audiences that economic shocks once punctuated long periods of calm. But today we suffer long periods of crisis punctuated by calm. In other words, Australia needs to adjust to a world in near-continuous crisis. Albanese took power four years ago with the intention of caretaking a successful country. New realities have persuaded him that he needs to be an emergency manager. Canavan, and others, missed it, but Albanese explicitly rejected the free-market orthodoxy. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership Were pining for the 90s. Yes, even its politics. Please explain Nick Bryant Journalist and author He said Australia had been able to survive in the globalised free market because there would always be someone else, somewhere else, who would sell us what we needed cheaper than we could make it ourselves. This approach put our nation in this position of vulnerability; it will not take us out of it. The government now finds itself operating in four different eras. First is yesteryear. The government is putting new emphasis on propping up corporate operations that, in the past, would have been allowed to die. For instance, Rio Tintos Boyne aluminium smelter in Queensland, the steelworks in South Australias Whyalla, the Perdaman fertiliser plant struggling to completion in Western Australia. And, of course, the two remaining petrol refineries in Australia  Viva and Ampol  both sustained by federal subsidies.

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The second era is the present moment of crisis. The government is taking daily action to find fuel, fertiliser and plastics for the operation of the country in the weeks and months ahead. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership Cluelessness is bringing an era to an end. We wont call them the major parties much longer Shaun Carney Columnist The third is the near-term horizon of building sovereign resilience while, at the same time, designing economic reforms to be announced in the budget. The resilience agenda is huge and underappreciated. One obvious need is to increase fuel stockpiles from one month, as it stands currently, to a minimum of three. Albanese this week confirmed that the government was considering a long-proposed strategic fleet of merchant vessels. At the moment, there are no more than a dozen Australian-flagged merchant ships. They carry less than 1 per cent of the countrys seaborne trade. The budgets reform agenda is another near-term priority. Albaneses speech described an intergenerational equity at the heart of the oldest and most Australian aspiration of them all  passing on greater opportunity to your children.

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This is a hint at the governments plans to cut tax benefits for property investors to improve opportunity for first-home buyers. Albanese is considering options that he would have rejected only a few months ago. The governments fourth horizon is the longer-term work on the renewable energy transition, among other things. The opposition is seizing on the fuel crisis to argue that fossil fuels must be the top priority, with renewables relegated. The governments conclusion is the obverse: that renewables are the only truly sovereign energy solution to oil instability. The transition, in other words, must go on even as the government seeks to stabilise oil supply. The next election is not due for another two years. The government expects that a successful transition to renewables will be irrefutably plain by then, yet it is open to accelerated approval for new oil and gas fields. A carbon dating of Australias political parties would locate all in either the past or the future, with Labor the exception. The demands of office require the government to operate in the past, present and future. Australia has spent delinquent decades in complacency. Theres not a moment to waste.

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Peter Hartcher is political and international editor. His world column can be read in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age each Tuesday. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Exclusive PoliticsNSWPolitical leadership Minister Ron Hoenig under fire for wooden spoon remark to female councillor Max Maddison April 11, 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

Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has been slammed for making tone-deaf comments after responding to a female councillor by asking whether she changes her partners mind by standing over him with a wooden spoon. A spokeswoman for Hoenig initially told the Herald that he does not recognise the characterisation after his remarks were put to him. Five days later, after a recording of the event became available, the 73-year-old minister said he regretted a poor choice of words. Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig says he regrets his poor choice of words. Sitthixay Ditthavong Hoenig, the longstanding member for the seat of Heffron, which covers Sydneys inner south, and one of Premier Chris Minns closest allies, faced intense pressure last year after it was revealed he pushed to speed up a tribunal submission and influence a Labor mayoral preselection despite the protests of his most senior bureaucrat. The minister made the comments on Friday, March 27, during a question-and-answer session after his address on the first day of the Australian Local Government Womens Association Conference in Doonside, in Sydneys west.

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A regional councillor asked the minister whether he would consider relaxing the recently updated council code of conduct that largely prevents councillors attending local government meetings remotely, particularly in country and outer suburban areas, in light of the fuel crisis. Have you ever been able to convince your partner to change their view, if youre not standing over him with a wooden spoon? Hoenig responded. Orange City councillor Melanie McDonell, who was present during the ministers remarks, described the comments as unnecessary and violence-laden. They were more than tone-deaf; they were offensive, she said. Northern Beaches Council mayor Sue Heins said the room had audibly groaned after Hoenig referenced the wooden spoon. She attributed the remarks to Hoenig being from a different generation.

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Related Article NSW State Parliament Buried bombshells, vanishing votes and hidden hearings: The downfall of a Sydney mayor I dont take what he said literally but it was offensive, she said. That was totally the wrong thing to say to a group of strong-minded women who are leaders in their community. They dont need to hear that kind of rhetoric. A ministerial spokeswoman last week said Hoenig does not recognise the characterisation. The session was conversational in nature, and at one point he made a light-hearted, self-deprecating remark referencing his wife being in charge at home. It was not directed at any individual councillor nor connected to the question as suggested, she said.

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This week, Hoenig provided an updated statement: I regret that it was a poor choice of words. It was an off-the-cuff remark that wasnt directed at anyone in the room. I had intended to share a light, self-deprecating anecdote about my wife but returned to the policy discussion before finishing it, which meant the comment came across as a poor choice of words, he said. The Office of Local Governments new code of conduct states councillors can join council meetings by video link only if they are otherwise prevented by ill-health, other medical reasons or because of unforeseen caring responsibilities. In November 2024, Hoenig, who served as mayor of Botany Council for 31 years until he entered parliament in 2012, told the Tamworth Local Government Conference he gave a young female apprentice $500 so she could purchase a strapless black dress, according to The Daily Mail. She said she didnt think she could afford to keep the dress and that she was going to sell it. I then, some time after that, sent her a gift voucher for $500 so she could keep her dress, which I did quietly, Hoenig later told estimates in February 2025.

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Asked by Liberal MP Aileen MacDonald whether a personal gift from a senior male minister to a young female apprentice could be perceived as inappropriate, Hoenig responded: I wouldnt think so. The fresh comments come less than six months after a senior public servant alleged he was pushed by Hoenig to accelerate a matter involving then-Labor mayor Bill Saravinovski. Several Labor members, including one of Minns closest lieutenants, were working to replace the Bayside mayor with Ed McDougall, chief of staff of Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper. OLG deputy secretary Brett Whitworth told a secret parliamentary hearing Hoenig approached him after meetings, pushing him to accelerate the submission to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The minister persisted despite Whitworth telling him his involvement in the matter was improper. 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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PoliticsWAHomelessness Could Bullsbrooks long-dormant quarantine facility finally be of use? Theres just one problem Hamish Hastie April 10, 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

Western Australias biggest housing advocacy group has shot down the idea of using the perennially vacant Bullsbrook quarantine facility to house homeless people, saying it was not suitable for people with complex needs. The white elephant facility made headlines again this week after WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas raised the prospect of using it to address homelessness after reports emerged of dozens of people camping along Memorial Drive in Safety Bay after being forced out of permanent housing. The Bullsbrook quarantine facility remains empty. Multiplex Bullsbrooks $400 million COVID-19 quarantine facility was completed in 2022 but has sat idle since, given travellers were no longer required to quarantine by that stage. It has since become a thorn in the side of the state and Commonwealth governments, which still have no plan for the facility. The facility is often touted as a temporary solution for those experiencing homelessness, and Zempilas told 6PR Radio on Wednesday he didnt understand why it couldnt be used as temporary accommodation.

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Surely common sense would tell us that if we have a facility that is empty and can house 500 people, now is a time for that facility to be opened up for a form of temporary accommodation for those people who are otherwise living in their cars, he said. However, Shelter WA boss Kath Snell said her team had visited the facility and found it was unsuitable for both short and long-term housing. Certainly the reports back from that is unfortunately, its really not suitable for long-term housing, and thats what we need, she said. It was built as an isolation facility, and thats exactly what it is, and thats not what we need to be able to support people who sometimes have complex needs. A lot of people who need short-term crisis accommodation often need some additional supports thats not available there at this point in time.

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From what I understand, the rooms are not suitable. Theres not enough air circulation, theres not enough public spaces there. The rooms are very small. Related Article Exclusive

Planning and development It has sat vacant for 1176 days. Now theres finally interest in Perths COVID quarantine camp While I understand that its frustrating that theres something like that sitting there empty, and we feel that frustration too at this point in time, we dont believe that its suitable. Housing Minister John Carey rubbished Zempilas suggesttion and attacked comments he made in 2019, before he became Perths lord mayor, suggesting the forced removal of homeless people from the city centre. Basil was on the record previously that his solution to homelessness was to drive to forcibly remove people off the street, drive them out of the city, and that the look of homelessness was disgusting, Carey said.

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So its no surprise that were seeing the Liberal leader suggest driving rough sleepers out to an isolated and unserviced complex. The rough sleepers can have complex needs and they need access to services. Thats why weve built common ground in East Perth that has intensive wraparound support services. Internal briefing papers released to this masthead under freedom of information laws show senior Australian Federal Police executives were given a full tour of the Bullsbrook facility in January 2025, as part of work to explore converting the facility into a training space. In response to the Memorial Drive encampment, Carey said homeless outreach teams were visiting people there. He would not be drawn on the circumstances that led to the growth of the encampment and whether it was caused by housing stress through higher rent and mortgage costs.

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Im not in a position to assess those people. Neither are you. I will leave that to the trained homeless outreach workers who go out each day, he said. But often, and Ive been out with those homeless outreach workers, someone can present as simply as you describe, but actually scratch the surface, and there are more complex needs. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
There was a time, and not so long ago, that those looking for a seamless and organised journey by both land and sea would be offered only a short stay in port before or after a cruise.

Nothing wrong with that: with transfers, hotels, meals and a city tour included, you dont have to worry about anything. Sometimes you also get behind-the-scenes access to monuments or museums, or participatory activities such as wine-tasting classes.

No water for ships here: Chiles Atacama Desert. iStock

Those with their gaze on a more distant horizon are now much better served, however, as cruise lines boost the variety of their land extensions. Some go further than ever before to destinations far inland, such as Argentinas Iguazu Falls, Mongolia, Chiles Atacama Desert, Rajasthan and the national parks of southern Africa.

There is a growing trend, especially apparent since COVID-19, for travellers to want to lock in packages that cover everything under one umbrella, and cruise lines are responding to that.
Most business owners spend years building a safety net. They diversify their product lines, hire backup suppliers, and keep cash in reserve for a rainy day. And then, without even a second thought, most happily leave their entire lifes work at the mercy of a single government. They live, work, invest, and pay taxes in the exact same place. For many, theres even a sense of pride in keeping everything rooted in one place.

But what happens when that loyalty starts to limit your options?

In a recent interview, that is the exact issue property investor Samuel Leeds addressed, and he seems to have touched a nerve. Some people hear it and immediately think its the age-old trick for dodging taxes and turning your back on your community. However, if you actually listen to what he is saying has nothing to do with abandoning your roots, but its rather a harsh yet necessary reality check about risk.

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People think staying in one country is safe, he says, but it can be one of the riskiest ways to build a business.

The comfort zone trap

As humans, we naturally gravitate toward what we know. A lot of founders build their companies right down the street from where they grew up. They hire locally, bank locally, and buy property locally. It makes sense because they understand the culture and the laws, and it seems safe to assume that their wealth is secure in a place that they know every nook and crony of.

It all works until it doesnt.

One change in tax laws, one slowdown of the economy, one new regulation that makes operations either harder or more expensive, one war and restriction of resources and everything you worked for, for decades, comes crashing down in a moment. And when you put all your eggs in one basket, naturally, all of them are gone if the basket disappears.

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That is the comfort zone trap that Leeds is asking his followers to keep out of. Think about it: when you tie your entire financial existence to one nation, you arent really in control of your business; you are simply hoping the people in charge dont make decisions that hurt you. Successful entrepreneurs think ahead, manage uncertainty, and create buffers; they diversify. With everything happening around us today, that clearly is the smart thing to do.

Make globalization work for you

Just until a few years ago, only massive, multinational corporations could afford to operate across borders. You needed giant legal teams and deep pockets to set up overseas. In 2026, this simply isn't true anymore.

Globalization has leveled the playing field. Today, a solo entrepreneur with a laptop can hire a developer in Eastern Europe, sell digital products to customers in North America, and hold their business bank accounts in Asia. The friction of international trade is practically gone.

The most successful people I know they think globally, Leeds explains. You can live in one country, run a business in another, and invest in a third. Thats never been easier than it is today.

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This is the core benefit of the modern economy. You don't have to pack up your family and move abroad to run a global business. You just have to stop acting like your home country is the only place on earth where money changes hands.

What separates entrepreneurs who stay local from those who think globally ultimately comes down to mindset. Once you start looking beyond borders, you begin to compare systems instead of accepting them; you start noticing inefficiencies and opportunities.

Options are the ultimate currency for a business owner. If supply chain costs double in your home country, having an established relationship with a manufacturer abroad saves your margins. If domestic real estate becomes too expensive, knowing how to invest in emerging foreign markets keeps your money growing. When you build a life with international options, a crisis in one location doesn't wipe you out; you just pivot to your backup plan.

Leeds is careful to clarify the intent behind this strategy. Im not saying you need to leave your country. Im saying dont let your country define your limits.

Stepping out of the local box

Entrepreneurs are supposed to be adaptable. Building a business requires you to constantly look for better ways to operate, grow, and secure your future.

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As Samuel emphasizes, "Expanding your footprint beyond your country doesn't mean you lack patriotism or loyalty to your community; it means you are taking your role as a business leader seriously." You are protecting your employees, your family, and your investments from localized risks that you can't control.

Hoping that one single economy will stay healthy forever isn't a strategy, it's a gamble. The world has opened up, and the tools to operate globally are sitting right in front of us. Entrepreneurs, after all, are builders. Builders should go where they can build best, and no one should shame them for it.
A new London exhibition of hundreds of the late monarchs outfits reveals the strategy behind her style.

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From the moment she took the throne, Queen Elizabeth II put high fashion to work in keeping a new Commonwealth together to replace an old empire. The proof is in a new exhibition in London that tracks her fashion and style over her life and reign  and confirms her skill at power dressing long before the term was used. The huge collection of dresses, gowns, hats and other accessories documents nine decades of the late Queens life. Getty Images The Queens large hat collection is also part of the display at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images For her coronation dress in 1953, for instance, she insisted that floral emblems from the Commonwealth should be embroidered onto the coloured silk. The result was an opulent gown decorated with Australian wattle alongside the New Zealand silver fern, the Canadian maple leaf, the Indian lotus, and other emblems. That decision became a feature of her reign as she used small details to add a symbolic touch to her outfits, whether she was dining with a prime minister or meeting people in a remote territory. The exhibition, at the Kings Gallery at Buckingham Palace, marks the centenary of the Queens birth by bringing together 200 dresses and other items, half of them being displayed in this way for the first time.

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While the coronation dress draws attention, the exhibits include dozens of evening gowns and everyday outfits. There is a gown designed with Pakistani colours for a visit to that country in 1961, a black silk and velvet opera cloak worn in Mexico in 1975 and a dress the colour of wattle flowers for a tour of Australia in 1970. The exhibition also documents some of the uniforms worn by the Queen while performing ceremonial military duties. AP A display of colour-blocked day wear. Getty Images The curator, Caroline de Guitaut, the surveyor of the Kings works of art at the Royal Collection Trust, says Queen Elizabeth made an art form of combining fashion and diplomacy. Her clothes were always minutely considered, none more so than when undertaking official overseas tours, says de Guitaut. And on these occasions, from the very beginning of her reign, the Queen had an innate understanding of how fashion could lend itself to diplomacy. Colour or embellishment communicated messages of respect to her host nation before she had even uttered a word of her speeches.

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Loading Clothes acknowledge everything from religious, cultural and social convention, no matter which country or culture was visited  a masterclass in diplomatic dressing that spoke volumes about her wish to connect to people and audiences wherever she went. Long before she was crowned, the Queen was watched for what she wore. And, no doubt, she was judged on how she wore it. The exhibition includes everything from her christening robe to her ballet shoes and the floaty dress she wore as a bridesmaid at the age of nine. At that point in her life, of course, she was a princess rather than a future queen. This changed in the abdication crisis of 1936, when she was 10, and her father became king at the end of that year. The exhibition captures the aesthetic of glamorous young Elizabeth, pictured here in a 1945 Cecil Beaton portrait. Fox Photos Knowing every outfit was judged, she sent a message with what she chose. As a teenager during the Second World War, she wore dresses made of old royal gowns, at a time when the British were rationing material. She wore the uniform of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and was photographed changing the tyre of a military vehicle. This gave way to exuberance after the war and the selection of designers who created glamorous evening wear and, by the early 1970s, dresses in the bright colours of the hippie era. More often, there was the standard skirt-and-jacket with a matching hat and handbag.

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Missing: The Queens iconic wattle dress, by Norman Hartnell, worn twice on her 1954 tour of Australia and immortalised in a painting by Sir William Dargie is not on display because it cannot be found. Glen McCurtayne Its fair to say the Queens look, her signature style, has definitely influenced generations of fashion designers both here in the United Kingdom but also overseas, says de Guitaut. Particularly things like the off-duty look, the headscarf, the tweed jacket and tartan skirt, and the handbag over the crook of the arm. In a way, if we close our eyes and we remember the Queen, we probably think of that type of style. Certainly, that kind of elegance, that restraint, that carefully thought-out clothing, has been a source of inspiration quite widely. Elizabeths almost 80-year-old wedding dress, veil and train on display. Getty Images Speaking to this masthead at a preview of the exhibition, de Guitaut says every outfit was the result of careful planning. There is no evidence that the Queen ever expressed regret about one of her outfits, she says. In fact, the files reveal how happy she was with the outfits because she used so many of them again, having them altered over the years. Not everything was for a stately occasion. The exhibition includes a poodle skirt made for a 1951 tour of Canada, reflecting the popular style of the time for young women, with cartoonish animal appliques on the fabric. The princess wore it to a square dance in Ottawa.

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Cecilia Oliver, the textile conservator at the Royal Collection Trust, worked on the restoration of outfits for the exhibition and had to replicate the shirt to match the 1951 skirt. Rather than being decorated with poodles or other animals, it featured Romeo and Juliet, in a nod to Elizabeths marriage to Prince Philip four years earlier. The Queens wedding ensemble from her 1947 marriage to Prince Philip. AP A curator at the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition. AP It reflects the fact that she was a young woman when she was a princess, says Oliver. And shes just having a good time. The exhibition has just opened in London and runs until October. There are no plans to tour the exhibits, although some of them can be viewed online. There is one major gown missing from the Kings Gallery: the wattle dress designed by Norman Hartnell and worn by the Queen during her tour of Australia in 1954. The silk tulle had a wattle flower design, and it can be seen in the portrait of the Queen by Australian painter William Dargie from that year. (There are three versions of this portrait; it was printed so often that it became the standard image of the Queen across Australia.) Cecilia Oliver, textile conservator, Royal Collection Trust, makes final adjustments. Getty Images

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Updated WorldEuropeRoyal family Prince Harry sued for defamation by charity he co-founded Updated April 11, 2026  5:33am ,first published 3:14am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

London: A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in honour of his late mother Princess Diana, which he quit following a high-profile dispute, is suing the British royal for defamation at the High Court in London, a court record showed on Friday. Harry, the younger son of King Charles, co-founded Sentebale in 2006 to help young people with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana but resigned as a patron in March last year after a public falling-out with its chair of the board, Sophie Chandauka. Loading According to a record made public on Friday, Sentebale lodged a defamation claim last month at the High Court against Harry and one of his close friends Mark Dyer, who was also a trustee of the charity. The charity said it was seeking the courts intervention, protection, and restitution following an adverse media campaign conducted since last March that had caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners.

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Sentabale chair Dr Sophie Chandauka. Sentabale.org The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership, the charitys statement said. Harrys spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit puts the Duke of Sussex in an unusual position as a defendant in the High Court. For the past three years, he has repeatedly been on the other side of litigation as the leading claimant in invasion of privacy suits against Britains most prominent tabloids over allegations of phone hacking and unlawful snooping by journalists and the private eyes they hired.

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Sentebales co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and the then board of trustees also joined Harry in leaving the charity, which he helped set up nine years after Diana was killed in a Paris car crash and which means forget-me-not in the local language of Lesotho in southern Africa. Editor's pick Royal family Harry and Meghan touch down for first Australian trip since royal exit During the public acrimony last year, Chandauka reported him and the trustees to Britains charity regulator over alleged bullying and harassment. Chandauka told Sky News that filming for one of Harrys Netflix programs had interfered with a scheduled fundraiser for Sentebale and an incident with his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, became a source of friction. Prince Harry launching the charity in Lesotho in 2006. Getty Images

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A short time ago, a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in the Pakistani capital for talks with Iranian officials in the coming hours.

The Iranian delegation arrived early Saturday in Islamabad, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

The streets of Pakistans normally bustling Islamabad were deserted as security forces sealed roads.

Authorities urged residents to stay inside, leading the city to appear under curfew.

Meanwhile, Pakistans government set up a state-of-the-art media centre for local and foreign journalists, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has reported an overall decline in major crime categories for 2025, while warning that youth involvement in firearm-related offenses remains a serious and growing threat.

Presenting to Parliament during the April 8 Committee of Justice meeting, the Minister outlined statistics showing notable improvements across several areas. Homicides decreased by 19 percent, armed robberies by 15 percent, and traffic accidents by 11 percent. Emergency calls dropped by 5.5 percent, while noise complaints fell sharply by 37 percent.

At the same time, law enforcement activity increased, with arrests rising by 5 percent, traffic tickets up 10 percent, and firearms seizures increasing by 11 percent. Authorities also confiscated more than 650 kilograms of illegal drugs, marking an 8 percent increase.

Despite these gains, Tackling stressed that gun-related crime among youth demands urgent attention.

In 2025, 50 minors were arrested, most of them male, for offenses ranging from armed theft to firearm possession, the Minister stated. This trend continues into 2026, where 11 minors have already been arrested in the early months alone.

The data shows that while most young people are not involved in crime, a small group of predominantly older teenage boys is responsible for a disproportionate share of violent incidents, particularly those involving firearms.

The Minister linked youth crime to underlying social challenges, including school dropout rates, unstable home environments, limited job opportunities, and exposure to violence.

These are not new issues, she said, but the patterns are changing, and our response must evolve accordingly.

Minister Tackling emphasizes that tackling crime requires more than enforcement, calling for collaboration between families, schools, community organizations, and government agencies.
PHILIPSBURG: --- A lively debate unfolded in Parliament as Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling and Members of Parliament clashed over the role of military-style education in addressing youth crime.

During her presentation, Tackling made it clear that the Ministry does not support military-style training as a quick solution, instead promoting structured programs such as Social Development Training (SVT), which focuses on discipline, teamwork, and employability.

She explained that the Ministrys approach is based on a broader strategy combining prevention, diversion, enforcement, and aftercare, rather than relying on a single intervention.

However, Member of Parliament Egbert Doran strongly questioned the absence of a direct response to military-style training, noting that the agenda explicitly called for discussion on that topic.

Doran argued that such training programs have historically helped build discipline and have contributed to the development of personnel within law enforcement and other uniformed services.

He also pointed out that opportunities exist within the region, particularly in Curacao and Aruba, where similar programs could accommodate participants from Sint Maarten.

According to Doran, these programs would not reduce the local workforce but rather strengthen the pipeline of future recruits.

Member of Parliament Darryl York raised additional questions regarding the implementation of the Ministrys initiatives, including timelines, execution plans, and the involvement of non-governmental organizations.

The discussion highlighted broader parliamentary concerns about ensuring that proposed programs move from planning to practical execution.

While not all Members spoke extensively during this segment, the debate reflects ongoing concerns among MPs, including Lyndon Lewis and Ardwell Irion, regarding the need for effective strategies to address youth crime and provide structured opportunities.

Minister Tackling confirmed that a feasibility study is underway to examine structured youth programs and that discussions are ongoing with the Dutch Ministry of Defense. She emphasized that any initiative must be legally sound, financially sustainable, and aligned with national priorities.

As Sint Maarten continues to confront youth-related crime, particularly involving firearms, the debate underscores the challenge of balancing discipline-based interventions with broader social solutions.
PHILIPSBURG: --- A high-stakes parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday, April 9, 2026, brought renewed attention to the proposed legalization and regulation of cannabis in St. Maarten, as lawmakers, experts, and stakeholders engaged in a detailed and, at times, deeply personal discussion on the issue.

The session, convened by the Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, marked the continuation of an earlier meeting held on March 13. At the center of the debate was a comprehensive proposal presented by Native Nations SXM, the entity selected by government to guide the development of a legal cannabis framework.

A Government-Led Initiative

The proposal stems from a broader government objective outlined in its 20202024 governing program, which identified cannabis regulationspanning medicinal, scientific, recreational, and religious useas a key economic and policy priority. The initiative was further reinforced in the countrys economic recovery plan, where cannabis was listed among six targeted tourism export sectors.

Following a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in September 2022, Native Nations SXM emerged as the selected partner. The government tasked the organization with delivering a full roadmap to legalization, including research, legislation drafting, regulatory frameworks, and implementation timelines.

Notably, the agreement requires no upfront financial cost to the government. Instead, Native Nations is compensated through a 10-year concession allowing it to operate key segments of the cannabis industrycultivation, processing, testing, and distributionwhile contributing $750,000 annually to a local foundation supporting social, economic, and environmental initiatives.

Tourism at the Core of Economic Projections

A central theme of the discussion was the projected economic impact of legalization. Representatives clarified that much of the anticipated revenue would be driven not by the islands population, but by its robust tourism sector.

St. Maarten, with a resident population of approximately 100,000 across both sides of the island, receives over two million visitors annually. The proposed model estimates that 28% of tourists may participate in cannabis consumption, contributing significantly to projected revenues.

Officials emphasized that this figure reflects participation ratesnot revenue shareand is based on comparative data from jurisdictions such as Nevada and the Netherlands, where tourism heavily influences cannabis markets.

Opportunities and Concerns for Local Farmers

The proposal outlines a mixed model for local agricultural participation, combining entrepreneurship with structured employment.

Outdoor cultivation would be led by local farmers operating as independent entrepreneurs, with guaranteed purchase agreements and the added benefit of crop rotation with food production.

would be led by local farmers operating as independent entrepreneurs, with guaranteed purchase agreements and the added benefit of crop rotation with food production. Indoor cultivation, by contrast, would be centralized and create an estimated 250 jobs, with workers employed directly under Native Nations.

However, lawmakers raised concerns about autonomy, questioning whether farmers would truly benefit as independent business owners or become dependent on a centralized system. It was confirmed that commercial home cultivation would not be permitted, though limited personal-use growing may be allowed under strict caps.

Export Potential and Regional Positioning

The proposal also envisions St. Martin as a regional export hub, particularly for CBD products. Immediate opportunities were identified in neighboring territories such as French St. Martin, St. Barts, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, where cannabis derivatives are already regulated.

Long-term ambitions include entry into European markets, contingent on meeting stringent EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. Native Nations representatives indicated that training programs and infrastructure support would be provided to help local farmers meet these requirements.

Banking and Regulatory Oversight

One of the most pressing concerns raised by Members of Parliament was access to banking servicesan issue that has plagued cannabis industries globally.

To address this, the proposed framework includes:

A Cannabis Oversight Authority

Full compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) standards

and standards A comprehensive seed-to-sale tracking system, monitoring every stage of production and distribution

Officials stated that these measures were developed in consultation with the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Martin, with the goal of ensuring the industry remains transparent, auditable, and bankable.

Public Health Debate Takes Center Stage

Perhaps the most emotionally charged portion of the meeting came during discussions on public health, particularly the relationship between cannabis use and mental illness.

Medical expert Dr. Joseph Rosado addressed concerns about cannabis-induced psychosis, emphasizing that:

The commonly cited 3% psychosis rate reflects baseline population levels , not cannabis-related cases.

, not cannabis-related cases. Risk is primarily associated with genetic vulnerability , not general use.

, not general use. Regulation, rather than prohibition, allows for early intervention, dosage control, and safer consumption practices.

Dr. Rosado also argued that regulated cannabis markets often lead to a reduction in the use of more harmful substances, citing decades of research from jurisdictions like the United States and Canada.

Learning from Global Models

Throughout the session, comparisons were drawn to international experiences, including:

Uruguay , the first country to legalize cannabis, which reported reduced illicit market activity and stable public health indicators.

, the first country to legalize cannabis, which reported reduced illicit market activity and stable public health indicators. Canada , where legalization led to decreased criminal justice involvement but also exposed risks of overproduction and market imbalance.

, where legalization led to decreased criminal justice involvement but also exposed risks of overproduction and market imbalance. Various U.S. states, where studies suggest positive impacts on crime rates, tax revenue, and public health outcomes.

Officials stressed that St. Martins model has been designed with the benefit of hindsight, aiming to avoid the pitfalls seen in other jurisdictions.

A Decision with Lasting Implications

As the meeting concluded, it was clear that while significant groundwork has been laid, many questions remainparticularly regarding governance, economic equity, and long-term sustainability.

Members of Parliament requested additional documentation, including detailed reports on stakeholder consultations, comparative analyses, and the foundational agreements guiding the project.

With legislation expected to be submitted in the coming weeks, St. Martin now stands at a critical juncturepoised to potentially become a pioneer in the Caribbean cannabis industry, but facing the complex task of balancing economic opportunity with public health and social responsibility.

Further deliberations are expected as Parliament reviews the full legislative package in the weeks ahead.
Air raid sirens across Israel after rocket launches from Lebanon



Tel Aviv, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2026



Air raid alerts rang out across Israel early Friday, including in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv and in the southern coastal city of Ashdod following rocket fire from Lebanon.

Continued fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is testing a fragile truce reached between the United States and Iran.

Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire repeatedly on Thursday.

The Israeli army's Home Front Command issued alerts for several areas following Friday's rocket fire, including the Tel Aviv area and southern communities far from the Lebanon border.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but Israeli media reported that air-defence systems had intercepted at least one incoming rocket.
Japan to release further 20 days' worth of oil reserves: media



Tokyo, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Japan plans to release a further 20 days' worth of oil reserves as early as next month, local media reported on Friday citing an announcement by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The country first began tapping into its strategic oil reserves, which are among the world's largest, last month.

At a meeting held in response to the conflict in the Middle East, "Prime Minister Takaichi announced a plan to additionally release roughly 20 days' worth of government-held national oil reserves starting early next month or later, in order to ensure the stable supply of crude oil," public broadcaster NHK said.

Multiple other media reported the same announcement.

Japan depends on the Middle East for around 95 percent of its oil imports.
'High risk': US VP Vance tasked by Trump to lead Iran talks



Washington, United States, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



It was a war JD Vance never wanted. Now the US vice president has been tasked with ending it.

Vance heads to Pakistan this week with orders from President Donald Trump to turn the shaky Iran ceasefire into a lasting peace deal.

For the 41-year-old Vance, who has kept a notably low profile during the Middle East conflict, it will be one of the biggest moments of his career.

But the man widely regarded as a leading contender in the 2028 US presidential election will face huge challenges too when talks begin Saturday in Islamabad.

"I cannot think of a case where the vice president ran formal negotiations like this," Aaron Wolf Mannes, a lecturer at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and an expert on the American vice presidency's role in foreign policy, told AFP.

"This is high risk, high reward."

Vance built his political brand as an avowed anti-interventionist who wanted to keep America out of any more foreign wars, like in Iraq where he served as a US Marine.

That has made for a difficult balancing act after Trump launched the Iran war on February 28.

Vance has publicly backed the conflict but has kept out of the limelight. When the ceasefire was announced, Vance happened to be far away in Hungary, supporting Prime Minister Viktor Orban's electoral campaign.

The New York Times reported this week that in discussions behind closed doors in the weeks before the war, Vance argued against military action, saying it could cause regional chaos and split Trump's MAGA coalition.

But Vance now suddenly finds himself as Trump's diplomatic closer for an Iran deal.

"My key role was, I sat on the phone a lot," Vance told reporters as he left Hungary this week. "I answered a lot of phone calls. I made a lot of phone calls. And again, I'm happy about where we are."

Announcing the Islamabad talks this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Vance played a "very significant and a key role in this since the very beginning."



- Not always diplomatic -



Vance will be accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner as he becomes the first US vice president to visit Pakistan since Joe Biden in 2011.

The White House said Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner "have always been collaborating on these issues."

"The President is optimistic that a deal can be reached that can lead to lasting peace in the Middle East," Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement to AFP.

One theory is that the Iranians may view Vance as a more likely partner for diplomacy given his widely reported opposition to the war, and general doubts about US interventionism.

After Tehran expressed fury over Israel's continued attacks on Lebanese cities despite the ceasefire deal, Vance appeared to take a softer tone, saying there may have been a "legitimate misunderstanding" from Iran that Lebanon would be included.

He hasn't always been so diplomatic.

A long-term skeptic of support for Ukraine, Vance notoriously kicked off the Oval Office row between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in February 2025.

And for the ambitious Vance, a soon-to-be father of four and Catholic convert, politics is always in the background.

Since Trump's return to power, Vance has been unusually prominent in a tough job that is simultaneously one heartbeat away from the presidency yet also, in the words of one former veep, "not worth a bucket of warm spit."

His crucial role in the Iran talks comes against the backdrop of a looming potential battle with Rubio to be the Republican heir to Trump in two years' time.

"If he can get something that papers it over without dealing with real issues, that's probably enough," said Mannes.

"But if nothing good comes of this, it raises questions about his competence, which is not going to help him electorally. And of course Rubio's right there as a potential rival for 2028."

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Trump slams right-wing commentators who oppose Iran war



Washington, United States, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



US President Donald Trump on Thursday angrily lashed out at multiple well-known conservative commentators who have criticized his war against Iran, slamming his onetime allies as attention-seeking "NUT JOBS."

"They're stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!" Trump wrote in a nearly 500-word social media diatribe.

In the president's crosshairs were Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly -- two former Fox News hosts turned independent podcasters -- as well as Candace Owens and Alex Jones, also podcasters and prominent conspiracy theorists.

All four have vocally criticized Trump over the war, slamming him for abandoning his anti-war campaign promises and -- to varying degrees -- accusing him of bowing to pressure from Israel to launch the conflict.

Their criticism has highlighted a divide among Trump's supporters over the war, a potential major political risk for the Republican Party heading into the November midterm elections.

"They don't have what it takes, and they never did! They've all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren't even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they're NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some 'free' and cheap publicity," he complained.

While all four have been backers of the president's "Make America Great Again" movement, some have feuded with the president.

During Trump's first presidential campaign, Kelly -- then a Fox News host -- asked the billionaire businessman and reality TV star about disparaging remarks he had made against women.

Trump retorted with a joke about comedian Rosie O'Donnell, his longtime nemesis, and later prompted controversy by seeming to suggest that Kelly had asked the tough question because she was menstruating.

"You can see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever," Trump said at the time.

Trump referred to the saga on Thursday, saying Kelly "nastily asked me the now famous" question.

He also personally attacked the other three, slamming Carlson for not obtaining a college degree, saying he hoped French First Lady Brigitte Macron wins her defamation suit against Owens, and that Jones deserved to go bankrupt after losing his own suit over calling a mass school shooting a hoax.

Owens, 36, has accused France's first lady of being a man.

"Actually, to me, the First Lady of France is a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, it's not even close!" Trump wrote Thursday.

Owens snapped back with a short post on X.

"It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home," she said.

Jones, for his part, said on X that he has "made it very clear that I no longer support Trump and I'm very thankful to him for making it clear that I have nothing to do with him."

"The new Trump is a rotting husk of the old Trump," he added.
China slams US pressure on North Korea on trip to Pyongyang



Seoul, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



China's top diplomat criticised US pressure on North Korea, Pyongyang state media reported on Friday, after he vowed to deepen ties with the diplomatically isolated nuclear state during a visit.

The United States has for decades led efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear programme, but summits, sanctions and diplomatic pressure have had little impact.

Beijing is North Korea's top trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political support for the secretive nation.

Wang Yi told a banquet at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse on Thursday that Pyongyang had made "new achievements in socialist construction", despite what he described as "intensifying schemes of isolation and strangulation" from the United States and Western powers, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The two-day official visit by Wang -- his first since 2019 -- comes shortly after the neighbours resumed transport links that had been halted since the Covid-19 pandemic.

He told North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui on Thursday that China was "willing to work with North Korea" to "enhance dialogue and practical cooperation at all levels and across various fields, (and) deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges," according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

The visit comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump mounts a push to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, eyeing a potential summit this year, potentially during Trump's visit to Beijing in May.

Choe said it was Pyongyang's "consistent policy" to maintain friendly relations with Beijing, which have "overcome all kinds of historical storms and carried on a great tradition of unity and cooperation with socialism as their core."
Air raid sirens across Israel after rocket launches from Lebanon



Tel Aviv, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Air raid alerts rang out across Israel early Friday, including in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv and in the southern coastal city of Ashdod following rocket fire from Lebanon.

Continued fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is testing a fragile truce reached between the United States and Iran.

Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire repeatedly on Thursday.

The Israeli army's Home Front Command issued alerts for several areas following Friday's rocket fire, including the Tel Aviv area and southern communities far from the Lebanon border.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but Israeli media reported that air-defence systems had intercepted at least one incoming rocket.

Hezbollah posted several statements on Telegram saying it had launched three waves of rocket and drone strikes in the early hours of the morning against Israeli soldiers on both sides of the border as well as a town in northern Israel.

The US State Department said on Thursday that Israeli and Lebanese government representatives will hold talks in Washington next week, amid mounting international concerns that Israel's campaign in Lebanon could shatter the already fragile US-Iran temporary truce.

Pakistan - which has insisted Lebanon is included in the ceasefire - is also set to host talks between Iranian and United States delegations in coming days to try to permanently end the Middle East war.
Japan's Takaichi confirms release of more oil reserves



Tokyo, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Friday that officials would release an extra 20 days' worth of oil reserves from next month.

The country began tapping its stockpiles, the world's largest, in March as the government looked to temper a spike in prices caused by the hit to supply from the Middle East war.

"To ensure the stable supply of crude oil, we will release starting in early May the equivalent of roughly 20 days' worth (of oil) from the national reserves," she said at a meeting held in response to the conflict in the Middle East.

It will be the second release from the state oil reserves, while it has also tapped 15 days worth of private-sector petroleum stockpiles.

Japan depends on the Middle East for around 95 percent of its oil imports.

A joint reserve is held in the country by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, according to the Petroleum Association of Japan.

Under normal circumstances, the jointly stored crude is commercially used, but in the event of an emergency, Japanese oil companies have preferential purchasing rights.

Members of the International Energy Agency agreed on March 11 to tap oil stockpiles to cushion the surge in prices -- by far the largest-ever response of its kind.
Middle East war: global economic fallout



Paris, France, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:



- Stocks up, oil prices rise -

Stocks rose Friday as investors remained optimistic about the US-Iran ceasefire ahead of planned weekend talks.

Equity markets in Tokyo and Seoul led gains across Asia as investors tracked gains on Wall Street.

But oil prices extended Thursday's gains -- Brent added 0.6 percent and West Texas Intermediate 0.8 percent -- as the key Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed. Both main contracts remain around $100 a barrel.

Worries that Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon could shatter the peace process added to crude-buying sentiment.



- Japan to release more oil reserves -

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tokyo planned to release a further 20 days' worth of oil reserves as early as next month.

"To ensure the stable supply of crude oil, we will release starting in early May the equivalent of roughly 20 days' worth (of oil) from the national reserves," she said at a meeting held in response to the conflict in the Middle East.

The country began tapping its stockpiles, the world's largest, in March as the government looked to temper a spike in prices caused by the hit to supply from the conflict.



- Trump warns Iran against Hormuz tolls -

US President Donald Trump warned Iran against imposing a toll for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran agreed to reopen the crucial route as part of a two-week ceasefire.

"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait -- They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

In a second message just a few minutes later, Trump added that "very quickly, you'll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran".



- Trump, Starmer seek 'practical plan' on Hormuz -

Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for "a practical plan" to get shipping moving again through the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Iran ceasefire, the UK leader's office said.

The two "agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the Strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution", according to Downing Street.

"The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible," and agreed to speak again.



- EU rejects Hormuz tolls -

The European Union said freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured with "no payment or toll whatsoever", after Iran suggested it could charge for letting ships through the vital Gulf waterway.

"International law provides for the freedom of navigation, which means... basically no payment or toll whatsoever," said European Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni. "Freedom of navigation is a public good and needs to be ensured."



- IMF to cut growth forecasts -

The International Monetary Fund will lower global growth forecasts because of the war, said managing director Kristalina Georgieva, warning of the conflict's "scarring effects" despite the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Georgieva said the IMF expected to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to countries affected by the war.

She added that food insecurity because of transport and supply chain disruptions caused by the war was expected to affect at least 45 million people and "even in a best case, there will be no neat and clean return to the status quo ante."



- Non-Iranian tanker crosses Strait -

The first non-Iranian oil tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire was announced, monitor MarineTraffic showed.

The MSG, a Gabon-flagged oil tanker, passed through the strategic waterway loaded with around 7,000 tonnes of Emirati fuel oil, and is headed to Aegis Pipavav, India, according to the maritime monitor.

Traffic through the crucial shipping lane signals it has not meaningfully reopened since the two-week truce took effect on Wednesday. Just two other tankers -- both Iran-flagged -- and six bulk carriers have been through the strait since Wednesday, according to MarineTraffic owner Kpler.



- Inject gas now -

It is "critical" to start building up European gas reserves "as early as possible", said the continent's network transmission operator, ENTSOG.

"Europe enters the summer injection season from a much lower storage level than in recent years, at a time when global energy markets and supply are under pressure," said ENTSOG general director Piotr Kus.

"It is critical to start injecting gas as early as possible, even as early as April, and continue filling until November, to ensure adequate levels for the winter ahead," he added.



- Some comfort -

The European development bank said it was unlocking five billion euros ($5.9 billion) to aid economies hit by the Middle East war.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development -- founded to help former Soviet bloc nations embrace free-market economies before extending its reach to the Middle East and Africa -- said it would "deploy 5 billion euros in 2026 in economies impacted by Middle East conflict".



- Air France extends suspensions -

Air France has extended the suspension of flights to key destinations in the Middle East until May 3, citing security risks from the war.

A source close to the company said France's flagship carrier had made the decision to extend the suspensions before Tuesday's ceasefire announcement.

burs-cw/jhb/lkd/dan

Air France-KLM

EXXONMOBIL
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Air raid sirens in Israel -



Air raid alerts sounded across Israel, including in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv and the southern coastal city of Ashdod, after rocket fire from Lebanon.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but Israeli media reported that air-defence systems had intercepted at least one incoming rocket.

Earlier Friday, Hezbollah said it had launched three waves of rocket and drone strikes against Israeli soldiers on both sides of the border as well as a town in northern Israel.



- Iran leader issues new written message -



Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said in his latest written message that the Islamic republic did not want war with the United States and Israel but would protect its rights as a nation, state television reported.

"We will not renounce our legitimate rights under any circumstances, and in this respect, we consider the entire resistance front as a whole," he added, in an apparent reference to Lebanon, where Israel is fighting with Tehran's ally Hezbollah.

Khamenei has still not been seen in public since being appointed to succeed his father, who was killed in the initial wave of strikes on February 28.



- Trump says Iran doing 'poor job' on Hormuz -



US President Donald Trump accused Iran of doing a "very poor job" of allowing oil through the Strait of Hormuz and of breaching the terms of their fragile two-week ceasefire agreement.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. "That is not the agreement we have!"



- Trump warns Iran against Hormuz tolls -



Trump also warned Iran against imposing a toll for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait -- They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

In a second message just a few minutes later, Trump added that "very quickly, you'll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran."



- Israel issues evacuation order for Beirut -



Israel's military warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, of imminent strikes and called for them to evacuate.

The World Health Organization urged Israel to cancel the evacuation order, saying the district it intends to target is home to two hospitals.

The announcement came a day after Israel carried out its largest wave of strikes since the start of its war with Hezbollah on March 2, killing more than 300 people and wounding over 1,000, according to Lebanon's health ministry.



- Trump, Starmer seek 'practical plan' on Hormuz -



British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump called "for a practical plan" to get shipping moving again through the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Iran ceasefire, the UK leader's office said.

The two leaders "agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the Strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution," according to Downing Street.

"The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible," and agreed to speak again.



- Israel-Lebanon talks planned in Washington next week -



Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered direct talks, a US official said Thursday.

The negotiations will come soon after the United States and Iran are set to open talks in Pakistan.

Israel has said that the Lebanon invasion, in which it is targeting Iranian-backed Hezbollah, is not affected by a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

But a Hezbollah lawmaker reiterated his group's rejection of any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.



- Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah -



Earlier, Netanyahu said Israel would keep hitting Hezbollah "wherever necessary".

"We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination," the prime minister said on his personal X account.



- Khamenei tributes -



Thousands of Iranians rallied in a tribute to former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the war.

Holding portraits of their deceased leader and waving the Islamic republic's flag, Khamenei supporters took part in rallies across the country after he died in the US-Israeli attack on February 28.

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Indonesia urges 'thorough' probe on Lebanon peacekeeper deaths



Jakarta, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Indonesia said Friday it had submitted a joint statement on peacekeeper security with dozens of allied nations to the United Nations after three of its blue helmets were killed in Lebanon.

In the joint statement, the countries urged the UN Security Council to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents in Southern Lebanon that killed three Indonesian peacekeepers and wounded several others, including from France, Ghana, Nepal, and Poland.

The Foreign Ministry in Jakarta said 73 countries and UN observer nations supported the statement, delivered by Indonesia's permanent representative to the UN, Umar Hadi, in New York.

"The safety and security of UN peacekeepers are non-negotiable. We urge the UN Security Council to use all available instruments to strengthen protection for peacekeeping forces amid an increasingly dangerous situation," the ministry quoted Umar as saying.

"Troop-contributing countries also call for an end to violence in Lebanon, de-escalation of tensions, and encourage all parties to return to the negotiating table to achieve a peaceful settlement," it added.

Three Indonesian peacekeepers died in two separate blasts in southern Lebanon in late March.

A third blast less than a week later -- inside a UN facility in southern Lebanon -- injured three more Indonesian soldiers.

The deadly incidents sparked calls from Indonesian authorities for an investigation and security guarantees for peacekeeping forces.

The Foreign Ministry has called the attacks "unacceptable".

It urged the UN Security Council "to immediately convene a meeting of troop-contributing countries to UNIFIL (the UN Interim Force in Lebanon) to conduct a review and take measures to enhance the protection of personnel serving with UN Interim Force in Lebanon".

President Prabowo Subianto has said he "strongly condemns every heinous act that undermines peace and causes the deaths of our nation's soldiers".
Spain called on Iran to negotiate in 'good faith': minister



Madrid, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Spain's foreign minister said on Friday that he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart and urged him to negotiate in good faith during talks with the United States in Islamabad.

"I encourage Iran -- this is what I conveyed to the Iranian foreign minister -- to take part in those negotiations and to participate in good faith," Jose Manuel Albares told the press, adding that he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, "the day before yesterday" and had also asked him to halt "all missile and drone launches".

Albares once again slammed Israel for continuing its attacks on Lebanon, where it has been fighting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

"Lebanon is a disgrace on the conscience of humanity. The level of violence, the violation of international law and international humanitarian law by Israel is unacceptable," Albares said.
Iranians sceptical, afraid ahead of talks on ending war



Paris, France, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Everyday Iranians are awaiting planned negotiations between Washington and Tehran with a mixture of scepticism and outright fear, caught between a government they say doesn't understand peace and an American president who has threatened to destroy "a whole civilisation".

Talks between the United States and Iran and hosted by Pakistan were hanging in the balance on Friday, but if they go ahead they could transform a temporary ceasefire in the US-Israeli campaign against the Islamic Republic into a lasting peace.

Residents of Tehran contacted by AFP from Paris -- who withheld their surnames out of concern for their safety -- have mixed views on that prospect and are far from optimistic, with feelings ranging from anger, to anxiety, to deep disillusionment.



- The negotiations -



Amir, a 40-year-old artist, said he didn't "think this temporary agreement and negotiation will last even a week".

Iran's repressive apparatus -- including its Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of its military -- are seen as having been strengthened by the war that broke out on February 28, making a deal all the more unlikely, according to Amir.

"The propaganda machine has delivered them such lies that they really believe they have won the war," he said. "They cannot last in peace because they don't understand peace."

For Sheida, 38, the uncertainty around the talks has generated a sense of anxiety.

"We've got so much hardship dumped on us that we don't even know what to worry about first," she said. "Now that the ceasefire has started, everyone's scrambling to settle debts and sort out financial stuff."



- War or the status quo? -



A choice between the return of terrifying US-Israeli airstrikes and the preservation of the Islamic republic's long-standing system is no choice at all, according to Sheida.

"I am scared of the war starting again, and at the same time I'm scared of the regime staying," she said, adding that "the people in power have become even more aggressive".

Amir said he would "prefer for the war to continue, to result in the downfall of the regime".

"If this doesn't happen, oppression will intensify further," he said.

If the talks do result in an agreement, he continued, it would likely do little to serve the Iranian people.

He pointed to anti-government protests just before the war that were met with a deadly crackdown, saying he and other likeminded Iranians would keep up their opposition, adding: "We will not forgive our murderers."

"It is not possible to continue living with the Islamic republic," he said.



- Trump's shifting goals -



Tehran resident Amin, 30, said it was difficult to determine what US President Donald Trump hoped to accomplish in the talks.

"I guess you shouldn't take Trump so serious," Amin said. "He wants to erase a civilisation and he makes a ceasefire built on nothing 12 hours later."

"Most of what he says is just pure noise," he continued.

Homemaker Shahrzad, 39, said she had been both terrified and disillusioned by Trump's apocalyptic threat -- issued before the ceasefire -- that "a whole civilisation will die" if Iran did not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"Threatening more than 90 million people with destruction of a civilisation is itself a crime," she said, describing days filled with fear in the wake of the president's ultimatum.

"I had hoped for the fall of the Islamic regime and accepted the hardships of war, but now I realise this man is playing the whole world and has no sense of humanity."

Sheida, meanwhile, questioned Trump's sense of strategy, saying he must be "either crazy or inexperienced".

"Did the US president really not realise they could get stuck if the Strait of Hormuz was closed?"



- The future of the Islamic republic -



At the outset of the war, both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had suggested their goals included toppling the Islamic republic, though they soon shifted to other aims.

Sara, a 44-year-old graphic designer, said Iran's "government is an ideological one, and it's not going to collapse easily".

"Its mindset exists all the way down to the lowest levels, so it's really not simple to change," she added.

Amir said he believed the country's surviving leaders would continue fighting.

"They are prepared to destroy everything just to prevail," he added. "The only solution is for the people to rise again or for the regime to be destroyed through war."

But Amin expressed scepticism at the chances of any popular uprising. "Don't protest if you wanna live," he warned.
TotalEnergies says Saudi refinery shut down after strikes



Paris, France, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



French energy giant TotalEnergies said Friday that it had shut down a major refinery on the eastern Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia after it was damaged during the Middle East war.

The Saudi energy ministry had announced Thursday "multiple attacks" recently on its oil and gas sites, including the SATORP refinery, a joint venture owned by TotalEnergies and the Saudi state-owned Aramco group.

No details on production impacts, nor the type of attack, were disclosed.

TotalEnergies cited only "incidents that occurred during the night of April 7 to 8, causing damage to one of the refinery's two processing trains".

No casualties were reported, and Total said both units were shut down as a precaution while assessing the damage.

The Saudi energy ministry had referred to SATORP when announcing that recent attacks carried out by Iran against the kingdom's energy infrastructure killed one person and impacted its oil production capacity.

A ministry official told the SPA news agency that the attacks "disrupted several production operations at key facilities".

Aramco has a 62.5 percent stake in SATORP, with TotalEnergies holding the remaining 37.5 percent.

Iran has targeted energy infrastructure and other sites in neighbouring Gulf countries in retaliation for the attacks launched by the United States and Israel on February 28th.

nal/js/gv

TotalEnergies
European, Arab pressure on Israel to stop strikes on Lebanese capital: diplomat to AFP



Beirut, Lebanon, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



European and Arab states have pressured Israel to stop targeting Beirut, a Western diplomat told AFP on Friday, two days after deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanon that left more than 300 people dead.

On Thursday afternoon, the Israeli military issued a warning of incoming strikes for large, densely populated areas of southern Beirut, but had not carried out the threat as of midday on Friday.

The Western diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss sensitive matters, said on Friday "There is ongoing diplomatic pressure from European states, Gulf states and Egypt on Israel to prevent renewed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut after 'Black Wednesday'".

More than 300 people, mostly civilians according to a Lebanese military source, were killed in the wave of simultaneous Israeli strikes on Wednesday on Beirut and other areas of Lebanon.

The strikes were launched despite the announcement hours earlier of a truce between the United States and Iran, with Israel and the US saying it did not apply to Lebanon.

Thursday's Israeli warning included areas home to major hospitals and the road to the country's only international airport.

Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamni said, in a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency (NNA) on Thursday, that he had "received assurances" from foreign diplomats that the airport and the road leading to it would be spared.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Zaatari, director of the country's largest public medical facility, Rafic Hariri Hospital, told AFP: "We have received assurances, including from the International Committee of the Red Cross that the hospital would not be targeted."

The World Health Organization on Thursday called on Israel to cancel its evacuation warning for the Jnah district of Beirut because around 450 patients were in the Rafic Hariri and Al-Zahraa hospitals in the district, including 40 in intensive care.

In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes hit several villages during the night and on Friday, the NNA reported.

An AFP photographer saw firefighters extinguishing a fire in a building blown apart by a nighttime strike in the village of Habbouch, near Nabatiyeh.

Hezbollah, for its part, claimed several rocket launches on northern Israel, as well as attacks on Israeli troops advancing in the border area.
Aid convoy heads from Turkey to Iran



Ankara, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



The Red Cross and Turkey's Red Crescent on Friday dispatched an emergency humanitarian aid convoy from Turkey to Iran, as the organisation warned of a "desperate" humanitarian situation in the country.

"Humanitarian needs in Iran are extremely high," International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) spokesperson Scott Craig told AFP shortly before the convoy departed from the outskirts of Ankara.

The relief effort comes as a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran looks to be on shaky ground, with both sides accusing the other of failing to respect the agreement.

The conflict has left more than 2,000 people dead over the past five weeks.

"The humanitarian situation in Iran is desperate," Craig said.

"Needs will change according to how the situation evolves. But the needs will remain critical for a very long time. The health system in the country has been destroyed."

He added that large-scale damage to infrastructure had compounded the crisis, with severe psychological and mental health impacts on the population.

The convoy includes around 200 trauma kits containing emergency medical supplies for bombing casualties.

The Turkish Red Crescent has also sent four trucks carrying 48 tonnes of aid, including emergency shelters for displaced families, hygiene kits and first-aid supplies.

The vehicles bear the message "Humanitarian aid from the Turkish people to the brotherly people of Iran," an AFP journalist observed at the scene.

Craig said the shipment represents "one of the first international humanitarian aid deliveries into Iran since the conflict began", adding that global supply chain disruptions, especially to maritime routes, have complicated procurement and transport efforts.

"Sending them overland from Turkey is a really innovative way of being able to move assistance into the country," he said.

According to Turkish Red Crescent president Fatma Meric Yilmaz, roughly 3.6 percent of Iran's 90 million people have been displaced, while 62,000 homes and more than 20,000 businesses have been destroyed.

She said the Iranian Red Crescent had also suffered "severe" losses, with 17 of its centres and nearly 100 ambulances damaged.

The convoy is expected to reach Tehran within 48 hours, after which supplies will be distributed to centres hosting displaced people, Turkish Red Crescent official Alper Kucuk told AFP.
Giving birth in a shelter in Israel



Haifa, Israel, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Inside an underground shelter at a hospital in the Israeli city of Haifa, a television screen flickers with images of Iranian missiles as doctors and midwives deliver Sarah Bird's third child.

"She's beautiful," a midwife says, placing the newborn in her mother's arms for a first kiss.

"She is!" exclaims Bird, 38, breaking into a broad smile.

Her husband Yitzhak, tense throughout, finally exhales, then explains that the couple will wait a week before choosing a name.

The couple had arrived just hours earlier at the Mount Carmel Medical Center and were taken straight to the facility's underground shelter, carved into the mountainside.

About 10 babies are born there each day, according to Clalit, Israel's main healthcare provider, which operates the hospital.

Since the war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, 370 newborns have been delivered in the shelter.

Within hours of the initial strikes on Iran, major hospitals across Israel shifted to maximum emergency readiness, moving patients and critical departments underground.

Operating theatres, intensive care units and even maternity wards have been relocated to protected subterranean spaces.

A fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran took effect on April 8, and no Iranian missiles have been fired at Israel since.

But in Haifa - still reeling from a strike on a residential building that killed four people days before the truce - sirens continue to wail.

Rocket fire from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, an ally of Tehran, has not stopped. Israel says Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire and has continued strikes on its neighbour, which have left more than 300 people dead this week.

More than 20 rocket alerts sounded in northern Israel on Thursday alone, along the Lebanese border, after Hezbollah said it had fired multiple barrages.
US-Iran talks in Pakistan uncertain as sides trade accusations



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



A cloud of uncertainty hung Friday over the scheduled start of talks in Pakistan between the United States and Iran, with no announcement yet on the arrival of negotiators and both sides accusing the other of failing to properly implement a fragile ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has voiced displeasure at Iran's handling of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which was meant to be reopened under the deal, while Tehran has reacted angrily to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, insisting that it too falls under the agreement -- something Washington disputes.

Islamabad was nonetheless pressing ahead with its preparations for the high-stakes talks, which official sources say will cover several sensitive points, including Iran's nuclear enrichment and the free flow of trade through the strait.

Iran has suggested that its participation could hinge on a halt in Israeli attacks on Lebanon: "The holding of talks to end the war is dependent on the US adhering to its ceasefire commitments on all fronts, especially in Lebanon," said Esmaeil Baqaei, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman.

Iranian officials have said the Israeli strikes had rendered the Pakistan talks "meaningless".

Nevertheless, Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards signalled they were committing to the ceasefire and had "not launched anything at any country", according to the state broadcaster.

In a barrage of social media posts that sparked fresh fears for the shaky truce, Trump on Thursday accused Iran of doing a "very poor job" of allowing oil through the Strait of Hormuz and of breaching the terms of their ceasefire agreement.

A fifth of the world's oil and vast quantities of natural gas and fertiliser pass through the strait in peacetime, but only a small number of vessels have crossed since the truce was announced.



- 'Meaningless' -



The two-week truce was agreed to allow negotiations between US and Iranian officials aimed at ending a conflict that has already killed thousands and plunged the global economy into turmoil.

"I am scared of the war starting again, and at the same time I'm scared of the regime staying", Tehran resident Sheida told AFP, withholding her last name out of concern for her safety.

Contributing to the uncertainty around the planned talks, Tehran's ambassador to Pakistan on Thursday deleted a social media post saying an Iranian delegation would arrive in the country later that day.

Still, Vice President JD Vance is due to lead the US delegation on Saturday, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Fresh fractures in the mediation process emerged when Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif joined in the criticism of Israel's strikes on Lebanon, calling the country a "cancerous state" and "a curse for humanity" on Thursday evening, in a post taken down hours later.

The Israeli prime minister's office called the remarks outrageous, saying: "This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace."

Pakistan does not formally recognise Israel -- a fact that could complicate its role as mediator -- and has insisted the ceasefire includes Lebanon.

One 30-year-old resident of Tehran told AFP they were sceptical negotiations will be successful, describing most of what Trump says as "pure noise and nonsense".

"He wants to manipulate the Islamic republic into getting a deal. I think that was his intention, if you can say there is an intention."



- Parallel talks -



Air raid sirens sounded early Friday in Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv and other parts of the country, with Hezbollah announcing it carried out drone and rocket strikes targeting Israeli forces on both sides of the border as well as a town in Israel's north.

On Wednesday, less than 48 hours after the ceasefire came into force, Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since Iran-backed Hezbollah entered the Middle East war, killing more than 300 people.

Afterwards, Trump told NBC News that Israel was "scaling back" strikes in Lebanon and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had assured him its attacks would become more "low-key".

A Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity that there was ongoing "pressure from European states, Gulf states and Egypt on Israel to prevent renewed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut after 'Black Wednesday'".

As of Friday morning, the Israeli army had not acted on warnings the day before that it would strike wide areas in the capital's south.

Washington has said the Lebanese front of the war will be dealt with under separate talks.

"We can confirm that the Department will host a meeting next week to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon," a US State Department official said.

Neither Israel nor the Lebanese government have publicly confirmed these talks, although the announcement came shortly after Netanyahu ordered his ministers to seek direct dialogue with Lebanon focused on disarming Hezbollah.

A Lebanese government official told AFP that Beirut would require a truce before entering any negotiations with Israel.

bur-bfm/smw
Hezbollah says it targeted Israel's Ashdod naval base with missiles



Beirut, Lebanon, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Hezbollah said Friday it had targeted Israel's Ashdod naval base with missiles, two days after deadly Israeli airstrikes on Beirut left more than 300 people dead.

"In response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire and its repeated attacks on Beirut, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted... the naval base in the port of Ashdod with missiles," the group said in a statement.
Food insecurity surging in Lebanon, UN warns



Geneva, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



The United Nations warned Friday that food insecurity was on the rise in Lebanon, with prices surging and supply chains disrupted as Israel has continued military strikes on the country.

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said the entire food system in Lebanon was reeling from the conflict, with Israel launching its heaviest strikes on the country this week.

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 in US-Israeli airstrikes.

More than a million people have been displaced in Lebanon by the conflict, and Israel has launched a ground invasion in the south.

"What we're witnessing is not just a displacement crisis: it is rapidly becoming a food security crisis," said Allison Oman, the WFP's country director in Lebanon.

"We're already seeing clear signs of rising food prices across Lebanon. In just one month, the price of vegetables has surged by more than 20 percent, bread prices have increased by 17 percent.

"For families who are already struggling, this is deeply concerning."

Before March 2, around 900,000 people in Lebanon were facing food insecurity and WFP's latest analysis, expected next week, indicates that the number is set to rise, Oman said.

Speaking from Beirut, she described a worrying spiral of rising prices, increasing demand and disrupted incomes.

"There are supply chain disruptions and the whole food system has taken a blow," Oman told a press briefing in Geneva.

Farmers in southern Lebanon have not been able to work their fields, while rises in global fuel prices and difficulties accessing fertiliser are also having an impact.

Oman said 10 WFP convoys had gone out to reach populations in need in Lebanon since March 2, reaching 40,000 to 60,000 people, but several others had not been able to go because of security concerns.
Vatican denies dressing-down from Pentagon



Vatican City, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



The Vatican denied Friday a report that a top Pentagon official gave the Holy See's envoy to the United States a "bitter lecture" following comments by Pope Leo seen as critical of US President Donald Trump's administration.

The story in the Free Press -- which the Pentagon had already dismissed Thursday as "distorted" -- reported that Cardinal Christophe Pierre was summoned in January to the Pentagon, where he was given a dressing-down by US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.

The military official reportedly told the cardinal that the United States "has the military power to do whatever it wants -- and that the Church had better take its side".

The day after the Pentagon's denial, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni issued a statement saying "the account presented by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth in any way".

Pierre -- who has retired in the interim -- met with Colby as "part of the Pontifical Representative's regular duties and provided an opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest", Bruni said.

In a January speech, Leo XIV -- the first American pope -- lamented that diplomacy was being replaced by "diplomacy based on force", saying "a zeal for war is spreading".

The Pentagon said the Free Press' account of the meeting was "highly exaggerated and distorted", calling the exchange a "respectful and reasonable discussion".
Russia jails another general in military corruption clampdown



Moscow, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Russia on Friday jailed a former top general to 19 years in prison for embezzlement, the latest prison sentence meted out as part of a purge of the defence ministry's top brass amid the Ukraine war.

After months of setbacks in its Ukraine offensive, the Kremlin launched an overhaul of the defence ministry's leadership in mid-2024, resulting in many high-ranking generals and officials being sacked, arrested and jailed.

On Friday, a military court in Moscow sentenced former defence minister Pavel Popov to 19 years in a high-security prison.

The court found Popov guilty of embezzling around 25 million rubles ($300,000) of state money earmarked for the construction of the Patriot military theme park.

The park outside Moscow regularly hosts shows and exhibitions to promote the army and houses a church dedicated to the military that glorifies battlefield victories.

Popov, 69, rejected the charges against him.

"He is not guilty on any of the charges brought against him," his lawyer Denis Sagach told AFP after the hearing, adding that his client had a "serious" health condition and that an appeal would be lodged.

Popov, who attended the hearing via videoconference, was also stripped of his rank and all state awards.

The Russian army has long been plagued by corruption scandals. But in recent years, many Russians have grown frustrated by the lavish lifestyles of high-ranking military officials while their troops fight in Ukraine.
Israeli strike in south Lebanon kills 10 security personnel: security source to AFP



Beirut, Lebanon, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



An Israeli strike, one of multiple on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh on Friday, killed at least 10 State Security personnel, a source from the government agency told AFP, as Lebanon prepared to start ceasefire talks with Israel.

Naim Qassem, head of Iran-backed party and armed group Hezbollah, called on the Lebanese state to stop giving "free concessions" to Israel, with the two governments due to begin negotiations next week to end the war that has left nearly 1,900 people in Lebanon dead.

The government banned Hezbollah's military activities at the beginning of the latest war with Israel in March and is moving towards bilateral negotiations with Israel despite the opposition of Hezbollah, which is represented in the cabinet and parliament.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said "enemy warplanes launched a series of heavy strikes" on Nabatiyeh, including one in the vicinity of the government complex hitting the State Security office.

An AFP photographer saw extensive damage at the site, where a fire was still raging.



- Diplomatic scramble -



As the government prepared for talks with Israel in Washington, outside the auspices of the US-Iran talks in Islamabad, Qassem called on officials "to stop offering free concessions" and described Israel's military campaign as a failure.

"The Israeli enemy has failed on the battlefield... It has been unable to carry out the ground invasion it repeatedly announced," he said, adding that "the resistance will continue until the last breath".

More than 300 people, mostly civilians according to a Lebanese military source, were killed in a wave of simultaneous Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday despite the announcement hours earlier of a truce between the United States and Iran, with Israel and the US saying it did not apply to Lebanon.

Iran has insisted on including Lebanon in its ceasefire negotiations with the US.



- Quiet in Beirut -



On Thursday afternoon, the Israeli military issued a warning of incoming strikes for large, densely populated areas of southern Beirut, but had not carried out the threat as of Friday, with a Western diplomat telling AFP Friday that European and Arab states are pressuring Israel to stop targeting Beirut.

The Western diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss sensitive matters, said on Friday "There is ongoing diplomatic pressure from European states, Gulf states and Egypt on Israel to prevent renewed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut after 'Black Wednesday'".

Thursday's Israeli warning included areas home to major hospitals and the road to the country's only international airport.

Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamni said, in a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency (NNA) on Thursday, that he had "received assurances" from foreign diplomats that the airport and the road leading to it would be spared.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Zaatari, director of the country's largest public medical facility, Rafic Hariri Hospital, told AFP: "We have received assurances, including from the International Committee of the Red Cross that the hospital would not be targeted."

The World Health Organisation on Thursday called on Israel to cancel its evacuation warning for the Jnah district of Beirut because around 450 patients were in the Rafic Hariri and Al-Zahraa hospitals in the district, including 40 in intensive care.

The Israeli military said on Friday it had "dismantled" more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and killed "more than 1,400" Hezbollah fighters.

Hezbollah, for its part, claimed several rocket launches on northern Israel, as well as attacks on Israeli troops advancing in the border area.

Hezbollah also said it targeted a naval base in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod on Friday, far from the border, with missiles.
On Iran truce, all sides want bigger China role, but does China?



Washington, United States, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



For decades, the United States has cast itself as the guarantor of stability in the Middle East, allying militarily with Gulf Arab states as well as Israel and brushing aside global rival China's aspirations for a greater role.

The US-Israeli attack on Iran shattered the veneer of a US-led order in the Gulf: Tehran has not been deterred by the US military presence but in fact attacked oil-rich and once proudly safe Arab monarchies because of it.

China, at least to some extent, helped to halt the conflict. But paradoxically, Beijing is not taking a victory lap, reflecting what experts say is its calculation that it has much to risk from greater involvement and that it gains from the post-war situation, in which the United States appears weakened but still committed to Gulf security.

President Donald Trump, speaking to AFP, credited China with pushing Iran to accept the two-week ceasefire, barely an hour before a deadline was to expire on his genocidal threat to destroy all of Iranian civilization.

The account was confirmed by a senior Pakistani official source who said that China "stepped in and convinced Iran" just as hopes were fading.

But China's own statements have been circumspect, saying it backs the ceasefire but hardly trumpeting its own diplomacy.

Yun Sun, director of the China program of the Washington-based Stimson Center, said China's reticence was out of character and suspected Iran may have strategically tried to emphasize Beijing's power of persuasion.

"Iran has singled out China as a potential security guarantor so there is an incentive on the part of Iran in presenting the optics of China playing an oversized role, in the hope that China would then be accountable for the implementation of the ceasefire," she said.

"China doesn't provide security guarantees and how do you even try to guarantee something with President Trump? It would just create problems for China down the road," she said.

Vice President JD Vance will open talks Saturday with Iran in Pakistan, which has close relations with China and has also been aggressively courting Trump, in part as it seeks support against India.

Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said China "welcomes all efforts conducive to peace and supports Pakistan in actively undertaking mediation."

"As a responsible major power, China will continue to play a constructive role and make efforts to de-escalate tensions and quell the conflict," he said.



- Major economic interests -



China, the world's second largest economy, imports about half of its oil needs from the Middle East but has reduced reliance by embracing renewable energy.

China is the biggest defier of years of unilateral US sanctions on Iranian oil. China now stands to benefit after Iran exerted control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for tankers into and out of the Gulf.

In 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties in a meeting in Beijing, although the United States, then led by President Joe Biden, downplayed China's role.

"China's strategy in the Middle East has been masterful. It has dominated business and never fired a single bullet, but with the changes in the region it knows it needs a political element," a diplomat from a Middle East country said.

Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, said Trump may also want to give credit to China to sweeten the mood and press other demands when he visits Beijing next month.

But Morris said that China in the end had fewer interests at play than the United States, Iran, Israel or Gulf states.

"China's not a primary actor here," Morris said. "Ultimately, it's a supporting role, just by the nature of their capacity and their stakes in the conflict."

- Not challenging US order -



China, despite railing against US dominance, has little history of military deployments outside of Asia and is unlikely to seek to replace the US security presence in the Middle East.

For China, it is more important to keep forces near the South China Sea and Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy it claims, said Henry Tugendhat, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who studies China's role in the region.

"At the end of the day, China's greatest interest in the region is simply stability for the economic relations it seeks to foster with the region," he said.

"So it may yet accept a return to US security guarantees as their least bad option but that also depends on what's negotiated by all parties at the conclusion of this conflict."
Iran speaker demands Lebanon truce, release of assets 'before negotiations'



Tehran, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Iran's parliament speaker on Friday set a ceasefire in Lebanon and the "release of Iran's blocked assets" as pre-conditions for the start of negotiations with the United States.

"Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X in English.

"These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin."

Ghalibaf made the announcement shortly after US Vice President JD Vance had boarded a plane to fly to Islamabad for talks on transforming a two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran into a permanent truce.

Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were expected to lead the Iranian delegation in the Pakistani capital.

"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance warned.

Since the truce was first announced on Wednesday, Iran has maintained that it included Lebanon, where Israel's war against Lebanon has killed nearly 1,900 people since the start of March.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the main mediator between Iran and the US, had said Lebanon was part of the deal -- and it was one of Iran's demands in its 10-point peace plan presented to Washington.

But the White House has denied that the two-week deal included Lebanon, while Vance called it a "misunderstanding" on Wednesday and "nothing to do with" Tehran.

Unblocking frozen Iranian assets had not previously been set publicly as a pre-condition for talks, although full sanctions relief is another of Iran's 10 demands.

bur/adp/dcp
Israel military says 30 rockets fired from Lebanon



Jerusalem, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Iran-backed Hezbollah fired around 30 projectiles from Lebanon into Israel on Friday, the Israeli military said, reporting that some strikes caused damage.

Air?raid sirens were activated across northern Israel near the Lebanese border, where Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have continued to exchange fire despite a truce in the broader conflict involving Iran.

Israeli emergency services reported a strike in Safed, where a direct hit damaged several vehicles.

The emergency services reported additional impacts in the Galilee region, including in Baana and Deir al-Assad, where a building was hit.

Clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces began on March 2, two days after the militant group fired rockets into Israel in retaliation for US?Israeli strikes on Iran.

Israel, which says Lebanon is not covered by the truce agreed this week between Washington and Tehran, carried out strikes on Wednesday that killed more than 300 people in Lebanon.

On Friday, Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh killed at least 10 members of the Lebanese security forces.

The Israeli military says it has "dismantled" more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon since the start of the war and killed more than 1,400 Hezbollah fighters.

The Lebanese health ministry says more than 1,800 people, including 163 children, have been killed in the country since early March.

On the Israeli side, 12 soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon since March 2.

On Friday, a reservist was seriously wounded by shrapnel after an explosive drone targeted Israeli positions in southern Lebanon, an army spokesman said.
Trump warns of fresh strikes if Iran talks fail: NY Post



Washington, United States, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



President Donald Trump said Friday that US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if talks in Pakistan fail to produce a deal, in an interview with the New York Post.

"We have a reset going. We're loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made -- even better than what we did previously and we blew them apart," the Post quoted Trump as saying.

"And if we don't have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively."

In a brief and cryptic message on his Truth Social network earlier, Trump had spoken of the "WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL RESET!!!"

Vice President JD Vance headed to Islamabad on Friday to lead the US delegation in this weekend's talks with Iran, with a warning to Tehran not to "play" Washington.
What to expect from the Lebanon-Israel talks



Beirut, Lebanon, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Israel and Lebanon are set to begin direct talks in Washington next week after deadly Israeli strikes raised fears that its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah could derail a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Here's what to know.



- Why now? -

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran, sparking massive Israeli strikes and a ground invasion.

Since then, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly expressed readiness for direct talks with Israel.

Lebanon and Israel have officially been at war since 1948 and have no formal diplomatic relations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had ordered his cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon "in light of Lebanon's repeated requests".

The announcement came a day after wide-scale Israeli strikes in Beirut and across the country killed more than 300 people, just hours after a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Iran.

Washington and Tehran have since been at odds on whether the deal included Lebanon.

David Wood, senior Lebanon analyst at the International Crisis Group, told AFP that Netanyahu's government "clearly agreed to negotiate with Lebanon at this moment under pressure from the United States, Israel's key ally".

Washington's "overriding priority in the region is to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to global shipping traffic", he said, adding that "Israel's brutal attacks on Lebanon threatened to undermine that objective, as Iran insisted that the US-Iran ceasefire cover Lebanon too".

A US official has said that the State Department would host a meeting next week "to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon".

Alex Grinberg, an expert on Iran at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told AFP's Jerusalem bureau that Israel has agreed to the talks "simply to respond to international diplomatic pressure".



- What does each side want? -

A Lebanese government official told AFP on Thursday that Lebanon wants a ceasefire before starting any negotiations with Israel.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 have killed nearly 1,900 people and displaced more than one million, according to the authorities.

Beirut is seeking the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory.

Thursday's statement from Netanyahu's office said the negotiations would "focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations between Israel and Lebanon".

But Israel has shown little readiness to halt the war and says it wants to eliminate the threat Hezbollah poses to residents of the country's north.

Israeli officials have repeatedly said that Israel wants to establish a "security zone" in south Lebanon to help prevent Hezbollah attacks.



- What are the chances for a deal? -

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Friday urged Lebanon's government to stop giving "free concessions" to Israel.

A day earlier, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad reiterated his group's rejection of any direct talks between the two countries, instead calling for Israel's army to withdraw.

After a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end a previous round of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's government committed to disarming the group, and the army had been doing so in the country's south when the new fighting erupted.

But Hezbollah's attacks since March 2 show the group still has considerable military might.

"This latest war has reiterated that the Lebanese government cannot enforce major political decisions without Hezbollah's buy-in," said Wood.

The group "refuses to comply with the state-led disarmament process, and has kept waging a large-scale war against Israel in defiance of an official ban on the group's military activities", he added, referring to a government decision last month.

"Hezbollah must be at the negotiating table, even if only indirectly, for the talks to lead anywhere," he said, adding that Iran would also need to support any arrangement.

In December, Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first direct talks in decades, as part of a committee monitoring the 2024 ceasefire.

The countries reached a US-brokered maritime border agreement two years earlier.

In 1983, a fragile Lebanese state signed an accord with Israel after its troops invaded the previous year, but the deal was annulled months later following pressure from Syria and allied Lebanese parties.
Trump says Iran has 'no cards' beyond Hormuz control



Washington, United States, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has "no cards" in upcoming talks with the United States -- apart from Tehran's effective stranglehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping channel.

"The Iranians don't seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways," Trump said on his Truth Social network.

"The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!"

In a separate social media message, the 79-year-old US leader added: "The Iranians are better at handling the Fake News Media, and 'Public Relations,' than they are at fighting!"

Control of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's crude oil passes, will be at the heart of peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan on Saturday.

Iran and the United States said the crucial channel would reopen after a two-week truce was announced on Tuesday, but Tehran's threats mean very few ships are passing through.

Trump said on Thursday that Iran was doing a "very poor job" of allowing oil through the waterway, adding: "That is not the agreement we have!"

His "no cards" comments about Iran echoed his notorious broadside at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office in February when he raged that "you don't have the cards" against Russia.

Separately on Friday, Trump told the New York Post that US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if the talks fail to produce a deal.

"We have a reset going. We're loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made -- even better than what we did previously and we blew them apart," the Post quoted Trump as saying by telephone.

"And if we don't have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively."

In a brief and cryptic social media message earlier, Trump had spoken of the "WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL RESET!!!"

Vice President JD Vance headed to Islamabad on Friday to lead the US delegation in this weekend's talks with Iran, warning Tehran not to "play" Washington.

"We're going to try to have a positive negotiation," Vance told reporters before take-off from Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive."

In addition to the Strait of Hormuz, other sticking points include US demands that Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and Iran's aim to prevent further US and Israeli attacks.
Iran sets conditions as Vance warns Tehran not to 'play' US at talks



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Iran demanded a truce in Lebanon and the release of its blocked assets on Friday as US Vice President JD Vance warned Tehran not to "play" Washington, casting doubt on planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan.

Despite the temporary truce struck between the foes, deep disagreements remain as to the way forward in negotiations aimed at transforming the fragile ceasefire into a lasting peace deal.

"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance told reporters before taking off for Pakistani capital Islamabad from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

But "if they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive", he said.

Iran's parliament speaker shortly thereafter put forward two measures he said "must be fulfilled before negotiations begin": a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets.

Both had been "mutually agreed upon between the parties" but had "yet to be implemented", Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X.

Official sources say the talks in Islamabad will cover several sensitive points, including Iran's nuclear enrichment and the free flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the ceasefire took effect, US President Donald Trump has voiced displeasure at Iran's handling of the strategic strait, which was meant to be reopened, while Tehran has reacted angrily to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, insisting that it too falls under the agreement.

Trump posted on his Truth Social network on Friday that Iran has "no cards" in the talks "other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways".

While Pakistan had said the discussions would start on Friday, Vance is not expected to arrive until Saturday.

In Islamabad all routes leading to the Serena Hotel, the expected venue for the talks, were blocked off with heavy security, while a large banner and digital signs along the expressway heralded the "Islamabad Talks".



- 'Pure noise' -



One 30-year-old resident of Tehran told AFP he was sceptical negotiations would be successful, describing most of what Trump says as "pure noise and nonsense".

"He wants to manipulate the Islamic republic into getting a deal. I think that was his intention, if you can say there is an intention."

A fifth of the world's oil and vast quantities of natural gas and fertiliser pass through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime, but only a small number of vessels have crossed since the truce was announced earlier this week.

The two-week ceasefire was agreed to allow time for negotiations aimed at ending a conflict that has already killed thousands and plunged the global economy into turmoil.

"I am scared of the war starting again, and at the same time I'm scared of the regime staying", Tehran resident Sheida told AFP, withholding her last name out of concern for her safety.



- Parallel talks -



An Israeli strike, one of multiple on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh on Friday, killed 13 State Security personnel, the agency said.

The Israeli military said that Iran-backed Hezbollah had meanwhile fired around 30 projectiles from Lebanon into its territory over the course of the day.

Hezbollah said that it had targeted Israel's Ashdod naval base with missiles "in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire and its repeated attacks on Beirut".

On Wednesday Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since Hezbollah entered the Middle East war, killing more than 300 people.

Afterwards, Trump told NBC News that Israel was "scaling back" strikes in Lebanon and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had assured him its attacks would become more "low-key".

A Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity that there was ongoing "pressure from European states, Gulf states and Egypt on Israel to prevent renewed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut after 'Black Wednesday'".

Israel's army reported Friday that more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites had been "dismantled" in Lebanon since the start of the war.

Washington has said the Lebanese front will be dealt with under separate talks next week, although neither Israel nor the Lebanese government have publicly confirmed these talks.

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) warned Friday that food insecurity was on the rise in Lebanon with prices surging and supply chains disrupted.

bur-bfm/jfx
Kuwait says drone attack wounded National Guard members



Kuwait City, Kuwait, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Kuwait's defence ministry said on Friday that several members of its National Guard have been wounded, after the country's air defences responded to a drone attack the previous day.

The Gulf countries have been targeted by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the beginning of the war, which was triggered by Israeli-US strikes on Iran on February 28.

Kuwait's defence ministry said in a statement that "Iranian aggression" had targeted several vital installations belonging to the National Guard, injuring some members.

It said they were receiving treatment and were in stable condition.

It added that the armed forces had "detected and intercepted, over the past 24 hours, seven hostile drones in Kuwaiti airspace".

The National Guard specified on X that some of its members had been wounded "in the line of duty at one of their sites" while others were wounded "while taking part in extinguishing a fire started by the drone attack".

It had said on Thursday that the attack targeted one of its sites and caused "significant damage".

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said, however, that they have not launched anything at any country since a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect this week.

bur-ml/hme/amj/jfx
Starmer says NATO in US's 'interests' as Gulf tour ends



Doha, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted on Friday that NATO was "in America's interests", at the end of a three-day visit to the Gulf to discuss bolstering the "fragile" Middle East truce.

Starmer's comments followed US President Donald Trump's renewed attacks this week on the Western military alliance and his threats to withdraw from it, after a refusal by NATO allies to join the US-Israel war against Iran.

"It is in America's interests. It's in European interests," Starmer told UK broadcasters of the nearly 80-year-old security bloc.

"NATO is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been," he added, while reiterating European members "need to do more" financial burden sharing.

Starmer spoke before leaving Qatar, the last stop of his tour of the war-hit region, which also included visits to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain

The British leader talked by phone to Trump late on Thursday, when he said he set out "the views of the region here" to the US president, primarily centred on the Strait of Hormuz.

The crucial maritime chokepoint has remained largely closed in recent days.

It was due to be re-opened under a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced this week, but has been jeopardised by Israeli attacks on Lebanon and accusations that the truce is not being implemented.

"We spent most of the time on the call talking about the practical plan that's going to be needed to get navigation through the strait and the role that the UK is playing," Starmer said.

He said Britain was building a coalition of over 30 countries to work on a diplomatic and military plan to get vessels moving through the waterway.

In an earlier interview, Starmer had appeared to draw parallels between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing frustration over rising oil and other costs linked to the war.

"I'm fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses' bills go up and down on energy, because of the actions of Putin or Trump," he said.

Starmer later spoke by phone to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, ahead of planned ceasefire talks in the South Asian country.

Starmer thanked Sharif for his "critical role" in securing the temporary, two-week truce, according to a readout issued by Starmer's Downing Street office.
Pakistan PM says US, Iran leadership both attending Islamabad talks



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday that leaders of both Iran and the United States would attend ceasefire talks in his country -- and warned that progress would be hard work.

"In response to my sincere invitation, the leaderships of both countries are coming to Islamabad. There, negotiations will be held for the establishment of peace", Sharif said in an address to the nation.

While US Vice President JD Vance was on his way to Pakistan, there had been a question mark over the Iran delegation after Tehran set conditions for the start of negotiations.

The Islamic republic has said a two-week ceasefire in place must apply to Lebanon, where Israel was still carrying out bombing raids on Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Iran also called for its assets frozen abroad because of US sanctions to be unblocked.

Sharif sounded a more positive note, thanking both sides for agreeing to meet, but said the hard work was still to come.

"A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations," he said in his televised speech.

"This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of 'make or break'."

He said his government would "make every possible effort to make these talks successful".

On a domestic note, Sharif announced a more than 25 percent cut in the price of diesel, from 520 to 385 rupees per litre, and slight cuts to petrol and kerosene prices.

Pakistan had hiked prices just over a week ago in response to spiking global energy prices caused by the Iran war.
Iran delegation arrives in Pakistan capital ahead of US talks: state TV



Tehran, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



A delegation of top Iranian officials has arrived in Islamabad ahead of ceasefire talks with the United States in the Pakistani capital, Iranian state television reported Friday.

The delegation was led by Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other security and economic officials, state broadcaster IRIB said on its website. It reiterated Iran's position, however, that talks would only begin if Washington accepts Iran's preconditions.

Ghalibaf earlier set a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has attacked militant group Hezbollah, and the "release of Iran's blocked assets" as conditions for the start of negotiations with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance.

Official sources say the Islamabad talks will cover sensitive points, including Iran's nuclear enrichment and the free flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the two-week ceasefire started, US President Donald Trump has voiced displeasure at Iran's handling of the strategic strait, which was meant to be reopened. Tehran has in turn reacted angrily to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, insisting that it too falls under the agreement.

Trump posted on his Truth Social network on Friday that Iran has "no cards" in the talks "other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways".

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked both sides for agreeing to meet, but said the talks will be hard work.

"A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations," he said in a televised speech.

"This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of 'make or break'."




Law & Orders Beyond Measure is an episode about faithbut not the kind that lives in churches or catechisms. Its about the faith people place in institutions, in justice, in moral authority, and in the stories, we tell ourselves about who deserves to hold power. And in classic Law & Order fashion, the episode argues that when power enters the room, faith rarely survives intact.





NYPDs Three Angles on Faith





The hour opens with a surprisingly intimate character study of the squads relationship to belief.





Det. Walker (David Ajala) treats faith with a kind of reverent curiosity. Hes not preachy, but he honors the idea that belief can be grounding.





Det. Riley (Reid Scott) proudly calls himself a lapsed Catholic, and in one of the episodes best throwaway lines, recalls that the nuns and priests of his childhood always smelled like soup. Its a tiny detail, but it gives Riley a lived in, human texture.





Lt. Brady (Maura Tierney) is the agnostic skeptic, bristling when the archbishop (Michael OKeefe) insists on administering last rites to Cecil Carbo, the museum guard killed during the robbery of the Crown of Popayan. Her dry quip about pagers Like 1996, when Coolio was on the radio?lands with the weary humor of someone who has no patience for ritual or nostalgia.



 Beyond Measure  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

These three stancesreverence, resignation, rejectionquietly set up the episodes central conflict: What happens when faith collides with power? These three stancesreverence, resignation, rejectionquietly set up the episodes central conflict: What happens when faith collides with power?





The Case: A Crown, a Killing, and a Colonizers Morality





The stolen artifact at the center of the case, the Crown of Popayan, is more than evidence, its's the story's ethical centerpiece. Its a symbol of the moral contradictions the episode wants to expose.





Early suspect Amaru Yupanqui (Mario Golden) delivers the thematic thesis with calm precision:





The Catholic Church has custody of the crown. Indigenous Colombians have faith in the sacredness of their ancestors. And when colonizers acquired artifactsthrough force, coercion, or missionary pressureconsent was never freely given.



Beyond Measure  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) David Ajala as Det. Theo Walker, Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In other words: possession is not legitimacy. The episode frames this as the moral fault line between: In other words: possession is not legitimacy. The episode frames this as the moral fault line between:

The colonizers morality (the Church, the DAs office)

The colonized peoples morality (Yupanqui, Indigenous communities)

And the show is blunt: the power imbalance invalidates the transaction every time.





The DAs Office: When Faith Becomes Leverage





The legal half of the episode turns the screws on DA Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn) and Exec ADA Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy).



Beyond Measure  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Michael OKeefe as Archbishop Keane. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC@2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

When the Archbishop pressures Baxter to reduce charges against the killer, Luis Salazar, he doesnt appeal to mercy or justice. He threatens Baxter with the political weight of 2.5 million Catholic voters. When the Archbishop pressures Baxter to reduce charges against the killer, Luis Salazar, he doesnt appeal to mercy or justice. He threatens Baxter with the political weight of 2.5 million Catholic voters.





Baxter folds.

Price recoils.





Their exchange is the moral heart of the episode:

Baxter tries to dress it up as prosecutorial discretion.

Price cuts through the euphemism: Its about 2.5 million Catholic voters.

Baxter insists, Thats not the math on this.

Price fires back with the truth: "There arent millions of Indigenous voters in New York City."





Its one of the sharpest lines the show has given Price in seasons. He sees the power imbalance. He sees the moral compromise. He sees the injustice. And Baxters final Im done is not a confessionits a declaration of his authority. Price makes the deal and appeals to Judge for leniency for Salazar.





The Ending: Faith Without Justice





The closing scene is a masterclass in discomfort. The archbishop crows about reclaiming the crown. Baxter basks in the glow of political approval. But Price stands in the back, visibly uneasy, undoubtedly thinking he's the only person in the room who understands what was lost.



 Beyond Measure  LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Isabella Miranda as Luna, Hugh Dancy as A.D.A. Nolan Price. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC@2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Then Cecil Carbos widow, Isabella (Betzaida Landin) and daughter, Luna (Valentina Miranda), confront him. Price almost chokes on Baxters talking points about balancing justice with the public interest. Because he knows the truth: The public interest was defined by power, not morality. Then Cecil Carbos widow, Isabella (Betzaida Landin) and daughter, Luna (Valentina Miranda), confront him. Price almost chokes on Baxters talking points about . Because he knows the truth: The public interest was defined by power, not morality.





The women's grief is raw, and their accusation is devastating. "Do you even believe the words coming out of your mouth?





And in every instancecolonial theft, political pressure, prosecutorial compromisethe power imbalance invalidates the transaction.





Final Verdict





Beyond Measure is one of Law & Orders another thematically coherent episodes. It uses a stolen crown to interrogate the difference between faith and institutional power, between morality and political math, between sacredness and possession.



Beyond Measure LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Tony Goldwyn as DA Nichlas Baxter, Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC@2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Walker respects faith.

Riley remembers it.

Brady rejects it.

Baxter weaponizes it.

Price loses faith in it.

And the Indigenous characters remind viewers that faith without justice is just another form of theft.





My friends, how did you interpret this episode? What does faith even mean when the people who claim to protect it use their power to avoid accountability? Share your thoughts in the comments.





Overall Rating: 9 out of 10





Lynette Jones
F. Whitten Peters (left) Secretary of the Air Force, presents the Medal of Honor to William and Irene Petsenbarger during ceremonies at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Friday, Dec. 8, 2000. The award was given posthumously to their son, Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger, a pararescueman killed in action during the Vietnam War. Al Behrman / AP AL BEHRMAN
Instead, it was up to the Government to finally pull its finger out and bar West from coming to the UK. But Starmer didnt exactly go to the mattresses for British Jews. One might have expected him to have displayed the same energy he had for condemning Bob Vylan and Kneecap over last summer's festival season. Their calls to Free Palestine had the Government tattling to the police with haste. But his officials went ahead and approved the ETA for an artist who put out a jingle about Adolf Hitler less than a year ago. Does Starmer care about antisemitism, the scary full-fat Holocaust denial stuff West engaged in? Or is it only when Israel gets offended that he is quick to act?
Commander Smart said: While the Met regularly polices peaceful and lawful protest without the need for arrests, this event presents different considerations. Those attending should be aware that showing support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and we will not hesitate to act where the law is broken.
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Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

In a statement, the ministry's Emergency Operations Center said that search and rescue operations are still underway in multiple locations, with authorities working to retrieve bodies from under the rubble and identify victims, including through DNA testing.

The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 1,888 dead and 6,092 injured, the ministry added.

The latest escalation followed more than 100 Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, causing widespread casualties and destruction.

Cross-border violence continues amid ongoing exchanges of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border. 

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony, each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record, then and only then we will have the truth.
He added: Ive benefited from individual, national security briefings, which Im grateful for, but I think we need to have more partnership, more dialogue, more engagement, because, as we saw with the Bella 1 tanker, it didnt take long for something that happened on the high seas to come right into the Moray Firth and be an issue that we had to wrestle with.
Because we have been contacted by exploration companies who have told us how much oil is off the west coast of Ireland, and it was Eamon Ryan who knocked it on the head, that has to be looked at again now, and revisited for the good of the nation.
In a letter to the chief inspector of the AAIB, Robert Balls, they reportedly wrote: "A review by the UK AAIB would provide families like ours with greater confidence that all technical aspects have been properly examined. We are only seeking the truth and reassurance that such a tragedy will not happen again in the future."
When a young man in Bamako or Ouagadougou or N'Djamena watches the global order prioritise the geopolitical contest in the Gulf, when he watches billions mobilised overnight for crises elsewhere, while his own government has no electricity, no jobs, no justice, he does not conclude that the system is imperfect. He concludes that the system was never designed for him.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday morning met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing.

Invited by the CPC Central Committee and Xi, Cheng is the first KMT chairperson to have led a delegation to the Chinese mainland in the past decade. The delegation had visited Jiangsu Province and Shanghai before coming to Beijing.

Xi said this meeting between the CPC and KMT leaders after 10 years is of great significance for developing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait.

Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum for the Chinese on both sides of the Strait to come together will not change.

He added that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait hope for peace and tranquility, improved cross-Strait relations, and better lives. "This is a responsibility that the CPC and the KMT cannot shirk, and also a driving force for the two parties to work together," Xi said.

Xi expressed the willingness to work with all political parties in Taiwan, including the KMT, as well as groups and people from all sectors, to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, promote peace across the Taiwan Strait, improve the well-being of the people and advance national rejuvenation, on the basis of the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

He called for forging closer bonds across the Strait by upholding a correct understanding of identity.

"Differences in social systems should not be an excuse for secession," Xi said.

Xi called for safeguarding the shared homeland through peaceful development. The core issue for safeguarding the shared homeland lies in recognizing that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, Xi said.

"We welcome any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and will spare no effort to advance any endeavors that promote such development," Xi said, adding that "Taiwan independence" is the chief culprit undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait. "We should neither condone nor tolerate it."

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Editor: GSY
China's research icebreaker Xuelong docks at its base in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

SHANGHAI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China's polar icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai in east China on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage, part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition, having achieved fruitful scientific research outcomes.

This polar expedition has involved 550 researchers, over 3,600 tonnes of routine supplies and 104 days of inland exploration, setting new records in terms of personnel scale and workload.

It has supported the on-site implementation of 45 national science and technology projects, achieving breakthroughs in major infrastructure construction, scientific research and monitoring, testing and application of home-grown equipment, and international cooperation, according to the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.

Wei Fuhai, the lead and chief scientist of the expedition team, highlighted Qinling Station, China's fifth Antarctic base that began operations in February 2024, saying it has "come of age" in terms of routine operation capability, with its foundational systems improved and many scientific facilities for weather observation, upper-atmospheric physics observation and marine environment monitoring put into use.

A number of self-made scientific equipment items, including an Antarctic wheeled vehicle and a new inland pressurized cabin, also showed excellent performance during this expedition, withstanding the tests of harsh environments and enhancing support capability for field operations in Antarctica.

Good equipment, notably, has facilitated technological breakthroughs. For instance, the expedition has set a new record with the country's first hot-water drilling experiment on the Antarctic ice sheet, reaching a depth of 3,413 meters and surpassing the previous global mark of 2,540 meters. It will greatly support studies on life under the ice, ancient climate records and Earth's evolutionary history, the expedition team said.

Outstanding results were also obtained in ecological surveys. During the journey, the expedition members completed comprehensive investigations in key sea areas, including the Cosmonaut Sea and the Amundsen Sea. They established an "air-ground" monitoring system for penguin habitats and conducted aerial photography surveys of penguin populations. Additionally, they collected a large amount of precious samples related to krill and ice lakes.

Amid the 160 days of cold Antarctic weather, there were many heartwarming interactions.

The Chinese expedition team carried out an international humanitarian rescue using domestic aircraft to help Russia evacuate sick and stranded personnel. China's Great Wall Station supported four Portuguese researchers in conducting their studies and provided medical assistance to the injured from Russia, the Czech Republic and Uruguay. The icebreaker Xuelong was also invited to assist in transporting 23 expedition members from the Republic of Korea.

In addition, China's three Antarctic research stations, together with two icebreakers, received over 400 visits from researchers of 11 countries. They also organized more than 130 visits to neighboring stations during the journey. Other activities included academic conferences on Antarctic science jointly hosted with Russia and India, as well as a Chinese film festival.

China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team embarked on the journey from Shanghai on Nov. 1, 2025. It has been jointly supported by two icebreakers, namely Xuelong and Xuelong 2. The expedition is anticipated to end in May.

Members of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team disembark from China's research icebreaker Xuelong in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

A welcoming ceremony is held for China's research icebreaker Xuelong in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

A member of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team (L) reunites with her family in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

People welcome the return of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

China's research icebreaker Xuelong docks at its base in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

A member of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team (R) reunites with her family in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

People welcome the return of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Staff members unload containers from China's research icebreaker Xuelong in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Editor: Xiong Jian
Yevhen Mahda, Executive Director of the "Institute of World Policy"

The scandalous behavior of Hungarys Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjarto, suggests that once the parliamentary campaign ends, he may have to look for a new job. This diplomat has proved to be far too pro-Russian.

Hungarys parliamentary elections took place under the sign of a fierce confrontation between the government and the opposition. Viktor Orban, the long-serving prime minister and leader of Fidesz, is striving to block his former party colleague, Peter Magyarnow the head of the TISZA Partyfrom seizing power. The political struggle is unfolding with the use of passive sparring partners in the form of Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose images are intended to help demonize Peter Magyar.

Hungarys foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, has skillfully and persistently advanced Orbans policy on the international stage, earning, among other things, the Russian Order of Friendship in 2021. However, two information leaks in the spring of 2026 forced European officials to abandon their demonstrative calm. As media representatives revealed, Hungarys top diplomat not only informed his Russian counterpart about the course of discussions within the EUs governing bodies, but also coordinated actions aimed at undermining Ukraines European integration. In other words, he was sabotaging European unity from within.

A particularly revealing detail emerged when it became known that, at the request of Sergey Lavrov, Szijjarto lobbied for the lifting of EU sanctions against the sister of Kremlin-linked oligarch Alisher Usmanov. It appears that this is merely the cherry on top, where heartfelt gratitude could be expected in a private capacity. But when what is at stake is the torpedoing of new EU sanctions packages against Russiaa master class in which Hungary and Slovakia have repeatedly excelledthe issue takes on not only a financial but also a geopolitical dimension. One might reasonably ask how Russian metallurgical companies in 20242025 managed to earn $2 billion annually from exports to the EU, and why Rosatom, a major contributor to the Russian federal budget, continues to avoid sanctions altogether.

Hungarys foreign minister has effectively become the Kremlins Trojan horse, exploiting European principles with particular cynicism (and likely for personal gain). Perhaps in this way Peter Szijjarto was raising funds for Viktor Orban and his election campaign, though we will only know this for certain after April 12. However, one prediction can be made with near certainty: Hungarys foreign ministry will soon be headed by another diplomat.

Farewell, Szijjarto!
Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers is allocating UAH 1.1 billion (JPY 4 billion) in grant funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for demining and medical assistance, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

"The State Emergency Service will receive equipment worth UAH 984 million to strengthen sappers capabilities, from demining machinery and protective gear to public training in mine safety rules. Another UAH 140 million will go toward equipping medical facilities in the Interior Ministry system. This includes equipment for the treatment and rehabilitation of the wounded, including those with mine-blast injuries," Svyrydenko said on Telegram.

According to her, with this decision the government is moving to the practical implementation of the agreement signed in January.
A wreath rests at a memorial at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 9, 2026, honoring six members of the 76th Airlift Squadron who were killed in a 1996 plane crash in Croatia. The wreath was placed during a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the tragedy. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)



RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  U.S. airmen at this vast hub for military operations paused this week to mark the 30th anniversary of a plane crash in Croatia that killed six of their own, along with a Cabinet secretary and 28 others.

Dozens gathered at a bronze-and-stone monument Thursday for a wreath-laying ceremony and speeches honoring the victims, who were part of a U.S. trade delegation to Croatia, which had emerged in the wake of the 1991 breakup of Yugoslavia.

Their CT-43A aircraft, callsign IFO-21, crashed into a mountainside during final approach to Dubrovnik Airport on April 3, 1996.

The flight was operated by Ramsteins 76th Airlift Squadron and carried Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, American business leaders, government staffers and Croatian nationals.

Of the 35 people aboard, all but one were killed instantly. The sole survivor, Tech. Sgt. Shelly Kelly, died later that day from her injuries. A C-21A from the squadron performed a flyover Thursday in their honor.

The crash prompted sweeping reforms across the Air Force that continue to shape flight safety protocols, crew training and risk management.

Speakers at Ramstein reflected on the tragedy, its legacy and the constant perils of military aviation.

Thirty years is a long time, but the call to serve and the risks inherent in answering that call have not diminished, said Shannon Murphy, historian for the 86th Airlift Wing.

Last month, six airmen supporting the U.S. mission against Iran were killed when their KC-135 went down in Iraq. The crash is still being investigated, according to U.S. authorities.

Like the crew of IFO-21, they were not lost to enemy fire but to the unforgiving realities of aviation, Murphy said.

U.S. and Croatian officials held a separate commemoration on April 1 at a crash memorial near the Dubrovnik airport.

Its such an honor to come here today and see that our Croatian partners and the city of Dubrovnik continue to honor the memory of everyone lost that day, said Lt. Col. Brian Cotter, chief of the U.S. military group in Croatia.

The legacy of the Croatia crash victims endures not just through the memories shared at the two gatherings but also in the militarys ongoing application of the lessons learned.

The loss of IFO-21 served as a catalyst for significant changes in aviation safety and procedures, said Col. Nathan Bump, deputy commander of the 86th Airlift Wing. These changes, written in the blood of those we lost, have saved lives in the years since.

Stars and Stripes reporter Slobodan Lekic contributed to this article.
U.S. soldiers fly in a UH-72 Lakota helicopter near Pine Valley, Calif., on Feb. 24, 2025. The Lakota currently serves as the Armys primary training helicopter for rotary-wing aviators. (Justin Nye/U.S. Army)



Army helicopter aviators of the future may be under the tutelage of contracted civilian pilots during their initial training pipeline instead of attending instruction at a military-operated schoolhouse.

Bell Textron and M1 Support Services are the two finalists being considered to take over key parts of the Armys helicopter pilot training program, the companies said in separate statements.

The initiative stems from a December solicitation in which the service invited commercial companies to compete for the potential outsourcing of certain aspects of Army rotary-wing training. Service aviators are currently trained at the Army Aviation Branch at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Under the proposal, instruction would shift to a facility owned and operated by the contractor, an unprecedented move for Army aviation, the solicitation said.

The possible change comes in the midst of a Pentagon examination of aviation safety trends.

U.S. soldiers complete a landing checklist aboard a UH-72A Lakota helicopter outside the D.C. Armory in Washington on Feb. 25, 2026. The aircraft, the Armys current training platform for rotary-wing aviators, could be replaced under the Flight School Next program. (Melissa Sterling/Air National Guard)



The rate of aviation incidents rose from 1.3 mishaps per 100,000 flight hours in 2020 to 2.02 mishaps per 100,000 flight hours in 2024, an increase of 55%, according to Defense Department data released last year.

The initiative appears aimed in part at addressing these concerns by improving aviator proficiency through the use of commercially available training platforms and equipment.

Traditionally, Army helicopter pilots have trained on the UH-72A Lakota. Under the proposals, Bell and M1 would instead use commercial aircraft, including the Bell 505 or the R66 from Robinson, for initial instruction.

Kurt Rosell, a former signal soldier who is now a civilian helicopter flight instructor, was among several aviators praising the proposed overhaul, Military Times reported Thursday.

The platforms proposed by Bell and M1 would let Army aviators rely less on complex technology when learning to fly, Rosell said.

The Army has not yet announced when the final selection phase of the Flight School Next program will take place.
Competitors line up their shots during the International Sniper Competition on Friday, April 10, 2026 at Fort Benning, Ga. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



FORT BENNING, Ga.  Hundreds of soldiers gathered this week at Fort Benning, determined to establish themselves as the most skilled Rangers, the best at shooting mortars and sniper rifles, the top hand-to-hand fighters and the Armys best jumpmasters.

The installations annual Infantry Week competitions attract some of the most skilled soldiers in the U.S. Army, and some troops from across its sister services and partner nation armies.

In the infantry, we have a moral obligation to ensure that every soldier is trained to fight, survive and win in the hardest day of combat, said Brig. Gen. Phillip Kiniery, the Armys Fort Benning-based infantry commandant. What Infantry Week represents  is a culmination event of five different competitions that show the world, show our Army what our experts can do and build lethality.

The Army this week held its annual International Best Sniper competition, its Best Mortar Competition and its Lacerda All-Army Combatives Competition. The 42nd annual Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Best Ranger Competition kicked off Friday and will run through Sunday.

This year, Fort Benning officials added a new contest  the inaugural Best Jumpmaster Competition, pitting seven four-man teams of jumpmaster-qualified paratroopers from across the Army in a test of their technical airborne skills.

The competitions, Kiniery said, bring out the best in the Armys soldiers and give them an opportunity to showcase their talents and trade knowledge with others from across the service.

What youre seeing is soldier grit, he said. The five competitions showcase the essential warfighting capabilities that our soldiers need to be lethal, resilient and ready for any threat across the globe.

An 82nd Airborne Division team competes in the inaugural Best Jumpmaster Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The newest competition for the installations Infantry Week pitted teams of highly trained paratroopers against each other to test their skills and knowledge of airborne operations. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

An 82nd Airborne Division team competes in the inaugural Best Jumpmaster Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The newest competition for the installations Infantry Week pitted teams of highly trained paratroopers against each other to test their skills and knowledge of airborne operations. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

A jumpmaster team from the 11th Airborne Division carries a helium tank across a drop zone during the inaugural Best Jumpmaster Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The newest competition for the installations Infantry Week pitted teams of highly trained paratroopers against each other to test their skills and knowledge of airborne operations. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers drop supply boxes from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter marker during the inaugural Best Jumpmaster Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The newest competition for the installations Infantry Week pitted teams of highly trained paratroopers against each other to test their skills and knowledge of airborne operations. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

An 11th Airborne Division soldier places a drop zone marker during the inaugural Best Jumpmaster Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The newest competition for the installations Infantry Week pitted teams of highly trained paratroopers against each other to test their skills and knowledge of airborne operations. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



Best Jumpmaster Competition

Army Master Sgt. Steven Bone watched closely as the CH-47 Chinook helicopter swooped over Fort Bennings Fryar Drop Zone on Thursday.

Suddenly, a package rigged to a small parachute dropped from the back of the dual-rotor chopper, sending it slowly falling to the ground  eventually striking just feet from the black pickup truck from which Bone was monitoring the airborne operations.

The package missed the truck. And it landed close to the spot the 11th Airborne Division jumpmaster team competing in the inaugural Best Jumpmaster Competition intended.

Nice, yelled one of the noncommissioned officers from the unit based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Not bad, guys.

The drop zone test on the second day of the three-day competition was meant to tax the competitors mentally and assess their pathfinder skills, said Capt. Caleb Moreno, a company commander at Fort Bennings Airborne School.

Theres a lot of math, a lot of equations that they need to know coming into the competition before actually executing it, Moreno said. So, if theres no pathfinders on the team, its going to be a very rough event for these jumpmaster teams.

The Armys first new Infantry Week competition since the service launched Best Mortar in 2018, the Best Jumpmaster Competition was designed to test airborne units jumpmasters on their technical and tactical proficiencies.

Bone, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the competition, said he and other soldiers who help run the Armys Airborne and Jumpmaster schools at Fort Benning were inspired about a year ago by the Best Ranger Competition to add a new event focused on the skills their schoolhouse teaches.

We are specifically testing what makes someone the best jumpmaster, said Bone, the operations sergeant major for the 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which trains paratroopers and jumpmasters. So, while there are physical things, jumpmaster is a lot more about technical skills.

Competitors jumped from helicopters and airplanes, prepared supply loads for airdrops and managed drop zone operations during events spanning the three-day event. But the most important tests are those focused on the safety operations jumpmasters are responsible for during any airborne operations, Bone said.

Fort Bennings own Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade took home the top prize on Friday.

While the annual contest attracted seven teams from across the Army, Bone said he hopes to see it expand next year.

He also hopes the new competition will inspire more paratroopers to join the jumpmaster ranks  a skill he only begrudgingly acquired after initially shying away from it, he said.

Were always going to have to have the capability to drop soldiers behind enemy lines and establish a foothold, so that way we can land additional soldiers after weve secured the airfield, Bone said. You have to have jumpmasters to do that. Theyre the leaders, the ones building confidence in paratroopers to exit out in the air. So, thats why this competition is important  we have to be able to continue to build up jumpmasters to ensure our airborne capabilities as an Army.

A U.S. Marine from the Marine Corps Shooting Team fires a sniper rifle during the International Sniper Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on Friday, April 10, 2026. The Marine Corps team took first place in the 34-team event. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

A U.S. soldier fires his pistol during the International Sniper Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on April 10, 2026. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

Army Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment fire rifles during the International Sniper Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on Friday, April 10, 2026. The Ranger team took second place in the 34-team event. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



International Sniper Competition

Snipers from across the Army, the Marine Corps, the Navy and about a dozen allied countries sent nearly 700 rounds downrange over the course of the three-day competition, organizers said.

With their carbines, multiple rifles and pistols, they shot targets ranging from about 25 to 1,000 meters away, said Sgt. 1st Class Craig Mordaunt, an Army Sniper Course instructor who helped plan the 2026 event.

With the competition cut from four days to three days this year, Mordaunt said the cadre focused much of the competition around time management, giving the 34 two-man sniper teams shorter timeframes to hit targets than in past years.

Its pretty tough. Its stressful, said Mordaunt, who has about a decade of sniper experience. Everyone wants to represent their unit or their country well. Its difficult, stressful, shooting in front of people  and then were also testing their physical and mental capabilities through this.

U.S. Army teams took second, third and fourth place this year  the 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Special Forces Group and Michigan National Guard, respectively. But the Marine Corps Shooting Team took top honors on Friday.

Competitors in the Armys Best Mortar Competition watch a 60mm round impact downrange at Fort Bennings Redcloud Ranger on Friday, April 10, 2026, during the final day of the Armys annual Best Mortar Competition. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers from the 7th Army Training Command shoot a 60mm round in the Armys Best Mortar Competition at Fort Bennings Red Cloud Range on Friday, April 10, 2026, during the final day of the Armys annual Best Mortar Competition. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

A 25th Infantry Division team shoots 60mm mortars at Fort Bennings Red Cloud Range on Friday, April 10, 2026, during the final day of the Armys annual Best Mortar Competition. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

Competitors in the Armys Best Mortar Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., fire a 120mm mortar from a Stryker armored fighting vehicle on Thursday, April 9, 2026, during the annual contest that is part of the installations Infantry Week. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

A 25th Infantry Division soldier loads a 120mm mortar inside a Stryker armored fighting vehicle on Thursday, April 9, 2026, during the Armys annual Best Mortar Competition. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division fire a 120mm mortar inside a Stryker armored fighting vehicle on Thursday, April 9, 2026, during the Armys annual Best Mortar Competition. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



Best Mortar Competition

The 2026 Best Mortar Competition tested 15 four-man mortar teams on both broad infantry and specific mortar skills, including their proficiency on multiple mortar systems.

Over three days the teams fired dozens of rounds from their rifles, machine guns, and 120mm and 60mm mortar systems. Army Capt. Patrick Elsonbast, Fort Bennings mortar training company leader and the officer in charge of the competition, said the idea was to test the teams on a wide range of mortar skills relevant to them no matter if they were to serve in the Arctic, the jungle, the desert or the forest.

We wanted Best Mortar this year to really try and transcend all these different types of infantry, and so we didnt want to make something too difficult, but we wanted to really test them across all different types of platforms and mortar tasks, Elsonbast said.

The competition tested the teams on their physical fitness, placed them inside Stryker armored combat vehicles to conduct fire missions and checked their abilities to fire from mounted and handheld mortar tubes.

The Vilseck, Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment took first place in the competition on Friday. They beat out the second-place team from the 75th Ranger Regiment, which had won the past three competitions.

When I look at these mortarmen across the competition, we are definitely testing their physical fitness, were definitely testing their small arms fire with machine guns, and were definitely testing their fires, because we want them to make a difference on the battlefield, Elsonbast said. And I think thats what ultimately determines the best mortar team.

Lacerda All-Army Combatives

While the Army has focused heavily in recent years on implementing drones, robots and other technology into infantry and other formations, the ability to fight hand-to-hand remains essential, said Sgt. 1st Class Nelson Quinones.

That is why the services annual Lacerda All-Army Combatives competition only continues to grow year after year. This years Lacerda Cup  won by the 101 st Airborne Division  featured some 136 fighters from 21 teams across the service.

Combatives is the unfortunate reality of war, said Quinones, the Armys top noncommissioned officers for its combatives program. Youre never going to get around it. There will be a time where you will have to go hands on with your enemy, and its kill or be killed.

The annual mixed martial arts-style competition  named for the combatives tournament champion and Army Ranger, Staff Sgt. Pedro Lacerda, who died of a brain aneurysm in 2010  tests soldiers skills and stamina over three days of fights.

The top performers in each weight class for male and female soldiers faced off Friday in full-contact cage fights to earn individual titles.

Quinones, a former competitor in Lacerda, said the competition displays soldiers toughness and physical fitness just as much as their ability to strike.

Its months of hard work and training, he said. When youre fighting somebody, youre going through a decision-making process over and over and over, just like you would in a real-life fist fight.

That translates over into combat, making rapid decisions in a timely manner and defeating the enemy in that decision making process. And, also, its just fun. Lets be real: Its awesome that our soldiers get to display their talent.
Spouses Warrior Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, was hosted by the Unit, Personal and Family Readiness Program on Nov. 13, 2024, to build camaraderie among the spouses." (Chloe Johnson/U.S. Marine Corps)



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan  The Marine Corps plans to eliminate a civilian position that helps families access financial and counseling services during deployments, shifting those responsibilities to uniformed personnel and volunteers.

Under the Unit, Personal and Family Readiness Program, deployment readiness coordinators work with commanders to provide insight on quality of life for service members and their families and to relay information to spouses during deployments.

The civilian positions are scheduled to be phased out by 2030, according to Ashlee Marcy, a coordinator with Marine Aircraft Group 12 at MCAS Iwakuni.

The decision was outlined in a July 2025 letter of instruction distributed through the Marine Corps tasking system, said Maj. Jacob Getty, a spokesman for Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

The [program] remains a vital resource, particularly as Marines deploy in support of Operation Epic Fury, he said in an email Thursday. This transition is not a reduction in support; it is a return to the Corps enduring ethos of Marines taking care of their own.

The Marine Corps decided in April 2024 to eliminate the civilian staffing structure for the program in response to fiscal constraints and evolving operational requirements, Getty said.

Of 77 authorized positions across the service, 70 were filled as of February, he added.

At MCAS Iwakuni, Marine Aircraft Group 12 had two civilian coordinators, but one position has been vacant since October, Marcy said in a March 23 interview. She expects to leave the role later this year.

Once I leave the position, it will likely not be filled, she said.

Under the plan, uniformed unit readiness coordinators  now supporting the program as a collateral duty  will take on primary responsibility, Getty said. Spouses may also serve as volunteer command team advisers.

The III Marine Expeditionary Force has 16 deployment readiness coordinators, Marcy said.

Some service members say the civilian roles provide critical administrative support.

Gunnery Sgt. Martin Garcia, a supply chief with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 at MCAS Iwakuni, said the additional workload could be significant.

Having the [deployment readiness coordinator] there to think about all the administrative needs is something that I believe a majority of the [unit readiness coordinators] rely on, he said in a March 19 interview.

Garcia serves as his units readiness coordinator as a secondary duty, while his wife, Juvilyn Ju-Ju Garcia, volunteers as a command team adviser.

She said she helps organize events and uses social media to connect families and encourage participation.

At this duty station, Im really advocating for community, she said alongside her husband. I think community is what we lack on overseas duty stations and people dont realize how crucial having a community is.
Marine Corps commanders must report a missing Marine to law enforcement within three hours and notify the local chaplain of the service members absence, according to a directive authorized on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Manuel Serrano/U.S. Marine Corps)



The Marine Corps wants its leaders to act more quickly when a service member does not report for duty and cannot be found, according to an interim service directive published Friday.

Commanders must report a missing Marine to law enforcement within three hours and notify the local chaplain of the service members absence, according to the directive authorized by Lt. Gen. William Bowers, deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs.

Response actions will consider safety risk, mental health risk, self-harm risk and personal-circumstance factors, the directive states.

The Marine Corps, until now, had not issued formal guidance for locating missing service members despite a 2022 recommendation by the Government Accountability Office that it do so, the agency reported in February.

The Marine Corps was expected to issue an interim directive in March addressing the GAO recommendations, with full implementation by January 2028, the report stated, citing service officials.

According to the directive, Phase I is to be initiated within three hours of discovery of absence. Commanders will initiate actions ranging from contacting the Marine using available methods, as well as local police, hospitals or clinics if a service member has sought assistance.

No later than 24 hours after a Marine is discovered missing, commanders will appoint a preliminary inquiry officer to collect available facts related to the absence.

After 48 hours, commanders should consider the absence to be involuntary unless a preponderance of available evidence indicates voluntary absence, according to the service directive.

The interim guidance went into effect immediately and will remain in effect until a permanent service policy is published.

The Marine guidance aligns with Army policy, which was announced in October.

Army Secretary Dan Driscolls directive came after the service had for years faced criticism that it acted slowly to find missing soldiers. It updated the missing soldier processes that were implemented after high-profile investigations into the disappearance and slaying of 20-year-old Spc. Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2020. The Army launched an internal command investigation into Guillens death and a separate probe into Fort Hoods command climate and culture after her death conducted by a panel of outside experts dubbed The Fort Hood Independent Review Committee.

After those investigations, the Army added the absent-unknown status to allow commanders to assess the situation without immediately labeling soldiers AWOL, which carries a negative connotation and implies they are intentionally missing, Army leaders said at the time.

The GAO made 12 recommendations, including that the services also better address the role of mental health in unexpected absences and potential safety issues that could arise during the response process.

The watchdog agency also wants the Defense Department to issue a policy requiring guidance that commanders presume a service members absence indicates they may be in danger and that they consider absences most likely involuntary after a specific time period unless available information indicates otherwise.

The Defense Department concurred with the recommendations.
Aaron Sekulov and his wife, Kelley, are going to University of Michigan Medical Center for his leukemia treatment. Sekulov, a Marine Raider, received a second round of chemotherapy this week. (Aaron Sekeulov)



Time is running out for a 35-year-old Marine Corps Raider who needs a life-saving stem cell transplant after he was diagnosed in January with a highly aggressive form of leukemia.

Friends of Aaron Sekulov, of Michigan, have launched an urgent online campaign to find a match for him.

Now one of our Platoon 11 heroes needs our help. Right now, Aaron and his family are hoping that somewhere out there is a donor match who can help give him a second chance, Aerial Recovery, a veteran-led nonprofit, posted on Facebook.

Sekulov joined the Marine Corps in 2014 and served in a scout sniper platoon before moving into a special operations role in 2018.

After two deployments to the Middle East, he opted to continue in the Marine Corps Reserve, while attending graduate school at the University of Michigan, according to his family.

Sekulov transferred to the MARSOC Reserve Detachment in 2025, where he currently serves.

Sekulov had a second round of intensive chemotherapy this week, with his wife, Kelley, by his side, said Chelsey Simoni, an Army veteran and chief health officer at HunterSeven Foundation.

The foundation supports post-9/11 service members with serious medical conditions and has launched a fundraiser to help Sekulov and his wife cover their basic expenses, as he receives treatment.

I am grateful and humbled in this time of need by the demonstration of family that my wife and I have received from people who dont even know us, people who are lifting us up, letting us know that they are here, Sekulov said.

His diagnosis is presumed to be service connected under the PACT Act, which provides benefits to veterans who become sick or injured from toxic exposures during military service, including from burn pits, industrial solvents, radiation and other hazardous materials.

Sekulov learned about his diagnosis after going to urgent care for a sore throat and swollen tonsils that had persisted for several weeks.

He followed up with a visit to a hospital emergency room, where blood work and other diagnostic tests revealed he had acute myeloid leukemia.

A fundraiser has been launched to help Aaron Sekulov and his wife cover their basic costs, as he receives treatment for an aggressive form of leukemia, diagnosed in January 2026. (Aaron Sekulov)



I went into the hospital for a random sore throat. Otherwise, I was healthy and fit, running and working out. Getting the diagnosis was a shock. It was a surreal experience, for sure, Sekulov said.

Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow that involves the rapid growth of immature myeloid cells, called myeloblasts.

The disease requires prompt treatment, often including chemotherapy, targeted therapies and stem cell transplants, according to the American Cancer Society.

The mutations driving his leukemia act almost like a stuck gas pedal in a car  a signaling receptor that stays permanently switched on, continuously telling cells to grow and divide, Simoni said.

The immediate goal is to push the leukemia into remission, Simoni said.

But remission alone will not be enough to stop the disease.

Sekulov said he will need a stem cell transplant, which is an infusion of healthy blood-forming stem cells, because his marrow is diseased.

A suitable donor is someone whose human leukocyte antigens, also known as HLAs, closely match those of the patient, according to the National Cancer Institute.

More than 1,300 potential donors have submitted cheek swabs since the online campaign for him launched several weeks ago.

Every swab increases the chance of finding a match that could save his life, Simoni said.

Aaron Sekulov joined the Marine Corps in 2014 and served in a scout sniper platoon before moving into a special operations role in 2018. Sekulov is shown at sniper training in Colorado. (Aaron Sekulov)

Aaron Sekulovs work in special operations included two deployments to the Middle East. He has served in the shadows as a critical skills operator, in places across the world, doing what less than 0.1% of the world can or will do, according to a description of Sekulov for a fundraiser to help him cover costs for medical care. (Aaron Sekulov)



Sekulov does not have immediate family members who might be a suitable donor, he said.

Registration involves a self-administered or in-person cheek swab. There are no costs to the donor.

Sending in a swab does not commit an individual to do anything, Simoni said.

Veterans and other civilians can register as potential donors at DKMS, an international nonprofit with a mission to help patients with blood cancer and other blood disorders.

Active-duty military members are asked to sign up at Salute to Life, a nonprofit authorized by the Defense Department to register military personnel, dependents and non-military Defense Department employees who want to support patients in need of transplants.

There are very simple opportunities available for people to make a life-or-death impact for someone else, Sekulov said.

For people like me who will benefit, it means the world, Sekulov said. Just the hope and faith Ive felt from people, strangers, reaching out has incredible healing power.

How to donate, fundraiser

Links to register as donors

Civilians, veterans: http://swabforaaron.com/

Active duty, Guard, Reserve, military dependents, DOD civilians: https://www.salutetolife.org/join-now

Fundraiser

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Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, left, and Jeremy Hansen celebrate in an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, aboard the USS John P. Murtha, after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. Wiseman, a retired Navy captain and Iraq War veteran, commanded the historic moon mission. (Kenneth Melseth/U.S. Navy)



Sailors, NASA personnel and contractors aboard the USS John P. Murtha on Friday recovered four astronauts returning from the first crewed mission near the moon in more than 50 years.

The Artemis II astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego shortly after 8 p.m. ET. Sailors opened the Orion capsule carrying the astronauts and assessed their health before bringing them aboard the ship, where more medical care awaited. Photos released by the Navy showed the astronauts celebrating the missions successful end with sailors.

The four-person dive team was composed of sailors with specialized training for undersea medical considerations, a Navy news release said. It was manned by Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Wang, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala.

Personnel with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 ferried the astronauts to the Murtha. Before that, they were tasked with providing images that help NASA track Orions descent.

Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, left, and Jeremy Hansen wave in an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, aboard the USS John P. Murtha, after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. Wiseman, a retired Navy captain, commanded the historic moon mission. (Elyssia Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)

Artemis II pilot and Navy captain Victor J. Glover claps for sailors assigned to the USS John P. Murtha, following the astronauts extraction from the Orion space capsule in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Elyssia Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)

The Artemis II missions Orion spacecraft is winched into the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. (August Clawson/U.S. Navy)

Navy divers return to the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha after recovering the Orion spacecraft on Friday, April 10, 2026. (August Clawson/U.S. Navy)

The Artemis II Orion capsule splashes down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026. (NASA via AP)



Retrieving the crew is a very complex operation, and it requires unique skills and equipment, said Jason Endsley, Landing and Recovery lead for Amentum, which contracts with NASA.

NASA specifically uses the Navys LPD-class amphibious transport dock ships, Endsley said, which have a floodable well deck that allows the safe recovery of the space module. The module can provide valuable information on flight and reentry performance, and some of its components can be repurposed, he said, which is why handling it properly is a part of mission success.

When they came in contact with the astronauts, Murthas crew met a fellow sailor: Capt. Victor J. Glover Jr. became the space missions pilot because of his extensive experience as a naval aviator. The missions commander, Reid Wiseman, is a retired Navy captain and former naval aviator. Both served in combat in Iraq.

Murthas retrieval of the astronauts caps a yearslong effort that involved the U.S. military from the beginning.

The Navys medical dive team with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 poses for a group photo while underway on the USS John P. Murtha in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The team will be first to meet the four Artemis II astronauts after their splashdown at sea. (August Clawson/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy medical personnel assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 train to recover the Artemis II astronauts while aboard the USS John P. Murtha in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Charles J. Scudella III/U.S. Navy)

Amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha traverses the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The ship is underway to retrieve the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission, as well as their space capsule, upon their reentry into the Earth Friday. (Elyssia Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)



The Orions parachute system, key to keeping the massive deceleration of reentry into the Earth safe for astronauts, was developed with the help of multiple tests from 2011 to 2018 at the U.S. Armys Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

Though most of the facilitys personnel are civilians, soldiers with the elite Airborne Test Force, who are knowledgeable about cargo and personnel parachute testing, helped with the testing, said Mark Schauer, a public affairs officer at the facility.

Navy personnel also trained for the recovery mission repeatedly.

The safe recovery of the crew and their module is the final moment needed to qualify the Artemis II mission as a success, with the mission largely proceeding smoothly since launch.

During the 10-day mission, the astronauts set a record for distance traveled from Earth and became the first humans to directly view the dark side of the moon. They also provided humanitys first photo from the far side.

It may not be the last. Future Artemis missions aim to explore the moons south pole and establish a lunar base, and are seen as paving the way for an eventual landing on Mars.

Even as Artemis II concludes, the Navy continues to partner with NASA. On Thursday the service put out a call for sailors to volunteer for a study that will help NASA prepare for the next Artemis missions.
The attack submarine USS Boise departs Duqm, Oman, on Aug. 18, 2014, following a scheduled port visit. (Daniel M. Young/U.S. Navy)



The Navy said Friday it would retire a U.S. nuclear attack submarine whose long-delayed and over-budget overhaul has become a symbol of shipbuilding and maintenance dysfunction.

Weve made the tough-but-necessary decision to inactivate the USS Boise, said Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Chief of Naval Operations. We owe it to our sailors and the nation to make these tough calls.

Caudle said the time and money saved on the USS Boise, a 34-year-old Los Angeles-class submarine, could be put to better use accelerating the building of new Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines and Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines. Both programs have struggled with their own production delays.

The Navys decision to deactivate the Boise came just days after the White House released its fiscal 2027 budget request that calls for $1.5 trillion in military spending, split between the defense budget and additional funding legislation.

Specifics on the Navys shipbuilding plan and request to retire some older ships are expected in the detailed budget plans each military service plans to release on April 21.

Then-Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper boards the USS Boise with Cmdr. Kris Lancaster, in Norfolk, Va., Sept. 25, 2019. (Lisa Ferdinando/Defense Department)



Commissioned in 1992, the Boise was one of 62 Los Angeles-class attack submarines that entered the fleet between 1976 and 1996. They were originally designed for a service life of up to 33 years.

The Boise fired some of the opening salvos of Tomahawk missiles in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It has been idle since returning from a 2015 deployment and lost its certification to operate submerged in 2017. Because of long backlogs for other projects at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Navy sent the Boise to a private yard in nearby Newport News.

A $1.2 billion contract for overhaul was awarded in 2024, but officials said Friday that, despite spending $800 million to date, work on the Boise is less than a quarter complete and wont be done until 2029.

The Boise has become a symbol of delays in Navy shipbuilding and maintenance programs.

During Caudles June 2025 confirmation before the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was asked what he would do about the Boise.

Is it time we just simply pull the plug on that one? Sen. Mike Rounds, R-N.D., asked during a confirmation hearing in June 2025.

Caudle called the situation like a dagger in the heart to the concept of a well-functioning submarine service.

Navy Secretary John Phelan told the digital news outlet Semafor that the Boise overhaul contract was a mistake.

We screwed up, Phelan said. This doesnt look good. It is what it is. Time to move on, and try to get going in the future and move forward.
Clothes are for sale at a flea market on Amsterdams Waterloo Square. Flea markets are wildly popular on Kings Day, because no permit is required to sell secondhand goods. (iStock)



Night owls across Europe, rejoice! With the onset of spring, cultural offerings abound, and not just by the light of day. Here are just a few good reasons to stay up late in the coming weeks:

Museum Nights in Germany

Wiesbaden: The Short Night of Galleries and Museums, scheduled for April 11, sees 39 museums, galleries and cultural institutions keep their doors open from 7 p.m. until midnight with a program made up of exhibitions, guided tours and a pop-up choir performance. The Rolling Museum gives visitors the chance to hitch a short ride in whatever quirky or classic car happens to pull up next to the designated stop where theyre waiting. Entry to all venues is free. Online: tinyurl.com/5nb5nkkv

Hamburg: Culture-loving creatures of the night will happily struggle to fit as much as possible into the evening of April 18, the citys annual Lange Nacht der Museen. More than 50 museums entice with guided tours, workshops or activities specifically for kids. The program runs from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. the following day, and an adult ticket goes for 18 euros. Those under the age of 18 enter for free. Online: tinyurl.com/2y2jukj2

Frankfurt and Offenbach: On the Nacht der Museen, slated for April 25, tens of thousands of lovers of art and culture will make their way through more than 60 museums and exhibition houses in Frankfurt am Main and neighboring Offenbach. Visitors can experience the collections of world-class museums along the rivers embankments or discover less-famous venues alongside live music, readings, performances, theater, workshops, video installations, culinary treats and more. Several museums will be offering guided tours and talks in English during the evening. The program runs from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. the following day; tickets go for 17.85 euros for adults and 12.85 for youth of all ages. Online: nacht.museumsufer.de/en

Europe-wide

Mark calendars now for the European Night of Museums, scheduled for May 23 in 2026. On this evening, countless museums across the continent will offer special late-night openings, guided tours, art installations, performances and other events, many offering free entry. Paris, along with other cities across France, gets into the act wholeheartedly. Online: tinyurl.com/2sxrjzc2

Music in Munich

A much-anticipated happening in Bavarias capital city is the Lange Nacht der Musik, or Long Night of Music, when the citys stages, clubs, bars, clubs, churches, dance schools and less mainstream venues host some 400 live performances, from classical concerts to funk or folk performances. Fans of nightlife and culture will once again face the happy dilemma of how to best plan their nocturnal wanderings from 8 p.m. on May 9 until 2 a.m. the following day. A shuttle bus makes hops between participating venues that much easier. Tickets go for 23.50 euros. Online: muenchner.de/musiknacht/en

Nurembergs nighttime flea market

Secondhand treasure seekers are in their element twice yearly in Nuremberg, when the Trempelmarkt gives them to chance to peruse heaps of pre-loved merchandise, from porcelain to jewelry and toys to antiques. The flea market is up and running from 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and resumes at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Whether or not you find a must-have item, browsing among the 4,000 stands by candlelight in the streets of the Old Town is a special experience. The spring edition is set for May 8-9; autumns event will happen September 11-12. Online: tinyurl.com/mzhvj8xs

Kings Day in the Netherlands

Many an all-nighter will be pulled across the land come April 26, the eve of Koningsdag, officially a celebration of King Willem-Alexanders birthday but in practice an exuberant expression of national pride. As the royal family springs from the House of Orange-Nassau, its customary for people to turn out proudly sporting the color orange, with many even dressed from head to toe in it. Concerts, flea markets and street parties are some of the most prominent elements of the day.

While late-night music raves on the eve of Kings Day can be found in most cities, The Hague and its Life I Live event is always a sure bet. This huge free open-air music event sees countless bands perform on several stages at different locations across town, including the Kerkplein, where electronic beats are the order of the day, and the Grote Markt, where the sounds of rock and pop ring out. Online: tinyurl.com/3a6ac6k6

Vrijmarkten, or flea markets, are wildly popular because on the day, everyone is allowed to sell their second-hand goods on the street without a permit. These pop-up markets can be found in just about any city or town; Utrecht gets a head start at 6 p.m. on April 26 and allows it to run for a full 24 hours. In Amsterdam, trading gets underway at 6 a.m. on Kings Day itself; recommended spots include the ever-picturesque Jordaan neighborhood or the Beethovenstraat for upscale goods. For childrens items, head to the Vondelpark, where its the kids themselves who set up stands and dictate the terms of trade.
Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

The Defense Forces destroy the same number of Russians in a month as they mobilize, but the size of the Russian grouping is growing because Russia is increasing its forces by involving personnel from its strategic reserve, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"In general, we see an interesting situation: in a month we destroy the same number of Russians that they mobilize, but at the same time the size of their grouping on the territory of Ukraine is growing. That is, we believe that they are increasing their grouping by involving servicemen from the strategic reserve," Zelenskyy said at a meeting with journalists.

He noted that this is a risky step for Russia, as such actions weaken its borders with other states, "and the situation there for them is not simple."

The President also reported that the enemy wants to seize Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk by the end of April.

"This is impossible, but it is not the first time they have determined a deadline and now they have set such a benchmark. I have already mentioned the meeting with British intelligence  we have a relationship of trust with them. They also see no possibility for the Russians to do this," he emphasized.
A South Korean F-15K Slam Eagle lands at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Nov. 3, 2025, during Freedom Flag 25-2. (Tylir Meye/U.S. Air Force)



The U.S. and South Korean air forces kicked off their biannual joint Freedom Flag exercise on Friday with a focus on Seoul leading the way.

The two nations plan to conduct the large-scale training from Gwangju Air Base, 200 miles south of the capital, until April 24, according to both air forces. The training is aimed at strengthening combined readiness.

South Korea is leading this years drills as part of preparations for the eventual transfer of wartime operational control from the United States to the South Korean military, according to an air force news release Thursday.

President Lee Jae Myung has made assuming wartime operational control a priority during his term.

Freedom Flag will include a range of aircraft from both countries. The U.S. Air Force is deploying F-16 Fighting Falcons, E-3G Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft and RQ-4 Global Hawk drones, while the Marine Corps is contributing F/A-18 Hornets and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

South Koreas air force plans to operate F-5E/F Tiger II, F-15K Slam Eagle and F-16 fighters, along with transport and early warning aircraft.

The drills will focus on improving combined operational capabilities, survivability and coordination in high-intensity scenarios, officials said.

The exercise underscores more than 70 years of a strong U.S.-[South Korea] alliance, demonstrating a shared commitment to regional stability and security, U.S. 7th Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Laura Hayden told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

The 31st Air Expeditionary Wing is supporting live flying units for the first time during the exercise, providing command and control, logistics and base operations support, 31st Air Task Force spokesperson Lt. Daniel White said by email Friday.

Training will include defensive counterair, interdiction and close air support missions, along with simulated enemy threats designed to test tactics and procedures, according to the South Korean air force release. The exercise will also integrate fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft.

We will develop our combined defense posture through high-intensity realistic training and share strategies and know-how tailored for modern warfare, Col. Gang Soo-gu of South Koreas Air Force Operations Command said in the release.

Freedom Flag was first launched in October 2024 and is now in its fourth iteration, Hayden said.
A worker with Barry Van Lines carries a box of household goods onto a moving truck on Dover Air Force Base, Del., July 16, 2021. (Nicole Leidholm/U.S. Air Force)



The Defense Departments heightened wartime security measures at installation gates across the United States are slowing delivery of household goods as peak season for permanent changes of station begins this month, according to movers.

The heightened security measures have led to longer wait times at gates, and the moving industry is advising service members to prepare for some inconvenience when shipping or receiving household goods in coming weeks.

If youre scheduled to have your shipment picked up at 10 a.m., these drivers with their trucks may not be able to get on to base til noon or 1 oclock, Katie McMichael, executive director of the Movers for America alliance, said by phone March 17.

U.S. Northern Command ordered the suspension of the Trusted Traveler Program on March 2, two days after the Trump administration launched its war on Iran.

The suspension means personnel with Defense Department identification can no longer vouch for others entering with them onto installations, and each entrant must be vetted and issued a temporary pass.

Moving trucks from San Diego-based Republic Moving and Storage are averaging 90-minute wait times at military gates because of the suspension, company CEO Bill Lovejoy said by phone on April 1.

Some days there are lines all the way outside the gates, he said. In the most extreme case, one of the companys trucks waited six hours to get into Camp Pendleton, Calif., because of an emergency gate closure, he said.

I mean, were ready to go, he said. We have a customer who wants us in there. Theyre willing to come to the gate to escort us in, but the base wont allow it.

In January, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the formation of the Personal Property Activity, or PPA, to oversee the relocation of service members possessions during a PCS move in response to a slew of complaints from customers and movers in recent years.

PPA spokesman Maj. Matthew Visser said in an email Thursday that the unit was aware of potential delays by movers accessing DOD installations.

The PPA currently is considering all feasible options to offer solutions that mitigate impacts on industry and reduce wait times that provide greater predictability and ensure quality of service to our Warfighters and their families during the moving process while maintaining local installation-mandated security protocols, he said.

On the East Coast, Cornerstone Moving and Storage is also dealing with long gate lines.

I think we feel it a little bit more in this area because of the amount of bases we have, said Caleb McCartney, vice president of the company based in Fredericksburg, Va., by phone April 3. Almost its entire business is with the Defense Department, he said.

Sitting in line for two, three hours; you got four or five people in a truck, he said. Not only does it increase the cost of labor on an already very capital-intensive industry, but it also impacts the military member. We tell them were going to be there between 8 and 9, and we cant get on post because theres a backup at the visitor center of the gate. We cant get on post until, you know, 10, 11.

The delays make it hard for service members or their family members to plan for the arrival of moving trucks as they juggle work and school schedules, he said.
The Japanese Imperial Navy fighter Shiden Kai was salvaged April 8, 2026, after 81 years underwater in southwestern Japan. (Association for Preserving War Heritage of Hokusatsu for Future Generations)



TOKYO  A Japanese fighter that crashed during World War II has been salvaged from waters in southwestern Japan after 81 years.

A Shiden Kai, a fighter of the Japanese Imperial Navy, was retrieved Wednesday from waters about 10 feet deep and about 650 feet offshore of Akune city in Kagoshima prefecture, according to Eisuke Himoto, leader of a local nonprofit organization that salvaged the aircraft.

It was in a great condition. Much better than we thought, he said by phone Thursday.

The recovery took about four hours using a large crane to lift the aircraft, which was placed on metal pipes to prevent damage while being raised.

Salvors retrieved the front part of the aircraft, including the cockpit and two wings extending from it, Himoto said. They also recovered propellers that were sunk near the aircraft.

Himoto said he was pleased that the wings, which have the distinct features of a Shiden Kai, were well preserved.

Shiden Kai were produced in the last few months of the war but were expected to turn the tide in Japans favor. They were equipped with some of the most advanced technology available in Japan at the time, Himoto said.

The Japanese Imperial Navy fighter Shiden Kai was salvaged April 8, 2026, after 81 years underwater in southwestern Japan. (Association for Preserving War Heritage of Hokusatsu for Future Generations)



Called George by the Allied forces, the Shiden Kai was the best Japanese naval fighter produced in quantity during the war, according to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website.

Shiden Kai were equipped with four 20 mm cannons and an automatic flap-extension mechanism, which was preserved on the aircraft that was salvaged Wednesday, Himoto said.

The aircraft incorporated Japans most advanced technology  and all of that technology was concentrated on the wings. It is remarkable that they have survived, he said.

I am relieved and thankful that it was recovered in good condition, he added.

The aircraft salvaged Wednesday crashed after engaging in an aerial battle with American B-29s on April 21, 1945. The pilot, Lt. Yoshishige Hayashi, died in the encounter, according to the organizations website.

The aircraft, known to area residents, was left underwater until now.

Himoto heard about the fighter three years ago. With some research, he realized it should be preserved.

Soon, there will be no one to tell stories about the war firsthand, he said. We think objects can tell the story to the people directly when they see them.

The nonprofit hopes to clean up the aircraft and display it in a local museum, although they may consider building one, Himoto said.

We want to preserve this historical legacy for the future generations, he said.
Students walk into a Department of Defense Education Activity school at Fort Benning, Ga., on Aug. 4, 2025. DODEA officials announced Wednesday the elimination of community superintendents and their support staff as part of a cost-cutting effort to reduce bureaucracy. (DODEA)



KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  The Defense Department education system is getting rid of positions described as district superintendents alter ego, as its new leader pushes to funnel more resources back into schools.

Elimination of an unspecified number of community superintendents and their support staff in the Department of Defense Education Activity, also known as the Department of War Education Activity, or DOWEA, was announced Wednesday in an email to all agency employees.

At the heart of this effort is a commitment to simplify processes, reduce unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, and create clear, more effective lines of community and support, DODEA director Paul Craft said in the email, which Stars and Stripes viewed.

Craft, whos been at the helm of DODEA for about one month, went on to say that some district-level positions will be cut.

In response to questions, DODEA declined to say how many. According to its website, there are 21 community superintendents: eight in Europe, five in the Pacific and eight in the United States.

Brian Perry, Department of Defense Dependent Schools South Carolina and Fort Stewart community superintendent, speaks at Charles F. Bolden Elementary School, in Laurel Bay, S.C., on Aug. 9, 2023. DODEA is eliminating some community superintendent positions under an organizational review announced Wednesday. (Kyle Baskin/U.S. Marine Corps)



The savings from the reorganization will be reinvested in classroom positions, DODEA said in a statement Thursday.

Tasks of community superintendents include managing school affairs, monitoring budgets and financial plans, providing policy guidance and handling other leadership responsibilities, according to a 2023 vacancy announcement.

The salary range for that opening at Yokota Air Base, Japan, was listed as from $107,010 to $138,690 per year.

DODEAs 161 schools are divided into three regions: the Americas, Europe and Pacific. Each region is managed by an area director. In each of the areas, schools are organized into districts headed by superintendents.

For example, the district superintendent for the Europe Central District oversees 16 schools in Germany across the Kaiserslautern, Wiesbaden and Baumholder communities.

The district includes more than 7,000 students and 1,500 employees, according to DODEAs website. Two community superintendents are assigned to the district.

As of April, a little over 66,000 students are enrolled at DODEA schools, including its virtual high school, according to the agencys enrollment data.

Community superintendents and their secretaries will be offered a chance to retire under a program that allows organizations that are downsizing or restructuring to temporarily lower the age and service requirements for retirement.

No DODEA employees are currently subject to involuntary termination or separation, Craft said in the email.

DODEA is also offering buyouts, a one-time payment for voluntary separation, but the agency didnt say what the amount is expected to be.

It also gave no information on what kind of jobs community superintendents who chose not to voluntarily separate or retire would be offered or when the positions will be eliminated. The school year ends in early June.

About a year ago, under previous director Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, DODEA underwent a more sweeping reorganization involving hundreds of positions.

That move was also described by agency leaders at the time as an effort to increase support for schoolchildren.

Those changes included the addition of administrative officers at nearly every school, increases in the number of school psychologists and elimination or reassignment of most school-based educational technologists and speech-language and special education assessors.
American and French naval vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz in this undated photo. As President Donald Trump presses NATO allies to increase their military presence in the strait, several member nations have begun committing additional support. (Keith Nowak/U.S. Navy)



STUTTGART, Germany  Some NATO allies have begun making concrete pledges of support for a future mission aimed at ensuring the safe passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the alliances top official said this week.

Secretary-General Mark Ruttes remarks Thursday came against a backdrop of increased pressure on Europe from U.S. President Donald Trump to deliver military support in missions stemming from the war against Iran.

Trump has reportedly issued an ultimatum that countries need to make specific offers of what they can provide.

Rutte touted a recent announcement by the Netherlands of readiness to offer capabilities such as minehunters to the initiative. Frigates and radar technology also were under consideration, he said.

We have to see what happens with the shipping lanes as we now go forward day by day, he said during an appearance at the Reagan Institutes Center for Peace Through Strength in Washington.

Rutte knows that Trump is very keen on making sure that the sea lanes are open as soon as possible, he added.

Trump told Rutte during a Wednesday meeting at the White House that pledges would be expected in a matter of days, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported.

Its unclear whether NATO could play a formal role in providing security in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint where a fifth of the worlds oil supply usually transits.

The United Kingdom has been leading a coalition of more than 40 countries that are mobilizing an effort related to clearing the strait, a senior NATO military official pointed out Friday in a statement to Stars and Stripes.

In terms of NATOs role at this time, the Secretary General is in contact with Allies about his recent discussions in Washington, the official said.

But the shape of any mission will likely hinge on whether a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran holds.

Dubbed Operation Epic Fury, the war began Feb. 28 with combined American and Israeli strikes that killed several top members of Irans government, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Though the ceasefire, announced three days ago, has reduced hostilities, ship trackers report that maritime traffic through the strait remains at a trickle amid fears of further Iranian attacks.

Following the ceasefire announcement, numerous countries issued a joint statement saying they will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy all said they would participate, as did Spain, which has clashed with the Trump administration over the Iran war.

While NATOs primary task is the territorial defense of member states, the alliance also has participated in out-of-area missions. For example, the bloc is involved in an ongoing initiative focused on the development of Iraqs armed forces.

In the case of the Iran war, Trump has criticized the alliance for not being more involved from the outset. The White House has also warned that disagreements over the conflict could result in changes to the U.S. militarys force posture in Europe.

Rutte said he explained to Trump during their meeting that since allies were not consulted in the run-up to the Iran mission, it would take time for them to assemble.

We have coalitions in Europe, Rutte said. We have sometimes the political home front to take care of. Sometimes it takes a couple of days, but then we pull together. And almost the whole of Europe did for the U.S. to project power on the world stage.

Asked about a potential plan for American troop reductions in European countries deemed by Trump to be uncooperative, Rutte didnt directly answer the question.

I totally understand that over time, the U.S. wants more and more to pivot towards the Indo-Pacific, he said. This is one of the reasons why in Europe we have to step up.
An oil tanker transits the Arabian Gulf in this undated photo. President Donald Trump warned Iran not to charge fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage connecting the gulf to global markets, ahead of negotiations to end the war. (Martine Cuaron/U.S. Navy)



Disagreements over control of a major sea lane and questions about the U.S.-Iran ceasefire were still looming Friday as the two countries prepared for high-stakes talks on ending a war that has claimed 13 American service members lives.

Vice President JD Vance will lead a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, where meetings with Iranian officials are scheduled to begin on Saturday, according to White House officials.

The key issue hanging over the talks is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an oil transit corridor that Iran closed in retaliation for combined strikes by the U.S. and Israel.

The strait has remained at a virtual standstill despite Tuesdays ceasefire agreement. Maritime trackers showed few vessels in the waterway Friday morning, and analysts said only ships carrying Iranian cargoes were allowed to pass through it.

As part of the two-week ceasefire, the strait is supposed to be free and open, U.S. officials said. But Iran so far appears unwilling to give up control of the waterway, which usually carries about a fifth of the worlds oil.

Vance, speaking to reporters before departing for Pakistan, warned Iranians not to play the U.S.

If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, were certainly willing to extend the open hand, he said. If theyre going to try to play us, then theyre going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

Tehran has demanded sovereignty over the strait as part of any permanent deal, and some reports say vessels that attempt to pass through without coordinating with Iranian authorities are being threatened with further attacks.

President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform Thursday that Iran cannot levy tolls on tankers passing through the strait.

There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait  They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now! he wrote.

A few hours later he wrote: Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!

The blockade has roiled global markets and sent fuel prices soaring, though markets calmed slightly after announcement of the ceasefire.

Brent crude, a global benchmark for oil prices, has dropped to about $94 per barrel after hitting a high of $112 last month.

But the decline has done little to assuage fears about long-term impacts to oil supply chains, especially as disagreements between the U.S. and Iran persist. U.S. officials have insisted they may resume strikes if a permanent deal does not materialize.

The U.S. will help with ship congestion in the strait, loading supplies and making sure everything goes well, Trump said this week without providing further details.

In the past, he has suggested that U.S. Navy vessels could escort tankers, though officials have not outlined a plan for such operations and the proposal could carry risks of escalation.

Any potential security effort in the strait will likely depend on whether the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran holds and whether the talks in Pakistan produce a broader agreement.

The first days of the ceasefire have been some of the bloodiest in the war, with Israel launching fresh attacks against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.

Israels strikes have put the fragile negotiations on even shakier ground, with Iran threatening to pull out of Saturdays talks if the ceasefire is not extended to Lebanon. The campaign against Hezbollah resumed Friday morning.

As of Friday afternoon, there was no confirmation of Iranian negotiators arrival in Pakistan.
Military and aviation safety officials have finished a safety assessment of the use of laser to counter drones along the U.S. border with Mexico, weeks after FAA officials abruptly closed the airspace around the El Paso International Airport in Texas. (Jacob Lang/U.S. Army)



Military and aviation safety officials have finished a safety assessment of the use of lasers to counter drones along the U.S. border with Mexico and found a way to move forward that will keep air passengers safe and prevent situations such as one in February that forced a major airport to close unexpectedly.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the Defense Department said Friday that they reached an agreement after an assessment that included demonstrations of the high-energy laser system last month at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

This assessment came after FAA officials abruptly closed the airspace around the El Paso International Airport in Texas at 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, stating it would last for 10 days. The move led to chaos among local, state and federal government officials who received no warning of the closure. The closure not only affected the publics travel plans, but also medical flights carrying surgical equipment to area hospitals.

The decision was reversed the following morning, and the public learned that the use of a laser intended to shoot down drones coming from Mexico was to blame.

Following a thorough, data-informed Safety Risk Assessment, we determined that these systems do not present an increased risk to the flying public, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement. We will continue working with our interagency partners to ensure the National Airspace System remains safe while addressing emerging drone threats.

The Pentagon said in a statement it will continue coordinating with the FAA to safely use the laser system and ensure it does not affect civilian aircraft, pilots, navigation equipment, or air traffic services.

Additional details of the agreement were not made available on Friday.
Tommy Gwynn smiles in this undated photo. The decorated World War II and Korean War veteran died Monday in Tullahoma, Tenn., two months before his 107th birthday. (Department of Veterans Affairs)



The Nazis couldnt kill Thomas E. Gwynn, and the communists failed, too  though he earned a dozen Purple Hearts fighting them.

But no one lives forever, not even the Tennessean who called himself the greatest Ranger that ever was. The World War II and Korean War veteran died Monday, according to an online obituary. He was two months from turning 107.

Born in June 1919 outside Memphis, Gwynn joined the Army in 1941 and became a Ranger in April 1943, the obituary said. He told an interviewer in 2023 that a fateful coin flip helped spur his decision to try to join, but he was initially turned down in 1940.

He would go on to distinguish himself as an infantryman, earning two Silver Stars and two Bronze Stars fighting in some of the most storied battles of the wars.

They included the Normandy invasion and Battle of the Bulge during World War II and the Korean War landing at Incheon. He told a local TV reporter in 2021 that he was scared only once: the entire time.

As a sergeant in early December 1944, he was called before Gen. Omar Bradley, a top Army general in Europe and future five-star general who would become the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

I thought they was gonna court-martial me, Gwynn said in a 2023 interview with the veterans nonprofit Operation Song. They saluted me. Throwed that arm up and said, Lieutenant Gwynn. 

Hed earned a battlefield promotion. And it was Bradley who said theres never been a Ranger like him and never will be, Gwynn told Nashvilles WZTV news in a November 2021 interview.

Its not clear from the obituary and other sources whether Gwynn was part of the famed Ranger battalions of WWII, precursors to todays special operations units that bear the same name, or graduated from an early Ranger school that trained members of other units.

Even today, use of the Ranger moniker can cause confusion, as it may refer to members of a special operations unit, who wear distinctive scroll patches on their uniforms, or to graduates of the Armys small-unit leadership school, who wear Ranger tabs.

The date the obituary says Gwynn became a Ranger matches that of the activation of the 2nd Ranger Battalion at Camp Nathan Bedford Forrest in Tullahoma, Tenn., where Gwynn would settle after the war.

Troops from that battalion scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, between Utah and Omaha beaches at Normandy, to take out enemy positions ahead of the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944.

A 1945 news article, however, says Gwynn was a Ranger of the 30th Infantry Division in Germany when he received his commission from Bradley. The division landed on Omaha Beach five days after D-Day.

In any case, Gwynn remained in Europe through the end of World War II. Five years later, he was called back to duty while working at a Kroger grocery store in Memphis, according to a local newspaper report citing his family.

The report said he had already been shot twice while serving in Korea as of June 1951. Counting those injuries, he was wounded two dozen times on the battlefield, including from a bayonet up his nose and a bludgeoning with a rifle butt, WZTV reported in 2021.

Once, he was nearly hanged with his own belt after being captured, alone on a mountaintop, by North Korean soldiers.

But while one of his captors was stripping him down, the Tennessean wheeled, bashed him on the jaw, sent him sprawling, and flung himself down the slope, the (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported in January 1952, shortly after he returned home from 14 months at war.

You can roll a lot quicker than you think you can, said Gwynn, then a 32-year-old first lieutenant with the 38th Infantry Regiment.

Through gunfire, he worked his way back to American forces over the course of less than four hours.

Im here largely because I know how to shiver, he told the paper. Nothing like shivering all the time to keep the circulation going. Without that, Id be frozen long ago.

That was one of the two times he was captured in Korea. By 1952, hed received two Silver Stars and two Bronze Stars and had been recommended for a Distinguished Service Cross for heroism.

But he told the newspaper that he considered the Good Conduct Medal the best theyve got.

The other medals sort of come to you in the course of things, and I dont even remember exactly what they were given for, he said. But the Good Conduct Medal, that was the result of your own self.

His obituary credits his great physical condition and strong faith in God as allowing him to repeatedly return to duty despite his many injuries. In 2021, regarding his exploits, he told WZTV I didnt do it. The Holy Spirit did it in my body; he did it in my body.

After serving in Korea, Gwynn ran an appliance repair shop and spent time as a jail minister, the obituary said. He outlived his wife, son, daughter, a brother and three sisters.

The U.S. Army W.T.F! Moments Facebook page put out a call Thursday for soldiers and veterans to pay respects at Gwynns funeral and burial services, which will be held April 15 in Tullahoma.

Correction: An earlier version of this story imprecisely described the location of the Battle of the Bulge.
Ukrainian military experts have demonstrated to some Middle Eastern countries how to operate interceptor drones, as part of support in building a modern air defence system that can genuinely work, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"We sent our military experts to the Middle East, including drone interceptor experts and electronic warfare experts. And we demonstrated to some countries how to work with interceptors. Did we destroy? Yes, we did. Did we destroy in one country? No, in several. And this, in my opinion, is a success," Zelenskyy said at a meeting with journalists.

"We also shot down jet-powered drones. That is a very good signal, I think. We showed that it works. Now it is a matter of time before we mass-produce interceptors that will destroy jet-powered drones," he said.

He also said that by shooting down Iranian Shaheds with its own interceptors, Ukraine has shown that achieving such results requires systemic solutions, particularly in the electronic warfare component.

"An air defence system is needed that consists of various components, and all of them must be properly integrated. That is, we are supporting the building of such an air defence system that can protect against all types of threats," the head of state said.
Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

Ukraine is ready to cooperate with Syria in the fields of food security and infrastructure, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We will strengthen our diplomatic presence in Syria  our embassy will be operational. We are ready to cooperate in food security and infrastructure. We have agreed with the President of Syria on major contracts for the agro-industrial complex. And we see opportunities here for other countries in the region as well," Zelenskyy said at a meeting with journalists.

As reported, on April 6, Zelenskyy announced negotiations with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, during which the parties discussed the war of Russia against Ukraine, security, and food supplies.
Ignacio Lillo and Jesus Hinojosa Malaga 10/04/2026 a las 15:31h.

One of the main topics of conversation at the meeting on Friday between the mayors of two coastal cities - Malaga and Cadiz - was tourism and its effects on the local population.

The SUR and Fundacion Unicaja event had Francisco de la Torre (Malaga) and Bruno Garcia (Cadiz) agreeing that both cities have already reached a sufficient level of tourism and that further increases could jeopardise the sustainable development of the municipalities.

Bruno Garcia stated that Cadiz does not want to increase its number of tourists, referencing the increase from 30 cruise ships in 2007 to the current 350. He believes the city is at an "optimal point".

For Garcia, the priority should be maintaining the "authenticity and essence" of areas like La Vina and El Populo. "We are not looking for more numbers, more tourists, but rather for people who fall in love with Cadiz and who respect the community," he stated, highlighting milestones such as the recent electrification of the docks to reduce the impact of cruise ships.

When Editor in Chief of SUR Javier Recio asked the mayor of Malaga whether the city had reached that limit, Francisco de la Torre said: "Clearly, urban tourism cannot grow indefinitely. We've been saying for years that we want to grow in excellence, in quality, not in quantity."

De la Torre cited the moratorium on tourist accommodations and his commitment to the tourist tax, the activation of which he has again urged the central government to implement, as examples of the city's commitment.

Destination of the tourist tax

De la Torre stated that, if implemented in Malaga, part of the tourist tax will go towards lowering rents and another part to promoting high-end tourism. "We need specific actions, which cost money, but 50 per cent of the tax could be dedicated to reducing rents," he said.

"My job is to protect the livability of the city of Cadiz. There are a number of tourist flats that were no longer sustainable. Together with the regional government, we have deregistered 500 that were being misused. My primary obligation is to ensure there is housing for the people of Cadiz. In Cadiz, the tourism sector is a priority, but housing comes first. The essence of the city is living in it and we are not going to compromise that," Bruno Garcia stated.
Ignacio Lillo and Jesus Hinojosa Malaga 10/04/2026 Actualizado a las 13:42h.

The Fundacion Unicaja cultural centre in Malaga hosted Mayor Francisco de la Torre and Mayor of Cadiz Bruno Garcia, who participated in a forum on the future of the two cities on Friday. Director of Diario SUR Javier Recio acted as moderator.

Head of Fundacion Unicaja Jose Manuel Dominguez introduced the speakers at the start of the event. The meeting served to not only strengthen ties between the two provincial capitals but also highlight that, despite their differences in scale, they share similar challenges, including the lack of housing and the management of tourist success and coexistence between residents and visitors.

Housing: the biggest challenge

For both mayors, housing is the "great challenge" that shapes the future of their cities. Bruno Garcia said that land is a luxury in Cadiz due to its geography. For this reason, he advocates for "increasingly restrictive regulations on tourist accommodations" and for taking advantage of the regional government's decree to allocate underutilised spaces for residential use.

"It's a city issue. If there are no houses, there is depopulation," Garcia said, reminding the attendees that the city has been losing residents at a rate of 1,000 inhabitants per year for three decades.

De la Torre presented Malaga's figures: 1,600 homes on designated public land and a plan to add another 5,000 homes through public-private partnerships. According to De la Torre, "the electricity bottleneck" is what hinders the development of new land in the Costa del Sol capital.

De la Torre announced that he had written to the minister for ecological transition and the president of Red Electrica to address the lack of power capacity that is hindering developments like the one in Lagar de Oliveros. "The gap between supply and demand is widening; without energy there are no houses," he said.

Coexisting with tourism

The debate on coexistence with tourists was another hot topic at the forum. Both Cadiz and Malaga admit they have reached their tourist capacity limit and are now seeking "quality over quantity".

De la Torre was particularly critical of the central government for its refusal to implement a "tourist tax" - a tool he intends to allocate entirely to "reducing social housing rents" and promoting tourism excellence, with campaigns in the luxury markets of the US and Asia. "I don't understand why they're doing it so badly. This will not be the case when the government changes," the mayor said.

Garcia openly admitted that Caddiz doesn't want to increase the number of tourists, having gone from receiving 30 cruise ships in 2007 to the current 350. He considers the city to be at an "optimal point". However, he warned that the priority is maintaining the "authenticity and essence" of areas like La Vina and El Populo. "We're not looking for more numbers, but rather for people who love Cadiz and respect coexistence," he stated on Friday, highlighting milestones such as the recent electrification of the docks to reduce the impact of cruise ships.

The wider areas of the two provincial capitals

The integration of the population in areas just outside the big cities is another strategic axis for the development of both Cadiz and Malaga, albeit with different approaches.

Bruno Garcia is concerned about the population loss from the city to its extensive surrounding area, citing municipalities like San Fernando, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Chiclana, which rely on the Cadiz tram-train. He believes that these towns should be allies in retaining residents, provided this growth does not exacerbate the housing shortage in the city.

De la Torre, on the other hand, considers Malaga's surrounding areas vital for providing housing for thousands of city residents. He focused on the Guadalhorce Valley, stating that rail transport, via the C2 commuter line, is the true engine of expansion.

He criticised the current infrequent and insufficient service, with trains running only once an hour. "The development of the wider area is linked to improving the commuter rail network. Only with efficient transport will residents be able to choose to live in the suburbs, revitalising the area and balancing the urban pressure on the city."

On this point, both leaders agree: without robust transport, there is no metropolitan cohesion.

Coastal train demands

The connection between the two provinces also featured prominently. On this point, both mayors reiterated the long-standing demand for a coastal train line to Algeciras.

Garcia highlighted the need to improve the Vejer-Tarifa road and the Jerez-Los Barrios motorway, vital arteries for Spain's most important cargo port.

Another common issue is funding. According to De la Torre, Spanish municipalities receive the lowest resources of any municipalities in Europe, violating the EU principle of subsidiarity. "What can be done at the local level, should be done at the local level, from the bottom up," he stated.

Political harmony

The meeting ended with a brief mentioning of the Andalusian elections in May. Both mayors are rallying behind the current regional president - Juanma Moreno, whom they described as "the best proven candidate".

De la Torre said that he has "no complaints" regarding the current regional government, highlighting its positive working relationship, institutional loyalty and support for key projects like the Guadalmedina project. Bruno Garcia focused on criticising the opposition. "The others only work to create problems for us, not to provide stability," he said.

The day's events yielded a clear conclusion: Malaga and Cadiz don't just want to be tourist destinations, but places to live. To achieve this, the future lies in the management of surrounding areas and controlling the side effects of tourism's success.
Paco Grinan Malaga 10/04/2026 Actualizado a las 20:04h.

It was the "unfinished business" of the Caixabank Soho Theatre. Since it opened, we have seen theatre of all kinds on the Malaga city stage, as well as music of all genres. What was missing was dance, which, from this Saturday, has the stage all to itself with the Soho International Dance Festival Tip Toe, which opens with the Malandain Ballet Biarritz company.

Until Sunday 19 April the festival will feature dancers Lucia Lacarra and Julio Bocca, topping a programme with which its promoter, Antonio Banderas, aims to make a lot of noise.

"We are a child that will be born in the next few days and support for the dance festival is a very serious commitment," assured Antonio Banderas, who also spoke of his intention to expand the Soho Caixabank Theatre with a second space for performances.

The Malaga actor, director and producer made it clear that the great star of Tip Toe is the choreographer and dancer Lucia Lacarra, who will not only take to the stage at the Soho, but who has orchestrated the programming of this first and ambitious edition.

"When we started a dialogue, not only did she seem to me to be the ideal person who could make this festival brilliant, but she has been the one who has taken the necessary steps to ensure that companies of great international prestige are here," said Banderas, welcoming the presence of two French ballets and one German ballet in this first festival.

"This festival came to me as an unexpected gift from life," said Lucia Lacarra herself when she took the floor at the press conference this Friday, in which she stated that "dance has not been a job, but my life".

For this reason, she said that she has thrown herself into the Tip Toe festival "body and soul" and that the design of the programme has not only sought "quality dance", but also encounters with dance figures and workshops to open up dance to all audiences.

And so, this Sunday, a massive ballet barre will be set up in the Muelle Uno marina and 600 dancers will take part, from young people from schools to amateurs and professionals.

The Tip Toe festival also takes to the streets with a massive ballet barre this Sunday at Muelle Uno

"We want to make the people of Malaga understand that the festival is theirs," said Lucia Lacarra, who will also participate in this great Sunday barre event that will show in public "the exercises that we learn before becoming professional, so that people will see the work that goes behind it".

From classical to contemporary dance, all styles have a place in Tip Toe, which kicks off this Saturday and Sunday on the stage of the Soho CaixaBank Theatre with the French company Malandain Ballet Biarritz and the show Les Saisons, which brings together 22 dancers in a production based on Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

"An honour to present him with the award"

In addition, on Tuesday 14 April the German Bavarian Junior Ballet will present an eclectic programme with music by Mozart, Stravinsky, J.J. Cale or Pink Floyd, while the day before, Monday, this same Munich ballet will hold an audition in Sohrlin Andalucia open to dance students, where two students will obtain contracts in the company itself.

On Thursday 16 and Friday 17 it will be the turn of the French company Kafig with Folia, a show that fuses contemporary dance and live music, while the last weekend will feature Lucia Lacarra, who will present two shows: Fordlandia (Saturday 18), together with Matthew Golding, and Lost Letters (Sunday 19), which will close this first edition of Tip Toe.

On Thursday it will also be the turn of the Argentinian star Julio Bocca, who will receive the Lux Ductor Award in recognition of his outstanding international career. "Julio was delighted to come to Malaga and it is an honour to present him with this award," said Antonio Banderas, who will deliver his theatre's unfinished business from this Saturday when he turns the Soho stage into a dance floor.
Paco Grinan MALAGA. 10/04/2026 a las 12:09h.

If there is one protagonist at the Museo Picasso Malaga (MPM), besides the painter who gives it its name, it is Christine Ruiz-Picasso. The daughter-in-law of the Malaga-born artist was the first ambassador of Picasso's return to his hometown. In the 1950s, she arrived with her husband Paul - the painter's eldest son - to explore, at Picasso's own suggestion, the possibility of creating a museum in Malaga. Under the dictatorship, that wish never came to fruition.

It was not until the 1990s, with democracy restored, that she returned to Andalucia determined to make it the museum a reality.

Christine, the great driving force behind the MPM, passed away on Monday at her home in Provence, France, at the age of 97.

Honorary President of the museum since its creation in 2003, she was honoured with numerous distinctions, including the Gran Cruz de Alfonso X El Sabio and the titles of Hija Predilecta (Favourite Daughter) of Andalucia and Hija Adoptiva (Adoptive Daughter) of Malaga province.

On the museum's twentieth anniversary in 2023, the MPM named its theatre after her. Then, her son Bernard said, "This museum very well represents my mother's wish to honour her father-in-law and my father."

Christine Pauplin was born in Paris in 1928. Trained as an artist, her life was shaped by Picasso from the moment she visited his studio in the 1950s. She went looking for the father but found the son, meeting Paul, Picasso's eldest child by Olga Kokhlova.

The two married in 1962, though they had already been together for years and had become parents in 1959 to Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, who today chairs the executive board of the MPM.

Christine never forgot the wish Pablo Picasso had expressed to her and Paul: to donate works to his hometown of Malaga. That was the reason for their 2,500-kilometre drive there in 1954, which Christine described as "a honeymoon before the wedding".

On their return, Picasso was moved by what they told him and exclaimed: "If it is possible, I will send two truckloads of paintings." But those works, along with the dreams, were set aside.

The second chapter came in the 1990s. After lending pieces to two landmark exhibitions at the Palacio del Obispo, Christine declared willing to donate part of the collection she had inherited from Picasso to make the museum dream a reality. In 1998 she donated and loaned a total of 233 works spanning almost all periods and techniques, personally selecting the Palacio de Buenavista as the future gallery's home.

She accompanied the Spanish monarchs at the MPM's inauguration and maintained a close bond with the museum throughout its first decade, famously saying: "This museum is like a child to me."

In 2011 she found herself at the centre of controversy when she refused to open the exhibition Vinetas en el Frente, calling it an "opportunistic political use" during an electoral period, and called for the director's resignation - though the dispute was resolved.

At 75, Christine turned a borrowed dream into her great cultural legacy. Like her son Bernard, she learned to live in the long shadow of the Picasso name - one that even overshadowed her own identity as a ceramicist who once wandered into the master's studio in search of inspiration, and ended up finding an entirely new life.
Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

Ukraine wants to add to the list of weapons required for security guarantees those air defense systems that are effective in the Middle East and the Gulf but which have not been in Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"First, it is important for Ukraine to understand specifically what the reaction of partners will be and how quickly it will come if aggression by the Russians is repeated. We agreed that our side will offer its vision, and partners will give their response to such a draft. It is important that there are no weak points or mistakes," Zelenskyy said at a meeting with journalists, commenting on security guarantees.

"The second story is the financing of our army, which must be clearly ensured. The third story is the equipment of our air defense. We want to add to the list of weapons those air defense systems that we see are now effective in the Middle East and the Gulf, but which we did not have," he noted.

The head of state added that speaking of strong security guarantees means the necessity of appropriate air defense systems in sufficient quantities.

"In addition, I do not believe that the Russians will not want to come again. But I believe that if an American military base or a joint base of America and Europe is located in Ukraine, we will have fewer risks," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Nuria Triguero MALAGA. 10/04/2026 a las 10:23h.

Can a simple water jug explain something as complex as the Higgs boson? The 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'.

Of course, there is also a 'Higgs Boson'. "The surface of the clay botijo, 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.
SUR 10/04/2026 a las 12:35h.

A 42-year-old man has recovered his wallet thanks to the honesty of two university students, aged 19 and 21, who found it on a Malaga street and handed it in to the authorities.

The two women, originally from the town of Ardales but currently studying in the city, demonstrated exemplary civic responsibility by reporting the discovery to the police and handing over the lost property.

Upon inspection, the Local Police verified that the wallet contained 1,332.50 in cash along with several personal documents, including a payment card, a driving licence, and a healthcare card.

Officers located the owner and requested his presence at the station to collect the items. The man expressed his deep gratitude, admitting he had not even realised the wallet was missing until the police contacted him.

He explained to officers that the cash was intended to pay for repairs to a van belonging to his employer - a company that specialises in care for people with disabilities.
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Ignacio Lillo Malaga 10/04/2026 a las 12:30h.

A partner is reportedly close to signing the construction contract with the promoter of the future San Andres recreational port in Malaga city.

According to the terms currently under consideration, the offer includes all expenses incurred by the successful bidder to date, amounting to an annual fee of approximately 600,000 euros (for four years), plus the initial deposit of around two million and a percentage of profit. In total, approximately eight million euros.

The truth is that the negotiations have not yet borne fruit because Al Alfia has yet to make a decision. The deadlines are running out. For weeks now, the operation has been under the threat of termination proceedings due to inactivity. This would risk losing the deposit and everything paid so far in fees.

Details of the San Andres marina project

The San Andres marina will be located at the mouth of the Guadalmedina, very close to the new headquarters of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the fish market and the future Malaga music auditorium.

The future Huelin marina will require an investment of around 54 million euros and will feature docks with a total capacity for 506 vessels, including two berths for large yachts of up to 50 metres long and five berths for yachts of up to 30 metres. The majority, however - about 400 spots - will be for boats under 12 metres.

The most important civil work will be the widening of the current breakwater that separates the dock from the beaches to create a wide platform for luxury shops, hotels and a nautical club with a restaurant over a 3,000-square-metre area.

There will also be a yacht club, a sailing school, a dry marina for 100 boats, a control tower, a restaurant and an events venue, with spectacular views of the city and the sea. The marina will have a car park with 439 parkings spaces.

The San Andres marina will be the largest marina for small and medium-sized pleasure craft in Malaga city.
Jose Carlos Garcia Marbella 10/04/2026 a las 13:12h.

The refurbishment of the Marbella lighthouse as a public space was inaugurated on the 23 March, a project that has made it possible to integrate the new and modern premises of the tourism department within this site.

And just two weeks later, is preparing to transform what was its first office dedicated to serving visitors to Marbella.

The building, which dates back to 1960 and, given its use, has an undoubted "historical and symbolic value", is now on its way to being transformed into a multi-purpose space that will combine its current use with a cultural one.

According to the town hall, the La Fontanilla building is "a representative element of the evolution that Marbella has undergone as a destination", so "its recovery contributes to preserving the historical legacy and integrating it into the current tourist-cultural story of the municipality".

The aim is to convert the "underused" La Fontanilla building into a "strategic tourist-cultural asset"

Marbella council has awarded the company Sociedad Andaluza de Servicios Multiples the contract for 284,103.28 euros for this project, which must be completed within four months from the start of the work.

The intervention is included in the framework of the extraordinary programme for sustainable tourism in destinations 2021-2023 and financed in its entirety by the European Union through the Next Generation-EU funds, part of the recovery, transformation and resilience plan for Spain.

The work planned for the La Fontanilla building aims to recover and rehabilitate the building that housed Marbella's first tourist office and which is currently "underused" in order to transform it into a "strategic tourist-cultural asset" that will be "in line with the trends of diversification of the offer and urban sustainability", explains the council.

The new space will host cultural activities such as exhibitions and tourist events. "The aim is to diversify the destination's offer by promoting a model of tourism focused on significant interaction with the local environment, sustainable and territorially distributed", the project summary states.

Environment and heritage

The rehabilitation, according to the town hall, also involves the enhancement of the immediate urban environment, which "avoids unnecessary urban expansion", as well as "reactivating urban spaces with high tourist, economic and social potential".

"The intervention shows a commitment to heritage care, respect for local culture and the modernisation of the destination. This will reinforce its attractiveness to a tourist profile interested in cultural activities, in the enhancement of the historical and artistic heritage and the search for local authenticity," the council declares. In this way, it adds, "new constructions are avoided" while priority is given to refurbishment under criteria of energy efficiency, accessibility and functionality.
Jose Carlos Garcia Marbella 10/04/2026 a las 12:36h.

The foreign residents department in Marbella has presented a calendar of international events to be held in the coming months in the town.

The agenda, organised together with different associations of foreign communities, includes a wide range of activities that highlight the cultural diversity and cosmopolitan character of the town.

The councillor responsible for the area, Remedios Bocanegra, said that "this is an initiative that reflects the cultural richness of Marbella and its status as a place of coexistence between people of many nationalities".

"The municipality currently has residents from more than 150 countries and more than 62,500 registered residents of foreign origin, which represents around a third of the population," the councillor explained. In this sense, she pointed out "the importance of continuing to create meeting places that give visibility to traditions and promote integration and social participation".

The programme will begin from 17 to 19 April with the festival little Cuba. This will be followed by the Netherlands festival on 26 and 27 April: both activities are held next to the La Fontanilla tourist office. On 3 May, the Filipino community will celebrate mothers day' on the San Pedro Alcantara boulevard. Meanwhile, Europe Day will be celebrated on 8 May at the Hospital Real de la Misericordia.

Paraguay's festival will be held on 16 and 17 May, Argentina's on 24 May, the Philippines on 7 June and Ecuador's on 22 August

La Fontanilla will be the venue for Paraguay's national day on 16 and 17 May, Argentina's national day on 24 May and Venezuela's national day on 4 July. In San Pedro Alcantara, the national day of the Philippines will be commemorated on 7 June, while the national day of Ecuador, together with the Virgen del Cisne, will be celebrated on 22 August on the Pablo Raez boulevard in Marbella.

Joint work

Councillor Bocanegra highlighted "the joint work carried out throughout the year between the town hall and the international associations", as well as the role of these groups in the social and cultural revitalisation of Marbella.

During the presentation of the agenda, representatives of the participating associations agreed on "the opportunity that these meetings provide to strengthen community ties and share their traditions with neighbours and visitors".
A waiter serving customers at a restaurant in Malaga city centre during Holy Week.

Pilar Martinez Malaga 10/04/2026 a las 10:26h.

Malagas dependence on the holiday trade has reached a new peak, with tourism now accounting for 20.4% of the provinces entire working population.

Despite fears that the post-pandemic "travel boom" would cool off, 2025 proved to be a historic year for job creation, adding 12.5% more workers to the industry's payroll.

At a glance: The Malaga tourism machine Dominance: Over 20% of all workers in Malaga are employed in tourism. The Record: 153,819 jobs created in 2025a 12.5% jump from the previous year. The Drivers: Hospitality (76,000+ jobs) and Accommodation (26,000+ jobs). Peak Season: Employment hit an all-time high of 169,500 workers in the third quarter of last year.



A record-breaking 153,819 people now earn their living through tourism in the province, a figure that dwarfs the national average of 12-13%. While the hospitality sector remains the undisputed king - employing over 76,000 waiters, cooks, and bar staff - the growth was felt across the board in hotels, transport, and tour agencies. Only the car rental sector saw a slight dip, showing signs of stagnation as visitors pivot toward other transport options.

Furthermore, the report makes clear that tourism employment on the coast keeps growing. It's worth noting that the sector ended 2024 with almost 7% more workers than in 2023. This renewed momentum meant that the sector's main activities contributed to providing employment for 18% of the province's total workforce in 2024..

Big Data from Turismo Costa del Sol indicates that 13,683 companies are involved with this industry, representing an increase of almost 3%.

During the presentation of the 2025 financial results, head of Turismo Costa del Sol Francisco Salado said that the destination received a total of 14.65 million tourists, a 1.19% increase compared to 2024. This record figure makes it the best year ever for tourism in Malaga. The industry generated an economic impact of more than 21.81 billion euros in the province, 2.8% more than in 2024 and another historic record for the sector.

13,683 companies were affiliated with the tourism sector in 2025, which represents an increase of 3%

The study highlights that the third quarter of last year marked the peak of tourism employment in the province's history, reaching 169,500 workers. This milestone coincided with a high season that proved crucial in closing 2025 with 7.95 million visitors staying in the province's hotels, tourist apartments, rural accommodations and campsites.

Despite this, these establishments did not reach the 2024 figures, registering a 1.1% decrease. The volume of nights booked across all types of accommodation, with the exception of tourist flat rentals, also dropped - 30 million, 1.4% less than in 2024.

Worker profile

Regarding the employee profile, the Costa del Sol report indicates that 78% are Spanish, 88% are salaried employees and 78% have permanent contracts. Of the total, 86% work full-time. The report shows growth in each of these figures and points to improvements that include more stable and higher-quality employment.

During the presentation of the 2025 report, regional minister Arturo Bernal stated that the tourism sector had generated employment for 482,000 workers in the region, a 10% increase, with historical peaks of up to 531,000. He said that these jobs are more stable due to the reduction of temporary employment to 20%.

Bernal stated that "the year-on-year growth is one of the highest rates in the historical record". "Tourism generated 43% of all jobs created in Andalucia during the year. It is a fundamental driver for the region's prosperity and for the creation of stable, quality employment opportunities. We have moved beyond the model that prioritised the number of tourists and now we focus on the impact this industry has on the well-being of Andalusians," the regional minister said.

Bernal linked this positive performance of the industry to its strong international presence, noting that "Andalucia has the best air connectivity in the history of the region, with 139,265 flights and 19.6 million passengers, and a strategy based on sustainability, quality, innovation and legal security, supported by the law".

Tourism employment also reached record highs in Spain as a whole

Tourism employment in Spain also reached a historic high in 2025, exceeding 2.75 million workers registered with Social Security during peak months, representing approximately 12-13% of the country's total workforce. This highlights its smaller weight in the overall national economy compared to the province of Malaga.

Nationally, the sector consolidated its recovery with steady job growth, particularly in the hospitality and tourism activities segments. These figures come from the national institute of statistics (Ine), which notes that salaried employment predominated among tourism workers, with significant increases, alongside growth in self-employment. Regarding the most active sectors, the institute points to hospitality and passenger transport. Both led job creation, driven by a record number of visitors: more than 96 million.
Ignacio Lillo 10/04/2026 a las 10:20h.

There is a trend- which I consider unhealthy - to reckon that in Malaga things are already going relatively well in economic terms, and therefore, there's no rush to invest in anything new. Coupled with this, people keep repeating the self-serving mantra that much has already been done here in the past, and now it's "someone else's turn". A spinoff of this, and a truly devilish one, is the idea that it's not all that urgent to sort out the high-speed rail line because, at the end of the day, we have the airport, and with the bus transfer and a four-hour journey, "it's not really that bad..."

The recent Holy Week is a clear example of all this. The government, especially our dear minister of transport and his Socialist circle, have been very pleased with themselves (in a way, they've breathed a sigh of relief) because the tourism figures on the Costa del Sol were significantly better than initially predicted, despite the high-speed rail cut. They see themselves as victors over the PP, the business lobby and the media who were branded doom mongers for forecasting a debacle.

In part, they are right, because indeed, the pull of Malaga's processions and the fine weather on the Costa del Sol aren't stopped by a lack of trains or by petrol prices being through the roof. It's true that visitors have mostly come by plane and car, and the data is undeniable.

That is one way of reading it, no doubt, but it's the reading of mediocre, complacent and unambitious leaders who are totally detached from the reality of this province and have no clue about its massive capacity for generating economic activity and resources.

Let me give you a comparison; it goes slightly off track, but I'm sure you'll take my point: the Malaga metro has once again broken its passenger record, despite a workers' strike that caused a fair bit of damage. To give you an idea, on Holy Monday, it lost 10,000 passengers compared to the previous year. Therefore, the takeaway shouldn't just be that the metro hit a new historic high, which it did. Rather, it's how many thousands more passengers it would have captured were it not for the partial walkouts during peak times.

In the same vein, one has to wonder what level of hotel and holiday apartment occupancy would have been reached; how many jobs would have been created; and what the level of sales in hospitality and retail would have been if the high-speed line had been ready on time.

At the end of the day, that represents many millions of euros in lost revenue that has gone elsewhere. Don't count on me to celebrate the victory of the losers.
Miguel Angel Alfonso MADRID. 10/04/2026 a las 10:45h.

Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, has ordered the reopening of the Spanish embassy in Tehran to "support the ceasefire" between the United States and Iran. The embassy was evacuated at the start of the conflict due to security risks for staff and during the evacuation of Spanish residents from the region.

Speaking before the foreign affairs committee in Congreso, Albares said: "Given the new situation and that we have two weeks ahead, I have instructed the ambassador in Tehran, Antonio Sanchez-Benedito Gaspar, to return, to take charge and reopen the Embassy of Spain in Tehran and so join, from all possible angles, including the capital of Iran, this effort for peace."

Israeli criticism

The decision has drawn criticism from Israel. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar described it as an "eternal shame", saying on social media: "The terrorist Iranian regime is resuming executions of its citizens, protesters and political dissidents. Spain is reopening its embassy in Tehran. Hand in hand. Shamelessly."

Albares called the ceasefire "fragile" and drew attention to the "unacceptable" situation in Lebanon. He reaffirmed Spain's support for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity and urged that the country be "an essential part" of the truce. He added: "Even if Israel does not want to hear about a ceasefire in Lebanon, it should not make the rest of us give up."
Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua

If Russia chooses the path of de-escalation, a trilateral meeting could take place in April, May or June, these will be key months for them, and things will be very difficult for Ukraine until September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"In my view, these people are clearly not ready to end the war. There is still a part of their society that will react badly to escalation. In my view, these are the two main scenarios, but of course there may be other motivations. And soon we will see which scenario Putin has chosen. If Russia chooses the path of de-escalation, I believe a trilateral meeting will take place. And they will try to hold it in April, May or June. I think these are key months for them. And I think things will be very difficult for us until September," he said at a meeting with journalists.

The president noted that from the start of summer the United States will be absorbed in its domestic elections, with "a kind of domestic political deadline - approximately August."

"That is, this spring-summer period will be quite difficult politically and diplomatically. There may be pressure on Ukraine. And on the battlefield too. But we understand what Ukraines national interests are and what can guarantee security," Zelenskyy stressed.

He said it is important that sufficient pressure also be applied to Russia during this period.

"For example, partners could this year hold an absolutely unprecedented, historic, landmark and, in a certain sense, victorious NATO summit. But that depends on them - on what they are genuinely ready for and whether they take seriously the threats that are directed not against any one country, but against all," the head of state concluded.
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop Colorado from enforcing a new law that regulates AI systems.

The case adds to a growing debate in the United States over whether AI rules should be set by individual states or by the federal government.

The law, known as Senate Bill 24-205, is set to take effect on June 30, TheGuardian reported. It would require developers of "high-risk" AI systems to follow strict rules.

These systems are used in important decisions involving jobs, housing, education, healthcare, and financial services. The goal of the law is to reduce harm from what officials call "algorithmic discrimination."

Colorado was the first state to pass a broad law focused on regulating artificial intelligence.

In its lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Colorado, xAI argues that the law violates the First Amendment.

The company says it would force developers to change how their AI systems respond and what they say, especially on sensitive topics.

Elon Musk's xAI sues Colorado over state's new AI lawhttps://t.co/bU1V2A22Ti  Firstpost (@firstpost) April 10, 2026

xAI Pushes to Block Colorado AI Law

xAI also claims the rules could push its chatbot Grok to reflect Colorado's views instead of remaining neutral.

According to Reuters, the company warned that this kind of regulation could limit innovation and create confusion for AI developers working across different states.

"The effect of a patchwork of state-level rules can hamper innovation and deter competition," xAI said in its filing.

The company is asking the court to declare the law unconstitutional and to block it from being enforced.

The lawsuit also references federal guidance and executive orders that encourage national-level AI rules instead of state-by-state regulations.

Supporters of this view say a single national system would help the US stay competitive in global AI development.

However, not everyone agrees. Some state leaders argue that waiting for federal action could slow down protections for consumers. They point to long delays in passing national laws on technology and data privacy.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed the bill into law in 2024 but also expressed concerns, calling for possible changes before it takes full effect. The law's rollout was delayed until mid-2026 to give companies more time to prepare.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Photo: SBU

Counterintelligence agents the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), together with the SBU Office in the Odesa region, has thwarted an enemy attempt to carry out a contract killing of a high-ranking official of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. A hitmana resident of a Balkan country recruited by Russian special serviceswas detained.

"As a result of a special operation in Odesa, a Russian agent who tried to liquidate a high-ranking officer of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was caught red-handed," the SBU informed on its Telegram channel on Friday.

As the investigation established, on the day of the assassination attempt, the killer took a position near the exit of the residential complex where the Ukrainian officer lives, armed with a pistol and two loaded magazines.

"Imitating a bicycle repair while wearing a balaclava, the perpetrator waited for the appearance of the car driven by the serviceman. When the car approached the exit, the agent threw the bicycle under the wheels and tried to open fire on the driver," the report states.

At that moment, the hitman was detained by a counterintelligence task force and SBU special forces, who had been monitoring the suspect for a long time and documented his every step.

"According to the investigation materials, the enemys task was carried out by a 37-year-old resident of one of the Balkan countries recruited by Russian intelligence officers," the agency specifies.

According to the SBU, the foreigner arrived in Kyiv in February 2026 under the guise of a tourist and later went to Odesa to carry out the Russian order.

"Upon arrival in the port city, the agent received a location for a cache from a Russian handler, where he retrieved a pistol with a silencer and ammunition. The suspect then tracked the main locations and routes of the potential victim, later coordinating the location of the planned assassination with the Russian intelligence officer," the message notes.

To maintain secrecy, the killer regularly changed addresses of rented apartments and hotel rooms in Odesa.

SBU investigators notified the foreigner of suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 15 and Part 2 of Art. 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (completed attempt to commit a terrorist act).

The perpetrator is in custody. The comprehensive measures were conducted under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutors office.
EU considering windfall tax on energy firms



Brussels, Belgium, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



The EU said Friday it was looking into calls for a tax on windfall profits of energy companies to respond to the surge in prices caused by the Iran war.

The finance ministers of Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy and Portugal urged Brussels take the measure to ease the burden on consumers in a letter published last week.

European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho Friday stressed that "a whole range of measures" were on the table, including some adopted in the past.

"We need to see what were the efficient, effective measures that were taken and that would still be suitable, what were those which maybe we should adjust, make more targeted, more limited in time," Pinho told a press conference in Brussels.

A similar emergency tax was implemented in 2022 to address soaring energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

And on Thursday EU economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis confirmed to European lawmakers that a windfall levy was indeed under consideration.

"Strictly speaking, there is nothing preventing member states from applying this windfall tax because direct taxation is by and large within the competences of member states," he said.

"We are looking whether we come with some kind of a more coordinated approach at the European level. It's currently being assessed".

Oil and gas prices have surged since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, resulting in Iran effectively blocking the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and major to damage to Gulf energy infrastructure.

Prices eased after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire this week, but remain elevated.
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Australian music sensation Delta Goodrem is poised to make a significant impact at this years Eurovision Song Contest, not only as a multi-million-selling artist but also through her remarkable connections to two of the competition's most iconic figures: Celine Dion and Olivia Newton-John.

With over nine million albums sold and chart-topping success in eight countries, Goodrem arrives in Vienna representing her home nation, Australia, which has been a surprising but welcome participant in the worlds largest live music event since 2015, despite its geographical distance from Europe.

Her ties to Eurovision run deep. In the 1990s, the former Neighbours star penned "Eyes on Me" for Celine Dion, who famously secured victory for Switzerland in 1988. Goodrem also benefited from the mentorship of the late Olivia Newton-John, a global superstar who represented the United Kingdom in the 1974 contest.

Reflecting on these profound influences, Goodrem shared: "Growing up, Olivia Newton-John and Celine Dion were two of my greatest loves in music. I dont think I would be the musician I am today without my influence from the two of them. And they have both been a part of that stage from different countries."

open image in gallery Delta Goodrem ( Invision/AP )

Goodrem's network extends to this year's competition itself, with a playful link to San Marino's entry. Boy George, who features on SENHIT's track "Superstar," previously served as a judge alongside Goodrem on Australia's popular TV talent show, "The Voice." "Ive got my eyes on him. Im watching him," Goodrem quipped. "I was so excited and couldnt stop laughing ... its so playful that Boy George was like, Im coming to Eurovision!"

Competing with her power ballad "Eclipse," Goodrem expressed a deep sense of national pride. "I feel that as well and Ive always been very patriotic and very true to the love I have for Australia and it feels like theyre all celebrating, were all sort of there together on this journey," she stated, adding that she is "definitely here to give it my absolute all."

Goodrem recalled Eurovision being "omnipresent" throughout her life, an "incredible iconic stage" that always found its way to Australian audiences, particularly as the nation became "Team Australia" with its 11 years of participation.

Having experienced the "palpable" energy of Eurovision firsthand during shows in London last year, Goodrem remains open to new paths. Addressing the perennial issue of politics in the contest, she firmly believes in music's unifying power. "I really am a true believer that throughout my career, coming to my show, Im about unifying  music for me is a moment where were all singing the same song," she explained. "I sort of focus on the power of music being a unifying space and a place that can wrap around peoples lives and their soundtrack and thats where it sits for me."

open image in gallery Delta Goodrem performing live ( PA )

The prospect of Eurovision Asia also excites her. "The more music the better. I think thats so exciting. That means I get to immerse myself in the music in September for Eurovision Asia," she enthused. For her performance of "Eclipse," Goodrem hinted at a visually striking staging, involving sand to create "a little beach on stage" as she looks up at the moon.

While the logistics of a potential Australian victory remain uncertain, Goodrem is certainly open to the conversation about hosting. "Look, I dont know those logistics yet but Im open to the conversation  If you would like to vote for me then Im happy to talk about if we could like have it here or if, you know, Im happy to do a deal," she concluded, embracing the possibility with characteristic enthusiasm.
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The UKs entrant for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, Sam Battle, has announced the birth of his baby.

Battle, who makes music under the name Look Mum No Computer, shared the news on social media on Friday.

He posted an image of his newborn child, Max, wearing a yellow hat.

Battle wrote: "Speak soon everyone. Max born today happy healthy Back on it soon. Take care."

Congratulations poured in, with BBC Eurovision writing: A huge congratulations to UK Eurovision act Sam Battle and his wife on the birth of baby Max born yesterday.

Belgian entrant Essyla, real name Alice Van Eesbeeck, also commented on Instagram, calling Max the most adorable baby ever seen.

Battle is set to perform his song Eins, Zwei, Drei at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, this May.

Originally from Grantham, Lincolnshire, he rose to prominence on YouTube in 2013.

He is known for videos showcasing the creation and performance of unusual electronic music equipment, accumulating over 85 million views and 1.4 million combined subscribers and followers across his online platforms.

He has made an organ out of Furby toys, fused a synthesiser with a Raleigh Chopper bicycle and made a triple oscillator synthesiser out of Nintendo Game Boy video games consoles.

A video for his Eurovision song sees Look Mum No Computer in a messy office setting wearing a suit, before ditching his workplace for a giant electronic soundboard as he sings about coming back to life.

The 70th edition of the Eurovision final will take place at Viennas Wiener Stadthalle on Saturday 16 May.

Austrian entry JJ won in 2025 with his song Wasted Love.

The contests semi-finals will take place on 12 and 14 May, with the final and semi-finals broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer, as well as BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
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Bafta has issued an "unreserved" apology to the Black and disability communities following the broadcast of a racial slur during its 2026 film awards ceremony. An independent review into the incident found "a number of structural weaknesses" in the organisation's planning for the high-profile event.

In a statement released on Friday, Bafta's board of trustees extended their apologies not only to the Black community for the racist language used, but also to the disability community, for whom the incident led to "unfair judgement, stigma, and distress."

The controversy arose during the 79th British Academy Film Awards in February, when disability campaigner John Davidson, who lives with Tourettes, could be heard shouting as actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for special visual effects.

The trustees confirmed that an independent review, conducted by RISE Associates, was commissioned to investigate the events and recommend necessary changes. While the review identified "a number of structural weaknesses in BAFTAs planning, escalation procedures and crisis coordination arrangements", it found no evidence of "malicious intent" from those involved in delivering the event. Bafta has fully accepted these conclusions.

open image in gallery John Davidson could be heard shouting the slur at the Bafta Film Awards ( Ian West/PA )

"We apologise unreservedly to the Black community, for whom the racist language used carries real pain, brutality, and trauma; to the disability community, including people with Tourette Syndrome, for whom this incident has led to unfair judgement, stigma, and distress; and to all our members, guests at the ceremony and those watching at home," the trustees stated. They acknowledged that "what was supposed to be a moment of celebration was diminished and overshadowed and confirmed they have written to those directly impacted.

The review highlighted that while the incident was not a "failure of intent", Bafta's "planning and processes have not kept pace with its diversity and inclusion goals. The organisation admitted it "did not adequately anticipate or fully prepare for the impact of such an incident in a live event environment and as a result our duty of care to everyone at the ceremony and watching at home fell short."

Work is already underway to implement the specific improvements recommended by the review, aiming to prevent similar occurrences. These include enhancing accessibility and inclusion planning, fostering a more inclusive culture, and refining event communication and command structures.

Specifically, Bafta is improving escalation processes and information sharing around its awards ceremonies. It also revealed that it is strengthening how it plans for and delivers access, inclusion, and support at events, adopting a broader intersectional approach to ensure all needs are considered. Thirdly, the organisation is addressing any internal cultural gaps or lack of knowledge that might hinder its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

open image in gallery Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo heard racial slur while presenting award at Baftas ( BBC )

This ongoing work remains a priority, with the Executive Team regularly reporting progress to the Board of Trustees. Bafta concluded by stating its determination "to learn from what happened, and to ensure inclusion and belonging for all is meaningful in practice as well as in principle."

Baftas apology arrives just days after an investigation found that the BBC breached its editorial standards when it broadcast a racial slur during its coverage of the 2026 Bafta Film Awards.

The findings stated that the inclusion of the slur was highly offensive and had no editorial justification, but it added that broadcasting it was unintentional.
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Ben Coyle-Larner, aka the musician Loyle Carner, has opened up about his foray into acting, while speaking at the launch of BBC Ones eight-part crime drama series, Mint, coming out at the end of April.

I was just really nervous, you know? I was pretty scared, he admitted, as he discussed making the transition after 12 years in music.

Mint tells the story of Shannon (Emma Laird), a daughter born into a Scottish crime family, who is waiting for romance to sweep her off her feet. Carner, credited here as Ben Coyle-Larner, makes his acting debut as Arran, a young man returning from London as the prodigal son of a rival crime family.

open image in gallery Ben Coyle-Larner makes his acting debut in this series, which co-stars Emma Laird ( BBC )

Arran is Shannons love interest in this Romeo and Juliet style tale, with the two characters embarking on a complex relationship full of highs and lows.

Speaking at the British Film Insititutes (BFI) screening of the first two episodes on Thursday night (9 April), Coyle-Larner recalled a conversation with director, Charlotte Regan, on how to channel his nerves into positivity and excitement.

I remember at the start I said to [Regan], I should do prep, actors do prep, I dont know what prep is. What should I do?

She said, Honestly, just how you feel now, how nervous you are and how everything is new and exciting to you  just hold onto that because its rare.

The three-time Brit nominee acknowledged that it felt weird to be a true rookie at something after spending most of his life developing his music career, being 31 and coming into something brand new.

Coyle-Larner grew up and studied in south London before earning a scholarship to attend the Brit School for Performing Arts and Technology. He later turned to rapping, releasing his first EP at the age of 19, titled, A Little Late. Coyle-Larner began to use music as an outlet to explore everything from mental health struggles to his experiences with fatherhood.

This is not technically Coyle-Larners acting debut. He had a small role as a young hunter in the 2008 action movie 10,000 BC  but its not something hes keen to dwell on. When the subject came up, he glanced down, visibly embarrassed, and asked jokingly, not to bring that up!

The hip-hop musician told the audience that he came to learn that, in some ways, acting is not too different to music after all.

Its kind of the same, but different, he said. [Both are] a space to create  this was just like trying to learn how to use a different part of me to do the same thing, to tell a story.

open image in gallery Coyle-Larner said he was really nervous to star in Mint ( BBC )

Coyle-Larner added that, while he was apprehensive about his first big acting role, there was also a bizarre sense of relief he felt in the production of Mint.

Im used to being too much in control of what I release and what I share, he told the BFI audience. He explained that when he was acting, he didnt feel the need to be f***ing stressing about it, he added with a laugh.

He ultimately felt that the novelty of the experience for him actually translated into something exciting for everyone else on set as well.

For everything to be magic for me, I think it was useful to everyone else because I think its so easy to get used to the thing you do for your job. And because it was brand new to me, I think it became brand new for everyone. Thats what I hope I brought, Coyle-Larner said, cheekily adding: And a lot of snacks as well.

All episodes of Mint will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday 20th April, with the series airing on BBC One from 9pm the same night.
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Original NSYNC member Jason Galasso has reflected on leaving the boy band before they hit the big time.

Galasso was the original fifth member of the group, alongside Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick.

He left just before they signed a record contract with music mogul and convicted scam artist Lou Pearlman in 1995, and was later replaced by Lance Bass. The four remaining members went ahead with singing the deal with Pearlman.

Galasso did leave a lasting impact on the group however: the name NSYNC was conceived by Timberlakes mother Lynn Harless and incorporates the last letter of each members first name, including the n from Jason but not the e in Lance.

Speaking in an upcoming episode of IDs new docuseries Boy Band Confidential, Galasso said he decided not to sign the contract with Pearlman because: At that juncture with NSYNC, it didnt feel right. So I didnt do it.

NSYNC in 1998. Clockwise from top left: Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick & J.C. Chasez ( Getty )

Galasso, who knew Fatone from high school choir, said the other members of the boy band were unhappy with his decision. He said Chasez let him know, recalling: JC was pissed, calling me like, What are you doing? What are you doing? And I dont blame them. I kind of left them high and dry. So I get it. Id be pissed at me too.

He went on to say that his life subsequently took a different path, explaining: After NSYNC, I went back to college and got my degree. Then a buddy of mine I went to school with, he was in the mortgage business, and Ive been doing that ever since.

Asked if he has pondered what would have happened if he signed the deal, Galasso added: Theres always going to be those what if moments, its just human nature. After a pause, he added wistfully: I don't know, I don't know.

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Boy Band Confidential is set to air Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Investigation Discovery. Episodes will then also be available to stream on HBO Max.

NSYNC were one of the most popular boybands of the 1990s and 2000s, selling over 70 million records.

Pearlman, who was also behind the Backstreet Boys, died in prison in 2016 at the age of 62.

He had been convicted of fraud for running a $300m (230m) Ponzi scheme through his Trans Continental companies. He ran away to Indonesia but was captured by the authorities in 2007 and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2008.
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Broadcaster Davina McCall has announced she has received the "all clear" following her breast cancer diagnosis.

The 58-year-old television presenter shared the "good news" on her podcast, Making The Cut, which she co-hosts with her husband Michael Douglas.

Ms McCall had previously revealed her diagnosis last October, undergoing surgery to remove a "lump".

She said: I went to go and have a check-up on my boobs the other day. Obviously, quite a serious day, quite heavy.

McCall recounted the day of her appointment and said that earlier on she had put her payment card into a wallet that looks like a big wand like a fairy would use, which she was using during transactions.

She said: I went to go and pay my bill, and I tapped my wand and literally people would be beside themselves. And I thought this heavy day has become very joyful and funny.

Ive not only put a smile on other peoples faces, but a smile on mine.

McCall revealed that she found out she had breast cancer in October and later underwent a lumpectomy to get it removed ( Victoria Jones/PA )

By the way, it was all clear  just letting everyone know. Good news, good news.

The former Big Brother host first revealed her diagnosis in a video on Instagram last November, during which she recounted finding a lump in her breast which came and went.

In the post, McCall revealed that she found out she had breast cancer in October and later underwent a lumpectomy to get it removed.

She told her 2.1 million followers that she also needed five days of radiotherapy in January as kind of an insurance policy, and after this she would be on my journey to try and stop (the cancer) ever coming back.

McCall also urged viewers to get checked for breast cancer as she spoke about how incredibly lucky she was to catch the condition very, very early.

The diagnosis came after McCall underwent surgery in 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, which was found after she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work.

According to the NHS, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer for women in the UK, although anyone can get it, with those at higher risk including people over the age of 50, those with dense breast tissue or a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

McCall is known for hosting Big Brother between 2000 and 2010 during its Channel 4 run and has long advocated on womens health issues, including presenting documentaries on contraception and the menopause.

She has also co-presented BBC Comic Relief and Sport Relief, Channel 4s Stand Up To Cancer, The Million Pound Drop, Long Lost Family and dating programme My Mum, Your Dad.
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Michaela Coel has admitted she wasnt ready for her role in the Black Panther sequel Wakanda Forever, saying she struggled with acting in front of a greenscreen.

Fresh from the success of her critically-acclaimed 2020 series I May Destroy You, the writer and actor landed a small part playing warrior Aneka in Ryan Cooglers Wakanda Forever.

But while Coel, 38, had more than proven herself worthy of the role, shes now said she felt a little astray on the set.

The star explained to The Hollywood Reporter: I really dont think I was ready for that world of greenscreen acting. I literally dont know how to do that. I dont know how to act when something isnt there. Its a skill that I had not quite possessed.

I feel like a different version of me would serve that well, but when one is not quite prepared for a job, its also quite hard to feel like Im serving it  and then Im not serving the story.

And then what am I doing here then? I love Ryan Coogler so much. But I feel like I was a little astray.

open image in gallery Coel as Aneka in Wakanda Forever ( Marvel )

Director Coogler began plotting for the Black Panther sequel following the huge success of the first movie in 2018. But the plans were devastatingly derailed in August 2020 when T'Challa actor Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer.

It was decided that Bosemans role would not be recast, and Wakanda Forever instead saw his much-loved character die off-screen, leaving his family to grieve and focus on his legacy.

Adding that she watched her co-star Angela Bassett kill her scenes, Coel mused: It is a different world, and I think its different muscles.

The muscle easier to use for me is in that intimate, small room  two people, heavy, thick dialogue, psychological. This is what I really enjoy.

open image in gallery Coel is currently filming a new TV series ( Getty )

This year is a busy one for Coel, who is currently filming her long-awaited new series, First Day On Earth.

The 10-episode series  which marks her return to writing following I May Destroy You six years ago  will feature Coel as the lead character, Henri, a British writer who travels to Ghana to visit her estranged father.

Shell also be on the big screen in two films set for release this month: Steven Soderberghs The Christophers, in which she stars opposite Sir Ian McKellen, and Mother Mary, A24s musical thriller about a stylist (Coel) who reunites with her pop star client (Anne Hathaway) after estrangement.
Putin would have to sacrifice between 300,000 and 1 mln people to fully occupy Donbas, depending on how long the operation lasts - Zelenskyy

Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

Vladimir Putin understands that he cannot fully occupy Ukraine because his losses are enormous and he does not have enough well-trained people on the battlefield; fully occupying Donbas would cost him between 300,000 and 1 million people, depending on the duration of the operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"His losses are enormous and he does not have enough well-trained people on the battlefield. He is trying to find a way out of the situation that would look like a victory. That is why he is trying to push us out of Donbas diplomatically - through dialogue with the United States. Because to fully occupy Donbas he would have to sacrifice between 300,000 and 1 million people - depending on how many years they planned this operation for. That is an enormous price even for Putin," Zelenskyy said in an interview for The Rest Is Politics podcast.

The president noted that Russians know that if troops withdraw from Donbas, it will divide Ukrainians.

"Many people will be against it. If Ukraines unity is undermined, Putin will come up with a new blitzkrieg to occupy Ukraine very quickly. Even if that does not happen, he will use the subsequent pause to recruit more people, train them, build up the military-industrial base and push for the lifting of sanctions," Zelenskyy stressed.

A ceasefire on the basis of holding current positions is therefore not only Ukraines desire but also in the interests of its partners, he said.
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The Pitt star Patrick Ball has revealed how the hit medical drama helped him pay off $80,000 (59,615) of student debt, crediting the show with freeing him from the really heavy thought that he would never be financially secure.

Ball plays the divisive resident doctor Frank Langdon in the HBO Max series, which has won huge praise since debuting on the streaming platform last year.

In a new interview, the 36-year-old actor explained how life-changing the role has proven to be, breaking down in tears as he tells Cultured magazine about his financial situation.

I paid off my student loans like three months into The Pitt, and that was a really profound moment because I thought I was gonna die with it, he said. Its a huge burden to carry, and a lot of people carry it.

I was $80,000 in debt and I had been through a series of failed relationships where my financial insecurity was a real problem. I had just thought that was going to be my life forever, and that is a really heavy thing to live with.

open image in gallery Ball as Dr Langdon in The Pitt (  2024 MAX )

Ball continues: Paying off those student loans and getting back to zero, I remember being like, Man, if this show works, great. If it doesnt work, they cant take that away from me. I am out of debt. No take-backsies on that.

The actor studied broadcast journalism at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, but dropped out before graduating to embark on an acting career. He later earned a Certificate in Drama from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University before returning to his North Carolina university to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Thankfully, The Pitt has definitely worked.

Each series covers one shift in the emergency room at a Pittsburgh hospital, with each episode charting the events of a single hour.

The cast is led by former ER star Noah Wyle as Dr Robby, the embattled team leader who is trying to process the death of his mentor, while locked in a war with the hospitals profit-hungry executives.

open image in gallery Noah Wyle and Gerran Howell in 'The Pitt' ( HBO )

Balls character Dr Langdon began series one as Dr Robbys protege and model resident  but their relationship soured when a new arrival spotted Langdon was stealing drugs from the hospital.

Series two, which takes place 10 months after the first, sees Dr Langdon make a cautious return to the ER after taking time off to kick his addiction.

The Pitt took home three awards at last years Emmys, winning Outstanding Drama Series, and Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress accolades for Wyle and Katherine LaNasa (who plays chief nurse Dana Evans).

A second series arrived on HBO Max in the States earlier this year, and episodes are currently dropping weekly on the newly-launched UK version. A third series has already been commissioned  but one fan favourite will be missing, with Variety reporting that Dr. Samira Mohans Supriya Ganesh wont be returning.
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A coalition of publishers and literary agencies are trying to counter a growing trend of harassment against members of the literary community with a new initiative.

PEN America, the century-old free expression organization, is launching the U.S. Safety Program to provide safety training and other resources for authors amid a wave of censorship efforts around the country.

We have heard from countless authors, illustrators, and translators who are under siege, fending off a steady stream of abuse and threats, online and at book events, said Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, co-chief executive officer of PEN America.

Through this new program, the literary and publishing community is stepping up together because writers should not be forced to choose between their safety and their voice.

open image in gallery Jodi Picoult (pictured), Jennifer Egan and Lee Child will be among the writers auctioning off character names for future novels, with the proceeds benefiting the safety program ( Getty Images for PEN America )

Viktorya Vilk, who directs PEN's digital safety efforts, told The Associated Press that she first noticed a rise in harassment against journalists a decade ago, around the time Donald Trump was first elected president, and has seen it spread to writers and educators over the past couple of years.

Maia Kababe, Jon Evison and George Johnson are among the authors of censored works who have spoken out about being harassed and threatened and even physically assaulted.

Ashley Hope Perez, whose young adult novel Out of Darkness became a target for censors over its depictions of sex and sexual abuse, says she had to take down her office email and telephone.

I got hate mail and all kinds of ugly phone calls, says Perez, who teaches at Ohio State University.

According to PEN, it has raised nearly $1 million through contributions from Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers and Penguin Random House among others.

This spring, Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Egan and Lee Child will be among the writers auctioning off character names for future novels, with the proceeds benefiting the safety program.

open image in gallery Summer Lopez, Abdelfattah Galal, Dinaw Mengestu, Colette Bennett, Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf and Naiera Galal attend the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala at American Museum of Natural History on May 15, 2025 in New York City ( Getty Images for PEN America )

PEN will be building on other programs from recent years, including digital safety workshops held for Hachette authors in 2023.

There have probably never been as many threats to authors safety as there are currently in the U.S, Hachette CEO David Shelley said in a statement.

Were proud to support this much-needed program from PEN America that will give writers a wide range of professional resources to help them deal with threats to their safety, online and offline.
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Brian Hooker, the Michigan man arrested in the Bahamas after his wife went missing at sea, is now in an extremely fragile state, his attorney said.

The 59-year-old told investigators his wife, Lynette Hooker, fell overboard while they were on a boat traveling from Hope Town to Elbow Cay on April 4, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He was then detained on Wednesday evening.

His attorney, Terrel Butler, described him as completely heartbroken and deeply distressed in a statement shared Friday with The Independent.

His primary concern and source of intense frustration is his inability to continue the search for his wife of 25 years. The trauma of her disappearance, coupled with his current detention as a suspect, has left him in an extremely fragile state, he said.

Hooker, who has not been charged, unequivocally denies any wrongdoing, according to Butler.

open image in gallery Brian Hooker told police his wife, Lynette Hooker, fell overboard ( Facebook/Lynette Hooker )

Hooker is also suffering from a knee injury, which he sustained after falling overboard while police were searching his boat on the night of his arrest, according to his attorney.

Under conditions of heavy rain and strong-force winds, he was taken by boat to his boat, the Soulmate for a police search. Despite the choppy and dangerous sea conditions, he was kept in handcuffs, Butler said.

While attempting to move sideways across the wet, unstable flooring of the boat to maintain his balancewith a bundle of clothes in his restricted handshe lost his footing and fell overboard. He was submerged in the cold water and took in a significant amount of seawater before his life jacket brought him to the surface. He had to be rescued from the water by the police, he added.

Hooker is expected to receive treatment at Rand Memorial Hospital.

The Independent has contacted the Royal Bahamas Police Force for comment.

Hooker initially told investigators his wife was carried away by strong currents after she fell overboard while they were on a boat together, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said Sunday.

According to preliminary information, a male complainant reported that he and his wife, both U.S. nationals, departed Hope Town around 7:30 p.m. aboard an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy enroute to Elbow Cay, the agency said in a statement.

open image in gallery Lynette Hooker ( Facebook/Lynette Hooker )

During the journey, his wife reportedly fell overboard with the boat keys, causing the vessels engine to shut off. Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her. He then paddled the vessel to shore, the statement continued.

The agency announced Hookers arrest late Wednesday. Advardo Dames, the assistant commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police, said he was taken into custody as a suspect, according to Reuters. The U.S. Coast Guard has also opened a criminal investigation into the incident.

Origin Deleveaux, a Royal Bahamas Defense Force commander, told NBC News crews are still searching for Lynette Hooker as of Friday.

Lynette Hookers daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has spoken out about the case in interviews with several media outlets. Aylesworth told NBC News she was unlikely to just fall off the boat, and explained the couple has a history of not getting along, especially when they drink.

During a Fox News interview, she also described her mother as a "very fit person" who was unlikely to lose her balance.

"I do believe something might have happened to her," Aylesworth told the network. "There's history of them 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."

Butler said his client denies Aylesworths claims.

Mr. Hooker categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing and in particular the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth. He has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation, he said Thursday.
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The owner of a fireworks company at the center of a deadly explosion that killed seven people in Esparto was arrested Thursday at Walt Disney World on multiple counts of murder.

Kenneth Kin Chee, 48, was taken into custody by the Orange County Sheriffs Office at the Disney World resort in Bay Lake, Florida, as reported by KCRA 3.

Chee, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, was one of nine people arrested in connection with the blast. He currently faces seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy, and was booked on a fugitive warrant.

The arrests follow a monthslong probe into the explosion at a Yolo County property where authorities say illegal fireworks were being stored. Among those also facing murder charges are Samuel Machado, 45, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriffs Office, and Jack Y. Lee, 65, the longtime operations manager for Chees company.

The disaster began as a localized fire on the afternoon of July 1, 2025, but quickly escalated into a series of violent detonations that could be felt miles away. Footage taken from above the disaster showed explosions of fireworks amid the blaze, with bright sparks and secondary blasts launching into the sky as the fire spread to a massive stockpile of commercial-grade pyrotechnics.

open image in gallery A recent report claims county officials ignored the unauthorized operation for years despite clear safety risks

The resulting blaze, which authorities named the Oakdale Fire, leveled several buildings and scorched 80 acres of surrounding land. It took emergency crews nearly five days to fully bring the flames under control.

The explosion killed seven workers, whose remains were recovered over several days from the unstable wreckage. Among the dead were 18-year-old Jesus Ramos, who was on his first day of work, and his 22-year-old brother, Jhony. Other victims included recent high school graduate Angel Voller, 18, along with several fathers. Due to the intensity of the blast, officials had to use DNA testing and dental records to identify the remains.

Samuel Machado and his wife, Tammy Machado, 46, owned the property where the explosion occurred. Both were employees of the Yolo County Sheriffs Office and were placed on leave following the incident.

Samuel Machado is currently being held without bail at the Sutter County Jail on 26 counts, including seven counts of murder, possession of illegal explosives and child cruelty. Tammy Machado was also arrested and has since posted bond.

open image in gallery Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, was taken into custody on a fugitive warrant while visiting the Disney World resort in Florida ( Orange County Jail )

According to jail records, Jack Lee was booked in Yolo County without bail on 16 charges, including seven counts of murder and several conspiracy charges.

Gary Young Chan Jr., 43, whose name is associated with the federal license for Devastating Pyrotechnics, is being held without bail in Santa Clara County on 15 charges, including seven counts of second-degree murder.

Authorities also arrested 61-year-old Craig Cutright, the owner of Blackstar Fireworks and a volunteer firefighter with the Esparto Fire District. Cutright, who reportedly worked as an employee for Chee, is being held on $500,000 bail on 12 charges related to the illegal possession and distribution of explosives.

Ronald Botelho III, previously arrested in December, faces 13 additional felony charges filed this week, including conspiracy and reckless possession of destructive devices.

open image in gallery Authorities also arrested Craig Cutright, a volunteer firefighter and owner of Blackstar Fireworks, on charges involving the illegal distribution of explosives ( California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection )

The Yolo County District Attorneys Office was expected to announce formal indictments during a press conference Friday morning.

The arrests follow a Yolo County Civil Grand Jury report issued last month, which alleged that county officials ignored the illegal fireworks operation for at least three years. According to the report, a total lack of code enforcement and oversight led directly to the death and destruction at the site.

While Devastating Pyrotechnics held certain state and federal permits, the grand jury found it lacked the necessary local land-use permits and business licenses to operate in Yolo County. The site had reportedly grown from a small family operation into a substantial business that supplied fireworks displays throughout California.

Since the explosion, the California State Fire Marshal has revoked the licenses of both companies involved for numerous state law violations. In December, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health also leveled more than $200,000 in fines, citing serious regulatory failures directly linked to the fatal incident.
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A woman has been killed after an argument over onion rings at a Steak n Shake drive-thru in St. Louis, Missouri.

The St. Louis County Police Department said Chauncia Meekins, 32, was fatally shot while she was working at the drive-thru late Wednesday night.

Meekins and another employee had an argument with customers inside a car that pulled up to the drive-thru, police said. During the dispute, someone in the car shot through the drive-thru window and hit Meekins and her male co-worker, according to the cops.

Tamela Washington, Meekins mother, said the argument was over onion rings, telling local outlet KMOV, Its never that serious to take a persons life over some fast food.

open image in gallery A woman has been killed after an argument over onion rings at a Steak n Shake drive-thru in St. Louis, Missouri ( Google Earth )

Meekins was declared dead at the restaurant, and her co-worker was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police have not arrested any suspects in the case as of Thursday. The Independent has reached out to St. Louis County Police for updates.

Meekins mother said her daughter had been working at the Steak n Shake for just a few months.

Washington said she had spoken with Meekins hours before the horrific shooting while she was on break, telling local outlet KSDK that her daughter was happy, cheerful, on the phone laughing.

open image in gallery The St. Louis County Police Department said Chauncia Meekins, 32, was fatally shot while she was working at the drive-thru late Wednesday night ( Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images )

"I just want to know why, why would you shoot her? You didn't have to shoot her or the other employee. I wish they'd find the person who did this and bring justice to my family. I want my baby back, Washington said.

Meekins was to turn 33 years old in less than two weeks.

Her birthday is April 23 of this month. Instead of celebrating her birthday, I will be burying my daughter for some senseless act over some onion rings, Washington told KMOV.

Her mother described her as loving, caring, friendly, adding, She would give you the shirt off her back if she had it.
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A 20-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altmans San Francisco home.

The suspect also made threats at the companys headquarters before he was arrested Friday, according to police.

Officers rushed to Altmans home shortly after 4 a.m. Friday after someone threw an incendiary device, setting an exterior gate on fire, and then fled on foot, police said.

Less than an hour later, police were called to a business in a different part of town where a man had reportedly threatened to burn down the building.

Officers recognized the man as the same suspect and detained him, the police department posted on social media. Police haven't publicly identified the man.

No one was hurt in the incident, the company said, and OpenAI is assisting in the investigation ( Getty Images )

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, released a statement confirming that the home belongs to Altman and that the threats were made at its headquarters.

No one was hurt, the company said, and OpenAI is assisting in the investigation.

Authorities haven't charged or released details about the man they arrested, including his name or a possible motive.

We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe, OpenAI wrote in a statement.

Altman, the co-founder and CEO, has become a preeminent voice in Silicon Valley on the promise and potential dangers of artificial intelligence.

He was fired by OpenAI in 2023 after a review found he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board of directors, but he was rehired just days later. He returned as CEO under a different board of directors.

Altman is a controversial figure, and the attack comes days after the New Yorker published an in-depth investigation that touched on concerns some people have about him and the company.
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President Donald Trump posted an unedited video of a woman being bludgeoned to death with a hammer on his Truth Social account late last night. 

In his 335-word post, Trump claimed that he felt that he had an obligation to post the video of what he described as a brutal slaying. The commander-in-chief accused the suspect of being an undocumented immigrant.

The post appeared hours after First Lady Melania Trump made an impromptu speech about Jeffrey Epstein and after the president slammed his former allies in the media.

The footage depicts a man, identified in a DHS press release as Rolbert Joachin, striking a car repeatedly with a hammer outside of a gas station in Fort Myers, Florida. 

When a woman emerges from the store and appears to shout at the man, Joachin shifts his attention away from the vehicle and begins rapidly approaching her. 

As he nears the woman, Joachin appears to shout something about f***ing money before jumping into the air and striking her with the hammer. 

open image in gallery President Trump posted an unedited video of Rolbert Joachin (in yellow) allegedly murdered a woman outside of a gas station ( Truth Social )

The video shows the suspect hitting the woman repeatedly with the weapon after she falls to the ground. The victim remains motionless after being struck. 

According to the DHS, the incident unfolded in early April. Joachin was later arrested during a joint effort by the Fort Myers Police Department and ICE. 

The Department of Homeland Security added that Joachin, from Haiti, had first entered the United States in 2022. A federal judge later issued a final removal order against him, but he was granted Temporary Protected Status, which expired in 2024.

The DHS said that ICE has lodged a detainer against Joachin, who will be deported regardless of the outcome of the investigation.

On Truth Social, Trump branded Joachin an animal and claimed that Temporary Protected Status was a massively abused and fraudulent program.

The president claimed that the killing should stop so-called Radical Judges from impeding his immigration crackdown.

open image in gallery Joachin, from Haiti, first entered the US in 2022 and was later given Temporary Protected Status, according to the DHS ( DHS )

As Ive said all along, if you import the Third World, you become the Third World, and that is what happened over the four years of Democrat Control, he claimed, after suggesting that former President Joe Biden allowed mentally insane people to enter the country. 

During a pretrial hearing, Fort Myers Police Detective Laynor Rodriguez reportedly testified that Joachin had confessed to the murder, Naples Daily News reported.

Rodriguez said that Joachin wore the same clothes he had worn during a previous encounter with the victim so she would have recognized him.

The victim was named as Nilufa Easmin during the hearing.

open image in gallery A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the daughters of the victim, who was reportedly identified as Easmin ( GoFundMe )

Rodriguez accused the suspect of intentionally attacking Easmins car so that she would come outside. Easmin, also known as Yasmin, was a clerk at the gas station.

Everybody, like, right now is sad. You know, you not only me, not only my Bangladeshi community, a local man named M.D. Islam told the Gulf Coast News.

Easmin was a native of Bangladesh.

A GoFundMe campaign to support Easmins daughters was launched by the Bangladesh Association of Southwest Florida following her death. 

Easmin was a devoted mother who worked tirelessly to provide for her two young daughters, the campaign page reads. The loss of Easmin has created an unimaginable void in the lives of her daughters.
The Security Service of Ukraine has documented new war crimes by officials of Russias occupying administration in the temporarily seized territory of Donetsk region who were involved in the mass deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, the SBU said.

"The individuals are Mykhailo Kushakov, a citizen of the aggressor state and so-called ex-minister of education and science of the DPR, and two accomplices: Oleksiy Kulemzin, head of the DPR administration of the city of Donetsk, and Raisa Prylypko, director of the Teremok Childrens Home No. 1 seized by the Russian forces," the Ukrainian security service said on its Telegram channel on Friday.

According to the investigation, on February 18, 2022, the suspects organised the unlawful removal of 35 children aged between 4 and 6 from the Donetsk preschool childrens home No. 1 Teremok to Rostov region.

"As the investigation established, the young children were placed in various social institutions in the aggressor state. Subsequently, with the assistance of Russias senior military and political leadership, 12 Ukrainian children were unlawfully transferred to Russian citizens under the guise of guardianship," the statement said.

In doing so, the SBU stressed, the suspects flagrantly violated the requirements of Article 49 of the Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which prohibits the forcible transfer or deportation of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the occupying power.

On the basis of evidence gathered by the Security Service, all three suspects were served in absentia suspicion notices under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (war crimes committed by a group of persons in conspiracy).

"Since the suspects are hiding in Russia and in the temporarily occupied part of Ukrainian territory, comprehensive measures are ongoing to bring them to justice for crimes against our state," the SBU said.

The investigation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Lafayette police officer Hali Bradford is shown in 2021 with Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office reserve deputy Erick Knezek, second from left, at their graduation from the Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy. Bradford was one of two officers injured in a shooting on Aug. 5, 2023.
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BusinessCompaniesCommercial real estate Wealthy Melbourne family to sell $60m St Kilda boulevard office Nicole Lindsay April 10, 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

Capital Gain A St Kilda Road office building overlooking Fawkner Park is for sale with a price around $60 million, as the leafy boulevard full of ageing offices slowly returns to its residential roots. The James Richardson Group, founded by the late duty-free king David Mandie and part of the Evelyn Danos family office, is offloading the 10-level tower at 479 St Kilda Road. 479 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Once lined with mansions, St Kilda Road is now dotted with luxury apartment buildings. Their presence has put a lid on the prices the offices once commanded.

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Records show the JR Group paid a cool $26 million in 2002, buying the tower from Christine Christians Dun & Bradstreet credit ratings agency. That proved good timing  many of the buyers who made purchases in the past decade have suffered. The 3036-square-metre site is in the best part of the strip, the eastern side  the odd numbers between Toorak and Commercial roads  which backs onto Fawkner Park. Last week, Fawkner Property Group bought the tower where it had been renting at No.484 for $65 million. Its landlord, a Swiss fund, paid $94 million in 2014. Last year, retailer Solomon Lew also snapped up the building he rented at No.417. His landlord, Singaporean government investor Mapletree had paid $144.7 million in 2017. Given its Fawkner Park backyard, the $86 million price was a serious bargain. Doing better was Dymocks Properties, the property arm of the Forsyth familys book emporium. Earlier this year, Kokoda Property Group committed to a $100 million-plus purchase of No.441, with plans for an18-storey tower. Dymocks had paid $82.1 million for the building in 2014.

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You can count on one hand the remaining development sites with direct frontage to Fawkner Park, JR Group general manager James Aldred said. In the St Kilda Road dress circle, No.479 is the best seat in the house. Weve already seen strong interest from a select group of private buyers and experienced developers who see the opportunity to deliver something genuinely special in this location, Aldred said. The building comes with a Bates Smart design for a $400 million 20-level tower with 100 apartments. Teska Carsons Michael Ludski, Michael Taylor and Luke Bisset have the listing. The JR Group is building a five-level mixed-use project at 535 Malvern Road in the heart of the Hawksburn village.

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Bank on it The Commonwealth Bank has taken the extraordinary step of advertising for a new flagship branch as a 2028 lease expiry date at the Galleria Shopping Plaza draws close. The bank is a fixture in the 3000-square-metre space, which has been its branch since the 41-storey tower above, on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth streets, was completed in 1983. It belonged to the State Bank of Victoria at the time and the tower was called the State Bank Centre. The CBAs lease on the branch at the foot of 385 Bourke Street is expiring at the end of the year.

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Unfortunately, the recession and some questionable investments triggered the state-owned banks collapse, and it was taken over by the Commonwealth Bank in 1990. The bank sold it to the Commonwealth Property Office Fund (later renamed DEXUS CPA Trust) for $151 million in February 1999. The tower above also housed the CBAs thousands of workers, but theyre all about to move to Cbus new tower up the hill on the corner of Queen Street. Knight Franks Michael Di Carlo and Craig Carr are running the very public request for a 1200 to 3000 square-metre space in the CBD core that could be ready by January 2028. Its understood the CBA wants to ensure it has an alternative space at hand if negotiations with Dexus are not harmonious. It also needs space with both access and security.

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Last year, ANZ closed its flagship branch at the foot of 55 Collins Street. It had been an anchor tenant since the Collins Place towers were built between 1978 and 1981. It no longer has a flagship branch as such, but there are four outlets in the CBD including the biggest, ANZ Royal Bank at 293 Collins Street. City fringe Byron Bay-based fashion retailer Afends has signed a six-year lease on 289-291 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, a former Dangerfield outlet, at $130,000 a year. Acai and frozen yoghurt scoopers Yo-Bar have leased 271-273 Lygon Street. Rents in the block, south of Faraday Street typically earn between $600 and $700 a square metre.

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And close to the Church Street intersection in Richmond, optician chain Bailey Nelson has signed up to a five-year lease at 224 Swan Street, paying $764 a square metre. The deals were done by Fitzroys agents James Lockwood and Shane Mills. 220 Swan Street, Richmond Lockwood said multiple new tenants were moving into Lygon Street. Cult sandwich maker Hectors Deli and Italian eatery Pasta Go Go are also opening soon. Strata office

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The strata office market, dampened by high interest rates and higher office vacancies, is making a quiet return. In the Fender Katsalidis-designed building at 171 La Trobe Street, opposite RMIT University, the whole of level two is for sale at around $3 million. The 434 square-metre office is offered vacant after being occupied by an education business for many years. 171 La Trobe Street, Melbourne. Records show the Australia Asia Education & Migration Centre paid $1,025,000 for the office in 2004. Fitzroys Lewis Waddell and Brent Glassford have the listing.

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Related Article Commercial real estate Property play: Woolies extends warehouse lease derailing billionaires $155m deal Down the west end of the street, level eight of 313 La Trobe Street, another 1990s-era building, is also for sale. Records show it last changed hands in 2024 for $3.25 million to education provider Swenee Patel. Patels Harward International College pays $318,000 a year in rent and has a five-year lease on the 489-square-metre office expiring in 2030. Its for sale through Commercial Bureau Real Estates Gideon Marcus for $4.9 million.

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The building is dominated by the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatry which owns five levels of the 13-storey building. The listings come off the back of some recent sales, notably small suites covering 216 square metres at Golden Ages newly finished 130 Little Collins Street, where prices continue to fetch between $15,000 and $20,000 a square metre. Cushman & Wakefields Jack Cooper, who did those deals with Oliver Hay, said those prices are difficult to replicate elsewhere in the city. Cooper, with Anthony Kirwan, also recently sold suite 3.1 at Alcaston House on the corner of Collins and Spring streets to an occupier for $1.48 million, or $15,417 a square metre. Alcaston House, at 2 Collins Street

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Not every part of the city scores such high prices. In the CBDs mid-town precinct, a 115-square-metre office at 102/167-169 Queen Street fetched $525,000. An occupier also bought that office. Jones Real Estates Mimi Hoang and Oscar Sturm did the deal. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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Eating outJust open Tea drinkers get their just desserts at this coffee-free Japanese cafe Plus three more hidden gems to discover, including popular sushi shop Tochi Delis new home in a grungy carpark. These under-the-radar openings offer maximum street cred and a taste of Japan, no flight required. Quincy Malesovas April 11, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

If anywhere rivals Melbournes penchant for hidden bars and laneway cafes, its Japan, where some of the best spots sit out of sight or in unassuming locations  a byproduct of population density and limited space. No wonder, then, that local Japanese restaurants seek out the spaces others might overlook, adding to Melbournes collection of rewarding dining finds. From a sushi shop tucked into a car park to an izakaya down a side street and a tea bar inside a Japanese dessert shop, these four new venues are worth tracking down. Towa's tea-flavoured treats include an oolong financier with macadamia praline and tofu cream (bottom right). For tea and treats: Towa Unlike most Melbourne cafes, this one is a coffee-free zone. From our drinks to our desserts and our savouries, everything has a tea element, says co-owner Mo Zhou (Gaea, Calere). He collaborated with pastry chef Jasper Chui on this pop-up, operating out of dessert bar Sebastian Kakigori by day.

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Drinks are ambitious: Chinas prized miaojian green tea combined with shiso leaf syrup and cucumber-lime granita; lapsang souchong tea with brown butter foam and roasted macadamia. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up To eat, theres hojicha buckwheat cake, a matcha and pineapple sage dacquoise, and an oolong financier with macadamia praline and tofu cream. Open-faced sandwiches are on shokupan bread. The pop-up is slated to run for six months, with plans for a permanent space to follow. 203 Queen Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/towa_melb 1 / 7 Tochi Deli has moved further north to Coburg. Chris Hopkins 2 / 7 Chef's 10-piece nigiri set. Chris Hopkins 3 / 7 Classic chirashi. Chris Hopkins 4 / 7 The premium chirashi. Chris Hopkins 5 / 7 The "hot food of day" might include a salmon don (rice bowl). Chris Hopkins 6 / 7 Tochi Deli has moved from one suburban mall to another. Chris Hopkins 7 / 7 Handrolls at Tochi Deli. Chris Hopkins Previous Slide Next Slide

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For sparkling sushi: Tochi Deli Eight months after closing its outrageously popular Brunswick Mall kiosk, sushi shop Tochi Deli has resurfaced. The new site, further north in Coburg, is also within a mall, but handily, it faces a car park and the first three hours of parking are free. The menu remains largely unchanged, but a larger kitchen means rotating specials such as soy-simmered kingfish collar on rice. Onigiri and handrolls are reliable grab-and-go options, while a daily selection of raw fish  served as nigiri or chirashi bowls from $25  is the main draw. There are also plans for a liquor licence. 4/12 Victoria Street, Coburg, instagram.com/tochideli 1 / 4 Bar Kaeru is a new sake bar in Melbourne's CBD. Supplied 2 / 4 Bar Kaeru's central counter. Supplied 3 / 4 Sake cocktail with an ikura (salmon roe) doughnut. Supplied 4 / 4 A sake-based cocktail at Bar Kaeru. Supplied Previous Slide Next Slide

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For sleek sake sessions: Bar Kaeru After a stint at Carltons now-closed Leonie Upstairs, Sean Then developed a lasting interest in sake. Despite swapping late nights for early mornings at his North Melbourne venue, Cafe Tomi, hes returned to his first love with Bar Kaeru. The sake list spans more than 100 classic and experimental styles, alongside sake-based cocktails, with personalised service to guide drinkers through the range. If I can turn just one person into liking sake each day, it means a lot to me, says Then. A small, snacky menu by chef Jayden Chiang draws on both Japanese and Chinese influences, and includes toasted rice panna cotta with sake foam. Later this month, Then will add a bakery and tea house upstairs. 62-64 Little La Trobe Street, Melbourne, barkaeru.com

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For Japans own fusion: Furaibou Before katsus current ubiquity, Gypsy & Pig was one of the few places dedicated to the dish of crumbed and fried pork. It closed in 2023, but owner Kenji Higuchi has since returned with Furaibou, set on a backstreet in Prahran. The menu incorporates Chinese, Korean and European flavours, but the format feels distinctly Japanese  or more specifically, yoshoku, a term for Western dishes interpreted through a Japanese lens. Hamburg steak  a bunless burger patty  and pasta dressed with mentaiko (cod roe) sit alongside pork-stuffed chicken wings, katsu of all kinds, and escargot. Nab one of three bar seats to watch Higuchi run the kitchen solo. 25A Clifton Street, Prahran, instagram.com/furaibou_chapel_st Related Article Relive your magical trip to Japan at these nine Melbourne venues
Kherson region resident wounded by Russian drone in late March dies  official

A man who sustained serious injuries on March 31 as a result of a Russian drone attack on the village of Darivka has died in the hospital, announced Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration.

"For over 10 days, medics fought for the life of the 76-year-old local resident. Unfortunately, the injuries proved fatal," he wrote on Telegram.

Prokudin expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
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Stunning footage shows moment vigilantes ram their own car

Queensland robbery victims turned vigilantes when they tracked down their own stolen car and rammed it into the front fence of a Logan family home.
Humans are one giant leap closer to landing on the moon again  and Mars. Heres what we learnt.

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Humans are one giant leap closer to becoming a multi-planet species as the Artemis II lunar flyby mission approaches splashdown. The Orion spacecrafts return to Earth will begin the countdown to a boots-on-the-ground moon landing and, eventually, life on Mars. Before that, of course, the four astronauts on board face the grave and fiery test of re-entry on Saturday morning, relying on a heat shield that failed on its last test. Should the four astronauts land successfully in the Pacific Ocean, the missions crucial goal will be fulfilled: proving we can still send humans to the moon and back. And what a human mission it was. The astronauts revelled in moon joy. They grasped for words to describe their awe at ancient lava plains and bright highlands on the lunar surface, an eclipse they saw from space, and how beautiful Earth looked: a blue pearl nestled in a black void. They wept in a floating bundle after resolving to name a shining crater after Commander Reid Wisemans late wife, Carroll. They ate macaroni and cheese and mango salad. The toilet broke. A group hug on the astronauts way home on Wednesday. AP It has been phenomenal seeing how much everybody has connected with these four incredible human beings, Dr Sara Webb, a Swinburne University of Technology astrophysicist, says of crew members Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. That human element has really brought a lot of attention to the mission, to the goals and to the science, rather than if it was a robotic probe. Putting astronauts near the moon for the first time in half a century also brought human nous. Eyeballs can analyse and comprehend the 3D structure of shadowy craters in a way satellites cant. The astronauts six-hour direct observation of the lunar surface also highlighted an underappreciated fact: the moon is colourful. Our human eyes can discern quite a few different things, including colour variations, where a lot of instruments on board spacecraft are designed to only look within certain wavelengths, which limits what youre seeing, Webb says.

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Astronaut Hansen reported huge swaths of brown hues and tinges of green. The tan striations may be iron oxide (as in rust) while green may signal the presence of titanium or the mineral olivine. The moon, seen here backlit by the sun during a solar eclipse on April 6, 2026, as photographed by one of the cameras on the Orion spacecrafts solar array wings. NASA The Artemis II crew pose with eclipse-viewing glasses. AP An image of the Vavilov Crater on the moon captured by the Artemis II. NASA/AP The astronauts also spied bluish-white flashes: six mini-meteorites striking the moon. Without an atmosphere, the moon is pummelled by rocks, which in our skies would burn up as shooting stars. Observation of the strikes set off screams of delight at mission control, said NASA science officer Kelsey Young. Understanding the mini-meteorites strike rate is key to crafting a lunar shelter for human habitation that can withstand the bombardment. The missions true moon shot is to beat China and Russia to set up a base on the lunar surface and, eventually, reach Mars. The launch of the rocket  the size of Big Bens clock tower  that thrust Orion skyward was a major success for NASA after SpaceX and Russia dominated launch pads for the past few years. NASAs longer-term plans are to use this rocket for Mars, and they have taken a hugely different approach to SpaceX in developing a Mars-capable rocket, Professor Andrew Dempster, director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, says.

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SpaceX does very fast cycles of development, happy to explode and implode many rockets in the process. NASA takes the more measured, traditional, high-reliability approach. So an awful lot was riding on the launch, and its success is truly great news. NASAs Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centres Launch Pad 39-B, Wednesday, April 1. AP But could our fragile, fleshy bodies really live on the moon, or even Mars? Space medicine expert Dr John Cherry is the man to ask. He holds senior roles in both the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine and the Australian Antarctic Program, and says science on the icy continent has directly enabled modern space travel. Is it feasible? Absolutely, he says. Is it going to happen? Well, I think time will tell. There are many parallels between keeping humans alive on Antarctica and on the moon, which is why Cherrys expertise has fed into the training of European astronauts. Evacuating a patient from the surface of the moon would take roughly the same amount of time as evacuating an Australian Antarctic expeditioner from Antarctica, he says.

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Cherrys program has worked with NASA on how astronauts might be taught to use ultrasound machines to run their own diagnostic imaging, such as scanning veins for blood clots. But the major challenge to a long-term lunar mission, he says, is how the human brain copes in a hostile and alien place. On the ice, as in space, a warp in mental function can be deadly. Cognitive function and teamwork are deeply studied during space missions. NASA Astronauts including Christina Koch, pictured within Orion, took blood tests and saliva samples during the mission. AP Mission control at NASAs Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. NASA You get to the middle of winter and you feel cognitively slower, Cherry recalls of surviving an Antarctic winter. Its more difficult to multitask, you feel like youre not quite as sharp as you normally are. This dip in cognition hits people in both the Antarctic and on the International Space Station, and its possible causes range from physical isolation and stress to the severing of the brain from a normal circadian rhythm. Data from the Artemis II crews sleep patterns, psychological tests and studies on their bone marrow cells could shed more light on how humans fare in extremis. In the future, Cherry said, eyeglasses could monitor astronauts pupils and quickly detect subtle changes in cognition. Making sure that peoples cognition is optimised in those extreme environments is obviously important for crew safety and crew survival, but its also important for optimising mission operations. Thats equally true in our setting in Antarctica as it is in human spaceflight.

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Loading The astronauts are also the first people in 53 years to pass through the Van Allen radiation belt  bands of high-energy particles trapped by the Earths magnetic field  and will be closely monitored for the effects of that exposure upon their return. During re-entry theyll wear their fetching fluoro-orange pressurised space suits with built-in life support. They are graded to be able to keep a human alive, in theory, for up to six days, says Webb. If anything catastrophic happens within the Orion capsule, they should be able to survive within that suit to re-enter back into the Earth safely. The Artemis II suits can support life for 144 hours. AP Artemis II crew member sleeping bags are illuminated inside the Orion spacecraft. NASA Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency, agreed the astronauts themselves were the true experiment of the mission. The technology to understand how the human body is reacting to the radiation environment can now be measured with a lot more precision, he said. That will be key to long-term survival beyond Earths protective magnetosphere. Our space agency is a partner of the Artemis missions. As well as helping track Orion and test a new laser communication system, Australian scientists are figuring out how to coax building materials from the lunar soil, and making giant, spider-like robots that can construct lunar shelters. Others are trying to 3D-print astronaut food that mimics cheese and meat, and are developing plants such as duckweed boosted with fat, protein and amino acids, to grow on future spaceships and lunar bases.

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Exclusive NationalVictoriaCity of Melbourne City of Melbourne told Joel to not be afraid to use force. Then they fired him Cameron Houston April 11, 2026  5:33am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reeces marquee plan to boost safety in the city is in disarray, with morale low among community safety officers amid confusion over their powers. Community safety officers (CSOs) were introduced by City of Melbourne Council in October to deter antisocial behaviour and connect people with the support they need were instructed to remove homeless people congregating outside CBD buildings, and use force if necessary. Joel Owen was a contracted City of Melbourne security worker hired under Lord Mayor Nick Reeces safety initiative. Luis Enrique Ascui But former officer Joel Owen said the councils hard-line approach towards the issue damaged morale within the CSO team, which became increasingly concerned about officers own safety after they were assaulted with hammers, chains and other weapons. Currently on stress leave, Owen was dismissed by the council in February after being accused of shoving a beggar acting erratically outside Flinders Street Station in December.

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But in a series of emails sent to the council and seen by this masthead, Owen claims he was following a directive from his managers. He insists his response was reasonable, proportionate, and consistent with my training and responsibilities as a community safety officer, according to an email on February 26. You state that this decision [to dismiss Owen] is based on our commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, including vulnerable members of our community. What about maintaining a safe and respectful environment for your staff? Community safety officers are sent into volatile, drug-affected, unpredictable environments with no defensive tools and limited protection. Owen does not deny pushing the man, but said he was forced to do so to protect himself and his partner and after repeated attempts to defuse the situation were unsuccessful.

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City life Lord mayor says new CBD guards are biggest change since PSOs. There are just 10 He said a senior council co-ordinator had instructed the CSO team that they should not be afraid to use force when issuing move on directions to individuals, including beggars, or people sleeping or sitting against building lines, according to another email obtained by this masthead. There is no suggestion Reece was aware of or authorised this directive. The directive, Owen said, was given to officers at a briefing in December and had inflamed tensions with the citys rough sleepers and contributed to a string of violent confrontations. Morale within the CSO program is currently extremely poor. One supervisor has resigned. Multiple CSOs are reconsidering their future. Staff are fearful that if they defend themselves in volatile situations, the same will happen to them, another email read. Owen also accused the council of window dressing by manipulating statistics regarding interactions between the public and CSOs.

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Someone could ask us where the tram stop to St Kilda was, and that would be included as an interaction and used by Reece as justification of his strategy, Owen said. He said they were often deployed to some of Melbournes safest areas to convince ratepayers of the merits of the program. The City of Melbournes community safety officers began patroling the city late last year. Paul Jeffers We would often be sent to East Melbourne on a Saturday to keep the local residents happy. But it was pointless. Nothing would ever happen, and it was a complete waste of time and money. The same with the Docklands. You could run naked and no one would see you, Owen said. Often referred to as the Reece police, the departure of officers and slump in morale delivers a major blow to the $2 million plan championed by Reece during his re-election campaign in 2024.

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When launching the program last October, Reece declared it would be the biggest change to safety and policing in Victoria since the introduction of protective service officers on train stations over a decade ago. This masthead has confirmed the council intends to expand the program, with plans to double the team from 11 to 22 officers, and a further $1.7 million set aside in the draft budget for 2026-27. Our community safety officers are making a real difference on Melbournes streets  supporting vulnerable people and stepping in early to prevent antisocial behaviour, a City of Melbourne spokesman said in a statement. Salvation Army commanding officer Brendan Nottle said Melbourne had traditionally extended tolerance towards the homeless, but there had been a shift in community sentiment since the pandemic. We have to make sure we get the right balance. The last thing we want is for Melbourne to be known as a police state, where the focus is on policing and not compassion, Nottle said.

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Succession planning Siblings in Succession-style feud over Melbourne billionaires estate There are some people who arent always aware of their actions because of issues theyre dealing with, and I think there needs to be tolerance and patience shown towards them. The Homeless Persons Union Victoria called for the council to immediately suspend the deployment of CSOs across the city. A spokesman for the organisation said the program subjected the homeless to an increase in policing, scrutiny and violence. The City of Melbourne seeks to criminalise members of the community who are themselves victims of crime and violence, the spokesman said. This narrative equates homelessness with a threat to public safety and social order, when in fact it is the actions, policies and programs of the City of Melbourne that have created an insecure environment and increased the potential for violence in the CBD. 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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NationalPolitical leadership Opinion Were pining for the 90s. Yes, even its politics. Please explain Nick Bryant Journalist and author April 10, 2026  3:30pm

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Nineties nostalgia is very much in vogue. Inspired by the FX hit series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette  a dramatisation of events leading up to the couples fatal plane crash in 1999  Instagram and TikTok is awash with users pining for a world without Instagram and TikTok. The music. The fashions. Those halcyon days uninterrupted by doomscrolling, online influencers, AI slop, the manosphere or even email. No wonder the social media trend Mum, what were you like in the 1990s? has become a thing. My sense has long been that warning lights were flashing by the time Sex and the City first aired in 1998, alerting us to our impending civilisational decline. Already by then, what Vanity Fair dubbed the Tabloid Decade had served up Bill Clintons affair with Monica Lewinsky, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lees sex tapes, Tonya Harding, Anna Nicole Smith, Elizabeth Taylors marriage to her seventh husband, Larry Fortensky, the first accusations against Michael Jackson, John Wayne Bobbitt and his penis-severing wife, Lorena, and the OJ Simpson trial; not to mention the divorce of Donald and Ivana Trump and his affair with Marla Maples. Illustration by Dionne Gain Yet the very fact that it was Trumps marital difficulties that made front page news, rather than his deranged threats to bomb adversaries back to the Stone Age, only heightens the sense of wistfulness. This was the decade, after all, when so many were seduced by the magical thinking that history had not only ended but culminated in the triumph of liberal democracy. Here in Australia, 90s nostalgia goes beyond asking parents how it was possible to survive without mobile phones, the internet, WhatsApp groups or reels spruiking Korean skincare products. It has a political dimension. The energy shock has been cast as the crisis we had to have, a play obviously on then treasurer Paul Keatings famed the recession we had to have dictum from November 1990 that became a spur for reform.

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One Nations success in the recent South Australia state election, where it received more than 20 per cent of the primary vote, has drawn parallels with its breakthrough in the 1998 Queensland state election, when it last crossed that threshold in a state poll. When Sussan Ley was deposed as Liberal leader after just 276 days, we again reached back to the 1990s, and Alexander Downers troubled tenure of 252 days, for an ever shorter spell in charge. Related Article Bondi shooting Howard slams Albaneses leadership, calls changes to gun laws a diversion In the aftermath of the Bondi terrorist attack, when partisan fury erupted so quickly, many understandably wondered why the country could not revive the spirit of bipartisanship that followed the gun massacre in Port Arthur. John Howard, who signalled the start of political hostilities by assailing the governments push for tighter gun laws as an attempted diversion, refused to grant Anthony Albanese the kind of grace period of which he was a beneficiary in 1996. How both main parties must pine for the duopoly of the early 90s, when Pauline Hanson was still running a fish-and-chip shop in Ipswich, when the Greens could still not muster a seat in the House of Representatives (their breakthrough came at the Cunningham byelection in 2002) and when the most prosperous suburbs in Melbourne and Sydney were blue-ribbon Liberal rather than teal. Whats striking about the resurgence of One Nation is how the sources of discontent are much the same as they were in the 90s, and how the themes of her notorious maiden speech to parliament still provide her libretto. Anti-multiculturalism, anti-globalisation, anti-establishment and anti-political correctness  or anti-woke, as it would be called today  remain Hansonisms core themes.

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In real dollar terms, our standard of living has dropped over the past 10 years, is a line from that incendiary Hanson speech in September 1996 that could be repurposed today. So, too: I am fed up with being told, This is our land. Well, where the hell do I go? I was born here, and so were my parents and children, at a time when the hard and far right is targeting Welcome to Country ceremonies. Hanson has even embraced her Please explain query  that perplexed response to Tracey Curros question on 60 Minutes about xenophobia  which made her the figure of disparagement. Now, its the title of One Nations popular YouTube channel. As in the 90s, there are divisions within the Coalition about how to respond to her rise. New Nationals leader Matt Canavan has demonstrated more of a profile of courage than new Liberal leader Angus Taylor, just as Alexander Downer and Peter Costello were bolder in their condemnation of Hanson than John Howard, much to the then prime ministers annoyance. Your turn to mow the lawn: the deposed occupant of the Lodge, Paul Keating, shows the garden to its new tenant, John Howard, in March 1996. Mike Bowers On the centre-left, too, there are back-to-the-future vibes. Anthony Albanese sees himself as a consensual leader in the mould of Bob Hawke. Jim Chalmers clearly believes Paul Keating  the subject of his doctoral thesis  personifies the true spirit of the reform era. Chalmers favours an overhaul of the tax system, which he believes is long overdue. After all, the last time a government delivered a major and durable reform came with the enactment of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act, which was passed during John Howards second term in June 1999. The 90s still cast a long shadow over federal politics. Culture-war skirmishes over reconciliation, republicanism and Australias place in the world are still delineated by the battle lines marked out during the 1990s struggle between Keatingism and Howardism over national identity. The origins of todays small-target campaigns, and the timidity we now see, are found in John Hewsons defeat in the unlosable election of 1993. Fightback!, the then Liberal leaders 650-page policy manifesto, offered Paul Keating so many lines of attack.

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Perths government-owned electricity utility Synergy says it has found no evidence the data of more than 900,000 customer accounts were hacked, as claimed on hacking watch websites.

Earlier this week, hacking watch websites and social media accounts reported that someone using the moniker hackboy had stolen data from 900,002 Synergy customer accounts and was selling it on the internet.

Synergy are investigating the claims. Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Cybersecurity company Vercert reported the data included full names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, account IDs, payment balances, and billing statements.

A Synergy spokeswoman said the utility was taking the threat seriously, but had not found any evidence that data had been stolen.
A teary-eyed alleged fuel thief, accused of injuring a petrol station worker who tried to stop him driving off, has vowed never to repeat his behaviour.

Glenn Willem Francis McCagh returned to court on Friday after he allegedly attempted to flee a Vibe service station in Perths southeast without paying for fuel in March.

The 39-year-old, who was not represented by a lawyer, was not required to enter a plea and was granted home detention bail, two days short of his 40th birthday.

Relieved and emotional, McCagh repeatedly thanked magistrate Janie Gibbs for the decision, as he appeared via video-link from Hakea Prison, where he has been in custody for more than a fortnight.

Im so grateful, he said before telling Gibbs she could return him to custody and throw away the key if he breached his bail conditions.
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Travel newsWellness holidays A world away from Kuta: New Bali resorts big selling point? Sleep Julietta Jameson April 11, 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

In Balis ever-expanding wellness landscape, a new property is betting that rest itself can be the main attraction. Mana Sanctuary, set to open in Canggu in late April, is positioning itself as a sleep and longevity destination. It is the latest offering from Escape Haven, a Bali wellness brand founded by Australians Janine and Trent Cottle. Travellers are keen to invest in rest  inside a suite at Mana Sanctuary Bali. With rooms and programs designed around six-, 12- or 18-night stays, sleep at Mana Sanctuary is supported by everything from circadian lighting and digital detox protocols to guided breathing and recovery therapies. Each of the 13 suites (or sleep sanctuaries) features copper baths paired with magnesium-rich bathing rituals.

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Smart sleep tech includes wearable devices tracking sleep insights, red-light LED masks, pulsed electromagnetic field devices said to promote cell recovery, stretch tools and simpler touches such as suggestions for wind-down routines. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. We have designed sleep environments that go far beyond blackout curtains and lavender on the pillow, says Trent Cottle. Copper baths are paired with magnesium-rich bathing rituals. Every element, from materials to lighting to technology, is intentionally engineered to support deep rest and optimal recovery. What has come to be known as sleep tourism is moving into the mainstream, driven by burnout and travellers keen to invest in rest.

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Working out at Mana Sanctuary Bali. Hiltons 2025 Trends Report, based on a survey of more than 13,000 travellers across 13 countries, found that nearly half of respondents avoided setting an alarm on holiday, while two in five chose hotels where they believe they would sleep better. Meanwhile, surveys by sleep health company ResMed suggest many people are operating in a chronic sleep deficit, with respondents reporting only a handful of truly restorative nights each week. For hotels and retreats, the logic is simple: every guest sleeps, or at least tries to, so it makes sense for hotels to make sleep conditions a selling point, with rooms now promising temperature regulation, blackout systems, sound design and even AI-assisted sleep technology. At the high end, wellness brands such as Six Senses, Rosewood and SHA Wellness Clinic have developed structured sleep programs that combine diagnostics with therapies designed to recalibrate circadian rhythms and address insomnia or stress-related disruption.

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In Australia, Peninsula Hot Springs on Victorias Mornington Peninsula entered the space last year with the opening of its Eco Lodges, a cluster of accommodation designed with sleep in mind. Most travellers may still put an infinity pool, a comfortable sun lounger, a great restaurant and a strong cocktail list at the top of their resort wishlist. But Mana Sanctuarys opening speaks to shifting priorities  and the growing appeal of waking up genuinely rested, and perhaps, for the first time in a long time, staying that way. See manasanctuary.com
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WorldAfricaAnimals Scientists stunned as chimpanzees turn on friends in killing spree Will Dunham April 10, 2026  3:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: For two decades, researchers observed members of the Ngogo chimpanzee group of Kibale National Park in Uganda spend their days eating fruits and leaves, resting, travelling and grooming in their tropical rainforest abode. But this stable community then fractured and descended into years of deadly violence. The researchers are now describing the first clearly documented example of a group of wild chimpanzees splitting into two separate factions, with one launching a series of co-ordinated attacks against the other. Adult males and infants were targeted, with 28 deaths. Researchers for the first time observed how chimpanzee society fractured into violence. [They were] biting, pounding the victim with their hands, dragging them, kicking them  mostly adult males, but sometimes adult females participate in the attacks, said University of Texas primatologist Aaron Sandel, lead author of the study published on Thursday in the journal Science. The researchers began studying the Ngogo chimpanzees in 1995. This was the largest-known group of wild chimpanzees anywhere, peaking at about 200 members. Chimpanzee groups typically number about 50.

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Researchers have long known chimpanzees will attack and kill members of neighbouring chimpanzee groups  essentially strangers  but this was different. It is hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that yesterdays friend turned into todays foe, said primatologist and study senior author John Mitani, a University of Michigan professor emeritus. Males in the two groups grew up with each other, knew each other their entire lives and co-operated and collaborated with each other, benefiting in the process. So why split? Perhaps they became a victim of their own success when the group grew to an intolerably large size.

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The researchers said a combination of factors might have destabilised the group. Its original large size might have intensified feeding competition for everyone and rivalry among the males to mate with females. The 2014 deaths of seven chimpanzees amid signs of illness might have disrupted social relationships, creating hostilities. Chimpanzee communities are male-dominated. There was a change in the alpha male  the groups highest-ranking chimpanzee  around the time that the tensions began, in 2015, with a chimpanzee called Jackson deposing another male. Scientists believe the chimpanzees social structure could have been disrupted by a number of factors. Getty Images/iStockphoto Before the split, the group was one cohesive community, though social clusters existed. Members of two clusters began avoiding each other in 2015. Months after an illness in 2017 killed 25 chimpanzees, mostly infants, members of one of the clusters attacked Jackson, though he survived. By the end of 2017, two distinct groups had formed, labelled the Western and Central groups. The subsequent violence was perpetrated by the Western group against the Central group, starting in 2018.

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The published study included observations through 2024, with seven adult males and 17 infants killed, for a total of 24. The violence has continued. Last year and this year, one adult male, one adolescent male and two infants were killed, raising the death toll to 28. Many chimpanzees have disappeared without clear cause, suggestive of additional unrecorded killings. They just beat and jump on the victim relentlessly. Ive witnessed cases that take less than 15 minutes. Theres some biting, and if you examine the bodies of victims, you will see cuts. But nothing that looks like it can cause a fatality, Mitani said. It is hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that yesterdays friend turned into todays foe. John Mitani, study senior author Instead, Ive always thought that mature victims die due to internal injuries. By contrast, a single mature chimpanzee can snatch an infant from its mother and kill it quickly with a few bites or via blunt force trauma. The latter might include slamming it to the ground.

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The Western group began smaller in size and territory but eventually surpassed the Central group in both. The Western group apparently has experienced no casualties. Related Article Alcohol Chimpanzees consume equivalent of about two beers a day, study finds While the scientists preferred not to call these events a civil war, a term with specific meaning in human conflict, they saw important similarities. The researchers noted one prior example of a chimpanzee community apparently splitting, with lethal aggression by one faction against the other, in Tanzania in the 1970s. In that instance, researchers had regularly fed the chimpanzees, altering natural behaviour, and observed them only at the feeding location, leaving many questions unanswered. Chimpanzees and their close cousins, bonobos, are our closest evolutionary relatives. But the researchers cautioned against drawing parallels between chimpanzee violence and human behaviour.

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We are similar in some ways due to our shared evolutionary history, but we are also fundamentally different because we have changed during the past 6-8 million years, after having split off from them, Mitani said. 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.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte following his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Chief spokesperson for the European Commission Paula Pinho announced this in Brussels on Friday.

"I will not draw preliminary conclusions about what will be discussed at these meetings with the President and the NATO Secretary General, but obviously we should consider this in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and certainly as an opportunity to hear directly from the NATO Secretary General about his visit to the White House," she said.

Pinho emphasized that "it can be expected" that these topics will be subject to discussion between von der Leyen and Rutte. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday. The day before, on Wednesday, the European Commission President will host the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Alexis Grinkevich.

As is known, Rutte was on a visit to the US from April 7 to 12, where he also met with Trump on April 8 amid accusations from the American president that allies are unwilling to assist in the war against Iran. Following the meeting, Rutte called the conversation "very frank, very open, as between two friends." He noted that Trump is "clearly disappointed" with NATO allies for not supporting US efforts in the war with Iran.

In turn, President Trump sharply criticized NATO after meeting Mark Rutte at the White House on April 8, 2026, focusing on the lack of support from the alliance during US actions against Iran. He expressed disappointment that allies are not helping to open the Strait of Hormuz amid rising oil prices. "NATO was not there when we needed it, and it will not be there if we need them again," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., April 10, 2026 -- According to MarketsandMarkets, the methanol engines market is expected to reach USD 0.79 billion in 2026 and USD 5.39 billion in 2035, exhibiting a CAGR of 24.0% during the forecast period.

Browse 300 market data Tables and 150 Figures spread through 350 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Methanol Engines Market - Global Forecast to 2035"

Methanol Engines Market Size & Forecast:

Market Size Available for Years: 20212035

20212035 2026 Market Size: USD 0.79 billion

USD 0.79 billion 2035 Projected Market Size: USD 5.39 billion

USD 5.39 billion CAGR (20262035): 24.0%

Methanol Engines Market Trends & Insights:

The methanol engines market is driven by the increasing pressure on shipowners to operate vessels with lower emissions while maintaining long-distance operations and fuel efficiency. As shipping routes remain long and fuel consumption remains high, there is a growing need for engines that support cleaner fuels without compromising performance. This is pushing manufacturers to develop methanol engines that enable stable operation, fuel flexibility, and compliance with evolving environmental standards.

By Build, the retrofit segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 25.1% between 2026 and 2035.

By Usage, the main engine segment is projected to be the most dominant during the forecast period.

By Region, the Europe methanol engines market is expected to account for a 59.8% share in 2026.

Stricter emission regulations and the need for practical low-carbon fuel alternatives boost the adoption of methanol engines in the shipping industry. The methanol engines market is driven by the increasing regulatory pressure to reduce emissions from the shipping sector. There is also a strong shift toward adopting cleaner and fuel-flexible propulsion systems, where shipowners are looking for practical transition solutions. This is pushing steady demand for methanol engines, mainly led by commercial shipping operators and fleet owners.

By power, the more than 2,100 KW segment is projected to account for the largest market share in 2035

The more than 2100 kW segment is expected to hold the largest share of the methanol engines industry in 2035, as it is used in large commercial vessels where main propulsion needs high power output. Most of the methanol engine adoption is seen in deep-sea vessels, such as container ships, tankers, and other large cargo vessels, where engine capacity usually falls in the higher power range. These vessels also consume more fuel and face higher pressure to reduce emissions, so methanol becomes more relevant at these power levels.

By ship type, the bulk carriers segment is likely to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The bulk carriers segment is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period as this vessel category has a large operating base and is facing more pressure to cut emissions, especially on long-haul trade routes. Bulk carrier owners are slowly starting to look at methanol as a practical fuel option, mainly for newbuild programs and in some cases for fleet renewal. This segment also has commendable volume potential since even a small shift toward methanol-powered vessels can drive strong engine demand. As fuel availability improves and compliance rules get stricter, bulk carriers are likely to become a more active segment for adoption over the forecast period.

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Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region between 2026 and 2035

Asia Pacific is expected to grow the fastest from 2026 to 2035 due to the strong shipbuilding base, ongoing fleet expansion, and increasing interest in alternative marine fuels. Countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan are playing a key role in newbuild vessel programs, which are creating significant conditions for methanol engine adoption. The region is also witnessing more investment in cleaner shipping technologies as operators prepare for long-term emission compliance. Additionally, growing trade activity and better awareness around methanol as a marine fuel are supporting faster market growth across the region.

Everllence SE, Wartsila, Rolls-Royce, Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., and Anglo Belgian Corporation are the major key players in the methanol engines companies. These companies have strong distribution networks across regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and RoW.

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Digital Shipyard Market by Technology (AR/VR, Digital Twin, Additive Manufacturing, AI/Big Data, Automation, IIoT, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Cloud/Master Data), Shipyard, Capacity, End Use, Process, Digitalization Level, Region - Global Forecast to 2030

Satellite Propellant Tanks Market by Capacity (<5, 5-50, 51-100, 101-250, 251-500, 501-1000, >1000 L), Propellant (Chemical, Electric, Cold-Gas), Architecture (Positive-Expulsion, PMD, HPV), Material, Mass, Orbit, and Region - Global Forecast to 2032

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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/EmmanuelMacron

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited US President Donald Trump to dinner at the Palace of Versailles the day after the G7 summit, which will take place in mid-June, Reuters reports.

Currently, according to sources, it remains unknown whether Trump will attend either event.

"France is the host of this years G7 summit, which will be held June 15-17 in the resort town of Evian-les-Bains on the lake shore at the foot of the French Alps. Macron has already changed the summit dates to accommodate a mixed martial arts tournament that Trump is organizing at the White House on June 14, his 80th birthday," the report says.

It is noted that Trumps relations with many members of the G7 are becoming increasingly strained due to his conflict with Iran and other issues, including his overtly sharp comments regarding British Prime Minister Keir Starmers proposal for military support expressed in early March. He has also repeatedly criticized NATO, which includes all G7 members except Japan, for its response to this conflict.

Sources noted that it is not yet clear whether Trump will appear in Evian-les-Bains, let alone Versailles, where, according to them, none of the other G7 leaders have been invited.

According to two sources, Macron invited Trump to a gala event at Versailles intended to highlight the shared history of the two countries ahead of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4.

A high-ranking White House official confirmed the invitation, saying: "Macron really wants Trump to go, hes begging him to go." But the official added that Trump has not even decided yet whether he will participate in the G7 summit.

Macrons office declined to comment on the invitation to Versailles.

A French official familiar with the plans, which are still in the early stages, said that Macron may host Trump for a bilateral visit as part of the G7 summit, as he would any other invited leader.

"The format of this reception has not yet been determined. The visit is still to be confirmed," the official said.
Acquisition of land for proposed DNA corridor at Saoner ayed





Staff Reporter :

The approval is expected to fast-track the development of a major defence and aerospace manufacturing hub in Nagpur district

In a significant push to industrial expansion in Vidarbha, the Maharashtra Governments high-powered committee has approved the acquisition of over 2,700 hectares of land at Saoner MIDC for the proposed Defence Nuclear Aerospace (DNA) Corridor. The decision was taken at the committees 186th meeting held at Mantralaya in Mumbai on April 8, chaired by the Principal Secretary (Industries). The approval is expected to fast-track the development of a major defence and aerospace manufacturing hub in Nagpur district. According to officials, a total of 2,721.9491 hectares (around 6,725.98 acres) will be acquired in Saoner tehsil.

This includes 2,601.2091 hectares of private land and 120.74 hectares of Government land. The acquisition will be carried out under provisions of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961. The proposed corridor is envisioned to host industries linked to aerospace manufacturing, including aircraft, drones and satellite components, alongside defence production such as weapons, missiles and ammunition. It will also cater to nuclear technologies, robotics and advanced engineering sectors, positioning Saoner as a future industrial hub.

The project aligns with the Centres push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Make in India initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Similar defence corridors are already being developed in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra has proposed inclusion of key Vidarbha districts, including Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha, under its DNA corridor plan. Dr Ashishrao Deshmukh, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Saoner-Kalmeshwar seat, who has been actively pursuing the project, welcomed the decision and credited sustained follow-up with both the State and Central Government. He had earlier written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in August 2025, advocating Saoners suitability for the corridor. Dr Ashish Deshmukh also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, stating that the State leaderships proactive approach helped expedite the approval process. Dr Deshmukh also added that the project is expected to attract substantial industrial investment, generate employment for local youth and drive long-term economic growth in Nagpur and the wider Vidarbha region.
BJP will form next Govt in West Bengal, asserts Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya





Staff Reporter :

Senior BJP leader and State Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the next Government in West Bengal. Vijayvargiya, who was in the city to attend local programmes, spoke to the media on a range of issues, including international developments and ensuing West Bengal Assembly elections. He later left for Indore. Commenting on ongoing tensions involving Iran, Israel and United States, Vijayvargiya said the conflict is primarily between Iran and Israel, but alleged that the US is playing an indirect role.

He termed the situation sensitive and called for balanced diplomacy. Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modis foreign policy, Vijayvargiya said India has maintained strong and balanced relations with both Iran and Israel despite global pressures. He termed it as an example of effective diplomacy, saying that both countries consider India a trusted partner. On West Bengal elections, Vijayvargiya made a strong claim that the BJP will not only perform well but will also form the Government in the State. He also spoke on the issue of loyalty, saying there are some people who live in the country but do not show commitment towards it. Without naming anyone, he urged citizens to understand their responsibilities and said such concerns would be addressed with time.
Israels Beirut strike kills over 300





BEIRUT :

LEBANONS Health Ministry said Thursday that at least 300 people were killed in widespread Israeli strikes in Central Beirut and other areas of Lebanon on Wednesday. It said more than 1,000 were wounded. The death toll Wednesday was the highest for a single day in Lebanon during more than five weeks of renewed war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah sites. However, several of the buildings that were struck without warning during the afternoon rush hour were in densely-packed commercial and residential areas, leading to widespread civilian casualties. Israel said it killed an aide to Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem in its intense airstrikes that hit Lebanons capital, Beirut. It identified the man killed as Ali Yusuf Harshi, a secretary and nephew to Kassem. A tentative ceasefire in the Iran war staggered under the weight of Israels bombardment of Beirut, Tehrans continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and uncertainty over whether talks expected on April 10 can find common ground. Iran and the US - which both declared victory after ceasefire announcement - appeared to apply pressure. Semiofficial news agencies in Iran suggested forces have mined the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil whose closure has proved Tehrans greatest strategic advantage. Trump, meanwhile, warned that US forces would hit Iran harder than before if it did not fulfill the agreement. And there was disagreement over whether the ceasefire deal included a pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Questions also remain over what will happen to Irans stockpile of enriched uranium at the heart of tensions, how and when normal traffic will resume through the strait, and what happens to Irans ability to launch future missile attacks and support armed proxies in the region.Semiofficial news agencies in Iran published a chart Thursday suggesting the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard put sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz during the war - a message that may be intended to pressure the United States. The chart, released by the ISNA news agency and Tasnim, showed a large circle marked danger zone in Farsi over the route ships take through the strait, through which 20 per cent of all traded oil and natural gas once passed. Only a trickle of ships have transited since the war began after several were attacked and Iran threatened to hit any that it deemed connected to the US or Israel. Ships appeared to continue to avoid the strait even after the ceasefire. The chart suggested that ships travel through waters closer to Irans mainland near Larak Island, a route that some ships were observed taking during the war. It was dated from February 28 until April 9, and it was unclear if the Guard had cleared any mines since then.

Irans Deputy Foreign Minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told the BBC that his country will allow ships to pass through the strait in accordance with international norms and international law once the United States ends its aggression in the Middle East and Israel stops attacking Lebanon. The head of the UAE major oil company, Sultan al-Jaber, said some 230 ships loaded with oil were waiting to get through the strait and must be allowed to navigate this corridor without condition. The straits de facto closure has caused oil prices to skyrocket - affecting the cost of gasoline, food and other basics far beyond the Middle East. Trump said Wednesday that the US would work with Iran to remove the uranium, buried in last years US and Israeli strikes, though Iran did not confirm that. In one version of the ceasefire deal that Iran published, it said it would be allowed to continue enrichment. The chief of Irans nuclear agency, Mohammad Eslami, said Thursday that protecting Tehrans right to enrich uranium is necessary for any ceasefire talks. Ship-tracking data from Kpler showed only four vessels with their Automatic Identification System trackers on passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the first day of the ceasefire. However, that does not include so-called dark fleet vessels, which travel with their AIS trackers turned off. Many of those dark fleet ships carry sanctioned Iranian crude oil out to the open market.
A delegation from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine visited the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), where it presented the updated functionality of the Electronic Register of Apostilles (e-APP), which officially launched in Ukraine on March 2, 2026.

"The delegation of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, headed by Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitization Olha Riabukha, visited the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). The purpose of the visit was to present the updated functionality of the Electronic Register of Apostilles (e-APP), which officially started operating in Ukraine on March 2, 2026. During the first month of operation, 30,744 apostilles were issued through the updated Register. Annually, Ministry of Justice bodies alone issue about 400,000 apostilles, which accounts for approximately 65% of the total volume," a report on the ministrys website reads.

It is noted that the modernized system completely changes the approach to the legalization of documents, replacing traditional "wet" seals and manual signatures with digital technologies.

"QR verification: each apostille now contains a QR code for instant online verification; Transparency: during verification, a foreign institution sees not only the apostille itself, but also a scanned copy of the original document; ASiC-E format: Ukraine has implemented the issuance of electronic apostilles in ASiC-E format, which complies with eIDAS standards. This significantly increases the level of trust and expands the range of use for Ukrainian electronic documents in EU countries," the Ministry of Justice stated.

The new system allows for receiving the service without a physical presence in Ukraine and also significantly reduces the administrative burden on Ukrainian consulates.

"In 2026, we must complete the systemic transformationmoving from fragmented paper processes to a single secure digital environment. Our priority is to fully launch the one-click service so that Ukrainians can quickly and conveniently receive an electronic apostille and submit documents online through the Diia portal," Riabukha noted.

Currently, the Ministry of Justice is actively working on scaling the system to all authorized bodies: the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Migration Service, the State Tax Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Science, with which integration processes have already begun.

"Combining all bodies in a single functionality will ensure the uniformity of the apostille and increase the recognition of Ukrainian documents in foreign institutions, which, in turn, will reduce the time for additional checks and bureaucratic procedures for Ukrainians," the ministry emphasized.

The project was implemented with the support of the European Union within the framework of the DT4UA project, implemented by the e-Governance Academy (eGA).
Macron calls Sharif, expresses serious concern over attacks on Lebanon





ISLAMABAD :

PAKISTAN and France on Thursday expressed serious concern over the Israeli aggression against Lebanon. During a warm and cordial telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and French President Emmanuel Macron, the latter conveyed his good wishes to the Prime Minister for the success of the upcoming peace talks in Islamabad. According to the PM Office, President Macron called Sharif and congratulated him for Pakistans mediation efforts that had resulted in the ceasefire between Iran and the US and brought both sides to the negotiating table. Both leaders expressed their serious concern over the ongoing aggression in Lebanon and stressed upon the urgent need to end the violence and killings, so that peace could be re-established in the entire region, according to the PMO statement.

While thanking President Macron for supporting Pakistans diplomatic efforts, Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to strive for peace and stability in the region. The two leaders also agreed to remain in contact. Pakistan is set to host the high-stakes in-person talks between the US and Iran on Friday, aiming to consolidate a fragile ceasefire and avert further escalation in West Asia. The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire early Wednesday, followed by a face-to-face meeting in Islamabad to settle the differences and convert the ongoing truce into a lasting peace.
ON THIN ICE...





WITHIN hours of the two-week ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran, hostilities have resumed on the other side with Israel attacking Lebanon territories. It has resulted in over 300 casualties so far but the biggest casualty of these strikes is likely to the proposed peace talks between Washington and Tehran representatives scheduled in Islamabad. The US-Iran truce now hangs in balance with conflicting statements and developments clouding truth about the ceasefire. As the two-week pause in military action teeters, the world has started to make its move in case of renewed hostilities. The European Union has sprung into action over possible effects of a prolonged blockade of Strait of Hormuz while member-nations have upped the ante for opening of the critical waterway that was shut again by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) within hours of the ceasefire announcement.

The peace talks are now walking on thin ice with the danger of a downward spiral lurking over the world yet again. There are still questions over the proposed peace talks in Islamabad between US Vice President Mr. J D Vance and Iran Foreign Minister Mr. Abbas Araghchi after Irans envoy deleted his social media post on delegation arrival in Pakistan. It is seen as a signal of Iran withdrawing from the negotiations after Israels provocation by targeting Lebanon. To add to the mystery, US officials have gone public about wrong information in the 10-point peace plan that could help end the war. It is total chaos out there as the world awaits a positive outcome and re-start of energy supply chains. The Israel angle was already red-flagged by analysts when US President Mr. Donald Trump announced the 14-day ceasefire hours ahead of planned attack on Iran.

Israel was not made part of the proposed peace plan making it amply clear that Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu would continue his aggressive posturing against Iran and its proxies in the neighbourhood. The attack on Lebanon was the most easy way out for Mr. Netanyahu to keep the pot boiling as it was not included in the peace plan. It was a blatant attempt to rile Iran and keep the US in attacking mode instead of going for diplomacy to end the crisis. The plan has worked, for now, with Iran threatening to cancel the fragile ceasefire and the US going back to its raving and ranting about its military power. Reversal of the ceasefire will be an open invitation for Mr. Trump to come out all guns blazing at Irans critical infrastructure. Israel will welcome the prospects of such a scenario as Mr. Netanyahu pushes harder to realise his dream of a debilitated Iran without nuclear or military power. It would be a dangerous situation for the entire West Asia if the war continues with the same intensity. The world is already paying for this war heaped upon it by the US-Israel combine with a false notion of being superpowers. Irans resilience has badly exposed their technical and military limitations. The war has become a spectacular strategic failure for Mr. Trump even as Mr. Netanyahu basks in the glory of targeting its nemesis for so long.

The conflict is a strategic move by Mr. Netanyahu for political survival. He has been highly successful in fulfilling his goal and wants more from the US. The question now for Washington will be to choose between peace and a proxy hostility against Iran. If the peace talks happen as per the schedule, then it will be a great start to bring a permanent end to the war. It will be Americas responsibility to control Israel if the Iran deal goes through in the next two weeks. If things go pear-shaped, which still is a real possibility given the whimsical nature of the US administration, then the international community will have to take a firm stand against both the US and Iran. For, it is not just their war but has become a matter of everybodys survival. Some inflated egos cannot hold the worlds energy security hostage.
Record polling , Assam records 85.64 pc, Keralam 78 pc, Puducherry 89.87 pc





GUWAHATI :

AN ESTIMATED 85.64 per cent voter turnout was recorded as polling ended at 5 PM on Thursday in all 126 Assembly constituencies of Assam, surpassing the previous 82.04 per cent voting in the 2021 elections, officials said. Keralam crossed the voter turnout of 78 per cent by 5 pm, as polling concluded in 140 Assembly constituencies whereas polling for the 30-member Puducherry Assembly concluded amid tight security, with the Union Territory recording an impressive 89.87 per cent, highest since 1964. The BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power in Assam, while the Congress is striving to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago. Dalgaon recorded the highest voting at 94.57 per cent, while the lowest turnout was in Amri at 70.40 per cent, they said. A total of 722 candidates are in the fray in this single-phase election, which is largely witnessing a direct contest between the BJP-led ruling coalition and the Opposition bloc helmed by the Congress. Votes were cast at 31,490 polling stations across 35 districts of the State, with polling commencing at 7 am and continuing till 5 pm, the officials said. Around 30 people were injured and seven arrested in connection with poll-related violence in Assam on Thursday, officials said. A senior police officer said that the Congress candidate in Patharkandi constituency in Sribhumi district, Kartik Sena Sinha, allegedly entered the Rangamati polling booth and started an argument with the presiding officer. He claimed fake electors cast genuine peoples votes.

When the presiding officer denied the charge, he broke the EVM. Following this, supporters of Congress and the BJP started a fight, he added. Sinha is locked in a direct contest with Assam minister and BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul. In the clash, around 25 people were injured, of whom two are serious. They have been sent to Karimganj Civil Hospital for treatment, the officer said. Sribhumi Senior Superintendent of Police Leena Doley reached the spot and reviewed the situation. Voting was halted at the polling station for about three hours due to the disturbances. It resumed after election officials replaced the EVM. In another incident, three leaders of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) were injured in a clash with BJP supporters at Khowang constituency in Dibrugarh district. Besides, minor clashes have also been reported in many polling booths across several districts after voting began in the morning, with people suffering minor injuries. In another incident, some members of a political party were attacked in Sivasagar, Singh said. The crucial elections in Keralam will decide whether the ruling LDF will get a straight third term, or if the UDF makes a comeback, or if BJP springs a surprise in an otherwise bipolar battle. Constituency-wise, Kunnathunad topped with 81.99 pc.

The lowest turnout came in Kaduthuruthy with 66.81 per cent. Voting began at 7 am across all constituencies in Puducherry and proceeded smoothly through the day, with enthusiastic participation reported from Puducherry and its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. A total of 9.5 lakh voters were eligible to vote, spread across 23 constituencies in Puducherry. In Puducherry, a robot carrying a plate of flower petals welcomed voters at a model polling booth. Moving along the corridor, the robot greeted visitors. The election witnessed a multi-cornered contest, though the principal fight remained between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), and the opposition INDIA bloc comprising the Congress, DMK, and VCK. Adding to the political dynamics was the entry of actor-politician Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which generated significant interest among voters. Actor-director Seemans Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) also fielded candidates, aiming to expand its regional footprint.
State, Central Government school teachers suffocating under weight of non-teaching duties





Staff Reporter :

As Maharashtra positions itself as one of Indias fastest-growing economies, a fault line is emerging within its public education system. At the centre of this crisis are State and Central Government school teachers who are increasingly burdened with non-academic duties that pull them away from classrooms and, in turn, weaken the students at their most important stage of development.

SISWA terms census duty as extreme exploitation

The Self-Financed Independent Schools Welfare Association (SISWA) is against the deployment of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) school teachers for Census 202627. In a formal appeal, SISWA President Dipali Dabli urged immediate exemption for teachers working in self-financed CBSE institutions. The association argued that, under provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990, census duties are meant to be carried out by employees of Government and semi-government bodies. Extending these responsibilities to private, unaided school teachers violates both the spirit and application of these provisions.

Inspections in middle of examination season

Teachers are exploited to the highest degree, said Sapan Nehrotra, Secretary, Shikshak Bharati Organisation, Nagpur Division. Now Government officers will be coming to carry out inspections in school during our examination period to see if all infrastructure is updated, if all student documents are verified, among other things. So now, school teachers have to prepare for exams, evaluations, report cards, on top of inspection formalities and on top of that, Booth Level Officer duty. Of course, inspection is important, but it can be carried out any other time of the year. Why does it have to be in the middle of the busiest time of the school year, especially when teachers are already struggling with non-teaching duties? Absence of teachers creates domino effect: When teachers are absent or overburdened, classroom learning suffers. Students struggle to keep up with the syllabus and perform poorly. Families are forced to invest in private tuitions, which is an additional burden, said Nehrotra.

Parents are forced to invest in private tuitions to compensate for gaps in school education. Ironically, despite these systemic challenges, the blame for poor results often falls on teachers, he added. This constant pressure, combined with long working hours and lack of institutional support, is contributing to rising cases of stress-related health issues such as hypertension and diabetes among teachers. This raises a fundamental question: can a State truly justify its development narrative while neglecting the backbone of its human capital? Economic growth, infrastructure, and industrial expansion are often highlighted as markers of progress. However, without a strong and supported education system, such growth may prove uneven and unsustainable. If teachers are not in classrooms, the cost is not just immediate learning loss. It is a long-term compromise on the countrys future workforce, productivity, and social equity.
Trump, Rutte discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz





WASHINGTON :

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met behind closed doors with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday for discussions that were expected to focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway and on soothing Trumps anger with the military alliance over Iran war. It wasnt immediately clear how things went in the private meeting, ahead of which Trump had suggested the US may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after NATO member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the strait and sent gas prices soaring. The Republican President has had a warm relationship with Rutte in the past, and the meeting came after the US 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 Irans power plants and bridges, threatening that a whole civilisation will die tonight. The White House did not immediately offer an update on the conversation. But earlier on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that Trump had discussed leaving NATO. The Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any US 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 defence 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 September 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 US Ahead of the meeting, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, issued a statement in support of the alliance, noting, Following the September 11 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. Its 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 Trumps 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 discussed the war with Iran, along with US efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war and increasing coordination and burden shifting with NATO allies. The alliance was already rattled over the past year as Trump returned to power and reduced US military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and threatened to seize Greenland from ally Denmark.

But Trumps 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 Americas 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 US 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 Trumps frustration, was set to travel Wednesday to the Gulf to support the ceasefire. The UK 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.
Workshop for Vigilance Committee held during GJS Show in Mumbai





Business Reporter :

During the recent GJS Show held in Mumbai, a workshop for the Vigilance Committee was successfully organised. On this special occasion, Rajya Sabha Member Chitra Wagh attended as the chief guest. More than 300 members of the Vigilance Committee from 36 districts of Maharashtra participated in this workshop. Representing the GJC at the event were Chairman Rajesh Rokde; Vice Chairman Avinash Gupta; and Past Chairman Nitin Khandelwal. In her address, Chitra Wagh directed that the State-level Vigilance Committee should visit every district, meet with local police officials, and provide information regarding the circular in writing.

The primary objective of the workshop was to discuss the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Vigilance Committee and to provide comprehensive information regarding the circular issued by the Maharashtra Government for jewelers. Rajesh Rokade expressed his gratitude to the government, characterizing it as both pro-development and pro-business.
The estate of Conor Hylton is suing Bridgeport Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital after Hylton, 26, died in August 2024 while a patient in Bridgeport Hospital's Milford campus. Courtesy of Faxon Law Group File -- The Emergency Department at Yale New Haven Hospital photographed on December 9, 2021. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Getting admitted to the hospitals intensive care unit  for any reason  can be frightening and overwhelming for patients, who by definition are critically ill and need close, specialized care.

More than 5 million people are admitted to the ICU annually across the U.S. And yet, despite only making up a small fraction of hospitals beds, ICU care is considered one of the major drivers of hospital expenses.

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Some hospitals have turned to integrating telemedicine technologies into the ICU as a way - they say - to better support the bedside staff and cut costs for patients who have shorter stays. Better known as a tele-ICU, the model allows off-site ICU clinicians to virtually connect, collaborate, and support the on-the-ground care team as they provide critical treatment.

Using a two-way video and audio device, tele-ICU clinicians monitor multiple patients simultaneously, enabling them to quickly detect changes, access relevant medical information, and provide tailored treatment to bedside staff.

Having a remote clinical team that monitors ICU patients is a model dating back to the 1970s, but it became more commonplace after the COVID-19 pandemic. Health organizations looked to tele-ICUs as a way not only to reduce care costs and improve access to specialty care but also to fill clinical gaps during an ongoing workforce shortage without hiring more.

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Different than telehealth in other care settings, it is designed to enhance care for critically ill patients by adding another layer of expert oversight, not replacing bedside care, read a statement from Connecticut Hospital Association to CT Insider. Nationally, its estimated (as of 2020) that tele-ICU is used in roughly 1318% of ICUs, primarily to expand access to critical care expertise.

The clinical model, however, made national headlines last month after a North Haven family alleged that their son died while receiving care at one of Yale New Haven Healths tele-ICU.

Virtual patient monitoring programs often vary in size and how they are incorporated into day-to-day care.

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Yale New Haven, for example, launched its Insight Tele-ICU in 2015 to support care teams at Greenwich Hospital and the St. Raphaels campus.

Now, operating from 7pm to 7am, the Insight staff  made up of ICU "intensivist" physicians, critical care nurses and advanced practice providers  monitor patients in more than 200 rooms across the system, all while based out of a designated digital center in Stratford.

The systems interface is run by EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR), one of the commonly used software tools adopted by hospitals. The tele-ICU program, in particular, grew slowly over the years; however, Yale leaders pushed to expand it in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yale officials said in a 2021 interview with Healthcare IT News that the tele-ICU helps keep patients closer to home by supporting care in local ICUs, while also improving safety and efficiency and reducing staff burden.

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Outside of Yale New Haven Health, however, its unclear how common tele-ICUs are in Connecticut. Many hospitals and health systems across the state have embraced electronic health records and virtual visits, using these platforms to support remote patient monitoring and telehealth programs.

Spokespeople from UConn Health, Trinity Health, Middlesex Health and Stamford Health said their systems dont operate tele-ICU programs.

Hartford HealthCare did not respond to questions about tele-ICU; however, its website indicates it relies on virtual programs in other ways, such as through a stroke provider network and a 24/7 on-demand virtual care platform that triages patients concerns and suggests the provider who could best help them.

The malpractice lawsuit filed against Yale New Haven alleges that 26-year-old Conor Hylton was not properly monitored or cared for after he was admitted to the tele-ICU, which the family attorney described as a fake ICU.

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In August 2024, Hylton, a University of Connecticut dental student, walked into Bridgeport Hospitals satellite campus in Milford with severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

A medical analysis included in the lawsuit states that Hylton was diagnosed with pancreatitis, dehydration, metabolic acidosis and alcohol withdrawal. He was admitted to the tele-ICU as his condition worsened.

While at the tele-ICU, according to the lawsuit, staff didnt give Hylton the required alcohol withdrawal assessments or properly monitor his fluid levels. Hyltons parents were allegedly not notified about his deteriorating health.

No on-site physician assessed Hylton for hours, the lawsuit claims. In addition, the doctor assigned to oversee him allegedly never saw him at all, even after being notified of his decline, instead monitoring him remotely.

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The lawsuit argues that the lack of communication between providers, and delayed documentation and care were all contributing factors in Hyltons death.
A member of the Royal Collection Trust staff looks towards hats, bags and shoes worn by Princess Elizabeth, on display at 'Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style' exhibition, to mark the centenary of the late queen's birth, at The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP A member of Royal Collection Trust staff looks towards day wear worn by Princess Elizabeth, on display at 'Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style' exhibition, to mark the centenary of the late queen's birth, at The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Cecilia Oliver, Textile Conservator at Royal Collection Trust adjusts a gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II, on display at 'Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style' exhibition, to mark the centenary of the late queen's birth, at The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Queen Elizabeth II's Burmese Ruby Tiara on display at 'Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style' exhibition, to mark the centenary of the late queen's birth, at The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Cecilia Oliver, Textile Conservator at Royal Collection Trust adjusts day wear worn by Queen Elizabeth II, on display at 'Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style' exhibition, to mark the centenary of the late queen's birth, at The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

LONDON (AP)  The late Queen Elizabeth II believed the monarch had to be seen to be believed. And she made sure that was true even when Britains famously changeable weather intervened, pioneering the use of a clear plastic raincoat so that a stodgy black umbrella didnt obscure her from public view.

That raincoat is one of some 300 garments and other fashion artifacts that go on display Friday at the Kings Gallery at Buckingham Palace in an exhibit that celebrates the late queens life and reign as Britain prepares to mark the centenary of her birth. The most comprehensive exhibition of her style choices ever mounted, the show charts Elizabeths story, and her impact on British fashion.

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I think she had a definite sense of what suited her, exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said. She absolutely knew how she wanted to appear.

An Olympian moment

Some of the items are easily recognizable since Elizabeth was one of the most photographed people ever. But the ball gowns, tweed suits and trademark headscarves are sometimes strange to see on museum mannequins instead of the queen herself.

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And then there are the items that are truly one-offs.

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Like the dress, complete with bloomers, that Elizabeths stunt double wore during the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics, when the then-86-year-old queen appeared to parachute into the stadium alongside Daniel Craig in his James Bond persona. To complete the illusion, the queen soon emerged in the stands identically attired.

Both dresses, designed by Elizabeths longtime dressmaker Angela Kelly, are displayed side by side, though the stunt doubles version has large zipper in back to accommodate the parachute.

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Fashion connection to the public

The exhibition, drawn from some 4,000 items once owned by the queen, explores how fashion became one of her most powerful tools of communication as she evolved from a young princess into Britains longest-reigning monarch.

That could often be seen in her choice of color and decorative detail, as in the green and white Norman Hartnell gown she chose to wear for the state banquet during her 1961 visit to Pakistan, honoring her hosts by donning their national colors.

The queen had an intimate understanding of how fashion could lend itself to diplomacy, a trait which, while its origins certainly lay in earlier reigns, the queen developed into nothing short of an art form, de Guitaut said. Color or embellishment communicated messages of respect to her host nation before she had even uttered a word in her speech.

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Particularly as she got older, Elizabeth opted to wear bright or distinctive shades during large public events so she could be easily spotted, and visitors could say they had seen the queen.

The exhibit also explores the queens off-duty wardrobe. The tweed suits she wore at Balmoral Castle, the royal familys summer retreat in Scotland, are on display alongside clothes for riding, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Theres a thick woolen coat Kelly designed during Elizabeths later years alongside items by Burberry and British designer Hardy Amies.

Big occasions, big statement gowns

Clothes worn during the many milestones of the queen's long life are also on display, from her christening robe, commissioned by Queen Victoria for the baptism of the future King Edward VII, to dresses she wore for her wedding and coronation.

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The exhibit also includes sketches and notes that show just how involved the queen was in designing her wardrobe.

Naomi Pike, commissioning editor for Elle UK, said the collection finally recognizes Elizabeths status as a fashion icon, even though other royals, including her younger sister, the late Princess Margaret, and her daughter-in-law, the late Princess Diana, stole the spotlight during her lifetime.

I think were very quick in this day and age to afford people icon status.  Its thrown around so easily, Pike said. But I think in the case of the queen, she was an icon and so much of that comes down to having a very strong sense of personal style.

On fairy wings

While the gowns may be the exhibits biggest draw, the show also provides a few surprises. With the task of showing us what the monarch wore, the curators conjured up a somewhat battered fairy outfit made from a tutu with wings on the back.

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The piece is a favorite of Cecilia Oliver, a textile conservator at the Kings Gallery, who described it as the cutest thing in the world."

I think what I love most about it is that it was bought for Elizabeth as a child, and to think of her as this tiny little girl that then grew up into this magnificent woman with all this weight of responsibility on her shoulders, it just feels very, sort of sentimental, Oliver said.

Oliver grew almost wistful as she described the months of work on the exhibit and the privilege of handling so many things connected to a person familiar to so many but truly known by so few.

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As a conservator, I have a really intimate knowledge of these pieces. Ive been able to touch them. Ive been able to smell them. Ive been able to understand them, she said. And through that, I felt really close to her.
A plate of sushi at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media

Yoyo and Hiro love Connecticut could be the title of this column. The pair took long and winding roads to find each other, with their paths leading through the Tri-State and here to Fairfield County. The path to Sushi Jin from all points in the Constitution State may seem a bit circuitous as well (more on that below), but where Yoyo Zheng and Hiro Chens journey and your own meet, theres something special.

My own jaunt to the restaurant involved several stops, taking and retracing my steps along the storefronts of Westports Main Street, circling, parking and pacing again before I saw a sign. This was not unlike the couples quest to find a suitable location in Westport as it turns out, but in my case, it involved an actual printed sign. Sushi Jins address on Main Street is not, if were being technical, on Main Street. For the purposes of theatricality I guess, Main Street in Westport will be played by Elm Street (just across from Serena & Lily and there, I just saved you the effort). For those in the know, the restaurant was an immediate hit.

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Truffle king salmon at Sushi Jin in Westport, Connecticut on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media

We thought we were going to have a slow opening and introduce ourselves but from the beginning it was craaa-zy, Zheng emphasizes when we speak on my third visit, sitting at a table while diners and staff gently buzz back and forth across our view. We had no time to get ready.

Sushi Jin The Vibe Sushi Jins long bar and multiple tables offer different dining and drinking experiences for different groups. The space is warm, inviting, and increasingly livelier as the night progresses. A greenhouse-enclosed patio is slated to open this year. The Food Sushi and sashimi are the stars here, but the menu spans hibachi, dim sum, salads and rolls like the Westport: with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, whitefish and snow crab with smelt eggs. The sake and cocktail menus are attractive, tasty and thorough. Address: 44 Main St., Westport 203-557-8588; sushijinct.com

This, strictly speaking, isnt true. Zheng came to the U.S. from China in the 1990s and started working in her familys Chinese restaurant at just 13 years old before going to college and working in fathers Japanese restaurant in New Jersey, where she met and married Chen. He had arrived from Japan and learned from master sushi chefs at Sushi Yasuda in Manhattan. The couple opened their first hibachi and sushi restaurant together in Tarrytown, N.Y., before opening Hashi Sushi in New Canaan, currently celebrating a decade of service.

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We love Connecticut from our time in New Canaan and had to stay here, Zheng says with a bright smile. We walked up and down the streets in Westport, looking for a space for a full year, this was in 2019, and then COVID. This March marks Sushi Jins first trip around the sun.

Black cod miso is a featured dish at Sushi Jin in Westport, Connecticut on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media

It was 6:30p.m. on a Wednesday in early January  a dead period for restaurants after the holidays  when I returned to Sushi Jin to conduct this interview, and the space was at least 80% full of diners, with a rotating cast of drivers picking up bags for deliveries. The restaurant has never done any advertising, with the closest thing being a grand opening during which proceeds from tickets sold went to the Westport EMS.

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Zheng, Chen and General Manager Yvette Fried and I snack on petit Yellowtail steaks topped with delicate slices of jalapeno over a wasabi yuzu sauce and microgreens as we speak. The menu ranges from openers like spicy kani salad and shumai, to pork soup dumpling dim sum or Wagyu tataki where the psychedelically marbled beef has been waved in the direction of a flame. Hot plates including rock shrimp or tofu with Bonito flakes take up a sizable chunk of the menu, but everyone is here for the fish, which is flown in from Japan.

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Chefs at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media

The menu, like the restaurant itself, was designed by Chen. The space is wood-wrought and warm. Sake decanters  glass jars on stands with a removable glass inner bowl for ice and a glass poppet valve dispenses into small pitchers  populate a shelf near the door. You pour your sake into handmade glass sake cups imported from Japan by Korin in New York, and choose your own from a wooden box. Theyre eye-catching and great conversation pieces. The first few weeks of operation at Sushi Jin were so popular it got too noisy for comfort, so Chen installed attractive wooden cruciform sound baffles, which are an architectural add-on but blend seamlessly into the environment.

I try the black cod miso which arrives wrapped in leaf with akamiso sauce partially, I believe, because Chen is hungry, too. The glaze chews and cruches at the edges of the fish as you chew, outlining flakes of creamy meat.

A plate of sushi at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media

On my first visit I selected a bottle of Seikyo Takehara sake and ordered omakase just to see what theyd do. Surprisingly, I was served the entire course on one plate, and asked Zheng why it was done this way later. The short answer was because they only have one omakase chef currently, but if you make a reservation, the chef will serve courses individually in the classic manner. Selections on my visits included Amberjack, Bluefin tuna, a deliciously sweet Sea Bream (madai), King Salmon with shaved black truffle, and fatty Toro tuna with Black Sea caviar. Attractive soy sauce bowls were likewise chosen by Zheng and Chen. Bar manager Gabriella Lopez has created an attractive cocktail menu to go along with the food, drawing from long experience with the pair: shes worked for them since she was a teenager.

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We want everyone to have the best possible experience, so we work on having not only great food, but making it consistent, and beautifully presented, Fried explains. We have a knowledgeable staff, and theyve put the work in. Ive been in sales, retail, and hospitality for a long time, and Yoyo and Hiro are the best people Ive ever worked for.

Exterior of Sushi Jin in Westport, Connecticut on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media A Lycheetini at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media Drinks and dumplings at Sushi Jin in Westport, Connecticut on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media Sushi at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media Drinks and dumplings at Sushi Jin in Westport, Connecticut on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media Chefs at Sushi Jin in Westport, Connecticut on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media Sake at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media An oyster at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media A plate of sushi at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media Wagyu tataki at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media A drink at Sushi Jin in Westport, CT on February 13, 2026 Lisa Nichols for Hearst CT Media

Fried credits the steady crowd  lunch through late night, week in, week out  with the environment.

There is a lot of good food in this town, but we see whole families here, its family friendly, and then as the night goes on, you can definitely have a date night here. Its very welcoming.

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Asked why Sushi Jin has found so much success immediately, Chen has a short answer after a long pause.

I havent really thought about it, comes the answer as he pauses again. I just want to make good food and hope people respond.

Connecticut, it seems, loves Zheng and Chen back.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of People in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Vincent Thian/AP Chinese Premier Li Qiang is displayed on a large screen live broadcasting his speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Ng Han Guan/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  With a fragile ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran holding for now, China is calculating its role in helping find a durable endgame to the war in the Middle East.

After prodding China, which is more reliant on Persian Gulf oil than the U.S., to get involved in reopening the choked-off Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump told the French news outlet Agence France-Presse this week that he believed China played a part in encouraging Iran to agree to this weeks temporary truce.

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Three diplomats who were familiar with Chinas behind-the-scenes efforts also confirmed that Beijing, the biggest purchaser of Iranian oil, used its leverage to urge the Iranians back to the negotiating table.

It was a major moment for Beijing, which had decried the U.S. and Israels war against its economic partner Iran as misguided before getting directly involved in the push to call off the fighting, including discouraging strikes by Iran. Talks between the sides are expected to begin in Pakistan this weekend.

With the precarious truce hanging in the balance, China will now need to make a careful calculation about whether it will tread deeper into the waters of diplomacy as its weighs the impact that a long-lasting war could have on the global economy. Middle East turmoil goes against Beijings interests, while its efforts may boost its global standing and strengthen its hand in negotiating thorny trade issues during Trumps visit to China next month.

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Beijing is not in the business of expending its leverage as a favor to others or for the greater good, said Danny Russel, a former senior diplomat in President Barack Obamas administration.

Iran war puts pressure on Chinas economy

Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters this week that China has worked actively to help bring about an end to the conflict.

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The Chinese economy is already feeling pressure from Irans effective shuttering of the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20% of the worlds crude normally flows. The blockade is having an enormous impact on Asia, a factor that seems to have informed the Chinese governments efforts to consult with Pakistan to help mediate a two-week ceasefire.

China does not appear interested in providing guarantees for Irans long-term security as part of a deal to end hostilities, something Tehran has hoped for and sees as critical to deterring the U.S and Israel from carrying out strikes in the future.

Irans ambassador to China suggested this week that its two closest allies  China and Russia  as well as the United Nations ensure the guarantee, which Tehran has sought before without success. Asked about that possibility, Mao would only say that we hope that all parties will resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

Still, Chinese officials are cognizant that a lasting war threatens to have real impact on Beijings bottom line. Premier Li Qiang announced last month that the government was projecting relatively modest 4.5% to 5% economic growth this year during a property slump and growing uncertainty around the globe. Its the lowest growth target since 1991.

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Ultimately, Chinas foremost goal is growth and development, according to one of the diplomats familiar with Chinese deliberations on the war.

The diplomat, who like the others was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, added that a continued closure of the strait ran counter to that interest. It not only limits the flow of a significant supply of crude to China but also cuts off an important shipping lane for Chinese exports to the Mideast.

How Iran diplomacy could play into the Trump-Xi meeting

Trump will likely underscore that argument to Chinese President Xi Jinping during their much-anticipated Beijing summit next month. The talks, which were originally slated for this month, were pushed back so Trump could oversee the U.S. bombardment of Iran.

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That the United States and Iran have at least temporarily edged away from the precipice of a catastrophic escalation owes in part to Chinas support for the ceasefire that Pakistan brokered, said Ali Wyne, a senior research and advocacy adviser for U.S.-China relations at the International Crisis Group. Even if short-lived, that breakthrough affords Beijing another opportunity to present itself as a stabilizing force and Washington as a reckless one.

To be certain, Chinas view is shaped by a heavy measure of skepticism.

Some in Beijing see Trumps decision to launch the Iran war, as well as the military operation in January to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as being at least partially motivated by his strategy at containing China, diplomats say. Beijing was a major customer and investor in the South American countrys oil industry.

Privately, the Chinese have made clear that the U.S. and Iran would have to show compromise for a deal to coalesce. Beijing also is looking to press Trump to remove sanctions on Chinese companies doing business with Iran as part of a potential settlement, diplomats say.

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The moment provides Xi some leverage at next months summit.

Trump was in a crisis, and China helped, said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Stimson Center. The optics of that alone helps to lighten the mood and sweeten the pot.

Russel, the former State Department official, says there are signs that Beijing sees Trump as weakened after the president didnt follow through on his threat to obliterate Iranian power plants and other critical infrastructure if Iran didnt end its blockade of Hormuz.

The hashtag #HeChickenedOut was trending on Chinese social media in posts about Trump, and Chinas state media was promoting the message that he blinked in the face of Iranian resistance, Russel said.

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Xi, for his part, appears to be approaching the moment carefully.

Beijings calculation is wait-and-see, safeguard Chinese energy and commercial interests, avoid direct confrontation with the United States, stay on good terms with its important Gulf partners like Saudi Arabia and UAE, and work with whoever ends up running Iran when the dust settles, Russel said.

Steve Bannon, who served as a senior adviser to Trump during his first term, said Trump will need to press Xi to buy in if he hopes to seal an enduring peace agreement with Iran.

Who can actually make a deal and enforce a deal? I know one group of people who can do it, and they live in Beijing, Bannon said on his War Room podcast this week. He added, Lets just go to Beijing and sit down with a guy who can actually make a deal  Xi  and enforce a deal.

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___
Europe's first Unity Center for Ukrainians to open in Berlin on April 15  Ministry of Social Policy

Starting April 15, the first Unity Center (Unity Hub) for Ukrainians in Europe will begin operations in Berlin, offering consultations on returning home as well as educational and cultural events, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity reports.

"According to the latest Eurostat data, over 4.3 million Ukrainians are under temporary protection in EU countries, with the largest number1.2 millionresiding in Germany. In this context, Unity Centers for Ukrainians abroad are a vital element of the policy to maintain our citizens connection with Ukraine and facilitate their return home," the ministry statement says.

It is noted that international and Ukrainian organizations have already joined the Centers work, ensuring a wide range of servicesfrom consultations on returning and receiving social services in Ukraine to educational, cultural, and integration programs.

Additionally, the Center will provide consultations from the Pension Fund of Ukraine regarding pensions, housing subsidies, benefits, and insurance contributions.

The hub will also host regular activities for children and youth based on the Ukrainian scouting model, vocational guidance, digital technology training for all ages, and seminars on education and countering disinformation.

The department informed that the Unity Center in Berlin will be administered by the "National Unity Agency" LLC.

As reported, on January 24, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the creation of the National Unity Agencya structure designed to implement initiatives for interaction with the Ukrainian community and NGOs in host countries. It was noted that the Agency would open departments in key host countries, primarily Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, with "Unity Hubs" established in their capitals. Functions of a Unity Hub include educational and cultural spaces, language courses, return consultants, consular services (as an external service), banking and postal services, economic opportunity coordinators, SE "Document," youth programs, a Ukrainian cafe, a business hub, coworking, and a UA Job Center.

In February 2025, a joint declaration of intent was signed to open the first Ukrainian Unity Hub in Berlin, with plans for additional hubs in Munich and Dusseldorf. In March 2025, declarations were signed for hubs in France and Spain.

In early November 2025, the Ministry of Social Policy announced that Ukrainian Unity Centers would open in Spain (Torrevieja, Alicante province), Germany (Berlin), and the Czech Republic (Prague) in 2025. Furthermore, it was previously noted that Ukraine is interested in opening Unity Centers in Poland (Warsaw), Austria (Vienna), and Sweden (Stockholm).
A file photo of Amber Lahue, 22, of New London. Lahue was sentenced to 4 years in prison for driving drunk and crashing in Ledyard, causing the death of Aaron Baldwin, court records show. Ledyard Police Department/Contributed

NEW LONDON  A city woman has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed her passenger in Ledyard in 2024, officials say.

According to court documents, 25-year-old Amber Lahue will serve to an effective prison sentence of 4 years, followed by 5 years probation after pleading no contest to second-degree vehicular manslaughter. Her sentencing was at the state Superior Court in New London on Tuesday.

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Police said Lahue was arrested in May 2024 after an investigation into a fatal crash that happened on Feb. 22 of that year.

The passenger killed was identified in the warrant as 27-year-old Aaron E. Baldwin, a New London father of two who worked as a line cook at the Mystic Marriot, according to his obituary.

According to her arrest warrant, a Ledyard officer had pulled over Lahue on Route 12 near Oakridge Drive for speeding at 9:25 p.m. As the officer was completing her misdemeanor summons, it said, Lahue took off at a high rate of speed.

Police pursued Lahue with his lights and sirens off as she passed back and forth over the double-yellow line, the warrant said. She had crossed into the southbound lane and was attempting to get back into the correct lane when she lost control and went off the shoulder, striking a nearby boulder.

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The warrant said Baldwin was trapped in the backseat and died after being transported to William W. Backus Hospital.
A Lebanese civil defense worker, right, stands with a resident at the site of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike a day earlier in central Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Hassan Ammar/AP Displaced families extend their hands while waiting for donated food beside the tents they use as shelters after fleeing Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Emilio Morenatti/AP A Lebanese civil defense worker looks upward near the site of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike a day earlier in central Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Hassan Ammar/AP Men inspect the damage to their home destroyed in an Israeli airstrike a day earlier in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Emilio Morenatti/AP People residing in an underground shelter pack up their belongings as they prepare to leave after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, April 9, 2026. Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

With the ceasefire in Iran still shaky, U.S. Vice President JD Vance headed Friday to Pakistan for high-level talks with Iranian officials, as Israel and Hezbollah traded fire and Tehran maintained its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Many issues could derail the truce and the negotiations aimed at making a broader deal to stop the fighting permanently.

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Earlier, President Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the two-week ceasefire over Iran's continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, while Kuwait accused Iran and its proxies of launching drone attacks despite the ceasefire.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard denied launching attacks Thursday night on Persian Gulf states.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a potential boost to ceasefire efforts in the region when he said he had approved direct talks with Lebanon. The Lebanese government has not responded as of Friday morning.

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Talks between the United States and Iran on a resolution to the conflict are expected to start Saturday in Islamabad, with the White House saying Vice President JD Vance would lead the U.S. delegation.

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Here is the latest:

Pakistan sets up state-of-art media center for talks

Pakistans government has set up a state-of-the-art media center to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.

Tarar told reporters the facility at the Jinnah Convention Center offers high-speed internet and a range of free services to support media coverage. Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media center and a hotel in the citys main shopping mall.

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Pakistan has announced visa-on-arrival for journalists and official delegations traveling from the United States and Iran for the talks, which have been dubbed the Islamabad talks.

Inside the media center, rows of workstations equipped with laptops and charging points allow reporters to file stories. Large screens broadcast major domestic and international television channels. The facility also has designated areas for live stand-ups, press briefings and interviews.

Islamabad appears deserted before Iran war talks

The streets of Pakistans normally bustling capital were deserted Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of talks between high-level officials from Iran and the U.S. to end their nearly six-week war. Pakistani authorities urged Islamabad residents to stay inside, leading the city to look like it was under curfew.

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation, which was expected to arrive before noon.

Iranian negotiators, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, arrived late Friday.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the conflict was entering a difficult phase as the sides try to shift from a temporary pause in fighting to a more lasting settlement. He said they were at a make-or-break moment.

Iran delegation leader posts photos of killed schoolchildren

Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted a photo on X of him looking at portraits of children killed in a U.S. missile strike on a school, saying they were his companions on a flight to Pakistan for peace talks.

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The photo showed Qalibaf looking at four headshots of children, each placed on an airplane seat with a backpack and a flower.

Qalibaf is leading Irans delegation to the negotiations with the U.S.

A preliminary U.S. military investigation into the strike said outdated intelligence likely led the U.S. to bomb the school. The Feb. 28 strike killed over 165 people, many of them children, in the opening hours of the conflict.

Trump expresses confidence ahead of Islamabad talks

I wished him luck. Hes got a big thing, Trump said of his parting message to Vance before he began his journey to lead the presidents delegation for the critical talks. Well find out whats going on. Theyre militarily defeated.

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Trump, who spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One to head to a Friday evening fundraiser in Charlottesville, Virginia, also reiterated his confidence that the Strait of Hormuz will soon be opened up.

And now were going to open up the Gulf with or without them, Trump said referring to the Iranians, who have effectively shuttered the critical waterway. But thatll be open.

Senior Iranian leader voices support for his countrys negotiators

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, in a post on X, wished Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf success as he leads his countrys delegation to high-level peace talks with the U.S. in Pakistan.

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Aref said we are supporters of the negotiators, just as they were supporters of the military in the war.

Pakistan says high-powered Iranian delegation arrives for peace talks

Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a high-powered delegation from Iran, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad late Friday to participate in the peace talks.

In a statement, the ministry said the delegation was received at the airport by Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

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Dar expressed hope that the parties would engage constructively and reiterated Pakistans desire to continue facilitating efforts toward a lasting and durable solution to the conflict

Lockheed Martin announces $4.7B contract for Patriots

The U.S. defense contractor announced the Pentagon order on Friday for the critical interceptors that have been in heavy use since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran six weeks ago.

The Associated Press reported last month that a sizable number of U.S. Patriot air defense missiles have been moved from Europe toward the Middle East as Washington diverts resources toward its war on Iran. The shift has left concerning gaps in Europes air defenses against Russia.

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Lockheed in a statement said the order is part of the companys agreement to increase production of the Patriot interceptor from 620 last year to 2,000 per year by 2030, a deal the defense contractor and the Pentagon signed in January.

Lebanon and Israel will start direct talks next Tuesday, says Lebanese president

The statement from Joseph Aouns office comes after Lebanon and Israels ambassadors to the U.S. held a call with Washingtons ambassador to Lebanon to discuss the terms of the negotiations, slated for next Tuesday in Washington D.C. with State Department mediating.

Beirut is keen to hold direct talks to end the ongoing war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, but under a ceasefire or truce similar to that of Washingtons talks with Iran.

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Israel announced that it authorized direct talks after Lebanons request, but did not immediately issue a statement following the call.

Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the development, though has opposed direct talks with Israel.

During the past 40 days of war, more than 1,900 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes and more that 1 million others have been displaced, according to government figures.

Iranian delegation arrives in Pakistan for talks with the US

The Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived early Saturday in Islamabad, Iranian state TV reported.

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The delegation included security, political, military, economic and legal teams. The report said negotiations will begin only if the other side accepts Irans preconditions.

Hours earlier, Qalibaf posted on social media that two points that he said had been mutually agreed on  a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets  have yet to be implemented.

These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin, he wrote.

 Read more

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UK to hold Strait of Hormuz meeting next week

Britain will convene another planning meeting next week of countries aiming to restore free movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

A British official with knowledge of the planning said the meeting will involve senior officials and will stress opposition to the idea of tolls being charged for passage through the waterway.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss government plans.

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The meeting follows an April 2 foreign ministers call involving about 40 countries, and a military planning meeting this week attended by about 30 nations.

The talks have discussed using diplomatic and economic pressure, such as sanctions, on Iran to reopen the key oil route, as well as military plans for ensure ships safety once the conflict ends.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said its essential to have a viable plan to reopen the strait and get the global economy moving again.

- Jill Lawless

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Lebanon says over 1,900 killed in over a month of Israel-Hezbollah war

In its latest update, the Lebanese health ministry said at least 357 people were killed and more than 1,223 wounded in widespread Israeli strikes on central Beirut and other areas on Wednesday, noting the toll is not final as rescue and identification efforts continue.

Wednesday marked the deadliest day in more than five weeks of renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Among the 1,953 killed, more than 102 were women, over 130 were children, and at least 57 were paramedics, according to the health ministry.

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More than 6,300 people have been wounded, the ministry added, while over 1 million people have been displaced by the war.

Pakistan prime minister says US, Iranian delegations set for peace talks in Islamabad

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday that delegations from Iran and the United States are arriving in Islamabad to take part in talks aimed at ensuring durable peace in the region.

In a televised address to the nation, Sharif described the current stage as a make-or-break moment.

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He thanked the leadership of Iran and the United States for agreeing to a ceasefire and holding peace talks at his request.

He said his government would do its best to ensure the success of the peace process and urged citizens to pray for the talks to succeed.

Ship tracking platform says Strait of Hormuz traffic remains minimal

The Athens-based Marine Traffic said on Friday that only 14 vessels, half of which were laden, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire was declared on April 8, according to a statement on X.

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Vessels exiting the Persian Gulf accounted for 70% of all crossings.

Sanctioned or shadow-fleet-linked vessels accounted for nearly two-thirds of all crossings, added the statement.

Before the conflict, over 100 ships passed through the strait each day  many carrying oil to Asia.

Starmer praises Pakistans role in US-Iran ceasefire efforts in call with Sharif

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday received a phone call from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who praised Pakistans diplomatic efforts in facilitating a U.S.-Iran ceasefire and hosting peace talks in Islamabad.

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A statement from Sharifs office said both leaders stressed the importance of ensuring the ceasefire holds and of creating conditions for lasting peace and stability in the region.

Spains leader reiterates call for EU to suspend association agreement with Israel

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday once again called for the European Union to scuttle its association agreement with Israel over its military actions in the Middle East, which he said violate international law.

Its clear that it is trampling on and violating many of the articles of that association agreement, especially those related to respect for international law and humanitarian law, Sanchez said at the European Pulse Forum in Barcelona. Let us not allow a new Gaza in Lebanon, he said.

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Sanchezs remarks came after Israel expelled Spain from a U.S.-led group that manages humanitarian aid to Gaza, though he did not directly address the decision.

Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on X wrote that he had briefed U.S. officials on the decision to expel Spain beforehand, due to the countrys obsessive anti-Israel bias under Sanchezs leadership.

Trump says Iran has no cards except Strait of Hormuz ahead of Islamabad talks

The president offered his assessment in a Truth Social post as Vice President JD Vance is flying to Islamabad for talks that aimed at finding a permanent end to the conflict.

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The Iranians dont seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways, Trump posted. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!

To be certain, Irans effective shuttering of the waterway, which about 20% of the worlds oil normally flows through, has had major impact on the U.S. and global economy.

In the United States, consumer prices rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department reported Friday The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades spurred the sharp spike in inflation.

Iran foreign minister urges US to uphold ceasefire commitments on Lebanon

Abbas Araghchi stressed in a call Friday with Tehrans incoming ambassador to Beirut the need to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon and called on Washington to adhere to its commitments in this regard, according to a post on Araghchis Telegram channel.

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Lebanon had declared Irans ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, persona non grata and ordered him to leave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon, but said a ceasefire there is not on the table.

Israeli strikes continued Friday, hitting multiple areas across southern Lebanon.

Irans parliament speaker cites more conditions ahead of negotiations with US

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf claimed in a social media post Friday that two of the mutually agreed-upon points between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets ahead of the negotiations.

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These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin, he wrote. He did not elaborate.

Iran has not yet said who it will send to the ceasefire talks in Pakistan that are expected to start Saturday.

Iranian ambassador to Tunisia says Iran is in armed negotiations with the US

We remain cautious, and our hands remain on the trigger because we do not trust them, Ambassador Mir Massoud Hosseinian told The Associated Press on Friday.

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He blamed the U.S. and Israel for reported ceasefire violations in the Iran war and said Iran is prepared to defend itself should there not be a satisfactory outcome in the next two weeks.

He said Iran has been caught in a vicious cycle of negotiations, war, ceasefire and another war for years, adding: We want to break this cycle.

Hosseinian also said the administration of the Strait of Hormuz after the war will inevitably differ from before.

He added that Irans right to enrich uranium is not negotiable, although the level of enrichment is, framing his countrys nuclear program as a necessary part of its future energy security.

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Kuwait says National Guard personnel wounded in Iranian aerial attacks

Kuwaits army said Friday it had engaged with seven Iranian drones over the last 24 hours. In a statement on the social platform X, it said the attacks targeted vital facilities affiliated with the National Guard.

The post did not mention the number of injuries, adding only that they were in stable condition.

The attacks resulted in significant material damage, the military said.

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Kuwait earlier had said it faced a drone attack Thursday night that it blamed on Iran and its militia allies in the region.

Irans IRGC denied launching an assault.

Why Pakistan has emerged as a mediator between US and Iran

It was initially seen as an unexpected mediator, but this week Pakistan has established itself as a key player in bringing Iran and the United States to the negotiating table. Now, it is awaiting representatives from both countries to meet in Islamabad, as the world watches to see whether the talks could lead to an end to the war.

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Since Washington and Tehran agreed to an initial 14-day ceasefire on Tuesday, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the powerful army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have been sharing messages about conversations with world leaders, highlighting their role as mediators.

Islamabad isnt often called on to act as an intermediary in high-stakes diplomacy, but its stepped into the role this time for a number of reasons, both because it has relatively good ties with both Washington and Tehran and because it has a lot at stake in seeing the war resolved.

 Read more

Security forces move swiftly to lock down key parts of Islamabad

Commandos, police and other security personnel set up barricades as dusk fell along routes linking the airport to the city, particularly those expected to be used by U.S. and Iranian delegations arriving for high-stakes talks.

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During their stay in Pakistan, the two delegations will also meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The delegations arriving in Islamabad are scheduled to stay at a hotel where negotiations are expected to take place on Saturday.

Ahead of the talks, Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reviewed security arrangements for the delegations.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said Islamabads Red Zone would be completely sealed on Saturday, with entry restricted to authorized individuals.

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Multiple rounds of sirens heard across northern Israel

Sirens signaling incoming fire from the militant Hezbollah group sounded in repeated waves across northern Israel on Friday, including in border communities and areas such as Nahariya and Karmiel.

The Israeli military said around 30 projectiles were fired toward the area since morning.

Trumps tenuous Iran exit plan isnt healing Republican rifts exposed by the war

President Donald Trumps search for an off-ramp from the war with Iran is getting bumpy inside his Republican Party.

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In the decade since Trumps America First movement rose to power by rejecting military intervention, his coalition has rarely been tested the way it is now. Trumps exit efforts  first through threats of annihilation, then with a ceasefire that is proving precarious  are doing little to paper over tensions that have festered since the war began six weeks ago.

Despite the growing criticism, Republican leaders in Congress were largely silent. Many were privately uncomfortable with Trumps threats on social media and were concerned about how the war would play out, especially in an election year.

But with Congress on recess for the opening two weeks of April, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have offered little public reaction to Trumps moves.

 Read more

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Israel bans Spain from Gaza peace monitoring body

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that the Spanish government will be cast out of a U.S.-led coordination center in charge of maintaining peace in Gaza, citing Spains alleged anti-Israeli bias amid the war with Iran.

Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us. Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world, he said in a video statement.

The Kiryat Gat-based Civil-Military Coordination Center was established in October 2025 as a multinational body charged with monitoring implementation of the peace agreement sponsored by Trump in Gaza.

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Those who attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes will not be our partners regarding the future of the region, added Netanyahu.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been one of the most outspoken critics of the war on Iran, which he denounced as illegal, reckless and unjust.

Lebanons state-run news agency reports 13 State Security officers killed

The NNA news agency reported that Israeli warplanes on Friday struck near a State Security agency office in the southern town of Nabatieh, causing extensive damage at the government building. It said others were wounded in the strike and were being transferred to hospitals, without specifying how many.

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At least 13 State Security officers were killed, according to a statement from the agency.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the specific strike. Its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, claimed that Israel had hit more than 120 Hezbollah militant sites in the past 24 hours.

Hezbollah has claimed a series of air and ground attacks against Israel in the last day after initially holding fire following news of the wider ceasefire deal in the Iran war.

Ceasefire deal brings relief to some in Iran, but Trumps threat still echoes

Iranians have welcomed a fragile ceasefire deal after weeks of Israeli and American bombardment, but many fear the war is far from over. For some, there is also a sense of whiplash, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to wipe out their civilization hours before he reversed course and agreed to an uneasy truce.

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The ceasefire that took effect Wednesday has brought relative quiet to the capital, Tehran, after more than a month of heavy strikes that targeted mainly government and security buildings but also destroyed many homes.

Everyone Ive spoken with, its given them a new life, a university student told The Associated Press in an audio note via WhatsApp, speaking on condition of anonymity over fears for his safety.

AP spoke to half a dozen residents, despite an ongoing nationwide internet shutdown imposed during mass protests before the war.

 Read more

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Japan urges Israel and Hezbollah to reach a diplomatic settlement

Japan said it is deeply concerned about escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon, urging all parties to immediately stop hostilities and comply with international law.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, in a statement Friday, expressed Japans serious concern over Israels ground operation against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, calling for respect for Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Vance says he believes negotiations with Iran will be positive

Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, the vice president said, Were looking forward to the negotiation. I think its gonna be positive. Well, of course, see.

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He cited Trump in saying, If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, were certainly willing to extend the open hand.

But Vance also added, If theyre gonna try and play us, then theyre gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

Vance also said that Trump gave us some pretty clear guidelines on how talks should go, but didnt elaborate.

The vice president did not take questions from reporters traveling with him.

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Some Israelis think Israel should finish with Hezbollah before deal with Lebanon

In the streets of downtown Jerusalem, some Israelis said they believe peace with Lebanon is not possible before a decisive victory against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

I think we should finish with them. After we finished with Hezbollah, we can try and make peace with Lebanon, said Yaniv Matsree.

A little over a month of hiding in shelters has inconvenienced the lives of many Israelis, they said, but has done little to change their views of the war with Hezbollah that has killed more than 1,850 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanons health ministry.

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For some Israelis, their country should press on to evade future threats from the militant group.
First lady Melania Trump arrives to speak with reporters Thursday, April 9, 2026, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  First lady Melania Trumps seemingly out-of-the-blue statement Thursday denying affiliation with disgraced sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein left people still wondering Friday what prompted the public declaration at a time when the case had receded from the spotlight.

Reading prepared remarks at the White House on Thursday, Melania Trump said she and her attorneys were fighting back against unfound and baseless lies in regards to her connections to the late financier, a convicted sex offender who leveraged connections to the rich, powerful and famous to recruit his victims and cover up his crimes.

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The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today, she said. The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.

The first lady didn't take questions from the press after her statement, leaving many with questions:

Why now?

It's unclear.

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The message came as her husband, President Donald Trump, and his administration had finally seemed to move past more than a year of controversy surrounding Epstein, especially as the Iran war had become all-consuming in Washington.

The first ladys comments almost assuredly will serve to push the story back into the political spotlight even as the president urged the public and media to move on from the case.

Who was Melania Trump responding to?

Melania Trump seemingly referenced a brief email from 2002 with the sender and recipient blacked out. It begins, Dear G! and ends Love, Melania, and compliments the recipient on a magazine article about JE.

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I know you are very busy flying all over the world, it says. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY.

That email was sent the same month that a New York Magazine article was published about Epstein in which Trump called him a terrific guy.

Melania Trump said Thursday that she was not friends with Epstein or his confidant and onetime girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, but was in overlapping social circles in New York and Florida. She described an email reply she sent to Maxwell as casual correspondence without elaborating.

My polite reply to her email doesnt amount to anything more than a trivial note, she said.

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Among other documents released was an image from Epsteins home showing a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers. In that image, inside a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Donald Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Maxwell.

Melania Trump noted Thursday that several individuals and organizations have had to apologize for their lies about me. Of the examples she cited, the most recent was in October. In that case, book publisher HarperCollins UK apologized to the first lady and retracted passages from a book suggesting Epstein played a role in introducing her and Donald Trump.

What did President Trump say about his wifes comments?

MS NOW reporter Jacqueline Alemany said on social media Thursday that President Trump told her he did not know anything about Melania Trumps statement about Epstein.

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The White House press office did not respond to requests for comment.

Nick Clemens, a spokesperson for the first lady, said the West Wing was aware beforehand that she was making a statement. But he deferred to the West Wing on whether the content of what Melania Trump planned to say was known.

In recent weeks President Trumps public appearances have largely centered around the war in Iran.

What is the status of the release of the Epstein files?

The first lady brought Epstein back to the forefront months after federal authorities released millions of pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted after months of public and political pressure. It requires the government to open its files on the late financier and Maxwell.

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Lawmakers initially complained when the Justice Department made only a limited release, but officials said more time was needed to review additional documents that were discovered and to ensure no sensitive information about victims was released.

Did anyone get punished after the files were made public?

Several key leaders in Europe have been punished for their affiliation with Epstein but there have been no comparable prosecutions in the U.S.

Most notably, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor  Britain's former Prince Andrew  was arrested in February following the most recent trove of files that were released. Mountbatten-Windsor's name frequently appeared in the files, depicting a close relationship with Epstein.

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But his arrest didn't have anything to do with sexual impropriety. Instead, he was arrested for allegedly sharing confidential trade information with Epstein.

Melania Trump called on Congress to hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Epsteins crimes, with a chance to testify before lawmakers and have their stories entered into the congressional record.

Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, she said. Then, and only then, we will have the truth.
This photo illustration shows how the heat shield works on a space craft as it reenter's Earth's atmosphere. After the Artemis I mission ended with a damaged heat shield, a former NASA astronaut fears the return module for the Artemis II mission may be at risk. Marc Ward/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images/Stocktrek Images

A former NASA astronaut fears the heat shield on the Orion return module that will bring the Artemis II astronauts home Friday evening may not be able to withstand the intense heat of reentry and put the lives of those on board at risk.

According to multiple reports, including coverage from CNN and NBC News, Dr. Charlie Camarda says he and an a group of former NASA employees do not believe NASA should not have sent the Artemis II astronauts into space CNN writes, Camarda said he walked away unconvinced the agency understood how the cracks in the heat shield could grow or cause a failure in flight.

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Camarda is a heat shield expert and was a member of Discoverys STS-114 mission in 2005  the first Space Shuttle mission after the Columbia disaster in 2003.

To explain it more directly, Camarda is fearful after the module from the Artemis I mission returned with the heat shield cracked and damaged.

After the Artemis I mission in 2022  an uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule  NASA found unexpected damage to the spacecrafts heat shield, NBC News writes. An agency investigation later found that part of the heat shields material had cracked during atmospheric re-entry, 'causing some charred material to break off in several locations.'

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The investigation determined that gases did not vent properly in the heat shields outer material, allowing pressure to accumulate, which caused the observed damage.

That same heat shield is what the Artemis II astronauts will rely in to return to Earth, and to make it a safe and successful return, NASA has reportedly adjusted the Orion modules entry conditions and trajectory.

Artemis II astronauts are expected to splashdown Friday evening off the California coast near San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT.

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Here's how Friday's events are set to unfold, according to NASA:
Oxygen revisits the killing of St. Louis teacher Jocelyn Peters. Ajax9/Getty Images

A St. Louis murder case is back in the national spotlight after Oxygens A Plan to Kill latest episode featured the 2016 killing of teacher Jocelyn Peters.

Peters, a 30-year-old third-grade teacher who was seven months pregnant, was killed while sleeping in her St. Louis apartment.

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A single gunshot wound through her eye A potato was used to silence the gun, retired St. Louis police Detective Mark Biondolino said in the episode.

Investigators said there were no signs of forced entry, describing the killing as a calculated act.

She was sound asleep and just ambushed in her own bed, one investigator said.

Peters was in a relationship with Cornelius Green, a principal at Carr Lane Visual & Performing Arts Middle School. The two met while working in St. Louis Public Schools at Mann Elementary.

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While the relationship appeared positive to family, investigators later uncovered that Green was involved with multiple women, including his wife, who did not know about Peters or the pregnancy.

According to investigators, Green made attempts to end the pregnancy before ultimately arranging Peters' killing.

He arrived at the conclusion that Jocelyn Peters was a liability, forensic psychologist Rod Hoevet said.

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Green initially claimed he was out of town in Chicago and told a 911 dispatcher, It looks like my girlfriends been shot in the head.

But surveillance footage showed a car matching his vehicle returning to Peters' apartment around 2:59 a.m. and leaving less than an hour later.

Police say Green orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot, recruiting his friend Phillip Cutler and providing access to his car and to Peters' apartment.

Phone records placed Culter near the scene. Investigators believe he later disposed of the weapon near the Mississippi River.

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Authorities also found internet searches related to abortion methods on Greens devices. Days before the killing, records show Green and Peters went to an Aldi store, where they purchased potatoes prosecutors say were later used to silence the gun.

Greens behavior during questioning raised further suspicion.

He became irate and refused consent to search his vehicle, Biondolino said.

At another point during questioning, while alone in the room, Green grabbed a piece of paper from a notepad and crumbled it up and swallowed it.

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Investigators also believed Green stole $2,700 from his school to pay for the killing.

I do not believe this poor woman ever knew what hit her, St. Louis police Sgt. Brian McGlynn said.

Green and Cutler were arrested in 2016 and later convicted. Both are serving life sentences.

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Vehicles move easily through the new roundabout at the intersection of Keebler Road and Illinois Route 162 in Maryville. Don Munsch/The Intelligencer A pickup eases through the new roundabout at Keebler Road and Illinois Route 162 in Maryville. Don Munsch/The Intelligencer

The roundabout at the intersection of Illinois 162 and Keebler Road in Maryville opened April 9.

Construction began last spring. In January, Mayor Wayne White said the project was expected to be finished by early summer.

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This milestone marks the culmination of more than a decade of planning, collaboration, and commitment to improving public safety and traffic flow within the community, a village of Maryville news release stated. The release said the village worked closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation, neighboring communities, Juneau Associates Inc., P.C. Engineering Firm and other stakeholders on the project.

The effort grew out of a fatal crash on July 31, 2015, that killed Abigail Abby McElroy, according to the release.

The project became a top priority for local and state leaders in the years that followed, the release said. A memorial plaque has been installed at the roundabout in Abbys honor.

White said in January the intersection was selected for safety improvements because of its history and risks to drivers.

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According to the release, the roundabout is designed to improve safety by reducing vehicle speeds and lowering the likelihood of severe crashes. Village officials also said it should ease congestion and improve traffic flow at one of Maryvilles busiest intersections.

Today represents not only the completion of a major infrastructure project, but also a meaningful step forward in our ongoing mission to protect the lives of our residents and visitors, White said in the release. This roundabout stands as a lasting tribute to Abby McElroy and reflects what can be accomplished when communities come together with a shared purpose.

The total cost estimate for the roundabout was $2,393,750, according to village administrator Tonya Flannery. She said the state is paying 90% of the cost, with the remaining 10% coming from the county. Maryville covered the engineering costs.
Photo: https://t.me/MinDevUA

A total of 188,085 Ukrainian families had received compensation for damaged or destroyed housing under the state eVidnovlennia (eRecovery) compensation program as of the morning of April 10, for a total of UAH 82.2 billion, the Communities and Territories Development Ministry said on Friday.

"Of these, more than 136,400 families received compensation for damaged housing totaling UAH 13.2 billion. We remind that this type of compensation includes two categories  payments for minor repairs (category A) and major repairs (category B). The average compensation amounts under these categories were UAH 70,100 and UAH 341,600 respectively," the ministry said.

In addition, more than 50,500 families received housing certificates worth a total of UAH 67.8 billion to buy homes in place of those completely destroyed.

"More than 29,000 families have already purchased new housing, including more than 10,000 families of internally displaced persons," the ministry said.

Payments for rebuilding on one's own land, launched at the beginning of 2025, are also continuing.

"A total of 767 families received first-tranche payments worth UAH 917 million. Another 267 families have already received second-tranche payments totaling UAH 326.2 million," the ministry said.

As reported, the eVidnovlennia service and the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property are being implemented by the Communities and Territories Development Ministry and the Digital Transformation Ministry as part of the UK DIGIT project, carried out by Eurasia Foundation and funded by UK Dev. The project's partner is the East Europe Foundation.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, by Resolution No. 353 dated March 20, 2026, has launched a pilot project to install backup power systems in apartment buildings in Kyiv, with applications for participation open until April 15.

The aim of the pilot project is to ensure electricity supply for life-support systems in apartment buildings during emergency and scheduled outages. Buildings will be able to install generators, battery systems, inverters and other equipment to keep critical systems operating without interruption.

Buildings taller than nine floors may participate, subject to a decision by co-owners (a meeting of an Association of co-owners of an apartment building, housing cooperative or manager) and provided there is technical feasibility to install such equipment.

Naftogaz Bioenergy-A LLC has been designated the customer for the construction and/or installation of independent backup power systems in Kyiv apartment buildings under the pilot project.

The resolution significantly simplifies implementation of the project, particularly in terms of obtaining backup power systems and carrying out construction work. Design and construction under the pilot project may, at the customer's discretion, be carried out simultaneously. Buildings selected for the project are to have the equipment installed by November 1, 2026.

An important point is that financing is to come from the state budget and other sources, but after installation the equipment will be transferred from a state enterprise on lease to a municipal enterprise, and then subleased at the building level. From the moment the lease and/or sublease agreement is signed, responsibility for operation, safekeeping and maintenance of the property, as well as the risks of accidental destruction or damage, will rest with the lessee and/or sublessee.

Experts interviewed by Interfax-Ukraine said the very tight deadlines set by the resolution, with April 15 as the application deadline, significantly limit the number of possible participants. They said that under the current procedure only about 100 participants are likely to manage to hold meetings and collect more than 50% of co-owners' votes in time. If the application period were extended by another month, the number could rise to about 1,000.

Participants in the pilot project include the Development Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Economy Ministry, the Treasury, Kyiv City State Administration and, subject to consent, a state-owned enterprise under the Development Ministry, Naftogaz Ukrainy, a Naftogaz group company - Naftogaz Bioenergy-A LLC, a municipal enterprise designated by Kyiv City State Administration, associations of apartment building co-owners, apartment building managers, and housing construction, housing and service cooperatives.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov held a working call with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius as part of preparations for the next Ramstein-format meeting, scheduled for April 15.

"Together with Germany, we are preparing a number of joint projects: a significant strengthening of air defense; additional financing for drones, in particular in the deep-strike and middle-strike areas; development of joint technological solutions; and new formats for sharing combat data. We are also expanding cooperation in innovative areas, including projects related to laser technologies," Fedorov said on Telegram on Friday.

According to him, Ukraine's priority is to scale up air defense and, together with partners, ensure sustainable and long-term solutions to protect Ukrainian skies.
A prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have served a notice of suspicion on a former deputy head of Kyiv Customs, who was allegedly caught laundering more than $2 million invested in the construction of a hotel complex at the Bukovel resort.

"The official built and commissioned a hotel complex with a restaurant in the village of Polianytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, in 2020-2021. In total, he invested more than $2 million in the construction, funds that had no legal confirmation given the family's official income," SAPO said on Facebook on Friday.

According to the agency, the official registered the real estate and land plots in the name of a relative in order to conceal the assets, but continued to effectively control the business.

"It has been documented that in 2020-2025 he received official income from the hotel's operations, which helped finally legalize the unconfirmed funds," SAPO said.

His actions have been classified under Part 3 of Article 209 of Ukraine's Criminal Code  legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means. The charge carries a penalty of eight to 12 years in prison, a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years, and confiscation of property.
Why China is supercharging high-quality development of its service sector

Xinhua) 08:20, April 10, 2026

A teacher plays with children at a kindergarten in Beijing, capital of China, April 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Han)

* Advancing the high-quality, efficient development of the service sector is vital to building a modern industrial system, a key strategic priority for the country over the next five years.

* Fostering a stronger and more efficient service sector is crucial to boosting domestic demand, improving people's quality of life and creating jobs.

* China is making the service sector a key focus in expanding high-standard opening up, attracting high-quality global service providers to deepen their presence in the domestic market and sharing development opportunities with countries worldwide.

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China is moving to foster more "China Services" brands and promote high-quality development across its service sector, as policymakers seek to empower manufacturing, expand domestic demand and create jobs.

It has been stressed that more efforts will be made to advance producer services toward greater specialization and the higher end of the value chain, and foster high-quality, diverse and accessible consumer services.

The added value of the service sector has accounted for half of the national economy for 11 consecutive years. The sector is projected to exceed 100 trillion yuan (about 14.56 trillion U.S. dollars) during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), according to official estimates. Beyond underpinning stable growth at home, its expansion is also expected to create fresh opportunities for global businesses.

China's new five-year blueprint calls for improving the sector's quality, efficiency and competitiveness, underscoring its role in supporting industrial upgrading, meeting people's livelihood needs and driving job growth.

The service sector performed strongly in 2025, with its added value exceeding 80 trillion yuan for the first time and accounting for 57.7 percent of China's gross domestic product. It contributed 61.4 percent of economic growth last year, up 3.7 percentage points from the previous year.

SUPPORTING INDUSTRIAL UPGRADING

At a humanoid robot data training center in Beijing's Shijingshan District, more than 100 employees work in close coordination across roles ranging from trainers and data input reviewers to robot maintenance engineers, helping robots grow smarter through repeated, data-intensive training.

A staff member trains a robot at the Robot Data Training Center in Shougang Park, Shijingshan District, Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

The scene underscores how producer services are increasingly embedded in advanced manufacturing, accelerating the integration of modern services with high-end industry and providing sustained momentum for China's industrial upgrading.

Experts say that advancing the high-quality, efficient development of the service sector is vital to building a modern industrial system, a key strategic priority for the country over the next five years.

Industry analysts estimate that the software and information services sector will maintain average annual growth of around 12 percent over the next five years, while the market size of AI-powered application services is expected to exceed 800 billion yuan.

China's government work report this year, for the first time, highlighted the need to enhance the capacity and quality of the service sector, explicitly calling for the development of producer services such as finance, information technology, modern logistics, intellectual property and inspection and testing.

From central authorities to local governments, China is stepping up efforts to explore concrete pathways for unlocking the service sector's role in fostering new quality productive forces.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is advancing innovation in service-oriented manufacturing, while the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has launched pilot programs to promote closer integration between human resources services and the manufacturing sector.

A robot shows its function of needle threading at the permanent exhibition at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

At the local level, south China's Guangdong Province is accelerating the integration of sci-tech and finance to support innovation-driven enterprises, while Shanghai has introduced the country's first guideline list for producer services in industrial parks.

TAPPING DEMAND, CREATING JOBS

The recent Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai drew more than 230,000 spectators across three days and generated 190 million yuan in ticket revenue, a 35 percent year-on-year increase, offering a vivid glimpse into the rapid growth of consumer service spending.

People watch the Qualifying of Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, east China, March 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

According to experts, fostering a stronger and more efficient service sector is crucial to boosting domestic demand, improving people's quality of life and creating jobs.

Rising incomes and demographic shifts are fueling faster growth in consumer-oriented sectors such as tourism, culture, sports, healthcare, elderly care and education, experts have noted.

In the first two months of this year, China's retail sales of services rose 5.6 percent year on year, significantly outpacing growth in the retail sales of consumer goods. In 2025, service consumption accounted for 46.1 percent of per capita consumption expenditure of urban and rural residents, making it an important engine for expanding domestic demand.

Despite rapid expansion, the sector faces structural bottlenecks. Tickets for popular performances are often sold out within minutes, shortages of skilled service professionals persist, and weaknesses remain in public service provision.

"China's service sector still falls short in terms of quality and efficiency, and there remains significant potential to be tapped," said Shen Danyang, director of the Research Office of the State Council.

This year's government work report has pledged efforts to boost the quality, diversity and accessibility of consumer services.

The National Development and Reform Commission estimates that by 2030, per capita spending on services among urban and rural residents will exceed 18,000 yuan, with service spending potentially accounting for 55 to 60 percent of total household consumption.

New occupations are emerging rapidly as the service sector expands. From livestreaming hosts and delivery couriers to ride-hailing drivers and data analysts, service-related jobs have become part of everyday life. In 2025, the sector accounted for around 50 percent of total employment, underscoring its role as a key driver of job growth.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

China is making the service sector a key focus in expanding high-standard opening up, attracting high-quality global service providers to deepen their presence in the domestic market and sharing development opportunities with countries worldwide.

China's service trade deficit reached 828.72 billion yuan in 2025, driven by steady imports of high-quality services to meet domestic demand, data from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) showed.

This photo shows the Trade in Services Exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

The country has continued to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, while advancing orderly opening up in sectors such as telecommunications, internet, education, culture and healthcare.

In May last year, DeltaHealth HospitalShanghai, a Swire-affiliated facility, was officially unveiled as China's first wholly foreign-owned cardiovascular specialty hospital. The hospital recorded more than 80,000 outpatient and emergency visits over the year.

Jacqueline Jiang, chair of the Chinese mainland at John Swire &Sons, said the constant opening up in China's service sector has brought new development opportunities for foreign-funded enterprises and boosted confidence in deepening engagement with the Chinese market.

Nie Pingxiang, a researcher with the think tank of the MOFCOM, said deeper opening up of the service sector would not only spur upgrades in manufacturing and growth in strategic emerging industries, but also create more room and opportunities for foreign investment in high value-added manufacturing.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Gong Cai drives rural revitalization in county of SW China's Yunnan

People's Daily Online) 09:24, April 10, 2026

Huang Yanhua, a villager, checks dried Gong Cai, a vegetable of the lettuce family, in Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

This year, Huang Yanhua, a villager, planted 8 mu (0.53 hectares) of Gong Cai, a vegetable of the lettuce family, in Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. He expects to earn more than 60,000 yuan ($8,700) from the crop.

"Growing Gong Cai ensures a much steadier income than working as a migrant worker," he said.

He is not alone. A growing number of farmers in the village have found a path to prosperity through this unassuming vegetable, building better lives without having to leave home. But the story began with a bold decision made in 2014.

"Back then, the village had no real industry to speak of. Most young people had gone off to find work elsewhere, and the elderly who stayed behind eked out a living growing traditional crops," recalled Li Yongzeng, who served as Party branch secretary and head of the villagers' committee at the time. "If we wanted things to change, we had to develop an industry."

In 2014, Li took the plunge and decided to try growing Gong Cai.

"Nobody in Yangbi was doing it yet. I went to other places to see how it was done and found that Gong Cai was easy to manage, had a short growing cycle and offered solid returns," he said.

The village has adopted a development model featuring close collaboration among enterprises, cooperatives and farming families. The cooperatives provide seedlings, technical guidance and guaranteed purchases, giving farmers confidence.

The village has also held regular training sessions, guiding farmers through every stage of production  from transplanting and field management to harvesting and processing.

Dong Zhenguo, Party secretary of Yangjiang town, said that by spring this year, Sangbulao village had more than 1,700 mu of Gong Cai under cultivation, involving 280 households  well over half of all families in the village. This year's output value is expected to reach 10 million yuan.

The transformation of Sangbulao is a microcosm of Yangbi county's broader effort to draw on experience gained through the Green Rural Revival Program in east China's Zhejiang Province and advance rural industrial revitalization.

In 2024, Gong Cai from Yangbi was included in China's national list of famous, high-quality, special and new agricultural products.

Today, a complete industrial chain integrating planting, processing and sales has taken shape in the county, benefiting thousands of households. This progress reflects Yunnan Province's drive to develop specialty agriculture and build on the gains of poverty alleviation through rural revitalization.

A villager harvests Gong Cai, a vegetable of the lettuce family, in Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

Freshly peeled and sliced Gong Cai, a vegetable of the lettuce family, dries at a villager's home in Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

A villager cuts Gong Cai, a vegetable of the lettuce family, into strips in Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

Photo shows Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

Photo shows Gong Cai fields in Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

Freshly peeled and sliced Gong Cai, a vegetable of the lettuce family, dries at a villager's home in Sangbulao village, Yangjiang town, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Ecological bird nests installed to protect migratory birds, power lines in Xinjiang

Xinhua) 10:09, April 10, 2026

A drone photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows migratory birds frolicking at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Featuring a dense network of waterways and a sound ecological environment, Altay serves as a crucial habitat for migratory birds. As temperatures rise, the region has entered the peak of its migratory season, with increasing number of bird activities posing challenges to the safe operation of local power transmission lines.

The State Grid Altay Power Supply Company launched a special initiative to address these challenges. Staff members used drones to install 16 ecological bird nests along key transmission lines, preventing birds from nesting on power infrastructure and thus averting potential safety hazards. By balancing ecological conservation with grid maintenance, this approach fosters a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship between regional ecology and the power industry. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on April 8, 2026 shows migratory birds frolicking at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows a staff member of the State Grid Altay Power Supply Company installing a bird nest at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows migratory birds frolicking at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows high-voltage power lines stretching across the marsh wetland at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows a staff member of the State Grid Altay Power Supply Company installing a bird nest at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows a staff member of the State Grid Altay Power Supply Company installing a bird nest with the help of a drone at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 1, 2026 shows staff members of the State Grid Altay Power Supply Company using a drone to transport a bird nest at the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 8, 2026 shows a view of the Ulunggur Lake National Wetland Park in Fuhai County of Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurbek Nurman/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China's Hainan Free Trade Port: a dynamic hub for growth, not a tax haven

09:52, April 10, 2026 By Wang Donghui ( People's Daily

Tourists visit the Luhuitou scenic spot in Sanya, south China's Hainan province. (Photo/Ye Longbin)

The implementation of special customs operations across Hainan Island has significantly accelerated the development of China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). A suite of preferential tax policies supports this momentum, designed to foster investment and industrial growth. However, these incentives raise a pertinent question: could the Hainan FTP become a tax haven?

While the zero-tariff policy offers substantial benefits and appeal, all preferential measures come with clear eligibility criteria. These advantages are not universally accessible; specific conditions must be met.

Take zero-tariff imported vehicles as an example. Rumors previously circulated online suggesting cars could be bought at half price in Hainan, prompting jokes about booking flights to buy cars. In reality, this duty-free policy applies only to transportation and tourism enterprises operating within the FTP.

Qualifying companies must meet compliance requirements. Furthermore, these vehicles must be used for operational purposes: each journey must start or end within the FTP, and their cumulative time on the Chinese mainland cannot exceed 120 days annually.

Hainan residents enjoy access to a wide range of duty-free goods, but policies enforce an annual individual quota of 100,000 yuan (about $14,583). Any purchase exceeding this annual quota or quantity limits is subject to import duties as required. Customs authorities have also emphasized that "quota sharing" and "proxy purchasing for profit" are illegal and will result in legal liability.

Consumers shop in a duty-free mall in Haikou, south China's Hainan province. (Photo/Su Bikun)

These eligibility thresholds prevent policy abuse and provide a clear answer to concerns: the Hainan FTP neither intends nor will it become a tax haven.

What exactly is a tax haven? It generally refers to jurisdictions with extremely low or zero tax rates, lax regulation, and limited transparency, which primarily attract external capital seeking to shift profits and evade taxes. Hainan FTP, in terms of its development positioning, institutional design, and regulatory framework, does not fit this definition.

The core purpose of Hainan's preferential tax policies is to serve the development of the real economy, attract high-end domestic and international production factors, and build a high-level platform for institutional opening up.

Widely noted policies, such as a reduced corporate income tax rate of 15 percent and a capped individual income tax rate of 15 percent, also come with well-defined conditions.

The 15 percent corporate income tax rate applies only to encouraged industries and requires that the enterprise's actual management body be located within Hainan FTP, so it effectively prevents "shell companies" from exploiting policy loopholes. If a company is merely registered in the FTP but any of its production, operations, personnel, accounting, or assets are not based there, it will not be eligible for the preferential treatment.

Similarly, individual income tax incentives are targeted only at high-end and urgently needed talent genuinely required by the FTP. Eligible individuals must fall within specified talent categories, meet recognized standards, and be jointly certified by relevant authorities. In general, taxpayers must reside in the FTP for at least 183 days within a tax year, and their taxable income must be sourced from within the FTP.

In essence, both enterprises and individuals must demonstrate substantive operations and genuine qualifications to benefit. Such precisely targeted incentives unlock policy dividends while safeguarding the fundamental principle of tax fairness.

Sound institutional design must be paired with rigorous enforcement. Hainan FTP has also established a "smart" regulatory system: leveraging big data and artificial intelligence, it can automatically flag abnormal cross-border capital flows and transactions involving high-risk regions; with blockchain technology, key transactions are fully traceable; and financial account information is exchanged with over 100 countries and regions.

A plane takes off from Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China's Hainan province. (Photo/Ye Longbin)

The FTP has built a robust anti-money laundering system integrating institutional oversight, technology, and international cooperation, leaving minimal room for illegal activities. It also continuously strengthens international collaboration to enhance tax transparency and combat regulatory arbitrage.

Since its establishment, Hainan FTP has focused on four pillar industries, namely tourism, modern services, high-tech industries, and tropical high-efficiency agriculture, attracting enterprises and talent dedicated to rooting in the FTP and developing the real economy. The effectiveness of its policies is steadily translating into momentum for high-quality development.

On the 100th day since the launch of island-wide special customs operations, a series of figures were released, highlighting the FTP's strong performance. Offshore duty-free sales reached 15.62 billion yuan, up 27.64 percent year on year; 85,000 new market entities were registered, up 39.87 percent; total imports and exports exceeded 80 billion yuan, up 32.9 percent; and 223,000 visa-free inbound foreign visitors were recorded, an increase of 54 percent year-on-year.

An open and well-regulated Hainan FTP is not a place for opportunistic arbitrage, but a dynamic land where those committed to hard work can pursue their aspirations.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Concerns have been raised about the voters register as the election approaches, while officials maintain that safeguards are in place. How confident are you in the integrity of the register? Share your view in our poll.

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China claims global auto sales lead from Japan, sets sights on quality

14:28, April 10, 2026 By Wang Hui ( People's Daily

Chinese made vehicles are parked at the Yantai Port in east China's Shandong province, ready to be shipped overseas. (Photo/Tang Ke)

In a significant shift for the global automotive industry, Chinese automakers sold nearly 27 million vehicles worldwide in 2025, surpassing Japan's approximate 25 million sales. This marks the first time China has ended Japan's 25-year reign as the global sales leader.

The milestone is underscored by three Chinese companies now ranking among the world's top ten automakers. Notably, BYD secured its position as the global leader in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales for the fourth consecutive year.

The shift has sparked a wave of online comparisons: Nokia watching Apple's rise, or Kodak facing the digital revolution.

However, the rise of Chinese automakers is not simply a story about volume. It signals a generational transformation in the global auto industry, driven by strategic foresight and sustained innovation.

Often described as a "crown jewel" of modern industry, the automotive sector is a key indicator of a country's manufacturing strength.

In the early 20th century, Ford pioneered assembly-line production, shifting the industry's center from Europe to the United States. In the 1970s, following the oil shocks, Japanese automakers built global dominance on fuel efficiency and lean production. By 1980, Japan had overtaken the United States, and since 2000, companies like Toyota, Honda and Nissan set the pace.

Now, momentum has shifted decisively towards China.

As global decarbonization efforts accelerated, Chinese automakers moved quickly into electrification and intelligent technologies. This led to rapid advancements in areas like battery technology, large in-car displays, and urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA).

Photo shows a fast charging facility for new energy vehicles in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu province. (Photo/Geng Yuhe)

Meanwhile, segments of the Japanese auto industry deliberated over the pace of transition, debating whether electric vehicles would fully supplant hybrids.

This divergence in approach led to a widening gap. By 2025, NEVs accounted for nearly 60 percent of China's auto market, compared with less than 3 percent in Japan.

China's rise reflects a long-term strategic vision, not an overnight success. NEVs were designated a priority of the National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program) as early as 2001.

Over more than two decades, policies ranging from purchase subsidies to charging infrastructure development, alongside sustained technological breakthroughs and market cultivation, have laid a solid foundation for the industry.

Furthermore, China's comprehensive industrial chain and vast domestic market provided fertile ground for the rapid innovation and large-scale deployment of NEVs.

Robotic arms weld car frames in a smart factory of Chinese automaker Seres in Liangjiang New Area, southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo/Wang Jiaxi)

This well-integrated ecosystem, encompassing upstream sectors like advanced materials, accelerated battery breakthroughs and enabled significant economies of scale.

This industrial clustering not only fosters coordinated innovation but also significantly reduces costs and shortens development cycles. Some estimates suggest Chinese automakers can develop a new electric vehicle in about 18 months -- more than twice as fast as many Japanese counterparts.

An analyst at Japan's Mizuho Bank attributed this to a combination of advanced technology, cost advantages and rapid R&D capabilities.

Yet, scale does not equate to strength. Despite a sharp drop in net profit in 2025, Toyota continues to generate higher per-vehicle profit -- around 17,000 yuan ($2,470) -- than its Chinese competitors.

Having secured the title of "volume champion," Chinese automakers now face the challenge of becoming "quality champions." Key hurdles remain: building stronger brand premium, navigating regulatory headwinds such as carbon tariffs and data security reviews in Europe and the United States, making charging as seamless as refueling; and advancing autonomous driving from promise to reality.

Each milestone reveals new challenges. However, one fact is undeniable: China's auto industry has moved to the center of the global stage. Its focus is shifting beyond speed and scale to pursuing long-term excellence and enduring quality in the new energy era.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
What are your priorities this year as the new President of the Fondation Geneve Tourisme?

First of all, I am both deeply honored and fully aware of the responsibility that comes with this appointment. After more than twenty years at the helm of SIHH, renamed Watches and Wonders in 2020, I have a strong connection with Geneva, a city where I have lived for 30 years and whose potential I fully appreciate. Geneva has always been a welcoming destination, ideally suited to hosting major congresses and trade shows. As a result, my priority is to strengthen its appeal as a leading business tourism destination, while further developing leisure tourism, which is still too often underestimated. Geneva has unique assets: remarkable diversity, an exceptional natural setting between lake and mountains, and an international dimension that makes it a powerful brand on the global stage. I wish to build on the remarkable work already carried out by the teams in place, 65 people brilliantly led by Adrien Genier, while capitalising on this momentum in an uncertain international context. Tensions in the Middle East are affecting certain tourist flows, and we are already feeling the impact, but they also present an opportunity: to reposition Geneva as a safe destination, capable of attracting new visitors and hosting more events.

To what extent does watchmaking play a role in Geneva's landscape for the Foundation?

Watchmaking is not only one of the pillars of Geneva's appeal. Geneva is the birthplace of watchmaking  the two are inseparable. The Swiss watch industry in the broader sense extends well beyond the canton, yet the entire world regards Geneva as the capital of watchmaking. Watchmaking is therefore one of the strategic drivers of tourism development in Geneva, as reflected in the excellent Geneva Watch Guide we published in collaboration with the Fondation de Haute Horlogerie.

Speaking of foundations, will you be working with the Fondation Watches and Wonders?

Our goal is naturally to maintain relations with all the watchmaking stakeholders in the region: of course the Fondation Watches and Wonders, but also the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, the Fondation du Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve, the Geneva Watch Days Association, and this new World Watch Day initiative. Anything that contributes to raising Geneva's profile internationally will have our attention. That said, I would like to clarify that the mission of Geneve Tourisme is not to organise events, but to welcome visitors and promote the destination, this is enshrined in law.

What is your most memorable moment from your 22 editions leading the SIHH?

One rather particular episode comes to mind: managing the SARS crisis in 2003. At the time, we were facing a virus that was still poorly understood, coming notably from Hong Kong, a key market for watchmaking. The situation was all the more tense as Baselworld, held just before, had closed its international pavilions. The day before the opening of SIHH, I was summoned by the cantonal health authorities: no one really knew what decision to make, as there were no clear guidelines. We were, in a sense, left to our own devices. Despite this uncertainty, we chose to keep the show open, implementing strict health measures: doctors on site, symptom screening, and mandatory mask-wearing. It was a moment of intense pressure, with an immense sense of responsibility. My phone was ringing non-stop, with everyone looking for answers we did not always have. Looking back, I believe we managed the situation with composure and efficiency, working closely with the cantonal and health authorities.

And perhaps a happier memory?

Yes, the very next year! We organised the first watch fair under the name Watches and Wonders in Beijing in 2004, at the heart of the Forbidden City. There was something almost surreal about bringing high watchmaking into dialogue with such a historically significant setting, particularly in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. We even had the honour of welcoming the brother of the last emperor, Pu Ren, a presence that made the moment all the more extraordinary. After several months spent in Beijing under grey skies, the day of the inauguration opened onto a brilliantly blue sky, casting a magical light on the ochre tones of the Forbidden City. It was a moment of pure grace. I carry a very vivid memory of it, tinged with pride: the pride of having helped place watchmaking within such an iconic setting, long before the Olympic Games. And of course, it was the very first Watches and Wonders.

Since then, you have also created the ReLuxury fair. Why not bring it back to Geneva?

It is indeed a question that my associates and I are asked frequently. ReLuxury was born in Geneva in 2022, with the ambition of creating the first fair dedicated to the second life of luxury goods and the circular economy. The concept is built around the many facets of "Re": resale, repair, recycling, practices such as upcycling that extend the lifespan of objects. This approach is entirely in keeping with the DNA of luxury, which is founded on quality, transmission and durability.

Faced with shifting expectations, the industry must today reinvent itself by placing greater value on these principles. After a first edition in Geneva in 2022, followed by a confirmed success in Paris in 2024 with 10,000 visitors over three days, the project is gaining momentum. With this in mind, both an international expansion and a return to Geneva are being seriously considered. We are currently in discussions with our partners to finalise our roadmap. So stay tuned!
A Keeley Construction sign is covered by a duct-taped stop-work order from Alton code enforcement officials on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The stop-work order is dated and signed on April 7, 2026. Ivy Lyons/The Telegraph

Alton Department of Planning and Development officials stated that a stop-work order was issued on Anzu Powers petroleum plant development site on a lot commonly referred to as 10 Cut Street.

The order was posted on April 7, roughly 13 days after community members voiced opposition to the measure at a contentious Alton City Council meeting on March 25. Planning and Development officials said the stop-work order was issued in part because the property lacked the required environmental permits to occupy the lot for the construction of a petroleum plant.

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Under the International Property Maintenance Code, Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to fines established by the authority having jurisdiction.

During the March 25 meeting, Anzu Power spokesperson Orion Bailey gave a presentation to the City Council. Many members of the public and the Council questioned whether Anzu Power had the proper permits and approvals needed to open a petroleum plant.

A Keeley Construction sign is covered by a duct-taped stop-work order from Alton code enforcement officials on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The stop-work order is dated and signed on April 7, 2026. Ivy Lyons/The Telegraph

Aldermen Michael Velloff and Chris Bohn were among those most concerned with a lack of approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the City Council, in part because Anzu Powers website and documentation touted the support of the City of Alton and EPA approval, both of which Bailey could not prove existed when presenting to the City Council.

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"Youre working with the EPA?" Bohn asked. "You dont have EPA approval. ... On your website, it says EPA approved."

As of Thursday, an Illinois EPA spokesperson said Anzu Power has not received formal permit approval, though it's possible Anzu Power submitted a request to begin construction of a petroleum plant.

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Mayor Mike Morrow, wearing the black ball cap, cuts the red ribbon on Friday, April 10, 2026, to mark the relaunch of the Grafton Ferry, now owned by the city but still operated by its previous owner, Calhoun Ferry Co. Steve Whitworth/The Telegraph

GRAFTON  The Grafton Ferry crossed the Mississippi River for the first time Friday under its namesake citys ownership.

The ferry that carries vehicles between Grafton and St. Charles County in Missouri made its first trips since last November, when it was still owned by the Calhoun Ferry Company. The City of Grafton officially took ownership of the vessel in January with the help of an Illinois Department of Transportation grant.

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As per its new schedule, the first trip of the day began at 5 a.m. Friday, but Mayor Mike Morrow and other city officials held a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. to mark the ferrys new era. A crowd of about 50 people gathered for the occasion.

Five years ago, right over there, I was filming for my (first mayoral) campaign, Morrow said just before cutting the ribbon. And I said, We ought to get this (ferry) running full-time. I didnt realize it was going to take five years, and all these people helped. Everyone out here helped.

After the ribbon was cut, the first four motorists to make the next trip from Grafton to Missouri got free passes from the mayor, who had pledged to personally pay for the first 15 vehicles that boarded after the ceremony. A one-way trip now costs $10, or $19 for a round-trip fare.

Grafton Ferry begins daily year-round service for riders

Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow hands a free pass to Carol Sievers, 78, of St. Peters, Missouri, who was the first driver to board the Grafton Ferry heading toward the city after the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark its resumption of service on Friday, April 10, 2026. Steve Whitworth/The Telegraph

The first driver to board for the 10 a.m. trip was Alex Palvo, 42, of Jerseyville, who said he had read in The Telegraph about Morrows offer of a free ride.

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It feels awesome, Palvo said about being first in line. He said he works at the Grafton Oyster Bar and was using the ferry to travel to a warehouse in St. Charles County, something he needs to do monthly.

It would take me an hour to get there without the ferry, Palvo said.

Linda Petroline, 69, of Staunton, said she came for the ceremony with her friend, Ann Ray, also of Staunton, a member of the family that owns the Calhoun Ferry Co., which is continuing to operate the Grafton Ferry under the citys ownership.

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We come down to Grafton to eat and socialize, Petroline said. She said she also uses the ferry for trips to visit her sister in St. Charles.

Ray said she will be working as a deckhand on the ferry three days a week and is happy with the new arrangement.

Its a good deal for the city and for my family, she said about the 20-year agreement between the city and Calhoun Ferry. I know the community has been wanting the ferry running full-time.

Alex Palvo takes in the view as the Grafton Ferry approaches its landing site on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River on Friday, April 10, 2026. Palvo, an employee of the Grafton Oyster Bar, was the first motorist to board the ferry after the 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting and got a free pass from Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow. Steve Whitworth/The Telegraph

Starting Friday, plans call for the ferry to run every day year-round. It will operate from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

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Unlike Palvo, the first driver to use the ferry for the next trip from Missouri to Grafton had no idea she would get a free ride from Morrow.

It was nice, a pleasant surprise, said Carol Sievers, 78, of St. Peters, Missouri.

She said she grew up in the Grafton area and was coming to the city to meet friends with whom she went to school in Jerseyville for lunch. Sievers said she expected to use the ferry regularly.

Visitors, state officials expect a boost for local traffic and tourism

Also making the trip to the Illinois side were Keith Lewis, 71, and his wife, Kim, 70, of St. Charles. The couple moved to Missouri from Atlanta five years ago and said they come to Grafton two or three times a month.

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I love Grafton, Keith Lewis said. Its a neat little river town. We can use the ferry to get here, then take a drive down the (Great) River Road, stop in Alton and make a loop to go back home. Theres so much history in this area.

Lewis said they expected to make the trip to Grafton more frequently with the convenience of the ferry.

This is going to help Grafton and Alton, he said.

Brian McCoy, marine transportation program planner for the Illinois Department of Transportation, was on hand for the first day of the ferrys operations under Graftons ownership.

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Its such a great sight, seeing the big (U.S.) flag on the riverfront and the picturesque mountains (bluffs) of Grafton, he said. Its going to drive a big increase in traffic coming here.
A class action lawsuit that alleges PNC Bank fails to properly deliver release of security interests and/or certificates of titles to customers who have paid off their loans has been filed by plaintiffs represented by two Metro East law firms. Getty Images

EDWARDSVILLE  Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Madison County judge found a registered sex offender to be a sexually violent person, meaning they can be held by the Illinois Department of Human Services after completing their prison sentence.

The case was prosecuted by the Attorney Generals office.

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Madison County Circuit Judge Amy Maher ordered Louis Arnold, 49, to be remanded to the custody of the IDHS. Arnold had been detained in an IDHS Treatment and Detention Facility.

He had originally been charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault in November 2004 in a case out of Granite City.

The history of this offender clearly shows that his release into the community would pose a dangerous threat to the safety of women, Raoul said. I am committed to protecting Illinois families and communities from offenders who have been deemed sexually violent by the court.

According to Raouls office, Arnold lured and raped a woman in an alley while threatening her life with a knife.

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In June 2005, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. During his treatment, Arnold confessed to assaulting approximately 25 other victims, with at least one victim as young as 12.

Under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act, Raouls office files cases seeking to commit offenders to the custody of IDHS. To be committed under the act, a person must have been convicted of a sexually violent offense and suffer from a mental disorder. The Attorney Generals office must also prove that the offender is substantially probable to commit future acts of sexual violence if released from custody. Once committed to IDHS, offenders are reevaluated on a regular basis to determine if they continue to meet the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person.

Deputy Bureau Chiefs Megan Lintker and William Bryant handled the case for Raouls Sexually Violent Persons Bureau.
The world has been riding a rollercoaster for the past few weeks. We have been trying our hand at decoding the Don and failed spectacularly. Perhaps the problem is not POTUS, its his dictionary. So move over Merriam-Webster, Oxford and Cambridge, the book that the world needs right now is the 'Trumpictionary'.

Here are the meanings of some words according to Donald Trump:

Allies: Youd think the word means friends. But there are no friends in Trumps worldview. If you clap on cue, think as he does and do as he thinks, you are an ally. Else, be prepared to be bombed into agreement.

Ceasefire: With Trump, you need to first ask: how many sided? The ceasefire of last Tuesday, he named double-sided and true to his word, the US and Iran have stopped attacking each other. But Israel went on to pound Lebanon. If Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah were to be included, he would have called it a quadrilateral ceasefire .

Immigrant: The word is photochromatic; its meaning changes depending on the colour of the person being referred to. When immigrants are dark-skinned, especially Muslim, they are evil people who deserve to be shipped out of the country. When they are white, especially blonde, they become your wife.

Negotiations: Its where two parties hold a formal meeting to eventually agree with what POTUS has been saying all along. Example of a model negotiator: Pakistan.

F*ck: Trump shocked the world with this word. (We should have seen it coming. American presidents have been free with expletives before.) But Trump is not using it as a swear word; he is using it as a verb. Please excuse. Remember, hes spent such a long time with Jeffrey Epstein on the islands.

Obliterate: You must have thought all along that obliterate means destroy totally. But then, you are literate. As per Trump, when he said he had obliterated Irans nuclear facility, he meant he had seen the place on the staff map. When he means business, he needs to re-obliterate.

Regime change: Its Trumps term for what we Indians know as Maya. Sometimes he wants it, and sometimes he believes he already has it.

Stone Age: Trump threatened to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age  the historical period roughly between 4000 BCE and 2000 BCE, where there were no homes, factories or cities standing. On the other hand, its also a period before President Trump. Now you decide the better option.

Tariff: In your old dictionary, tariffs were part of boring trade transactions. But Trump has weaponised the word and breathed new life and urgency into it. Earlier, to terrify us, he would have to say, Ill send B-52 bombers after you. Now, to get our knees knocking and teeth chattering, all he needs to do is say Tariff.

Ultimatum: The word sounds as if the end is nigh. But in Trumps dictionary, its a synonym for flexi-time. You give an ultimatum, and if the deadline expires, you renew it. If still nothing happens, you just change the subject. Mums the word after ultimatum.

Win-win: This is a Trump original. He has achieved what the gurus of interpersonal relationships say is the holy grail  the kind of conclusion where all parties involved feel they have gained from the engagement. At the end of each of Trumps wars, there are no clear winners or losers. Only a lot of fools counting the damage.
Amid reports that France would not be sharing the source code of the Rafale fighter jet's electronic and electronic warfare systems, India is expected to ensure that the country's homegrown missiles and weapons systems can be integrated into the fighter jets it plans to procure from Dassault Aviation.

Earlier, a French media outlet had claimed that the restriction regarding the source code would limit India's ability to integrate indigenous weapons like the Astra BVRAAM or the Rudram missile without support from the OEM.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

According to a report by Hindustan Times, India will insist on the interface control document (ICD) in the government-to-government contract to procure 114 Rafale aircraft from France under the buy and make deal. The plan is to hardwire ICD into the final contract to procure the jets.

The ICD is an important technical rulebook that defines how a system and sub-systems are connected.

ALSO READ: Indian Air Force may soon have autonomous combat rescue drone that can operate where helicopters fail

In February, the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA)Rafale fighters, the majority of which would be produced in India.

According to the HT report, the defence ministry is expected to issue the RFP or request for proposal to Dassault Aviation in May, and the contract negotiation for the procurement will begin after that.

Meanwhile, the report further said top defence ministry officials confirmed that no country offers proprietary software codes or the source codes to a third country, as these are the intellectual property rights of the OEM (original equipment manufacturer), but the Rafale deal with France remains on track.
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police busted an inter-state terror, arms and espionage module allegedly backed by handlers from Pakistan and its intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

An official said the police uncovered a covert surveillance network involving solar-powered CCTV cameras installed near sensitive military locations across Punjab and Rajasthan.

The operation led to the arrest of 11 people and unearthed a larger conspiracy linked to the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International. The module was operating under direct instructions from Pakistan-based operatives, who were coordinating espionage activities through encrypted communication platforms.

The arrests have averted a potential terror strike, with inputs suggesting that the module was planning attacks on security establishments using grenades and other means, reports PTI.

Apart from espionage, the module was also involved in arms smuggling and reconnaissance of major defence installations, posing a serious threat to national security. Investigations revealed that the accused had installed at least nine solar-powered SIMs in CCTV cameras at strategically significant locations, particularly in areas witnessing frequent movement of Army and paramilitary forces.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

"These locations included Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Patiala and Moga in Punjab, as well as Ambala in Haryana, Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and Bikaner and Alwar in Rajasthan," PTI quoted Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah as saying.

These locations are considered highly sensitive due to regular troop movements, proximity to international borders, and the presence of key Army cantonments and logistical corridors.

The CCTV feeds were being transmitted in real time to Pakistan-based handlers through mobile applications using SIM cards procured on fake identities.

The operation was held in two well-coordinated phases.

The first operation, led by teams of the Northern Range of the Special Cell, resulted in the arrest of six accused from Punjab and Delhi. The police recovered nine CCTV cameras, four pistols, including three foreign-made weapons and 24 live cartridges.

"The second operation, conducted by the Southwestern Range on inputs from Military Intelligence, led to the arrest of five more accused from Punjab who were actively involved in reconnaissance missions and sharing sensitive visuals of Army and BSF installations," a police officer said.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they were lured into the network through monetary incentives generated from cross-border smuggling of arms and narcotics. They were also involved in arranging logistics such as SIM cards, transportation and installation of surveillance equipment at identified locations.

"One of the key accused, identified as Manpreet Singh from Tarn Taran in Punjab, was in direct contact with Pakistan-based handlers and played a central role in coordinating arms deliveries and facilitating communication channels. He had received consignments of foreign-made weapons and distributed them among operatives as per instructions," the officer said.

With agency inputs
In a breakthrough that could reshape the future of family planning, scientists at Cornell University have taken a significant step toward developing a safe, reversible, and non-hormonal male contraceptivelong considered the 'holy grail' in reproductive health research.

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the proof-of-principle study demonstrated that temporarily interrupting a key step in sperm production can halt fertility without causing long-term damage. Conducted over six years in mice, the research focused on disrupting meiosis - the biological process responsible for producing sex cells, showing that sperm production can be stopped and later restored.

This comes at a time when contraceptive failure remains a major contributor to unintended pregnancies globally. Studies across 43 countries estimate that male condoms have a typical-use failure rate of about 5.4%, while traditional methods exceed 13%. Against this backdrop, the absence of a reliable, long-term, and reversible male contraceptive continues to represent a critical gap in global reproductive health.

The science of stopping sperm production

To achieve this, scientists used a compound called JQ1, a small-molecule inhibitor initially developed for research in cancer and inflammatory diseases. While JQ1 itself is not suitable for clinical use due to potential neurological side effects, it has a unique ability to interfere with a crucial stage of meiosis known as prophase 1.

By targeting this stage, researchers were able to demonstrate, for the first time, that directly interrupting meiosis can safely and reversibly shut down sperm production. This marks a shift from previous approaches that largely focused on hormonal pathways or later stages of sperm development.

We're practically the only group that's pushing the idea that contraception targets in the testis are a feasible way to stop sperm production, said Paula Cohen, professor of genetics and director of the Cornell Reproductive Sciences Centre.

The study further confirmed that this interruption does not permanently damage reproductive capacity. Our study shows that mostly we recover normal meiosis and complete sperm function, and more importantly, that the offspring are completely normal, Cohen said.

How fertility can be switched off and restored

At the core of the study is how JQ1 works to temporarily disrupt fertility. The compound interferes with meiosis during prophase 1, causing developing sperm cells to die at that stage. It also blocks the gene activity required for later phases of sperm maturation.

In the experiment, male mice were treated with JQ1 for three weeks. During this period, sperm production stopped completely, and key processes such as chromosome pairing and recombination were disrupted.

However, the most striking finding was the reversibility of this effect. Once the treatment stopped, recovery began almost immediately. Within six weeks, normal meiotic processes resumed, and sperm production returned to healthy levels.

For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH

The researchers then tested fertility by breeding the mice. The results showed that the treated males were able to reproduce successfully, and their offspring were healthy and capable of reproduction themselves.

It shows that we recover complete meiosis, complete sperm function, and more importantly, that the offspring are completely normal, Cohen reiterated.

If adapted for human use, such a contraceptive could potentially be delivered as a periodic injection, perhaps every three months, or through a transdermal patch to maintain effectiveness.

Importantly, the researchers deliberately chose to target meiosis rather than earlier stages of sperm development. This was to avoid damaging spermatogonial stem cells, which are essential for long-term fertility.

We didn't want to impact the spermatogonial stem cells, because if you kill those, a man will never become fertile again, Cohen explained. She also noted that targeting later stages could allow partially developed sperm to escape and fertilise an egg, making meiosis the most effective intervention point.

Why do we need new male contraceptives, and whats holding them back?

Despite decades of research, male contraceptive options remain strikingly limited, restricted largely to condoms and vasectomies. While condoms are widely accessible, their typical-use failure rates remain significant. Vasectomies, on the other hand, are often perceived as permanent, even though reversal procedures exist.

This imbalance is particularly notable given the scale of unmet need globally. According to the Male Contraceptive Initiative, the world sees over 120 crore unintended pregnancies each year, while the global population continues to grow by more than 8 crore annually.

The world grapples with ecological strain and overpopulation. Accessible contraception is crucial. Increasing access to contraception in order to meet existing unmet needs in low- and middle-income countries alone would lead to a 68 per cent reduction in unintended pregnancies, the organisation notes.

The gap is even more pronounced for men. There are currently only two methods of contraception available to sperm-producers: condoms and vasectomy, despite demonstrated demand for more methods, the initiative adds, pointing out that millions of men globally have unmet family planning needs.

However, developing male contraceptives has proven far more complex than anticipated. A 2021 review of hormonal male contraceptive trials highlights several challenges, including side effects such as acne, weight gain, mood changes, and depression. In one large trial involving testosterone and progestin injections, the study was terminated early following an external safety review due to concerns over depression, including one reported suicide.

The review further notes that while some side effects are comparable to those experienced by women using hormonal contraception, the psychological impact, particularly mood-related changes, remains a significant concern in male trials.

Another key limitation is biological. Hormonal contraceptives for men often take two to three months to suppress sperm production and an equally long time for recovery after discontinuation. Additionally, around 510 per cent of men in clinical trials do not achieve full sperm suppression, while a small proportion experience 'sperm rebound', where sperm levels temporarily rise despite continued treatment.

Regulatory challenges further complicate development. A 2024 study points out that unlike female contraceptives, which have well-established approval pathways, there are no clear regulatory guidelines for male contraceptives.

The development of a male contraceptive is complicated by the fact that the clinical treatment effect, prevention of pregnancy, is not measured in the patient receiving the intervention, the study explains.

Instead, researchers often rely on surrogate markers such as sperm count, particularly thresholds like 1 million sperm per millilitre, which are associated with low pregnancy risk. However, regulatory agencies have yet to formally establish whether such markers are sufficient for approval.

The study also highlights the need for extensive safety data, noting that male contraceptives would likely require long-term monitoring, as they are intended for use by healthy individuals over extended periods.

Beyond science and regulation, cost remains another barrier. Developing a new drug can cost close to $1 billion, and unlike other pharmaceuticals, contraceptive research is often driven by public funding or non-profit organisations rather than large pharmaceutical companies.

What experts say?

Dr Rajeev Sood, Chairman  Urology & Renal Transplantation at Marengo Asia Hospitals, called the findings a ''promising proof-of-concept' for a nonhormonal male contraceptive, while cautioning that translating it to humans remains a key challenge.

There is a clear need for more male contraceptive options because current choices for men are extremely limited - primarily condoms, which are user-dependent, and vasectomy, which is considered permanent, he said.

He added that if successful, such a method could be transformative, offering men a switch onswitch off approach to fertility without systemic side effects, and enabling more flexible, partner-driven decisions around contraception.

Dr Aswati Nair, Clinical Director and Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, said that while the concept behind the study is scientifically sound, its application in humans remains uncertain. She pointed out that the findings are still based on animal models, making real-world translation a key concern.

So, if we talk about science, scientifically, this theory could be correct. But since now it is in the mice model, how easily can we extrapolate it to human beings? That we don't know, she said, adding that the concept is correct, but whether it will mark a true breakthrough is still unclear.

Dr Nair also highlighted the long and complex process of drug development in humans, noting that any potential contraceptive would need to pass through multiple stages of clinical trials before it can reach the market. She explained that for any drug to come into the market, it has to go through four phases of clinical trials, making the process both time-consuming and uncertain.

She also drew attention to the imbalance in contraceptive responsibility, noting that it largely falls on women. The whole contraceptive scenario becomes the headache of a female, she said. Ultimately, the female has to take medication or undergo procedures; she is the one who is bearing it.

Highlighting this lack of parity, Dr Nair added that there is no evenness, and that nearly all responsibility for effective contraception rests with women. This, she said, is precisely why research into male contraceptives is gaining momentum.

If developed successfully, such options could be more efficacious, she noted.

This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday released the partys election manifesto in Kolkata with an aggressive roadmap for West Bengal's future. The infiltration rhetoric was echoed once again in the manifesto with a promise to seal the borders, curb illegal infiltration, including ensuring citizenship for legal migrants.

The BJP said it will build four industrial townships, with one primarily as a security hub, if it comes to power. It also promised a Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to unemployed youth and an additional Rs 15,000 to prepare for competitive examinations. The aid is similar to what the current Trinamool Congress (TMC) establishment is transferring to the unemployed. Another rural welfare scheme the BJP plans to take forward is a monthly transfer of Rs 3,000 to women in the state.

Promises to ensure women empowerment also included 33 per cent reservation in state government jobs and all-women police stations to ensure security of women in the state. The CM will not make such a statement questioning why a woman has to go out late at night, said Amit Shah while referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees comments on the Durgapur medical college rape case last year.

Shah also hinted at a Bengali-speaking CM from within the state if the saffron party forms the government. I have said earlier that a person born in Bengal, Bengali speaking, from the state will be the Chief Minister. We wont run the government from Delhi. Even if it is ruled from Delhi it is better than being a government being run from Bangladesh, said the Union Home Minister.

Shah also said it will build a Vande Mataram museum to promote Bengals glory globally. TMC and BJP have been at a war of words of Vande Mataram, which the saffron party is using to project itself as a party that wants to preserve Bengals culture.

Shah also responded to TMCs allegations in connection with a sting video purportedly showing Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir. In the video, he allegedly says he got Rs 200 crore from the BJP, with a total of Rs 1,000 crore promised to him to deflect minority votes from TMC.

Humayun Kabir and the BJP are at two opposite poles. Rather than having an understanding with such a party, we would prefer to sit in the opposition, clarified Shah.

Overall, the BJP portrayed a picture of being a party that wants to shape Bengals glory and create a 100-day roadmap to tackle immediate issues while working to restore peoples faith in the state. The message was clear: Bengal is high on BJP's list of priority states to win over the masses and end the 15-year-old rule of TMC.
Amritpal Singh Mehron, the key accused in the murder of Punjab-based social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, alias "Kamal Kaur Bhabhi", was brought back from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was brought to India early on Friday morning and arrested at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, a report claimed.

Two others have already been arrested in connection with the case. They were identified as Jaspreet Singh of Moga and Nimratjit Singh of Tarn Taran. Both confessed during police interrogation that they murdered Kanchan Kumari because her social media content was considered obscene and hurtful to the sentiments of the community, Aaj Tak said in a report.

According to the police, on 11 June 2025, Amritpal Mehron and his associates abducted Kanchan Kumari. She was murdered and her body was left in a car parked in the parking lot of Bathinda's Adesh Hospital. The entire incident was planned in advance by the trio, Aaj Tak quoted the police as saying.

Why was Kanchan Kumari targeted?

Kanchan Kumari's body was discovered when locals noticed a foul smell coming from the stationary car and alerted the authorities. The police reportedly learned that she had left for Bathinda on 9 June for a promotional event but lost contact with her family in the following days.

After the murder, Mehron fled the country to evade arrest and went into hiding in the Middle East. However, Punjab Police, with the help of central agencies, traced his location.

Following the killing, a video surfaced on social media purportedly showing Mehron stating that Kumari was killed by two of his accomplices due to her "immoral and vulgar content" on social media. He also warned others creating "objectionable content" to refrain from such activities.

According to the police, Mehron also threatened at least two other female social media influencers in Punjab. The 30-year-old Mehron, a self-styled Sikh radical leader, also hailed from Moga.
A new investigation by National Commission for Scheduled Tribes into the viral Kumbh mela sensation Monalisa Bhosale has revealed that she was only 16 years and 2 months at the time of her marriage.

On March 11, she was put in the spotlight again after she married Uttar Pradesh resident Farman Khan in Kerala.

The wedding, held at Arumanoor Nainar Temple in Thiruvananthapuram on March 11, gained public attention and scrutiny, including claims of love jihad due to claims made by her family and certain groups.

The couple had to appear publicly two days after the wedding to deny allegations and say that Monalisa's marriage was consensual. However, the NCST has reportedly found discrepancies.

Hospital records from Madhya Pradesh show that Monalisa was born on December 30, 2009, which would make her a minor during the marriage.

NCST has summoned top police officials from Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, seeking detailed reports. They also called the local authorities involved in registering the marriage for further clarification.

It was found that Farman Khan had given a different birth certificate for the registration of marriage in Kerala

Monalisa's father, Jai Singh Bhosale, petitioned the NCST with social activist Pratham Dubey, alleging his daughter was forced into an interfaith marriage.

Meanwhile, director Sanoj Mishra, who was accused of sexual harassment by Monalisa, called Farman a 'jihadi' and said that he 'would go to jail.'

He called Monalisa a victim of "love jihad" and that she was "trapped and forced into the marriage."

"Then, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Delhi, conducted an investigation. It proved that Monalisa was a minor. The Commission expressed concern over the involvement of the PFI and CPI(M) in the marriage of Monalisa and Farman. The Commission stated that a false narrative has been spread."

"The narrative of love is false. The Aadhaar card, which stated Monalisa's age as 18, is fake. Monalisa was born in December 2009 at a government hospital in Maheshwar. Based on this, a case has been registered against Jihadi Farman under several sections. The Commission has summoned the DGP of Madhya Pradesh, Mishra said.
An investigation that began as a search for a robber who fled after killing the head of a household has unearthed a more sinister plot in Madhya Pradesh. The police found that the man's murder was not a home break-in gone wrong, but a hit orchestrated by his wife and her paramour.

The 28-year-old Purohit Devkrishna was found murdered in his home in Bhopal on 7 April. His wife, Priyanka Purohit, had claimed that unidentified burglars tied her up and left with valuables worth 3.5 lakh. Devkrishna was reportedly killed while trying to stop them, she told the police.

Purohit Devkrishna was attacked with a sharp object, which caused several injuries to his body. As the investigation progressed, the team grew suspicious of Priyanka as her statements changed more than once. When they tracked her telephone history, it was revealed that she was constantly in touch with a man called Kamlesh Purohit, a 32-year-old resident of Rajgarh.

When pressed for clarity, Priyanka broke down and confessed that it was a plot executed alongside Kamlesh that led to Devkrishna's death. Finding the marriage an obstacle to a future together, the lovers decided to kill Devkrishna and hired a hitman called Surendra Bhati.

The contract killer demanded 1 lakh for the murder, and Kamlesh paid him half the amount in advance, NDTV said in a report. Priyanka purposefully left the door of the house unbolted on the night of 7 April for Bhati, who easily entered the house and killed her husband in his sleep, the report added.

The police were also able to recover the assets that Priyanka claimed were taken by the burglars from the house itself. While the lovers are under arrest, Surendra Bhati remains on the run.

Meanwhile, Purohit Devkrishna's sister alleged that Priyanka often belittled him over his skin colour. She used to tell her husband that she deserved someone better-looking than the dark-skinned Devkrishna. Devkrishna kept his cool and took all the insults as he wanted peace in the family, the sister reportedly said.

The police suspect the murder was the culmination of deception and an illicit relationship that had been going on for a long time.
Security forces on Thursday detained a "suspicious" person at an Army formation in Jammu and a probe into his activities has been launched, official sources said.

According to news agency PTI, sources added that further details are awaited. Other reports, however, claimed that a driver of a van belonging to an Army Public School near the Sunjwa formation was found to have three Pakistani contacts on his mobile phone.

One such article said that Pakistani phone contacts were found on his phone during a routine check at the B Gate. The possibility of him having cross-border links with anti-India elements are being probed, it said. School bus drivers are given access to Army installation provided they carry their entry cards.

"A suspicious individual has been detained. The matter is under investigation," a source said. The driver is a local and intekkigence sleuthes have been called in to join the interrogations. More details are awaited.

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General P K Mishra, visited the Romeo Force in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district to review the operational preparedness and the overall security grid.

"He was briefed on the current security scenario, ongoing counter-terrorism operations and the synergised coordination with other security agencies to maintain a robust and responsive grid.  ,  &          ," the Army said in a post on X.

The Army emphasised that operational excellence, synergy and unrelenting vigilance remain the bedrock of a strong security framework in the region.
Just hours before Pakistan was to host the peace talks between the US and Iran, its defence minister, Khawaja Asif, went on a rant on X, calling Israel a curse for humanity and a cancerous state. Asifs controversial remarks came as the country sought to maintain a neutral role in the conflict and initiated mediation in the Middle East conflict.

Interestingly, Asif pulled down the video as Israel hit back at his statements and questioned its neutrality as it prepares to host the peace summit at Islamabad on Friday.

Asifs post read: As peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated. I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews [sic] burn in hell.

His remarks drew backlash, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling them outrageous and saying it was unacceptable for any government, particularly one presenting itself as a neutral mediator. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar described the comments as clear antisemitic blood libels. He added that referring to the Jewish state as a cancer amounts to a call for its destruction.

 UNREAL:

Israel slams Pakistan after Defense Minister Khawaja Asif calls Israel evil and a curse for humanity, cancerous, and says he hopes those who created it burn in hell.



PM Benjamin Netanyahus office: call for Israels annihilation is outrageous.



FM Gideon pic.twitter.com/iAQZfBpd4H  Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) April 9, 2026

Asif also unnecessarily dragged India into the controversy, remarking in Parliament that the Muslim world must accept that its true and eternal enemies are India and Israel.

"The Muslim world must accept that its true and eternal enemies are India and Israel, and it must be vigilant to protect the ceasefire and prevent threats to peace. Israel's influence has spread to Europe, the USA, and the Arab world. Pakistan now has a significant opportunity to play a leadership role in combating this," he said.

Pakistans ambitious plans to come out as a mediator could make or break its global standing, according to analysts. Pakistan has publicly invested political capital in mediation; if talks collapse, it risks being seen as overpromising and underdelivering," said Muhammad Faisal, a security analyst at the University of Technology Sydney, told Reuters.
Even as Iran claims the Strait of Hormuz is open, data from a global ship-tracking firm showed that only six ships passed through the key waterway on Thursday. The data compiled by the global ship tracking firm MarineTraffic revealed that two oil, chemical or liquefied gas tankers, three cargo ships, and one bunkering vessel supplying fuel to other ships passed through the waterway on Thursday.

One of the tankers was carrying roughly 1 million barrels of oil, and another vessel was not loaded.

On Wednesday, five cargo ships had gone through the Strait. However, none of these was oil, chemical or liquefied gas tankers. All three are under U.S. sanctions for previously shipping Iranian oil. The rest were cargo ships. On Tuesday, when a ceasefire was announced, 11 ships transited the strait, including nine tankers, the data revealed.

JUST IN: Ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/JgG6VULYGR  Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) April 9, 2026

"It's about a third of the world's seaborne crude that is passing through there  15 million barrels per day. And now it's basically slowed to a trickle," Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at the global trade analytics firm Kpler, which owns Marine Traffic, told CBS News Thursday.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who serves as CEO of Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company, ADNOC, claimed that the Strait of Hormuz has not yet been opened to ship traffic. "This moment demands clarity," he wrote in a post on social media. "So let's be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open. Access is limited, conditional and controlled. He said about 230 oil tankers were waiting to sail from the Gulf.

US President Donald Trump also stated that Iran was doing a very poor job of allowing oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the situation does not match what he described as an existing agreement. "Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonourable, some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!" he posted on Truth Social.

Russian news agency TASS, which often represents the Iranian position in the current conflict, also quoted a senior Iranian official who stated that Tehran will, in fact, limit the movement of vessels in the Strait to only 15 ships per day, under the conditions of a ceasefire. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran tried to send a reassuring message to the international community and energy markets regarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Khatibzadeh claimed that the critical sea route, which passes mostly through the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, remains open to all civilian traffic.

However, he clarified that the passage is being carried out under significant technical constraints, including the requirement for close coordination with the Iranian military to avoid naval mines that have been laid there. We have maps, we have everything, and we need to be careful to ensure the safe passage of tankers and ships, he explained.

But the Wall Street Journal report said Iran has turned the strait into a kind of military toll road. According to the report, ships seeking to pass are required to coordinate their movement with the Revolutionary Guards and pay tolls in advance,
The recently announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran has exposed a fragile dynamic between Washington and Jerusalem, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially threatening to unravel the truce almost immediately. Following the Pakistan-brokered agreement, Netanyahu issued a muted statement of support but insisted it did not apply to Israels ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Defying both Iran and the United States, he ordered some of the most intense airstrikes on Lebanon since the conflict began. In the hours after President Donald Trump announced the truce, Israeli forces bombarded Beirut, striking more than 100 targets in just ten minutes and leaving hundreds dead or wounded. The escalation directly jeopardised the broader US-Iran agreement, prompting Iranian officials to warn that the ceasefire would collapse if attacks on Lebanon continued.

Unwilling to let Israel derail efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Trump intervened personally, calling Netanyahu and instructing him to low-key it in Lebanon. Forced to preserve his relationship with Washington, Netanyahu quickly shifted course and agreed to begin direct negotiations over Hezbollahs disarmament. The episode laid bare a rarely acknowledged tension: Israels pursuit of military escalation colliding with Americas strategic restraint.

That tension is now fuelling a political backlash within Israel. As the country edges towards elections, the realisation that Netanyahus maximalist war aims remain unmet has sharpened criticism across the political spectrum. Opposition leader Yair Lapid described the ceasefire as one of the greatest political disasters in all of our history, arguing that Israel had been sidelined during the core negotiations. Yair Golan echoed the sentiment, calling the outcome a total failure and one of Israels most severe strategic setbacks.

Criticism has also come from the right. Avigdor Liberman pointed to the heavy human toll and the persistence of multiple active fronts without a decisive victory. Analysts such as Shira Efron have noted that Netanyahus promise to cut off the head of the snake in Iran has instead produced a more complex and resilient threat.

Internationally, Netanyahus reputation has taken a hit. In the United States, his role in pushing Washington towards confrontation has drawn criticism from both progressives and the MAGA right. On the other side, Senator Mark Warner accused him of acting as the outsourced leader of American foreign policy. More broadly, Israels global standing has eroded, with growing perceptions of it as a destabilising force in an already volatile region.

The roots of the crisis, according to the New York Times, lie in a meeting on February 11, when Netanyahu personally lobbied Trump in the White House Situation Room. Presenting an ambitious vision for a joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran, he outlined scenarios that included neutralising Tehrans missile programme, curbing its regional influence and even triggering regime change. At one point, he even showed a video outlining possible successors to Irans clerical leadership.

While Trump appeared receptive, senior American officials were deeply sceptical. CIA Director John Ratcliffe dismissed the regime change scenarios as unrealistic, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected them outright. Vice President JD Vance emerged as the most forceful critic, warning that such a war would bring heavy casualties, destabilise the region and alienate Trumps political base.

Despite these objections, Trump moved aheadseemingly emboldened by earlier actions such as the killing of Qasem Soleimaniand aligned himself with Netanyahus long-standing push for confrontation with Iran. Yet the limits of that alignment have now become clear.

Iran, far from buckling under pressure, has weathered 40 days of conflict and emerged, at least in certain respects, stronger for it. The regime stands. Power has tightened around hardline leadership rather than fracturing, and Tehran sits atop a significant stockpile of highly enriched uranium, enough for multiple nuclear warheads. It also managed to choke global energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, compelling Washington to return to the negotiating table.

That pressure seems to have reordered American priorities. While Israel remains fixed on dismantling Iran's nuclear programme and grinding down Hezbollah, the Trump administration has begun looking elsewhere. What it wants now appears less like transformation and more like transaction: calm in the Strait, behavioural concessions from Tehran, a restoration of something resembling stability. Regime change, if it was ever truly on the table, is no longer the destination. While Washington is recalibrating carefully, Jerusalem holds firm to a maximalist logic that increasingly has no partner in the White House.

The consequences are already visible. Israel finds itself diplomatically sidelined, excluded from ongoing negotiations in Islamabad and increasingly isolated on the global stage. Netanyahus leverage in Washington has diminished, leaving him to navigate a delicate balance between satisfying his domestic political base and maintaining the support of Trump, still his most critical ally.

For Netanyahu, the risks are both immediate and long-term. Domestically, he faces an electorate increasingly sceptical of a war that has delivered neither decisive victory nor lasting security. Internationally, he must contend with a shifting U.S. posture that prioritises stability over escalation.

With no durable resolution to the Iranian nuclear question, the risk of renewed conflict looms. For Israel, the prospect of confronting a rearmed and emboldened Iran in the coming years is no longer hypotheticalit is fast becoming a strategic inevitability.
A US Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone vanished after a three-hour surveillance flight over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The uncrewed aircraft had crossed into Saudi Arabian airspace but took a sudden turn to the northeast in the direction of Iran before vanishing.

This comes just days after the US and Iran entered into a two-week-long ceasefire pact, which covers the reopening of the key waterway of the Strait of Hormuz.

Flight tracking data shows the drone rapidly descended from a typical cruising altitude of around 50,000 feet down to below 10,000 feet before it vanished, according to The War Zone. The drone appeared to return to the Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy when it went missing.

#BREAKING | NEWS 

A Navy MQ-4C Triton high-altitude reconnaissance drone was collecting information over the Persian Gulf the drone was squawking 7400 then 7700 then shortly after that, it disappears from radar. pic.twitter.com/uIxSF67dKU  Todd Paron (@tparon) April 9, 2026

The report added that MQ-4Cs transponder was broadcasting code 7700, which hints at an in-flight emergency. It also sent out another code, 7400, which means a loss of connectivity between a drone and its controllers on the ground.

Though the flight data indicates that the drone is indeed lost, there has been no confirmation from either the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) or the office of the Chief of Information (CHINFO), the U.S. Navys main public affairs office.

Used for long-duration overwater missions, the MQ-4C is a derivative of the RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drone and is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability that helps capture satellite-like images day or night. They also possess electro-optical and infrared video cameras and electronic support measures systems to collect electronic intelligence passively. The aircraft can operate at altitudes above 50,000 feet and can remain airborne for more than 24 hours.

There is nothing so far to hint that the drone was targeted by Iranian air defence systems. However, if it came under Iranian attack, then it hints that Tehran has the ability to threaten Americas most expensive maritime intelligence platform without firing publicly acknowledged weapons.
US President Donald Trump on Friday wrote a cryptic post on Truth Social, just ahead of Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Islamabad for the highly anticipated peace talks with Iran.

"World's most powerful reset," the post read, sparking confusion online about what Trump intended, even as the former threat of "ending a civilisation" rings fresh in Iranian ears.

He later followed this up with a threat, saying that "only reason (Iran is) alive today is to negotiate".

"The Iranians are better at handling the Fake News Media, and 'Public Relations,' than they are at fighting!" he wrote in another Truth Social post.

The talks, aimed at ending the war in the Gulf between Iran and US-Israel forces, are scheduled to take place on Saturday, amid Israel's attacks on Lebanon, which threatens the stability of the two-week ceasefire.

Vance, who leads the US delegation for the talks, is already en route to Islamabad, and stated that he would be negotiating based on Trump's "pretty clear guidelines".

If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand ... If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive," he added.

Iranian lawmaker M.B. Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to lead the delegation from Tehran's side, which is based on its 10-point plan that Trump earlier called "workable".

One key clause within the 10-point plan was Iran's desire to impose tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which Oman has since rejected. THE WEEK could not independently verify whether this clause was modified ahead of the talks in Pakistan.

Strait of Hormuz traffic remains limited



Vessel activity through the Strait of Hormuz has increased slightly since the ceasefire took effect on 8 April, but flows remain well below normal levels. According to #MarineTraffic data, 14 vessels crossed the Strait on 89 April, pic.twitter.com/SI88m4DvrX  MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) April 10, 2026

More importantly, Iran has demanded that Israel stop its attacks on Lebanon and other nations falling under the 'Axis of Resistance'. The Israeli attacks on Beirut led to one of the most violent days since the war in the Gulf began on February 28, with more than 300 dead and thousands injured so far.

Tehran has kept the Lebanon ceasefire as a crucial requirement for the peace talks in Islamabada requirement that the US and Israel have both denied.

Tel Aviv later decided to seek peace talks with Beirut at Trump's behest, but warned that there would be no ceasefire during the talks, which are speculated to take place in the US.

However, Israel has also pointed out that there would not be a ceasefire during the negotiations, which are expected to begin soon.



(us iran war news israel, trump mojtaba lebanon, netanyahu peace talks islamabad)https://t.co/R0Xyp1O9bO  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 9, 2026

The attacks on Lebanon have also led to Iran using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage. Tehran has said that the crucial waterway remains open, but the safe passage of vessels is subject to approval from the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Though Trump has called this existing arrangement at the strait a "poor job", the situation at the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain.
NASA's Artemis II mission has done what most of us can only dream of  four humans have successfully gone around the moon. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are now heading home. The most dangerous part of their entire journey is not what happened in space. It is what happens in the next few hours, as their spacecraft screams back into Earth's atmosphere.

When the Orion capsule, the small pod where these four people have been living and working all this time, hits Earth's atmosphere, it will be moving at nearly 38,500 kilometres per hour. That is faster than a bullet. At that speed, the friction with the air creates a wall of fire reaching about 2,760 degrees Celsius on the outside of the spacecraft. To give you a sense of how hot that is, iron melts at around 1,538 degrees Celsius. The capsule will be facing nearly double that heat.

Re-entry is expected to get extremely intense around 5:00 a.m. IST on Saturday. If all goes well, the Orion capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego roughly 40 minutes later, where Navy divers and a recovery team will be waiting to bring the crew safely home. Each astronaut will be wearing a special pressurised suit designed to keep them cool and protected throughout this intense phase. Mission controllers expect the crew to stay mostly silent during re-entry, while Wiseman and Glover will be watching the spacecraft's instruments closely.

The return of Artemis II represents one of the most complex and high-risk phases of modern human spaceflight. While launch captures global attention, it is the return to Earth that ultimately determines mission success. The Orion spacecraft must transition from deep space travel at lunar-return velocities to a safe ocean landing, all within a matter of minutes, while enduring extreme thermal and mechanical stresses.

This process begins long before the spacecraft reaches earth. Artemis missions follow a carefully designed free-return trajectory, allowing Orion to loop around the moon and naturally head back toward earth using gravitational forces. This trajectory acts as a built-in safety system, ensuring that even in the event of propulsion failure, the crew will still return home. After completing the lunar flyby, Orion begins its approximately four-day journey back, during which engineers and astronauts conduct detailed inspections of the spacecraft, particularly the thermal protection system that will face the harshest conditions during re-entry.

As Orion approaches earth, the first critical milestone is the entry interface, occurring at an altitude of about 120 kilometres. At this point, the spacecraft is travelling at nearly 11 kilometres per second, approximately 39,600 kilometres per hour, or Mach 32. This speed is far greater than anything experienced in low-earth orbit missions and is comparable to the velocities required for future Mars returns. As Orion begins interacting with the upper atmosphere, air in front of the spacecraft compresses violently, forming a superheated plasma layer around the capsule. Temperatures outside the spacecraft rapidly climb to between 2,500C and 2,800C, hot enough to melt most known materials. This plasma sheath also causes a temporary communications blackout, as radio signals cannot penetrate the ionised gases surrounding the vehicle.

The most intense phase of re-entry follows immediately. During peak heating, which lasts approximately three to five minutes, the spacecraft experiences maximum thermal and mechanical loads. Orions heat shield, made from an advanced ablative material known as Avcoat, plays a critical role here. Instead of resisting heat entirely, the material is designed to absorb and dissipate it by slowly charring and eroding. Nearly 20 to 30 per cent of the heat shield material may ablate away during this phase, carrying heat with it and preventing it from reaching the crew module. Despite external temperatures nearing 2,800C, the interior of the spacecraft remains stable at around room temperature, ensuring astronaut safety. At the same time, the crew experiences deceleration forces of approximately four to six times the earths gravity, making this one of the most physically demanding moments of the mission, explained Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of SpaceKidz India Limited.

Unlike the Apollo-era capsules, Orion is capable of controlled, guided re-entry. Rather than simply falling through the atmosphere, it generates a small amount of aerodynamic lift, allowing it to fly its descent path. This capability enables mission controllers to precisely adjust the landing location and manage heat and g-load distribution. During Artemis I, NASA successfully demonstrated a skip-entry technique, where the spacecraft briefly exits and re-enters the atmosphere to reduce stress. However, for Artemis II, engineers are likely to employ a steeper, single-pass entry to gather more detailed data on heat shield performance under crewed conditions.

As Orion descends deeper into the atmosphere, its velocity decreases dramatically from nearly 40,000 km/h to below 500 km/h within about 10 to 15 minutes. Once the spacecraft slows to supersonic speeds and reaches an altitude of approximately 7.5 kilometres, the parachute deployment sequence begins. Two drogue parachutes are deployed first, stabilising the capsule and reducing its speed further. These are followed by three large main parachutes, each approximately 35 meters in diameter. Together, they slow the spacecraft to a descent speed of around 30 kilometres per hour, ensuring a safe and controlled splashdown.

The final phase is the ocean landing and recovery operation. Orion splashes down in a predetermined zone in the Pacific Ocean roughly 20 minutes after entry begins. Recovery teams, typically from the US Navy, are already positioned nearby. Divers secure the capsule, attach recovery lines, and guide it into the well deck of an amphibious recovery ship. Astronauts are then safely extracted, undergo initial medical evaluations, and begin their transition back to Earths gravity. This entire recovery process usually takes one to two hours after splashdown, said Kesan.

During the first Artemis mission back in 2022  which had no astronauts onboard  the Orion spacecraft's heat shield, the protective outer layer designed to absorb all that fire, did not behave as expected. Pieces of it chipped and broke off in more than 100 places. If this had happened with people inside, it could have been catastrophic. That discovery delayed Artemis II by years while engineers worked around the clock to understand why it happened.

NASA has changed the angle at which Orion comes back to the earth. Instead of gliding in gently like a paper plane, the spacecraft will come in at a steeper angle, briefly bounce back upward like a skipping stone on water, and then make its final descent. Think of it exactly like that  when you throw a flat stone on a lake, it hits the surface, jumps slightly, and then settles. This "skip re-entry" method releases the trapped heat and gases slowly and steadily, instead of all at once, which reduces the stress on the heat shield and keeps it from overheating, explained space analyst Girish Linganna.

As reported in the media, mission commander Wiseman, a retired Naval aviator, had his own doubts about this new plan when it was first proposed. He initially expected NASA to simply replace the damaged heat shield with a better one. But after a detailed technical briefing, his doubts disappeared.

Not everyone agrees, though. Dan Rasky, a former NASA engineer who worked on re-entry systems before retiring last year, believes NASA should have first tested this new skip re-entry method without astronauts on board just to be completely sure. He had also suggested a different type of heat shield, similar to what SpaceX uses on its Dragon spacecraft. His concerns were heard, but NASA moved forward with its plan after extensive ground tests and reviews.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman approved the plan. Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator, had said they had done all the necessary work and fully trusted the team.

NASA has never forgotten the Challenger disaster of 1986 or the Columbia accident in 2003. Both shuttles were lost. Fourteen crew members never came home. Those tragedies shaped how NASA thinks about every single decision, every risk, every calculation, remarked Linganna.
As part of the Easter truce, President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered the Russian military to halt all actions on the fronts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signalled support for the ceasefire for Orthodox Easter.

The ceasefire observed for Sundays Orthodox Easter celebrations coincides with a broader stalemate in US-led diplomatic efforts. Mediation to resolve the four-year conflict has effectively stalled as hostilities in Iran and the wider Middle East continue to complicate the path toward a permanent settlement.

Putin's announcement was similar to a 30-hour ceasefire he ordered last year. However, each side accused the other of violating it.

"By the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief...V.V. Putin, in connection with the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter (the Resurrection of Christ), a ceasefire is declared from 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on 11 April until the end of the day on 12 April 2026," the Kremlin's statement said.

"We proceed on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation," the Kremlin said.

What's the significance of Orthodox Easter?

Orthodox Easter is the most important event in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While it shares the core theological meaning with Western Easter, the two often fall on different dates and involve distinct traditions.

Why do the dates differ?

The most significant difference is the calendar used to calculate the date.

The Western Easter uses the Gregorian calendar (the standard civil calendar), and the Orthodox Easter uses the Julian calendar (an older system).

Because the Julian calendar is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian, and both traditions have slightly different rules regarding the spring equinox and the full moon, Orthodox Easter usually falls one to five weeks after Western Easter.

The Jewish Passover rule

A key requirement for Orthodox Easter that is not strictly followed in the West is that it must take place after the Jewish holiday of Passover. This is based on the biblical sequence of events, as the Resurrection occurred after the Passover celebration.

If the calculated date for Orthodox Easter falls before or during Passover, the Orthodox Church moves the celebration to the following Sunday.

Ukraine has said that it has repeatedly proposed a halt to fighting for Orthodox Easter. "People need an Easter without threats and a real move towards peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to attacks even after Easter," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS that Putin's ceasefire proposal had not been discussed in advance with the United States.
A former New York City police sergeant was sentenced Thursday to three to nine years in prison for tossing a picnic cooler full of ice and drinks at a fleeing suspect, who then crashed his motorized scooter and died.

Erik Duran, 38, was convicted of manslaughter in the 2023 death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey. The ex-sergeant said he was trying to protect other officers from the approaching scooter. He is the first former NYPD officer sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades.

I took this job to save lives. I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash, Duran told a Bronx judge, saying he did everything he could to attend to the mans injuries.

I never wanted this to happen, he added, apologizing to Dupreys family in Spanish as a court interpreter translated.

Dupreys mother, Gretchen Soto, wept as Duran spoke. Earlier, she told the court: There are no words to express what I feel.

Judge Guy Mitchell said he did not accept the ex-sergeants defense that his actions were justified, concluding that Duran hurled the cooler because he was upset that Mr. Duprey was getting away. If there was no cooler, the judge said, Duprey would have driven by Duran and couldve been captured another day.

Duran was immediately taken into custody after sentencing. His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said he will ask a court to free Duran on bail while he appeals.

Nobodys above the law, a woman shouted in a courthouse hallway after the sentence was announced.

Afterward, Soto and Dupreys partner, Pearl Velez, said they did not accept Durans apology.

How you gonna say sorry now? Velez said.

Durans union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said thousands of officers signed an online petition calling for him to be spared prison.

Today will forever be the darkest day of our profession, union president Vincent Vallelong said. Durans prison sentence, he said, puts in the back of a police officers mind that they can lose their freedom for making a split-second decision.

Officers in NYPD jackets packed the courtroom gallery, while a couple dozen protesters outside demanded justice for Duprey.

Durans sentence, less than the maximum of five to 15 years, matched what prosecutors with state Attorney General Letitia James office had sought. Prosecutor Joseph Bianco said the ex-sergeant recklessly caused Dupreys death and attempted to cover up his actions.

Defense lawyer Andrew Quinn argued for no prison time, calling Dupreys death the unintended and tragic consequences of a reckless decision Duran made in a span of 2.5 seconds.

Duran grew up in the Bronx and led a model, exemplary life prior to Dupreys death. A married father of three, he joined the NYPD because he wanted to make the borough cleaner and safer for the kids who came after him, Quinn said.

He is now the cooler cop, Quinn said.

Duran was part of a narcotics policing unit that conducted a buy-and-bust operation in the Bronx on Aug. 23, 2023. Police said Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer, then tried to flee on a scooter.

Surveillance video showed Duprey driving the motorized scooter on a sidewalk toward a group of people. As he approached, the then-sergeant  who wasnt in uniform  picked up a bystanders cooler and threw it.

The container struck Duprey, who lost control of the scooter, slammed into a tree and crashed onto the pavement. Duprey was not wearing a helmet. He sustained fatal head injuries and died almost instantly, according to prosecutors.

They argued Duran had enough time to warn others to move, but instead hurled the cooler because he was angry.

Duran, however, testified at his trial that he made a quick decision to keep other officers safe from the scooter speeding toward them.

He was gonna crash into us, Duran said then, adding all I had time for was to try again to stop or to try to get him to change directions.

Duran opted to have Judge Mitchell, not a jury, decide the case.

Duran worked for the NYPD for 13 years before the crash, which spurred his suspension. He was fired after his conviction in February.

Duprey was a delivery driver and had three young children. Soto, who said she was on a video call with him right before he died, has disputed the police claims that he sold drugs and fled from officers.

She told the judge Thursday her son is not just a name, not just one more case.

It is an unjust incident, Soto said through a Spanish interpreter. As a mother, I have to miss him now every day.

(AP)
President Donald Trump unleashed a scorching personal attack Thursday on four high-profile right-wing figures who have broken with him over the Iran war, branding Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones as NUT JOBS with Low IQs who will say anything for attention.

Theyre stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too! Trump wrote in a nearly 500-word Truth Social broadside  one of the most savage public attacks he has directed at allies-turned-critics in recent memory.

Trump was withering on each target. Carlson, he said, is a hand flailing fool who never recovered from being fired by Fox News and should see a good psychiatrist. Kelly he dismissed by resurrecting their infamous 2016 debate clash. Owens he mocked over her unfounded claims about French First Lady Brigitte Macron  adding that Macron is far more beautiful than Owens, in fact, its not even close. Jones he branded simply Bankrupt, jabbing at the Infowars hosts financial collapse following defamation judgments over his Sandy Hook hoax claims.

The president accused all four of opposing his Iran policy not out of conviction but out of hunger for clicks and free and cheap publicity, and charged that CNN and the New York Times were gleefully amplifying their criticism for the first time in their careers.

Theyre not MAGA, theyre losers, Trump declared, just trying to latch on to MAGA.

MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons, he wrote.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Vice President JD Vance departed for Pakistan Friday to lead direct negotiations with Iran aimed at converting a fragile ceasefire into a lasting deal, warning Tehran that his team would not be receptive if Iran tries to run out the clock.

If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, were certainly willing to extend the open hand, Vance said before boarding Air Force Two. If theyre gonna try and play us, then theyre gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

An Iranian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had already arrived in Islamabad, the Wall Street Journal reported. Islamabad was placed under heavy security lockdown ahead of the talks.

Vance is joined by Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, who participated in three rounds of pre-war indirect talks with Iran. The White House has not specified whether the negotiations will be direct or indirect.

The talks open against a backdrop of mounting tensions that threaten to unravel the ceasefire declared by President Trump on Tuesday. Iran has insisted the truce covers Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon  a claim the US and Israel flatly reject. Tehran has also refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Trump to post Thursday that Iran was doing a very poor job honoring the agreement.

The ceasefire itself came with the wars core objectives unmet  Irans nuclear program intact, its missile arsenal undestroyed, and the regime still in power.

The mission represents an unusual  and historically rare  deployment of a sitting vice president to negotiate an active war.

The choice of Vance has drawn scrutiny. He has limited diplomatic experience and has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions. Some analysts believe Tehran may actually prefer him for that reason.

The stakes extend beyond the negotiating table. Vance is widely seen as a leading 2028 presidential contender, and the outcome in Islamabad could define his political standing for years.

Israel, which launched the military campaign against Iran alongside the US six weeks ago, has no seat at the table. Host Pakistan does not recognize Israeli sovereignty and maintains no diplomatic ties with Jerusalem.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
German police are investigating a suspected antisemitic attack on an Israeli restaurant in Munich after windows were smashed in the early hours of Friday morning.

Investigators believe pyrotechnic devices  potentially fireworks  were thrown at the Eclipse Grillbar, Munichs first authentic Israeli restaurant, breaking windows in three places around 12:45 a.m. No one was injured. Damage is estimated at several thousand euros.

Police told German news agency dpa that the restaurants owners are Jewish and that authorities believe an antisemitic motive prompted the attack. No suspects were found in the area, and the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators remains unknown.

Grigori Dratva, the owners brother-in-law and an employee, told dpa there had been no prior direct threats against the restaurant. The family had always felt safe in Munich, he said, and plans to reopen.

The restaurant had closed for service at 11 p.m. Thursday, roughly two hours before the attack.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Muhammad Shahzab Khan (21), a Pakistani national who was living in Canada on a student visa, admitted on Wednesday in federal court in New York to planning a largescale terror attack at 770, the Chabad World Headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

According to the detailed indictment, Khan  who was extradited to the US from Canada planned to carry out an assault using AR-style rifles around October 7, 2024, the anniversary of the Hamas massacre in Israel. He chose the Chabad center in Brooklyn, saying that New York is perfect to target Jews because it has the largest Jewish population in America.

In messages he exchanged with undercover FBI agents (whom he believed were ISIS supporters), Khan said: Even if we dont attack an event, we could easily rack up a lot of Jews we are going to slaughter them.

He urged the undercover agents to acquire rifles and hunting knives to slit their throats, and gloated over the fact that if the plan succeeds, it will be the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

Khan was arrested in September 2024 in the town of Ormstown, Canada, only about 12 miles from the U.S. border, as he attempted to cross into the US with the help of a human smuggler. The arrest was part of a complex operation by law enforcement authorities in both Canada and the United States, who had been tracking him for many months.

In the recorded conversations, Khan is heard detailing how he planned to purchase automatic weapons, hunting knives, and large quantities of ammunition.

Khan admitted to all charges against him during Wednesdays hearing, saying that he was motivated to support the Islamic State in retaliation for Israels killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

The judge set the sentencing date for August 12, 2026. Under federal law, Khan faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

Khan planned a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York City, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, with the explicit goal of killing as many Jews as possible, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

Khan declared that New York City was the perfect venue for his attack because of its large Jewish population and boasted that his plot could be the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. The National Security Division will work tirelessly to ensure that terrorists like Khan face the full weight of American law.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A 22-year-old Israeli from northern Israel was arrested last month on suspicion of working for Iran and manufacturing explosives as part of an alleged plot to assassinate former prime minister Naftali Bennett, authorities revealed Thursday after the Ashkelon Magistrates Court lifted a gag order on the case.

The suspect, Ami Gaydarov of Haifa, was detained along with three other young men from the Haifa area. Investigators say the group carried out serious espionage activities for Iran in exchange for roughly 80,000 shekels, or about $26,000.

According to a joint investigation by Lahav 433 and the Shin Bet, Gaydarov allegedly initiated contact with an Iranian operative in August of last year while searching for ways to earn money. He then began performing tasks for the handler, receiving payment through cryptocurrency and PayPal.

Authorities say the case escalated when the Iranian handler instructed Gaydarov to acquire dual-use chemicals, materials with both civilian and military applications. Under those instructions, investigators say, Gaydarov produced 810 kilograms of explosive material in his home. Police believe the explosives were intended for an attack targeting Bennett.

Investigators say Gaydarov tested the material in an underground parking garage, causing a powerful blast, and filmed the experiment with two friends.

Gaydarov also passed sensitive wartime information to his Iranian handler during Iranian missile attacks on Israel. He allegedly provided details about missile impact sites in Haifa, a city with strategic infrastructure including oil refineries and a major port. He also photographed those facilities and relayed information about civil-defense alerts and Home Front Command sirens.

Superintendent Maor Goren, who heads the investigative team, told Ynet that Gaydarov and the Iranian handler began working together in September 2025. The activity paused after several months but resumed in March 2026, days after the war began. From that point until the night before his arrest, Goren said, Gaydarov allegedly carried out assignments that included photographing strategic sites, documenting missile impacts and interceptions, and attempting to locate a U.S. Navy destroyer expected to dock in Haifa.

He was carrying out operations for the Iranians up until the night before his arrest, Goren said.

Investigators say Gaydarov initially approached several Iranians on his own before being directed to a single handler. The Shin Bet monitored his activity for months, along with four other young men who allegedly assisted him. Five suspects were initially marked for arrest; one was later released. The remaining four are expected to face serious indictments.

Gaydarov is expected to be charged with contact with a foreign agent, aiding the enemy during wartime, and preparing and possessing explosive material. The other suspects are not accused of direct contact with Iranian intelligence.

According to investigators, Gaydarov responded to Iranian messages through Telegram groups advertising easy money for remote work. They say he was aware that he was contacting Iranian intelligence handlers. At first, he was given simple test missionstaking photos, sending locationsto assess his reliability. Once he was paid, investigators say, he became further entangled.

The operation escalated when Gaydarov was allegedly instructed to buy chemicals from retail pharmacies to manufacture TATP, a highly unstable explosive widely associated with terrorist attacks. Authorities say he bought the materials in Haifa and produced the explosive in an apartment he rented, documenting the process in photos and videos sent to his handler. He also recruited friends to help purchase materials.

At one point, investigators say, Gaydarov and a friend tested the explosive in a parking garage, producing a strong blast. Fearing surveillance, Gaydarov later transferred the explosives to another friend, who disposed of them on his own initiative.

Several additional Israelis from northern Israel, including Sergey Libman and Eduard Shovtiyuk, were arrested for questioning. Investigators say they helped Gaydarov buy materials, hide the explosives, and test them.

During Operation Roaring Lion, investigators say, Gaydarov was instructed to send Iran photographs of Haifa port and missile impact sites, and to locate an apartment overlooking the port where a fixed surveillance camera could be installed.

Authorities say Gaydarov received more than 70,000 shekels, or about $22,000, for his activities.

Superintendent Goren emphasized the danger posed by the quantity of explosive material Gaydarov allegedly produced. He noted that each of the devices detonated last year on buses in Bat Yam contained 300 grams of explosive material and caused an enormous blast. The suspect, he said, produced nearly 30 times that amount.

Goren added that the contact with the Iranian handler had not yet reached the stage of assigning specific targets for planting the device.

Investigators say the real-time information Gaydarov passed during the war directly aided Iran.

They dont know where the missile impacts are, and he was passing along reports he gathered from the media or photographed himself, Goren said. He was filming interceptions and sending them to the handler, which could clearly help the Iranians analyze the situation.

Authorities say the suspects initially denied the allegations but later confessed and expressed remorse when confronted with evidence gathered during the covert phase of the investigation.

Gaydarov allegedly directed his four friends, including one who survived the Nova music festival massacre in October 2023, paying each of them several hundred shekels from the money he received.

Raouf Naggar, an attorney with the public defenders office representing one of the suspects, said: This is a person suffering from a complex medical and psychological condition. He fully cooperated with investigators. We will respond in detail after receiving the indictment and case materials.

According to police, Lahav 433 and other units have opened 60 investigations in recent years into Israelis suspected of spying for Iran, all of which resulted in serious indictments.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Israeli opposition leaders accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday of failing to achieve the wars objectives and deceiving the public following the ceasefire announcement with Iran, though some softened their tone Thursday after Netanyahu announced direct talks with Lebanon over Hezbollah disarmament.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, widely seen as the leading challenger to Netanyahu in upcoming elections, held a press conference Wednesday evening laying out the wars unfulfilled objectives: the complete and permanent dismantling of Irans nuclear program, regional terror infrastructure, and missile capabilities, along with the removal of 460 kilograms of enriched uranium from Iranian territory.

The campaign will be judged solely by meeting these goals, because failure will leave Israel facing a more vengeful and determined Iran, Bennett said, arguing that public disappointment over the ceasefire stemmed from the government having sold illusions rather than telling Israelis the truth.

Unfortunately, as every child can see, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are still standing, he added. This is because a government that is tearing Israel apart from within cannot defeat the enemy from without.

Bennetts remarks came directly after Netanyahu said at his own press conference Wednesday that Israel remained in the process of achieving all its war goals despite the ceasefire.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid was equally critical, calling the ceasefire the greatest political disaster in all of our history and asserting that Israel had been excluded from key national security decisions. Netanyahu, Lapid said, failed politically, failed strategically, and didnt meet a single one of the goals that he himself set.

Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, said Netanyahu should have stood before the nation, admitted the failure of his strategy, and announced his immediate resignation. Instead, Golan said, what appeared tonight was a skilled salesman and a failed strategist, armed with a pile of spin, half-truths, and lies. Former IDF chief of staff and Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot said Netanyahu had failed to translate military gains into a political arrangement. Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman added Thursday that Israel could not end the war without a decisive outcome.

The tone shifted for some opposition figures after Netanyahu announced Thursday that his cabinet would open direct ceasefire and disarmament talks with Lebanon. Both Golan and Eisenkot welcomed the move.

Thanks to Trump for forcing Netanyahu to take action, Golan said. Reality once again proves what we have always said  political agreements are the way to bring true security to Israel. Eisenkot called on the government to leverage its military achievements into an agreement that will lead to the complete dismantling and disarmament of Hezbollah and return full responsibility to the Lebanese government.

Government ministers pushed back hard on the oppositions criticism. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued the war was not over and its objectives could still be achieved, accusing opposition leaders of competing for the title of who weakens Israel more. Education Minister Yoav Kisch asked Bennett, Lapid, and Golan whether they were tired of pumping out defeatism that echoes the enemys media. Culture Minister Miki Zohar called their remarks irresponsible populism and said both Bennett and Lapid had proved themselves unfit for leadership.

Lapid fired back at Zohar, saying the true peak of populism was going to war, failing to achieve any of its objectives, causing an unprecedented political and diplomatic disaster, and then blaming Lapid and Bennett for noticing it.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Donald Trump publicly rebuked Iran Thursday for failing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as agreed under the ceasefire deal, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a diplomatic push across the Gulf to restore free navigation through the critical waterway.

They are doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump wrote on Truth Social. That is not the agreement we have!

In a separate post, Trump warned Iran to stop charging fees to tankers transiting the Strait. They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now! he wrote, adding that oil would start flowing with or without the help of Iran.

The Strait has been closed since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February. Its reopening was a central condition of the ceasefire Trump announced Wednesday, which he said was contingent on Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, AND SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump and Starmer spoke Thursday and agreed that with a ceasefire now in place, the two sides had reached the next stage of finding a resolution, Downing Street said in a statement. The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible, the statement said, adding that the two leaders would speak again soon.

Starmer, who was traveling in the Gulf region, briefed Trump on British efforts to assemble a coalition of partners around a viable plan to restore free navigation. In separate meetings with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Starmer pressed for the waterways reopening, citing the need to restore the flow of goods and stabilize global supply chains.

Prior to the ceasefire, the UK had hosted multilateral talks involving 35 countries  including France, Germany, and the UAE  aimed at reopening the Strait. The US had abstained from those talks after Trump said publicly that it was a problem for other nations to resolve. Trump had also told aides at the time that he was prepared to end the military campaign against Iran even if the Strait remained closed, saying it could be addressed at a later date.

The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately one-fifth of the worlds oil supply, making its closure a significant disruption to global energy markets. Its status is expected to remain a central flashpoint in the days ahead as the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran holds, and as pressure mounts on Iran to follow through on the terms it agreed to.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A sharp war of words erupted Thursday after Khawaja Asif launched a blistering attack on Israel, prompting a rare and forceful public response from Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials.

Asif, Pakistans defence minister, labeled Israel evil and a curse for humanity in remarks tied to Israels military operations in Lebanon during a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire. In a now-deleted post on X, he further escalated rhetoric, claiming that genocide is being committed in Lebanon while peace talks were underway in Islamabad.

I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell, Asif wrote.

The remarks triggered immediate backlash from Israel. Netanyahu condemned the statement as outrageous, saying, This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace.

Israels Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, also issued a strong rebuke, accusing Pakistans leadership of spreading blatant antisemitic blood libels. He warned that describing Israel as cancerous amounts to a call for its destruction, emphasizing that Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction.

The diplomatic clash is notable given the absence of formal relations between Israel and Pakistan, with Tel Aviv historically avoiding direct engagement with Islamabad. However, Israeli officials signaled that the severity of the remarks warranted a public response.

The confrontation followed an earlier condemnation by Pakistans Foreign Ministry of Israeli actions in Lebanon, which was then amplified by Asifs incendiary social media statements. The post was later deleted after drawing widespread criticism.

Israeli officials have also expressed longstanding skepticism about Pakistans role in regional diplomacy. Reuven Azar reiterated that Israel does not view Pakistan as a credible intermediary in peace negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to oil traffic, with Iran showing no signs of honoring what the United States said was a non-negotiable condition of Wednesdays ceasefire, raising urgent questions about whether the truce is worth the paper its written on.

A backlog of roughly 3,200 vessels  including 800 tankers and cargo ships  sits stranded west of the strait. Nearly 20,000 mariners remain stuck in the Persian Gulf. No oil tankers have risked the passage in recent days. The waterway that carries one-fifth of the worlds oil supply is, for all practical purposes, shut.

Were not seeing any, any, any oil products passing through there, said Matt Smith, an analyst at Kpler, a data and intelligence company. So, for all intents and purposes, the strait remains closed. And this is the leverage that Iran has.

Only a trickle of vessels has moved at all. Three ships passed through Thursday  two Iranian-flagged and one dry bulk carrier. On Wednesday, five vessels transited in total. Those few that are moving are avoiding standard commercial lanes entirely, threading through a corridor near Irans Larak Island with some switching off their tracking systems as they pass.

President Donald Trump, who staked the ceasefire deal on Irans commitment to reopen the waterway, publicly unloaded on Tehran Thursday. Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have! he wrote on Truth Social. Trump had announced the ceasefire as contingent on Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the strait  language that could hardly have been clearer.

The head of Abu Dhabis national oil company left no room for diplomatic ambiguity. This moment requires clarity. So lets be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open, Sultan Al Jaber wrote on LinkedIn Thursday. Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled. Iran has made clear  through both its statements and actions  that passage is subject to permission, conditions and political leverage.

Iran, it turns out, has demands. According to the Financial Times, Tehran is seeking a toll of $1 per barrel of oil transiting the strait, to be paid in cryptocurrency. Iranian state media said Wednesday the strait would remain closed in retaliation for continued Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon  attacks Washington insists fall outside the ceasefires scope.

Even if Iran were to declare the strait open tomorrow, analysts warn it would take far more than a statement to bring shipping back. We dont know whether the Strait of Hormuz is mined. Even if it isnt, the risk of being hit by a missile or a drone is a big enough deterrent, Smith said. No ones willing to take the chance. War-risk insurance remains available in some cases but only at steep premiums with added restrictions  costs that make the math unworkable for most operators.

The economic fallout is already spreading. Cargo is being rerouted through ports in Oman and along the UAEs east coast, tacking roughly two weeks onto voyage times and pushing costs up by about 25%.

With the ceasefires central promise unfulfilled, senior US and Iranian officials are set to meet Saturday in Pakistan for talks on a permanent agreement  negotiations that will take place against a backdrop of a strait that, whatever the paperwork says, remains closed.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A 21-year-old Jerusalem man has been indicted on security charges after allegedly gathering intelligence for an Iranian agent in exchange for cryptocurrency payments, the State Attorneys Office announced.

Moshe Lachovitz was charged at the Jerusalem District Court after his arrest last month. According to the indictment, Lachovitz contacted the Iranian agent  who identified himself as Michael  while searching for work, and was subsequently tasked with documenting and photographing sites across Israel, including in Jerusalem and in Raanana, where former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett resides. He was paid thousands of dollars for the work, transferred via cryptocurrency.

The alleged intelligence gathering spanned the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025. Prosecutors say Lachovitz did not initially know Michael was an Iranian operative, but continued working for him after learning the truth.

The case is the latest in a string of Iranian recruitment operations targeting Israeli civilians, with Tehran increasingly using online job offers and cryptocurrency payments to turn ordinary citizens into intelligence assets.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has offered to act as an honest broker between fuel protesters and the Government, its president has said.

Ger Hyland was speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland radio programme on Friday morning as widespread disruption caused by the demonstrations continued into a fourth day.

A number of separate but co-ordinated protests against the rising cost of fuel started across the country on Tuesday.

Motorways, fuel depots and Dublin city centre have been blocked by demonstrators who have demanded a meeting with the Government.

On Thursday night, a spokesperson for the Dublin city blockade appeared on RTEs Prime Time and claimed protest participants would be attending a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for official national representative bodies.

Later a Government spokesman said it had agreed to meet official representatives.

However, he added: Who these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.

On Friday morning, Mr Hyland said the Government had extended two places at that table to our association.

He said he had put forward two people from the IRHA but it is up to the Government who goes to a Government meeting, I cant decide who I bring in, who I want.

Mr Hyland said he had contact with the protesters through intermediaries and is available to meet demonstrators before the meeting, and if the protesters are happy he would bring their concerns with us in to Government.
Pub owners have expressed fears that they will run out of beer because of fuel protests across Ireland, preventing deliveries from happening.

"No delivery, no beer. We will be OK for today, but will we have enough for the weekend? I dont know," one publcan told the Irish Independent.

A number of businesses, particularly in Dublin City Centre, have been affected, with one pub "down to the last keg."

A staff member at OConnells pub on Bachelor's Walk provided the update on yesterday.

He added that pubs in the area have been working together to ensure they are all staying stocked, stating that they were willing to "roll the kegs" if necessary.

The Grand Social's Tommy O'Brien said that a delivery was expected to be made yesterday, but nothing arrived.

READ NEXT: DPD suspends deliveries across Ireland amid ongoing fuel protest chaos on roads

"Staff have to be paid, it is absolutely a worry. Hopefully it gets resolved in the next day or two," he added.

Other businesses, such as The Rolling Donut on O'Connell Street, have also been affected by a lack of deliveries.

Staff members there said that milk, packaging, coffee cups, and other items have not been delivered in three days.

"We have had to buy milk in the shops, which is more expensive. If there is no delivery, it is going to be very bad for business," they said.

Maurice Doyle, the manager at Banba Toymaster on Mary Street, highlighted that, as well as deliveries not being able to happen, footfall has reduced over the last few days.

"People are just not coming into town. They cant get in on the bus or Luas," he said.

The same issue can be seen at The Bakehouse cafe on Bachelor's Walk.

A manager said sales were down almost 30% since the protests started.

However, some businesses have been "blessed" by the protest, as those taking part have been booking in for a night at the Arlington Hotel.

Manager Mags Shannon said protestors had been in for food and accommodation.

"I had lads from Louth who came in for breakfast and then came in for dinner last night. This morning we served about 30 breakfasts," she said.

She added that although this is positive, beer was not being delivered there either, and she's not sure how much longer her current stock will last.

"We are a big premises and have stock, but how long we can last is a guessing game," Mags said.

The fuel protests are now in their fourth day, with some promising to continue for weeks.

A number of stations across the country have run out of petrol and diesel due to motorists' "panic buying."

Fuels For Ireland Chief Executive, Kevin McPartlan, has warned that "life-death problems are going to be caused" should the protests continue.
An Irish Government commitment for a substantial package of measures on fuel costs has not persuaded protesters blockading key parts of the country to desist, after a crunch meeting ended on Friday evening without measures finalised.

The talks between the Government and recognised national representative bodies are set to continue seeking a resolution on Saturday, but protesters who were locked out of Fridays engagement said absolutely nothing had changed for them.

Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the protest which has blocked Dublin citys main thoroughfare since Tuesday, said he was absolutely devastated that nobody from that action or similar blockades elsewhere in the country had been invited.

Mr Duffy said it was appalling there had been no resolution to the meeting as thousands of farmers, truckers and other business people were concerned about going out of business.

The official bodies represented at the meeting included the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).

They met Energy Minister Darragh OBrien, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, Minister of State Timmy Dooley and other Government officials.

However, protesters who had sought an engagement with the Government were turned away at the door.

Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said the talks were going well and committed to delivering a substantial and significant package of support.

Asked about what measures may be announced, he said he had to allow talks to conclude but commented: In the past, weve looked at things like how we get direct funding schemes to our farmers, weve looked at things around credit supply lines, cash flow  and also, at a European level, both myself and the Taoiseach working to see if we can get any flexibility around the energy tax directive.

Mr Harris described the holding position as an act of good faith as he appealed to protesters to step back from the brink.

Asked about specific requests from the protesters, he said excise reductions had already been implemented and any further move in that area would require a degree of European agreement too.

Mr Harris said a price cap would not work, would potentially cost billions and would transfer the price to the taxpayer.

Asked to put an overall euro amount on the package, he said it would be substantial and significant.

Spokesmen for the official bodies were also unable to put specifics on a potential outcome on Friday evening.

Speaking after the meeting concluded, IRHA president Ger Hyland said the exchanges were angsty but he remained optimistic for a resolution.

He said: Theres certainly urgency that there has to be something done very fast.

ICMSA president Denis Drennan said there was huge frustration on farms over rising and unsustainable production costs, adding: Our members are haemorrhaging money at the moment.

He said he fully sympathised with protesters but said essential supplies needed to get out through ports.

IFA president Francie Gorman said the Government needed to be a lot more productive on addressing the national crisis.

Mr Duffy, who had been listening to the above engagements with media, told reporters that protesters had politely sought a meeting but were denied.

He said: Were not criminals, were the Irish farmers and contractors and people in the transport industry.

Mr Duffy added: Youd think we were a bunch of criminals and hooligans the way they treated us  we were entitled to be in that room.

Asked why protest spokesmen were not allowed entry into the meeting between the Government and recognised industry bodies, Mr Harris said: The position of the Government has been crystal clear from day one.

We engage with the democratically elected representative bodies, and many of them are in the room today, and also we cant have a situation where were engaging with people who are blockading key parts of our country.

Were trying to come up with economic solutions at the same time while blockades are causing significant economic damage to Ireland.

Asked about the concerns raised over the impacts on fuel supplies and the provision of healthcare services, Mr Duffy said protesters had received reports of carers who could not afford to put fuel in their cars.

He said: This is short-term pain for long-term gain.

Mr Duffy contended protesters would have come out with results rather than representative organisations who were coming out with nothing, only their own salaries.

He said the protest would continue until there was a serious reduction in our costs.

Mr Duffy added: We have nothing left to lose.
Check this rare victory for the quickly disappearing single-family suburban home . . .

The Tenth District of the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the September 2023 dismissal by the federal district court in Kansas City, Kansas, attesting that the citys ordinance, which restricts how many unrelated people can live in a single-family home, violated their constitutional rights.



The ruling means the citys rule, which says no more than three unrelated people can live in the same dwelling, stands.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Quick peek at extreme push back from the "moderate" leader . . .

"The Republican-led Kansas Legislature reconvenes Thursday to weigh Gov. Laura Kellys veto of two dozen separate bills and line-item vetoes of more than 30 provisions in a state budget bill the Democratic governor viewed as unconstitutional, unethical or unreasonable."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Gov. Laura Kelly pushes back against Kansas Legislature with veto of 24 bills, 31 budget items * Kansas Reflector Gov. Laura Kelly presents the Kansas Legislature with more than 50 opportunities to override her vetoes of individual bills and budget provisions.

Kelly vetoes two informed-consent bills for women's health care - The Sentinel Governor Kelly vetoed women's health care bills dealing with informed consent and litigation.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly racks up double-digit vetoes, including bills on abortion, school choice Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed 21 bills this week, but they could still be overridden as the legislative session winds down for the year. The Legislature that passed the bills will have the ch...

Developing . . .
Just for late night & early morning readers, we share more than a few items we've been checking by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Home Team Fashion Statement

Kansas City Royals announce new 'Forever Fountains' uniform The Kansas City Royals unveiled their new 2026 City Connect uniform, called "Forever Fountains," which pays tribute to the city 200+ fountains

More Pickleball Deets . . .

Former Adams Mark Hotel undergoes renovation for World Cup The old Adams Mark Hotel in Jackson County is getting a facelift led by Community Builders of Kansas City, with exterior renovations, repaved parking and new landscaping, to prepare for the World C...

Off Track Today

News Chopper 9 video shows multiple train cars overturned in KCK, authorities working to learn more Video from the scene shows at least 15 train cars, believed to be auto carriers, on their sides.

Dead-Tree Coverage Check-In

Firefighters battle 'suspicious' toilet fire at Excelsior Springs skate park The Excelsior Springs Fire Department is seeking the public's help after firefighters found a portable toilet burned to the ground.

Summer Music Calendar Debuts

Concert Presales This Week: Bob Dylan, Johnny Blue Skies, Billy Idol, Kurt Vile & More Bridge listeners can access tickets to a ton of upcoming concerts before they go on sale to the public this week - find more info & grab those tickets!

Supermodel Social Postscript

Paulina Porizkova celebrates 61st birthday in teeny striped bikini The supermodel said she's kicked her workout up "10 notches" to look her best ahead of her upcoming wedding.

First Lady Denial . . .

Trump news at a glance: Melania Trump's weird disavowal of Epstein is getting weirder It was unclear which specific accusations spurred the first lady to respond publicly - key US politics stories from Thursday 9 April at a glance

Progressively Worse Opposition

Democrats intensify calls to oust Trump over Iran threats More than 70 Democrats in Congress are calling for President Trump's removal over his blistering threats against Iran and handling of the military operation in Iran, a dynamic that is forecasting t...

MAGA Civil War Cont'd

GOP Salazar's Wage-Cutting Amnesty Bill Attacks Trump's Populists Rep. Maria Salazar's migration bill is an attack by business on the income and political participation of the GOP's populist-minded voters.

Iran From Paperwork

Automatic military draft registration takes effect in December. Here's how it would work | CNN Politics Young, eligible men will be automatically registered for the military draft pool starting in December as part of a measure tucked into the annual defense policy bill Congress signed into law late last year.

Prez Trump Splits With Tucker

Trump blasts MAGA influencers who have split with him over Iran Trump posts a long critique of several right-wing media figures who have backed him in the past but have been outspoken in their objection to the Iran war.

Wild Life Mirrors Modern Day Politics

Infants torn from mothers, testicles ripped off: Study describes vicious chimpanzee infighting Chimpanzees that had once formed a cohesive community in Uganda split into factions and turned violent, according to a new study. Nearly 30 chimps were killed, including 19 infants.

Deuce Stumps Eastern Bloc

'They hate this guy': JD Vance's claims about Orban, the EU and Hungary fact-checked US vice-president said bloc tried to 'destroy' the country's economy, though Hungary is net recipient of EU funds

Mexican Dude FINALLY Gets Last Laugh

Wild video captures women brawling across coffin at funeral after learning they both dated the dead man The dramatic row erupted at a wake for the man in Veracruz, Mexico, when the two mourning women learned they shared the same deceased cheating lover, The Sun reported.

Old School Act Out

Amanda Peet: 'At 54, I Love That My Boss Writes Me Sex Scenes-and Menopause Scenes' The Your Friends & Neighbors star opens up about going through the early stages of menopause, and why she's been wanting to "key a lot of cars" the last few years.

Reading Rainbow Redux

It's April! Find Your Joy! Celebrate National Library Week throughout April, and find your joy.

Spring Shower Forecast

Multiple rounds of storms expected in Kansas City; severe risk increases next week Storms are back in the Kansas City forecast. Expect waves of rain, some strong storms and possible flooding through early next week.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Again, for context . . .

Special legislation is a law that applies only to particular individuals, entities, or specific geographic locations, rather than the general population. It singles out specific cases for unique benefits or restrictions, such as a law allowing one specific town to set unique tax rates. Many states restrict this to prevent unequal treatment.

Very often, courts overturn these efforts from legislators despite best intentions.

In this case . . .

Black leaders at 12th & Oak want to deny a drink to poor, "Black & brown" people based on little more than the fact that residents are "Black & Brown" and live in lower income areas. And so, that very reasoning prompts reasonable questions, legal review and probably push back from Missouri legislators for a lot of reasons but mostly because: If a white person suggested this dumb move they'd be universally derided, cancelled and probably run out of office . . .

And so . . .

Overturning this effort at the state level might not be as difficult as city hall insiders think . . . For now, here's the legislation aftermath . . .

Ordinance 260250, which places restrictions on certain quick-consumption alcohol products, passed in a 7-6 vote.



The Prospect Avenue-Southeast, Independence Avenue, Midtown, Central Business District and Blue Ridge corridors have been identified as the "Retail Alcohol Impact Areas" based on community input and public safety data, per a press release from the city.



"We listened to our community, we looked at the research and today we delivered, Councilmember Melissa Robinson, 3rd District, said in a press release. This ordinance is about protecting our neighbors and giving these communities a chance to meet their full potential. I'm proud the council stood with residents today."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCMO City Council passes ordinance to ban sales of single-shot liquor bottles in certain neighborhoods The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council passed an ordinance Thursday banning the sale of single-shot liquor bottles and establishing "Retail Alcohol Impact Areas" in designated neighborhoods.
American Airlines is planning to restart flights to Venezuela beginning April 30.

However, this is still depending regulatory approval by both the United States and Venezuela.

American Airlines Plans Restarting Flights to Venezuela

According to a report by TravelPulse, should regulatory approval be given by both countries, American Airlines is planning to offer one daily nonstop flight between Miami and Caracas.

The airline will be using the regional Embraer E175 aircraft for the flight, per Travel Weekly.

The report notes that American Airlines first launched flights to Venezuela. However, operations were put to stop in 2019 when the US suspended all passenger flights to the country.

The US government cited the unrest in Venezuela as the reason behind the suspension.

"American's Miami hub is the preeminent U.S. gateway to Latin America, and our service to Venezuela is a key part of our history and our future," American Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper said in a statement.

"Our commitment to connecting Venezuela with the U.S. spans more than 30 years, and we look forward to the new opportunities for commerce and strengthened ties with family and friends that our service will provide," Pieper added.

Related Article: American Airlines Joins Spirit Bankruptcy Case to Receive All Filings

Venezuela Now at Level 3

It can be recalled that the flight ban applicable to Venezuela was rescinded last month by the Department of Transportation.

The travel advisory for the country was also downgraded from Level 4 (Do Not Travel) to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).

"American was the first airline to announce plans to restart service to Venezuela, and we are encouraged by the progress we've made with both governments," American's executive vice president of its American Eagle regional brand, corporate real estate and government affairs, Nate Gatten, said in a statement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. A new framework agreement on cooperation signed between the United Nations (UN) and the Azerbaijani government marks a new phase in their strategic partnership, in line with the countrys national priorities, the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office, Kanako Mabuchi, said, Trend reports.

She made the remark at the meeting of the High-Level Joint Steering Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Baku today

She noted that the new document was drafted taking into account Azerbaijans status as an upper-middle-income country and its evolving needs: The new cooperation framework marks a new phase in the partnership between the government and the UN. It builds on 33 years of strong partnership and outlines more prioritized, strategically focused activities for the next five years.

Addressing the financial aspects of the program, the Head of the Resident Coordinators Office announced the budget required to achieve the set goals: For the UN to support the government and deliver on the outputs that we have committed to under the new cooperation framework, at present we expect that we would require a total of $87 million over the next five years. We have already jointly mobilized approximately $52 million of this amount, and we will work with government partners to secure the remaining $35 million.

Mabuchi emphasized that the action plan covers two main strategic areas and is fully aligned with the national priorities of the Azerbaijan 2030 program: The priority area focuses on inclusive socio-economic growth, and the second on green growth and climate resilience. We will support Azerbaijans transition to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable development path, as well as the strengthening of systems to protect against climate and environmental risks.

In addition, Mabuchi noted that the UNs activities in the country have shifted to a more flexible and integrated format: We now have a more flexible staff in the country, and the activities of the 12 signatory bodies are coordinated. We will continue to support Azerbaijans leading role in multilateralism and climate diplomacy, particularly in advancing regional peace and cooperation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. A delegation led by Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and National Coordinator of WUF13, is attending the Second Africa Urban Forum (AUF2) held in Nairobi, Trend reports.

The forum, running until April 10, is hosted by the Government of Kenya with the support of the African Union, this years theme was the Adequate Housing for All: Advancing Socio-Economic and Environmental Transformation towards the Realization of Agenda 2063. The event is considered one of the regions key platforms for discussing urban planning and sustainable urban development.

As part of the forum, the Azerbaijani delegation participated in high-level meetings and thematic sessions. In line with the agenda, the head of the delegation, Anar Guliyev, in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group for 20252026 on the UN-Habitat Assembly resolution Affordable Housing for All, delivered a Joint Statement of Azerbaijan and Somalia.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), climate and blended finance mechanisms, as well as sustainable models that ensure housing affordability.

Anar Guliyev briefed the participants on the preparations for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be held in Baku on May 17-22 this year.

As part of his visit to Kenya, the Committee Chairman also held a number of bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from other countries and representatives of international organizations.

The meetings included discussions with Daniel Garwe, Minister of Local Government and Public Works of the Republic of Zimbabwe; Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union Commission; Leonard Douglas Akwilapo, Minister for Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements Development of Tanzania; Saeed Mahmoud Haid, State Minister for Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing of Somalia; Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Minister of Infrastructure of Rwanda; Celestine Ketcha Courtes, Minister of Housing and Urban Development of Cameroon; Chaltu San, Minister of Urban and Infrastructure Development of Ethiopia; Nurdin Bilal Juma, Mayor of Dar es Salaam City Council; Johnson Sakaja, Governor of Nairobi County; Rindikiri Mugambi Murwithania, Vice Chair of Kenyas Parliamentary Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works; Thierno-Habib Hann, CEO of the Shelter Afrique Development Bank; and Moses Nyabanda, CEO of Equity Bank (Kenya) Limited.

The meetings underscored the positive dynamics of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the African countries, featuring discussions on sustainable urban development, housing policy, and expanding collaboration among relevant institutions.

Additionally, Anar Guliyev met with Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). They discussed the progress of WUF13 preparations, noting that more than 16,000 participants have registered to participate at the Forum.
Passengers walk at a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military announced on Wednesday night an easing of the wartime restrictions on civilians, including the reopening of schools in most of the country starting Thursday.

Under the new guidelines, published by the Home Front Command, schools will reopen in most areas of the country, for the first time in over a month.

Restrictions on large gatherings remain in northern Israel and in regions near the Lebanese border.

Full activity of the Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international hub, will resume starting midnight, the Transportation Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday night. Activity in the smaller Ramon Airport in the south will resume on Sunday.

Meanwhile, El Al, Israel's national carrier, said it is preparing to resume full operations and flights to 30 destinations after running a limited schedule, carrying about 50 passengers per flight for most of the war. 

A passenger checks an information board at a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Passengers wait for check-in at a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

A passenger walks at a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Passengers walk at a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Business issues were discussed at the next meeting of Azerbaijan's Economic Council, chaired by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, held today, a source in the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

The session primarily addressed the challenges and concerns raised by entrepreneurs in the sectors of "Construction and Utilities Connection" and "Industry," as outlined by the "Working Group on Removing Barriers and Difficulties to Entrepreneurial Activity and Improving the Business Environment."

Natig Amirov, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Working Group, presented a report on the issues included in the meetings agenda.

Throughout the meeting, key participants including Minister of Justice Farid Ahmadov, Head of the State Property Issues Service Matin Eynullayev, the Head of the State Agency for Construction Safety Control of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Jabrayil Khanlarov, and First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture Namig Hummatov, offered insights and recommendations regarding the issues discussed.

As a result of the meeting, decisions were made to amend relevant drafts of normative-legal acts in accordance with the feedback and proposals from the participants. These amendments are to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for further review. Additionally, specific tasks were assigned to the relevant authorities for implementation.
As it was announced at the beginning of the year, PASHA Holding intends to proceed with an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of PASHA Bank, marking a historic milestone as the first private bank and private entity in Azerbaijan to initiate a public listing process. The planned IPO represents a significant step in PASHA Holdings strategic evolution, reflecting both a forward-looking vision and a disciplined, growth-oriented approach.

Commenting on the development, Jalal Gasimov, CEO of PASHA Holding, said: For the first time in our history, we are preparing to take one of our core assets, PASHA Bank, to the public markets. This is not only a milestone for our Group, but also a first for Azerbaijans private sector.

Gasimov emphasized that the decision is grounded in both strategic necessity and long-term ambition: At its core, an IPO is about capital. It will enable the bank to continue its growth trajectory and strengthen its role in supporting the real economy. Over the years, we have built a strong foundation through retained earnings and shareholder support. Now, we are opening the next phase of growth to the market.

Beyond capital raising, the IPO is expected to enhance transparency and institutional discipline: We also want to understand how the market values our bank - and to invite that discipline. Becoming a public company brings greater transparency, accountability, and rigor. These are not obligations we take lightly; they are standards we actively seek.

PASHA Holding also highlighted the broader significance of the IPO for Azerbaijans financial ecosystem, particularly the development of local capital markets: Today, the local capital market remains limited, with few private issuers. For a healthy financial ecosystem, there must be both investors and companies willing to open themselves to the market. We are ready to take that step  not only for our own growth, but to contribute to the development of a more dynamic and diversified economy. Over time, this may also include listings of other assets within our group.

The Group views the IPO as an extension of its long-standing mission to support economic growth and investment: I am particularly pleased that this milestone comes in the year of PASHA Holding LLCs 20th anniversary, as it marks a new chapter in our journey and contributes to our shareholders aspiration moving from growing to sharing. For two decades, we have supported our clients in investing and expanding their businesses. With this IPO, we take that philosophy one step further - opening the door for a broader community of investors to participate in the next phase of our journey.

Established in 2006, PASHA Holding is one of the leading conglomerates in the country operating across a diverse range of sectors, including banking, insurance, fintech, real estate, retail grocery, agriculture etc. With a workforce of more than 25,000 employees and total assets exceeding USD 18 billion, the Group has a growing international footprint. PASHA Holding currently operates in six countries: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkiye, Georgia, Montenegro, and the United States.
TuranBank OJSC, one of the leading financial institutions supporting the development of the real sector in Azerbaijan, has signed a new cooperation agreement with Swiss impact asset manager responsAbility Investments AG as part of its strategy to strengthen its position in international financial markets and expand financing of the local economy.

Under the agreement, responsAbility Investments AG has provided TuranBank with funding equivalent to USD 10 million in local currency for a period of three years. The funds will be directed toward supporting Azerbaijans non-oil sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The availability of financing in local currency will help protect entrepreneurs from foreign exchange risks and enable more favorable financing conditions for business projects.

Benoit Bouet, Head of FI Debt EECCA & MENA, responsAbility, said: This transaction is a strong fit with our financial institutions lending strategy. By providing financing in local currency, we aim to support access to funding for small and medium-sized enterprises in Azerbaijan and contribute to the development of the local real economy.

Signing this new agreement with responsAbility is another strong indication of the trust placed in our Bank and our financial stability. Securing USD 10 million equivalent in local currency will not only improve access to finance for SMEs in Azerbaijan but also protect them from exchange rate risks. Through this partnership, we aim to further enhance financial inclusion in the country and expand our support to entrepreneurs in the regions. We remain committed to supporting the real sector and contributing to the sustainable development of Azerbaijans non-oil economy, said Orkhan Garayev, Chairman of the Management Board of TuranBank OJSC.

This partnership once again confirms TuranBanks credibility among international financial institutions, as well as its commitment to sustainable development principles and financial inclusion.

responsAbility is a leading Swiss impact asset manager focused on private market investments in emerging markets. The company provides debt and equity financing to financial institutions, enterprises and specialist and regional funds. Impact is embedded across the investment approach, with strategies designed to generate measurable positive outcomes for people and planet alongside competitive financial returns.

TuranBank OJSC was established in 1992 and is recognized as one of the most stable and reliable institutions in Azerbaijans financial sector. The Bank provides its clients with a wide range of financial services in accordance with international standards. Currently operating through 22 service points across the country, TuranBank has demonstrated sustainable growth over its 33 years of activity. The Bank stands out for its commitment to transparency, reliability, and social responsibility, continuing to play an important role in the national banking sector. For more information: www.turanbank.az
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. As part of their visit to Azerbaijan today, members of the Azerbaijan Friendship Groups of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus visited the Alley of Honor, Victory Park, and the Turkish Martyrdom Memorial in Baku, a source in the Azerbaijani parliament told Trend.

At the Alley of Honors, the delegations deeply respected the memory of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, the architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, by laying a wreath at his grave and arranging fresh flowers.

At the Victory Park, the delegations laid a wreath in front of the Victory Monument. The guests were informed about the park, created to keep alive the memory of the great historical Victory achieved by the Azerbaijani people in the Second Karabakh War and to perpetuate the dear memory of the martyrs.

Then the delegations visited the "Turkish Martyrdom" monument, erected in memory of the heroic Turkish soldiers who died in the battles for the liberation of Baku in 1918. Bouquets of flowers were laid in front of the monument.

During the visit, the delegations were accompanied by Ahliman Amiraslanov, head of the Azerbaijani Parliament's working group on interparliamentary relations with Turkiye, Javanshir Feyziyev, head of the working group on interparliamentary relations with Northern Cyprus, MP Anar Mammadov, and other officials.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. A new round of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan and Germany was held in Baku on April 10, 2026, the Azerbaijani MFA told Trend.

The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev, while the German side was headed by Niklas Wagner, Commissioner for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia at Germanys Foreign Ministry.

During the consultations, the sides reviewed the current state of political relations and emphasized the importance of maintaining continuous dialogue through mutual visits and meetings within international platforms. Discussions also covered cooperation in economic, energy, transport, and humanitarian fields, as well as prospects for further development.

Information was presented on strategic energy and transport projects implemented with Azerbaijans initiative and participation, and views were exchanged on expanding the legal and contractual framework between the two countries.

The parties also addressed cooperation within international organizations, including mutual support for candidacies and coordination on global platforms.

In addition, detailed information was provided on the regional situation, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, efforts to ensure lasting peace, and large-scale reconstruction, restoration, and demining activities in the liberated territories.

The consultations also included an exchange of views on other international issues of mutual interest.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. In connection with preparatory measures for the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), to be held in Baku, traffic flow monitoring will be carried out along designated routes in certain parts of the capital during the night of 1112 April, Trend reports via Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Within this framework, temporary traffic management measures will be implemented on routes leading to Heydar Aliyev International Airport from 01:30 to 03:30 on 12 April.

In view of the above, Heydar Aliyev International Airport advises passengers to plan their journeys in advance, take possible road congestion into account, and consider the Zigh Highway corridor as an alternative route where appropriate.

To ensure a smooth and timely travel experience, passengers are recommended to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure.

It should be noted that the Aeroexpress bus service operating between the airport and the city centre (28 May Transport Interchange Hub) will continue to operate according to schedule and remains a reliable transportation alternative for passengers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The leadership of the Ministry of Defense, along with other senior officials, inspected the progress of the live-fire tactical exercise conducted in one of the military units, Trend reports via the ministry.

The Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, was briefed on the exercises theme, phases, and sequence of execution using a map.

In accordance with the training plan for the current year and taking into account modern methods of warfare, the primary objective of the tactical exercise is to enhance commanders ability to make prompt decisions in line with the new operational concept, to improve the management of units under conditions of coordinated interoperability, and to further develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of personnel.

The leadership of the Ministry of Defense highly evaluated the tactical performance of the units and the combat readiness of the personnel.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Azerbaijan's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities were highly praised in the International Transport Forum (ITF) report, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport told Trend.

According to the ministry, the country's initiatives in the field of AI have once again been recognized internationally. Thus, a special place was given to our country's experience in the report "Skills drive us forward: skills of the transport workforce in the era of AI - summary and conclusions" published by ITF.

The ministry noted that the report analyzed policy approaches to developing workforce skills against the backdrop of the application of artificial intelligence and identified key directions for states. In this context, the "AI strategy of Azerbaijan for 2025-2028" was cited as a positive example.

The ministry highlighted that Azerbaijan's approach presents artificial intelligence not as a risk for the labor market, but as a new opportunity for professional development. Within the framework of the strategy, increasing public awareness of AI and promoting its ethical and responsible use were identified as priorities. For this purpose, more in-depth STEM-based training programs are being implemented, starting with basic knowledge, through the AI Academy established under the National Artificial Intelligence Center. The strategy envisages training for 500 employees in various state institutions and the formation of a community of 3,000 artificial intelligence specialists.

The report generally noted that the application of AI in the transport sector is not only a technological issue, but also a matter of skills development and labor market transformation. In this regard, the international recognition of Azerbaijan's approach once again confirms that the policy the country is pursuing in this area is on the right track. It also shows that Azerbaijan's consistent policy on AI, digitalization, innovation, and human capital development is internationally recognized and serves as an example for other countries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The III Forum of Azerbaijani Engineers Living in Europe will be held on June 6, 2026, in Hamburg, Germany, with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan and the organization of the Alliance of Azerbaijanis in Germany, Trend reports via the State Committee for Work with Diaspora.

The forum will focus on the topic of Smart City Technology and Processes, held within the framework of Azerbaijans Year of Urban Planning and Architecture.

The event aims to bring together Azerbaijani engineers and young researchers working across Germany and other European countries, strengthening professional networking among them while fostering scientific and practical cooperation with relevant institutions in Azerbaijan.

In addition to Azerbaijani engineers and specialists based in Europe, representatives of relevant state institutions and universities from Azerbaijan, as well as delegates from several prestigious German universities and research centers, are expected to participate.

Azerbaijani engineers residing in Europe who wish to take part in the forum can register through the following link.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Pursuant to the 2026 training plan, an inspection was conducted in one of military units of the Special Forces by the Main Military Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense, Trend reports via the ministry.

At the outset of the inspection, the units Battle Flag was brought onto the parade ground to mark the commencement of the inspection.

A minute of silence was first observed in memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani nation, Heydar Aliyev, the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland, followed by the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the subsequent phases of the inspections conducted by the Main Military Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense, the units (headquarters) activities, combat training, and the state of logistical support were thoroughly assessed. Special Forces battalions were placed on alert and deployed in accordance with assigned combat missions, their tactical maneuvers in the designated area, field skills, and level of operational readiness were evaluated.

Relevant officials were given appropriate instructions aimed at improving the efficiency of combat training activities, enhancing the professionalism of military personnel, and ensuring that service is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the modern era.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang, the DPRK, April 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Chao)

PYONGYANG, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China stands ready to work with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to continue consolidating the positive momentum in the development of China-DPRK relations.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.

Wang said that in early September last year, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), held a historic meeting in Beijing, reaching important consensus on the overall, strategic and directional issues concerning bilateral ties.

The meeting provides important strategic guidance for further developing China-DPRK relations, pushes bilateral ties into a new stage and opens a new chapter in friendly exchanges between the two countries, which is of great and far-reaching significance, Wang added.

Wang said China stands ready to work with the DPRK to take the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries as fundamental guidance, strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, create more benefits for the two peoples, and jointly promote regional peace and development.

The past year has witnessed a series of highlights in China-DPRK exchanges, which strongly demonstrated that the two countries' traditional friendship forged in blood remains everlasting and unbreakable, Wang said, noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

Over the past 65 years, Wang said, no matter how the international and regional situations have changed, China and the DPRK, as good neighbors, good friends and good comrades, have always trusted and supported each other, making unremitting efforts to maintain regional and world peace and stability and promote their respective development.

Wang said China is willing to work with the DPRK side to hold commemorative events for the 65th anniversary of the signing of the treaty, strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue and practical cooperation at all levels and in various fields, deepen people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding, and contribute to respective economic and social development.

For her part, Choe said that the DPRK-China friendship is based on the common socialist system and traditional friendship, describing bilateral relations as deep-rooted, solid and sustainable. It is the unwavering position of the WPK and the nation to advance DPRK-China friendship and cooperation following the trend of the times and the will of the two peoples.

Choe noted that the historic and successful meeting between the top leaders of the two parties and countries in September last year has significantly enhanced friendship and mutual trust between the two parties and two countries, pointed out a clear direction for and injecting strong impetus into the development of bilateral ties.

The DPRK, Choe said, fully supports the one-China principle, firmly opposes any interference in China's internal affairs, and resolutely supports China's position on safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity concerning Taiwan, Xizang, Xinjiang, and other issues of China's core interests.

Choe said that the DPRK side fully endorses the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives proposed by Xi, and highly values China's just position on and important role in international and regional affairs.

Choe said that the DPRK stands ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, hold commemorative events marking the 65th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, expand exchanges and practical cooperation across various fields, enhance coordination between diplomatic departments, strengthen multilateral communication and collaboration, and continue to make efforts to lift DPRK-China relations to higher levels and open up new prospects.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on current international and regional issues. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang, the DPRK, April 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Chao)
The CD was released with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan through the Azerbaijan Diaspora Support Fund and on the initiative of Azerbaijani pianist Gulchin Aslanova-Lutz, who resides in Germany.

The project aims to present the rich heritage of Azerbaijani and European compositional schools on a single platform, highlighting parallels and mutual influences between the two musical traditions.

The CD includes the 12 Miniatures for piano by prominent Azerbaijani composer Fikret Amirov and Davidsbundlertanze by renowned German composer Robert Schumann. All pieces on the album are performed by Gulchin Aslanova-Lutz.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 10. Turkmenistan's State gas company Turkmengas State Concern will sign a contract with CNPC Amudarya Petroleum Company Ltd. to develop production facilities with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters of commercial gas per year at the Galkynysh field, Trend reports via Turkmennebit State Concern.

The corresponding authorization was granted by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov during a Cabinet meeting on the countrys macroeconomic performance for the first quarter of 2026, and further reviewed at a sectoral meeting, dedicated to the results of the country's oil and gas industry for the same period, held by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Guvanch Agajanov.

In this context, Guvanch Agajanov emphasized the importance of preparations for the upcoming scientific and practical conference "Turkmenistan-China: 20 years of strategic cooperation in the gas sector."

During a meeting, special attention was also paid to the construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.

Earlier, during his visit to China on March 18, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (Parliament) of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the Board of Directors of CNPC Dai Houliang held discussions on the Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.

The TAPI gas pipeline is an international natural gas transportation project designed to deliver Turkmen gas from the Galkynysh field through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India, with a total annual capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas. The pipeline is expected to supply approximately 5 billion cubic meters per year to Afghanistan and 14 billion cubic meters per year each to Pakistan and India. The total length of the route is approximately 1,814 km, and Turkmenistan has completed construction of its 214-kilometer section, preparing it for operation, while work continues on the Afghan and subsequent sections of the route.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Colvir Software Solutions products are used by 80% of banks in Turkmenistan, Denis Yudin, Head of the company's Business Development Department, told Trend.

According to him, this level of presence means the companys solutions are deeply embedded in the day-to-day functioning of the countrys financial sector rather than confined to specific segments.

"This broad presence is also explained by the fact that Colvir offers not just one product, but an extensive ecosystem of solutions. It includes a banking system, banking and corporate treasury solutions, a data warehouse, remote banking services, payment systems, AI & ML tools, an enterprise service bus, as well as solutions for administrative and operational activities," he added.

According to Yudin, a portfolio of more than 100 modules enables banks to develop within a unified architecture, avoiding fragmented implementations.

"Colvirs uniqueness lies in the synergy between banking, postal services, e-government, and adjacent sectors, all brought together within a single technological ecosystem," Yudin noted.

He emphasized that such an approach is particularly important for countries where the modernization of banking infrastructure is closely linked to the development of public digital services and the payments environment.

"Colvir Software Solutions plays a role in Turkmenistan not merely as a supplier of banking software, but as one of the countrys long-term technology partners that has gone through the key stages of building a modern financial infrastructure together with local banks," Yudin said.

According to him, the company has been operating in the market since 2008, and over time, its involvement has extended beyond individual projects to systematic participation in the development of financial infrastructure.

"Among the most significant stages, several milestones stand out. Between 2008 and 2011, the Colvir banking system was implemented in seven banks, including the Central Bank. In 2011, a new interbank payment system was launched. In 2018, the banking system was introduced at Halkbank. In 2019-2020, the development of digital channels in Turkmenistans banks began," he added.

He explained that this trajectory reflects a broader shift from building core infrastructure to developing customer-facing digital services and achieving higher technological maturity.

"Today, this contribution continues at a new level. Beyond basic automation, Colvir sees its role in expanding the functionality of the banking system, developing remote banking channels, QR-code payment solutions, creating development roadmaps together with Turkmen banks, strengthening the expert community of banking professionals, automating postal infrastructure, and supporting areas related to modern e-government," Yudin said.

According to him, the company is now focused on both expanding technological capabilities and deepening integration with national systems.

"Therefore, in a broader sense, the most significant project is not any single implementation, but the entire long-term trajectory of joint progress towards the digital transformation of the countrys banking sector," Yudin said.

He added that the adaptation of Colvirs solutions in Turkmenistan is comprehensive, ranging from consideration of national requirements to the design of an architecture capable of supporting further digital transformation.

"Colvirs presence in Turkmenistan can therefore be described as broad and infrastructural, while the adaptation of its solutions can be described as deep and systemic, ranging from consideration of national requirements and sector logic to the design of an architecture capable of supporting the further digital transformation of banks and the wider financial environment," Yudin concluded.

For reference, Colvir Software Solutions is a UK-based IT company founded in 2000 that specializes in developing and implementing end-to-end software solutions for banks, postal operators, and financial institutions. The company focuses on automating financial and administrative processes through core banking systems, digital banking platforms, and enterprise solutions, operating across multiple countries with hundreds of completed projects and a broad client base in the financial sector.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Azerbaijan launches a new cooperation stage with the UN from 2026 through 2030, Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov said at the meeting of the High-Level Joint Steering Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Baku today, Trend reports.

According to him, for more than 30 years, the country has been working closely with the UN, taking consistent steps to implement the Sustainable Development Goals, improve governance and institutional development, create equal development opportunities for citizens, and address other areas.

"This partnership has made a significant contribution to aligning global priorities with 'Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development'. So far, five framework documents on cooperation have been developed in cooperation with the UN, and the 5th Framework Document, covering the years 20262030, is currently entering the implementation phase.

The previous Framework Document, encompassing the period from 2021 through 2025, covered priority areas such as promoting inclusive growth, strengthening institutional capacity for state and social services, protecting the environment, and combating climate change," he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Azerbaijan ranks among the few countries that submitted its fourth Voluntary National Report on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and plans to submit its fifth Voluntary National Report in 2027, Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the meeting of the High-Level Joint Steering Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Baku today.

Akhundov noted that, in addition, a project to localize the SDGs at the regional level has been launched in cooperation with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.

"Localizing the SDGs involves not only their adoption at the global level, but also their integration into policies, programs, and development plans at the national, regional, and local levels.

As the initial stage of the activity, the Ministry of Economy and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator are working to launch localization initiatives in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the liberated territories - in the first stage in Shusha city - in cooperation with relevant institutions.

We are confident that the next stage of our partnership with the UN will contribute to sustainable development in our country, and peace, prosperity, and stability in the region," the official added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The schedule of events dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals, which will take place in Shusha and Nakhchivan, has already been finalized, and the deputy ministers have agreed on the dates for these events. We will be in Shusha on April 2930, and in Nakhchivan on May 78, UN's interim resident coordinator in Azerbaijan, Igor Garafulic said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement at a meeting of the Joint High-Level Steering Committee of the UN Framework Programme for Cooperation on Sustainable Development, held today in Baku.

Garafulic noted that during these visits, consultation workshops will be held with local executive authorities, and their views on the Sustainable Development Goals will be explored. At the same time, awareness-raising events and local-level dialogues will be organized at universities: We are now where everyone wanted to bewe are already working on the ground.

In February, we held a meeting with some colleagues, and that is when we began preparations for this session. Our goal was to organize this session effectively, productively, and with concrete results. At that meeting, we prepared our joint work plans, and the fact that they have already begun to be implemented demonstrates the effectiveness of the work we have done, he emphasized.

The UN representative also emphasized that the new cooperation framework is more focused and prioritized: This program aligns with Azerbaijans national development strategy and the countrys evolving context.

''The working group meetings held in February served as an important platform for reviewing priorities for 2026. During these meetings, areas for improvement were identified, and coordination between the government and the UN was further strengthened. The results of these discussions will be presented today, and we look forward to your approval.

I would like to note that all information regarding the structure of our cooperation is already available to the public on the un info platform. This ensures transparency regarding UN programs and, in particular, funding. Additionally, the annual reports for 2025 will be published by June, providing detailed information on our collective achievements, he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13) will become a global collaboration platform for sustainable urban development, UN's interim resident coordinator in Azerbaijan, Igor Garafulic, said at the meeting of the High-Level Joint Steering Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Baku today, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijan will host WUF13 in May this year. This is a significant event on a global scale. The UN is ready to provide system-wide support for the successful holding of this event," Garafulic pointed out.

He noted that the World Urban Forum will create a unique opportunity to demonstrate Azerbaijan's achievements in the field of sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.

"At the same time, this event will contribute to strengthening international partnerships and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this context, we are working closely with national partners to ensure that the results of the forum are aligned with the priorities of the cooperation framework and have a long-term development impact.

This event will be a success. This will be a major international conference. At present, opportunities to discuss the importance of dialogue and multilateral cooperation are very limited in the world.

It's very important for Azerbaijan to bring together representatives of different countries on this topic in Baku. Although the main topic of the forum is housing and urban development, ministers and heads of government will speak here, and important discussions will be held. This is a very important contribution of Azerbaijan at this time," the UN representative added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The UN is closely cooperating with Azerbaijan for socio-economic growth, the head of the UN-Habitat in Azerbaijan, Anna Soave, said at the meeting of the High-Level Joint Steering Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Baku today, Trend reports.

She highly appreciated the compliance of the new cooperation framework with national priorities.

"Our new cooperation framework is built in full accordance with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a logical result of the intensive work we have carried out together with government representatives over the past year," Soave explained.

The head of the UN-Habitat country program mentioned the work done within the framework of Result Group No. 1.

"This group, which focuses on inclusive socio-economic growth and human capital development, closely cooperates with many UN agencies, such as UNICEF, WHO, and FAO. This partnership is a clear example of the effective work we are carrying out together with government agencies," she noted.

The working group co-chair briefed on the financial resources planned for the current year.

"The total resources required for the period until the end of 2026 exceed $3.6 million. Currently, a number of projects are awaiting final government approval, which will allow for the attraction of additional funds," she added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The review of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Azerbaijan covering the period 2021-2025, as well as the key directions for the new framework for 2026-2030, were discussed and approved at a meeting of the High-Level Joint Steering Committee in Baku, Trend reports.

The event featured speeches from Anar Akhundov, Deputy Minister of Economy, and Igor Garafulic, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan. Following these remarks, Kanako Mabuchi, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator Office, provided an overview of the key outcomes from the previous period and a detailed outline of the new framework.

The session also introduced the action plans and priorities for 2026, structured around two primary result groups (RGs). These included comprehensive updates on the progress made and planned activities within the domains of "Inclusive Socio-Economic Development and Human Capital" and "Climate Resilience and Green Development."
MOSCOW, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The first Russian Space Forum opened Thursday at the National Center RUSSIA, focusing on the strategic development of the space industry.

The forum showcases the achievements of space industries in Russia and other countries in recent years, exploring how these achievements can benefit society, and looks into the future prospects of the space industry and space exploration.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to the forum, stating that the development of the rocket and space sector, and the strengthening of its scientific, human and technological potential are among Russia's absolute priorities.

"I would like to underscore that to move forward and sustain our leading position in space exploration, it is imperative to consolidate the efforts of the government, business, and research communities in this strategic area, and to collectively address the large-scale, urgently needed challenges to improve the industry's production base and ground infrastructure," Putin said.

"It is of utmost importance to expand satellite constellations and to widely integrate new materials, digital and nuclear technologies," he said.

Putin stressed that Russia's innovative development, the improvement of the standard and quality of life of people, ensuring the country's defense capability, security and national sovereignty directly depend on the effective implementation of space programs.

The first Russian Space Forum is the central event of the nationwide Space Week, which is being held across Russia from April 6 to 12 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the historic flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to travel into outer space. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The UN is currently at a very high level of cooperation with Azerbaijan, UN's interim resident coordinator in Azerbaijan, Igor Garafulic, told Trend.

He recalled that the UN signs agreements with member states for a five-year period.

"In October last year, we signed a new cooperation framework covering 2026-2030, and this document encompasses all of Azerbaijan's priorities.

Among these priorities, the environment and urban planning sectors occupy a special place. There is very fluid and good communication with the government.

We have been here for more than 33 years, and during this time we have had many cooperation frameworks. In this new framework, priorities have been defined more precisely and more focused. Your Azerbaijani government specifically stated that the main area of cooperation with the UN should be the environment. Therefore, all our agencies operating in the field of environment  FAO, UN Environment Program, and others  work on the priorities set by the Ministries of Ecology and Economy.

In general, the process is very well synchronized. We know what Azerbaijan wants and are happy to support it in these areas," he said.

He emphasized that Azerbaijan is a very good member of the international community.

"The country submits voluntary reports every year to show the progress it has made. This is very positive, because other countries can learn from Azerbaijan's experience. At the same time, Azerbaijan also benefits from the experience of other countries. This is the essence of the UN - we work not only on resources and finances, but also on sharing development experiences. Countries learn from each other, and in this sense, Azerbaijan both contributes and learns."

Garafulic also spoke about Azerbaijan hosting WUF13. "I am sure that Azerbaijan will host the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13) in May, and it will be a very successful event. Azerbaijan did a very good job in the COP29 experience, and this experience is being applied now. Therefore, I do not doubt that everything will be successful.

I personally meet with representatives of UN-Habitat and other UN agencies every two weeks and follow the preparation process. I also see the construction of the Olympic Stadium, pavilions, and the general preparation process. I'm sure that everything will be ready on time.

Our participation will be at the highest level. UN-Habitat Executive Director, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Jane Mohammed, and other senior UN officials will attend the forum. Many high-level representatives from various UN offices will also come.

We are also pleased to meet with heads of state and invited ministers. This is an important meeting for the world. As for agreements and memorandums, each agency has its own work plans with individual ministries, but as a UN, the cooperation framework acts as a common 'umbrella' for us and allows us to coordinate our activities in all areas. We are now authorized to work based on that agreement," he concluded.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) shows great interest in investing in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan, ADB Country Director for Azerbaijan, Sunniya Durrani-Jamal, said at the presentation of the Asian Development Outlook 2026 review in Baku, Trend reports.

"We haven't received any requests for any railway development projects yet, but we are very interested in investing in Nakhchivan from the perspective of the region's economic development. There's significant potential there, and I hope we can discuss this within the framework of our country program. Regarding railway projects specifically, we haven't received any requests yet, but we are very interested," she said.

Durrani-Jamal noted that, as part of its state strategy, Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a transport and logistics hub. This includes not only transporting oil and gas through pipeline infrastructure development, but also developing energy connectivity and, potentially, digital connectivity. Thus, the focus is on expanding beyond the oil and gas sector.

"Regarding our support, in the past we've invested heavily in road infrastructure, as well as physical rail infrastructure. Now, however, our primary focus is on improving efficiency. We're actively investing in digitalization and railway signaling systems. And we hope to apply the same approach to other sectors," she emphasized.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 10. Chairman of Turkmenistans Halk Maslahaty (Parliament), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, discussed prospects for expanding trade, financial, and investment cooperation with Head of the Turkmen-Austrian Society Neda Berger, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

Meanwhile, the discussions took place as part of Berdimuhamedovs visit to Austria on April 9.

During the meeting, the sides highlighted the role of the Turkmen-Austrian Society as a platform facilitating business dialogue and promoting bilateral economic ties.

Agreements and initiatives developed within the societys framework were noted as contributing to the expansion of cooperation in trade, finance, and investment.

The parties also touched upon cultural and humanitarian interaction, which supports broader bilateral engagement.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 10. Turkmenistan and Pakistan discussed prospects for expanding trade and business cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The discussions took place at a meeting between representatives of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Islamabad and representatives of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Secretary General Shahid Khalil.

During the talks, the Pakistani side expressed interest in establishing closer working contacts with the Turkmen embassy to explore opportunities for practical cooperation between business communities.

The Turkmen side, in turn, briefed on ongoing economic reforms aimed at boosting foreign trade and integration into the global economy, as well as the countrys export potential, including natural gas, petroleum products, textiles, and agricultural goods.

In the course of the talks, particular attention was given to strengthening ties between private sector representatives of the two countries.

The parties also discussed upcoming international business forums scheduled for this year, which are expected to bring together representatives of global business circles.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 10. Uzbekistan, in collaboration with Japans Sumitomo Corporation and ACWA Power, has advanced discussions on accelerating the implementation of joint renewable energy projects, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev wrote on his social media account, Trend reports.

The statement follows a meeting at the Cabinet of Ministers with Hajime Mori, Senior Managing Executive Officer at Sumitomo Corporation, and Abid Malik, President for Central Asia at ACWA Power.

"We reviewed the progress of our renewable energy initiatives. In August 2024, a Joint Development Agreement was signed by ACWA Power (51%) and Sumitomo Corporation (49%) to cover projects with a total capacity of 3.5 GW, valued at an investment of $4.2 billion," noted Khodjaev.

He further highlighted that in October 2025, a share purchase agreement was concluded with Shikoku Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power for projects located in the Samarkand region.

"Currently, two solar power plants integrated with energy storage systems are under construction in the Samarkand region, and plans are in place for the development of three wind power plants with energy storage systems in Karakalpakstan," Khodjaev added.

Furthermore, Jamshid Khodjaev emphasized that particular focus during the meeting was placed on expediting the finalization of agreements for the Karakalpakstan projects, improving interagency coordination, and swiftly addressing practical challenges.

We consider Sumitomo Corporation and ACWA Power as reliable strategic partners and look forward to further enhancing and deepening our cooperation, Khodjaev concluded.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 10. Uzbekistan and Japans Sumitomo Corporation discussed the potential establishment of a joint industrial park in Uzbekistan, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev wrote on his social media account, Trend reports.

The statement followed a meeting at the Cabinet of Ministers between Khodjaev, Hajime Mori, Managing Executive Officer of Sumitomo Corporation, and Abid Malik, President for Central Asia at ACWA Power.

We explored the possibility of establishing a joint industrial park in Uzbekistan with Sumitomo Corporation, leveraging the companys extensive international experience and best practices, Khodjaev stated.

He emphasized that this initiative could serve as a strategic platform to attract more Japanese companies to Uzbekistan and enhance industrial cooperation between the two nations.

Sumitomo Corporation, founded in 1919, manages assets totaling approximately $73 billion and employs around 5,100 people globally.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold their 2029 Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, following a decision approved by the Boards of Governors of both institutions, Trend reports via the World Bank.

This will mark the second time the UAE hosts the Annual Meetings, after Dubai welcomed the event in 2003.

The Annual Meetings bring together central bank governors, finance and development ministers, private sector representatives, and stakeholders from civil society, media, and academia to address key global challenges, including economic and financial stability, job creation, and poverty reduction.

Typically, the meetings are held for two consecutive years at the institutions headquarters in Washington, D.C., and every third year in a member country. The 2026 Annual Meetings are scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, in October, where an official signing ceremony confirming the UAE as host of the 2029 meetings is expected.

Both institutions said they look forward to Abu Dhabi hosting the event in the spirit of international cooperation and dialogue that underpins their work. They also noted that the upcoming Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. will focus on the global economic outlook, job creation, and support for countries affected by the impact of the Middle East conflict.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 10. As part of the International Electric Power Forum "ENERGOPROM" held in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan (Russia), the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan engaged in discussions with leading energy companies of Tatarstan to advance bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via the country's Energy Ministry.

The Kyrgyz delegation, headed by Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibraev, included Ilgiz Sydykaliev, General Director of the National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan. During the visit, the delegation also took the opportunity to visit major industrial enterprises in Tatarstan, gaining firsthand insight into their operations and technological capabilities.

The talks focused on several critical areas of cooperation, including advancements in power grid engineering, covering voltage levels from 0.4 kV to 500 kV. The parties discussed the development of modern electrical equipment such as cable fittings, switchboards, and transformer substations for low- and medium-voltage networks. Additionally, significant attention was given to the integration of digital technologies, specifically smart metering systems and automation solutions for energy management.

The discussions also highlighted green energy initiatives, particularly the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the promotion of environmentally friendly transport solutions.

Furthermore, the parties explored the potential for localizing production in Kyrgyzstan, which could involve the joint assembly of cable products, distribution boards, and smart meters, along with the establishment of joint ventures in the energy sector to enhance domestic capabilities.

The proposed initiatives are aimed at strengthening Kyrgyzstans energy security, introducing advanced technologies into the sector, and elevating economic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Tatarstan to a new level.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 10. On April 9, 2026, Kyrgyzstans Minister of Energy, Taalaibek Ibraev, along with the General Director of the National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan, Ilgiz Sydygaliev, visited the Bishkek Electric Networks Enterprise to assess its operations, the current condition of the electricity grid, and the organization of its service units, Trend reports via the country's Energy Ministry.

During the visit, the minister conducted a thorough inspection of the enterprises warehouse facilities, evaluating the availability of essential materials and equipment required for effective emergency response, and assessing the adequacy of storage conditions. The companys management assured that stock levels were sufficient and reported that preparations for the upcoming autumn-winter period had already commenced.

The delegation also toured the National Operations Center of the Automated System for Commercial Electricity Metering, where the latest technologies for electricity monitoring and management were demonstrated.

Additionally, Taalaibek Ibraev examined specialized machinery and the enterprises production infrastructure. He directed the construction and installation division to intensify efforts on a project involving the installation of 90 kilometers of self-supporting insulated wire in the vicinity of a large multifunctional urban complex, which includes the new Osh market and bus station.

Following the visit, the minister emphasized the importance of improving the reliability of electricity supply and instructed authorities to ensure proper preparations for upcoming events, including those under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the World Nomad Games, as well as uninterrupted power supply.

He also issued directives to enhance preparations for the 20262027 autumn-winter period, ensure stable electricity delivery to consumers, carry out timely maintenance works, maintain readiness of emergency response teams, and improve efficient use of resources.
Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

In a statement, the ministry's Emergency Operations Center said that search and rescue operations are still underway in multiple locations, with authorities working to retrieve bodies from under the rubble and identify victims, including through DNA testing.

The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 1,888 dead and 6,092 injured, the ministry added.

The latest escalation followed more than 100 Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, causing widespread casualties and destruction.

Cross-border violence continues amid ongoing exchanges of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border. 

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Zrariyeh, southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows buildings and cars destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon. The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 10. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will visit Uzbekistan for an informal meeting with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 11, Trend reports citing the press service of the Kazakh President.

The meeting will take place in Bukhara, where the leaders are expected to discuss prospects for strengthening strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries, as well as key issues on the regional agenda.

The leaders will also discuss increasing trade turnover, deepening industrial cooperation, promoting joint projects and programs in transport, energy, water and environmental issues, and enhancing cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

Meanwhile, on March 31, 2026, Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov and Kazakhstans Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev signed a Joint Cooperation Program for 2026-2027

According to Uzbekistans National Statistics Committee, the countrys trade turnover with Kazakhstan reached $837.5 million in the period from January through February 2026, marking a 26.8% year-on-year increase compared to $660.4 million recorded in the same period of 2025.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 4. Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) invested $5.2 billion in Kazakhstans economy between 2022 and 2026, EDB Management Board Chairman Nikolai Podguzov said during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Trend reports via the presidential press service.

During the meeting, the sides reviewed the results of the banks two decades of operations and discussed prospects for expanding investment cooperation.

Podguzov presented the banks macroeconomic outlook, saying that Kazakhstans GDP growth in 2026 is expected to reach at least 5.5%. He attributed this to sustained investment activity, large-scale infrastructure programs, stable domestic demand, and strong social indicators.

He also noted that total EDB investments under its 2022-2026 strategy reached $9.2 billion, including $5.2 billion directed to Kazakhstan - a figure comparable to the banks total investments in the country over the previous 15 years.

According to Podguzov, around $2.1 billion was allocated to industry, $1 billion to energy, $1 billion to transport infrastructure, and $1.1 billion to the financial sector. He added that special attention is being given to digitalization and the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies.

Tokayev also highlighted the expansion of the banks geographic presence, stating that it contributes to the implementation of new initiatives and the strengthening of regional economic integration.

Following the meeting, both sides confirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening strategic partnership and expanding investment cooperation in the interests of Kazakhstans sustainable economic development.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 10. Kyrgyzstan, the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a new project aimed at enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of public financial management (PFM) to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Trend reports via the country's Finance Ministry.

Meanwhile, the project has been initiated by the Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, the European Union, and UNDP.

The project, titled "Advancing Public Finance Management Reforms for Sustainable Development Goals" in Kyrgyzstan, is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry.

It introduces international best practices and digital solutions to strengthen budgeting processes, including the institutionalization of program-based and gender-responsive approaches, the development of a modern public investment management system to ensure efficient use of funds in infrastructure, and the creation of sustainable financing mechanisms for the water supply sector.

Meanwhile, the project is expected to serve as an important catalyst for achieving key SDGs, including gender equality, clean water, and effective institutions, while also strengthening the partnership of the Kyrgyz Republic with the EU and UNDP.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 10. Tajikistan and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) discussed strengthening security cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Tajik President.

The topic was discussed on April 10 during a meeting between the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov, who arrived in Dushanbe on a working visit.

At the outset of the meeting, President Rahmon extended congratulations to Masadykov on his appointment as CSTO Secretary General.

During the talks, the parties engaged in a comprehensive exchange of views on matters concerning the region under the CSTO's responsibility, as well as broader international and regional issues.

A significant portion of the discussions was devoted to enhancing cooperation within the organization, with particular emphasis on the need for timely and effective responses to emerging security challenges and threats. In this regard, President Rahmon underscored the critical importance of fully implementing the decisions made by the CSTO Collective Security Council.
Photo: Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 10. Tajikistan and the Republic of Korea discussed prospects for the development of comprehensive cooperation, Trend reports via the Tajik MFA.

The topic was addressed on April 10, 2026, during a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Idibek Kalandar and Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Eui-hae Cecilia Chung.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a senior officials meeting held in preparation for the first Central AsiaRepublic of Korea Summit.

During the talks, the sides also discussed the current state of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and South Korea.

Particular attention was paid to preparations for the upcoming first Central AsiaRepublic of Korea Summit.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan is actively engaged in multilateral formats with international partners, including the Central AsiaRepublic of Korea dialogue, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, expanding economic ties, and addressing shared development priorities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. A delegation led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad for talks with the United States, Trend reports.

According to information, the Pakistani side is already preparing for negotiations on April 11.

The American delegation is expected to be led by Vice President J.D. Vance.

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 10. Iran has denied reports of an Iranian delegation arriving in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, Iranian media says, Trend reports.

According to information, talks between Iranian and US representatives planned in Islamabad will not begin until Washington fulfills its obligations to end Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Tehran reported that the information about the delegation's arrival in Islamabad is false.

It is reported that the talks have been suspended until the US meets conditions for ensuring a ceasefire in Lebanon and stopping Israeli attacks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Negotiations to end the war depend on the U.S. sticking to its commitments to a ceasefire on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, Trend reports.

In a statement to the local media, Baghaei strongly condemned actions attributed to Israel in Lebanon, emphasizing that the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon is a fundamental component of the ceasefire agreement proposed by Pakistan.

As explicitly stated by Pakistans prime minister, the United States has committed to halting the conflict on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Any actions or positions contrary to this commitment, Baghaei asserted, would be perceived as a failure by the United States to meet its obligations, Baghaei noted.

Furthermore, Baghaei noted that Pakistan has extended an invitation to both parties for talks in Islamabad, with preparations for the meeting already underway. However, he stressed that any negotiations would be contingent upon securing guarantees that the United States will fully honor its ceasefire commitments on all fronts.

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 10. U.S. expects positive results from the talks with Iran in Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance told reporters, Trend reports.

We are looking forward to the discussions and are confident they will yield positive outcomes, Vance remarked.

He further emphasized, "As President Donald Trump has stated, the U.S. is prepared to extend an open hand if Iran is genuinely committed to negotiations. However, if Iran attempts to deceive us, they will find that the negotiating team will not be accommodating."

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 10. Against the backdrop of the ongoing temporary ceasefire between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the resumption of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Trend reports, citing a foreign media outlet.

The leaders held a phone conversation regarding the unblocking of the Strait of Hormuz.

This evening, the Prime Minister held a call with President Trump from Qatar, during which he briefed him on his consultations with Gulf leaders and regional military strategists. The discussions underscored the urgent need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside the United Kingdoms efforts to convene partners and formulate a concrete, actionable plan, the statement said.

Furthermore, it was noted that, following progress on securing a ceasefire and an agreement to reopen the strait, the parties agreed to advance to the next phase, focused on identifying viable solutions.

The leaders emphasized the urgency of developing a practical framework to restore shipping at the earliest opportunity and agreed to hold further talks in the near future, the information says.

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
A blessing ceremony by performers from the Hezhe ethnic group is held at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

A performance is staged at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Performers from the Hezhe ethnic group shout to "awaken" the river at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

A vendor cooks delicacies at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

A blessing ceremony by performers from the Hezhe ethnic group is held at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

People line up for delicacies at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

A tourist tastes cooked fish at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

A blessing ceremony by performers from the Hezhe ethnic group is held at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Performers from the Hezhe ethnic group shout to "awaken" the river at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Photo by Chen Zhiguo/Xinhua)

A tourist (2nd L) poses for photos with performers from the Hezhe ethnic group at the Hanjiang festival in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2026.

The Hanjiang festival, a ritual marking the spring thaw and praying for a bountiful harvest, kicked off here on Friday. With the celebration of Hezhe fish-catching culture, the festival has become a hallmark of the local cultural tourism industry. (Photo by Chen Zhiguo/Xinhua)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Talks on a peaceful settlement between the United States and Iran will begin on April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, Trend reports.

Representatives of both countries will arrive in Islamabad tomorrow, and the Pakistani authorities will make every effort to ensure the talks are successful, Shehbaz Sharif 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.
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Gaza: Israeli sniper kills Palestinian schoolgirl in front of classmates

Israeli occupation forces shot and killed a Palestinian schoolgirl Thursday April 09, 2026 in front of her classmates while she was studying in a tent classroom in northern Gaza

Gaza: Israeli occupation forces shot and killed a Palestinian schoolgirl Thursday April 09, 2026 in front of her classmates while she was studying in a tent classroom in northern Gaza.

The latest killing by the Israeli occupation forces came despite a US-backed ceasefire, after more than two years of genocide that has devastated the education system.

9-year-old Retaj Reihan, a 3rd grade student at Abu Ubaida Al-Jarrah School in northern Gaza, was attending class in a tent classroom when she was fatally shot by an Israeli bullet in front of her classmates, leaving them in profound shock.

"Brutal, Horrific Crime"

The Palestinian Ministry of Health slammed the attack as a brutal and horrific crime, adding to Israels long, dark record of atrocities, emphasizing that it is not an isolated event but part of a continuous assault over more than two and a half years, which has killed tens of thousands of childrens lives, destroyed infrastructure, and flattened schools across the Gaza Strip.

According to Retajs mother, the young girl woke up eager to go to the school before she was killed by Israeli forces.

Her father told local media that he took her to school, and along the way she spoke excitedly about her preparations for her uncles upcoming wedding, including wearing her best dress and styling her hair.

I dropped her off at the school gate, never imagining it would be the last time Id see her walking, he said. An hour and a half later, he received news of her injury. Upon arriving at the hospital, he found her covered in blood, wrapped in a white shroud.

School Principal Mohamed Al-Attar described the moment: She was sitting at her desk with 44 other students around her when she suddenly collapsed. It was later confirmed that she had been shot in the neck.

Due to the lack of medical transport in the area, the only way to move her to the nearest medical point was by horse-drawn carriage. "Attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful", he added.

Al-Attar confirmed that the shot came from the eastern side of the school, near the so-called yellow line, less than two kilometers away, where Israeli forces are stationed.

Hundreds of Gaza Schools Destroyed by Israel

Since the start of the genocidal war in Gaza in October 2023, the education system has been completely disrupted. Hundreds of schools have been destroyed by the Israel forces, while the remaining ones have been converted into shelters for displaced families, leaving about 700,000 students without access to education.

Displaced children in Gaza attend classes run by volunteer teachers in overcrowded tents in some areas, striving to continue their education despite the widespread destruction of schools.

However, these temporary classrooms face severe challenges, including harsh weather conditions, limited resources, and ongoing Israeli attacks.

There has been a surge in Israeli attacks across the war-torn Gaza Strip. Nearly six months into the ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, the Israeli occupation continues its genocidal war on the Palestinian enclave, killing hundreds and restricting the entry of desperately-needed aid, with no pause in the attacks or the suffering.

Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement over 2,070 times. The average number of violations committed by Israeli forces has reached 13.1 violations per day, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.

Israeli forces have killed more than 710 Palestinians during that period, including over 300 children, women, and the elderly.

Over 72,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the war began on October 7, 2023.

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Maharashtra FYJC Admission 2026: Student Registration Starts, Last Date April 30

The Maharashtra Education Department has started from today i.e. Friday April 10, 2026 online registration of FYJC 2026 or Class 11 students through official portal mahafyjcadmissions.in

Maharashtra FYJC Admission 2026: The Maharashtra Education Department has started from today i.e. Friday April 10, 2026 online registration of FYJC 2026 or Class 11 students through official portal mahafyjcadmissions.in.

The student registration process has begun from 10th April at 10:00 AM and will continue till 30th April at 5:00 PM, candidates who passed SSC or Class 10 board exam and now seeking admission in Class 11 should note.

Students should note that the Maharashtra Education Department has started online registration and application process of Class 11 or FYJC admission process from today. The department however has not yet published the complete admission schedule. The FYJC 2026 Admission Schedule once published will give details of the dates when the FYJC Merit Lists and Allotment Lists will be published.

Maharashtra FYJC Admission 2026

The Maharashtra Education Department is conducting online admission process for FYJC and Class 11th in Mumbai MMR from 2009-10, and Mumbai MMR, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad (discontinued in 2022) and Amravati from 2013-14.

The department, however, decided to conduct admission for Class 11 or Junior Colleges across the state in online mode via a centralized CAP Round Process from the academic year 2025-26, as per a government notification .

The Maharashtra Education Department has also launched a special wesbite "mahafyjcadmissions.in" for the purpose. Students passing the Class 10 board exam 2026 from any board are eligible to apply for the FYJC 2026 admission registration.

FYJC Admission 2026 - Steps

The online application process or CAP round for admission in Class 11 or FYJC in Maharashtra involves the following steps.

Step 1: Colleges are asked to register on the website giving their name, address, registration details and strength or number of seats and vacancies available for admission. There are around 9,550 junior colleges in Maharashtra.

Colleges are asked to register on the website giving their name, address, registration details and strength or number of seats and vacancies available for admission. There are around 9,550 junior colleges in Maharashtra. Step 2: Students are required to fill Part 1 online form. FYJC Part 1 form is filled before the announcement of Class X result. The form asks for name, address, age, gender, caste and other basic details of the student. The registration fee of INR 100 is required to be paid online, as per the FYJC Admission 2026 notification.

Students are required to fill Part 1 online form. FYJC Part 1 form is filled before the announcement of Class X result. The form asks for name, address, age, gender, caste and other basic details of the student. The registration fee of INR 100 is required to be paid online, as per the FYJC Admission 2026 notification. Step 3: FYJC Part 2 or Option form is submitted after the Class X result is announced. The Maharashtra Education department has not yet announce the Class 10 result 2026. Once the result is announced, students will be required to fill Part 2 Option form. The form asks for Class 10 marks and score, and names of the preferred college choices.

Direct Link to Apply for FYJC Admission

Go to official website - " mahafyjcadmissions.in "

" Click on the link marked as "Students Registration"

Select student area stating if you are from within Maharashtra or outside

Select if you are a fresher or regular student

Enter board details and complete the form

Click on "Register" button and follow the instructions to go forward.

How Many Junior Colleges in Maharashtra?

Maharashtra has a total of 9,551 junior colleges across the state registered for the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) having more than 21.6 lakh seats for Class 11 admission in Science, Arts and Commerce streams. Around 2.5 lakh are quota seats that included in-house, management, minority and other reservation.

Not all seats get filled every year. In 2025, more than 8 lakh seats remained vacant even after multiple rounds, with around 13.2 lakh students securing admission in one phase. Many colleges - especially in rural areas, had low or zero admissions in some streams. College managament said it was because of the absence of internet connectivity in rural areas.

As per the last year admission process, the education department will conduct 4 CAP rounds for admission to Class XI. The FYJC seat allotment will be done on merit.

"Class XI should start after completion of all four rounds. The admission process will be done till the last student gets admission", the department said.

Students should note that after submitting the Admission Form 1, they will be required to fill College Option Form using the same ID.

Students should also note that the education department will conduct Mock Registration and Mock Allotment before the start of actual admission process. The Mock Exercise is done to help students understand the admission process.

Meanwhile, the students should note that the Maharashtra state board has not officially confirmed the exact date and time to declare the Class X result 2026. In an important update, however, the state board said students will get a single and combined Marksheet-cum-Certificate fom this year.

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia must accelerate the implementation of an artificial intelligence (AI) city model to support its national development goals, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday.

The shift is not just about adopting new technologies but requires a comprehensive transformation in how cities are planned, governed and managed to be more efficient, resilient and data-driven, he said in a statement.

"This effort requires a strong ecosystem, encompassing secure AI and data governance, high-capacity digital infrastructure, local talent development, as well as policy and legal frameworks that support responsible innovation," he said.

Anwar added that the government will continue to strengthen this synergy to ensure effective and high-impact implementation for the overall benefit of the people, while reinforcing Malaysia's globally competitive position. 
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch an "AI Plus Education" initiative, aiming to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms from an early age as the country accelerates efforts to develop the technology and adapt its economy to an increasingly digital future.

By 2030, China aims to establish a comprehensive AI education system that spans all levels of schooling and extends to the broader public, the Ministry of Education said Friday.

The plan lays out steps to speed the rollout of AI education in primary and secondary schools, including the introduction of dedicated courses and efforts to weave the subject across disciplines.

It also encourages schools to extend AI-related learning into after-school programs and hands-on activities, expanding students' exposure beyond the classroom.

At universities, the proposal goes even further, calling for AI to become part of the basic curriculum for all students. Colleges are urged to design interdisciplinary courses that pair AI with other fields.

In parallel, universities will be steered to realign programs with evolving industries, and add majors to meet the demands of emerging technologies and new business models, according to the plan.

The plan envisions using AI to support teaching, such as expanding the use of digital tools to ease teachers' workloads and improve efficiency. It calls for applying the technology to assist teachers in homework management, advancing intelligent grading, Q&A, and tutoring.

It also proposes using AI to analyze classroom interactions, offering teachers insights to refine their instruction. The plan further suggests incorporating AI into teacher qualification exams and certification processes.

China began laying the groundwork for AI early, incorporating it into national planning as far back as the 13th Five-Year Plan a decade ago. The industry has expanded rapidly, with companies racing to build large-scale models, the number of AI firms climbing past 6,000, and the core sector projected to have surpassed 1.2 trillion yuan (about 174 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025.

That momentum is expected to continue moving forward. China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) emphasizes the need to secure a leading position in AI industry applications, while this year's government work report vows to advance and expand the AI Plus Initiative, and encourage large-scale commercial application of AI in key sectors and fields.

Despite rapid growth, China faces a shortage of AI talent, with an uneven distribution across regions.

"As AI technologies evolve quickly and integrate with a wide range of industries, there is a growing need for interdisciplinary professionals who combine technical expertise with an understanding of real-world applications," said Zhang Changqing, professor of artificial intelligence at Tianjin University. 
Demand for artificial intelligence education has surged in 2026 as industries from healthcare to autonomous vehicles seek talent skilled in machine learning, robotics, ethics and large language models. Leading global rankings from QS, Times Higher Education and specialized sources highlight institutions excelling in AI-related computer science, data science and dedicated AI programs.

The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence place Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the top with a near-perfect score, followed closely by Stanford University and National University of Singapore. Carnegie Mellon University, long a pioneer in robotics and AI, consistently ranks among the elite across multiple lists. Times Higher Education's 2026 Computer Science rankings, which heavily weigh AI and machine learning components, crown University of Oxford as the global leader, with strong showings from Cambridge, ETH Zurich and U.S. powerhouses.

A composite ranking of the 50 best universities for studying AI in 2026 draws from QS Data Science & AI, QS Computer Science, THE Computer Science, US News graduate AI programs and research output metrics. These institutions offer undergraduate, master's and doctoral pathways emphasizing hands-on research, industry partnerships and ethical AI development. Many provide specialized degrees such as Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence or dedicated tracks within computer science.

Here is the list of the top 50 universities for AI studies in 2026, ranked by overall strength in research output, faculty expertise, industry connections and program reputation:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States  Renowned for its Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), MIT offers cutting-edge programs in machine learning, robotics and AI ethics. Students benefit from close ties to industry leaders and groundbreaking research. Stanford University, United States  Located in Silicon Valley, Stanford's AI Lab and interdisciplinary initiatives provide unmatched access to tech giants. Programs emphasize real-world applications and entrepreneurship. Carnegie Mellon University, United States  A historic leader in AI with the School of Computer Science and dedicated Robotics Institute. CMU excels in autonomous systems, human-AI interaction and machine learning theory. University of Oxford, United Kingdom  Tops THE Computer Science rankings with strong AI research across departments. Oxford's programs blend technical depth with philosophical and ethical considerations. National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore  Asia's top AI hub, offering robust data science and AI curricula with strong government and industry funding. Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore  Excels in AI research output and practical applications, with excellent facilities and international collaborations. University of Cambridge, United Kingdom  Features world-class AI research and interdisciplinary centers, attracting top global talent. ETH Zurich, Switzerland  Known for rigorous technical programs and innovation in machine learning and robotics. University of California, Berkeley, United States  Home to the Berkeley AI Research Lab (BAIR), with strengths in deep learning and societal impact studies. Tsinghua University, China  Leads in AI research volume and engineering applications, with close industry links to companies like Baidu and Huawei. Harvard University, United States  Offers interdisciplinary AI programs through its John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. University College London (UCL), United Kingdom  Strong in machine learning and AI for healthcare and urban systems. Imperial College London, United Kingdom  Focuses on AI-driven engineering and data science innovation. University of Toronto, Canada  Home to the Vector Institute, a major AI research powerhouse. Georgia Institute of Technology, United States  Renowned for its AI and machine learning master's programs and robotics research. University of Washington, United States  Features the Allen School with significant AI and NLP contributions. Technical University of Munich, Germany  Strong European leader in AI engineering and autonomous systems. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States  Excellent computer science department with AI specializations. Princeton University, United States  Combines theoretical computer science with applied AI research. Cornell University, United States  Offers robust AI programs with emphasis on human-centered design. University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom  Scotland's AI capital with the Informatics Forum driving innovation. Peking University, China  Rising fast in AI research and talent development. Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China  Strong engineering and AI research output. University of Michigan, United States  Multidisciplinary AI initiatives across engineering and information schools. New York University, United States  Center for Data Science and AI ethics programs stand out. University of Texas at Austin, United States  Growing AI research hub with strong industry partnerships. Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland  Excellent technical AI and robotics programs. University of Amsterdam, Netherlands  Leading European center for AI and computational science. Delft University of Technology, Netherlands  Focuses on AI for engineering and sustainability. University of British Columbia, Canada  Strong AI research in computer science and health applications. Zhejiang University, China  Major player in AI and data science with large research funding. University of Science and Technology of China, China  Excels in foundational AI and quantum-related computing. Sorbonne University, France  Strong in AI theory and applications. University of Melbourne, Australia  Leading Oceania institution for AI and data science. Monash University, Australia  Growing strengths in AI ethics and applications. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea  Top Asian tech university with robust AI programs. Seoul National University, South Korea  Significant AI research contributions. University of Sydney, Australia  Offers comprehensive AI and machine learning degrees. RWTH Aachen University, Germany  Engineering-focused AI excellence. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden  Strong Nordic leader in AI and robotics. University of Waterloo, Canada  Known for co-op programs and AI innovation. McGill University, Canada  Interdisciplinary AI research hub. University of Copenhagen, Denmark  Rising in European AI rankings. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany  Solid AI and data science offerings. University of Tokyo, Japan  Japan's premier institution for AI and robotics. Kyoto University, Japan  Strong theoretical and applied AI research. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India  Leading Indian tech institute with growing AI focus. National Taiwan University, Taiwan  Strong engineering and AI programs. University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong  Asia's international AI education leader. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, United Arab Emirates  Specialized AI university with dedicated focus and strong research output.

These rankings reflect a blend of academic reputation, research citations, employer feedback and program innovation as reported in 2025-2026 data. U.S. institutions continue to dominate due to funding, industry proximity and historical leadership, but Asian and European universities are closing the gap rapidly through targeted investments and talent attraction.

Prospective students should consider factors beyond rankings, including specific faculty expertise, research opportunities, internship access, cost of living and visa policies. Many top programs offer scholarships for international applicants in AI fields.

With AI projected to add trillions to the global economy, graduates from these institutions command high starting salaries and career prospects. Universities on this list often partner with companies such as Google, OpenAI, NVIDIA, Microsoft and DeepMind, providing pathways to cutting-edge roles.

For undergraduate applicants, strong mathematics, programming and statistics backgrounds are essential. Master's and PhD programs typically require relevant bachelor's degrees, research experience and competitive GRE or equivalent scores in some cases.

The rapid evolution of AI means curricula at these schools emphasize lifelong learning, ethical considerations and interdisciplinary skills. Programs increasingly incorporate responsible AI, bias mitigation and societal impact alongside technical training.

International students should verify English proficiency requirements (TOEFL/IELTS) and explore funding options early. Application deadlines for fall 2027 intake typically fall between December 2026 and March 2027 for competitive programs.

As AI reshapes industries, the institutions listed offer pathways to shape that future. Students are advised to visit university websites, attend virtual open houses and connect with current students for the latest program details.

The 2026 landscape shows a healthy global distribution, with strong representation from North America, Europe and Asia, ensuring diverse perspectives in AI development.

Originally published on ibtimes.com.au
The U.S. Department of Education published a press release on April 9 titled "Victories for Higher Education: Ending Gender Extremism and Cutting Underused Programs"  providing the most comprehensive official accounting to date of the changes the Trump administration is claiming credit for across American colleges, universities, and university-affiliated hospitals.

The document is explicitly a victory lap, framed in the administration's own language and presenting its preferred interpretation of a set of changes that have been deeply contested at the institutions where they occurred. University Herald is reporting its contents factually, alongside the context those institutions and their critics have provided.

The Women's and Gender Studies Program Closures

The press release names eight universities as having closed their women's and gender studies programs, attributing the closures to "increasing employer concerns about the lack of workforce-benefiting skills." The institutions named are East Carolina University, New College of Florida, Texas A&M University, Towson University, the University of California at Santa Cruz, the University of Iowa, the University of Toledo, and Wichita State University.

The framing of these closures as purely market-driven omits a significant part of the picture that has been reported extensively by higher education journalists. At Texas A&M, the women's and gender studies program was eliminated as part of a broader conservative restructuring driven by the state legislature and the board of trustees, which has faced political pressure from Republican legislators. At the University of North Texas, which is not named but is among the most high-profile cases, the elimination of women's and gender studies  along with LGBTQ Studies, Mexican American Studies, Africana Studies, and other programs  was officially attributed to low enrollment and a $45 million budget deficit, but critics have noted the eliminated programs closely track those targeted by conservative legislators. The press release cites a Washington Times report attributing the closures to "Trump's DEI purge."

The administration is presenting these closures as cultural victories. University faculty, students, and academic freedom advocates have consistently characterized them as politically coerced eliminations of legitimate fields of scholarly inquiry.

University Hospitals That Have Ended Transgender Care for Minors

The press release's most extensive section lists more than 20 university-affiliated hospitals that have ended or suspended gender-affirming care for minors  including puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and gender transition surgeries. The list as published includes:

Denver Health and Children's Hospital of Colorado (University of Colorado), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (including Lurie Children's Hospital and Northwestern Memorial Hospital), NYU Langone Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Penn State Health, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Stanford Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine (UI Health), University of Illinois Chicago Health, University of Michigan Health, University of Southern California (CHLA), University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), University of Utah Health, UVA Health, University of Wisconsin Health, Yale New Haven Health, and Virginia Commonwealth University Health and Children's Hospital of Richmond.

The press release presents these changes uniformly as victories. The reality at each institution is more complex. Many of the hospitals cited federal funding pressure as the explicit reason for their decisions  not a change in their clinical assessment of these treatments. Major medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the Endocrine Society continue to endorse gender-affirming care for minors as evidence-based medicine. Families of transgender youth at many of these institutions have publicly described losing access to care their children had been receiving for years.

State Laws Mandating Program Elimination

The press release also highlights legislation passed in Indiana, Ohio, Utah, and Texas requiring universities to eliminate degree programs that graduate few students over a defined period, with limited appeal options. Florida's State University System is cited for eliminating 18 academic programs due to low enrollment  a list the press release notes includes bachelor's degrees in African American Studies and Middle Eastern Studies, among others.

The administration frames these laws as accountability measures ensuring taxpayer dollars are invested in programs that produce employment outcomes. Critics, including the American Association of University Professors and the American Historical Association, have argued that the laws effectively use enrollment metrics to eliminate fields of study that legislatures find politically objectionable, regardless of their scholarly value  and that the specific programs most frequently targeted under these frameworks are not coincidentally the ones covering race, gender, and global cultures.

What This Means for Students

For students currently enrolled in any of the programs mentioned in the press release, or considering enrollment, the document serves as a useful  if partisan  index of where changes are underway.

Students in women's and gender studies programs at institutions not yet named in the press release should monitor their program's status through their institution's academic affairs office. Students at university-affiliated hospitals seeking gender-affirming care should contact their institution's health system directly, as policies vary and some have been modified or partially reversed following legal challenges or changes in federal funding conditions.

For students researching which programs and institutions have been most directly affected by the Trump administration's higher education agenda, the Department of Education's full press release provides the administration's own curated account  one that should be read alongside the reporting from the institutions themselves.
For decades, aspiring doctors pored over a single, definitive number. Harvard: No. 1. Johns Hopkins: No. 2. The U.S. News & World Report medical school rankings were gospel  a clean, ordinal scoreboard that shaped where students applied, where faculty aspired to work, and how institutions measured their own prestige.

That era is over.

In 2024, U.S. News quietly but consequentially overhauled how it ranks American medical schools, replacing its famous numerical ladder with a four-tier system. Now, in 2026, the tiered approach is entering its third year  and it's reshaping not just how schools are evaluated, but which schools even bother to participate.

The Breaking Point

The shift didn't happen in a vacuum. Beginning around 2022, a wave of elite medical schools began withdrawing from the U.S. News ranking process entirely, refusing to submit the data the publication needed to assign them a number.

Harvard Medical School was among the first and most prominent to walk away. Its dean had publicly criticised the old methodology for creating what he called "perverse incentives" and "unintended consequences"  chief among them the pressure on admissions committees to prioritise applicants with sky-high MCAT scores and GPAs over those committed to serving underserved communities. The rankings, critics argued, were inadvertently rewarding exclusivity over mission.

Others followed. Columbia, Stanford, Duke, Cornell, NYU, and the University of Pennsylvania all pulled out. By the time U.S. News released its 2025 edition, roughly 20% of the schools that had ranked in the top 100 just two years earlier were absent from the list entirely  labelled simply as "unranked."

For a publication whose identity was built on definitive rankings, this was a crisis. You cannot credibly declare a No. 1 medical school in America if Harvard, Stanford, and Penn aren't playing.

The Tiered Solution

U.S. News's answer was the four-tier system, introduced with the 2024 rankings and now firmly established. Rather than assigning each school a specific position, schools are grouped into performance bands based on their percentile scores:

Tier 1 : 85th99th percentile (top performers)

: 85th99th percentile (top performers) Tier 2 : 50th84th percentile

: 50th84th percentile Tier 3 : 15th49th percentile

: 15th49th percentile Tier 4: 1st14th percentile (lowest performers)

Within each tier, schools are listed alphabetically  no internal ordering, no splitting hairs between the third- and fifth-best programs. A Tier 1 school is simply a Tier 1 school.

The methodology also dropped reputational survey data  a factor that had previously asked residency program directors to weigh in on school prestige. U.S. News acknowledged the obvious: residency directors, by and large, don't factor a school's magazine ranking into their decisions. Removing it was both more honest and, conveniently, less dependent on the goodwill of institutions that were increasingly hostile to the whole exercise.

What Changed in 2026

The 2026 rankings, released April 7, mark the third iteration of this new approach  and the system continues to evolve. This year, the research ranking methodology was expanded to include federal, state, local, and private contracts alongside NIH grants, and a two-year average was applied to smooth out year-to-year fluctuations in funding data.

Movement at the top was meaningful. Two schools  the University of Colorado and the University of Florida  newly achieved Tier 1 status for research, joining established names like Baylor College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, UCSF, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and Yale. On the primary care side, five schools entered Tier 1, including Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and UC San Diego.

In total, 203 accredited medical and osteopathic schools were surveyed, with 102 qualifying for research rankings and 99 for primary care  comparable to previous years.

The Case For Tiers

Supporters of the new system argue it solves a fundamental flaw in ordinal ranking: false precision.

Is there a meaningful, real-world difference between the No. 4 and No. 5 medical school in America? Almost certainly not. Yet the old system presented that gap as fact, and applicants treated it as such. Schools responded accordingly  gaming metrics, narrowing admissions criteria, and optimising for the things U.S. News measured rather than the things that actually produce good doctors.

The tiered approach, proponents say, acknowledges what any honest medical educator will tell you: a cohort of 15 or 16 truly excellent research institutions doesn't have a meaningful internal hierarchy. Grouping them together is simply more accurate.

There's also an argument that tiers reduce the most damaging incentive distortions. When the difference between No. 3 and No. 7 could affect donor perception, faculty recruitment, and application volume, schools had powerful reasons to chase ranking-friendly metrics. A broader tier band blunts that pressure  at least at the margins.

The Case Against

Critics, however, are not convinced the tier system solves the deeper problem  it just obscures it.

The most pointed objection is that the rankings still exclude some of the best medical schools in the country. Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Penn, and Duke remain unranked in the 2026 edition. For a prospective medical student trying to compare programs, a system that labels Harvard "unranked" while elevating lesser-known institutions to Tier 1 is not more informative  it's more confusing.

There's also the question of what tiers actually tell you. Knowing a school falls in the 50th84th percentile range says something, but not much. A Tier 2 school with exceptional primary care training and a strong rural medicine programme might be a far better fit for many students than a Tier 1 research powerhouse. The tiers, like the old rankings, still struggle to capture what applicants actually need to know: what will my training look like, and where will it take me?

Some critics also question whether the methodology shift has genuinely addressed the incentive problems that drove schools to boycott in the first place  or whether it has simply repackaged the same underlying metrics in a way that made staying more palatable for some institutions while not enticing the elite holdouts back.

A Rankings Ecosystem in Flux

What's clear is that U.S. News no longer holds the same monopoly on medical school prestige it once did. The boycott, and the tier system that followed it, has opened space for alternative frameworks to gain traction.

Some schools now promote their own outcome data directly  residency match rates by specialty, the percentage of graduates practicing in underserved areas, average debt at graduation. Mission-driven institutions like Mercer University School of Medicine and Campbell University's osteopathic school have leaned into specialty rankings  such as "Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas"  that better reflect their actual strengths and purpose.

Times Higher Education's subject rankings offer a separate, internationally benchmarked view of research excellence. And within medical education circles, there's growing momentum behind the idea that accreditation outcomes and residency match data are simply more useful signals than any composite ranking score.

What It Means for Applicants

For the tens of thousands of students preparing medical school applications, the practical message is this: the tiered system is more honest than what it replaced, but it is not more comprehensive.

A Tier 1 designation for research tells you that a school has strong NIH funding, a favourable faculty-to-student ratio, and a selective admissions profile. It does not tell you whether the curriculum suits your learning style, whether the clinical training sites match your specialty interests, or whether you can afford to attend.

An "unranked" label, meanwhile, tells you almost nothing about educational quality  only that the school declined to hand its data to a magazine.

The most useful question a prospective medical student can ask isn't "what tier is this school?" It's a harder one: what kind of doctor do I want to be, and which programme will best help me get there?

That question, unfortunately, no ranking system  tiered or otherwise  has ever been designed to answer.
Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri receives an interview with Xinhua in Tehran, Iran, April 6, 2026.(Xinhua/Shadati)

TEHRAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said 131 historical and civilizational monuments across 20 Iranian provinces were damaged during attacks by the United States and Israel.

"They have suffered serious damage, ranging from 10 percent to over 50 percent. The largest number, 63, of the damaged historical, cultural and civilizational monuments are located in Iran's capital Tehran," he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

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 with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.

Salehi-Amiri said one of the most important war-damaged historical sites in Tehran is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Golestan Palace, "which is a masterpiece of the Safavid and Qajar eras' architecture," adding that the Sa'dabad Palace, with an area spanning about 100 hectares and around 20 museums, also suffered serious damage in the U.S. and Israeli attacks.

In the central province of Isfahan, 23 historical and civilizational sites were damaged, with the most important one being the UNESCO-listed Chehel Sotoun Palace, "a great masterpiece of the Iranian architecture," the minister noted.

He said in addition, 12 historical monuments have been damaged in the western province of Kurdestan alone.

Salehi-Amiri added that Iran has sent letters to eight international organizations, such as the United Nations, UNESCO, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Council of Museums, to inform them of the damages and risks, regretting that unfortunately, international organizations have no power to prevent the U.S. and Israeli "crimes against humanity."

Following the damage to the Golestan Palace on March 2, UNESCO expressed concern over the protection of cultural heritage sites amidst escalating conflict in the Middle East, saying that "it continues to closely monitor the situation of cultural heritage in Iran and across the region, with a view to ensuring its protection."

Later, UNESCO issued a warning about the fate of Iran's heritage sites, which include 29 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Salehi-Amiri added that the U.S. and Israeli attacks have not spared even a 63,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site located in western Iran, known as the Khorramabad Valley.

"Wherever the Americans have set foot, they have brought nothing but destruction, crimes, war, or exploitation," the minister said.

After 40 days of deadly fighting, the United States and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement on Wednesday. Both sides are set to hold talks later this week in Pakistan to discuss the future situation. 
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.




VILLANOVA, Pa. (April 10, 2026)Faith Yost 27 CLAS, a Biology major in Villanova Universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named a 2026 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Yost was selected from a competitive, nationwide pool of students for this prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding undergraduates pursuing research careers in STEM fields with a scholarship to support those academic endeavors

The Goldwater Foundations scholarship, awarded annually to sophomores and juniors, is considered the preeminent award for undergraduate students preparing for research careers in the sciences, mathematics or engineering.

Faiths recognition as a Goldwater Scholar is a testament to her academic achievements, dedication to research and commitment to fieldwork, said University Provost Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD. A true Villanova researcher, she is harnessing her intellectual curiosity and passion for conservation science to ignite change for the common good. We congratulate Faith on her selection and look forward to seeing the impact of her work in the years ahead.

Yost is dedicated to a research career in wildlife biology, with a focus on conservation and sustainability initiatives in tropical environments. She has prioritized research and fieldwork across Pennsylvania, Florida and internationally.

As a first-year student, Yost connected with Samantha Chapman, PhD, and Adam Langley, PhDfaculty members in Villanovas Biology departmentand began contributing to research projects in environmental biology. Under their mentorship, she assisted in biomass measurements of coastal wetland plants and nitrogen analysis of soil samples.

In Summer 2024, Yost was awarded a Biology Summer Research Fellowship to study mutualistic relationships between fungi and mangrove trees. Her resulting work was the first to integrate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi into Floridas black mangrove ecosystems. She presented her research at the Villanova Undergraduate Research Symposium and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, earning first place in the Creativitas: Displays of Beauty in Research competition for her microscopic image of mycorrhizal fungi.

The following fall, Yost expanded her global research and conservation experience by studying abroad in the Galapagos Islands. There, she conducted research on pollinator species in diverse ecosystems, designed an exhibit addressing wildlife-related traffic risks and pesticide use and volunteered in forest management initiatives.

In 2025, Yost interned with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, contributing to habitat management efforts through data collection and wildlife handling involving species such as black bears, waterfowl and songbirds. She is currently an intern at Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pa., supporting animal care and conservation education. This summer, Yost will intern with Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, where shell build upon her ecological restoration techniques and study biodiversity.

As she continues her academic journey, Yost is interested in researching the impact of invasive wild pigs on marsh and mangrove ecosystems. She intends to pursue the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and obtain a PhD in tropical conservation biology at the University of Hawaii, with the goal of conducting research on invasive species in the Amazon rainforest.

For more information on the Goldwater Scholarship, visit goldwaterscholarship.gov.

About Villanova University

Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.
 The member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council tabled a draft resolution (S/2026/273) before the UN Security Council on 7 April 2026. This text proclaims that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no right to close the Strait of Hormuz  or that of Bab el-Mandeb  to international navigation, nor to deprive the peoples of the world of these essential resources for life. The draft was not adopted, as Russia and China vetoed it.

 The Chinese delegation criticized the text as unbalanced, stating that it "condemns only one party" instead of identifying "the real causes of the conflict" and working for dialogue and peace. "The United States and Israel are the instigators of this conflict and we urge them to immediately cease their military operations," it said, before calling on Iran to stop attacking the Gulf countries and to take into account the interests of the countries of the Global South.

 "It is unacceptable to ignore the root cause of the crisis in the Middle East," added the Russian delegation, according to which the rejected draft was intended to "give carte blanche to continue aggressive actions and a new escalation", at a time when the President of the United States "threatens to destroy Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened". The adoption of such a "unilateral" resolution would have jeopardized any prospect of resuming the negotiation process and impeded the ongoing peace initiatives of states such as China, Pakistan and Turkiye. Noting that the issue of securing the Strait of Hormuz "can only be resolved with the participation of all countries bordering this important transport corridor," including Iran, it indicated that the Russian-Chinese alternative project will emphasize that ensuring genuine freedom of navigation in the strait "can only be achieved through the cessation of hostilities and the conclusion of a negotiated agreement".

 Denouncing an "indefensible" draft resolution, whose "purpose is to whitewash the war crimes committed by the United States and Israel against Iran," the Iranian delegation asserted that the "lawful actions" taken by its country in the Strait of Hormuz were carried out in full compliance with the United Nations Charter and the principle of self-defense. "Currently, the strait remains open, except to vessels associated with the aggressors," it insisted.
Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world.

Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense.

EDITORIAL

 5170 China and Russia veto the Gulf Cooperation Councils draft resolution

AMERICAS

 5171 Jamie Dimon predicts exodus of New Yorkers

 5172 How Benjamin Netanyahu sold his war against Iran to Donald Trump

 5173 Donald Trump reiterates his threats against Iranian civilians

 5174 The United States 15-Point Peace Plan

 5175 JD Vance in charge of concluding the agreement with Iran

 5176 Dan Caine ultimately views the U.S.-Iran peace agreement as nothing more than a "pause"

 5177 The White House wants to transform the US economy into a war economy

 5178 U.S. diplomats will be subject to a dress code

 5179 Cardi B Teams Up with New York City Hall

5180 Mythos could put the global financial system at risk

 5181 Pro-Trump Reporters Call for His Resignation

 5182  70 lawmakers call for US President Trumps resignation

 5183 Americans now view Israel and Netanyahu negatively

EUROPE

 5184 Homily by Leo XIV

 5185 Publication of a false statement by Irans Supreme National Security Council

 5186 Release of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris

 5187 Greece bans social media for children under 15

 5188 Remilitarization of Germany

 5189 Bloomberg continues its phone tapping

 5190 Viktor Orban and JD Vance accuse the EU of political interference

 5191 For JD Vance, Volodymyr Zelenskys death threats against Viktor Orban are scandalous

 5192 The EU is pondering how to suspend Hungary

 5193 Panayiotis Hadjipavlis calls for a global approach to EU defense

 5194 Deteriorating working conditions of civil society organizations in the EU

 5195 Ukraine tries to deprive Hungary of energy

 5196 Volodymyr Zelensky invites Bartholomew I to Kiev

 5197 Volodymyr Zelensky celebrates Passover

 5198 Dmitry Medvedev welcomes US acceptance of Iranian peace plan

AFRICA

 5199 Turkiye trapped in Somalia

ASIA

 5200 Benjamin Netanyahu comments on the destruction of Iran

 5201 Benjamin Netanyahus victory speech

 5202 Israel bombs a hundred targets in Lebanon

 5203 The United States is no longer a dream for the Middle East

 5204 Volodymyr Zelensky in Damascus

 5205 Release of Shelly Kittleson

 5206 Saudi Arabia Welcomes the Ceasefire

 5207 For the Emirates, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is crucial

 5208 Attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul

 5209 The War as Seen from Iran

 5210 Bushehr civilian nuclear power plant bombed four times

 5211 Irans ten-point peace plan

 5212 Irans response continues

 5213 The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps remain vigilant

 5214 Shehbaz Sharif Announces U.S.-Iran Deal

 5215 Kuomintang Delegation Welcomed in Peoples Republic of China

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

 5216 The energy crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is "more serious than those of 1973, 1979 and 2022 combined"

 5217 At least 326 humanitarian workers were killed in 2025 in conflict zones
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese border authorities handled 185 million entries and exits in the first quarter of 2026, up 13.5 percent from a year earlier, officials said on Friday.

Mainland residents made a total of 91.66 million cross-border trips, a 14.2 percent increase year on year, according to the National Immigration Administration.

Foreign nationals made 21.33 million border crossings in the first three months, up 22.3 percent year on year. Visa-free entries accounted for 77.9 percent of the total made by foreign nationals. 
DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The weekend is upon us, and there are plenty of things to do and see across central Illinois.

Here is a selection of events, markets, concerts and more happening Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12.

Festival of Quilts

The Cunningham Children's Home in Urbana is hosting its 22nd Festival of Quilts event. There will be over 300 quilts and 100 centerpieces available for purchase.

When: Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Spiritual Life Center on Cunningham Children's Home campus, Urbana

Enchanted Museum: The Ballet

Enjoy a night out at the Virginia Theatre with a performance of "Enchanted Museum: The Ballet." According to the theatre's website, the production is loosely inspired by "The Fairy Doll," "Night at the Museum" and the 1993 children's book of the same name by Milan Trenc.

Doors will open 45 minutes before showtime.

When: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m.

Where: Virginia Theatre, Champaign

Henson Robinson Zoo reopening

The Henson Robinson Zoo reopens on Saturday for the 2026 season. Zoogoers can enjoy a wild time full of animal encounters and adventures.

Additional information is available online.

When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Henson Robinson Zoo, Springfield

Small Business Fest

Enjoy a day of shopping, food and more at the Small Business Fest at Eastern Illinois University. Attendees can support EIU student entrepreneurs with 40 vendors showcasing their products and services.

When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Booth Library quad, EIU campus, Charleston

Midwest Toy and Comic Fest

The Midwest Toy and Comic Fest returns to Decatur. There will be over 100 vendors, featuring various toys, comics, games and more.

Additionally, there will be a few celebrity guests making appearances, including Sergeant Slaughter, WWE Hall of Famer The Godfather, Selwyn Ward and Tracy Lynn Cruz from "Power Rangers in Space," Patricia Patts, Isaak Wells and Paul E. Niemeyer.

When: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Decatur Civic Center, Decatur

For other events in central Illinois, check out the WAND Community Calendar.

Copyright 2026. WANDTV. All Rights Reserved.
50 million in emergency funds allocated to address storm damage in four regions in central and southern Italy.

The Italian government has declared a 12-month state of emergency for Abruzzo, Basilicata, Molise and Puglia following the severe storms and flooding that struck the four regions in recent days.

The government has allocated an initial 50 million in emergency funding to the regions, divided as follows: 15 million for Abruzzo, 5 million for Basilicata, 20 million for Molise and 10 million for Puglia.

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting at Palazzo Chigi on Thursday evening and was announced by civil protection minister Nello Musumeci.

The funds, drawn from Italy's national emergency fund, are intended to finance initial assistance to those affected by storm damage and to restore public services and infrastructure.

Further measures will be implemented through ordinances issued by the head of the civil protection department in agreement with the regional authorities, news agency Adnkronos reports.

In the case of Molise, the government appointed engineer Stefano Babini as extraordinary commissioner for reconstruction in the affected areas of the central Italian region.

Molise was among the regions hardest hit, with a massive landslide occuring in the area around Petacciato following heavy rainfall.

The landslide led to the temporary closure of the A14 motorway and state road 16 as well as causing severe disruption to train services on the Adriatic railway line.

Photo Vigili del Fuoco
Members of the 27th batch of Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone pose for a group photo during a handover ceremony of medical supplies at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 9, 2026. (The 27th batch of Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)

FREETOWN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The 27th Batch Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone on Thursday donated a consignment of medical supplies to the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, reaffirming a longstanding tradition of support to the country's health sector.

The donation covers key medications for multiple therapeutic areas, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, anti-infective, and digestive systems, as well as a substantial quantity of antimalarial drugs and antibiotics.

The donation further focuses on replenishing specialized consumables for the operating room, including precision absorbable sutures, disposable surgical packs, anesthesia supplies, as well as sterile gloves and syringes.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Li Zheng, leader of the medical team, expressed satisfaction in contributing medicines and equipment aimed at improving hospital operations and benefiting local communities.

He noted that the team has established a strong working relationship with their Sierra Leonean counterparts since arrival. Li further pledged continued donations, free medical outreach services to communities, and skills transfer initiatives throughout their 18-month stay.

Augustine Tarawally, medical superintendent of the hospital, commended the Chinese team for consistent contributions to Sierra Leone's healthcare system.

"The Chinese are friendly and have greatly contributed to transforming the health sector in Sierra Leone," he said, expressing gratitude for their timely support.

He added that while medicines at the hospital are sold on a cost-recovery basis, the donated supplies will be used to assist patients who cannot afford emergency care. 
A Department of Education survey showed Waterford had one of the smallest appetites in Ireland to maintain denominational education in primary schools.

According to the findings of the survey, which was completed by over 200,000 households, 54.5% of Waterford parents with children in denominational primary schools expressed a preference for the schools ethos to remain.

The figure was the second-lowest across the Republic's 26 counties, with only Wicklow expressing a smaller percentage approval (50.5%).

Supporters of multi-denominational education said that the results showed further demand for an increase in Educate Together schools across Waterford.

Two (Waterford and Tramore ETNS) of the 73 primary schools in Waterford are multi-denominational.

These national results are very encouraging for the future of school choice in County Waterford, said Schools Development Officer for Educate Together Edward Platt.

Now that the Department of Education has provided statistically valid data to show that 45.5% of parents in Waterford want their children to have access to a multi-denominational school, we need to see action taken to make this a reality."

Waterford parents also stood as a major national outlier when voicing their approval of same-sex schools.

Parents of children in same-sex schools were asked to indicate a preference on a transition to co-education- 62.7% of Waterford parents expressed approval, the lowest percentage in the country. In comparison, 87.8% of Galway parents expressed approval.

Waterford parents again bucked the trend when it came to preference for having their children in a primarily English-speaking school.

88.8% of parents expressed their wishes to keep things the same- the joint highest in the nation alongside Monaghan.
A 24-year-old man falsely presented his sisters insurance disc as his own to Gardai.

Theo Aaron Cavanagh was convicted of presenting a false document to Gardai contrary to Section 28 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Cavanagh, of 73 Marymount, Ferrybank, appeared at Waterford District Court of Appeals before Judge Eugene OKelly. He was appealing an eight-month custodial sentence that was handed down by Waterford District Court.

The Court heard that on November 13, 2024, the defendant presented the disc to Gardai. The on-duty Sergeant verified the disc with the relevant insurance company and found that the disc belonged to the defendants sister, who was unaware of the deception. Cavanagh accepted that he had made a "very immature and very stupid mistake".

According to State Solicitor Frank Hutchinson, the defendant had two previous convictions, including driving with no insurance.

Judge OKelly commented: It is a shock that this young person had already been caught driving with no insurance. The custodial sentence was suspended for a period of 18 months.

Funded by the Court Reporting scheme.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Defence Forces have been put on standby to assist with clearing blockades outside some of the countrys major fuel depots.

With the nationwide fuel protests entering a fourth day on Friday, here is an explanation of some of the key points.

Petrol and diesel prices on Thursday at a service station in Co Kildare (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

What is the reason for the protests?

The cost of petrol, diesel, and marked gas oil (green diesel) has soared as a result of the war in the Middle East and impacts on supplies out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Currently, filling stations are selling petrol for around 193.9 cent, while diesel is available for around 218.9 cent.

Protesters say the Government needs to take action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

A man sits in a tractor wheel as vehicles are parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

a Who is behind them?

Several distinct but coordinated protests manifested on Tuesday and have largely been organised through social media channels and messaging apps.

One Facebook page with almost 60,000 followers states that it is made up of professional drivers, farmers, and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

John Dallon emerged as one spokesman for the Dublin protest (Brian Lawless/PA)

It has been difficult to single out specific organisers for the nationwide effort.

In Dublin for example, participants have been reluctant to identify an organiser but several spokespeople have emerged  often under the proviso that they have little influence over the actions of their fellow demonstrators in the capital or other locations.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan (Niall Carson/PA)

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan claimed on Thursday that protesters are being manipulated by outside actors who want to advance their own political measures or really want to damage our country.

Representative bodies recognised by the Government including the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association are not officially involved in the protest.

Vehicles on the M50 Northbound (Brian Lawless/PA)

What do they want?

The haulage operators and professional drivers want reductions in the cost of fuel, with differing solutions offered.

Some have called for the price to come down through cuts of excise or measures like reductions on carbon tax or VAT.

Vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Others want a cap on fuel prices (with different rates quoted across protest sites) while the war in the Middle East is impacting supplies.

Protesters have also sought commitments from senior Government figures that they will meet representatives to hear their concerns, often as a prerequisite for any dispersal of a blockade.

An ambulance drives past vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

What areas have been impacted?

The protests have seen widespread disruption on Irelands major motorways as participants engaged in slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages across the initial three days of action.

Dublins city centre was also brought to a standstill on multiple occasions as tractors blocked the busiest routes around the capitals main thoroughfare OConnell Street.

Others blocked the countrys only oil refinery at Whitegate, Co Cork as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes in Co Limerick  with the three sites responsible for providing fuel to roughly half the country, according to an industry expert.

Protests have been organised at other sites, including near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublins M50 Northbound (Brian Lawless/PA)

There have been manifold effects of the combined actions including some filling stations running out of petrol and diesel, concerns over the availability of fuel to emergency-service vehicles, and members of the public missing scheduled medical appointments.

Concerns have also been raised about time-sensitive delivery of key medicines as well as the availability of water-treatment chemicals and the vital farm supplies such as animal feed.

Traffic disruption on Dublins M50 ring road, which feeds access to the countrys largest airport, also saw some passengers walking in the hard shoulder with their luggage.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking to the media (Brian Lawless/PA)

What has been the Government's response?

The Government said it is aware of the cost-of-living pressures arising out of the war in the Middle East and senior ministers have said the concerns of protesters have been heard.

Two-and-a-half weeks ago, it signed off on a 250 million package of measures to reduce fuel 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 17 cent for petrol, 22 cent for diesel, and five cent for green diesel  but the savings were largely eroded as the war waged on.

Senior figures have appealed for protesters to call off their action, stating that their concerns have been heard and that the protest had now gone too far by causing damage to the wider public.

Vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

An Garda Siochana has been monitoring the protest action across the country and officers were present at blockades.

On Thursday, the force said it would enter an enforcement phase of its response to the disruption, after Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Whitegate blockade was an act of national sabotage.

The Defence Forces are on standby to assist with the removal of heavy vehicles engaging in blockades of critical infrastructure.

Government leaders and relevant ministers had not accepted requests to meet with protesters by Thursday evening, instead stating that the best approach was to engage with recognised representative bodies.

OCallaghan expressed concern over the message it would send that anyone who blockades critical infrastructure could expect a meeting with Government.

The Defence Forces are on standby to use heavy-duty recovery trucks capable of towing large vehicles (Defence Forces/PA)

What is likely to happen next?

Organising groups have vowed to continue the protest on Friday and, if not carrying through the weekend, stated they intend to return to action when the Dail returns to session on Tuesday.

An industry expert has warned that the number of filling stations running dry is going to increase if longer blockades of the major fuel suppliers continue.

Gardai next to vehicles parked on OConnell Street (Brian Lawless/PA)

With the knock-on impacts that entail, pressure will increase on Government and State authorities to respond.

Ministers and An Garda Siochana have urged protesters to end the blockades or face the full rigours of the law 

Participants have said they will not move until their concerns are heard by Government  or they are forced away  with gardai instructing demonstrators to disperse from a protest near Rosslare Europort late on Thursday.

Representative organisations are due to have a meeting with Government on Friday, with the possibility of protesters also attending if they are brought by official groups.
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BusinessSmall businessCommercial real estate Roxy Jacenko wants $10m for her office, as pub barons swoop on Imperial Hotel Carolyn Cummins April 10, 2026  3:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Capital Gain PR maven Roxy Jacenko is aiming to get a handy $10 million from the sale of her former headquarters in Sydneys upmarket eastern suburbs as she joins her husband, Oliver Curtis, in Singapore. The founder of the Sweaty Betty PR firm has moved to be with Curtis who, after a stint in prison, now runs artificial intelligence infrastructure start-up Firmus. Roxy Jacenko snapped up 7-13 Elizabeth Street for $2.6 million. Instagram Jacenko, who stepped down from her business four years ago, paid about $2.66 million for the freehold site at 713 Elizabeth Street, Paddington, in 2014. The property was also in the news in 2019 for an infamous poo jogger incident, which sparked a police investigation.

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The 290-square-metre landholding sits on a prominent corner site. It has three street frontages and a north-facing view overlooking Strong Memorial Reserve. It comes with a lease to Sydney Sothebys International Realty until May 2027. Jacenko said that when she was starting the business, she had considered taking a floor in a large, characterless building in Darlinghurst or Surry Hills. Instead, she bought the Paddington site with a view to developing it into apartments or townhouses. That [Darlinghurst] space was functional, but completely uninspiring. Paddington offered something entirely different, Jacenko told Capital Gain. The leafy streets, the village energy, the proximity to great schools, cafes and retail, and it created an environment that worked on every level. As a tenant, you enjoy the address. As a landlord, you own the asset that the address creates. Paddingtons non-traditional commercial profile meant that scarcity worked in our favour  there simply werent many buildings like it, and that scarcity has only grown more pronounced over time. James Cowan, of Colliers, is advising on the sale through a public auction on May 12.

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Mac attack The McDonalds outlet in Yass, regional NSW, is being sold by private investor Chris Garnaut as a freehold with a long lease to the fast food giant. The buyer of the 1713 Yass Valley Way property will become a partner with McDonalds and will receive 6.5 of every dollar spent at the restaurant, without any operational risk, capital expenditure obligations or management complexity, with a triple net lease structure. The buyer of the 1713 Yass Valley Way property will become a partner with McDonalds. Getty Images McDonalds Yass, which sits on a 3571-square-metre freehold site with nearly 200 metres of frontage to the Hume Highway, has recorded compounded annual sales growth of 4.26 per cent since 2003. The lease has generated a 150 per cent increase in rental income over that period.

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Related Article Commercial real estate Luna Park owners buy Bankstowns grim-looking pub in $54m deal No price was disclosed, but as a guide, JLLs recent sale of a McDonalds restaurant in Hampton Park achieved a 2.78 per cent yield, and other recent similar transactions settled in the mid to high 3 per cent range. In Australia, McDonalds operates more than 1000 restaurants, generating revenue of $2.22 billion in the 2024 fiscal year, a 3.7 per cent year-on-year increase. The company has committed to investing a further $450 million to remodel half of its store network. JLLs David Mahood, Sebastian Fahey and George Daley have been appointed to sell the property. Gaming pub snapped up

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A large consortium, including pub barons Nicholas Quinn, Sean OHara, Arthur Laundy and Craig Laundy, has paid $20 million for the Imperial Hotel in Singleton, in regional NSW. The pub transaction, which follows a recent record-breaking sale of The Tamworth Pub Group for $160 million, reflects the popularity of the pub sector. The hotel, set on a 3522-square-metre corner site at 183-185 John Street in Singletons main retail precinct, has 23 gaming machines and a 3am trading licence. Pub barons have paid $20 million for the Imperial Hotel in Singleton. Singleton, about 200 kilometres north-west of Sydney, has experienced ongoing population growth and investment, supporting demand for hospitality and gaming venues. JLL Hotels & Hospitality groups Kate MacDonald and Greg Jeloudev managed the sale.

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Key St Leonards site on market The last piece of the 88 by JQZ mixed-use precinct at 558 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, on Sydneys lower north shore is for sale with a price tag of about $170 million. Completed in 2023, 558 Pacific Highway is a 14-storey office tower that has direct access to the St Leonards railway station and bus interchange. It has 17,394 square metres of net lettable area of office space and retail. JQZs $1.3 billion site also has two residential towers, one 47 and the other 26 storeys. Colliers agents Matthew Meynell, Tyler Talbot, Catherine Scott and Alex McColl, together with CBREs James Parry and Mitch Noonan, have been appointed to manage the sale.

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carolynannecummins@gmail.com The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessWorkplaceWork therapy Opinion Why is my work repeatedly asking me for a background check? Jonathan Rivett Careers contributor April 10, 2026  3:01am

April 10, 2026  3:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

As a career contractor, I have to go through background and police checks every six to 12 months, depending on the length of the assignment. As a condition of employment, each time I have to submit the same documents to (often) the same background check company. While I understand why a new employer would want to perform background and police checks on each new starter, I find it difficult to understand why permanent staff do not have to go through the same process every couple of years even though later down the track they might have been convicted of a criminal offence. Why do most organisations not bother? And why cant background check companies save my documents so that I do not have to keep resubmitting them each time? When it comes to background checks, one employer cant rely on another employers vetting. John Shakespeare This sounds exasperating. Job applications are difficult enough currently without the re-submission and double up youve described.

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Having said that, I asked Carol T Kulik, a Bradley Distinguished Professor in the School of Management at Adelaide University about your questions, and she told me that the frustrating repetition is usually unavoidable for a good reason. In some sectors, employers do conduct background checks of current employees on a regular, ongoing basis. This is especially true when the role involves children, aged care, financial services and government. The common denominator is high harm potential  vulnerable populations, high-stakes financial access and national security, she says. Unnecessary background checks could signal that the employee is not trusted, undermining psychological contracts and reducing employee engagement. Carol T Kulik, a Bradley Distinguished Professor in the School of Management at Adelaide University But ongoing monitoring of employees is context-specific. For many roles, ongoing security checks would be difficult to justify legally or practically. Australias regulatory system reflects a core principle: employers should only collect and use personal information that is reasonably necessary for the role. Repeated blanket checking of employees could be viewed as disproportionate to job requirements and risk the collection of irrelevant personal information.

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This background information helps us answer the question of why applicants like you are being constantly asked to provide personal information while permanent employees are not  or at least not to the same degree as you. And Kulik elaborated on why repeated checks (apart from the exceptions mentioned above) dont generally happen once a person is in a job. Editor's pick Opinion

Work therapy My colleagues disappear for hours at a time. What should I do? Jonathan Rivett Careers contributor In practice, the bar for reasonably necessary is typically lower for applicants than for employees. Once an employee is on the job, employers have immediate access to an extensive range of job-relevant information. Gathering it is less intrusive than a background check, she says. Employers can directly observe the employees behaviour and review performance outcomes  work quality, safety records, client satisfaction. And, importantly, unnecessary background checks could signal that the employee is not trusted, undermining psychological contracts and reducing employee engagement. Extra monitoring is not a neutral activity  it may do more harm than good. But why does it seem youre being asked over and over again? Kulik says it mostly comes down to the fact that one employer cant rely on another employers vetting.

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In short-term contract roles, theres less opportunity to build a track record on the job, and so trust has to be reestablished each time, with each new employer, she says. Documents gathered during background checks are rarely re-used across employers. Different employers will apply different criteria and standards to background checks, and will want current data to make the most meaningful decisions. Plus, its essential for data security  storing sensitive data longer than strictly necessary creates opportunities for data breaches. Kulik says she sympathises with you and your frustration at the need to submit these documents over and over again. But, she explains, its a feature of a system designed to protect all stakeholders, including applicants, contractors and employees. Background checks produce information, and its up to individual employers to make the yes-or-no decision. You wouldnt want a hiring decision to be affected by information that is irrelevant to the current role. Send your questions through to Work Therapy by emailing jonathan@theinkbureau.com.au Get workplace news, advice and perspectives to help make your job work for you. Sign up for our weekly Thank God its Monday newsletter.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Work therapy

Opinion Jonathan Rivett is a writer based in Melbourne. He's written about workplace culture and careers for more than a decade.
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsDating Eligible bachelors like Hugh are apparently becoming extinct. Heres where to find them Courtney Thompson April 9, 2026  5:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

In this series, we explore why proactive hearing health is vital to staying connected to your passions and loved ones. See all stories .

Its a balmy Thursday night, and as I cross the road towards the Potts Point bar, Im already regretting my leather jacket. Things get worse when I step inside, and its obvious the air-conditioning doesnt work. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic as I wait in line. Is this your first time? the host asks as he puts my wristband on. It is, I tell him. IRL singles events run by companies such as Thursday and Crush Club (pictured) have become more popular as people look for alternatives to dating apps. After 10 years of situationships and an on-and-off affair with dating apps, Id finally found myself at a singles event. Specifically, the Top 3 AI Matchmaking Night run by a company called Thursday, which teams up with local venues to host IRL singles events at various cities around the world. I was there mostly out of curiosity. Inside, I look at the drinks menu, where my options include a $23 sneaky link cosmo and $25 XO espresso. I opt for a $14 vodka soda hoping I might avoid extortion.

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The energy of the crowd is tentative. Were told to fill in a quiz that AI technology will use to deliver us three matches over the course of the night. Prompts include how creative we consider ourselves, and how important independence is to us in a relationship. At three moments in the evening, we will be notified of our match and have roughly 20 minutes with them before the next. The host informs us that were in luck  there are more women than men. Related Article Sex & relationships I really want you to leave: Is the post-sex sleepover dead? My first match was Jerry (name changed for privacy reasons). Hes in a blazer and striped shirt, which was unbuttoned deep enough that he could hang his glasses on the opening. Can I ask, he probed tentatively, Is your heritage actually Swedish? (I have blonde hair and blue eyes, and he apparently has no imagination.) I probably shouldnt have been surprised when he bid me farewell by way of unprovoked sexual innuendo.

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My second match was better. Louis was a comfortable conversationalist, which makes sense because this wasnt his first singles event. Fifteen minutes into our discussion, we realised we were both journalists, and another five minutes later, he paused ominously. Wait, he said, youre not writing about this are you? (Sorry, Louis.) My third and final match arrived not long after. George might help you feel more fulfilled in your day-to-day life, the app told me. (Is it little wonder our expectations are so high?) I sent him a text asking if he was still around. Yup, he replied with no elaboration. It was all the encouragement I needed to call it a night. The state of online dating is dire, if not entirely dead, resulting in a new surge in singles events.

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Overseas, there are events for every niche: from the Silicon Valley tech founders, to the Brooklyn-based wrestling fanatics and London foodies. There are events where you can go and pitch your friends with a PowerPoint presentation, and companies selling Victorian-era acquaintance cards to make it easier to approach people in public. Even the dating apps started pivoting to incorporate the shift. Bumble has Bumble IRL and Feeld hosts socials (though neither currently have recent events listed for Australia). At their inaugural product keynote in March, Tinder announced a number of new updates including the introduction of an events tab, which will allow users to scout local IRL opportunities to meet fellow singles out in the wild. Related Article Sex & relationships Is this why the dating apps dont work? Unpacking the complexities of attraction According to the Match Group-owned company, the move was informed by research that found Gen Z (56 per cent) and Millennials (53 per cent) are more likely to describe themselves as better in person, and offline singles are two to four times more likely to engage in low-pressure IRL experiences compared to one-on-one dating. Its about creating spaces where people can meet more organically, a Tinder spokesperson said. We want to make dating feel more human, social and fun, and help users rediscover the excitement of meeting someone new.

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From an evolutionary perspective, this was inevitable, says Dr Adam Bode, an interdisciplinary love researcher. We didnt evolve to scan through thousands of people over the phone and make a decision within the first second of seeing their profile picture whether we want to spend some time with them, he says. Traditionally, youd get into someone, and then youd ask them for a date. But dating apps actually reverse that process in that you try to get a date to determine if youre into them or not. Its just not normal. Among singles, theres a tension that defines our current moment: people really want to get off the apps, but feel handcuffed to them because of the lack of viable alternatives. People got so desperate they turned to clubs to try to find a partner. Theyre too nervous to approach someone at the pub for fear of rejection or the chance itll become a viral TikTok story, and many people have never considered a singles event, because the uncertainty about what really goes on, and the kind of people who go, puts them off. Hugh Tyson has been to a couple of the events run by Crush Club at the bar High Note and is enthusiastic about the experience. Eddie Jim Hugh Tyson, 31, is someone you might find at a singles event. After his last long-term relationship ended in 2022, the teacher from Northcote has been navigating the Melbourne dating scene with what he describes as an open heart and deep curiosity.

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He first heard of Melbournes IRL dating event series, Crush Club, through a friend. I thought he was about to tell me a state secret, Tyson tells me. Hes since been to two events and thoroughly enjoyed them. I loved it because it just makes you present with other people immediately, says Tyson, who believes theres been a disappearance of the approach game, referencing the ability to talk to a stranger in public. Related Article Dating Heteroflexible, fertility vampires and affair baiting: The terms defining dating now The fear of rejection can really cripple your confidence, he says, and you can just psyche yourself out with thoughts like, oh, what if theyve got a partner? Youre gonna look like an absolute twat. The way Tyson sees it, there are three types of people youll encounter at an IRL singles event: those with genuine intention to meet a romantic partner, those who are curious and there for a good time, and the people whove rocked up with friends. The latter group tends to be a bit reserved, while the former are more engaged.

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Crush Club founder Izzy Burns, 27, has multiple event formats  speed dating, dinners and mixers  to cater for the different preferences. The thing with the speed-dating events is there are people who really like them and enjoy that kind of structure and the match cards and being told, OK, youre gonna sit here, and then youre gonna move over here, and everythings very planned out, she says. And then theres also people who prefer a more relaxed setting where they can just go up and chat to people as they like. If they get on with someone, theyll just kind of share their details as they go. There have been a handful of couples to meet through Crush Club since it began in 2024, and the series has grown to the point where their biggest event  two speed-dating sessions at the Victorian State Library for 200 people  have waiting lists. Tyson believes the curation of the event  theyre usually held at trendy wine bars or restaurants  sets it apart from the kind of generic throw them in a room and hope for the best approach of other companies running events for singles. It also requires an open mind. Crush Club has become so popular among singles in Melbourne that their events are now attracting long waiting lists.

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It is what you make of it, if you go in thinking, oh, Im going to have a horrible time, its going to be awkward, it probably will feel a little bit clunky, Tyson says. But I think as soon as you embrace that clunkiness, thats where the fun is. They are, however, still an imperfect way of meeting potential mates, says Bode. You are still expected to make a decision about whether youre into someone or not in the first meeting, he explains. As a result, people are always talking about that spark that they get, which does happen occasionally, but not that often. That, and theres the risk that youll end up stuck talking to a person like Jerry. For Burns, safety is prioritised by ensuring plenty of roving hosts and encouraging group tickets, where women can invite (and vouch for) male friends. Bode believes the ideal way to meet someone hasnt really changed in decades: a house party. He explains that youre inherently brought together by mutual friends, making it more likely youll have common interests, the environment relaxed and theres an in-built element of vetting.

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It not only gives you access to people that youre more likely to want to form romantic relationships with, but also a higher-calibre person than you would normally meet on an app. With that, Im off to find a house party. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing meets with Jiang Xinzhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, April 10, 2026. At the invitation of the government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Jiang attended the inauguration ceremony of Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing here on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Guangtao)

NAY PYI TAW, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Jiang Xinzhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the inauguration ceremony of Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing here on Friday.

Min Aung Hlaing met with Jiang on the same day.

Noting that the pauk-phaw (fraternal) friendship between China and Myanmar has a long history, Jiang said the two countries have long enjoyed a harmonious relationship and mutual assistance, which fully demonstrates the profound significance of the China-Myanmar community with a shared future.

China supports Myanmar in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions, Jiang said, adding that the country is willing to work with Myanmar to deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, maintain stability along the China-Myanmar border, and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and projects in Myanmar.

For his part, Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude for China's long-term and valuable assistance to Myanmar's economic and social development.

Myanmar firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the four global initiatives proposed by China, Min Aung Hlaing said.

The president pledged that Myanmar would make every effort to ensure China's security interests in the country, and expressed Myanmar's willingness to deepen practical cooperation with China across various fields. 
WCO wraps up year long project in Central Asia and Caucasus focused on preventing illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)

Eight countries strengthened their capacities to combat arms trafficking and emerging threats, enhancing border detection capabilities

Regional cooperation to counter illicit trade and address shared border security challenges was strengthened and reinforced

The World Customs Organization (WCO), with the support of the Government of Japan, concluded the Central Asia and Caucasus Security Project at a regional workshop held in Tokyo last month. The event brought together the representatives of Customs administrations from eight beneficiary countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Japan, and partner organizations, to review the Project results, share lessons learned, and discuss the way forward.

Strengthening Capacity to Counter Illicit Trafficking

Launched in March 2025, the one-year Project helped strengthen the capacity of Customs administrations in Central Asia and the Caucasus to counter the illicit movement of small arms and light weapons while also improving awareness of risks linked to unmanned aerial systems and export controls. As the proliferation of SALW remains a leading cause of violent deaths worldwide, fuelling insecurity and regional instability, combating illicit trade in this area is critical to preventing conflict and sustaining peace. In this context, the Project has played a key role in supporting WCO Members across both regions in strengthening their cross-border control capabilities, while also enhancing their awareness of emerging technologies and evolving trafficking methods.

The first regional awareness workshop was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, in July 2025, to assess national capacities and identify priority training needs. It was followed by a series of twinned training events that brought together frontline officers from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan; Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; Armenia and Georgia; and Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. These sessions strengthened operational skills in detection and enforcement, benefiting over 100 frontline Customs officers across both regions.

Enhancing Cooperation and Regional Security

Through two regional workshops and four twinned national training events, the Project has helped address border security challenges, foster regional cooperation, and promote greater stability and security. Ultimately, it has contributed to protecting society from the threats posed by illicit trafficking.

No single agency, Administration, or country can address these challenges alone. Effective border management and security demand close collaboration nationally, regionally, and internationally, said Sigfriur Gunnlaugsdottir, Deputy Director for Capacity Delivery Sub-Directorate, in her opening remarks at the closing workshop.

During the closing workshop, participants reviewed the activities delivered throughout the Project. They highlighted the value of practical training, including weapon identification, safe handling procedures, case-based exercises and discussions on emerging trafficking methods. National presentations from beneficiary Administrations demonstrated how the Project responded to operational needs and strengthened knowledge, confidence and professional networks among Customs officers working on border security.

Partnerships and Future Outlook

The closing workshop also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with Japan Customs and partner organizations, including the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). Participants were not only introduced to practical WCO tools related to risk management and cargo targeting but also received a comprehensive overview of the threats posed by unmanned aerial systems, as well as the legal frameworks governing their regulation and control. Participants emphasized that continued cooperation, information-sharing, and sustained training will be essential to build on the Projects achievements and further strengthen Customs enforcement and border security across the region.

For more information, please contact:

Implementation and Capacity Development Directorate / Security Unit

Central Asia and Caucasus Security Project (CCASP) | salw@wcoomd.org
China's commerce ministry and Inner Mongolia officials on Friday laid out details for developing the newly established China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), pledging efforts to turn it into a hub of opening up and a model of high-quality development. #GLOBALink
ROME, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday warned that Lebanon could be facing a severe food security crisis.

In an interview with Australia's Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), Allison Oman Lawi, country director of the WFP, said that the escalation of the situation in Lebanon has now lasted for one month. What began as a rapidly spreading displacement crisis is now evolving into a more serious food security crisis.

"We see over a million people have been displaced across Lebanon, and around 140,000 people are sheltering within collective shelters and schools," she said.

"They want to be able to live in peace and security, they want to be able to feed their families, they want to ensure that their children are going to bed at night with a proper hot meal," she added.

Lawi said that the WFP is continuing to monitor the situation closely and is working together with the government and partners to ensure support for the food needs of the Lebanese people. 
WSU professor honored for decades of community engaged learning

April 10, 2026

OGDEN, Utah  A psychological sciences associate professor who has spent nearly two decades enhancing connections between the classroom and the community is being recognized for her service.

Melinda Russell-Stamp earned the 2026 John A. Lindquist Award presented by the Center for Community Engaged Learning.

This honor is given annually to a current faculty or staff member who has shown sustained and outstanding commitment to mentoring students through community engagement.

The award is named after John A. Lindquist, a longtime supporter of WSU whose devotion to education and community service left a lasting legacy in Ogden. Nineteen Wildcats have been named honorees since this award series was launched in 2007.

Russell-Stamp teaches courses in educational psychology, child development, and psychopathology. Her areas of research interest include enhancing student engagement, community-based learning, and building resiliency in youth.

The most rewarding part of my career has been watching students abstract theories come to life as they work and learn from members of the community, Russell-Stamp said.

Over the past 17 years, she has built partnerships with schools and after school programs in Weber and Ogden school districts, as well as an elementary school in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.

More than 300 WSU students have been actively involved in these partnerships through tutoring, mentoring, teaching resiliency skills, and organizing field trips to the university and local technical colleges.

Russell-Stamp was honored during CCELs Community Engagement Celebration on April 9, an annual event to recognize students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners who contribute to community learning and engagement throughout the year.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Xinhua) -- More than half of Malaysian households said they would immediately cut spending as rising cost pressures push consumers away from borrowing and delayed purchases into more permanent austerity amid the Hormuz crisis, the latest survey showed.

Rakuten Insight's Malaysia Cost Pressure Pulse (MCPP) surveyed 1,052 respondents from April 6 to 8.

The survey found a sharp shift in coping behavior, with 52.1 percent of respondents saying they would immediately cut spending, up from 46.9 percent in March, as households exhausted short-term strategies such as delaying purchases or relying on credit.

In March, 15.3 percent of respondents said they would delay major purchases to manage costs. By April, that figure had nearly halved to 8.6 percent, marking the steepest decline across all coping mechanisms tracked in the survey.

At the same time, reliance on credit also weakened. Buy-now-pay-later usage fell to 3.1 percent from 4 percent, credit card use dropped to 1.7 percent from 2.3 percent, while borrowing from family declined to 1.3 percent from 2.5 percent.

Min Yao Kong, who leads commercial research at Rakuten Insight Malaysia, said the simultaneous decline in both delay and credit signals a structural shift in household behavior.

"When both options shrink at the same time, there is nowhere left to go except austerity," he said.

The survey also showed worsening financial expectations, with 57.4 percent of respondents expecting their household finances to deteriorate in the coming month, up 9.2 percentage points from March.

Rakuten Insight said the findings suggest that while global oil prices have eased following a U.S.-Iran ceasefire, household sentiment is unlikely to rebound quickly.

"The ceasefire is welcome news, but household balance sheets don't replenish in a day," Kong said, adding that "brands and policymakers who assume consumer confidence will rebound as quickly as oil prices risk misreading the recovery entirely." 
Tom Tuite

A judge in one of Dublin's busiest courts has slated what he termed a "systemic failure" which could stall cases, leave victims without justice, and see criminals avoid jail.

Presiding over a major hearing list at Dublin District Court on Thursday, Judge John Hughes was scathing regarding a decision to strip his court of a "garda presenter."

The specialised role involves a single sergeant handling cases and being briefed to give evidence of crimes and details of prior convictions for investigating officers in uncontested matters.

It also spares the arresting officer from being pulled away from other duties to appear in court.

"That is going to result in complaints, it is going to result in unfairness to victims, it's going to result in people who should be in jail ending up not in jail because of this systemic failure, that is the reality," he said on Thursday.

The issue has affected Court 2 in the Criminal Courts of Justice, where Hughes spoke about its impact on the heavy schedule.

Potentially, it could lead to over 100 gardai now having to attend court on a single day to outline facts.

"You have seen already today where I struck out several charges because the guards weren't present, for whatever reason, I don't know. I have adjourned another case back to a list where I know in my heart nobody is going to be aware of it."

In one scenario, involving a woman who has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in prosecutions brought by two gardai, the court needed to hear facts. Judge Hughes said, "The court presenter isn't here in a position to tell me anything about the case."

"Under the new regime, which I understand, on the sentencing day, all those guards are going to have to come to court to give the facts."

He said that a court presenter for these matters was essential.

Referring to a sentencing day next week, he said the combined number of gardai involved in all the prosecutions was over 100 officers, "who have been communicated with to come to court when one garda sergeant normally deals with these matters".

"And what is going to happen? I pose the question. On the sentencing day, when a guard could not turn up, and a defendant is in custody who says 'I want justice dealt with'; I don't believe I have jurisdiction to strike out the matter in those circumstances. Remand in continuing custody? Is that what I'm supposed to do, notwithstanding the fact I might actually end up giving a community service, a fine, or a suspended sentence?"

At that time, one officer arrived, but another prosecuting garda was absent. Judge Hughes said that if he proceeded with one matter, it could result in a partial sentence and potential unfairness.

Concluding, he said, "Every summons, every charge sheet is taken in the name of the Director of Public Prosecutions. I don't know if the DPP was consulted in relation to this new arrangement or not.

"It is not a matter for this court to concern itself in relation to internal communications between the guards and the DPP, but it is a matter as to how this court runs its list."
Tom Tuite

A former rickshaw driver who fled atrocities in Palestine and required four gardai to secure his arrest in central Dublin has been handed a suspended sentence for carrying knives.

Mahdi Kmail (34) was convicted at Dublin District Court of weapons and obstruction offences on August 31st and December 5th, 2025.

Judge John Hughes noted the ex-kitchen porter had taken six bench warrants before his hearing went ahead.

He rejected Kmail's account that he had been accused of drug dealing after he handed a flower to a woman because she noticed his keffiyeh scarf and said, "Free Palestine".

But gardai stated, "that he was acting in an erratic fashion and they believed he was screaming at members of the public". The prosecuting officer contended he was shouting about Israel and that country's military, the IDF.

Judge Hughes imposed a six-month sentence but suspended it in its entirety on the condition that Kmail does not reoffend for two years. He must also remain on supervised probation and complete a course of psychological therapy.

Kmail, of Castlewood, Celbridge, Co Kildare, had 11 prior convictions for speeding and other documentary motoring offences resulting in fines.

He had pleaded not guilty, claiming that on the second occasion at Burgh Quay, he had the knife in his bag to gut fish, and a screwdriver and scissors for home maintenance.

Garda Jack Bradshaw challenged his claim that he had informed him that there was a knife wrapped in his bag. The officer told him it was discovered post-arrest, during a search at the garda station.

The garda gave evidence that the accused never mentioned a fishing trip. He also rejected Kmail's claim that he could not understand what was going on.

CCTV

The defence argued that there must have been CCTV in the area, and the prosecuting garda testified that he did not check because he was already aware that security cameras did not cover the location.

Kmail claimed gardai accused him of selling drugs after he gave the woman a flower.

Questioned further by Garda Bradshaw about his fishing trip alibi, he conceded that it had happened several days beforehand, but he kept the knife wrapped in his bag for safety.

In response to the resisting arrest accusation, he maintained he was trying to understand what was happening and was beaten. He had a Stanley blade in his pocket when he stopped on the earlier date.

Imploring leniency, defence barrister Paul Larkin Coyle said his client had suffered trauma in Palestine and left to get away from atrocities in his homeland, had worked after arriving in Ireland and had no addiction issues.

Counsel asked the judge to note there was no allegation that his client brandished anything. However, the judge highlighted that Kmail had been caught twice, and on each occasion, he did not disclose to gardai that he had knives.
11 derelict properties listed

The number of properties in Ballyhaunis listed as derelict has stayed static in the past ten months. Eleven properties are now listed as derelict in the register of such properties maintained by Mayo County Council which was updated recently.

Thats the same as the figure published in late July 2025 when there were also eleven houses listed on the Councils Derelict Sites Register. In December 2023 there were 14 local properties on the register of derelict properties kept by the Council while in late January 2022 there were 17 Ballyhaunis properties on the register.

There are now eight derelict properties in Kilkelly and four in Knock, also unchanged on July 2025, according to the register.

However, it should be noted that one of the structures listed in Ballyhaunis, the former Dillons commercial premises, which was added to the register in 2021, has been redeveloped as an apartment complex and is no longer derelict. The old Larganboy schoolhouse has been on the register since 2019.

Properties on the dereliction register are subject to a levy which must be paid before the property can be sold. However, the values of some of the properties listed appear out of date given the sharp increase in property values in recent years: a property on Bridge Street is valued at 40,000 though similar properties in the vicinity have sold at twice that price in the past 12 months.

In terms of the number of derelict addresses in the town, Ballyhaunis compares favourably with Claremorris (23 properties) but has more derelict properties than Charlestown which has only four properties listed on the Councils register.

Mayo ranked as the most derelict county in the country in a survey conducted by GeoDirectory, a data collection consultancy, in the second quarter of 2025, with 14.1 percent of the 19,281 derelict properties in the country located in Mayo.

Grants for over the shop living

A new grant to turn empty spaces above shops into homes has been welcomed by local real estate agent Kevin Kirrane. The new Vacant Above the Shop Grant, available from last week, will provide funding of up to 135,000 to support the conversion of vacant space above commercial premises into residential units, while retaining the commercial use at ground floor level.

Its all good news from my point of view, said Kirrane. I just feel sorry for people who have gone ahead doing their project and missed out on this opportunity. It doesnt say the commercial unit must be in use so it still might be left vacant, thats not good for the town. Anything that helps to get vacant property back into use gets the thumbs up from me.

Kirrane added: We now need to find a way of making owners of poor-quality buildings fix them or sell them. Anything not being worked on by mid-summer should be subject to compulsory purchase order by the council.

Mayo TD and junior minister Alan Dillon described the new payment as a game-changer for housing supply and revitalising town centres".

Under the new scheme a grant of up to 95,000 will be available where one unit is created, up to 115,000 will be available where two units are created and up to 135,000 will be available where three or more residential units are created above the shop. An expert advice grant with funding up to 5,000 towards professional advice on conversion of above the shop space will also be made available.

Government is also increasing the support for the successful Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (VPRG) where former commercial properties in their entirety are being converted into more than one residential unit. In addition to receiving the current VPRG of 50,000 or 70,000, an additional 20,000 for a second residential unit created and a further 20,000 where three or more units are created will be payable under the changes.

The space above the shop must be vacant for two years but it is not required that the commercial ground floor of the premises be vacant. Dillon explained that nationally 12,000 Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant have been approved and 4,400 payments worth 250 million made.

Train passenger numbers surge

The number of passengers using Ballyhaunis train station has increased to pre-Covid levels, data from an Irish Rail survey shows. 238 train passengers used the station according to the National Rail Census Report which was undertaken on a Thursday in November 2025.

122 passengers boarded trains that day while 116 alighted at Ballyhaunis, according to data from the census released to this column under a freedom of information request. Curiously, the number boarding in 2025 is the same as the figure for 2019, despite extra services being added in 2023 and 2024.

Overall passenger numbers for Ballyhaunis have recovered after dropping significantly during the pandemic. According to the National Rail Census Report 2022, 57 people boarded in Ballyhaunis on the day of the census  higher than the number (42) in the 2021 survey but well below the 122 passengers boarding at the station on the day of the survey in 2019 and in 2018 (69 passengers) and 2017 (106 passengers).

Rail passenger numbers appear to be on a long-term growth trend in line with growth in the countrys population. Nationally the period 2014-18 saw a 43 percent growth in passenger rail numbers on Irish Rails services.

Ballyhaunis passenger numbers have been increased by a new Westport bound morning service and a 7.35pm service from Dublin Heuston which gets into Ballyhaunis just before 10pm.

Growth in passenger numbers at Ballyhaunis due to increased services has caused significant issues with parking at the station with cars parked on footpaths on the approach road to the station now a source of annoyance to local residents.

A long-awaited review of its car park at Ballyhaunis by Irish Rail has yet to be published though the company told this column in November the review was being finalised for publication before the end of the year.

Government has sought to get more people onto trains in order to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector which remain among the highest in Europe on a per capita basis.

A service every two hours on the Dublin-Westport line is one of the recommendations in the Draft All Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) published in 2024. Significant work will be required to track networks in order to increase scheduling.

Hopes fade of An Post u-turn

An Post is pressing ahead as per schedule with the amalgamation of Ballyhaunis postal sorting office into its counterpart in Castlerea, a spokesperson for the company told this column. Thats despite meetings organised by local politicians including TD and minister of state Alan Dillon with the company. The amalgamation is due to be completed by June, according to the companys original plan. It will bring to an end over a centurys direct presence in Ballyhaunis by the company which last year sold the building on Bridge Street which formerly housed its post office. The current post office will continue to be operated by SuperValu.

Farm features in film shown at Los Angeles festival

A short film about a farm near Ballinlough was shown at the recent Irish Film Festival Los Angeles. One by One, the Lights Go Out was made by film-maker Kathy Raftery on her familys farm and screened as part of The Futures short film strand at the annual festival.

As my 87-year-old father steps away from the land he has tended for decades, One by One, the Lights Go Out captures the quiet end of an era for a family farm steeped in history and memory, wrote Kathy. Narrated by writer Michael Harding and inspired by his essay, the film reflects on legacy, change, and letting go.

The film will next month be coming to the Community Hall in Ballyhaunis, the location in 2023 for a screening of another short film by Raftery, on a trip by Corporal Patrick 'Bob' Gallagher from the U.S to visit his family one last time before he departed to fight with US troops in the Vietnam War.

Jim to address heritage group

Former TD, Senator and MEP Jim Higgins will speak on Mayo elections at the Genealogy and Heritage Club run by Ballyhaunis Community Council. During his talk on April 21, Jim will talk about the electoral landscape of the county since the founding of the state. His talk will encompass often forgotten aspects of local political history, including the dominance of the farmer-backed Clann na Talmhan party in the 1950s. The talk starts at 7.30pm and is part of a series of talks, films and seminars on local history and genealogy run at the Community Hall over the past year.
SINGAPORE, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Singapore and Cambodia on Friday signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to strengthen food security and bilateral rice trade amid rising global supply chain uncertainties, Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment said.

Under the MOC, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to open trade and to avoid unnecessary restrictions, with Cambodia agreeing to support rice sales to Singapore on mutually agreed terms upon request, according to a statement.

Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu said ongoing geopolitical tensions have increased the risk of global food supply disruptions, adding that the agreement is a "win-win" that strengthens bilateral cooperation in food trade and security.

The pact is Singapore's third food security agreement of its kind, following similar arrangements with Vietnam and Thailand, said the statement, noting that such partnerships are key to keeping food supply flowing during disruptions. 
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

There might be an early shower; otherwise, mostly cloudy. .

Tonight

There might be an early shower; otherwise, mostly cloudy.
JAKARTA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia said YouTube, owned by Google, has failed to comply with the country's new child protection regulations, prompting a shift from advisories to formal sanctions.

"Google has received a red mark. There are no signals of compliance in the near term, so we are escalating from inspection to sanctions," Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said in a statement released on Friday.

The ministry issued a warning letter as the initial stage of administrative sanctions, while leaving room for corrective action. It stressed zero tolerance for violations that compromise child safety.

According to the statement, all digital platforms deemed "high risk" must submit action plans and risk reports within three months, which will guide further compliance measures. 
* With growing public awareness of ecological conservation, people and authorities across China are stepping up wildlife protection, and more people are embracing new ways to live in harmony with wild animals.

* According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China now protects 988 species of key wildlife and 1,924 species of terrestrial wildlife with important ecological, scientific and social value, and the scope of protection continues to expand.

* In addition to rescuing and protecting rare animals, China has continuously strengthened ecological and environmental protection, as well as scientific research and monitoring of wildlife, to provide them with more sustainable habitats.

SHENYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- As spring arrives, tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds traveling all the way from Australia and New Zealand converge on the coastal mudflats of the Yalu River estuary in Dandong, northeast China's Liaoning Province, while rising tides reshape the landscape.

There, dense flocks ripple like waves as they surge and dive across the sky, while birdsong mingles with the rapid clicking of camera shutters, ushering the wetland -- a paradise for bird lovers and photographers -- into its most vibrant season of the year.

A tourist takes photos of migratory birds at a migratory bird habitat on the Yalu River estuary in Dandong, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

With growing public awareness of ecological conservation, people and authorities across China are stepping up wildlife protection, and more people are embracing new ways to live in harmony with wild animals.

CLOSER ENCOUNTERS

Each year from March to May, hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds arrive at the Yalu River estuary, where they rest and refuel for roughly five weeks before continuing their northward migration.

The estuary is part of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II), which was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2024.

"The golden hours for photographing bird flocks are at sunrise and sunset," said Jiang Xinhe, a local photography enthusiast.

For years, he and his wife have trekked through the wetlands of the Yalu River estuary, patiently following migratory birds with their cameras to capture scenes of harmonious and magnificent natural beauty.

In Dalian, a city in southern Liaoning Province, people enjoy surprisingly close interactions with wildlife, even amid towering skyscrapers and bustling traffic. Wild sika deer roam leisurely through parks and woodlands, sometimes venturing into residential neighborhoods and onto roads.

People interact with sika deer in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

"This group of wild sika deer originally came from a sika deer farm," said Gu Guoqiang, executive vice president of the Dalian wildlife and plant conservation association. "After a fence collapsed, some deer escaped. Over more than 20 years, they have bred in the wild for over three generations and can now be regarded as a truly wild population," Gu added.

Sika deer were listed as a national first-class protected species in 2021. In Dalian, wild sika deer are coming into increasingly frequent contact with humans, and their wariness toward people has gradually faded, allowing them to coexist at close range.

The deer have become a local cultural and tourism attraction, drawing visitors from across the country to photograph and interact with them. A dedicated volunteer team of more than 500 people also works quietly to protect them.

Early each morning, volunteers Zhang Yuan and her companions walk along the misty mountain paths of Lianhua Mountain in Dalian, carrying bags of soybean residue. "I can't sleep without hearing the deer each day," Zhang said. At around 5:30 a.m., she and her team visited three tofu shops to buy 10 bags of soybean residue, each weighing 40 kg, to provide scientific supplementary feeding for over 200 sika deer in the forest.

Knowing that sika deer prefer to forage on vines and herbaceous plants, the volunteers sow alfalfa seeds on the mountain slopes every spring to ensure the deer have enough food in summer and autumn. They have also installed water tanks exclusively for the wild sika deer to supply fresh water and meet their drinking needs.

RESCUE TO RELEASE

According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China now protects 988 species of key wildlife and 1,924 species of terrestrial wildlife with important ecological, scientific and social value, and the scope of protection continues to expand. This expansion is reflected not only in longer protected species lists, but also in timely rescue of every injured or disoriented animal.

In the summer of 2024, a young spotted seal only a few months old appeared in waters near the Beibu Gulf in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Its cute appearance drew many local residents and tourists to gather around and take photos, and people gave it a lovely name -- Nana.

As a national first-class protected species, spotted seals migrate to the Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea between October and December each year. They give birth and nurse pups on sea ice from January to February, stay in the area to molt from March to April, and gradually swim out of the Bohai Sea to embark on their return journey starting in mid-to-late April.

"When Nana was found, it had five visible wounds, likely from collisions or scrapes against sharp objects or rocks," said Tian Jiashen, director of the marine rare animal protection research office at the Liaoning academy of marine fisheries science. He added that Nana probably became lost while chasing fish, encountering unusual weather, or experiencing a disruption to its natural navigation.

After living for a long time in overly warm, unsuitable seawater, Nana grew increasingly weak. In October 2024, the marine bureau of Beihai City in Guangxi launched an emergency rescue plan, moved Nana to a professional facility for treatment, and designed a tailored care plan to address its infected wounds and unstable body temperature.

After more than a year of care and rehabilitation, Nana's weight rose from 35 kg to 50 kg, and its wounds gradually healed. On Nov. 25, 2025, Nana was flown back to Dalian. The young seal lay quietly in its transport crate, a timid look in its eyes.

"Nana didn't eat for a whole week after arriving because it was unfamiliar with the environment, but now it eats more than a dozen fish a day," Tian said. "Its weight has reached 76.8 kg."

A spotted seal is released in the waters off Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

At the rescue pool of the marine fisheries academy, Nana is now lively, playful and at ease in the presence of people. Having completed recovery and rewilding training, staff have assessed it against release criteria, including the ability to hunt live prey, maintain steady weight gain, and show blood test results matching healthy wild seals. Nana is expected to return to its natural habitat on April 16.

Wang Zhen, a rescue specialist who has worked at the academy since 2018, has looked after and released many spotted seals. "I always feel sad to see them leave, but I know the ocean is where they truly belong," Wang said.

Since 2005, the academy has rescued a total of 241 spotted seals and successfully released 220 back into the wild. The released seals were fitted with tracking beacons. Data shows most quickly rejoined and integrated into wild seal groups.

A released spotted seal swims in the waters off Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

HABITAT RESTORATION

In addition to rescuing and protecting rare animals, China has continuously strengthened ecological and environmental protection, as well as scientific research and monitoring of wildlife, to provide them with more sustainable habitats.

Over the years, the black-necked crane provincial nature reserve in the Hui and Yi Autonomous County of Xundian, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has stepped up ecological protection and restoration, greatly improving habitat quality and supporting a steady recovery of the black-necked crane population. According to the reserve authority, a synchronized survey in 2026 recorded 74 cranes in the reserve, 12 more than the same period last year.

On Dec. 30, 2025, a notable behavioral change was observed for the first time among black-necked cranes, which have long used shrubs and grasslands on hillsides as their main night roosts.

Monitors recorded a family of four black-necked cranes roosting alongside two black storks, also a national first-class protected species, in shallow water until their northward migration in mid-March this year. This return to shallow wetland roosting indicates steady improvement in the reserve's wetland ecological functions.

Black-necked cranes fly over a wetland of the Yunnan Dashanbao National Nature Reserve for Black-necked Cranes in Zhaotong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 30, 2025. (Photo by Fan Hui/Xinhua)

Elsewhere, Dalian has established a national nature reserve for spotted seals covering an area of over 5,600 square kilometers. By employing drones, maritime scientific surveys and other methods, authorities have built an all-weather ecological monitoring network to track population movements and habitat changes in real time. They have also worked with multiple departments on special operations, strengthening protection through maritime patrols and community outreach.

Thanks to strengthened conservation over recent decades, the spotted seal population in the Liaodong Bay has remained stable at around 2,000 individuals and shown an increasing trend.

In January, the reserve administration captured rare footage of spotted seals leaving the sea ice to give birth on land on an island near Dalian. "This monitoring has brought many unexpected discoveries, especially our use of infrared technology to precisely document intense mating competition among male spotted seals at night, which is a truly rare sight," said Bi Hengtao, deputy director of the bureau.

Meanwhile, a campaign to remove fencing and restore wildlife migration corridors has achieved phased results in Bayannur City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, within a national nature reserve dedicated to protecting the Mongolian wild ass, a national first-class protected species, and its habitat.

Previously, the border wire fencing and numerous self-built nets erected by herders inside the reserve fragmented wildlife habitats, blocked migration, foraging, drinking and breeding routes, severely limiting animal movement and disrupting population exchange.

So far, 31,000 meters of abandoned net fencing have been cleared from the reserve's core area, resulting in a significant reduction in wildlife hoof injuries and deaths from entanglement, as well as a gradual restoration of habitat connectivity.

(Reporting by Cui Enhui, Wang Bingkun, Zhang Boqun, Yu Yetong and Wu Jiangmin; Video reporters: Jiang Zhaochen, Zhao Yong and Yang Qing; Video editors: Zhang Nan, Roger Lott, Luo Hui, Li Qin and Zheng Qingbin) 
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Friday's meeting between Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, is of great significance to the development of cross-Strait relations.

More than a routine exchange, the first such meeting between the two parties' leaders in a decade signals the mainland's renewed effort to expand dialogue with political parties, groups and representatives in Taiwan. It reflects a continued commitment to advancing cross-Strait peace on the political foundation of adherence to the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, and opposition to "Taiwan independence."

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 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.

Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. Sharing the same ancestry, culture and Chinese identity, people on both sides of the Strait are one family. They desire peace and prosperity in their shared homeland more than anyone else.

Issues between the two sides are domestic affairs and should be addressed by the Chinese themselves, with no room for foreign interference. People on both sides of the Strait have both the wisdom and the capacity to handle their own affairs properly.

As highlighted by Friday's meeting, the mainland has always acted with the utmost sincerity and made the greatest possible efforts to promote and maintain the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, which reflects its goodwill toward fellow Chinese in Taiwan.

Over the years, the mainland has always embraced Taiwan compatriots with open arms, sharing with them the opportunities and achievements of its development. The breadth and depth of cross-Strait exchanges and integrated development have continued to expand. Many young people from Taiwan have built successful careers on the mainland.

During the mainland visit, Cheng paid homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu Province. This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun, a founding figure of the KMT who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China. He had dedicated his whole life to the pursuit of national rejuvenation and unification.

Friday's meeting has once again sent a clear message that while peace will be treasured, the mainland will absolutely not tolerate or condone "Taiwan independence" secession.

China's full reunification is an irreversible trend of history. Differences in social systems should not be an excuse for secession. Anyone who attempts to reverse the course of history will eventually pay a heavy price.

Never before have the Chinese people been so close to and capable of achieving national rejuvenation. It is the shared aspiration of all Chinese across the Taiwan Strait to enjoy a life of peace, stability and prosperity.

The overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, nor will the strong momentum bringing people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait closer together. 
Jobless youth key to social and economic development

South Africa can tackle its youth unemployment crisis through fixing societal, economic, democratic, and state failure.

South Africas youth unemployment is over 60%, the highest unemployment in an emerging market, or outside a countrys civil war or war.

South Africa is suffering from multiple system failures, including societal, economic, democratic, and state failures. A national job creation strategy to provide jobs for youth should use unemployed youth to fix some of these system failures.

This will mean taking a system crisis-resolving-based youth job creation. It will demand a different approach to youth job creation than is currently the case in government, political party and policy debates.

A major challenge of creating employment for South Africas youth is that large numbers of youth have not completed schooling. Many unemployed youth who have completed matric have done so without science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), or technical or economically critical subjects such as economics or accounting.

Some unemployed youth may have completed post-school education, whether at SETAs or TVET colleges, either without technical or critically essential economic-related subjects, or if they have these subjects, the education was of inferior quality. Many unemployed with a university education lack STEM, or critical economic-related subjects.

STEM, technical, vocational, and economically-critical education allows pupils or students to have a broader range of opportunities not only in South Africa, but also globally. Education cannot be a gateway to individual prosperity, unless it is of such a quality that recipients of such education obtain South African skills with which they can compete globally, in both emergency and developed markets.

If a system failure resolving-based youth job creation approach is taken, skills development for marginalised youth will then have to be specially focused to fill the gap of these multiple system failures of society, the economic, democracy and the state.

Social grants to the youth should then be reconceptualised to be used to fund the transfer of skills to young people that help them to be employed in system crisis-resolving employment roles. At a minimum, South Africas SETAs and TVETs will also have to be repurposed to provide economically critical technical, STEM, and economically relevant courses. The reconceptualisation of skills development will have been done in partnership with business, which has a better grasp of the real- economy skills needs than many public servants and politicians, who have not worked a single day in the real economy, beyond politics and the state.

How would a system crisis-resolving-based youth job creation strategy look like? South Africas infrastructure, whether roads, railways or water provision, is broken, because of state failure, neglect, mismanagement, corruption, and vandalism. Unemployed youth could be used to rebuild collapsing state infrastructure across the country.

Young people can be used to clean public infrastructure across the country: roads, rail networks, power and water infrastructure, networks, and systems. Unemployed youth can also be trained to clean and take care of public parks, grounds, and schools. In failing state hospitals, young people can be used to be care assistants, maintaining equipment, providing cleaning and even security.

Public infrastructure, assets, and buildings are regularly destroyed by vandalism, as state security failure, democratic institutional and oversight agency failure, and rules breaking and corruption by protected political leaders has led to wider lawlessness, breakdown of rule and law, corruption, and vandalism.

During public protests against public service delivery failures, corruption and incompetence, many angry citizens often destroy public assets in anger. Unemployed youth could be used to educate peers in how to express their anger in more democratically healthy ways.

South Africas police and firebrigades are ineffective. Unemployed youth could be trained en masse to become community police and firebrigade assistants, to assist in local community policing and fire-fighting.

South Africa is suffering from massive pollution of rivers, dams, and open spaces. Young people could be trained and employed in mass cleaning of rivers, dams, and open spaces  and maintain these.

Social enterprises  community based social businesses should become more critical to deliver public services, community development services, and manufacturing products. Already larger social enterprises provide educational services, are involved in social services such as anti-drug campaigns or community safety campaigns.

Employment can be fostered for unemployed in the efforts to strengthen South Africas democracy, democratic institutions, and democratic culture, and to market the Constitution.

South Africa is experiencing democratic failure, where democratic institutions are not accountable, are packed with incompetent cadre deployees or patronage appointees.

South Africas has also not been able to be build a healthy democratic culture, so critical to entrenching democracy. Democratic culture is when the Constitution becomes the overarching governance system; ordinary citizens vote on the basis of competence, honesty and based on the present, not based on the past, colour and the struggle or revolutionary song singing abilities of individuals.

The Constitution itself, the values of the Constitution, are not known by many ordinary citizens  that is why many citizens can belief political opportunists who blame the Constitution for state failure, corruption, and lawlessness, which is caused by incompetent and corrupt leaders, and ideological, populist, and non-sensical policies.

South Africas has competing governance systems to the Constitution, which rules many individuals everyday behaviour. These competing governance systems include patriarchy, customary law, gang law, township communal laws and the ANCs party laws.

Unemployed youth can be trained to become democratic values educators. They can be trained to provide democratic civic education, popularising the Constitution, democratic values and non-racialism, racial inclusiveness, ethnic and colour inclusiveness, and gender equality.

Many voters currently vote for politicians based on the past, not on present performance; or based on shared colour, ethnicity or slogan-shouting, or outdated ideologies and populism or enemy blaming. Many voters also stay away from voting when the parties and leaders they voted for do not deliver.

There is not a wide recognition among voters that they can vote for parties they do not have ideologically, colour or ethnic affinity, but to hold their own preferred parties accountable or to secure better service delivery. Many ordinary voters do often understand how to hold their leaders and parties accountable between elections.

Unemployed youth democratic civic educators can run public education campaigns across the country to educate citizens on the value of conscious voting, on ways for citizens to hold political leaders, parties, and civil servants accountable between elections.

South Africas democracy lacks the mass monitoring by citizens and civil society organisations of public service delivery. Citizens and civil society often only protests when public service delivery fails damagingly.

Unemployed youth can be organised to monitor service delivery by national, provincial, and local government departments, state-owned entities, and agencies.

Many countries, have civil society-based organisations and movements that monitor delivery by government departments, such as Home Affairs. In South Africa, government departments monitor themselves, and reward themselves, even if they fail to deliver public services.

South Africa is experiencing partial social failure. Drug abuse, gangsterism, violent and anti-social behaviour are rampant. Youth can be employed to run youth-led campaigns to educate fellow youth in alternative paths to drug abuse, gangsterism and anti-social behaviour.

Climate change is increasingly causing deadly natural disasters in South Africa. A disaster brigade, consisting of unemployed youth could be established to be the first responders to disasters in local communities.

How will this mass youth capacity building of unemployed youth be funded or who will be doing the mass training? Corporates and civil society organisations should be involved in the training of unemployed youth.

Black economic empowerment (BEE) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, both currently largely ineffective, should be remodelled to include companies providing funding or skills training for unemployed youth to be employed to repair societal, economic, democracy and state failure. Corporate funding to training, could be channelled to train unemployed youth for employment to overcome state, society, and democracy failures.

Finally, private companies, as an alternative to BEE, could contribute to an independent public fund to support a system crisis-resolving-based youth jobcreation strategy. Such a fund could be managed by business and civil society  excluding the state or politicians in appointments or management.

Repairing South Africas societal, economic, democracy and state failure, by training and employing youth as the fixers, should be seen as an essential youth job-creation strategy.

William Gumede is Associate Professor, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand. He is the former Chairperson of ActionAid. This is an extract of Prof William Gumedes farewell speech as ActionAid SA chairperson, at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg.
Young Chinese flock to theme parks for immersive ancient culture experiences

Xinhua) 09:41, April 10, 2026

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- For travelers looking to dive deep into Chinese culture and history, ancient-style theme parks across the country have become an excellent choice. Offering rich immersive experiences, these parks have emerged as some of China's most popular attractions, particularly among young people.

Last week, 32-year-old Tao Jiji had an unforgettable visit to Millennium City Park in Kaifeng, central China's Henan Province. She cheerfully described the trip as "an absolute blast" on social media.

"The moment I walked into the theme park, I was given a role for the day and a free traditional costume," Tao said. Clay bowl in hand, the impeccably made-up lady slipped into a patched traditional robe with tattered cuffs and took on the part of a beggar, completing small tasks to earn replica ancient Chinese currency.

At the park, visitors can join live shows, interact with performers, and trade for food, boat rides and other items using replica money. "This is so much fun," Tao posted, adding that her three-day stay at the park was "fully packed with immersive experiences."

Modeled after Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, a renowned ancient Chinese painting, the park vividly recreates the bustling street scenes of Bianliang, now known as Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), capturing the era's economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy.

Each day, the park stages more than 200 performances and runs over 20 immersive programs that let visitors experience daily life in the Song Dynasty. During holidays, the number of shows can reach nearly 1,000 per day.

Many young Chinese visitors said that wandering through the park feels like stepping directly into the famous painting and into history. "People come here seeking a kind of beauty that began 1,000 years ago but can still be truly felt and touched today," said Arrietty, a visitor from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

In 2025, Millennium City Park gained impressive momentum, drawing over 11 million visitors and generating 1.2 billion yuan (about 175 million U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue, year-on-year jumps of over 37 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

On Douyin, China's version of TikTok, short videos under the hashtag "Millennium City Park" have garnered nearly 17 billion views in total. Comments praising it as a "Chinese Disneyland" appear frequently.

With its long history, China is home to many former imperial cities, including Xi'an in the northwest, Hangzhou and Nanjing in the east. A rising trend of traveling to these places to experience the distinct customs and culture of each dynasty is sweeping across the country's young generations.

Data from travel platform Qunar shows that since the start of 2026, ticket bookings for Chinese-style theme parks featuring engaging events have doubled, with the buzz carrying over from holidays to regular weekends. This trend reflects a shift in China's cultural tourism sector.

"As tourism consumption in China continues to upgrade, visitors are no longer satisfied with passive sightseeing. They want deeper engagement and emotional connections with scenic spots," said Xiao Jianyong, deputy head of Henan Cultural Tourism Research Institute.

Under China's national development blueprint for the next five years, the country will promote deeper integration of culture and tourism, boost the cultural tourism industry, and leverage culture to drive economic and social development.

"Today, people increasingly seek spiritual resonance and cultural identity through their consumption choices," said Xiong Haifeng, an associate professor at the School of Cultural Industries Management, Communication University of China.

Capitalizing on the boom of traditional Chinese theme parks, major film and television companies have also entered the cultural tourism market. iQiyi, a leading Chinese streaming platform, has strategically turned its popular costume drama IPs into offline recreational destinations.

At iQiyi Land, which opened this February in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, visitors use VR and full-sensory devices to travel back in time, solve mysteries, and immerse themselves in the dazzling and fantastical worlds of Chinese mythology and martial arts culture. This will surely be a huge hit among young fans of such costume dramas.

"These neo-Chinese theme parks do not merely build ancient architecture or add Chinese art installations to amusement rides. Instead, they integrate the essence of traditional culture with contemporary experiences, creating a living experience that visitors can see, feel and participate in," said Yang Jinsong, a senior researcher with China Tourism Academy.

"With the aid of technology, these parks breathe life into cultural symbols that have endured for millennia, and give modern people a way to connect with an ancient Chinese civilization," the researcher added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch an "AI Plus Education" initiative, aiming to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms from an early stage as the country accelerates efforts to develop the technology and adapt its economy to an increasingly digital future.

By 2030, China aims to establish a comprehensive AI education system that spans all levels of schooling and extends to the broader public, the Ministry of Education said Friday.

The plan lays out steps to speed the rollout of AI education in primary and secondary schools, including the introduction of dedicated courses and efforts to weave the subject across disciplines.

It also encourages schools to extend AI-related learning into after-school programs and hands-on activities, expanding students' exposure beyond the classroom.

At universities, the proposal goes further, calling for AI to become part of the basic curriculum for all students. Colleges are urged to design interdisciplinary courses that pair AI with other fields.

In parallel, universities will be steered to realign programs with evolving industries, and add majors to meet the demands of emerging technologies and new business models, according to the plan.

The plan envisions using AI to support teaching, such as expanding the use of digital tools to ease teachers' workloads and improve efficiency. It calls for applying the technology to assist teachers in homework management, advancing intelligent grading, Q&A, and tutoring.

It also proposes using AI to analyze classroom interactions, offering teachers insights to refine their instruction. The plan further suggests incorporating AI into teacher qualification exams and certification processes. 
Weather Alert

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 172 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ALEXANDER PULASKI UNION IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY BALLARD CARLISLE FULTON GRAVES HICKMAN MCCRACKEN IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI CAPE GIRARDEAU MISSISSIPPI NEW MADRID SCOTT STODDARD THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BARDWELL, BLOOMFIELD, CAIRO, CAPE GIRARDEAU, CHARLESTON, CLINTON, HICKMAN, JACKSON, JONESBORO, MAYFIELD, MOUND CITY, NEW MADRID, PADUCAH, SIKESTON, AND WICKLIFFE.
TIANJIN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- On a recent weekend morning, a resident surnamed Wang walked to a waist-high grey bin in her housing compound in the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, scanned a QR code and dropped in her sorted waste, which seconds later was sucked through underground pipes to a central collection station without any smell, spillage, or visible garbage trucks.

The bin is linked to China's largest city-level pneumatic waste-collection system of its kind. Sorted waste travels through sealed underground pipes under negative pressure, before being compressed at a central station and then sent to a treatment plant. Part of it is used to produce renewable fuel, while part is sorted again and recycled.

According to the eco-city, kitchen waste now achieves a 100-percent utilization rate, while household waste is fully treated in a harmless manner.

Such routines are part of the everyday functioning of a city built in the name of ecology. When construction began in 2008, the site was a barren stretch of saline-alkali wasteland along the Bohai Sea.

China and Singapore then launched what was described as the world's first intergovernmental eco-city project, intended to explore an urban development path that could address climate change, conserve resources and energy, protect the environment, and sustain growth.

As global warming intensifies and extreme weather becomes more frequent, climate change has become not only a scientific issue but also a matter of governance. Over the past 18 years, the Tianjin eco-city has sought to translate that broad agenda into something more concrete, creating a framework that can be measured, implemented and tracked.

Before construction began, Chinese and Singaporean planners jointly developed an eco-city indicator system covering 22 regulatory indicators and four guiding ones, according to Miao Nan, an official with the environmental bureau of the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City management committee. The system covers environmental health, resource conservation, economic vitality and social harmony.

The standards were set high. All buildings were required to meet green-building standards, with green buildings accounting for 100 percent of the total. The share of renewable energy use was set at no less than 20 percent.

"The indicator system gave the city a clear framework for tracking its green development," Miao said.

To meet those targets, the eco-city has added more than 12 million square meters of greenery, and its green coverage now exceeds 50 percent. Residents are within a five-minute walk of one of the more than 40 urban parks. In 2020, the indicator system was upgraded to guide the city toward a higher standard of green and low-carbon development.

That same year, China pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. For cities, the practical problem is how to ensure that ecological conservation, energy saving, emissions reduction and economic development reinforce rather than constrain one another. The eco-city's answer has been to try to make green the more economical choice.

In 2024, the eco-city signed a long-term bulk-purchase agreement with a wind farm in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and a local State Grid company, allowing users to access clean electricity at group-purchase prices. Major users, including the FAW-Toyota new energy plant and the National Maritime Museum of China, now use 100 percent green electricity.

At FAW-Toyota's plant, solar panels have been installed on the roofs of workshops and parking areas. Company staff said all of the photovoltaic power generated there is connected to the grid. Through a combination of green-power purchases and self-generated solar power, the plant saves about 9.7 million yuan (about 1.4 million U.S. dollars) a year in electricity costs and cuts carbon emissions by about 25,000 tonnes annually.

The eco-city is also striving to translate climate action into economic terms. In 2021, China began work on gross ecosystem product, or GEP, as part of efforts to make the value of ecological goods and services more measurable. In 2024, the eco-city's GEP topped 11.1 billion yuan, about 21 times the level recorded at the start of construction.

In 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission issued an implementation plan for building the eco-city into a national green-development demonstration zone between 2024 and 2035. According to Huang Yonghao, head of the eco-city's development and reform bureau, the plan incorporated GEP into the project's top-level design, making it a key indicator of green development alongside GDP. The aim, he said, is to raise both.

Last September, at the 11th meeting of the Singapore-Tianjin Economic and Trade Council in Tianjin, Singapore's Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said the eco-city's upgrade to a national green-development demonstration zone had attracted new Singaporean firms and universities to participate in research, technology transfer, and the development of green and smart industries.

The results of this long-running experiment are also visible in daily life. From 2023 to 2025, summer temperatures within the eco-city were consistently lower than those in some surrounding areas, creating what local planners describe as an "inverse heat-island effect."

That relative coolness is partly a matter of design. The city has six parallel blue-green corridors that combine landscape, environmental and leisure functions. Their alignment follows prevailing winds, allowing fresh air from outside the city to move through more directly.

For residents, the effect is tangible. On a cool morning, Li Xinyun, a 29-year-old resident, ran through a city park less than 300 meters from her home, passing newly leafed trees, grass and pink-and-white blossoms. "This is a city that makes you want to take a deep breath," she said.

Green buildings are another part of the story. By the end of 2025, the eco-city had launched more than 500 green-building projects. All met green-building standards, and 93 percent reached China's two-star green-building standard or above, making the area one of the country's most concentrated clusters of high-grade green buildings.

Green buildings are designed to save resources, protect the environment and reduce pollution throughout their life cycle. China uses a three-star rating system for green buildings, with three stars being the top grade.

At this year's "two sessions," China's national legislature adopted the Ecological and Environmental Code, which for the first time includes a standalone section on green and low-carbon development. It also approved the 15th Five-Year Plan, which sets a target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 17 percent from the 2025 level during the 2026-2030 period.

Li Long, director of the eco-city's management committee, said the code and the new five-year plan provide an important policy framework for green and low-carbon development. Backed by the strengths of China-Singapore cooperation, he said, the eco-city will continue exploring ways to improve development quality, quality of life and governance efficiency. 
The case of Rosa Maria Carranza, a 67-year-old immigrant from El Salvador, lays bare the devastating human consequences of the assault on social rights unfolding in the United States. Her experience is a concentrated expression of a broader policy targeting hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including those who have lived and worked in the country for decades, paid taxes and complied with every legal requirement imposed upon them.

Carranza has spent more than 30 years in the United States. She built her life through socially essential labor, working as a caregiver and educator before co-founding a Spanish-immersion outdoor preschool in Oakland. Like millions of workers, she paid into Social Security and Medicare throughout her working life. Over 24 years, she contributed tens of thousands of dollars into these programs with the expectation that she would receive benefits in retirement.

That expectation has now been shattered.

Under the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act engineered by Trump and supported by the Democrats, Carranza and an estimated 100,000 other lawfully present immigrants will be stripped of access to Medicare, even if they have contributed to the system for decades. The law excludes broad categories of immigrants, including Temporary Protected Status holders, refugees, asylum seekers and certain visa holders. Those already enrolled face disenrollment, with coverage set to terminate in early 2026.

For Carranza, the consequences are immediate and severe. She is entering a stage of life where access to consistent medical care is essential. She suffers from high blood pressure and arthritis, conditions that require ongoing treatment. Medicare previously enabled her to access care at relatively low cost. Without it, she confronts the prospect of unaffordable medical bills or forgoing care altogether.

Medical professionals have repeatedly warned that forced exclusion from health coverage leads to predictable outcomes. When seniors delay treatment, minor conditions escalate into serious illnesses and reliance on emergency services increases. The policy does not even eliminate costs. It redistributes them in a more destructive and socially detrimental form: war and repression.

The psychological toll is equally devastating. Carranza has described her situation as a complete nightmare. The loss of health coverage intersects with broader insecurities surrounding immigration status, housing and retirement. A prior bureaucratic error that temporarily cut off her Social Security benefits left her unable to pay rent, forcing her to work in exchange for housing. What was once a temporary disruption now threatens to become a permanent condition.

Her experience exposes a fundamental contradiction. Workers are compelled to contribute to social programs throughout their lives, yet access to those programs is not guaranteed. For immigrants, decades of labor and tax contributions provide no protection against sudden exclusion. In fact, this is a form of mass expropriation, the seizure of funds paid by workers for their own future survival.

The scale of the attack is vast. Approximately 1.4 million lawfully present immigrants are projected to lose health insurance coverage under the bills provisions, including cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies, along with reductions in housing and food assistance.

These measures represent the opening phase of a broader assault on the entire working class. For the first time, Congress has removed Medicare eligibility from a defined group of legally present individuals who have already paid into the system. This sets a far-reaching precedent. If one section of the working class can be stripped of earned benefits, the same mechanism can be applied to all. What begins with immigrants will not end with them.

In fact, up to 16 million low-income Americans are expected to lose federally funded health coverage within the next two years, driven largely by new Medicaid work requirements and restrictions targeting immigrants.

The official justification is fiscal restraint. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that restricting Medicare access will save $5.1 billion by 2034, roughly what the US spends on the military in a single day. It expresses class priorities and masks a transfer of wealth from workers to the ruling elite.

Immigrants, including undocumented workers, contribute billions annually to the very programs from which they are excluded. In 2022 alone, undocumented immigrants paid $6.4 billion into Medicare and $25.7 billion into Social Security. Yet they have historically been ineligible for these benefits. The new measures extend this framework to growing sections of legally present immigrants, deepening what amounts to legalized theft.

This exposes the fraudulent claim that immigrants are a burden on public resources. They are a net source of funding. The real aim is the redistribution of resources upward, away from the working class. The stripping of benefits already paid for is not a cost-saving measure but a transfer of wealth.

At the state level, conditions offer no relief. In California, the Democratic Party-dominated government has frozen enrollment in certain health programs for immigrants, citing budget constraints. The state estimates that replacing lost federal coverage would cost approximately $1.1 billion annually, a sum it refuses to allocate.

Governor Gavin Newsoms 202526 budget includes roughly $5 billion in cuts to vital social programs, including Medi-Cal. These cuts disproportionately affect undocumented adults, seniors, people with disabilities and youth in foster care. Federal and state policies reinforce one another, leaving vulnerable populations without alternatives while normalizing the rollback of social rights.

The claim that such measures are unavoidable collapses under scrutiny. The same legislation that strips healthcare from immigrant seniors allocates massive resources to the military and domestic repression. The One Big Beautiful Bill is a multitrillion-dollar package that ensures continued funding for the Pentagon and immigration enforcement agencies.

The role of the Democratic Party is decisive. Far from opposing these measures, key Democratic leaders negotiated and supported the bill, ensuring its passage. Their actions reflect the interests of a ruling class determined to preserve its global dominance and suppress social opposition at home.

Carranzas case illustrates the human cost. After decades of socially necessary labor, she now faces old age without access to basic healthcare. More broadly, the legislation signals a shift toward dismantling the social safety net. It undermines the principle that labor entitles workers to social rights. Instead, access to essential services is increasingly conditioned on political calculations that favor the wealthy.

The implications extend far beyond immigrant communities. The attack underway establishes the mechanisms for a generalized rollback of social benefits. Programs funded through workers wages can be withdrawn at will.

Carranzas experience encapsulates these dynamics. The broader significance is clear. A system that denies basic healthcare to elderly workers who have paid into it for decades is organized around the systematic transfer of wealth from workers to the ruling elite. The attack on immigrant seniors is a warning of what is to come.
The US/Israeli war on Iran has provoked an escalating crisis for all the European powers, none more so than the Starmer government in Britain.

Foreign policy precepts that have determined the actions of UK governments for decades are being torn apartcentred on the worsening breakdown of the special relationship with the United States.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud during his visit to Jeddah City, April 8, 2026 [Photo by Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Starmer in opposition promised a reset with the major European powers, after Britains fractious and economically catastrophic exit from the European Unionas demanded not just by dominant sections of British capital but also by the Biden administration, which wanted a restoration of the UKs role as a reliable voice for Washington within the bloc.

But by the time Labour came to office, Donald Trump occupied the White House, forcing Starmer to try to agree a vital pro-Brexit trade deal with a US government that was openly hostile to the EU.

A trade deal was eventually reached, but entirely on Trumps termswith Britain hit a little less hard by tariffs than other European powers.

The second major bone of contention was military spending, with Starmer posturing, ever more unsuccessfully, as the European power most receptive to Trumps demands for 5 percent of GDP spending by NATO powers.

The Iran war has brought US-UK and US-European tensions to fever pitch, with Trump repeatedly berating Starmer and other European leaders for placing face-saving restrictions on US flights and for not sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer was no Winston Churchill, Trump declared, and the Royal Navys warships were toys, fronted by two old broken-down aircraft carriers.

Within hours of Trump announcing a ceasefire in the US war against Iran, Starmer announced a visit to the Middle East to meet leaders of countries who have been in the front line and will set out his full support for the newly agreed ceasefire. Talks would centre on ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains permanent, with the United Kingdom continuing to lead international efforts.

Once again, however, Starmers diplomatic visit unravelled spectacularly.

Little of substance emerged from talks with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Moreover, despite the ceasefire, back home Starmers inability to send more than a single destroyer to the region (HMS Dragon to the UK base in Cyprus) has infuriated the most hawkish sections of the ruling class, who are generally concerned that everything possible be done to fix Britains relations with the US.

Labours plan to increase military spending beyond 3 percent of GDP only sometime during the next parliament has been denounced for leaving Britain defenceless in a time of what should be a unified war between the West and its enemies: Russia, China and Iran.

The chorus became deafening Thursday, with a Telegraph front page exclusive, Putin mocks Starmer in Channel, reporting: 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 Telegraph observed Putins flotilla cruising past the south coast while RFA Tideforce, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, trailed in their wake. Two 600ft tankers, Universal and Enigma, were protected on their journey past the south coast by a 3,620-tonne warship, the Admiral Grigorovich.

Starmer had given 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, the newspaper complained. However, Britain is yet to seize a single Russian vessel dozens of Russian vessels are believed to have passed through the Channel since Sir Keirs threat.

In the same vein, the Financial Times wrote, The Iran war has brutally exposed Britains lack of military readiness and shortage of defence assets, with its navy unable to immediately deploy an advanced warship even after a UK air base on Cyprus was targeted by drones.

The Times added, Defence readiness, the essential provision to put infrastructure and industry on a war footing, has barely begun.

Starmers Middle East trip became a feeding frenzy for his critics, who complained that he was seeking to project an image of British influence and strength that bore no relationship to the military reality. Among the facts pointed out were that there is not a single Royal Navy combat vessel within reach of the Gulf states being visited, with HMS Dragon taken to port for essential maintenance. The i Paper headlined a report, Royal Navy in doom loop with too few ships working too hard.

Labour has fared no better with the more pro-European voices within ruling circles, who, having been silent for weeks, made the belated complaint that Starmers attempt to placate Trump has damaged the essential and clearly opposed interests of British imperialism.

None of these complaints were directed against Trumps threat to obliterate Iran and its civilisation, but rather his temporary retreat from this threat for highlighting underlying US weakness with its knock-on effect for the UK and Europe.

Patrick Wintour, diplomatic editor of the Guardian, wrote: Trump needlessly started a war at the urging of Israel, refused to listen to those experts urging caution, devised a strategy built on a misapprehension of Iran, sparked a ruinous regional conflict, caused the death of thousands of civilians, unhinged the world economy, strengthened, for now, the repressive instincts of the Iranian and Russian governments, left America more discredited and isolated

His colleague Peter Beaumont complained that, following the ceasefire, Across the globe friends and foes will draw their own conclusions. China and Russia will have noted the limits of US power and that, despite the jaw-jaw, the US did not commit ground troops to its chaotically conducted campaign.

The damage wrought by Trump to a weakened NATO will also have been well-noted, even as European countries have moved to distance themselves from Washington.

To counter criticisms of UK military preparedness, Defence Secretary John Healey called a press conference Thursday, where he stated that UK armed forces had been monitoring three Russian submarines he accused of mounting a covert operation above cables and pipelines in the North Atlantic, lasting longer than a month. He was forced to acknowledge that there was no evidence of any damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic.

Prior to concluding his Middle East trip on Friday, Starmer gave vent to his own frustration when interviewed in Bahrain by ITV journalist Robert Peston, complaining of being fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses bills go up and down on energy, because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.

His regret over this momentary outburst was clear. With the fate of British imperialism tied to the US war machine by a million threads, including its nuclear capability, Starmer told Peston that his desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz had necessitated a call with Trump on the practical plan thats going to be needed to get navigation through the strait.

When asked about Trumps threat to pull the US out of NATO, Starmer made an appeal for a continued alliance: It is in Americas interests. Its in European interests that the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known is preserved, he said, adding that he had been making the case for Europeans to do more, as Trump has demanded, for the best part of two years.

The Starmer governments dilemma is that of British imperialism as a whole: whether to continue efforts to restore the relations with US imperialism on which it has relied for decades, placating Trump to keep NATO alive, or whether to shift more decisively towards the creation of an at least semi-independent economic and military block with Germany, France and others to counter the America First anti-European agenda now dominating Washington.

Both demand a massive escalation in military spending, austerity cuts of unprecedented savagery, and an ever-deeper turn to authoritarian rule. Amid the continued drive by all the imperialist powers to redivide the world between them, both routes lead to bloody wars internationally and class war at home.

The only progressive alternative is through the systematic political and industrial mobilisation of the working class against all factions of the imperialist ruling class, in Britain and internationally, in a socialist, anti-war movement.
Workers at the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) in suburban Detroit expressed widespread and angry opposition to the US-Israeli war against Iran during shift changes Thursday, denouncing the conflict as a war for profit while voicing deep alarm over the prospect of a military draft.

Reporters from the World Socialist Web Site spoke to workers as they passed through the factory gates, shortly after reports emerged that the US government is moving toward automatic registration for a potential military draft. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, passed by Congress with bipartisan support last year, the Selective Service System will shift to automatic registration of all eligible men aged 18 to 25 by December 2026a measure that would dramatically expedite the conscription of working-class youth if the draft is restored.

The reaction at the plant gates was visceral and immediate. This war is bullt, one worker declared as he rushed into the plant. Another, phone pressed to his ear, called out: Im on the phone with my son now and were talking about them starting a draftno way! A third said her son was currently in Europe and she feared the young man would be sent into combat. They should take Trumps kids, not ours, another worker said bitterly, while another added, a lot of innocent kids are going to get killed.

The opposition runs deep and is shared widely across the country. According to the latest Economist/YouGov poll, 53 percent of Americans oppose the war. Sixty-two percent oppose sending ground troops into Iran, while only 15 percent support it. President Trumps net approval rating has fallen to a record low of minus 16.9 pointswith 56.5 percent disapproving and just 39.5 percent approvingsince the war began, according to Nate Silvers national polling aggregate. There was widespread skepticism among workers over the two-week ceasefire Trump announced shortly after threatening that a whole civilization will die if Iran did not surrender. And that skepticism is well-founded.

As the WSWS reported Wednesday, the ceasefire began unraveling within hours of its announcement: Israel launched its deadliest bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, killing hundreds of people, even as the terms of the agreement remained disputed and unclear. Sharp divisions have opened up within the American ruling class over how to proceed, with influential voices in both parties condemning the ceasefire not as too aggressive, but as a dangerous concession to Tehran.

Trump himself, posting on Truth Social late Wednesday, vowed that US military forces would remain in the region until a REAL AGREEMENT was reachedand threatened to attack Iran bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. Every ceasefire Trump has proclaimed in the Middle East has functioned as a prelude to further military escalation, and workers at SHAP have no illusions about this one.

One worker stopped to voice anger over Trumps comments last week that there would be no money for childcare, Medicaid, or Social Security because were fighting wars. Several workers said the costs of war would be offloaded onto the working class while the wealthy profit.

A worker with 13 years at SHAP put it plainly: I think 100 percent whats behind this war is money. Bigwigs are making a lot of money on this war, and nobodys really benefiting from this whatsoever, except for Big Oil. When asked about Trumps cuts to Social Security and Medicaid to fund the military campaign, he was unsparing: I think its crap. I dont think theres any reason for us to be paying for this war whatsoever. Its just a means for them to save their pockets and dig more into our pockets.

On the prospect of a reinstated draft, the same worker noted the bitter irony of who is demanding sacrifice from working-class families: Thats coming from a guy that dodged the draft. Him, his father, his grandfatherall men who are well known to have dodged a draft.

He then addressed himself directly to the Iranian people: Im sorry you guys are going through that right now. Its a terrible thing. Many of us here do not support those attacks whatsoever. I hope the majority of you guys pull through this. I know youre losing people regularly with these attacks, and my prayers are with you. He was emphatic that there is no basis for American and Iranian workers to be killing one another: None whatsoever. It serves no purpose other than big money making money. Thats all it is.

His frustration extended to the broader absence of organized resistance. Its disheartening that theres not more of us here willing to stand up and fight, he said. We should be overthrowing...going through revolutionary issues right here, right now. Everybody should be up in arms, and were not, and its sick. He also turned his criticism on the UAW leadership, noting that despite 13 years at the plant he cannot afford his own home or support a family. This guys up there sitting pretty, making $275,000 a year, he said, referring to UAW President Shawn Fain. Its absolutely ridiculous.

A veteran SHAP worker wearing an Abolish ICE button and active in the No Kings demonstrations was equally passionate. Youve got to take a stand. Theres got to be solidarity. We arent going for this BS no more. Were sick of it. On Trumps threat to end a civilization in Iran, he said: Its BS what is happening in Iran, and its BS with Israel and the genocide theyve got going on in Gaza. Asked what he made of the Democrats complicity with Trumps war, he was dismissive: Come on, its the same party. Theyre all the dog family. Ones a pitbull and the other one is a Bouvierits all the same.

The opposition of rank-and-file workers stands in sharp contrast to the conduct of the UAW bureaucracy, whose silence on Trumps criminal war amounts to complicity. Far from mobilizing autoworkers against the war, UAW President Shawn Fain has been among the most prominent boosters of Trumps tariffs and trade war, promoting the fascist president as a champion of American workers jobs. He has suppressed strikes at major defense contractors, including the General Dynamics Naval shipyard in Bath, Maine, and has offered the UAWs services to enforce labor discipline in a wartime economy. The bureaucracy functions not as a voice for workers interests but as a transmission belt for the policies of the corporations and the state.

The Democratic Party offers no alternative. Last week, US Senator Elissa Slotkina former CIA officerheld a meeting with union leaders in Saginaw, Michigan, shortly after workers at Nexteer Automotive voted by 96 percent to reject a UAW-backed contract that would pay new hires a poverty wage of $19 an hour. Hostile to the rebellion of rank-and-file workers, Slotkin co-authored a letter with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging Trump to block Chinese automakers from investing in the United States on national security grounds.

Deploying the language of McCarthyism, the letter denounced China as an adversary and claimed that Chinese electric vehicles driven near US military sites, government buildings, or power stations could transmit sensitive data to the Chinese Communist Party and the Peoples Liberation Army. The Democrats differ from Trump not in their commitment to American imperialism, but only in their preferred tactics for pursuing it.

The anger at SHAP is widespread. Are we really surprised? one worker asked. The United States has been doing stuff like this for more than 100 years. Another said simply: Im against this war. I think they are invading Iran for profit. These instincts point in the right direction, but they must be developed into a conscious political movement, independent of both the Democratic Party and the union apparatus that has subordinated itself to corporate and state power.

That is the central task. The war against Iran will not be stopped by appeals to politicians who support it, or by relying on a labor leadership that is on the side of the warmakers. It requires the independent mobilization of the working classin factories, across industries, and across national bordersguided by a socialist and internationalist program. The system that produces war also produces poverty and inequality. The fight against one is inseparable from the fight against the other.
U.S. Army soldiers march in formation during a change of command ceremony, Monday, April 3, 2017, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. [AP Photo/Ted S. Warren]

When President Trump signed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law last Decemberwith critical votes supplied by the Democratic Partyone provision was largely concealed from the American public. The creation of an automatic selective service registration system for all men aged 18 to 26, tied directly to state and federal databases, was barely discussed.

Now, under conditions of the widening US-Israeli war in the Middle Eastand future wars being prepared by US imperialismthe 2026 NDAA has a ready-made mechanism for conscription that can be activated by a directive from the fascist in the White House.

A filing by the Trump administration to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30 has confirmed both the operational readiness of the system and the administrations long-term strategy to prepare for a generation of imperial wars fought by working class soldiers.

Under the NDAA provision, the Selective Service System (SSS) will automatically register all males between 18 and 26 using existing data streams from state motor vehicle departments, educational institutions and federal tax and immigration agencies beginning in December 2026. The measure replaces the voluntary mail-in or online registration system previously implemented by the Selective Service Act going back to 1980 and the administration of Jimmy Carter.

According to the Defense Departments implementation memo, every state will transmit periodic data batches to the SSS, which will then cross-reference them with federal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, drivers licenses and immigration status. This infrastructure allows the government to instantly generate a comprehensive and continuously updated list of draft-eligible individuals.

Notifications and classification statuses would be delivered electronically through federal and state portals, while appeals or deferment requests may be filed online through a centralized system. Framed by the Trump administration as a modernization of the draft infrastructure, officials claim the process will reduce administrative burden and increase equity in compliance. However, the main goal is to eliminate non-registration, centralize control and ensure readiness for immediate mobilization once a national emergency requires the draft.

Once the draft is activated, the SSS is expected to employ a randomized lottery system, like the one used during the Vietnam War, drawing birth dates to determine the order of induction. If selected, registrants would undergo a rapid screening and assignment process, with deferments still possible. Analysts, however, have emphasized that such exemptions are likely to be narrowly defined given the scale of US military needs.

The administrations latest filing to Congress, submitted alongside the presidential war powers report, ties the selective service infrastructure directly to the conflict in Iran. While Pentagon spokespeople claim the deployment is limited and Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, internal memos leaked to the press acknowledge that military planners foresee a massive ground occupation as the only way to achieve Washingtons stated objectives.

The scale of US casualties in the initial months of the war against Iran has already sparked renewed discussion in Washington about manpower shortages and the exhaustion of volunteer enlistments. Recruitment has plummeted for the third straight year, forcing the administration to expand eligibility criteria and reopen previously closed avenues of enlistment.

The lies provided by the US government justifying the wars launched over the past three decadesfrom the false claims about yellow cake uranium prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 to the obviously made-up claim by Trump that Iran was weeks away from having a nuclear weaponhave no doubt played a role in the decreasing numbers of enlistments to the all-volunteer US army.

Strategists within the National Security Council have spoken bluntly about the draft plan. Iran is not the end, one senior defense official told Politico in March. Its the first test of a broader geopolitical reorientation. Were rebuilding the capacity to project power simultaneously in multiple theatersEurasia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. Behind this language is the unmistakable logic of international imperialist war for markets and resources.

The NDAA provision also mandates that automatic registration will apply to lawful permanent residents, asylum seekers, Deferred Action (DACA) recipients and undocumented immigrants identified through state or federal data.

While Trump and his fascist and xenophobic supporters have vilified undocumented immigrants as a national threat and unleashed violence, detention and death upon them, the new SSS system shows that those same illegal immigrants will be compelled to serve and die alongside American youth in US wars of conquest.

By linking data from the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and state records, the administration ensures that all young men residing within US bordersregardless of their immigration statuswill be entered into the federal registry. Now, the immigrant workers will not only face deportation and being hauled off to concentration camps in El Salvador or elsewhere. They will also be forced onto the battle fields to die for the interests of the American financial oligarchy.

Pentagon attorneys have privately acknowledged that these provisions of the 2026 NDAA will present legal challenges under equal protection and data privacy laws. However, the US Defense Department, under the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, views this population as an essential reserve of manpower to be expended under the barbaric warrior ethos mantra.

Additionally, with a new waiver system that permits recruits with a single prior conviction for marijuana possession or drug paraphernaliapreviously grounds for disqualificationthe administration has significantly widened the pool of eligible conscripts for its bloody plans.

The systems reliance on state-level data also contradicts local laws. Several states, including California and New York, maintain strict privacy laws governing the use and transmission of resident data to federal agencies. By demanding direct data pipelines to the Selective Service System, the Trump administrations new plan seeks to override these restrictions.

A coalition of state attorneys general has filed a complaint asserting that the White House order exceeds federal authority and violates the Tenth Amendment, which reserves certain powers to the states. Immigration advocates have also said that funneling personal information through military and law enforcement databases could expose millions of non-citizens to deportation or surveillance.

At its core, this is about control, said a data security expert at Georgetown Law. Once state data is linked to federal systems for conscription, it opens the door to mass data sharing across agenciesICE, DHS, FBIall justified in the name of national security.

Alongside the selective service overhaul, Trumps Pentagon also quietly raised the maximum enlistment age from 35 to 42, a change that was made public only in an internal directive earlier this year. Defense officials have said the adjustment is about greater longevity and fitness levels, but the underlying motivation is obvious. The wars the US is now fighting require many more soldiers.

The volunteer army has long faced a crisis of recruitment amid stagnant pay, poor conditions and widespread public distrust of government motives. The enlistment age increase widens the conscription base to include millions of older working-class menthose who are struggling with income instability, medical and college loan debt, or unstable employmentand for whom military service may be seen as the only path out of a crisis.

The reactivation of the draft shows that the global strategic aims of the Trump administration require the mobilization of the youth to fight and die in its wars of aggression and conquest. This is a central component of the drive by US imperialism to turn the clock back and abolish the gains by the working class in the 20th century.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at the New York City Police Department Graduation ceremony held at Madison Square Garden, Monday, March 9, 2026, in New York. [AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis]

April 10 marks the first 100 days in office of New York Citys Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) mayor, Zohran Mamdani. They have been characterized by a betrayal of the aspirations of the million New Yorkers who voted for him and the tens of millions across the US who supported him. He has retreated from implementing his major campaign promises, given the New York Police Department (NYPD) license to spy on and repress antiwar and anti-ICE protesters, is preparing massive cuts to social services and education and has made a political alliance with the fascist in the White House, Donald Trump.

In his latest retreat from the minor but popular reforms he proposed during his election campaign, Mamdani has all but admitted that his promise of free bus service is dead. In an interview with Politico on Wednesday, after the interviewer noted that no proposal had been made to include funding for the program in the state budget, from which mass transit for the city is funded, Mamdani could only respond lamely: It continues to be part of budget negotiations, and Were encouraged by the conversations were having with the governor.

This is the same governor, right-wing Democrat Kathy Hochul, who fled an appearance at an auto exhibition in Manhattan later that day after being besieged by protesters. One demonstrator shouted at her, accurately, Youre a millionaire protecting billionaires. On Thursday, Hochul canceled an appearance in Queens, no doubt out of concern that she might be run out of the borough as well.

Hochul, whom Mamdani endorsed in February for governor in her reelection bid and whom he refuses to confront on any issue, has been adamant that she will oppose his proposed 1 percent tax increase on incomes over $1 million and 3 percent tax increase on corporations.

Two of the three major promises Mamdani made during his election campaign, free bus service and universal pre-K, simply cannot be fully funded on any long-term basis without these taxes, which were never in the offing. Even so, Mamdani and the DSA continue to promote the illusion that Hochul is willing or able to persuade the billionaires to give up even a tiny fraction of their wealth.

On Thursday, Mamdani announced that his pilot 2K program will be extended to full day and full yearfrom 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 260 days a year. This will affect about 2,000 children in the fall. Hochul granted Mamdani $1.5 billion to fund the program but continuing it into later phases will be expensive and will depend on much larger commitments from the state in the future.

Mamdani has said little in recent weeks about his third major election proposal: freezing rents on the 1 million rent-regulated apartments in the city. While he appointed six of the nine members of the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB), which has the power to set rent increases, in February, there is no guarantee they will vote for a 0 percent increase, although most observers think this is likely. On Thursday, however, the RGB itself reported that the annual Price Index of Operating Costs, which landlords pay for building upkeep, had risen 5.3 percent.

The fate of these three programs, central to Mamdanis supposed effort to make New York City affordable for most of the population through minor reforms, must be seen in the context of much broader cuts to social programs and education that are almost certainly coming as Mamdani tries to close the citys $5.4 billion budget gap, as he is legally required to do by July.

While he has floated an either-or scenario of, on the one hand, pressuring Hochul and the state legislature to pass the millionaires tax or, on the other, increasing the citys property tax by 9.5 percenta move that would devastate millions of working class and middle class homeowners and tenants, as well as small businessesit has been clear from the outset that this was a nonstarter and that the only real option before Mamdani is to cut vital social programs.

Last week, the Democratic Party-controlled City Council, which also opposes a millionaires tax, rejected Mamdanis proposed $127 billion budget, including any property tax increases. While the council claims the city already has the funds to close most of the budget gap if it changes its accounting methods, it has spoken only vaguely of efficiencies and reforms.

One of the proposals advanced by City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a millionaire whose family owns a Hamptons house worth $22 million, is to collect delinquent property taxes. Some observers have noted that this would amount to an attack on working class homeowners, since the city would sell the debts to Wall Street investors, who would then pile on fees and penalties and push many into foreclosure.

Mamdani has already shown his willingness to renege on promises to defend working class living standards. His administration is appealing in court a city-mandated increase in assistance to CityFHEPS, a program that helps people in homeless shelters or those who have been evicted find new housing.

Any budget cuts will have serious implications for the overcrowded, underfunded and disease-ridden public schools in the city. Last week, Mamdani proposed that the state legislature include in its still-unfinished budget a reprieve from a legally mandated deadline requiring the city to reduce class sizes, since meeting the requirement would mean hiring more educators.

The DSA has now been in power in Americas largest city for 100 days. Not only has its mayor shown his willingness to meet with the citys leading billionaires and seek to balance the city budget without touching their wealth; no DSA leader, least of all Mamdani himself, seriously entertains the prospect of significantly increasing taxes on them. Instead, the DSA is preparing to impose the full burden of the fiscal crisis on the working class.

To do so, the repressive apparatus of the capitalist state must function without restraint. The immense economic pressure bearing down on the working class in New York, nationally and internationally has combined with widespread dissent, first in opposition to genocide and now in opposition to war and dictatorship. Mamdanis willingness to assure the ruling elite that he could govern the financial nerve center of world capitalism was signaled not only by his meetings with the citys billionaires after receiving the Democratic Party nomination in June, but above all by his two cordial meetings with Donald Trump and his pointed refusal to criticize Trump by nameeven as Trump threatened to destroy Iranian civilization.

In one revealing episode, City & State reported on Monday that the Mamdani administration had ordered the city to scrub all references to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) from its 375-page Preliminary Racial Equity Plan. While officials from Mamdanis Law Department explained that this was done to avoid lawsuits from the Trump administration, the move clearly indicates the deep impact Mamdanis meetings with Trump have had on the city government apparatus.

That is the light in which workers should view Mamdanis alliance with the NYPD and its commissioner, Jessica Tisch. He has systematically retreated in the face of any criticism of the NYPD or any serious effort to restrict its actions.

He has allowed NYPD officers to arrest striking nursesafter working behind the scenes to shut down the nurses strike at four major hospitals in Februaryand has continually backed away from his promises to disband the Strategic Response Group (SRG), the NYPDs anti-terrorism unit, which beat and arrested George Floyd protesters in 2020 and pro-Palestinian demonstrators and others beginning in 2023.

While Mamdani has repeatedly said that the SRG would be disbanded, SRG officers arrested protesters on Monday at Passover Seder in the Street, a Jewish-sponsored event, after demonstrators sought to block the doors of Palantirs Manhattan headquarters. Palantir is a tech company that provides data aggregation and relationship-mapping software to ICE. Significantly, Mamdani had attended the protest earlier while it was rallying in Union Square in Lower Manhattan.

The week before, at a press conference at 1 Police Plaza in Manhattan alongside Jessica Tisch, Mamdani stepped back from his campaign pledge to disband the Criminal Group Database, better known as the Gang Database, which contains thousands of names, including minors, of people the NYPD merely suspects of gang affiliation. Mamdani cited the record low murder and shooting statistics from the first quarter of 2026 as proof that the NYPDs current policing strategies, including reliance on the database, were working.

His collaboration with the NYPD has become so blatant that the New York Times published an interview with him on Thursday largely to allow him to make excuses for not disbanding the SRG, for keeping the Gang Database, and to show that he was in command, allowing him to declare: I hold the final decision.

The fact that a so-called socialist mayor feels compelled to say this about the largest police force in the country only demonstrates that, after 100 days, his administration has only one response to the relentless pressure and power of the capitalist statewhether in the form of Trump, the NYPD or their Wall Street masters. The DSA in power in New York City is a regime of surrender to these forces.
On December 15, 2025, 56-year-old Bulgarian immigrant Nenko Gantchev died at Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) North Lake detention center in Baldwin, Michigan. He was found unresponsive and struggling to breathe on the floor of his cell that evening. Emergency care was administered, but he was declared dead less than 45 minutes later. Gantchev had lived in the United States since 1995, after being admitted on an exchange visitor visa. He was arrested by ICE in Chicago on September 23, 2025, during Operation Midway Blitz. At the time of his death, he was challenging his detention in immigration court.

Nenko and his wife Radka. The couple had been married for 8 years and together for 20. Her face is blurred out of fear of repression from ICE, even though she is a US citizen. [Photo: BGVoice]

ICE claimed Gantchev died of natural causes, and an autopsy by the Mid Michigan Medical Examiner attributed his death to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. But detainees at North Lake reported that Gantchev had requested medical assistance and that personnel ignored him. No information has been released about any investigation into his death, including whether he was receiving adequate medical care while detained.

What happened to Gantchev was not isolated abuse. Medical neglect has become an institutionalized feature of ICE detention. At North Lake alone, GEO Group has faced continuous accusations of inadequate medical care since the facility reopened in June 2025. Dozens of emergency calls have been placed from the detention center since then. GEO is also being sued by a former detainee who says he was denied prescribed antibiotics and other necessary emergency care, and was hospitalized after his release to prevent sepsis.

Shortly after Gantchevs death, Representatives Delia Ramirez and Rashida Tlaib issued a brief statement expressing deep concern and calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into claims that North Lake staff failed to respond to his requests for help. In mid-February 2026, Representatives Hillary Scholten and Haley Stevens toured the facility, but Stevens later admitted they had no answers about what happened to Gantchev.

The same pattern of abuse has played out across the ICE detention system. Oudone Lothirath, a 57-year-old Laotian refugee who came to the United States as a child in the 1980s, was arrested by ICE at his home in Minnesota on January 6. Lothirath had terminal Hodgkins lymphoma, and his arrest caused him to miss four of the five chemotherapy sessions he had been scheduled to receive. He was transferred to an ICE detention center in El Paso, Texas, where he was held in a tent with approximately 60 other detainees and missed his first two treatments.

Dorm room at Farmville ICE Detention Center that sleeps over 80 people. [Photo: CAIR]

ICE agreed to return Lothirath to Minnesota only after his friend and caretaker, Christina Vilay, presented officials with a letter from M Health Fairview stating that he would quickly succumb to cancer if he did not receive proper treatment. Once released, Lothirath was too weak to travel for several days. He was hospitalized immediately upon returning to Minnesota, causing him to miss two additional chemotherapy sessions. His cancer spread to his bone marrow, forcing him into hospice care before he died. ICE intended to deport Lothirath, but its own medical neglect so ravaged his health that it helped hasten his death.

ICEs Camp East Montana, a tent detention facility near Fort Bliss, Texas, has likewise been the site of repeated abuse. At least three detainee deaths have been reported there, including that of Geraldo Lunas Campos, whose death was later ruled a homicide. A recent internal ICE inspection conducted from February 10 to 12 found dozens of problems at the site, including poor medical care, deficient reporting, and the use of excessive force by staff.

The inspection found that detainees with possible tuberculosis were not quarantined and were not properly screened for HIV. In some cases, ICE was not even notified of possible tuberculosis infections. About one-third of logged medical grievances were not promptly referred to or answered by the medical department, with responses taking between six and 14 business days.

The report also found no documentation showing that staff sought help from medical or mental health personnel after gaining physical control of detainees during use-of-force incidents. Medical staff frequently failed to document examinations or treatment of injuries following these encounters. In some cases, there was no evidence that any medical care had been provided at all. It was often left undocumented whether use-of-force incidents required further investigation or referral to law enforcement. No institutionalized approach to responding to sexual abuse or assault had been implemented. Despite all this, ICE rated the facility Acceptable/Adequate.

Although Acquisition Logistics had originally been contracted to run Camp East Montana, ICE terminated the contract in March 2026, and the facility is now operated by Amentum Services Incorporated. No changes have reportedly been made to correct the deficiencies identified by ICE itself. Even so, an ICE spokesperson declared that the site would continue abiding by the highest detention standards, a contemptuous response in the face of the documented conditions.

Thirty-two detainees died in ICE custody in 2025, making it the deadliest year for immigrant detainees since 2004. The year 2026 is already on pace to be even worse, with 15 deaths reported by ICE so far. As of mid-January 2026, ICE was holding approximately 73,000 people in detention, an increase of more than 75 percent since Trump returned to the White House. Through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ICE now has funding to operate more than 135,000 detention beds through the end of fiscal year 2029. There has also been a more than 2,400 percent increase in detainees with no criminal record since Trump took office.

Thirty-two of the 46 deaths in ICE custody between January 2025 and March 2026 were reportedly people with preexisting medical conditions whose health deteriorated while they were detained. Another nine were ruled suicides, though official causes of death are frequently disputed, and at least one case initially treated as routine has since been ruled a homicide. Any claim by ICE that its detention centers provide adequate medical or mental health care should therefore be treated with the utmost skepticism.

Nenko Gantchevs death was not an aberration. It was the outcome of a system that places detention capacity and corporate profit above human life. The autopsy finding that he suffered from cardiovascular disease does not absolve ICE, GEO Group or their political backers of responsibility. The absence of transparency surrounding his treatment, together with the repeated deaths and documented abuse at facilities from North Lake to Camp East Montana, exposes a detention regime built to incarcerate, neglect and, in many cases, kill. This is not the result of a few bad employees or a string of tragic accidents. It is the predictable product of a bipartisan apparatus of repression, funded by the state and enriched by private contractors, directed against immigrant workers and the working class as a whole. The fight against mass detention and medical neglect cannot be entrusted to the parties that built this machinery, but must be taken up through the independent mobilization of the working class.
Smoke rises following several Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. [AP Photo/Hassan Ammar]

Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven people in the town of al-Abbassieh in southern Lebanon on Thursday, as the bombardment of the country entered its second day since the proclamation of a US-Iran ceasefire.

Thursdays strikes followed Wednesdays onslaughtthe deadliest single day in Lebanon since the full-scale war began on March 2. The Israeli military deployed 50 fighter jets that dropped 160 munitions across more than 100 sites in 10 minutes, destroying residential buildings, shops and offices from central Beirut to the southern suburbs. At least 303 people were killed and more than 1,150 wounded, including children. Several strikes hit busy neighborhoods during rush hour without prior warning. Lebanon declared a national day of mourning. At a mosque in the capital, funeral prayers were held while tented settlements for the internally displaced stood across the street.

The massacre came less than 24 hours after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. The deal was brokered by Pakistan. When Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement Tuesday evening, he said the ceasefire covered everywhere, including Lebanon. Hours later, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Lebanon was not covered by the deal. Trump dismissed the war in Lebanon as a separate skirmish.

The latest attack on Lebanon is part of a US-Israeli onslaught across the Middle East that has used the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas as a pretext for war on a regional scale. Since October 2023, the United States and Israel have waged war in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran. The combined death toll across the region runs into the tens of thousands.

In Gaza, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and the territorys hospitals, universities and civilian infrastructure systematically destroyed. In Lebanon, 1,739 people have been killed since the latest Israeli onslaught began on March 2, with nearly 1 million displaced.

In Iran, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has documented 3,636 killed since February 28, including 1,701 civilians. Millions have fled their homes. The five-week US bombing campaign has cost American taxpayers at least $45 billion, with 13 service members killed and nearly 370 wounded.

The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shut on Thursday. The New York Times reported that only a handful of vessels had crossed since the truce began, with shipowners, insurers and others wary of safe passage.

In Washington, the ceasefire produced sharp divisions. Significant sections of the US political establishment argued that the United States had agreed to pause military operations before achieving any of its stated strategic objectives. Iran had not dismantled its nuclear program. The Strait of Hormuz remained under Iranian control. Hezbollah had not been disarmed.

The Washington Post editorial board published a column Wednesday headlined, Ahead of Iran talks in Pakistan, a bad deal is worse than no deal. The Post argued that the Trump administration negotiates knowing that the Islamic Republic stands to lose more from the war resuming than Washington does. It noted that this war killed dozens of Irans top leaders, but the regime remains intact and warned that Irans goal will be to string out negotiations as long as possible so they can regroup and rebuild. Its conclusion: The desire to seek a settlement is understandable, but no deal is better than a bad one.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board struck a similar note Wednesday in a piece headlined, Trump Declares Premature Victory in Iran. The board warned that the unfortunate truth is that Mr. Trump put himself in this position through inconsistent rhetoric on the warclaims of victory amid threats of unleashing Hell. Its objection was not that threatening to destroy a civilization is a crime, but that it raised global fears and undermined support at home and abroad. If Iran plays its usual games, the Journal counseled, Trump must finish the job.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN Wednesday that if Iran retains permanent control of the Strait, then what, what an error, what a miscalculation this entire endeavor was.

Trump, for his part, threatened further military escalation. In a post on Truth Social, he declared that all US ships, aircraft, and military personnel... will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with. He warned that if the terms were not honored, the Shootin Starts, bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.

He concluded: In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. He signed off: AMERICA IS BACK!

On Wednesday, Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. Politico reported that Trump berated Rutte over NATOs refusal to provide airspace and military bases for the US war on Iran. Trump called the alliance very disappointing and demanded that NATO allies send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days.

On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social: Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks to media at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 9, 2026. [AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi]

The German government and the ruling class have officially welcomed the so-called ceasefire in the Middle East negotiated between the United States, Israel and Iran. But behind the diplomatic phrases lies no departure from previous war policieson the contrary, their continuation by other means.

In a joint statement with the leading powers of NATO and the European Union, the German government declared its support for the ceasefire while simultaneously emphasizing the need to militarily secure stability in the region. Specifically, Berlin signaled its willingness to participate in an international military mission to secure the Strait of Hormuzone of the most strategically important trade routes for global oil and goods transport.

On Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated in a press briefing: Above all, what is needed is a viable agreement that ensures the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Germany is prepared, following a peace agreement, to help secure free navigationprovided there is a mandate and a viable concept.

This announcement makes clear what German foreign policy is really about: not peace, but the defense of imperialist interests in a key region of global capitalism.

This is expressed particularly openly by leading representatives of the Green Party. Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour explicitly calls for a stronger European military role in the Middle East, justifying it with Germanys and the EUs geostrategic interests.

In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, he stated that one should not take part in further military adventures of the Americans. However, it is also true that we have massive interests and that the Strait of Hormuz naturally also affects our economy, so we cannot pretend to be indifferent to what happens there. The Bundeswehr [armed forces], he added, possesses capabilities that could be needed.

The demand for a stronger German-European military presence is thus presented as a peace initiativea cynical euphemism for a further escalation of imperialist interventions. In reality, the stance of the federal government and the nominal opposition in the Bundestag is in direct continuity with their support for Israels genocide in Gaza and the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

In a further official statement on April 8, the government extensively quoted a declaration by Chancellor Merz, in which he holds Iran responsible for the violence in the Middle East and effectively aligns himself with the US-Israeli war offensive.

For years and decades, the Iranian regime has spread terror across the world and destabilized its neighborhood, the chancellor declared in his government statement on March 18. This regime bears responsibility for the current crisis in the region.

The German government shares with Israel and the United States the goal that Iran should no longer pose a threat in the futureneither to Israel nor to neighboring states in the region. The times in which the Iranian regime could destabilize and threaten other states must come to an end.

This makes it unmistakably clear: Berlin is sticking to the central objectives of the warthe elimination of Iran as a regional power, the subordination of the Middle East to imperialist control, and the strategic weakening of Russia and China.

That this policy continues despite the ceasefire is also evident in the reaction to the open threats of annihilation made by US President Donald Trump. He declared, A whole civilization will die, a threat of historic proportions, recalling the most barbaric crimes of the Nazisthe extermination of European Jews in the Holocaust and the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union during World War II.

The German government did not condemn Trumps threat. On the contrary, when asked, Merz defended Trumps statements on Thursday with the cynical remark that they had ultimately contributed to the ceasefire. This justification reveals the complete political and moral bankruptcy of the German ruling class. It signals that it, too, is prepared to accept threats of genocide as a legitimate means of policyand to prepare such crimes itself.

At the same time, it is pushing ahead with the militarization of society. Leading politicians are openly calling for measures to further prepare for war. For example, the chairman of the Defense Committee, Thomas Rowekamp (CDU), advocated making reservists participation in military exercises mandatory and abolishing the principle of voluntariness for both them and employers. Such proposals, like the reintroduction of conscription, mark another step toward the comprehensive mobilization of society for future military conflicts.

Media reactions also underscore that there is no serious opposition to the war within the political establishment. Critical commentary is not directed against the aggression itself, but primarily criticizes its inadequate execution by an erratic and NATO-hostile US president. Leading media outlets such as Der Spiegel speak of a strategic defeat for the US and warn that Iran and its allies Russia and China could emerge strengthened from the conflict.

These assessments are not used as arguments against further military adventures, but on the contrary as justification for accelerating Europes military buildup even further. Europes relative military weakness compared to the US is interpreted both as a risk and an opportunity: a risk because Europe cannot yet act independently as a leading military powerand an opportunity to use the US debacle in Iran to develop precisely this capability in the future.

Developments confirm the analysis of the World Socialist Web Site that the ceasefire does not represent stabilization, but merely a temporary interruption of an escalating global conflict. The underlying contradictions that led to the war persist and are intensifying.

Following his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump reiterated on Wednesday evening in a message in all capital letters on Truth Social his criticism of NATO for its lack of support in the Iran war and again threatened the annexation of Greenland. NATO was not there when we needed them, and they will not be there when we need them again, he complained, adding threateningly: Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run piece of Ice!!!

The events of recent weeks have laid bare the true nature of imperialism. The US presidents open threats of annihilation have shattered the propaganda that military interventions are carried out in the name of human rights or democracy. Instead, it has become clear that a criminal oligarchy is prepared to destroy entire societies in order to enforce its economic and geostrategic interests.

This applies not only to the United States, but equally to the European powers. The German government, which tacitly accepts Trumps threats and actively supports his policy in the Middle East despite all concerns and growing transatlantic tensions, stands fully in this tradition.

The Left Party, like the Greens, has already shown at the beginning of the war that it does not represent an alternative. The partys chairman, Jan van Aken, stated verbatim that he was personally also glad  that Khamenei is dead and that many henchmen of the regime are dead. He cynically added, One should never rejoice at a persons death, and yet I think it is good that they are gone, and may they rot in hell.

Support for the targeted killing of the Iranian leadership demonstrates that it sides with imperialist violence on decisive questions.

Workers and young people must draw the necessary conclusions from these developments. The ceasefire is not the all-clear, but a warning. The war of aggression against Iran, the Israeli massacres in Lebanon and the genocide in Gaza show that the ruling class is prepared to resort to the most extreme forms of violenceand that preparations for new, even more devastating wars are well advanced.

The only way to prevent a relapse into barbarism lies in the independent political mobilization of the working classin Germany, Europe and internationally. This mobilization must be directed against the capitalist profit system, which is inseparably bound up with war, dictatorship and social devastation, and must fight for a socialist perspective that places social resources under democratic control and eradicates war at its root.
MOSCOW, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia has condemned the United States' energy embargo against Cuba and reaffirmed its support for the island country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.

During political consultations held on Thursday in Havana, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov strongly condemned the U.S. economic, trade and financial blockade, as well as the energy embargo against Cuba, the ministry said in a statement.

Russia reaffirmed its commitment to providing necessary support to Cuba, including material assistance, and to further strengthening bilateral dialogue across a wide range of areas, according to the statement.

Both countries reiterated their opposition to unilateral coercive measures, interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and the use of force to remove "undesirable" governments, the statement added. 
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Workers remove debris at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology complex that was hit early Monday by a U.S.-Israeli strike, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 6, 2026. [AP Photo/Francisco Seco]

The two days since Trump proclaimed a ceasefire have been characterized by continued violence in the Middle East, above all, through Israels massive bombardment of Lebanon, and a deepening political crisis in the United States. Trump has paired his ceasefire announcement with open threats of renewed war against Iran, declaring Wednesday night that the US military is Loading Up and Resting for its next Conquest.

Under these conditions, the publication Jacobin, semi-official house organ of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Democratic Party, has responded with a series of articles whose central theme is: There is nothing to worry about, and nothing needs to be done.

The complacency of Ben Burgiss article is summed up in its headline: On Iran, Trump and the American Empire Blinked. Burgis writes: Trump backed down. In doing so, he showed something that its going to be important to remember next time hawks tell us some new war is going to be an easy victory: even global military and economic juggernauts have their limits.

Summing up his analysis, Burgis concludes that one of many reasons not to go around the world starting wars of choice is that sometimes you lose. Next time hawks try to promote some new American adventure overseas, ask them why theyre so confident that it wont go like  well  this.

This cynical and unserious language lays bare both the political orientation of the DSA and the conclusions that flow from it. Burgis is not addressing workers and young people seeking a way to oppose imperialist war through mass struggle. In fact, he is not speaking as an opponent of imperialism, but rather as an advocate of more effective imperialist policies and better-planned wars.

He is appealing to sections of the political establishment, urging them to draw more prudent conclusions from a military and strategic setback.

This standpoint conforms entirely to that of the Democratic Party, which is never mentioned in what passes for Burgiss analysis. The Democrats entirely support the fundamental strategic aims of the war even as they occasionally criticize Trumps rhetoric and methods. As Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN on Wednesday, But if Iran has the Strait permanently now, then what, what an error, what a miscalculation this entire endeavor was.

Bound up with the Democratic Party politics that determine Jacobins policies, its central purpose is to demobilize opposition to war: Trump has suffered a debacle, therefore the danger has supposedly receded. It is certainly the case that American imperialism has suffered a major setback and catastrophically misjudged the resistance of the Iranian people. But the Trump administrations response will not be retreat but escalationgreater violence abroad and a deepening conspiracy for dictatorship at home.

Burgiss treatment of Trumps genocidal threats is particularly revealing. He quotes Trumps social media post on Tuesday morningA whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I dont want that to happen, but it probably willbut handles it with a joking flippancy, remarking that it would have sounded implausibly extreme if a comic book writer had put it in the speech bubble of a mad scientist or costumed supervillain.

The conclusion is one of utter complacency:

If the war had been going better, he would have simply kept doing what he was doing. When it didnt, he resorted to the most outlandish threats he could think of. When that too failed, he agreed to negotiate on deeply humiliating terms.

The thrust of this argument is that Trumps threat to annihilate Iran was merely outlandish and not in deadly earnest. Burgis makes this explicit when he writes, Even the vast power of the worlds dominant empire has limits. His initial genocidal bluster was itself downstream of this reality, as was his subsequent capitulation.

Burgis ignores completely that by the time Trump made his threat thousands of Iranians had been killed or wounded by American and Israeli missiles and bombs and that much of the countrys industrial and social infrastructure had been destroyed. In a rhetorical style that is typical of the middle-class political cynics and second-string Democratic Party operatives who actually run the DSA, the war is treated as if it was nothing more than a somewhat comic misadventure.

Jacobins dismissal of Trumps threat as genocidal blusterthat is, empty threats that wont be acted onstands in contrast even to sections of the state itself. Retired General Barry McCaffrey, for example, noted that Trumps language amounted to code words for the use of nuclear weapons. Burgis, moreover, does not make the elementary point that threats, and the war as a whole, are a flagrant violation of international law.

As the World Socialist Web Site stated, Trumps threat is a historical watershed. His declaration that the United States is prepared to annihilate an entire civilization of more than 90 million people exposed the wars genocidal logic and laid bare the criminal character of the American state and its leaders. It shatters what remained of the myth that US imperialism acts in defense of democracy or human rights.

Such considerations are entirely foreign to the politics of Jacobin and the DSA, which are oriented entirely to the electoral fortunes of the Democratic Party and the prospects for political advancement (and personal enrichment) this affords.

While Burgis says nothing about the Democratic Party, another article, written by Branko Marcetic, notes that some leading Democrats, including Murphy, have shifted overnight from denouncing Trump for advocating war crimes to attacking the ceasefire deal as a capitulation to Iran and effectively baiting Trump into restarting hostilities.

Marcetic calls such criticism of Trump from the right distinctly unhelpful, but adds, Thankfully, this is not the case with all Democrats, some of whom, like Representative Yassamin Ansari, favor sense and reason.

He makes no mention of the DSA members in Congress, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Greg Casar, or those supported by the DSA, like Senator Bernie Sanders, who have focused their opposition to the Iran war on appealing to congressional Republicans to restrain Trumps actions. Now is the time for [Congressional] Republicans to speak up, as Sanders put it in response to Trumps genocidal threats.

While these left Democrats issue rhetorical criticisms of Trumps actions in Iran, they were in full support of the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, initiated by the Biden administration.

Marcetics own conclusion is, if anything, even more politically bankrupt than Burgiss. He states that the ceasefire is not really a victory for the forces of peace but only a stunning defeat for militarism, and then argues that to make any peace stick, we will all have to help [Trump] maintain the fiction that he won, bigly. Making peace stick becomes a matter of pop psychology. If only Trump can be convinced that he won, the war will not be resumed.

The central aim of the Democratic Party and the DSA is to prevent the emergence of a movement from below, which would not stop with opposition to Trump. The Democrats fear any genuine popular mobilization because it would immediately raise broader questions: the grotesque concentration of wealth, the dictatorship of the financial oligarchy, and the entire social order that both capitalist parties exist to defend.

This is why, during the No Kings protests against Trump held on March 28, they and their political affiliates deliberately downplayed the war against Iran. Those like Sanders who did raise the question of the war offered no way forward for the struggle except appeals to Congress and even to Trump himself.

What is entirely absent from the Jacobin articles is any reference to the historical roots and fundamental driving forces of the war against Iran. There is not a word about the strategic interests of American imperialism, the long history of US intervention in Iran under both Democrats and Republicans, or the connection between the assault on Iran and the expanding conflict with Russia and China. Neither article mentions oil, imperialism, capitalism, the ruling class or the social forces represented by Trump.

This omission expresses a definite class standpoint. Jacobin, speaking for the Democratic Party and the upper-middle class milieu represented by the DSA, seeks above all to block the emergence of an independent movement of the working class against war and the capitalist interests from which it arises. Such a movement, Jacobin has stated elsewhere, constitutes sectarianism.

The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party fight for the building of a mass anti-war movement based on the independent political mobilization of the working class against the capitalist system, which is the root cause of war. Only the international working class has the social power to halt the imperialist war machine and prevent the present crisisor the next onefrom developing into a world war that would threaten civilization not only in Iran but everywhere.
The continued practice of state-sanctioned murder in the United States remains a brutal reality of American capitalism. Even in this gruesome landscape, however, the construction of a remote-controlled firing squad chamber in Idaho stands out for its calculated, technological savagery. As the ruling establishment struggles to maintain its assembly line of death, five statesIdaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utahhave turned to the firing squad in a desperate effort to keep the state killing machine moving.

Idaho: Engineering death by remote control

In Idaho, this retrogression has met with significant opposition. Protesters, including local faith leaders and anti-death penalty advocates, have gathered in Boise to deliver petitions to the private corporations complicit in designing this facility, among them the engineering firm Cator Ruma and Associates, whose employees have been drawn into the machinery of state murder through routine contracting work.

The chamber itself, a retrofit of the F Block execution unit at the Idaho State Maximum Security Institution, stands as a testament to the cold, bureaucratic character of state killing. Internal emails between contractors reveal a chilling business as usual tone, with technicians discussing floor drains to mop/squeegee liquids and soundproofing measures to ensure other incarcerated people do not hear the shots. The project will utilize a remote-operated firing mechanism specifically designed to minimize correctional staff involvementallowing the state to kill a human being with the push of a button.

The Idaho Department of Correction paused all executions as of May 23, 2025, to complete the renovations needed to make the firing squad the primary form of execution by July 1, 2026. Under House Bill 37, signed into law by Governor Brad Little in March 2025, Idaho will become the first state in the nation to designate the firing squad as its primary execution method, with lethal injection retained as a backup. Officials say construction of the firing-squad chamber is expected to be completed in time for staff training ahead of the policy change.

IDOC Director Bree Derrick has added that if direct staff involvement becomes necessary, the department would seek assistance from law enforcement personnel who are specifically trained and psychologically equipped for such responsibilities. Rep. Bruce Skaug, a Republican from Nampa who sponsored the underlying bill, has voiced some concern that remote-operated firearms could malfunction on the day of an execution, but assured the public that a backup firing squaddescribed as old-school with rifles ready to gowould be on standby if the mechanical system failed.

The drive toward this mechanical slaughter was accelerated by the states own previous incompetence in killing a condemned prisoner. In 2024, Idaho attempted to execute Thomas Creech by lethal injection. In a torturous procedure, the execution team failed eight times to establish an IV line, probing Creechs hands, feet and legs for nearly an hour before abandoning the attempt. The grotesque spectacle did not prompt a reconsideration of the death penalty itself. Instead, the legislature responded by passing House Bill 37, clearing the path for the chamber now under construction.

South Carolina: Three executions by firing squad in 2025

Idahos embrace of the rifle follows the trail blazed by South Carolina, which carried out three firing squad executions in 2025the first such executions anywhere in the United States since Utah put Ronnie Lee Gardner to death in 2010.

On March 7, 2025, Brad Sigmon, 67, became the first person executed by firing squad in the United States in 15 years, at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. Sigmon had been convicted and sentenced to death for the 2001 bludgeoning deaths of his ex-girlfriends parents, Gladys and David Larke. He chose the firing squad over the electric chair and lethal injection out of fear that those methods would prove more painfula telling commentary on the menu of horrors the state presented to him. South Carolina keeps the details of its lethal injection protocol secret, and Sigmon had twice before faced execution dates that were called off because the state could not obtain lethal injection drugs or resolve legal challenges to its execution protocols.

The state had spent $54,000 in 2022 constructing the firing squad area within its execution chamber, adjacent to the electric chair. Sigmon was led in and strapped into a metal chair with leg restraints and a strap over his head. A target was placed over his heart and a hood placed over his head. Three volunteer shooters drawn from the prison staff stood out of view of witnesses seated behind shatterproof glass. The executioners were armed with rifles loaded with .308-caliber Winchester 110-grain TAP Urban ammunition, a type of bullet designed for rapid expansion and fragmentation upon impactshattering against hard surfaces like the rib cage to create extensive internal injuries and cause death through rapid blood loss. There was no warning before the executioners fired simultaneously. After the shots, Sigmon appeared to take two short breaths. A blood stain spread across his chest. He was pronounced dead approximately three minutes after the rifles fired.

Sigmons attorney, Gerald Bo King, described the execution as horrifying and violent. King noted that Sigmon had chosen the firing squad knowing that the bullets would shatter his bones and destroy his heartbut that it was the only choice he had after watching three fellow inmates die by lethal injection in what he believed were prolonged and torturous deaths. King stated: Everything about this barbaric, state-sanctioned atrocityfrom the choice to the method itselfis abjectly cruel. We should not just be horrifiedwe should be furious.

King described Sigmon as a man who had worked factory shifts as a teenager to help feed his siblings, who suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness that caused irrational and impulsive episodes, and who was likely in the grip of a psychotic episode when he committed the crimes. Like many on death row, Sigmon had endured childhood abuse: his father was an alcoholic who physically abused him, and the young Sigmon had repeatedly intervened to protect his mother.

Five weeks later, on April 11, 2025, Mikal Mahdi became the second person executed by firing squad in South Carolina. An autopsy of Mahdi revealed he had been struck by only two bullets rather than the prescribed three. Pathologist Dr. Jonathan Arden concluded that as a result of the diminished internal injuries, it was likely it could have taken 30 to 60 seconds for Mahdi to lose consciousness, during which time Mahdi would have suffered excruciating pain as his lungs tried to expand against a broken sternum and he experienced what doctors described as air hunger as his lungs failed to take in oxygen. This is the quick and professional execution promised by legislators and corrections officials.

The states third firing squad execution of 2025 came on November 14, when Stephen Bryant, 44, was executed for the murders of three people during an eight-day killing spree in 2004. Bryant was strapped to a chair, hooded, a red bulls-eye target placed over his heart. Three volunteer corrections officers fired at him from 15 feet away. Bryants attorneys had argued he was a deeply troubled man in the months leading up to the killings, obsessed with memories of childhood sexual abuse by relatives, attempting to cope with methamphetamine and marijuana laced with bug killer, and begging a probation agent and his aunt for help.

The last Utah firing squad: Ronnie Lee Gardner, 2010

The grim record of what the firing squad does to a human body was established in vivid detail when Utah executed Ronnie Lee Gardner just after midnight on June 18, 2010, at a prison in Draper. Gardner, 49, was seated in a straight-backed metal chair raised on a platform, his hooded head secured by a strap across his forehead, harness-like straps constraining his chest, his handcuffed arms hanging at his sides. A small white cloth square bearing a black target was affixed over his heart.

This June 18, 2010, file photo shows the firing squad execution chamber at the Utah State Prison, in Draper, Utah. [AP Photo/Trent Nelson]

A prison official began a countdown from five. At two, five marksmenpolice officers who had volunteered for the dutytook aim with Winchester rifles from 25 feet away, firing through a slot in a wall to obscure their identities. Four rifles were loaded with live rounds; a fifth contained a dummy cartridge with a wax bullet designed to give realistic recoil, providing each shooter with a measure of plausible deniability about who had fired the fatal shot.

Gardner had been convicted in the 1985 shooting death of attorney Michael Burdell during a failed escape attempt at a Salt Lake City courthouse. His attorneys argued to the end that the jury had never heard substantial mitigating evidence about his childhood: removed from his home at age two, severely malnourished and wandering the streets; sexually abused at five; sniffing glue at six; addicted to hard drugs by ten; put out to work as a prostitute by a pedophile who had become his foster parent by age 14. In recent years, Gardner had worked with his brother Randy to establish a project for abused children, buying land in northern Utah for an organic farm intended for use in therapy with troubled youth.

Randy Gardner has since become one of the most vocal opponents of the firing squad in the country. After Brad Sigmons execution in South Carolina in 2025, Randy Gardner publicly described the method as barbaric and cruel and unusual punishment. He said: I didnt witness my brothers execution, but I got to see his body after. Ive got the autopsy photos of what it looked like, and its just mutilated my brothers body. I think its terrible. He said he now opposes all methods of execution, adding simply: To me, its revenge.

The 20th century record

Defenders of the firing squad promote it as a reliable and even humane alternative to the botched chemistry of lethal injection. The historical record of this method offers a definitive judgment on that claim: the firing squad has historically been used most widely in war: as punishment for desertion and mutiny, in mass killings of civilians and as retribution for political opponents of repressive and colonial regimes.

James Connolly addresses a crowd of 8,000 people in New York City on May Day, 1908.

Irish socialist James Connolly, along with 14 other leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916 against British colonialism, were shot by firing squad. The rebellion began on April 24, 1916, and was suppressed within a week, with the leaders surrendering on April 29-30. Their trials, along with those of dozens of others, were conducted under the Defense of the Realm Act and British military law. They were swift, secret and afforded the accused no meaningful opportunity to defend themselves.

The 15 men were shot by firing squad between May 3 and 12, 1916, at Kilmainham Gaol. Connolly, military commander of the Rising, had been so badly injured during the fighting in Dublin that he could not walk or stand unsupported, and had to be tied to a chair to be shot.

Some of the most harrowing examples of civilian death by firing squad were carried out by the Nazis. The following are only three examples of such atrocities:

On December 18, 1939, following the Nazi invasion of Poland, 56 Polish citizens were massacred in Bochnia, near Krakow, in one of the first mass reprisal executions of the occupation. The victims had committed no crime against the German military. They were murdered as a demonstration of power and terror, a message to the occupied population that resistance or even the suspicion of resistance would be met with collective death.

The execution of 56 Polish citizens in Bochnia, near Krakow, during German occupation of Poland, December 18, 1939 in a reprisal for an attack on a German police office two days earlier by the underground organization "White Eagle".

On June 2, 1941, German paratroopers prepared to execute Greek civilians in the village of Kondomari, on the island of Crete, following the Battle of Crete. The villagers were rounded up in retaliation for armed resistance. Photographs survive of the men of Kondomari being led out of the village, assembled in a field and shot.

In September 1941, on the Eastern Front, German soldiers raised their rifles against Soviet civilians accused of being partisans. A line of men were shot down, falling into a pit already dug.

World War II killing of Soviet civilians accused of being partisans on the Eastern Front by a German firing squad, September 1941. [Photo by Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-212-0221-07 / Thiede / CC BY-SA 3.0

These examples define the social and political meaning of this method of killing. It is a demonstration of the states monopoly on violence, an assertion of absolute power over the lives of those it has judged expendablewhether a condemned prisoner in a South Carolina execution chamber or a Polish farmer in a town square in December 1939.

The revival and acceleration of the firing squad in the United States cannot be separated from the broader political context in which it is occurring. On Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety, which rescinded the moratorium on federal executions, directed the attorney general to pursue capital punishment in all applicable federal cases, specifically mandated the death penalty for murders of law enforcement officers and for capital crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, and called for efforts to overturn Supreme Court precedents that limit state and federal authority to impose execution.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, following Trumps lead, in 2025 ordered more executions in a single year than any Florida governor since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Florida carried out a record 16 executions last yeardouble the states previous record of eight set in 2014.

The search for a humane method

Lethal injection was introduced in the 1970s precisely because the ruling establishment needed a method of killing that appeared less violent to observers. But the record of lethal injection has been one of continuous failure and horror: inmates who have groaned and writhed on the gurney, lungs filled with frothy, bloody liquid as they experienced the agonizing sensation of drowning; prisoners removed from the execution chamber alive, only to face another date with the executioner; states unable to obtain the necessary drugs because European pharmaceutical companies have refused to sell them for use in capital punishment.

The return to the firing squad is another iteration of this searchthe states perpetual attempt to find a method of killing that looks clean and defensible, however savage the reality. As the South Carolina autopsy of Mikal Mahdi demonstrated, when the mechanism failswhen one bullet misses the prescribed targetthe condemned person may lie there, conscious, for up to a minute, lungs collapsing, before dying. Now Idaho proposes to mechanize this process further still, removing even the human hand from the trigger, replacing the prison volunteer with a remote-operated device.

Meanwhile, states like Alabama have simultaneously moved to adopt nitrogen asphyxiation in the gas chamber, pursuing every available avenue to keep the machinery of death operational. The diversity of methods is not evidence of a search for humanity but of a system determined to keep killing, by whatever means remain available.

There is a direct line between this domestic violence and the violence the US state inflicts around the world. President Trumps recent threats to destroy Irans entire civilization are the fascistic and desperate statements of an oligarchy in extreme crisis. The imperialist brutality expressed in the Pentagons military operations is reflected in the treatment of the working class at home. From murders carried out by ICE agents in immigrant communities to the execution of death row inmates whose crimes stem from lives of poverty and abuse, capital punishment is an expression of a system that holds human life in total contemptwhether that life ends in a jail in Dublin in 1916, a Greek field in 1941, or a retrofitted execution chamber in southern Idaho in 2026.
Universities Australia (UA), the peak body representing the countrys university managements, has reiterated its commitment to delivering the Albanese governments big business and pro-military agenda, while partially documenting Labors funding cuts, which are driving restructuring and the destruction of thousands of jobs.

In its pre-budget submission for the governments looming annual budget in May, UA began by pledging to stand ready to deliver Labors focus on discipline, prioritisation and reform to lift productivity and support sustainable growth.

Moreover, the submission gave this undertaking under conditions of heightened global uncertainty, a weakening international economic outlook and ongoing pressure on Australias fiscal position.

Education Minister Jason Clare with Professor Mary OKane AC [Photo: X/@JasonClareMP]

That amounts to a vow to work even more closely with the Labor government as it enforces its Universities Accord report, released in 2024. The Accord blueprint demands the complete subordination of the tertiary education sector to national prioritiesthat is, the teaching and research requirements of employers, the capitalist ruling class as a whole and the development of an AUKUS-aligned war economy.

This means funnelling more students into courses to meet designated skill shortages, including those related to the AUKUS military pact, which involves spending hundreds of billions of dollars to acquire US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines, long-range missiles and other hi-tech weaponry designed for use against China.

The UA submission states: As the Prime Minister [Anthony Albanese] has recognised, there is substantial agreement on the key priorities needed to strengthen Australias economic foundations.

This underscores the intent of the university chancellors and vice-chancellors to deepen the restructuring that has swept through universities over the past 18 months, axing non-priority courses and research, particularly in arts and humanities, and destroying about 4,000 academic and administrative jobs so far.

UA pledges to support the commercialisation of Australian innovation, which involves further tying education to capitalist profit requirements, while also powering a $52 billion export engine by continuing to exploit international students, charging them exorbitant fees.

From this standpoint, UA pleads for a reversal of declining government funding, pointing to a 6 percent real decline in funding per government-supported domestic student places since 2017.

The submission attributes this decrease to the previous Liberal-National Coalition governments Job-ready Graduates (JRG) package, in which students in disciplines such as humanities, business, law and arts pay up to $17,000 per year while the government contributes only $1,300, slicing around $750800 million per year off university budgets.

The decline in funding has led to larger class sizes, the removal of low enrolment degrees and courses, and increased use of casual teaching staff, the submission states. This increases staff workloads and undermines the student experience.

In pursuit of its Universities Accord agenda, however, the Labor government has kept this squeeze on the universities, refusing to scrap the JRG scheme, despite promising to do so during the 2022 election campaign.

Until recently, Education Minister Jason Clare claimed that the JRG program would be referred to the governments new Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). Yet the ATEC Act, passed last month, does not allow ATEC to advise on student fees, effectively retaining the JRG regime indefinitely.

The UA submission avoids mentioning that the funding decline is part of a longer-term cut, bound up with the corporatisation of universities that began with the Hawke and Keating Labor governments of the 1980s and 1990s.

In fact, the level of federal government funding for domestic student enrolments has halved from around 80 percent to 40 percent or less since the Hawke government reintroduced domestic student fees in 1987 via a loans scheme.

That governments measures, headed by then Education Minister John Dawkins, marked the start of the corporate takeover of Australian universities, alongside Labors privatising or corporatising of government-owned enterprises such as Qantas, Telecom (now Telstra) and the Commonwealth Bank.

Dawkins forced mergers between universities and colleges of advanced education, targeted research funding to areas considered essential to economic growth and placed a greater emphasis on universities finding new ways to fund their activities, such as by charging high fees for international students.

As well as retaining the JRG scheme, the Albanese government has refused to re-establish a funding program for university infrastructure to replace the Education Investment Fund. It was abolished in 2019, removing nearly $4 billion in dedicated higher education and TAFE infrastructure investment, the UA says.

As a result, real university capital expenditure fell by around 40 percent between 2019 and 2022, constraining capacity and degrading the quality of learning and research environments.

Another UA report, Critical challenges in Australias university sector: securing a sustainable future (2025 edition), released this February, sheds some light on the accompanying elimination of university jobs.

From 2014 to 2019, total full-time equivalent (FTE) staff grew to just over 137,000  a 14 percent increasebut this was below the 17 percent growth in equivalent full-time student load, primarily driven by a 53 percent rise in international students.

Between 2019 and 2021, mainly due to the impact of the COVID pandemic and the shutting of access to international students, total FTE fell by more than 8,000. Those losses had been substantially reversed by 2024, but then came the latest Universities Accord-driven assault on jobs, which the UA report does not mention.

The Albanese government has also resumed slashing international student enrolments, matching the anti-immigrant agitation of the Coalition and the far-right One Nation by falsely blaming overseas students for the worsening housing and cost-of-living crisis.

Labor has almost trebled student visa application fees from $710 to $2,000 and doubled the refusal rate on visa applications to 32.5 percent in February compared to 2025the highest for a single month in 20 years. That flies in the face of Labors promise to slightly increase the previously-reduced number of approved visas from 270,000 to 295,000 in 2026.

None of this intensifying decades-long assault would be possible without the role of the campus trade unions, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). They have opposed and blocked any unified fight by university staff, including during the COVID jobs assault and now the restructuring and job cuts being taken to a new level by the Albanese government.

Despite claiming to oppose, in words, the corporatisation of universities, the union apparatuses have suppressed educators hostility to this transformation, while pushing through successive enterprise agreements that facilitate such restructuring.

To fight this agenda, university workers and students have to create new forms of organisationrank-and-file committees, totally independent of the trade unions, that will develop demands based on their needs, not the dictates of the corporate elite and the war machine.

These committees, initiated by the Socialist Equality Party, can link up with workers in struggle in Australia and worldwide through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. This is part of a broader necessary struggle against the capitalist profit system itself, its ever-greater oligarchic wealth and its plunge into barbaric and catastrophic wars in the Middle East and beyond.

To discuss these issues and how to form rank-and-file committees, contact the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) the rank-and-file educators network:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: CFPE_Australia
Tourists ride camels in the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, April 9, 2026. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

Tourists ride camels in the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, April 9, 2026. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

Tourists visit the Sphinx in the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, April 9, 2026. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

Tourists ride camels in the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, April 9, 2026. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)

Tourists ride camels in the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, April 9, 2026. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

Tourists ride camels in the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, April 9, 2026. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)

Tourists pose for photos with the Sphinx in the background in the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, April 9, 2026. The Giza Pyramids located southwest of Cairo, capital of Egypt, are one of the most representative sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. The complex includes the three pyramids known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, and several ancient cemeteries and smaller pyramids. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday morning met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing.

Invited by the CPC Central Committee and Xi, Cheng is the first KMT chairperson to have led a delegation to the Chinese mainland in the past decade. The delegation had visited Jiangsu Province and Shanghai before coming to Beijing.

Xi said this meeting between the CPC and KMT leaders after 10 years is of great significance for developing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait.

Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum for the Chinese on both sides of the Strait to come together will not change.

He added that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait hope for peace and tranquility, improved cross-Strait relations, and better lives. "This is a responsibility that the CPC and the KMT cannot shirk, and also a driving force for the two parties to work together," Xi said.

Xi expressed the willingness to work with all political parties in Taiwan, including the KMT, as well as groups and people from all sectors, to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, promote peace across the Taiwan Strait, improve the well-being of the people and advance national rejuvenation, on the basis of the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

He called for forging closer bonds across the Strait by upholding a correct understanding of identity.

"Differences in social systems should not be an excuse for secession," Xi said.

Xi called for safeguarding the shared homeland through peaceful development. The core issue for safeguarding the shared homeland lies in recognizing that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, Xi said.

"We welcome any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and will spare no effort to advance any endeavors that promote such development," Xi said, adding that "Taiwan independence" is the chief culprit undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait. "We should neither condone nor tolerate it." 

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
Matonya, who has denied the charge, has a string of "bongo flava" hits and performs across East Africa [Jambomail]

Tanzanian musician Sefu Shabani, popularly known as Matonya, has been arrested and charged with rape in Kenya.

The 43-year-old denied the charge when he appeared in court in the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has said in a statement posted on X.

According to the DPP, the court granted him bail - set at 500,000 Kenyan shillings ($3,900, 2,900) - and ordered him to surrender his Tanzanian passport.

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The award-winning artist is beloved for his "bongo flava" hits. This is a style of music originating in Tanzania with lyrics in Swahili and romantic melodies accompanied by an urban beat - often influenced by traditional taarab music from the East African coast.

Matonya rose to prominence about 15 years ago and still performs across East Africa - especially his favourites such as Vaileti, Anita, Siamini, Taxi Bubu and Mapito.

During the court hearing on Thursday, prosecutors said the alleged sexual assault took place at an apartment in the beach resort of Nyali on Tuesday.

The DPP said it was anxious the musician remained in the court's jurisdiction and said the immigration authorities had been directed to place an alert at border points.

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The authorities in Tanzania have not commented on the case.

But it has triggered debate on social media and within Tanzania's music industry - some calling for support for Matonya and urging due process, while others have stressed the seriousness of the allegations and the need for justice.

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

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As the Firehouse 51 heroes led Chicago Fire viewers on some rollercoaster rescues, Chihards were quickly faced with the absence of fan favorite Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney).

Severide's been going through it this season as Firehouse 51 navigates insanity both in and out of the firehouse. Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) was shockingly terminated and tapped Severide to become the next Chief. He dutifully accepted the honor, but after kick-starting the exams and training required for promotion, Severide sensed tension with Pascal's temporary replacement, interim Battalion Chief Andre Hopkins (Rob Morgan).

After being suspended by the late Benny Severide way back in the day, Hopkins has since demonized his son, deploring the perceived favoritism and relaxed social politics of Firehouse 51. Severide's been passing the Chief exams with flying colors, but Hopkins stands in the way of him assuming the post, promising plenty of tension on the horizon. As a Chicago Fire O.G. and one of 51's most tenacious firefighters, Severide never fails to steal the show, and he was M.I.A. amid some dramatic twists and turns during the latest chapter of One Chicago action.

RELATED: Chicago Med, Fire, and P.D. Are All Renewed for NBC's 2026-2027 Season! (DETAILS)

Find out why Severide was M.I.A. on Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 17 ("Sway"), below.

Lieutenant Kelly Severide holding an axe dressed in a firefighter uniform on Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 2.

Where was Severide on Chicago Fire this week? (April 8, 2026)

Severide's wife, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), revealed his whereabouts at the top of Chicago Fire's "Sway," explaining to fellow Lietenant Chris Herrmann (David Eigenberg) that Severide would be out of the office for a couple of weeks to continue Captain training courses.

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Severide's absence from the firehouse didn't stop him from being at the top of his colleagues' minds, especially as Deputy Chief Hopkins continues to enact his revenge against the son of the man he's hated for several decades.

Lieutenant Kelly Severide holding an axe dressed in a firefighter uniform on Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 2.

Chicago Fire Season 14

One Chicago Wednesdays are here!

Fresh off an extended fall hiatus, new Chicago Fire episodes begin airing January 7, 2026 every Wednesday at 9/8c. New episodes are available to stream on Peacock Thursdays at 6 a.m. ET.

Keep up with your favorite firefighters and paramedics Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso), Randall "Mouch" McHolland (Christian Stolte), Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith), Lyla "Lizzie" Novak (Jocelyn Hudon), and Sal Vasquez (Brandon Larracuente) as they navigate the highs and lows of Firehouse 51.

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If that's not quite enough One Chicago for you, checkout exclusive merch available now at the NBC Store!

Hopkins filed an incident report against Severide during his absence

Chief Hopkins and Kelly Severide looking at the ground in Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 16.

Chicago Fire's "Sway" ended on a grave note after Hopkins visited 51's new Chief Assistant Lucy (Jeanine Mason) and handed over a case file, requesting she drop it off at CFD's HQ. After spotting the file, Lucy was shocked to discover that Hopkins was filing an internal review against Severide.

Severide's offense? "Dereliction of Duty," defined as deliberate failure to perform assigned tasks, presumably for Severide's eagerness to perform OFI tasks. While Severide's affinity for arson cases has usually not been cause for complaint, Hopkins has gotten creative in dismantling Severide's career, and Chihards can't wait to see how Severide navigates the latest chaos.

Severide's rocky first meeting with Hopkins set the tone for some anxiety on Stella's part earlier in the episode, especially after Hopkins raised complaints with her workplace relationship with Severide. However, despite Hopkins' animosity toward Severide, he treated the rest of the Firehouse 51 with respect. Stella was caught off guard by the kindness, especially after Hopkins supported her decision to investigate a fire as an arson case.

RELATED: What We Know About Pascal's "Last Day" on Chicago Fire and If He's Coming Back

One Chicago Podcast Key Art 1400x1400 FN3

Listen to the Official One Chicago Podcast now!

Want behind-the-scenes intel about Chicago Med, Fire, and P.D.? The official One Chicago Podcast is hosted by longtime Chicago P.D. producer Brian Luce.

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Find in-depth interviews, analysis, and behind-the-scenes secrets about all your Windy City favorites. Stream wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, where it's currently ranked #1 in TV/Film and in the Top 60 overall across all categories.

During this investigation, Stella revealed that she'd picked up a few tricks due to Severide's storied history as an arson investigator. After doing some digging, Hopkins learned about Severide's side quests with the CFD's Office of Fire Investigation, asking a colleague about the many assignments he'd taken on in recent years.

Severide's every move has landed under a microscope, and Hopkins identified his lengthy time away from Firehouse 51 working on arson cases as a leverage point.

Don't miss Severide's return to the action by watching Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
The school calendar has turned to prom season in Wisconsin.

Over the next month, students across the state will be attending proms, one of the signature events of the school year.

And we want to help showcase them.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay Press Gazette, The Post-Crescent in Appleton and the rest of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin is creating a user-submitted prom photo gallery for our websites.

Arrowhead High School students (from left) Keira Larson, Claire Raabe and Elise Schroeder pose for a prom photo on May 17, 2025, at St. Jerome's in Oconomowoc. We're looking to feature prom photos in 2026.

How can you be included?

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It's simple.

To get your prom photos included in our gallery, submit your images here. Fill in all the required information to complete your submission.

Editors will review the photos and upload them into a gallery that will be shared across our websites and in social media promotion.

SUBMIT: Send us your prom photos

Muskego High School students Trinity Kelley and Owen Kindler pose for a prom photo on April 11 at The Avenue in downtown Milwaukee before heading to their prom at the Brookfield Conference Center.



SUBMIT PROM PHOTOS Gabby Watts (senior at Bay Port) with Landon Thompson (junior at Oconto Falls) pose for a prom photo on April 11 in front of the large Lombardi Trophy at Lambeau Field. Brookfield Academy High School students Luci Heckenkamp, Rose Robbins, Anna Felton, Lucy Schwertfeger and Grace Schneider pose for a prom photo April 11 at Rustic Manor in Delafield. Waupaca High School students (from left) Dylan Johnson, Greyson Barnett, Wes Lauritzen, Ollie Waller and Erik Harms pose for a prom photo on April 11. Muskego High School students Trinity Kelley and Owen Kindler take a stroll inside The Avenue in downtown Milwaukee before heading to their prom on April 11 at the Brookfield Conference Center. Wisconsin high school students celebrate prom in 2026 1 of 5 Muskego High School students Trinity Kelley and Owen Kindler pose for a prom photo on April 11 at The Avenue in downtown Milwaukee before heading to their prom at the Brookfield Conference Center.



SUBMIT PROM PHOTOS

Last year, we had submissions all across the state, with nearly 200 photos!

Relive the last two years of user-submitted prom photos in Wisconsin below to see the kinds of images students and families sent in:

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin high school prom gallery, how to submit your photos
NEED TO KNOW

A fight between students at a Nebraska middle school left one in the hospital

Local news reported that the incident was between two 14-year-olds

A male student was accused of punching a female student multiple times, leaving her with significant injuries

A teenage girl was reportedly hospitalized after being physically assaulted by a male student at a Nebraska middle school.

The incident happened during dismissal in a Millard Lefler Middle School hallway on Tuesday, April 7, a spokesperson for the school confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday, April 9.

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The victim was a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly struck multiple times by a boy of the same age, KOLN and the Lincoln Journal Star reported this week.

PEOPLE reached out to the Lincoln Nebraska Police Department, but did not immediately receive a response.

In a statement shared with Lefler families and PEOPLE, principal Suiter said the student was physically aggressive towards another, prompting staff to step in.

Neither of the minors names were released, but local media reported that the male student punched the girl multiple times in the school hallway.

Staff connected the injured student with medical assistance, Suiter said.

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The female student had swelling to her nose and a cut above her eye that required stitches, and may have also suffered a brain bleed, the Lincoln Journal Star reported, citing police spokeswoman Erika Thomas.

School administrators spoke with the police department, and the male student will be facing appropriate school and legal consequences for the incident, per the principal.

Investigators interviewed the victim while she was at the hospital. A motive for the assault has not been disclosed.

The male 14-year-old who was accused of attacking the female student is facing charges that include third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, Lincoln police said, per local media.

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.

Parents, please help us reinforce our lessons we teach at school, Suiter said. We understand that not everyone is going to get along all the time, but there are healthy ways to resolve conflicts that do not include a physical reaction.

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Encourage your student to share with adults at school if they are having issues with friends or other students, the statement continued, in part. We believe it is important that we repair relationships where they are harmed and we want to help our students do that.

School counselors and social workers are available for students who may have witnessed the assault, or felt distress after hearing about it.

Read the original article on People
NEW DELHI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government on Friday said it is deeply concerned by reports of a large number of civilian casualties from recent Israeli strikes against Lebanon.

The statement came two days after Israel bombed 100-plus targets across the Middle Eastern country in 10 minutes on Wednesday, killing over 300 people and injuring over 1,100 others.

"As a troop contributing country to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for Lebanon's peace and security, the direction of events is very disturbing," India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing.

"India has always emphasized the protection of civilians as the foremost priority. Observing international law and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is essential," Jaiswal said. 
Airline pilots express widespread safety concerns flying in the Middle East during the Iran conflict, fearing retribution from airlines for refusing high-risk assignments.

Airline pilots who have safety concerns about flying in the Middle East during the Iran war have told a global aviators' union group they fear blowback ranging from lost pay to being fired if they refuse assignments, its president Ron Hay said.

Pilots from Lebanon to India have voiced "widespread" concerns they could face sanctions if they do not fly in often unpredictable conditions where airspace can close with little notice due to missile or drone strikes, according to the head of the International Federation of Air Line Pilot' Associations.

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"There is an underlying fear of retribution," Hay told Reuters in his first interview on the matter.

His comments come as some Middle Eastern carriers continue to restore flights even as a two-week ceasefire announced on Tuesday faces challenges from continued attacks.

Hay, a Delta Airlines captain, said some of the pilots worried about being fired. For others, "they may not lose their job, but they (managers) may say, 'Don't fly the trip and you don't get paid for it.'"

A Saudia aircraft is seen through the window of a Middle East Airlines airplane at Cairo International Airport, March 31, 2026; illustrative. (credit: REUTERS/AMR ABDALLAH DALSH)

He declined to name the airlines involved but said these were examples of how not to run a positive safety culture where pilots were encouraged to speak up.

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Thats been lacking in the Middle East region for quite some time, and its just been exacerbated by this conflict, Hay said.

Montreal-based IFALPA has member associations in Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, and Lebanon, according to its website. It does not list member associations at major Gulf carriers in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which are not unionized.

Middle Eastern carriers prioritize safety

Middle Eastern carriers have said they prioritize safety. Flights to and from the UAE and Qatar are operating through dedicated corridors set with regulators.

Reuters attempted to contact more than a dozen pilots based in the Gulf to discuss whether they were comfortable flying in the current environment, but all declined to speak even on condition of anonymity or did not respond to queries.

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After the ceasefire was announced, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency extended its ban on European airlines operating in the airspace of several Gulf countries, including the UAE and Qatar, until April 24. But carriers based in Dubai and Doha are continuing to fly there, as are Indian airlines.

Concerns from aviators operating in the Middle East led IFALPA to publish a paper this week reminding airlines that pilots must be given a "non-negotiable" say on safety, Hay said.

"There is a deep concern within the region, which is part of the reason the paper was generated."

A bulletin issued by the UN's aviation agency on Thursday called mental health risks in conflict zones "safety critical."

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"Personnel engaged in civil aviation operations within or near conflict zones can experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and fatigue - both on the ground and in the air," the bulletin said.

Hay said pilots who are flying into the region have lamented a lack of guidance on risks, making it harder to plan if an airport is suddenly shut down due to a drone attack.

In late March, Indian member pilots of IFALPA called Air India's continued operation of flights to the impacted Gulf region a "grave concern." The pilot group urged the country's civil aviation regulator in a letter to suspend operations until a centralized "risk assessment is conducted."

Air India has engaged risk consultants who monitor whether it is safe to fly on a daily basis, a source familiar with the matter said. India's aviation regulator did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

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Pilots have also been affected in other ways. Hay said he received a recent query from members in Beirut whose challenges did not end upon landing.

The roads between the airport and their house had been completely bombed," he said. "They didnt even know how they could get home.
The American Indian College Fund has announced the creation of the John Gritts Native Arts Memorial Scholarship, a four-year award established with the support of his wife, Page Lambert, to honor his lifelong advocacy for Native education.

A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Gritts passed away in October 2025. Known for his steady and humble approach, he dedicated his life to helping Native students access higher educationguiding them through admissions processes, encouraging persistence, and reminding them they belonged in the academic spaces they worked hard to reach.

Having started my career at Black Hills State in the student services and financial aid field, you cant help but know and see what students need, Gritts once said.

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The scholarship will support a student attending the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Designed for students pursuing the arts, the award provides $3,000 annually for four years.

Gritts connection to IAIA runs deep. He attended the institution from 1966 to 1968 and remained a dedicated supporter of tribal colleges and universities throughout his life. He often spoke about their critical role in Native communities.

I enjoyed hearing stories and learning how tribal colleges and universities were doing. To me, they just keep moving to the next level. Theyre cornerstones on the reservations they do a wonderful job educating their students, he once shared.

In addition to his broader advocacy, Gritts spent part of his career working with the College Fund. The new scholarship reflects his enduring belief that Native students should not have to face financial barriers alone.

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The best time, of course, is graduationwhether at Black Hills State or at a TCU. When the students walk across the stage and then say thank you, that is all it takes. You cry like a baby, Gritts said.

Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, emphasized that the scholarship continues Gritts legacy of service.

We are honored to remember John through supporting a student on their educational journey, she said. We best honor his fierce advocacy for students by helping a student overcome financial barriers to achieving their college dreams, while also recognizing and honoring his artistic talents which he so generously shared to deepen that remembrance.

Dr. Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), president of IAIA, highlighted Gritts lasting impact on the institution.

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John Gritts devoted his life to expanding opportunity for Indigenous students, and his connection to the Institute of American Indian Artsas a former student, staff member, and longtime supporterremains a meaningful part of IAIAs history, Lowe said. We are deeply grateful to Page Lambert and the American Indian College Fund for establishing this scholarship in his honor. This gift will support an IAIA student in pursuing their creative and educational journey, while carrying forward Johns enduring belief in the power of Indigenous education to transform lives and communities.

Students interested in applying for the John Gritts Native Arts Memorial Scholarship can visit the College Funds website to complete an online application.

The post American Indian College Fund Launches John Gritts Native Arts Memorial Scholarship for IAIA Student appeared first on Native News Online.
Anthropic's latest AI technology, called Mythos, is so powerful at revealing software vulnerabilities that the company is afraid to release the model publicly lest it fall into the hands of bad actors.

The company, the developer behind the Claude AI chatbot, said in a post on its website this week that the new tool has already uncovered thousands of weak points in "every major operating system and web browser."

Although that capability could prove to be a boon for protecting critical systems, it is also stirring concerns that hackers could exploit Mythos to attack the IT infrastructure at banks, hospitals, government systems and many other organizations.

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Preparing for the "storm"

Rather than releasing Mythos to the public, Anthropic is sharing the tech with a select group of major companies, including Amazon, Apple, Cisco, JPMorgan Chase and Nvidia, so they can test the model and strengthen their own systems against cyberattacks. Called Project Glasswing, the effort is aimed at helping key companies harden their defenses before hackers get access to Mythos or similar AI models, according to Anthropic.

At the same time, security experts said, the concerns around Mythos attest to the dangers of AI if it is weaponized for harm.

"What we need to do is look at this as a wake-up call to say, the storm isn't coming  the storm is here," Alissa Valentina Knight, CEO of cybersecurity AI company Assail, told CBS News. "We need to prepare ourselves, because we couldn't keep up with the bad guys when it was humans hacking into our networks. We certainly can't keep up now if they're using AI because it's so much devastatingly faster and more capable."

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Mythos' capabilities are also sparking concern among federal officials. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell met with top bank CEOs in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday to discuss Mythos and other emerging cybersecurity risks stemming from AI. Anthropic also briefed senior U.S. government officials and key industry stakeholders on Mythos's capabilities, CBS News has learned.

Separately, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in an interview set to air Sunday on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that the world does not have the ability "to protect the international monetary system against massive cyber risks."

"The risks have been growing exponentially," Georgieva said. "Yes, we are concerned. We are very keen to see more attention to the guardrails that are necessary to protect financial stability in the world of AI."

Anthropic didn't return a request for comment. In its post, however, the company underscored the risks of misusing tools like Mythos. "The fallout  for economies, public safety, and national security  could be severe," the company said.

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The weakest link



Such stark warnings mask another troubling reality: Hackers already have access to advanced AI models and are using them for a range of malign purposes, including to create autonomous "agents" capable of carrying out attacks without human intervention.

Such attacks range from spreading malware and executing identity theft scams to producing deepfake videos and launching ransomware attacks, according to cybersecurity experts.

"AI-enabled tooling has empowered even low-skilled threat actors to execute high-speed, high-volume operations, whilst advanced adversaries are using AI to sharpen precision, scale automation and compress attack timelines," PwC said in a recent report.

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"The time between the public release of a new capability by an AI company and its weaponization by threat actors shrank dramatically [in 2025], a trend we assess will likely accelerate in 2026," the management consulting firm added,

Other AI tools, while not yet as effective as Mythos in exposing the soft underbelly in software, are already amplifying the risks to consumers, businesses and governments. For instance, hackers are tapping AI to sharpen so-called phishing attacks aimed at prying loose confidential information, said Zach Lewis, the chief information officer at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.

"It's been used to really script those dialogues, those conversations, those phishing emails, to specific people  and really customize them to make them a lot more difficult to detect and identify if these are fake or not," he told CBS News.

"Once [Mythos] drops, we're going to see a lot more vulnerabilities, probably a lot more attacks," Lewis said. "Cyberattacks are definitely going to increase until we get to a point where we're patching up all those vulnerabilities almost in real time."

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AI is more effective than humans at finding software bugs because it can quickly scan thousands of lines of code and detect problems, something people are not necessarily good at, Knight explained.

"Humans are the weakest link in security," Knight noted. "Humans have the ability to make mistakes when we're writing code. It's possible for vulnerabilities in source code to have never been found by humans."

On brand for Anthropic?

Some security experts questioned the motives behind Anthropic's incremental approach to rolling out Mythos, speculating that the limited release could be aimed at stirring intrest from other prospective customers.

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Meanwhile, both Anthropic and rival OpenAI are expected to launch initial public offerings by the end of the year, according to the Wall Street Journal  a possible incentive to drum up headlines, said Peter Garraghan, founder and Chief Science Officer at Mindgard, an AI security platform.

"I suspect Anthropic may be using this as a marketing ploy, perhaps towards IPO," he said.

Anthropic has sought to distinguish its brand from OpenAI and other rivals by publicly emphasizing AI safety, highlighting its guardrails for keeping the technology in line. Anthropic's decision to hold off on releasing Mythos and launching Project Glasswing aligns with that image, noted Columbia Business School marketing lecturer Malek Ben Sliman.

"When facing the tough decisions, Anthropic has actually been true to its values," he said. Curating the release of Mythos "does allow them to look to be the protectors of this responsible AI, but it also is a great marketing and advertising tool."

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Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a 2,100-year-old bullet inscribed with a pointed message to enemies, The New York Post reported.

The sling bullet, crafted from rock and designed to be fired as a projectile from a slingshot, was found in a necropolis dating back to the Byzantine era along an ancient road in the former village of Hippos. Hippos was previously a powerful political region. Known then as Susita, it served as the epicenter of power in the area from 323 B.C. to 31 B.C.

The bullet, which measures 1.25 inches long and 0.748 inches wide and weighs just 0.099 pounds, is believed to be from the second century. Its inscribed with a sarcastic message to enemies unlucky enough to come into contact with the weapon. On the side of the bullet is the word Learn carved in now-faded Greek lettering.

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At Hippos alone, 69 such projectiles have been identified so far, but this is the first in the world to bear the inscription Learn,' said Michael Eisenberg, the studys lead author and an archaeologist at the University of Haifa. This represents local sarcastic humor on the part of the citys defenders, who wished to teach their enemies a lesson with a wink: Learn your lesson!

Sling Bullet Was Deployed During Ancient Battle as City Defense

Officials explained in last months press release announcing the discovery that the sling bullet was fired by the citys defenders from the city walls toward the enemy advancing to besiege the city. To find a sling bullet with an inscription is very rare; to find this Greek word on a sling bullet is the first time in the world, the statement added.

Dr. Michael Eisenberg / University of Haifa

At the time, lead bullets were considered an inexpensive but fatal resolution to conflict, while stone projectiles were both less lethal and easier to manipulate on the battlefield. Sling bullets were produced by casting lead in stone molds in a relatively simple process that could be carried out even during a military campaign, the statement explained.

Many projectiles were decorated with the name of a military commander, the name of a city, sarcastic humor or symbols intended to imbue them with power, such as a trident, lightning bolt or scorpion, officials explained.

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To find a sling bullet with an inscription is very rare; to find this Greek word on a sling bullet is the first time in the world, Eisenberg added. We know of similar mocking or sarcastic humor directed at the enemy, but this specific example was unknown and reveals the humorous local trend among the Hellenistic defenders of Hippos.

Eisenberg concluded: The bullets location near the ancient main road below the citys fortifications, in addition to the impact mark on the bullet, supplies a colorful reconstruction of the defenders shooting the bullet toward the besieging forces advancing towards the city.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Argentina President Javier Milei will light a torch at Israels 78th Independence Day ceremony, with Regev citing his strong support for Israel and fight against antisemitism.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev said that she chose Argentinian President Javier Milei to light a torch at Mount Herzl for Israels 78th Independence Day anniversary celebration in a Thursday announcement.

Regev noted that Milei has expressed his support for Israel in multiple ways, from recognizing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah, and Hamas as terrorist organizations, to efforts to secure the release of the hostages, the decision to rename Palestine Street as Bibas Family Street, and his vigorous campaign in international forums against antisemitism and in support of Israels right to defend itself.

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"President Javier Milei is among the most prominent leaders of the free world and among Israels closest friends, a true friend and a genuine Zionist, a model of partnership, loyalty, and appreciation for the Jewish people, and one of the greatest friends of the Jewish people," Regev said in a statement.

"Choosing him reflects the immense gratitude that all citizens of Israel feel toward his leadership and our tremendous pride in the warm and close relationship between Israel and Argentina.

Regev, in charge of planning the ceremony this year, chose a varied group of Israelis to participate in the torch-lighting, from servicepeople to rabbis, to comedians and doctors.

Brig.-Gen. Gal Hirsch and Talik Gvili

Gal Hirsch served as the Israeli government's coordinator for hostages and missing persons in the two years following the October 7 attacks.

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His selection immediately drew criticism from several families of former hostages in Gaza, who have accused Hirsch of mistreatment regarding his handling of hostages' families over the past two years. More than 100 relatives of former hostages signed a petition opposing any further representation of Hirsch within the hostage community.

Despite this backlash, Regev defended her decision to choose Hirsch, explaining that she viewed the opportunity to light the torch as a way to express gratitude for "his lifelong dedication to the security of the State of Israel."

"For more than two years, he worked thoroughly and tirelessly, around the clock, both in Israel and abroad, and did not stop until the sacred mission entrusted to him was completed."

Further fueling public criticism, Talik Gvili, the mother of Israeli hero and hostage Ran Gvili, was selected to light the torch alongside Hirsch. Although Gvili's name was not included in the petition, this pairing has attracted attention.

Colonel Matan B and Maj. Nurit R

For the IDF's representation at the ceremony, Regev chose Colonel Matan B., an officer in the Air and Space Force, and Major Nurit R., a combat soldier and commander in the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps. The pair was recommended by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.

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Col. Matan B served in various command positions in the Air Force, including squadron commander. Currently, he is leading the development of the Air Forces operation plans in Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Rising Lion.

Nurit is a combat soldier who, a few days before October 7, began serving as commander of the northern brigade of the Gaza Division. She fought at the Urim base during Hamasattack and was wounded. Despite her injury, she insisted on returning to her role, and only two weeks later, she was seriously wounded in another battle. The injury forced her to undergo a series of complex surgeries, during which her leg was amputated. Despite the many difficulties, she continued to express her commitment to keep contributing in every possible way to the security of Israeli citizens.

In the past year, the State of Israel has continued to fundamentally reshape the balance of power in the Middle East, and the IDF is striking our enemies hard in both the near and far circles, said Regev.

"Behind this work stand brave fighters like Col. Matan, who represents Israels long arm, and Maj. Nurit, who forged an especially impressive command path through a series of positions in the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps. Through the selection of Matan and Nurit, we salute all IDF servicewomen and servicemen who work tirelessly to guard the people and the land, fighters of whom it can be said wholeheartedly: for the glory of the State of Israel.

Ari Spitz

Spitz was severely wounded after an explosive blast in the Zeitoun neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip left him on a ventilator for a month and a half. He lost both of his legs and one arm, which required a rehabilitation process of more than 200 days.

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Regev praised Spitz for his inspiring resilience.

Despite the heavy price he paid, she said, Aris spirit never faltered for a moment. He succeeded in drawing on the hidden strength within him to rebuild his routine and to strengthen many others. Through Ari, we salute all IDF soldiers, including those wounded in body and spirit, who paid such a heavy price to restore peace and security to the residents of Israel.

Tamer Atallah

Tamer, a member of the Druze community, served for a decade in the IDF's economic branch. Tamer was commended throughout his military service for his contributions to preserving the heritage of Druze, Circassian, and Bedouin fighters. He also served as a driving force in the Druze communitys special emergency operations room, founded by Sheik Mowafaq Tarif following the events in Sweida, Syria.

Tamer contributed greatly to the important effort to save our Druze brothers who were massacred in Sweida, Syria. Regev recounted.

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"The operations room in which he worked saved the lives of many, helped transfer food and medical equipment, and arranged medical treatment in Israel for elderly people, children, and women who suffered sexual violence and severe abuse.

Choosing him reflects the deep appreciation of the people of Israel for the sons and daughters of the Druze community and for all those who combine service, professionalism, and contribution to the community, and who continue to strengthen the covenant of brotherhood," she added.

Professor Dina Ben-Yehuda

One of the most prominent figures in Israel's medical and research landscape, Ben-Yehuda heads the hematology division at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem and has held major roles in the countrys healthcare and academic sectors.

Regev said that Ben Yehuda represents the strength and resilience of the people of Israels healthcare system, who continue to stand on the front line, to treat, to heal, to plant hope, and to strengthen the bodies, spirits, and souls of patients in Israel. Researchers continue to innovate, renew themselves, and forge scientific paths in order to save lives and reshape the face of humanity.

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In such a complex year, she continued, when the burden on hospitals is so great, choosing Dina is our way of saying, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you to the women and men doctors, the women and men researchers.

Rabbi Avraham Zarviv

Alongside his Torah and educational work, Rabbi Zarviv, a father of six, continues to serve on active reserve duty. His path of religious Zionism connects faith, values, and action.

Rabbi Avraham Zarviv is a clear embodiment of deep commitment to the people of Israel, the Torah of Israel, and the Land of Israel, said Regev. For years, he has worked to strengthen the world of Torah, a worldview that sees the connection between spirit and action as a central foundation in building Israeli society.

Even in the challenging period in which we now find ourselves, Rabbi Zarviv continues to work to strengthen the spirit, deepen roots, and lead action-filled building and renewal. He represents a generation that refuses to part from responsibility, that chooses to bear the burden and continue building, out of great faith in the future. Through his figure we salute the men and women of religious Zionism, who combine a life of Torah with service and contribution to the state, and continue to lead Israeli society forward out of a deep sense of mission.

Gili Raanan

A co-founder of Wiz, which was recently acquired by Google in one of the largest deals in Israel's history, Raanan is a prominent figure in the next generation of entrepreneurs.

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The sale of Wiz is proof of the tremendous technological strengths and capabilities of the startup nation, said Regev. Raanan has been a partner in the founding and guidance of many companies, thereby helping grow a new generation of entrepreneurs. Even in periods of uncertainty and many challenges, he continues to act in faith in Israels ability to innovate, dare, and break boundaries. Through choosing him, we salute the Israeli high-tech community, which continues to lead, create, and establish Israels standing as a global technological power.

Roni Insahez Farshad

Born and raised in Tehran, Farshad studied at a Muslim school and was drafted into the Iranian army at 18. Following basic training, he was assigned to serve at the court in Tehran, advancing to sensitive positions until he eventually became an assistant to investigators and senior judges.

At the same time, he secretly helped Jews in distress, rescuing them through resourcefulness, cunning, and courage. In 1997, he immigrated to Israel and, together with his brother, established a series of successful business ventures.

Regev said that Ronis story represents the rich heritage of Iranian Jewry and their deep and justified yearning for freedom.

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Precisely at a time when the State of Israel, together with the US, is striking Iran hard in order to remove the existential threat placed at our necks, I am proud to choose Roni, who represents the many men and women who acted boldly and cleverly to save our Jewish brothers in Iran, even at the risk of their lives. And to all those who still choose today to take responsibility, to help, and to strengthen the spirit and mutual responsibility of the Jewish people, said Regev.

Moshe Edri

Edri is an Israel Prize winner for Lifetime Achievement, recognized for his contributions to Hebrew arts and for promoting Israeli cinema.

The story of Moshe Edris life contains all the elements of a movie. The boy from Dimona who fell in love with the silver screen and became, together with his beloved late brother Leon, one of the pillars of Israeli cinema, stated Regev.

The films produced by the Edri brothers greatly shaped the face of Israeli society and brought Israeli cinema and the Hebrew language to the world stage, she continued.

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Edri also continues to contribute greatly to preserving the magnificent heritage of Israeli cinema and introduces the younger generation to the Israeli classics that have become cultural treasures. In recent years, we have seen the younger generation fall in love with the nostalgic films we grew up on, something that would not have happened without Moshe Edris lifes work.

Hannah Laslo

Actress and comedian Hannah Laslo is one of the most beloved and unique voices in Israeli culture, according to Regev.

A trailblazing and boundary-breaking artist who has, for decades, succeeded in conquering the stage and the screen, making people laugh, moving them, and touching the hearts of broad audiences, she continued.

Through unforgettable characters and a humor that is entirely her own, Hanna brings to the stage the story of Israeli society in all its shades. Over the years, Hanna continues to create, make people laugh, and broaden hearts, reminding us all of the power of humor and of cultures ability to touch, heal, and connect.

In her work, she embodies the ability of Israeli culture to renew itself, to take a complex reality and process it through humor, and from it create connection, meaning, and hope. Hanna proves that the power of creativity and laughter can give rise to hope even in difficult days.

Through Hanna, we salute all cultural figures, stage workers, and creators in Israel, who continue to illuminate, make people laugh, and strengthen the spirit of the nation.
Update: The Artemis II crew splashed down to end its mission successfully on Friday, April 10. Follow the latest here.

When the Artemis II Orion crew capsule returns to Earth on Friday after flying around the moon, it will hit the discernible atmosphere some 75 miles above the Pacific Ocean at a blistering 24,000 mph  fast enough to fly from Los Angeles to New York in about 6 minutes.

Within seconds, temperatures across its 16.5-foot-wide heat shield will climb to some 5,000 degrees  half as hot as the visible surface of the sun  as the ship rapidly slows in an electrically charged fireball of atmospheric friction.

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The four astronauts on board  commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen  are counting on the heat shield to keep them safe, in a comfortable environment, all the way through the peak heating zone to a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific off the coast of California.

"We have high confidence in the system, in the heat shield and the parachutes and the recovery systems we put together," Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator, said Thursday. "The engineering supports it, the Artemis I flight data supports it. All of our ground tests support it, our analysis supports it, and tomorrow the crew is going to put their lives behind that confidence."

The Artemis II heat shield during its assembly. The 16.5-foot-wide heat shield is required to protect the Orion capsule and its crew from the 5,000-degree heat of the ship's high-speed plunge back into the atmosphere. / Credit: NASA

The crew and mission managers are confident, they say, despite major problems with the heat shield that was used during the unpiloted Artemis I test flight in 2022, when the Avcoat material making up the shield developed sub-surface cracks and gas pockets that blew away chunks of the protective barrier's outer "char" layer.

Based on nearly two years of tests and analysis, engineers were surprised to discover the damage was most likely caused by the Avcoat material's lack of permeability during a specific phase of the reentry when the shield was experiencing lower external temperatures while internal layers were still extremely high, generating gas that could not escape.

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Agency managers decided to order a different heat shield design for downstream Artemis missions. But the heat shield for the Artemis II flight, identical to the one used with Artemis I, was already installed. Replacing it with a new design would have delayed the mission by 18 months or more.

The 16.5-foot-wide heat shield protecting the Orion capsule during an unpiloted test flight in 2022 was seriously damaged during reentry. / Credit: NASA

Instead, NASA managers opted to launch Artemis II "as is" based on test data and an exhaustive analysis that indicated the shield would work properly if the reentry trajectory was modified to eliminate the temperature and pressure swings that contributed to the damage seen after the Artemis I flight.

"They did a tremendous amount of research, a lot of groundbreaking research in some facilities that we had not used before, and they discovered the root cause," Wiseman said.

"They did wind tunnel testing and laser testing and hyper-velocity testing, and they determined that if we come in with this lofted profile ... that this heat shield will be safe for us to go fly.

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"So I think all that points in the direction of goodness," he said. "And I think if you, as a human being who was about to board this rocket, had sat in the meetings that we sat in and listened to the experts and gone through the data with them, you would have the same comfort."

What went wrong with Artemis I?

During the Artemis I mission, the unpiloted capsule followed a planned "skip" trajectory, similar in concept to skipping a flat stone across still water. After an initial dip into the upper atmosphere, the Artemis I capsule skipped back out again before making its final descent to splashdown. The skip reentry helps reduce the spacecraft's velocity while offering NASA a wider range of splashdown options in case bad weather makes a targeted landing site problematic.

The Artemis I heat shield after its return to Earth in 2022. Regions of the shield suffered unexpected damage that did not match computer modeling, kicking off months of detailed tests and analysis. / Credit: NASA

Despite the heat shield damage seen after the flight, the Artemis I reentry was successful. The capsule landed on target, and officials said that had any astronauts been aboard, they would have had no problems. But the damage triggered alarm at NASA.

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"NASA identified more than 100 locations where ablative thermal protective material from Orion's heat shield wore away differently than expected during reentry into Earth's atmosphere," NASA's Office of Inspector General wrote.

"While the heat shield successfully protected the Crew Module and its systems during the Artemis I mission, upon inspection after Orion's recovery, engineers noted unexpected variations in the appearance of the heat shield Avcoat  the ablative material that helps protect the capsule from the heat of reentry.

"Specifically, portions of the char layer wore away differently than NASA engineers predicted, cracking and breaking off the spacecraft in fragments that created a trail of debris rather than melting away as designed," the office said. "The unexpected behavior of the Avcoat creates a risk that the heat shield may not sufficiently protect the capsule's systems and crew from the extreme heat of reentry on future missions."

Another look at the Artemis I heat shield showing areas where major damage was observed. / Credit: NASA

Testing revealed the damage was related to the heat shield's permeability, or rather, its lack thereof. After the initial, relatively deep dive into the atmosphere, the Avcoat material making up the shield was unable to properly dissipate the heat that remained in its lower layers during the skip back out of the atmosphere.

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Entry heating is what makes the Avcoat's outer char layer permeable enough to allow gas to escape. The Artemis I heat shield worked normally during its initial descent into the atmosphere. But when it climbed back out, reentry heating eased and the outer char layer became much less permeable.

The underlying material was still extremely hot, undergoing a process known as pyrolysis  combustion without oxygen  and generating gas that had no way to escape. Those buildups eventually blew chunks of the heat shield's outer layers away.

"They go back up from that first entry, they're still hot, they're still off-gassing," said an engineer familiar with the investigation. "The fact that the material itself isn't permeable enough is causing that gas pressure to build up now, very rapidly, because they're still hot. But the char layer has paused."

A closeup of the Artemis I heat shield shows an area where a chunk of the outer layer was blown off during entry in 2022. / Credit: NASA

The outer char layer is "the only part of the Artemis I and Artemis II heat shield that actually allows it to breathe, or allows it to off-gas. So once it stops, now there's no mechanism in the deeper parts of the heat shield for that gas to escape," he said.

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"So the pressure built up, and as the capsule came back down and started reheating, the pressure was already there.

"All those cracks, the pockets had already formed. And now, bang, bang, bang, pop. Avcoat started sloughing off during that second entry," the engineer said.

A modified reentry trajectory should solve the problem

Engineers verified in lab tests that a modified skip-entry trajectory  one with an initial dip into the upper atmosphere followed by a shorter-duration climb back out  would allow the Avcoat to "breathe" throughout, preventing the formation of cracks and trapped gas. An independent review team agreed with those conclusions.

The unpiloted Artemis I flight used a

Interestingly, Apollo engineers were aware of the Avcoat permeability issue and designed that program's heat shields accordingly. Apollo capsules also used skip reentry trajectories and had no problems. But the Avcoat used in the Artemis heat shields was reformulated slightly, and that ended up affecting its permeability.

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In any case, the downside to the modified reentry trajectory for Artemis II will reduce the distance the Orion capsule can fly to avoid bad weather in the planned splashdown zone. It will also result in higher sustained heating during the descent, but engineers say that is exactly what is needed to maintain permeability in the outer char layer and ensure good performance.

Former astronaut Charles Camarda disagreed, strongly criticizing the "fly as is" decision. He argues that engineers do not fully understand the root cause of the Artemis I heat shield damage and cannot accurately predict how the Artemis II heat shield will perform or whether the revised entry trajectory might have unintended consequences.

In a letter to the NASA administrator, Camarda wrote that "history shows accidents occur when organizations convince themselves they understand problems they do not."

Like Wiseman, Glover says he trusts the analysis of the Artemis I problem, saying critics "haven't been in these meetings from day one and met the team and looked them in the eye and shook their hands at the ends of these meetings."

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That said, he added, "I don't want to discount the things that they've said. Any time you talk about fire, any time you talk about entry and heat shields, talk about parachutes, these are high-risk things that ... don't have fault tolerance built in. They have to work."

"And so I appreciate all of that nudging and poking and prodding that they've caused," Glover said. "They have made us sharpen our pencils and put more due diligence, more vigilance into that process. But I think we've done that. And so I think the crew is comfortable because of that team."

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  NASAs Artemis II mission is expected to come to a close on Friday evening with the Orion spacecraft slated to splash down off San Diegos coast.

Some are wondering: will a sonic boom be heard across the region when the spacecraft reenters the Earths atmosphere and barrels toward the West Coast?

The short answer: its possible  but far from guaranteed.

During reentry, the Orion spacecraft will propel back to its home planet at speeds approaching 25,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. That high-speed return, generating extreme heat and pressure, is what creates the potential for a sonic boom.

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For those unfamiliar, a sonic boom is a loud, explosive sound caused when an object  such as an aircraft or other type of aerospace vehicle  travels faster than the speed of sound.

Air reacts like a fluid to supersonic objects. As objects travel through the air, the air molecules are pushed aside with great force, and this forms a shock wave much like a boat creates a bow wave, NASA explained. The bigger and heavier the aircraft, the more air it displaces.

Where to watch Artemis II crews return to Earth with kids in San Diego

As the Orion spacecraft tears through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, it will compress air in front of it, creating those shock waves. However, altitude determines the distance shock waves travel before reaching the ground  scientists say this has the most significant effect on the intensity of a sonic boom.

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So, will San Diegans hear it? Well, it depends on several factors.

The first thing to consider is Orions flightpath and reentry location. Sonic booms are heard along what NASA described as a narrow boom carpet beneath the spacecrafts trajectory. If Orions path lines up offshore, which its expected to do, the sound may stay over the ocean.

During re-entry, the service module will separate about 20 minutes before Orion reaches the upper atmosphere southeast of Hawaii, NASA officials explained.

This means the projected entry interface  the point where a spacecraft enters a planets atmosphere  will be located approximately 2,000 miles from the Pacific Ocean landing area, which is about 50 to 80 miles offshore from San Diego. This lessens the probability of hearing a sonic boom from land in Southern California.

Ground track map displaying the Artemis II Orion parachute sequence. This graphic was presented by Artemis II Flight Director Rick Henfling during the mission status briefing to the media and public on April 8, 2026, at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. (Credit: NASA)

Another factor to consider is altitude. Scientists say much of the loudest shockwaves form high in the atmosphere, which can reduce whats heard on the ground.

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Weather conditions are also a component, with NASA officials explaining, The direction of travel and strength of shock waves are influenced by wind, speed and direction, and by air temperature and pressure.

Put simply, temperature, wind and cloud layers can bend or weaken sound waves before they reach land.

Recent weather models show an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions for the tail end of the Artemis II mission, though NASA pointed to cloud coverage and potential for high winds on the ground as primary weather concerns, winds that could impact sonic boom levels.

The crew aboard the Orion spacecraft is expected to splash down near San Diego at 5:07 p.m. PST on Friday, April 10. Navy sailors on the USS John P. Murtha will be responsible for recovering both the Orion capsule and its crew in the open ocean.

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On Thursday afternoon, officials with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said a sonic boom could potentially be felt and heard throughout Southern California between 5 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. PST.

The USGS encourages anyone who thinks they might have heard or felt a sonic boom to fill out its Did You Feel It survey. This crowd sourcing tool typically collects eyewitness reports from people who feel earthquakes. It uses online responses to map shaking intensity, damage extent and human experience. In this special case, the USGS will map out sonic boom accounts.

While some coastal communities could hear a brief boom as NASAs Artemis II mission to the moon reaches its end Friday, many residents across San Diego County may not hear anything at all. It will depend on precise timing, trajectory and atmospheric conditions.

Still, the event marks a rare moment: a spacecraft carrying astronauts returning from deep space, potentially announcing its arrival with a thunder-like crack over the Pacific Ocean.

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Even if a sonic boom is not heard, the Artemis II return will remain a milestone in space exploration  and its all happening just off the coast of San Diego.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
By Enas Alashray, Yomna Ehab and Sheila Dang

CAIRO, April 9 (Reuters) - Attacks on Saudi energy facilities have cut the kingdom's oil production capacity by around 600,000 barrels per day and throughput on its East-West Pipeline by about 700,000 bpd, Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Thursday, citing an official source at the Ministry of Energy.

The ministry source did not specify who launched the attacks, but Saudi Arabia has intercepted many Iranian missiles and drones in recent weeks. The latest attacks, including previous strikes on some facilities, also disrupted operations at key oil, gas, refining, petrochemical and electricity sites in Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Yanbu Industrial City, SPA said.

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Saudi Arabia had not previously provided details about the impact to oilfield production, refineries and pipeline flow from attacks occurring during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began in late February.

Benchmark Brent crude futures rose in post-settlement trade on Thursday after settling up $1.17 or 1.2%, at $95.92 a barrel.

"The East-West pipe is diverting so much of the Saudi crude not able to leave via the Strait of Hormuz," said Kpler analyst Matt Smith. "Any pullback on volume is going to add to the tight situation. It is not great news for markets."

The two-week ceasefire announced this week appeared tenuous at best, with Israel continuing its attacks on Lebanon and Iran showing few signs that it was lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for nearly a fifth of global energy supplies.

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With the strait blocked, the East-West Pipeline has been Saudi Arabia's only crude export route. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Iran attacked the pipeline just hours after the ceasefire was agreed upon.

SAUDI NATIONAL KILLED IN ATTACKS

One Saudi national from industrial security staff of the Saudi energy company was killed and seven other Saudi employees were wounded in the attacks, SPA said.

Saudi Arabia has come under attack from hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the start of the war, most of which were intercepted, authorities have said.

Tehran has launched strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states that host U.S. military installations.

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One pumping station on the East-West Pipeline was hit, reducing throughput by about 700,000 bpd, the ministry source said. The source described the pipeline as currently a main route for supplying global markets.

The Manifa oilfield was also hit, reducing production capacity by around 300,000 bpd, while a previous attack on the Khurais facility cut a further 300,000 bpd, bringing the total reduction in Saudi production capacity to about 600,000 bpd, the source added.

It was unclear how long the Manifa and Khurais production could be offline, Smith said.

DAMAGE TO MAJOR REFINERIES

The attacks also hit major refining facilities, including SATORP in Jubail, the Ras Tanura refinery, the SAMREF refinery in Yanbu and the Riyadh refinery, directly affecting exports of refined products to global markets, SPA said. Processing facilities in Ju'aymah were also hit by fires, affecting exports of liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas liquids.

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French oil major TotalEnergies holds an interest in SATORP, and U.S. major Exxon Mobil has a stake in SAMREF. TotalEnergies did not immediately respond to request for comment and Exxon referred to the operator for comment.

The strikes on key oilfields, pipeline infrastructure and refining hubs underscore the risks to global energy supplies as conflict spreads across the region. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, plays a central role in global crude markets, and a prolonged disruption to its production, refining system or export routes could tighten supplies and add to price volatility.

The ministry source said continued attacks would reduce supply and slow recovery, affecting energy security for consuming countries and adding to volatility in oil markets. SPA said the disruption had already depleted a significant portion of operational and emergency inventories, limiting the ability to offset supply shortfalls.

(Reporting by Yomna Ehab, Enas Alashray, Sheila Dang and Arathy Somasekhar; Editing by Edmund Klamann, Nathan Crooks and David Gregorio)
April 9 (UPI) -- The Selective Service System is set to automatically register men in the United States between the ages of 18 years and 26 years for the draft starting in December.

The agency submitted the rule on March 30 on a fast-track change, which would allow it to start automatic registration in December, based on the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, Military.com reported.

There have been no reports of plans to reinstate a military draft amid the current U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last month that President Trump likes to "keep his options on the table," but holding a draft would also require an act of Congress, after it were to issue a formal declaration of war.

A military draft has not been held since toward the end of the Vietnam War in 1973.

President Jimmy Carter in 1980, however, signed the Registration Under the Military Selective Service Act requiring men to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday.

Failure to register is punishable by up to five years in jail or a fine of up to $250,000, but has rarely been enforced -- although that could change with the new rule.

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In 2024, 81% of eligible men registered with SSS, which CNBC reported was a three-percentage-point decrease from the year before.

That year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., to abolish the SSS and the draft, with both Senators called it "outdated" and unnecessary.

A proposal to make SSS registration automatic did not make the 2024 NDAA, and Wyden and Paul's bill did not make it out of committee.

But Democrat U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Penn., said that the language in the House version of the 2025 NDAA had broad bipartisan support and told CNN that the new rule was a net benefit for both the government and young men required by law to register.

"Making registration automatic not only saves taxpayer dollars by eliminating the need to advertise but finally ensures that young men are not unknowingly penalized," she said.
Advocates and fellow elected officials are urging a Brookfield alderman to resign after learning of numerous posts on his now-deleted LinkedIn page that graphically called for violence against Muslims, immigrants and others.

Kris Seals, who ran unopposed and just won re-election to the council April 7, made at least two dozen posts riddled with hate speech and violent calls to action on a LinkedIn account under his real name and real employer, according to screenshots obtained and reviewed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Mayor Steve Ponto called the comments "reprehensible in any context," in an April 10 news release. He said that as of 3:30 p.m. April 10, Seals had declined to resign from the council after being asked to by his council peers.

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In several comments on his now-deleted LinkedIn page, Seals expressed deep disdain for Muslims. He wrote that Islam is a "sick religion" in one post and referenced a need to "extinguish" those who observe the religion in another.

Brookfield Ald. Kris Seals is seen at a meeting in 2023.

In other posts, he said "bacon rapped [sic] bullets" were needed against Somalis and that people protesting federal immigration operations needed to "jump in an acid bath."

Seals also encouraged violence against U.S. politicians and expressed white Christian nationalist ideology. He suggested in one post that someone "cut off the hands and deport" U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and called for "Public Executions" on a post about Medicaid fraud.

Seals identifies himself in one post as a Brookfield alderman, and every post includes his position and employer: customer service representative at Nolan Accounting Center.

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Seals defended the posts when approached by a reporter with WITI-TV (Channel 6), which first reported the issue April 9 and reported that Seals deleted the profile after the television station's questioning.

When Seals answered a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter's phone call seeking comment April 10, he said "have a good day" and hung up the phone. Sears did not respond to the reporter's follow-up call or multiple emails requesting comment.

In response to an email from the Journal Sentinel, Tim Nolan of Nolan Accounting Center said the firm is in the process of reviewing and addressing Seals' comments.

"Kris Seals does not speak on behalf of myself or Nolan Accounting in his comments," Nolan said.

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Seals stood by his remarks when questioned by the WITI-TV reporter, saying he has a right to say what he feels.

The Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance described Seals' rhetoric as offensive and dangerous.

At a time when communities are already facing increased fear and uncertainty, this kind of language from an elected official is unacceptable and harmful, Fauzia Qureshi, executive director of the civic alliance, said in a statement. Leaders should be working to bring people together, not fueling division or normalizing violence.

The statement called for a public acknowledgement of the harm caused by Seals' statements, for leaders to take "accountability measures," and for Brookfield to reaffirm a commitment to inclusion, safety and respect for all.

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The city of 41,000 is home to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee Brookfield, the primary Islamic organization in Milwaukee's western suburbs.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a major national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, called for Seals' resignation in an emailed news release April 10.

State law and constitution limit how local government can discipline elected officials for communications made in a private capacity, Mayor Ponto, whom Seals endorsed in the recent April 7 election, said in his emailed statement to reporters.

"While I condemn his remarks in the strongest possible terms, disciplinary matters fall under the Common Councils responsibility, and the response to the matter must be consistent with the law," he said. "The City is evaluating what, if any, actions it could legally take in this matter."

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The Journal Sentinel reached out to the 13 other Brookfield aldermen who have served with Seals on the council the last four years. Four  Mike Hallquist, Sara Monty, Eric Fugleberg and Bill Carnell  responded or wrote public Facebook posts voicing their concern over Seals' comments.

"The statements reported are unacceptable, they fall short of the standard for anyone holding public office," Fugleberg told the Journal Sentinel. He said he had already reached out to the city attorney to clarify what measures are viable for the council members to hold Seals accountable in the situation.

It's not the first time Seals sparked attention for his comments in his capacity as alderman. He faced possible censure when he said during a 2023 public meeting related to an affordable housing development that people should "live in Wauwatosa or West Allis" until they've worked enough to afford to live in Brookfield.

In that scenario, Seals did not face formal consequences for his statements and instead garnered support from residents.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Calls grow for Brookfield alderman Kris Seals to resign after posts
Madagascar's President Michael Randrianirina delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the CEO Summit Indian Ocean in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)

ANTANANARIVO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of the CEO Summit Indian Ocean opened on Thursday in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, aimed at accelerating regional economic integration.

The two-day summit brings together decision-makers, investors, and officials from 23 countries, with a focus on fostering convergence of visions and providing pragmatic solutions to the economic challenges facing the Indian Ocean region and beyond.

Organized by the Syndicate of Industries of Madagascar (SIM) and BECOM, a Malagasy institutional communication agency, the summit is held under the theme "New Paradigm, New Horizons."

At the opening ceremony, President of Madagascar Michael Randrianirina said that the major regional economic event "reflects our country's openness to regional and international investors."

He called for increased investments and "balanced partnerships based on mutual respect" in Madagascar, while emphasizing the importance of safeguarding national economic sovereignty.

President of SIM Tiana Rasamimanana said that the summit should go beyond mere discussions to become "a catalyst for initiatives," emphasizing the need to translate exchanges into "concrete projects" and "sustainable investments."

Guinean Industry and Trade Minister Fatima Camara underscored the need to transform natural resources into local value addition, while presenting the Simandou 2040 vision, a national transformation project to build a more sovereign economy. 

Madagascar's President Michael Randrianirina speaks to the media during the second edition of the CEO Summit Indian Ocean in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)

Tiana Rasamimanana, president of the Syndicate of Industries of Madagascar (SIM), delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the CEO Summit Indian Ocean in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)

Guinean Industry and Trade Minister Fatima Camara delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the CEO Summit Indian Ocean in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 9, 2026 shows the opening ceremony of the second edition of the CEO Summit Indian Ocean in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)
Eric Swalwell's campaign for governor is over, whether he admits it or not.

For weeks, salacious talk swirled in campaign circles, ricocheted through email chains and was served up, like a buzzy side dish, over gossipy lunches from Sacramento to San Diego.

The talk revolved around the 45-year-old East Bay congressman, one of the top Democratic contenders in the crowded contest. The rumors involved allegations of inappropriate behavior with young staffers.

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Pressed by rival camps, pursued by the political press corps, the claims were largely confined to unvetted corners of the internet until Tuesday, when Swalwell's campaign issued a public statement denying any wrongdoing.

The move was a prebuttal. Strategists figured it better to address the online innuendo, even if it meant exposing the allegations to a much wider audience. The campaign's statement was followed hours later by a categorical denial from the congressman himself.

Its false, Swalwell told reporters. He said he never behaved inappropriately with female staff members or had a sexual relationship with any staffer or intern. There were no quiet legal settlements, he said. No hiding behind nondisclosure agreements.

Read more: Swalwell denies claims that he behaved inappropriately with young congressional staffers

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His adamant assertions recall President Clinton's emphatic, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky"  a similar point-blank, politically calculated denial, which blew up in his face.

On Friday, the San Francisco Chronicle published a lengthy report  filled with highly specific and graphic detail  quoting a woman who worked nearly two years for Swalwell, stating she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss. Twice, she alleged, he sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent.

Instantly, the bottom fell out of Swalwell's campaign.

The woman, who is 17 years younger than the congressman, said he began pursuing her within weeks of her hiring at age 21 to work in his district office in the East Bay Area. That was in 2019.

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The woman said she largely kept quiet about Swalwells behavior out of fear she would suffer personal and professional consequences. She told the Chronicle she did not share her account with authorities because she was afraid they would not believe her.

Swalwell issued another categorical denial.

"These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor," he said in a statement, exaggerating somewhat his status in the neck-and-neck gubernatorial race. "For nearly 20 years, I have served the public  as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women.

"I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action," Swalwell said. "My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies."

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Hours later, CNN reported that three other women had recounted various kinds of sexual misconduct, including the congressman sending them explicit messages or nude photos.

Even before the Chronicle published its article, once the privately bandied rumors were suddenly out in the open, you could almost hear the sound of a dam bursting. Swalwell's competitors were quick to amplify the assertions, grappling for advantage in a race that remains stubbornly knotted up.

"Very, very troubling, said fellow Democrat Katie Porter. "Deeply troubling," echoed Betty Yee, another of the Democratic hopefuls.

A third Democrat running, Antonio Villaraigosa, was more inventive, accusing Swalwell "of skipping town"  he did not attend a Wednesday candidate forum in Sacramento  "as more and more women come forward with sexual harassment allegations."

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At that point no one with firsthand knowledge had come forward to contradict Swalwell's denial of wrongdoing.

But as soon as the Chronicle published its report, opponents escalated their attacks. Each of his major Democratic rivals for governor and the two leading Republicans called on Swalwell to quit the race.

They were hardly alone.

California Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a parade of Democratic lawmakers and colleagues who urged Swalwell to abandon his effort. Some urged him to give up his congressional seat.

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Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a Los Angeles Democrat who chaired Swalwells campaign, resigned from the role and also called on Swalwell to drop out. He was one of several campaign strategists and staffers who bailed on the campaign.

The powerful California Teachers Assn. quickly withdrew its endorsement and on Saturday other major labor unions followed suit.

Read more: Swalwell accused of sexually assaulting female staff member; N.Y. prosecutor investigating

On Friday night, the congressman posted on social media a direct-to-camera denial of the allegations. The one-minute, 20-second clip had the feel of a shadowy, hostage video.

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Looking grim, Swalwell said the accusations leveled at him were flat [out] false," though he allowed as how he was neither perfect nor a saint. His transgressions, he said, "were between me and my wife. And to her I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.

Swalwell said he would spend the weekend with his family and friends, which is understandable and probably necessary. "I look forward to updating you soon," he concluded.

That presumably means an announcement he is formally exiting the race. Anything less would be utter delusion on Swalwell's part. His campaign is dead. Very likely his political career as well. (Swalwell opted to run for governor instead of seeking reelection to his congressional seat.)

Along with his tattered reputation, Swalwell trails a skein of questions. Among them: If the allegations are true, what could he possibly have been thinking? Not just forcing himself on his alleged victims, but running for governor knowing what he'd done and the likelihood his past would surface in such devastating fashion?

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His answers may come in time, or not. They're now immaterial to the race for governor.

Swalwell, while running near the top of the pack, was garnering less than 20% support in most polls, so it's not as though his implosion will bring a seismic shift in the race. But in a contest where just a few percentage points separate candidates vying in the June 2 primary for two slots in a November runoff, even a marginal shift can be consequential.

The most unpredictable, wide-open California governor's race in a generation has just gotten even more wide open and unpredictable.

Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak

Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol.

Sign me up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAO PAULO (AP)  Brazil 's Supreme Court postponed on Thursday a decision on who will be governor of Rio de Janeiro state, extending a three-week crisis in the country's postcard region. Matters of policing, urban mobility and even gas prices are piling up on the desk of a local judge operating as caretaker.

Rio has had no governor since March 23, when Claudio Castro resigned to run for senator in Octobers elections, as required by law. Others who could fill his role are not available to take over.

Justice Flavio Dino asked for a review in a case that will establish whether Castro's successor until January will be picked by voters in an early election or by members of the state's scandal-prone legislature. He has up to 90 days to return to the court with his ruling.

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So far the score is 4-1 in the 10-member Supreme Court for a vote through the state legislature.

Thiago Pampolha would be eligible to take Castro's position if he had not resigned as deputy governor in 2025 to take a seat in a state government watchdog body. The next in line was Rodrigo Bacellar, the speaker of Rio state's legislature, but he was recently jailed and removed from office.

The head of Rio's state's judiciary, Ricardo Couto de Castro, is now serving as governor. But as he was not expected to stay on for long he is facing headwinds to get other executives to work with him, local media has reported.

A new elected governor might take office only in January next year, as Rio citizens were already scheduled to pick one in October's general elections.

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Thomas Traumann, a political consultant and former government minister, says the extension of the political chaos in Rio is not only embarrassing, but also dangerous.

Brazil's government has just offered a deal to reduce diesel prices, which are high because of the conflict in the Middle East. Rio is one of the few that did not agree because there's no one to authorize it. Now we will have Brazil's most expensive diesel, Traumann said. And what if there's violence from crime gangs tomorrow morning. Who is going to tell police to react?

Local media has also reported that members of Rio's judiciary fear they might soon face difficulties to move some cases ahead as their head has to manage the state's government with no end in sight.

Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, one of the sons of former President Jair Bolsonaro and a likely rival to his successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in October's elections, has pushed for state lawmaker Douglas Ruas to be elected governor through the state legislature.

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Supporters of Lula and his candidate for Rio governor, Eduardo Paes, have argued voters should go to the polls.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
California is considering a package of bills that would add requirements to home insurance providers, after state leaders criticized the industry's response to the state's devastating wildfires last year.

The state Senate held hearings on three bills generally aimed at improving the consumer experience with fire insurance in California. State Sen. Steve Padilla, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Insurance Committee, said the state has been deluged by complaints from homeowners that their insurance companies are slow to pay out claims.

That continues even 15 months after the Palisades and Altadena fires in January 2025.

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"Decades old insurance laws, practices are no longer sufficient to meet the moment," Padilla said at a Senate hearing in Sacramento on Wednesday. "We are attempting to take a lesson from this situation."

Fire insurance reforms

SB-876 would add new requirements for insurers to handle claims more quickly in a declared emergency. It would also increase penalties for violations of fair claims practices. Insurers would need to formulate a "disaster recovery plan" for how to handle major disasters and meet timelines while handing claims.

Two additional bills are pending as well. SB-877 is aimed at speeding the times for insurers to provide documents related to claims. SB-878 requires those insurers to provide compliance data on their payouts, starting in 2028.

Ricardo Lara, California's insurance commissioner, said the wildfires proved the need to reform the claims process, accusing insurers of putting up a "maze of roadblocks" to stonewall claims. But Lara said he has received pushback that the bill package is a market-killer.

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Padilla said he would continue to work out some items in the legislation, especially when it comes to the claims processes. There are some nuances in SB-876 that conflict with others and must be worked through.

Fire fallout

The January 2025 fires destroyed 12,000 homes around Los Angeles. They wiped out almost $8.3 billion in home value across Pacific Palisades and Altadena alone, according to a Realtor.com analysis.

And the economic fallout is ongoing. The fires will cost $4.6 billion to $8.9 billion in lost economic output from 2025 to 2029, according to estimates from L.A.'s economic development group. That leaves some estimates of damage and economic loss at up to $275 billion.

As of January, insurers have paid out $22.4 billion, and fire victims have also seen $6 billion in federal and state dollars and donations. The California Department of Insurance showed a 94% payout rate for 42,121 claims.

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State leaders have taken insurers to task since then. Lara reached a settlement agreement with State Farm last month and also pushed forward several reforms and imposed a moratorium on some insurers to remain in the state.

Lara said he has responded to over 2,000 complaints about delays, denials, miscommunications, and disputes about the claims process. He called these a "systematic failure."

Since 2019, 100,000-acre "megafires" and 1-million-acre "gigafires" are a regular occurrence, Lara said. But he said replacement cost models are outdated, and laws around some building code upgrade coverage need updating. Otherwise, homeowners have been hit with unexpected bills, he said.

"California's wildfire reality is now year-round," Lara said. "Fires are larger, faster, and more destructive than ever."

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Even President Donald Trump was critical of the insurers, singling out State Farm and others and calling them "horrendous" for not paying out to Californians who'd spent years paying premiums.

Industry opposition

However, the bills aren't without their detractors, which include the Building Industry Association chapter in the state and several insurance-related entities.

Denni Ritter, vice president of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said the mandates in the bills are too broad. It's attempting to negotiate with provisions of the legislation, and she said it would work collaboratively to do so. But it fears the scrutiny will "destabilize" the California insurance market.

"We're really concerned about the cumulative and unintended consequences of the remaining provisions," Ritter said. "The reality is these mandates will increase mandates for all Californians, including those in lower-risk areas."

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Seren Taylor of the Personal Insurance Federation of California said it also aims to negotiate on provisions of the bills. Premiums could rise 15% to 20%, which is $200 to $300 on average, but that could rise to $1,000 in high-risk areas, based on its analysis.

Insurers worry the speed required in some of the measures open them up to fraud.

"These are not marginal changes," Taylor said during the hearing. "And they will drive sticker shock statewide."

The committee encouraged further conversation on the measures. Lara said he planned to work with the industry.

Sen. Laura Richardson, a Democrat, said she'd support the legislation but was hesitant about the fairness of some of its provisions. She acknowledged the scope of the wildfires that have struck the state in recent years. But she said insurers, too, are in a tough spot when faced with tens of thousands of claims.

"I'm about fairness," she said. "It just seems really not a fair way for us to get to my goal, because we need insurance companies."
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to stop his investigation into ballots from the November special election that his office seized following accusations of voter fraud.

Bianco, who is also running as a Republican candidate for governor, seized more than 650,000 ballots from the local election office as part of his investigation, which began in February. The sheriff followed a tip from a local community group that claimed the vote tallies did not match the official number of ballots cast.

Bianco said he was technically  very happy with the courts ruling.

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Unfortunately we are status quo, were still at the hold of the court, he said in a video posted to Instagram. So, we are not allowed to progress with the counting of the ballots, and well just continue fighting for this for you, and well make sure that an investigation, like any investigation, is completed and not swept under the rug, as our attorney general would like to happen.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), who demanded that Bianco stop his investigation, called on the state Supreme Court to intervene. He praised its decision as a necessary and appropriate response to what is clearly an unprecedented situation.

The Riverside County Sheriff willfully defied my direct orders, seized 650,000 ballots, misused criminal investigatory tools, and created a constitutional emergency in the process, Bonta said in a statement obtained by The Hill. What the Sheriff says and what he does are often two different things. This 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.

The Supreme Court has also agreed to review this case on the merits  a necessary and appropriate response to what is clearly an unprecedented situation, Bonta added. We look forward to briefing the Court.

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Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gail ORane on Tuesday also ordered the three search warrants for the ballots to be unsealed after several media organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, sued to review the documents. The documents were released after the states top court ordered Bianco to stop his investigation.

The warrants, reviewed by the Times, do not identify a specific scenario or person who was involved in an instance of voter fraud. Riverside officials previously attempted to keep them sealed, citing an active investigation.

Bianco last week paused his investigation as he faced several legal challenges. He previously told the Times that the investigation was put on hold  because of the politically motivated lawsuits and court filings.

Art Tinoco, registrar of voters for the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, previously said the difference with the special election ballots was 103 votes. He said the local community groups allegations of voter fraud were inaccurate and based on a misunderstanding of unprocessed raw data.

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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.
A Charlotte man is behind bars after police say he fired three shots into a car with five people inside.

Shyhied Ivey is facing five felony assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill charges after officials say a prank went wrong.

Court documents say a male friend of Iveys girlfriend called Ivey and pretended to be cheating with her. Iveys girlfriend shares her location with him, and he started following and tailgating their car, according to the affidavit.

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Then, documents say Ivey fired multiple shots into the air as he was pursuing them and fire three shots into their car when they were on Freedom Drive at Wesley Village Road. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Ivey has an extensive criminal history. In 2024, Channel 9 covered when CMPD arrested Ivey for breaking into cars in the Atrium parking deck. Last April, he reached a plea deal with the Mecklenburg County DAs Office, and Judge Craig Collins gave him a suspended sentence with 24 months of supervised probation.

READ MORE >> Arrest made in car break-ins at hospital

Two weeks ago, probation violations were reported. He also was arrested for felony flee to elude arrest in February.

Judge Cecilia Oseguera set his bond at $50,000 secured.
Following reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw dairy products, Raw Farm has issued a voluntary recall notice for some of its products.

In the notice posted by the FDA, the company stated that "while Raw Farm reserves its rights and disputes being the cause of this outbreak, in the interest of public health and safety, Raw Farm issues this voluntary recall."

Here is the product info of the affected products:

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RAW CHEDDAR Original, Block, 8-ounce packages

Barcode: 835204001177

Batch number 20251027-2

Expiration date: 8/23/2026

RAW CHEDDAR Original, Block, 80-ounce packages

Barcode: 835204001160

Batch number: 20251015-4

Expiration date: 8/11/2026

RAW CHEDDAR Original, Block, 16-ounce packages

Barcode: 835204000156

Batch number: 20251027-4

Expiration date: 8/23/2026

RAW CHEDDAR SIMPLY SHREDDED, 80-ounce bag

Barcode: 835204000194

Batch number: 20260205

Expiration date: 5/6/2026

RAW CHEDDAR Jalapeno, Block, 16-ounce packages

Barcode: 835204000354

Batch number: 20251128-1J

Expiration date: 9/24/2026

RAW CHEDDAR SIMPLY SHREDDED, 8-ounce bags

Barcode: 835204001184

Batch number: 20260212

Expiration date: 5/13/2026

RAW CHEDDAR Jalapeno, Block, 8-ounce packages

Barcode: 835204000330

Batch number: 20251128-2J

Expiration date: 9/24/2026

According to the FDA, a total of nine people have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli in three states. Three people have been hospitalized and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection can begin anywhere from a few days after consuming contaminated food to up to nine days later, the FDA reports. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. This outbreak involves Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (also known as STEC), which can cause serious kidney problems (e.g., hemolytic uremic syndrome) that require hospitalization and can lead to death.

Children are more likely to suffer from HUS, which damages small blood vessels, according to the Mayo Clinic. It may cause anemia and clots, which can damage the kidneys and other organs. HUS can lead to kidney failure. Symptoms include pallor or loss of color in the skin, extreme tiredness, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, decreased urination or blood in the urine, swelling of the legs, confusion, seizures, stroke, and high blood pressure, the clinic states.

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The FDA has initiated an on-site inspection and sample collection at Raw Farm, in coordination with state partners. "Sample analysis is ongoing but, at this time, the FDA is not aware of any positive samples," the agency reports.

If you bought any of these cheeses, return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you have any questions or concerns, report them to Raw Farm via the company's contact form.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart
Chicago police are not consistent about stripping police powers from officers who are under investigation, according to a review by the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General.

The OIG found the police department consistently strips powers from members who are arrested, but it found the department is inconsistent in other cases.

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said, "Relieving a CPD member of police powers while under investigation for serious misconduct can safeguard CPD's credibility and protect the public from additional harm."

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Witzburg is recommending the department adopt a formal policy over the relief of police powers, review its criteria for relieving powers, document the decisions and ensure communication with the impacted officers.

ABC7 reached out to the Chicago Police Department for comment, but have not yet heard back.

SEE ALSO | Chicago paid $26.5M in overtime to employees who may not have been eligible, OIG report shows
The post How a Chimpanzee Civil War Tore Through a Once-Stable Uganda Group appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

A famous chimpanzee community in Uganda split into two rival factions after years of social strain, giving scientists a rare look at how even long-stable animal societies can fracture.

Researchers say the conflict reveals just how politically complex chimpanzee life is, with shifting alliances, hierarchy changes, and group loyalty shaping who belongs and who becomes an enemy.

The story matters beyond primatology because it challenges simple ideas about animal behavior and shows that social breakdown, violence, and cooperation can all exist within one highly intelligent species.

One day in June 2015, primatologist Aaron Sandel was watching chimpanzees in Ugandas Kibale National Park when he saw something that did not make sense. A small party of chimps from the Ngogo community heard other members of their own larger community approaching through the forest. Normally, that would not be a big deal. Chimpanzees in the wild often live in what scientists call a fission-fusion society: they split into smaller temporary parties and later reunite. But this time, the chimps he was watching did not behave like they were about to meet familiar companions. They looked tense. They grimaced. They touched one another as if seeking reassurance. Then, rather than mingle, they pulled away.

Chimpanzees are highly social animals. Ari Wid/Shutterstock.com

In hindsight, that moment seems almost cinematic: the first visible crack in a social world that had appeared stable for decades. What followed was so unusual that researchers have described it as the first clearly documented case of a wild chimpanzee community splitting into rival groups and then turning lethally on itself. The comparison to a human civil war is imperfect, and Sandel himself has cautioned against pressing it too far. But it captures the shock of what happened: neighbors became enemies, and former allies began killing one another.

Who are the Chimps of the Ngogo Community?

The chimps at the center of the story belong to the Ngogo community, the largest known group of wild chimpanzees ever studied. Researchers have followed them in Kibale since 1995, building one of the most detailed long-term records of chimpanzee social life anywhere in the world. At its peak, the community numbered around 200 individuals, far larger than the more typical chimpanzee community, which is typically about 50 members. For years, that large society held together. Individuals clustered socially, in what researchers referred to as the Central and Western clusters, but they still crossed between those clusters for grooming, traveling and mating. It was one community, even if it contained neighborhoods within it.

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Then something changed.

What Caused the Split?

Researchers think the split was not caused by one single dramatic event but by a convergence of pressures. The groups huge size may have increased competition over food and mating opportunities. Several important older males died in 2014, potentially removing social bridges that had linked different parts of the community. Around the same time, the male dominance hierarchy shifted, including an alpha male turnover in 2015. A respiratory disease outbreak in 2017 added more disruption. Put together, those losses and stresses appear to have weakened the connective tissue of the group. What had once been a flexible, cohesive social system became polarized.

By 2018, the separation was no longer just a feeling in the forest. It had become a fact on the ground. The Ngogo community had split into two distinct groups with separate territories: a Western group of 83 chimpanzees and a Central group of 107. At that point, the familiar chimpanzee pattern of splitting and reuniting had broken down. These chimps were no longer temporarily apart. They were apart for good.

When the Killing Started

Between 2018 and 2024, researchers documented 24 sustained attacks by the Western group on the Central group, resulting in at least seven adult male deaths and 17 infant deaths. While the primary study documented 24 deaths, researchers believe the violence is ongoing as the two groups continue to patrol their new borders. Some additional chimpanzees disappeared without a known cause, raising the possibility that the true number is even higher.

Between 2018 and 2024, researchers documented 24 sustained attacks by the Western group on the Central group. Hit1912/Shutterstock.com

The violence was not random chaos. It was coordinated. Adult males were the main attackers, though adult females sometimes joined in. Victims were bitten, beaten, dragged, and kicked. Infants were seized from their mothers and quickly killed. These were organized assaults carried out over years. What makes the story so disturbing is that the attackers were not confronting strangers from a neighboring community, which chimpanzees are already known to do. They were attacking animals they had grown up with, individuals they had once groomed, tolerated, cooperated with, and in some cases known their entire lives.

Why the Ngogo Case Matters

Chimpanzees have long complicated our ideas about animal society. They are intensely social, politically aware, capable of cooperation, alliance-building, reconciliation, and long memory. But they are also capable of severe aggression, especially toward outsiders. The Ngogo split shows just how fluid outsider status can be. Group identity in chimpanzees, this case suggests, may depend less on anything like symbolic culture and more on the lived fabric of daily relationships: who spends time together, who grooms whom, who travels together, who shares space. When those patterns break down, the boundary between us and them can harden with startling speed.

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That insight matters beyond primatology. Humans often explain conflict through language, ideology, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Chimpanzees do not have those things in the human sense. Yet the Ngogo split hints that some ingredients of violent division may lie deeper than culture alone. Social cohesion itself  the ordinary, repeated acts that keep a community connected  may be more important than we sometimes admit. When the links weaken, even a sophisticated social species can fracture.

At the same time, this is not a story about chimpanzees being just like us. That temptation is understandable, especially when a dramatic animal story seems to mirror human headlines. But the value of the Ngogo conflict is not that it flattens the difference between humans and chimps. It is that it forces us to take chimpanzee society on its own terms. These are not simple creatures running on crude instinct. They live in layered social worlds shaped by memory, hierarchy, alliance, territory, fear, and belonging. Their societies can hold together for decades. They can also come apart.

There is also a conservation lesson here. Chimpanzees are endangered, and the researchers warn that human-driven disruptions such as habitat loss, climate change, and disease could further destabilize already vulnerable communities. If social cohesion is fragile, then protecting chimpanzees may mean protecting not just forest acreage, but the continuity of their social lives.

That may be the deepest takeaway from this story. The Uganda chimpanzee civil war is dramatic because it feels so tragic: a community that once functioned as a whole becoming divided beyond repair. But scientifically, it is powerful because it reveals how much lies beneath the surface of animal society. The forest was never just full of individuals. It was full of relationships. And when those relationships changed, the entire world of these chimpanzees changed with them.

The post How a Chimpanzee Civil War Tore Through a Once-Stable Uganda Group appeared first on A-Z Animals.
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Chimpanzee males attack one of their own in 2019. | Credit: Aaron Sandel

Wild chimpanzees in Uganda are fighting a rare "civil war," which seems to have begun when a huge community divided, leading to sustained and deadly conflict between animals that had previously been allies and friends.

Conflicts between different groups of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are relatively common as they compete for key resources , like fruit trees, water supplies and trees that provide suitable nesting material. However, conflicts within previously unified communities are much rarer.

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About 50 years ago, primatologist Jane Goodall reported a suspected fission event in a chimpanzee community in Gombe, Tanzania, in which a larger group split into factions; males of one new faction killed an adult female and all six males in the other group over four years . But observations of the behavior were limited, and it was considered an anomaly.

Now, Aaron Sandel , an anthropologist at the University of Texas at Austin, and his colleagues have described another, much bigger, lethal conflict between the members of the Ngogo chimpanzee community in Kibale National Park, Uganda. The work was published Thursday (April 9) in the journal Science .

The chimpanzees there have been studied for about 30 years, providing extensive data on their interrelatedness and behavior. Although they were all part of a big group, they tended to form temporary "parties" that changed throughout the day as individuals moved about their territory.

But between 1998 and 2014, some of these groups became more regular cliques, such as three adult males that were consistently together.

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Researchers revealed that from about 2015, the huge Ngogo community  which then numbered about 200 chimps  ruptured into two distinct clusters that lived and reproduced separately. The core of one of the groups was the clique of three adult males.

At this stage, there were still ties between many individuals in the two groups, and they still cooperated and bonded, but by 2018, the last social ties disintegrated and aggression grew during border patrols of their separate territories.

Before the civil war, chimpanzees of different social groups would interact. | Credit: John Mitani

"After they split into two groups, chimps from one group began attacking and killing those from the other group and that turned into an escalated period of lethal violence," Sandel told Live Science.

Deadly raids

Raids resulted in multiple killings of adult males and, beginning in 2021, the researchers also regularly observed infanticide. The true death toll of what the researchers term a civil war is likely to have been higher, because many other individuals disappeared without clear cause, Sandel added.

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"I'm sort of nervous about calling it civil war," he said. "Civil war means something very specific when we talk about humans, and chimps don't have nations and things like that, but there's an important conceptual point when thinking about war against strangers versus civil war. These are chimps that know each other."

James Brooks , an evolutionary anthropologist at the German Primate Center in Gottingen who wasn't involved in the study, told Live Science that he agrees this conflict isn't the same as a human civil war, but said the term helps people to understand the general idea.

It's still not clear why the division in the community led to such aggressive conflict, but Sandel suggested various factors that could have destabilized social ties. These include the unusually large group size, competition over food and reproduction, the deaths of five adult males and one adult female in 2014, a change from one alpha male to another in 2015 and a respiratory epidemic that killed 25 chimpanzees in 2017.

Central male Morton (left) and Western male Garrison (right) were both involved in the conflicts. | Credit: John Mitani

Brooks suggested the group's size could have been a factor. "Maybe they were no longer facing such an abundance of resources and became too large a group to maintain cohesion," he said.

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Zoologist Liran Samuni , also at the German Primate Center and co-director of the Tai Chimpanzee Project, who wasn't part of this study, said that the Ngogo community is one of the more aggressive ones that researchers know. "The Kibale National Park is considered quite a rich environment, with the chimps living at high densities and for long life spans. But even before this split, this was one of the chimpanzee communities that was most violent in terms of encroaching on neighbors," she told Live Science.

Between 1998 and 2008, the Ngogo chimps killed at least 21 chimpanzees from neighboring groups , and expanded into their territory, resulting in population growth.

The civil war is still ongoing, Sandel said. The research paper covers data collected up to 2024, but he says further attacks have happened in 2025 and 2026.

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He said the work shows that even without ethnicity, religion or political ideologies, social networks can divide, leading to collective violence.

Given that chimps are one of humans' closest two relatives , the finding reiterates how group divisions can present a danger to human societies, Brooks said, but he adds that it doesn't mean conflict is biologically determined. He pointed to bonobos (Pan paniscus)  our other closest relatives  which form stable and distinct groups. They are also aggressive, but unlike chimpanzees, they don't engage in such lethal group conflicts but form tolerant, cooperative associations, so such conflicts aren't evolutionarily determined.

"Our evolutionary past does not determine our future," he said.

How much do you know about primates like chimpanzees? Test your knowledge with our primates quiz!
SEOUL, April 10 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said North Korea has made remarkable accomplishments despite conspiracies by the United States and Western forces to oppress and isolate Pyongyang, the North's official KCNA news agency reported on Friday.

Wang and his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui hailed their leaders for opening a new era in their countries' friendly ties at a historic summit in September and pledged to further upgrade relations for the interests of their people, KCNA said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, on Thursday and held talks with Choe, who later hosted a banquet for him, it said.

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"New achievements in socialist construction made by (North) Korea amid intensifying conspiracies of isolation and oppression of the U.S. and Western forces are the fruit of ... the wise leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Un," Wang was quoted as saying by KCNA.

The two agreed it was their governments' unwavering position to develop the relationship further despite turmoil in the global environment, KCNA said.

The two neighbours have been trying to revive their active and robust political and economic ties that had cooled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and North Korea's intensive push to forge strategic relations with Russia since 2023.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to host U.S. President Donald Trump next month. Trump has repeatedly expressed an interest in resuming talks with the North's Kim.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
WELLINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand warned of severe impacts as Cyclone Vaianu approaches the country.

Authorities are urging farmers, growers and rural communities to prepare for heavy rains and damaging winds.

The government said in a statement on Friday that Cyclone Vaianu could bring significant rainfall and gale-force winds across the North Island and upper South Island from late Saturday through Monday, with possible effects on the Chatham Islands.

New Zealand's meteorological service has issued multiple orange warnings for heavy rains and strong winds, with gusts of around 140 km/h forecast for the Coromandel region. The government told rural residents to prepare for power and communications outages, and move stocks to higher ground if necessary. 
China has demanded an investigation into the death of a scientist after hostile questioning by US investigators.

Danhao Wang, a semiconductor researcher at the University of Michigan, was found dead on campus in the early hours of March 20 after falling from the upper floor of a building, according to a police statement.

The University of Michigans Division of Police and Public Safety said the death was being investigated as a possible act of self-harm.

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But Lin Jiang, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said the US had overstretched the concept of national security for political manipulation and called on authorities to carry out a full investigation.

On Thursday, Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the US, told the BBC that China had repeatedly lodged solemn representations with relevant US government agencies and universities regarding this case.

He also urged Chinese students in the US to heighten their safety awareness and handle US law enforcement actions appropriately.

The Chinese consulate in Chicago, which oversees the jurisdiction of the University of Michigan, said that it had protested multiple times to relevant departments of the US government and the university.

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Karen Thole, the dean of the College of Engineering, said: This is an active police investigation, and we have no further information to share regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

University under scrutiny

US authorities have not released details of Mr Wangs death or the reasons why he had been taken in for questioning.

A spokesman for the universitys Division of Police and Public Safety said the full police case would not be released until toxicology reports were complete.

The US has been taking measures to address foreign influence, especially allegations of Chinese espionage in recent years.

The University of Michigan has been under particular scrutiny after at least five of its students from China were charged with smuggling biological material into the US.

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The university is also being investigated for allegedly misreporting the foreign funding it had received from the Chinese government.

The university has stated: It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals.

We have and will continue to co-operate with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.

His loss is felt deeply

Six days after Mr Wangs death, Domenico Grasso, the interim president at the University of Michigan, appeared before the US House committee on education and workforce to respond to questions surrounding Chinese espionage within American universities.

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He told Congress that the university continued to strengthen its background checks for foreign students and staff, and reinforced policies to protect sensitive material.

Mr Wang was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Zetian Mi, an electrical and computer engineering professor, whose research focused on the use of semiconductors in high-power and extreme conditions.

He had been working at the University of Michigan since 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before moving to the US, he had received his PhD in electrical and electronics engineering at the University of Science and Technology of China.

Dr 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.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
Editors Note: Video above is from April 8, 2026

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have identified two men, who are twin brothers, who have been arrested in connection with a frightened horse that was running loose in Uptown before being struck by a vehicle last week.

According to CMPD, Deven Moore and Desmon Moore were taken into custody following the April 3 incident. Both face charges, including disorderly conduct and resisting a public officer.

Photos: Deven Moore (left) and Desmon Moore (right) via MCSO

The arrests stem from an incident that began around 11:45 p.m. last Friday near East 7th Street. Viral video shows two men riding horses through Uptown when one rider  a man separate from the Moores  falls off, sending the horse running loose. About a block later, at the intersection of North College Street and East 7th Street, the horse was struck by a passing vehicle.

Witness captures the shocking accident

This week, witness JaQueria Lynch told Queen City News she saw the incident unfold while out with friends. The police arrived there pretty quickly, so we didnt have to worry about that or anything, Lynch said. But my first immediate thought was, like, is that horse okay? Because it rolled over the car.

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Lynch said the riders appeared to be performing tricks before things went wrong.

PREVIOUS: Viral video shows horse on the loose getting hit by a car in uptown Charlotte

I dont know if he was trying to show off, Lynch said. Im not sure where his headspace was, but he stood on the horse, and he just fell off.

She later saw another video showing the horse standing after the accident and said someone with the group indicated the animal was OK.

Credit: JaQueria Lynch Credit: JaQueria Lynch Credit: JaQueria Lynch Credit: JaQueria Lynch Credit: JaQueria Lynch

Can you ride horses in Uptown?

According to city officials, riding horses in Charlotte is legal, as they are considered a form of transportation under North Carolina law. However, ordinances prohibit riding an animal in a reckless, disorderly, or careless manner or allowing a loose horse to run through city streets.

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According to several police reports on the incident, CMPD officers responding to the scene observed a disturbance at the intersection, where one of the brothers allegedly tried to fight another man following remarks made after the horse accident.

Fight breaks out after accident with horse

According to an affidavit in the case against Deven Moore, officers saw him attempt to fight another male subject for remarks made after an accident. The defendant began rushing towards an unknown male, attempting to push past officers to fight him.

The report states he began to curse at officers and pushed officers on scene, and then began to fight officers as they attempted to place him into custody.

Both brothers were ultimately arrested.

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A separate video obtained by Queen City News shows a scuffle between the two riders shortly after the accident, and a CMPD report noted both men became very irate and resisted officers.

This case will be addressed again in court this May.

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 Queen City News.
The unidentified woman was found by this tree in Superior, Colorado [Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue]

A woman who was struck by lightning on Thursday evening in the US state of Colorado has now been identified, authorities said.

The Boulder County sheriff's office said she remained in critical condition, with her family at her side.

Bystanders found the woman, believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, unresponsive and carried out CPR until emergency workers arrived. Her phone was severely damaged in the strike in Superior, about 20 miles (32km) north-west of Denver, prompting authorities to seek public help in identifying her.

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"We appreciate the community's assistance and support during this incident," the sheriff's office said in Saturday's announcement.

The woman had no detectable pulse and was not breathing when first responders arrived. After continued resuscitation efforts, she regained a faint pulse and began breathing on her own but remained unconscious.

She has since been airlifted to a hospital in Denver.

About 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the US each year, but the chance of being struck is less than one in a million, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Colorado sees an estimated 500,000 lightning strikes to ground per year, the National Weather Service says.

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Citing the Lightning Safety Council, it also says Colorado ranks third in the US in lightning fatalities  with Florida and Texas respectively taking the top two spots  based on data collected between 2006 and 2024.
The two major party candidates for North Carolinas open U.S. Senate seat in November both held campaign events focused on affordability in the Triangle Thursday afternoon. The outcome of the contest could decide which party will control the narrowly divided U.S. Senate during the next Congress.

The two events couldnt have been much more different, and neither could the candidates messages. The Democratic candidate, former Gov. Roy Cooper, said actions by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans  especially tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act  are to blame for the increasing cost of living.

But Republican candidate and former RNC chair Michael Whatley argued that Trump and congressional Republicans are working to bring the cost of living down, particularly through the tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Cooper and Whatley will face off on Nov. 3 in a race that has already seen both candidates raise millions and will likely be among the most expensive in U.S. history given its stakes for congressional control.

Cooper vows to stand up to the billionaires at Durham rally

Coopers remarks to a crowd of a couple hundred supporters at Durhams American Tobacco Campus centered on one slogan, which he and other speakers repeated several times: Make stuff cost less.

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Cooper brought forward North Carolina residents who say rising costs have left them struggling to afford groceries and health care in the sixth stop on his affordability campaign tour, which began in Raleigh just over a month ago.

Throughout the tour, Cooper has released agendas for lowering food and grocery, health care and utility costs, with plans to do the same for housing and child care in the coming weeks. Thursday nights rally did not go into specific policies, but focused broadly on the toll of rising costs on North Carolinians, and blaming his opponent, Whatley, for his role supporting the Trump administrations economic plans.

Former Gov. Roy Cooper told a crowd of a couple hundred supporters at an Apr. 9, 2026, rally in Durham that he will stand up to insurance companies and oppose the Trump administrations tariffs if elected to the U.S. Senate. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Cooper criticized Whatley for cheering on the policies that made it all cost more, including cuts to Medicaid and subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. While your costs are going up, Michael Whatley says prices are down, Cooper told supporters.

If elected to the U.S. Senate, Cooper said he would work to hold insurance companies accountable for hidden fees and claim denials, vote to protect Medicaid and Medicare, and oppose President Donald Trumps chaotic tariffs.

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We will stand up to the billionaires and the D.C. insiders who are getting all the breaks, he said.

For the first time on the campaign trail this year, Cooper was joined by his successor Gov. Josh Stein and state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, who is also running in November to keep her seat on North Carolinas highest court.

Stein attacked Whatley as an out-of-touch D.C. insider and big oil lobbyist and told the crowd Cooper will be a strong independent voice in the Senate. I have known and worked with Roy for decades. He is a good man and a good friend.

Earls called on Durham voters to turn out in large numbers in November, crediting the citys residents with helping to elect Barack Obama as president in 2008, putting Cooper in the governors mansion in 2016, and electing her to the state Supreme Court in 2018.

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As governor, he showed tremendous courage to keep fighting for Medicaid expansion, to keep fighting for adequate funding for our public schools, Earls said.

Whatley touts tax cuts and job creation at Raleigh roundtable

Meanwhile, at another event a few miles away in Raleigh on Thursday afternoon, Whatley spoke to reporters after a closed-door business roundtable at the N.C. Chamber of Commerce.

Whatley said he sees tax cuts as the key to job creation and a strong economy.

The real conversation that were having today is how do we create more jobs, how do you create better jobs, how do we make sure people are going to take home more money, and how do we make sure that people are going to keep more money that they could use for their households in North Carolina? Whatley said.

North Carolinas Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, right. told reporters that tax cuts are key to boosting the economy. He spoke to reporters on April 9, 2026 with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. (Photo: Lynn Bonner/NC Newsline.)

The former Republican Party chair said a key difference between him and Cooper is their position on tax cuts.

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The fact is hes never seen a dollar he didnt want to tax and spend, Whatley said. Ive never seen a tax that I didnt want to cut.

Cooper opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the tax cuts it included, Whatley said, while Whatley supported the proposal. Cooper criticized the legislation for endangering Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, NC Newsline reported.

The man Whatley is seeking to replace, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, also opposed the measure due to its cuts to North Carolinas Medicaid program. He was one of just three Republicans who voted against it. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection shortly after openly criticizing the measure.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) attended the business roundtable to support Whatley and also spoke afterward to reporters.

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The clear answer to affordability is having more senators like Michael Whatley in the United States Senate, Scott said.

Opinion polls have found increasing pessimism about the economy as the war with Iran has sent gas prices soaring. A CNN poll released April 1 reported 69% of respondents disapproved of the way President Donald Trump is handling the economy.

Obviously, gas prices are extremely important on a day-to-day basis across the economy, Whatley said. And so Im very glad that the President has unleashed American energy and that were actually producing more right now in America than anywhere else in the world, and more than we have historically, because otherwise the shocks would have been very significant.

The United States is a net exporter of oil. Even still, gas prices are rising because prices are set on a global market, ABC News reported.

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Whatley also sidestepped a question about appointing a convicted sex offender to a position in party leadership.

The Asheville Watchdog reported that Harvey Lee West Jr. was a 28-year-old police officer in the coastal town of Washington, N.C., in 1999 when he was charged with the statutory rape of three girls. Two were 14 and the other 16.

West pled down to charges of indecent liberties with a child and spent six years in prison, the Outer Banks Insider reported. According to a 2012 Associated Press report, West said in an interview that he was innocent, but pled guilty to avoid risking decades in prison.

Conservative activists told NC Newsline last week the controversy could cost Whatley Republican support.

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On Thursday, Whatley dodged a question about whether it was appropriate to appoint West to a party post, given his criminal history.

Probably the better question would be, Why did Roy Cooper release thousands of hardened criminals from prison? Whatley said.

Republicans have claimed that Cooper released dangerous criminals as part of the 2021 COVID prison settlement. Civil rights groups sued Cooper to win the release of incarcerated people who were at heightened risk. A Wake County judge ruled in favor of the incarcerated people.

However, of the 51 people serving life sentences who were released, state officials told the Charlotte Observer all were eligible for parole before the settlement.
The Minneapolis City Council this week voted unanimously to direct staff to explore repealing the citys 38-year ban on adult sex venues, opening the door to the possible return of bathhouses that once served as important social and sexual gathering spaces for gay men. But the 12-0 vote does not mean the Democrat-dominated council is united on whether such venues should ultimately reopen, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The Safer Sex Spaces Coalition has spent years pressing Minneapolis to overturn the 1988 ordinance, enacted at the height of the AIDS crisis, that outlawed commercial spaces facilitating consensual sexual activity.

Our mission is repealing the outdated and ineffective local laws (ordinances) that made facilitating sexual conduct in commercial spaces illegal and modernizing the code to allow for safer sex spaces, the coalition says on its website. We have met with City Council members, city staff, and public health experts to discuss legalizing sexual activity in commercial spaces.

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Related: Dr. Fauci Visited Gay Bathhouses and Bars to Study HIV

Related: 30 Infamous Police Raids of Gay Bars and Bathhouses

Still, some council members remain skeptical. While there appears to be broad support for stripping outdated and stigmatizing language from the municipal code, several officials questioned whether lifting the ban is necessary.

What problem are we trying to solve? said City Council Member Linea Palmisano. Why is this necessary?

Like many major metropolitan areas, Minneapolis enacted its ban during the panic-driven early years of the HIV epidemic, when gay sexual spaces were often targeted under the guise of public health. Advocates say those policies pushed queer community life underground rather than making it safer. In recent years, other cities have revisited similar restrictions. San Francisco repealed its own decades-old bathhouse ban in 2021, embracing a broader shift away from punitive HIV-era policymaking.

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Related: Facing Closure, Chicago's Oldest Bathhouse Throws Epic Party for the Ages

Related: 25+ Infamous Police Raids of Gay Bars and Bathhouses

Minneapolis has already begun revising some of that legacy language. In 2024, the city updated ordinances that still described HIV as an irreversible and uniformly fatal condition. Officials are now also considering zoning and sanitation code changes that would remove stigmatizing terminology and modernize definitions of so-called high-risk sexual conduct. The council is also studying a licensing framework similar to the one used in neighboring St. Paul.

Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez, one of the councils out LGBTQ+ members, said repeal would mark an important symbolic and practical step forward.

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"LGBTQIA+ gathering spaces, including bathhouses, have long been targeted by criminalization and policing, and our communities have paid a devastating price for that, Chavez said, according to CBS News.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Could Minneapolis welcome bathhouses back for the first time since the late 1980s?

RELATED
Apr. 9MITCHELL  The following cases were among those heard Tuesday, April 7, 2026, during a circuit court session at the Davison County Public Safety Center, with Judge Chris Giles presiding:

* Shelly Klapkin, 58, of Mitchell, was sentenced after admitting to a probation violation in December. The court ordered that her previously suspended five-year prison sentence remain suspended and that her two-year probation period restart.

* Christopher Marshalek, 22, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to a Class 6 felony charge of third-offense DUI. As part of a plea agreement, a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of driving with a revoked license and a Class 2 misdemeanor charge of possessing an open container were dismissed. Marshalek has been accepted into the James Valley Drug and DUI Court program. The court ordered him to serve three years of probation, fined him $600, and revoked his driver's license for one year, though he was granted a work permit.

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* Jeremy Zwetzig, 47, of Mitchell, made his initial appearance on a Class 6 felony charge of grand theft involving an amount between $1,000 and $2,500. Zwetzig said he plans to apply for a court-appointed attorney, and the court continued the case for two weeks. The court also granted a request to modify his bond, changing it to a personal recognizance bond.

* Tyler Phillips, 34, of Mitchell, appeared in court for a review hearing after previously being granted a furlough to attend the Teen Challenge program. The court was initially informed that Phillips had been unsuccessfully terminated from the program, but Phillips and his defense attorney said he had in fact completed it and was held there until his next court date. The court ordered that his previously suspended 10-year prison sentence remain suspended. Phillips will remain in jail until the Department of Corrections determines his next placement, though the court declared his sentence in this case complete.

* Blaise Hofer, 33, of Mitchell, had his previously scheduled April jury trial moved to June. Hofer is facing five Class 4 felony charges of possession of child sexual abuse material.

* Edwin Reyes, 32, of Houston, pleaded guilty to a Class 5 felony charge of possession of THC edibles. Under a plea agreement, several other charges were dismissed, including a Class 5 felony for possession of cocaine; a Class 1 misdemeanor for possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana; and Class 2 misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license and speeding. Reyes is scheduled to be sentenced in June.

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* Steven Clairmont, 18, of Mitchell, failed to appear in court, and the court issued a $2,000 cash bond bench warrant for his arrest. He faces multiple charges, including Class 5 felony counts of possession of THC and distribution or possession with intent to distribute more than 1 ounce but less than 1 pound of marijuana; a Class 6 felony count of possession of more than 2 ounces but less than one-half pound of marijuana; a Class 1 misdemeanor count of contributing to abuse, neglect or delinquency; and Class 2 misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, underage alcohol use, and possession or consumption of tobacco by a person under 21.

* Tanner Stirling, 30, of St. Paul, appeared in court for an extradition hearing. Stirling is wanted in Alabama on theft of property charges. He told the court he has never been to Alabama and requested a hearing before any extradition order is issued. The court set the matter for a hearing in four weeks.

* Isiah Moccasin, 26, of Fort Thompson, failed to appear in court, and the court issued a no-bond arrest warrant. Moccasin had denied a second probation violation in February and was granted a furlough, but the court said he later absconded.

* Jade Abdo, 37, of Sioux Falls, had her case continued to May. Abdo is currently being held at the Human Services Center in Yankton while participating in a restoration-to-competency program. She is facing two Class 6 felony charges: third or subsequent offense simple assault and simple assault against a law enforcement officer.

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* Zachary Cwach, 38, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including two Class 5 felony counts of forgery; three Class 6 felony counts of possession of a forged instrument with intent to defraud; and a Class 6 felony count of grand theft involving an amount between $1,000 and $2,500. A jury trial was scheduled for August. Court documents indicate he had checks belonging to three other individuals and also attempted to use checks at Thune's True Value Hardware that were not his.

* Robert Hemmah, 42, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to a Class 6 felony charge of failing to register a new address. The court sentenced him to two years in prison, with the entire sentence suspended.

* Christopher Buchholz, 68, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse simple assault. As part of a plea agreement, a Class 3 felony charge of aggravated assault by strangulation was dismissed. Buchholz was fined $350 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with the entire sentence suspended.
New DNA testing has linked two South Jersey homicides that remained unsolved for more than 30 years, leading investigators to a suspect and providing long-awaited answers for the victims' families, Camden County authorities announced Thursday.

The cases involve the killings of Marebeth Welsh in 1993 and Jennifer Persia in 1994. Authorities said advances in investigative genetic genealogy connected the crimes and pointed to the same individual as the suspect.

"It was very unexpected," said Melody Beth Welsh, Marebeth's daughter. "But grateful for all their hard work."

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Family members had long feared they might never learn who was responsible for the deaths. On Thursday, Camden County prosecutors said renewed DNA testing provided a breakthrough.

"As a result of investigative genetic genealogy testing and additional interviews, a suspect was developed and tentatively identified as Francis T. Schooley," said Det. Daniel Crawford of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Welsh, 24, of Woodlynne, was found strangled and sexually assaulted in Camden in 1993. DNA was collected from her body at the time, but no matches were found. The following year, 16-year-old Jennifer Persia was found stabbed and strangled in her Magnolia home, a crime that deeply affected the small community.

In a 1995 Action News report, Persia's mother spoke about the loss.

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"I can't imagine what kind of animal did this to my daughter," said Georgia MacNeir.

DNA evidence was also collected in Persia's case and later entered into the FBI's CODIS system, but it did not produce any matches. Investigators said that changed last year, when clothing from Welsh's case was retested. The resulting DNA profile was entered into the FBI system and matched an unknown male profile from Persia's case.

Further investigation, including interviews and DNA swabs from family members of the suspect, led detectives to conclude that Francis Schooley of Mantua was the source of the DNA in both cases. Authorities said Schooley would have been charged if he were alive. He died by suicide in 2000 at the age of 39.

For investigators and families, the development was emotional.

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"Comforting to be able to go to Mark (Persia's father) with some good news and go to the Welsh family as well," said Sgt. Dennis Convery of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. "It touches me."

Detectives said Schooley had ties to Jennifer Persia's stepfather and had also been seen with Marebeth Welsh before her death. While the suspect cannot face charges, authorities said the identification provides resolution to two cases that haunted South Jersey families for decades.
A defiant Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said he wont step down as Cubas president if pressured by U.S. officials during talks between the two countries.

His remarks were broadcast on April 9 during an interview in Havana with NBC's Meet the Press anchor Kristen Welker.

Pressed by Welker whether he would consider stepping down if the U.S. insisted, Diaz-Canel leaned forward in his seat.

Would you ask that question of Trump? he said, adding, in Cuba, the people who are in leadership positions are not elected by the U.S. government. They dont have a mandate by the U.S. government.

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel raises his fist next to Progressive International's general coordinator, David Adler, during an event at the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) in Havana, on March 21, 2026.

Diaz-Canels comments come in the wake of news that U.S. and Cuban officials have met to discuss future relations between the two longtime Cold War foes. Trump officials have said the initial talk focused on expanding economic ties between the U.S. and Cuba.

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When reports of the meeting first surfaced, Rubio stressed that the "status quo" in Cuba is unacceptable but cautioned that change on the island could take time. "It doesnt have to change all at once," he said. "It doesnt have to change from one day to the next  But Cuba needs to change. It needs to change dramatically.

He later hardened his view to say that Cuba can only change if it has new leadership.

The bottom line is, their economy doesnt work. Its a non-functional economy, Rubio said last month during a White House meeting. Theyre in a lot of trouble, and the people in charge, they dont know how to fix it, so they have to get new people in charge.

This file photo shows a group of U.S. sailors from the battleship Connecticut and a gun they captured at Cape Haitien during the U.S. occupation of Haiti in 1915. Officers at Jacmel, Haiti, during the U.S. occupation in 1915. A group of Cuban revolutionaries with Fidel Castro are seen with artillery after routing the U.S.-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Children cheer on the U.S. Marines following offensive in Vecca Monte west of Panama City, during "Operation Just Cause," the U.S. invasion to remove Manuel Noriega, which lasted from December 1989 through January 1990. A U.S. Marine corps crew takes up position on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, on May 2, 1965, during the Dominican Civil War. The U.S. Army Airborne troops drive down a street in Santo Domingo during the occupation of the Dominican Republic in 1965. U.S. troops in full combat gear run on the docks of Port-au-Prince harbor, on Sept. 19, 1994, after arriving on an assault helicopter. Thousands of U.S. soldiers arrived in Haiti on Sept. 19, 1994, as part of "Operation Uphold Democracy," to pave the way for the restoration of the elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Hundreds of local residents run towards the U.S. Chinook helicopters, on Sept. 24, 1994, as a detachment of over 100 U.S. troops arrive in this small southern coastal town, 120 km south of Port-au-Prince, as part of the "Operation Uphold Democracy." From Cuba to Panama: US interventions that shaped Latin America 1 of 8 This file photo shows a group of U.S. sailors from the battleship Connecticut and a gun they captured at Cape Haitien during the U.S. occupation of Haiti in 1915.

More: EXCLUSIVE: Cuba pitches US economic roadmap as Trump pressures Havana

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Trump has signaled he wants Cuba to "make a deal," and he is prepared to use Washington's leverage on Cuba, saying of the country that it may face "a friendly takeover. It may not be a friendly takeover."

Diaz-Canel was handpicked by Cubas former leader Raul Castro  the brother of Fidel Castro, who led the 1959 revolution that toppled the Cuban government  as his successor, and is known to firmly adhere to the countrys communist principles.

The U.S.-Cuba talks come as the U.S. has imposed a virtual oil embargo on the island nation, choking off the oil that once arrived from Venezuela and plunging Cuba into an energy crisis. Prolonged blackouts have draped the island and hospitals struggle with providing adequate care.

More: Cubastroika: Inside Trump plan to save Cuba's economy and win control

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In the interview, Diaz-Canel signaled he welcomed talks with the U.S. but remained defiant against any conditions.

Were interested in engaging in dialogue and discuss any topic without any condition, he said, not demanding changes from our political system, just as were not demanding changes from the American system.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cubas president rejects US pressure to step aside in
A closely watched congressional race in Nebraska is becoming a flash point not only in the battle for control of the U.S. House, but in a broader fight over LGBTQ+ rights.

At issue is Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, the Omaha-based swing seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Don Bacon. Democrats view the district as one of their strongest pickup opportunities in 2026. But as Politico first reported, one possible Democratic victory scenario could also help Nebraska Republicans advance anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and eliminate the states blue dot, the single Electoral College vote Democrats have captured in recent presidential elections.

The stakes are heightened by a crowded and competitive Democratic primary.

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As Nebraska Public Media reported, at least half a dozen Democratic candidates are vying for the seat, including business leader Denise Powell, former federal official Kishla Askins, Douglas County court clerk Crystal Rhoades, and others, in a race drawing national attention and significant fundraising. Powell led the field in fundraising heading into 2026, while multiple candidates have sought to distinguish themselves in a contest seen as critical to Democrats chances of retaking the House.

Nebraska and Maine are the only states that split electoral votes by congressional district. Nebraskas system allows the Omaha-based 2nd District to award one electoral vote separately from the statewide winner, creating the blue dot Democrats carried in both 2020 and 2024.

The dilemma centers on Democratic candidate and state Sen. John Cavanaugh.

If Cavanaugh wins the House seat, he would have to resign from the Nebraska Legislature, where he represents a heavily Democratic district. Under Nebraska law, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen would appoint his replacement, who could serve until 2028.

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Nebraskas legislature is unique in the United States: a single-chamber, officially nonpartisan body made up of 49 senators. In practice, however, party alignment shapes key votes, and small shifts in membership can determine whether lawmakers can sustain or break filibusters.

Related: After 30 years in uniform, a veteran in Nebraska who survived dont ask, dont tell is running for Congress

That matters because Nebraska Republicans are only a few votes short of advancing measures that have stalled in the legislature, including both winner-take-all presidential voting and bills targeting LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender Nebraskans.

According to the American Civil Liberties Unions legislative tracker, Nebraska has multiple anti-LGBTQ+ bills under consideration this year, part of the more than 500 such bills the organization says it is tracking nationwide in 2026. In Nebraska, those measures fall into categories including health care restrictions, public accommodation bans, and re-definition of sex proposals that seek to legally define male and female in ways that exclude transgender and nonbinary people from recognition under state law.

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A Republican-backed effort to move Nebraska to a winner-take-all Electoral College system stalled in the Legislature this week after a filibuster, dealing a blow to Pillen and his allies. The measure did not have enough votes to overcome Democratic opposition, the Nebraska Examiner reports.

One Democratic strategist involved in Nebraska politics sharply criticized Cavanaughs candidacy in those terms.

Time and again, when given the chance, Republicans have attacked the rights of the LGBTQ community, causing lasting damage, the strategist told The Advocate. John Cavanaugh knows what is on the line, and he knows that a Republican governor would appoint his replacement in the Legislature. Any politician who puts their own career ambitions first, like Cavanaugh is doing  especially during this moment in history  is no ally.

Cavanaughs campaign rejects that argument, saying Democrats can flip the Omaha-based House seat without sacrificing their leverage in Lincoln.

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Still, the broader concern raised by advocates and some Democrats is less about intent than consequence.

The Nebraska Examiner reported that late-session Republican efforts to pass two major anti-transgender measures failed on Tuesday. One proposal would have banned certain gender-affirming medical care for minors, while another would have restricted public bathrooms to use based on sex assigned at birth. Both measures were revived through last-minute amendments but ultimately fell short of the legislative deadline.

Democrats must take back the House in November to stop Trump, and Cavanaugh is the candidate most likely to flip this seat blue, Katie Bartizal, Cavanaughs campaign manager, told The Advocate.

Bartizal said Republicans currently lack the votes needed to override filibusters in the Nebraska Legislature and argued that Democratic gains elsewhere will offset any vacancy created if Cavanaugh wins.

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To block anything in the Nebraska Legislature you need 17 votes. Currently, there are just 16 Democrats in the Legislature, meaning Nebraska has the blue dot and blocked some anti-LGBTQ+ bills because a handful of Republicans voted with Democrats, Bartizal said. With strong local candidates running in key seats, historic investment from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the deep unpopularity of MAGA Republicans, and Cavanaugh running a strong campaign that will uplift legislative candidates, Democrats will pick up at least two legislative seats in November, more than making up for the loss of Cavanaughs seat."

Bartizal added, "Democrats do not have to choose between protecting the blue dot and flipping NE-02 blue.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: How a Democrat's House win in Nebraska could erase the blue dot & harm LGBTQ+ rights

RELATED
A proposed apartment building that would tower over downtown Toms River has been stalled by township officials for nearly two years, fueling a bitter local policy debate.

The projects future now rests with a judge, following a new lawsuit by the developer aimed at starting construction.

The Capodagli Property Company filed a builders remedy lawsuit in late March, attempting to overrule local zoning restrictions and clear a path for the mixed-use high-rise.

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The lawsuit is the companys latest legal clash with Mayor Dan Rodricks administration, which has led efforts to axe the project from the townships redevelopment plan.

The mayor has criticized the project as overdevelopment, though prior leaders viewed it as a way to revitalize downtown Toms River and its waterfront.

Ive always been against them, and I will continue to fight them, regardless of what happens, Rodrick said during the townships latest council meeting Wednesday.

Capodagli owns the property on the 40 block of West Water Street through Meridia Toms River 40 Urban Renewal LLC.

The site is now largely a parking lot, but it previously housed the Red Carpet Inn, a motor lodge the township demolished in 2019 after it became associated with criminal activity.

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The lawsuit repeats allegations from a 2024 complaint, which claimed the township was failing to fulfill its redevelopment agreement by blocking construction. That case is ongoing, records show.

Thus far, Capodagli has spent $3.2 million to obtain construction approvals, the lawsuit filed in March states.

Capodagli is requesting that Toms River officials submit a compliance plan within 90 days of a judges approval, the lawsuit states. The company also requests a court-appointed monitor to assure the townships compliance, the lawsuit states.

The development firms interest in Toms River has extended beyond the former hotel site. Before the township demolished its former boatworks complex near Huddy Park, Capodagli was poised to buy the property and proposed building a restaurant and banquet hall there.

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Capodaglis original proposal called for a 10story mixeduse building, but the plans were scaled back after township officials raised concerns about height. The revised plan approved a sixstory building with 281 apartments, 43 of them affordable.

Those units have not been included in the most recent versions of Toms Rivers affordable housing plan. The township reached a settlement in December over its affordable housing obligations, one of 60 New Jersey municipalities disputing the states calculations.

The settlement calls for 186 new affordable units: 48 at Jamestown Village Apartments, 134 on the Lakewood side of Route 70 West and four from converted office space on Route 37. The office conversion includes 20 additional market-rate apartments likely to become summer rentals.

However, the township council has pushed back, rejecting ordinances in March that would have approved the settlement. That portion of the meeting devolved into a shouting match between council members and Mayor Rodrick, one of many public clashes among township officials.

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Several measures returned to the council Wednesday and passed a first reading, putting them on track for possible adoption at a later date. Other elements were left off the agenda, prompting Rodrick to warn that further delays could expose the township to additional builders remedy lawsuits.

Steven Mlenak, an attorney for Capodagli, said the company filed its latest suit to join the townships fourth round of affordable housing obligations. Previously, the project was considered for the third round, he said.

They (Capodagli) invested millions of dollars, Mlenak said. They now own the property. Theyre not going to walk away from what theyve invested because some mayor ran on a platform to illegally stop this development, which he doesnt like because he would rather it be elsewhere and ignore legally binding contracts.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Pyongyang, the DPRK, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Chao)

PYONGYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that, facing the international situation characterized by intertwined changes and chaos, China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should further enhance communication and coordination in major international and regional affairs.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK. 
Democrats internal feud over Israel is rearing its head on the partys biggest stage  again.

Critics of Israels military actions and the pro-Israel lobbys interference in recent Democratic primaries are setting up thorny test votes at the Democratic National Committees spring meeting in New Orleans on Thursday, where members will debate resolutions recognizing a Palestinian state, conditioning military aid to Israel and condemning the growing influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and other dark-money groups.

The measures before the DNCs resolutions committee are unlikely to pass and are nonbinding even if they do. But they are the latest public clash that will pit more pro-Israel party brass against a base whose views on Israel have turned sharply negative and progressive activists who are increasingly incensed by the glut of special-interest spending in Democratic primaries that is often directed against their candidates.

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In a sign of the heightened sensitivity around the politics of Israel, one DNC member who was granted anonymity to discuss private conversations said they had received direct calls about the resolutions from two presidential aspirants who would have to answer for the DNCs positions on Israel and AIPAC if they run. The resolutions are also highlighting sharp divisions within the task force DNC Chair Ken Martin established last year to set the partys strategy on the Middle East  a committee that remains in early stages and is far from formalizing an agenda.

James Zogby  a longtime DNC member and critic of Israel who is president of the Arab American Institute and who sits on Martins Middle East Working Group  said the party needs to wake up to voters shifting views on Israel.

Public opinion has shifted. Democrats have clearly shifted. Candidates have shifted. And were not where we were five years ago even, Zogby said. We have to avoid the mistakes that weve been making, which simply show us to be unwilling to accept or unable to accept the political realities.

A Pew Research survey released this week showed 80 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold unfavorable views of Israel, up from 69 percent last year and 53 percent in 2022. A NBC News poll conducted in late February and early March, meanwhile, found that 57 percent of Democrats view Israel negatively, a dramatic change from when just 35 percent held a negative view of the country after Hamas attacked it on Oct. 7, 2023.

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The Democratic Party, time and time again, is presented with absolutely winning issues, said Allison Minnerly, a DNC member from Florida who submitted the resolution criticizing AIPAC and corporate-aligned spending, and who unsuccessfully pushed another last year calling for an arms embargo on Israel. People 1) hate corporate money and 2) do not want to be involved in further conflict in the Middle East.

But Halie Soifer, the CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, which is against the current measures, said the increasing critiques of the Israeli government by prominent elected officials doesnt necessarily mean theres a wholesale shift in support for Israels security or its right to exist as a Jewish state. Soifer, a former Kamala Harris adviser whose group has opposed similar efforts before the DNC in the past, cast the latest batch of foreign-policy resolutions as a distraction for a party thats showing early success in the midterms by honing in on domestic issues.

The DNC and a spokesperson for AIPAC declined to comment.

Democrats have been here before. Staffers working on the partys 2024 autopsy found its approach to Gaza hurt the top of the ticket. But it's unclear whether that made it into the report that the DNC decided not to release.

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At the partys meeting in Minneapolis last summer, Minnerlys weapons ban failed, while Martin yanked his measure calling for unrestricted aid to Gaza and a two-state solution after it passed in favor of creating the task force to advance solutions to the partys divide.

The Middle East Working Group is slated for its fourth meeting this week in New Orleans. Some members lamented to POLITICO that the group lacked structure and any real institutional power. And they disagree on how best to approach their mission.

Joe Salas, a member of the working group from California, believes that Gaza was one of the things that lost us the White House in 2024 and is urging the party to adjust its response. He put forward the resolution recognizing the State of Palestine and pausing or conditioning weapons transfers to any military units credibly implicated in violations of international humanitarian law or obstruction of humanitarian assistance, telling POLITICO he hoped it would serve as a guidepost for the task force.

But Andrew Lachman, another task force member and the past president of the California Jewish Democrats, said he doesnt want to see members of the group trying to undermine the work of the commission by pushing catchall resolutions that could bigfoot its efforts.

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It would be much better for us to try to find ways for us to work together as a party, to stand together against these wars, than engaging in this kind of approach, he said.

The resolutions have also set off a fresh round of lobbying among interest groups. IMEU Policy Project, a pro-Palestinian group, sent members a memo on Wednesday urging them to pass the measures.

The signs are growing that the gap between Democratic leadership and their voters on this issue will be a liability in 2026 unless serious action is taken, the group warned in its memo, a copy of which was shared with POLITICO.
Drought conditions across central North Carolina are creating growing challenges for farmers as they prepare to harvest some crops and plant others, raising concerns about yields and long-term economic impacts.

Fields in Franklin County show signs of prolonged dryness as farmers work through a critical point in the growing season. One farmer planting corn on Thursday said it is the driest he has seen in quite some time.

"Sometimes I just wonder how we do make it," said Travis Nelms, a fourth-generation farmer at N&N Farms in Louisburg.

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Nelms is among many farmers facing multiple pressures at once. Rising fuel and fertilizer prices have already increased production costs, and the dry conditions are adding further strain. Despite that, he said optimism remains part of the job.

"It kind of goes back to that farmer's optimism. We're optimistic folks because here we are in a drought like this, and trying to plant seed in the ground to make a crop in the dry time," Nelms said.

The lack of moisture is evident in the soil itself. As Nelms planted, he pointed to uneven, clumped earth caused by the dryness.

"You can see all around out here, it just came up clumpy. This is just extremely dry right now," he said.

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The drought is also affecting crop yields. Nelms said wheat fields are already showing signs of reduced production.

"Right now it's looking to be a 35-to-40-bushel crop. I'm about a half a crop is what I'm looking at right now," he said.

Agricultural economists say farmers are being forced to make difficult decisions about whether to plant without enough moisture in the ground.

"It's time to be planting crops, and so a lot of farmers are probably considering, should I plant? Do I have enough moisture? Will the plants germinate?" said Jeffrey Dorfman, an agricultural economics professor at NC State.

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Dorfman said the drought compounds financial challenges many farmers already face.

"They're getting less for their crops, and it's costing them 65% more to grow them. It's not a good situation. This is just sort of an insult to injury," he said.

For now, farmers like Nelms say they are relying on hope for rain to arrive soon.

"As always, we just hope it rains in a timely manner. And if it don't get a good staying, I don't know what we'll do," he said.

Experts warn that if dry conditions continue, the effects could extend beyond farms. Less crop production can mean less income for farmers, which can reduce spending in rural communities and impact local economies across the region.

SEE ALSO | Lawn care companies navigate drought and rising fuel costs
April 10 (UPI) -- Ecuador raised tariffs to 100% on imports from Colombia, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the immediate return of his ambassador from Quito.

This represents a new escalation of the diplomatic and trade crisis between the two countries, according to an Ecuadorian statement and remarks from both leaders.

Ecuador said it will implement the tariff increase May 1, according to the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment. It argued that Colombia has not taken concrete steps to curb drug trafficking and organized crime along the shared border.

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"It is not possible to reach agreements with someone who does not have the same commitment to fighting narco-terrorism," Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said Thursday night.

Lamentablemente, no se puede llegar a acuerdos con quien no tiene el mismo compromiso para luchar contra el narcoterrorismo. Desde que tomamos esta medida, en la frontera norte las muertes violentas se redujeron en un 33%. En el futuro, se podra conversar con un gobierno que si... Daniel Noboa Azin (@DanielNoboaOk) April 10, 2026

Petro described the tariff increase as "a monstrosity" and announced immediate measures.

"Our ambassador to Ecuador must return immediately," he wrote on X, where he also called for a Cabinet meeting at the border between the two countries.

The Colombian president also defended his anti-drug policy.

"The president of Ecuador insults the Colombian government that has seized more cocaine than in the entire history of the world," he said.

Los compromisos contra el narcotrafico los hice desde que inicie mi vida de lucha por la justicia social en Colombia. Yo no naci en casa de grandes bananeros o banqueros. Naci dentro del pueblo trabajador que no es narcotraficante ni lavador de dolares. Vive de su trabajo y de su... https://t.co/PP188CwQat Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) April 10, 2026

Ecuador's decision marks a new critical point in a dispute that has intensified in recent months and is affecting bilateral trade, energy cooperation and diplomatic channels, according to local media reports.

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Negotiations between the two countries within the Andean Community of Nations are suspended, Ecuador's foreign minister Gabriela Sommerfeld said.

Relations deteriorated further after Petro's recent statements about former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, whom he described as a "political prisoner" and to whom Colombia granted nationality. Glas is serving corruption sentences in Ecuador.

The case dates to 2024, when Noboa's government ordered his capture inside the Mexican embassy in Quito -- an operation that led to a break in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Ecuador maintains that tightening its trade policy also responds to the need to strengthen security along the roughly 373-mile shared border, where networks linked to drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking and illegal mining operate.

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The Ecuadorian government estimates these efforts imply additional spending of about $400 million.

Since the start of the trade dispute, Colombia has responded with reciprocal measures, including tariffs on Ecuadorian imports and suspending energy sales to Ecuador, which in 2024 experienced power outages of up to 14 hours per day.

The economic impact is raising concerns in both countries.

In Colombia, business groups have called for de-escalation, while in Ecuador, companies in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors have reported disruptions due to restrictions on Colombian imports, according to local media.

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The figures reflect the scale of the exchange. In 2025, Colombia exported $1.846 billion in goods to Ecuador, making it its sixth-largest trading partner and second destination for non-mining, non-energy exports. Ecuador, exported about $857 million to Colombia, in a trade balance historically favorable to Bogota.

Colombia's National Business Council warned that with a 30% tariff, losses for exporters could reach $750 million annually and affect 82% of bilateral trade. With the increase to 100%, the impact would be far greater.

The new increase by Noboa "definitively closes any possibility of trade between Colombia and Ecuador," Javier Diaz, president of the National Association of Foreign Trade, said to Clarin, Argentina's largest newspaper.

On the Ecuadorian side, Pablo Ceron, a transport representative in the border province of Carchi, described the decision as "unilateral, improvised, misguided."

The bilateral crisis comes at a politically sensitive time in Colombia, just months before general elections.
By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO/BOGOTA, April 9 (Reuters) - Ecuador's government on Thursday said it was raising tariffs on imports from its larger neighbor Colombia to 100% from a prior level of 50%, citing Colombia's alleged failure to implement border security measures.

"After confirming Colombias failure to implement concrete and effective border security measures, Ecuador is compelled to take sovereign action," the government said in a statement.

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Ecuador said the tariffs would take effect from May 1.

The South American country had late February raised tariffs to 50%, up from a level of 30% it first imposed at the end of January. It has justified the measures by saying Colombia is not doing enough to fight drug trafficking near the shared border.

Colombia did not immediately announce reciprocal measures but top officials blasted the latest measures on social media.

"This is simply a monstrosity," Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on X, adding that it suggested trade agreements in the Andean region had lost their value, and his foreign minister should move for greater integration with Central America, the Caribbean and South America's Mercosur bloc.

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'A CLEAR AGGRESSION'

Petro's energy minister Edwin Palma added that Ecuador's decision to again raise the tariffs marked "a clear aggression against brotherly peoples who have historically walked together."

"Amid a complex energy situation, with power cuts already affecting millions of Ecuadoreans, it is even more concerning that President Daniel Noboa opts for confrontation and acts with arrogance, rather than advancing toward shared solutions that ensure energy security for the region," he said in a post on X.

Colombia has repeatedly rejected these accusations and noted that it runs regular joint counter-narcotics operations together with Ecuadorean security forces. Its government has levied reciprocal tariffs on some Ecuadorean goods.

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Bogota has also halted energy sales to Ecuador, a key export for Ecuador during droughts when hydroelectric dams dry up. Ecuador also imports significant quantities of medicines and pesticides from the neighboring country.

Ecuador's government has previously cited a trade deficit as a reason for the tariffs.

The announcement follows tensions over a possible border violation last month. Colombian officials said 14 people were killed near the border after Ecuador conducted a security operation and its explosives ended up in Colombian territory.

Ecuador said at the time it had conducted a legitimate operation in its own territory, and was working to establish why the explosives appeared in Colombia.

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Other tensions include a diplomatic spat over former Ecuadorean vice president Jorge Glas, who was jailed in Ecuador over corruption charges. Petro has said Glas is a political prisoner and should be freed.

Ecuador recalled its ambassador to Colombia over Petro's comments and has suspended working groups scheduled for next week over trade, energy and security cooperation.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito, Nelson Bocanegra in Bogota and Inigo Alexander in Mexico City; Writing by sarah Morland; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon and Stephen Coates)
Sen. Elissa Slotkin knows how to win in Trump country. Shes trying to show her fellow Democrats the way.

We dont help ourselves by pretending we dont have a problem, OK? Slotkin told Democrats at a party dinner here Tuesday night. Staying on defense only doesnt win anything. You must go on offense to win.

The Michigan senator brought a dose of tough medicine for Democrats as she visited Iowa, the latest stop on a tour of states that President Donald Trump won, which she believes can be the center of the partys revival in the midterm elections and beyond.

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If we can figure out how to win in the middle of the country, we can work that out on the coast, Slotkin said. But what works on the coast does not necessarily work in the middle of the country.

As she joins a long list of Democrats eyeing a potential presidential candidacy in 2028, Slotkin is positioning herself squarely in the middle  geographically and politically  as she tests her message in recent months to audiences in Missouri, Idaho, western Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa and Ohio.

Her appearances are intended to bolster the party in its quest to win control of Congress this fall, an argument she delivered here at the Polk County Democratic Partys annual fundraising dinner on Tuesday night, but her broader ambitions come alive with little coaxing.

I just want to be part of the change that I think we need in this party, Slotkin told CNN in an interview after her speech. Im not so arrogant as to think it has to be me, but I want to be part of that next generation, without a doubt.

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Slotkin, as a politician, is a product of the Trump era.

She won a seat in Congress in 2018 in a Trump-friendly district during his first midterm election. Two years later, she won reelection with Trump at the top of the ballot. She narrowly won a US Senate seat in 2024, even as Trump carried Michigan.

Its fight or flight

She downplays any ideological divisions among Democrats  a prospect that will surely be tested in the 2026 and 2028 campaigns  and said the party should find unity in turning the page from Trump. Yet with just 28% of Americans holding a favorable view of the Democratic Party, according to the latest CNN poll, the challenges facing Slotkin and other leaders is clear.

We used to talk about, are you a progressive or are you a moderate? Thats not the debate anymore. Its fight or flight, Slotkin said, adding that despite a more moderate background, I am on team fight  100%!

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Slotkin drew the ire of the Trump administration last year for organizing a video that she and five other Democratic lawmakers recorded, urging members of the military to resist illegal orders. The Justice Department tried to charge the group, but failed to win an indictment.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin listens as Sen. Mark Kelly speaks on the failed grand jury indictment against them and other colleagues by the Department of Justice, after they recorded a video citing the Uniform Code of Military Justice that members of the military must refuse illegal orders, during a news conference on February 11. - Heather Diehl/Getty Images

As she introduces herself to new audiences, she ticks through her electoral history  race-by-race  making it clear that one of her biggest calling cards is winning in places that other Democrats have struggled to do so.

She delivered the Democratic response to Trumps address to a joint session of Congress last year, choosing to speak from the city of Wyandotte, Michigan, which she noted that both she and Trump won in 2024. She offered a message for anyone feeling down-and-out by his return.

First, dont tune out. Its easy to be exhausted, but America needs you now more than ever, Slotkin said in that speech, a message that she reprises in her campaign trail stops today. If previous generations had not fought for democracy, where would we be today?

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Now, even as she talks about being friendly with Trump-voting neighbors from her town of Holly, Michigan, she also delivers a searing critique of the presidents foreign policy, domestic agenda and the enrichment she believes hes made from office.

The spark for a political turnaround for Democrats, she said, must be rooted in economic fairness.

Under no ledger can you say that people are doing better today than we were two years ago, Slotkin said. You cant say it.

The most dangerous thing we face

Slotkin, 49, was a CIA analyst long before she ran for office. She signed up for the intelligence service after attending graduate school in New York during the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. She served three tours of duty in Iraq and worked on the national security staffs of the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.

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Even with global threats rising, she said, her biggest worries are closer to home.

I believe to my bones that the most important and dangerous national security threat to the United States is not coming from abroad, Slotkin said. It is the threat to the middle class in America and the threat to the American dream. That is the most dangerous thing we face.

On her visit to Iowa, Slotkin sat down for lunch with five Trump voters in Indianola, a town just south of Des Moines, to hear concerns across the political spectrum. The session was organized by Majority Democrats, a group of younger elected officials who are trying to rebrand and rebuild the party.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin speaks to voters in Indianola, Iowa, on April 7. - Hannah Fingerhut/AP

She appeared at a health care town hall meeting for Sarah Trone Garriott, an Iowa state senator who is running for Congress against Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in one of the most competitive races in the country.

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Slotkin offered instructions for how to speak about politics to their conservative neighbors, saying: Fear is contagious, but so is courage. She urged Democrats to call balls and strikes and point out undisputable facts about the economy.

You cant argue with the price of gas at the pump right now. Its not negotiable to be like, everythings great, prices are going down, Slotkin said. You can tweet that as much as you want. Everyone knows how much the damn tank was to fill up.

A Democratic Project 2029

Gone are the days when a visit to Iowa by an ambitious Democrat automatically signaled the exploration of a presidential campaign. The state lost its long-held position at the front of the partys nominating calendar after the 2020 Iowa caucuses, but it is still competing for an early-slot along with Michigan and a handful of states.

Yet it remains a place where presidential aspirations can blossom, with activists still pointing to Obamas 2008 victory as a critical launching pad to the White House. He won the state in two general elections, too, the last Democratic presidential candidate to do so.

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Mindful that she is one of many Democrats eyeing a potential run  governors, senators and almost certainly others  she implored party activists to press candidates for their plans, not merely listen to their criticisms of Trump.

Youre going to see every Tom, Dick, and Harry candidate come through here, right? Slotkin said. I want you to ask what their offensive plan is  their Project 2029  and the value proposition theyre going to offer as an alternative to what Trump is doing, rather than just pointing at him and saying, Hes bad. Hes bad. Hes bad. Hes bad.

We know that, Slotkin said. OK?

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
One victim of Jeffrey Epstein has questioned Melania Trumps motives for speaking out about the late sex offender and offered her own theory for the timing of the first ladys forceful comments.

Its not clear what prompted the surprise statement from Trump on Thursday, with the first lady denying having any kind of relationship with Epstein and saying she wanted to clear her good name.

Epstein victim Marina Lacerda, who has said she first met Epstein in 2002, when she was 14 years old, and suffered years of sexual abuse, said of Trumps statement, It sounds like youre just trying to shift attention from something to something else.

The Trumps with Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images

So, how does this benefit the Trump family, is my question, Lacerda said in a post on Instagram.

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The lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today, the first lady declared Thursday. I have never been friends with Epstein.

The 55-year-old then called on lawmakers to give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony.

Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the congressional record, she said. Then, and only then, we will have the truth.

The Daily Beast has contacted representatives for Melania Trump for comment on this story.

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Her husband, 79, has previously called the Epstein files a Democrat hoax and has denied any wrongdoing over his links to Epstein, who died in 2019.

A group of Epstein survivors has called out the first ladys statement, pointing out they have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing criminal reports, and giving testimony in court.

Melania Trumps forceful statement denying any links to Jeffrey Epstein came out of the blue. / Evan Vucci / Reuters

Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice, the statement read. First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump Administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The act was signed into law last November and led to the belated release of a tranche of documents, videos, and images by the Department of Justice relating to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

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But the release was botched, with only 3 million of an estimated 6 million documents released. Names were frequently redacted, even though victims names were initially visible in one release.

Melania Trump, pictured with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Gwendolyn Beck, and Jeffrey Epstein at a party at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, said she only knew the late sex offender socially. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images

The letter from the Epstein survivors said Melanias surprise statement also diverts attention from (former Attorney General) Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors identities. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers.

The message concluded, Survivors have done their part. Now its time for those in power to do theirs.

Epstein survivor Lacerda, who also signed the letter, released her own video on Instagram on Thursday, where she speculated about the timing of Melania Trump finally breaking her silence.

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We are supposed to testify in front of Congress under oath, Lacerda said. For what? Tell us why. Will it change anything? Will people be held accountable? We had the Transparency Act passed. We had the [Epstein] files dropped. Weve got the names on the files.

She continued, Nobody has done nothing. But yet, you want to retraumatize us and ask us to go in front of Congress and tell them our story, which we have told some of them already. So now you want us to tell them again, under oath, and retraumatize us and then do absolutely nothing?

Epstein victim Marina Lacerda, pictured in 2025, asked how Melania Trumps surprise statement would benefit the Trump family. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

That sounds like a s--tty idea, it sounds like youre just trying to shift attention from something to something else. So, how does this benefit the Trump family, is my question.

Lacerda told ABC News last year that a visit to his New York home in 2002, when she was 14, to provide massage services eventually led to years of sexual abuse.

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Survivors Maria and Anna Farmer, who were signatories on the statement, also released a separate document on Thursday, calling for accountability, transparency, and justice.

The statement read, The federal government has long mismanaged the Epstein investigation by repeatedly ignoring survivors, violating their privacy, and refusing to release the remaining records held by the Department of Justice  including my complete FBI records from 1996.

The FBI failed to act on a report made by Maria Farmer in 1996, her sister Anna was abused by Epstein.

Maria Farmer speaks at a press conference with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein / Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

The sisters letter continued, If the federal government is truly committed to supporting survivors, it would ask us what we want and should follow the facts wherever they may lead.

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Speaking on Laura Coates Live on CNN on Thursday evening, Democrat Melanie Stansbury of the House Oversight Committee said she had been on a call with Epstein survivors moments after Melania Trumps statement.

One of the survivors said that they felt personally offended by her statement because they felt like it was essentially saying it was on the survivors to come give public testimony, and its on them to tell their stories again to the American people, Stansbury said.

And the entire point of this case is that theres been a miscarriage of justice for decades.

Stansbury said Democrats have called for public hearings hundreds of times, including requesting former Attorney General Pam Bondi and her replacement, Todd Blanche.

While we appreciate that the first lady is weighing in and asking for public hearings we want to hear from the law enforcement who have yet to prosecute these cases.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday that he had become a citizen of Albania, putting him one step closer to his oft-repeated dream of leaving politics behind for a life abroad.

Adams, a Democrat, received the honorary citizenship at his request, according to an official decree from the countrys president, Bajram Begaj.

The news was first reported in the Albanian press and confirmed by a spokesperson for Adams, who said the ex-mayor had long been a friend and ally of the Albanian-American community.

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The decision by the Republic of Albania to grant Mayor Adams citizenship reflects that enduring relationship and mutual respect, the spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, said in a text message, adding that the recognition further strengthens the bond between New York and Albania.

Adams, who once described himself as an international mayor, has previously expressed an affinity for the small Balkan nation. His adult son lived in the country while competing in Albanias version of American Idol." Adams traveled there himself in October  one of several international trips taken in his final months in office.

The purpose, he said at the time, was to say hello to a friend and learn from a friend and build a relationship with a friendship that will not allow our oceans or seas to divide us.

It wasnt immediately clear what, if anything, Adams planned to do with his new citizenship. But he has previously expressed a desire to move far from his hometown of New York City.

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When I retire from government, Im going to live in Baku, Adams, then Brooklyn Borough President, said at an event honoring the Azerbaijan community in 2018. A few years later, in an interview with a Jewish publication, Adams said he would like to retire in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

As mayor, Adams' penchant for international trips to Turkey prompted a federal indictment focused, in part, on allegations that he accepted improper travel benefits from foreign nationals.

Adams denied the allegations, and the case was later ordered dropped by President Donald Trumps Justice Department. Adams later met with Trump administration officials about the possibility of taking an ambassadorship, which did not materialize.

Shortly after dropping his ailing bid for reelection, Adams embarked on a four-day trip to Albania, meeting with the countrys Prime Minister Edi Rama and members of his Cabinet, along with local business leaders. The trip was paid for in part by the Albanian government.

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Since leaving office, Adams has been spotted in Dubai and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also told reporters that he planned to fly to Senegal for a business opportunity, which he declined to discuss further.

In January, he launched a cryptocurrency coin that he said would beat back antisemitism and anti-Americanism, but it drew scrutiny after losing millions of dollars in value.
By Tim Cocks

JOHANNESBURG, April 10 (Reuters) - A court in Eswatini has ruled that the first five migrants the Trump administration sent to the African kingdom have a right to a lawyer, after they were denied legal representation on their transfer from the U.S. to a Swazi jail in July.

The court rejected a government argument that the detainees had not specifically requested the human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi represent them. Nhlabatsi has been trying to fight the migrants' case without access to them.

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"There can be no real harm in granting the Respondent access to the detainees," the three judges ruled in a decision reviewed by Reuters.

"If they do not wish to see the Respondent (they can) tell this to the Respondent to his face," they said.

The detainees are among at least 19 third-country migrants - from various countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas - that Trump's administration deported to Eswatini as part of its crackdown on immigration. Other countries have also hosted migrants deported from the U.S.

The judgment only applies to the first five arrivals, as the challenge was first launched on their behalf, although it could set a precedent for the others. Eswatini, an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III, has released only two of the detainees so far, a Jamaican man last year and a Cambodian last month.

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Lawyers in Eswatini and the U.S. have challenged the legality of the $5.1 million deal between the two countries, which has resulted in deportees being incarcerated in the southern African nation despite having already served sentences for crimes committed on U.S. soil.

The high court last month threw out a case filed by a local human rights lawyer that challenged the deal itself, though the lawyer has appealed.

(Reporting by Tim Cocks; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Idahos water supply is typically coded in industry acronyms: CFS, SWE, KAF.

This winter, the grim facts were written plainly on the landscape  in brown hillsides, dry peaks and the early blooms of spring.

Now, as Idahos irrigation season begins in earnest, experts are sounding the alarm about a grim water outlook with few antecedents in state history, whether theyre talking in terms of cubic feet per second, snow-water equivalent, or thousands of acre-feet.

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Idaho Department of Water Resources Hydrologist David Hoekema went back to 1934 to find a comparable case  the heart of the Dust Bowl.

At Aprils meeting of Idahos interagency Water Supply Committee in Boise, experts warned that the stark forecast threatened to reach beyond Idahos water-dependent $44.5 billion agricultural economy, affecting how people across the state work, recreate, and even pay the power bill.

This year, water is so low that every Idahoan will feel the impact, Erin Whorton, a water supply specialist at the Idaho State Office of the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, told the Idaho Statesman in an interview.

Whorton spends the winter monitoring snowpack in river basins around the state. She described mindboggling scenes in the mountains  bare dirt in March that shed expect to melt out in May. On April 8, Idahos snow-water equivalent  that is, the amount of water contained in its snowpack  was the lowest ever seen on that date, effectively resetting the states scale.

A light covering of snow arrives in the Foothills in January, one of the few snowfalls to reach Idahos capital this year. The Boise River Basin got about a third of its typical snowfall this winter, according to some models. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com)

Idaho was one of 10 states to see its warmest March ever this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, wrapping what Hoekema called far and away the warmest winter the state has seen since it began keeping comprehensive records.

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Its something you wouldnt expect to see for another 100 years, if that, he told the Statesman.

That means the little snow that fell melted fast and early. The snowpack was so low, and the weather so warm, that SNOTEL  short for snow telemetry, the Wests automated network of real-time snow monitoring consoles  cant make sense of it, according to the cadre of hydrologists, meteorologists and other related scientists who gathered downtown Wednesday.

SNOTEL sites tend to be biased high, according to Mark Robertson, co-owner of the software company M3 Works, which works with Water Resources to model snowpack in the Boise Basin.

SNOTEL stations measure snow-water equivalent and precipitation. Snow lands on a pillow, where the station measures its depth, density and surrounding soil moisture. From there, its a math problem, extrapolating data from available sites to estimate the amount of water in a basin. The equation assumes a historical average snowline at around 4,000 feet in most basins, Hoekema said. This year, warm weather drove the snowline much higher.

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SNOTEL said the Boise Basin received 60% of annual moisture  already dire, according to Robertson. A different model Robertson ran to account for the extreme heat put the figure much lower: around a third of the typical water. A third, hand-sampled estimate agreed with Robertson, estimating the basin had 42% of what it would typically receive.

At that level, theres virtually no chance of getting to a so-called normal snowpack, Brad Gillies of the NOAAs Oregon-based Northwest River Forecast Center, told the committee.

We just didnt really have a winter, Water Resources Deputy Director Brian Patton told the Statesman on April 2, and we are very worried about the water supply.

Itll be rough without a miracle spring

Idahos 2026 statewide snow-water equivalent  the amount of moisture in the states snowpack, seen here in a black line  was the lowest ever recorded on April 8.

Idahos low snowpack broke tons of records for scarcity all over the state, Whorton said. Those figures led the National Resource Conservation Service to forecast below normal natural streamflows across all of Idaho, with the median projection for the Boise River around half of what it usually hits.

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Most of the water that Treasure Valley residents see in the river isnt a natural flow  its regulated by the dams and reservoirs upstream. And thats why Boise area water users are in better shape than their peers that rely on the Snake, the Owyhee or other regional drainages, Hoekema said.

The Boise Basin has enough water stored in reservoirs at Anderson Ranch, Arrowrock and Lucky Peak to handle one bad year, he said. Both he and Whorton used the same analogy: Water in a reservoir is like money in the bank, Whorton said.

This year, Hoekema said, the Boise Basin will most likely draw that account down to zero by years end, starting almost as soon as water is released.

I expect to see the reservoir system completely depleted, he told the Statesman. Well get through this year, but next year, well be in really, really bad shape.

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Boises reservoir system is designed to manage a one-year drought, he said. If it extends much longer, without water in reserve, Hoekema expects to see some really, really bad outcomes.

Still, spring can change quickly in Idahos mountains. While forecasters agreed it would be hard to make up much ground, the weather in the weeks ahead traditionally plays a really critical role in water supply, Hoekema said.

Boises reservoirs  Anderson Ranch, Arrowrock and Lucky Peak  were at 89% of capacity on April 8. Experts warn that the reservoirs could be depleted by years end.

Well see what happens, he said. If we dry out, wow  itll be rough.

Unfortunately, thats the most likely weather pattern, according to Troy Lindquist, a senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service.

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Idaho has a pretty strong probability of seeing above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation in the months ahead, he told the committee. Further out, Lindquist sees a good chance of an El Nino weather pattern building in the Pacific. Here, that likely  but not always  carries warm, dry weather.

Whats ahead for Idaho, beyond

Despite the dim outlook, Boise is in better shape than other parts of the state  and Idaho is in better shape than other states in the region.

To the east, users who rely on the Snake River are in much worse shape, Hoekema said. Farms south of Twin Falls, which get much of their water from northern Nevada and Idahos South Hills, may run out of water by the end of May, he said.

A week before the meeting, Whorton spoke to water users near Oakley who are planning for a single cutting of hay before leaving fields fallow. Other farmers, Hoekema said, are already considering moving on from water-intensive cash crops like potatoes, sugar beets and soybeans in favor of alfalfa or wheat.

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In an interview, Whorton emphasized that the impact of a bad water year extends beyond Idahos agricultural economy. Everyday recreation will take a hit, she said, as well as the businesses that depend on it. Low water hurts outfitters, fisheries, boaters, even hunters, she said.

Electricity costs could rise. The price in Idaho follows water supply, according to an Idaho Power representative at the water-supply meeting. Hydropower is the companys lowest-cost resource, he said: Lower streamflows mean dams produce less electricity, so Idaho Power fills the gaps with pricier options.

Planning is really key for us, the Idaho Power rep said, adding that were not as bad as Colorado or California.

Christina Lazar, a spokesperson for the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, said its always a horrible day when she hears about a low water year. Her office deals with things you cant plan for, namely wildfire. Lazar told the committee that her organization  as well as peers across the West  are gearing up for an intense fire season, stoked by the dry conditions left after winters low tide.

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Everyones having the same problem at once, she said.

Boise just broke a century-old temperature record. Heres how hot it got

Warm weather, light snow: How an unusual winter has affected Idaho ski areas

Bogus Basin will close weeks earlier than usual. Blame the abnormal weather
Laken Snelling, the former University of Kentucky stunt team member accused of killing her newborn, arrived in court this morning to enter her plea in the case.

Snellings attorney pleaded not guilty on her behalf on Friday, April 10. The judge then scheduled Snellings pre-trial hearing for May 14 followed by a status hearing on June 12.

On August 20, 2025, Lexington police responded to a report of an unresponsive infant. The baby boy was pronounced dead at the scene after the child was found in a closet, wrapped in a towel and placed inside a trash bag, according to court records.

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On March 10, WKYT reported that the Kentucky Medical Examiners Office determined that the infant was born alive and stated the cause of death being asphyxiation by undetermined means.

Four days later, Snelling was arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence, concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse. At the time, she was enrolled at the University of Kentucky and a member of their stunt team, but after her arrest, she withdrew from school.

However, last month, a grand jury added a manslaughter charge.

They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide and then deliberated and decided that manslaughter first degree was the charge that should come out of the grand jury, Fayette County Commonwealths Attorney Kimberly Baird said in a statement to WKYT at the time.

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Snelling has remained on house arrest since September 2025.

Read More From Globe

This story Ex-University of Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Accused of Killing Newborn Pleads Not Guilty first appeared on Globe. Add Globe as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
People check in at Kuwait International Fairground, which has been used as a temporary check-in site, in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, April 9, 2026.

Spillover from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict forced the temporary closure of Kuwait's airspace, prompting Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways to launch an emergency plan in March 2026. The airline began operating flights through Qaisumah Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Ground transportation between Kuwait and the two alternative airports has also been arranged until full operations resume at Kuwait International Airport. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

People wait to check in at Kuwait International Fairground, which has been used as a temporary check-in site, in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, April 9, 2026.

Spillover from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict forced the temporary closure of Kuwait's airspace, prompting Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways to launch an emergency plan in March 2026. The airline began operating flights through Qaisumah Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Ground transportation between Kuwait and the two alternative airports has also been arranged until full operations resume at Kuwait International Airport. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

A staff member works at Kuwait International Fairground, which has been used as a temporary check-in site, in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, April 9, 2026.

Spillover from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict forced the temporary closure of Kuwait's airspace, prompting Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways to launch an emergency plan in March 2026. The airline began operating flights through Qaisumah Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Ground transportation between Kuwait and the two alternative airports has also been arranged until full operations resume at Kuwait International Airport. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

Staff prepare to handle passengers' luggage at Kuwait International Fairground, which has been used as a temporary check-in site, in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, April 9, 2026.

Spillover from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict forced the temporary closure of Kuwait's airspace, prompting Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways to launch an emergency plan in March 2026. The airline began operating flights through Qaisumah Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Ground transportation between Kuwait and the two alternative airports has also been arranged until full operations resume at Kuwait International Airport. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

Shuttle buses wait to transport passengers to airports in Saudi Arabia at Kuwait International Fairground, which has been used as a temporary check-in site, in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, April 9, 2026.

Spillover from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict forced the temporary closure of Kuwait's airspace, prompting Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways to launch an emergency plan in March 2026. The airline began operating flights through Qaisumah Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Ground transportation between Kuwait and the two alternative airports has also been arranged until full operations resume at Kuwait International Airport. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

People wait to check in at Kuwait International Fairground, which has been used as a temporary check-in site, in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, April 9, 2026.

Spillover from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict forced the temporary closure of Kuwait's airspace, prompting Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways to launch an emergency plan in March 2026. The airline began operating flights through Qaisumah Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Ground transportation between Kuwait and the two alternative airports has also been arranged until full operations resume at Kuwait International Airport. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
A former staff member at a Clermont County childcare center has been arrested for a second time in two weeks after police say he kissed a student on the mouth.

Christopher Helmer, 18, of Batavia Township was charged April 9 with gross sexual imposition, grooming and possessing sexually oriented matter involving a minor  all felonies, Pierce Township police said in a news release. He was arrested two weeks earlier on a tampering with evidence charge related to the same incident.

Helmer was released on bond following the first arrest. He is currently being held at Clermont County Jail.

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Pierce Township police say that on March 26 they received a report from Jelly Bean Junction staff members who said another staff member saw Helmer kissing a 5-year-old student, the release said.

The childcare center separated Helmer from the students immediately, interviewed him, removed him from the premises and fired him. The parents of the student, police and children's protective services were all contacted.

Later that day, a detective interviewed Helmer, who admitted he kissed the student on the mouth and deleted digital photographs of the student, according to the release. The Clermont County Sheriff's Office was notified and Helmer was arrested on a tampering with evidence charge while a joint investigation into his conduct and electronics continued.

Two weeks later on April 9, Pierce Township police arrested Helmer again in connection to the three child sex abuse charges. The release said additional charges could be added when the cases go before a grand jury.

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Court documents relating to any of Helmer's charges were not available April 9. Court records indicate he is next scheduled to appear in court April 14.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-Jelly Bean Junction worker charged with sexual abuse of student
Exiled Iranian cartoonist Mana Neyestani has a huge following back home for his biting humour.

And one of his recent sketches sums up the "dilemma created by the regime" over the US-Israel bombing of his homeland and how it divides Iranians.

Two men hold a banner with the words "No to war". But one is in a balaclava and is also holding a gallows with a man hanging from it.

"It's difficult to work right now," said the Paris-based artist. "You either get labelled as a lover of the war or of the Islamic Republic."

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Three exiled Iranian cartoonists who talked to AFP said they were walking the same thin line, with Sanaz Bagheri -- who has been working from Amsterdam for the last seven years -- insisting that they "are doing everything we can to be the voice" of those who cannot speak back home.

Artists have used satire throughout Iran's turbulent history to circumvent the threat of persecution.

- Khamenei and women -

Another of Neyestani's drawings -- taking a dig at Tehran's internet ban -- shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sitting on the head of a man tied up below a no WIFI sign while declaring, "I am the voice of Iranians."

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"Social media is the only way I can communicate with my audience," said the 52-year-old cartoonist, who has close to a million followers on Instagram alone.

"It's one of the only ways people inside Iran can stay informed. All official news sources inside Iran only present the government's narrative."

But that audience is now effectively cut-off by a near total internet shutdown since the start of the war in February, keeping roughly 90 million Iranians in digital darkness.

In a central Paris gallery a selection of Neyestani's works currently hangs alongside another award-winning Iranian cartoonist, Kianoush Ramezani, who works from exile in Helsinki.

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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, killed on February 28 at the start of the US-Israel bombing, is a frequent target of their satire.

Women feature prominently, inspired by the "Women, Life, Freedom" demonstrators sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in state custody in 2022.

Sketches include a woman with long flowing hair standing on Khamenei's burning turban, while another shows hijab-less schoolgirls ripping his portrait from their classroom wall.

"This system is built on sanctifying the supreme leader and other figures within it. They have invested enormous effort and resources to construct this sense of sanctity, and a simple cartoon can undermine it," Ramezani said.

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- 'Dangerous' -

"Iranians are sarcastic and are good with humour, but they take political cartoons extremely seriously and that is a problem for us because when they take it too seriously," he said. "Then it becomes dangerous for us."

After periods of repression under the Shah's feared Savvak intelligence services in the 1970s, and the "sacred defence" era declared by the Islamic authorities during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, satire enjoyed a brief respite with a proliferation of reformist newspapers in the 1990s.

But the election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005 turned the tide, with a wave of cartoonists leaving the country after mass protests against Ahmadinejad in 2009, and again with the crackdown on the Women, Life, Freedom Movement.

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- Nightmare -

In a tale of Kafkaesque irony, it was a cockroach that drove Neyestani into exile in 2006.

An award-winning author of eight works, he told the story of his nightmarish fall from grace in a graphic novel, "An Iranian Metamorphosis", including his time in Tehran's notorious Evin prison over a cartoon of a young boy talking to a cockroach.

Interpreted as a slur to the Iranian Azeri community, from which Neyestani ironically hails, the drawing sparked massive riots and forced him to leave the country.

Picking up a pen has gotten no less riskier since.

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Ramezani feels the threat of Tehran's long arm 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) away from his hometown of Rasht on the Caspian Sea.

"They spend a lot of money to make this kind of cyber army and they systematically attack you, harass you," he said, reporting cartoonists to social media platforms, claiming their content was insulting or inappropriate.

It is designed to put you in "a shadow ban to decrease your visibility," he said.

ja/dp/fg
Claim:

An image authentically shows U.S. first lady Melania Trump pole dancing for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

In April 2026, in a surprise statement to the media, U.S. first lady Melania Trump denied ties to disgraced businessman and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Describing her correspondence with his associate Ghislaine Maxwell as "casual," Melania Trump added, "I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump."

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Soon after she made the statement, internet users circulated an image they claimed showed Melania Trump pole dancing for Epstein. The image previously spread earlier in the year after the U.S. Department of Justice released more than 3 million files related to Epstein in late January. Snopes readers also sent us the image, asking if it was authentic.

The alleged photograph spread on X:

(X user @KapitanLisowski)

The earliest example of the image we found appeared on Feb. 9 on the Instagram page of the British artist Alison Jackson, who according to her website creates "convincingly realistic photographs, films and sculpture depicting celebrities doing things in private." The Instagram post with the picture had a caption reading, "Apparently, Melania was introduced to Donald Trump by Epstein" as well as a disclaimer stating, "Fictional image. No factual claims implied." As a result, we've rated the image fake.

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We messaged Jackson's Instagram page to confirm she created the image in question and will update this story if we learn more.

(Instagram user @alisonjacksonartist)

Snopes has previously debunked other images featuring famous people created by the same artist. For a previous story about a fake image of U.S. President Donald Trump and Epstein getting their feet washed by a girl, a spokesperson for Jackson told us: "The image was created by Alison Jackson, she uses lookalikes of the public figures and makes them look realistic, she also uses Ai  it's a bit of both."

We searched for the image in the Epstein files made available by the DOJ and found no such photograph in the files. A reverse image search also found no credible sources sharing the purported photograph. If this image were actually in the files, major media outlets would have widely covered it.

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We also ran the image through Google Gemini's SynthID check, a tool that scans for embedded watermarks input through AI software. That scan found no SynthID watermark and concluded that it was not created using Google's AI, but noted "SynthID only detects Google's specific watermark, so it cannot determine if the image was created or altered using other AI tools or software like Photoshop."

We also analyzed the image using other AI detection tools. Hive Moderation and Zero-GPT determined it was highly likely to contain AI-generated or deepfake content. Sight Engine determined it was unlikely to be AI-generated. (Research shows AI-detection software is imperfect and readers should consider the tools' results with skepticism.)

The image has several red flags that indicate it was either AI-generated or heavily edited. First, the shadow behind the woman's figure is inconsistent and does not cast the same dark shade onto Epstein seated behind her while appearing to be lit in the same way. Second, the woman's fingers appear cut off around the pole. Third, it is unclear where the shadow on the bed between the pole and the woman's legs is coming from.

Snopes has previously investigated an image claiming to show Melania Trump, Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell and a few young women or teenage girls. Snopes has also analyzed the unsubstantiated claim that Melania Trump was an escort before meeting her now-husband President Donald Trump at a party thrown by Maxwell.

Sources:

Epstein Library. Department of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/epstein. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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Ibrahim, Nur. "Investigating Alleged Photo of Melania Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell and Unidentified Girls." Snopes, 7 Feb. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//news/2026/02/07/melania-trump-ghislaine-maxwell-girls-photo/. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Izzo, Jack. "Unraveling Claim Melania Was an Escort before Meeting Trump at Ghislaine Maxwell Party." Snopes, 1 Sept. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/09/01/melania-trump-escort-ghislaine-maxwell-party/. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Kar, Sujita Kumar, et al. "How Sensitive Are the Free AI-Detector Tools in Detecting AI-Generated Texts? A Comparison of Popular AI-Detector Tools." Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, vol. 47, no. 3, May 2025, pp. 27578. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176241247934. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Office of Public Affairs | Department of Justice Publishes 3.5 Million Responsive Pages in Compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act | United States Department of Justice. 30 Jan. 2026, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-publishes-35-million-responsive-pages-compliance-epstein-files. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

"Verify Google AI-Generated Images, Videos, and Audio with SynthID." Gemini Apps Help. https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/16722517. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.


The King Street Bridge in St. Augustine will close Monday, April 13, for approximately seven months as part of an ongoing rehabilitation project, the Florida Department of Transportation announced.

The extended closure is necessary to complete the work safely, FDOT said.

During the closure, drivers will be detoured via U.S. 1 and Malaga Street to access King Street. A temporary traffic signal has been installed at the U.S. 1 and Malaga Street intersection to assist motorists through the detour.

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Drivers are advised to follow posted detour signs.

A detour map is available below.

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Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said Wednesday that President Donald Trumps recent military actions in Iran have "made the world safer," offering a stark contrast to criticism from other Democratic lawmakers.

"Usually, the Iranians only respond [to] power . . ." Fetterman told "Hannity."

"Now it might force them to continue more kinds of military strikes, but remind everyone, their nuclear ambitions have been severely damaged at this point. The Israelis have killed many, many of the scientists and [destroyed] a lot of those [nuclear] facilities as well, too."

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Fetterman argued that while there are still concerns about remaining enriched uranium, actions taken against Iran have significantly weakened the regimes capabilities and improved global security.

Schumer Calls Trump 'A Military Moron' And Says Us 'Worse Off' Now Than When Iran War Started

Sen. John Fetterman speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026, following a briefing by Trump administration officials on U.S. strikes on Iran.

"Every single thing Iran has done is an entire war crime. Now, we are the force of good in the world," he said.

Read On The Fox News App

Fetterman also pushed back on Democrats' calls for a new war powers vote, arguing it would undermine the ongoing mission.

"We're not even 40 days into this and, now, I'm reading that they have to force another war powers vote, and I will vote against that now, because we have to stand [behind] our military to allow them to accomplish, you know, the goals of Epic Fury."

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Fetterman Says 'Moral Clarity' Drives His Widening Break With The Democratic Party

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., pictured during a news conference following the weekly Senate Democrat policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Fettermans remarks regarding the Trump administration's actions in Iran contrast with those of several Democrats who have criticized the strikes and raised concerns about escalation and congressional authority.

"The bottom line is . . . Iran still has its nuclear stockpile . . . " Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday, announcing that Democrats plan to force a vote on the war powers resolution next week.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

"Its nuclear ambitions are still unchecked, if not accelerated. What the hell is [Trump] doing?" Schumer said.

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Senate Democrats, including Schumer, have branded the war in Iran as Trump's "war of choice."





Original article source: Fetterman breaks with Democrats, says Trump's military strikes on Iran have 'made the world safer'
Apr. 9LETCHER  When hundreds of farmers and ranchers gathered recently on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. to celebrate over two centuries of agriculture in America, the graying skies began to open up and a light rain started to fall.

For some groups, it could be taken as a bad or disappointing sign. But not for Calli Williams and her fellow ag industry representatives.

"Right before the president came out, it was starting to sprinkle," Williams told the Mitchell Republic. "And if there is one group that isn't going to complain about getting rained on right now, it is farmers and ranchers. You didn't see anyone batting an eye over the fact we were about to get rained on."

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Moisture is almost always a good thing for farmers and ranchers, so they didn't let it spoil the Great American Agriculture Celebration Thursday, March 27 at the White House. The event featured a gathering of farmers and ranchers at the White House and honored American agricultural producers, agribusiness leaders and FFA members.

Williams was one of about 800 invited to the event, thanks to her membership in the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. She and her husband Tate are first-generation ranchers who operate near Letcher, and though she was surprised by the invitation, she jumped at the chance to visit the White House, network with fellow ag industry producers and representatives and generally celebrate agriculture in America.

"It was such an honor to be asked to attend this event. When I got the phone call, it was the week of our own annual production sale here at our ranch, so there were a lot of moving parts going on," Williams said. "That phone call came about three weeks before I needed to fly out to Washington, D.C. It was quite the whirlwind, but how would you ever say no to an invitation like that?"

She only spent about 36 hours in the nation's capital, but it was a busy time.

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The event featured a number of high profile speakers and attendees, including President Donald Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Small Business Administration Head Kelly Loeffler. A handful of visiting farmers and ranchers also took the dais at the event.

Trump took the opportunity to praise those in attendance and the work they and others like them do every day to keep America fed and running.

"I'm thrilled to welcome all of you to the South Lawn for the single largest gathering of American farmers that the White House has ever seen, has ever had. And rain or shine  and you don't mind rain, shine. The one thing about farmers, they don't care about that weather. They get out there; it makes no difference," Trump told those gathered at the White House.

Trump's speech was a highlight, and he included an announcement that Williams was pleased to hear about.

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During his speech, Trump announced that changes were coming for the mandatory Diesel Exhaust Fluid sensor requirement for ag and diesel equipment. The regulatory change addresses issues with sensor failures causing sudden engine shutdowns or speed limitations. The change in regulation is expected to save farmers an estimated $4.4 billion annually.

That's a change that could positively impact producers around the country, including first-generation producers like her family.

"The president announced changes that are going to be made with DEF for the farm equipment and the farm vehicles that are used all across our country. That's a financial impact on all of our operations," Williams said.

She also got to spend some time in a smaller audience with Brandon Beach, treasurer for the United States.

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It was there she was able to listen to experienced ranchers and the impact recent tax and regulatory changes had made on their operations. But it was also a chance for her to share her perspective as a first-generation producer.

"It was a little overwhelming as we went around the room. There were anywhere from a fourth, fifth, or even sixth generation ranchers saying how the changes to the DEF tax or the estate tax is benefiting them, which is great," Williams said. "But then I was able to share, you know, our two cents  it hasn't personally impacted us yet, but it is giving us hope that we are moving in the right direction for when we create this ranch into a multi-generation ranch."

It was a fully-packed 36 hours in Washington, D.C., and Williams said it was valuable to her in terms of connecting with national lawmakers and administrators, as well as to networking with her fellow ranchers. She said she knew it was a relatively rare opportunity to take part in, and she was thrilled with being able to share her own experience while taking lessons from others in the ag sector.

She said she would take part in the event again in a heartbeat, but even her short 36 hours in Washington, D.C. was beyond valuable to her.

"Once we were physically on the White House lawn, it felt like a big reunion because everyone was either a farmer, rancher, or representative of an ag commodity group, and so the conversations were incredible, and we are all facing different things within our own sectors. Of course, it's a political event, yet everyone was there and optimistic," Williams said. "Just being able to speak with other ranchers and get ideas, spark some ideas for the future is always so beneficial. Even when they are from different parts of the country, it is the networking that is always so valuable, and you cannot put a price on that."
Pope Leo XIV received French President Emmanuel Macron for a private audience on Friday in their first face-to-face meeting.

The Vatican said the talks focused on global conflicts. Both sides expressed hope that peaceful coexistence could be restored through dialogue and negotiation.

During his visit, Macron also met several senior officials of the Roman Curia. First Lady Brigitte Macron also attended the meeting with the pope, who has been in office for just over 11 months.

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Macron has been in Rome since Thursday and also visited the Catholic community of SantEgidio in the Trastevere district.

It was not immediately clear whether the two discussed sensitive issues that they are expected to disagree on.

France enshrined the "guaranteed freedom" to have an abortion in its constitution just over two years ago.

The pope recently cited Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta who described abortion as the "greatest destroyer of peace."
A Florida woman who posed as a nurse and treated more than 4,400 patients without a license was sentenced this week to probation and community service after pleading no contest, avoiding jail time in a case authorities once called deeply disturbing.

The Flagler County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday that 29-year-old Autumn Bardisa, of Palm Coast, entered the guilty plea on Tuesday to unlicensed practice of healthcare and fraudulent use of identification.

Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols withheld adjudication and sentenced Bardisa to five years of probation and 50 hours of community service as part of the agreement.

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She must also write a letter of apology to the nurse whose license number she used.

As part of the plea deal, Bardisa forfeited a nursing license she obtained after her arrest to the Florida Department of Health and is barred from working in the medical field during her probation.

Man Charged In $90M Medicare Fraud Scheme; Doj Says Suspect May Have Entered Us Illegally

Read On The Fox News App

Police claim Autumn Bardisa posed as a licensed nurse and provided medical care to more than 4,400 patients. (Fox News)

Bardisa was originally charged with seven counts of unlicensed practice of health care and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information following a seven-month investigation.

Authorities said she treated more than 4,400 patients between June 2024 and January 2025, while falsely presenting herself as a licensed nurse at AdventHealth.

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Investigators determined Bardisa never held a valid nursing license during that time and instead used the license number of another nurse who shared her first name.

Florida Execs Sentenced In $233M Obamacare Fraud That Targeted Homeless, Hurricane Victims

Authorities say Autumn Bardisa used stolen nurse identity to treat thousands of patients.

The case stemmed from a months-long investigation involving state and federal health agencies after hospital officials discovered Bardisa had allegedly used another nurses license number and falsified records to land a job as an advanced nurse technician.

Investigators said Bardisa initially applied under an "education first" designation, typically used for nursing graduates who have not yet passed their licensing exam. She later claimed she had completed the exam and provided a license number belonging to a different nurse with the same first name.

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To explain inconsistencies, Bardisa told hospital staff she had recently changed her last name after getting married but never produced documentation when asked to verify the claim.

Los Angeles County Faces Scrutiny After Alleged Widespread Hospice Fraud Exposed

Authorities described the case as one of the most significant incidents of medical fraud investigated by the agency.

Despite the missing paperwork, Bardisa was promoted in January 2025, according to investigators. Concerns surfaced when a coworker independently checked her credentials and found she only held an expired certified nursing assistant license, prompting hospital officials to notify authorities.

The scheme unraveled after that discovery, leading to her termination and a broader criminal investigation involving multiple agencies.

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Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said Bardisas actions put patients at risk and undermined trust in the medical profession.

Doctor Denies Knowing About Rampant La-area Medicare Fraud Using His Provider Number

"Nursing is a noble profession about caring for those in need, but there is a right way and wrong way to go about it, and she chose the wrong way by using a real nurse's license," Staly said, adding that her actions "potentially endangered patients."

Staly said Bardisa "ruined her career" and will be unable to work in the medical field for at least three years and up to five years under the terms of her probation.

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Authorities previously described the case as one of the most significant incidents of medical fraud investigated by the agency.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Officials said anyone who believes they may have been treated by Bardisa can contact the Flagler County Sheriffs Office.

Fox News Digitals Stepheny Price contributed to this report.





Original article source: Florida woman who posed as nurse and treated more than 4,400 patients without a license avoids jail time
BEIJING, April 10 (Reuters) - China and North Korea should further enhance communication and coordination in major international and regional affairs, China's foreign minister said in a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday, a Chinese official statement showed.

Minister Wang Yi is on a two-day visit to Pyongyang from Thursday that aims to advance ties between the two countries after the COVID-19 pandemic froze exchanges and as North Korea's Kim shored up relations with Moscow.

"In the face of a turbulent and complex international situation, China and North Korea should further strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional affairs," Wang told Kim, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry.

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North Korea's state media KCNA on Saturday said Kim also stressed the need for the two countries to intensify exchanges and contacts at various levels, adding that stronger ties were vital to safeguard shared interests.

The Chinese diplomat also said China was willing to strengthen exchanges and interactions to promote practical cooperation with North Korea.

Wang held a meeting with his North Korean counterpart on Thursday and pledged to "continue consolidating the positive momentum in the development" of bilateral ties with Pyongyang.

KCNA separately confirmed the meeting between Kim and China's foreign minister.

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U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit China next month. Trump has previously shown interest in resuming talks with North Korea's Kim.

(Reporting by Shi Bu, Xiuhao Chen, Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo, Heekyong Yang and Hyunjoo Jin in Seoul; Editing by Alison Williams and Toby Chopra)
NEED TO KNOW

With blood on his face, former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse sat down with The New York Times to open up about his painful experience with terminal cancer

Sasse, 54, was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable pancreatic cancer in mid-December and said he learned his "torso is chock-full of tumors"

A new drug he's been prescribed has greatly improved his condition, but it causes him to "bleed all out of a whole bunch of parts of me that shouldnt be bleeding" because his body can't properly grow new skin

Despite his progress, Sasse said he's aware he doesn't have much time left

Former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse is shedding light on his painful journey with terminal cancer.

The former Republican senator and brief University of Florida president, 54, appeared on The New York Times' podcast with significant amounts of blood on his face, less than four months after revealing he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. At the time, Sasse described the diagnosis as a "death sentence."

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Speaking with podcast host and columnist Ross Douthat, Sasse got candid about his own mortality, and why he's chosen to speak out publicly in his remaining time.

"In mid-December I got a three- to four-month life expectancy, and Im at Day 99 or something since then, and Im doing a heck of a lot better than I was doing at Christmas," Sasse shared. "But even at three to four months left to live, you have to redeem the time."

He added, "Theres only so many bits of unsolicited advice I can give my children," so he's happy to impart what he can to journalists willing to listen.

Sasse said he first noticed something was wrong in late October 2025. His preferred method of staying fit, he said, was sprint triathlons, and when he was training at that time, he realized he was experiencing much more back and abdominal pain than usual. At first, he thought he had just pulled a muscle.

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By November 2025, the pain was severe enough that he decided to seek medical attention. His physician ran several tests that didn't reveal anything, so Sasse's doctor referred him to a gastroenterologist, believing the cause could be undiagnosed celiac or lactose intolerance.

He went for full body scans in December and just 45 minutes afterward, the doctor gave him a call.

"You could just hear them hemming and hawing. I said, 'Stop beating around the bush. Give me a hard fact,' " Sasse recalled. After a few more minutes of insistence, the doctor said outright, "Here's a hard fact: Ben Sasse's torso is chock-full of tumors."

His doctor told him immediately that his cancer  stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which had already metastasized  was not operable. In the following days, he learned he had at least five types of cancer within him: lymphoma, vascular, lung, liver and pancreatic cancer. "So, it was pretty clear that we're dealing with a short number of months left to live," he said.

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Sasse said the diagnosis was "not the scariest thing to me," because death is inevitable. He immediately wanted to know what his options were  "You have a definite death sentence, but there are some clinical trials that could extend life a little bit," he said  and he learned he could investigate genetic mutations through clinical trials around the country.

Since leaving the Senate, Sasse has worked as the president of the University of Florida, but the clinical trials took him and his wife Melissa to New York City, then to Houston. Currently, he's living in Austin near some friends, and is traveling two hours to Houston a maximum of two days a week.

His present treatment is a drug called daraxonrasib, which thankfully can be taken by mouth, Sasse said.

"I take it orally, but its a nasty drug. It causes crazy stuff like my body cant grow skin and so I bleed all out of a whole bunch of parts of me that shouldnt be bleeding," he said, though he added, "I feel better than I deserve."

Ben Sasse is sworn into the Senate on Jan. 6, 2015, surrounded by his family

Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Much of his treatment, Sasse added, is pain management. When he was first diagnosed, he was on 55 milligrams of morphine and was "high as a kite," but lately the dose has been able to be decreased to about 30 milligrams per day.

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"I'm at a pharmacy every day. I'm keeping a lot of that industry employed right now," he joked.

"Id say my pain is 80% reduced from where I started," he said. "I manage nausea a lot. Theres strong waves of desire to puke. And when my face isnt bleeding, Im actually pretty good with the puke. I mean, I dont like it, but you can throw up and youre through it. So, anyway, enough whining."

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.

Asked about his face wounds, Sasse said it felt "nuclear." But his tumors have decreased 76% in size since the end of December, he said.

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Still, Sasse explained, it's not a realistic hope for him to fully recover. He likened his cancer treatment to "Whac-A-Mole," in that there's always new cancer popping up, even when the old bits are dealt with, or a dam that's already started to crack.

"Is there anyone whos gotten better from stage 4 [pancreatic cancer]?" Douthat asked. Sasse replied, "Not from what I have, no."

Read the original article on People
BEIRUT, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Friday said that Israeli forces have failed to achieve their military objectives, including a planned ground incursion, and vowed to continue resistance.

In a statement, Qassem said that Israeli troops had suffered losses in ambushes and their military vehicles were destroyed along the border.

He added that Israel failed to stop Hezbollah rocket, artillery, and drone attacks from reaching areas as far as the northern Israeli city of Haifa, while accusing Israel of intensifying strikes on civilian areas, including Beirut and its southern suburbs, in an attempt to compensate for battlefield "setbacks."

Qassem rejected any return to previous conditions and urged Lebanese officials to avoid concessions.

"The threats and weapons of the enemy will not intimidate us," he said, reaffirming his group's commitment to defend Lebanon's sovereignty.

Qassem also extended condolences to the families of those killed in the conflict, including civilians and fighters, and wished a speedy recovery for the wounded. 
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been granted Albanian citizenship and has received an Albanian passport.

According to a decree signed by President of the Republic, Bajram Begai, the citizenship was granted following a request submitted by Adams himself.

A spokesman for the former mayor said Adams has long been a friend of the Albanian-American community and said New York City has one of the largest Albanian populations in the United States.

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"The decision by the Republic of Albania to grant Mayor Adams citizenship reflects that enduring relationship and mutual respect," spokesman Todd Shapiro said in a statement. "Leaders around the world - including mayors and presidents - have historically been recognized with honorary or dual citizenships as a symbol of international partnership and shared values."

Shapiro said Adams, as mayor, always viewed the office as one with global influence and responsibility.

"With the United Nations headquartered in New York City, the mayoralty carries a unique international significance," Shapiro's statement said. "This recognition further strengthens the bond between New York and Albania."

Adams previously visited Albania in October 2025. As mayor, he expressed closeness toward Albania and the Albanian expatriate community.

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Six months into the so-called ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, thousands of families still cannot bury their loved ones.

About 10,000 Palestinians remain missing, believed to be buried under collapsed buildings since the start of Israels genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.

On October 10 last year, an internationally mediated agreement was signed between Israel and Hamas, aiming to end the conflict.

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Yet for many, the war has not ended.

The United Nations says Israeli bombardment has generated more than 61 million tonnes of rubble in the besieged and battered Strip, leaving entire communities entombed.

Al Jazeeras Hind Khoudary spoke to a Palestinian father in Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

Abu Mohammed survived an Israeli attack after rescuers pulled him from beneath the rubble. Four of his children did not.

Since then, he has lived beside the ruins of his home, where their bodies remain trapped.

He managed to bury his wife, his mother, and one of his children. The rest are still beneath the debris.

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I have been trying for three years to retrieve my children, but these are massive concrete slabs. There is no way I can do this, even with an excavator. This needs heavy equipment, said Abu Mohammed. How can I do this on my own?

He said he has repeatedly called civil defence teams, but no one has come to assist him.

Two of his surviving children are in Cairo in neighbouring Egypt, receiving medical treatment alone, without a parent.

Barely any change

The ceasefire was supposed to allow heavy machinery into Gaza to begin recovery efforts and reunite families. Months later, that has not happened.

Nothing has entered Gaza except the limited equipment brought in for Egyptian committees and Red Crescents team to retrieve Israeli captives, Mahmoud Basal, Gazas civil defence spokesperson, told Al Jazeera.

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Once those bodies were recovered, the file was closed.

Across Gaza, thousands remain buried. In just one apartment block in Bureij, at least 50 bodies are still trapped beneath the rubble, untouched since October 2023.

Six months into the ceasefire, conditions on the ground have barely shifted. Families continue to wait as bodies are not yet recovered; meanwhile, Israeli attacks persist.

(Al Jazeera)

Israeli forces shot and killed a young female student on Thursday while she attended a class in a tent in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, according to health and education officials.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel still occupies more than half of the Gaza Strip. It has levelled most buildings in these areas and forced residents out.

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Since the ceasefire took effect, at least 738 people have been killed and 2,036 wounded. Authorities have recovered 759 bodies from the rubble.

Israels genocide in Gaza has killed more than 72,317 Palestinians and wounded at least 172,158 others.

Interactive - Gaza death count -gaza - Apr 9, 2026-1771426866




An East Georgia man has been arrested after investigators found a stash of drugs, a portable grow house and a moonshine still at his home.

The Screven County Sheriffs Office said it arrested Martese Williams following a lengthy investigation.

The sheriffs office said it confiscated the following:

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Illegal psychedelic mushrooms

Illegal THC products

Marijuana

Stolen firearms

Illegal drug manufacturing equipment

Illegal liquor and manufacturing equipment

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Removing illegal, dangerous drugs and weapons from our community remains a top priority. We appreciate the support of our Screven County residents and will continue to pursue those who threaten public safety, Screven County Sheriff Norman Royal said.

Williams has been charged with manufacturing narcotics. The sheriffs office said additional charges could be coming.
Germany is "taking responsibility" on NATO's eastern flank with its deployment in Lithuania, a top German parliamentary official said on Friday on a visit to the Baltic country.

"Lithuania's security is Germany's security," said Julia Klockner, president of the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament.

"Germany is taking responsibility where European security is being defended in very concrete terms," she added on her visit to the Lithuanian military base in Rukla.

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The German military, the Bundeswehr, is in the process of stationing a permanent brigade in Lithuania with up to 5,000 troops as part of the defence of NATO's eastern flank.

The 45 Armoured Brigade is a response to the growing threat from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. It formally entered service in April 2025 and is expected to be fully operational by 2027.

"What works is strength and credible deterrence," said Klockner, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "not only threatening to attack the Baltic states" but also Berlin.

"The message to him must therefore be clear and unambiguous: anyone who tests NATO on its eastern flank will come off worse."

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Lithuania borders the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad as well as Russias ally Belarus, whose territory is regarded as a staging area for the Russian military.

With the deployment of the brigade, the Bundeswehr is entering uncharted territory. Unlike all previous overseas missions, this involves the permanent stationing of a large unit abroad.

"For us Germans, this marks a shift in perspective," said Klockner. "We are no longer merely part of an alliance; we ourselves are a guarantor of security," she added. "The credibility of our alliances is decided on the eastern flank."
One of the most iconic attractions in Los Angeles is closing its doors temporarily.

The Getty Center says it is undertaking the most significant modernization project since the museum opened in 1997.

"When it was being built, it was just tremendous excitement. It felt so bold, big, innovative, beautiful and majestic," CEO and President of the J. Paul Getty Trust Katherine Fleming said.

When the Getty announced a one-year closure, some people were disappointed.

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"It's one and only compared to other modern art museums. It's very unique to L.A., so it would be sad for the people visiting in 2027," Anna Cho, who is visiting from South Korea, said.

The closure is set to take place on March 15, 2027, and will reopen in spring 2028.

The project is set to elevate the overall visitor experience and enhance accessibility.

"You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. We don't love the idea of closing down a facility that we regard as being owned by people who come to it, but the only way we can take this stuff on is if we go offline. We hope everyone thinks it looks fabulous when it comes back," Fleming said.

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Museum officials say it was time for an upgrade. The facility is 30 years old.

Visitors can expect everything from upgrades to the tram system and HVAC systems to a new welcome center and new gallery experiences.

"How do we position things in a way that they get the attention they deserve, but there aren't bottlenecks? Or items in a cul-de-sac that people can't get to, so it's really giving us the opportunity to take a look at all of that and configure the galleries in a way that will put the objects in maximum display," Flemings added.

Getty will continue to collaborate on programs with partners during the closure.

The Getty Villa will remain open.
NEED TO KNOW

Rescue divers have saved a gold miner after he was trapped in a flooded underground tunnel for 14 days

42-year-old Francisco Zapata Najera was taken to the hospital, where he reunited with his family

The search continues for another miner who remains trapped underground

A gold miner in Mexico has been rescued after 14 days trapped underground in a flooded tunnel.

Francisco Zapata Najera, 42, was working in a gold mine in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa on March 25 when an embankment collapsed and a dam burst, leaving him stuck 985 feet below the surface, per the BBC, ABC and NBC.

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Twenty-five miners were inside at the time, but 21 managed to get out, leaving four people inside, the outlets added.

Of these, miner Jose Alejandro Castulo was rescued after five days, while another miner died  with Mexican newspaper El Universal reporting that his body has been recovered.

The rescued miner is transferred to an ambulance

Credit: MEXICO'S SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE / AFP via Getty

After 13 days and more than 300 hours of searching, rescue divers located Zapata after they spotted his flashlight and approached him. "I didn't lose faith, I didn't lose faith," he told his rescuers, per the BBC.

Because of flooding in the mine, the divers couldn't extract Zapata immediately and had to leave him with water, cans of tuna fish and energy bars, the outlet added.

Rescue teams carry the miner on a stretcher

Credit: MEXICO'S SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE / AFP via Getty

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Twenty hours later, after using pumps to lower the water levels, rescue teams brought Zapata to the surface wrapped in a thermal blanket on Wednesday, April 8. He was then taken to a local hospital, where he reunited with his family, the BBC reported.

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He was suffering from dehydration, and doctors described him as frail but stable, reported the BBC and El Universal.

The rescued miner is loaded into a helicopter

Credit: MEXICO'S SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE / AFP via Getty

The last remaining member of the four miners left behind is still missing, and the search for him is continuing. Per El Universal, authorities from the state government, the Navy and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection are among those working to locate the miner.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the Mexican army and Zapata's faith and resilience in a statement on social media.

"The exceptional members of the Mexican Army Emergency Response Battalion, the faith and resilience of a miner made this amazing rescue possible after 13 days. I'm sure that each and every Mexican has our hearts with you," she wrote in a post translated from the original Spanish.

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The accident came almost four years after 10 miners died when the El Pinabete coal mine flooded in Coahuila, Mexico in August 2022.

The bodies of the miners were never recovered.

Mexico's deadliest mining accident took place in February 2006 in the Pasta de Conchos coal mine, also in Coahuila. It's thought that 65 miners were trapped underground due to an explosion, with 27 bodies being recovered.

Read the original article on People
Mark Stevens will travel to Ukraine for the fifth time on Saturday [BBC]

A man who makes temporary stoves out of candles for people in Ukraine is heading to the war-torn country to deliver his creations.

Retired silversmith Mark Stevens, from Ludlow, Shropshire, collects candles from churches and shops and makes the stoves himself, boxes them up, and sends them to the front line via other organisations that support Ukraine.

On Saturday he is travelling to the country in a truck towing a caravan, alongside volunteers from Cheshire-based Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid.

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"There is a need for caravans in Ukraine for soldiers coming off the frontline and for emergency accommodation, I'm also taking a lot of candles," Stevens told the BBC.

"I've had feedback about the candles," he said, "they've been a big help to both the military and civilian people."

He added: "To get feedback like that is wonderful, it means it's worthwhile - and the vehicle will be worthwhile to the people of Ukraine."

Stevens uses the candles to make temporary stoves which are then distributed to Ukraine [BBC]

Earlier in the year, Stevens appealed for donations of candles to make the stoves, and was inundated, with help coming from as far as Belfast and Scotland.

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"The stoves provide heat and light, the stoves can be used for cooking," he said.

"There are tents set up outside buildings where they cook food for people because they've got no power."

Stevens said he had also been donated a brand new generator from a woman in Shropshire that he would give to people in need in Ukraine.

He has already travelled to the country four times to make donations.

"It just brings a light to me, it's a joy when I get feedback from people saying: 'Thank you for helping me, thank you for helping us, we are not alone.'"

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

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The head of Iran-backed Hezbollah, Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem, vowed that his movement would continue its campaign against Israel on Friday, ruling out any return to previous conditions as fighting rages on.

The resistance will continue until the very end, and we will not accept a return to the previous situation, Qassem said in letter read out on the movement's outlet, Al Manar Television.

He also called on Lebanese officials to stop making free concessions, as discussions continue over potential negotiations and ceasefire arrangements.

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Qassem said Israel had failed, despite more than 40 days of military operations, to prevent rockets, shells and drones from reaching its settlements. He added that the groups fighters had demonstrated flexibility, strong defensive capabilities and what he described as legendary courage.

He further praised the resilience of the Lebanese population, saying those displaced by the fighting have shown examples of pride and high morale amid the ongoing conflict.

It was confirmed on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon will hold direct negotiations next week. Israeli sources said the talks will focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah and establishment of peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.

The talks come amid a fragile truce in the fighting between Israel and the US, and Iran. The two-week pause, brokered by Pakistan, in the conflict remains under strain due to the heavy Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

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While Tehran and Islamabad argue that the agreed ceasefire also applies to Lebanon, Israel insists on continuing to strike Hezbollah "with full force," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier on Friday.

The US and Israel do not consider Lebanon to be covered by the ceasefire and the Israeli air force launched a devastating wave of airstrikes on Beirut and other parts of Lebanon hours after the deal was sealed.

Supporter of pro-Iranian Hezbollah hold pictures of assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, as they shout slogans in front of the office of the Lebanese Prime Minister in Beirut, during a protest against Lebanes Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and to support Hezbollah and Iran in their conflict with Israel. Marwan Naamani/dpa
A high-profile attorney who represented Karen Read during her case is now defending Boston Police Officer Nicholas O'Malley, who was charged with manslaughter after a fatal shooting last month in Roxbury.

Attorney David R. Yannetti, a member of Read's defense team during both trials, recently joined O'Malley's legal team as he awaits a probable cause hearing, according to court documents and a statement from the law firm. Last year, Read was found not guilty of murder in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe.

O'Malley, 33, was charged in Roxbury District Court roughly a week after fatally shooting Stephenson King, 39, of Dorchester, during an alleged carjacking on the night of March 11, court documents say.

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In a statement, Yannetti's firm called O'Malley an "exemplary family man, a husband, and a father to young children," who has maintained a "stellar" record as a Boston police officer.

"He chose to become a police officer for all the right reasons  to protect and serve the public and to do the right thing when called upon," the firm said. "Every officer who puts on the uniform realizes the risks of the job and willingly accepts them for the greater good."

Karen Read listens to her defense attorney David Yannetti as her trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham continues on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

What is alleged in the Nicholas O'Malley case?

According to the police report, officers responded around 9:43 p.m. on March 11 to 1590 Tremont St. for a report of a carjacking. Soon after, O'Malley and another officer, Todd Ho, spotted the car at 10 Linwood Square and confronted King, who was in the driver's seat.

When King tried to drive away, O'Malley said he fired his gun because he thought his partner was about to be run over, according to the report. However, investigators said that body-worn camera footage and witness statements contradict this claim. The footage has not been released.

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King was taken by ambulance to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:24 p.m., the report said. An autopsy later determined he had been struck by three bullets.

O'Malley was charged with voluntary manslaughter on March 19, drawing criticism from law enforcement officers and their supporters. He pleaded not guilty and was released following his arraignment.

The New England Police Benevolent Association, a local law enforcement union, released a statement "standing in solidarity" with O'Malley and members of the Boston Police Department.

O'Malley is slated for a probable cause hearing on May 21, according to court documents.

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"The decision to charge Officer O'Malley with a crime, rather than to acknowledge that his actions occurred during a life-or-death situation, sends a clear message to our police officers that this district attorney's office does not care about their lives or safety," Yannetti's firm said.

Meanwhile, Kings family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, whose previous clients include the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.

"Stephenson King Jr. should be alive today. His family is now forced to carry the pain of a loss that should never have happened. The arrest and arraignment of the officer who killed him speaks volumes about the gravity of this case," Crump's firm said in a statement. "This family deserves the full truth, real accountability, and justice that is not delayed or denied. We will not stop fighting until they get it."

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Karen Read defense lawyer joins fatal Boston police shooting case
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

An artist's impression of a near-Earth asteroid. | Credit: HYPERSPERE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images

A house-size asteroid will make a close pass of Earth and the moon tonight (April 9), passing a little over half the distance to the moon as it buzzes the southern hemisphere at a blistering speed of 28,030 miles per hour (45,109 kilometers per hour).

The asteroid , designated 2026 GD , was discovered on Monday (April 6) and is estimated to be 16 meters (54 feet) in diameter. The solar system wanderer will make its closest approach to Earth at 6:59 p.m. (2259 GMT) on April 9, when it will pass 155,760 miles (250,000 km), or 0.65 lunar distances, while moving at 28,030 miles per hour (45,109 kilometers per hour).

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2026 GD will make an even closer approach to the moon a few hours later, at 8:12 p.m. EDT on April 9 (0012 GMT on April 10), passing just 101,000 miles (163,750 km) from the lunar surface while posing no threat to either Earth or its natural satellite.

The asteroid will also pose no threat to the crew of the Artemis 2 lunar mission, which is currently travelling between the moon and Earth ahead of its scheduled parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of California on Friday (April 10).

Following the flyby, 2026 GD will continue along a 644-day elliptical path that takes it beyond the orbit of Mars before careening back towards the sun. Its next planetary encounter won't come until July 2031, when it will travel the equivalent of 25 lunar distances from Venus .
BEIRUT, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah fighters launched a missile attack on Friday targeting an Israeli military naval base at the port of Ashdod in southern Israel, according to a statement by the group.

The group said that the attack was in response to what it described as repeated Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement and ongoing strikes on Beirut.

Hezbollah added that such operations would continue until what it called Israeli and U.S. "aggression" against Lebanon and its people ceases.

The attack comes amid ongoing cross-border tensions and continued Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, including recent attacks on the capital, raising concerns over a broader regional escalation.

A two-week ceasefire reached between Iran and the United States took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan. Yet Israel has said the ceasefire does not cover the conflict in Lebanon, a position disputed by Iran and mediator Pakistan, with Tehran calling Lebanon an "inseparable" part of the truce.

The death toll from Israel's Wednesday attacks across Lebanon has risen to 303, with 1,150 injured, according to a preliminary toll released Thursday by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. 
Dozens of US and international human rights organizations are decrying the Trump administrations plans to establish a migrant camp for fleeing Cubans at the Guantanamo Bay military base if the island nations crisis worsens under pressure from the US, according to a letter to members of Congress on Friday.

The 85 groups plan to submit the joint letter, exclusively shared with the Guardian, to US senators and House representatives, expressing their profound concern with comments made last month by a top Department of Defense commander, and describing any prospect of further migrant detention at the base as deeply troubling and unacceptable.

The commander told Congress last month that in the event of what one Republican senator described as any humanitarian crisis in Cuba, the Pentagon would set up a camp at the Guantanamo Bay US base to deal with migrants.

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Related: Its been brutal: Cubans caught in crosshairs of Trumps deportation push

The United Nations already warned in February that Cuba could be on the brink of a humanitarian collapse following Donald Trumps attempts to block oil supplies from reaching the island and the US president repeatedly threatening Cubas communist government.

Guantanamo should be a relic of the past, the organizations letter to the lawmakers reads. We call on you to act without delay to ensure not another dollar goes towards the detention facilities at Guantanamo, ensure the base is never again used for unlawful mass detention of any group of people, and end the coercive and punitive policy of sanctions and the embargo driving the humanitarian crisis.

The letter has been signed by groups including the Center for Constitutional Rights, which has represented dozens of detainees held at Guantanamo during Americas so-called war on terror since the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US on September 11. The less well-known migrant detention facilities are separate from the terrorism-related detention center at the base.

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Both have long been known for inhumane conditions, mistreatment, and due process violations, Fridays letter states.

Other signatories include a wide variety of US and international advocacy, religious, legal and policy groups such as the Center for Victims of Torture, a chapter of Amnesty International, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, Refugees International, the justice team at Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Detention Watch Network and more.

Guantanamo stands alone in its reputation as the most heinous and dangerous place the US president can possibly send you  outside view, under the radar, beyond the law, said Yumna Rizvi, a senior policy analyst for the Center for Victims of Torture. The US can provide immediate relief to the Cuban people, but instead is choosing to cause irreparable harm and then double down by threatening detention at Guantanamo for Cubans who need to flee because of his own actions. It is outrageous.

During a US Senate armed services committee hearing on 19 March, Gen Francis Donovan, the commander of US Southern Command (Southcom), which oversees the Guantanamo Bay base on a tiny portion of US-claimed land on Cuba, testified it could be used to establish a new version of a migrant camp for Cubans.

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When asked by the Republican senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas about military preparations in response to any humanitarian crisis in Cuba, Donovan said that Southcom was under orders to support DHS [the Department of Homeland Security] in a mass migration event.

We would follow either at sea, or primarily the shore, primarily at Guantanamo Bay, to set up a camp to deal with those migrants or any overflow from any situation in Cuba itself, Donovan said.

In a radical escalation of immigration enforcement early last year, Trump signed an executive order to expand migrant detention operations at Guantanamo and began sending immigrants from the US to be held there, often en route to deportation. About 780 immigrants detained in the US have been sent to Guantanamo since last February, sometimes for weeks at a time, according to a tally by the New York Times.

The Migrant Operations Center (MOC) is a facility at Guantanamo under the purview of both the Pentagon and the DHS and has been used for decades to detain a small number of migrants interdicted at sea.

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Related: A human rights disaster: immigrants sent into Guantanamo black hole despite no proof of crime

The Guardian revealed last year that the private US government contractor running the MOC has fallen under scrutiny for conditions inside other immigration jails it operates. In addition to using the MOC, the administration began to quickly put up tents in a costly and controversial plan to detain an estimated 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo amid the second Trump administrations focus on a harsh anti-immigration agenda. But the tents were never used and the installations were dismantled.

After the January abduction of the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, the Trump administration turned its attention on Cuba. Cuba is next, by the way, Trump said in March.

If the Trump administration is worried about Cuban migration, the solution is simple: stop intentionally impoverishing the Cuban people through an embargo and fuel blockade, said Michael Galant, a senior research and outreach associate with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, one of the groups that signed on to Fridays letter.
BUDAPEST, April 10 (Reuters) - Hungary's centre-right Tisza party leads Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz ahead of Sunday's parliamentary election, a poll published by newspaper Nepszava showed on Friday.

Nationalist Orban faces the biggest challenge to his rule in 16 years, although the large number of undecided voters means the outcome of the election is uncertain.

Tisza, led by former government insider Peter Magyar, had the support of 52% of decided voters, while 39% backed Fidesz, the poll conducted by Publicus Institute showed.

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The survey, which had a sample size of 1,000, showed 38% support for Tisza among all voters, with Fidesz backed by 29%. Some 25% of respondents said they had not decided how they would vote.

Date Agency Fidesz Tisza Our Undecided

Homeland

Apr 7-9 Publicus 29% 38% 4% 25%

Mar Idea 30% 39% 4% 21%

29-Apr 4

Mar Iranytu 34% 41% 3% 18%

31-Apr 4

Mar 27-30 Publicus 30% 36% 4% 24%

Mar 23-28 21 Research 28% 40% 4% 26%

Centre

Mar 24-28 Zavecz 31% 39% 4% 20%

Mar 23-26 Republikon 31% 37% 4% 23%

Mar 17-20 Median 30% 46% 3% 18%

(Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Federal immigration agents in Maryland used the states drivers license database  without citing a traffic violation or outstanding warrant  to detain a driver in Howard County, a federal affidavit shows, raising legal and policy questions about how the information is used in immigration enforcement.

As part of Operation Take Back America, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers ran license plate checks in January on about 10 vehicles using law enforcement databases that include drivers license and registration information, the FBI affidavit states.

Nine of those checks did not lead to enforcement action. The 10th involved Santos Alvarenga-Rodriguez, 47, whom ICE agents questioned and detained after agents flagged restrictions on his Maryland drivers license.

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The Rodriguez case is drawing scrutiny because nearly a quarter-million Maryland drivers carry similar license restrictions  an A designation that means the license cant be used to purchase a firearm, or a U designation, which means it cant be used for federal purposes, like boarding an airplane. People in Maryland who cant prove lawful residency could have such restrictions on their licenses, as could many others. For example, an A restriction could indicate the driver has a felony conviction and isnt allowed to purchase a firearm.

If broadly applied, the tactic could subject large numbers of people to questioning by federal agents, even if theyre not suspected of a criminal or traffic violation.

The arrest of Alvarenga-Rodriguez 100% confirms our fears that ICE is just searching records of random people and then using whatever information they retrieve from those searches to profile someone, in this case, make a (traffic) stop for further detention, with the goal of deportation, said Ninfa Amador-Hernandez, Maryland policy manager for We Are CASA. The immigrants rights organization is supporting legislation by Maryland state Sen. Clarence Lam, a Democrat who represents Baltimore and Howard counties, designed to close off ICEs access to drivers license data.

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Harris told The Baltimore Sun in an email that he sees nothing wrong with ICE using drivers license restrictions as an investigative tool.

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Police routinely use license plate and drivers license data to identify potential violations of the law, Harris said. As long as this is acceptable for other violations of the law, that data should also be used to identify violators of immigration law.

It is unclear how ICE agents accessed the database. ICE did not respond to questions about its use of drivers licenses and vehicle registration data as investigative tools. The Baltimore Sun provided the FBI affidavit supporting the arrest of Alvarenga-Rodriguez.

When asked if the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services provided access to the database to ICE, DPSCS provided a statement to The Sun.

Federal agencies do not have direct access to the Motor Vehicle Administration database, and the administration has taken steps to ensure that federal law enforcement access through third-party systems, such as the International Justice and Public Safety Network, also known as Nlets, complies with state and federal law. For months, the state has been working urgently to modernize outdated database systems. As this work takes place, the administration has instituted measures to prevent immigration authorities from accessing MVA data without a judicial warrant.

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Lam told The Sun that he believes ICE is accessing MVA data through a loophole in the DPSCS portal.

I think individuals who have these (drivers license restrictions) are at risk of being sniffed out of our MVA database by ICE, and are potentially detained and deported, perhaps improperly, because of the lag by the department in getting this properly locked down, said Lam. His legislation has passed the House, and Lam hopes the Senate passes it before the session ends on April 13.

Last October, the Department of Homeland Security published a notice in the Federal Register that it wanted access to Nlets. During the previous year, ICE used Nlets to conduct about 900,000 searches for motor vehicle information, including drivers license data, according to Stateline. In the Federal Register, DHS said it wanted to connect Nlets to its SAVE, or Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, program.

The Maryland Data Privacy Act prohibits state agencies from sharing personal information, including Maryland Motor Vehicles Administration records, for review with a federal agency for immigration enforcement, according to an MVA statement to The Sun. The MVA discontinued direct access to MVAs system to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE in 2021, the statement said. Agencies seeking information from the MVA for immigration enforcement must present a valid judicial warrant and any access for the purpose of immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant would violate Maryland law, the statement said.

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David Gray, professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Cary School of Law, said he saw no constitutional violation outlined in the FBI affidavit.

Searching the MVA drivers license database doesnt violate the Fourth Amendments ban on unreasonable searches and seizures, Gray said. A search for purposes of the Fourth Amendment either involves a physical intrusion into a constitutionally protected area, going into somebodys home, going into their car, looking through their bags, and that certainly didnt happen here. This is a database.

But Cary J. Hansel, a Baltimore-based civil rights attorney, said the tactic means a quarter-million people in Maryland have no constitutional rights, in the eyes of ICE. They do have constitutional rights, of course, and ICE is dead wrong to rely on these drivers license restrictions for reasonable suspicion.

ICE arrests conducted in Maryland or by the Baltimore field office, which covers Maryland, have ramped up in recent months, according to figures compiled by the Deportation Data Project. February marked the third straight month of more than 700 arrests, peaking with more than 830 in January, according to the project.

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By contrast, over the last three full months of President Joe Bidens administration in 2024, the monthly total never exceeded 200.

In the FBI affidavit supporting the arrest of Alvarenga-Rodriguez, FBI Agent Amy Ferron wrote that, according to an ICE officer, observing an AU restriction indicates the individual may not be legally in the U.S. Therefore, an ICE officer conducted a traffic stop, she wrote.

While being questioned by an ICE officer, Alvarenga-Rodriguez told agents he had been living in the U.S. for 19 years.

It was subsequently determined Alvarenga-Rodriguez was a citizen and national of El Salvador, the affidavit reads. When an ICE officer told Alvarenga-Rodriguez to exit his Toyota Corolla, he shook his head no and tried to shift the car into drive, per the affidavit.

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During a physical altercation with ICE agents, Alvarenga-Rodriguez caused a half-inch laceration on an agents nose and bit a second agent on his left forearm, according to the affidavit.

Federal prosecutors filed a criminal information last week against Alvarenga-Rodriquez in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, accusing him of a single count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers against him. According to an FBI affidavit, when ICE agents asked Alvarenga-Rodriguez to step out of his car, he shook his head no, started the vehicle and tried to drive away. ICE officer ordered Alvarenga-Rodriguez to stop and physically engaged to prevent him from fleeing, according to the criminal complaint.

After the scuffle, one ICE officer had a half-inch long cut on the left side of their nose, and another had bite marks on his left forearm, the complaint states.

In March, a federal judge ordered Alvarenga-Rodriguez released on his own recognizance.

As of Thursday, Alvarenga-Rodriguez did not have a trial date scheduled.

(Steve Earley contributed to this report.)
Gov. Brad Little issued five vetoes Wednesday evening dealing with issues ranging from day care to rainy day funds.

One of those included line-item vetoes in a budget bill, which means the governor nixed only a portion of the bill and allowed the rest of it to become law.

The Republican-dominated Legislature adjourned last week sine die, so it would be forced to quickly call a special session to attempt to override a veto from the governor if theres an appetite for that. Little gets five additional days, for a total of 10 business days, excluding Sundays, to make decisions on bills after sine die.

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Little has yet to act on other notable pieces of legislation, including House Bill 516, which deals with teacher unions; House Bill 822 on social transitions for youth; House Bill 913 on Medicaid work requirements; and House Bill 940 and the associated budget bills on the Idaho Digital Learning Academy.

The five bills the governor vetoed were House Bills 758, 975, 968 and 674, and Senate Bill 1359. Heres what each of those pieces of legislation cover.

House Bill 758

Citing child safety and fraud risks, Little rejected a bill that would have increased the states staff-to-child ratio by excluding an in-home providers own children age 5 and older from the operator maximum. The bill also sought to allow providers to use live video and audio to monitor a sleeping child, rather than be within sight and normal hearing distance, as is required under current law.

Rep. Barb Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, who sponsored the bill, labeled the changes technical corrections and essentially cleanup to day-care legislation passed and signed into law last year. It passed the House and Senate on its way to Littles desk with veto-proof totals.

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Little said the bill threatens child safety and puts too much of our good work at risk.

This bill could eliminate licensing and fire inspection requirements for providers, he wrote in his veto letter. Additionally, rooting out child care fraud and abuse is a top priority of mine.  This bill heightens the risk of fraud and abuse because bad actors will more easily take advantage of the new requirement for the state to verify which children in a home are legitimate relatives.

House Bill 975

House Bill 975 relates to rainy day funds. The bill says no transfer from the budget stabilization fund should occur if the fund balance exceeds 15% of general fund revenues this fiscal year. Current statute limits the balance in the fund to 15% of the general fund. The bill bars the Office of the State Controller from transferring money back to the general fund from June 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The governors veto will mean that at the end of the year, if money in the stabilization fund exceeds 15%, it will go into the general fund.

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The bill conflicts with Idahos time-tested and established fiscal framework in Idaho code, Little wrote in his veto letter.

Idaho already has one of the largest rainy day funds in the nation, the governors office said, and the bill would put an additional $50-$55 million into the budget stabilization fund.

In his veto letter, the governor said it is likely the state wont have enough money in the Fire Suppression Fund to pay for this wildfire season, which he worried could be difficult given the warm and dry winter.

He said this veto ensures funds are available for broader and unforeseen state priorities as they arise, and there will be additional funds available for an expensive and challenging fire season.

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With revenue projections uncertain, maintaining flexibility in the General Fund is a responsible management of Idahoans tax dollars, Little said in his veto letter.

The Legislature is still able to transfer additional funds into the budget stabilization fund, he said.

This approach balances fiscal discipline with flexibility, rather than prematurely restricting available resources, he wrote.

During an April 1 meeting of the Legislatures budget-setting committee, some lawmakers raised concerns about flooding the budget stabilization fund when theyre already in a difficult budget year making deep cuts elsewhere. Lawmakers said they have in the past passed similar measures allowing more money to stay in the budget stabilization fund.

House Bill 968

This measure relates to cash transfers, and Little made two line-item vetoes in that bill.

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First, the bill says that if general fund revenues for this fiscal year dont reach the legislative target of $5.5 billion, and the remaining cash balance doesnt cover revenue shortfalls, sufficient funds can be transferred from the Twenty-Seventh Payroll Fund to the general fund to balance the budget. Little vetoed sufficient funds.

That fund was established to ensure money was there when the state incurs an additional payroll cycle, Little said in his veto letter.

Redirecting these funds now undermines their intended purpose and would place the state in a difficult position when those obligations come due, Little said. Preserving these funds today avoids more disruptive or costly decisions in the next budget cycle.

Little also vetoed the amount of money in a section of the bill that would have transferred $5.8 million from the Permanent Building Fund.

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While I support prudent investment in state facilities, the appropriation is inconsistent with the long-term purpose and stability of the Permanent Building Fund, Little wrote in his veto letter. Maintaining the integrity of this fund ensures the state can responsibly address future capital needs.

Little said his submitted budget recommended transfers from the building fund to the general fund  due to canceled projects  to help balance the budget, but he objected to the transfer from this account to other unrelated accounts.

Idaho Code requires funding from the Permanent Building Fund on canceled projects to be reappropriated to other priority capital projects, he wrote. This appropriation does not follow that intent.

House Bill 674

The bill sought to streamline the process of eliminating local telecommunication services by accepting the federal rulings on such discontinuation decisions, rather than require additional review and concurrence by Idahos Public Utilities Commission. Several rural residents advocated against the bill, which generated concerns they may lose their phone service.

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The bill was carried by Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, and her father, retiring Rep. John Vande Woude, R-Nampa. It faced limited opposition in the House, but received pushback from a mix of Democrats and mostly far-right Republicans in the Senate.

Little touted Idahos position as the least regulated state in the U.S. in issuing his veto. He shared concerns that rural Idahoans could lose access to vital telecom services if the legislation became law.

The state of Idaho  not the federal government  sets and administers its own telecommunications rules, service standards, and oversight processes, Little wrote. This could disrupt everything from everyday business communications and staying in touch with family to placing 911 calls in emergency situations.

Going forward, he encouraged the states Public Utilities Commission to work with lawmakers and residents to find efficiencies that wont impact Idahoans and potentially lead to termination of service in their communities.

Senate Bill 1359

Presented by its sponsors as a consumer protection bill with an eye on vulnerable seniors, the bipartisan bill would require certain disclosures from operators of kiosks for digital financial transactions, such as cryptocurrency.

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Among other requirements, operators would have to warn customers not to send money to someone they do not know, and that the transaction could be a scam. It also would have created a 72-hour hold period for a new customers digital financial transactions, and limit those distributions to $2,000 in a 24-hour period and no more than $10,000 in the customers first 30 days after an initial transaction.

In his veto letter, Little called the bills intent commendable, but said it contained critical drafting deficiencies that would undermine its own purpose.

Virtual currency kiosks have become a preferred tool for scammers targeting Idaho seniors, and protecting our most vulnerable citizens from financial exploitation remains a priority, the governor wrote. Without clearer definitions, consistent and fair enforcement will be difficult to achieve.
"The IDF views with severity the Hezbollah terrorist organizations cynical use of civilian infrastructure for military activity," the military said about the incident in the school.

The IDF located and destroyed a Hezbollah rocket launcher located inside a school compound in the Tir Zibneh area in southern Lebanon, the military said on Friday.

The IDF explained that it identified a Hezbollah truck entering the premises and tracked the trajectory of one of the latest rocket barrages to a launcher placed inside the school compound.

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"The IDF views with severity the Hezbollah terrorist organizations cynical use of civilian infrastructure for military activity and will continue to operate against the organizations military infrastructure in accordance with international law to defend the State of Israel," the military said.

The IDF also said that it had killed more than 1400 Hezbollah terrorists during the current operation in southern Lebanon, with air, ground, and naval forces involved in locating and eliminating the Hezbollah targets.

In addition, almost 4000 infrastructures were located and dismantled by soldiers from the IDF's 36th, 91st, 98th, 146th, and 162nd Divisions, with more than 1250 weapons, ammunition, and rockets located.

According to the military's statement, on Friday, there were more than 120 infrastructure targets destroyed by the Israel Air Force.

IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon, April 10, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Later on Friday, the military shared footage of the 401st Brigade of the Armored Corps destroying a loaded Hezbollah launcher in southern Lebanon that was pointed at Israel.

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"The fighters are deepening the damage to Hezbollah formations, eliminating terrorists, locating and destroying terror infrastructure and weapons," the military said.

IDF raids Hezbollah compound, underground tunnel

In another operation, the IDF raided a Hezbollah compound where weapons and ammunition were being stored, while soldiers located an underground shaft in the site.

Along with the weapons destroyed, there were anti-tank rockets used by the terror organization to target both Israeli forces and border communities in northern Israel.

In an earlier Friday statement, the military revealed that it had killed several Hezbollah terrorists thanks to the colaboration of ground and air forces.

"Over the past week alone, more than 40 terrorists have been eliminated and over 50 terrorist infrastructures have been destroyed under the direction of the division," the IDF said.
These bombs were dropped as part of 1,000 waves of IAF aircraft, with CENTCOM saying that the US had struck over 13,000 targets during the war.

The IDF on Thursday revealed its final statistics to date from the Iran war, which included dropping 18,000 bombs.

That number over 38 days represents around five times the number of bombs that the IDF dropped on Iran over 12 days during the June 2025 war.

These bombs were dropped as part of 1,000 waves of aircraft, with those aircraft flying 8,5000 separate sorties.

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During those sorties, there were around 10,800 attacks targeting around 4,000 different targets, collectively comprising around 6,700 different components.

For example, one target might be an entire base with several different buildings or threat items to strike.

Israeli Air Force fighter jet seen in central Israel amid the ongoing war between Israel-US and Iran, March 29, 2026. (credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)

The pace of the bombing, as massive as it was, had mostly declined steadily since mid-March.

In the early days of the war, both Israel and the US were dropping around 1,000 bombs or striking around 1,000 targets daily.

CENTCOM: US struck 13,000 Iranian targets

On April 6, CENTCOM said that the US had struck over 13,000 targets within Iran.

However, the size of Israeli and American targets is not entirely comparable.

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At different times, both Israel and American officials have claimed that they bombed more targets than the other party, while always making sure to lavish praise on the counterpart air force.

For most of the war, the parties also divided up the country by region, with Israel mostly attacking in western, northern, and central Iran, including Tehran, and the US focused more on southern Iran as well as the various waterways.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told a conference of Black activists in New York City on Thursday that all of us need to be civil rights advocates and protect voting rights, saying he thinks President Donald Trump plans to call out federal immigration agents to polling places for the November midterms and we need to go with purpose and push them out of the way.

If we dont have a fair election in November, we wont have any more elections, Pritzker told the Rev. Al Sharpton at Sharptons annual National Action Network conference in New York. Theyre taking away our voting rights. Theyre taking away your voting rights and we have to fight like hell to preserve those rights. So many people lost their lives doing it.

In February, the White House said Trump had not discussed any plans to deploy federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection agents to polling places.

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But close Trump ally Steve Bannon has repeatedly pushed for their deployment and last month called the recent use of ICE agents at the nations airports during a stalemate over funding the Transportation Security Agency a test run for ICEs involvement in the 2026 midterms.

Bannons comments came the same day Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin was confirmed to lead the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE and CBP. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Mullin said ICE agents could be sent to polling places if a specific threat existed.

Trump, Pritzker told the conference, is going to try to call out ICE and CBP and scare people away from the polls, everybody. Hes going to make it seem like you shouldnt vote. We need to go with purpose and push them out of the way or at least tell them to get out of the way and go in and vote. And all of us as governors need to protect your right to vote.

Pritzkers call for physical confrontation with federal agents could resurrect frequent GOP criticisms that the states two-term Democratic governors rhetoric is inciting violence, such as in April of last year when he told New Hampshire Democrats that Republicans shouldnt know a moment of peace. Pritzker called the criticism ridiculous.

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As he seeks a third term as Illinois chief executive, Pritzker is also pondering a 2028 White House bid, and Sharptons annual conference is providing an early cattle call for several possible Democrats, including Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Wes Moore of Maryland, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and former vice president and 2024 presidential nominee Kamala Harris. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another potential candidate, did not attend due to a previously scheduled family commitment.

Asked directly by Sharpton whether he was a 2028 presidential candidate, Pritzker gave his usual answer that hes seeking a third term as governor and that any decision about his future would be based on what he felt was best for the people of Illinois. But, he said, since I was an adult and able to vote, Ive been involved in some fashion or another in presidential politics, and Im going to be more involved than ever before in 2028 because we cant lose.

Look, we have a pretty good bench, Pritzker said of his potential Democratic presidential rivals. I dont know what Ill be doing after I hope I win reelection, but I can tell you this: Im going to fight like hell to elect a Democrat in 2028.

Pritzker said Trumps deployment of federal agents in Chicago and Minnesota wasnt really about deportation. It wasnt really about immigration.

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Its this whole administrations view about people of color. Evidence of that, I might add, is just look at his Cabinet. He has one Black person in the entire Cabinet of the United States, Pritzker said, referring to Scott Turner, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Pritzker said Democrats campaigning for the midterm elections and for the presidency in 2028 should focus on livability, repackaging the oft-used term affordability to speak to people about the need to raise the federal minimum wage and bring down the costs of housing and health care.

The one thing that we should take away and learn from what Donald Trump has done: He came into office with an agenda and he essentially has invoked and gotten passed almost all of his agenda in a year. We need to have an agenda and we need to make sure we pass it in a first year of a Democratic administration. And, it needs to be bold, and it needs to include the restoration of voting rights, Pritzker said.

Voting is perhaps the most important thing that weve got to expand the rights of, he said. But the agenda, and Ill call it Agenda 48 because the 48th president of the United States whos going to be a Democrat, has got to have an agenda thats bold and gets passed right away.

____
According to the indictment, despite realizing that the individual he was in contact with was working on behalf of Iran, Lachovitz continued to work with them.

The State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against Moshe Lachovitz, a 21-year-old resident of Jerusalem, for contacting a foreign agent and collecting intelligence for Iran.

The prosecution is requesting the court to order Lachovitz's detention until the completion of the legal proceedings against him.

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The indictment, filed by attorney Yishai Ziegman of the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office, stated that while seeking employment, Lachovitz contacted a person who identified himself as "Michael."

"Michael" asked Lachovitz to carry out various tasks, including gathering intelligence and photographing areas in Jerusalem and Ra'anana.

People seen in the Old City of Jerusalem, which remains closed during the Passover holiday amid the ongoing war, April 5, 2026. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)

Continued to work for Iran upon realization

Lachovitz was paid in cryptocurrency; his total earnings amounted to thousands of dollars.

According to the indictment, despite realizing that the individual he was in contact with was working on behalf of Iran, Lachovitz continued to work with them. Lachovitz also drove a vehicle without a driver's license.

The indictment charges Lachovitz with offenses including contact with a foreign agent, providing information to the enemy, and other crimes.
April 10 (Reuters) - Israel's military said on Friday that Hezbollah launched a missile at Israel, triggering air raid sirens in parts of the country, including in Tel Aviv.

The missile was intercepted, according to the Times of Israel.

Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli military infrastructure in the northern city of Haifa in the late hours of Thursday. It was not immediately clear if the Iran-backed armed group was referring to the same attack. The Israeli military said it had struck about 10 Hezbollah launchers that fired rockets toward northern Israel in the evening.

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The latest tit-for-tat attacks come after Israel's heaviest bombardment of Lebanon in the war killed more than 300 people on Wednesday, and ahead of scheduled IranU.S. talks in Pakistan following their agreement to a two-week ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he has instructed Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would include disarming Hezbollah.

Israel launched a renewed offensive against Hezbollah after the group began firing at Israel on March 2. Israeli strikes have killed around 1,900 people and uprooted more than 1 million people, according to Lebanese authorities.

At least 400 Hezbollah fighters have been killed, according to sources familiar with the group, which has fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Rod Nickel)
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Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) thinks President Donald Trump needs to see his doctor.

Citing some of Trumps profane and threatening public statements over the past week, Raskin asked White House physician Sean Barbabella to conduct a comprehensive cognitive assessment of the president and provide a briefing to Congress.

Politics: 'Down He Goes': Harry Enten Has Some 'Historically' Bad News For JD Vance

At a time when our country is at war  especially when the war was initiated by the President without congressional declaration or consent  the American people must be able to trust that the Commander-in-Chief has the mental capacity to discharge the essential duties of his office, Raskin wrote in a letter to Barbabella.

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White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called Raskin a a stupid persons idea of a smart person in response to his letter.

President Trumps sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the past four years when Democrats like Raskin intentionally covered up Joe Bidens serious mental and physical decline from the American people, Ingle told HuffPost.

The questions about Biden were all the more reason for the White House to take stock of Trumps fitness, Raskin said in his letter. He noted former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) had said that the president has gone insane after his Easter Sunday post on Truth Social demanding Iran open the Strait of Hormuz.

Politics: Swalwell Suspends Campaign For California Governor After Being Accused Of ****** Assault

The post combined vulgarity and profanity, unprecedented threats of mass civilian destruction, and a sarcastic invocation of Islam on Easter morning  a bizarre display that shocked tens of millions of Americans and astonished observers across the political spectrum, Raskin wrote.

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Trump has frequently bragged about his mental acuity and insulted his critics as having low IQs. Hes also boasted of having aced cognitive tests without providing details.

An April 2025 memo about Trumps health by Barbabella said a comprehensive neurological examination revealed no abnormalities in his mental status, cranial nerves, motor and sensory function, reflexes, gait, and balance. The letter said Trump fared well on multiple cognitive assessments.

While admitting hes not a doctor, Raskin claimed Trumps recent commentary shows decline.

Politics: 'I Hope So': Trump Stuns Fox News Host With His Not-So-Certain Outlook On Gas Prices

When the President of the United States threatens to extinguish a civilization on social media, rants about combat missions with children at the Easter Egg Roll, and drops profane tirades on Easter morning, we have indisputably entered the realm of profound medical difficulty and concern, Raskin wrote.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
PYONGYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday. 
A federal judge has admonished the Pentagon for defying his previous court order, issuing a humiliating ruling against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth, 45, announced strict new rules last October that allowed the Pentagon to revoke journalists press passes. Under the revised rules, journalists would be allowed access to the Pentagon only with government escorts and would be moved from a dedicated workspace inside the building to an external library. Many news outlets surrendered their passes rather than agreeing to Hegseths demands.

The New York Times journalist Julian E. Barnes filed a lawsuit in December that claimed Hegseths selective media policy violated the First Amendment, Fifth Amendment, and due process provision of the Constitution.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been called out by a Federal Judge. / Evelyn Hockstein / REUTERS

Last month, Friedman agreed with the publication that the policy did violate the First Amendment. He overruled some of Hegseths key restrictions on the media, including one provision that said journalists who solicit classified or sensitive information from military staff could be deemed a security risk and have their press pass revoked.

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The judge also struck off a section in Hegseths changes that referred to access to the Pentagon as a privilege, not a right. Friedman had ruled that while the court understood the importance of national security, it is more important than ever that the public have access to information from a variety of perspectives about what its government is doing.

That March 20 ruling forced the Pentagon to release a revised press policy three days later, which was met with as much criticism as the original.

On Thursday, Friedman ruled that the Pentagon had failed to comply with his March orders and said the revised policy had new wording but remained unlawful.

Friedmans ruling also addressed the Pentagons inducement of unauthorized disclosure provision, which attempted to restrict journalists from soliciting information, classified or unclassified, that was not approved for release.

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The judge said the Pentagons revision on the issue was still unconstitutionally vague.

Pentagon journalists walk out with their personal belongings after refusing to agree to the DoDs restrictive guidelines, in October 2025. / Win McNamee / Getty Images

The Department cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking new action and expect the Court to look the other way, Friedman wrote. Nor can the Department take steps to circumvent the Courts injunction and expect the Court to turn a blind eye.

Friedman ordered the Pentagon to return the credentials of seven reporters from the Times and said the closure of the Correspondents Corridor workspace inside the Pentagon, along with Hegseths insistence on journalistic access only with escorts, were not security measures but rather transparent attempts to negate the impact of this courts order.

The court has no choice but to conclude that the Departments abrupt closure of the Correspondents Corridor and its ban on credentialed journalists traveling unescorted through the Pentagon are not security measures or efforts to make good on prior commitments but rather transparent attempts to negate the impact of this courts order, Friedman wrote in his ruling Thursday.

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The judges fiery ruling also aimed a personal salvo at Hegseth.

The Court cannot conclude this Opinion without noting once again what this case is really about: the attempt by the Secretary of Defense to dictate the information received by the American people, to control the message so that the public hears and sees only what the Secretary and the Trump Administration want them to hear and see, Friedman said. The Constitution demands better. The American public demands better, too.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has introduced new rules to control the work of journalists within the Pentagon. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS

The judge, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, continued: The curtailment of First Amendment rights is dangerous at any time, and even more so in a time of war. Suppression of political speech is the mark of an autocracy, not a democracy  as the Framers recognized when they drafted the First Amendment.

A spokesperson for The New York Times told the Daily Beast that the courts decision upholds our constitutional rights again and sends a clear message to the Pentagon. Compliance with a lawful order of a court is not optional; it is required in a democracy committed to the rule of law.

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The statement added, We are pleased that Judge Friedman saw the revised policy issued by the Pentagon after his last decision for what it was: a poorly disguised attempt to continue to violate the constitutional rights of The Times and its journalists.

The Pentagon referred the Daily Beast to a statement from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who said they disagree with the Courts ruling and intend to appeal.

Paul L. Friedman, U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia, poses for a portrait in his courtroom on July 28, 2014, in Washington, D.C. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im

The Department has at all times complied with the Courts Order  it reinstated the PFACs (Pentagon Facilities Alternative Credentials) of every journalist identified in the Order and issued a materially revised policy that addressed every concern the Court identified in its March 20 Opinion."

Parnell continued, The Department remains committed to press access at the Pentagon while fulfilling its statutory obligation to ensure the safe and secure operation of the Pentagon Reservation.

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a legislative attempt to create a property tax cap, but offered a plan for reform.

In her veto message, Kelly said a proposal Republicans put forth, which would let residents petition against local government budget increases over 3%, would not deliver property tax relief.

"The truth is that this bill will only restrict the ability of locally elected officials to be nimble enough to adjust to the unique needs of the communities they serve," Kelly, a Democrat, said.

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The measure, known as Senate Substitute for House Bill 2745, is one of several attempts in recent years by Kansas lawmakers to institute some form of property tax reform.

Under the proposal, a petition of 5% of registered voters could halt the budget increase of a government body. That body would then have to resort to the prior year's levy.

The Realtor.com State-by-State Housing Report Card gave Kansas a C.

Sunflower State politics

Lawmakers in the Republican supermajority were divided on the bill. But it passed the House 76 to 45 in February, and the Senate 22 to 18 in March.

Republican state Rep. Brett Fairchild argued it carried too many exceptions, including revenues from new construction, expiring tax abatements, and some economic development programs.

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Republican state Rep. Courtney Sappington added that it was a "step in the right direction," but said it was a "band-aid" on property tax reform.

Kelly said the bill wrought fallout even before its passage. She claimed several school districts and local governments had seen bonds terminated by underwriters due to uncertainty, some days from closing.

The harm this bill causes local communities is real," Kelly said. "The Legislature would be wise to focus their efforts on partnering with local elected officials to develop real property tax relief for Kansans, as opposed to shutting them out of the process and passing faulty legislation."

Instead, Kelly said she supported a three-point plan to change the state's property tax scheme, which she said saddled homeowners with a growing burden as home values and costs rise.

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The governor's alternative plan proposes increasing the property tax exemption for the state's $20 million education levy. This would mean the first $150,000 in home value would be exempt from tax, instead of the $75,000 now on the books. That would provide tax relief to 700,000 homeowners.

The plan also includes a $250 one-time vehicle tax credit and a $60 million fund to reward cities and counties that manage budgets well.

It's unclear what path the new proposal has to passage. Republican House Speaker Daniel Hawkins said the alternative proposal "fails to address the root causes driving property taxes higher."

"This is no more than a half-baked, last-second shot to save face after blocking real property tax relief," Hawkins said.

Renters protections bill was also vetoed

The governor passed several other measures related to real estate, including a measure that was aimed at cutting down on squatters, House Bill 2378.

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Kelly also issued 15 other vetoes of legislation from the session. Those bills involved law enforcement, voting, and schools.

She also vetoed Senate Bill 391, a proposal that included a raft of renter-focused provisions, including preventing source-of-income discrimination. The bill sought to restrict a landlord's ability to consider income-qualifying methods, credit scores, and eviction history. The legislature later over-rode that veto.

The bill placed limits on what security deposits landlords could demand. Those kinds of measures were aimed at turning back rising rents, especially in larger metros.

That bill "takes away the discretion of local elected officials to formulate housing policy thats best for their community," Kelly said.

The Kansas Realtors had indicated support for House Bill 2378 and Senate Bill 391. They opposed House Bill 2745.
TOPEKA  Promises of property tax relief for Kansans dimmed slightly Thursday evening when the House voted down a resolution that would have put the issue in front of Kansas voters.

The House voted 69-54, failing to achieve the two-thirds majority needed for passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603, which would have created a constitutional amendment that would have been on the November ballot.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins carried the bill, sharing simplified language to the resolution that came about through conference committee meetings.

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Basically, everything that was done in the committee work this year has been struck out, Hawkins said. We wanted to do something very, very simple.

The result was a proposal that authorized the Legislature to provide for valuation limitations for any classes or subclasses of property.

The constitutional amendment evolved throughout the session. In mid-March, the resolution included freezing or limiting property taxes for qualifying seniors and gave the Legislature the ability to modify the constitution to base residential and commercial property valuations on the lesser of two values  current fair market value or an average fair market value over an unspecified amount of time.

Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, opposed the resolution, saying it was the same concept the Legislature voted down throughout the session that would put a cap on property valuations.

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Valuation caps are not good, he said. Artificial caps are not the way to go. We voted this down many times.

Sawyer repeated an analogy he used previously, comparing valuation caps to getting a 10% coupon at the store, and then when you buy your items, the price has gone up 10%. In addition, he also repeated concerns that property caps would cause vehicle taxes to increase.

The most important thing about a property tax system is that its fair, Sawyer said. When you put these artificial caps in, you create a tremendous amount of unfairness  unfairness that gets worse and worse over time.

Rep. Nick Hoheisel, a Wichita Republican, made a motion after the vote to revive the resolution. The motion failed.

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Property tax can still be addressed this session. House Bill 2745, which passed both chambers and was vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly, is still alive after a tax conference committee Thursday morning.

The bill outlines the ability for voters to petition against property tax increases if they are above 3% or the Consumer Price Index. If a specified percentage of voters sign the petition, which has changed through different bill versions, the local governmental entity cannot raise property taxes.

In debate on the floor, one senator called it a tyranny of the minority because such a small number of residents could stop tax increases that may be necessary to pay for community needs.

Senate and House Republican leadership have taken control of the conference committee and copied a version of HB 2745 into House Bill 2043. They were expected to continue working on that bill Friday.
TOPEKA  House and Senate Republicans overrode Gov. Laura Kellys veto Thursday to preserve a bill they say will protect free speech in the name of slain activist Charlie Kirk.

Both chambers voted by a two-thirds majority to put House Bill 2333, or the Kansas Intellectual Rights and Knowledge Act, into law. The bill addresses free speech on college campuses and honors Kirk, a political activist killed by a gunman in September while speaking at a college event.

The bill defines outdoor areas of campuses as public forums and allows the attorney general or aggrieved individuals to seek damages in court. Opponents said the bill was actually written to allow student associations to exclude members based on political, ideological or religious beliefs.

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Kelly said the bill would cause confusion for courts and schools.

I have long believed that the quality of public debate in our nation has been declining, and I strongly support the toning down of political rhetoric and a return to civility, Kelly said. Schools and college campuses are excellent places to begin this process. However, free speech and civil discussion are already protected by our state and federal constitutions.

Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita, who carried the bill in the House, said it is necessary to protect both free speech and students.

This bill sets up neutral policies that get applied to everybody, whether you agree with them or not, to be able to speak safely, a place for counter-protesting safely, she said. If we cant share our difference of opinions respectfully, then I cry for our country.

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Republicans called out Rep. Ford Carr, a Wichita Democrat, for impugning the motives of House members during debate on the bill. Carr challenged legislators to consider the size of their testicles in determining whether they had the guts to vote to sustain the governors veto.

He said he has been told that he must have testicles the size of bowling balls to stand up the way he does in the House.

I represent my district. I represent those people that put me here, and I would suffice to say that if you do the same for those people that you represent, I dont hold the only pair of bowling balls in the room, Carr said.

Many of you do have a conscience, albeit difficult sometimes, he said, which was when he was called to task for impugning motives.

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Im certainly not doing anything different than anyone else does when theyre addressing the body and theyre speaking from the heart and those things that affect them and their constituency, Carr said after being told to talk only about the bill. If there is an issue with someone not wanting to represent their constituency, then I would suggest, possibly, that that individual find new employment.

Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, a Prairie Village Democrat, said the Legislature was overreaching and interfering with the rights of the Kansas Board of Regents.

Acknowledging how horrible Kirks death was, Stogsdill said he nevertheless doesnt support honoring Kirk.

He was exercising his free speech, which I totally agree with, Stogsdill said. But when you use your free speech to promote hate and bigotry and misogyny and racism, that is something that this body should not honor and encourage.

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Rep. Kirk Haskins, D-Topeka, raised concerns that the bill treats political organizations and political ideologies in the way that religious freedoms are protected.

Now Republican organizations, Democrat organizations, Libertarian organizations, will have the same protection as religion, and that is a violation of the Bill of Rights, Haskins said.

The House overrode the veto on an 85-38 vote.

There was no debate on the bill in the Senate, which overrode the veto on a 29-11 vote.

In a release about Kellys veto of the bill, House Speaker Dan Hawkins said college campuses are a place where speech should be protected and not shut down.

The KIRK Act ensures that taxpayer-funded institutions do not pick and choose which voices are allowed and which are silenced, he said.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Arrowhead High School is issuing nonrenewal notices to three teachers as part of cost-cutting measures.

The school board had initially voted to send nonrenewal notices to four teachers, but one subsequently submitted her written resignation.

The School Board's decision came after a lengthy closed-session April 8. Here's what we know:

Why is the Arrowhead Union High School District eliminating teachers?

Arrowhead Superintendent Conrad Farner said the district must cut about $1 million from its budget for 2026-27.

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He cited declining enrollment of the school as a factor: Arrowhead's enrollment has declined from over 2,200 students in 2016-17 to a projected 1,774 students for 2026-27. Wisconsin school districts receive state funding on a per-pupil basis, so fewer students means less money.

Farner also pointed to two failed referendums, in November 2024 and April 2025, that he had hoped would eliminate costs from having two separate campuses, and would free up money for staffing and instructional programming and to attract more resident families to the district.

"More resident families means better funding, means your enrollment stays higher and you might not have to make as many cuts," he said.

What has the district already done to cut costs?

Farner said the district has already frozen department budgets, closed co-taught classes, reduced administrative staff by combining multiple part-time positions into one full-time position, reduced maintenance and special education support staff, moved to a self-funded insurance model, restructured bus routes and found efficiencies to save money on utility costs.

How did the board decide on which teachers to send nonrenewals to?

Farner said many factors are considered in making staffing decisions, including instructional effectiveness, professionalism, contributions, leadership, licensure, evaluations, sectioning and program needs and any documented concerns.

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"We always make our decisions based on the best interest of the entire school," he said.

What's the community reaction to the board's decision?

Community members packed the library at South Campus, where the meeting was held. Twenty-eight people spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting; the board had to several times extend the time allowed for public discussion.

Most of those who spoke  a mix of parents, residents, students and former Arrowhead staff  questioned the district's rationale or objected to the cuts.

How much money will the Arrowhead Union High School District save with the staff reductions?

In addition to the nonrenewals, four other teachers, including one who had initially been selected for nonrenewal, indicated they plan to resign after the current school year, Farner said in an email to a reporter. He did not specify who the teachers are nor what subject they teach.

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Farner said that by using a general estimate of around $120,000 for a full-time teacher with family health and dental benefits and state retirement benefits, those seven teaching positions equate to about $840,000.

"Assuming we get another resignation before next year, that would get us very close to the $1 million," Farner said.

What's the budget outlook for the future?

Farner said there are also budget shortfalls projected in the next few years, largely due to declining enrollment and the unpredictability of state funding.

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: Arrowhead district turns to staff cuts amid budget crunch
London Mayor Randall Weddle is asking a court to move the felony campaign contribution case against him out of Laurel County on the grounds he was on a charter cruise in the Bahamas at the time the alleged offenses occurred.

In a motion filed Wednesday, an attorney for Weddle requested a change of venue in the case brought by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman late last month.

Weddle was indicted in March by a special Laurel County grand jury on four felony counts tied to excessive campaign contributions. Prosecutors say he gave more than $200,000 to Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Democratic Party on behalf of his family members and business associates in violation of state and federal individual donor limits.

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The filing offers the first official glimpse into the defense strategy Weddle may mount against the charges.

Attorney J. Guthrie True doesnt argue Weddle made the contributions in other peoples names, but insists the mayor reported the problem directly to Beshear when he learned there was an issue. Beshear and the KDP later refunded the donations to Weddles credit card.

Excess contributions are only considered unlawful if the violation is done knowingly, True wrote. In short, in the end, there were no contributions at all.

True offered evidence the mayor chartered a nine-day, $345,000, fully-staffed cruise in Nassau, Bahamas, and therefore wasnt in Laurel County between Dec. 27 to 30, 2022, when the excess contributions are alleged to have occurred.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman speaks at a news conference in Frankfort March 31, 2026, announcing four felony campaign finance charges against London Mayor Randall Weddle.

Text messages between Weddle and a fundraiser for Beshears reelection campaign indicate the mayor was having problems using the online financial services platform fused for donations.

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We are out of the country and the website Is acting funny, Weddle wrote Andy Beshear for Governor finance Director Lucas Johnson. I wont return until 31st.

That platform, Stripe Inc., is headquartered in San Francisco, where the contributions were initially accepted, and the original recipients  Beshear and the KDP  were based in Frankfort.

In short, no conduct related to the purported contributions occurred in Laurel County, True wrote. Any act critical to the determination as to where this indictment may be brought and tried occurred outside of Laurel County. As a result, the Franklin Circuit Court is the proper venue.

Weddle is slated to be arraigned in Laurel County next week. While under indictment, he is barred from traveling outside the U.S., and he must turn over his passport during the arraignment hearing.

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Defendants often seek a change of venue in cases that have been the subject of high-profile media attention and public scrutiny for fear it could taint local jury pools. True did not lay out that argument in Wednesdays motion.

Still, a change in venue would ensure Weddle avoids a politically charged Laurel County divided over his performance through multiple scandals, including the police shooting of a man whose address officers appeared to have mistaken.

Meanwhile, Weddle also faces a combative London City Council that has already impeached him once and is actively investigating him. His administration is also under investigation by the FBI for its alleged misuse of federal criminal background check software.
Lawmakers have given final approval to a moratorium on data centers larger than 20 megawatts  the first statewide ban of its kind in the country.

What were talking about here is an ability for us to absorb and understand the impact of data centers potentially on the State of Maine, Sen. Mark Lawrence (D-York) said Wednesday ahead of the Senate vote. The states that have had data centers come in have had tremendous impacts.

The bill, LD 307, bans data centers larger than 20 megawatts until November, 2027. It also creates the Maine Data Center Coordination Council, and instructs the council to provide strategic input, facilitate planning considerations and evaluate policy tools to address data center opportunities.

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Weve seen across the U.S. the rapid expansion of AI data centers, with few to no safeguards to insulate people from shocks to electricity demand, impacts to local water supplies, and more, Maine Conservation Voters said in a statement. LD 307 will help protect Maine people and the environment, pushing pause on large-scale data centers to ensure strategic and strong policies and protections are in place first.

The bill was passed in both chambers this week, and is now awaiting funding on the special appropriations table.

My point here is not that data centers should never happen, said Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock) Wednesday. The point is we do not have the correct regulatory regime on the books to ensure that a decision like this isnt neutral, at a minimum, or positive for everyone that would be affected by that decision.

Discussion in both the Senate and Maine House of Representatives focused on the impact on proposed data center projects, primarily one in Jay and another in Sanford. Lawmakers volleyed back and forth on the potential benefits to a former mill town like Jay, and possible negative impacts to the surrounding areas. They also considered an amendment that would have created an exemption process to the moratorium that was ultimately rejected by both chambers.

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Im not going to support something that doesnt support business, the expansion of business in the State of Maine, especially in a community thats dying for commerce and to get back on its feet, said Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin).

Republican lawmakers also raised concerns that Maine would lose out on economic opportunities, but would still feel the negative impacts when the data centers are built in other states.

These projects are going to happen whether or not we pass this moratorium, said Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York). For those who care about the environment, they will be built in states that use 70% coal power, and we will be the tailpipe for that. These data centers will be built in groves in states that dont have an economic death wish, and we will receive all the negative environmental impacts of that.

Rep. Steven Foster (R-Dexter) said in March that any data centers are already subject to environmental and local regulations.

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This moratorium is not needed here in the state of Maine, Foster said. A lot of fear has been stoked up about an AI data center being built anywhere in Maine, which is contrary to reality. We would not see the facilities here the size of those being built in other states.

But Democrats countered that Maine residents cant afford the potential costs from the projects.

Were already seeing a tremendous impact from rising gas prices, rising oil prices, and how that feeds into also rising electric energy prices, Lawrence said. We dont need to add an additional risk on energy costs for Mainers when we have time to reflect on this, study this and do this right.

Grohoski also pointed to the local opposition to data centers, and said if the state doesnt take the time to build intentional regulations, residents may just continue to stop projects at the local level.

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So I think if we do think that Maine is a place where we would like data centers at some point, if we dont figure out how to do it right, theyre not going to happen anyhow, because people are concerned that we have not done our jobs to protect them, Grohoski said.

In March, Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport) argued that the moratorium is not against innovation.

Maine has always been a place that embraces new industries and new ideas, but we are also a state that understands the value of stewardship of our land, our water, our communities and our long-term future, she said.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge sentenced a man who grabbed another mans gun and killed him with it inside a Las Vegas business in May 2025 to at least 20 years in prison.

Kyle Capucci, 37, agreed to plead guilty in February to a charge of murder with the use of a deadly weapon, documents said. Capucci shot and killed David Carcamo, 21, with Carcamos gun inside an AutoZone store on Charleston Boulevard near Maryland Parkway on May 23, 2025.

Police said Carcamo was open carrying the firearm on his hip.

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On Thursday, a judge sentenced Capucci to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years, with 322 days time served.

Kyle Capucci, 37, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years for grabbing a gun and killing the owner in a Las Vegas business in May 2025 (KLAS)

Videos the 8 News Now Investigators obtained last year showed a man prosecutors identified as Capucci walking into the store barefoot and without pants. A camera captured Capucci and Carcamo struggling over the gun, but the actual shooting was not recorded. Seconds after the struggle, a camera shows Capucci calmly walking through the store.

Las Vegas man faces 20 years for grabbing gun, killing owner inside store

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A blood test found methamphetamine in Capuccis system, police said. In an interview with police, Capucci said he thought someone was trying to kill him, documents said.

Capucci was released from prison on April 28, 2025, just weeks before his arrest for this murder, a Nevada Department of Corrections spokesperson confirmed last year. The Nevada Parole Board denied him parole after a 2024 hearing.

In 2022, Capucci pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery charge after police said he threatened a restaurant employee with a knife, documents said. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors did not oppose Capucci entering drug court and serving probation. In the months afterward, Capucci violated his probation and self-terminated from the drug court program, sending him to prison.

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 KLAS.
A pastor for Crossroads Church will be suspended and receive an extended leave after allegations of inappropriate physical humor.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Our media partner, WCPO-9, obtained a letter that the church sent to its members.

It informed the members of the independent investigation into allegations made about Brian Tome.

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The board wrote that additional details on these claims wouldnt be released in order to respect all parties involved.

However, board chairman Brian Wells explained the allegations in a pre-recorded video that was shared with the church in March.

Wells said Tome had a gifted riding crop, which is a short whip, in his office.

A person went into Tomes office in November 2015 and allegedly asked about the crop.

The person said Tome picked it up and said, Oh yeah. You like that? according to WCPO-9.

Tome allegedly whipped the person in the crotch and was rubbing the persons crotch.

The board said a third-party witness, who wasnt previously known, confirmed the claims.

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While Brians actions may have been intended in humor, they were inappropriate and not above reproach, the board said in the letter. Were thankful for the community member who came forward and shared his experience and participated in the third-party investigation. Were praying for and offering support for everyone who has been impacted.

In the letter, the board also notes concerns about Tomes impact on staff and leadership style.

Our desire is that our community, whether as a staff member or volunteer, is one of accountability, truth and repentance that leads to redemption, the letter says. As a result, Brian will be experiencing a one-month suspension followed by a four-month extended leave during which he will take part in appropriate steps of repentance and reconciliation. Brians response to these steps has been incredibly encouraging.

Lead Pastor Kyle Ranson will oversee the staff and church, according to our media partner.

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The message to church members included a letter from Tome.

For that Im sorry and I want to apologize publicly to this individual who came forward and others who may have been impacted, Tome wrote. Ive also not been creating a leadership environment for many on our staff to thrive. Ive been driven too much by results and have too often not reflected the model of Jesus.

He ended his letter by asking for forgiveness and saying hes glad to have the time to step back and regear for the future and work toward an Awakening.

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A James Webb Space Telescope view of the lensed galaxy cluster MACS J1149, where the new stingray object was detected. | Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, C. Willott (National Research Council Canada), R. Tripodi (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Rome)

Astronomers have spotted an intriguing triple-galaxy system, nicknamed "The Stingray," that dates to when the universe was just over 1.1 billion years old. A new analysis of the celestial sea creature has revealed an object that may provide clues about the nature of mysterious cosmic objects dubbed "little red dots" (LRDs).

LRDs were first observed in 2022 by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Astronomers initially proposed that these compact red objects, which seem to permeate the very early universe, could be galaxies that host actively feeding black holes known as active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Alternative LRD theories involve ancient supermassive stars on the verge of collapse and exotic black hole stars .

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In the new study, published March 9 in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics , astronomers reconstructed the recent star formation history of the triple-galaxy stingray. They found that interactions between galaxies may have pushed an AGN into an unusual state resembling a transition into or out of a little red dot. Astronomers dubbed the galaxy that hosts this unusual AGN a transitional little red dot (tLRD).

"We have all the necessary ingredients to produce such a transition: starbursts caused by galaxy interactions, an AGN, and a galaxy (tLRD) whose spectral features match almost all LRD criteria," lead study author Rosa Maria Merida , an astrophysicist who studies galaxy formation and evolution at Saint Mary's University in Canada, told Live Science in an email.

The unique system's nickname came from its appearance: In early images, it resembled a stingray with a body, head and tail. However, later analysis revealed that the "tail" was formed by unrelated distant objects and had aligned by chance in the image.

The Stingray is made of three galaxies: a Balmer break galaxy that is relatively massive and evolving more steadily, a tLRD, and a satellite star-forming galaxy that is less massive and appears to have joined the system more recently.

Back to the past

Due to observational limitations, the researchers could not definitively determine how the three-galaxy system formed. Instead, they proposed a scenario based on indirect evidence. They did this by reconstructing the galaxies' star formation histories, using data from the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey, one of the deepest JWST surveys to date.

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By comparing these histories across galaxies and incorporating relative stellar masses, the team looked for patterns that might indicate past interactions. For example, if multiple galaxies showed changes in star formation at similar timescales, that could point to a shared event, such as a close encounter. Additionally, lower-mass galaxies with weaker gravity are more susceptible to disturbance, which may trigger bursts of star formation.

The team's analysis suggested that about 100 million years ago, the tLRD galaxy experienced a burst of star formation, which was likely triggered by an interaction with the nearby Balmer break galaxy. The more massive Balmer break galaxy, however, appeared largely unaffected and evolved steadily. Later, around 10 million years ago, the smaller satellite galaxy experienced increased star formation.

"We think this is the moment when the [satellite] galaxy entered the Stingray system," Merida noted.

Around that time, some activity was observed in tLRD but not in the Balmer break galaxy. By this stage, tLRD also would have been quite massive, making this behavior difficult to explain through gravitational interactions alone. This raises the question of what drove the activity in tLRD, while the Balmer break galaxy shows little change in its star formation history. This suggests factors beyond simple gravitational interactions may be at work.

The full-size view of galaxy cluster MACS J1149, home of the stingray. | Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, C. Willott (National Research Council Canada), R. Tripodi (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Rome)

Part AGN, part LRD

The researchers proposed that the answer may lie in the behavior of the central black hole. Merida explained that interactions between galaxies can trigger bursts of star formation, but the activation of an AGN can occur later. In this scenario, the earlier encounter may have first sparked star formation and then, with some delay, fueled the black hole in tLRD, pushing the galaxy into its unusual state.

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The active black hole in tLRD shows spectral features of a type I AGN characterized by a bright and unobscured core. But it is also compact and bright in ultraviolet light, partly resembling a little red dot. However, it lacks one key spectral signature that almost all observed little red dots have in their light spectrum: a V-shaped feature. So it looks like a mix of both objects but not completely like either.

"This galaxy is strategically in between the little red dot population and compact Type I AGN," Merida said. Therefore, tLRD is part AGN and part LRD, but it's unclear whether it is entering or exiting the LRD phase.

"The paper supports the idea that at least some little red dots are evolutionary phases rather than a wholly distinct class," Devesh Nandal, a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. "The system is physically compact, spectroscopically confirmed, and the authors infer enhanced recent growth in the tLRD and [satellite galaxy]," compared what would be expected from their normal, internal processes, making their interaction-driven interpretation credible. However, while galaxy interactions may trigger or shut down the LRD phase, they do not fully explain the black hole's mass or the LRD phenomenon as a whole, Nandal noted.

What next?

RELATED STORIES

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Mysterious 'little red dots' discovered by James Webb telescope may be the first stars in the universe on the verge of collapse

Black hole butterflies? James Webb telescope spots dozens of black hole 'cocoons' in early universe.

Not 'Little Red Dots' or roaring quasars: James Webb telescope uncovers new kind of 'hidden' black hole never seen before

If this transition phase is very short  less than about 5 million years  the chances of spotting a galaxy in that stage are very low, Merida said. In that case, tLRD might just be a normal AGN. But if the transition lasts longer, astronomers should find many such transitional objects in current galaxy surveys. That means researchers need to do two things: carefully search existing data for more candidates, and improve theoretical models to predict how often these transitions happen and determine how to clearly identify them.

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A larger sample size of such "in-between" objects and a better understanding of how long the AGN spends in active and quiet phases can establish the new results more robustly, Nandal said. A clear distinction between how the black hole is currently feeding and how the black hole originally formed is also crucial, he said. For example, the black hole may have already existed as a massive seed from a supermassive star or other origin; in that case, the LRD-like activity we observe now likely reflects later fueling or dust obscuration rather than the black hole forming from scratch.

The team plans to conduct follow-up studies on The Stingray and other LRDs found in the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey. If confirmed, this transitional object would support the idea that little red dots are not a separate class of objects but a temporary phase in the evolution of a black hole system, with their behavior controlled by their surroundings.

What do you know about black holes? Test your knowledge with our black hole quiz!
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Pyongyang, the DPRK, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Chao)

PYONGYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that China is willing to work with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, and to promote practical cooperation.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK.

Wang conveyed the cordial greetings of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, to Kim and warmly congratulated the successful convening of the 9th Congress of the WPK and the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK. He expressed firm confidence that under the strong leadership of the WPK Central Committee headed by Kim, and with the concerted efforts of the entire DPRK people, the country's socialist cause will continue to reach new heights.

Wang recalled that Kim paid a successful visit to China last September and attended commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During the visit, Xi and Kim held a historic meeting that provided strategic guidance and opened up new prospects for China-DPRK relations. China stands ready to intensify exchanges and interactions with the DPRK to bring new contemporary significance to the traditional friendship between the two countries, said Wang.

Xi has pointed out that both China and the DPRK are socialist countries led by communist parties, sharing common ideals, beliefs and goals, said Wang, adding that in the face of a complex and turbulent international situation, the two countries should firmly safeguard their respective sovereignty, security and development interests, further strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional affairs, and make due contributions to protecting the common interests of developing countries as well as maintaining world peace and development.

Kim extended a warm welcome to Wang, head of the Chinese delegation, and kindly asked him to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to Xi.

Kim noted that he still vividly remembers his meeting with Xi during his visit to China in September of last year. He expressed his pleasure in seeing the important consensus reached between himself and Xi being concretely implemented, noting that the relationship between the DPRK and China has been elevated to new heights, in line with the will and aspirations of the two parties and peoples.

Kim emphasized that given the current dramatic changes in the international situation, deepening and developing DPRK-China relations serves the common interests of both countries and is the firm will and established policy of the DPRK's party and government.

He affirmed the DPRK's full support for the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives proposed by Xi. He also expressed strong support for China's legitimate position and all efforts in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity such as on the Taiwan question.

Kim said that the DPRK is willing to take the grand blueprint established by the 9th Congress of the WPK as an opportunity to continue deepening the friendship and cooperative ties centered on socialism with China. The DPRK is committed to strengthening high-level exchanges, enhancing strategic communication, providing firm mutual support, and advancing the development of the two countries' socialist causes respectively, so as to contribute to the well-being of the two peoples and to world peace and stability.

At the invitation of the DPRK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang visited the DPRK from Thursday to Friday. During his visit, Wang held in-depth talks with the DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and paid tribute to the graves of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers located in Kangdong County. 
Apr. 9MITCHELL  The Mabee Eye Clinic has plans to build a new location at the site of the former Perkins Restaurant on Burr Street.

The Mabee Eye Clinic is currently at the corner of Third Avenue and South Sanborn Boulevard. The plan for the construction of the new building at 1301 S. Burr St. will be considered by the Planning Commission on Monday, April 13.

The new clinic is planned to have 12 exam rooms, prep rooms, doctors and billing offices, a conference room, reception area, retail space and other optometrist lab and equipment spaces.

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The site is to be segregated into three spaces as part of the fresh build, with the clinic at 7,100 square feet, one storefront at 1,967 square feet and the other storefront at 2,013 square feet. According to the site plans, the build appears to be a similar square footage of the former Perkins building, the foundation of which is still intact. The architectural design was prepared by Optometric Architects and Modern Design Architects, both of Janesville, Iowa.

The former Perkins Restaurant was considered a total loss after fire consumed it in late 2023. It opened in 1994. The remaining building was demolished and what is left is a foundation. The parking lot has about 87 parking spaces.

The Mabee Eye Clinic's optometrists are Glen Nydam, Nicholas Wenande and Deborah Bessler.
BAMAKO, April 10 (Reuters) - Mali supports Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said on Friday, becoming the latest African country to endorse Rabat's vision for ending a 50-year conflict with the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.

Morocco's proposal would establish a local legislative, executive and judicial authority for Western Sahara elected by its residents, while Rabat would retain jurisdiction over defence, foreign affairs and religious matters. The Polisario Front wants to hold a referendum with independence as an option.

Mali's endorsement follows similar moves by other countries in the region. Kenya and Ghana backed Morocco's autonomy plan last year. Burkina Faso is one of more than two dozen mostly African states that have a consulate in Western Sahara, reflecting full endorsement of Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory.

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Western Sahara, a tract of desert the size of Britain, has been the subject of Africa's longest-running territorial dispute since colonial power Spain left in 1975.

Morocco considers the territory its own, while the Polisario Front seeks to establish an independent state called the Sahrawi Republic.

Diop, Mali's foreign minister, said on Friday that Mali was no longer recognizing the Sahrawi Republic.

In November, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling on the parties to resume negotiations on the basis of Moroccos autonomy plan.

MALI-ALGERIA TENSIONS HIGH OVER DRONE DISPUTE

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Mali's decision comes amid heightened tensions with Algeria.

Mali said last year that Algeria deliberately shot down a Malian drone along their shared desert border near Tinzaouaten in Mali's Kidal region, alleging the downing was intended to hinder operations by Malian forces against armed groups.

Mali described the incident as a hostile act and a violation of the principle of non-use of force.

Algeria has said its forces shot down an armed surveillance drone that violated its airspace near the border.

Separately Mali, together with Niger and Burkina Faso, has endorsed a Moroccan plan to give them access to the Atlantic Ocean through its ports, though it is unclear how the plan would be implemented.

(Reporting by Mali newsroom; Writing by Clement Bonnerot; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Alex Richardson)
A Georgia man wanted in a deadly shooting in Richmond County is back in Georgia after he was caught more than 9,000 miles away in Thailand.

Cedric Alandus Peters, 23, was wanted in the deadly shooting of Chavious Kemmerlin, 50, in November 2024.

It took more than a year and a half, but federal authorities ended up finding Peters and arrested him at a condo in Bangkok, Thailand, in February.

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Investigators said he tried to run, but was unsuccessful.

The Richmond County Sheriffs Office said Peters was brought back to the United States on Thursday, where he was flown into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and briefly placed in the Clayton County Jail.

He was then transferred to the jail in Augusta.

Peters is facing multiple charges, including malice murder, home invasion, burglary, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, criminal trespass, and theft.
President Donald Trump's handpicked challenger to boot his least favorite Republican  U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie  out of Congress for being unfaithful to his administration's agenda is trailing the incumbent in what could be the most telling Republican primary contest of the 2026 election season.

National pundits are keeping a close eye on Kentucky's 4th Congressional District primary race, where Trump has rallied behind newcomer Ed Gallrein and allies have poured millions into groups attacking the congressman's record. Most recently, Massie has been leading the charge to force the release of files related to the accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Many view the Kentucky race as a first test of the president's grip on the GOP that could give vulnerable incumbents the green light to buck Trump more as they look to retain their seats amid a forecasted "blue wave" this fall.

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A new poll from Quantum Insights released April 9 found Massie landing 46.8% of likely Republican voters against Gallrein, who rakes in 37.7%. Another 14% were undecided.

President Donald Trump looks at the crowd upon his arrival to deliver remarks on the economy at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9, 2025. President Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd at an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort on Dec. 9, 2025 in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. Trump discussed his administrations economic agenda and its efforts to lower the cost of living. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort on Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. Trump discussed his administration's economic agenda and its efforts to lower the cost of living. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort on Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. Trump discussed his administration's economic agenda and its efforts to lower the cost of living. President Donald Trump enters to deliver remarks during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort on Dec. 9, 2025 in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. President Trump was discussing his administration's economic agenda and its efforts to lower the cost of living. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort on Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. President Trump was discussing his administration's economic agenda and its efforts to lower the cost of living. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort on Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. Trump discussed his administration's economic agenda and its efforts to lower the cost of living. Attendees wait for the arrival of US President Donald Trump to deliver remarks on the economy at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9, 2025. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on the economy at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9, 2025. President Donald Trump cheers attendees upon his arrival to deliver remarks on the economy at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9, 2025. Trump touts economic agenda, promises lower prices at Pennsylvania rally 1 of 10 President Donald Trump looks at the crowd upon his arrival to deliver remarks on the economy at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9, 2025.

But the more telling findings are deeper in the survey, which asked what type of Republican member of Congress they would rather support.

The survey found 49.9% said they preferred one who is independent-minded versus 37.4% who said they preferred a strong Trump supporter.

"It suggests this is not an electorate looking simply for obedience or alignment," the Quantum memo said. "It is an electorate that still has room for a self-willed, independent conservative and that is precisely the identity Massie has cultivated for years. That, in turn, helps explain why Trumps endorsement of Gallrein has not, at least yet, transformed the race."

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Quantus polled 438 likely registered voters between April 6-7, about four weeks after Trump visited the district and brought Gallrein on stage with him. The poll's margin of error was +/- 4.4%. Nate Silver's pollster ratings give Quantus Insights a B/C grade.

Massie coming in below 50% is not a good sign, the firm points out, but the roughly 10-point lead suggests the Massachusetts Institute of Technology grad is holding firm against the president's tongue lashing with an established base and "fits the district better than some in Washington may assume."

'Worst person': Trump has trashed Massie for years

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks during a campaign opening rally at his Northern Kentucky headquarters in Florence, Ky., on Feb. 21, 2026.

Massie isn't considered a moderate Republican by most conservative groups' scorecards but he committed the worst modern GOP sin: He crossed Trump on several occasions over the years.

In 2020 during the first Trump administration, the president called him a grandstander for objecting to the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package for fiscal reasons. Trump said he wanted Massie kicked out of the GOP.

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The libertarian-leaning congressman has been behind legislation forcing the Justice Department to release documents about Epstein. He also voted against the administration's tax-cut legislation last year and put forward a resolution to halt the war on Iran, which failed on a 219-212 vote.

His opposition to Trump drew the president to Massie's district last month, where he brought Gallrein on stage as he lambasted the congressman.

Hes the worst person," Trump said of Massie at the March 11 rally in Hebron, Kentucky. "Massie is a complete and total disaster as a congressman and frankly as a human being."

Massie has generally avoided returning fire, noting that he agrees with Trump on a number of issues and was even endorsed by him in 2022, two years after the president called for him to be kicked out of the Republican Party.

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After his February campaign launch, Massie described his primary as a referendum on whether "any member of Congress can vote independently of their party when their party's in the White House."

Trump endorsement weakening, poll suggests

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he answers questions from the media during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 6, 2026.

Trump's dominance of the GOP, fueled by the populist Make America Great Again movement, remains unchallenged in terms of Republican primaries.

Earlier this month Republican Clay Fuller, the president's choice to replace former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia, was elected to Congress after breaking from the GOP pack thanks largely to Trump's endorsement.

Other former lawmakers who have opposed the president, such as Republican Liz Cheney, have been defeated by Trump-endorsed challengers.

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But the Quantum survey shows Trump's influence is in question in the case of Massie, who has long burnished a reputation for independence by often being the lone vote against even the most bipartisan resolutions or measures. Massie has said he votes against legislation he believes is unconstitutional or raises federal spending.

The polling data shows Trump's sway still matters, with about 36% saying his endorsement makes them much more or somewhat likely to support Gallrein versus roughly 26% who said it makes them much less or somewhat less likely. But another 36% said it makes no difference.

"That, in turn, helps explain why Trumps endorsement of Gallrein has not, at least yet, transformed the race," according to the polling memo.

Keep up with our coverage: Sign up for the On Kentucky Politics newsletter.

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Asked which type of Republican member of Congress they would rather support, 49.9% of respondents said they preferred one who is independent-minded, while 37.4% said they preferred a strong Trump supporter.

That independence from Trump is an attribute Massie is leaning into for this reelection.

"And I do believe I'm going to survive, and I do think it will embolden other members of Congress who are in the Republican Party to vote their conscience and vote for their constituents instead of just voting for what the White House wants," he told reporters after his campaign launch in February.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. Reach Phillip M. Bailey at pbailey@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Massie leading pro-Trump challenger in Republican primary poll
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Harrisburg on Friday to push for a new tax credit in Pennsylvania.

The Education Freedom Tax Credit would give taxpayers a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to a Scholarship Granting Organization, a nonprofit that uses donations to provide scholarships to public and private school students.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

President Donald Trump signed the credit into law last July, and it would come into effect in Janaury 2027, but states have to opt in. So far, 27 states have, but not Pennsylvania.

Now we just need Gov. Shapiro to get on board, said McMahon, the former president of WWE.

McMahon said the tax credit would provide students with educational opportunities regardless of their zip code or family income, while not costing states anything. It does not divert funding from state and local taxes, she said.

Shapiro: Foreign steel in White Houses ballroom project Slap in the face to Pennsylvania

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Participating states approve eligible SGOs, and scholarships must go to education-related expenses.

The Shapiro administration told abc27 News partner LNP that it has not made a decision about the state taking part in the tax credit pending federal guidance.

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 ABC27.
Melania Trumps surprise statement denying she had any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein sparked confusion about why she had chosen to speak out, and whether Donald Trump knew that the first lady was planning to draw attention to a subject he has called for the public to move on from.

Even normally well-sourced correspondents for rightwing outlets were at a loss to explain why Melania Trump felt the need to issue the seemingly out-of-the-blue statement about her relationship with Epstein, the late sex offender who socialized with her husband for nearly two decades, or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Related: Melania says her piece about Epstein  doth the lady protest too much?

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The Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich said that she and her team were baffled.

Weve been trying to understand why she made it today, if there was something that she is reacting to that might already be in the news that has upset her, or if theres a story thats yet to come out, thats about to drop that she wanted to get ahead of, Heinrich told Fox viewers. Because it did feel like it came out of left field for us.

Were still trying to figure out why she made this statement today, she added. Ive called every contact in my phone, including the president, and not gotten any answers.

The New York Post, which, like Fox, is owned by Rupert Murdoch and often acts like an arm of the Trump White House communications team, was also puzzled. Its unclear why the first lady chose to hold the press event at a time when the White House is trying to move on from the Epstein saga that has been a drag on her husbands second term, the New York tabloid reported.

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Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to the first lady, told the Post only that she spoke out now because enough is enough.

The lies must stop, Beckman added in his cryptic statement. It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as first lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation.

The press statement was especially perplexing because it came at a moment when the Iran war has become all-consuming in Washington, raising questions about why the first lady had chosen to speak out now. With her reasons still unclear, reporters spent much of the day trying to find out what, if anything, Donald Trump knew about her plans.

Shortly after the first lady delivered her statement, an MS Now host reported that she had spoken by phone to Donald Trump, who said he did not know anything about the first ladys statement before she appeared on camera. She didnt know him, the president added before hanging up, apparently referring to Epstein.

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An unnamed spokesperson for the first lady told the New York Times the president did know that his wife planned to make a statement. That report was then updated to note that the spokesperson later said it was not clear if the president knew what the statement was about.

Although the first lady claimed in her statement to have only a passing acquaintance with Epstein, because Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, she was photographed with Epstein multiple times at a party at Trumps Mar-a-Lago beach club in 2000.

She also acknowledged on Thursday that she had written a friendly email to Epsteins accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in October 2002, signed Love, Melania. The first lady did not mention that her email, released in January, included praise for a flattering profile of Epstein in New York Magazine that came out that week, which she called a Nice story. That 2002 profile featured a glowing quote from Donald Trump praising his friend as a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it  Jeffrey enjoys his social life.

In the written statement she read aloud with some difficulty, Melania Trump suggested her own email was trival, apparently misreading the word trivial, but Maxwells reply, the justice department also released, began with the term of endearment Sweet pea.

Three weeks after the email exchange on 11 November 2002, the future first lady and Maxwell were photographed together in New York, along with Donald Trump and Naomi Campbell, at a Dolce & Gabbana event.
NASAs Orion spacecraft, which is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean later today after careening around the Moon, isnt exactly roomy on the inside  the capsule, which has been hosting a crew of four astronauts for the last ten days, measures a mere 16.5 feet across and has a habitable space of just 330 cubic feet.

Despite the severe spatial limitations, scientists at NASA came up with an ingenious contraption to keep the crew fit and healthy, a critical part of prolonged space travel. Researchers have long found that microgravity can result in muscle atrophy and bone loss in the long term, something that can largely be remedied with exercise.

To meet the requirements and limitations of its latest Moon mission, NASA came up with a specialized piece of exercise equipment that consists of a familiar-looking handle  the kind youd see attached to a pulley cable or rowing machine at the gym  attached to a flywheel. The astronauts strap their feet on either side of the machine and pull.

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However, that description would be underselling its versatility. As crew member and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen demonstrated in a video last year, it can be used for an astonishing variety of exercises and simulate resistance up to 400 pounds.

Like a cardiovascular workout where you row at a lower resistance and a fast pace, he said. But we can also change the dynamics of this device so that we can do weightlifting with it, such as squats, deadlifts, curls, and high pulls.

Best of all, its barely larger than a large shoe box, and the flywheel itself weighs only 30 pounds, adding little heft.

According to NASA documentation, the idea was to have each crew member use the device for a total of 30 minutes per day. A diagram shows how the astronaut juts their body into the center of the habitable space, maximizing use of the cramped environment.

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Video footage taken inside the spacecraft two days into the Artemis 2 mission shows mission specialist and NASA astronaut Victor Glover using the machine during his daily allotted time, while Hansen prepares lunch.

To be fair, the astronauts had been training hard long before they launched. A photo shared by the agency dating back to last summer that shows Moon astronaut Christina Koch training for the mission back on Earth shows her with some serious muscle definition  likely linked to her hobbies of surfing, rock and ice climbing, triathlons, yoga and backpacking.

Holy s***, [Koch] drop your arm routine, one user tweeted in awe.

It may sound like a trivial part of a space exploration mission to the Moon, but stressing the body in a microgravity environment is far more important than one might think.

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As Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center exercise physiologist Jessica Scott, who worked on early prototypes of the machine for NASA, told NPR, ten days in space without exercise is roughly the equivalent of lying in bed for ten days.

You would feel very weak, and your muscles start to lose size very quickly, she said.

In experiments involving participants lying in bed for days at a time, they found that adding an exercise routine using the flywheel made a substantial difference.

What was really exciting was that the small device could prevent the declines, the same amount that a full gym could do, Scott told NPR.

More on the mission: NASA Scientists Screamed With Delight When They Saw Something Smashing Into the Moon
Two more individuals detained in Iowa jails by immigration officials are suing the federal government, alleging their rights are being violated.

In recent months, Iowa State Patrol troopers and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have worked together in pulling over commercial truck drivers near weigh stations along Interstate 80 as part of what they call Operation ICE Wall.

Typically, the drivers are pulled over after bypassing the weigh stations, cited for the offense, and then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers if its determined they entered the United States at some point without authorization. The drivers are then held in Iowa county jails, typically without the opportunity to argue for release on bond.

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Many of the cases involve individuals who have been granted temporary residency status and work authorization or are seeking asylum.

One of the most recent cases involves Abhishek Kumar of Richmond Hill, N.Y., who recently filed suit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice, alleging his due process rights have been violated.

According to Kumars lawyers, he is a native of India who entered the United States in May 2022. On Feb. 11, he was alleged to be traveling across Iowa, driving a commercial truck, when he was pulled over at a weigh station near Mitchellville. Court records indicate he was detained by ICE officers then taken to the Polk County Jail, where he is being held without the opportunity to argue for release on bond.

Kumars arrest at the Mitchellville truck stop took place on the same day, and at the same location, as the arrest of at least two other commercial truck drivers  Suraj Vasal and Jagdish Singh  who were stopped by the state patrol and detained by ICE. Vasal and Singh are also suing the federal government over alleged violations of their rights.

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Kumars lawyers are now asking a U.S. District Court judge to intervene and either order his release or that he be given a bond hearing in immigration court. The Department of Justice has yet to respond to the case.

Omaha man in western Iowa jail

In a separate proceeding, Usiel Sanchez Romero of Omaha is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Pottawattamie County. Romero states in the lawsuit he came to the United States without authorization in 2013, has no criminal record, is married with an 8-year-old son, and has owned a contracting business for the past seven years.

He alleges that on March 21, he was subjected to a random and unjustified traffic stop, was detained by ICE, and was then taken to the Pottawattamie County Jail where he continues to be held without the opportunity to argue for release on bond.

Like Kumar, Romero is asking a U.S. District Court judge to intervene and either order his release or that he be given a bond hearing in immigration court.

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In response, attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice allege Kumars vehicle was not stopped at random. They allege ICE officers first identified Kumar as the driver of the vehicle, and then ran his name through a federal database to determine his residency status, and then pulled him over.

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Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Candace Owens and Alex Jones responded to President Donald Trumps lengthy Truth Social post attacking them and other right-wing figures on Thursday for their continued opposition to the war in Iran.

I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon  Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs, Trump wrote in part.

Politics: Trump Flips Out On 5 MAGA-World 'NUT JOBS' Who Went Against Him On Iran

As President, I could get them on my side anytime I want to, but when they call, I dont return their calls because Im too busy on World and Country Affairs and, after a few times, they go nasty, just like Marjorie Traitor Brown, but I no longer care about that stuff, I only care about doing right for our Country, he continued, referring to Greene by his derogatory nickname for her.

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Greene responded on X shortly after Trumps post, saying the group mentioned hasnt changed but rather Trump did.

President Trump has gone mad as he wages war against Iran, a broken campaign promise. I fought alongside Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones to help get Trump elected. And now he goes off on a rambling rant attacking all of us in one post, Greene wrote.

President Trump has gone mad as he wages war against Iran, a broken campaign promise.



I fought alongside Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones to help get Trump elected.



And now he goes off on a rambling rant attacking all of us in one post.



We NEVER pic.twitter.com/dMnrt2ZjCw  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) April 9, 2026

Owens was less loquacious in her response to the president, calling out his mental acuity in a one-sentence response.

It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home, Owens wrote on X.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home. pic.twitter.com/ruBJFA3RZw  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 9, 2026

Jones posted a lengthy response video to X on Thursday, where he offered a much more sympathetic rebuke of Trumps statement, saying hes so sad that whatevers happened to him has totally changed the man he once was, because he did so much good.

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I am just so concerned about this country and the world, Jones said. Trumps being led around by the nose by Netanyahu and by Mark Levin and others. And its so sad, the Iran war is a total disaster, a black eye for America.

At the end of the day, I just feel sorry for him, Jones continued.

Melania Trump just contradicted her husband and said that the Epstein case cover-up is real and needs to be investigated.



In the below report, I respond to President Trumps unprecedented attack against myself and his other former top supporters.. https://t.co/ufqKs7ghv6pic.twitter.com/ei9oXXF1gZ  Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) April 9, 2026

Kelly and Carlson did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment on the presidents post.

All the figures named in the post have been critical of Trumps decision to take military action against Iran, accusing him of going back on a key campaign promise not to start any new foreign wars.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
Multiple people have been displaced after a fire at a three-story apartment building in Southbridge.

The incident occurred just before noon on Thursday, when multiple 911 calls came in reporting smoke coming from an apartment building on 9 Twinehurst Street.

Once on scene, Southbridge Fire Chief Paul Normandi noticed a large plume of black smoke coming from the back of the residence. The fire had spread to the second and third floors and damaged neighboring buildings.

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A second alarm was struck, calling in all Southbridge firefighters, on and off-duty, to assist. Shortly thereafter, a third alarm was struck, prompting mutual aid from other fire stations.

Fire crews were able to knock down the fire, taking around 35-45 firefighters to do so.

All 15 residents of the building were able to evacuate prior to the arrival of first responders. However, all residents were displaced due to the fire. Flames caused around $350,000 worth of damage to the building.

One person was taken to the hospital for shortness of breath due to smoke inhalation.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Massachusetts State Fire Marshals Office, along with the Southbridge Fire Investigation Unit (FIU).

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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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WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge ruled on Thursday that the Pentagon should restore access to credentialed journalists covering the Department of Defense.

Paul Friedman, a senior judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, made the ruling in a sharp rebuke of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's attempts to restrict media access.

Friedman ordered Pentagon officials to reinstate the press credentials to reporters who cover the U.S. military from the building.

"The Department cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking 'new' action and expect the court to look the other way," he wrote in the ruling. "The curtailment of First Amendment rights is dangerous at any time, and even more so in a time of war."

Last month, Friedman struck down several provisions of the policy issued by Hegseth, finding that they improperly allowed the Pentagon to suspend or revoke journalists' credentials based on their reporting. 
Unknown assailants attacked an Israeli restaurant in Munich overnight, smashing several windows and throwing pyrotechnic devices into the premises, police said on Friday.

Germany's State Security Service, which investigates politically motivated crimes, has taken over the case. No one was injured and the perpetrators have not been identified.

The police and the restaurant's management believe the attack was motivated by anti-Semitism.

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"According to the current state of the investigation, the shop windows were forcibly damaged and pyrotechnic devices were thrown into the restaurant," the police said. The damage to property is estimated at several thousand euros.

The police operations centre received a call shortly after midnight after three loud bangs were heard in Munich's Maxvorstadt district, a police spokesperson said.

A patrol arriving at the scene found that the restaurants windows had been smashed in three places.

'We won't be intimidated'

According to a restaurant employee, the attack came without warning.

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"There were no direct threats," Grigori Dratva, the owners brother-in-law and an employee at the restaurant, told dpa.

His brother-in-law has been running the 70-seat restaurant since 2007. "Weve actually always felt very safe in Munich."

The restaurant plans to reopen on Friday, and the damaged windows have been temporarily boarded up. "We wont be intimidated. Were reopening," he said.

Dratva said he suspects the attack may have been politically motivated, though this has not been confirmed. "We dont want to speculate or accuse anyone, but we are a clearly visible Israeli restaurant, so that is the obvious assumption," he said.

Sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents

Following the Hamas-led October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel and the ensuing Gaza war, the number of anti-Semitic incidents has risen sharply in Germany, according to the Research and Information Centre on Anti-Semitism (RIAS) and the BfV domestic intelligence service.

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Israel has also recently drawn international attention due to its conflict with the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and its involvement in the war with Iran.

As recently as Wednesday, the Israeli military carried out widespread strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group across Lebanon, killing more than 300 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

However, anti-Semitism in Germany is not simply linked to conflicts in the Middle East. It is also prevalent in far-right circles, which include some deniers of Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust.
An Essex County school district could be forced to lay off dozens of teachers and raise taxes as it tries to close a growing budget gap.

West Orange Public Schools is facing a projected $14 million to $15 million deficit heading into the 2026-27 school year, local officials reported last month.

To close the gap, the district has a plan to eliminate at least 70 full-time positions, while also consolidating courses, increasing class sizes and restructuring parts of the middle school schedule, according to a March 26 presentation.

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Were doing things which we dont want to do, but have to look at, West Orange Superintendent Hayden Moore said.

That includes consolidating courses and increasing class sizes, Moore said.

The proposal also includes a 2.5% tax increase that would raise the average homeowners bill by about $294 a year, based on an assessed home value of $614,976.

School officials say rising costs  especially for health benefits, which are expected to jump nearly 18%  are driving much of the shortfall.

The district has been grappling with these challenges for years, and even with the proposed cuts, the budget is still not balanced.

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We are mathematically in the red before the school year even begins, Tonya Flowers, the districts business administrator, said during the presentation.

We are taking these severe, necessary steps today to ensure the financial survival and future stability, she added.

Across New Jersey, at least a dozen districts are facing similar decisions, weighing layoffs, tax increases and even school closures to stay afloat.

Some officials have pointed to the states school funding formula as a factor. In 2018, New Jersey revised how aid is distributed, shifting more funding to districts considered historically underfunded. But that left others working to replace millions in lost revenue.

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At the same time, more than half of New Jersey school districts are spending at least $500,000 below what the state considers adequate funding, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

West Orange is expected to receive about $34.5 million in state aid next year under Gov. Mikie Sherrills proposed $12.4 billion education budget. That is an increase of about $1.9 million, or 6%.

In addition, the district will receive another $9.9 million from the state in preschool funding, a spokesman for the state Department of Education said.

West Orange administrators say the increase is not enough to keep pace with rising costs.

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The district has recently lost temporary federal COVID-19 funding, which expired. The district previously received federal emergency aid and over $12.3 million in federal aid tied to COVID relief, state officials said.

School officials have already taken steps in recent years to reduce spending. Last year, officials eliminated the long-running sixth grade Central Six program. That move was expected to save about $500,000 annually, largely through transportation and staffing reductions.

That plan also included cutting nearly 60 positions and increasing class sizes.

West Orange serves more than 7,100 students across 13 schools.

The board of education is scheduled to vote on a final budget on May 4.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The U.S. Navy has abandoned plans to return the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Boise to active duty. This brings an end to the saga of a still-incomplete major overhaul of the boat, which has lasted more than a decade now. In that time, it has become a poster child for the Navys worrisome struggles to tackle huge maintenance backlogs, as well as larger concerns about the availability, or lack thereof, of naval shipyard capacity in the United States.

The Navy announced its decision to inactivate Boise, which was first commissioned into service in 1992, earlier today.

After a rigorous, data-driven analysis, weve made the tough but necessary decision to inactivate the USS Boise, Navy Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, the services top officer, said in a statement. This strategic move allows us to reallocate Americas highly-skilled workforce to our highest priorities: delivering new Virginia and Columbia class submarines and improving the readiness of the current fleet. We owe it to our Sailors and the nation to make these tough calls to build a more capable and ready Navy.

A picture of USS Boise sitting idle in Norfolk, Virginia, in the late 2010s. USN

The move is part of the Navys broader, data-driven initiative to optimize the fleets composition, ensuring that every dollar is invested in capabilities that directly contribute to maintaining a decisive warfighting advantage, the service also said in a press release. Funds and personnel associated with the planned overhaul of USS Boise will be redirected to support other Navy priorities, including the timely delivery of Americas submarine capability.

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To date, the Navy has spent approximately $800 million on Boises overhaul, which is still only 22 percent complete, the service separately told Semafor. The total estimated cost to complete the overhaul had risen to $3 billion, according to Fox News.

At some point, you just cut your losses and move on, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan also told Fox News in an interview ahead of todays announcement. The Boise represents 65% of the cost of a new Virginia class submarine, yet it only delivers 20% of the remaining service life.

The Navy had originally planned for Boise to begin its overhaul in 2013, but the timetable was repeatedly delayed, primarily due to a lack of shipyard availability. The submarine has not been to sea since it returned from its last cruise in January 2015. The boat was deemed unable to conduct normal operations by 2016, and it formally lost its dive certification the following year.

This is #submarine #BOISE SSN764 at Souda Bay in Dec 2014. Hasn't gone to sea since coming home in Jan 2015. Can't dive. Been waiting 3+ years for overhaul. Contracts worth nearly $400 mil have been awarded to fix her, but still at #Norfolk. (last photo) https://t.co/nWX5vGqu8R pic.twitter.com/gj3RZbYiKR  Chris Cavas (@CavasShips) June 15, 2018

The Navy moved Boise from its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, to Newport News Shipbuildings facilities in 2018. Newport News Shipbuilding is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).

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The submarine returned to Norfolk the following year amid competing funding priorities. It went back to Newport News in 2020, but did not actually enter a dry dock there until 2021, after which limited maintenance work began. The full overhaul was then further set back due to budgetary issues, with a formal contract only signed in 2024.

The USS Boise seen arriving at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard in 2018. HII

As of last year, the Navy was still pushing to complete Boises overhaul and return it to the fleet, which was expected to occur in 2029. By that point, the submarine would have spent more than a third of its service life in port.

The overall size of the Navys Los Angeles attack submarine force has been steadily declining for years now already, as the service has acquired more modern and capable Virginia class types. The Navy commissioned 62 Los Angeles class boats between 1976 and 1996, and 23 remain in service today.

As noted, the Navys struggles with Boise are reflective of larger and more serious issues that have long challenged the services ability to meet even its peacetime operational demands. Back in 2018, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report saying that the Navy had more than two decades worth of operational time across its submarine fleets due to maintenance shortfalls.

The Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Helena arrives at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for major maintenance in 2015. USN

These are concerns that would only be magnified if a large-scale conflict, especially one with China in the Pacific, were to break out. For years now, TWZ has also been sounding the alarm on the interrelated issue of dwindling U.S. naval shipbuilding capacity, in general, where the disparity with Chinese state-run enterprises has become enormous.

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The Navy, with support from Congress, has been trying to take steps in recent years to reverse these trends, including moving to increasingly leverage foreign shipyard capacity. The second Trump administration, through Navy Secretary Phelan, has been particularly open about its efforts to shake up how the service acquires and maintains ships, and otherwise does business across the board. This has notably already included the cancellation of the Constellation class frigate program, which had become beset by huge delays and ballooning costs, as you can read more about in detail here. The Navy has been touting efforts to try to avoid similar pitfalls with new shipbuilding programs like the FF(X) frigate and Medium Landing Ship.

I think, by killing these programs, its sending a message that were not going to continue to send good money after bad investments, and that were going to try to make prudent economic decisions that are in the best interest of the fleet and the force, Phelan said, speaking generally around todays anouncement about Boise, according to Semafor.

How the Navy fares in its broader efforts to turn things around when it comes to shipbuilding and maintenance remains to be seen, but the USS Boises increasingly sad story is now coming to an end.

UPDATE: 2:10 PM EDT 

Todd Corillo, an HII spokesperson for the Newport News Shipbuilding division, has now provided TWZ with the following statement:

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We have been notified of the U.S. Navys decision to discontinue engineered overhaul (EOH) work on USS Boise (SSN 764). We will work with the Navy to execute this decision in an efficient, cost-effective way. We anticipate there will be no impact to our workforce and will transition shipbuilders currently assigned to USS Boise to other work underway at Newport News Shipbuilding.

We understand the importance of a strong submarine force to our national security. While our work on USS Boise will end, our commitment to ensuring our nation maintains our undersea maritime supremacy will not.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
A Nebraska lawmakers latest attempt to revive anti-trans legislation collapsed on the chamber floor this week, but not before exposing the precarious political arithmetic that has made the state one of the countrys closely watched battlegrounds over LGBTQ+ rights.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, State Sen. Kathleen Kauth, a Republican from Omaha and the architect of several recent anti-trans bills in Nebraska, introduced two hostile amendments Tuesday in the Nebraska legislature after her standalone proposals failed to secure debate time. Neither amendment survived.

One would have imposed bathroom restrictions based on a persons sex assigned at birth in government buildings. The other sought to revive restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender minors by attaching them to unrelated legislation. When Kauth added the latter amendment to a medical cannabis bill, State Sen. John Cavanaugh, the bills sponsor, pulled his measure entirely, accusing colleagues of hijacking it, the World-Herald reported.

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A spokesperson for Cavanaugh told The Advocate that he stands firmly behind his support for LGBTQ+ people.

Speaker John Arch has declined to schedule some of Kauths bills without proof they can clear a filibuster. Republican Sen. Merv Riepe has repeatedly denied her that margin, opposing bathroom restrictions and frustrating his partys leadership.

Were burning time on this particular bill, Riepe said during debate, according to the World-Herald. I think its been on trial.

Kauth has vowed to bring the measures back next year.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Nebraska lawmaker fails again to revive anti-trans bills after repeated attempts

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April 10 (UPI) -- The cease-fire between the United States, Israel and Iran was on increasingly shaky ground Friday as Iran demanded that two conditions be met before it can begin.

The speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said on X Friday that there will be no negotiations with the United States without a cease-fire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets.

"Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," the post said.

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The United States and Iran have accused each other of not following the cease-fire deal that began Tuesday. Iran has not opened the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel continues to fire on Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Thursday that there was "no cease-fire in Lebanon" and that Israel would continue striking Hezbollah, while announcing direct negotiations with Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a March 19 press conference. He announced talks with Lebanon in an address to the nation on Thursday. Pool File Photo by Ronen Zvulun/UPI

"I wish to inform you: There is no cease-fire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said in an address.

"Following repeated requests from the Lebanese government to open peace negotiations with us, last night I instructed the Cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon."

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Netanyahu said Israel's goals in the talks were to secure the disarmament of Hezbollah and a "historic, sustainable peace between Israel and Lebanon."

In a separate, earlier statement, Netanyahu thanked Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for the call "to demilitarize Beirut."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Dear residents of the North, I am proud of you. You continue to stand firm. I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security. pic.twitter.com/k2JeKXEMBQ Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 9, 2026

More than 250 people were killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, as disputes continued over whether Lebanon was covered by the U.S.-Iran cease-fire. The international community has called on Israel to halt its attacks.

Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were scheduled to talk with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday.

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Earlier Friday, Vance told reporters the talks will be positive as long as Iran doesn't "play us."

"We're looking forward to the negotiation," CNBC reported Vance said. "As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand."

"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," he said. "So we're trying to have a positive negotiation. The president ... gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we're going to see."

When U.S. President Donald Trump announced the two-week cease-fire with Iran, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, which helped mediate the cease-fire, took to social media in celebration, saying it covered all conflict zones, including Lebanon. Israel, in announcing its support for the cease-fire, was direct in stating it does not include its northern neighbor -- a position the United States also took.

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As confusion has hung over the cease-fire, many nations, including Britain, Canada and France, have called on Israel to halt its attacks and for Lebanon to be included in the cease-fire.

Amid mounting pressure on Israel from the international community to halt its strikes, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" in a since-deleted social media statement.

"While peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon," Asif said, while accusing Israel of "bloodletting" and calling it a "cancerous state."

Israeli leaders were quick to condemn the racially charged comments.

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"Pakistan defense minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous," Netanyahu's office said on X.

"This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace."

Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Israel views Asif's comments as "blatant anti-Semitic blood libels" coming from a country trying to mediate peace.

"Calling the Jewish state 'cancerous' is effectively calling for its annihilation. Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," he said on X.
Ben Sasse, who represented Nebraska for eight years in the U.S. Senate, spoke openly this week about living  and dying  with cancer.

Sasse, 54, announced in December that he was diagnosed with metastasized Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis he called a death sentence.

The New York Times columnist Ross Douthat interviewed Sasse for a podcast released Thursday on topics ranging from Sasses life in politics to the weight of his life-altering cancer diagnosis.

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Even facing what Sasse described as three or four months to live, he said, you have to redeem your time.

Sasse said he had persistent back and abdominal pain last year that prompted a doctors visit, initially thinking it was from intense triathlon training.

After a full-body scan and multiple medical evaluations, he was told his torso was chock-full of tumors.

In the days following the initial Stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis, doctors also identified lymphoma, vascular cancer, lung cancer and what he described as bad liver cancer.

Death is terrible. We should never sugarcoat it. It is not how things are meant to be, Sasse said. But it is great that death can be called the final enemy. Its an enemy  but a final enemy  and then there will be no more tears.

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The former senator and former president of the University of Florida is also a parent of three. The prospect of leaving his children behind has been the most difficult part of his reality with cancer.

I didnt like the idea of my 14yearold not having a dad around at 16. I didnt like the idea of my daughters, who are 22 and 24, not having a parent there to walk them down the aisle, Sasse said.

Despite those thoughts, Sasse said there has been acceptance and an effort to make the remaining time meaningful.

Were all on the clock, and I wanted to have prioritized better, Sasse said. Whether I really only have three or four months left, or nine to 12 months, I want to prioritize better from then.

This week's episode of "Interesting Times" is a conversation with Ben Sasse, who is dying in public:https://t.co/MNMur4FB1V  Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) April 9, 2026

To try and buy as much time as possible, Sasse has been taking an experimental cancer drug called daraxonrasib. As a side effect, the medication prevents normal skin growth and causes widespread bleeding in areas that shouldnt be bleeding, Sasse said.

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In a video of the interview with Douthat, Sasse can be seen with dried blood all over his face. He said his face feels nuclear and he joked about frequent pharmacy visits, saying, Im keeping that industry employed right now.

He said the tumor volume has decreased by 76% since starting treatment, but described the cancer as weeds, noting that some tumors have already seeded.

Cancer sucks, Sasse said. But Im pretty grateful that cancer is a stake against my delusional selfidolatry.

Even though he has daily pain, Sasse continues working and conducting interviews for his podcast, Not Dead Yet. He said the podcast's title is a reference to a joke from the comedy troupe Monty Python, indicative of Sasses use of humor in the face of his own mortality.

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After reflecting on the heaviness of no longer being there for his children, Sasse said hes also come to terms with dying.

But Ive continued to feel a peace about the fact that death is something that we should hate, Sasse said. We should call it a wicked thief. And yet, its pretty good that you pass through the veil of tears one time and then there will be no more tears, there will be no more cancer.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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Scientists have constructed a new atlas of cells from placental and uterine tissues. | Credit: mikroman6 via Getty Images

Scientists have unveiled a detailed "atlas" of the placenta and uterus, showing how these unique tissues grow and evolve throughout pregnancy to accommodate a developing fetus.

In charting this new map, the scientists revealed a subtype of cell that had never been described before and appears to be unique to pregnancy.

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These cells are not present in the uterus outside pregnancy, and they suddenly rise in number at the start of gestation as the uterine lining morphs to cradle and support the embryo, explained study first author Cheng Wang , a specialist in regeneration medicine specialist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

"That was an exciting moment during the study," study senior author Jingjing Li , an associate professor of neurology at UCSF who studies human genomics, said of the cells' discovery. "We asked around  no one knows what they are."

These newly described cells seem to be involved in linking the placenta to the maternal blood supply, and they carry receptors that respond to cannabinoids. Cannabinoids include body-made chemicals, as well as the cannabis compounds THC and CBD . Therefore, the researchers suspect these cells may help to explain why cannabis use in pregnancy is tied to health consequences such as decreased blood flow to the placenta; poor oxygen delivery to the fetus; and a heightened risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and NICU admission.

It's unlikely that these cells' sensitivity to cannabinoids fully explains the risks posed by cannabis use in pregnancy, Li told Live Science; other potential culprits have been described in the medical literature. Nonetheless, these newfound cells are a factor that warrant further study, he said.

A crucial "speed bump"

Prior to the new study, published April 8 in the journal Nature , other research groups had mapped the placenta and uterus using similar techniques. However, those previous studies covered only select chapters of pregnancy.

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"The biggest difference is we are looking at the whole time course" from early pregnancy to birth, Li said. The new atlas incorporates data from tissues that were collected between weeks 5 and 39 of pregnancy and then stored in tissue banks at UCSF and Stanford University.

Li's lab analyzes tissues in great detail, at the resolution of single cells, with placental development being one of the team's major research focuses. Their new atlas incorporates snapshots of which genes were active and which proteins were present in the analyzed cells at a given stage of pregnancy. It also looks at "chromatin accessibility," which reflects how DNA molecules are packaged within the cell and which genes can be activated at a given moment.

In total, the team analyzed about 1.2 million placental and uterine cells, including 200,000 isolated cells and 1 million cells embedded in their original locations within the tissue.

Looking at isolated cells can be helpful for pinpointing their identities, but the approach lacks the context of "where these cells are located within the tissue, which cells they are near, and how they interact with one another," Roser Vento-Tormo , a group leader in cellular genomics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and her postdoc Ana Paredes told Live Science via email. In the uterus and placenta, cells are arranged in distinct regions with different functions.

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By combining these two techniques, "this study provides a clear example of how cell location and state can yield important biological insights into how a healthy pregnancy is orchestrated at the cellular and molecular level," said Vento-Tormo and Paredes, who were not involved in the research.

The work revealed interesting links between a given cell's gene activity and its behavior.

For instance, early in pregnancy, certain fetal cells invade the uterus and its major arteries , helping to establish blood flow to the placenta. Using machine learning, the researchers predicted how deeply a given cell would invade the uterus based on its gene activity.

When this invasion goes awry  for example, if cells do not penetrate deeply enough or they penetrate too deeply  it can contribute to complications like preeclampsia or placenta accreta, Vento-Tormo and Paredes said. "For a healthy pregnancy, this invasion needs to be very precisely controlled," they noted.

This image labels the newfound cell subtype, known as decidual stromal cell 4 (DSC4), with yellow arrows. | Credit: Courtesy of Jingjing Li and Cheng Wang, UCSF

It turns out that the new cell type identified by the researchers helps to regulate the invasion. By sending out specific signals, the cell type acts as a "speed bump" to prevent the process from proceeding too quickly, Li said.

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"It's at the frontline of the maternal-fetal interface," Weng told Live Science. Various proteins carried by these cells support this idea that they're regulating the behavior of other cells at this crucial interface, he said.

Future research could address whether changes in this signaling contributes to pregnancy disorders, as well as whether there may be treatment opportunities in targeting the pathway, Vento-Tormo and Paredes suggested.

With their completed map in hand, the researchers married their findings with data from huge genetics studies of preeclampsia, preterm birth and pregnancy loss. Those published studies had uncovered links between specific gene variants and the risk of these complications. The team could then pinpoint the specific cells in the placenta and uterus that actively use those genes and are therefore most vulnerable to the conditions.

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"The question is, 'In which cell type will those high-risk variants take effect?'" Li said. "This will help us to know which cells are underlying those complications" and potentially develop treatments that target those cells in the future.

While the study brings together a trove of data, Li emphasized that there's more work to be done. The study focused on healthy pregnancies, so there's still a question of how pregnancies impacted by various conditions differ from this baseline. The team is now working with clinical partners to start making those comparisons. Overall, they aim to increase the total number of cells analyzed to make sure they're capturing the full diversity of cells in the pregnant uterus.

Vento-Tormo and Paredes suggested the new atlas could be combined with existing datasets , including one of their own , to help refine scientists' understanding of specific placenta cell types and their regulators. Some of the study's key findings could also be checked in laboratory models of the placenta .

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"If we include more cells, more samples, a lot of new, exciting discoveries could be made," Li said. "So this is really a starting point."

Editor's note: This story was updated on April 9, 2026, to add comments from Ana Paredes and Roser Vento-Tormo.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
NEED TO KNOW

A lawsuit was filed against against the Ontario-Montclair School District, alleging that a 4-year-old boy with autism almost drowned at a school pool after he was left unattended

As a result of the incident, the complaint alleged, the boy has post-traumatic stress disorder and is afraid of bath time

A spokesperson for the district told The Los Angeles Times it cannot comment on pending litigation

The family of a non-verbal toddler with autism is suing a California school district after he was found facedown in a school pool when he was allegedly left unattended by staff.

According to the complaint filed on Wednesday, April 8, in California Superior Court, San Bernardino, against the Ontario-Montclair School District, the 4-year-old boy  identified in the court document as J.M.  nearly drowned on Dec. 12, 2025 at Lincoln Elementary.

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The complaint, which PEOPLE obtained, alleged that school district staff abandoned J.M. next to two recreational pools for almost 10 minutes, which was in violation of the boys individualized education plan (IEP).

J.M. is non-verbal, autistic, and suffers from spina bifida and hydrocephalus, the complaint stated. As an ESN student, his IEP mandated continuous one-on-one supervision while at school.

In fact, Defendants neglected to provide any flotation or pool safety devices for J.M. on the date of the incident because he was never to be left alone, the complaint alleged.

Robert Glassman, an attorney for the family, alleged to CBS affiliate KCBS that J.M. was left unattended for 10 minutes when he was supposed to have an aide with him at all times.

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"That's like an eternity, Glassman said. And, he ended up crawling to the big pool and was found face down in the pool for close to a minute before he was pulled out."

After he was discovered face-down and non-responsive in the pool, J.M. was airlifted to San Antonio Regional Hospital, the complaint stated

Credit: Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP

The complaint stated that J.M. was airlifted to a hospital where he underwent emergency care. It also said that the J.M.s family submitted paperwork to the school and school district to not allow the child to participate in pool activities.

The court document also alleged that the district transferred J.M. to another school  without the consent of the boys family  as an effort to quietly address the dangerous condition of the campus without publicly acknowledging the failures that led to J.M.s near drowning.

Rather than openly confront the safety breakdowns that placed J.M. in harms way, Defendants removed him from the campus altogether, attempting to manage the consequences of their misconduct behind the scenes instead of taking responsibility for what transpired, the complaint further claimed.

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As a result of the incident, the complaint alleged, J.M. has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and diminutive cognitive function, and is scared of water and bath time.

Because of the Defendants negligence, J.M.s future now carries emotional burdens, aggravated cognitive limitations, and new sources of fear and pain that no child should ever be forced to bear, the complaint stated.

Lincoln Elementary School

Credit: Google Maps

The court document included a copy of an Ontario Police Department report about the incident. According to the police report, a teachers aide said she was away from J.M. until she heard people yelling frantically and calling out to him.

The aide in the police report contained in the complaint that J.M. did not have any water safety devices. She added that she is specifically assigned to assist him during swim time.

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According to the same police report, a teacher acknowledged that she was supposed to remain with J.M., but was in her classroom during the incident.

Both staffers added that J.M. is unable to maneuver independently, according to the police report.

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 complaint alleged negligence and premises liability on the part of the school district, and the family is seeking damages.

This is every parents nightmare, Glassman said in his law firms news release. "A child with significant needs was left alone in a dangerous environment when he required constant supervision. That is a catastrophic failure, and it nearly cost J.M. his life.

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When reached for comment on Friday, April 10, a spokesperson for the Ontario-Montclair School District told PEOPLE, "The District has recently been made aware of a complaint being filed on this matter. In line with past practice, the District will not comment on pending litigation.

Read the original article on People
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is marking 100 days in office on Friday and to celebrate the day, the mayor marked the political milestone by cleaning up illegal dumping in the Bronx.

"Cleaning up illegal dumping in Soundview" received the most votes in the Mayor's Municipal Madness bracket-style competition of city "fixes" people most wanted to see.

The contest was held in anticipation of the mayor's 100th day in office to highlight the administration's commitment to addressing issues affecting everyday New Yorkers.

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Mamdani hit the ground running after taking office in January.

The mayor has been working to deliver on several campaign promises, from a rent freeze, to free buses, and childcare, while also confronting pressing challenges facing the city.

Mamdani became the first Muslim mayor sworn into office. But celebrations quickly gave way to immediate tests, as two winter storms slammed the boroughs, dumping heavy snow and creating major challenges citywide.

The mayor insisted the city remain operational, with every street plowed. Learning moved online for the nation's largest school district for one day, allowing students to attend class from home during the height of the storms.

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Since then, Mamdani has announced a new initiative designed to speed up affordable housing construction on city-owned land. The program, called the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track, aims to accelerate development timelines. The mayor has already identified three city-owned sites for fast-tracked housing.

One major campaign promise already delivered is universal childcare for 2-year-olds, set to roll out this September. City officials say the program is expected to save working parents about $20,000 per child.

"We know there are too many parents whom the traditional model for child care has forced them to rush out of the office, has forced them to pray that their stars will align so that they will be able to pick up their child on time, only for them to sometimes work a double shift," Mamdani said.

To mark his official 100th day in office on Friday, Mamdani kicked off the illegal dumping cleanup in the Bronx, followed by a lead inspection with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

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According to a recent Marist poll, 48% of city residents approve of the job Mamdani is doing in office and 30% disapprove.

On Sunday night, he will hold a rally in Queens at 6 p.m., where he is expected to deliver his 100-day address.

Join us Friday at 5:30 p.m. for an Eyewitness News special presentation, "Mayor Mamdani: First 100 Days."

Watch it on Channel 7 and wherever you stream ABC 7.

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A man accused of stealing a gun from an area home is in custody.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Fairfield Township Police said in a social media post that a Butler County Grand Jury indicted Jason Burke for theft of a firearm from a Fairfield Township home.

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Earthquake reported in Ohio; did you feel it?

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The U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) conducted an operation on Thursday that led to his arrest, according to the social media post.

U.S. Marshals arrested Burke in Darke County.

He is currently awaiting extradition to Butler County.

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LONDON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Embassy in Britain on Thursday dismissed a claim by British Defense Secretary John Healey of Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic as neither credible nor verifiable.

Earlier Thursday, Healey said Britain and Norway had led a month-long operation to track Russian submarines near key undersea cables and pipelines in the North Atlantic.

The Russian embassy said in a statement that it was "impossible to either believe or verify" Healey's claim that Britain spent weeks repelling the "aggression" of an alleged Russian submarine in neutral waters using "only a single vessel and a surveillance aircraft."

London had recently issued "extremely aggressive statements and threats" targeting merchant ships operating in the interests of Russian companies and their partners, the embassy added, warning that "if these threats are translated into action, there will be consequences."

The embassy said Russia does not threaten undersea infrastructure critical to Britain, nor does it use aggressive rhetoric on the issue, noting that the responsibility for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines "rested with Western countries." 
A U.S. Navy sailor from Oklahoma the first face seen by Artemis II astronauts when they return to Earth.

Cushing native Laddy Aldridge, a senior chief hospital corpsman on board the U.S.S. John P. Murtha, will be the first person to make contact with the crew after they splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10.

Aldridge, who is assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 1, will open the Orion spacecraft, enter the capsule and begin medical assessments of the crew who have spent more than a week in deep space.

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"Coming from three generations of military service in my family, Im honored to serve as the senior dive independent duty corpsman for this mission," Aldridge told a military reporter. "This effort is the culmination of both our training to bring world class care to the Artemis II crew and countless dedicated years of Navy diving and Navy medicine."

The information was released on the military's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

According to NASA, Orion and its four occupants will likely splash down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego at 7:07 p.m. Oklahoma time.

NASA will broadcast coverage of the recovery efforts on NASA+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, HBO Max, Discovery+, Peacock and Roku. Coverage will continue until NASA and military personnel safely assist the crew out of Orion and transport them back to the USS John P. Murtha, an amphibious transport ship.

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Aldridge and his three other team members have been training for years to be the capsule's first contact. Navy dive medical personnel are certified divers and undergo specialized training, making them experts in decompression illnesses and other undersea medical considerations. Their mission is to care for and ensure dive-qualified service members are safe to conduct diving operations.

Following Orions reentry into Earths atmosphere and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, the medical team will enter the capsule to conduct initial exams for the crew, provide triage care as necessary, and assist the astronauts in egress onto the inflatable raft set up outside by Navy divers.

When will Artemis II splash down?

According to NASA, Orion and its four occupants will likely splash down at 7:07 p.m. Oklahoma time.

NASA will broadcast coverage of the recovery efforts on NASA+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, HBO Max, Discovery+, Peacock and Roku.

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Coverage will continue until NASA and military personnel safely assist the crew out of Orion and transport them to the USS John P. Murtha, an amphibious transport ship.

How to watch Artemis 2 splashdown live

NASA has a live stream providing continuous coverage of the Artemis II mission.

The stream includes commentary in real-time.

A separate stream of the splashdown will start at 6:30 p.m. April 10 on NASA's YouTube channel.

Where will Artemis II splash down?

During their last full day in space, the Artemis II astronauts are due to spend Thursday, April 9, working with flight control teams back on Earth to review landing procedures and prepare the Orion vehicle for reentering Earth's atmosphere, according to NASA.

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During reentry, the capsule and its heat shield will be subjected to temperatures of over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

This map from NASA displays where the Orion spacecraft will land off the coast of California, bringing to an end the Artemis II mission.

The Artemis II space mission will end with the splashdown of the Orion spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean.

NASA expects that the capsule to land in the waters off the coast of San Diego while suspended under parachutes. From there, the astronauts will undergo medical evaluations aboard the USS John P. Murtha before returning to shore to board an aircraft bound for NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Artemis 2 tracker map live

You can track Artemis 2 as the mission returns to Earth using NASA's trackers found below:

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NASAs website (www.nasa.gov/trackartemis)

The NASA app (www.nasa.gov/nasa-app)

USA Today Space Connect Reporter Eric Lagatta contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoman will be the first to greet Artemis II astronauts at splashdown
Protests against the coronation of a self-proclaimed Nigerian king in South Africas Eastern Cape province turned violent in late March 2026. On social media, a video showing minibus taxis burning in the street was linked to the unrest. But this is misleading; while the demonstrations resulted in property destruction, the clip was filmed in 2021.

South Africans dont want African foreigners in their country, reads the caption of a Facebook reel posted on March 30, 2026.

South African protesters burn vehicles and buildings owned by foreigners in protest against the installation of a Nigerian King in Eastern Cape, the post adds.

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The accompanying clip shows three minibuses on fire and another with signs of damage.

Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, taken on April 2, 2026

The same video was also shared on X by a user AFP Fact Check has previously debunked. The account frequently publishes content disparaging foreigners in South Africa.

A royal controversy

On March 30, 2026, South African political parties and an organisation known for its stance against undocumented migrants protested the purported coronation of a Nigerian king in KuGompo City (formerly East London), in South Africas Eastern Cape province (archived here).

South Africas state broadcaster and a Nigerian media organisation reported that the demonstrations turned violent, leaving several people injured, and properties and cars set alight (archived here and here).

[WATCH] @Sipha_KemaSA reports from KuGompo in the Eastern Cape, where chaos broke out during a protest over the installation of a self-appointed Nigerian king. #Newzroom405pic.twitter.com/ozDD69zqUO  Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 30, 2026

Days before the protest, the media had reported that Solomon Ogbonna Eziko had been installed as the Igbo (a Nigerian tribe) king of KuGompo City (archived here).

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Although marchers torched vehicles, the footage of burning taxis shared on Facebook was recorded more than four years ago.

2021 clash

A reverse image search of keyframes from the video led to an October 14, 2021, YouTube upload about violence in Gqeberha, over 280 kilometres away from KuGumpo City, following a traffic incident (archived here).

"Violence in the streets of Gqeberha," the video's title reads in Afrikaans.

The descriptions adds: "Numerous taxis and cars burned after a minibus taxi crashed into an Audi."

Additional keyword searches found articles from local media dated October 13, 2021, corroborating the incident and reporting that the conflict began after a collision between a Somali business owner's car and a local taxi driver (archived here and here).

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A fight ensued between the two and escalated into gunshots and retaliatory attacks, including the burning of businesses and taxis, according to government authorities at the time (archived here and here).

The reports pinpoint the exact location of the destruction seen in the clip as Durban Road in Korsten, Gqeberha.

The same features, including the burning vehicles and a blue container, can be seen in both the circulating video and visuals from reports on the 2021 clashes.

Screenshots comparing the video circulating in March 2026 (left) with reports from 2021, taken on April 7, 2026

Nigeria's apology

Nigerian officials in Pretoria later apologised for the so-called coronation and clarified that it was merely a cultural celebration, and not the official installation of a Nigerian king in South Africa (archived here and here).

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"They are just there to celebrate their cultural activity, to celebrate themselves. Not as a political or traditional institution," Olajide Ogunmadeji, Deputy Acting High Commissioner said.

"On behalf of the High Commissioner...the Embassy, and...the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I am tendering our apology to the traditional institutions of South Africa," he added.

In South Africa, a parliamentary act governs traditional leadership, including the recognition of royal households (archived here).

The subject is particularly contentious in the Eastern Cape after state-backed commissions reclassified or withdrew royal status from some traditional authorities, igniting disputes over historical legitimacy and customary power (archived here).
MADRID, April 10 (Reuters) - At least one person died and 27 were injured after a bus carrying British tourists crashed down a ravine on the Spanish island of La Gomera, emergency services said on Friday.

Those injured, including three seriously, were airlifted to the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Hospital and others, local emergency services said in a social media post. They added that the occupants were 27 British nationals and the driver.

The Spanish Civil Guard told Reuters: "The person who died was a 77-year-old British man."

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The accident happened when the vehicle came off the GM-2 road in La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands and popular with visitors from northern Europe.

Tour operator Holiday Property Bond said the British tourists were travelling to the airport to return to the UK when the accident happened.

"Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic incident," the British foreign ministry said, adding that it was in touch with local authorities and ready to help British nationals.

Spanish police have launched an investigation but the cause of the crash has not yet been established.

Last year, one woman died and 10 people were injured in a traffic accident on the same road.

(Reporting by Graham Keeley; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
President Donald Trump has apparently decided that being heavily linked to a notorious sex trafficker, while bad enough to make him want to start a war to distract from it, is not as bad as being seen as a genocidal maniac.

So, it appears, he decided today to have his wife make an extraordinary statement at the White House, to change the subject back to the previous scandal.

At least that was one of the conclusions that could be drawn in the wake of first lady Melania Trumps appearance, at which she said, The lies linking me with Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. Ive never been friends with Epstein. I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence.

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The email correspondence to which she was referring began with the salutation Dear G!, included flattering references to a story about JE in New York magazine and to Ghislaine Maxwells appearance in a photograph. Then, following a question about a recent Maxwell trip to Palm Beach, Mrs. Trump concluded with a suggestion that Maxwell, now serving time for sex trafficking in federal prison, give her a call when she is next in New York City. It was signed Love, Melania.

This decades-old email from the first lady was part of a January dump of documents in the Epstein files. / Justice Department

Needless to say, given that the exchange is now a matter of public record, suggesting that the presidents wife never had a relationship with Maxwell, seems a stretch. As for her not having a relationship with Epstein, with moments of her appearance, the internet was flooded with images of the first lady looking very cozy with Epstein and Maxwell.

Because there is a ton of evidence attesting to the fact that she did, in fact, have a relationship of some sort with both of them.

Epstein once called Trump his

As a result, the first ladys bizarre intervention raises a couple of questions. One is why? The other is why now?

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There is speculation that she may have raised the issue in anticipation of the next stages in a legal matter in which she is involved. But, beyond that, since she could not exactly commandeer the White House and use it as a stage for a personal statement without the approval and support of the presidents own staff, a larger question becomes, why would they go along with it?

Surely they would know that it would cause a media sensation (which it did). And we also know that it has been a priority of the White House to get the Epstein story out of the news for a long time now.

Indeed, it has been asserted that one of the reasons that Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired and the presidents former attorney Todd Blanche was made her temporary replacement was because the president was frustrated with Bondis inability to make the story go away.

Yet now, its the big news out of the White House today. By choice. (Unless, Melania went rogue which, while a delicious possibility, seems very unlikely again, because of the logistics and the way the event unfolded center stage at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.)

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Why? Could it be that the war in Iran which many felt was, like the attack on Venezuela before it, designed to change the subject from Epstein, had started to be an even bigger problem for the president? Not only was it a strategic fiasco which has left Iran with seemingly more global clout and potential new revenue sources, but Trumps Tuesday morning threat to erase Iranian civilization off the map shocked the conscience of the world.

The president had launched into a full-blown genocide level threat against Iran on Tuesday morning. / Truth Social/ Donald Trump

Trump was being seen thanks to his genocidal threat as a monster and a madman by the entire world. Even his hastily arranged, patched-together ceasefire could not undo the damage caused by Trumps shocking expression of ghastly intent. And it does not seem likely to hold long enough to restore Trumps desire to be seen as a master of power diplomacy.

What is more, Trump couldnt help himself and offered more threats in a Truth Social post late on Wednesday evening along with a promise of turning his attention to new conquests.

Donald Trump/Truth Social

While it is unlikely anyone in the White House explicitly said, OK, its better to talk about Epstein than about behaving like Hitler (in part because there seem to be plenty of folks in the White House that dont consider behaving like Hitler a bad thing), it does seem that they were desperate enough to change the subject to OK the First Ladys appearance which all involved must have known would be a newsmaker.

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(Trump told an MS NOW reporter who caught him on the phone during a war meeting that he had no prior knowledge, which itself seems hard to believe.)

First lady Melania Trump said in a spoken statement from the White House that she was never friends with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and blasted what she called lies. / Evan Vucci/Reuters

That Melania then went on to call for Congressional hearings at which the victims of Epstein could be heard must not have sat well with a president and those around him who have been working like crazy to stop just that from happening. So, there is clearly more to this story than meets the eye. And it will be very interesting both to get to the bottom of it and to watch the media spend the days and weeks ahead trying to disprove the first ladys Sergeant Schultz-like assertion: I know nothing.

For now, we are left with an apparent choice by the president and his team to return the Epstein story to center stage, and with the abundance of evidence that their primary goal was to get people to stop thinking about the presidents catastrophic decision to attack Iran and his despicable performance as commander-in-chief.

Unless, of course, the president was as blindsided by his wifes statement as anyone else and we therefore must conclude the old guy is no more aware of, or in control of, what goes on in the White House than he is of anything else at the moment.
Orlando just hit a record for tourism tax revenue, pulling in nearly $400 million last year. That money helps fund roads, the convention center, and marketing to bring more visitors to Central Florida. But a new economic forecast from the University of Central Florida warns that global conflict and rising energy costs could slow the Sunshine States growth in the years ahead.

UCF economist Sean Snaith says the war with Iran is creating uncertainty that hits families right at the gas pump. When fuel costs more, people have less to spend on everything else, including vacations. And if fewer visitors come to Orlando, that $400 million in tourist tax revenue could start to shrink.

It creates uncertainty. And now consumers that are dealing with high levels of credit card debt and all these high costs of living are seeing spikes now, and the cost of gasoline, for example, so every time you go to the pump, more money goes into the tank, Snaith said.

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Channel 9 was at the Florida TaxWatch luncheon on International Drive today, where leaders discussed how to protect tourism dollars in uncertain times. Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Jeff Kottkamp says the region should not pull back on tourism investments now, even with global headwinds.

Its always going to be an issue where there can be events that temporarily impact all types of businesses, including tourism. But what we know historically is Florida tends to bounce back faster than any other state, Kottkamp said.

The UCF forecast shows Floridas economy is still expected to grow faster than the nations through 2029, with unemployment easing to 4 percent by the end of the decade. But the pace is slowing, and global uncertainty remains the biggest wildcard.

For now, Orlando is betting that visitors will keep coming. Because in this economy, every tourist dollar is working hard for local families.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
By Daniela Desantis and Brendan O'Boyle

ASUNCION, April 8 (Reuters) - Panama's top diplomat on Wednesday said a rise in inspections and detentions of Panama-flagged vessels in China stemmed from a Panama court ruling against Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison and asked China to respect its sovereign affairs.

Panama's Supreme Court in January invalidated the legal framework supporting conglomerate CK Hutchison's right to operate via its Panama unit two key terminals near the Panama Canal, which led the Panama government to cancel the cancel the concessions.

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Speaking at a conference in Paraguay's capital Asuncion, Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha said he hoped the uptick in ship detentions in March would fall back to normal levels.

"As a result of the ruling, our commercial shipping fleet - the most important in the world - has seen an increase in inspections and detentions of vessels flying our flag in ports of the People's Republic of China," he said.

"Panama ... respects the legal sovereignty of all countries, and we simply ask for the same treatment for ourselves."

China's embassy in Panama did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The detentions have become the latest flashpoint in the struggle between the United States and China for influence in international trade, with Panama and its strategic canal, which handles about 5% of global maritime trade, in the middle.

On Saturday, Panama's foreign affairs ministry thanked the United States and several other countries for raising concerns about the detentions.

In late March, the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission said it was closely monitoring the surge in detentions of Panama-flagged vessels in China, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this month the detentions raised serious concerns.

China has said it opposes the ruling against CK Hutchison's port concessions, calling it an "act of bad faith."

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CK Hutchison, which operated the ports for nearly 30 years, has accused Panamanian authorities of unlawfully seizing property and launched an international arbitration case against Panama, claiming damages of more than $2 billion.

(Reporting by Daniela Desantis in Asuncion; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon)
By Liz Lee

BEIJING, April 10 (Reuters) - China will "absolutely not tolerate" independence for Taiwan, which is the chief culprit in undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait, President Xi Jinping told the island's opposition leader on Friday, calling for efforts to advance "reunification".

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is in China on what she has called a peace mission to reduce tensions at a time when Beijing has stepped up military pressure against the island it claims as its territory.

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Meeting in the Great Hall of the People, Xi told Cheng that today's world was not entirely at peace, and peace was precious.

"Compatriots on both sides of the strait are all Chinese - people of one family who want peace, development, exchange, and cooperation," he said, in comments carried by Taiwan television stations.

'ONE CHINA'

Both sides of the strait belong to "one China", Xi added, according to a separate state media readout.

"When the family is harmonious, all things will prosper," he said. "Taiwan independence is the chief culprit in undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait - we will absolutely not tolerate or condone it."

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Xi also mentioned the thorny subject of union between China and Taiwan, which has long been Beijing's goal but which Taiwan's government rejects.

The KMT and Communist Party must "join hands to create a bright future of the motherland's reunification and national rejuvenation," he said.

China refuses to talk to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist".

Speaking to reporters in Taipei late on Friday, Taiwan's top China policymaker, Chiu Chui-cheng, said only Taiwan's people could decide their future and China should engage with Taipei's democratically elected and legitimate government.

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"The Chinese communists are deliberately creating the false impression that Taiwan is an internal affair of China," he added.

The then-KMT-led Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who founded the People's Republic of China. To this day, neither government formally recognises the other.

The modern KMT favours closer diplomatic and economic ties with Beijing than the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

The United States said meaningful cross-strait exchange should focus on dialogue between "Beijing's leadership and Taiwan's democratically elected authorities without preconditions," while also including all other political parties in Taiwan.

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"We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said, urging Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan.

Beijing regularly calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue between it and the United States. Washington does not have formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island's closest backer and main source of arms.

'CHESSBOARD'

Cheng told Xi that mutually beneficial cross-strait relations were what the public on both sides longed for, and that interactions and exchanges should be reciprocal.

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"I, Li-wun, sincerely hope that one day in the future, I will have the opportunity to be the host and welcome General Secretary Xi and all of you here present in Taiwan," she added, using Xi's title as head of the Communist Party.

Cheng said she hoped that through the efforts of both parties, the Taiwan Strait would no longer be a focal point of potential conflict, and would certainly not become a "chessboard for outside forces to intervene in".

Speaking later to reporters in Beijing, Cheng said Xi had told her that China respected Taiwan's different social system and choice of lifestyle.

"But he also hopes that Taiwan will be able to affirm and acknowledge the development achievements of the mainland," she said.

(Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Lincoln Feast and Alex Richardson)
ROME (AP)  Pope Leo XIV amplified his condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on Friday, saying that God does not bless any conflict and certainly doesnt side with those who drop bombs.

Leo spoke during a gathering of top bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, an Eastern Rite Catholic church whose clerics are in Rome to elect a new patriarch.

Leo said they were signs of hope in a world marked by senseless and inhuman violence," especially in the lands of early Christianity that have been "desecrated by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for peoples lives.

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He told them that no cause can justify the spilling of innocent blood, and he urged them to proclaim clearly that God does not bless any conflict; to cry out to the world that whoever is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, never stands on the side of those who yesterday wielded the sword and today drop bombs.

To drive the message home, the Vatican posted the quote on Leo's official @Pontifex handle on X.

A special vigil for peace on Saturday

Leaders have used religion to justify their actions in the war. U.S. officials and especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have invoked their Christian faith to justify the conflict and cast the U.S. as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes.

After issuing muted appeals for peace and dialogue during the first weeks of the conflict, Leo stepped up his criticism of the Trump administration starting on Palm Sunday, when he said God doesnt listen to the prayers of those who make war.

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This week, he said President Donald Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization was truly unacceptable and called for dialogue to prevail.

The Vatican is particularly concerned about the spillover of Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, given the plight of Christian communities in the south.

Leo on Saturday will preside over a special vigil prayer for peace in St. Peter's Basilica. The vigil was organized before the announcement of high-level talks between the U.S. and Iran, which are expected to start Saturday in Pakistan.

Despite the pope's increasingly critical tone, both the Holy See and the U.S. government appeared eager Friday to tamp down suggestions of frayed relations. Those suggestions were fueled this week by a news report of an allegedly contentious meeting in January between the Pentagon and the Vaticans outgoing ambassador to Washington, Cardinal Christophe Pierre.

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The Jan. 22 meeting occurred well before the war, but after the Chicago-born Leo had issued a strong but veiled criticism of U.S. military intervention in a major foreign policy address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See.

In a rare official comment on a media report, the Vatican on Friday said Pierres attendance at the Pentagon meeting was part of his regular duties and provided an opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest. The suggestion that the meeting was acrimonious does not correspond to the truth in any way, the statement said.

The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See quickly thanked the Vatican for its statement.

Spiritual renewal for Chaldeans after scandal

The Chaldean Catholic Church represents more than a million Aramaic-speaking Christians who are primarily from Iraq. Its top clerics are electing a patriarch to replace Iraqi Cardinal Louis Sako, 76, who had led the church since 2013.

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Leo on March 11 announced Sakos retirement, on the same day he accepted the resignation of a U.S.-based Chaldean bishop, Bishop Emanuel Shaleta. Shaleta had pleaded not guilty a day earlier to 16 felony counts alleging he embezzled $270,000 from his California parish.

In his comments to the Chaldean bishops Friday, Leo made several references to the challenges they have faced in recent years.

He thanked Sako for his  significant contributions  but said now was a time for spiritual renewal, with newfound adherence to faith, preservation of tradition and observation of obedience and chastity.

I urge you to be attentive and transparent in the administration of goods, sober, measured, and responsible in the use of mass media, and prudent in public statements, so that every word and action may contribute to building up  and not to harming  ecclesial communion and the churchs witness, he said.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
In April 2026, in a surprise statement to the media, U.S. first lady Melania Trump denied ties to disgraced businessman and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Describing her correspondence with his associate Ghislaine Maxwell as "casual," Melania Trump added, "I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump."

Soon after her statement, an old image, supposedly from files the U.S. Department of Justice released in January 2026, spread online. The alleged photograph appeared to show Melania Trump with Maxwell and unidentified girls.

One Spanish-language post from April 2026 claimed that, even though Melania Trump said her relationship with Maxwell was casual, the image showed her posing alongside Maxwell and that the two women knew each other through the modeling agency Melania Trump worked for.

Aqui Melania con Maxwell, pero ella dice, que su unica relacion con Maxwell, fue por correo electronico, y que fue casual.



La relacion con Maxwell, es con la agencia de modelos donde trabajaba Melania.



Habra publicaciones nuevas de archivos de Epstein?



Sera Netanyahu?

RT pic.twitter.com/6oeD14cBGq  David Vargas Araujo (@DavidVargasA18) April 9, 2026

Snopes found no evidence of such a photograph in the documents the DOJ released as of April 2026. Mainstream media outlets have also not published or authenticated such an image.

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Because we have not found definitive proof that the image was generated using artificial intelligence or otherwise fabricated, we've refrained from rating the claim.

We began searching for the image in question by combing through the Epstein files the DOJ made available. We found no such image in the files.

We also analyzed the image using artificial intelligence detection tools. Hive Moderation and Sight Engine determined it was unlikely to be AI-generated. Zero-GPT found a small likelihood that the image was digitally edited in some way. (Research shows AI-detection software is imperfect and readers should consider the tools' results with skepticism.)

It is possible that someone edited Melania Trump's head onto another body. Additionally, the redacted women's arms have markedly different color shades than their chins and foreheads, suggesting the bodies may have been digitally edited.

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A reverse image search found no credible sources sharing the purported photograph. The highest-quality version of the image appeared on Jan. 30 as part of a thumbnail for a YouTube video titled "Melania's email is in the Epstein files and it's bad.." The YouTuber who created the video, Keith Edwards, has a history of using AI-generated images, some of which we've fact-checked before, in videos and social media posts. We have reached out to Edwards to learn more about the image allegedly showing Melania Trump with Maxwell and will update this post accordingly.

(YouTube user Keith Edwards)

A label on the purported Polaroid photo in the screenshot read "Mar-a-Lago '98." We found no authenticated photographs of Melania Trump with Maxwell in Mar-a-Lago in 1998. However, several photographs on Getty Images show Melania Trump posing with Maxwell at fashion shows in September 2000 and November 2002, and with Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in February 2000.

Snopes has fact-checked numerous images of Maxwell and Epstein with prominent people, including real and fake images of the disgraced financier alongside President Donald Trump and a fake image alongside British politician Nigel Farage. We have also fact-checked a real image of Maxwell with billionaire Elon Musk, among other claims.

Sources:

Christensen, Laerke. "Don't Fall for This Photo of Trump, Epstein, Young Female and Children." Snopes, 2 Feb. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/photo-trump-epstein-children/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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Dapcevich, Madison. "Photos of Trump Alongside Diddy, Epstein Are Real." Snopes, 6 Dec. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/photos-trump-combs-epstein/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Deng, Rae. "17 Rumors about Epstein Associate Ghislaine Maxwell." Snopes, 23 July 2025, https://www.snopes.com//collections/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-rumors/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Deng, Rae. "Don't Fall for This Image of Epstein with Nigel Farage." Snopes, 3 Feb. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/image-epstein-nigel-farage/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Epstein Library. Department of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/epstein. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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"From Left, American Real Estate Developer Donald Trump and His..." Getty Images, 10 Dec. 2019, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/from-left-american-real-estate-developer-donald-trump-and-news-photo/1192977790. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

"Ghislaine Maxwell, Naomi Campbell, Donald Trump and Melania Knauss..." Getty Images, 23 Aug. 2019, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/ghislaine-maxwell-naomi-campbell-donald-trump-and-melania-news-photo/1169684623. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Liles, Jordan. "Is the Elon Musk and Ghislaine Maxwell Photo Real?" Snopes, 25 Apr. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/musk-maxwell-photo/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

McShane, Julianne. "Melania Trump Denies All but 'Casual' Ties to Epstein and Maxwell." MS NOW, 9 Apr. 2026, https://www.ms.now/news/melania-trump-denies-all-but-casual-ties-to-epstein-and-maxwell. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

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"Portrait of, from Left, American Real Estate Developer Donald Trump,..." Getty Images, 6 Dec. 2019, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-from-left-american-real-estate-developer-donald-news-photo/1192330903. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

"Portrait of, from Left, Future Married Couple Fashion Model Melania..." Getty Images, 3 July 2020, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-from-left-future-married-couple-fashion-model-news-photo/1254069355. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Winter, Emery. "Epstein Files Photo Shows Trapdoor Opening to Water. Here's Its Likely Purpose." Snopes, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/epstein-files-trapdoor-photo/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine war to mark Orthodox Easter from late Saturday to Sunday.

It is set to begin on Saturday at 4 pm (1300 GMT) and last throughout Sunday, the Kremlin said in a statement on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the ceasefire announced by Putin, saying: "We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly."

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"People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well," he said on social media platform X.

Zelensky had repeatedly called for a holiday ceasefire.

Orthodox Christians, such as those in Russia and Ukraine, celebrate Easter on April 12 this year.

The Kremlin said Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov were ordered to suspend all military operations during the temporary truce.

Troops must remain ready to respond to any "provocations by the enemy," the statement said. "We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation."

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During previous temporary ceasefires, both sides have accused each other of violations and of using the pauses to redeploy troops and resupply.

Last year, Putin announced a 30-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Easter. A similar truce was declared during the World War commemorations in May. However, the Russian president rejected calls for a Christmas ceasefire.

Russia and Ukraine swap over 1,000 bodies of soldiers

Earlier on Thursday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged the bodies of soldiers for the first time since February, parliamentary deputy Shamsail Saraliev told the Russian news portal rbc.ru.

He said the Ukrainian side had received 1,000 killed soldiers, while Russia received 41 bodies. The politician is responsible in the Duma for matters relating to the "special military operation," as the war is officially called in Moscow.

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The office of prisoner-of-war affairs in Kiev confirmed on Telegram that Ukraine had received 1,000 bodies.

Forensic experts would now examine the bodies, it said. This is intended to rule out, among other things, that bodies of Russian soldiers were handed over by mistake.

The staff added that "after the identification of the deceased, the bodies will be handed over to the families for dignified burial."

Russia and Ukraine exchange soldiers' bodies on a regular basis. Last year alone, Kiev received back more than 15,000 bodies of fallen soldiers, according to official figures. Moscow received only a fraction of that.

Due to the slow but steady advance of Russian troops, the Ukrainian army is not always able to recover its own fallen soldiers. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion with Western help for more than four years.
MOSCOW, April 10 (Xinhua) -- One civilian was killed following a drone attack in Russia's Volgograd region, regional authorities said Friday.

Governor of Volgograd Oblast Andrei Bocharov said a resident died from shrapnel wounds after a drone hit a community in the city of Volzhsky.

Drone strikes also sparked a fire at a container holding petroleum products, and caused damage to 13 private homes, a power line and a gas pipeline, he added.

Earlier in the day, Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed 151 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight, including 57 over the Volgograd region. 
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine war to mark Orthodox Easter from late Saturday to Sunday.

It is set to begin on Saturday at 4 pm (1300 GMT) and last throughout Sunday, the Kremlin said in a statement on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had repeatedly called for a holiday ceasefire.

Orthodox Christians, such as those in Russia and Ukraine, celebrate Easter on April 12 this year.

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The Kremlin said Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov were ordered to suspend all military operations during the temporary truce.

Troops must remain ready to respond to any "provocations by the enemy," the statement said. "We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation."

During previous temporary ceasefires, both sides have accused each other of violations and of using the pauses to redeploy troops and resupply.

Last year, Putin announced a 30-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Easter. A similar truce was declared during the World War commemorations in May. However, the Russian president rejected calls for a Christmas ceasefire.

Russia and Ukraine swap over 1,000 bodies of soldiers

Earlier on Thursday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged the bodies of soldiers for the first time since February, parliamentary deputy Shamsail Saraliev told the Russian news portal rbc.ru.

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He said the Ukrainian side had received 1,000 killed soldiers, while Russia received 41 bodies. The politician is responsible in the Duma for matters relating to the "special military operation," as the war is officially called in Moscow.

The office of prisoner-of-war affairs in Kiev confirmed on Telegram that Ukraine had received 1,000 bodies.

Forensic experts would now examine the bodies, it said. This is intended to rule out, among other things, that bodies of Russian soldiers were handed over by mistake.

The staff added that "after the identification of the deceased, the bodies will be handed over to the families for dignified burial."

Advertisement Advertisement

Russia and Ukraine exchange soldiers' bodies on a regular basis. Last year alone, Kiev received back more than 15,000 bodies of fallen soldiers, according to official figures. Moscow received only a fraction of that.

Due to the slow but steady advance of Russian troops, the Ukrainian army is not always able to recover its own fallen soldiers. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion with Western help for more than four years.
(Changes description of commentator Andrew Callaghan to left-wing, not conservative, in paragraph 3)

By Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - Americans could see a first-of-its-kind fight as they prepare to celebrate the country's 250th independence: a cage match between the sons of a sitting U.S. president, and the son of a former president.

The improbable possibility arose on Thursday when Hunter Biden, son of former Democratic President Joe Biden, challenged Republican President Donald Trump's eldest sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, to a fight.

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Biden said he got a call from left-wing social media commentator Andrew Callaghan, who told him that he was organizing the match.

"I told him I'd do it  100% in if he can pull it off. And if he can't, I'm still coming," he said in a video shared on Callaghan's Channel 5 Instagram.

The Trump Organization and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

It is unclear if or when this match would happen. The White House plans to host a similar event  but with actual UFC fighters  on June 14 as part of a series of events celebrating the semiquincentennial of the United States.

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Biden became president after defeating Trump in the 2020 election, which the Republican continues to falsely claim was the result of widespread fraud.

The threatened match between their sons has echoes of a proposed 2023 cage match between tech titans Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, though that event never took place.

Earlier eras of American politics saw bloody political faceoffs, notably the 1804 duel between Vice President Aaron Burr and former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, which resulted in the former treasury secretary's death and effectively ended Burr's political career.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington; editing by Scott Malone and Rosalba O'Brien)
More than 125,000 civilian facilities have been damaged or destroyed in the US-Israeli attacks across Iran, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said on Friday.

Pirhussein Koliwand told Iranian state television that around 100,000 homes and at least 23,500 shops were hit during the five-week conflict.

A two-week ceasefire is currently in force, although there are fears the truce could break down over Israel's ongoing attacks in Lebanon.

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In addition to residential and commercial areas, numerous other civilian facilities were also hit during the conflict, Koliwand said.

Around 339 medical facilities such as hospitals, pharmacies, emergency centres and laboratories were damaged in the airstrikes, he said.

Furthermore, 32 universities were hit while 857 buildings belonging to schools and other educational institutions were specifically targeted, Koliwand argued.
This story has been updated to add a video.

State and federal representatives came together at the Historic Greene County Courthouse on April 10 after the arrest of an undocumented immigrant in the case of a Springfield teen's homicide.

Yefry Archaga-Elvir, 18, is facing a felony charge of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in relation to the death of 15-year-old Miles Young. The Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued an arrest detainer for Archaga-Elvir as he is "an illegal alien."

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U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison encouraged local governments to "empower our law enforcement to do everything they can" when it comes to crime involving undocumented immigrants in Springfield.

Rep. Eric Burlison speaks about public safety on April 10, 2026, at the Historic Greene County Courthouse. Burlison was one of the officials who spoke following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant in the death of a Springfield teen.

"The message is simple and it's clear: Enforce the law. Detain violent criminal illegal aliens. Deport those who have no right to be there," Burlison said. "On the federal levels we have passed bills and cast the votes, provided historic funding."

State Rep. Darin Chappell and state Sen. Curtis Trent also spoke at the press conference, echoing Burlison's message.

"We're not anti-immigration, we're anti-illegal immigration, but we need to do a better job of making certain the law enforcement agencies of our state have every tool available to them to make certain that they take care of the problems as they present themselves in our society," Chappell said.

State Rep. Darrin Chappell speaks at the Historic Greene County Courthouse on April 10, 2026. He urged local and state government to give law enforcement agencies support to better "take care of the problems" of crime involving undocumented immigrants.

Two protesters stood behind the speakers throughout the press conference, with one holding a sign that read "233 DETAINEES IN GREENE CO. JAIL; 224 HAVE NO CRIMINAL CHARGES" on one side and "6 HOMICIDES; 1 PRESS CONFERENCE; PROPAGANDA" on the other.

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The protesters heckled the group between speakers and after the press conference disbanded, saying "Shame on you" and "You are a stain on our democracy," while other attendees shouted over them.

Another suspect in Young's death, 18-year-old Praize King, was arrested several weeks ago and has also been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. King and another suspect who was not identified due to her age are U.S. citizens.

According to a court document requesting the case file be sealed temporarily prior to Archaga-Elvir's arrest on April 2, Young was a witness in "a 2025 murder in the first degree in Greene County" and likely would have been called to testify in the trial. The probable cause statement for Archaga-Elvir says that the unnamed suspect blamed Young for the death of the victim in the 2025 homicide case.

Officials did not identify the case in which Young was a witness and declined to comment on the case. However, Trent said he believed the outcome would have been different if there was not an undocumented immigrant involved.

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"In this case, if there had not been an illegal alien present in the jurisdiction, it's very likely that the scenario we were dealing with would be very different," Trent said. When asked for clarification by Ozarks Now, he said, "I'm not commenting on the underlying case."

What happened to Miles Young?

The probable cause statement by the Greene County Sheriff's Office outlines that Young was lured to his death by a female suspect  identified as Juvenile 1, or J1  who "provided (Young) with the belief the two would be having sexual intercourse."

According to the statement, prior to picking up Young, J1 was driving around Springfield with Archaga-Elvir, King and two witnesses under the age of 18, where they were discussing "setting up" Young. They retrieved a second vehicle from King's sister and then split up so J1 drove alone to pick up Young.

When J1 arrived at Young's residence, Young was with one friend and on a FaceTime call with another, both of whom are identified as witnesses in the probable cause statement. Both friends recommended Young not go with J1, as she had previously mentioned she did not like Young, and later told law enforcement that J1 blamed Young for the death of a victim in 2025 homicide case.

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Both witnesses said they watched Young search J1's car for other occupants, including popping the trunk, before getting into the car. At that point, one of his friends said, Young turned the camera off on his phone but kept the audio call active.

Young and J1 then drove to a second location on West Maplewood Street, where King blocked the road and forced J1 to stop, the probably cause statement says. Young exited the vehicle and attempted to flee, but witnesses said Archaga-Elvir and King began pursuing him, yelling, "Don't run now." They also said that Archaga-Elvir had a pistol.

Young's friend, who was still on the phone with him, reported hearing Young either fall to the ground or drop his phone, then a gunshot followed by Young saying, "I just don't wanna die."

J1, Archaga-Elvir, King and the witnesses then fled the scene, according to court documents.

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Young's friend who was not on the call with him owned the phone Young was using, according to court records, and used a "Find My" feature to locate the device. The friend found the phone and Young lying on the ground "with a substantial amount of blood on him." Young's friend called 911.

More: Suspect arrested nearly a week after homicide south of Springfield

Emergency medical services provided life-saving measures before transporting Young to Cox South Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Court records say that Archaga-Elvir also had an active probable cause warrant for first-degree assault stemming from a February 2026 incident and that he is affiliated with the gang 1300. The News-Leader could not find the warrant for first-degree assault but did locate a court case against Archaga-Elvir for "stealing/larceny/theft."

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The probable cause statement for Archaga-Elvir's arrest from the Greene County Sheriff's Office alleges that Archaga-Elvir has "no remorse for his actions."

"An unconfirmed report is that (Archaga-Elvir) made a phone call after shooting (Young), and 'was braggadocios' about the incident," the records said.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Reps decry undocumented immigrant crimes after Ozarks teen's death
April 10 (UPI) -- Search-and-rescue teams were scouring the wreckage of a collapsed Philadelphia parking garage on Thursday night for two people still missing, according to officials, who said the individuals were presumed dead.

The parking garage, under construction near 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue in South Philadelphia, collapsed at 2:19 p.m. EDT Wednesday, prompting emergency personnel to search the site for survivors.

One person was found and transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.

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Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker called on the public to pray for the three victims and their families.

"Right now, Philadelphia, it's important for us to affirm together in a manner that's fitting for each of us to send our prayers with the families who have been impacted, the family of the individual who has passed and also the families of the two people who are deceased," she told reporters at a press conference, identifying all three as employees under the Ironworkers Local 401 union.

"We want you to know that we indeed grieve their loss tonight and we will continue to stand by, shoulder to shoulder, to support those families that have been directly impacted."

Around the clock, officials have been working the site, and at 2 p.m. four search dogs were deployed into the downed structure and found no signs of life, she said.

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Parker described that moment as "a pivotal point" in the incident. Officials now had the information necessary to shift the rescue operation to recovery.

"Our city agencies are reaching out and are in touch with the families of the deceased individual as well as the two lost souls who are, again, still unaccounted for but presumed deceased," she said.

"Our city prays for them and with their families tonight."

Officials were canvassing several blocks around the garage, notifying residents that on Friday, what remained of the structure would be demolished, she said.

Following the collapse, officials closed the immediate area to the public, including a shopping plaza and surrounding stores. No timeline has been given for their reopening.

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Parker said the garage collapse remains under investigation.

"We are going to cross every 'T,' Philadelphia, and dot every 'I' until we get to the bottom of what happened here on Wednesday," she said.

Managing Director Adam Teal for the City of Philadelphia told reporters that the structure remains "very unstable" and will be continuously monitored "until this incident is brought to a safe close."

He explained that a large crane will be assembled over multiple hours to be used in the demolition of the structure, but only after the demolition plan receives final approval from various agencies.

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"And here's the most important thing: We, all of us, everybody you see here and all oof the hundreds of people working still now, we will not stop until everyone is returned to their loved ones with dignity, respect and honor," he said.

"The same dignity and respect that we offer to our own fallen members."
The four astronauts who flew around the moon on NASA's Artemis II mission are nearly home, but one of the most dangerous and nerve-racking parts of the mission is still ahead.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen are set to return to Earth on Friday evening after 10 days in space.

Their Orion capsule is scheduled to begin plunging through the atmosphere at around 7:53 p.m. ET on a fiery journey expected to last less than 15 minutes. If all goes well, the mission will culminate in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 p.m. ET off San Diego.

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Its 13 minutes of things that have to go right, Jeff Radigan, NASAs Artemis II flight director, said Thursday at a news briefing.

Re-entry is always one of the riskiest parts of spaceflight, as vehicles can be exposed to temperatures of around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit as they streak through the atmosphere. But that is particularly true for Artemis II, because the Orion spacecraft's heat shield  the critical layer of thermal protection at the bottom that protects astronauts from extreme temperatures  has known flaws in its design.

This mission is the first time the capsule is carrying a crew.

After the Artemis I mission in 2022  an uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule  NASA found unexpected damage to the spacecrafts heat shield.

NASAs Orion spacecraft was recovered at the end of the Artemis I test flight and taken to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where its heat shield was removed and inspected. (NASA) (NASA)

An agency investigation later found that part of the heat shields material had cracked during atmospheric re-entry, causing some charred material to break off in several locations. The investigation determined that gases did not vent properly in the heat shields outer material, allowing pressure to accumulate, which caused the observed damage.

Images show heat shield damage sustained during Artemis I. (NASA) (NASA)

Because of those issues, NASA will modify the heat shield design for future Artemis flights. The Orion spacecraft used for those missions will feature a more permeable layer of outer material. But for Artemis II, the capsule had already been built and assembled when NASA learned of the damage sustained during Artemis I.

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So, rather than redo the heat shield, NASA came up with a modified path for the capsules re-entry to minimize risk to the astronauts. Ordinarily, before it begins its final descent, the Orion spacecraft is meant to dip into the atmosphere, then pop up again  like a stone skipping on the waters surface  to reduce heat stress and G-force on the capsule. But Amit Kshatriya, NASAs associate administrator, said that this time the skip will be brief and the capsule will descend faster and at a steeper angle to minimize how long it is exposed to the most extreme temperatures.

Every system weve demonstrated over the past nine days  life support, navigation, propulsion, communications  all of it depends on the final minutes of flight, Kshatriya said at Thursdays briefing.

He added that NASA has high confidence in the spacecrafts heat shield on the modified path.

Still, there are significant risks  and four lives are on the line.

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Charlie Camarda, a former NASA astronaut, has publicly expressed concerns about the heat shield and said NASA should not have launched the Artemis II mission with the existing design.

"History shows accidents occur when organizations convince themselves they understand problems they do not. This issue exhibits the same patterns that preceded past catastrophes," he wrote in an open letter to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in January.

Isaacman said that month, however, that he has full confidence in Orions heat shield.

Wiseman, too, has said he is comfortable with the plan.

If we stick to the new re-entry path that NASA has planned, then this heat shield will be safe to fly, he said during a preflight media event in July.

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The re-entry plan requires the Orion capsule to remain on an extremely precise path, Radigan said. Mission controllers spent the past day and a half keeping the Orion spacecraft on course for that, performing necessary engine burns to maintain its trajectory.

Lets not beat around the bush, Radigan said. We have to hit that angle correctly. Otherwise, were not going to have a successful re-entry.

Artemis II flight controllers monitor the Orion spacecraft from the White Flight Control Room at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP - Getty Images) (Ronaldo Schemidt)

During atmospheric re-entry, the Orion capsule is expected to reach an estimated maximum velocity of nearly 24,000 mph. The astronauts will be exposed to G forces equivalent to around 3.9 times the normal pull of Earths gravity.

As the capsule plunges through the atmosphere, a communications blackout is anticipated as plasma builds up around the spacecraft and causes interference. The blackout is expected to last around six minutes, flight director Rick Henfling said at a briefing Wednesday.

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Once that six-minute blackout is done, Orion is going to be at about 150,000 feet, so still falling pretty quickly, he said.

Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels toward the moon on Saturday. (NASA) (NASA)

At an altitude of about 6,000 feet, the capsule will deploy its three main parachutes, which will help slow it down to around 20 mph before it splashes down in the ocean.

The U.S. Navy will assist with recovery efforts in the Pacific. Once the landing area is deemed safe, NASAs plan is to extract Koch from the capsule first, then Glover, followed by Hansen and then Wiseman.

At the briefing Thursday, Kshatriya praised the crew members and said its time for flight directors, engineers and recovery teams to bring them home.

The crew has done their part, he said. Now we have to do ours.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The IDF confirmed that the incident in Safed was due to a direct hit and not due to shrapnel, as it was originally believed. More than 30 rockets were fired on Friday against northern Israel.

A parking lot in Safed was damaged by a direct impact of a Hezbollah rocket on Friday, after several barrages of rockets and drones pummeled the north of the country.

The IDF confirmed that the incident in Safed was due to a direct hit and not due to shrapnel, as it was originally believed.

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MDA also reported that one of its ambulances was damaged during the rocket barrage against Safed.

According to Israeli media, damage was reported near an ancient Byzantine church in Nahariya, while the Israel Police was investigating possible falls in the northern Galilee region.

IDF estimates said that more than 30 rockets were launched against northern communities on Friday since the morning, with no reports of people wounded outside of cases of anxiety.

Magen David Adom abulance damaged in Safed (credit: MDA SPOKESPERSON)

One of the missile barrages that targeted Kiryat Shmona fell on a kindergarten where, minutes before, there were kids playing, in what residents call "a miracle."

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Kfir Ben Hamu, a resident from the area, told Maariv that the shrapnel fell inside a playground: "Ten minutes ago there were children there!"

IDF reservist, soldier wounded by shrapnel in southern Lebanon

The IDF said on Friday that two soldiers, one of them a reservist, were wounded by shrapnel from an explosive drone in southern Lebanon, with one of them being severely wounded.

Additionally, Army Radio reported that a combat officer from the Givati Brigade was moderately wounded as a result of gunfire during a clash with terrorists in southern Lebanon.

The military said all the soldiers were evacuated to a hospital and that their families were notified of the incident.
Russia is looking to go big in the anti-drone ammo game, with a new 5.45mm rifle round.

Kalashnikov Concern said it plans to mass-produce bullets that split into fragments to kill drones.

Ukraine is already developing similar bullets, as such designs creep into the global defense industry.

Russia's primary small arms manufacturer, Kalashnikov Concern, said on Thursday that it's developing 5.45mm rifle rounds specifically designed to disable drones.

Though similar types of bullets have emerged sporadically on the Russian battlefield since last year, Kalashnikov Concern said it plans to mass-produce the rounds, formalizing a national effort to make drone-killing ammo for individual troops.

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The armsmaker said the 30-round magazine is built for the AK-12 gas-operated assault rifle, with each bullet releasing a "multi-element projectile that significantly increases the probability of hitting UAVs."

Kalashnikov Concern said the round can be used in burst and single-fire modes and was tested against a drone hovering in the air and another drone flying along a preset path.

Ukraine has been making its own anti-drone rifle rounds, with a bullet called the "Horoshok," or "Little Pea," that splits into multiple fragments to widen the area of impact. Kyiv said in December that it plans to produce 400,000 of these rounds a month.

The Ukrainian 5.56mm round, however, sees the bullet traveling some distance before it fragments  extending the range of the shot.

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Kalashnikov Concern said in its announcement that the fragments of its bullets "systematically separated upon exiting the barrel" during tests against fast-moving small drones.

Some Russian units were thought to have first publicized the overall idea, such as one group of soldiers who filmed themselves in February 2025 using steel pellets and heat shrink tubes to convert 7.62mm rounds into makeshift shotgun shell-like bullets.

The entire concept calls back to the now-widespread use of shotguns in the Ukraine war as a final line of defense against first-person-view drone attacks. The tactic became especially popular as both sides started using fiber-optic drones, which can't be remotely jammed.

The West is experimenting with anti-drone rifle rounds, too.

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The US Navy's Naval Surface Warfare Center, for example, said in February that it's developing a "drone-killer cartridge" containing bullets that split into three fragments. Other American and European startups are selling their own versions of split-fragment rifle rounds.

Meanwhile, the concept is catching the eye of the larger defense industry. The Belgian arm of Thales, the French-headquartered prime, has been building a 70mm airburst rocket filled with steel pellets to counter one-way attack drones like the Shahed.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Several dozen people lined up outside a presidential administration building on a sunny spring weekend in central Moscow as police stood nearby and watched them closely.

The people were lodging complaints about the government's intensifying crackdown on the internet that has seen regular shutdowns of cellphone internet connections, blocked popular messaging apps and cut access to thousands of other websites and digital services.

It was the latest sign of the growing anger and frustration over the restrictions that have disrupted the daily lives of Russians, hurt businesses and drawn criticism even from Kremlin supporters.

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Knowing that any unauthorized demonstrations are harshly suppressed, activists have tried to organize authorized rallies, plastered posters on walls and notice boards, and filed lawsuits. Industry leaders pleaded with authorities to repeal the measures.

Even the leader of Armenia delivered a not-so-veiled barb at Russia during a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin on April 1. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that in Armenia, our social media, for example, is 100% free. There are no restrictions whatsoever.

An unsmiling Putin stared at Pashinyan with slightly raised eyebrows.

The clampdown not only serves to control what websites Russians can see, but also has thrown digital life into disarray, making it difficult to order taxis and deliveries, pay for goods and services electronically, and stay in touch with friends and family.

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Politician and Kremlin critic Boris Nadezhdin spoke for many Russians who are upset about the internet clampdown when he said in an interview with The Associated Press: This infuriates a huge number of people.

Moves toward internet control

For years, Russia has sought to take the internet under total government control and potentially cut it off from the rest of the world, blocking tens of thousands of websites, messaging apps and social media platforms that refuse to cooperate with the authorities.

Internet users have gotten used to circumventing the restrictions by using virtual private networks, or VPNs, even as the government has been actively blocking those, too.

But last year, the restrictions reached a whole new level: sweeping shutdowns of cellphone internet connections - and sometimes broadband, too - leaving only a handful of websites and apps on government-approved white lists.

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Officials claimed the drastic measures were needed to thwart Ukrainian drones relying on Russian cellphone internet for navigation as Kyiv tries to strike back during Moscow's 4-year-old full-scale invasion.

But the shutdowns hit remote regions that have never been targeted by Ukraine's drones, with ordinary people and businesses decrying the measures as detrimental.

The Kremlin has gone after the country's two most popular messaging apps  WhatsApp and Telegram  while simultaneously promoting a state-backed national app called MAX, widely seen as a surveillance tool.

At first, voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram were blocked. Then, sending messages became effectively impossible, too, without using a VPN.

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Last week, Digital and Communications Minister Maksut Shadayev said his ministry received orders to further decrease the use of VPNs. Unconfirmed media reports said his ministry proposed a flurry of new measures against VPNs. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment sent by AP.

Lawyer Sarkis Darbinyan, co-founder of the RKS Global digital rights group, told AP the goal of the authorities is to drive internet users into a digital ghetto of Russian, government-controlled apps and platforms.

The internet is no longer this universal digital good, he said.

Business leaders seek moderation

In recent weeks, a growing number of business leaders in Russia have voiced concern about the sweeping restrictions and urged authorities to take a more moderate approach.

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Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, told Putin at a recent forum of the group that cellphone internet shutdowns made life difficult for both businesses and citizens.

Given the high level of mobile technology penetration in our lives, we hope that a systemic, balanced solution will be found, said Shokhin, a government minister in the 1990s and a member of the ruling United Russia party since the 2000s.

Putin was onstage with Shokhin and spoke immediately after him but didn't address the issue.

A similar plea came from CEOs of two of Russias four cellphone operators at a telecommunications conference last week. Sergei Anokhin of Beeline and Khachatur Pombukhchan of Megafon said that instead of cellphone internet shutdowns, operators could just identify suspicious users and restrict them, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.

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This would make life significantly easier for people, for clients, Pombukhchan said.

Prominent IT entrepreneur Natalya Kasperskaya lambasted Roskomnadzor, blaming its intensifying efforts to block VPNs for a brief outage last weekend of banking and other services.

Theres no technical way to block VPNs without disrupting the entire internet, she wrote in a post on Telegram. So, comrades, take screenshots of interesting websites, withdraw as much cash as possible, and get ready to listen to radio reports about foreign enemies who have blocked our once-beloved RuNet,  referring to the Russian internet.

Roskomnadzor denied involvement, and Kasperskaya later apologized in a separate post, but she called for dialogue between the authorities and the IT sector, stressing that technical decisions sometimes cause downright shock and a desire to at least get an explanation.

Cautious steps toward protest

Activists from Moscow to Vladivostok in the Far East have tried to organize rallies against internet restrictions since late February.

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Knowing that unauthorized demonstrations are harshly suppressed and government critics are routinely jailed, they acted cautiously and sought authorization for the gatherings in accordance with strict protest laws. In most cases, those were rejected, and some activists were even arrested on various charges.

But people managed to hold small pickets in a few cities. In others, activists plastered flyers and banners on walls and public notice boards decrying the restrictions.

Opposition politician Nadezhdin, his supporters and other activist groups have filed for permission to hold rallies in dozens of cities on April 12, when Russia marks Cosmonautics Day, honoring the 1961 flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space.

Were filing for authorization (and saying) were marking Cosmonautics Day, Nadezhdin says with a subtle smile. Our slogans will be (about the fact that) cosmonautics is impossible without science, technology and progress, and progress, science and technology development is impossible without connectivity, without communication, without the internet.

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Nadezhdin says he is determined to increase pressure on authorities despite the crackdown. Public frustration over the restrictions is enormous, and people are ready to take part in protests that are authorized and safe, he added.

Moscow-based opposition politician Yulia Galyamina echoed his sentiment in a video she recorded last weekend near the presidential administration, where she and others filed their formal complaints, saying the discontent is truly widespread.

The more there is public outcry over the blocking of the internet, Telegram in particular, and depriving us of the possibility to communicate with each other, interact, express our political position, the bigger the effect will be, she said.




A San Antonio Chick-Fil-A manager is going viral after he was filmed praying over customers in the restaurant's dining room area, telling them to "stick to God" while they were eating.

The video was first posted in a Tuesday TikTok update by user @scottmalouff. As of Thursday, it's racked up over 32,000 views and more than 7,000 likes. Commenters identified the man as "Mr. Matt" at the chicken chain's Northwoods location, at 18120 San Pedro Ave.

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Reached by phone Thursday, an employee at the location confirmed "Mr. Matt," or Matthew, was the manager of this location, although he was not available to speak with the Express-News. In a Wednesday evening X update, Danielle Gill - wife of conservative Texas congressman Brandon Gill - reposted the video.

ALSO READ: Poteet Strawberry Festival at center of clash over name, money

"This San Antonio, Texas Chick-fil-A manager has gone viral for praying for his customers and encouraging them to 'stick to God' during lunch," she wrote in the post caption. "More of this, please! God bless him. "

Many commenters expressed support for the manager in the video posted by @scottmalouff.

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"this is Mr. Matt! I had the pleasure of working w him at cfa northwoods truly an amazing kind man!" wrote @josie.

"This is the Northwoods location in San Antonio! He's so kind every time we go," added @Kels.

"This was so wholesome " wrote .

ALSO READ: Adair Kitchen makes a 1-star mess of the old Jim's on Broadway

In August 2012, hundreds of people waited in line at a Chick-Fil-A to support President Dan Cathy's right to have a stance against gay marriage. Some customers agreed with Cathy's opinion and others simply wanted to defend his right to free speech. (KEVIN R. WEXLER/KEVIN R. WEXLER/ STAFF PHOTOGRAP)





However, many commenters on Gill's repost expressed different sentiments.

"I would've left!! It's always the evil ones trying to talk about God," @boujiebaddie wrote.

"I have accepted Christ as my lord and savior and I would have got up and left," added @PNWman26.

"It's pretty much common knowledge that these restaurants are owned and operated by Christians," @Reagan4Mc wrote. "That said, seeing some praying go down during a visit shouldn't be controversial at all."

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ALSO READ: 5 San Antonio restaurants serving chicken on a stick

In the past, Chick-Fil-A's founding family has faced heavy backlash for expressing what many critics called an "anti-gay" stance.

"I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,'" former Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy said in a 2012 interview with Baptist Press. "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about."

ALSO READ: Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott opens its first San Antonio store

This article originally published at San Antonio Chick-fil-A manager goes viral for telling customers 'stick to God'.
SEOUL, April 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's foreign ministry said Friday that it has appointed former Ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha as special envoy to Iran and will soon dispatch him to Tehran to coordinate the safe passage of South Korean vessels and nationals amid the ongoing Middle East tensions.

According to the ministry, Chung, currently serving as ambassador for polar affairs, was named to the post a day after South Korean foreign minister Cho Hyun held telephone talks with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on regional developments and bilateral relations.

During the talks, Cho informed the Iranian side of Seoul's decision to send a special envoy to discuss the situation in the Middle East as well as issues concerning ties between the two countries.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a total of 26 South Korean vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has indicated it will provide safe passage in coordination with its armed forces, while warning that ships attempting to pass without prior permission could face possible attacks.

The ministry added that with the dispatch of the special envoy, South Korea plans to exchange views with Iran on the Middle East situation and discuss safe passage arrangements not only for South Korean nationals, vessels and crews, but also for all ships. 




A grand jury indicted a woman accused of abandoning a newborn baby on a sidewalk during below-freezing temperatures last year.

Ava Marie Guerra, 29, was indicted on one count of injury to a child - after authorities say she failed to seek care for her baby - and one count of abandoning or injuring a child for allegedly ingesting methamphetamine while pregnant.

Guerra was scheduled to appear in court Thursday after her attorney on Dec. 3 filed a motion to have an examining trial. However, it was canceled after she was indicted Thursday.

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The motion requested the hearing as to "examine the truth of the accusations made." The motion states that Guerra has been on house arrest since Jan. 21, 2025, and she was still awaiting indictment.

Her felony case was assigned to the 290th District Court with state District Judge Jennifer Pena.

Guerra was arrested after police accused her of leaving her baby on an East Side sidewalk on the evening of Jan. 21, 2025. The temperatures that night were as low as 28 degrees and felt like 17 degrees, according to National Weather Service data.

On the evening the baby was found, police officers were approached by a 34-year-old man who said he found the newborn near Nolan and Cherry streets.

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READ MORE: San Antonio mayor urges feds not to open ICE detention facility

The baby was wrapped in a towel and placed in a basket. He was breathing weakly and the umbilical cord was still attached, police said.

Detectives who interviewed the 34-year-old man found he was not being truthful with his story, and confessed to knowing where the baby was born and who the mother was, police said.

According to an arrest affidavit, an off-duty SAPD officer was at a downtown Whataburger restaurant when the 34-year-old man approached him and said he needed help taking the newborn to a hospital.

The man told the officer that the baby needed "immediate medical attention" due to neglect from his mother, Guerra, according to the affidavit.

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The baby was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

A detective met up with Guerra that same day while she received medical care after giving birth.

She told him that she learned that she was pregnant two months earlier, but she chose not to pursue prenatal medical care. She said she "unexpectedly gave birth" to the baby boy in a toilet at a friend's apartment, according to the affidavit.

After giving birth, Guerra did not call 911 or seek medical care for the newborn, police said.

Hospital staff told police that the baby was in "critical, life-threatening condition" and "would require intensive life-saving medical interventions and procedures for the foreseeable future due to his condition."

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The baby also had methamphetamine in his system, police said.

Following her release from the hospital, Guerra stopped communicating with police, and a warrant was issued for her arrest, according to the affidavit.

Court records show that Guerra's current bond conditions demand that she does not have contact with the baby.

This article originally published at San Antonio woman accused of leaving her newborn on freezing sidewalk gets indicted.
When McPherson Middle School in central Kansas banned cell phones in school four years ago, they didnt reconsider their school-issued Google Chromebooks that were actively being used in the classroom and at home. It wasnt until December of last year that it asked its 480 students to give up the laptops as well.

Administrators found that without their phones, students were using school laptops for distracting activities like watching YouTube or playing games, rather than learning. Some were even using their school Gmail accounts to tease other students, the New York Times reported.

Now, the school has transitioned to using laptops only for specific teacher-assigned activities. Meanwhile, the unused laptops sit in carts in the back of classrooms, and children take notes the old-fashioned way: on pen and paper.

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This technology can be a tool. It is not the answer to education, said McPhersons principal, Inge Esping, who won Kansass middle school Principal of the Year award for 2025.

Students who want to use the laptops for extra work at home can also borrow a Chromebook from the school library, the Times reported.

Increasingly, schools like McPherson in other states such as North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Michigan are rethinking their policies of buying and assigning a laptop to every student and the millions of dollars they spent on them, as studies show implementing technology in schools has reportedly coincided with either decreasing test scores or no progress at all for students.

Maine, which in 2002 was one of the states to first adopt a policy of putting laptops in public school did not improve its test scores after 15 years of its laptop initiative, NPR reported in 2017. Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist and former teacher, said in written testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, that math and science scores have decreased as technology has been introduced in classrooms. Citing the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Horvath said, Frequent in-class computer use correlates with significantly lower math and science performance across both high-income and middle-income countries. This study showed that fourth-graders and eighth-graders test scores correlated with whether they were using laptops almost never on the high-end versus almost daily on the low-end.

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Google Chromebook laptops, which are manufactured by PC makers like Lenovo, Acer, and Dell, have a tight grip on Americas schools. The laptops are relatively low-cost, averaging between $300 and $400 per device. In schools, Chromebooks also have an advantage by leveraging ChromeOS, which uses built-in web apps like Google Docs rather than installed apps like Microsoft Office, which can be costly. Similarly, tools such as Google Classroom have become a mainstay of Americas K12 schools.

Googles education push has proved lucrative. Education accounts for 60% of global Chromebook market share as of 2025, boosting the Chromebook total market to $14 billion.

Laptop regrets

Schools in North Carolina spent $448 million in pandemic-related federal funding on computers and equipment for students and staff, according to news station WRAL. But after these funds dried up, schools have struggled to replace broken or outdated devices, which last on average less than a decade despite Googles efforts to extend device life spans. During a 2025 committee meeting, Robert Taylor, superintendent of North Carolinas largest school system, in Wake County, said the district needed to move away from its one-to-one laptop policy.

Another North Carolina school district has tried to diminish laptop use for educational reasons, reported Carolina Public Press. In western North Carolinas Burke County, home to fewer than 100,000 residents, the school board passed a resolution for Burke County Public Schools to encourage learning with paper and printed materials, and limit screen time only for activities where technology offers clear, evidence-based instructional advantages. As a result, in February, parents and educators reported improvements in reading comprehension and test scores, as well as a decrease in homework-related stress that many attributed to the pro-paper resolution.

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Earlier this year, a school district in Wexford County, Mich., which has a population of 34,000, banned screens for elementary school students to mitigate its reading proficiency issues. More than 65% of the third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders in one elementary school alone were not proficient or partially proficient on state standardized tests, according to Interlochen Public Radio.

The trend of schools moving away from technology comes as evidence emerges that access to screens does not improve student outcomes and could instead be holding them back. Horvath, in his written testimony before the Senate, claimed Gen Z is the first generation in modern history to score lower than their parents generation on standardized tests.

Distractions are a major culprit of this degradation of learning, Horvath previously told Fortune, adding that refocusing attention after its been diverted takes time to recover. Educational systems screwed up, he told Fortune. And I genuinely hope Gen Z quickly figures that out and gets mad.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The day after his wife disappeared during a nighttime boat ride in the Bahamas, Brian Hooker told a friend that she tried swimming back to the sailboat following her apparent fall overboard, but strong winds pushed them apart "pretty quickly," according to messages reviewed exclusively by CBS News.

Lynette Hooker, who is from Michigan, was reported missing Sunday, April 5. Bahamian officials arrested her husband three days later for questioning in connection with the case, but he was not charged with a crime and was released Monday night. According to his attorney, Terrel Butler, authorities were allowed to hold Hooker for 48 hours until either charging or releasing him, but officials could extend the period to 96 hours if deemed necessary.

Brian Hooker denies any wrongdoing. He previously told authorities that his wife fell from their dinghy Saturday night while the couple sailed from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. He said powerful currents swept her away, along with the keys to their boat, which cut power to its engine and prevented him from reaching her.

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He shared a similar account of what happened in Facebook messages to Daniel Danforth, a friend of the Hookers since 2023. Danforth told CBS News he met them because of their shared interest in boating.

The messages show that Danforth reached out to Brian on Monday after seeing news coverage of his wife's disappearance.

"The wind blew me away from her and she swam towards the sailboat and we lost sight of each other pretty quickly as it was just about sundown," Brian wrote in reply. "I drifted and tried to paddle with one oar for the next 7 hours until I washed up behind the shore of the next Island over and was able to get some help finally."

Brian Hooker exchanged messages with his friend Daniel Danforth and described his wife Lynette's disappearance at sea, saying,

Bahamian police have said Brian Hooker arrived at the Marsh Harbor Boat Yard on the island of Abaco at 4 a.m. Sunday morning, after paddling the dinghy to shore. They said he told someone his wife was missing once he made it there, and that person informed authorities.

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In the messages, he told Danforth his family was "in hell" as search crews failed to locate his wife.

Brian Hooker wrote to his friend Daniel Danforth,

When Danforth checked in again the next morning, Hooker said he had moved his boat to Marsh Harbor and had been sleeping there, but planned to relocate "for a night or two" to stay with his sister and brother-in-law, who were flying in to meet him. He told Danforth that he planned "on heading back out to the site" after that "and continuing search."

In a message exchange the day after his wife Lynette's disappearance, Brian Hooker thanked his friend Daniel Danforth for

"I will most likely definitely need help in the future but I just don't know what it is yet I'm trying to take it a day at a time and keep the faith," he told Danforth, before congratulating him on his recent sailboat purchase.

"The stories don't really match up"

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Danforth told CBS News that he first met the Hookers three years ago, while sailing in the New Orleans area. A Facebook notification from Brian over the weekend initially reminded him of the couple, before he started seeing headlines about Lynette's disappearance, Danforth said.

He received the notification because Brian had liked his comment on a post that Danforth's wife had shared about boating. In retrospect, Danforth said the fact that his friend was scrolling social media and liking posts at that time raised some questions for him.

"You know, my wife's missing, Facebook's the last thing I'm worried about. You're going to find me on the water riding around," Danforth told CBS News.

Danforth said he was concerned that Brian moved his boat from Elbow Cay, where it was anchored, shortly after Lynette went missing. He also noted that, in comparing Brian's s retelling of Lynette's disappearance with emerging media reports, "the stories don't really match up."

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While police have said Hooker recalled his wife being swept overboard and out to sea, Danforth said his messages reflected "she was casually swimming back toward the sailboat."

He also said the Hookers "always had their phones with them" and frequently posted videos online, so he wondered why Brian's "phone didn't work or why they didn't have their phones in the boat" the night Lynette went missing.

Danforth said his wife was friends with Lynette and he didn't have concerns about the couple's relationship, although there had been a period where Brian and Lynette "had separated for a while," he said.

"You know, most of the time people do get back together and you don't want things to be awkward," he said. "So we didn't  I don't really get into a whole lot of personal business because of those reasons."

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Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told CBS News in a separate interview that her mother and Brian Hooker had broken up and gotten back together in recent years. Aylesworth said she is seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance and has said she doubts the sequence of events described by Brian Hooker.

"For one, I don't understand how she got the key," Aylesworth said. "Brian's always driving. So he basically is in charge of the key. So the fact that my mom had it doesn't make any sense."

In an earlier statement, Butler, Hooker's attorney, said he denied the allegations made by Aylesworth, and added, "He has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation."

Butler has spoken to Hooker on the phone and told CBS News that he was focused on continuing the search for his wife.

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"That's all he's been talking about," Butler said. "Yesterday he made arrangements to go back out and search for her."

The whereabouts of the boat key was also an issue for Danforth, who said pictures and videos the Hookers took while on the dinghy never show either of them with the key, which is usually attached to a lanyard. But he said it's possible that Lynette Hooker would "reach out in desperation" to grab hold of something as she fell overboard, and "that's the closest thing."

Ultimately, Danforth said he didn't fully believe strong winds and ocean currents could separate Hooker's small dinghy from his wife so rapidly. And, if she were swimming toward the dinghy, as Brian Hooker said in his messages, Danforth asked: "Why didn't he try to go get her?"

Brian Hooker's messages to daughter, stepdaughter

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CBS News also obtained text messages Brian Hooker sent to his daughter Rosie and Lynette's daughter Karli (which he misspelled as Carly) earlier this week. In a message Tuesday night, he wrote that he planned on "going out on a boat tomorrow to continue searching" for Lynette. "I'm not giving up and I don't want you to give up either," he wrote, followed by emojis of kisses and hearts.

In a text message to his daughter and stepdaughter, Brian Hooker said he planned on

In another message the next morning, he wrote that he was "hassled at dinner by reporters last night." He said he posted a statement on Facebook and then "locked down" his page.

"Our family has lots of support from people all over the world but there are of course always some haters," he wrote. "They're saying ridiculous stuff and so I will do some push back on that when I can." He signed off, "I love you and I'm not giving up or stopping."

In a text to his daughter and stepdaughter, Brian Hooker wrote,

Brian Hooker told his attorney he fell into the water during his arrest

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In their first in-person meeting late Thursday, Brian Hooker told his attorney he almost drowned after falling in the water as police were taking him into custody.

"He [Brian Hooker] had a really traumatic experience being transported here to Grand Bahama," Butler told CBS News on Thursday. "He was taken to his vessel for a search, and when he went there, he was handcuffed and was told he could have a change of clothes and he was requested to disembark while handcuffed."

According to Butler, that's when Brian Hooker went overboard.

"When he fell overboard, he had to be rescued by officers," Butler said.

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In a new statement released Friday morning, Butler said she had visited with Hooker at the Central Police Station in Grand Bahama and was requesting immediate medical attention for him. She said the fall had taken place in "choppy and dangerous sea conditions" as Hooker lost his footing on the wet boat flooring while handcuffed.

A CBS News team saw Hooker being taken to a local hospital to get checked out.

Butler's statement also said, "Brian appears completely heartbroken and deeply distressed. His primary concern and source of intense frustration is his inability to continue the search for his wife of 25 years. The trauma of her disappearance, coupled with his current detention as a suspect, has left him in an extremely fragile state."

Pope Leo responds to Trump following his criticism over the Iran war

Orban loses reelection in Hungary, Netanyahu facing tough campaign in Israel

Details on U.S. blockade of Iranian ports
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com

A new federal report found that Washington has entered spring with a growing water crisis ahead.

The report describes a March Meltdown across much of the Western United States, suffering from a historically low mountain snowpack. Experts warn it could strain water supplies, fisheries, and wildfire preparedness through the summer months.

Despite wet conditions in March and above-average water year-to-date precipitation in most of Washington, snow drought remains widespread across Washington due to warm temperatures bringing more rain than snow, the federal report said.

Low mountain snowpack threatens summer water supplies, wildfire preparedness

Mountain snowpack statewide is hovering at about 50% of normal, prompting state officials to declare a statewide drought emergency this week for the fourth year in a row.

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The situation in Washington mirrors conditions unfolding across much of the West. Federal analysts with the National Integrated Drought Information System reported record low snowpack on April 1 in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

Washington didnt set new records, but the report found 88% of weather stations in the state are in snow drought, while 100% of Oregon stations are in snow drought.

Both states were less impacted by the March heat wave than the rest of the West, but temperatures were still above average, the report said.

State officials warn that Washingtons low snowpack could trigger a range of impacts in the coming months.

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Farmers, particularly in central Washingtons Yakima River Basin, may face irrigation cuts if runoff fails to materialize, according to the Washington Department of Ecology. Low snowmelt also threatens salmon and other coldwater fish species.

Fire officials are also raising concerns that less snow and earlier meltoff are increasing the risk of large fires later in the year.

Longrange forecasts offer little relief. Weather outlooks included in the federal report suggest abovenormal temperatures and belownormal precipitation across much of the western U.S. into early summer.

Read more of Aaron Granillos stories here.
Time is running out for someone who bought a life-changing lottery ticket in South Texas.

A jackpot-winning ticket for the Lotto Texas drawing on Nov. 15, 2025, remains unclaimed. Its set to expire on May 14 if its not turned in.

The ticket, worth an estimated $78 million annuitized jackpot, was bought at Gordons Bait & Tackle at 7066 Padre Island Highway in Brownsville. The person picked their own numbers -- 7, 17, 23, 28, 39 and 48 0 -- and matched all six in the drawing.

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The cash value option was chosen at the time of purchase, meaning the winner would take home $43,757,223.10 before taxes.

So, is it yours and youve just been holding on until nearly the last minute? If so  and you want your winnings -- you have to call the Texas Lottery to schedule an appointment, then show the ticket in person at lottery headquarters at 1801 Congress Ave. in Austin. The deadline to validate the ticket is 5 p.m. Central Time on May 14.

Under Texas Lottery rules, a ticket holder has 180 days from the draw date to claim a prize. If the deadline passes, the winnings are forfeited. In some cases, the deadline may be extended for eligible military personnel.

Any unclaimed prize money is returned to the state to support programs authorized by the Texas Legislature.

Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include your name and the best way to reach you.
Rep. Eric Swalwells campaign for governor was reeling Friday after two news reports detailed accusations of sexual assault and misconduct, with multiple staffers resigning and both prominent allies and rival candidates calling on the California Democrat to exit the race.

The exodus, which began just before the San Francisco Chronicle published a report detailing a former staffers claims, jolted Californias marquee race just weeks before ballots start landing in voters mailboxes. The former staffer told the newspaper that Swalwell had sexual encounters with her while working for him, and that he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too drunk to consent.

Hours later, CNN reported on that ex-staffer and three additional women who accused Swalwell of making sexual advances and sending explicit photos and messages. And POLITICO reported that a former Swalwell employee had signed an agreement over an employment discrimination claim that included confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses, despite his campaign saying no one on his staff signed an NDA during his tenure.

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The dominoes tumbled quickly. Top staffers departed the campaign shortly before the Chronicle story published. Major endorsers began rescinding or pausing their support. And a pro-Swalwell independent expenditure committee said it was suspending operations.

Swalwells two campaign co-chairs, Reps. Jimmy Gomez and Adam Gray, called on Swalwell to drop out  a stunning rebuke from key surrogates who had helped introduce Swalwell to power players in Sacramento, where both served in the state Assembly.

Today I learned shocking information about Eric Swalwell containing the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable, Gomez said in a statement. My involvement in any campaign begins and ends with trust. I cannot in good conscience remain in any role with this campaign, and I am stepping down from it effective immediately.

California Sen. Adam Schiff, who along with Gomez had made calls pitching Swalwell to key labor unions, also called on Swalwell to leave the race, as did fellow California Sen. Alex Padilla, who is neutral in the governors race.

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Also abandoning Swalwell was Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, who said he was withdrawing his endorsement and expressed regret for defending Swalwell in recent days.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for an investigation and said she spoke to Swalwell about leaving the race.

As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign, she said in a statement.

The fallout extended to prominent interest groups that had backed Swalwell. The California Medical Association, which was Swalwells first major endorser among Sacramento interest groups, said it was convening an emergency board meeting.

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An independent expenditure committee funded by CMA was also put on ice.

In light of serious allegations, the IE is suspending campaign activity immediately, said a spokesperson for Californians for a Fighter in support of Eric Swalwell. The committee had been also financed by Uber and former gubernatorial candidate and Swalwell ally Stephen J. Cloobeck, among others.

Major labor groups were left reeling as well. The California Teachers Association paused its endorsement, as did SEIU California.

The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell. We are immediately suspending our support, CTA President David Goldberg said in a statement.

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California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks stopped short of calling for Swalwell to drop out, but he hinted at the possibility in a statement calling the allegations deeply disturbing and reiterating his previous calls for non-viable Democrats to leave the race  insinuating Swalwell has ceased to be a tenable option.

My call for all  repeat, all  candidates for Governor to honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign still stands, Hicks said. In fact, that call is more important now than ever before."

A campaign spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment Friday about the campaign staff departures, but Swalwell released a statement broadly denying the allegations.

"These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor," it said. "For nearly 20 years, I have served the public  as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.

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Members of senior leadership abruptly departed the campaign, including Courtni Pugh, a strategic adviser who served as Swalwells top liaison to organized labor groups.

Pugh confirmed her resignation, but declined to comment further. Two other people, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal campaign dynamics, confirmed there have been at least four departures.

Multiple Democrats running for governor called on Swalwell both to exit the race and to resign from Congress  including former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire Tom Steyer, who have consistently been the top-polling Democrats along with Swalwell and could benefit from his departure.

Swalwell for weeks had shown signs of consolidating support in a muddled Democratic field  but the emergence of damaging allegations promised to throw the already-fluid race into turmoil.

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Just a few weeks ago, Swalwells bid seemed to be gathering the kind of momentum that would have allowed him to pull ahead of a muddled Democratic field. He secured valuable endorsements from labor unions as deep-pocketed interests launched a super PAC for him.

And the Trump administrations reported push to release documents from an investigation into Swalwells ties to a suspected Chinese operative appeared to play to the Democrats advantage.

But soon after, accusations of inappropriate behavior with female staffers began to surface on social media. Swalwell forcefully disputed those allegations earlier this week through a spokesperson who assailed a false, outrageous rumor.

Some of the allegations I've seen, which is that weve had NDAs in the office  never. There's never been an allegation, and there's never been a settlement, Swalwell told reporters on Wednesday.

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An attorney for Swalwell confirmed to POLITICO Friday that he had sent a cease-and-desist letter to at least one person accusing Swalwell of misconduct.

We learned from press outlets that there are multiple allegations made against the Congressman, attorney Elias Dabaie said in an email. We believe those allegations are baseless and continue to seek the truth. We also want to understand why these allegations would suddenly arise on the eve on an election against the frontrunner in what appears to be a coordinated effort to undermine his candidacy.

The following day, Swalwell abruptly canceled a planned town hall with Rep. Raul Ruiz, citing illness.

Anticipating a race-rewriting event, multiple of Swalwells rivals have assailed him in recent days and accused him of hypocrisy given his past statements in support of the woman who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault ahead of his confirmation hearing.
China's President Xi Jinping received Taiwan's main opposition party leader on Friday, in a rare meeting which saw both sides stress a desire for cross-strait peace.

Cheng Li-wun is the Kuomintang's (KMT) first sitting leader to visit China in a decade.

In 2016, Beijing cut off high-level communications with Taiwan after the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen became president, citing her refusal to endorse the concept of a single Chinese nation. The DPP is among those who have criticised Cheng's trip, accusing her of being "subservient" to Beijing.

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Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking the self-governed island by force.

"The leaders of our two parties are meeting today in order to safeguard the peace and stability of our shared homeland, to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and to allow future generations to share in a bright and beautiful future," said Xi in a meeting at China's Great Hall of the People on Friday.

He added that China was willing to strengthen exchange and dialogue together with various parties, including the KMT - though it would have to be on the condition of opposing Taiwan independence.

Xi also reiterated that those on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese, and that they all wanted peace.

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In response, Cheng said the "rejuvenation of the Chinese people is a shared aspiration of the people on both sides of the Strait".

She added that it would be a "positive contribution to world peace and human progress".

In a press conference after her closed-door meeting with Xi, Cheng said young people of every generation had to understand that opposing Taiwan independence and maintaining the 1992 Consensus was a way to "avoid war, prevent tragedy, work together and create peace."

The 1992 Consensus is an understanding between the then-ruling KMT and the Chinese Communist Party about there being "one China", while leaving room for different interpretations of what that means. The DPP has consistently rejected the 1992 Consensus, arguing that it undermines Taiwan's sovereignty.

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The KMT has traditionally maintained warm ties with China, though Cheng's eagerness to visit contrasts with her predecessors' more cautious approach towards cross-strait relations, some analysts say.

Beijing has refused to hold formal dialogue with Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te, whom they have labelled a "separatist".

Lai has repeatedly committed to maintaining the status quo in cross-strait relations. But Chinese authorities and state media have heaped bitter rhetoric against him, calling him a "troublemaker" and "warmonger".

Most people in Taiwan consider themselves a sovereign nation. But many also favour keeping the "status quo" in cross-strait relations, neither unifying with China nor formally declaring independence.
The Trump administration is finalizing a report that casts the Biden Justice Department as anti-Christian over its enforcement of laws protecting abortion clinics and enforcement of Covid regulations, among other issues, according to details of the report viewed by NBC News.

The report stems from a Justice Department-led task force that aims to eradicate anti-Christian bias formed after an executive order President Donald Trump signed in February 2025. A final version is expected to be released in the coming weeks, a Justice Department spokesperson said.

The report does not carry any legal weight, but serves as an opportunity for the Trump administration to swipe politically at the Biden administration.

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Trump has long claimed that Joe Biden was anti-Christian, though the former president is a devout Catholic who has rejected those statements. At the 2021 National Prayer Breakfast, a Christian-leaning event that brings together members of Congress, the White House and other leaders, Biden condemned the political extremism that inspired the riot by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trumps order argued that the Biden Department of Justice sought to squelch faith in the public square, and the draft task force report uses similar language, claiming the Biden administration engaged in anti-Christian bias.

An analysis by the Interfaith Alliance after Trumps executive order found no evidence of widespread anti-Christian bias in the U.S.

In reality, it will weaponize a narrow understanding of religious freedom to legitimize discrimination against marginalized groups, the alliance analysis said.

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One part of the report is expected to criticize the Biden Justice Department's use of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which was passed in 1994 in the wake of attacks on abortion clinics and providers.

Some anti-abortion protesters who were prosecuted under the law when Biden was in office were pardoned by Trump when he took office.

Kristen Clarke, the former assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department under Biden, said in a statement to NBC News that the Justice Department enforced the law even-handedly and put public safety at the center of its work.

For decades, the Civil Rights Division brought law enforcement leaders, crisis pregnancy center representatives, and reproductive health care staff together to address the real violence, threats of violence, and obstruction that too many people face in our country when it comes to reproductive health care, Clarke said.

Former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke in Washington in May 2024. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch)

Bidens office didnt immediately return a message seeking comment.

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The reports draft language is unusual for the Justice Department, which typically speaks through legal filings, and examinations of internal policies and procedures normally emerge from the inspector generals office. But it isnt solely a DOJ product; the task force also included Trump Cabinet members.

It is also expected to touch on a matter of topics that have already drawn attention, including a retracted 2023 memo from an FBI field office in Richmond, Virginia, that discussed radical-traditionalist Catholics. Former FBI Director Chris Wray and former Attorney General Merrick Garland both disavowed the memo after it was leaked by a then FBI special agent who grew close to, and has since had a falling out with, FBI Director Kash Patel.

Patel was interviewed for the upcoming report and noted that the Richmond memo had been discussed widely and rightfully so, according to details viewed by NBC News.

Patel said they did a full deep dive into the creation of the memo and said the FBI had jettisoned all relationships with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League, which he said contributed to this woeful violation of our constitutional rights.

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The Southern Poverty Law Center is a legal advocacy organization founded in the 1970s that seeks to fight systemic discrimination through litigation. The Anti-Defamation League is a nonprofit dedicated to stopping antisemitism and extremism in all forms.

Harmeet Dhillon, Trumps appointee to head the Civil Rights Division, has used the FACE Act in a historically unprecedented manner, charging dozens of anti-ICE protesters who showed up to a Minnesota church, as well as former CNN anchor Don Lemon. Her office unsuccessfully attempted to keep many of the defendants incarcerated until trial, an unusual demand in cases where defendants are accused of nonviolent crimes. They also wrongly accused and arrested a woman who didnt take part in the protest.

Jonathan Darnel, an anti-abortion activist who was sentenced to 34 months in prison in a FACE Act case and then pardoned by Trump, told NBC News on Thursday that he wanted to see the final report before commenting on it. But Darnel also criticized the Trump administrations approach to the FACE Act against Lemon.

Im definitely not a fan of overzealous prosecution, whichever way it goes, Darnel told NBC News after Lemons arrest. The punishment should fit the crime, and FACE  especially when you couple FACE with conspiracy charges  could send somebody to prison for years, and that just seems like way too much of a penalty for what is effectively just ruining peoples morning.

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Darnel said he was afraid that if Trump administration officials start using this law as a convenient tool to go after people they dont like, then it will never get repealed, and it will be much, much more difficult for people to do the sort of things that I did, and what the other rescuers are trying to do, just peacefully interpose at abortion clinics.

Were ready to face certain legal penalties, thats just part of it, he said, but added that the punishments under the FACE Act were way too much.

A separate forthcoming report focusing on the FACE Act is the product of the Justice Departments weaponization working group, according to details of that report seen by NBC News. Under a DOJ memo put out last year, the group was supposed to examine FACE Act prosecutions among other issues. The report is expected to single out individual attorneys over their handling of FACE Act cases, according to details seen by NBC News. MS NOW first reported details of that report.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in response to a question from NBC News this week that the work of the weaponization working group  previously headed by Jan. 6 defendant advocate Ed Martin  would emerge publicly soon.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Less than two days after President Donald Trump announced a deal to temporarily pause hostilities in Iran, the fragile ceasefire is teetering on uncertain ground as tensions in the U.S. and the Middle East threaten to send the conflict back into full-out war.

Global pressures have flared since Trumps Tuesday evening announcement, particularly as Israel continued to launch strikes in Lebanon on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Thursday morning that the country continued to strike Hezbollah in Lebanon with force, precision and determination, with the offensive prompting outrage from the Iranians and even condemnation from some European leaders.

U.S. allies called for deescalation, with Egypts and Frances foreign ministers stressing the utmost priority of halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon and achieving de-escalation at this critical juncture in the Middle East during a Thursday call, according to an Egyptian readout of the meeting.

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Egypt's foreign minister also spoke with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, stressing the Lebanon strike "undermines all regional and international efforts aimed at achieving the intended de-escalation."

But by Thursday afternoon, the parties appeared to have made at least some progress  at the U.S.s urging  with Netanyahu writing in a statement that he instructed his administration to begin negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible. But he stressed in a later statement that there is no ceasefire in Lebanon and that we are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security.

A person familiar with the matter, granted anonymity to discuss ongoing talks, said the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the U.S. are expected to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa at the State Department next week.

The U.S. is the only country that can force Israel to do anything on Lebanon, an administration official who was not authorized to speak publicly told POLITICO. And the U.S. probably got here after yesterday and the global outcry."

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In a statement, the State Department confirmed it would host a meeting next week to discuss ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon.

Trump told NBC News in an interview on Thursday that he was very optimistic a peace deal was possible.

Iran leaders talk much differently when youre at a meeting than they do to the press. Theyre much more reasonable, he said.

If they dont make a deal, its going to be very painful, he added.

Iran, meanwhile, has continued to ratchet up the pressure on Israel: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi referenced Netanyahus long-running corruption trial  which is set to resume Sunday  in a Thursday social media post, writing: A region-wide ceasefire, incl in Lebanon, would hasten his jailing.

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If the U S. wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice. We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it, he added.

The White House announced Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance, alongside Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, would head to Pakistan this weekend for mediated talks with Iran.

Trumps announcement that the U.S. and Iran had reached a deal to suspend fighting for two weeks subject to Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz came just hours after he threatened to wipe out a whole civilization, sparking sharp rebukes and calls for his removal from Democrats.

The White House insisted in the wake of the deal that Israel had agreed to its terms  but Israel continued its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon even after Trumps announcement, and Iran continued targeting countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Israel and the Trump administration both said that an end to the Israeli strikes in Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire agreement.

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Trump, meanwhile, continued his saber-rattling on social media late into the night Wednesday, writing that all U.S. military personnel and equipment would remain in the region until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied. Otherwise, he said, the U.S. would resume  and even escalate  attacks on the country.

The president also continued to voice his displeasure with NATO, writing in a separate post: NATO WASNT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WONT BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to abandon the alliance over its reticence to assist the U.S. in its war against Iran, with several U.S. allies expressing frustration with Trumps failure to consult with partners before launching the war and confusion over the White Houses messaging.

Trumps Wednesday meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House went shit, one European official told POLITICO, describing the conversation as nothing but a tirade of insults.

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Rutte defended the alliance after what he referred to as a frank meeting with Trump, saying in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington on Thursday that NATO countries had to scramble to react after the invasion.

And in Washington, Democrats continue to pressure the Trump administration over the war. A Democratic effort to call for a war powers vote in the House during a pro forma session on Thursday failed.

But party leaders in both chambers said they expected to continue to push for votes, and some Republicans are signaling an openness to joining Democrats if the war continues to drag on.
President Donald Trump gave his blessing Friday afternoon for a party-line package focused narrowly on immigration enforcement  in a boost to Senate GOP leaders amid the Department of Homeland Security funding stalemate.

Trumps comments came after he met Friday with Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming. The two lawmakers went to the White House to pitch Senate GOP leaderships plan to restrict the partys filibuster-skirting effort to only funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection.

Reconciliation is ON TRACK, and we are moving FAST and FOCUSED in keeping our Border SECURE, and getting funding to the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to continue our incredible SUCCESS at MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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Trump had previously backed using reconciliation to pass funding for immigration enforcement after it became clear Democrats would not agree to reopen those shuttered operations within DHS without a deal for more guardrails on ICE and CBP. But the presidents post Friday, which hammered home the preference for focusing the bill on this issue, is a significant boost to GOP leaders as they face calls from some of their members to broaden the scope of any reconciliation measure.

Barrasso, in a subsequent post on X, said the White House meeting was productive and that Trump repeated his "deadline of June 1 to get to his desk a focused reconciliation bill that funds ICE and Border Patrol.

Graham, whom Trump also re-endorsed Friday, is responsible for crafting the budget resolution that will allow the party to begin the reconciliation process  its second time using this maneuver in addition to last years tax and spending megabill. He is expected to tap the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel to draft the immigration enforcement measure.

Senate Republicans could have text for that budget resolution as soon as next week. It would then go to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as the week of April 20, according to three people granted anonymity to disclose private scheduling.

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The resolution will greenlight ICE and Border Patrol funding for the rest of Trumps presidency, Graham told Fox News Bret Baier during an interview Friday. Some Republicans had suggested funding the immigration enforcement agencies for up to ten years amid a standoff with Democrats on the issue.

GOP senatorsare also expected to not include pay-fors for the immigration enforcement funding, arguing that it would have gone through the appropriations process were it not for opposition from Democrats. Theyll need sign-off from their own conservatives and the right-flank in the House, however, to proceed with such a plan.

Were going to have a very specific bill coming out before June 1 that will fund the Border Patrol and ICE for the entire presidency  the three years left of President Trump, Graham said.

Some Republicans have called for funding all of DHS through reconciliation. The Senate previously passed a bipartisan deal that would reopen the department except for ICE and Border Patrol, but it has stalled in the House as hard-liners demand the Senate first pass the immigration enforcement funding.

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Graham, asked on Fox News about the Houses skepticism, said the Senate is going to do it first to prove to the House that weve got the votes.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Myah Ward contributed to this report.
TOKYO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Japan plans to release 20 days' worth of oil reserves from May, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Friday, adding to the ongoing efforts that began in mid-March.

Takaichi revealed the plan at a ministerial meeting on the day to address the Middle East situation amid uncertainty over safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz despite the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal.

The Japanese government began releasing some 50 days' worth of reserves to the market on March 16 to secure stable supplies after the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in late February left the key oil shipping route largely closed.

Although the United States and Iran have agreed on a two-week ceasefire, it remains uncertain whether shipping through the Strait of Hormuz can resume smoothly or return to pre-war operating conditions.

Takaichi told the media that "we will take every possible measure to ensure a stable supply of crude oil."

By May, Japan should be able to secure more than half of its oil imports via routes that do not include the Strait of Hormuz, Takaichi said, without naming the sources.

Japan is dependent on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports, most of which pass through the Strait of Hormuz. 
President Donald Trump blasted former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Wednesday after Republican Clay Fuller won the special election runoff on Tuesday to fill Greene's old seat in Georgia's 14th Congressional District.

"Marjorie 'Traitor' Browns (GREEN TURNS TO BROWN UNDER STRESS!) seat in Congress has been taken over by a wonderful and talented man, Clay Fuller, who won convincingly, and right from the beginning, despite many people running for that 'TRUMP' +37 seat, and despite the stench left by Greene," Trump declared in a Wednesday Truth Social post.

"Congratulations to Clay Fuller, a very large improvement over his deranged predecessor!" the president added.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene Says Trump, Gop Governed America Last, Predicts Midterm Losses

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

While Greene won re-election to the district by more than 28% in 2024, unofficial results for the April 7 contest indicate that Fuller won by more than 11%.

It also appears that far fewer people voted in the recent contest compared to the 2024 race, which occurred during a presidential election cycle.

Read On The Fox News App

Greene declared in a post on X that the district "was never in danger of flipping blue, 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!"

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Greene, who was previously an ardent Trump supporter, had a falling out with the president last year and left office early this year in the middle of her two-year term.

Ex-trump Ally Marjorie Taylor Greene Joins Left-wing Calls For The 25Th Amendment As Iran Deadline Nears

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., arrives for a meeting of House Republicans in the Capitol Visitor Center on the budget reconciliation bill on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Getty Images)

On Easter Sunday after Trump's controversial Truth Social post threatening Iranian power plants and bridges, Greene blasted the president in a post on X, saying he had "gone insane."

"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," Trump said in the post on Sunday.

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In part of a lengthy post on X, Greene asserted, "Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trumps madness. I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit."

Then on Tuesday, after Trump threatened that an entire "civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again," Greene called for removing the president from office via the 25th Amendment.

Republicans Win But Democrats Also Claim Victory With Ballot Box Surge In Trump Territory

President Donald Trump arrives to address the nation from the Cross Hall of the White House on April 1, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

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"25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness," she wrote in a post on X.





Original article source: Trump trashes MTG after Republican wins contest to fill her old seat 'despite the stench left by Greene'
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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A pair of local churches have raised over $20,000 to help fight hunger in the Sudan, doubling their initial goal.

Saint Pauls and Saint Marys churches in Binghamton launched a rice bowl campaign to help feed the hungry in South Sudan. Father Arthur Krawczenko is the Pastor of both churches and says he was inspired after seeing a documentary about people starving there.

He set a goal to raise ten thousand dollars for the cause. Expecting to only raise half the amount, he said he would fund the other five thousand if necessary. Parish Council President Kathy Blodgett says it is important to do for others, especially during Lent when the campaign launched. She says she did not expect the goal to be exceeded by more than double.

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Parish Council President Kathy Blodgett says, Nobody expected that, we really didnt. We all thought wed make the goal because nobody wanted to see Father on bread and water for the next few months and he really did not think wed make that either.

Blodgett says though Lent is over, the churches are continuing to raise money for the cause.

To donate, contact the Parish office about mailing a check or dropping off money.

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 WIVT - News 34.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig made an unannounced visit on Thursday to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, the hub of the Trump administrations deportation operations in Minnesota. Thousands of immigrants have passed through Whipple on the way to jails and detention facilities across the country.

Craig, a Democrat representing the south metro, said she came to verify the Trump administrations compliance with a judges order affirming that members of Congress may conduct unannounced inspections of immigration facilities.

I want to see whats happening in real time and how people are being treated, Craig told a group of reporters in the lobby of the Whipple building.

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After waiting about 40 minutes, Craig was led back to inspect the detention facilities by ICEs St. Paul Field Office Director David Easterwood.

She returned about a half hour later and said she was told there was one person there in custody. She was not permitted to meet with that individual  detained by Homeland Security Investigations, which handles serious crimes including drug trafficking, human smuggling and child exploitation  but did inspect the empty holding facilities, which she said appeared to be in fairly decent order.

Access to ICE facilities has been contested in the courts, with judges ruling in multiple cases that ICE illegally refused entry to members of Congress, immigrant attorneys and clergy.

After Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent in January, Craig attempted to inspect Whipple with Democratic U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Kelly Morrison. They were turned away with the Trump administration citing a policy that members of Congress must provide seven days notice. Democratic members of Congress sued over that policy, and a judge ultimately sided with them.

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The point (of a congressional oversight visit) is for me at any point in time to be able to see what the conditions actually are for the people being held, Craig said.

Rep. Angie Craig walks out after conducting an inspection in the Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis to conduct an inspection Thursday, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

Craig also attempted to conduct an oversight visit with Omar on Feb. 20 after providing eight days advance notice, but ICE had apparently removed all detainees in preparation for their arrival.

Later that day, at least 10 people were released from custody in Whipple, according to Jack Lynch, a volunteer with the group Haven Watch, which provides phones, warm clothes and rides home to people coming out of detention. The next day, 30 people were released, he said.

Craig said she had people watching the exits of the Whipple building before and during her visit and it did not appear that detainees were moved out to avoid congressional oversight. She said she was also able to review the log of people detained in the facility.

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Still, she said, Theres a whole lot of trust that has to be restored in Minnesota.

The federal government has been partially shut down for more than 50 days, now the longest period in history, with Democrats refusing to renew funding for ICE without greater accountability for agents, including body cameras, a ban on face coverings and a requirement that federal agents obtain judicial warrants to enter homes and businesses.

We cant just say Operation Metro Surge is over, Craig said. This will never be over, as far as Im concerned, until we put the appropriate guardrails on the tactics that ICE is using.

Immigration operations have slowed significantly in the Twin Cities metro area since the Trump administration announced an end to Operation Metro Surge on Feb. 12, although they havent stopped completely.

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Craig said an ICE official told her on Thursday the agency made 43 arrests in the past week, not including arrests made by Homeland Security Investigations.

Haven Watch volunteers have seen about 15 people being released from Whipple each week since the start of the drawdown of Operation Metro Surge, Lynch said. Thats a significant decrease from the height of the federal operation.

More than 4,300 immigrants have been detained at Whipple since the start of the surge, according to government data obtained by the Deportation Data Project.

Whipple is not technically a detention center but rather a holding facility, where immigrants may be jailed for up to a few days before being transferred to county jails with ICE contracts or detention centers out of state.

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Craig says she remains concerned about the welfare and treatment of Minnesotans now being held in Texas detention facilities.

More than 500 people arrested in Minnesota remain in detention in Texas, according to data from the Deportation Data Project, with some suffering severe medical issues including a woman with a large ovarian cyst at risk of rupture. Craig has tried to secure treatment for that woman, but to little avail.

Morrison visited the Camp East Montana facility near El Paso, the countrys largest immigrant detention center, and called the conditions unbelievably inhumane. Most people there have no serious criminal records.

There are some horrific stories coming out of El Paso, Craig said. The lack of medical care  is something that every Minnesotan and every American should be ashamed of.
Ukraine has been helping allies in the Middle East as they face Iranian drones.

President Zelenskyy said Ukrainian personnel downed Shahed drones in multiple countries.

Ukraine's experience against Russia means its anti-drone tech and expertise is in demand.

Ukrainian forces shot down Iranian Shahed drones in the Middle East, the country's president said, as countries turn to Ukrainian expertise in counter-drone warfare.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters this week that Ukrainian personnel have shot down drones in multiple countries as Ukraine looks to help friendly nations now seeking Ukrainian knowledge amid Iranian attacks resembling the Russian ones Ukraine has been fighting for years.

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"Did we shoot things down? Yes, we did. Did we shoot them down in one country? No, in several," Zelensky said during a closed-door briefing, according to a report from the local media outlet Kyiv Post.

He said that Ukrainian forces took part in operations using domestically made interceptor drones, a technology that Ukraine has pioneered to stop Russian drone attacks and that partners are now deeply interested in acquiring.

Ukraine has been able to offer guidance to partner countries on strengthening their existing air defense networks and participate in active operations.

Russia's Shahed drones are a huge problem for Ukraine. Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

"This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defense system that can actually work," Zelenskyy said. He said that Ukrainian forces were also able to defeat jet-powered drones.

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A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran went into effect on Tuesday, but over the five weeks prior, Iranian forces facing bombardments by the US and Israel launched numerous missiles and Shahed one-way attack drones at countries across the Middle East. Deeply familiar with this threat, Ukraine was quick to offer support and assistance.

Iran's Shahed drone is a loitering munition that carries a deadly explosive payload. Russia has used this weapon against Ukraine, as well as a domestically developed version, the Geran.

Zelenskyy did not say which countries his forces helped or which interceptor drones were used.

A number of interceptor drone companies, including Ukrainian firms and foreign companies that make interceptor drones used by Ukrainian forces, have told Business Insider that they've seen a surge in interest since the war with Iran began in late February.

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The US and its Middle East allies have advanced air defenses, but drone warfare is exposing a cost problem. Ukraine's cheaper, scalable interceptors are proving critical: a Shahed drone can cost around $50,000, while a Patriot PAC-3 interceptor is about $3.7 million. Using high-end missiles to shoot down low-cost drones isn't sustainable.

Adversaries can send waves of cheaper drones in an attempt to exhaust traditional air defenses. But most interceptors in Ukraine are sold for around $6,000 or less, changing the cost dynamic entirely.

Ukraine has developed a host of interceptor drones, a low-cost way to stop enemy drones. Nina Liashonok / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Ukraine has been keen to help friendly partner nations in the Middle East struggling with this challenge, including by sending drone warfare experts to the region. Zelesnkyy said last month that multiple countries had asked for help, and that Ukraine could supply partners with at least 1,000 interceptor drones a day if they helped with funding their production.

He called Ukraine's approach "far more cost-effective than anything our partners use today."

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Helping partner countries serves Ukraine's interests as it seeks deeper military integration with allies and continued support against Russia. Ukrainian companies and troops also frame it as payback  a way to return the help they've received.

Zelenskyy said this week that in return, Ukraine is receiving weapons to help defend its energy infrastructure from Russian strikes, along with oil, diesel, and additional financial support, the Associated Press reported.

"We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our country's resilience," he said. "This is far more than simply receiving money."

Zelenskyy said last month that with cooperation and investment, Ukraine can help a host of nations: "If a 'Shahed' needs to be stopped in the Emirates, we can do it. If it needs to be stopped in Europe or the United Kingdom, we can do it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Iran and the United States were scheduled to hold peace talks in Pakistan on Saturday with the foes appearing to be far apart on key demands and expressing mutual mistrust.

The Iranian delegation, with more than 70 members and headed by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived first in Islamabad, where security was tight.

"We have good intentions but we do not trust," Iranian state TV quoted Ghalibaf as saying upon his arrival in Pakistan's capital. "Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises."

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Vice President JD Vance, who is heading the US delegation which also includes Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, was equally wary in comments to reporters before leaving Washington.

"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance said.

But "if they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive."

Iran has insisted on a truce in Lebanon and unfreezing of its assets for the Islamabad talks to go ahead -- neither of which has materialized so far.

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US President Donald Trump demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for the two-week ceasefire which has made the negotiations possible.

The strait, through which one-fifth of the world's crude passes, has not reopened to normal traffic, however, and Trump vowed on Friday to have it open soon "with or without" Iran's cooperation.

He said his top priority at the Islamabad talks was to ensure the Islamic republic cannot have a nuclear weapon. "No nuclear weapon. That's 99 percent of it," he said.

- 'Make or break' -

Israeli air strikes continued in Lebanon on Friday against Hezbollah despite the Iranian demand that they be halted as a condition of the truce with Washington.

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Israel has said the US-Iran ceasefire does not cover Lebanon.

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said his country will hold discussions with Lebanon's government in Washington next week but will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, Leiter said in a statement.

"Israel refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which continues to attack Israel and is the main obstacle to peace between the two countries."

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Israel launched massive strikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon after attacking Iran on February 28, in response to rocket fire into Israel from Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shia Muslim movement and militant group.

Lebanese authorities say the weeks of hostilities have killed more than 1,950 people, with Israeli strikes killing more than 350 people Wednesday alone, the first full day of the US-Iran ceasefire.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said making progress at the Islamabad talks would be hard work.

"A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations," he said.

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"This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of 'make or break.'"

In Islamabad, all routes leading to the Serena Hotel, the expected venue for the talks, were blocked off with heavy security, while a large banner and digital signs along the expressway heralded the "Islamabad Talks."

In Tehran, a 30-year-old resident told AFP he was skeptical negotiations would be successful, describing most of what Trump says as "pure noise and nonsense."

Wall Street stocks rose sharply over the week and oil prices fell as the fragile truce was struck between the United States and Iran.

For the week, all three major US indices advanced by more than three percent. Oil prices retreated once again on Friday. For the week, they tumbled by approximately 13 percent.

burs/cl/mlm
A top Virginia Democrat is defending support for the redistricting effort critics are calling a "power grab" on the part of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Richmond leadership, dismissing claims that rural Virginians will have their voices diluted by an urban-centric map.

The redistricting referendum, before voters now through April 21, would redraw Virginias 6-5 Democrat-majority congressional map to a likely 10-1 spread, leaving only Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., from the Old Dominions mountainous far southwest in office for the GOP.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., a first-term Loudoun County congressman, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that the goal of the redistricting remains as stated in its referendum text: to "restore fairness" in congressional apportionment.

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When Virginians head to the polls, he argues, issues like the Iran conflict, healthcare funding and unease over the state of immigration enforcement will be on their minds.

Soros-backed Group Among Liberal Orgs Pumping Eye-popping Cash Into Virginia Gerrymandering Effort

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., speaks on the Hill. (Getty Images)

"Theres two different things here  theres the redistricting amendment: the reason the general assembly pushed this forward was to be a response to Texas and other red states who are planning to do this  the idea was to even the playing field going into the midterms," he said.

Read On The Fox News App

"The reason I believe people will vote for it is because they are angry at the Trump administration in Virginia," he added.

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Subramanyam pushed back on claims from Republicans, including rural Rep. Ben Cline of the Shenandoah Valley, that areas like his, primed to be chopped up by the new map, will suddenly see their next representative ignore their needs. His district's population is centered in Loudoun, outside Washington, D.C., but it extends into rural Washington, Va., Sperryville and Warrenton, which together are geographically larger than the dense suburbs.

"I spend a lot of time in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties, even though I live in Loudoun County, and they actually get a disproportionate amount of federal funding and appropriations requests from my office because we are working really hard in those counties and know they have a lot of needs."

This Crucial State Is The Latest Battleground In Redistricting War Between Trump And Democrats

Subramanyam said that even if lawmakers hail from Virginias cities or suburbs, they will often go "out of their way" to support the counties they dont live in because they need a voice.

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"What I would say to [critics] is they should talk to my constituents in Fauquier and Rappahannock, who may not vote for me in big numbers, but they appreciate that we're working really hard for them anyway."

In that regard, Democrats are already lining up to run for Congress in a district that includes part of Subramanyams current area  a lobster-shaped district that Republicans claim is drawn intentionally to include a tiny slice of Fairfax and Loudoun for populations sake, then expand far south to Powhatan and west to West Virginias state line while remaining blue.

State Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, progenitor of the states new gun control panoply, along with former first lady Dorothy McAuliffe and Jack Smith prosecutor JP Cooney, are all seeking the drafted seat.

Cline previously told Fox News Digital he worries for his current constituents, adding that the Shenandoah Valley is Virginias top agricultural area and farmers voices will have to be divided among five new federal lawmakers.

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Expanding on voter sentiment, Fox News Digital asked Subramanyam about recent polling showing Gov. Abigail Spanbergers popularity taking a hit amid her support for redistricting and other liberal priorities moving through the state legislature.

Battle For The House Runs Through Virginia As Court Oks High-stakes Redistricting Vote

"I wouldn't read too much into it," he said.

"She certainly is very early into her administration and has a lot of time to show people what shes all about."

Subramanyam predicted that if there were a repeat election tomorrow, Spanberger would again defeat former Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears by the same 15 points as in November.

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"Were seeing that all over the country right now -- backlash against the Trump administration is finding its way into school board races and Supreme Court races in Wisconsin and places like Georgia."

Just down Leesburg Pike from Subramanyams district, Rep. Donald Beyer of Alexandria offered his own comments on the redistricting effort, telling NBC News a "yes" vote is crucial for "those of us who believe that taking back the House is the most significant thing we can do to stop Donald Trump."

Beyer  whose seat is considered safe with or without a cartographic change  did mention the "fairness" aspect, calling the new 10-1 Democrat-friendly map "totally fair for America" even if critics found it "unfair in Virginia."

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Sam Wong, a Republican challenging Subramanyam this year, slammed the Democrat and told Fox News Digital he is ignoring pressing issues in his disrict.

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"While Suhas Subramanyam is busy playing 'Map Architect' in Richmond to save his own skin, my neighbors in this district are opening their power bills and seeing their bank accounts drained," Wong said.

"Suhas claims hes 'working hard' for rural counties? Thats a lie. If he were working, hed be fighting the data center explosion that is cannibalizing our energy grid and forcing Virginia families to subsidize Big Techs electric bill," Wong added, alleging Subramanyam "turned [his] back" on legal immigrants in Loudoun through support for Democratic immigration policies.

Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, whose rural district is closer to Birmingham than Washington, pushed back on the collective sentiment, telling Fox News Digital that the new map is "manifestly unfair" to the rest of Virginia.

Abigail Spanberger is conducting a bus tour through Virginia to connect with constituents as she campaigns to become the governor of Virginia in the 2025 gubernatorial election in Fairfax, Va., on June 26, 2025.

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"Were a 51-49 state, not a 90-10 state. If theyre willing to silence nearly half the Commonwealths voters in the name of fairness, what else are they willing to do?" he said.

Kilgores Senate counterpart, Minority Leader Ryan McDougle of Hanover, echoed him in recent comments to Fox News Digital, saying the new map is just the next step in the "con job" agenda from Democrats who claim to prioritize affordability but instead are "trying to shove another partisan power grab down our throats, this time wrapped in the phony label of fairness.'"





Original article source: VA Dem rejects power grab claims on Spanberger redistricting as GOP warns 101 map would split rural vote
BURLINGTON, Vt.  A Vermont man, who was facing potential death penalty sentences in the fatal shooting of two Western Massachusetts men, has accepted a plea bargain that will provide him consecutive life terms in prison.

Theodore Theo Bland, 30, formerly of Stowe and most recently of Burlington, had pleaded not guilty in federal court in December to eight felony charges in his latest indictment, including gunning down the two out-of-state drug dealers at a mobile home at 497 Eden Road in Lowell on Oct. 12, 2023.

The bodies of Jahim Debo Solomon, 21, of Pittsfield, Mass., and Eric E White, 21, of Chicopee, Mass., were found about two weeks later in the town of Eden in nearby Lamoille County about a mile apart. Solomon was shot four times in the head and once in the chest, while White was shot once in the head, records show.

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The U.S. Attorneys Office in Vermont, which got the green light from the Justice Department in Washington last fall to seek the death penalty, has now taken that off the table.

Under the 13-page signed plea agreement filed Thursday, Bland admits to causing the deaths of both Solomon and White during a drug trafficking crime on Oct. 12, 2023. Both criminal charges carry life sentences.

He also has admitted to carrying and using a gun on Oct. 14, 2023, during a drug trafficking crime, which calls for a consecutive life sentence, the plea agreement notes.

Bland also has agreed to plead guilty to four other felony gun and drug charges, court records show. They include two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine on Oct. 12 and Oct. 14, 2023, and one count of conspiracy to distribute the two dangerous drugs between Sept. 7, 2023, and Oct. 15, 2023, records show.

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He also has agreed to admit to conspiring to carrying and using firearms during October 2023 while trafficking drugs, records show.

The other non-life sentences in prison carry penalties between 20 and 40 years in prison. Bland also faces fines of up to $8 million.

No date has been set for the change of plea before Senior Federal Judge William K. Sessions III in Burlington.

Bland is scheduled to have a scheduling conference in the case on May 18. That could be converted to a change of plea hearing, unless the court wants to move up the case.

Bland had been detained at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans until mid-December, but a new computerized inmate locater system used by the Vermont Department of Corrections showed on Thursday he is not in a Vermont prison  and has never been held in Vermont. The new updated tracking system for family, friends, the media and the general public also fails to show the whereabouts of other inmates known to be in Vermont prisons

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Vermont News First eventually found Bland at the Cheshire County Jail in Keene, N.H.

Vermont News First initially reported in December 2023 that Bland was the main person of interest in the double homicide. The story, which appeared in multiple newspapers in Vermont and Massachusetts, was based on Vermont News Firsts own investigation, interviews and court records.

The government eventually used that VNF news story as a court exhibit in seeking Blands detention.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Turner and Jonathan Ophardt disclosed during a mid-October 2025 hearing that the death penalty would be sought. Turner later wrote that the government was prepared to show several intent factors justifying the death penalty. They include Bland intentionally killed the victims and that he inflicted on purpose serious bodily injury that resulted in their deaths.

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Turner also noted that among the aggravating factors is Blands criminal record for using a firearm in the past.

Bland comes from a well-known Stowe family, which includes his father, Richard Bland, a lawyer and a former member of the town school board.

The double homicide is part of a complex interstate drug trafficking ring. At least eight people have been charged in U.S. District Court as part of the case investigated by the Vermont Drug Task Force, State and Morristown Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Other less involved people have been charged in state court.

Solomon and White had taken an Uber from downtown Burlington near City Hall Park to the Northeast Kingdom with Bland, their suspected killer, and with his then-girlfriend, Teesha Nooth, then-30, about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 12, 2023  one day before the killings, according to court records. The foursome was caught on video getting into the Uber in Burlington, police said.

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The foursome was dropped off about 3:12 a.m. near Hazen Road and Larabee Hill Road in Albany.

After the fatal shootings, as police began to focus on suspects, an associate of Bland told Vermont State Police that the bodies could be found in remote areas near a pull off on the Albany-Eden Road in the town of Eden, records show.

Vermont Game Warden Dustin Snyder and his K-9, Fletch, found the body of Solomon on the evening of Oct. 24, records show. As police combed the area the next day, Morristown Police Detective Lt. Todd Baxter located the body of White nearly a mile farther into the woods, police have said.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The Artemis II astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft Integrity are headed back to Earth with an anticipated splashdown off of the coast of San Diego on Friday.

According to NASA, the crews splashdown is expected to happen around 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) on Friday.

San Diego Navy set to recover Artemis II as museum gears up for watch party

Although it is unlikely that people will be able to see the spacecraft land in the Pacific Ocean from the shore, there are a few ways they can witness the historic moment in San Diego.

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Here are a couple of ways families with space enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy the excitement of the Artemis II mission and watch their return to Earth.

From Thursday through Saturday, the Fleet Science Center in San Diego will host ARTEMIS Week, a series of limited-time exhibits and opportunities to engage with NASA experts and scientists in celebration of the Artemis II mission.

The Fleet is also offering special tickets to Artemis IIs splashdown event on Friday.

Guests with tickets will get to experience NASAs live broadcast of the splashdown in the Fleets Giant Dome Theater, and watch a film about the Apollo 11 mission. Tickets for the splashdown event viewing are $34.95 per person and include access to the museum exhibit galleries.

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Another viewing event for people with young children will take place at the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

The Artemis II Splashdown Family PJ Party begins at 4 p.m. on Friday ahead of the expected splashdown. Activities will end at 7 p.m. but viewing will continue if the crews return is delayed, according to the museum.

The event is included with museum admission and those arriving at 4 p.m. or later can get half price admission. As of Wednesday, group slots have been filled, but half price tickets will be available starting at 4 p.m. on Friday. Information can be found on the San Diego Air and Space Museums website.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Ukrainian soldiers have helped to repel attacks by Iranian drones on Gulf states during the war with Iran, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday.

"Did we destroy Iranian 'shaheds?' Yes, we did. Did we do it in just one country? No, in several. And in my view, this is a success," Zelensky wrote on X, quoting remarks he made in a conversation with journalists.

Ukrainian military experts were deployed to the Middle East amid the Iran war. Kiev has also shown several countries how to operate drone interception systems.

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Russia has been waging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine for more than four years and has extensively used Shahed drones, which are of Iranian design.

In response to US-Israeli airstrikes, Iran has also launched such drones against neighbouring Gulf states.

Zelensky also travelled to the region and signed agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Under these agreements, Ukrainian companies are to cooperate with local armed forces to protect specific facilities.

In return, Ukraine is expected to receive anti-aircraft ammunition to protect its energy infrastructure, as well as crude oil and diesel.

Similar agreements are being discussed with Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, the Ukrainian president said.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R) shakes hands with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 9, 2026. Hussein met with Abdelatty here on Thursday evening to discuss regional de-escalation and the upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty here on Thursday evening to discuss regional de-escalation and the upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Hussein praised Egypt's role in supporting de-escalation efforts in the region and its constructive engagement with all parties, read a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

He also affirmed Iraq's support for international efforts to strengthen negotiations, adding that the current phase demands broad, coordinated action to reach understandings that consolidate regional stability.

For his part, Abdelatty addressed risks to the existing U.S.-Iran truce, stressing the need to intensify efforts to prevent escalation that could undermine it.

They also discussed ways to activate the role of the Arab League in addressing the current crisis, helping restore regional security and reinforcing adherence to international law.

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 with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A two-week ceasefire reached between Washington and Tehran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R) attends a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 9, 2026. Hussein met with Abdelatty here on Thursday evening to discuss regional de-escalation and the upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
In the hours before President Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, the average gas price in the United States edged up to $4.14 per gallon of regular fuel, according to AAA.

Days later, that price  now $4.15 per gallon  has still not gone down.

Millions of cash-strapped Americans are probably hoping that the current ceasefire  a two-week pause to hammer out a lasting peace deal  will mean a swift return to where gas was before the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran on Feb. 28: under $3 per gallon.

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After all, havent the Iranians agreed as part of the ceasefire to lift their monthlong blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively choked off one-fifth of the worlds oil supply? And if oil starts flowing out of the Persian Gulf again, doesnt that mean gas prices will plummet?

Unfortunately, no  or at least not anytime soon.

Theres no going back to what we had, Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moodys Analytics, told USA Today. At least not this year.

Heres why you can expect more pain at the pump in the weeks and months ahead.

Has the Strait of Hormuz really reopened?

The international benchmark for oil prices is called Brent crude. Brent is a type of oil, mostly from the North Sea. Traders effectively place bets on the future price of oil by buying and selling Brent futures on financial markets, which in turn affects the price of oil itself. Real-world events drive their decisions to buy or sell.

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When Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices rose. If Iran reopens the strait, oil prices should theoretically fall. (Brent crude is easy to refine into gasoline, so gas prices tend to rise and fall along with Brent prices.)

But the problem is that the Strait of Hormuz hasnt actually reopened yet  and there are serious doubts about what reopening means exactly (not to mention how long it might last).

Just hours after Trump announced the ceasefire, for instance, Iranian state media said Tehran had turned some tankers away and fully closed the strait again. Semi-official outlets affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard reported that the straits closure came in response to a deadly wave of Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump wrote Thursday on social media. That is not the agreement we have!

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A day later, the president accused the Iranians of a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. 

The Iranians dont seem to realize they have no cards, Trump claimed. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!

Theres been some confusion over whether Hormuz is currently closed or open. Iran seems to have stopped laying mines and attacking vessels, and the regime has said it will allow for safe passage if ships coordinate with the countrys armed forces to avoid existing mines.

At the same time, Tehran is insisting that if the Strait of Hormuz is to fully reopen, Israel must stop bombarding the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon  a contentious issue that threatens the ceasefire.

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On Friday, Irans military vowed that it would maintain the initiative to dominate that strait and will not give up our legitimate rights in any way, warning of a crushing and painful response if Israel keeps striking Hezbollah .

The regime is also demanding formal control over the Strait of Hormuz going forward, with a reported toll of $2 million per vessel.

These kinks could be ironed out by negotiators who are meeting in Pakistan over the weekend. Governments in Europe and Asia have said they will eventually contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation. And even though Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. might join Iran in charging a Hormuz toll as a joint venture, by Thursday, he was adamant about them not doing so on their own.

There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait, the president wrote on social media. They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!

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But at the moment, few ships are willing to risk the journey amid so much chaos and uncertainty. In fact, Wednesday saw the lowest ship traffic through the strait since late March, according to data from Kpler, a global ship-tracking firm. Just five bulk carriers made the trip; no oil or gas tankers joined them. Before the war, more than 130 ships typically crossed the strait each day.

The ceasefire is too unstable for anyone to commit, one maritime insurance executive told the New York Times. Until those ships start moving and Gulf oil comes back online, theres no chance of a significant drop in U.S. gas prices.

Up like a rocket and down like feather

Assuming the Strait of Hormuz does fully reopen sometime soon  a big assumption given all the diplomatic challenges ahead  experts say prices at the pump still wont plunge to their prewar level.

Theres an old expression: Gas prices go up like a rocket and come down like a feather, one independent oil analyst told CNN.

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In this case, the start of the Iran war triggered a record jump in the U.S. gas price  and five factors will continue to pad that price even after the conflict ends.

First, oil production has largely ground to a halt across the Persian Gulf over the past six weeks  partly because the regions oil infrastructure suffered damage and partly because countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman and Saudi Arabia (the worlds largest oil exporter) ran out of storage space. An estimated 7.5 million barrels of production per day were shut down in March, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Global supply will continue to suffer while these countries play catch up  a process that could take years, experts say.

Second, exporting oil from the Gulf will get more expensive if Iran charges a toll, and that added cost  an estimated $1 per barrel, according to CNN  is likely to be passed on to consumers.

Third, insurance for ships that cross the Strait of Hormuz will likely cost more as well  another expense that could make gas and other petroleum products pricier for Americans.

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Fourth, traders will want some premium to compensate for [the] risk that the ceasefire breaks, according to Zandi. Thats why oil futures are still above prewar levels through the end of 2026.

Finally, retail gas station owners set their prices based on the wholesale price of gas. When oil gets more expensive, that price goes up  but gas stations tend to accept a smaller profit margin on each gallon they sell in order to stay competitive. Then, when the cost of oil starts to fall, they typically try to even things out by hanging onto higher gas prices for as long as possible.

The U.S. now produces more oil than any other country on earth. But it also consumes more, and even though very little of Americas petroleum is imported from the Persian Gulf, the market is global  meaning everyone is competing for the same barrel of oil. So prices rise everywhere at once.

Over the past few days, they have nosedived from about $110 to about $90 a barrel on news of the ceasefire, then rocketed back to about $100 amid fears that it could fall apart. Until those numbers stabilize, U.S. gas prices will remain stubbornly high.

And even if they do start to fall, it could take until next year for them to slip under $3 again.
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This year's Seattle International Film Festival, which runs May 7-17, will not have a customary closing-night party. (Courtesy of SIFF)
YANGON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing on Friday pledged to strengthen international relations in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television reported.

In the inaugural ceremony speech delivered at the Union Parliament in Nay Pyi Taw, Min Aung Hlaing said that Myanmar would maintain a balanced approach to international relations and enhance friendship with neighboring countries, the report said.

As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Myanmar government would strive to restore normal relations with ASEAN, he added.

The government would cooperate with neighboring countries and regional partners in various political, economic, and social sectors, and would strengthen international relations in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, he said.

He also emphasized building a federal union, promoting renewable energy to reduce fuel use, and establishing a new Ministry of Women's Affairs to enhance the capabilities of women in various fields.

His speech also addressed matters related to education, economic development through micro, small, and medium enterprises, and national reconciliation, the report added. 
United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss regional developments in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on April 9, 2026. (WAM/Handout via Xinhua)

ABU DHABI/MANAMA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa held separate meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday to discuss regional developments, according to media reports.

During the meeting between the UAE president and Starmer in Abu Dhabi, the two sides condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure in the UAE and the region, saying that such acts violate sovereignty and international law, and undermine peace and security, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Starmer reiterated Britain's condemnation of the attacks and expressed solidarity with the UAE, affirming support for its security and sovereignty.

Also on Thursday, the Bahraini crown prince met with Starmer in a separate meeting in western Bahrain's Sakhir Palace, during which the crown prince urged Iran to immediately cease the hostile acts in the region and to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Bahrain News Agency reported.

The crown prince said that efforts to counter Iranian threats "must be comprehensive," covering its nuclear program, ballistic missiles and drones, support for proxy militias, and threats to maritime navigation, among others.

Meanwhile, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday met with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, WAM reported.

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 with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A two-week ceasefire reached between Washington and Tehran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meets with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on April 9, 2026. (WAM/Handout via Xinhua)
ISLAMABAD, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that a comprehensive plan has been prepared to ensure foolproof security for all visiting foreign delegates.

The negotiations are expected to bring together senior officials from both countries as part of diplomatic efforts to reach a longer-term settlement after weeks of escalating conflict.

According to Iran's Students' News Agency, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf will lead the Tehran delegation for talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad. The White House confirmed that the U.S. team will include senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with the first round of negotiations expected on Saturday.

Analysts said Pakistan-facilitated talks face cautious optimism, saying that both sides have suffered heavy military, political, and economic losses, creating pressure for a negotiated settlement.

Authorities in Islamabad have introduced sweeping security measures ahead of the talks. Local holidays have been declared in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to facilitate arrangements. Police, paramilitary troops, and other security agencies are deployed under the Blue Book VVIP protocol, with separate routes designated for the movement of foreign delegations.

Islamabad Police issued a traffic advisory warning commuters of diversions on the Express Highway. Rescue services and hospitals have been placed on high alert. Serena Hotel, a five-star property in the Red Zone, has been reserved exclusively for the delegations, while several entry points to the capital will remain sealed during their stay.

Despite the ceasefire, several contentious issues are expected to dominate the negotiations.

One major point is the future of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes.

Sanctions relief is another central issue, with Iran seeking the lifting of sanctions imposed on it, which have severely restricted its economy and international financial transactions.

Differences also persist over uranium enrichment. Iran insists on maintaining its program for civilian nuclear energy purposes, while Washington has reiterated that it seeks strict limits on the activity.

To bring both sides to the negotiating table, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar have held consultations with regional leaders and maintained diplomatic contacts with both Tehran and Washington. Analysts said the country's neutrality, backed by longstanding ties with all stakeholders, gives it unique leverage in promoting dialogue.

Tughral Yamin, retired brigadier and a regional security analyst, described Pakistan's success in convening the talks as "a remarkable achievement," noting that bringing two deeply distrustful parties together was once considered improbable. "It demonstrates ambition and a willingness to take risks in pursuit of peace," he said.

He said the real challenge lies in shaping a mutually acceptable outcome, requiring pragmatism, flexibility, and careful concessions.

Officials and analysts expressed the hope that the talks could mark a critical step toward reducing tensions in one of the world's most volatile regions. 
BRUSSELS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- An oil spill at the Deurganck Dock in Belgium's Port of Antwerp has caused significant disruption to port operations, authorities said on Friday.

The incident occurred during a bunkering operation on Thursday. Although the source of the leak has been stopped and the vessels directly involved secured for clean-up, the pollution spread overnight into the Scheldt River, the port said in a statement.

Beyond the initial site, vessels at nearby terminals and several inland ships in surrounding waters have been affected. There is also a risk of impact on nearby natural areas along the river. As a result, access to the port via the Scheldt is currently suspended.

Port authorities expressed regret over the impact on operations and the fragile river ecosystems, stressing that environmental protection remains a top priority.

To improve coordination among relevant services, an operational coordination mechanism has been activated in consultation with the harbor master. Emergency services have been fully mobilized and are focusing on containment and clean-up efforts.

Antwerp port is part of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the second-largest port in Europe by cargo tonnage, after Rotterdam. 
A member of armed security personnel stands guard in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10, 2026. Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire. (Xinhua/Xu Han)

ISLAMABAD, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire.

The negotiations are expected to bring together senior officials from both countries as part of diplomatic efforts to reach a longer-term settlement after weeks of escalating conflict.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that a comprehensive plan has been prepared to ensure foolproof security for all visiting foreign delegates.

Authorities in Islamabad have introduced sweeping security measures ahead of the talks.

Local holidays have been declared in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to facilitate arrangements. Police, paramilitary troops, and other security agencies are deployed under the Blue Book VVIP protocol, with separate routes designated for the movement of foreign delegations.

Islamabad Police issued a traffic advisory warning commuters of diversions on the Express Highway. Rescue services and hospitals have been placed on high alert. Serena Hotel, a five-star property in the Red Zone, has been reserved exclusively for the delegations, while several entry points to the capital will remain sealed during their stay.

To bring both sides to the negotiating table, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar have held consultations with regional leaders and maintained diplomatic contacts with both Tehran and Washington. Analysts said the country's neutrality, backed by longstanding ties with all stakeholders, gives it unique leverage in promoting dialogue.

Tughral Yamin, retired brigadier and a regional security analyst, described Pakistan's success in convening the talks as "a remarkable achievement," noting that bringing two deeply distrustful parties together was once considered improbable. "It demonstrates ambition and a willingness to take risks in pursuit of peace," he said.

Sharif and Dar on Thursday spoke with several counterparts and senior officials from across the world via telephone, who expressed appreciation for Pakistan's mediating efforts and agreed on the need for coordinated international efforts to prevent further escalation and pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday warned the United States against allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "kill diplomacy." Israel has said the ceasefire does not cover the conflict in Lebanon, a position disputed by Iran and mediator Pakistan. Hours after the ceasefire came into effect, Israel launched its largest single-day attack on Lebanon.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was "very optimistic" a peace deal with Iran was within reach as Vice President JD Vance is prepared to head to Pakistan for talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to an NBC News report.

However, many analysts expect uncertainties over the outcome of the negotiation. The real challenge lies in shaping a mutually acceptable outcome, requiring pragmatism, flexibility, and careful concessions, Yamin said. 

This photo taken on April 10, 2026 shows a view of the Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

This photo taken on April 10, 2026 shows a city view in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire. (Photo by Ahmad Kamal/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 10, 2026 shows a billboard for the U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire. (Photo by Ahmad Kamal/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 10, 2026 shows a view of the Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

Military and police vehicles are on standby at the Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10, 2026. Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire. (Xinhua/Xu Han)
KABUL, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have confiscated and destroyed more than 10,500 kg of smuggled medicines in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, the provincial police office said on Friday.

According to the statement, the operation was carried out by security teams in Garmsir district of the province. The seized medicines, collected over a six-week period, were destroyed in the presence of a supervisory committee.

The action forms part of ongoing efforts to curb the illegal trade and smuggling of pharmaceuticals in the province. Authorities say such operations will continue to prevent the distribution of unregulated medicines in local markets. 
China is accelerating its northward push, positioning the new Inner Mongolia FTZ as a key global trade gateway. Spanning nearly 120 sq km across Hohhot, Manzhouli, and Erenhot, it sits on the Russia-Mongolia border and connects both China-Europe rail corridors, giving it significant logistical leverage. Officials aim to boost openness, industry, and cross-border cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, turning the region into a Eurasian trade hub.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday morning met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing.

Invited by the CPC Central Committee and Xi, Cheng is the first KMT chairperson to have led a delegation to the Chinese mainland in the past decade. The delegation had visited Jiangsu Province and Shanghai before coming to Beijing.

Xi said this meeting between the CPC and KMT leaders after 10 years is of great significance for developing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait.

Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum for the Chinese on both sides of the Strait to come together will not change.

He added that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait hope for peace and tranquility, improved cross-Strait relations, and better lives. "This is a responsibility that the CPC and the KMT cannot shirk, and also a driving force for the two parties to work together," Xi said. 

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
PYONGYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday paid tribute to the graves of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers located in Kangdong County.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is currently visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 
KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Malaysians are expected to accelerate their shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) and public transport as global fuel market volatility amid the Middle East conflict reshapes consumer behavior, the transport ministry said Thursday.

The transition underscores the need for a more efficient, reliable and comfortable public transport system to support growing demand, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said during a speech at the ministry's monthly assembly.

"We cannot deny that geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia is now having a direct impact on the transportation sector," he noted.

He also said the government has comprehensively assessed the impact of the crisis, particularly in terms of supply assurance and economic stability. 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, pays tribute to the graves of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) in Kangdong County, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Chao)

PYONGYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday paid tribute to the cemetery of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) located in Kangdong County.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is currently visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

In the cemetery, four collective tombs hold the remains of 1,383 volunteer soldiers who bravely sacrificed their lives in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in the 1950s.

Above and on both sides of the stone archway at the entrance, golden inscriptions read "Martyrs Cemetery of the Chinese People's Volunteers", "Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea" and "Safeguard Our Home and Defend Our Motherland." Two flights of stone steps lead to a white marble monument engraved with four red characters meaning "Eternal Glory."

The DPRK military band played the national anthems of the two countries, and the guards of honor presented before the monument a basket of flowers, decorated with ribbons bearing the words "Eternal Glory to the Martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers."

Wang, leading the Chinese delegation, bowed in silent tribute to the fallen soldiers, paid respects at a name wall of the martyrs, and offered the highest reverence to the martyrs of the CPV.

Expressing his gratitude to the DPRK for the preservation and renovation of the memorial facilities of CPV martyrs across the country, Wang stressed that the facilities will be kept as bases for carrying forward the blood-forged friendship between the two countries, educating future generations in both countries to inherit and promote the spirit of dedication embodied by the volunteer soldiers, thereby providing strong spiritual momentum for the development of bilateral relations. 
CAIRO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Friday stressed the need to safeguard regional peace and stability by building upon the recent ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

Sisi made the remarks during a phone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during which the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

He also stressed the importance of launching negotiations to resolve outstanding disputes between Washington and Tehran.

Sisi reviewed Egypt's intensive efforts with various parties aimed at de-escalation and affirmed Egypt's full support for the security and stability of Arab states, and its total rejection and condemnation of any violation of their sovereignty or any threats to their peoples' resources.

For her part, the Italian prime minister stressed the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to allow international navigation without imposing fees, and the need to maintain the Gulf states' security. She also called for an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program and urged all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of war.

Meloni reaffirmed Italy's commitment to boosting cooperation and coordination with Egypt to achieve these goals.

A two-week ceasefire reached between Iran and the United States took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan. 
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met on Friday with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in the first meeting between the leaders of the two parties in a decade, calling for joint efforts to promote cross-Strait peace and oppose "Taiwan independence."

Meeting Cheng in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum bringing the Chinese on both sides of the Strait closer together will not change.

Xi said that people on both sides of the Strait hope for peace and tranquility, improved cross-Strait relations, and better lives.

"This is a responsibility that the CPC and the KMT cannot shirk, and also a driving force for the two parties to work together," he said.

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 was founded under the leadership of the CPC.

The unresolved civil war and foreign interference have left the two sides of the Strait in a prolonged state of political confrontation. However, the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory has never changed.

On Friday, Xi stressed that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the Chinese nation.

The Chinese people of all ethnic groups including Taiwan compatriots, Xi said, have jointly forged the shared belief that "the territory cannot be divided, the country cannot be destabilized, the nation cannot be separated, and the civilization cannot be interrupted."

Xi expressed the willingness to work with all political parties in Taiwan, including the KMT, as well as groups and people from all sectors, to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, promote peace across the Strait, improve the well-being of the people and advance national rejuvenation, on the basis of the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

Wang Huning, Cai Qi and other officials attended the meeting.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

CLOSER BONDS, SHARED HOMELAND

In Friday's meeting, Xi put forward a set of proposals for advancing cross-Strait relations.

He called for forging closer bonds across the Strait by upholding a correct understanding of identity. "Differences in social systems should not be an excuse for secession," Xi said.

Xi also called for safeguarding the shared homeland through peaceful development. The core issue for safeguarding the shared homeland lies in recognizing that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, he said.

"We welcome any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and will spare no effort to advance any endeavors that promote such development," Xi said, adding that "Taiwan independence" is the chief culprit undermining peace across the Strait. "We should neither condone nor tolerate it."

Xi called for fostering the well-being of the people through exchanges and integration.

Taiwan compatriots are welcome to visit the mainland, Xi said. He encouraged young people in Taiwan to seek development opportunities on the mainland.

Taiwan agricultural and fishery products, as well as other high-quality goods, are welcome to enter the mainland market, he added.

Xi called for joint efforts to achieve national rejuvenation. "We firmly believe that more and more Taiwan compatriots will gain a correct understanding of the mainland's social system and development path," he said.

"They will recognize that Taiwan's development prospects hinge on a strong motherland, and that the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots are closely linked to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," he added.

Xi expressed the mainland's willingness to share its development opportunities and achievements with Taiwan compatriots and jointly build a stronger Chinese economy.

ONE FAMILY

Cheng told Xi in their meeting that people on both sides of the Strait are Chinese and belong to one family.

The KMT and the CPC should uphold the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," strengthen mutual political trust, preserve Chinese history, promote Chinese culture, and expand exchanges and cooperation across all fields, Cheng said.

She called for efforts to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, foster a brighter future for ties across the Strait, and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"I am willing to do anything as long as it helps promote peace across the Strait," Cheng told the press after the meeting with Xi.

Invited by the CPC Central Committee and Xi, Cheng led a KMT delegation on a mainland visit beginning Tuesday.

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)

In Nanjing, an ancient capital, they paid tribute at the mausoleum of 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 and dedicated his life to the pursuit of national rejuvenation and unification.

In Shanghai, the delegation got a glimpse of the vitality of a mainland metropolis as they sampled milk tea delivered by drone and toured cabins of domestically developed passenger aircraft at a research institute of an aviation manufacturer.

The delegation will continue its visit in Beijing before returning to Taiwan on Sunday. 
BOGOTA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's trade ministry said Friday it will raise tariffs on imports from neighboring Ecuador to 100 percent from 30 percent, matching a decision made a day earlier by Quito, as tensions between the two countries escalate.

Trade Minister Diana Morales said in a statement that Ecuador's latest tariff hike from 50 percent to 100 percent forced Colombia to align its policy, accusing the Quito move of distorting competition and harming domestic producers of both countries.

The process to implement the new measure would begin immediately, she said, adding that Colombia had pursued dialogue with Ecuador but received no positive response.

"We have exhausted all diplomatic efforts and kept channels of dialogue open with the government of Ecuador, seeking a solution that benefits both countries, business people, and above all, the communities on both sides of the border," she said.

"However, we have not received a positive response. ... We are therefore forced to adjust our tariff measures to match Ecuador's new rate," she said, adding that the Colombian government will introduce support measures, including credit lines and financing access, to help affected businesses.

Citing a trade deficit and accusing Colombia of failing to effectively fight drug trafficking at the shared border, Ecuador has in recent months hiked tariffs against its larger neighbor, while Colombia has denied the allegations.

The two countries have also clashed over Colombian President Gustavo Petro's comments that Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas is being held as a "political prisoner" and should be freed. 
Incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Djibouti's presidential candidate for the ruling Union for the Presidential Majority, casts his ballot at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election. The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (La Nation/Handout via Xinhua)

DJIBOUTI CITY, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The voting process will last for one day, with results expected to be announced shortly after the closure of all polling stations.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre.

According to local political analysts, the incumbent president is widely expected to win Friday's election.

Djibouti, a small country at the mouth of the Horn of Africa, serves as a major hub for international commerce as well as a key partner in the fight against sea piracy and transnational terrorism.

The Red Sea nation, with a population of about one million, is also the main foreign trade outlet for neighboring landlocked Ethiopia. 

Mohamed Farah Samatar, Djibouti's presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre, casts his ballot at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (La Nation/Handout via Xinhua)

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

A woman displays her ink-stained finger after casting ballot at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

An international observer (L) from the African Union works at a polling station during the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

A woman registers before casting her ballot at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

People line up to vote for the presidential election at a polling station in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

A man casts his ballot at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

A voter looks through the voters' roll at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)

Staff members prepare ballots at a polling station for the presidential election in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, on April 10, 2026. Polling stations opened their doors across Djibouti on Friday morning for the start of voting in the country's presidential election.

The election will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, running for his sixth term and competing against Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre. (Xinhua/Geng Xinning)
ABUJA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian military has confirmed that a brigade commander and "some brave soldiers" were killed while repelling an attack by a group of suspected terrorists who recently attacked a military position in the country's northeastern state of Borno.

The attack targeted the headquarters of the 29 Task Force Brigade in the Benisheikh town of Borno early Thursday, Michael Onoja, the spokesman for the military, said in a statement on Friday.

The terrorists attempted to breach the defensive perimeter of the military formation but were met with "exceptional courage, professionalism and superior firepower" by the troops, said Onoja, while describing the attack as "a sign of desperation by terrorist elements following sustained military pressure and significant losses recorded in recent operations."

The soldiers, under the leadership of the brigade commander, Brig.-Gen. Oseni Braimah, swiftly mounted a coordinated counter-offensive that forced the attackers to retreat in disarray, the military spokesman noted. Braimah was later confirmed killed in the gunfight.

"In a well-coordinated counteraction, the terrorists were decisively engaged and compelled to abandon their mission, leaving behind traces of their failed assault," he said.

In a separate statement late Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed deep sadness over the loss of the soldiers of the 29 Task Force Brigade, and offered heartfelt condolences to the military and the families of the soldiers, urging them to take heart in the face of the unfortunate loss.

"The government will never forget their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will not be in vain," Tinubu said. "Because of the courage and dedication of our troops on the frontline, our resolve to defeat terrorism and all forms of violence across Nigeria is stronger than ever." 
ABUJA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 suspected terrorists were killed during recent coordinated raids by Nigerian government forces in the country's central Plateau State, the army said Friday.

The operations carried out in the Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas identified terrorist corridors around Daba and Seri villages on Thursday, the army said in a statement.

The troops established blocking positions along a forest area, leading to contact with suspected terrorists moving on motorcycles along the axis, the statement said. The terrorists were engaged in a gunfight, "resulting in the killing of at least 10 of them, while others fled with suspected gunshot wounds."

The army added that it will intensify the raids, with troops maintaining a high fighting spirit and sustained offensive posture in the area. 
KAMPALA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A Ugandan court on Friday sentenced Agnes Nandutu, former state minister for Karamoja affairs, to four years in prison for misusing public resources.

The Anti-Corruption Court, sitting in the capital, Kampala, also barred Nandutu from holding any public office for 10 years.

Nandutu was convicted for her role in the diversion of 2,000 iron sheets intended for vulnerable communities in the semi-arid northeastern region of Karamoja.

Before the ruling, the former state minister pleaded for leniency and forgiveness.

Nandutu is among several senior government officials, including ministers, who were charged with diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja region for personal use. 
ISLAMABAD, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani navy rescued and evacuated 18 crew members from different countries following a distress call from a merchant vessel operating in the north Arabian Sea, the military said on Friday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement that the navy ship's team of specialists provided medical aid, assisted in firefighting, carried out damage assessment and rescued the crew.

The evacuated crew members were safely transported to Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi for medical care and repatriation to their respective countries, the ISPR said. 
MELBOURNE, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila will hit southeastern Papua New Guinea as a Category 2 storm, forecasters warned on Friday.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said that Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila was located 820 km east of Port Moresby in the Solomon Sea at 10 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time (0000 GMT) and moving slowly west.

It said that the cyclone dropped in strength from Category 4 to Category 3 overnight, with wind gusts of up to 205 km per hour, and is expected to continue weakening.

According to BoM forecasts, the storm is expected to hit PNG's Milne Bay Province as a Category 2 cyclone in the early hours of Sunday, bringing destructive and very destructive winds to the southeastern tip of the mainland and nearby islands.

The PNG National Weather Service (NWS) on Friday morning issued an updated emergency warning for the Milne Bay Province, particularly coastal and island communities.

"Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila will cause very heavy rain and flooding, storm surge, coastal inundation, gale force winds, storm force winds and hurricane force winds," it said.

"Take immediate precautions to protect life and property."

The BoM said that the cyclone could move towards the Australian mainland early next week. 
VIENTIANE, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Laos has welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, describing it as a significant step toward easing tensions both regionally and globally.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Laos hopes all parties concerned will exercise maximum restraint, cease all acts of violence, and resolve the ongoing conflict through peaceful means in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

The statement added that such efforts are essential to achieving sustainable peace and stability for the people of the Middle East and the wider global community. 
PHNOM PENH, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Retail fuel prices in Cambodia have declined after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday midnight.

In an announcement, the Ministry of Commerce said a liter of regular gasoline costs 5,200 riels (1.3 U.S. dollars) from Friday until the next notice, down 5.4 percent from 5,500 riels (1.37 dollars) in the past three days.

Diesel is now priced at 6,900 riels (1.73 dollars) per liter, down 15.8 percent from 8,200 riels (2.05 dollars), the announcement added.

Meanwhile, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas is flat at 3,900 riels (0.97 dollars) per liter.

The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia said on Wednesday that it has subsidized about 47 million U.S. dollars a month to minimize the impact of rising fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict.

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.

The Southeast Asian country entirely relies on imported petroleum and diesel, as its seabed's oil reserves have not been exploited yet. 
NEW DELHI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Amid a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran in the Middle East, India dispatched two senior ministers to Gulf countries to strengthen energy security, India's foreign ministry said on Friday.

Gulf countries are India's largest source of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited Qatar from Thursday to Friday, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday, India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing.

During Puri's visit to Qatar, the Qatari energy minister reaffirmed the country's commitment to remain a reliable energy supplier and expressed willingness to strengthen energy cooperation with India, Jaiswal said.

"Both ministers also welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed on April 8, and stressed the importance of an early end to disruption in global energy supplies and restoration of normalcy. In this context, they emphasized the need for unimpeded freedom of navigation and the global flow of commerce to maintain global supply chains," a separate statement from India's petroleum and natural gas ministry said on Friday.

Jaishankar will meet the leadership of the UAE to review close cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the ministry said. 
MOSCOW, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday called on participants in upcoming talks between the United States and Iran to demonstrate a responsible approach and avoid actions that could undermine the chance for peace.

In a statement, the ministry said an opportunity has emerged to resolve tensions in the Persian Gulf, noting that most countries support the process and expect success from the talks, which are set to be held in Islamabad under Pakistani mediation.

The ministry warned against forces hindering progress toward peace and creating obstacles, including those who unleashed aggression against Iran and then blamed Tehran for disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

It added that the priority at the current stage is to address the root causes of the conflict, calling for an end to the war started by the United States and Israel and an immediate halt to fighting in the Lebanese-Israeli border zone and air strikes on Lebanon.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the negotiation delegations from the United States and Iran would hold talks on Saturday to find a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict. 
WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that President Donald Trump has provided very clear guidelines for negotiations and he was looking forward to the upcoming talks with Iran. Vance said he expected the talks in Islamabad, Pakistan to be positive. 
WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday left Washington for Islamabad, Pakistan, warning Iran not to "play" the United States in the upcoming negotiation, which he expects would be "positive."

"As the president of the United States (Donald Trump) said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two.

"We're going to try to have a positive negotiation. The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we're going to see," said Vance.

The U.S. negotiation team includes Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. It would be the highest-level meeting between the United States and Iran since 1979, The New York Times said.

The United States and Iran are scheduled to begin negotiations on Saturday morning during the diplomatic window of a two-week conditional truce announced on Tuesday, more than one month after the start of U.S.-Israeli joint military strikes on Iran.

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been strained as Israel continues striking Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf have stressed that stopping the attacks on Lebanon is an integral part of the ceasefire. 
WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up pressure ahead of U.S.-Iran talks set for Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan, claiming on Friday that Iran has "no cards" other than short-term "extortion" with the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran on Friday declared that its armed forces remain at full readiness, just as during the 40-day "asymmetric battle," given the "frequent breaches of promises" by the United States and Israel.

"The Iranians don't seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Friday. "The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!"

Earlier on Friday, Trump told New York Post that the outcomes of negotiations with Iran will be clear "in about 24 hours," threatening that U.S. warships are being reloaded to resume strikes on Iran if the talks fail.

On the same day, in a statement carried by Iranian media, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stressed that Iran will in no way give up on its legitimate rights and will not let go of the "criminal aggressors" that attacked the country.

The "criminal" U.S. and Israeli leaders and their "defeated" military commanders have no right to threaten Iran's people and the "invincible" resistance front, the headquarters said.

It warned if the "enemies" continue their attacks on Hezbollah and the "oppressed" people of Lebanon, Iran's armed forces will give a "crushing and painful" response to them.

It also said Iran will move the management of the Strait of Hormuz into a new phase and maintain the initiative to dominate the waterway.

The United States, Iran and Israel have all claimed victory in the war. Analysts believe the current ceasefire is fragile and that competing interests and long-standing differences would make it difficult to reach a permanent peace deal in the upcoming negotiations. 
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Taiwan's export surge is starting to look less like a rebound and more like a demand signal tied directly to the AI cycle. March shipments jumped 62% year over year to $80.2 billion, setting a new monthly record and coming in well ahead of the 34.7% estimate from economists. The strength appears to be broad-based but heavily skewed toward AI-related components, with exports to the US, China, and ASEAN all reaching record levels. Notably, shipments to the US rose 124%, pushing Taiwan's trade surplus with the country to $23.4 billion, while the overall surplus came in at $21.3 billion for the month.

The export data coincided with results from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:TSM), which reported a 35% increase in quarterly revenue, reinforcing the view that AI chip demand has remained intact through the early stages of the US-Iran conflict. Taiwan's Finance Ministry attributed the export strength directly to global demand for AI-related technologies, with officials noting that Taiwan and South Korea may continue to hold structural advantages in the current cycle. At the same time, imports rose 38.3% year over year, potentially reflecting ongoing investment and supply chain activity needed to support elevated demand.

Looking ahead, the ministry expects April exports to grow between 44% and 51% year over year, with double-digit expansion likely to continue through the first half of 2026. Still, the setup is not without risk. Supply disruptions tied to key inputs such as natural gas and helium are beginning to emerge, and could become more pronounced if the Iran conflict extends beyond a couple of months. For investors, the current environment suggests AI demand remains the dominant force in near-term fundamentals, but supply-side constraints could increasingly shape how that demand translates into actual output.
By Lisa Baertlein

LOS ANGELES, April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. container import volumes fell 1.1% in March from last year, supply chain technology provider Descartes Systems Group said on Thursday.

U.S. seaports last month handled 2,353,611 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the standard measure for container volume.

While year-to-date import volume trails 2025 by 4.8%, the March volume was 32.3% above pre-pandemic levels from March 2019, reflecting steady demand despite ongoing uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies and the war in Iran, Descartes said.

U.S. containerized imports from China totaled 711,652 TEUs in March 2026, down 6.7% year-over-year. Chinas share of total U.S. container imports was 30.2% last month.

Import trends are seen as a measure of the health of the U.S. economy - rising when the economy is strong and falling when the economy is weak.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the UK has underlined the need to shift from the traditional limited liability company structure.

The accountancy body argues that this business model leads to an overly narrow focus on financial performance at the expense of wider societal and environmental impacts.

Its new Building Future Business report suggests that the prevailing model of company structure pushes businesses towards prioritising shareholder returns, rather than treating financial results as one element within a broader network of impacts.

The report explores how businesses might shift from shareholder-first structures to approaches that recognise a wider set of measures.

ACCA tax and business law head Jason Piper said: The conflict between the financial imperative and the concrete impacts of business on society and the environment are too great to ignore.

Economic activity is supposed to benefit society, but in many ways we have ended up with an economic model that seems to do the opposite.

The ACCA highlighted a series of questions in the report that it says organisations should address when considering how to reshape their business models.

These include identifying primary stakeholders, defining what constitutes value for each of them and mapping how value generated by economic activity is distributed among these groups.

The report also urges businesses to consider how these value flows relate to their existing legal structure, what support or direction is available in the current regulatory and legislative environment, and where there may be gaps.

It raises the issue of ethical considerations around how such gaps can be addressed and points to the role of non-regulatory actors in influencing choices around legal form.

Further questions set out in the report focus on how record-keeping, communication and reporting processes would need to evolve to suit any alternative models; which qualitative attributes are required to build confidence in reporting and governance; and what additional protections may be needed for stakeholders.

Piper added: We have ended up in a place where businesses doing well can undermine the communities they are in.

Building Future Business looks at what has driven this distortion of the decision-making process, and how we can try to redress the balance between business and society.

"ACCA calls for alternatives to limited liability company model" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.




This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Carls Jr. operator Friendly Franchisees Corporation said Californias $20 fast food sector minimum wage was one of the reasons that it ended up in financial distress ahead of its April Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, CEO and Founder Harshad Dharod said in a court filing under subsidiary Sun Gir.

This minimum wage increase, which went into effect in 2024 in a political compromise between organized labor and the restaurant industry, materially increased operating expenses, Dharod said.

At the same time, the operator also saw sales decline, which Dharod attributed to reduced marketing effectiveness and a lack of innovation at the franchisor level. He added that competition has increased in the QSR segment, and executive turnover at the franchisor led to operational challenges.

Dive Insight:

The macroeconomic implications of the wage deal, which replaced a different California law that would have mandated an even higher sectoral wage, are not clear. While proponents of the wage level claim it has little impact, critics claim the law has resulted in lower hours and higher menu prices.

However, the implementation of the wage increase has coincided with a period of significant price sensitivity among U.S. QSR consumers impacting brands nationwide. Carls Jr.s total consumer spending dropped 4% in 2025, according to a Circana report.

Sun Gir, which operates 52 locations in Southern California and seven locations in Northern California, said it has been generating substantial revenue, according to a court filing seeking the use of cash collateral.

During the first three months of the year, the operator made $19.9 million in net sales, equating to $6 million to $7 million in revenue monthly. Despite this revenue, the franchisee has significant ongoing operating expenses, and generated a net loss of $2 million during this same time period.

The company is in default of its franchisee agreements at a number of locations, because of a failure to timely pay rent, royalties and other required charges, per a court filing. These defaults could result in the termination of those agreements, which would cost Sun Gir the ability to operate and generate revenue.

The company said it would use cash collateral to complete payroll for about 1,000 employees, purchase food and inventory, pay rent and insurance and complete obligations under its franchise and lease agreements.
Jim Cramer voiced support Wednesday for Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) push to make billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos pay more into Social Security than workers whose wages are capped for payroll-tax purposes, siding with the Massachusetts Democrat on a proposal to bolster the retirement program's finances.

Cramer Backs Warren Tax Push Publicly

Cramer wrote on X, "Nor should I. This is a very good idea even as it contravenes the way the law envisioned," while quoting Warren's post.

 Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) April 8, 2026

Nor should I. This is a very good idea even as it contravenes the way the law envisioned https://t.co/X30k75eZ73

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Investors With $1M+ Often Use Advisors for Tax Strategy  This Tool Matches You With One in Minutes

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In her own X post, Warren wrote, "Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos shouldnt be paying the same amount in Social Security tax as someone making $175,000 a year. Billionaires are not paying their fair share."

Her post shared a clip from her exchange with Dan Adcock of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare during a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing held March 25 and posted by her office on March 26.

Warren Rejects Cuts And Seeks Expansion

In the clip, Warren argues against raising the retirement age or cutting benefits and instead calls for expanding Social Security by taxing the wealthy more heavily. She says billionaires should not pay the same Social Security tax amount as someone making roughly the taxable wage cap and adds that her legislation "would raise enough money to increase benefits by $200 a month for every senior and help stabilize Social Security, make sure it is around for the long haul."

Trending: You Saved for Retirement  But Do You Know What You'll Keep After Taxes?

Warren also pointed to the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026, which she reintroduced on March 26 with House allies. Her office says the bill would impose an annual wealth tax on the richest 0.15% of U.S. households, beginning with fortunes above $50 million, and would raise an estimated $6.2 trillion over 10 years.

Social Security Cap Fuels Broader Debate

Under current law, Social Security's Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance payroll tax is 6.2% for employees and employers, each, but only on wages up to the annual taxable maximum, which is $184,500 in 2026. The wage cap limits both contributions and eventual benefits for high earners, even as the program faces mounting solvency pressure.
The European Unions new environmental advertising law will require companies, including hotels and hospitality brands, to verify any environmental claims they make by 27 September 2026.

The rules form part of the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EU 2024/825), aimed at tackling misleading greenwashing and strengthening consumer protection in the single market.

What the directive covers

The directive updates EU consumer law to set clearer rules for environmental claims in advertising and sales.

Vague or generic statements such as ecofriendly, green or sustainable will be prohibited unless they are supported by clear, objective, publicly available and verifiable evidence.

It also bans claims of neutral or positive environmental impact based solely on carbon offsetting, which can mislead consumers about a products real footprint. Only sustainability labels linked to recognised certification schemes or established by public authorities will be permitted under the new rules.

The directive amends the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the Consumer Rights Directive, extending protection against misleading environmental marketing and improving transparency on product characteristics such as durability and repairability.

Timeline for compliance

EU Member States must transpose the directive into national law by 27 March 2026. This means each country must adopt the necessary domestic laws, rules and administrative provisions by that date.

From 27 September 2026, the rules will apply in practice, and environmental claims visible in any EU market must meet the new standards. Materials already on the market by that date will also need to comply.

Enforcement dates are critical for businesses with EU operations, including hotel brands and service providers that make sustainability claims in marketing or on packaging.

Implications for hotels and brands

For hotels and other brands operating in or targeting the EU, the directive means a shift from marketing language to evidencebased sustainability reporting. Claims about environmental performance must be underpinned by data that can be independently verified.

Industry sectors that rely heavily on terms like sustainable stay or green experience will need to review their marketing to ensure compliance. Without verified evidence, such terms could be considered misleading under the new rules.

Verified sustainability labels will become a key tool for communicating claims that meet legal requirements.

Companies should monitor how national laws implement the directive and prepare compliance strategies well ahead of the September 2026 deadline.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. did not predict when Americas $39 trillion debt issue might reach its peak, but stressed that the countrys fiscal trajectory cannot be ignored indefinitely.

Speaking at the NPR's Newsmakers podcast on Wednesday, Dimon warned that the debt issue could lead to volatile markets, increased rates, and a reluctance to buy U.S. Treasuries. The billionaire banker called for the problem to be addressed sooner rather than later, to avoid crisis management.

"The best way to deal with the problem is to actually deal with the problemto acknowledge it, to work on it," he said.

Don't Miss:

Dimon urged the problem to be recognized and addressed, citing the Obama-era Simpson-Bowles Commissions solution, which was never implemented.  I wish it had gotten done. It would have been a home run for all of Americans, and it would have resolved some of these issues, he added.

The CEO said that both parties, the Democrats and Republicans, recognize the issue but lack the political will to act, warning that delays could worsen the outcome.

Despite the looming debt issue, Dimon remains optimistic about the strength of the U.S. economy, suggesting that a growth rate of 3% could help reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio.

Dimon Urges Reform of Fixed Spending

Dimon highlighted that about 60% of the governments spending and borrowing is fixed, relating to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which should be worked on.

Former President Barack Obama created the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles Commission in 2010, which recommended spending cuts, tax reform, and healthcare changes. Many of the commission's ideas shaped policy debates, but none were ever enacted into law.

See Also: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

Global Risks Worsening The Debt Crisis?

Dimons concerns also echo those of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who warned about the U.S.s unsustainable fiscal path. Powell stated that while the $39 trillion debt load is not immediately threatening, it requires urgent legislative intervention.

Furthermore, the U.S.s debt crisis could be exacerbated by external factors such as the recent oil shock. Economist Steve Hanke argued that the conflict around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz is not just a geopolitical shock but also a stress test for the U.S. balance sheet.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned of an exodus of companies from New York as a result of climbing taxes and regulatory encumbrances, but emerging data suggests mass migration away from the metropolis has been greatly exaggerated.

In JPMorgans annual shareholder letter, Dimon wrote that while New York City has much going for it, it also has the highest corporate and income taxes, with the potential to scare off businesses and high-caliber talent as a result.

More from Yahoo Scout How do taxes influence wealthy individuals' relocation decisions? Why are companies like JPMorgan reducing New York headcount? What talent migration patterns threaten New York's future competitiveness? What evidence suggests New York's business exodus is exaggerated?

Individuals vote with their feet, Dimon wrote. You can already see a fairly large exodus of people and jobs out of some states with high taxes and high expenses, referencing the exodus of billionaires from California and Washington, states that have announced income taxes in recent months.

Billionaires such as Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin both divested from California as the state weighs a wealth tax on billionaires, snapping up property in Florida and Nevada, respectively. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, whose net worth is $6.6 billion, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, with $203 billion in wealth, have both bought Florida property.

And Dimon notes his company is following suit: Despite opening its new global headquarters in Manhattan last October, JPMorgan shrank its New York headcount by 20%, from 30,000 a decade ago to 24,000 today, Dimon wrote in his letter. Meanwhile, the bank is expanding its footprint in Texas, growing from 26,000 employees in 2015 to 32,000 today, a trend Dimon said, will likely continue.

Indeed, fewer taxes and looser regulations in Texas and Florida have helped create a Wall Street South of big businesses setting up shop in sunny states. Hedge fund giant Citadel, under Ken Griffin, is awaiting the completion of its $2.5 billion headquarters in Miami. Private equity firm Apollo Global Management, which manages nearly a trillion dollars in its portfolio, plans to move away from New York and open a second HQ in either Texas or South Florida.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with a noted socialist streak, has proposed a tax increase on New Yorkers making more than $1 million, which critics have cited as the impetus for New Yorks wealthiest fleeing the state, and taking their money (and tax revenue) with them.

But a new white paper from real estate firm JLL shared exclusively with Fortune claimed theres been a myth of the mass exodus. While theres slightly more migration to Florida than New York, skilled professionals and early-career workersthough perhaps less wealthy and influential than their millionaire counterpartsstill prefer the Big Apple to the Sunshine State. The firms recent analysis of office space in the first quarter of 2026 moreover found office vacancies in New York decreased by 2.2% to 13.5%, while leasing volume for high-quality office space reached 8.5 million square feet. Rents increased 3.5% year over year.
Lane, the US-based subsidiary of Webuild, has secured a $582m contract to design and construct a section of the Moving I-4 Forward  Project 2 in Florida.

The project, fully awarded to Lane by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), will modernise a 5km segment of Interstate 4 (I-4) near the junction with State Road 429.

The planned improvements will include constructing four general-purpose lanes and two express lanes in each direction. This will directly connect I-4 and State Road 429, removing complex traffic weaving for motorists.

The initiative is expected to reduce congestion and travel delays at a critical intersection and prepare the I-4 median for a potential future rail corridor.

Additionally, Lane will widen Old Lake Wilson Road, adding separate sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

The FDOT has initiated this project as part of the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative intended to adapt existing transport infrastructure to support regional population growth and increasing traffic.

The improvements aim to better serve tourism, local communities and trade by strengthening connectivity and improving evacuation reliability during emergencies.

According to Lane, the accelerated project schedule will enable the infrastructure to become operational ahead of original estimates.

The company said: The work to be done by Lane will ensure smoother traffic flow, improve the quality of life for nearby residents, and enhance evacuation resilience in case of an emergency.

Lane has maintained a presence in Florida for several decades, with 11 current projects in the state, including four within an 80km radius of the new I-4 segment.

The companys local experience includes a network of suppliers, validated logistics and personnel familiar with state infrastructure.

Webuild, Lanes parent company, brings additional expertise, citing experience on more than 82,700km of road and highway projects globally.

Together, the two companies are also working on upgrades to I-85 in North Carolina, the modernisation of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia and several major transport infrastructure projects across Florida.

The broader Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative from the FDOT is intended to accommodate rising demand for road transport in central Florida, particularly between Polk and Orange counties, by constructing multiple express lanes in key corridors.

"Lane awarded $582m contract for I-4 highway modernisation in Florida " was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
The UK government has confirmed a 380m ($510.76) grant to Agratas, Tata Groups battery manufacturing business, to help fund the construction of a gigafactory in Somerset in south-west England.

The plant, which is under construction, is intended to supply batteries for Jaguar Land Rover vehicles and is expected to rank among Europes largest battery manufacturing sites.

The project is projected to sustain 4,200 direct roles alongside thousands more in the wider supply chain, with 300 apprenticeships to be supported through a dedicated battery manufacturing training unit.

Officials expect the plant to generate approximately 43bn in economic value over a 25-year horizon once it reaches full capacity.

The grant forms part of wider government efforts to expand domestic battery production and accelerate the shift to zero-emission vehicles.

UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle announced the funding during a site visit, describing it as a flagship commitment under the government's Modern Industrial Strategy.

Kyle said: This government is backing the industries of the future by investing in auto firms, SMEs and battery manufacturers across the country - helping to boost economic growth and our resilience, secure jobs and put more money in peoples pockets.

The Modern Industrial Strategy has to date secured more than 700m in advanced manufacturing investment and attracted over 360bn in private capital across priority sectors, with up to 120,000 jobs linked to those commitments.

Alongside the Agratas announcement, the government outlined further industry support measures.

These include 47m for battery research and development through the Battery Innovation Programme and 190m for the broader automotive sector.

Of the automotive funding, 90m has been allocated through DRIVE35 to firms including Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover for prototype and innovation work, with a further 100m directed towards helping suppliers shift to electric vehicle manufacturing.

Additional measures cover up to 16.44m for digital innovation, up to 99m to accelerate digital uptake among small and medium-sized enterprises, 1.4m for autonomous transport initiatives, and a 182m engineering skills package.

The government said the combined investment is intended to reduce import dependency, reinforce supply chain resilience, and establish the UK as a competitive centre for battery manufacturing and clean energy technologies.

Agratas UK manufacturing operations vice president Earl Wiggins added: This funding will support the development of our Somerset facility, enabling us to produce battery cells for our anchor customer, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover). Over the next year we will have over 2,200 people working on the site, and that growth will continue over the coming years.
UK retailers have warned that proposed changes to trade union access rights could create operational and cost pressures across the sector, as the government advances plans under its employment reforms.

The consultation on the trade union right of access, part of the Employment Rights Bill, sets out a new legal framework allowing unions to enter workplaces and communicate with staff both physically and digitally.

For retailers, the proposals mark a significant shift from the current system, where access is typically agreed voluntarily.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has responded to the latest developments, stating that while the industry supports fair working conditions, elements of the policy need careful design to work in practice.

New access rules explained

Under the proposed legislation, trade unions would gain statutory rights to request workplace access for activities such as meeting, recruiting and organising workers. Employers would be required to respond within a defined process, with oversight from the Central Arbitration Committee.

The framework also introduces provisions on how access is granted, how disputes are resolved, and potential penalties for non-compliance.

In its response, the BRC acknowledged the broader objective behind the reforms. Retail supports measures that strengthen protections for workers, it said, pointing to existing efforts across the industry to provide fair, secure and flexible jobs.

However, the organisation stressed that implementation details will be critical, particularly in high-volume, customer-facing environments such as shops and distribution centres.

Retail operational concerns

Retailers have raised concerns about how expanded union access could affect day-to-day operations, especially in busy store settings where space and staffing are tightly managed.

The BRC noted that combining new access rights with other proposed changes, including adjustments to union recognition rules, raise real concerns for employers. It added that existing thresholds help ensure that union recognition reflects workforce support, suggesting that changes could alter that balance.

There are also practical considerations around how access requests are handled. The proposed system requires formal processes and timelines, which industry groups say could increase administrative workload.

Retailers are simultaneously managing wider cost pressures. According to the BRC, rising employment costs and external economic factors are already affecting business operations, with implications for pricing and hiring decisions.
Venezuelas National Assembly has passed a new mining law designed to attract foreign investment, particularly from the US.

The 131-article bill, pushed by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, received unanimous approval following an initial vote last month, reported Bloomberg.

This new framework replaces a nearly 30-year-old system and is part of Rodriguez's broader strategy to enhance legal assurances and provide a more flexible tax structure for international investors.

During a visit to Caracas by US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in early March, the Venezuelan Government was encouraged to advance these reforms.

Rodriguez had expressed the intention to implement the changes at Trump speed.

Key provisions of the law include "economic equilibrium" clauses and access to international arbitration, shifting away from the 1999 requirement for local court dispute resolutions.

The legislation introduces a simplified tax scheme involving royalties of up to 13% of production and a mining tax of up to 6% on gross revenue, with exemptions from several existing levies.

Concession periods have been extended to a maximum of 30 years, with options for two ten-year renewals.

While the state maintains control over resources and project approvals, the reform aims to create a more investor-friendly environment without full liberalisation.

Officials say the law seeks to attract capital for projects related to bauxite, gold and other strategic minerals.

The government retains authority to identify resources or areas of national importance and apply specific conditions.

The US has granted a licence permitting specific transactions involving gold of Venezuelan origin, as well as dealings with mining company Minerven and its subsidiaries, provided that US law governs the contracts, reported Reuters.

Venezuela is indebted by billions to industrial conglomerates and oil and mining companies following several nationalisations 20 years ago, including those affecting Crystallex, Gold Reserve and Rusoro Mining.

"Venezuelas National Assembly approves mining law" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Professional services group S&W has signed a deal to acquire Vachon, an accountancy practice based in Paris, for an undisclosed sum.

Vachon, founded in 1997, offers audit, accounting, tax, payroll and advisory services.

It focuses on foreign-owned businesses operating in France, as well as higher-end mid-market and smaller domestic companies.

The French companys client base ranges from small and medium-sized enterprises to large multinational groups, along with family offices, private investors, investment funds and their portfolio companies.

The practice has a 60-strong team including 14 partners.

Vachon founding partner Bertrand Vachon said: Joining S&W marks an exciting new chapter for our firm and our clients. It is the natural evolution of our international strategy.

For nearly 30 years, we have supported leading French and international companies navigating the complexities of the French financial and regulatory environment.

Becoming part of S&W expands the support we can offer to clients across multiple markets, while maintaining the personalised, bilingual service we are known for. We look forward to the opportunities this brings for both our team and the businesses we serve.

The transaction is being positioned as a key step in S&Ws international growth plans, marking its entry into France.

The companys expansion plans are backed by Apax Funds, which acquired S&W in March 2025.

The move follows two acquisitions completed by S&W in Ireland last year.

Bringing Vachon into the group is intended to broaden S&Ws cross-border offering and deepen services for internationally focused businesses.

As per the terms of the deal, Vachon will continue to operate under its existing brand.

S&W CEO Andrew Wilkes said: The acquisition of Vachon represents an important milestone in our international expansion strategy. France is a key market for many of our clients, and Vachons deep expertise, bilingual capabilities and strong reputation for technical excellence make them an ideal partner.

The teams specialist knowledge of French accounting requirements complements our existing offering and strengthens our ability to support clients expanding into Europe. We are delighted to welcome the Vachon team to S&W.

Earlier this year, S&W selected Alexandra Bray as a partner in the business tax team at its Bristol office.

"S&W to enter French market with Vachon acquisition" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




Soybeans are trading with mixed action as front months are up 1 to 2 cents and deferred down fractionally. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price is up 2 1/4 cents at $10.92 1/2. Soymeal futures are up 50 cents to $1 in the front months, with Soy Oil futures down 190 to 204 points on the day.

Crude oil is down $18.32 at midday following a 2-week ceasefire between Iran and the US that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic was limited overnight. Early this morning President Trump posted that a country supply military weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed by a rate of 50%.

More News from Barchart

USDA will release their monthly WASDE report on Thursday morning. A survey of analysts by Bloomberg shows very few changes expected to the US balance sheet with an average estimate at 349 mbu for soybeans carryout, vs. 350 mbu in March. Analysts look for world stocks to be up 0.2 MMT to 125.5 MMT.

Export Sales data will be out on Thursday, as traders are looking for 200,000-600,000 MT of old crop bean sales, as new crop is expected to be 0-50,000 MT. Meal sales are seen 225,000-450,000 MT, with bean oil at 10,000 in net reductions to 12,000 MT in net sales.

May 26 Soybeans are at $11.60 1/4, up 2 cents,

Nearby Cash is at $10.92 1/2, up 2 1/4 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans are at $11.76 1/4, up 1 3/4 cents,

Nov 26 Soybeans are at $11.50 1/2, down 1/2 cent,

New Crop Cash is at $10.89 3/4, down 1 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
DMG Blockchain Begins Data Center Rollout at Christina Lake Facility

What to know:

DMG Blockchain received 2 MW of SCIF-rated prefabricated data center units at its Christina Lake facility in British Columbia.

The company is positioning the deployment as part of a broader push into sovereign, high-security compute infrastructure.

More From Cryptoprowl:

DMG reported March mining results of 23 BTC and said it held 398 BTC at month end.

DMG Blockchain Solutions (TSXV: $DMGI) said earlier this week it received 2 megawatts of data center units at its Christina Lake facility in British Columbia, marking the first step in its efforts to establish secure computing infrastructure in Canada.

The company says the deployment is part of a broader strategy to develop sovereign, high-security compute capacity capable of supporting government, defense, and enterprise workloads that require protected environments, as well as blockchain network operations such as bitcoin (CRYPTO: $BTC) mining and transaction processing.

SCIF-rated facilities are designed with multiple layers of physical and digital security, including controlled access and protections intended to prevent unauthorized data exposure, making them suitable for sensitive workloads and regulated environments.

DMG said it also plans to expand its data center footprint through partnerships with Indigenous communities, including ongoing collaboration with the Malahat Nation in British Columbia.

The company is targeting more than 50 megawatts of artificial intelligence compute capacity at Christina Lake.

Chief Executive Sheldon Bennett said the deployment represents the companys first SCIF-rated prefabricated data center installation in Canada and aligns with its goal of building secure, domestically controlled compute infrastructure.

Separately, DMG reported preliminary March operational results, saying it mined 23 bitcoin during the month, unchanged from February. Its hashrate stood at 1.63 exahashes per second, down from 1.78 EH/s in the prior month.

The company held 398 bitcoin at the end of March, compared with 410 bitcoin in February, reflecting sales used to fund operations and capital expenditures. DMG also announced grants of stock options and restricted stock units to employees and directors as part of its compensation structure.

DMG Blockchain shares are trading at 24 cents on the Toronto Venture Exchange.
Hong Kong has awarded its first licences for stablecoin issuance to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial, a venture backed by Standard Chartered, making them the first approved issuers of digital tokens linked to the Hong Kong dollar.

Anchorpoint Financial is jointly owned by Standard Chartered, Hong Kong Telecommunications and Animoca Brands.

In a separate development, South China Morning Post reported that HSBC is planning to roll out its Hong Kong dollar stablecoin in the latter half of this year through its PayMe service and mobile banking application.

The first stage will cover person-to-person transfers and payments to merchants.

Users will also be able to use the token to subscribe to tokenised investment products within the app.

HSBC Hong Kong CEO Maggie Ng said the stablecoin would not offer interest, though it would enable quicker settlement.

She added that the bank or merchants might provide incentives to support adoption. Ng also said HSBC may widen the offering next year to include stablecoins tied to other currencies.

Anchorpoint chief executive Dominic Maffei said at a media briefing on Friday that the venture plans to launch a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, HKD At Par (HKDAP), from the second quarter. Its early emphasis will be on institutional clients, and it does not plan to target retail users at the outset.

Maffei said stablecoins could lower transaction expenses and support 24-hour settlement.

HKMA CEO Eddie Yue said: The granting of stablecoin issuer licences is an important milestone for the development of digital assets in Hong Kong. The regulatory regime provides an orderly operating environment for stablecoin issuers to apply innovative technologies while ensuring robust user protection and effective risk management, which will foster the development of a healthy, responsible, and sustainable stablecoin ecosystem.

"Hong Kong grants stablecoin licences to HSBC and Standard Chartered" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Morgan Stanleys Bitcoin exchange-traded fund  the first from a Wall Street bank  had a roaring debut Wednesday.

Trading on the NYSE Arca under the ticker MSBT, the latest US Bitcoin ETF to hit the market took in over $33 million in fresh cash.

The massive inflows the fund received on its opening day  safe to say, entirely by clients of Morgan Stanley  prove that theres massive demand among wirehouse clients and equally tremendous support among its 16,000 advisors, Ric Edelman, founder of Edelman Financial Engines, told DL News.

The Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust debut comes as traditional finance firms are doing more to offer crypto-related services and products to their clients.

Bitcoins price is currently more than 40% below its all-time high of $126,080 per coin, and was trading hands for $71,349, according to CoinGecko.

Strong start

The ETF debut puts MSBT in the top 1% of launches in terms of inflows, Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, told DL News.

He added that the fund got off to a strong start but most of the trading action happened before 1pm.

Morgan Stanley told DL News that the MSBT traded more than 1.6 million shares and total assets stood at over $33.8 million as of Wednesday.

The top investment bank has 16,000 financial advisors, meaning there is a big chance they can get new clients to invest in the leading cryptocurrency through the ETF.

With MSBT, were extending our product offering to meet growing client interest in digital assets, Ally Wallace, global head of ETF strategy at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, said in a statement.

Price war?

MSBT is the cheapest out of the American products, with a 0.14% expense ratio.

Thats cheaper than the biggest Bitcoin ETF, BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust, which charges a 0.25% fee, and cheaper than Grayscales Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF, which offers clients a 0.15% fee.

The low fee means that other asset managers may decide to lower their fees, Edelman said. When the 10 Bitcoin funds debuted in January 2024, issuers slashed fees just before their launches, and several funds offered temporary waivers or very low expense ratios to win early assets.
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

(Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley is set to become the first Wall Street bank to launch its own Bitcoin-tracking exchange-traded fund, a milestone for the digital-asset ecosystem that underscores how deeply the original cryptocurrency has embedded itself in the financial mainstream  even as the market around it has cooled.

The New Yorkbased firm plans to debut the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust on NYSE Arca under the ticker MSBT Wednesday. It will join more than 10 spot-Bitcoin ETFs that launched over the past two years and collectively command over $85 billion in assets.

Despite being a late entrant to an increasingly crowded field, its leaning on a classic Wall Street playbook: competing on fees and scale.

With an expense ratio of 14 basis points, MSBT would be the cheapest fund in the category, undercutting Grayscale Investments Inc.s BTC by 1 basis point and BlackRock Inc.s IBIT by 11 basis points. The latter currently dominates the market, accounting for roughly 60% of total assets.

We really wanted to show our commitment by having that lower fee, Allyson Wallace, global head of ETFs at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, said in an interview. The demand, especially from the high-net-worth investors, has been quite high. Viewed at the firm level, this is an asset class that is not going away.

The launch underscores a broader shift in the Bitcoin market, where large institutions have become increasingly influential in driving trading volumes and shaping flows. Hedge funds, banks and other large investors are not only allocating to Bitcoin ETFs to meet client demand but are also using them as trading instruments. Since the debut of spot-crypto ETFs, regulatory filings consistently showed hedge funds, endowments and even government entities worldwide building exposure.

Eric Balchunas of Bloomberg Intelligence said the aggressive fee positioning signals strong demand from financial advisers. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, which has about 16,000 advisers, recommended in November that clients allocate as much as 4% to Bitcoin.

This gives them a fighting chance to gain organic buyers in the market, the senior ETF analyst said.

Morgan Stanley has been laying the groundwork for years. In 2024, it began permitting its financial advisers to offer wealthy clients access to third-party Bitcoin ETFs, including IBIT and Fidelity Investments FBTC.
A new investigation purports to name the mysterious creator of bitcoin known as Satoshi Nakamoto.

Credit: Getty Images

Key Takeaways

The price of bitcoin closed in on $73,000 as the U.S. agreed to a two-week Iran ceasefire proposal from regional mediators; crypto-linked stocks including Coinbase, Circle, Strategy, and Robinhood are also climbing.

Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, is back in the headlines. A new investigation names British cryptographer Adam Back, who denies it.

Bitcoin has some "main character energy" today. Satoshi Nakamoto isn't far behind.



The pseudonymous creator of bitcoin, the world's best-known cryptocurrency, is once again a hot topic after the New York Times published a story suggesting that British cryptographer Adam Back was Satoshi. Back denies it, leaving the mystery alive for many, but that hasn't stopped the real-time dissection of the story, which examined Back's and Satoshi's writing patterns, among other factors.

Bitcoin, meanwhile, is getting another lift, aided by developmentsincluding a tentative ceasefire between the U.S. and Iranthat have sparked a relief rally in risk assets. The price of bitcoin headed toward $73,000 early Wednesday before paring gains. Altcoins such as eth and sol, as well as crypto-linked stocks including Coinbase (COIN), Circle (CRCL), Strategy (MSTR) and Robinhood (HOOD), also got a boost.

WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU

The passage of a key crypto bill called the Clarity Act has been seen as a near-term catalyst that could get bitcoin prices moving higher again. In the meantime, some smaller developments may put a bit of wind in crypto's sales.

So did the list of ways investors can trade bitcoin. Morgan Stanley's comparatively low-cost spot bitcoin fund launched today under the symbol "MSBT," potentially ushering in more advisor-driven capital to the digital asset. Bloomberg ETF analyst said it was "arguably the biggest btc launch" since spot bitcoin ETFs debuted in January 2024, predicting that it could gather assets of $5 billion in its first year.

As a group, the ETFs had roughly $90 billion in assets under management as of Tuesday evening, according to crypto data firm Coinglass.

Washington, meanwhile, may have handed crypto a small assist. The long-awaited crypto bill known as the Clarity Act has stalled over disagreements about how stablecoin rewards should work, with the crypto industry and the banking sector at odds. The White House's Council of Economic Advisers published a 21-page presentation with the takeaway that stablecoin rewards would have minimal impact on banks.

"A yield prohibition would do very little to protect bank lending, while forgoing the consumer benefits of competitive returns on stablecoin holdings," the report said.
On Apr. 9, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection (OCCIP) announced a new initiative to strengthen cybersecurity across the digital asset industry.

As part of the initiative, eligible U.S. crypto asset firms and industry organizations will receive timely and actionable cybersecurity information at no cost so that they can identify, prevent, and respond to cyber threats targeting their customers or networks.

The Treasury regularly shares the same kind of cyber alerts with traditional U.S. financial institutions.

The initiative advances a key recommendation from the Presidents Working Group on Digital Asset Markets report, Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology.

More News:

Treasury officials hail new initiative

Tyler Williams, Counselor to the Secretary for Digital Assets, said, This initiative reflects the principles of the GENIUS Act by promoting responsible innovation grounded in strong cybersecurity and operational resilience.

President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law on July 18, 2025, establishing the first federal regulatory framework for U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins

Related: Explained: What is a stablecoin?

Williams said the access to timely and actionable cyber threat information is critical to protect consumers and safeguard the stability of U.S. financial markets.

Cory Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, said, This initiative expands access to actionable threat information that helps firms strengthen defenses, reduce risk, and respond more effectively to incidents.

The Treasury asked interested crypto firms to contact OCCIP at OCCIP-Coord@treasury.gov for more information.

The initiative comes as crypto-related fraud continues to climb. The FBI's latest Internet Crime Report found that crypto losses reached $11.36 billion in 2025, a 22% jump year-over-year, with investment scams alone accounting for $7.2 billion.

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Innovation section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
White House economists have shrugged off concerns from bankers that allowing crypto companies to give customers yield would lead lenders to lose their deposit base.

In a Wednesday report, The Council of Economic Advisers said that if regulators were to ban stablecoin rewards, banks would only get a boost of $2.1 billion  or 0.02%.

In short, a yield prohibition would do very little to protect bank lending, while forgoing the consumer benefits of competitive returns on stablecoin holdings, the report read.

Crypto executives, US banking representatives and regulators are currently hashing out the Clarity Act, a landmark crypto market structure bill, in Washington.

Banks have clashed with the crypto industry over whether stablecoins will be able to pay customers yield. US President Donald Trump has appeared to side with the crypto industry and urged regulators to get the bill over the line.

"We now know why stablecoin rewards critics wanted it suppressed," Paul Grewal, chief legal officer at Coinbase, said on X. "The most respected economists in the government found nothing that shows rewards cause deposit 'flight.' Facts are hard sometimes."

Small effect

The Genius Act, a stablecoin bill, banned stablecoin issuers from paying customers yield on their stablecoin holdings in a bid to incentivise them.

However, the law didnt make it clear whether or not third-party companies, like exchanges, were banned from paying interest on customers stablecoin holdings.

The banking lobby now seeks to plug that loophole. It argues that small banks could lose over $1.3 trillion in deposits if stablecoins continue to pay customers yield.

This is because those banking with traditional lenders would move their funds to crypto exchanges instead to get a better deal, the industry says.

But Wednesdays report counters that argument. It says that stablecoin flows are concentrated at large institutions on both sides of the market, and that there is no significant relationship between stablecoin growth and community bank deposit changes.

Altogether, the empirical evidence suggests that our own model overstates an already small effect of stablecoin yield on community banks, the report adds.

Clarity Act coming soon?

The Clarity Act aims to set in stone digital asset regulation but has been in a deadlock since January after the US biggest crypto exchange, Coinbase, pulled support for the bill.

Coinbase, which allows clients to earn rewards on USDC, has said that banning yield would be unfair. Banking representatives have warned they could lose their deposit base as a result as customers flock to more attractive offers from crypto exchanges.
The White House last month warned its staff against placing bets in futures markets after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sudden pause of strikes against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Apr. 9.

When Trump announced a pause in hostilities in a Truth Social post on March 23, more than $500 million in crude oil futures trades were made 15 minutes prior to the president making the post.

This prompted the White House Management Office to send a staff-wide email on March 24 and warned them not to use their positions to make well-timed prediction market bets related to the Iran war.

The White House took this action after press reports raised concerns over government officials using non-public information to trade on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi.

Related: Mysterious trader's $400K profit on Maduros ouster triggers swift action

Polymarket lets traders place bets with cryptocurrency

Launched in 2020, the New York City-headquartered Polymarket is a crypto-based prediction market. It lets traders predict events like future Bitcoin prices, election results, government shutdowns, Federal Reserve policy, etc., by paying with cryptocurrency.

Traders can deposit the USDC stablecoin and trade shares that represent the likelihood of specific future outcomes. Recently, Polymarket announced it is going to migrate from USDC to Polymarket USD, a new collateral token backed 1:1 by the USDC.

More News:

Alleged insider trading on prediction markets

When the U.S. abducted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Maduro in January this year, a newly created account on Polymarket profited over $400,000 by betting on the event.

When the U.S. and Iran recently agreed to a temporary ceasefire, a group of traders on Polymarket profited more than $600,000 by making the right prediction, the on-chain analytics firm Bubblemaps highlighted.

Such well-timed, precise, and profitable trades on Polymarket led to speculations of insider trading. This has led to several policymakers proposing a ban on insiders making bets.

For instance, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) last month introduced legislation to ban betting related to war, death, or military action on these prediction markets and enact rules on insider trading.

Similarly, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also introduced legislation last month to ban the president, the vice president, and the Congress members from trading event contracts tied to the outcome of specific real-world events.
In 2017, it reported $250.1 million in operating income from $3.76 billion in revenue, 2.6% higher than a year earlier. Thats the good news. The bad news is that in the eight fiscal years since, its been unable to match 2017s profitability. In 2025, it had an operating loss of $416.0 million from $3.21 billion in revenue.

Jeld-Wen used the net proceeds to repay $375 million in debt, with the rest for general corporate purposes. The total debt as of Dec. 31, 2016, was $1.62 billion. By the end of Q1 2017, thanks to its IPO, total debt had fallen to $1.2 billion. Its cash and cash equivalents were $185.5 million, or about 7% of its total assets.

The company received approximately $473 million in net proceeds from the sale of 22.27 million shares. In contrast, its private equity owner, Onex Corp. (ONEXF), sold 2.73 million shares, reducing its ownership stake to 63.4% from 83.8% before the IPO.

Jeld-Went went public on Jan. 26, 2017, selling 25 million shares to investors at $23 each; the shares closed their first day of trading at $26.12, up 14%. A year later, they hit an all-time high of $42.27. Its been downhill ever since.

You turn away for a few years and the Charlotte-based window and door manufacturer goes from a $575 million IPO to a penny stock in less than a decade.

One of the names among the new 52-week lows on the NYSE was Jeld-Wen Holding (JELD), which hit a new 52-week and all-time low of $0.93.

In Tuesday trading, 130 stocks on the NYSE and the Nasdaq hit new 52-week highs, while 194 hit new 52-week lows.

The world waited with bated breath for yesterdays 8 p.m. deadline set by the White House for Iran to make a deal to fully open the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its civilian infrastructure. Trump posted about the news 90 minutes before the deadline. The world exhaled. As I write this on Wednesday afternoon, the S&P 500 is up 2.5%. Not sure if these gains will hold through the close.

Were in quite the relief rally today after President Trump and the Iranian powers that be agreed to a two-week ceasefire to hammer out a more permanent arrangement.

Story Continues

Now, if you want to brighten up slightly how the financial situation looks today, its adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $437.6 million in 2017, with an 11.6% margin; in 2025, it was $120.1 million with a 3.7% margin.

Okay, maybe you cant make things look better.

Is Jeld-Wen the Classic Private Equity Value Destruction Story?

Onex bought a 58% stake in Jeld-Wen in August 2011 for $675 million in preferred stock. It also provided the company with a $189 million convertible note, which could be converted within 18 months into more preferred stock. It converted the notes, which brought Onexs ownership to 83.8% by the 2017 IPO.

How much of the $864 million investment was cash, and how much was borrowed? Lets say 40% was its own cash and that of its affiliated funds, or about $346 million. In July 2015, Jeld-Wen paid Onex $359.1 million in distributions, and another $327 million in November 2016, two months before the IPO.

By the time Jeld-Wen went public, my back-of-the-napkin calculation estimates it had already recouped its $346 million cash investment, with an additional $340 million in its pockets.

In the IPO, it sold 2.73 million shares for net proceeds of approximately $59 million. It sold 14 million shares in May 2017 at $30.75; 12.5 million at $33.75 in November 2017; 8.0 million at $29.25 in March 2021; 10.0 million at $27.39 in May 2021; and 14.88 million at $28.50 in August 2021. By the end of 2021, Onex had sold the remaining 3.65 million shares for an undisclosed amount.

In my estimation, Onexs profits from the Jeld-Wen acquisition were anywhere from $1.9 billion to $2.22 billion over 10 years.

Today, the 69.3 million shares Onex held before the 2011 IPO would be worth $69 million.

While it chose a good time to exit Jeld-Wen -- the shares were still trading in the mid-$20s -- one cant help but wonder if the $855 million borrowed to pay distributions to Onex and other shareholders in 2015 and 2016 didnt accelerate the companys demise. Thats classic private equity leverage, used to enhance returns for its investors at the expense of others.

A Possible Reason to Gamble on JELD Stock

Turtle Creek Asset Management is Jeld-Wens largest shareholder with a 19.26% ownership stake as of Dec. 31, 2025.

It acquired 7.94 million shares in the company in Q3 2021 and has been adding to its position ever since. Between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025, the asset manager added 1.78 million shares, a 12% increase year-over-year.

Naturally, the shares Turtle Creek bought in 2025 were at a much lower price than those first bought in 2021. When it bought the first tranche, Jeld-Wen was Turtle Creeks second-largest holding among 26 stocks; today, it is the 23rd-largest among 38.

Why is Turtle Creek still holding Jeld-Wen?

The answer lies in its history. Founded in 1998 by Andrew Brenton, Jeffrey Cole and Jeffrey Hebel, the trio left the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), where they launched the banks private equity business, to start a different kind of asset management firm. One that believes in owning the stocks of companies that are both honest and well run, a combination thats not easy to find.

As a value-focused investor, it not only looks for the two qualities mentioned previously, but it also wants to buy the stocks of companies that meet the criteria and are trading at a low price relative to the intrinsic value.

This method has delivered for shareholders.

Since its founding in 1998, it has had 135 rolling 10-year periods with annualized returns of 10-20%, while its benchmark -- a combination of Canadian stock indexes -- has had 11. Nothing speaks louder than performance.

Recently, Jeld-Wen was named to the 2026 Most Trustworthy Companies in America list for the fifth consecutive year. It has made the list every year since Newsweek and Statista launched it in 2022.

That covers the honest part, but is it well run?

The U.S. construction industry is going through a challenging time. In 2025, it added just 15,000 jobs, the lowest amount since 2011 -- except the first year of COVID -- when the industry was suffering from the effects of the Great Recession.

Jeld-Wens North American operations are in the middle of a turnaround that began in earnest last November when it laid off 850 people, representing about 11% of its North American and corporate employees. Given the industry's situation, the company needed to reduce its operating expenses to address current economic headwinds.

As a result of these moves, it had close to $400 million in impairment and restructuring-related charges in 2025. That created a much larger loss for the company. Add to this, lower volumes due to the slowdown, which cut margins, making profits hard to come by.

In 2026, Jeld-Wen expects its core revenue to be down 5-10% year over year, with adjusted EBITDA of $125 million at the midpoint of its guidance, about the same as in 2025.

While 2026 will be a year of no growth, the situation has stabilized enough that 2027 should see some growth.

With a potential sale of its European business, the financial situation should get even stronger despite the lower volumes its currently experiencing.

Can Jeld-Wen be saved? It can, but for Turtle Creek, it might be too little, too late.

On the date of publication, Will Ashworth 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
What Happened?

A number of stocks fell in the morning session after reports of a ceasefire breach in the Middle East spiked market volatility as fears grew that a fragile U.S.-Iran truce would unravel.

This tension was compounded by Anthropics launch of Managed Agents, autonomous AI systems that execute complex tasks. Traders were worried these would disrupt the traditional SaaS (Software as a Service) model, by replacing human-operated tools with more efficient AI workers.

More from Yahoo Scout What is Tenable's stock performance over recent periods? Why did Amplitude, Appian, and Tenable stocks fall? How could Anthropic's AI agents disrupt SaaS companies? How do geopolitical tensions affect tech stock trading?

The sell-off intensified after short seller Michael Burry claimed (in a deleted social media post) Anthropic was "eating Palantirs lunch." Burrys comments highlighted the vulnerability of legacy platforms to Anthropics AI solutions.

The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.

Among others, the following stocks were impacted:

Zooming In On Tenable (TENB)

Tenables shares are somewhat volatile and have had 13 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, todays move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The previous big move we wrote about was 10 days ago when the stock gained 4.3% on the news that sentiment improved as President Trump indicated that the US was engaged in serious, productive talks with Iran.

This potential de-escalation of Middle Eastern tensions provided a significant sigh of relief for global markets, which had been bracing for prolonged geopolitical instability and surging energy costs. Simultaneously, investors appeared to be buying the dip in high-quality SaaS stocks following the "SaaSpocalypse" correction that dominated the early months of 2026. This meant there was hope resilient cloud platforms would remain indispensable digital infrastructure.

Tenable is down 28.3% since the beginning of the year, and at $16.29 per share, it is trading 54.1% below its 52-week high of $35.46 from July 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Tenables shares 5 years ago would now be looking at only $429.81.

ONE MORE THING: The $21 AI Application Stock Wall Street Forgot. While Wall Street obsesses over whos building AI, one company is already using it to print money. And nobodys paying attention.

AI chip stocks trade at ridiculous valuations. This company processes a trillion consumer signals monthly using AI and trades at a third of the price. The gap wont last. The institutions will figure it out. You need to see this first. Read the FREE Report Before They Notice.
In March 2026, Lincoln National Corporation entered into a Third Amended and Restated unsecured credit agreement with a bank syndicate led by Bank of America, providing up to US$2.00 billion in borrowing and letter-of-credit capacity through March 27, 2031, subject to financial covenants on net worth, leverage, and secured indebtedness.

This long-dated, covenant-based facility underpins Lincoln Nationals funding flexibility while reinforcing lender oversight of its balance sheet strength and capital structure.

With this expanded long-term credit backstop in place, well examine how Lincoln Nationals reinforced liquidity position influences its investment narrative.

Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 93 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution.

Lincoln National Investment Narrative Recap

To own Lincoln National, you need to be comfortable with a complex life and annuity franchise that depends heavily on capital strength, stable funding and disciplined risk management. The new US$2.00 billion unsecured credit facility materially supports short term liquidity and financial flexibility, but it does not remove the key near term risk around potential capital strain from legacy variable annuities if markets turn.

The recent amendment of Lincolns long term credit agreement connects directly to the current investment debate: analysts have trimmed price targets while still maintaining a Hold consensus, reflecting a tension between improved funding access and sector wide pressures. Against this backdrop, the expanded facility can be seen alongside recent product launches in fixed indexed and protection focused life products, which speak to the core catalyst of shifting the business mix toward more capital efficient offerings over time.

Yet, even with this larger credit backstop, investors should pay close attention to the risk that legacy variable annuity guarantees could...

Read the full narrative on Lincoln National (it's free!)

Lincoln National's narrative projects $21.4 billion revenue and $1.8 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 5.5% yearly revenue growth and a roughly $0.7 billion increase in earnings from $1.1 billion today.

Uncover how Lincoln National's forecasts yield a $45.46 fair value, a 30% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

LNC 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Some of the most optimistic analysts were assuming around US$20.6 billion of revenue and US$1.6 billion of earnings by 2028, while also worrying that heavy reliance on interest sensitive products could make policyholder behavior and capital needs much more unpredictable than the consensus narrative suggests.
To enhance operational efficiency, we implemented rigorous management practices, refined key processes such as vehicle listing, transaction facilitation and customer service. These efforts have increased resource utilization efficiency and improved overall operational effectiveness. We also established strategic partnerships with numerous major used car markets nationwide in the second quarter enabling real-time synchronization of their vehicle listings with Cango U-car to better meet users' specific demands. Currently, Cango U-car holds over 260,000 vehicle listings. By integrating extensive offline vehicle inventory, we have effectively enhanced user engagement on the Cango U-car app. We have further enriched our user experience by establishing exclusive member communities through private [indiscernible] management, regularly providing members with benefits and event updates to boost user engagement and loyalty.

Over the past quarter, we focused on enhancing the competitiveness of Cango U-car by ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality vehicles, optimizing dealer experience, I mean, optimizing dealer service experiences and supply chain management, and improving the convenience and security of cross-regional deliveries, which drove steady business growth. By the end of the second quarter, our Cango U-car app has accumulated over 130,000 page views. During the quarter, we facilitated the transaction of 266 vehicles and successfully auctioned 124 vehicles across our platform. Meanwhile, we identified and on boarded new partners with a strong reputation and abundance vehicle inventories to ensure a diverse range of listings on Cango U-car.

Meanwhile, we maintain meticulous oversight for current assets and liabilities, closely monitoring our risk exposure. As of June 30, our total outstanding loan balance stood at approximately RMB6.2 billion with M1+ at 2.93% and M3+ at 1.57%. Our credit risk exposure has been decreased to a low level with only RMB2.7 billion of outstanding balance of loans where the company bears credit risks have not been provided with full bad debt allowance, or full risk assurance liabilities. As the new car market grows [ph], we are increasingly recognizing the used car markets immense potential opportunities. As such, we have further streamlined our business processes, enhanced service quality, and strengthened the customer experience.

Jiayuan Lin: Hello everyone and welcome to Cango's second quarter 2024 earnings call. In the second quarter of 2024, the automotive market remains sluggish, presenting significant challenges for the industry. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, vehicle production and sales in June reached 2.500 million and 2.552 million units, respectively, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 2.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Passenger vehicle sales in June fell by 2.3% year-on-year. Although sales of new energy vehicles continue to outpace the market, their growth has not been sufficient to alter the industry's overall downward trajectory. In response to these challenges, we continue to implement strict cost control and risk management strategies, reinforcing our financial stability through disciplined expense management and cost efficiency measures.

Story Continues

We have also established a set of refined operational processes and management guidelines focused on safeguarding seller dealers rights. This includes implementing streamlined transaction rules and risk prevention mechanisms as well as providing comprehensive training and support, all of which are designed to help seller dealers improve their operational efficiency. Next, I would like to highlight some key advancements that Cango has made in the area of cross border used car transactions. Since China began allowing the export of used vehicles in 2019, export volumes have surged over tenfold, with a significant increase in the average value of exported vehicles. Supportive guidelines and favorable policies from government departments and authorities have fostered the growth of the used car export sector.

We are optimistic about the promising prospects in the export market for used vehicles, particularly those in the NEV segment. Since its launch in March 2024, our international used car platform, AutoCango.com, has quickly gained traction among global audiences. To date, it has attracted over 180,000 visits with more than 20,000 registered users across 207 countries and regions worldwide. Autocango.com hosts over 85,000 high-quality used car SKUs offering more than 60,000 different models. In the second quarter, we significantly expanded Autocango.com's market coverage as well as its range of products and services offerings. Under our traffic-first strategy, Cango has been focusing on establishing a primary traffic gateway connecting China's used car dealers with overseas buyers.

We believe that this streamlined, asset-light and traffic-focused operational approach will enable us to control operating costs while creating sustained value across our core business lines. Our website allows overseas buyers to more conveniently and directly access China's high-quality used car inventories and we aim to position this website as the premier gateway for exporting Chinese used cars. Moving forward, Cango will continue to deepen our partnership with overseas markets, further refining Autocango's functionality and services to better serve car users both at home and abroad. Next, I will turn the call over to our Chief Financial Officer, Michael Zhang, for a review of the company's financial performance.

Yongyi Zhang: Thanks, Jiayuan, and hello, everyone, and welcome to our second quarter 2024 earnings call. Before I started to review our financials, please note that unless otherwise stated, all numbers are in the RMB terms and all percentage comparisons are on a year-over-year basis. Total revenue in the second quarter of 2024 was RMB45.1 million compared with RMB675.4 million in the same period 2023. Guarantee income, which represented the fee income earned on a non-contingent aspect of a guarantee, was RMB20.9 million in the second quarter of 2024. This was presented separated from the contingent aspect of a guarantee in pursuit to the adoption of ASC 326 since January 1, 2023.

Now let's move on to our cost and expenses during the quarter. Cost of revenue in the second quarter decreased to RMB26.5 million from RMB615.8 million in the same period 2023. As a percentage of total revenues, cost of revenue in the second quarter of 2024 was 58.8% compared with 91.2% in the same period of 2023. Sales and marketing expenses in the second quarter decreased to RMB4 million from RMB12.2 million in the same period of 2023. General and administrative expenses in the second quarter were RMB39.2 million compared with RMB36.8 million in the same period of 2023.

Research and development expenses in the second quarter of 2024, decreased to RMB1.7 million from RMB7.7 million in the same period of 2023. Net gain on contingent risk assurance liability in the second quarter was RMB10.3 million compared with a net loss of RMB1.6 million in the second period of 2023. Net recovery on provision for credit losses in the second quarter of 2024 was RMB33 million compared with a net loss of RMB10.2 million in the same period of 2023. We recorded $47 million in income from operations in the second quarter of 2024 compared with a loss of $8.9 million in the same period of 2023. Net income in the second quarter of 2024 was RMB86 million.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income in the second quarter of 2024 was RMB90.7 million. On a per share basis, basic and diluted net income per ADS in the second quarter of 2024 were RMB0.83 and RMB0.76, respectively. And non-GAAP adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS in the same period were RMB0.87 and RMB0.8, respectively. Move on -- moving on to our balance sheet, as of June 30, 2024, the company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB949.5 million compared with RMB1.2 billion as of March 31, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, the company had short-term investment of RMB2.7 billion, compared with RMB2.3 billion as of March 31, 2024.

Looking ahead to the third quarter of 2024, we are now predicting our total revenue to be between RMB20 million and RMB25 million. Please note that this forecast reflects our current preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change. This concludes our prepared remarks. Operators, we are now ready to take questions.

Q - Unidentified Analyst: Thank you very much. I'm [indiscernible] from CITIC Securities. I have two questions on used car market development. So my first question is how's your strategic partnership with major used car markets help improve your market position? And what about the contribution by these partnerships to your financial performance?

Jiayuan Lin: Thank you for your questions. So by collaborating with major used car markets, we have expanded our supply channels and diversified our vehicle offerings. In addition, these partnerships allow us to leverage their geographic coverage and market penetration, providing our customers with a broader range of choices. So our extensive offerings comprehensively address our clients' evolving needs, increasing their stickiness on our platform. And as our vehicle inventory grows and market -- the coverage expands, our transaction volume has naturally increased. This higher volume not only creates economies of scale, reducing unit costs, but also strengthens our bargaining power. This enhanced position has enabled us to negotiate more favorable terms with suppliers and customers alike, further improving our profit margins.

Thank you very much. That's for your first question.

Unidentified Analyst: Thank you. And my second question is that the Chinese government has actually published a lot of favorable policies to support the development of used car market. So what about the challenges that your company faces in promoting the used car cross-border transactions?

Jiayuan Lin: Thank you for your question. So, for the challenges, first of all, the cross border transactions come -- usually come with relatively high logistics costs, including expenses for transportation, for insurance, and also for warehousing. And to better control these costs, we have partnered with third-party companies who have established and well established the cross border logistics capabilities. [Technical difficulty], we will continue to monitor policy changes and develop flexible strategies to adapt to these changes. Also, regulations and standards for used vehicles vary across countries, including safety, emissions and quality requirements. To address this, we will ensure that all vehicles traded meet the standards of the target market.

In addition, used car transactions very often involve a relatively long transaction cycle due to their unique market characteristics, including but not limited to vehicle condition assessment, selection by buyers, multiple rounds of price negotiations, and necessary legal and financial reviews. Buyers typically need more time to look into the vehicle's maintenance history, performance and pricing before making a purchasing decision. So naturally, this extended transaction cycle also poses a challenge for cross border used vehicle transactions. Thank you. That's for your second question.

Unidentified Analyst: Thank you very much. No more questions from me.

Operator: The next question comes from Emerson Zhou [ph] with Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.

Unidentified Analyst: Thank you. I have two questions. The first question is on finance. So I noticed that the company has decreased your revenue guidance. So will you continue to do that in the future? And the second question is how will the management balance your long-term strategy against your short-term performance pressure?

Jiayuan Lin: Okay. On your first question on guidance, that of revenue, we are strategically [indiscernible] impact our existing business, we have reallocated the company's resources, optimize starving, and we have also implemented effective measures to reduce operational costs in response to market changes and internal demand. Moving forward, we will continue to evaluate business development from a strategic perspective while leveraging our unique business model to drive ongoing cost reduction and efficiency improvements. We are confident that these adjustments and refinements will enable us to respond more agilely to market changes and deliver greater value to our shareholders. On your second question, firstly we have adopted an integrated approach to strategic planning.

We have established a comprehensive strategic planning process to ensure alignment between short-term performance goals and our long-term vision. This involves maintaining continual communication to ensure all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the company's strategy and direction. In the short term, we will focus on enhancing execution, efficiency, controlling costs and driving revenue growth to ensure robust financial performance. Secondly, we have broken down our goals into different phases and also made flexible adjustments. So we have established a very clear objectives and targets for different phases that support both short-term performance and long-term strategic implementation.

At the same time, we maintain strategic flexibility allowing us to adapt our plans in response to market and technological changes and swiftly respond to external environmental shifts. Thank you.

Operator: And that concludes the question-and-answer session. Thank you once again for joining Cango's second quarter 2024 earnings conference call today. Have a great day.

Jiayuan Lin: Thank you all for your participation. Thank you.

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Cango (CANG) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) is among the 13 Cheapest Strong Buy Stocks to Buy Right Now.

On March 30, Citi lowered its price target on Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) to $35 from $39 while maintaining a Buy rating, following the companys first-quarter results. Carnival reported record adjusted EBITDA but reduced its fiscal 2026 guidance due to higher fuel costs, despite improving its operational outlook. The firm emphasized that the recent share price weakness was largely driven by broader market conditions and rising fuel prices rather than any deterioration in underlying business fundamentals, which remain strong on an ex-fuel basis.

On the same day, Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke reduced the firms price target on Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) to $28.70 from $33 while maintaining a Market Perform rating, noting that the quarter was expected to be challenging given macroeconomic pressures and the companys lack of fuel hedging. However, key metrics came in better than anticipated, including a smaller-than-feared reduction in EPS guidance, improved yield projections, strong booking trends, and lower cost guidance excluding fuel, indicating resilient demand and effective cost management.

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) is a global leader in leisure travel, operating a fleet of more than 90 cruise ships across a diverse portfolio of brands. Founded in 1972 and dual-headquartered in Miami and London, the company has pioneered the modern cruise industry. Despite near-term fuel cost pressures, Carnivals strong demand environment, improving operational metrics, and resilient booking trends position it well for continued recovery, supporting an attractive investment opportunity with significant upside potential.

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Royal Caribbean (RCL) shares pushed meaningfully higher on April 8 after a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran sparked a relief rally across the travel sector.

The upward momentum saw RCL break above its 20-day moving average (MA), a technical setup thats broadly interpreted as a developing shift in favor of the bulls.

More News from Barchart

Despite this rally, however, Royal Caribbean stock remains down about 20% versus its YTD high.

www.barchart.com

Why RCL Shares Rallied on Ceasefire Announcement

The U.S.-Iran truce (though temporary for now) is a massive tailwind for cruise operators primarily because it immediately eased oil prices.

Fuel represents one of Royal Caribbeans largest overhead expenses; as crude (CBM26) prices crashed to a multi-week low of about $94 a barrel, the strain on profit margins was relieved instantly.

Additionally, the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as part of the ceasefire agreement mitigates tail risk for itineraries and calms consumer anxiety regarding international travel as well.

With the threat of a broader conflict receding, its reasonable to expect a surge in bookings for the upcoming peak summer season, which may bolster revenue visibility and drive RCL shares higher.

Why JPMorgan Remains Bullish on Royal Caribbean Stock

JPMorgan analyst Matthew Boss trimmed his price objective to $341, but he remains firmly bullish on Royal Caribbean shares with an Overweight rating.

According to Boss, a superior yield growth warrants loading up on RCL at current levels.

At a price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of about 4x, Royal Caribbean is actually more expensive than its peers Carnival (CCL) and Norwegian (NCLH), but the JPM analyst still sees the valuation as attractive, given its near-term earnings potential.

Meanwhile, a healthy 2.15% dividend yield continues to attract income-focused investors to RCL, which has a history of closing both April and May in the green.

Other Wall Street Firms Agree with JPM on Royal Caribbean

Despite a seemingly stretched valuation, other Wall Street analysts also remain positive on Royal Caribbean Cruises for the remainder of 2026.

According to Barchart, the consensus rating on RCL stock is a Moderate Buy currently, with the mean price target of nearly $360 indicating potential upside of about 28% from here.
Wall Street sent mixed but broadly cautious signals on Circle Internet Group (NYSE: CRCL) on Apr. 8.

Circle is the company behind USDC, one of the world's largest stablecoins and a cornerstone of the digital dollar economy.

The firm went public on the NYSE under the ticker CRCL in 2025 and has since positioned itself as one of the most prominent publicly traded pure-play crypto infrastructure companies in the United States market.

Related: Coinbase buys stake in Circle as USDC pursues stablecoin market share

What the analysts are saying

Compass Point analyst Ed Engel downgraded the stock from Neutral to Sell and cut his price target from $79 to $77, flagging a 10.90% downside from current levels.

Engel warned that roughly 80% of recent USDC supply growth has come through distribution partners like Sky, Binance, and Ethena  deals that reduce Circle's share of interest income from reserves. He estimates Q1 EBITDA will fall 19% from Q4, with fiscal 2027 projections running about 20% below Wall Street consensus.

Goldman Sachs analyst James Yaro took a more measured stance, reiterating a Hold and nudging his price target slightly higher from $97 to $99, implying a 14.56% upside, but stopping well short of a Buy recommendation.

Popular on TheStreet Roundtable:

Insider selling and the stock's sharp slide

Adding another layer to the story, SEC filings show that Rajeev V. Date, a director at Circle Internet Group, sold shares in the company on Apr. 6 and Apr. 7, the two days immediately preceding the broader selloff.

On Apr. 6, Date exercised stock options at $0.08 per share and sold 2,546 shares at $92.99. The following day, he exercised and sold an additional 1,273 shares at $95.

Both transactions were made under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plan, which allows insiders to schedule sales in advance to avoid accusations of trading on non-public information.

How far has it fallen?

The market leaned toward the bearish read. Circle shares dropped 9.23% on the day to $85.72 as of 2:55 PM ET.

Circle stock movement on April 9

The intraday chart told a sharp story. The stock held relatively steady through the morning session before a steep sell-off kicked in, briefly attempting a recovery near midday before resuming its slide into the afternoon.

Related: Circle CEO: We're Trying to Protect Crypto From Traditional Banking

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shares in Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) are on the rise this morning after the company reported its Q1 2026 results.

Most Read from Fast Company



While Delta comfortably beat revenue expectations, the U.S. air carrier also addressed the biggest challenge it is currently facingrising gas pricesand how it is working to mitigate that challenge. Heres what you need to know.

Deltas Q1 beats expectations, stock surges

On Wednesday, Delta Air Lines announced its Q1 2026 financial results, covering the period from January through March. The results, announced before markets opened, showed the company had a strong quarter.

Delta reported non-GAAP operating revenue of $14.2 billion and an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.64. (GAAP stands for generally accepted accounting principles.)

To put those numbers into greater perspective, Wall Street analysts were expecting Delta to post $14 billion in revenue and an EPS of $0.57, notes CNBC. In other words, Delta handily beat Wall Street expectations.

In a bit of fortuitous timing for Delta, the airline reported its latest earnings just hours after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire, which will see the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, reopened.

That news sent the price of a barrel of oil plunging below the $100 mark for the first time in weeks.

Its particularly good news for airlines like Delta, whose fuel expenditures are among their greatest potential liabilities when it comes to profitability.

As a result of Deltas expectation-beating first quarter, combined with investor relief over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Delta shares surged in premarket trading. At the time of this writing, they are currently up more than 11%, to above $73.

Delta signals how it will combat rising gas prices

But investors might not only be cheering Deltas earnings and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Many are also likely satisfied with Deltas game plan for offsetting higher oil and gas prices.

Along with announcing its Q1 results, Delta CEO Ed Bastian confirmed that passenger demand remains strong.

Thats normally a good thingan airline generally wants as many customers as possible. But at a time of spiraling oil and gas prices, a strong customer base means airlines need to buy more fuel to move passengers from point A to point B. Paying higher costs can eat into profits.
April 8 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS) is planning to cut as many as 1,000 positions in the coming weeks, many of which will be made in the company's marketing department, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

The Journal said that plans for the coming job cuts began before Josh D'Amaro assumed his new role as Disney's chief executive officer in March.

The planned layoffs could affect less than 1% of its total employees. Disney employed about 231,000 people as of the end of fiscal year 2025.

Disney's newly appointed chief marketing officer, Asad Ayaz, also plans to unite the company's marketing group and reduce expenses under code-named Project Imagine, the report added. Ayaz began to oversee a newly created company-wide marketing organization in January.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Disney did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours.

(Reporting by Natalia Bueno Rebolledo in Mexico City; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Rashmi Aich)
Dr. Martens has named new general managers for all major markets as the footwear brand continues to make moves to simplify its operating model with a new consumer-first strategy.

As part of the moves, the company promoted Nick Duff as GM of the U.K., Nathalie Schneider as GM of France, Kristin Staeren as GM of DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), and Giorgio Trevisan as GM of Italy.

More from WWD

These promotions come as consumer spending continues to be challenging for the company in its EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Dr. Martens said that overall revenue in the EMEA region declined 6 percent on a constant currency basis and was down 3 percent on a reported basis. EMEA wholesale revenues were up 13 percent in Q3 with DTC revenue down 12 percent on a constant currency basis.

In the January third-quarter report, the company also noted that overall group revenue fell 3.1 percent on a reported basis to 251 million pounds in the third quarter, with year-to-date revenue down 1.8 percent to 573 million pounds.

The EMEA market continues to be challenging, with our DTC revenue performance impacted by both the market and our more disciplined promotional stance, Dr. Martens chief executive officer Ije Nwokorie said at the time. We delivered a good wholesale performance, with growth broad-based across all three regions.

Wednesdays European promotions follow the recent hire of Yoichi Oikawa as Dr. Martens new GM of Japan. The USA market continues to be directly run by Paul Zadoff, president of Americas.

Kristin Staeren, Dr Martens, doc martens, footwear, shoes, boots, executive

The U.K.-based footwear brand noted in a statement that these new organizational changes will transition the business to a market level structure to be closer to the consumer, combined with strengthening global brand, technology and support functions.

Dr. Martens added that these six markets are each significant for the brands overall business, accounting for over 80 percent of global revenues, and the new market structure will ensure each market is run by a dedicated leader and team.

Whats more, the company is simplifying the leadership structure, with a newly created executive team, led by Nwokorie. This executive team will set business direction and will be comprised of Nwokorie and Zadoff, as well as chief financial officer Giles Wilson, chief brand officer Carla Murphy, interim chief operating officer Anna Duffiet, chief commercial officer Mike Stopforth, chief people officer Bridget Jolliffe, and chief legal officer and company secretary Katherine Bellau.
Smith also reviewed the companys buildout through acquisitions, including Viking Freight (1998), American Freightways (2001), and Watkins Motor Lines (2006), and the 2011 move to a single network supporting Priority and Economy products. He said FedEx Freight expects this year to generate $8.7 billion in revenue and approximately $1.1 billion in adjusted operating income, implying an operating margin of about 12%.

John Smith, incoming president and CEO of FedEx Freight, said the business is being built around three stakeholder groups: people, customers, and shareholders. He highlighted the companys safety culture and collective responsibility mindset, while positioning the separation as an opportunity to chart our own path, executing on our freight-focused strategy to convert our strengths into high quality growth, enhanced profitability, and expanded free cash flow.

Mariana Rose, managing director of investor relations, opened the event with a safety message focused on distracted driving and noted preliminary estimates showing automobile fatalities down 12% in 2025. Rose also reminded investors about forward-looking statements and directed listeners to FedEx Freight disclosures for non-GAAP reconciliations.

FedEx (NYSE:FDX) Freight used its first Investor Day to outline a strategy for operating as a standalone less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, emphasizing network scale, commercial initiatives, technology modernization, and a financial framework aimed at higher margins and free cash flow generation.

The company is driving that improvement through network and operational moves (service-center rationalization, fleet modernization that cut average linehaul age to 4.5 years, and a 12% increase in cube utilization from Dim & Motion and ML tools), plus a retooled commercial pusha 500-person LTL salesforce, yield-focused pricing, billing automation, and pursuit of an estimated $9 billion target market across select verticals.

FedEx Freights standalone LTL plan targets a jump from about 12% to ~15% adjusted operating margin , aims for $1 billion+ annual free cash flow with >90% net-income-to-FCF conversion, and targets 4%6% revenue CAGR and 10%12% adjusted operating income CAGR , while cutting leverage to under 2.5x and keeping CapEx near ~5% of revenue.

Story Continues

Network scale and operations initiatives

 Microsofts Copilot Problem Isnt What You Think

FedEx Delivers: Guidance Hike Signals Upside in 2026

COO Clint McCoy said FedEx Freight operates the largest, fastest, and most reliable freight network in the industry, and described work to rationalize service centers, modernize the fleet, re-engineer lanes and flows, and tighten dock execution. He detailed the current footprint as:

More than 365 locations and approximately 26,000 doors

About 30,000 motorized vehicles, including more than 17,000 tractors

Coverage across all 50 states, Mexico, and Canada

McCoy said FedEx Freight has consolidated 39 service centers since 2023, removing about 1,000 doors, while adding nine new locations and 600 doors in strategic markets. He also cited the Chicago market as an example, saying the company has 11 service centers and nearly 1,500 doors in the metro areaover 50% more capacity than our closest competitor in that market.

 With Nike Shares Near a 12-Year Low, Is Now the Time to Be Brave?

Operational initiatives outlined included linehaul optimization, dock optimization, and fleet modernization. McCoy said the companys Dim and Motion technology captures more than 90% of shipments in real time, enabling cube-based planning; he said this contributed to a 12% increase in cube utilization over the past year. He also said machine-learning tools helped drive a 10% reduction in planned versus actual freight handles. In fleet modernization, McCoy said the average age of the linehaul fleet has been reduced from 5.6 years to 4.5 years since 2023, improving miles per gallon by 3%.

On safety, McCoy said investments in safety technologies and culture contributed to a 30% reduction in DOT-preventable accidents over the past five years, and noted that 40% of drivers have exceeded the 1 million-mile safe driving mark.

Commercial strategy: salesforce buildout, yield discipline, and target verticals

Chief Specialized Services and Commercial Officer Mike Lyons said FedEx Freight is the only national LTL carrier with a dual service offeringPriority and Economyrunning through one network. He said Priority makes up more than 60% of shipments, with additional specialty services including Custom Critical, Freight Direct, and others.

Lyons said FedEx Freight has nearly 140,000 active customers and emphasized revenue concentration among long-tenured accounts, stating that when excluding single shippers, customers with more than a decade of tenure represent nearly 90% of revenue. He also said the top 25 customers account for 17% of total revenue.

Lyons growth plan centered on strengthening go-to-market execution, improving customer experience, and generating durable, high-quality revenue growth. He said the company has reached its hiring target for a dedicated LTL sales force, now totaling 500 sellers across North America, and that these hires were required to have LTL experience. He also said sales incentives have been re-engineered to align with the companys profitable growth priorities rather than revenue alone.

Lyons said FedEx Freight is committed to maintaining a rational pricing strategy with yield as a core objective. He described moves to simplify contracts, adopt an LTL-specific pricing platform, and improve billing and invoicing processes. Lyons said the company is on track to reduce manual touch points by up to 60% in billing-related processes and is shifting work previously handled by offshore vendors to in-house and near-shore resources.

Lyons highlighted four target end markets and cited estimated total addressable markets (TAMs) for three of them:

Small and medium-sized businesses

Healthcare (around a $6 billion TAM)

Grocery (around a $1 billion TAM)

Data centers and energy (around a $2 billion TAM)

In Q&A, Lyons said the company sees roughly about a $9 billion market opportunity across the verticals discussed and said FedEx Freight has very little penetration in them today. Smith added that moving Custom Critical under Freight about 18 months earlier creates an opportunity in healthcare and cold chain.

Addressing bundling with parcel, Lyons said the company is about 99% done unbundling and described a net neutral approach for customers through contract terms. Smith said the goal is to keep customers whole through this transition.

Technology roadmap and financial targets

CTO Mike Rodgers said the company is building fit for LTL tools across the freight value chain and expects to leverage agentic AI, machine learning, and native platform capabilities such as those within Salesforce. Rodgers said the technology organization has reduced its application footprint by more than 20% by eliminating over 300 applications, aiming to reduce complexity, operating cost, and cyber risk exposure.

Rodgers described priorities around modernizing pricing, rating, and invoicing, and said the company expects a 60% reduction in manual invoice touch points. He also said the company is launching a dedicated FedEx Freight website, noting that on the shared FedEx website it takes five clicks to start a shipment, versus one click on the new site.

During Q&A, Rodgers said RFID is used on every package now, adding it is on 90% of our shipments now, and said the data supports trailer density planning and is viewed as a competitive advantage.

CFO Marshall Witt laid out medium-term financial targets, including 4%-6% revenue CAGR and 10%-12% adjusted operating income CAGR. He said the company expects investments to create approximately a 50 basis point headwind during the transition period in 2026 and described a medium-term adjusted operating margin bridge from about 12% to about 15%, with yield expansion contributing more than half of the improvement.

Witt said the company expects to generate more than $1 billion per year in free cash flow over the medium term, representing over 90% net income to free cash flow conversion. He also outlined a capital allocation framework prioritizing organic investment (with CapEx targeted at about 5% of revenue), debt reduction to maintain investment-grade status, and shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases. Witt said the company expects to reduce leverage to under 2.5x within 12 months post-spin. He added that the company will evaluate strategic M&A using very stringent criteria.

In closing remarks, Smith reiterated the companys focus on operational efficiency, a strengthened commercial offering, and technology enhancements, saying these efforts are intended to drive high-quality growth, improved profitability, and a very strong balance sheet as an independent company.

About FedEx (NYSE:FDX)

FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) is a global logistics and courier company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by Frederick W. Smith in 1971 and beginning operations in the early 1970s, the company pioneered overnight express shipping and has since expanded into a diversified portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain services. FedEx operates an integrated air-and-ground network that moves parcels, freight and documents for businesses and consumers worldwide.

FedEx's core operating segments include express parcel delivery via its FedEx Express division, domestic and residential parcel delivery through FedEx Ground, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services, and logistics and supply-chain management solutions.

The article "FedEx Freight Investor Day: Standalone LTL Plan Targets 15% Margins, $1B+ Free Cash Flow Post-Spin" was originally published by MarketBeat.
This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill has appointed Jeff Uttz as its chief financial officer, effective May 18, the company said in a Wednesday press release.

Uttz served as Kura Sushis CFO for the past four years, during which time the chain grew from 39 units to 88 locations across 22 states, according to a Kura Sushi press release about his departure.

Firebirds, which has nearly 70 units across the U.S., will continue its expansion plan, opening seven units this year, including its first Kentucky restaurant in the Lexington market.

Dive Insight:

Uttz brings extensive experience in the restaurant industry, particularly with guiding fast growing restaurant companies through expansion phases, Steve Kislow, Firebirds CEO said in a statement. Uttz also has expertise in cross-functional collaboration, he added.

As we continue to strengthen our leadership position in the polished casual dining segment, Jeff's strategic vision and proven ability to develop and lead high performing finance organizations will be invaluable, Kislow said.

At Kura Sushi, Uttz improved corporate profitability through general and administrative expense savings and helped drive efficiencies through technology that supported the chains growth. He was also instrumental in two public follow-on offerings, per the release.

Uttz previously served as CFO at Shake Shake, playing a critical role in the chains IPO as well as developing the finance organization and supporting 45 unit openings. Uttz also worked as executive vice president and CFO of Yard House, helping facilitate its acquisition by Darden. He previously held leadership positions at CKE Restaurants.

Uttz will leave his post at Kura Sushi on April 28, according to a Kura Sushi press release. The sushi brand said it has begun searching for Uttzs replacement. In the meantime, Kura Sushi President and CEO Hajime Uba will serve as interim CFO and principal financial officer until a permanent replacement has been appointed.

As we move forward, while we have accomplished much already, we believe we are only scratching the surface of our potential as we continue our unit expansion to drive long-term sustainable growth, Uba said in a statement. We are committed to identifying the right person for our next CFO.

William Blair analyst Sharon Zackfia said in an emailed report that there is unlikely to be major disruption at the chain following Uttzs departure, as we believe Uttzs legacy of financial discipline is now ingrained in Kuras muscle memory.
Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Palantir's (PLTR) recent performance is hard to fault: 56% revenue growth and $1.6 billion in GAAP net income for 2025 are elite numbers. However, after a 50% rally over the last 12 months, the stocks valuation leaves little room for error.

Markets are forward-looking, and several structural risks are emerging that could test PLTR's premium multiple (see How low can PLTR stock go).

The danger with momentum stocks is that risks look manageable while the trade is crowded. Here are trends thoughtful investors should track to gauge PLTR's risk.

Risk 1: The Hyperscaler Bundling Threat

Palantir's U.S. commercial revenue soared 137% in Q4 2025, but a threat is building.

Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOG), and AWS are now embedding AI analytics tools directly into renewal conversations. Microsoft's Azure AI Foundry, Google's Vertex AI, and AWS SageMaker each offer AI workflow capabilities that bundle neatly into existing contracts, arriving pre-integrated and likely at a marginal additional cost.

The future of software may not have much to do with user interfaces or seat-based pricing. See how Palantir is positioned in the agentic AI shift.

What to watch: Net dollar retention hit 139% in Q4 2025, a sign of strong product stickiness. Any sequential decline in this metric, or management commentary about elongating sales cycles in non-defense verticals, would suggest bundled competition is making inroads.

Risk 2: Geopolitical Friction Could Cap Growth

Palantir's alignment with Western defense interests has made it a difficult sell abroad. International commercial revenue grew just 2% in 2025 against 109% domestically, and the gap looks structural. The UK's NHS Federated Data Platform contract, worth up to GBP 330 million, faces a potential review in 2027 amid pressure from privacy advocates. European governments are building "sovereign AI" frameworks that favor local vendors.

The risk is that Palantir's premium valuation may be entirely dependent on sustaining its lofty U.S. growth rate indefinitely.

What to watch: The NHS contract review outcome, as well as any EU legislation formalizing preferences for domestic AI vendors.

Risk 3: Government Spending Shifting Away From Software

Palantir built its business on long-term federal contracts across intelligence agencies and battlefield logistics. That foundation is durable, but early FY'2027 budget discussions are tilting toward hardware and the physical defense industrial base in response to geopolitical pressure to rebuild military capacity.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Revenue: Details not explicitly mentioned in the transcript.

Net Income: Not directly referenced in the transcript.

Disposal Group Accounting: South African operations accounted as a disposal group and discontinued activity.

Zambia Operations: Results shown in isolation in the interim financials.

Exceptional Items: Mention of extraordinary and exceptional items affecting earnings.

Release Date: April 07, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Jubilee Metals Group PLC (JUBPF) reported improvements in interim financials compared to previous years.

The company successfully received $25 million from One Chrome on time, with no delays or deductions.

PGM prices saw a significant increase, benefiting the company's revenue.

Zambian operations showed revenue and profit growth, aligning with internal expectations.

The company is actively addressing sulfuric acid supply issues with government support to prevent future disruptions.

Negative Points

The financial reporting was complicated by the sale of South African operations, leading to unclear interim results.

The appreciation of the South African rand negatively impacted the Chrome operations, resulting in higher costs.

The combined PGM and Chrome operations produced a net loss of $4.5 million for the six months.

Zambian production levels did not meet management's expectations due to various challenges, including weather conditions.

The company faces potential increases in transportation costs due to rising diesel prices in Zambia.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Is Jubilee Metals a going concern? A: Jonathan Morley-Kirk, Finance Director, confirmed that Jubilee Metals is considered a going concern. The audit of the annual financial report for the year ending June 30, 2025, included a going concern statement signed by auditors and the Board, valid until December 2026. He expressed confidence in the company's status but acknowledged the unpredictability of future events.

Q: Is any provision required against the receivable from One Chrome? A: Morley-Kirk stated that no provision is required against the receivable from One Chrome. The company has received $25 million of the $90 million due, with payments on time and without deductions. The relationship with One Chrome is professional, and there are no current concerns about their creditworthiness.
Hedge funds are betting hard against Moderna (MRNA). But the company's pipeline tells a very different story, and contrarian investors are paying close attention.

According to Bank of America's equity team, MRNA stock has the highest short interest of any S&P 500 ($SPX) stock, with 17.8% of its float sold short by hedge funds. That's a massive vote of no confidence from Wall Street's biggest players.

More News from Barchart

So what do they know that bulls don't? And more importantly, could they be wrong?

www.barchart.com

Why Moderna's Stock Is Heavily Shorted

The short thesis is not difficult to understand.

Covid-19 vaccination rates have been declining.

Moderna's U.S. revenue fell last year, dropping to $1.2 billion.

And the company is still burning cash on a sprawling pipeline of drugs that haven't hit the market yet.

Moderna Chief Financial Officer Jamey Mock acknowledged as much at the TD Cowen 46th Annual Health Care Conference in March. The company is planning another decline in U.S. revenue in 2026, to roughly $1 billion, a 20% year-over-year (YoY) decline. That's a brutal number for a stock that once traded above $400.

But here's the thing that short sellers may be overlooking: Moderna isn't just a Covid vaccine company anymore.

Modernas Revenue Growth Plan Goes Well Beyond Covid

Despite the U.S. weakness, Moderna guided for up to 10% total revenue growth in 2026. The key driver isn't domestic vaccine sales but international contracts.

The company has locked in multi-year strategic partnerships with the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. In 2025, Moderna generated $700 million in international revenue. In 2026, management expects that number to climb to $1 billion.

"The step-up in revenue from our guidance last year ... the key step-up in our up to 10% growth is predominantly coming from ex-U.S. revenues," Moderna Head of Investor Relations Lavina Talukdar said at the Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference in March. Moderna has signed multi-year contracts with governments, providing a level of revenue visibility that most biotech companies don't have.

Europe is also set to open up in 2027. A competitor's contract that effectively locked Moderna out of that $1.8 billion respiratory vaccine market expires later this year. And Moderna just received a positive Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) opinion for its flu/Covid combination vaccine in Europe, meaning it could arrive ready to compete the moment that door opens.
April 8 (Reuters) - OpenAI plans to reserve a portion of its shares from an initial public offering for individual investors, CFO Sarah Friar told CNBC on Wednesday, as the ChatGPT maker gears up for a highly anticipated U.S. stock market listing.

The AI startup is laying the groundwork for an IPO that could value it at up to $1 trillion and may file with securities regulators as soon as the second half of 2026, Reuters reported last year.

More from Yahoo Scout What valuation could OpenAI achieve at IPO? When might OpenAI file for its IPO? What portion of OpenAI's IPO will individual investors receive? How much did OpenAI raise in its latest funding?

Friar told CNBC that the AI startup started testing the waters with retail in its latest funding round and saw "really strong demand" from individuals. While she did not comment on the IPO timeline, she said it's "good hygiene" for a company of OpenAI's size to "look and feel and act ... like a public company."

OpenAI raised over $3 billion from individual investors in its latest funding round. It closed the round with $122 billion in committed capital at a post-money valuation of $852 billion.

The company initially targeted $1 billion from individual investors via private placements through banks such as JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, but ended up securing three times that amount in the largest private placement those banks have ever done, Friar told CNBC.

Large institutional investors have historically been the primary recipients of IPO allocations, with retail investors typically receiving only 5% to 10% of shares in public offerings.

However, billionaire Elon Musk is planning to allocate as much as 30% of SpaceX's IPO to individual investors - at least three times the usual retail slice.

SpaceX confidentially filed for a U.S. market debut earlier this month.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
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$5B Compound Planning Hires New Wealth Head, 3 Other Senior Roles

Compound Planning, a New York-based self-styled digital family office that recently hit $5 billion in client assets, has made four senior leadership hires, including a new head of wealth management.

Sheila Ryan, a former Focus Wealth Partners executive for over seven years, will lead wealth management for the firm, coordinating functions across the firms advisory, client service, operations, and marketing teams.

In addition, Compound named Matt Barley is the director of advisor recruiting. Barley had previously worked on annuities, TAMPs, and private markets with firms including Meketa Capital and Primark Capital. Ryan Vas Dias, formerly tax director at Baker Tilly, will lead its tax-related financial planning services and strategies, and Dylan Portelli, formerly a senior product manager at Intuit, is now lead product manager for Compound.

Weve built a financial operating system that powers both sides of the advisor and client relationship, enabling a more proactive and comprehensive client experience, co-founder and CEO Alex Farman-Farmaian said in a statement. Adding senior leaders across tax, product, advisory, and recruiting means we can deliver that at a level most firms simply arent built for.

Compound, created via a merger in 2023, has been growing rapidly in recent years by adding advisors, including seven in the second half of 2025 and the first part of 2026, totaling $795 million in collective assets.

The firm announced, alongside the new hires, that it had grown its assets by 75% since January 2025, attributing the jump to a combination of inorganic additions and organic growth, including adding 24 advisors and 700 new clients in that period.

Most Compound advisors are hired as W-2 employees, with a smaller number joining as 1099 independent contractors, and all adopt Compound branding while working remotely from locations around the U.S. The RIA is focused on high-net-worth founders, early employees, executives, professionals, and families.

Perigon Wealth Further Expands Leadership Team With Chief People Officer

Perigon Wealth Management, a San Francisco-based wealth manager with more than $11.2 billion in client assets, has expanded its leadership team to include a new chief people officer role.

Rory Shusted will join Perigon in the Atlanta area from her prior role as the owner of a talent consulting firm; she had previously been with consultancy RGP for nearly a decade, most recently as executive vice president of global talent. Shusted will report directly to Perigon CEO Arthur Ambarik, who said in a statement that her hire is the result of achieving scale in recent years through strong organic and M&A-based growth.
This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Santander and Webster Bank sketched out a second layer of management Monday, with roles set to take effect once the $12.3 billion combination between the lenders is complete.

More from Yahoo Scout When is the Santander-Webster merger expected to close? How will the integration process be structured and managed? Who will lead key divisions in the combined bank? Which executives are leaving after the merger announcement?

Chris Motl, Websters head of commercial banking, will lead the combined banks commercial-banking businesses, according to a Webster document confirming the roles.

That means Michael Lee, head of U.S. commercial banking for Santander, will retire. His day-to-day management responsibilities will end June 30, but hell continue to represent Santander on trade associations through the end of the year, the Spanish bank said in a note seen by American Banker.

Jason Mock, Santander U.S.s head of retail distribution, will lead the combined banks retail-banking division, the banks said.

James Griffin, Websters head of consumer banking, will serve under Mock as head of national retail distribution and consumer lending. In that role, Griffin will lead the banks network of more than 500 branches and continue to drive the growth of interSYNC, the rebranded digital deposit-gathering platform once called interLINK.

Drew Burchard, Santander U.S.s head of product and platforms, will be named the combined banks head of digital banking.

That means Swati Bhatia, who has led Santanders Openbank and the Spanish lenders U.S. retail bank since 2024, is out. Bhatia, who once led Goldman Sachs Marcus, will leave the bank June 30, Santander said in a note.

In a memo, Santanders U.S. chief, Christiana Riley, lauded Bhatia, noting she made "a significant and lasting impact" on Openbank, which amassed $6 billion in deposits over its first year.

Not every unit will see change at the top. Some areas where Santanders experience outpaces Websters will continue to be led by Santander executives.

David Hermer, Santanders U.S. head of corporate and investment banking, will lead the CIB at the combined institution, the banks said.

Luis Bermudez, Santanders U.S. head of private banking, will lead the combined banks private-banking business line, the lenders said.

David McClelland, Santanders U.S. head of auto finance, will lead the combined banks mobility finance unit.

Likewise, Webster has specialties beyond Santanders experience  including healthcare banking. Chad Wilkins, Websters head of HSA Bank, will be the combine banks head of healthcare financial services, the banks said.
Singapores Olam Group (OGL) is reshuffling its executive team, including a switch in chairman at the food and ingredients business and a CEO change.

Lim Ah Doo will stem down as chairman at the groups annual general meeting on 27 April as he completes a nine-year stint as non-executive and independent director of the Singapore-listed company.

Yap Chee Keong, who is deputy chairman and board chair, will step up into the chairmanship to ensure continuity as the group executes its re-organisation plan, according to a statement.

Co-founder and executive director Sunny Verghese will relinquish the position of group CEO at the same AGM. Verghese will remain chief executive of what is left of the divisional agriculture business, or Olam Agri.

Olam Group is in the process of divesting its agriculture division to the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company, otherwise known as Salic, which is owned by Saudi Arabias sovereign-wealth fund PIF.

Verghese said: The past year marked a defining milestone in our re-organisation journey as we took decisive steps to improve the performance of our underlying operating groups, strengthen the groups balance sheet, enhance their resilience and unlock value for our shareholders.

It has been an honour to co-found and lead OGL for the last 37 years and I am filled with immense gratitude, pride and satisfaction reflecting on our journey together in successfully building OGL into a respected, global market leader with significant positive impact in our industry.

The reshuffle will see Gautam Wadhwa taking over the CEO seat of the remaining group which will include OGL and Olam Food Ingredients (OFI).

According to the statement, he will be primarily responsible for the successful monetisation and divestments of the assets and businesses in OGH.

OFI will continue to be led by CEO Shekhar Anantharaman. He will also become executive director of Olam Group.

Outgoing chair Ah Doo said: The group embarks on a new chapter of leadership from a position of strength, underpinned by strong foundations built through years of disciplined stewardship, giving the renewed board a stable platform from which to steer the group confidently into the future.

The management changes at the dairy to bakery, snacks and beverages business were announced alongside Olam Groups annual results.

Fiscal 2025 revenue rose 19.3% to S$67bn ($52.6bn). EBIT climbed 13.2% to S$2.19bn, while profit rose to S$600.7m from S$201.5m a year earlier.

Basis EPS grew to 10.9 Singapore cents from 1.4.

"Singapores Olam Group reshuffles executive team" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.
Sales of imported light passenger vehicles in South Korea continued to surge in March 2026, rising by 35% to 33,970 units from 25,229 units in the same month last year, according to registration data released by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA).

The import segment continued to significantly outperform the domestic market last month, driven by strong demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). In the first three months of 2026, import sales rose by 35% to 82,120 units from 60,657 units a year earlier, while domestic sales by the countrys five main automakers fell slightly to 326,648 units in the same period.

BMW continued to lead the import market in the three-month period, albeit with sales rising by just over 4% to 19,368 units, while sales by its Mini subsidiary rose by 40% to 1,955 units. Together, the two brands accounted for around 26% of total import sales.

Mercedes-Benz sales also rose by just over 4% to 15,862 units year-to-date. The German automaker recently appointed a new CEO, Shirin Emeera, to oversee a new product offensive in the country, which includes the launch of ten new and facelifted passenger vehicle models this year as the company strengthens its electrified vehicle line-up. Four of these will be models based on new platforms, including battery-powered and hybrid CLA sedans as well as the new battery-powered GLC and GLB SUVs.

Volkswagen Group reported a 14% sales rise to 6,642 units in the three-month period, led by strong demand for Audi and Porsche models. Porsche Koreas CEO, Mathias Busse, said the company is expanding its sales network and plans to launch more than ten new models in the country this year, including the Cayenne Electric and the new 911 Turbo S and Macan GTS.

US BEV maker Teslas sales surged more than fourfold to 20,964 units, while Volvos sales increased by less than 4% to 3,628 units. Toyotas saw its sales rise by just over 3% to 2,153 units, while its Lexus division reported a 3% decline to 3,755 units.

BYD, which launched operations in South Korea a year ago, has sold 3,968 vehicles so far this year. The Chinese automaker has set itself a target of 10,000 sales this year, helped by the launch of three additional models, including a rear-wheel-drive version of the Seal, the Dolphin hatchback and a Dual Mode intelligent (DM-i) plug-in hybrid model.

Stellantis recently announced that it is stepping up its sales operations in the country with the launch of the Peugeot 5008 hybrid SUV and the Jeep Grand Cherokee this year, while Polestar said it aims to sell 4,000 BEVs this year, helped by the introduction of the Polestar 3 and 5 models.
April 9 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's IPO-bound SpaceX posted a loss of nearly $5 billion in 2025 on revenue of more than $18.5 billion, The Information reported on Thursday, citing sources.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment outside regular business hours.

More from Yahoo Scout What is SpaceX's expected IPO valuation? How did SpaceX's 2025 financial performance compare to 2024? What impact did the xAI acquisition have on SpaceX? What caused SpaceX's nearly $5 billion loss?

* The loss includes Musk's artificial intelligence startupxAI, which SpaceX acquired in February, according to the report. * SpaceX is the world's most active launch company and hasset out ambitions to make interplanetary travel viable. It hasalso outlined plans to deploy artificial intelligence datacenters in orbit. * The company, which confidentially filed for a U.S. listingin March, generated about $8 billion in profit last year onrevenue of $15 billion to $16 billion, Reuters reported inJanuary. * SpaceX is seeking a public listing at a potentialvaluation of more than $1.75 trillion.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Subhranshu Sahu)
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Levi Strauss & Co. beat expectations in Q1, thanks mostly to its wholesale operation. Net revenues rose 14% year over year to $1.7 billion. Direct-to-consumer rose 16% to over $911 million and wholesale rose 12% to $831 million.

Levis brand net revenues rose 14% to $1.6 billion, and the lower-priced Signature brand rose more than 16% to nearly $66 million. Beyond Yoga net revenue rose 23% to over $43 million.

The denim giant is searching for someone to replace Chief Financial and Growth Officer Harmit Singh, who is retiring. Singh is staying on until a replacement is found and during a planned transition period.

Dive Insight:

Levis renewed strength in wholesale in Q1 showed up here and in Europe, a pleasant surprise to both executives and analysts after a string of declines. The results are a marker of the overall health of the business, CEO Michelle Gass told analysts Tuesday.

Growth in wholesale reflects the momentum behind our lifestyle assortment, the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to reaching Levi's fans wherever they choose to shop, she said.

In the U.S., wholesale grew even though the company let go of some retailer partnerships, according to Singh. UBS analysts led by Jay Sole expect U.S. wholesale to deliver top-line growth in the mid-single digits or so for the next few years.

We believe this solid performance reflected momentum of Levis lifestyle assortment with wholesale partners, including in womens and tops, Sole said in a Wednesday client note.

The direct-to-consumer channel has been in focus for Levis for a while as a way to boost sales and margins, and last fall the company said it aims to double its own store count. But DTC has also emerged as a useful testing area to see what will succeed in wholesale, Singh said.

I would say the thought is  start with DTC, prove it out, and then, you know, showcase that, so that your partners buy, he said.

Gass noted that Levis is benefiting from its effort to expand into tops and non-denim categories. But the company is also getting a major boost from a denim trend that is working in their favor, Needham analysts led by Tom Nikic said in a Wednesday client note.

Tariffs took a bite out of margins again in Q1, as gross margin declined but beat expectations, reaching 61.9%. Import levies were largely responsible for the 20 basis point decline, though Levis expects its mitigation efforts to fully offset the impact of tariffs this year.
Tesla disappointed many of its day-one fans when it revealed it was mothballing the Model S and Model X due to low demand, so it could shift production capacity to other projects, such as humanoid robots.

This week, however, reports indicate the company is gearing up to produce a new vehicle that follows the success blueprint laid out by its popular Model 3.

Tesla has contacted suppliers in recent weeks as it develops an all-new, smaller, cheaper electric SUV, Reuters reported Thursday, April 9, citing four people familiar with the planning.

This is the same formula Tesla used to turn the Model 3 into the enormous success it became after its July 2017 debut. Tesla was never the same after it shifted from making luxury-priced vehicles to an affordable model for the mass market.

The Model 3 was priced at $35,000 at launch, much more in line with what Americans are used to paying for their sedans.

Tesla has bundled its Model 3 delivery numbers with those of its other successful brand, Model Y, since 2020, so exact sales numbers are difficult to determine.

But last year, Tesla China VP Grace Tao shared on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, that the company had sold more than 3 million Model 3s worldwide since 2017, according to Teslarati.

In the first quarter this year, Teslas Model 3 and Model Y accounted for 341,893 deliveries, while the other models, like the Model S and Model X (which will officially end production forever later this year) and the Cybertruck, accounted for the remaining 16,000+ deliveries.

Now, Tesla is looking to rekindle that magic with a new SUV.

Tesla is building a new, affordable SUV for the mass market

Tesla is developing a new electric SUV and has contacted suppliers about manufacturing logistics and specifications for various components, Reuters reported Thursday, April 9.

The vehicle is more than 18 inches shorter in length than Tesla's current Model Y SUV (14 ft vs 15.7 ft) and will be cheaper than the Model Y, which currently has an MSRP of $39,990 for the lowest-tier model.

The vehicle would be produced in China, according to Reuters sources, with future plans to expand production to the U.S. and Europe. Tesla's Shanghai factory, which exports to Europe and other markets, saw production rise by nearly 9% year over year to 85,670 in the first quarter.

When Tesla confirmed it was ending Model 3 and Model X production, it said it would refocus its efforts on humanoid robots and driverless cars. However, according to Reuters sources, Tesla also realizes that "global markets won't see meaningful adoption  nor regulatory acceptance  of driverless vehicles for years."
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) is included among the 15 Best Cheap Dividend Stocks to Buy.

UBS Trims Aflac (AFL) Target, Sees Limited Wiggle-Room in Current Environment

On April 9, UBS lowered its price recommendation on Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) to $114 from $116. It reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. The update came as part of a Q1 earnings preview for the North American life insurance group. UBS said it expects continued attention on disability margins, with relatively limited wiggle-room given cyclicality and economic uncertainty. The firm also rolled its target forward to 2027 estimates from 2026.

During the Q4 2025 earnings call, Max Broden, Senior EVP & CFO, said most of the companys 2026 guidance remains in place, with some adjustments. In Japan, underlying earned premiums are expected to decline by 1% to 2%. The expense ratio is projected between 20% and 23%. He also noted that the benefit ratio is expected in the 60% to 63% range, with a pretax profit margin of 33% to 36%.

For the US business, Broden said net earned premium growth is still expected at the lower end of the 3% to 6% range. The benefit ratio is projected between 48% and 52%. The expense ratio in the U.S. is expected to range from 36% to 39% as the company continues to expand its newer business lines.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) provides financial protection through its subsidiaries in the United States and Japan. Its core business focuses on supplemental health and life insurance products.

While we acknowledge the potential of AFL 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: 15 Blue Chip Stocks with Highest Dividends and 13 Bank Stocks with Highest Dividends

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday extended an order temporarily freezing Nexstar's acquisition of rival broadcast station owner Tegna for another week as he decides whether to issue a preliminary injunction.

U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento, California on March 27 issued an order requiring Nexstar to keep Tegna's assets separate in response to a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by DirecTV. He said Friday he would make some changes to the order to address concerns raised by Nexstar.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)
Venture Global Inc. (NYSE:VG) is one of the 10 Stocks Investors Are Dumping Right Now.

Venture Global ended two straight days of gains on Wednesday, shedding 9.69 percent to close at $14.44 apiece, as investors sold off positions in oil and gas companies after the easing tensions between the US and Iran.

Late on Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that the US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire on condition of the latter reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

VG

Venture Global's Plaquesmine facility. Photo from Venture Global website

The strait is a critical waterway passage where 20 percent of global crude oil demand passes through. Since the start of the war, it was ordered shut under Iranian control, sending prices of global crude oil and natural gas soaring, as shipping giants were forced to look for alternative paths to transport the said commodities.

For weeks, oil and gas companies, including Venture Global Inc. (NYSE:VG) have benefitted from the war amid the supply disruptions that sent prices soaring.

In other news, Venture Global Inc. (NYSE:VG) late last month announced that it finally settled an arbitration case filed by Edison SpA in relation to its failure to supply the latter with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Calcasieu Pass facility in Louisiana within the committed time.

The two companies inked a long-term LNG supply contract in 2017, with deliveries supposed to begin around 2022 to 2023.

Venture Global Inc. (NYSE:VG) said that completion of the settlement is expected this quarter, with LNG deliveries targeted for next month.

The agreement represents a significant step in strengthening commercial cooperation between the parties and it establishes a foundation for further future deliveries in the context of the disruption caused by ongoing geopolitical events, Venture Global Inc. (NYSE:VG) said. Both parties welcome this agreement, as it further consolidates longterm deliveries and enhances the commercial partnership between Venture Global and Edison, which is an important foundational customer of the Calcasieu Pass project. The parties look forward to continuing to work together to pursue Venture Globals mission of stabilizing global LNG/gas markets and to further consolidate Edisons role in guaranteeing the stability and security of Italys energy supply, it noted.

While we acknowledge the potential of VG 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.
Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX) is among the most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. During the 38th Annual Roth Conference on March 23, Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX) announced its strategic shift towards outsourced manufacturing, while highlighting meaningful developments in silicon anode battery technology. The company also noted strong revenue growth and emphasized its future goals.

Just last year, Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX) reported a threefold surge in revenue. For 2026, the goal is to achieve over 25% gross margins, with a few offerings already surpassing 30%, along with a 70% growth. What strengthens the case for the company is its involvement in the Drone Dominance Act initiatives and possible opportunities with Amazon.

Enovix Corp (ENVX) Comes Under The Focus Of Analysts

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

For the future, Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX) is focused on sustaining its position in energy density, aiming for higher watt-hours per kilogram. Additionally, the company is focusing on improving the power capabilities of its batteries to meet eVTOL requirements.

Earlier on March 9, B. Riley lifted the price target on Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX) to $22 from $16 and maintained a Buy rating. Some of the factors behind this optimism are above consensus baseline revenue guidance for 2026, quicker advancement toward NDAA-approved battery production, and robust growth visibility across rising electric mobility markets.

Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX) is a California-based provider of lithium-ion batteries for mobility applications. Incorporated in 2008, the companys core offerings are offered through SiCore and SiMaxx product platforms.

While we acknowledge the potential of AMPX 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.
SINGAPORE, April 10 (Reuters) - Chinese independent refiners have bought Iranian oil at premiums to Brent for the first time in years, after benchmark prices fell and amid expectations that India might purchase more cargoes after Washington's temporary waiver of sanctions.

India is set to get its first Iranian oil cargo in seven years after Washington temporarily waived sanctions on Iranian oil at sea due to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

Iranian oil typically trades at discounts to Brent because of the sanctions. Chinese independent refiners, also known as teapots, are its biggest buyers.

At least two refiners in Dongying, a major hub for independents in the eastern Shandong province, purchased Iranian Light at premiums of $1.50 to $2 a barrel to ICE Brent earlier this week, trade sources said. That compared with a $10 per barrel discount before the conflict.

The cargoes are floating near China and will be delivered this month, the people said.

One of the people said he believed it was the first time since 2022 that teapots have bought Iranian oil at a premium to Brent.

These refiners, armed with fresh import quotas from Beijing, sought prompt cargoes of Iranian crude after Brent crude futures dropped 13% to below $100 on Wednesday following the announcement of a ceasefire for the war.

The contract rebounded 1% on Thursday as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained largely halted. [O/R]

Earlier this week, China raised ceiling prices for retail gasoline and diesel by 420 yuan ($61) and 400 yuan per metric ton, respectively.

Refining margins at teapots have improved with lower crude costs and higher domestic fuel prices, encouraging them to look for Iranian oil for prompt delivery, traders said.

China's state planner last week urged independent refiners not to reduce processing rates below the average of the past two years, seeking to safeguard domestic fuel supply as state-owned refiners trim output.

(Reporting by Siyi Liu and Trixie Yap in Singapore; Editing by Florence Tan and Edwina Gibbs)
By Nate Raymond

BOSTON, April 10 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms must face a lawsuit by Massachusetts' attorney general alleging that the Facebook and Instagram parent deliberately designed features to addict young users, the state's top court ruled on Friday.

The ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court marked the first time a state high court has considered whether a federal law that generally shields internet companies from lawsuits over content posted by their users would also bar claims that companies like Meta knowingly addicted young users.

Meta has denied the allegations and says the company takes extensive steps to keep teens and young users safe on its platforms.

The decision comes in the wake of a landmark trial in which a Los Angeles jury on March 25 found Meta and Alphabet's Google negligent for designing social media platforms that are harmful to young people. It awarded a combined $6 million to a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to social media as a child.

A separate jury a day earlier found Meta owed $375 million in civil penalties in a lawsuit by New Mexico's attorney general accusing the company of misleading users about the safety of Facebook and Instagram and of enabling child sexual exploitation on those platforms.

Thirty-four other states are pursuing similar cases against Meta in federal court. The case by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, a Democrat, is one of at least nine that state attorneys general have since 2023 pursued in state court, including one filed Wednesday by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, a Republican.

Campbell's lawsuit garnered early headlines because of allegations it first aired about how CEO Mark Zuckerberg had been dismissive of concerns that aspects of Instagram could have a harmful effect on its users.

The lawsuit alleged that features on Instagram such as push notifications, "likes" of user posts and a never-ending scroll were designed to profit off teens' psychological vulnerabilities and their "fear of missing out."

The state alleged that internal data showed the platform was addicting and harming children, yet top executives rejected changes its research showed would improve teens' well-being.

Menlo Park, California-based Meta had sought to duck the Massachusetts case based on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, a federal law that broadly shields internet companies from lawsuits over content posted by users.

The state argued Section 230 does not apply to false statements it said Meta made about the safety of Instagram, its efforts to protect its young users' well-being or its age-verification systems to ensure people under age 13 stay off the platform.
The battle for AI supremacy has gotten political.

President Trump is defending Palantir Technologies (PTLR) after "Big Short" investor Michael Burry blasted the company for losing its software edge earlier this week.

In a Truth Social post, the president claims Palantir has "great war fighting capabilities and equipment." He even dared critics to "just ask our enemies." Palantir stock jumped following the bold-faced declaration before falling again. Year to date, the stock is down nearly 30%.

Read more about Palantir's stock moves and today's market action.

The quarrel over Palantir comes shortly after Burry claimed that AI startup Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) had been effectively "eating Palantir's lunch."

In an X post that has since been deleted, the Scion Asset Management founder pointed to Anthropic's explosive climb from $9 billion to $30 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) as evidence that businesses are pivoting toward "easier, cheaper, [and more] intuitive" solutions.

Burry then compared that to Palantir's slow-burn journey, noting that it took the software company 20 years to hit the $5 billion mark. According to him, Palantir's government-heavy portfolio acts as a low-margin anchor. Palantir closed Thursday trading down 7%.

This isn't a new crusade for Burry. The contrarian has been consistently bearish on Palantir, disclosing a significant short position via long-dated put options back in September 2025, betting largely on a multiyear decline.

At its core, Burry's thesis rests on the idea that Palantir operates like a consulting firm rather than a pure software play. He argues the company relies too heavily on its forward-deployed engineers (FDE), who often work on-site with customers for months to maintain the system. This makes the business model difficult to scale compared to off-the-shelf AI solutions like Anthropic's Claude.

President Trump speaks with reporters during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trump's validation, however, shifts the focus. While Anthropic scales rapidly in the commercial sector  namely through deals such as a recent multiyear agreement with CoreWeave (CRWV)  Palantir is banking on national security.

With markets at the whims of Trump's emotional discernment, Palantir, at least for now, is in his good graces. This stands in stark contrast to Anthropic, which fell out of favor in March after a dispute with the DoD over AI safety guardrails. The administration has subsequently labeled the AI lab a potential threat to national security.

StockStory aims to help individual investors beat the market.

Francisco Velasquez is a Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on LinkedIn and X. Story tips? Reach him via email at francisco.velasquez@yahooinc.com.
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.
China calls for calm, restraint after Israel's deadly airstrikes against Lebanon

Xinhua) 09:54, April 10, 2026

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Thursday called on relevant parties to stay calm and exercise restraint to help deescalate the regional situation after Israel launched airstrikes on Wednesday, leaving hundreds in Lebanon dead or injured.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a related query.

Lebanon's sovereignty and security should not be violated, and the lives and property of civilians must be protected, said Mao.

"We hope all sides will take the temporary ceasefire as an opportunity to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means and put an end to hostilities," Mao added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Chevron has made an oil discovery at the Bandit prospect approximately 125 miles south of the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

The exploration well in Green Canyon Block 680 discovered high-quality Miocene sands containing full-to-base oil.

Occidental Petroleum operates the Bandit prospect with a 45.375% working interest, alongside co-owners Chevron with a 37.125% stake and Woodside Energy with 17.5%.

The co-owners are evaluating the results to determine the next steps.

The discovery could lead to subsea tie-backs to a nearby Occidental-operated facility and other locations in the area.

Occidental subsurface technology senior vice-president and chief petrotechnical officer Jeff Simmons said: Occidental is focused on strengthening our Gulf of America portfolio.

We believe this discovery demonstrates the continued importance of the Gulf of America as a strategic source of reliable domestic oil supply that supports long-term energy security.

Chevron concentrates on investing in a balanced and diverse portfolio that includes both infrastructure-enabled and high-impact frontier exploration opportunities.

As the largest leaseholder in the GoM, Chevron manages a portfolio of both operated and non-operated assets.

Discoveries such as Bandit contribute to its deep-water capabilities.

Chevron exploration vice-president Kevin McLachlan said: Bandit demonstrates our exploration strategy in action and reinforces the high-quality opportunities in the prolific deep-water Gulf of America.

We are working with our co-owners to advance appraisal and development planning in a disciplined manner, leveraging existing infrastructure to help deliver competitive barrels.

In February 2026, Chevron and HELLENiQ ENERGY signed lease agreements with the Hellenic Republic to begin exploration in four offshore blocks in Greece.

Executed through Chevrons Dutch subsidiaries, the agreements cover two blocks south of Crete and two south of the Peloponnese.

Together, the South Crete 1, South Crete 2, South of Peloponnese and Block A2 concessions span approximately 47,000km.

"Chevron finds oil at Gulf of Mexicos Bandit prospect" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Drivers who have been reeling from rising gas prices during the U.S. war against Iran are wondering how long it will take for prices at the pump to come down now that both nations have agreed to a temporary ceasefire.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said oil and gas prices are already showing signs of coming down in the wake of the April 7 announcement of the temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. But reports emerged on April 8 of Iran re-closing the Strait of Hormuz, which has been tied to previous gas price spikes, amid attacks from Israeli forces.

The national average gas price rose to $4.16 per gallon on April 8, according to the AAA Auto Club. That figure is up from a national average of $3.12 on February 27, which was one day before the U.S. first launched military strikes on Iran.

"Gas prices could start reversing nationally in 48 hours or so- by a few cents every day," De Haan said in an X post on the evening of April 7 after Trump announced the ceasefire agreement. "Diesel prices may lag slightly  but where things stand now, diesel is NO longer likely to reach a record. National average gasoline could fall below $4 in ~1-2 weeks, diesel >$5 in 6-8 weeks."

According to a new poll released April 7 by the Pew Research Center, 69% of Americans say they are concerned about facing higher gas and fuel prices if hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resume after the two-week ceasefire.

De Haan cautioned in an April 7 blog post that "markets remain highly sensitive to developments in the region," however. He said short-term reductions in U.S. gas prices could reverse if hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resume after the temporary ceasefire.

"Until there is clear progress toward reopening the Strait or achieving a durable de-escalation, oil prices are likely to remain elevated and volatile, with geopolitical developments continuing to dominate market direction," he wrote.

How are gas prices determined?

The American Petroleum Institute, which lobbies for the natural gas and oil industry, said in a post on its website, "gasoline prices reflect costs across the fuel supply chain  from crude oil production to refining, distribution and retail sales.
Q : Could you share your outlook for 2026 amid the Persian Gulf conflict? A : Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman, stated that 2026 is expected to be a year of consolidation, returning to planned growth trajectory despite the 2025 setback. The company remains resilient, and additional details will be provided at the AGM on May 21.

The company faces potential risks from geopolitical tensions, such as the conflict in Iran, which could impact energy prices and market stability.

The metals segment faced challenges with turnover remaining flat and EBITDA declining by over 20% due to CO2 volatility and higher energy costs.

EBITDA decreased to EUR753 million, reflecting a 30% decline from the previous year due to project execution-related losses in the MPP division.

The renewable business completed a landmark deal in Chile for solar and battery energy storage systems, highlighting new opportunities and capabilities.

Significant progress in the metals business, including the development of an integrated bauxite alumina production line and successful commissioning of a circular metals pilot plant.

The company achieved a strategic milestone with its relisting on the London Stock Exchange and inclusion in the FTSE 100 list.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Story Continues

Q: How does the Middle East conflict affect Metlen, and how should investors view the business model's resilience? A: Mytilineos explained that the company is well-positioned with hedged energy inputs and diversified sourcing. The renewables division benefits from higher gas and oil prices, while the integrated utility model provides natural hedging. The defense business is supported by increased defense spending.

Q: What were the losses from the MPP division, and what measures have been taken? A: Fotini Ioannou, Group CFO, noted that excluding exceptional items, EBITDA would have exceeded $1 billion. The company has reviewed all MPP projects, with most expected to complete in 2026. MPP has been integrated into the Renewables segment, with enhanced procedures for project management.

Q: Could you provide an update on asset rotation sales for 2026 and BESS projects? A: Christos Gavalas, Group CEO, highlighted that Australia and Spain projects are expected to be sold this year, likely through hybrid models. The company is focused on batteries and storage, with a JV with PPC for sizable battery projects abroad.

Q: Are you considering an IPO for METKA, and what is the guidance for 2026? A: Mytilineos confirmed that METKA's strong performance in 2025 is expected to continue in 2026. An IPO on the Athens Stock Exchange is planned, subject to market conditions, to simplify the corporate structure and offer direct exposure to investors.

Q: How are you changing the way you run the EPC business and asset rotation program after 2025? A: Gavalas stated that governance and financial discipline have been reinforced, with new procedures for project approval and monitoring. Asset rotation will focus on pre-sold projects to avoid construction phase spending without future sale certainty.

Q: What is your metal hedging policy, and could it evolve? A: Mytilineos explained that hedging is based on cost structure and market prices. The company secures margins of 30-40% for shareholders and hedges when possible, as seen in past successful hedging strategies.

Q: What is the expected EBITDA contribution from growth initiatives in 2026 and 2027? A: Mytilineos mentioned contributions from the defense business, battery operations, and critical raw materials like gallium. The company expects significant contributions as investments mature, with gallium advancing rapidly.

Q: How will you manage cash needs and debt maturities in 2026? A: Ioannou stated that the company has excess liquidity of EUR3.7 billion and expects significant cash flow from asset rotation. Debt management options are being evaluated, with a focus on financial discipline and achieving an investment-grade rating.

Q: How does the Shell gas contract compare to Gazprom, and what is the strategy if the EU sanctions Gazprom? A: Mytilineos noted that Gazprom supplies are a small portion of total procurement. The Shell contract is part of a strategy to diversify sourcing, with more contracts planned and a portion reserved for spot purchasing.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT) is among the 12 High Growth Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

On March 23, Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT) highlighted exceptionally strong operating performance in a shareholder letter, noting that the first quarter of 2026 is expected to significantly exceed the prior quarter. The company disclosed multiple high-rate fixtures across key global routes, with time charter equivalent (TCE) rates reaching as high as $175,000 per day, while maintaining operating costs of approximately $9,000 per day. This substantial spread underscores the companys strong earnings leverage in a favorable tanker market, particularly amid geopolitical disruptions that have tightened global crude transportation dynamics.

On March 17, CEO Herbjorn Hansson announced that Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT) had entered into an agreement to sell a 2005-built vessel for approximately $40 million, while also signaling expectations for fleet expansion in the years ahead. This transaction reflects active fleet management aimed at optimizing capital allocation, while managements forward-looking commentary highlights confidence in sustained market strength and growth opportunities.

Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT) is a Bermuda-based shipping company specializing in the transportation of crude oil through its fleet of Suezmax tankers. With strong charter rates, disciplined cost structure, and proactive fleet optimization, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on favorable tanker market conditions, supporting a compelling investment case with significant upside potential.

While we acknowledge the potential of NAT 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.

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Despite the ongoing escalation in the Middle East, crude heads for its biggest weekly loss in months.

Friday, April 10, 2026

Is there a ceasefire or not? That is the ultimate question asked by the oil markets as the Strait of Hormuz remains open, strikes on energy infrastructure in the Middle East continue unabated (one could even say the damage reported by Saudi Arabia should be a turbocharger for prices) and the Lebanese issue continues to escalate. Nevertheless, oil is set to post its largest weekly loss since July 2025, with ICE Brent closing this week around $96 per barrel.

Ceasefire Or Not, the Hormuz Is Still Closed. Despite the oil markets hopes for a gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz, commercial navigation through the waterway remains dominated by Tehran with Iranian cargoes accounting for all crude and refined product transits over the past two days.

Saudi Admits Substantial Damage to Fields. Saudi Arabia reported that this weeks attack on its 7 million b/d East-West pipeline led to a loss of 700,000 b/d in throughput capacity, whilst a separate drone strike on its Khurais facility curbed Aramcos crude output capacity by 300,000 b/d.

OPEC+ Output Collapses in March. According to S&P Global, members of OPEC+ slashed their combined production by 8.11 million b/d last month, seeing total output drop to 34.78 million b/d due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iraq cutting the most as it shut in some 2.75 million b/d.

China Allows State Refiners to Draw SPRs. The Chinese Energy Ministry has given state-owned refiners such as Sinopec and CNPC the approval to tap strategic oil reserves held in commercial storages, allowing the drawdown of up to 1 million b/d of crude from the 1.4 billion barrels of SPR inventories.

Rare Russian Tanker Bursts into Gulf. A Russian-flagged VLCC tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf, a rare move as ships usually seek to escape the blocked waterway, considering the ships history hauling Venezuelan oil it would most probably sail to Iran.

Japan Releases SPR for Struggling Refiners. Japans government plans to release 20 days worth of oil reserves to ensure stable domestic supply, tapping into its strategic petroleum reserves since March 16, with the public inventory of available crude currently totalling of 143 days of consumption.

Brazil Fights Its War on Oil Export Tax. Brazil will appeal a federal court ruling that suspended the governments recently announced 12% crude oil export tax for foreign investors such as TotalEnergies, Sinopec or Equinor, with Brazilian judges claiming such a windfall levy would be unconstitutional.
Oil prices rose on 10 April due to renewed concerns over Saudi Arabian supply disruptions and the ongoing halt of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, reported Reuters.

Despite this increase, prices were on track for a weekly loss as tensions relaxed following a tentative two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Meanwhile, Israel indicated readiness for direct talks with Lebanon, suggesting possible diplomatic progress.

As of 06:04 GMT, Brent crude futures had increased by $0.96, reaching $96.88 per barrel (bbl).

Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures had risen by $0.78 to $98.65/bbl, a 0.80% gain.

Despite these gains, both contracts fell 11% over the past week, their steepest weekly decline since June 2025.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, citing an official from the Ministry of Energy, attacks on the nation's energy facilities have reduced oil production capacity by approximately 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), with East-West Pipeline throughput decreasing by around 700,000bpd.

Meanwhile, shipping activities through the Strait of Hormuz remain below 10% of usual levels as Iran enforced its territorial claims amid the ongoing conflict.

Despite a US-Iran ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, reports indicated continued fighting.

The strategic passageway, crucial for global oil and gas shipping, has seen significant disruption since the conflict began in February with Operation Epic Fury, led by the US and Israel against Iran.

Reports from JPMorgan suggest more than 50 infrastructure assets have been targeted, impacting around 2.4 million barrels per day of refining capacity.

In a related development, the fragile ceasefire is under strain, with the US accusing Iran of breaking terms related to maintaining passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reported Reuters.

Iran, in turn, cites Israeli military actions in Lebanon as a breach.

The limited movement through the strait continues to impact global energy supplies.

Israeli forces reported strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, following rocket attacks on northern Israel.

Meanwhile, preparations are under way in Pakistan for US-Iran negotiations on Saturday, aimed at addressing the conflict's broader implications.

In light of these developments, Iran released a settlement proposal emphasising control over the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear enrichment rights, and the lifting of sanctions and ending the war.

"Oil prices surge amid Saudi supply concerns and Hormuz halt" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Sheetz is slated to enter Indiana in 2027, with plans to invest nearly $1 billion opening 100 stores over the next 10 years, the company announced on Wednesday.

The company plans to open its first sites in the greater Indianapolis area, with specific locations and timelines to be announced at a later date, according to the announcement.

Sheetz entry into Indiana is the latest move in its Midwestern expansion and puts it alongside fellow super-regional chains RaceTrac, QuikTrip and Wawa in targeting the Hoosier State.

Dive Insight:

Sheetz, which currently has more than 830 stores across seven states, opened its first Midwest locations in Ohio almost 30 years ago and has ramped up its presence in the area in recent years. In April 2021, the company opened its first location in the Columbus area and shared plans to open 50 stores in that market over the next few years. An expansion into Michigan followed in 2024, with the company planning to add 14 more stores across that state in 2026 alone.

Now, Indiana is on the list as well.

Over the past several years, we have received a significant number of inquiries from Indiana residents who want to see Sheetz in their communities, said Travis Sheetz, president and CEO of Sheetz. This momentum has been reinforced by the enthusiastic response to our unique offerings in new Midwest markets.

Sheetz reiterated that its $145 million distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, is on schedule to open later this year and will help support the retailers ambitious growth plans in the region.

Even before Sheetz made this announcement, Indiana had become a hotbed of growing convenience retail competition in the past five years.

The three largest c-store companies in the U.S. all have a presence in Indiana, with 7-Eleven-owned Speedway, Circle K and Caseys General Stores all boasting dozens of locations. But the state has also become a magnet for super-regionals in the past few years. Racetrac entered Indiana in late 2023 and now has three stores in the state, according to its website. Pennsylvania-based Wawa opened its first store in the state last year, with plans to add 60 total c-stores there through 2033. QuikTrip also opened its first Indiana site in 2025 and has since opened a second.

Wawa and QuikTrip ended up opening their first Indiana stores down the road from one another in a small town called Daleville.
Subsea7 has won a supermajor contract from Petrobras for the Sepia 2 field development in the Santos Basin, located around 280km south-east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in water depths of 2,170m.

The agreement follows a competitive tender process and covers the provision of engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and pre-commissioning of subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) for 17 wells.

This includes two wells from the Sepia 1 project and one gas export line with 18 risers.

The Sepia 2 project is part of the ongoing expansion of Brazils pre-salt resource base, which remains a central focus for offshore investment and development activity in the region.

Subsea7 will begin project management and engineering immediately at its offices in Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and Sutton, UK. Offshore operations for the Sepia 2 contract are due to start in 2029.

Subsea7 defines a supermajor contract as one valued at more than $1.25bn (920m).

Subsea7 senior Brazil and global projects centre west vice-president Yann Cottart said: This award strengthens Subsea7s portfolio of projects in Brazil and reinforces our established relationship with Petrobras in the pre-salt.

Through strong local content, disciplined execution and close collaboration, we support projects of national importance with predictable delivery. We thank Petrobras for their continued trust and look forward to the successful delivery of the Sepia 2 project.

Subsea7s continued involvement in Petrobras-led deep-water programmes utilises SURF systems to enable production from technically challenging subsea fields.

In a related development, SLB OneSubsea, a joint venture between SLB, Aker Solutions and Subsea7, recently secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract for a deep-water project offshore Malaysia from PTTEP Sabah Oil, a subsidiary of the PTT Exploration and Production Public Company.

This latest contract extends OneSubseas role in delivering integrated subsea production systems for PTTEPs Malaysian developments.

Last month, Subsea7 was awarded further contract work by the Turkish Petroleum Offshore Technology Centre related to the Sakarya field development offshore Turkiye.

The company stated that the value of this additional work was between $300m and $500m.

"Subsea7 secures Sepia 2 field contract from Petrobras" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Such interventions have provided short-term relief, but they have also accelerated the exhaustion of available supply buffers. Iranian floating storage, which had approached a record 55 million barrels in late December 2025, declined to 34 million barrels by the end of February and has since fallen further to 23 million barrels in early April  its lowest level since October. What was once excess supply stranded by sanctions has become a rapidly depleting source of marginal barrels.

Washingtons response has emphasised the limits of policy in the face of physical shortages. On March 12, the US moved to release Russian crude from floating storage, followed by a March 20 easing that allowed Iranian barrels already at sea to be sold up until April 19  a targeted attempt to inject needed grades without fully lifting the sanctions.

At the core of the shift is the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. While not formally closed, access since March 1 has in practice been limited to vessels aligned with Iranian interests, removing a key share of medium-sour crude from the market  a grade essential for many Asian refineries . Iranian Light (3233 degrees API) and Iran Heavy (29-30 degrees API) have effectively moved from sanctioned barrels to must-have feedstock.

Iran entered the escalation phase with export momentum already building, loading crude at 2.2 million b/d in February  the highest level since 2018. In March, when all other Tehrans neighbours had their barrels trapped inside the Gulf, Iranian crude exports only eased slightly to 1.9 million b/d. But what mattered more than volumes was pricing power. Iranian Light into China has flipped from a steep $12/bbl discount to a $1/bbl premium to ICE Brent, an extraordinary reversal for a heavily sanctioned grade.

March has turned into a month of hard power tests for Iran  and so far, it has been quietly exceeding expectations. By effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz to all but its own cargoes (or the ones that have received their approval), Tehran has demonstrated that the trajectory of the conflict is far from being dictated by its counterparts. Faced with the risk of acute shortages in medium-sour crude, the US administration has been forced into a partial sanctions retreat , allowing Iranian barrels already at sea to re-enter the market. The result is a striking reversal  Iranian crude, once deeply discounted, is now trading at a $1/bbl premium to ICE Brent, while the pool of willing buyers is slowly but steadily widening.

Story Continues

At the same time, control over physical flows has been fully taken by Tehran. Satellite tracking between March 1 and April 7 shows only 92 tankers carrying crude, refined products, and LPG leaving the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, of which 60 were either Iranian-owned or transporting Iranian cargo. Among the remaining 32 vessels, roughly one-third were destined for India. The implication is clear: the Strait has not been formally closed, but it has been operationally nationalized.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has faced fewer difficulties in finding buyers for its barrels than before. China remains the core demand center, with imports reaching 1.6 million b/d in March (the highest since November 2025) out of total Chinese seaborne crude imports of 10 million b/d. However, these flows reflect a segmented market: large state-owned buyers continue to abstain due to compliance risks and transaction complexity, leaving independent refiners in Shandong province to absorb the majority of volumes. These teapot refiners operate through yuan-denominated payments via smaller regional banks, effectively bypassing traditional financial channels.

Outside China, Irans export options have been evolving. Syrian demand, previously in the range of 80,000100,000 b/d, has effectively disappeared following the political transition in early 2025. However, Southeast Asia continues to function as an important logistical staging ground, with ship-to-ship transfer hubs in Singapore and Malaysia facilitating the onward movement of Iranian barrels into Chinas independent refining sector, particularly around Rizhao and Dongjiakou.

India, meanwhile, is emerging as the next most interesting buyer on the list. The high-profile case of the tanker Ping Shun, carrying 80,000 tonnes of Iranian Light and initially bound for Vadinar, illustrated the complexity of these flows when it was rerouted to China mid-voyage. While speculation pointed to payment constraints, Indian authorities attributed the change to routine adjustments in bills of lading. Besides, the Vadinar refinery is scheduled for maintenance from April 9 (thus needing no crude intakes for the current month). Nevertheless, Indian engagement with Iranian supply is expanding. The tanker Jaya, carrying 280,000 tonnes of Iranian crude, is currently en route to India with an expected arrival on April 10 after having floated near Singapore for several weeks. Additional deliveries already include LPG cargoes of 12,000 and 44,000 tonnes discharged in Mangalore in late March and early April, alongside shipments of high-sulfur fuel oil and naphtha.

If oil flows are adapting, payments are evolving even faster. Tehrans proposed ceasefire framework (admitted as the starting point for the negotiations by the US) includes a controversial provision: transit through the Strait of Hormuz would require Iranian approval  and payment. At least one vessel is already reported to have paid around $2 million for passage, allegedly settled in yuan. The Financial Times reported that a spokesperson for Irans Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union said the proposed tariff would be $1/bbl. While there is speculation that payments could be made in cryptocurrency, Iran is more likely to favour settlement in hard currencies, which are easier to convert and have transactional utility in trade. In this context, the Chinese yuan stands out as a particularly practical option. With a significant share of Chinas oil trade with both Russia and Iran already conducted in yuan, such a model has clear potential to scale  with far-reaching implications. A sustained shift toward yuan-denominated transactions in oil trade and oil-related services would erode the dominance of the petro-dollar system, introducing a parallel framework anchored in Chinas financial ecosystem. For Washington, this would mean not just a tactical setback but a real challenge.

Whether such a transition materializes will depend on the response of other regional actors, particularly Gulf states that have suffered both physical and reputational damage during the conflict. Their willingness (or refusal) to recognize Irans emerging role as both gatekeeper and toll collector will shape the next phase of market evolution. For now, however, the balance of power is unmistakable. In a market defined by crude shortages and constrained logistics, the decisive factor is no longer production capacity alone  but control over movement. And in that respect, Iran has shifted from being a sanctioned supplier to becoming the arbiter of flow itself.

By Natalia Katona for Oilprice.com

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Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) is among the 12 High Growth Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

On April 2, Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) announced new contract awards and extensions totaling approximately $1.0 billion in incremental backlog, reinforcing strong demand for its high-specification offshore drilling fleet. Key awards include a multi-year contract for a harsh-environment semisubmersible in Norway and extensions for ultra-deepwater drillships in Brazil, with commitments extending into the next decade. These long-term contracts enhance revenue visibility and underscore the companys strategic positioning in premium offshore markets.

On March 19, Clarksons downgraded Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $5.90, reflecting a more cautious near-term outlook despite improving industry fundamentals. While the downgrade signals tempered expectations, it does not detract from the companys growing backlog and strengthening operational outlook.

Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) is a leading global provider of offshore drilling services, specializing in ultra-deepwater and harsh-environment operations. Headquartered in Switzerland, the company operates one of the most advanced fleets in the industry. With increasing demand for complex offshore projects and a growing backlog, Transocean is well-positioned to benefit from a sustained offshore recovery, supporting a strong long-term investment thesis with meaningful upside potential.

While we acknowledge the potential of RIG 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.

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By Shariq Khan

NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. consumers will continue to pay high prices to fill up their vehicles or purchase airplane tickets through the peak summer travel season, several market experts said on Wednesday, even as wholesale fuel prices cooled after President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

High fuel prices resulting from Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have become a major issue for Trump and his Republican Party as they campaign to maintain control of the U.S. Congress in November's midterm elections.

The war has sent gasoline and diesel prices to their highest levels in years, and the economic pain has pushed approval ratings of Trump to the lowest since his return to the White House.

After Trump announced a two-week ceasefire deal on Tuesday, U.S. crude oil futures fell nearly $20, and U.S. gasoline and diesel futures also fell sharply, as traders bet on a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

But falling crude futures probably will not bring quick relief for consumers at the pumps, experts said, noting that cracks had already begun to appear in the fragile truce. The Strait of Hormuz remained shut on Wednesday after Israel launched its biggest attacks yet on Lebanon. Iran also hit a pipeline that Saudi Arabia has been relying on to bypass the Hormuz.

"There's so much uncertainty still around what this ceasefire means, and when and how fuel starts to flow through the Strait of Hormuz again, retailers are not going to drop prices sharply in the face of those unknowns," said Shon Hiatt, director of the Zage Business of Energy Initiative at the USC Marshall School of Business.

In any case, retail fuel prices rise a lot faster than they drop, as fuel sellers will work through higher-priced inventory and seek a higher degree of certainty of future supply to avoid losses, Hiatt said.

"Prices go up like a rocket, and they fall like a feather."

U.S. retail gasoline eased a penny to $4.16 a gallon as of mid-day Wednesday, from a near four-year high of $4.17 a gallon on Tuesday, data from GasBuddy showed.

"If everything were to freeze right now, the national average could fall 5 or 10 cents a gallon for gasoline by this time next week," GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said.

As of Tuesday, the price at the pumps for gasoline remained nearly a dollar higher than last year's average, GasBuddy data showed.

RISK PREMIUM

Regardless of whether the ceasefire holds, insurance costs will be higher than they were before the war and ships will be hesitant to cross the waterway, said Alex Hodes, director of energy market strategy at StoneX.
Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) is among the 12 High Growth Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

On March 31, Citi raised its price target on Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) to $24 from $23 while maintaining a Neutral rating, reflecting updated commodity price assumptions across the energy sector. The firm noted that companies in the space are exhibiting disciplined capital allocation and a strong focus on shareholder returns, supporting improved financial performance despite market volatility.

On March 23, Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) announced that its Western Haynesville assets will supply natural gas to a major power generation project in Anderson County, Texas, part of a broader U.S.-Japan trade initiative. The planned facility, developed in collaboration with NextEra Energy, is expected to deliver up to 5.2 GW of natural gas-fired generation capacity and could require nearly 1 billion cubic feet per day of gas supply by 2031. With an estimated project cost of $16 billion, this development underscores the strategic importance of Comstocks resource base and its ability to support large-scale energy infrastructure projects.

Comstock Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CRK) is a leading independent natural gas producer focused on the Haynesville shale region in North Louisiana and East Texas. Headquartered in Frisco, Texas, the company plays a critical role in supplying natural gas to LNG export markets along the Gulf Coast. With increasing demand from large-scale infrastructure projects and favorable commodity pricing, Comstock is well-positioned to drive long-term growth, supporting a strong investment thesis with meaningful upside potential.

While we acknowledge the potential of CRK 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.

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Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) is among the 12 High Growth Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

On March 20, Wells Fargo initiated coverage of Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) with an Equal Weight rating and a $71 price target, citing confidence in the companys ability to support U.S. AI-driven power demand through its reliable energy solutions. However, following significant share price outperformance over the past year, the firm views the current valuation as more balanced, suggesting limited near-term upside despite strong fundamentals.

On March 17, Barclays raised its price target on Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) to $74 from $63 while maintaining an Overweight rating, highlighting the addition of 900 MW of natural gas-powered turbine capacity expected to come online between 2026 and 2029. The firm also pointed to the likelihood of securing an additional hyperscaler contract, which could further accelerate growth and expand the companys role in powering large-scale digital infrastructure.

Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) is a provider of power generation, distribution, and logistics solutions, serving both energy and industrial markets. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company has evolved to focus on mobile power solutions and infrastructure supporting high-growth sectors such as data centers. With strong demand drivers, expanding capacity, and potential new contracts, Solaris is well-positioned to deliver sustained growth, supporting a compelling investment case with significant upside potential.

While we acknowledge the potential of SEI 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.

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March data tracked by industry intelligence provider Pharmarack show a five-percentage-point slide in Eli Lilly's slice of India's GLP-1 weight-loss market, dropping from 61% to 56% as a wave of cheap semaglutide generics arrived following the ingredient's patent expiry. Novo Nordisk's position was unchanged at 25%, CNBC reports.

According to the Pharmarack report, a total of 26 semaglutide products  used to treat both obesity and type 2 diabetes  entered the market within weeks, representing launches by 13 separate Indian generic manufacturers.

The erosion of Lilly's position was unexpected. The patent expiry applied to semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 drugs, and analysts had anticipated the Danish company would bear the brunt of generic competition. Instead, Lilly's tirzepatide-based brands  which carry a higher price  took the larger hit.

Vishal Manchanda, a pharma sector analyst at Indian brokerage Systematix Group, told CNBC that growing awareness of affordable semaglutide generics, combined with the expanding price gap between semaglutide and tirzepatide, was the primary driver of Lilly's share loss. He predicted that tirzepatide's superior efficacy may ultimately keep it relevant but confine its user base to higher-income patients who can absorb the cost.

In a March 31 news release, Novo Nordisk announced steep reductions to its branded semaglutide pricing  38% for Ozempic and 48% for Wegovy  narrowing but not closing the gap with generic rivals. Entry-level pricing for Novo's lineup now sits at 5,660 rupees monthly, while premium generics are available at roughly 4,200 rupees.

The commercial stakes in India are substantial. Diabetes affects roughly 100 million people there, and approximately one in four Indians carries excess weight, creating a large addressable patient population for GLP-1 therapies. India's pharmaceutical sector, which provides about a fifth of the world's generic drug supply, gives the country an unusual ability to manufacture these treatments at low cost.

Lilly and Novo Nordisk have been moving in opposite directions globally, with Lilly posting 43% revenue growth in its most recent quarter while Novo guided to declining 2026 sales. The India dynamic adds a new wrinkle: even as Lilly outpaces Novo globally, the generic wave is proving more disruptive to Lilly's higher-priced franchise in price-sensitive emerging markets.
Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals has entered an exclusive licence agreement with JW Pharmaceutical for the clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialisation of bofanglutide injection in South Korea.

Bofanglutide is a bi-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) discovered and developed by Gan & Lee.

Under the agreement, JW Pharmaceutical gains exclusive rights to develop and commercialise the injection.

Gan & Lee will leverage the strengths of JW Pharmaceutical in R&D to establish a commercial presence in South Koreas metabolic disease market.

Gan & Lee will receive a non-refundable upfront payment of $5m, with milestone payments up to $76.1m, dependent on research, regulatory, and commercialisation targets.

The company will also obtain tiered royalties on net sales, bringing the total potential transaction value to $81.1m, excluding royalties.

This marks the third overseas out-licensing deal for Bofanglutide, after similar agreements in India and Latin America.

Bofanglutide has entered Phase III clinical research, targeting indications such as obesity/overweight, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Data indicate that the injection reduces body weight and blood glucose levels while favourably affecting metabolic parameters, with a safety and tolerability profile similar to other GLP-1RA therapies.

The bi-weekly dosing schedule minimises the annual number of injections by half compared to the standard once-weekly alternatives.

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals chief business officer Dr Zhi Li said: This partnership with JW Pharmaceutical marks another pivotal step in the globalisation strategy for bofanglutide. GLP-1 therapies are reshaping the global treatment landscape for metabolic diseases.

The convenience of Bofanglutides bi-weekly dosing and its compelling clinical benefits will help address the unmet medical needs of South Korean patients. With over 80 years of experience, JW brings deep development and commercial expertise in metabolic diseasesa key factor in our decision to partner with JW.

"Gan & Lee and JW Pharmaceutical agree on bofanglutide commercialisation" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.




We just covered

Jim Cramer Discussed The Iran Ceasefire & Commented On These 19 Stocks. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer.

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of Cramers favorite stocks. Its shares are up by 28% over the past year but are down by 13% year-to-date. Guggenheim trimmed Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s share price target to $1,163 from $1,168 and kept a Buy rating on the shares on March 30th ahead of the pharmaceutical companys Q1 2026 earnings. Guggenheims coverage came after RBC Capital had reiterated an Outperform rating and a $1,250 share price target for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) on March 16th. As part of its coverage, RBC remarked that a rival firms treatment appeared to mimic Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s drug and did not demonstrate any superior performance. The shares closed 3.8% higher on April 1st after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the firms weight loss pill, Foundayo. The day after, Novo Nordisk claimed that its weight loss pill was better than Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s. Cramer discussed the claim:

Look, if you wanted a pill and you wanted to be able to take it when you want, and you dont have to worry about taking it with the food and stuff, thats a, Lillys got that going. Remember, the main thing that Lilly has got going is theyre not gonna run out, that they have spent a fortune [on manufacturing]. David Ricks is forward thinking and Jensen Huang wants to do something with a pharmaceutical company, its going to be Ricks. And then Ricks says yes. Hes a big thinker. He bought this Centessa the other day, it looks like its just for narcolepsy but jeez, it could be the answer to a lot of mood disorders.

Jim Cramer Likes Eli Lilly's (LLY) New Deal

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.

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By Diana Novak Jones

CHICAGO, April 9 (Reuters) - A jury in Chicago on Thursday said Abbott Laboratories must pay $53 million in compensatory damages to a group of families that had accused the company of failing to warn that its formula for premature infants can cause a potentially deadly bowel disease, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The verdict came at the end of a lengthy trial in Cook County circuit court, the latest among hundreds of lawsuits alleging that Abbott's cow's milk-based formula products for preterm infants can cause necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC. Four families lawsuits were consolidated for trial.

The jury will meet again on Friday to determine how much Abbott must pay in punitive damages, according to the Tribune.

A spokesperson for Abbott did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Abbott has denied that the products, which it says are essential for premature babies when their mothers cannot produce enough breast milk, cause NEC.

NEC, which causes the death of bowel tissue, mostly affects premature newborns and has an estimated mortality rate of more than 20%.

The children, who were born in Chicago-area hospitals between 2012 and 2019, developed NEC but survived, according to their lawsuits. Three required surgery, and all live with ongoing health problems, according to the filings.

HUNDREDS MORE LAWSUITS

Nearly 1,000 lawsuits have been filed against Abbott, which makes Similac formulas, and Enfamil manufacturer Mead Johnson, a unit of Reckitt. More than 700 of the cases are centralized in an Illinois federal court, with others pending in state courts in states including Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

The products in question are cow's milk-based formula and products for fortifying mother's milk that are specially made for infants in hospital settings, not ordinary formula available to consumers in stores.

Illinois-based Abbott also makes medical devices, adult and child nutrition products and medicines.

The companies have said that while breast milk protects against NEC, their formulas do not cause it, and that the benefits of breast milk have long been known to clinicians. Abbott CEO Robert Ford suggested in 2024 that the preterm products might become unavailable because of the litigation.

U.S. regulatory agencies and a working group of scientists convened by the National Institutes of Health said in a joint report in 2024 that current evidence supports the hypothesis that it is the absence of breast milk rather than exposure to formula that is associated with an increase in incidence of NEC.
CoreWeave (CRWV) stock closed out the trading day 10% higher on Friday after the company announced it is entering a multiyear agreement with Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) that will see the AI cloud company provide Anthropic with computing capabilities to build and power its AI models.

CoreWeave said Anthropic will use its cloud services to run workloads at production scale, and that it will initially focus on a phased rollout with the option to expand the agreement in the future. The companies didnt provide the terms of the deal, including pricing or how many gigawatts of chips it will cover.

The announcement comes after Reuters reported that Anthropic is also considering designing its own semiconductors to contend with the AI chip crunch.

CEO and co-founder of Anthropic Dario Amodei speaks during the 56th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 2026. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse)  REUTERS / Reuters

Earlier this week, Anthropic also said its working with Broadcom (AVGO) and Google to use 3.5 gigawatts of Googles Broadcom-made Tensor Processing Units.

AI companies across the board are working to secure as many semiconductors as possible as they build out their AI services.

Anthropic rival OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) is also developing its own chips. In October, the company entered into a partnership with Broadcom to develop upwards of 10 gigawatts of custom semiconductors for its various AI services.

Thats in addition to deals it has with both Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD).

And last month, Meta (META) revealed four new custom AI processors, including its MTIA 400, which the company said delivers raw performance rivaling some of the top chips on the market.

The social media giant, like Anthropic, also entered into a deal with CoreWeave that will see CoreWeave power Metas AI services through December 2032.

CoreWeave said the capacity will be spread out among a number of its data center locations and include some of the first deployments of Nvidias upcoming Vera Rubin system.

In January, Microsoft (MSFT) also revealed a new custom AI chip that will serve as an alternative to Nvidia and AMDs offerings. Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG, GOOGL) have been using their own chips for years.

Unlike Microsoft, however, those companies are looking to sell or rent their chips to third-party customers.

In February, The Information reported that Meta inked a deal with Google to rent that companys TPUs and is exploring purchasing them for its own data centers.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy also pitched the idea of selling the companys chips in large servers to third-party customers in his latest annual shareholder newsletter on Thursday.

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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.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) reported first quarter revenue on Friday, saying sales during the period climbed 35% on the continued strength of the ongoing global AI build-out.

The companys revenue between January and March topped 1.13 trillion new Taiwan dollars ($35.7 billion), compared to estimates for the period. March revenue climbed 31% versus February and 45% versus March 2025.

The company will hold its first quarter earnings call on April 16.

The announcement is just the latest sign that global demand for AI chips shows no sign of abating for now.

On Wednesday, market research firm Gartner said worldwide semiconductor spending, including GPUs, memory, and storage chips, will reach $1.3 trillion in 2026, marking the largest growth in two decades.

That works out to a 64% year-over-year revenue increase for the chip industry.

TSMC is the worlds largest contract semiconductor manufacturer and serves as a barometer for the broader AI industry.

It produces processors for the likes of Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD), as well as Broadcom (AVGO), which helps design chips for Google (GOOG, GOOGL) and is working to design chips for OpenAI (OPAI.PVT).

AI firms continue to deal with capacity constraints due to overwhelming demand for computing capabilities, forcing them to search for chips from a variety of sources.

Thats leading many of the worlds tech giants to not only snatch up Nvidia and AMD chips of their own, but also lean on contract cloud companies like CoreWeave (CRWV) that rent out processor capacity to customers.

On Friday, Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) announced it signed a multiyear agreement with CoreWeave, sending shares of the computing provider soaring 13%. CoreWeave is also working with Meta (META) to power its AI services through December 2032.

And earlier this week, Anthropic said its working with Google and Broadcom to get access to 3.5 gigawatts worth of Googles tensor processing units (TPUs).

Broadcom is also developing a custom chip for Anthropic rival OpenAI.

Projects like those and others will likely help continue to feed TSMCs revenue growth in the months ahead.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell summoned bank CEOs to an urgent meeting this week to warn about the cybersecurity risks associated with Anthropic's powerful Mythos AI model, according to reports.

Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reports that the CEOs present included Citigroup's Jane Fraser, Morgan Stanley's Ted Pick, Bank of America's Brian Moynihan, Wells Fargo's Charlie Scharf, and Goldman Sachs' David Solomon. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon was unable to attend, according to Bloomberg and Reuters. All the banks are classified as systemically important by regulators.

The session at the Treasury building on Tuesday sought to prompt financial institutions to understand what Mythos and comparable models could mean for their exposure to attacks and to put adequate defenses in place, Bloomberg and Reuters report.

When Anthropic revealed Mythos earlier this week, the company chose not to make it publicly available, pointing to the risk that the model might surface cybersecurity weaknesses that had not previously been identified. Anthropic has publicly described Mythos as able to locate and take advantage of security gaps in all of the dominant operating systems and browsers currently in use.

Anthropic restricted Mythos to 12 launch partners through an initiative called Project Glasswing, committing up to $100 million in usage credits for defensive security work. Launch partners include Amazon Web Services, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorgan, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks. More than 40 additional organizations that build or maintain critical software infrastructure also received access. Reuters reported that access is limited to about 40 technology companies including Microsoft and Google, while Bloomberg reported that Amazon and Apple are among the restricted recipients; the sources differ on the precise composition of that group.

During testing, Anthropic used Mythos to identify thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities across major operating systems and browsers, including a flaw dating back 27 years in OpenBSD and a vulnerability in the video processing library FFmpeg that had gone undetected across five million passes by automated testing tools. Anthropic has noted that no specialized cybersecurity training went into building Mythos  its ability to find vulnerabilities stems from general advances in coding and reasoning.

Anthropic has acknowledged holding discussions with federal officials  including conversations that took place before Mythos was released  covering what the model can do both to attack and to defend digital systems. One person with knowledge of those efforts said Anthropic reached out to senior figures in government and across relevant industries before going public with the model.
BEIJING/SINGAPORE, April 10 (Reuters) - Chinese artificial intelligence startup ShengShu Technology has raised 2 billion yuan ($292.59 million) in a funding round led by Alibaba Cloud, the company said on Friday, as competition intensifies in China's AI sector.

ShengShu said the funding would support development of a "general world model" that processes sensory information to simulate human perception and interaction, which the company describes as a step toward artificial general intelligence in physical environments.

The company did not provide a timeline for when such a system would be commercially available.

Chinese companies ranging from industry giants like ByteDance to startups such as humanoid robot specialist Unitree have begun exploring similar "world model" technologies.

ShengShu said the funding round included investments from Andon Haitang, China Internet Investment Fund, TAL Education Group, and Luminous Ventures. Existing investors LINK-X CAPITAL, Delta Capital, and Baidu Ventures also increased their stakes.

Founded in early 2023 by Tsinghua University alum Zhu Jun, ShengShu became the first Chinese company to release a video generation model when it launched Vidu in April 2024.

The model was positioned as a competitor to OpenAI's Sora, which the U.S. company later discontinued.

ShengShu has since released several updated versions of Vidu, including the Vidu Q3 model announced earlier this year.

The company has also recently expanded into robotics applications. In December 2025, it open-sourced Motus, a model designed to control robots by processing multimodal data including video and audio.

The startup faces competition from Chinese technology giants including ByteDance, Alibaba and Kuaishou, which have all launched video generation models.

Internationally, companies such as Google and startups including Runway are also developing similar technologies.

($1 = 6.8355 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Liam Mo in Beijing and Miyoung Kim in Singapore; Editing by Jamie Freed)
By Jaspreet Singh

April 9 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms is deepening its CoreWeave partnership with a fresh $21 billion deal for additional cloud computing capacity, as it rushes to catch up with rivals in the high-stakes artificial intelligence race after an underwhelming AI model release last year.

The latest deal, which extends through December 2032, is in addition to a similar $14.2 billion agreement signed in September, CoreWeave said on Thursday.

Meta shares were up 3.1%, while those of CoreWeave rose 4.1%.

Meta has been rapidly expanding compute capacity to power the development and deployment of its large language models, benefiting companies such as CoreWeave, which provides clients with hardware and cloud resources.

Close Nvidia ties have made CoreWeave a key supplier of the specialized AI chips that large tech companies are scrambling to secure.

Thursday's deal gives Meta access to initial deployments of Nvidia's next-generation Vera Rubin chips, which are twice as fast as the current generation Blackwell platform.

"This is another example that leading companies are choosing CoreWeave's AI cloud to run their most demanding workloads," CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator said in a statement.

The Facebook-parent plans to spend up to $135 billion on its AI buildout this year, as Silicon Valley ramps up its costly pursuit of artificial general intelligence, a theoretical milestone where machines could match human cognitive performance.

The social media company on Wednesday unveiled Muse Spark, the first AI model from Meta Superintelligence Labs, an expensive team it assembled last year after the poor performance of its Llama 4 model.

CoreWeave and Meta have been partners since 2023. While Microsoft accounted for about 67% of CoreWeave revenue last year, Meta is now among its largest customers, CoreWeave said.

In a separate regulatory filing on Thursday, CoreWeave said it plans to sell bonds worth $1.25 billion and convertible bonds worth $3 billion.

The neocloud company said in February it will spend as much as $35 billion in capital expenditure this year, up from $14.9 billion in 2025.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda)
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AI may not be taking over your job, but its definitely getting a promotion.

Vanguard became the latest financial services firm to launch new artificial intelligence technology: this time, a portfolio analysis tool designed to turn large datasets into client-facing analysis. Advisors just have to upload a portfolio, and the machines do the rest, generating insights as well as handling tasks including stress testing, building healthcare cost projections and making Social Security optimizations. Its all part of a wave of new tools that are evolving from AI assistants that handle note taking and transcriptions into ones that can help make decisions about portfolio management and more.

We are putting the expertise of our portfolio analysis specialists directly in advisors hands, said Sid Ratna, Vanguards head of digital and analytics for financial professional services.

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Commence Phase 2

The Malvern, Pennsylvania-based company has an AI master plan thats built around three distinct stages: assisting, augmenting and acting. Right now, most advisors are firmly in the first phase, where AI is helping with efficiency by drafting emails, summarizing meetings and taking over some of the grunt work. Those types of tools can save hours of time during meetings, said Jason Pereira, CFA, and a financial planner at Woodgate Financial. There are all sorts of other kinds of things that need to be done, he said, adding that AI has helped him audit and compile data into reports in hours instead of the days required previously.

In fact, industry surveys show the vast majority of advisors are already saving time, with many increasing client capacity within just a few months of adopting the tools. And, with the new launch, Vanguard may be getting close to actually augmenting the advisor, instead of simply offering a glorified assistant. This is where AI starts to play a deeper role in portfolio construction and financial planning, surfacing insights and recommendations that go beyond basic task management, Ratna said. Still, advisors make the final call.

A tsunami of new third-party tools, like meeting assistants and notetakers, have already gained traction in the wealth management industry this year:
Indo Intertex stands as one of the largest trade exhibitions for the textile and garment industries in Southeast Asia, gathering thousands of industry leaders to explore manufacturing, technology, and industry solutions.

During the show, Indorama Ventures will present a selection of recycled polyester fibres and filament yarns, produced from both post-consumer and pre-consumer PET textile waste, as well as PET bottle feedstock.

The company states that its offerings aim to provide "reliable supply, traceability, and scalable solutions to meet end consumer needs".

Products displayed at booth C9 will include deja T2T fibres and filament yarns, which use polyester textile waste, and deja B2T options originating from recycled PET bottles.

The company will also feature Deja Care fibres and yarns, made for applications involving skin contact and produced with specific chemical processes, along with Preventa FR fibres and yarns for flame-retardant textile uses such as in apparel, home textiles, and automotive interiors.

Additional product lines cover a variety of essential fibres and yarns, such as PET staple fibres, POY, DTY, FDY, and bicomponent yarns.

Indorama Ventures, listed in Thailand, maintains manufacturing assets across the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. This infrastructure allows the company to support Southeast Asian customers with regional production and supply chains, as well as access to global innovation resources.

The company highlights the benefits of regional sourcing hubs, which can offer reduced lead times and access to market-driven solutions for the fast-changing textile market.

Indo Intertex 2026 will bring together industry participants from manufacturing, brands, and buying segments to examine technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and solutions for textiles and garments. Indorama Ventures said that its commercial and technical teams will be present at booth C9 to discuss material choices, customer requirements, and sustainability planning for upcoming textile collections.

"Indorama Ventures confirms participation at Indo Intertex 2026" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.




By Wen-Yee Lee

TAIPEI, April 10 (Reuters) - SpaceX has begun installing equipment at its advanced chip packaging facility in Bastrop, Texas, as the satellite and rocket company aims to begin production there by the end of this year, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

One of the sources said the timeline had seen some delays, but the company was still targeting a start of production before the year-end.

The facility will package radio frequency (RF) chips used in products related to SpaceX's satellite-based internet system Starlink, the sources said, declining to be named as the information is not public.

The RF chips to be packaged in Bastrop are currently packaged by external providers, but SpaceX plans to bring at least part of the packaging process in-house once the facility is ready, according to one of the sources and a third source.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that over the next three years, SpaceX's Bastrop facility would expand by 1 million square feet to produce Starlink kits and related components, including advanced packaged silicon products. The expansion is expected to cost more than $280 million, Abbott said.

Elon Musk has been building up the space company's semiconductor capabilities and unveiled a plan last month to build advanced chip factories at a sprawling facility in Austin, Texas.

(Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
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Credit: Getty / Justin Sullivan

78,557 workers in the tech industry have reportedly been laid off from January 1 to April 2026, with more than 76% of the affected positions located in the U.S. Nikkei Asia reports that 37,638 of these cuts, or 47.9%, have been attributed to the reduced need for human workers because of AI and workflow automation. Despite that, Cognizant Chief AI Officer Babak Hodjat says that it will still take more than a year before we completely see the impact of modern AI technologies on the workforce.

I dont know if they are directly related to actual productivity gains, Hodjat told Nikkei in reference to the job cuts. Sometimes, you know, AI becomes the scapegoat from a financial perspective, like when a company hired too many, or they want to resize, and it gets blamed on AI. Despite that, he said that AI-driven layoffs could still happen, but that it would take another six months to a year before companies start seeing real productivity gains from AI, and that it will be painful for all of us as were going through it, and simply because its a transition.

This does not bode well for the industry, which has already been reeling from layoffs. Oracle has quietly cut more than 10,000 positions recently, with the savings purportedly allocated to data center funding. Many institutions and industry leaders have already been warning about AI-driven layoffs, with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Ford CEO Jim Farley saying that the technology will wipe out half of entry-level white-collar jobs in the U.S. A Stanford study saw many entry-level coding and customer service jobs are already being affected, with an MIT simulation showing that AI can replace nearly 12% of the U.S. workforce, amounting to nearly $1.2 trillion in lost salaries.

Despite all these analyses, some experts are pushing back against this narrative, pointing out that AI-driven layoffs were just being used as an excuse for poor business performance. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said during the India AI Impact Summit, I dont know what the exact percentage is, but theres some AI washing where people are blaming AI for layoffs that they would otherwise do, and then theres some real displacement by AI of different kinds of jobs. While they say that some of these layoffs would still happen with or without AI, theres still a consensus that the technology would have an impact on jobs and that we should be ready for a disruption.

Still, there are a few companies that are bucking the trend. IBM has reportedly tripled its entry-level hiring in 2026, saying that while AI can do many entry-level jobs, it still needs a human touch. Furthermore, while cutting entry-level jobs would deliver short-term savings for any organization, it comes with the risk of erasing the pipeline needed to train future experienced workers and mid-level managers. This is backed up by data from the EU, which showed that companies that deployed and invested in AI are likely to hire more people.
Volkswagen will discontinue production of the VW ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, marking a shift towards higher-volume models.

The EV market continues to challenge the industry, requiring measured decisions throughout the last few years to navigate this unpredictability. As part of the focus toward highervolume products that meet market demand, Volkswagen will no longer assemble the ID.4 in Chattanooga, the companys statement read.

Assembly of the ID.4 electric SUV will conclude at the plant before the end of this month, with operations subsequently pivoting to manufacture the next-generation Atlas.

Production of the 2027 model year Atlas is due to be under way in summer 2026, ahead of an autumn market launch.

VW noted that the Atlas has been its second best-selling vehicle in the US over the past three years.

The updated version of the model was recently unveiled at the New York International Auto Show.

Existing stock of the 2026 ID.4 will remain available through US dealerships, with VW expecting current inventory levels to cover demand through to 2027.

Volkswagen Group of America president and CEO Kjell Gruner said: The Chattanooga plant has been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of Volkswagens strategy in the US.

This strategic shift underscores the companys commitment to Chattanooga and its workforce as we position the plant for long-term success and future product opportunities.

The company confirmed that a future version of the ID.4 intended for the North American market is under development, though no timeline or further details have been provided.

It also disclosed that it is exploring whether to introduce an entirely new model tailored to US consumer preferences, which could potentially be built at the Chattanooga site.

No specifics have been shared on that front.

On the workforce side, employees currently engaged in ID.4 assembly will be redeployed elsewhere within the facility, with placements determined by seniority.

Those who qualify will be offered early retirement.

VW confirmed that staff and the relevant local union have been briefed on the changes.

"Volkswagen to end ID.4 EV production at Tennessee plant" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Though Ozempic received FDA approval in 2007, awareness and popularity of GLP-1s started surging in 2022. These days, weight loss drugs are more accessible. As more people begin to use them (and experience significant weight loss), the discussion around GLP-1 side effects has also heated up. Amid the chatter, weight loss specialists urge people to get the facts from reputable sources, which, let's be real, usually isn't TikTok.

"Misinformation spreads quickly, especially on social media and commonly causes unnecessary fear," says Dr. Richele Corrado, DO, an internal & obesity medicine physician at Revolution Medicine, Health & Fitness. "All medications have risks and benefits, and it is important to discuss those with a trusted clinician. Inaccurate information can prevent people from getting treatments that may significantly improve their health and quality of life."

Some GLP-1 side effects are well knownnamely, gastrointestinal issues.

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"While the most common side effects are gastrointestinalsuch as nausea, vomiting and diarrheaserious complications like pancreatitis and vision loss are much less frequent," says Dr. Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center. "To minimize risks, medications are started at a low dose and increased gradually."

Related: Doctors Warn This Cheaper Ozempic Alternative May Come With Risks

GLP-1s are considered safe and effective for people who have diabetes or are obese or overweight with another specific condition. Patients can lose an average of 15% of their body weight when taking once-weekly 2.4 mg doses of semaglutide.

"When prescribed and appropriately monitored, GLP-1 receptor agonists are generally considered safe and represent a transformative class of medications for the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes," says Dr. Peter Balazs, MD, FACOG, of Hormone and Weight Loss Doctors of NYC.

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Still, understanding potential and less-discussed GLP-1 side effects can help you prepare physically and mentally. So, we asked physicians specializing in weight loss to discuss the strange GLP-1 side effect plaguing people months after starting. It's a hairy situation, but they offered some hopeful tips for managing the side effect if you experience it.

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The Strange GLP-1 Side Effect Plaguing Patients Months After Starting

A woman holds a wooden comb in her hands, cleans it of fallen hair after combing. The concept of head health problems, deficient conditions in the body due to stress and depression, a consequence of chemotherapy and radiation for cancer.Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty Images

People are reporting hair loss months after starting GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy, and doctors say it's a possible side effect. "Non-scarring hair loss is common with weight loss, whether youre taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist or another obesity medication," Dr. Corrado explains.

She shares that the most likely explanation for this GLP-1 side effect is telogen effluvium, a condition that occurs when the body perceives rapid weight loss as a form of stress. As a result, the hair enters the telogen (shedding) phase.

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"This typically begins about 2 to 4 months after weight loss starts and can lead to noticeable, diffuse shedding," Dr. Corrado reports.

Nutrition can play a critical role in hair loss (or maintenance). "Because these medications reduce appetite, some people may not get enough protein, iron or key vitamins needed for healthy hair growth," she explains.

However, Dr. Corrado points out that the process is temporary (good news!). "Once weight stabilizes and nutrition improves, hair regrowth usually begins, with most people recovering over about 6 to 9 months," she says.

Dr. Balazs notes that hair loss can occur while taking a GLP-1, but it's not inevitable. Some people won't have this side effect. Some research suggests that more rapid weight loss is more likely to trigger telogen effluvium (whether you're on a GLP-1 or not). Working closely with your care team can help you notice whether you're losing weight a bit too quickly.

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"If the patient is consistently losing more than 2 pounds per week, I often discuss pausing the next dose escalation or, in some cases, temporarily reducing the dose to allow nutritional repletion to match metabolic demand," he says.

Related: This Common GLP-1 Dosing Mistake Can Backfire Fast, Doctors Warn

What To Do if You Experience Hair Loss on GLP-1s

Experiencing hair loss at any time, especially while taking a new medication, can feel jarring. But you can take steps to stop the shed.

Aim for gradual weight loss. You may go on semaglutide for weight-loss benefits, but slow and steady progress may help ward off shedding. Dr. Corrado generally aims for 0.5 to 1 pound of weight loss weekly to avoid placing additional stress on the body. "When weight loss happens too quickly, I also become concerned that patients may not be eating enough or getting adequate nutrition," she adds.

Reassure yourself. Dr. Corrado says this step is important. "This is usually temporary and related to weight loss, not the medication itself," she states. "Stressing more about the hair loss is potentially going to make things worse."

Optimize nutrition . Your appetite is reduced, but eating nourishing meals and snacks remains important on GLP-1s. "Make sure youre getting enough protein and key nutrients like iron, vitamin D, B12 and zinc, since reduced appetite can lead to deficiencies that contribute to hair shedding," Dr. Corrado says.

Go easy on your hair. Your hair may need a gentle touch right now. "Gentle hair care and even working with a hairstylist can help manage the appearance of thinning while the hair cycle recovers," she says.

Topical intervention: "Patients may use 5% topical minoxidil once daily to accelerate the anagen re-entry phase," Dr. Balazs says.

Seek professional help. Dr. Corrado suggests talking to your care team if your hair loss is significant or persistent. Your doctor or dermatologist can check for nutrient deficiencies, thyroid issues or other concerns.

Dr. Balazs says it's possible to stop hair shedding by going off GLP-1. But Dr. Ali says you'll need to consider the risks of weight regain.

"However, GLP-1s will need to be used long-term for most patients, as obesity is a chronic disease and requires long-term treatment," he says.

Up Next:

Related: We Asked 4 Doctors if Drinking Hot Water Helps You Lose Weight, and They All Said the Same Thing

Sources:

Dr. Richele Corrado, DO, an internal & obesity medicine physician at Revolution Medicine, Health & Fitness.

Dr. Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center

Dr. Peter Balazs, MD, FACOG, of Hormone and Weight Loss Doctors of NYC

Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. NEJM.

Alopecia as an Emerging Adverse Effect Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss: A Scoping Review. Cureus.

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This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) is modernizing its transport network with Cienas WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) coherent optical technology running on the 6500 platform. The network upgrade strengthens Vis ability to support growing bandwidth demands in India and pursue new business opportunities with hyperscalers, neoscalers, and enterprise customers.

Vi by doing this is positioning a network to support AI workloads and capture new growth opportunities through enterprise, mobility and data center, said Jagbir Singh CTO, Vodafone Idea. This particular technology from Ciena allows us to scale efficiently while meeting the performance expectations of our most demanding customers, he added.

Vi recently achieved a significant milestone using WL6e, attaining 1.6Tb/s on its meshed Data Centre Interconnect network in India. The deployment provides the foundation for Vi to efficiently support up to 800G services, competitively addressing high-bandwidth opportunities and expanding its addressable market.

Vodafone Ideas deployment of WL6e underscores a continued commitment to network transformation while reinforcing the companys ability to deliver high-capacity services, said Amit Malik, Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific, Japan & India, Ciena. With WL6e, Vodafone Idea will be able to meet future traffic growth and deliver scalable, high-performance connectivity.

Cienas WL6e is the industrys first 1.6 Tb/s coherent optical technology, enabling service providers to maximise fibre capacity while reducing cost per bit and power consumption.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is amongst Indias leading telecom service providers. The Company holds a large spectrum portfolio including mid band 5G spectrum in 17 circles and mmWave spectrum in 16 circles. The Company provides Voice and Data services across 2G, 4G and 5G platforms and is expanding 5G services across 17 circles. To support the growing demand for data and voice, the Company is committed to delivering delightful customer experiences and contributing towards creating a truly Digital India by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Companys equity shares are listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the BSE in India. The Company offers products and services to its customers in India under the TM Brand name Vi. For more information, please visit: www.MyVi.in.

About Ciena

Ciena is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the worlds most advanced networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, interconnects, automation software, and services, Ciena revolutionises data transmission and network management. With unparalleled expertise and innovation, we empower our customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn, or visit the Ciena Insights webpage and Ciena website.
Nutanix, a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, recently announced new capabilities to the Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP) solution designed to help organisations operate reliably as AI workloads expand, cloud environments grow more complex, and hardware supply constraints drive the need for more flexible infrastructure platforms.

As organisations modernise their infrastructure, many are reassessing longstanding virtualisation platforms to ensure they can deliver the flexibility, performance, and cost predictability required for virtual machines, containers, and AI workloads.

NCP enables customers to make better use of existing infrastructure and choose from a broader ecosystem of hardware vendors, hyperscalers, neoclouds, and service providers. NCP also helps organisations run virtualised, modern applications and AI workloads anywhere, helping to keep critical IT projects on track while preserving flexibility and long-term platform choice.

As organisations continue to modernise their cloud infrastructure in a supply-constrained environment, organisations are having to balance leveraging the flexibility of hybrid multicloud infrastructure and the need to maintain sovereignty of their data and applications, said Thomas Cornely, Executive Vice President, Product Management, Nutanix. With the Nutanix Cloud Platform, customers can make better use of existing hardware infrastructure, expand across a growing ecosystem of cloud and infrastructure providers, and maintain choice and control over where workloads run, even as hardware availability and procurement timelines shift.

Extending the Nutanix Cloud Platform to add Full-Stack Capabilities for Modern Applications and AI Workloads

The NCP solutions full-stack capabilities continue to be expanded to include new services for AI infrastructure, unified storage, and advanced data services. The updates include:

The Nutanix Agentic AI solution, a full-stack platform announced during NVIDIA GTC 2026 and currently in early access, is designed to help enterprises build and operate AI applications on NCP. The full solution will be available in the second half of 2026 and include a secure, high-performance virtualisation foundation for AI infrastructure, and integrate compute, storage, networking, and Kubernetes services to simplify deployment and operations. Together, these capabilities will enable enterprises to run modern and AI workloads efficiently across hybrid and multicloud environments.

NKP Metal, announced today, is in early access and will be generally available in the second half of 2026. It extends the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) solution to support Kubernetes deployments directly on bare-metal infrastructure, delivering the performance for edge environments and AI training workloads that rely on dense GPU infrastructure.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) 5.3 is generally available now and ideally suited to drive the transformation of object storage into a performance storage tier required for AI Factories. The release expands Smart Tiering to enable seamless data movement to Google Cloud and OVHCloud S3, while adding multitenant object scaling and quotas to support massive AI data lakes. NUS will also introduce, later in 2026, Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) acceleration for S3-compatible object storage to dramatically increase throughput for large AI training datasets and data-intensive pipelines.

The updated Nutanix Data Lens 2.0 solution is generally available now and can run fully on-premises, including in air-gapped environments. The release brings ransomware analytics, data audit and governance, and visibility across distributed storage footprints to sovereign and dark-site deployments that cannot rely on SaaS-based data security.

Nutanix and MongoDB announced a certified integration, generally available now, between Nutanix Database Service and MongoDB Ops Manager that is built on MongoDBs third-party backup integration model. Nutanix and MongoDB are collaborating to simplify enterprise database operations with automated provisioning and lifecycle management across infrastructure and database environments.

Strengthening Nutanixs Global Ecosystem of Cloud and AI Infrastructure Providers

Building on the capabilities that Nutanix has added for the Agentic AI era, Nutanix Service Provider Central (SP Central), currently in Early Access, brings new multitenancy capabilities that enable Nutanixs service provider partners to more easily deliver a broader range of hosted infrastructure and AI services on NCP while helping to maintain secure, logical isolation between tenants sharing the same infrastructure.

SP Central will be generally available in the second half of 2026 and will help enable service providers to offer scalable hosted infrastructure, cloud native and AI services while helping customers maintain control across distributed environments.

Learn more about how Nutanix is expanding capabilities for service provider partners and enabling the next generation of necloud providers, both announced today.

Expanding to be the Broadest Infrastructure Ecosystem in Nutanix History

Nutanix continues to support a broad range of workloads by offering flexible deployment architectures across a wide range of server and storage hardware, enabling organisations to leverage their existing hardware investments when supply chains are constrained.

To enable this approach, Nutanix is strengthening integrations across a global ecosystem of partners, including these capabilities available now:

The new Foundation Central appliance simplifies the deployment of Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure and the AHV hypervisor on a wide range of enterprise servers from Cisco, Dell, Fujitsu, HPE, and Lenovo, as well as the NX Platform.

Dell : Nutanix has added support for synchronous disaster recovery for Dell PowerFlex.

: Nutanix has added support for synchronous disaster recovery for Dell PowerFlex. Everpure: Nutanix has enhanced its Everpure integration, extending support from //x and //xl FlashArrays to the new //c FlashArray platform, as well as added Nutanix synchronous disaster recovery capabilities unlocking greater deployment flexibility.

And coming later this year:

AMD : Nutanix continues to expand its portfolio of servers with AMD CPUs across all major server vendors to meet the needs of a wide range of applications. In addition, Nutanix plans to add support for AMD GPU-accelerated compute servers targeting AI workloads, helping provide additional options for customers.

: Nutanix continues to expand its portfolio of servers with AMD CPUs across all major server vendors to meet the needs of a wide range of applications. In addition, Nutanix plans to add support for AMD GPU-accelerated compute servers targeting AI workloads, helping provide additional options for customers. Cisco : Nutanix continues to expand its strategic collaboration with Cisco by integrating Nutanix solutions with Cisco Unified Edge, Cisco Secure AI Factory, and Cisco AI Pod. FlexPod converged infrastructure with Cisco compute and networking, NetApp storage, and Nutanix software is planned for availability later this year.

: Nutanix continues to expand its strategic collaboration with Cisco by integrating Nutanix solutions with Cisco Unified Edge, Cisco Secure AI Factory, and Cisco AI Pod. FlexPod converged infrastructure with Cisco compute and networking, NetApp storage, and Nutanix software is planned for availability later this year. Dell : In Early Access now, Nutanix plans to make Dell PowerStore support generally available, along with enhanced Dell Private Cloud automation. In addition, there will be support for Dell PowerFlex Ultra5 environments.

: In Early Access now, Nutanix plans to make Dell PowerStore support generally available, along with enhanced Dell Private Cloud automation. In addition, there will be support for Dell PowerFlex Ultra5 environments. Lenovo : Nutanix is expanding its collaboration with Lenovo with a full-stack approach that will span support for Lenovo ThinkSystem storage, Lenovo ThinkSystem servers, and XC One automation.

: Nutanix is expanding its collaboration with Lenovo with a full-stack approach that will span support for Lenovo ThinkSystem storage, Lenovo ThinkSystem servers, and XC One automation. NetApp: Nutanix also plans to add support for NetApp ONTAP later this year, expanding support for external storage to the NetApp AFF all-flash and FAS hybrid-flash systems.

Together, these additions represent the broadest expansion of infrastructure support in Nutanixs history, offering customers proven deployment options across established enterprise platforms as well as maximum hardware flexibility and choice.

NCP also provides zero-copy migrations, generally available now, from VMware vSphere Virtual Volumes to AHV vDisks, enabling organisations to perform near-instantaneous, in-place workload conversion without data duplication. This capability can accelerate migration timelines and minimise infrastructure overhead and operational disruption.

Delivering Sovereign Control Across Hybrid Multicloud Environments

Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) is being expanded to support more deployment options across hyperscalers including the addition of secure government cloud regions such as AWS GovCloud, generally available now, and AWS European Sovereign Cloud, coming later this year. The introduction of Hyperdisk and C3 bare-metal instance support with NC2 on Google Cloud in the second half of 2026 will provide customers the flexibility to scale storage independent of compute and leverage bare-metal instance types that do not have any local storage.

Customers can run workloads in the cloud in support of regulatory, latency, or procurement needs without refactoring while retaining the flexibility to bring them back on-premises. For organisations facing hardware availability challenges, these options provide the flexibility to continue deploying and scaling critical workloads without lengthy delays.

Unified Cloud Management to Build, Operate, and Govern the Modern Distributed Enterprise Cloud

As infrastructure spans clouds, onpremises data centers, and sovereign environments, organisations need a consistent way to build, operate. and govern large sites and distributed estates, including highly secure, airgapped environments.

Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM 2.0) is generally available now and built on a new architecture that enables customers to manage large numbers of clusters at scale, across multiple Prism Central (PC) instances.

NCM 2.0 provides multisite, multidomain management that unifies operations across large deployments. A new secure onboarding workflow enables multiple PCs to be managed from a single console, so teams can centralise inventory, alerts, playbooks, reporting, capacity planning, and whatif analysis instead of relying on fragmented consoles and scripts.

NCM 2.0 also brings Cost Governance onpremises as part of this platform re-architecture, eliminating the need for a separate SaaS application. Customers get AIOps, Self-Service, and Cost Governance in a single seamless experience. Delivered through the unified NCM console, Cost Governance lets customers track metering, showback, and budgeting while keeping all cost data inside their own infrastructure.

Availability

The NCP news announced today comprises products that are either generally available now or are expected to be available in the second half of 2026. Read more about the announcement here.

Analyst Commentary

The market is facing multiple pressures as organisations grapple with the uncertainty and potential cost increases from AI transformation and modernisation initiatives, virtualisation market changes, and hardware supply chain disruptions in both memory and media which are going to take several quarters if not years to resolve. By expanding its ecosystem and providing alternative deployment options including on-ramps to public cloud, Nutanix is providing a path for customers to make the changes they need to make, ensure long-term platform choice, and deploy critical AI and modern workloads without being held hostage by a constrained infrastructure supply."  Dave Pearson, Group Vice President, Global Lead, Core Infrastructure, IDC

Customer Commentary

"As a customer using the combined Everpure and Nutanix solution, were excited to see support for the new Everpure //C arrays. Having more storage options gives us greater flexibility to scale efficiently while continuing to modernise our environment. Its reassuring to know that Nutanix and Everpure continue to expand the choices available to us so we can optimise flexibility and cost without having to rethink our entire infrastructure.

 Stephen Hall, VP of Infrastructure & Operations, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

Ecosystem Support & Commentary

The NCP solution continues to see broad support with Nutanix technology partners, with more than 1,400+ validated solutions including AMD, AWS, Cisco, Dell, Everpure, Google Cloud, HPE, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, NetApp, and NVIDIA. Read what partners are saying about the new updates to NCP.

Enterprise customers are looking for practical ways to innovate and modernise their infrastructure without sacrificing long-term workload flexibility. Our collaboration with Nutanix helps organisations make better use of existing infrastructure while building a strong path forward for modernisation and AI. By bringing AMD EPYC processors and Instinct GPUs to the Nutanix Cloud Platform, we are enabling a resilient, high-performance environment that supports demanding inference and agentic AI workloads with greater choice and operational control.

 Suresh Andani, Corporate Vice President, Corporate & Enterprise AI, AMD

"Data center modernisation demands the right balance of flexible software and resilient, automated infrastructure. By bringing together industry-leading storage solutions like Dell PowerStore and Dell PowerFlex with the Nutanix Cloud Platform, we're giving customers a proven, automated launchpad to modernise their virtualised and containerised environments and step confidently into the AI era."

 Travis Vigil, Senior Vice President, ISG Product Management, Dell Technologies

"Modern IT leaders are tired of the forced trade-off between operational simplicity and high-performance infrastructure. By deeply integrating Everpure into the Nutanix Cloud Platform, we are delivering a first-class external storage experience that is truly built for change. This joint solution allows organisations to modernise their most mission-critical workloads while benefiting from Everpures industry-leading data efficiency and Evergreen architecture."

 Maciej Kranz, General Manager, Enterprise at Everpure

AI and digital sovereignty are pushing organisations to balance rising data and compute demands with strict data residency and operational autonomy requirements without slowing innovation. HCLTech is proud to partner with Nutanix to make Agentic AI and sovereign cloud solutions more accessible, enabling enterprises to evolve from AI infrastructure to AI factories that deliver intelligence at scale. With our Nutanix-certified expertise, we help organisations architect, implement, and operate sovereign cloud environments across private and public clouds, accelerating time to production and driving stronger ROI.

 Rampal Singh, SVP & Global Business Head, Hybrid Cloud Business Unit, HCLTech

"As organisations modernise their infrastructure in a supply-constrained environment, the combination of Intel Xeon processors and the Nutanix Cloud Platform provides the ultimate foundation for flexibility. By leveraging built-in Intel AMX acceleration, we are helping Nutanix customers kickstart their AI initiatives directly on the CPUdelivering the performance needed for inference without the immediate requirement for specialised hardware. Our joint innovation ensures that customers can scale their hybrid multicloud environments with the predictability and efficiency they demand."

 Bill Pearson, VP & GM, Datacenter Software & Tools Group, Intel

In todays complex IT environment, customers need a platform that guarantees long-term flexibility. We continue to strengthen our integration with the Nutanix Cloud Platform, offering a unified solution across our ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile portfolio. Together, we are giving organisations the choice and control needed to modernise data centres while ensuring their AI-driven digital transformations stay on track.

 Scott Patti, VP, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Lenovo

"Our customers are looking for maximum flexibility as they navigate the complexities of the AI era and modernise their data infrastructure. By integrating NetApp ONTAPs industry-leading data management with the Nutanix Cloud Platform, we will be providing enterprises with the best of both worlds: the simplicity of Nutanix software and the intelligent, flexible, secure data foundation of NetApp storage. This partnership ensures our mutual customers will be able to optimise their environments for any workload, anywhere, without compromising on data sovereignty or performance."

 Dallas Olson, Chief Commercial Officer, NetApp

As organisations scale AI initiatives, flexibility, performance, and control across infrastructure have never been more critical. Our continued collaboration with Nutanix will enable customers to maximise existing server and storage investments while deploying new AI-optimised infrastructure with confidence. Together, we are delivering open, highly efficient solutions that simplify operations, support data sovereignty requirements, and accelerate the adoption of next-generation, agentic AI workloads across enterprise and cloud environments.

 Cenly Chen, Chief Growth Officer at Supermicro.

About Nutanix

Nutanix is a hybrid multicloud computing leader, offering organizations a unified software platform for running applications, deploying enterprise AI workloads and managing data anywhere. With Nutanix, organizations can simplify operations for traditional and modern applications, freeing them to focus on business goals. Trusted by more than 30,000 customers worldwide, Nutanix helps empower organizations to transform digitally and power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Learn more atwww.nutanix.com or follow us on social media.

 2026 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. (Nutanix) in the United States and other countries. Nutanix, Inc. is not affiliated with VMware by Broadcom or Broadcom. VMware and the VMware product names recited herein are registered or unregistered trademarks of Broadcom in the United States and/or other countries. Kubernetes is a registered trademark of The Linux Foundation in the United States and other countries. Other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. Customer statements on results, benefits, savings or other outcomes depend on a variety of factors including their use case, individual requirements, and operating environments, and should not be construed to be a promise or obligation to deliver specific outcomes or as guarantees of future performance. This content contains express and implied forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding our plans and expectations relating to new product features and technology under development, the capabilities of such product features and technology, and our plans to release product features and technology, including the Service Provider Central (SP Central) feature, expanded hybrid multicloud capabilities, expanded support for cost-efficient AMD GPU-based systems and low-cost AMD-based Edge platforms, Dell PowerStore along with enhanced Dell Private Cloud automation, and Netapp ONTAP, Lenovo ThinkSystem storage, Lenovo ThinkSystem servers, and XC One automation, and AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Such statements are not historical facts and are instead based on our current expectations, estimates and beliefs. The accuracy of such statements involves risks and uncertainties and depends upon future events, including those that may be beyond our control, and actual results may differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by such statements, including, among others: failure to develop, or unexpected difficulties, delays or disruptions in developing, releasing or distributing, new products, services, product features or technology in a timely or cost-effective basis. Any forward-looking statements included speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or otherwise revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Certain products and features or functionalities described herein remain in varying stages of development and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The development, release, and timing of any such products, features or functionalities are subject to change. Nutanix will not have any liability arising from reliance on this content for any failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any such products, features or functionalities. Any future product or product feature information is intended to outline general product directions, and is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation for Nutanix to deliver any functionality. This information should not be used when making a purchasing decision.
Adelaide University researchers have developed a breakthrough way to observe what is happening inside electronic chips while they are operating  without touching them, taking them apart, or switching them off.

The new technique uses terahertz waves, a safe and non-ionising form of electromagnetic radiation, to detect tiny movements of electrical charge inside fully packaged semiconductor devices. For the first time, this allows scientists and engineers to monitor electronic components as they function in the real world.

Adelaide University Group Leader of the Terahertz Engineering Laboratory (TEL), Professor Withawat Withayachumnankul, said that semiconductors underpin almost every modern technology, from smartphones and medical devices to vehicles, power grids and defence systems.

Yet once a chip is sealed inside its protective packaging, it becomes extremely difficult to tell what is happening inside it, Prof Withayachumnankul said. Most existing inspection methods require physical electrical probes, exposed chips, or devices to be powered down  making them impractical in many scenarios. This research is a first step towards a long-standing problem in electronics. We can now observe electrical activity inside a working semiconductor device from the outside, without damaging it or interrupting its operation.

The study, also involving researchers from US technology company Virginia Diodes Inc, the Hasso Plattner Institute and the University of Potsdam, Germany, demonstrates that terahertz waves can non-invasively detect changes in electric current inside common electronic components such as diodes and transistors.

The method is sensitive enough to pick up changes occurring in regions far smaller than the terahertz wavelength itself, something previously thought to be impractical due to fundamental noise limits.

To achieve this, the researchers developed an ultra-sensitive detection system using a specialised homodyne quadrature receiver, which can pick up very small changes in terahertz signals.

This approach allows the system to cancel out background noise and isolate the faint signal produced by electrical activity inside the device, Prof Withayachumnankul said. The result is a real-time view of electronics at work, even when the active region is buried deep inside sealed packaging.

The researchers say that the signals they observed were caused by genuine electrical motion, not heat or electronic interference. The technique was shown to work across a range of commonly used semiconductor components, demonstrating its robustness and broad relevance.

The implications for society and industry are significant, Prof Withayachumnankul said.

Because terahertz radiation is non-ionising and safe, the technique also offers a safer alternative to inspection methods that rely on X-rays or invasive probing. This makes it particularly attractive for safety-critical applications, such as high-power electronics, where devices cannot easily be taken offline. said Prof Withayachumnankul.

The work could also benefit the security and defence sectors.

Being able to remotely and non-invasively assess electronic activity could help verify the integrity of critical hardware, detect malfunctioning or compromised components, and monitor systems where physical access is limited or undesirable, according to lead investigator Dr Chitchanok Chuengsatiansup, Professor of Cybersecurity at the Hasso Plattner Institute and the University of Potsdam. This research opens the door to smarter, self-diagnosing electronics, new ways of monitoring complex integrated circuits, and faster development of next-generation chips.

Non-contact Probing of Active Semiconductor Devices Using Terahertz Waves is published in the IEEE Journal of Microwaves. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/JMW.2026.3653411
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The Left and some on the Right went crazy over President Donald Trump's recent tweet.

He warned that if the Iranian regime did not cease blocking the international Strait of Hormuz, he would hit its dual military-civilian infrastructure. He promised that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again."

Trump may have used sloppy nouns.

But he obviously meant that the murderous civilization/culture of radical Iranian theocratic Islam would cease to exist and won't come back, once its power plants and transportation systems central to the regime were cut off.

Why do we know that?

Because unlike most prior American wars, Trump has never targeted dual-use infrastructure  not in bombing ISIS, not in removing the Venezuelan thug Nicolas Maduro, not in the 2025 bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, and not in the present war  with the exception of a key bridge central to the regime's efforts to move around and spare missile assets from bombing.

Ever since Trump announced that "help is on the way" to the Iranian people, the entire aim of the five-week war has been to target selectively the command and control of the regime and its military assets.

The goal was to diminish its threats abroad, while weakening and humiliating the mullahcracy at home  so that soon the Iranian people might at last be able to overthrow the odious theocracy.

Trump's critics know all that.

But they see political advantage in tagging Trump as a Strangelovian madman, no different from the Nazi criminals in the docket at Nuremberg.

A few less unhinged argue his rhetoric nevertheless comes across as unpresidential.

Perhaps.

But it may be no accident that his Gen. Curtis LeMay-like bluster might have applied pressure on the Iranians to reopen negotiations.

On Monday the Democratic borg was declaring Trump a savage maniac. By Tuesday it was blasting him as a TACO ("Trump always chickens out") for not carrying out what the day before they had dubbed a war crime.

The common denominator was an overarching deranged hatred of the president, given his critics can never decide whether he is Adolf Hitler or Neville Chamberlain.

But since the Left has called for investigations of war crimes, by all means let them begin.

Obviously, Trump's critics conveniently no longer buy the argument of "dual use." It posits that the juice powering an evil enemy is its roads, bridges, fuel and electricity. To disable them supposedly shortens the war and the killing.

In World War II we leveled a dozen Japanese cities because the Tokyo junta had outsourced the assembly of weapons to urban neighborhood workshops.

We joined the British in leveling Dresden by targeting German transportation.

Perhaps the Left will now remove the iconic names of Democratic Presidents Roosevelt and Truman from our buildings and monuments?

Truman should be a twofer boogeyman. He ordered every bridge in North Korea and hydroelectric plant to be incinerated during the Korea war.

How about the Lyndon Johnson/Richard Nixon bombing of North Vietnam? Their war machine annihilated most of its civilian infrastructure in efforts to force the communists to negotiate.

The 42-day bombing in the First Gulf War targeted power stations, roads, bridges, and dual use government buildings.

Should we go back and Trotskyize its strategic architects  George H.W. Bush and Gen. Colin Powell?

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is one of Trump's fiercest critics in pressing the war criminal charge. Perhaps he too should be post-facto investigated by the International Criminal Court given that in 1991 he was a pilot in an air force that frequently hit bridges and other dual use targets.

How about the "noble" NATO effort in Serbia?

According to the logic of current critics, there must be lots of war criminals still to be found who were involved in that merciless 1999 bombing of Belgrade.

Former President Bill Clinton's gambit wrecked all the bridges on the Danube and often left over a million civilians without power.

Will we indict former President Barack Obama for ordering over 500 targeted predator assassination strikes on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border without congressional authorization that included killing four American citizens?

Perhaps we can reinvestigate Samantha Power, Hillary Clinton, and Susan Rice, the architects of the 2011 "unlawful" and congressionally "unauthorized" seven -month bombing of a mostly inert Libya.

And why not reexamine Obama? He snubbed the 60-90 War Powers Act window, which required him to obtain congressional authority to continue that mindless devastation.

The Libyan wreckage included civilian ships, port facilities, TV buildings, telecommunications, and government offices  and left the country an utter mess that continues 15 years later.

The left-wing and paleo-Right fury has far exceeded any legitimate critique of strategy and tactics.

It has now become not just incoherent but crazed, given many despise Trump more than they do the murderous Iranian regime.

And now they add the wage of rank hypocrisy to their serial untruths.

(Hanson's latest book is "The Dying Citizen" from Basic Books. Buy it in hardcover at a 52% discount! by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 41% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR.)

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, a professor of classics emeritus at California State University at Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services.
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On one of his recent shows, Bill Maher stated (and later posted on X), "Democrats are not going to win the midterms. Republicans are going to lose it."

In response, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) asked on X, "(1) Is he right? (2) Why?"

OK, Senator, I'll give this a shot.

If Maher is right, it's because:

1. Each day's news brings more evidence of widespread fraud in this country, bilking American taxpayers out of unfathomable amounts of their money. Independent journalist Nick Shirley exposed the fraudulent child care and medical transport services in Minnesota  created largely by Somali immigrants  and calculated it at more than $100 million. This fell on the heels of the $250 million "Feeding Our Futures" scam perpetrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now we're told that the financial fraud in that state could top $9 billion.

But those amounts are dwarfed by the fraud in California, where recent investigations have turned up $170 million in child care fraud and $3.5 billion in hospice fraud (in Los Angeles County alone.) Then there's the $15 billion spent on "high-speed rail"  without even a single foot of track having been laid.

How about the fraud perpetrated on the American public with the "Russia collusion" hoax?

We see plenty of Fox News appearances, irate posts on X and even a smattering of congressional hearings. But where are the indictments, the arrests, the prosecutions? (The "Feeding Our Future" fraudsters have been indicted, but that fraud took place half a decade ago.) Republicans run the Justice Department; what are they doing?

2. The single most important issue to Americans is election integrity. This isn't just a conservative voter issue, a Republican voter issue or a white voter issue. According to multiple polling outlets, a wide majority of Americans want voter ID as part of election security. Harvard CAPS/Harris puts the number at 81% of Americans, including 79% of independents and 70% of Democrats. Pew reports that 75% of Americans across all racial backgrounds want voter ID. Gallup puts the numbers even higher, with 84% of Americans overall wanting voter ID, including 98% of Republicans and 84% of independents. Eighty-three percent of those Gallup polled also want proof of American citizenship.

And yet somehow, a Republican-controlled Congress will not pass the SAVE America Act. Not cannot pass it, will not pass it.

3. In general, President Donald Trump is having to govern by executive order, because the Republican-controlled Congress appears to be doing very little. If Democrats had even the bare majorities Republicans have now, they'd be ramming their left-wing agenda items down our gullets so fast we'd be choking on them. But when Republicans get control of Congress, they act like a middle school student council given control of the mayor's office for a day. Or highly paid court jesters.

4. Republicans voters also want an end to illegal immigration, the enforcement of our borders, and deportation of people here illegally. They do not want amnesty or government benefits for people who came here illegally. But instead of moving on the issues their voters care about, we have Republicans like Florida congresswoman Maria Salazar repackaging "amnesty" and calling it the "Dignity ("Dignitad") Act." She and Texas Republican congressman Brandon Gill are now in a war of words about it on X. Popular X accounts Matt Van Swol, Wall Street Mav and DataRepublican (among an increasing number of others) have called Salazar's bluff (and that of her 19 Republican cosponsors) by reading the entire 261-page bill and explaining, with quotes and page numbers, how the "Dignity Act" is amnesty  and then some.

What's worse is that we don't really know how many people are living here illegally. We're told it's 7 million. Or maybe 10 million. But it's probably much more. The Federation for American Immigration Reform put the number last year at 18.6 million. Amnesty means millions more people added to the voter rolls (and most won't vote Republican, Rep. Salazar), millions more sponsoring family members to come in, and millions more struggling to get in themselves. As Ronald Reagan discovered when he signed an amnesty bill in 1986, "amnesty now and enforcement later" means "amnesty now and enforcement never." Because it takes courage to enforce the law, and Republicans don't have any, even when they're in power.

5. Trump ran on improving the economy and no wars. Now there is war in Iran. Gas is over $4 a gallon. The stock market is down (a huge hit for people living on a fixed income and dependent on the performance of their pensions). The price of oil affects huge swaths of the economy. What's the end game here? When do things get better?

I'm old enough to remember a free Iran, and I support the end of the mullahs' reign there, the elimination of the threat of their having nuclear capability, and the liberation of the Iranian people. But it's not among Americans' top priorities, and the voters who elected Trump don't see those priorities being addressed. Furthermore, at this writing, Iran and the United States are in a "ceasefire," which Trump says presents the possibility of a resolution. But any resolution of this conflict that does not include the permanent removal of the mullahs from power will be a failure.

The midterms are seven months away, and a lot can happen in that time. But the Republican leadership in Congress has established a practice of dragging its feet, and there's little reason to think they'll suddenly change their modus operandi as the election gets closer.

They'd better. A loss at the midterms will be disastrous. We can expect a Democrat-controlled Congress to impeach Trump (and likely other members of his administration). They will not show the same deference to procedural niceties that Republicans profess. Instead, they'll nuke the filibuster, pass amnesty, open the borders, defund federal law enforcement (including and especially Immigration and Customs Enforcement), reimpose censorship, renew their lawfare efforts, prosecute their political enemies and pack the Supreme Court. Which means you can kiss any judicial imposition of constitutional limits on government power bye-bye.

And that's just for starters.

You guys better get off your rear ends and do what we sent you to Congress to do. And don't bleat that Senate Majority Leader John Thune won't let you. If he's in the way, remove him and get the job done. Or lose in November.

There, Sen. Lee. Does that answer your questions?

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Laura Hollis is an attorney and academic. She resides in Indiana with her husband and their two children.


In the 21st century, computer science (CS) and programmatic thinking have emerged as indispensable tools for navigating an increasingly digital world. While many associate CS education with high-paying careers in software engineering or technology, its benefits extend far beyond the tech sector. Incorporating CS and STEM education into K-12 curricula empowers students in every career path, from agriculture and hospitality to manufacturing and beyond, by fostering critical skills that improve problem-solving, adaptability, and creativityskills essential for success in any field or life ambition.

First and foremost, computer science education equips children with computational thinking, a problem-solving framework that encourages breaking down complex problems into manageable parts, recognizing patterns, and creating logical solutions. This way of thinking is not confined to writing code; it is equally relevant in blue-collar industries. For example, a farmer can use computational thinking to analyze crop yields and weather patterns, optimizing resources and improving harvests. A hospitality professional might apply these skills to streamline operations or analyze customer feedback, enhancing guest experiences. By learning to think programmatically, students gain tools to tackle real-world challenges systematically and effectively, regardless of their career paths.

Moreover, CS education nurtures resilience and adaptability. Programming often involves trial and error, teaching students the value of persistence and the importance of learning from mistakes. In manufacturing, these lessons translate into the ability to troubleshoot equipment or innovate more efficient processes. In life, this mindset builds confidence and a proactive attitude toward problem-solving, qualities that benefit individuals in any pursuit.

Creativity is another hallmark of CS education. Writing code is a form of creation, requiring students to imagine possibilities and bring ideas to life. This creativity transcends industries, fostering innovation whether designing a new product, crafting a memorable dining experience, or developing sustainable practices in agriculture. CS education also encourages collaboration, as students work together to design, test, and refine projectsa vital skill in any workplace.

Importantly, early exposure to CS in K-12 education demystifies technology, empowering children from diverse backgrounds to see themselves as active participants in a digital world. This inclusivity ensures that all studentsnot just those pursuing traditional STEM careersare prepared to navigate and shape a future defined by technology. It also helps bridge the digital divide, providing equitable opportunities for all children to succeed.

In conclusion, CS and programmatic thinking in K-12 education are not just pathways to high-paying tech jobs; they are foundational skills that enhance the lives and performance of all children, regardless of their career ambitions. By fostering critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability, CS education prepares students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Integrating this education across the curriculum is not just an investment in the future of technologyit is an investment in the future of every child.You can learn more about our growing global partner network and programs for Code.org computer science educational materials here.

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Ive recently been forced to make painful and difficult choices that impact my personal life as well as my small business because this Congress has been unwilling to renew tax credits that used to significantly lower the cost of my health insurance. My husband and I are both self-employed entrepreneurs. We dont have access to corporate health plans and the substantial cost sharing that employers typically provide to make health care more affordable for their employees. Instead, we rely on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for quality coverage that pays for services like annual physicals, vaccinations, and other types of preventive care. In 2025, my husband and I each had health insurance plans that we purchased through the ACA Marketplace, and our plans were fully subsidized thanks to the enhanced premium tax credits. At our income level, we received enough subsidy to lower our monthly premium to zero dollars but did have a $7,500 deductible for each of us. Now that those tax credits are no longer available, we pay a combined $2,300 per month in premiums, and we each have an $8,000 deductible for our bronze-level plans.

To go from zero to $2,300 this year was so sudden and drastic that it puts us in a very difficult financial situation; weve been forced to account for this new expense, which is equivalent to our mortgage, with no change in our income. It means weve had to cut back on household expenses, and I wont attend a major work conference in Canada even though I am on the board of the hosting organization because I cant afford it. Beyond that, Ive had to alter my business model to focus on opportunities that will bring in quick cash at the expense of opportunities that would provide longer-term growth. Ive also dropped plans to spend on digital marketing for my business. After making all of those cuts and adjustments, I still dont know for sure if we will be able to maintain our health insurance.

I dont think most members of Congress understand the significance of my situation. Financial hardships like the one I am now facing simply because my health insurance is so expensive are not unique to me, and they have consequences for the entire U.S. economy. The enhanced premium tax credits have proven highly effective at reducing health care costs for many small businesses and their employees, who make up more than half of all ACA Marketplace participants. In 2025 alone, more than 4.4 million out of 5.2 million small business owners and self-employed entrepreneurs enrolled in coverage through the Marketplace had their premiums reduced thanks to the enhanced premium tax credit. Without the tax credits, however, KFF estimated that ACA Marketplace enrollees would pay 114 percent more on average for their monthly health care premiums. It is no wonder that Small Business Majoritys research found 74 percent of small business owners support extending the tax credits.

When health care isnt affordable, it impacts more than the current generation of entrepreneurs. It also blocks the next generation of small business owners from pursuing their dreams. I imagine that many aspiring entrepreneurs will now think twice before leaving a corporate job if it means giving up quality health insurance. For now, were taking it month to month. Ive heard elected officials from both sides of the aisle speak at length about their health care affordability concerns. Some of them have even suggested alternatives to the enhanced premium tax credits, or conditions and new restrictions that would have to be met for them to feel comfortable compromising on a renewal of the tax credits. If Congress is serious about addressing the health insurance affordability crisis for small business owners like me and Americans broadly, no compromises, restrictions, or new ideas are necessary. All that has to happen is for Congress to renew a program that has worked well for small businesses. Its that simple, and it could be done tomorrow. I fear that Congress is more focused on partisan bickering than delivering results for Main Street.

Kelly Berry is a small business owner.
The Northern Ireland peace talks have ended with an historic agreement.

The accord  dubbed the Good Friday Agreement  was reached after nearly two years of talks and 30 years of conflict.

Negotiations on the final day dragged on more than 17 hours after the deadline for an agreement passed.

The agreement is a triumph for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Republic of Irelands leader, Bertie Ahern, who have succeeded where all their predecessors failed.

Speaking at a news conference after the deal was announced Tony Blair said he hoped it marked a new beginning.

Today I hope that the burden of history can at long last start to be lifted from our shoulders, Mr Blair said.

Bertie Ahern said he hoped a line could now be drawn under the bloody past .

The proposals in the agreement include plans for a Northern Ireland Assembly, new cross-border institutions involving the Irish Republic and a body linking devolved assemblies across the UK with Westminster and Dublin.

A copy of the proposals will be posted to every household in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and then put to a referendum in May.

The chairman of the talks, former US Senator George Mitchell, paid tribute to all those who had taken part.

But Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there was still a huge gap of distrust between nationalists and unionists.

It must be bridged on the basis of equality. We are here reaching out the hand of friendship, he said.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble added: I see a great opportunity for us to start a healing process.

The peace agreement was also welcomed by the UDP and PUP parties, which represent loyalist paramilitary groups.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

A referendum held in May 1998 on both sides of the Irish border, returned a resounding yes vote for the Good Friday Agreement.

The first three years of the agreements implementation saw accusations and counter-accusation from both sides.

Unionists said the republicans had not complied with the spirit of the agreements requirement for the decommissioning of arms.

Disagreement over decommissioning and policing led to three suspensions of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

In October 2002 it was also suspended after allegations of IRA intelligence gathering inside the Northern Ireland Office.

Devolved power was restored to the Assembly on 8 May 2007. DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Feins Martin McGuinness  age-old opponents  took office as first and deputy first ministers ending five years of direct rule.

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A tentative ceasefire in the Iran war staggered yesterday under the weight of Israels bombardment of Beirut, Tehrans continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over whether planned peace talks can find common ground.

Iran and the U.S.  which both declared victory after the ceasefire announcement  appeared to apply pressure. Semiofficial news agencies in Iran suggested forces have mined the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil that Tehran has closed. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, warned that U.S. forces would hit Iran harder than before if it did not fulfill the agreement.

And there was disagreement over whether the ceasefire deal included a pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel on Wednesday pounded Beirut with airstrikes, resulting in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began on Feb. 28.

Questions also remained over what will happen to Irans stockpile of enriched uranium at the heart of tensions, how and when normal traffic will resume through the strait, and what happens to Irans ability to launch future missile attacks and support armed proxies in the region.

Israeli vows to continue striking

Irans parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned yesterday that continued Israeli attacks on the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon would bring explicit costs and STRONG responses in a social media post.

Qalibaf has been discussed as a possible negotiator who could meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance this weekend in Islamabad. The White House has said Vance would lead the delegation for talks starting Saturday.

Iran said Israel was violating the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump have said it was not.

Netanyahu said Israel will continue striking Hezbollah with force, precision and determination.

Lebanons health ministry said at least 203 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded Wednesday in Israeli strikes in central Beirut and other areas of Lebanon that Israel said targeted Hezbollah, which joined the war in support of Tehran.

Israel said yesterday it killed an aide to Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem, Ali Yusuf Harshi. Hezbollah did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A New York-based think tank warned that the ceasefire  hovers on the verge of collapse.

Even if Lebanon was formally outside the deal, the scale of Israels strikes was likely to be viewed as escalatory, the Soufan Center wrote in an analysis. Israels strikes can be understood both as an effort to drive a wedge between Iran and its proxies and as a response to being allegedly sidelined in the original ceasefire discussions.

Lebanons state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli strike overnight killed at least seven people in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military did not immediately acknowledge the strike.

Oil prices remain high

Semiofficial news agencies in Iran published a chart yesterday suggesting the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard put sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz during the war  a message that may be intended to pressure the United States.

The chart, released by the ISNA news agency and Tasnim, showed a large circle marked danger zone in Farsi over the route ships take through the strait, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas once passed.

Only a trickle of ships have transited since the war began after several were attacked, and Iran threatened to hit any that it deemed connected to the U.S. or Israel. Ships appeared to continue to avoid the strait even after the ceasefire.

The chart suggested that ships travel through waters closer to Irans mainland near Larak Island, a route that some ships were observed taking during the war. It was dated from Feb. 28 until April 9, and it was unclear if the Guard had cleared any mines since then.

Irans deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told the BBC that his country will allow ships to pass through the strait in accordance with international norms and international law once the United States ends its aggression in the Middle East and Israel stops attacking Lebanon.

The head of the United Arab Emirates major oil company, Sultan al-Jaber, said some 230 ships loaded with oil were waiting to get through the strait and must be allowed to navigate this corridor without condition.

The straits de facto closure has caused oil prices to skyrocket  affecting the cost of gasoline, food and other basics far beyond the Middle East. Oil prices fell Wednesday on news of the ceasefire but climbed again as uncertainty over the deal grew.

The spot price of Brent crude, the international standard, was around $98 yesterday, up about 35% since the war began.

Points to address in talks include whether Iran will be allowed to formalize a system of charging ships to use the strait. That would upend decades of free transit through what has been treated as an international waterway. MDT/AP

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On the Agenda

As conflict-driven volatility rattles global oil and gas markets, China may be emerging as an unlikely winner in the race for energy security, according to investment strategists cited by Bloomberg News yesterday.

Jacky Tang, chief investment officer for emerging markets at Deutsche Banks private banking arm, said Chinas diversified energy mix and rapid expansion in clean technology position it advantageously amid the turmoil.

China is the winner in this war from an economic standpoint, from an energy mix standpoint, Tang said in an interview reported by Bloomberg.

The assessment comes despite clear vulnerabilities. Analysts at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel warn that Chinas continued reliance on Iranian oil could pose a severe test if disruptions intensify around the Strait of Hormuz  a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG trade.

Yet Chinas long-term strategy appears to be cushioning the blow. Low-carbon sources now generate nearly 40% of its electricity, up from about 25% a decade ago, while renewables account for almost half of installed power capacity, according to estimates cited by Bloomberg from Ember and Barclays.

A recent Barclays note said a decade of renewable build-out and electrification has materially reduced Chinas exposure to energy shocks, with oil and gas now playing only a minor role in power generation.

That shift is becoming more significant as energy markets react to instability in the Middle East. Prices surged as uncertainty persisted over access through Hormuz, with analysts at Goldman Sachs warning the situation remains fluid.

Beyond resilience, China may also benefit commercially. As Asias largest importers  including Japan, South Korea and India  seek to diversify energy sources, demand for renewable infrastructure is expected to rise. Much of that equipment, from solar panels to battery systems, is produced in China.

Yet, years of rapid expansion have left parts of Chinas clean-tech sector facing overcapacity and intense competition. Beijing has responded with measures to stabilize pricing and support viable firms.

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North Korea said yesterday its testing spree this week involved various new weapons systems, including ballistic missiles armed with cluster-bomb warheads, as it pushes to expand nuclear-capable forces aimed at rival South Korea.

The report by North Korean state media came a day after South Koreas military said it detected North Korea firing multiple missiles from an eastern coastal area in its second round of launches in two days.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said the tests lasted three days starting Monday and also included demonstrations of anti-aircraft weapons, purported electromagnetic weapons systems and carbon-fiber bombs.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles launched Wednesday flew 240 to 700 kilometers before falling into the sea, and that it also detected at least one projectile launched Tuesday from an area near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

Japans Defense Ministry said none of the weapons fired Wednesday entered waters within its exclusive economic zone, while the U.S. military said the North Korean launches on Tuesday and Wednesday posed no immediate threat to the United States or its allies.

KCNA said the latest tests included demonstrations of cluster-munition warhead systems mounted on the nuclear-capable Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles, which resemble Russias Iskander missiles in their design for low-altitude, maneuverable flight to evade missile defense systems. The report said the launches confirmed that the short-range missile, when armed with such warheads, can reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5-7 hectares (16 to 17.2 acres) with the highest-density power.

Jang Do-young, a spokesperson for South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a briefing that the military was analyzing the launches while sharing information with U.S. and Japanese counterparts, but declined to provide specific assessments about the Norths claims of progress in its military capabilities.

The launches underscored continuing tensions between the Koreas, blunting South Korean hopes for warmer relations. MDT/AP

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MGM participated in the 2026 International Cities of Gastronomy Fest, Macao, held from March 20 to 29, presenting a diverse lineup of culinary and cultural experiences across the city. As a key supporter of the citywide initiative organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office, MGMs offerings spanned gourmet creations, chef demonstrations and cultural showcases, highlighting the breadth of Macaus gastronomy scene while reinforcing the citys designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

At the International Gastronomy Promenade, one of the festivals programs at Macau Fishermans Wharf, MGMs Portuguese-inspired booth drew visitors with a selection of dishes that reflected the citys rich culinary influences. The menu featured fragrant Pandan Milk Tea with a tropical twist, alongside the Stuffed Cod Fish Croquette with Tartar Sauce, a nod to Portuguese traditions. The African Chicken Pizza showcased Macaus Lusophone culinary links, while the Acai & Whipped Yoghurt with Tropical Fruit and Granola introduced a refreshing touch of South American flair. Complementing the gastronomic offerings, a lion-themed plush bag charm blind boxa surprise collectibleadded a playful touch, allowing visitors to take a piece of the experience home. Together, the booth presented a well-rounded mix of flavors, textures and experiences for visitors to enjoy.

Beyond the promenade, MGM spotlighted Macanese cuisine through a live demonstration by Redo Lo, Chef de Cuisine of MGM MACAU, who presented the classic Macanese Stuffed Crab Shell at the City of Gastronomy Showcase, another highlight of the festival. The dish exemplifies the essence of Macaus east-meet-west culture, combining Portuguese culinary techniques with an abundance of costal ingredients from southern China and a nuanced blend of global spices. As part of the festivals international exchange, MGM also invited guest chef Sofia Teftsi from Thessaloniki, Greeceanother UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomyfor a one-day collaboration at Coast in MGM COTAI. Featuring a Mediterranean-inspired menu, the collaboration highlighted the exchange of culinary traditions and techniques between different gastronomy cultures.

Further enriching the festival, MGM presented a tea appreciation showcase in the ZAPE district, as part of the events program lineup. Led by MGMs tea masters, the demonstration brings together traditional tea ceremony, visual aesthetics, and elements of martial arts philosophy, offering audiences a closer look at the craftsmanship and cultural traditions behind Chinese tea.

MGM

Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau

E info@mgmchina.com.mo

W http://www.mgm.mo/

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To spur weekend shopping and support local businesses, the Macau government and Macao Chamber of Commerce kick off the Grand Prize for Consumption in Community Zones 2026 campaign today, unleashing about MOP400 million in consumer benefits.

Residents using real-name authenticated e-wallets for transactions of MOP50 or more at eligible Macau stores from Friday to Sunday enter three electronic prize draws daily, with winnings resetting on Mondays.

According to the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), vouchers valued at MOP10 to 200 must be redeemed Monday-Thursday at over 20,000 participating outlets, requiring an actual spend of at least three times the vouchers face value. Weekly and grand final draws reward Monday-Thursday e-wallet spends of MOP50-plus.

Seniors with Macau Pass Senior Citizen Cards and holders of Disability Assessment Registration Cards gain an extra MOP500 instant discount, claimable at over 100 service points starting tomorrow. Tap the card for automated 50-50 splits on purchases up to MOP1,000 in value for every MOP500 spent, usable daily with no limits.

Speaking to local media, the DSEDT Business Promotion Division Director, Lai Chi Wai, urged residents to avoid the first-day rush. He noted that 24/7 government service centers, libraries, rehabilitation facilities, and convenience stores are fully trained and ready. Exclusions target utilities, gambling operations, large chains, and tourism giants to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

Restrictions also apply to financial, medical, educational, and transportation services.

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The month-long National Security Education Exhibition will open on Wednesday (April 15) at the Complex of the Commerce and Trade Co-operation Platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, featuring an evening gala with an awards ceremony and cultural performances. Co-organized by the Macau government and the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in Macau, this years theme emphasizes coordinating development and security to support the new goals of Chinas 15th Five-Year Plan. More than 32,100 students from eight higher education institutions and 50 secondary schools have contributed exhibits that showcase their perspectives on national security, technological progress, and personal connections.

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With the opening of the Exhibition on the Military History of the Macao Garrison of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), a new platform for patriotic education has been established, Chief Executive (CE) Sam Hou Fai noted, saying that it will help further consolidate the powerful synergy of patriotism and love for Macau.

The opening ceremony for the PLA Macao Garrisons Military History Exhibition was held on Wednesday morning at the Taipa Barracks, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The exhibition, located inside the Military Exhibition Hall, will be gradually opened to both garrison personnel and the Macau public. It spans 1,730 square meters and carries the theme Advancing to Victory Under the Partys Banner, offering a systematic look at the Peoples Armys journey under Communist Party leadership while looking ahead to the future of national defense and military modernization.

Through a mix of artifacts, historical photos, scene reenactments, and multimedia displays, the exhibition, as noted, highlights key principles of military governance, battle strategies, and the traditions that have shaped the Peoples Army. It also showcases what has driven the army from one victory to another. It lays out the push toward the militarys centenary goals and the broader ambition of building a world-class armed force.

Among those attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition were the CE, the Vice Chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Edmund Ho, Director of Liaison Office of Central Peoples Government in Macau Zheng Xincong, officials from the Southern Theater Command and the PLA Macao Garrison, as well as representatives from the Macau government, the Legislative Assembly, the judiciary system, and various sectors of society.

According to a statement from the Government Information Bureau, the CE said in his address that the people of Macau, especially the youth, should make full use of the exhibition as a platform for patriotic education to better understand that national security is everyones responsibility and to develop a correct view of history and the nation.

He noted that garrison officers and soldiers have participated in emergency relief and public welfare activities with sincerity and a strong sense of duty, earning the trust and respect of Macau residents and serving as examples of love for Macau and closeness to the people. The exhibition, he said, allows visitors to revisit the PLAs history, appreciate the spirit of a mighty yet civilized force, and understand the achievements made in building a strong military in the new era. We must always remain vigilant and prepared for potential dangers, and resolutely implement the overall national security outlook, he added.

He pointed out that since Macaus handover, the garrison has steadfastly implemented One Country, Two Systems, Macau people ruling Macau, and a high degree of autonomy. It has strictly adhered to the Basic Law, the Garrison Law, and other relevant laws, faithfully carried out its defense duties, and resolutely safeguarded national sovereignty, security, and development interests. The garrison, he said, has played a stabilizing role in ensuring the steady implementation of One Country, Two Systems and maintaining Macaus long-term prosperity and stability.

Let us stand shoulder to shoulder, ensure that patriotic education takes root in the hearts of the people, accelerate the building of a new security framework, and continuously compose brilliant chapters in the successful practice of One Country, Two Systems with Macaus distinctive characteristics, Sam concluded.

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Oil prices climbed back toward $100 per barrel yesterday, while stock markets worldwide slow following their big gains from the day before.

The S&P 500 was nearly unchanged in midday trading as the United States, Iran and Israel disagreed on the details of their two-week ceasefire, whose announcement had sent markets flying in optimism on Wednesday.

The oil market was jumpier, and the price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude oil climbed 7.6% to $101.54. It rose after semiofficial news agencies in Iran suggested forces have mined the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that has been at the center of President Donald Trumps demands of Iran.

Given how far apart the United States and Iran seem to be in their demands, upward pressure on oil prices may be here to stay for a while according to strategists at Macquarie led by Thierry Wizman.

Risks remain for renewed fighting, which could cause customers worldwide to hoard whatever oil supplies they do get. That could itself keep oil off the market, much like actual fighting targeting pipelines or oil tankers.

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Chinese officials did not immediately react to the Philippines opening of its coast guard district command on Thitu Island, which has been occupied by Filipino forces and civilians for decades but is also claimed by Beijing.

Chinese coast guard and other government-linked ships frequently patrol outlying waters off the island, which is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. Chinese and Filipino forces have had tense but mostly minor confrontations in outlying waters in the past.

In new incidents yesterday afternoon, the Philippine coast guard accused Chinese forces of firing flares toward its patrol aircraft in what it said was a clear and deliberate act of bullying that endangered Filipino personnel over the disputed Subi Reef and Mischief Reef, which are occupied by China.

Philippine coast guard Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela did not immediately provide other details. There was also no immediate reaction from Chinese officials.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, a key trade route, despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated its expansive claims under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beijing did not participate in the arbitration, rejected its outcome and continues to defy it.

Philippine Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Sen. Erwin Tulfo and coast guard commander Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan flew to Thitu to unveil the command in a brief ceremony, which was held to coincide with the countrys Day of Valor commemoration.

This is a permanent step for us to show that our coast guard is ready to defend our interest in the waters, our fishermen, their livelihood and, most importantly, our sovereignty, Lopez said.

A marker in the new coast guard building said it was established as the vanguard and steadfast sentinel of our sovereignty, sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction.

The coast guard command will be led by a commodore and backed up by an unspecified number of personnel, patrol ships and aircraft for law enforcement, monitoring, environmental protection and search and rescue. Smaller coast guard outposts would be built on smaller Philippine-occupied outcrops, the coast guard said.

Surrounded by white beaches, the tadpole-shaped Thitu Island is called Pag-asa  Tagalog for hope  by about 400 Filipino villagers. Its one of nine islands, islets and atolls which have been held by Philippine forces since the 1970s.

More than a decade ago, China started transforming seven disputed reefs into island bases in the Spratlys. Those included Subi Reef, now a major island base with a military-grade runway about 24 kilometers southeast of Thitu island.

Everyday, our villagers see Chinese coast guard and militia ships all around the island, MP Albayda, who serves as the vice mayor of the island municipality, told The Associated Press. This new coast guard district command is a big morale booster for them.

The Philippines claims the region as its most remote offshore township, under its western island province of Palawan. It encouraged fishing families to relocate there decades ago with incentives such as free rice, to underscore its control over the area.

The 37-hectare island now boasts internet and cellphone connections, a more stable power and water supply, a newly cemented runway, a wharf, grade school, gymnasium and even an evacuation center in times of typhoons. However, Thitu remains a meagre frontier settlement compared to the Chinese-built Subi island. JIM GOMEZ, Manila, MDT/AP

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Portuguese Parliament Speaker Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco praised Macaus successful implementation of One Country, Two Systems during a meeting in Beijing with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Xinhua reported yesterday. Aguiar-Branco expressed hope of expanding cooperation, using Macau as a platform in clean energy, the digital economy, AI, and healthcare. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Peoples Congress of China, Zhao Leji, noted that Portugal has consistently adhered to the One-China principle and that both sides properly resolved the Macau issue through friendly consultations, demonstrating political wisdom and mutual trust.

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The government is moving forward with the redevelopment of the seven-building complex in Iao Hon.

While the plan has been on the table for 20 years, only the owners of Son Lei Building have applied for an urban conditions plan (PCU) that sets the boundaries of the development.

On the topic, government authorities have said that, without increasing population density, they will relax some restrictions on usable living area and slightly increase the number of units that can be built in the redevelopment.

During Wednesdays Urban Planning Committee meeting, the committee discussed and approved 13 PCUs, including the one for the Son Lei Building land plot within the Iao Hon Seven-Building Complex urban renewal project.

The complex comprises 2,556 residential and commercial units, yet only a single building has so far advanced with concrete measures for urban renewal plans.

At the meeting, representatives from the Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) stated that while developing the entire seven-building complex would yield greater benefits, the bureau is obliged to issue the single PCU based on the application received.

Given that the Iao Han area already has an extremely high population density of over 140,000 residents per square kilometer, authorities have proposed a modest increase in the maximum number of units, from 224 to 236.

Concurrently, it is proposed that the usable floor area for residential units be increased by 20% from the original baseline. The bureau said to believe that by following this method it would help balance population density and improve the living environment.

Additionally, the plot usage ratio is proposed to be raised to 10 times, which would facilitate the provision of supporting facilities such as commercial spaces and parking lots, enhancing community amenities.

Speaking after the meeting, the bureau director Lai Weng Leong noted that Macaus overall population density remains relatively high. While the northern district aims to reduce population density in its redevelopment plans, he said that for other areas of Macau, we also do not wish to see population density increase further. He stressed that all adjustments are made on the premise of not increasing population density, adhering to the principle of balance.

The authorities also acknowledged that covering full construction costs through urban planning measures alone is not easy. The government will consider whether conditions exist to adjust premium fees and identify suitable areas for large-scale redevelopment.

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Britain, Norway and other countries conducted a weekslong operation to deter Russian spy submarines near undersea cables in the North Atlantic, the U.K. defense chief said yesterday, accusing Moscow of using the distraction of the Iran war to ramp up malign activity against Europe.

Defense Secretary John Healey said a Royal Navy frigate, aircraft and hundreds of personnel were involved in tracking a Russian attack sub and two spy submarines operating north of the U.K., and prevented the spy vessels from carrying out nefarious operations.

He said the Russian vessels eventually left after the operation that lasted more than a month.

The U.K. said other allies were also involved, but didnt name them.

NATO countries have repeatedly expressed concern that Russia could use its fleet of spy ships to sabotage underwater cables on which global communications depend. Russia has dismissed those claims.

Healey said his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was was we see your activity over our cables and our pipelines and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.

Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik said in a statement that Russias operation occurred in and near Norwegian and British maritime areas in recent weeks.

Norway and the U.K. said the activity was coordinated by Russias Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research, known as GUGI, which is part of Russian armed forces. The activity is a reminder that Russia is further developing its abilities to map and sabotage critical Western infrastructure at ocean depths, Norways Defense Ministry said.

Healey said the subs are designed to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime and sabotage it in conflict.

In November, Britain told Russia it was ready to deal with any incursion into its territory after the spy ship Yantar was detected on the edge of U.K. waters north of Scotland.

Healey said the submarine activity occurred in the U.K.s exclusive economic zone, which extends for 200 nautical miles (230 miles, 370 kilometers) from shore, but not its narrower territorial waters.

British officials have tried to keep Russia in the international spotlight even as the worlds attention is focused on conflict in the Middle East. They have also stressed the overlap between conflicts there and in Ukraine, saying Russia has supplied Iran with drone parts and other support.

Healey told a news conference that Putin would want us to be distracted by the Middle East, but Russia is the main threat to the U.K. and its allies.

We will not take our eyes off Putin, he said.

In late March, the U.K. said its military was ready to seize ships suspected to be part of Russias shadow fleet of vessels shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscows war on Ukraine. Previously, Britain had only helped France and the U.S. monitor ships before they were boarded.

We are ready to take action against the vessels, Healey said. JILL LAWLESS, LONDON, MDT/AP

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More than 230 internship and job opportunities focusing on technology and engineering sectors were offered at the University of Macaus (UM) 2026 UM FST GBA T&E Career and Internship Fair held in the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

The event invited 25 companies and provided a platform for young graduates to gain experience across a variety of fields, including artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, software development, and network engineering.

Lam Chi Chiu, assistant dean of UMs Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), stated that the university is a key platform for cultivating top-tier scientific talent.

He noted that UM has been actively expanding and deepening its collaboration with companies in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to offer students more extensive practical opportunities.

During the event, representatives from the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin introduced employment support measures and internship protection policies for interested applicants, allowing students to gain a better understanding of the GBA job market and further promote talent integration and development between Hengqin and Macau.

In addition, at the fair, several services such as job matching, CV enhancement guidance, policy briefings, and mock interviews were offered.

Several UM students who attended the fair said that it not only provided employment opportunities but also addressed their questions about cross-border study, work, and daily life, boosting their confidence and determination to integrate into the GBA and seize emerging opportunities.

UMs FST graduates more than 700 students every year. Through collaboration with renowned enterprises in the GBA, the faculty aims to expand career development opportunities for Macau youth, support their integration into the GBA, promote talent exchange, and foster collaborative innovation in the regions science and engineering sectors.

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Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, is leading a delegation to the Chinese mainland from Tuesday to Sunday, and the visit is resonating far beyond the itinerary itself.

At a time when cross-Strait tensions are being stirred by external forces and separatist voices on the island are growing louder, Chengs trip sends a simple but important message: attempts to seek separation by relying on outside forces and inflaming cross-Strait confrontation will not succeed because whatever the international climate and however divided politics on the island may be, people across the Strait overwhelmingly want peace.

Political infighting on the island has intensified, while security issues are repeatedly being used to create a sense of looming conflict. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities have tried to amplify the atmosphere of crisis and present resisting China as the only option for the residents of Taiwan. But ordinary people on the island want stability, not bloodshed. They are tired of political manipulation and want peace across the Strait. Their deep desire for a normal life is the strongest answer to separatist politics.

In late March, Hung Chi-chang, former chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, led a group of Taiwan tourism operators to Xiamen and Pingtan in Fujian province for exchanges on expanding cross-Strait travel cooperation. The visit reflected a broad desire within the industry to restore engagement and reduce confrontation. Wang Jin-pyng, the KMTs most senior advisor, also voiced strong support for Cheng Li-wuns trip, saying it serves the cause of peace. He expressed hope that she will convey the mainstream public sentiment in Taiwan  to replace confrontation with communication, and conflict with dialogue.

Chengs trip responds to the shared wish for peace, development, exchange and cooperation on both sides of the Strait. By welcoming her, the mainland has once again shown its sincerity in promoting peaceful cross-Strait development and expanding communication. Its a clear indication that the door of dialogue has not been closed. When the two sides resume engagement and dialogue, the deadlock can be broken.

The real obstacle to normalized ties is political forces on the island that have long blocked cross-Strait exchanges. A harmonious relationship that should have benefited the well-being of Taiwan residents has been turned into a tool for political gain.

Chengs visit also serves as a counterweight to the crude interference of the United States in the Taiwan question. As news of the visit emerged, US politicians started sending dangerous signals. In late March, US senators visited Taiwan and urged the authorities there to approve a special defense budget of $40 billion while the head of the American Institute in Taiwan talked about support for Taiwans defense and energy security. Taiwans leader, meanwhile, used meetings with US politicians to promote coordination with the US and other democratic partners in the name of regional security.

These moves are dressed up as security cooperation. In reality they are about selling fear, amplifying confrontation and pushing risks in the Strait even higher. The US has never really cared about the well-being of Taiwan residents. Washington just wants to turn Taiwan into a forward outpost for containing China and keep the Strait available as a geopolitical lever.

That is what makes Chengs visit more significant. It shows that Chinese people on both sides of the Strait are fully capable of managing differences through dialogue, building mutual trust and working for peace. The message is clear, both to the island and to the wider world: the Taiwan Strait wants peace, not war. It needs exchange, not provocation. And people on both sides have the ability to shape their future and will not submit to outside manipulation.

Chengs visit also underscores the basic fact that cross-Strait relations are Chinas internal affairs, and differences should be addressed through dialogue between the two sides. No matter how outside forces package their involvement, and no matter how separatist forces on the island try to draw strength from foreign backing, the fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China has not changed. Nor has the legal and historical basis that unequivocally regards Taiwan as part of Chinas internal affairs.

What happens in the Taiwan Strait affects not only cross-Strait relations, but also Asia-Pacific security, the stability of industry and supply chains, and global market expectations. Every bit of room created for peaceful dialogue reduces regional risk. Every step away from confrontation eases international anxiety.

The signal from Chengs visit is positive. It helps break a vicious cycle in cross-Strait ties, and resist the grip of external manipulation on regional security.

A peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question serves the interests of the Chinese nation, the Asia-Pacific region and the worlds desire for stability, cooperation and development. In that sense, Chengs visit brings positive energy and a measure of certainty to an increasingly unsettled international environment.

The widespread attention this visit has drawn is not only because it aligns with mainstream public sentiment on both sides of the Strait, but also because it shows that the call of national responsibility still carries force, and that the path of peaceful development still exists.

That signal matters to people on both sides of the Strait and it matters to the Asia-Pacific. It is a warning to those who seek to profit from tension, manufacture crises and feed on the prospect of conflict.

Facts will ultimately show that any political maneuver that ties Taiwan to an external war chariot and pushes its residents toward the front line of danger will fail the test of public opinion, reality and history. Taiwans future is tied to national reunification.

The well-being of Taiwan residents depends on peace across the Strait. Every step toward cross-Strait exchanges reduces the risk of miscalculation, adds to the goodwill and lays firmer ground for national rejuvenation.Zhu Songling*, China Daily

* The author is a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies in Beijing Union University.

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Mali announced this Friday that  following a thorough review of this important (Sahara) issue, which has an impact on sub-regional peace and security, the Republic of Mali has decided, as of today, to withdraw its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

This position was expressed by the Malian Government in a statement delivered by Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, following a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, who is paying a visit to Bamako at the instructions of King Mohammed VI.

Mali supports the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as the only serious and credible basis for resolving this dispute and considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most realistic solution, the statement added.

Mali also expressed its support for the efforts of the United Nations and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, as well as for the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, particularly Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, the statement said.

The Malian minister further stated that this decision will be shared with the regional and international organizations of which Mali is a member, as well as with the diplomatic corps accredited in Bamako.

In another related development, Kenya expressed on Thursday its support for autonomy for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty as the only credible and realistic solution to resolve the dispute, and affirmed its intention to cooperate with like-minded States to promote the plan implementation.

This position was expressed during the first session of the Morocco-Kenya Joint Cooperation Commission, co-chaired in Nairobi by Kenyas Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

In the Joint Communique adopted at the end of this Joint Commission, Kenya welcomed the growing international consensus and the momentum driven by King Mohammed VI in favor of the autonomy plan presented by Morocco, describing autonomy as the only credible and realistic solution to resolve the dispute over the Sahara.

Deeming the Morocco-proposed autonomy plan to be a sustainable approach to resolving the regional dispute over the Sahara, Kenya stated its intention to cooperate with like-minded States to promote its implementation.

Kenya also welcomed the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797, which enshrines the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty as the basis for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable resolution of the dispute.

In this regard, Kenya stated that it endorses the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to facilitate and conduct negotiations based on the autonomy plan.
Four out of every five rupees from the Rs 800 crore set aside for corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget will go to the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) combine, raising cries of discrimination from Opposition members.



In terms of numbers, it works out to approximately Rs 660 crore  or nearly 83 per cent  of the Rs 800 crore for the 120-plus corporators of the ruling combine. However, leader of the house and BJP group leader Ganesh Khankar, whose allocation was Rs 20 crore, said that they were following traditions established in the earlier house. We will follow the system for fund distribution which was started by the Shiv Sena UBT during their tenure, he said.



The BMC standing committee approved the 2026-27 civic budget on Monday, reserving Rs 800 crore for the corporators. All 227 corporators will get Rs 1 crore each, said Prabhakar Shinde, standing committee chairman, who presented the budget in the house on Thursday. Decision on the distribution of the remaining funds will be taken soon, he added.



According to a source within the BMC, Rs 150-175 crore will be reserved for the Mayor, leaving Rs 398 crore to be distributed by the standing committee. The Opposition UBT is slated to get Rs 25-30 lakh for each of its corporators, with the money coming from the Mayors fund rather than the standing committee corpus, said the source.



Amey Ghole, group leader of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) said, We have asked for funds as per our corporator strength. We did not ask for a specific amount, but asked for an allocation as suggested by our corporators. Opposition leader Kishori Pedenkar said, We had submitted a letter detailing the work that has been suggested by our corporators. We came to know that I will get Rs 2 crore as leader of the opposition, while corporators from the opposition will get Rs 25-30 lakh each. This is a clear case of discrimination in the distribution of fund.



In the 2017-2022 period, when BMC was ruled by the erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena, BJP had 82 corporators, with the party getting Rs 40-50 crore from the standing committee  around Rs 50 to 60 lakh extra for each corporator  apart from the Rs 1 crore allocated per head across party lines. The same extra funds for the ruling Shiv Sena corporators was Rs 2-3 crore for each person.




From a cyber slave to an alleged trafficker, the trajectory of 26-year-old Anil Yerayyashetti Polavarapu, alias Steve Anna, reads like a crime thriller. Lured abroad with the promise of a white-collar job, Polavarapu is accused of becoming part of operations inside Myanmars KK Park, and of facilitating the trafficking of more than 250 Indians into cyber-scam networks. Police said Polavarapu spent nearly four years in Southeast Asia  the last three in charge of a scam unit identified as K8, in KK Park, a heavily guarded cyber fraud hub allegedly run by Chinese handlers. From being a victim, he is alleged to have risen to a position of operational control, overseeing recruitment, day-to-day functioning and money flow.



According to sources, Polavarapu had access to significant financial resources and lived separately within the KK Park complex, away from the barracks where trafficked individuals were housed. He is also alleged to have operated a restaurant, Taste of India, in the Golden Triangle region (covering parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand), which investigators suspect was used as a logistical front within the network.



Police said Polavarapu became a key link in the recruitment chain that brought Indians into such facilities. Acting on instructions from handlers, he allegedly identified and lured individuals with promises of high-paying jobs abroad and facilitated their travel.



For every Indian youth brought into the system, he earned between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh as commission, an officer said. Of this, Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 was paid to India-based agents sourcing the victims. Police estimate that more than 250 youths may have been trafficked through networks linked to Polavarapu. Once inside, victims were allegedly stripped of their passports, confined within guarded compounds, and forced to carry out online scams, including crypto investment fraud targeting individuals globally. Failure to meet targets reportedly led to physical abuse, threats and psychological coercion.



Polavarapu is also accused of being involved in extortion. Victims seeking release were allegedly made to pay large sums. In one instance, two youths from Mira Road are said to have paid Rs 6 lakh to secure their exit.



A senior officer said his role went beyond participation, describing him as operating just below the Chinese handlers within the hierarchy.



The network came under pressure after Myanmars military authorities launched crackdowns on cyber scam centres in the KK Park region. Polavarapu allegedly fled and spent nearly a month in a refugee camp in Myanmar before returning to India in January this year.



He was arrested in February by the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai Virar Crime Branch and is currently in judicial custody. Officials said the National Investigation Agency is likely to take custody of the accused for further investigation, and a chargesheet is expected to be filed soon.



Police have also identified multiple cases against him  one with the Mira Road Crime Branch, four in Hyderabad, and two registered by the NIA  indicating alleged involvement in transnational cybercrime activities. Officials are now examining whether recruitment networks linked to the accused remain active in India, and whether more individuals continue to be trafficked to such centres. They also suspect that several Indian nationals may still be confined in similar facilities across Myanmar and Laos.



The case shows how these networks operate, and how victims can, in some instances, become part of the system, an officer said.




Chedda Nagar locals are raising alarm over the persistent safety hazards at the busy Jijamata Bhosale Junction on the Mankhurd-Ghatkopar Link Road, where a long-pending proposal to relocate a traffic signal has yet to be implemented. Despite repeated representations by the Chheda Nagar Residents Welfare Association and a formal proposal by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to shift the signal by around 50 metres towards Mankhurd, the plan remains stalled, leaving pedestrians, especially senior citizens, women, and schoolchildren, struggling to safely cross the precarious stretch.



The BMC wrote to traffic police last September, proposing the relocation of the traffic signal on the Ghatkopar Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR) by approximately 50 metres towards Mankhurd, but to no avail as of yet. The absence of clearly marked zebra crossings, coupled with uncontrolled free left turns on both sides of the junction, has created a hazardous environment for pedestrians, resident Mohan Swaminathan. Despite the high footfall in the area, essential pedestrian infrastructure remains inadequate, highlighting an urgent need for intervention by the concerned authorities, he said.



The BMC letter to traffic police official reads: Chheda Nagar Residents Welfare Association requested to shift the traffic signal poles approximately 50 meters towards Mankhurd direction. In this regard, this department has already forwarded the letter for your remarks and suggestions to this department. Accordingly, the joint site visit was carried out by this office engineer with Mr. Reji Jacob, President and residents on September 19...(during which) it is observed that the traffic volume from Mankhurd towards Ghatkopar and Mumbai is high and vehicles come at high speed from Mankhurd towards Ghatkopar. Due to this, it is very difficult for residents to cross the road.



During site inspection, it was discussed that traffic coming from Mankhurd have to be stopped 40 to 50 meters before the junction. Traffic signal should be installed on both sides and in the middle of the road divider below the bridge. For pedestrian crossing, the divider should be opened in the middle of the road, added the letter.



Despite the site visit and the letters recommendation, no steps have materialised so far, highlight residents. Several accidents have occured here as high speed vehicles coming from Mankhurd collide with vehicles exiting Chheda Nagar and going toward CST. Perhaps seven to eight deaths have happened due to this, Jacob told Mirror. We have been following up with the Deputy Chief Engineer (Traffic) in BMC for the last eight months, when we handed over one letter on behalf of the Association. After two days of submitting the letter, traffic officials visited the spot to inspect the area. The issue is yet to be fixed but I am hopeful that it will be solved in a month.



Hit from behind



Abhishek Rathod (30), a resident of Ghatkopar (West), said he and his wife were injured after a speeding cab hit their motorcycle from behind on February 4. My wife suffered injuries to her arm and lower back, and I had to undergo surgery for a rod in my right leg. We both lost consciousness and were rushed to hospital. I am now working from home as I cannot travel. I was later told this is an accident-prone junction, he said.



Ilyas Pinjari (39) recounted a similar incident on December 6. My wife was riding the scooty with our child when a speeding tempo hit us from behind. She suffered severe facial injuries and needed multiple plates inserted. My left hand was already fractured, and now my right hand is also injured. This has affected my ability to work, he said. Their child escaped unhurt.



Yuvraj Singh Chundawat (21) said he was hit by a taxi at Chheda Nagar signal on December 21. I had just accelerated after the signal turned green when a taxi rammed into us. I had minor injuries, but my aunt suffered a serious head injury, he said.



All three cases were registered as hit-and-run, with victims saying CCTV footage was unclear and offenders remain unidentified.




Four years after his dramatic defection from the undivided Shiv Sena with 40-odd MLAs, Deputy Chief Minister and current Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde is back for more, this time Thackerays MPs.



In a clandestine meeting at a neutral venue at Thane, Shinde met six Sena (UBT) members of Parliament (MP) in person, while two more  one of them Osmanabad MP Omprakash Rajenimbalkar  joined via video call, a source familiar with the matter told Mumbai Mirror. Mumbai South-Central MP Anil Desai did not participate in the meeting, the source added.



It is learned that the six present have signed documents expressing interest to join Shindes party. The two who joined via video have also agreed to join the party, according to the source.



Mirrors calls and messages to Shinde did not elicit a response. His son, Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, denied such a meeting took place.



MP Sanjay Dina Patil denied meeting Shinde. Arvind Sawant, Nimbalkar, Sanjay Jadhav, Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar did not respond to Mirrors calls. The other MPs could not be reached for comment.



A senior UBT leader told Mirror: We have spoken to them and they told us they have not met Shinde.



If two-thirds of a partys parliamentary or legislative block agree to merge with another party, they will escape disqualification. That figure for the UBT parliamentary block is six.



If the merger  murmurs of which have been swirling around for more than a year  happens, it will come as a massive political setback for UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray.



For months, there has been chatter about UBT MPs switching sides to join Shinde. In February 2025, Sena leader Uday Samant had claimed that UBT MPs were already in touch and ready to jump ship. The UBT camp has repeatedly dismissed these claims as rumours planted by rivals, with the MPs publicly pledging loyalty.



But now, things have gone beyond whispers. Over the past two months, fresh murmurs of discontent surfaced within the UBT ranks, insiders told Mirror, with some MPs reportedly unhappy over limited access to the leadership and uneasy with Aaditya Thackerays growing clout inside the down-and-out party.



If even six of the eight MPs jump over, the UBT faction will be significantly weakened and Shindes grip over the Sena legacy will strengthen and his place in the states politics will get a boost.



With some rumours also suggesting that the state BJP, too, was wooing the Thackerays to mend ties, this could also strengthen Shindes position in an image war against his current boss, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. It will also put him on a stronger footing in Delhi.



The source cited earlier told Mirror that Shinde was fielding phone calls from the BJPs national leadership throughout the meeting, which started around 11 pm on April 8 and went on well into the morning hours of April 9.



The six MPs arrived at the undisclosed neutral venue near the Voltas Main Plant on Thanes Pokharan Road separately, without any of their convoys or retinue. Each leader was accompanied by just one or two close aides.



Even Shinde, who is usually surrounded by an entourage of 50-plus people, arrived with not more than five people very close to him, including his son Shrikant, the Kalyan MP.



Shinde then had one-on-one conversations with each of the six UBT MPs present, assured them the full party and administrative backing on par with existing Sena MPs.



The six are then said to have signed documents expressing interest in a merger. The two MPs who were out of town and attended the meeting via videoconference assured to sign the document when they arrive in Mumbai.



The current crisis echoes events from four years ago, when Shinde rebelled on June 21, 2022, taking 40 MLAs to Surat and Guwahati  a move that split the party and fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government after 2.5 years.



The Election Commission of India later recognised the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena, awarding it the party name and the iconic bow and arrow symbol. Since then, the party has remained divided between Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray.



Inputs from Sameer Surve



THE 9 UBT MPs



1. Arvind Sawant  Mumbai South



2. Sanjay Deshmukh  Yavatmal-Washim



3. Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar  Hingoli



4. Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav  Parbhani



5. Rajabhau Waje  Nashik



6. Sanjay Dina Patil  Mumbai North East



7. Bhausaheb Wakchaure  Shirdi



8. Anil Desai, Mumbai South Central (DID NOT ATTEND)



9. Omprakash Rajenimbalkar  Osmanabad
Israeli forces pounded Beirut on Wednesday, killing scores of people in an aerial barrage that Israel described as its largest in more than a month of war in Lebanon, just after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire.



The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it supported Trumps two-week suspension of attacks on Iran but that the truce would not stop Israels offensive against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.



The Lebanese Health Ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 182 people across the country Wednesday and injured an additional 890  a preliminary toll. Lebanons Civil Defense said search-and-rescue teams were working through the night to pull more people from the rubble.



People across Lebanon had hoped the broader truce would also give their country a respite. But within hours of the announcement, loud bangs rocked the capital as airstrikes hit without warning, including near schools, commercial districts and the countrys only international airport.



Hospitals issued appeals for blood donations, and the doctors union urged health care workers to rush to medical centers. Columns of smoke rose from Beirut and other parts of the country, including the southern city of Tyre.



Lebanon bears the brunt



The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets in a span of 10 minutes, including in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.



Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that his forces hit Hezbollah militants in surprise attacks and that Israel has insisted on differentiating the arenas between Iran and Lebanon in order to change the reality in Lebanon. Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel last month in retaliation for the US-Israeli attack that killed the supreme leader of its patron Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.



Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that the Israeli attacks Wednesday targeted densely populated residential areas and claimed the lives of innocent civilians throughout Lebanon, particularly in Beirut. He called on allies to help us stop these attacks by all available means.



Nada Saliba, an anchor at Lebanons public broadcaster, was just leaving work when a strike collapsed part of a residential building near her Beirut office.



All I was thinking about was my two children, she said. I dont want them to mourn me.



The Lebanese government has scrambled for weeks to avert a wider escalation and appealed to the Trump administration and Western allies, including France, to intervene.



Israel has launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, ordered residents out of more than 10 percent of the country and destroyed bridges that link the south to the rest of Lebanon.



The Israeli offensive has killed more than 1,700 people, including at least 130 children, and forced more than 1 million people to flee their homes.



Hezbollah on Wednesday denounced the Israeli assault, pledging to resist the occupation and respond to its aggression.



The escalation in Lebanon spurred questions about whether Washingtons deal with Tehran would hold, with traffic in the Strait of Hormuz appearing to remain at a standstill. Israeli assertions about excluding Lebanon contradicted an earlier statement from Pakistan, the main mediator in ceasefire talks.



Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, meanwhile, warned of a military response if the strikes on Lebanon did not stop.



While Tehran said it saw a halt in Israeli strikes on Hezbollah as part of the terms of the ceasefire agreement announced Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that the deal did not cover Lebanon.



In an initial statement announcing the ceasefire, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said the sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon.



I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding, Vice President JD Vance told reporters. I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didnt.



French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the announcement of a halt in fighting between the United States and Iran but said including Lebanon was indispensable.



Leaders of several European nations, along with Japan and Canada, said Wednesday that they welcomed the two-week pause in the war with Iran and called on all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.



Francis reported from Brussels. Suzan Haidamous in Beirut, Lior Soroka in Tel Aviv and Isaac Arnsdorf in Washington contributed to this report.




In a city where distance is measured in hours and not kilometres, the very thought of commuting to a gallery, museum, theatre or auditorium can dissuade even the most inspired connoisseurs. Thats why, a month-long arts festival proposes to flip the script, by transforming the entire city into a living, breathing arts venue. AltiPalti is the brainchild of Alt Shows, a ticketing platform for alternative performances, and is being staged in collaboration with Aram Nagar-based Harkat Studios. As the name suggests, the festival aims to turn the concept of art events on its head by bringing art to neighbourhoods that dont harbour traditional venues.



Bringing art to the burbs



We realised in Mumbai, its very difficult to go towards the art; its much easier to bring the art to its audience. We also wanted to change the idea of art being confined to certain neighbourhoods. For instance, theatre events are typically hosted at Aram Nagar, visual arts are associated with Kala Ghoda or Fort. This leaves entire neighbourhoods out of the conversation, explains Michaela Talwar, co-founder and creative director of Harkat Studios.



The next step was to ensure that all five disciplines, namely music, visual arts, dance, film and theatre, could intersect and to facilitate what Talwar calls cross-pollination by encouraging artists to interact and come up with new work. An outcome of this line of thought was the ticketing system, which is segregated by weekends and not individual events. We wanted people to just go, watch and see what happens. Maybe they discover a new passion. Maybe they find a new favourite artist. The idea is to make these possibilities available, Talwar adds.



New horizons



Building on the democratic ethos, the artists and performances were curated via an open call. Ayesha Aggarwal, founder of Fulcrum  an interdisciplinary gallery, says she wanted to look beyond the type of art that is typically found in galleries, biennales and fairs. A lot of our submissions were from people who werent professional artists and hadnt been to art school, you know, but enjoy sketching, painting or illustrating. I was very pleased to be able to include some of their work in this festival. Vivek Madan, who curated the theatre productions, says he was similarly motivated to steer clear of common themes and genres and look for common ambition: We posed one provocation to the shortlisted play-makers  how will you adapt your work to an alternative space, where you dont have the luxury of stage lights, or that of clear separation between audience and performer? Also, how far down that road would you be willing to go without compromising on your artistic integrity to make a piece that could never be made anywhere else? Instead of trying to make something fit, we wanted to ask how play-makers could grow their idea to transcend a mainstream location. What makes this event especially unique is that were also engaging with audiences who are not used to engaging with the performing arts in those spaces. Im very excited to see how that relationship emerges.



Art and the city



Over four weekends, AltiPalti will travel across south Mumbai, Bandra, north Mumbai and Andheri, pausing at venues as diverse as a family home in Walkeshwar, a library in Mahim, a rooftop bar in Bandra, and a spacious, immersive studio with stained glass windows and high ceilings in Aram Nagar. Expect to see performances as wide-ranging as hip-hop performed by Code 43  a collective representing Govandi, a hybrid of Hindi, English and Kannada rap by Krantinaari, watercolours focused on Mumbais public spaces such as its transit systems, markets and streets, and even films that are made and projected in front of a live audience. On the musical front, we have some musicians debuting their new albums through AltiPalti. In many ways, this festival is their release tour, as well as a great way to experiment and get a sense of the audiences pulse, Talwar says.



As AltiPalti criss-crosses the city, enrobing it in a deliberately interdisciplinary avatar, the organisers hope that it can take some of the uptight seriousness away from art and infuse it with good, old-fashioned fun. And, should they succeed, this raucous debut can be the first step making the alternative a real alternative.



More details: altshows.com/altipalti




The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada above 4,500 feet and Yosemite Nation Park, above the Valley floor, until 11 PM Sunday.

Heavy snow is forecast.

The snow levels range between 4,000 to 5,000 feet.

The heaviest snowfall is expected through early Sunday evening, with snowfall rates of up to one inch per hour.

Minor snow accumulations of two to four inches is possible down to the 4,000 foot elevation. Additional snow accumulations above the 7,000 foot elevation, will range from one to two feet.

Winds will continue to gust as high as forty-five mph. Visibilities may drop below a quarter of a mile due to falling and blowing snow.

The hazardous conditions could impact weekend mountain travel. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel difficult, treacherous and potentially life-threatening, if not impossible.

Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order.
China welcomes int'l investors to share opportunities during 15th Five-Year Plan period: senior official

Xinhua) 10:17, April 10, 2026

He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, meets with Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes investors from all over the world to invest and do business in the country and share opportunities for high-quality development during its 15th Five-Year Plan period, senior Chinese official He Lifeng said on Thursday.

He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, made the remarks during a meeting with Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, in Beijing.

He said China's economy has made a strong start this year, adding that the country will continue to expand high-level opening-up during the new five-year plan period.

Noting a stable and healthy China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is in the fundamental interests of both nations, He expressed hope that the U.S. business community will continue to play an active role as defenders and promoters of China-U.S. economic and trade ties.

Dalio said China's economy has shown remarkable resilience and stability amid the current international environment, expressing optimism over its development prospects.

He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, meets with Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Groveland, CA  A proposed ballot measure to raise money for fire services in Groveland is the focus of a community meeting next week.

In January, the Groveland Community Services District hired SCI Consulting to develop a proposal for a fire service funding ballot measure to meet funding needs. The consultants returned and provided an overview at this weeks GCSD board of directors meeting.

The cost of the property assessment could vary from year to year.

The report developed by SCI, states, The proposed assessment would generate $1,586,393 to cover the equipment and apparatus maintenance and replacement, a reserve for the 3/0 staffing transition, including a County collection allowance of $15,600 ($3.75 per parcel) if the assessment is approved. Assessment rates are based on property type, fire hazard zone designation, and response travel time, with a base rate of $475.64 per single-family equivalent.

It goes on to read, The maximum rate may increase each year by no more than 5%; however, no automatic annual increase is guaranteed or required. The actual assessment rate levied in any given year will be determined by the Board of Directors based on the Districts financial needs and the updated Engineers Report, and may be less than the maximum authorized rate.

Ballots and notices would be mailed to all property owners in the Assessment District, with a minimum 45-day return period. A public hearing is currently scheduled for July 8, 2026, for ballots to be tabulated. If the ballots in favor exceed those in opposition, the Board may confirm the assessment for collection on the FY 2026-27 property tax roll.

A meeting where Groveland Community members can learn more about what is proposed and how the money would be used is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, from 5:30  7:30 at the Groveland Community Resilience Center on Ferretti Road.

There is also a Zoom option to attend virtually (though you cannot ask questions that way):

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7688070165#success

Public meetings are also planned at the same location at 5:30 pm on May 14 and June 18.

Click here to find a detailed report.
The High Court has restricted the Law Society of Kenyas (LSK) access to evidence in the ongoing murder trial of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody.

As the case proceeded on Thursday before Justice Diana Kavedza, the LSKs representative requested the court to supply them with medical documents. This request sparked a debate over exactly how much material the society should receive in the high-profile matter.

Gikui Gichuhi, the counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), raised objections to the release of these specific records. These reservations prompted Justice Kavedza to step in and define the boundaries for the LSKs involvement. While the judge acknowledged that the LSK represents the public interest in such trials, she moved to balance that role with the confidentiality of the prosecutions full file.

Ultimately, the judge ruled that while the society deserves what she termed reasonable access, it does not have a right to every piece of evidence held by the state. She drew a firm line on the limits of their participation, noting, They can be granted reasonable access to evidence, but not all evidence.

The court received an update from the legal team of former Nairobi Central OCS Samson Talaam, one of the accused in the matter. His lawyer informed Justice Kavedza that the facility had discharged Talaam following his treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). This medical update follows a previous adjournment where the court paused the proceedings to allow the former officer to seek specialized care.

Talaams counsel had earlier explained that his clients health had deteriorated over several weeks, necessitating urgent assessments and tests by specialists at the national referral hospital. At the time, the prosecution raised no objections to the delay, leading the court to order that authorities escort Talaam to KNH and file a formal medical report once the examination concluded.

With the accused now discharged, Justice Kavedza ordered that the medical records be submitted to the court and made available for review.

The case now moves toward its next phase with new hearing dates starting July 20, 2026. On that date, the court expects the first group of witnesses to take the stand and begin their testimony.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) released the Kenya National Gender and Corruption Survey 2025, uncovering a complex web of gender and marital dynamics within the countrys bribery culture. Released on Thursday, April 9, the findings indicate that women and single individuals pay bribes more frequently than their male or married counterparts when interacting with public services.

The data highlights a distinct gender divide in the types of officials targeted for these payments. Over the 12 months leading up to the study, female respondents reported paying bribes 10 or more times primarily to tax and revenue officers (19.8 percent), immigration officials (12.7 percent), and various health workers (6.7 percent). These figures suggest that women may face more frequent demands for facilitation fees in administrative and healthcare settings.

Men, meanwhile, interact with a different set of agencies when engaging in corrupt practices. Male respondents most frequently bribed officers from the National Transport and Safety Authority (12.6 percent) and the National Police Service (10.9 percent). They also reported paying bribes to teachers and lecturers in public institutions at a rate of 4.0 percent, reflecting a corruption landscape heavily tied to the transport and education sectors for male service seekers.

Marital status also plays a surprising role in how citizens navigate the corruption landscape. The EACC study shows that single individuals most often pay bribes to civil registration officials (45 percent) and the police (43.9 percent). For those in monogamous marriages, the trend remains similar but at slightly lower rates, with 37.7 percent paying off police and 30.8 percent bribing registration staff.

The data shifts significantly for other groups. Respondents in polygamous marriages reported a high frequency of bribery involving both immigration and police officers, both at 41.3 percent. Divorced individuals reported an overwhelming trend, with 72.9 percent paying bribes to officials at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). Meanwhile, widows primarily directed their payments toward civil registration officials (28.3 percent) and NTSA staff.

Financial status reveals perhaps the most startling disparity in the report. Low-income Kenyans, earning less than Ksh10,000, face extreme pressure; the survey found that every single respondent in this bracket who interacted with a judge reported paying a bribe. This group also paid bribes at remarkably high rates to civil registration officials (87.2 percent) and immigration officers (86.6 percent).

In contrast, high-income earners  those making over Ksh100,000  tend to encounter corruption in different arenas. Their payments mostly target land registry officers, tax and revenue officials, and registration of persons staff. Notably, this wealthier bracket also reported paying bribes to Members of Parliament, suggesting that higher financial stakes often lead to corruption within more influential levels of government.

The National Police Service maintains the highest overall prevalence of bribery at 35.5 percent, followed by civil registration officials at 30.0 percent. The survey identifies the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) at 25.4 percent and land registry officers at 23.3 percent as other high-risk areas. While some sectors see more frequent bribes, the financial scale varies wildly; magistrates collect the largest average cash bribe at Ksh164,367, whereas civil registration officials receive the smallest average payment at Ksh1,415.

Gender dynamics within the public service also play a significant role in these interactions. The report reveals that male officers overwhelmingly dominate the sectors most frequently implicated in corruption. Specifically, men make up 92.9 percent of the NTSA workforce, 92.3 percent of prosecutors, 90.9 percent of public utility staff, and 88.8 percent of the police force.

Conversely, the survey found that women are more likely to pay frequent bribes to tax and revenue officers, immigration officials, and healthcare workers. This pattern suggests that women encounter more corruption while navigating essential services and trade-related administrative tasks. These findings paint a detailed picture of how gender and institutional makeup influence the flow of illicit payments across the countrys public offices.

Beyond financial extortion, the survey uncovers a disturbing trend of sexual exploitation within public service delivery. The findings indicate that 8.4 percent of Kenyans have encountered indirect requests for sexual favors, a burden that falls more heavily on women at 9.3 percent compared to 7.4 percent for men. The disparity becomes even more pronounced with direct requests; while 2.1 percent of all respondents faced such demands, women encountered them at a rate of 3.4 percent  more than four times the 0.8 percent reported by men. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 face the highest risk, particularly when they are seeking employment or urgent medical care.

Despite the pressure to comply with corrupt demands, a significant majority of Kenyans choose to resist. The data shows that many citizens refuse to pay bribes to male public officials, with the highest rates of defiance directed at prosecutors (89.9 percent), police officers (89.6 percent), and members of parliament (89.6 percent). This widespread refusal suggests a growing public pushback against entrenched graft, even in high-pressure situations involving law enforcement and the justice system.

The report concludes that women remain more vulnerable to frequent bribe requests because they typically manage the households interactions with essential services. Because women often take the lead in securing family needs, they find themselves on the front lines of administrative corruption more often than men.

A Nairobi-based focus group highlighted this systemic inequality, noting that Corruption affects women more than men. When corruption comes into play, the people who engage in the negotiations, the bribes, or the deals are mostly men.
A Nairobi court has sentenced four men to death for a series of violent robberies connected to the 2015 killing of former Kabete MP George Muchai, marking a significant milestone in a decade-long legal battle. Two other co-accused women received 10-year prison terms for their roles in the crimes.

While delivering the sentence on Thursday, Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina explained that the court meticulously weighed mitigation pleas, pre-sentencing reports, and the lengthy period the accused have spent in custody since their arrest. The court handed the death penalty to Erick Munyera, Raphael Kimani, Mustafa Kimani, and Stephen Asitiva after finding them guilty of robbery with violence. This follows a March 13 conviction where the six accused were found guilty on multiple counts, including robbery with violence and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

I have taken into account the submissions made by counsels for the accused persons and the DPP. The court is unable to interfere with the position on the death sentence as provided by law, Onyina ruled.

The magistrate acknowledged that all the convicts pleaded for leniency and, as first-time offenders with no prior criminal records, technically qualified for some consideration. However, he determined that the sheer brutality of the offenses outweighed their personal pleas. He specifically pointed to the fact that victims were abducted during the robberies, a detail that highlighted the serious and violent nature of their actions.

To account for the time already served, the court ordered that the sentences take effect from the date of the convicts initial detention.

In addition to the capital sentences, the court handed Jane Wanjiru and Margaret Njeri 10-year prison terms each for the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. This final judgment follows a week of intense arguments from the prosecution, which pushed for the maximum penalty for the four primary offenders. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) characterized the crimes as intentional and aggravated, noting that the gang used a G3 rifle and pistols to orchestrate a wave of violence that claimed four lives.

The offences herein were carried out with dangerous weapons and resulted in loss of life. This calls for the death sentence in line with the principle of proportionality, the prosecution argued during the submissions.

The State detailed a harrowing pattern of criminal activity, emphasizing the inhuman treatment the victims endured. Witnesses described being blindfolded, shoved into car boots, and driven for hours before being dumped. The prosecution further highlighted the gangs ruthlessness by citing death threats issued to witnesses during the trial, which forced the state to place one individual under witness protection.

The gravity of the offence goes without saying There was a spate of robberies which resulted in the death of four individuals, the prosecution concluded. By highlighting the cumulative toll of these spate of robberies, the state successfully argued that the severity of the punishment must match the extreme nature of the violence inflicted on the victims and their families.

Despite the harsh sentences for the primary offenders, the prosecution did suggest a degree of leniency for Jane Wanjiru and Margaret Njeri. They pointed to the womens cooperative conduct throughout the long trial and emphasized that the two had already spent more than 11 years in custody awaiting a final verdict.

In its final determination, the court affirmed that the collective punishments  ranging from a decade behind bars to the death penalty  accurately reflected the severity of the crimes. The magistrate noted that these sentences serve a dual purpose: providing a necessary deterrent to others and ensuring the continued protection of the public from such violent actors.
DCI detectives in Kisumu County have arrested three suspects following an attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi at the West End Malls Java House on Wednesday. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations identified the men in custody as 24-year-old Carlos Owiti (known as Kalonje), 39-year-old Eric Otieno (known as Dude), and 27-year-old Vincent Odhiambo (known as Tinga). Police credit the swift arrests to crucial tips and support provided by members of the public.

While these three individuals await their day in court, the investigation remains in high gear.

Investigations have been intensified, with detectives actively pursuing additional suspects linked to the incident. Further updates will be provided as the investigations progress, the directorate announced in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

This police action comes amid mounting pressure from the public and political leaders who are sounding the alarm over a surge in goon culture.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, April 8, was captured on CCTV footage showing a group of youths pinning the senator to the floor. The attackers swarmed him from all sides as he struggled to escape the mall. Following the assault, the senator was airlifted to Nairobi for urgent medical attention.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna provided an update on his colleagues condition after visiting him at Karen Hospital. While he confirmed that doctors described Osotsi as stable, Sifuna noted that the legislator remains badly injured and deeply affected by the violence.

Just left Karen Hospital, where our brother Senator Osotsi is being taken care of. He is badly injured, but the doctors are taking good care of him. They say he is stable. I dont know what to say in these situations, honestly. It shouldnt come to this, Sifuna shared yesterday.

As investigators work to uncover the motive behind the attack, the incident has sparked a broader debate about the safety of public officials in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
Governors have secured a critical legal reprieve following a decisive ruling by the High Court in Kiambu. The court issued conservatory orders protecting county chiefs from immediate summons, arrests, or detention by national oversight bodies.

The High Courts orders explicitly allow governors to bypass Senate summons and any pending arrest warrants. The legal challenge lists a powerful group of respondents, including the Senate, the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the National Police Service, and the Attorney General. This wide-ranging protection prevents national agencies from compelling governors appearances while the case is still under deliberation.

The ruling extends beyond governors, covering county officials and their associates. The court specifically bars the respondents from acting on any directives, warrants, or communications originating from either chamber of Parliament. The move stabilizes county governments, protecting them from sudden detentions or police actions that could disrupt administrative functions.

The court has set a strict timeline for the case. All parties must file and serve their responses by the close of business on April 14, 2026. Petitioners then have until April 16 to submit any rejoinders, while supporting parties are required to submit their arguments by April 17. Those opposing the application will have until April 20 to file formal submissions. These deadlines create a clear roadmap for the litigation, ensuring the court considers all arguments before issuing a final ruling.

This legal confrontation follows a 30-day ultimatum issued on April 4 by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot. He demanded that all governors appear before Senate committees to answer for their administrations actions, warning that any county leader refusing to account for public funds should resign. Cheruiyot framed the summons as a non-negotiable requirement for fiscal transparency.

The majority leader also signaled a coordinated crackdown, stating that defiant governors could face investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The High Courts intervention, however, has temporarily halted these enforcement measures.

Tensions between senators and governors reached a boiling point during a recent scuffle outside Parliament. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Migoris Eddy Oketch, and Kiambus Karungo wa Thangwa, along with several other lawmakers, reportedly manhandled Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit. Lawmakers targeted Lelelit after he allegedly refused to honor a formal summons.

In response, governors have dug in their heels. They insist they will not appear before Senate oversight committees until the Senate addresses a specific list of grievances, signaling a continued standoff over oversight and accountability.
An audit report tabled before the National Assembly on February 26 has exposed a massive financial mystery involving billions of shillings intended for the medical care of Kenyas public workers. Auditors revealed they cannot trace, reconcile, or account for the vast sums allocated to the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), raising serious questions about the management of the state-backed initiative.

Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has issued a formal warning regarding the funds financial health for the year ending June 30, 2025, stating that the books are so riddled with gaps that their accuracy is completely unreliable. Her findings describe a system operating in a vacuum of internal controls, characterized by mystery payments and a disturbing absence of records.

The report highlights a staggering Sh2.6 billion in benefit payouts that lack even the most basic documentation. The fund failed to provide essential details for these transactions, such as:

Member Identification: SHA numbers, names, and employer details of beneficiaries.

Medical Data: Types of medical interventions, admission dates, and discharge dates.

Financial Tracking: Specific claim amounts and formal approval records.

Furthermore, the audit noted that payment schedules omitted the names and classification levels of the healthcare facilities involved, violating Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) standards.

The records also failed to clarify whether any public officers received treatment overseas or which specific facilities had been contracted to provide such high-end services. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to verify if the billions of shillings actually reached the civil servants they were intended to help.

The Auditor-Generals report delivered a staggering blow to the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, declaring that the accuracy and completeness of Sh6.3 billion in benefit expenses simply cannot be confirmed. The audit uncovered a chaotic financial landscape where the vast majority of the funds reported income  roughly Sh5.32 billion, or over 80 percent  lacks any supporting documentation. While the funds books claim a total income of Sh6.53 billion, the only verifiable transaction is a single payment of Sh1.2 billion received from the Public Service in February 2025.

The discrepancies extend beyond income to the funds purported assets. Gathungu flagged Sh5.2 billion in trade receivables  money allegedly owed to the fund  that appears to exist only on paper. Management provided no ledgers or schedules to identify the debtors or prove that these funds are even collectible.

At the center of this administrative breakdown was a management team led by CEO Mercy Mwangangi and six directors. The gravity of the situation was underscored by the October 2025 arrest of Robert Mbarani Ingasira, the Director of Funds and Finance Management, who faced charges of conspiracy to defraud the SHA through fraudulent medical claims.

Gathungus conclusion, reached under the Public Audit Act, highlights two catastrophic governance failures:

Lack of Policy Framework: The fund operates without a formal policy document, meaning there are no established rules for decision-making, implementation, or the protection of public money.

Missing Employer Contracts: Management failed to produce a list of contributing employers or their signed contracts. These documents are vital, as they should detail premium amounts, employee counts, and specific medical packages.

Without these foundational elements, the Auditor-General noted that it is impossible to verify if any internal controls exist to prevent fraud.

Consequently, the report ended with a grim assessment: In the circumstances, the effectiveness of internal controls over management of the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund could not be confirmed.
President William Ruto has pledged to lead by example by ordering the demolition of a section of the State House perimeter wall that encroaches on protected riparian land.

Addressing the Nairobi County Assembly on Thursday, April 9, 2026, the President revealed that he had received a formal notice indicating that the boundary wall along the Kirichwa Kubwa River violates urban planning and environmental regulations.

State House has received a notice that part of the State House boundary wall along the Kirichwa Kubwa River falls within the riparian reserve. And it must come down, Ruto told the MCAs. He confirmed that the directive requires a 15-meter setback from the rivers high-water mark, vowing, I promise you that wall will come down.

The Presidents decision follows a confidential letter dated April 7, 2026, from the Nairobi Rivers Commission to State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito. The letter, signed by CEO Brig. (Rtd) Joseph Muracia, detailed findings from a multi-agency inspection that concluded that the southwestern boundary wall encroaches into the riparian zone by 10 to 15 meters.

By targeting his own official residence, Ruto sought to send a clear message that no individual or institution is above the law in his administrations quest to restore order to the capital. He warned that cartels and brokers profiting from illegal constructions and broken systems would face similar consequences as the government intensifies its river rehabilitation efforts.

If illegal structures must come down, they will come down, he insisted. And if systems must be reorganized to restore order, they will be reorganized.

To facilitate the restoration, Brig. (Rtd) Joseph Muracia has formally requested access to the protected State House grounds to allow the multi-agency team to officially demarcate the riparian zone. Once this boundary is established, State House will be required to adjust the wall to align with the legal 15-meter setback.

The letter to the State House Comptroller was clear about the necessity of this step:

The Multi-Agency team wishes to access the grounds to properly demarcate the riparian zone. Thereafter, you will be requested to adjust the wall in compliance with the demarcation notice.

President Ruto used the occasion to call for a new era of urban discipline, framing the demolition as a sacrifice for the greater good of Nairobis future. He argued that the transformation of the capital into a world-class city depends on leaders choosing discipline over disorder and public interest over private convenience.

By emphasizing that even the highest office in the land must respect regulations regarding water, sanitation, and green spaces, the President signaled that the days of short-term political interference in urban planning are over. He maintained that a serious city must guarantee a dignified environment, which starts with protecting its natural resources and waterways.

The great cities of the world became great because leaders chose discipline over disorder, long-term planning over short-term politics, and public interest over private convenience. A serious city guarantees mobility, water, sanitation, and safety; protects green spaces; manages waste; and creates a dignified environment for enterprise and opportunity, he said.

President Ruto delivered his first address to the Nairobi City County Assembly, using the moment to underscore the capitals strategic role in the countrys future. He told the assembly that Nairobi occupies a unique place in the nations governance and economic life, arguing that the citys performance directly shapes Kenyas overall progress.

It is the capital of the Republic of Kenya, the seat of our sovereignty, the face of our nation, and the engine of our economy. When Nairobi works, Kenya works. When Nairobi fails, Kenya pays the price, he said.

Ruto said the city has struggled with years of poor management and delayed decision-making, leaving many problems unresolved. He argued that successive leaders allowed inefficiency to persist and often placed political convenience ahead of the public interest.

Too many leaders tolerated mediocrity, postponed action, and prioritized political convenience over public good. The result is flooding, garbage, congestion, broken drainage, and overstretched sewage systems. Too many residents still live without dignity in the city that sustains our national economy, he said.

The president called for firm leadership and urgent reforms to restore order in the capital. He warned that avoiding difficult decisions only deepens existing challenges and raises the long-term cost of fixing them.

Disorder has a cost. Keeping to the status quo has a cost. The cost of reform, order, and change is always lower than that of indecision, he said, warning that leadership must prioritize justice, dignity, order, and opportunity for the majority over protecting comfortable arrangements for a few.

Ruto also pointed to Nairobis enormous contribution to the national economy. He said the capital accounts for about 27.5 percent of Kenyas economic output and generates more than Sh4.1 trillion annually.

It hosts the only United Nations headquarters in the Global South, diplomatic missions, multinational firms, regional institutions, innovators, entrepreneurs, and millions of residents pursuing opportunity, he said.

He praised members of the county assembly for approving an Sh80 billion cooperation agreement between the county government and the national administration. Ruto described the deal as a deliberate step toward tackling the capitals long-standing challenges through coordinated action.

The era of drift must end, and the era of coordinated execution must begin. Nairobi needs disciplined leadership, order, execution, and results, Ruto said.

The president also addressed the stark inequalities shaping life in the city, noting that more than 60 percent of Nairobis residents live in informal settlements. He pointed to areas such as Mathare, particularly Mabatini, as examples where strategic planning and targeted development could improve living conditions. Among the interventions he mentioned was the construction of a modern school to support the community.

Ruto further called for a direct confrontation with criminal networks and vested interests that profit from disorder in the city. He said the government had already taken action against several powerful cartels in key sectors.

We have confronted sugar, fertilizer, coffee, and fuel cartels to restore fairness and ensure proper payment to farmers and workers. We must take the cartels in Nairobi head-on, whoever they are, however powerful, he said, urging both county and national authorities to enforce urban order effectively.
Stanley Amalemba Ambeyi, a 39-year-old Kenyan national living in the United States without legal documentation, will serve 18 months in prison for illegal firearm possession.

Catherine Crosby, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, confirmed that Ambeyi pleaded guilty in November 2025 to the federal charge. Following this plea, U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala handed down the sentence on Monday, April 6.

The legal trouble began on April 11, 2025, when a Birmingham police officer pulled Ambeyi over for a traffic stop. During the interaction, the officer noticed a box of ammunition inside the car and questioned Ambeyi about whether he was carrying a weapon. Ambeyi initially denied having any firearms in the vehicle, a claim that would later be disproven during the investigation.

During the stop, the officer spotted an open alcoholic beverage can and informed Ambeyi that he was breaking the law. When the officer instructed him to step out of the car, a subsequent search revealed an Amadeo Rossi S.A. .22LR revolver hidden inside. The police arrested Ambeyi on the spot for the weapon and the open container violation.

The courtroom proceedings revealed a far darker history for the defendant. Prosecutors presented evidence that in November 2024, Ambeyi attempted to entice someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl into a sexual encounter in exchange for money. This incident resulted in a series of severe felony charges currently pending in the Blount County Circuit Court, including first-degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a child, and traveling to meet a child for sex.

In a striking twist, Ambeyis alleged attempt to solicit a minor was actually captured as part of a sting operation by the television program To Catch a Predator, hosted by Chris Hansen. This high-profile encounter eventually led authorities to his doorstep, while his current 18-month prison sentence addresses the federal firearm violation uncovered during the later traffic stop.

Ambeyi allegedly attempted to meet a minor for sex, unaware that he was actually communicating with an undercover police officer. During the filmed encounter, he reportedly offered $150 for the sexual encounter. When he arrived at the meeting location, investigators found him in possession of a loaded firearm, condoms, lubricant, and a machete.

Under interrogation by host Chris Hansen, Ambeyi claimed he carried the weapons solely for self-protection, citing a fear of assault in Birmingham, where he worked as a mechanic. Although he denied any intention of engaging in sexual activity during the television program, investigators presented chat transcripts and physical evidence that established a prima facie case. This evidence led Blount County deputies to arrest him on the spot.

He now faces a litany of serious charges, including electronic solicitation of a child, human trafficking, and traveling to meet a minor for sex. These legal battles remain entirely separate from the 18-month sentence he received on April 6 for the illegal possession of a firearm.

Sheriff Mark Moon, the officer who arrested Ambeyi, noted that the defendant likely faces deportation to Kenya once he completes any custodial sentence. According to the Sheriff, Ambeyi seemed to grasp the gravity of his situation at the time of his arrest, remarking, I know this is probably going to send me away from America.

Ambeyis case has become part of a larger federal crackdown under the Trump Administrations Operation Take Back America. This nationwide initiative mobilizes the full resources of the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels, and neutralize transnational criminal organizations. By targeting individuals who commit violent crimes or possess illegal weapons, the program seeks to secure American communities, and Ambeyis arrest serves as a high-profile example of this enforcement dragnet.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation alongside the Birmingham Police Department. Following their findings, United States Attorneys John Ward and Ryan Rummage led the prosecution, successfully securing a conviction on the federal weapons charges.

Questions remain regarding what support the Kenyan embassy can offer its citizen in this dire situation. Immigration attorney Blaise Odhiambo notes that while an embassy can typically help a national secure legal counsel, that window has largely closed for the federal case.

The embassy can be instrumental in providing access to counsel if that is needed, but I think it is a moot point now. Ambeyi pleaded guilty to the charge, was convicted, and will have to do his time in jail, Odhiambo explained.

Ambeyis legal troubles are far from over, however. He still faces the prospect of significant additional prison time for the separate November 2024 charges in Alabamas Blount County Circuit Court. There, he must answer for first-degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a child, and traveling to meet a minor for sex  crimes that carry heavy sentences and further complicate any future hopes of remaining in the United States.
Simmons Law School lecture addresses online child exploitation

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman will discuss the battle against online child exploitation during a lecture at the SIU Simmons Law School on Thursday, April 16.

Coleman will present Online Child Exploitation and Efforts to Combat this Growing Threat at 5:30 p.m. in the Hiram H. Lesar Buildings auditorium. A reception is at 5 p.m.in the law schools formal lounge.

The lecture, part of the Gene & Katy Simonds Lectureship in Democracy series, is free and open to the public.

Coleman is one of the nations most accomplished law enforcement leaders, Simmons Law School Dean Hannah Brenner Johnson said.

Colemans discussion will offer our students, faculty, alumni and our broader community an opportunity to learn more about the role of law in confronting this growing danger, she said.

Prior to his election in 2023, Coleman was U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky after his 2017 nomination by President Donald Trump and unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate. As a U.S. Attorney, he was the chief federal law enforcement officer for Kentuckys 53 western counties ranging from Louisville to the Jackson Purchase region. A former FBI special agent, Coleman also was a partner in the then-Louisville-based Frost Brown Todd (now FBT Gibbons LLP) law firm. He was a prosecutor in the Oldham Commonwealth Attorneys Office and legal counsel to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.

Ninth lecture in series

The series was established in 2015 through a gift from Emma K. Katy Simonds. The funds support a lecture, symposium or debate on a topic of current or recurring public interest, which explores commonsense solutions to issues related to the common good by applying principles of limited government, popular sovereignty, personal liberty, personal responsibility and federalism.

A law school has a responsibility to engage with the hardest questions facing our communities and our democracy, and this means welcoming a full range of perspectives on what democratic governance and the rule of law require, Brenner Johnson said. The Gene and Katy Simonds Lectureship in Democracy has always reflected that commitment, bringing to Southern Illinois voices that challenge and enrich our thinking.

Will also be at SIUs Paul Simon Institute

Earlier in the day, Coleman will participate in a Pizza and Politics session at 12:30 p.m. at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, where he will discuss public policy, leadership, and the responsibilities of statewide office. Pre-registration for that event is encouraged but not required.
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 10: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Fortune Global 500 company and a Maharatna PSU, today announced that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sanjay Khanna, currently Director (Refineries), as the Chairman & Managing Director (C&MD) of the Company. The appointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet based on the recommendation of the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC), under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Khanna will assume charge, effective from the date of assumption of office, and will hold the position till his superannuation on May 31, 2029, or until further orders. With extensive experience in refinery operations and project execution, Khanna is expected to further strengthen BPCL's strategic focus on value-added products, petrochemical integration, operational efficiency, and long-term energy security, while driving sustainable growth in an evolving energy landscape. Sanjay Khanna is a seasoned industry leader with over three decades of experience in refinery operations and technical services. A Chemical Engineering graduate from National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli and a postgraduate in Finance Management from University of Mumbai, Khanna has played a pivotal role in strengthening BPCL's refining and petrochemical capabilities. Prior to his appointment as C&MD, he served as Director (Refineries) and has previously headed BPCL's Mumbai and Kochi Refineries, driving operational excellence and capacity augmentation. As Executive Director of Kochi Refinery, he successfully led the commissioning of BPCL's first niche petrochemical venture--the Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP)--despite significant challenges during the pandemic, marking a key milestone in BPCL's petrochemical journey. Over the years, Khanna has anchored several prestigious projects involving the establishment of new process units across BPCL's refineries, contributing to enhanced efficiency, higher value realization, and technological advancement. He also serves on the Boards of Bharat Petro Resources Limited, Petronet LNG Limited, and Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, strengthening BPCL's integration across the energy value chain. Additionally, Khanna is the Chairperson of the Technical Committee for Petroleum Refineries under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, contributing to policy and technical advancements in India's refining sector. About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy. Bharat Petroleum's Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, fuel stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 25,300+ Fuel Stations, over 1000+ CNG stations, over 6,250+ LPG distributorships, 440+ Lubes distributorships, 81 POL storage locations, 56 LPG Bottling Plants, 81 Aviation Service Stations, 5 Lube blending plants and 6 cross-country pipelines. Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has Electric vehicle charging stations at 6800+ Fuel Stations. With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing an ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting several initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With 'Energising Lives' as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum's vision is to be an admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
According to the Adani Group, Mundra has become a major export centre for vehicles, with shipments reaching more than 100 countries through its Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) terminal.

The development highlights India's growing strength in automobile exports and the increasing role of port infrastructure in supporting global trade.

India's automobile exports have been expanding steadily, with key markets including regions in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.

The rising demand for Indian-made passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, and commercial vehicles has contributed to the country's position as a major global supplier.

The company said that Mundra's RoRo terminal has played a crucial role in enabling large-scale vehicle shipments, supporting automakers in efficiently reaching international markets.

The milestone comes alongside APSEZ's broader growth trajectory in cargo handling. Chairman Gautam Adani recently stated that the company is targeting a cargo handling capacity of one billion tonnes by 2030, after crossing the 500 million tonnes milestone.

Highlighting the company's rapid expansion, Adani said that it took 16 years to reach the first 100 million tonnes of cargo. The second 100 million tonnes were achieved in five years, the third in three years, while the fourth and fifth 100 million tonnes were added in just two years each.

"What this shows is that, once vision and execution begin to align, momentum starts to compound. That compounding is now defining our journey," he said.

He added that the company is firmly on track to reach the ambitious target of one billion tonnes by 2030.

The emergence of Mundra as a leading auto export hub reflects the growing integration of India's manufacturing and logistics sectors, with modern port infrastructure playing a key role in boosting export competitiveness. (ANI)
Taking to Instagram, Salman posted a cheerful image of himself climbing on Anant Ambani's back. Both were seen smiling, capturing a light-hearted moment that reflected their close bond.

In the caption, Salman expressed his affection and admiration for Anant. "Ye baat suno agar yaadasht kamzor ho toh likh lo... yeh aadmi desh ko bhi uthaega ... long live my younger brother Anant... dil aur dimaag ka Ambani Anant Aaaaambaniiiiiiii pure soul," he wrote, suggesting that Anant has the potential to take the country to greater heights.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DW73g_9CK8d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Earlier, Salman had also shared a heartfelt birthday note along with a series of candid pictures. Calling Anant "the most selfless, kindest human and an inspiration to many," he referred to him as his "younger brother," offering fans a glimpse into their strong friendship.

"Happy birthday to the most selfless, kindest human and an inspiration to many ... my younger brother Anant," wrote Salman in his post.

Bandra-Worli Sea Link was illuminated with a special birthday message to mark the 31st birthday of Anant Ambani.

Meanwhile, the celebrations extended beyond Mumbai, with people across the country marking the occasion through social initiatives and community gatherings.

A special event was organised at Jaipur's Hathi Gaon (Elephant Village) to celebrate Reliance Industries Limited Executive Director Anant Ambani's birthday tomorrow. He is known for his love for animals.

The students of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Foundation on Friday formed a human display inspired by the 'VANTARA' logo to express gratitude to Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani on his birthday, as he announced scholarships, learning opportunities, and job offers for students. He announced a series of major initiatives for KISS students on the occasion of his birthday, including jobs in the Reliance group.

Anant Ambani, earlier this month, announced Rs 18 crore in contributions towards temple infrastructure and animal welfare in Kerala, including Rs 6 crore in donations to the Rajrajeshwaram and Guruvayur temples and a Rs 12 crore commitment to restore the historic East Gopuram at Rajrajeshwaram, alongside new initiatives for the care of temple elephants.

Several Bollywood celebrities, including superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh and Ananya Panday, among others, took to their respective social media handles to extend birthday wishes. (ANI)
On Friday, Sonam Kapoor shared an unfiltered selfie on her Instagram Stories, in which she is seen holding her newborn son, who rests gently against her shoulder. Dressed in a brown top with her hair neatly pulled back, the actor clicked a selfie, highlighting her under-eye dark circles.

Accompanying the image was a witty caption that read, "Dark circles zindabad", a lighthearted acknowledgement of the sleep deprivation that often comes with parenting a newborn.

This candid update comes shortly after Kapoor and her husband, Anand Ahuja, welcomed their second child, a baby boy, on March 29, 2026.

Earlier on April 3, the actor had shared the first glimpse of her newborn with fans through a series of hospital photos. One image showed Kapoor resting on a hospital bed while cradling her baby wrapped in a white cloth, while another captured a quiet moment as she enjoyed a meal during her hospital stay.

The post was accompanied by a heartfelt note thanking the medical team.

The couple, who married in 2018, had announced the birth on Instagram soon after their son's arrival.

Their first child, Vayu, was born in 2022. Kapoor had revealed her second pregnancy in November 2025, delighting fans with photos that showcased her baby bump. (ANI)
Legendary danseuse Sonal Mansingh welcomed the Centre's decision to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, saying that the move marks a significant step towards restoring women's "natural rights" and reflects Bharat's traditional values of gender balance. 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. In a conversation with ANI, Mansingh shared that the bill represents an important moment for women's empowerment in the country. Referring to Indian philosophical traditions, she said the concept of Ardhanarishwar reflects a "complete balance between the male and the female", which she described as a unique idea rooted in Bharat's cultural thinking. "Woman is the creator... I'll not go into statistics and all that because everyone knows. My take is short ones. One is that in our country, millennial thinking has been happening in which the Ardhanarishwar concept has been very clear. Complete balance, perfect balance between the male and the female. Now this doesn't exist anywhere in the world..." Mansingh said that unlike many societies where women are often seen in secondary roles within the family, India's traditional worldview emphasises equality and partnership between men and women. She highlighted that in Indian marriages, the bride is referred to as 'Sahadharmacharini', which signifies a woman who walks alongside her partner in harmony and shared purpose. She added that this concept applies equally to men, stressing that the idea is not one-sided. The dance exponent also shared that the reservation for women had been long overdue, noting that the demand for 33 per cent representation had existed since her younger days. "In so many civilisations and cultures and societies even today, we know woman is there and you are there to serve us and whatever is the family. Here the whole thinking is different. So that is one. Number two is that in marriages, they sit together, and the woman is called the bride, Sahadharmacharini. Now, Dharma, I think this has been explained ad nauseam: it's the philosophy of life, the tenets of life, the way of life. 'Saha' is together, in conjunction, in harmony, in unity. 'Charani', one who lives with you in harmony, and therefore the man is also Sahadharmachari. It's not only the injunction that is not only for women. These two things stand out for me: whatever rights will be given are given; they were long pending," she shared. Mansingh praised the government for taking steps towards the bill, saying it should be seen as a collective effort to strengthen society rather than a political conflict. She urged that discussions around the legislation be held in an atmosphere of "love and unity" and not confrontation, adding that the aim should be the betterment of society and upholding of values. Calling it a significant step for women across the country, she said, "Woman power may it grow for enriching and enhancing our values, our ideas and our nation." A special session has been convened to deliberate on the Women's Reservation Bill, marking a significant step towards enhancing women's representation in legislative bodies. The move underscores the government's intent to prioritise gender equality and ensure political participation of women in decision-making processes. A special session has been convened from April 16 to April 18 by the Central Government. Sonal added, "I want to congratulate this government for really sticking out its neck, and when it sticks out, it looks like a swan, and the swan... I want to say bravo. I want to wish the best for these three days, the 16th, 17th, and 18th. Let this be discussed in an atmosphere of 'pyaar' (love), not as a conflict but as people who come together for the betterment of society, for the upholding of Dharma, and for the woman's original rights given to her by nature, and therefore it is not a condescension, it is not a compassion, it is not giving; it is hers by right. You're only restoring that right when the wisdom has dawned, and therefore I once again congratulate all the women of Bharatavarsha..." Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also written on the Women's Reservation Bill, describing it as a historic step towards strengthening women's empowerment and ensuring greater participation of women in the country's democratic framework. In his remarks, the Prime Minister emphasised that the Bill reflects the government's commitment to "Nari Shakti" and aims to provide women with a stronger voice in policymaking. He noted that increased representation of women in legislatures would lead to more inclusive and balanced governance. (ANI)
Actor Anil Kapoor starrer action thriller series 24 is set to return for streaming on Jio Hotstar from April 24. Led by Anil Kapoor, the show has built a strong following for its real-time narrative, sharp pacing, and high production value, a format which often creates a buzz on the OTT platforms and theatres alike. Episodes from both seasons of the high-octane thriller will be available to stream on JioHotstar, April 24th onwards, with 8 episodes dropping every Friday. Anil headlines the series as ATU Chief Jai Singh Rathod, who protects Mumbai from terrorist attacks. Anil Kapoor shared the update on his Instagram handle by sharing the video on the digital comeback of the show. "Against the clock, against all odds! Let's do this!" wrote Anil Kapoor. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW8jVF_DFiN/ The return of 24 comes at a time when audiences are increasingly leaning into fast-paced, genre-driven content, making its arrival on JioHotstar particularly timely. On the digital comeback of the series, "I've played many intense and action-driven roles over the years, but 24 was never just another show for me, it was an adrenaline rush like no other. The pace, the pressure, and the real-time storytelling pushed me to stay constantly on edge, both as an actor and as a storyteller. It's a project that challenged me in the best way and continues to be very close to my heart. I'm excited that it's now coming to JioHotstar, and I look forward to audiences experiencing that thrill all over again." Originally aired on Colors TV, the first season of 24 premiered in October 2013 and concluded in December 2013, while the second season aired between July 2016 and October 2016. The show is based on the American series of the same name. Anil Kapoor was recently seen in the series 'Subedaar', which premiered on Amazon Prime Video. (ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to repair the three barrages in the Kaleshwaram Project and bring them back into use. He instructed that the works be completed in accordance with the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority and emphasised that the work should be expedited as quickly as possible, a release said. On Thursday, at his residence in Jubilee Hills, the Chief Minister, along with Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, conducted a review of the Kaleshwaram project. He ordered that a special action plan be prepared for the repair works and that continuous monitoring be carried out. He also directed that all concerned agencies be alerted and that the pace of work be increased. The Chief Minister clarified that the tests and sample collection being conducted under the supervision of the Central Water and Power Research Station should be completed before the onset of the monsoon. He suggested forming a team comprising the Irrigation Department, CWPRS, barrage construction companies, and design consultants. He also instructed that members of the Central Water Commission be involved in every aspect of the work. Engineers informed the Chief Minister that not only the sunken pillar at Medigadda, but the entire 1.6-kilometer barrage needs to be studied. The Chief Minister directed that 500 borewells be drilled near Medigadda and that a special action plan be prepared for this purpose. He instructed officials to arrange the necessary machinery and complete the work as quickly as possible. He also asked for the preparation of designs related to the repairs and a complete schedule of works to be completed by December. Stating that delays in the work would not be tolerated, the Chief Minister assured that there would be no shortage of funds. He also suggested setting up a base camp at Medigadda and said that he would personally visit and inspect the works once they begin. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, Irrigation Secretary Sridhar, CM's Secretary Manik Raj, and senior officials of the Irrigation Department. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said the goverment has decided that there will be no cap for now on the number of pilgrims for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, following a review meeting on preparations. He assured that all departments are fully prepared to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage. He stated that all preparations for the Char Dham Yatra are progressing smoothly, with the state government prioritising the safety and convenience of devotees. Addressing the media after a review meeting, Dhami said, "A review meeting was held to review the preparations for the Char Dham Yatra (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath)... All the departments are ready and committed to ensure that the devotees don't face any problem." He added that extensive discussions were held on infrastructure and safety arrangements. "From roads to drinking water, transport, safety measures, disaster management, heli-services, and addressing cyber challenges--everything was discussed in detail," he said, emphasising that the government aims to ensure a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage experience. "For now, we have decided to remove the cap on the number of pilgrims so that there are no restrictions. We've relaxed the standards for the number of pilgrims allowed," he said. Addressing concerns over recent snowfall, the Chief Minister said that while seasonal snowfall has occurred, all arrangements will be streamlined before the yatra begins. He also underlined that officials have been directed to complete all development works within fixed timelines, ensuring quality and regular monitoring. Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit, Dhami highlighted his strong connection with Uttarakhand. "Prime Minister Modi has a deep bond with our state, 'Devbhoomi' Uttarakhand. Since he became Prime Minister, several major projects have moved forward--the Char Dham all-weather roads, expansion of health services like AIIMS, and increased heli-services. He personally undertook the Adi Kailash Yatra and designated Mana as the 'first village' of India," he said. "Whether it's promoting winter tourism or providing assistance during disasters, the Prime Minister has always encouraged and supported us. During this visit, he will be giving us a major gift--the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is about to be operational. This will provide immense convenience to people across the country, especially those travelling between Delhi and Uttarakhand," he added. (ANI)
Telangana Jagruthi founder K Kavitha on Thursday voiced strong objections to the Union government's approach to the amendment to the Women's Reservation Bill, saying that there should be subquota for OBC women. Speaking to reporters, Kavitha said also said that the proposed bills should be put in the public domain. "In 2023, when the Women's Reservation Bill was passed, we were hoping that it would be applied to the then Union elections and also after that state elections came, it was never applied. As a result, women of India have lost that opportunity. Now suddenly Union government has decided that retrospectively, the 2011 census will be applied to the Women's Reservation Bill. I don't believe it is fair, she said. Kavitha said the government should have waited for a year for results of latest Census. "In 2027, the latest census results have to come out. Even in the latest census, the OBC column has to be given. OBC census is to be separately demarcated because then it will lead to OBC women getting a reservation in the women's bill. Without giving OBC women their due quota, this entire exercise and this entire women's reservation bill will only deprive more than 50 % of the OBC women of getting a chance to get into politics. So we do not accept this. We also demand that whatever draft bill was passed today in the cabinet should be immediately put out on the website for public perusal," she said. "Otherwise, whatever you want to do, will not yield a very good discussion or debate," she added. Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao has also raised concerns over the proposed amendments to the existing Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, questioning the lack of provisions for women from backward sections, particularly OBC communities. "The Cabinet decided to grant women a share in power, and this decision is based on the 2011 census data. However, there is no provision for the OBC, but it must be included. The government is not even paying attention to the OBC issue in this context," he said. The proposed changes woulld take the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to around 816, with nearly one-third reserved for women. The legislation, along with a Delimitation Bill, is expected to be introduced as Constitutional amendments. (ANI)
He announced a series of major initiatives for KISS students on the occasion of his birthday, including jobs in the Reliance group.

The announcements support scholarships for KISS students for the current academic year, and an opportunity for toppers from KG to PG levels to visit Vantara, a massive wildlife centre in Gujarat set up by Shri Ambani, allowing them to gain valuable learning experiences. Significantly, 30 KISS graduates will be offered jobs every year across various companies of the Reliance Group, opening sustainable career pathways for tribal youth.

Meanwhile, celebrations have begun across the country to mark Anant Ambani's 31st birthday, with a wave of festive spirit visible among the people. Well-wishers and members of various communities have come together to commemorate the occasion through charitable initiatives, social gatherings, and more.

A special event was organised at Jaipur's Hathi Gaon (Elephant Village) to celebrate Anant Ambani's birthday.

The celebration featured a colourful setup with pink and white balloons, a red carpet, and a long table laid with fruits, including bananas, watermelons, and papayas, which elephants enjoyed.

Anant Ambani, earlier this month, announced Rs 18 crore in contributions towards temple infrastructure and animal welfare in Kerala, including Rs 6 crore in donations to the Rajrajeshwaram and Guruvayur temples and a Rs 12 crore commitment to restore the historic East Gopuram at Rajrajeshwaram, alongside new initiatives for the care of temple elephants.

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have led the early line of wishes for Anant Ambani.

Taking to their respective social media handles, SRK and Salman shared birthday posts for Anant Ambani and sent much warmth and greetings. (ANI)
BJP workers in Punjab's Bathinda filed a complaint against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his alleged "snake" remark made during an election rally in Assam, accusing him of making statements that could incite unrest in the country. Speaking to ANI, Punjab BJP's former state secretary Sukhpal Singh Sra said the complaint was submitted to the Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), seeking action against the Congress president. "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while addressing the Muslim community in an election rally in Assam, said that if a Muslim is offering Namaz and a snake passes by, he should kill the snake first. He said that today's snakes are the people of RSS and BJP, If you don't kill them, they will destroy you," Sra alleged. He further claimed that the statement reflected an intention to create unrest in the country. "This clearly shows their malafide intention to create riots in the country. We have filed a complaint against Mallikarjun Kharge with the Bathinda SSP," he said. Sra added that the party would approach the High Court if police fail to take action on the complaint. "If the police do not take action, we will approach the High Court," he said. Earlier, the BJP leaders and workers in Karnataka also staged a protest against Kharge over the latter's alleged "poisonous snake" jibe at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Assam. The protest was held outside the Mandya SP office in Karnataka on Wednesday. The BJP workers demanded that Kharge be arrested for his remarks against their party and the RSS. BJP leaders, including Manjunath, Prasanna, Hosahalli Shivu, Shivakumar Aaradhya, Nithyananda, Madaraja Arasu, Mahantappa, and others, participated in the protest and filed a formal complaint with the Mandya SP. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Assam BJP lodged a police complaint against Kharge at Basistha police station in Guwahati for allegedly making derogatory speech against the BJP and RSS. (ANI)
Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission over its "ultimatum to Trinamool Congress" remarks, alleging that the statement reflected the stance of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He further targeted Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of behaving like a ruling party representative. Speaking to the media, Sinha further added that one naturally expects the poll body to conduct impartial elections under its aegis. "This statement was made by the BJP, as Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, has effectively become a member of the BJP and is conducting himself like a party functionary. One naturally expects the Election Commission to conduct impartial elections under its aegis," he said. The remarks follow a meeting between a TMC delegation and ECI, who asserted that the upcoming elections in West Bengal would be "fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, inducement-free and without any chappa, booth jamming and source jamming." "Election Commission's Ultimatum to Trinamool Congress Elections in West Bengal this time: Fear-free, Violence-free, Intimidation-free, Inducement-free, Raid-free, Booth and Source Jamming-free will they surely be," EC's X post read. https://x.com/ECISVEEP/status/2041740335609737657 The remarks, however, drew a sharp response from the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, which questioned the neutrality of the constitutional body. In its reply on X, the party said, "Is this how a neutral constitutional body is expected to behave?" https://x.com/AITCofficial/status/2041771829866778958 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. 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)
Union Minister Smriti Irani strongly criticised the Trinamool Congress, alleging harassment of Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar rape victim, as she filed her nomination for the Panihati Assembly constituency. Speaking to ANI, Irani called Ratna a symbol of women's resilience and accused TMC goons of insulting and threatening her, saying, "If TMC really wanted justice, why wasn't her daughter given justice? Why is this mother insulted even today when she is exercising her democratic right? The protectors of TMC's goons will have to answer for this." "She lost her daughter in a heinous crime. It is a matter of shame that TMC's goons not only harass her but also insult her," she added. The Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas has emerged as one of the most closely watched seats this election, pitting BJP's Ratna Debnath against TMC candidate Tirthankar Ghosh, son of the five-term sitting MLA. Ratna Debnath, contesting to continue her late daughter's dream and fight for women's safety, said, "I chose to fight in this election for my daughter and for women whose security is under threat under the TMC government. Mamata Banerjee and her corrupt party leaders are responsible for my daughter's death. People welcome me when I reach out for votes and assure me of their support. I lost my daughter, but I want to serve the people and help them. I may not be a doctor like her, but as a representative, I want to continue her mission." Tirthankar Ghosh, a first-term councillor in Panihati Municipality, expressed confidence about retaining the seat. He told ANI, "People know in which manner and which concept they are giving votes. My focus is on development to continue the work of my father. While I will not comment on Kaki Ma [BJP candidate], I must highlight the policies of the BJP." The Panihati constituency, part of the Dumdum Lok Sabha seat, comprises wards 1-14, 16, 17, and 22 of Panihati Municipality. Both TMC and BJP have been actively campaigning across the constituency, including rallies and wall writings. Locals have noted the heightened tension due to the personal and political stakes of this election. Smriti Irani's intervention has added a sharp political edge to the contest. She described Ratna Debnath as "a symbol of the way women have been exploited in West Bengal, the way they have been subjected to atrocities and injustice," emphasising that this election is an opportunity to "uproot the roots of this oppressive TMC government." With this backdrop, Panihati has become a high-profile battleground, where issues of women's safety, accountability, and governance intersect with traditional political loyalties. The outcome of the contest is being closely watched across West Bengal, as it could signal broader trends ahead of the Assembly elections. (ANI)
The Counter Intelligence Wing of the Punjab Police on Friday arrested the prime accused, Amritpal Singh Mehron, in the 2025 Kamal Kaur murder case from the Middle East through its Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), the police confirmed. Taking it to X, the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, IPS, underlined that the accused had abducted and killed Kamal on June 11, 2025, and fled the country after committing the crime to evade legal consequences. "In a major breakthrough, @BathindaPolice, with the support of #OFTEC (Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell) under the Counter Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police, and Central Agencies apprehends fugitive Amritpal Singh Mehron-- the main accused in the sensational murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Bhabhi in June 2025 at Bathinda--following his deportation from the Middle East. On 11.06.2025, the accused, along with three associates, abducted and murdered the victim and abandoned her body in a car parked at Adesh Hospital, #Bathinda. His accomplices have already been arrested in the case. After committing the crime, Amritpal fled the country to evade legal proceedings," he wrote. Detailing the arrest, he said that the accused was detained from the Middle East and has been deported back to India. After landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, he was arrested by the Punjab police. "Punjab Police, in close coordination with central agencies, traced his location to the Middle East and initiated extradition proceedings. He was subsequently detained and deported to #India, where he was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport, #Delhi, in the early hours of April 10, 2026. @PunjabPoliceInd reiterates its zero-tolerance policy against organised crime and anti-national elements, and remains steadfast in ensuring a safe and secure #Punjab," he added on X. Kamal Kaur's body was found on June 11, 2025, in the parking area of Adesh Hospital in Bathinda. The post-mortem report had confirmed that she was strangled to death. Three associates of Mehron, Jaspreet Singh, Nimratjit Singh, and Ranjit Singh, were also involved in the murder and had already been arrested earlier. After committing the crime, Mehron fled to Dubai and has been residing there for a long time. On February 7, the Bathinda court had declared him a proclaimed offender. Following the court's decision, the Punjab Police had issued a Red Corner Notice against him through Interpol. (ANI)
Additional Private Secretary (APS) to Union Minister of State for AYUSH and Health, Prataprao Jadhav, Gopal said that Jadhav and his aides immediately reached the hospital after receiving the information.

Minister directed the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and health officials to ensure proper medical assistance and treatment for the injured individuals.

"Union Minister of State for AYUSH and Health, Prataprao Jadhav, was informed of a bus accident near Ghazipur involving pilgrims from Buldhana. On receiving the call, he immediately contacted the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and health officials to ensure treatment for the injured. The administration quickly arranged medical facilities, and patients confirmed they were receiving timely care, medicines and food," he said.

Gopal further added that the Union Minister spoke with the patients and officials via video call and assured complete support to the affected families.

"The accident left 2 dead, including a woman, and 29 injured. Families of the deceased are expected to arrive to complete formalities. Though the Minister could not attend in person due to an event in Delhi, he spoke with patients and officials via video call. The Chief Minister and senior state officials also assured full support and relief," he said.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Telangana High Court on Friday granted one week's anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case filed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, in connection with allegations made over passport and property disclosures. Earlier, Assam Police searched Congress leader Pawan Khera's residence in Delhi. The searches followed the FIR lodged by Sarma's wife. Ponnam Ashoke Goud, Telangan Pradesh Congress Committee legal cell, said, "Telangana High Court grants one week anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in FIR by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. The High Court grants 1 week to Khera to move before the concerned court." 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. The Sarma family has strongly denied these claims, terming the documents "AI-generated fabrications" circulated by Pakistani social media groups. Responding to the accusations, CM Sarma had earlier vowed stern action, stating, "Before levelling an allegation, he should have asked the Foreign Minister. Kharge ji has aged, yet he speaks like a madman. Assam Police can find and bring people from 'pataal' as well. I suspect Rahul Gandhi has given him these documents. So this case will extend to Rahul Gandhi. Do not try to scare us. This is Assam, and we have fought against Islamic invasion 17 times." Following the police searches at Khera's residence today, Assam Police DCP Debajit Nath said, "We have searched his house. We can't give more details." CM Sarma also claimed that Khera "ran away" to Hyderabad after the searches, adding, "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." (ANI)
In a major historical political development, veteran leader Nitish Kumar on Friday took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP. His ways of manoeuvring alliance politics have been crucial for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) being in power in Bihar. The move to the Rajya Sabha marks the fulfillment of Kumar's long-stated desire to serve in every legislative house in India (Bihar Assembly, Bihar Council, Lok Sabha, and finally, Rajya Sabha). Kumar resigned from his membership of the Bihar Legislative Council following his election to the upper house of Parliament. Janata Dal (United). MLC Sanjay Gandhi submitted the Bihar CM's resignation to council chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh. This transition effectively hands the reins of the Bihar government over to the BJP, marking a significant structural shift in the state's power dynamics ahead of future elections. A high-level meeting of Bihar BJP leaders is also taking place in Delhi today to finalise the roadmap for the new state leadership. Nitish Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16, along with four other candidates from Bihar fielded by the NDA. After this, Kumar was elected as JD(U) president unopposed, after no other candidate filed a nomination for the post. However, as per the constitutional provisions, Kumar can remain the Chief Minister of Bihar for the coming six months, despite being elected to the Rajya Sabha as an MP. His resignation as MLC within 14 days of being elected as an MP was a must, given the rules. Under Article 101 of the Indian Constitution, which deals with "vacation of seats", one can't remain both an MLA/MLC and an MP. The Clause (2) of the said Article states that "No person shall be a member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of a State, and if a person is chosen a member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of [a State], then, at the expiration of such period as may be specified in rules made by the President, that person's seat in Parliament shall become vacant, unless he has previously resigned his seat in the Legislature of the State." The "rules made by the President" are mentioned in The Prohibition of Simultaneous Membership Rules, 1950, which dictates that the time to resign as a member of either state legislature or Parliament if elected to another "shall be fourteen days from the date of publication in the Gazette of India or in the Official Gazette of the State, whichever is later, of the declaration that he has been so chosen." Subsequently, the Election Commission of India (ECI), as per the mandate of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, is bound to hold a bypoll to fill the vacant seat. In the case of Nitish Kumar and as per Section 151A of the RPA, a bypoll for the vacant council seat will be held within six months, counting from March 30, which is when Kumar resigned as MLC. Earlier, BJP national president Nitin Nabin clarified that there are no differences in the NDA over the pending appointment of a new Bihar Chief Minister as Nitish Kumar gets elected to the Rajya Sabha. "There are no differences anywhere; everything is proceeding as per schedule. BJP has always respected the gathbandhan dharma, and that is why even today parties trust us. Everything is being decided under the leadership of Nitish Kumar," Nabin told ANI. Nitish Kumar is Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister. Beginning his political journey as an MLA in 1985 and later serving as a Union Minister under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Nitish Kumar first became Bihar Chief Minister in 2005. He is among the most experienced and senior political leaders in the country. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has observed that insurance details cannot be disclosed merely on the basis of a general request without providing basic identifying information, noting that it would be practically impossible for Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to trace policies in such cases. The Court clarified in simple terms that while an insured person has the right to seek details of their policies, they must furnish minimum personal particulars to enable the retrieval of records. The Division Bench led by the Chief Justice held that LIC deals with an enormous database comprising crores of policies, and expecting it to search for specific records without key details such as name, date of birth, address, or other identifiers is not feasible. The Court emphasised that even if the policy number is not available, certain essential information must be provided to locate the relevant data. The Court further noted that LIC already has a mechanism in place to retrieve policy information using multiple personal details, and therefore, it is not correct to assume that information cannot be accessed without a policy number. However, it stressed that a request lacking even basic particulars cannot be entertained. The Bench also highlighted that insurance-related information is sensitive in nature and indiscriminate disclosure without proper identification safeguards could pose risks. The case arose from an RTI application filed by the appellant seeking details of all LIC policies in her name without providing policy numbers. LIC had declined the request, citing the inability to trace records without such details. While the Central Information Commission had earlier directed LIC to develop a system to provide such information even without policy numbers, the Single Judge later treated these directions as advisory and refrained from issuing mandatory directions, taking into account practical limitations. Upholding the Single Judge's view, the Division Bench observed that there is no restriction on an insured person seeking policy details without a policy number, but the applicant must necessarily provide sufficient personal information, such as name, date of birth, address, or other relevant identifiers. Without such details, the retrieval of information would be nearly impossible given the scale of LIC's operations. The Court also rejected the appellant's argument that orders of the Central Information Commission are final and cannot be challenged, clarifying that the High Court's power of judicial review under Article 226 of the Constitution remains unaffected by such statutory provisions. Finding no merit in the appeal, the Court termed it misconceived and dismissed it, holding that no interference was warranted with the earlier judgment. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress MLA Arindam Guin on Friday dismissed Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir as a "traitor". He accused Kabir of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and dividing Muslim votes ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls. "These people knew beforehand where the money was coming from and who was giving the money. Everyone knew the intent of Humayun Kabir. Their job is to collude with the BJP and divide Muslim votes. There is no bigger traitor than Humayun Kabir," Guin told ANI. Arindam Guin is contesting the two-phased West Bengal assembly elections scheduled to be held on April 23 and 29, on a TMC ticket from the Chapdani assembly constituency. When asked to speak on the Asaddudin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) breaking an alliance with Kabir's AJUP, the TMC leader said that Asaduddin Owaisi was no "messiah" of Muslims. "He is no messiah (of Muslims), he could not get a proper deal (seat-sharing arrangement), so he left," Guin said. Kabir has been surrounded by controversy ever since he announced the formation of a Babri Masjid. He also held a foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of the Masjid in Murshidabad. He was suspended and then expelled by the TMC for raising this issue, after which he launched a regional party. Earlier in the day, Owaisi's AIMIM announced its decision to withdraw its alliance with the party headed by Kabir. The announcement follows a "sting video" posted on X by the TMC, in which the AJUP chief purportedly said that he had struck a deal of "Rs 1,000 crore". AIMIM said that it raised concerns regarding the "integrity of Muslims". Kabir, however, has denied the allegations, claiming that the video is AI-generated. The AIMIM declared that it "cannot associate with any statements where the integrity of Muslims is brought into question," and confirmed that it has officially ended the alliance with immediate effect. The AIMIM also used the occasion to highlight what it described as the continued socio-economic marginalisation of Muslims in West Bengal. The party stated that the community remains "one of the poorest, neglected and oppressed," despite decades of governance by parties claiming a secular political framework, including the All India Trinamool Congress and previous administrations. "Humayun Kabir's revelations have shown how vulnerable Bengal's Muslims are. That AIMIM cannot associate with any statements where integrity of Muslims is brought into question. As of today, AIMIM has withdrawn its alliance with Kabir's party. Bengal's Muslims are one of the poorest, neglected and oppressed communities. Despite decades of secular rule, nothing has been done for them. AIMIM's policy in contesting elections in any state is so that the marginalised communities have an independent political voice. We will be contesting the Bengal elections INDEPENDENTLY and have will have no alliance with any party going forward," the AIMIM posted on X. Reiterating its political strategy, AIMIM announced that it will contest the upcoming elections in West Bengal independently, without entering into alliances with any political party. The 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)
As a result of the crackdown, 11 individuals were arrested from various places in Delhi and Punjab. Police said they had been installing cameras across different parts of the country.

According to police, the accused were in direct contact with Pakistan-based handlers through encrypted applications and were receiving instructions to carry out espionage and subversive activities targeting national security.

In the first operation, six accused were arrested and nine solar-powered CCTV cameras installed near sensitive security and defence establishments were recovered. These cameras were transmitting live feeds to Pakistan-based handlers through mobile applications.

Police also recovered four pistols, including three PX5 foreign-made weapons and one country-made pistol, along with 24 live cartridges.

Investigations revealed that the module was being funded through UPI transactions, with a portion of the funds coming from illegal arms smuggling.

In the second operation, acting on inputs from military intelligence, five more accused were arrested from Punjab. They were involved in conducting reconnaissance of sensitive Army and paramilitary installations and sharing photos and videos with Pakistan-based handlers.

During the investigation, it was also found that the network was involved in radicalising and recruiting youths for terror activities, espionage, and arms trafficking.

Police said that the accused had installed CCTV cameras at multiple locations across states including Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, to monitor sensitive areas.

The probe further revealed that the module was planning possible terror attacks, including grenade attacks on security establishments, which have now been averted.

Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.

A similar network was also busted in Ghaziabad just a few days ago. (ANI)
BJP candidate from the Mylapore constituency, Tamilisai Soundararajan, on Friday kick-started her campaign for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 by offering prayers at a temple in the constituency. Speaking to ANI, Soundararajan expressed confidence over the party's prospects, stating that the campaign is receiving a positive response from the public. "It (campaigning) is going on very well. We are very happy. People are more receptive. Lotus will definitely bloom in Mylapore," she said. Reacting to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin reportedly asking AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami to drop C.N. Annadurai's name from the party, Soundararajan criticised the remarks. "How can he say that? This is the organisation which is functioning democratically... What is the problem? They are respecting Anna and Jayalalithaa," she added. The Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 are expected to witness a multi-cornered contest, with major parties intensifying their campaign efforts across the state. 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. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to make his electoral debut with TVK, attempting to turn the upcoming elections into a three-way contest. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Chief MK Stalin on Friday travelled by the Chennai Metro from Chennai Central Metro Station to DMS Metro Station as part of his election campaign. He interacted with commuters and sought public support during the journey. Stalin, who is contesting from the Kolathur constituency, has been actively engaging with voters across the state, campaigning for his party. Further, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also campaigned in the Triplicane Assembly constituency of Chennai.AMMK candidate Rajasekaran intensified his door-to-door campaign in the Tennur area of Tiruchirappalli West constituency, with support from NDA allies BJP, AIADMK and PMK. (ANI)
Telangana Jagruthi founder K Kavitha on Friday alleged large-scale irregularities in the functioning of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), accusing the state government of bypassing due process in awarding projects. Addressing the issue, Kavitha claimed that projects worth around Rs 1,118 crore have been awarded through nomination without following a proper tendering process. "There is severe loot happening in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, for which the Chief Minister is responsible. Around Rs 1,118 crores have been awarded through nomination without any tender. This practice began under Congress and has continued since," she told ANI. She further demanded immediate intervention from the Chief Minister, who also holds the municipal portfolio, to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending. "I demand that the Chief Minister, who is also the Municipal Minister, immediately stop this. Every project, big or small, must go through a proper tendering process. Tendering must be the priority, and accountability in spending public money should be the top priority," Kavitha added.The state government has not yet responded to the allegations. Earlier in the day, Telangana Jagruthi founder K Kavitha on Thursday voiced strong objections to the Union government's approach to the amendment to the Women's Reservation Bill, saying that there should be subquota for OBC women. Speaking to reporters, Kavitha also said that the proposed bills should be put in the public domain. "In 2023, when the Women's Reservation Bill was passed, we were hoping that it would be applied to the then Union elections and also after that state elections came, it was never applied. As a result, women of India have lost that opportunity. Now suddenly the Union government has decided that retrospectively, the 2011 census will be applied to the Women's Reservation Bill. I don't believe it is fair," she said. Kavitha said the government should have waited for a year for results of latest Census."In 2027, the latest census results have to come out. Even in the latest census, the OBC column has to be given. OBC census is to be separately demarcated because then it will lead to OBC women getting a reservation in the women's bill. Without giving OBC women their due quota, this entire exercise and this entire women's reservation bill will only deprive more than 50 % of the OBC women of getting a chance to get into politics. So we do not accept this. We also demand that whatever draft bill was passed today in the cabinet should be immediately put out on the website for public perusal," she said. "Otherwise, whatever you want to do, will not yield a very good discussion or debate," she added. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday expressed grief at the passing of Maha Vir Chakra awardee Colonel Sonam Wangchuk (Retd), a braveheart of the 1999 Kargil war. In a post on X, Singh paid tribute to Colonel Wangchuk, describing him as a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army, renowned for his gallantry, resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to duty, according to a release from the Ministry of Defence. "Deeply saddened by the passing of Colonel Sonam Wangchuk. He was a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army, renowned for his gallantry, resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to duty. A proud son of #Ladakh, he exemplified the spirit of the region- resilient, steadfast and deeply rooted in service to the Nation, while standing as a symbol of India's unity in diversity," he said. He highlighted his contribution in Operation Vijay, stating, "His courageous actions of leading by personal example during #OperationVijay inspired his men under the most demanding conditions in high-altitude. His life remains a testament to courage, sacrifice and national integration and his legacy will continue to inspire coming generations." https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/2042564708809740701?s=20 According to the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army), Colonel Sonam Wangchuk (Retd) displayed indomitable courage, gallantry and exceptional leadership while leading his team amidst intense enemy firing to clear the Chorbatla Axis up to LoC during Operation Vijay, according to the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army). On 30 May 1999, Major Sonam Wangchuk of Indus Wing, Ladakh Scouts, as a part of operations in Operation VIJAY in the Batalik Sector, led a column for occupation of Ridge Line on the Line of Control in a glaciated area at a height of above 5500 meters. While moving towards the Line of Control, the enemy ambushed the column by firing from a vantage position, and one NCO of the Ladakh Scouts sustained fatal injuries. Major Sonam Wangchuk held his column together and, in a daring counterambush, led a raid on the enemy position from a flank, killing two enemy personnel. https://x.com/adgpi/status/2042561429296107541?s=20 He also recovered one Heavy Machine Gun and one Universal Machine Gun, ammunition and other controlled stores. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallant actions. The Kargil War began in May 1999 when intruders stealthily crossed the Line of Control and occupied Indian posts on towering ridges. They aimed to sever National Highway 1A, the vital artery connecting Srinagar to Leh. But they underestimated the will of a nation. India responded with Operation Vijay, a mission that combined meticulous planning, steely determination, and the indomitable spirit of its soldiers. For more than two months, our forces fought inch by inch across the harshest terrain, until every intruder was driven out and every post restored to Indian control. (ANI)
In a statement, the Commission termed the incident "deeply disturbing" and said that the alleged assault of a newlywed woman by persons known to her constitutes a grave violation of dignity, bodily autonomy, and the sanctity of marriage.

https://x.com/NCWIndia/status/2042588958404808713

"The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of a deeply disturbing report regarding the alleged gang rape of a woman by her husband and his associates in Hyderabad. The incident, involving the alleged assault of a newlywed woman by persons closest to her, constitutes a grave violation of dignity, bodily autonomy, and the sanctity of marriage", NCW said on X.

The Commission has strongly condemned this reprehensible act and expressed deep concern over such brutality, he said.

The Hon'ble Chairperson has directed the DGP, Telangana to ensure registration of FIR under relevant provisions, immediate arrest of all accused, a prompt and time-bound investigation, and adequate protection to the survivor.

A detailed Action Taken Report has been sought within 7 days. (ANI)
India is confident of building a complete electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem within the next two to three years, said Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal on Friday, outlining a comprehensive strategy covering lithium sourcing, processing, global acquisitions and mining sector reforms. "With the strategy that we have made, we are confident that the whole ecosystem of the EV battery chain will be ready in the next couple of years, or 2-3 years," Goyal said during an interaction with reporters. He said lithium remains central to India's clean energy transition, particularly for EV batteries, where lithium-ion technology dominates. While domestic lithium availability is limited, especially brine-based reserves found in South America, the country is focusing on securing raw materials globally and strengthening domestic processing. "In spodumene, lithium content is around 1-6%. Spodumene can be imported and further processed. The technology for this is available with our companies today," he said. However, he underlined gaps in the domestic value chain. "If lithium is brought, there is no conversion plan at scale, so it often gets traded abroad," he noted, stressing the need for downstream processing into battery-grade materials. India is also nearing completion of a policy focused on processing critical minerals, with two key resources for electric vehicles already identified, Goyal said. The government is also considering incentives to encourage firms to establish lithium and nickel processing facilities, aiming to reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic refining capabilities. To secure supplies, India is exploring mineral assets in South America, Australia and Canada, particularly lithium and rare earth elements. A consortium of public sector undertakings, including Hindustan Copper Limited, is in the advanced stages of bidding for overseas blocks, including copper assets in Chile. The government is also pursuing international collaborations for technology and resource access. "It has to be a win-win arrangement," he said, noting that global deals are being evaluated carefully. Domestically, efforts are underway to recover critical minerals from industrial waste such as red mud, tailings and fly ash. "Gallium and cadmium have recently come into production," he said, adding that work on minerals like tantalum is progressing. However, he noted that private companies remain cautious due to high capital investment and uncertain returns. Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, 46 blocks have already been auctioned against a target of 100. A separate scheme to strengthen the critical minerals value chain is in advanced stages. Highlighting reforms in the mining sector, the Secretary said 212 mineral blocks were auctioned in 2025-26, compared to less than 100 annually earlier. He attributed this to reforms such as the expansion of exploration through NMET, the opening up of private participation in surface minerals, and the revival of expired mines through coordinated efforts with states. The National Geoscience Data Repository now hosts around 90,000 exploration reports along with multiple geological, geochemical and geophysical data layers, improving transparency and access. Operationalisation has also accelerated, with 25 mines becoming operational in the past year compared to 58 in the previous decade. Measures such as automatic declaration of preferred bidders, digital end-to-end auction processes, faster approvals, and penalties for delays have helped streamline the sector. On metals, he said aluminium and copper production remain stable, though pricing pressures persist due to global factors. India is moving towards greater value addition, shifting from refined imports to ore imports and domestic processing. He noted that copper ore imports of around Rs 43,000 crore are being processed domestically and "this year, for the first time, our domestic requirement of processed copper will be fully met," with potential exports going forward. He also highlighted the importance of coastal mineral resources such as monazite in states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala for rare earth supply chains. On fertilisers, he acknowledged continued dependence on imports, particularly potash, while noting ongoing global engagements to secure supplies. Addressing the impact of the West Asia crisis, the Secretary said the government has adopted a "whole-of-government approach" to ensure supply chain stability. "Availability of LPG and critical inputs like explosives is being closely monitored... There has been some impact on prices, but we are working to mitigate it," he said. (ANI)
Justice Yashwant Varma has strongly contested the allegations arising from the cash recovery controversy, terming the ongoing inquiry "unfair, one-sided and based on presumptions", while asserting that no evidence establishes any link between him and the alleged cash found at his official residence. In a detailed 13-page representation submitted before the in-house inquiry committee, Justice Varma denied ownership, possession, or knowledge of the cash allegedly discovered in a storeroom within his allotted government premises. He maintained that the proceedings against him were built on "unsupported insinuations" and failed to meet even the basic threshold required to establish misconduct. Recounting the incident, the judge stated that a fire broke out in the storeroom on March 12, 2025, while he and his spouse were away on a pre-planned vacation in a remote area with limited connectivity. He said he was informed of the incident only after the fire had been brought under control and had no prior knowledge of any alleged recovery of cash at the site. Justice Varma explained that the storeroom was used for keeping unused household items and was accessible to multiple individuals, including domestic staff and maintenance personnel. He emphasised that the overall security of the premises, including CCTV monitoring and deployment of CRPF personnel, was not under his direct control, making it untenable to attribute possession of any recovered material to him. Raising serious objections to the manner of inquiry, the judge alleged selective reliance on evidence and exclusion of material favourable to him. He pointed out that several key witnesses, including police officials and security personnel, were either not examined in his presence or were subsequently dropped without any explanation. He also noted that attempts to obtain CCTV footage and related records were unsuccessful, thereby weakening the evidentiary basis of the case. The representation further questions the handling of documentary evidence, stating that while material adverse to him was relied upon, important records such as the statutory fire report, which could have provided crucial context, were ignored. Justice Varma argued that even the foundational claim that the recovered cash was genuine and attributable to him had not been substantiated. A key grievance raised in the letter is the alleged reversal of the burden of proof. The judge contended that he was being compelled to disprove allegations without the inquiry first establishing a prima facie case, a process he described as contrary to settled legal principles and fairness. Addressing specific charges, Justice Varma stated that no evidence had been led to demonstrate that the premises were securely under his control or that he had any role in the alleged tampering of evidence after the fire. He also rejected accusations of giving evasive responses, asserting that he had consistently denied any connection with the cash. Expressing "deep pain and anguish," the judge said he had faced sustained public vilification despite the absence of credible material against him. He criticised the proceedings as being driven by a predetermined narrative rather than an objective evaluation of facts. Significantly, Justice Varma stated that he found it untenable to continue participating in the proceedings under such circumstances, adding that continuing would amount to legitimising a process that calls upon him to answer "the unanswerable" without a foundational case being established. The development comes amid escalating controversy surrounding Justice Varma, who has since resigned from his position as a judge of the Allahabad High Court. In his resignation letter dated April 9, addressed to the President of India, he stepped down "with immediate effect," expressing deep anguish but not elaborating on the reasons. Justice Varma had earlier been transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court following the controversy linked to the alleged recovery of cash at his official residence. He took the oath at Allahabad on April 5, 2025. The case has also triggered parallel proceedings, including an in-house inquiry and a parliamentary process examining the possibility of impeachment. A parliamentary committee had conducted day-to-day hearings in March, during which Justice Varma denied that any cash recovered in the incident belonged to him and maintained that he was not present at the premises at the time of the fire. The panel is currently examining records, responses, and evidence placed before it and is expected to take a view on the matter in due course. (ANI)
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha to release due pension and arrears to former legislators within one month, warning that any delay will attract interest at the rate of 6% per annum. The order came from a Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Ranjan Sharma while disposing of two writ petitions filed by former MLAs Rajinder Rana and Ravi Thakur seeking release of their pensionary benefits. Reacting to the development, a senior advocate of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and counsel Vikrant Thakur in the matter termed the withholding of pension as 'completely unconstitutional,' asserting that the state cannot go beyond the mandate of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Speaking to ANI in Shimla on Friday, Vikrant Thakur, counsel in the matter, said, "The Tenth Schedule is very clear. The Speaker does not have the power to expand its mandate. To curtail or withhold MLA pension on grounds of disqualification is completely unconstitutional and against the Constitution of India." He further emphasised that any amendment related to pension would have no legal validity unless it receives assent from the Governor or the President and is notified in the official gazette. "Unless an amendment is assented to and published, it has no legal sanctity. The attempt to impose stricter provisions, including stopping pensions, is legally untenable," he added. During the court proceedings, it was brought on record by the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Secretariat that the earlier amendment to the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2024, had been withdrawn by the state government. The Secretariat informed the court that a new amendment bill has been passed, providing that MLAs elected from the 14th Legislative Assembly onwards would not be entitled to pension if disqualified under the Tenth Schedule. However, it clarified that the provision is prospective in nature and does not apply to the petitioners, who were elected during the 12th and 13th Assemblies. The new bill is also pending the assent of the Governor. Taking note of these submissions, the High Court directed that admissible pension, along with arrears, be released to the petitioners within one month. Quoting the order, the bench stated, "The Secretary, H.P. Vidhan Sabha is directed to release the arrears of due and admissible pension to the petitioner within one month... failing which, interest at 6% per annum shall be payable from the date of accrual till final payment." The senior advocate welcomed the ruling, stating that it reinforces constitutional safeguards. "The High Court has upheld the rule of law by ensuring that pension is paid within a fixed timeline, with consequences for non-compliance," he said. The court also clarified that future pension payments must be released in a timely manner. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic boat accident in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the loss of lives of several devotees. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a post on X, said, "The accident that occurred in Vrindavan is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the souls of those devotees who lost their lives in this tragedy. The local administration is swiftly engaged in relief and rescue operations, and prompt medical facilities are being provided to the injured. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured: Union Home Minister @AmitShah." Following the tragic incident, the Ludhiana District Administration established dedicated control rooms at Ludhiana and Jagraon to streamline coordination following a boat accident in Vrindavan involving residents from the district. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain confirmed that special teams, including both civil and police officers, have already been sent to Vrindavan to work directly with local authorities in Uttar Pradesh and assist affected families. Regarding the unfortunate boat accident in Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh), Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Himanshu Jain has urged residents not to spread rumours or create panic, as District Administration Ludhiana, as well as the Punjab government, is already in touch with authorities in Vrindavan. He stated that for the help of people, 24x7 dedicated helplines, numbers 01624223226 (SDM Jagraon office) and 01612403100 (Deputy Commissioner Office Ludhiana) have also been set up at Jagraon as well as District Headquarters Ludhiana. He informed that as soon as the incident came to the notice of the District Administration, special teams comprising both civil and police officers have already been dispatched to Vrindavan for better coordination amongst the authorities. He once again urged the people to remain together in this hour of crisis and not believe in any rumours. At least 10 people died after a boat carrying over two dozen passengers collided with a pontoon bridge on the Yamuna River near Keshi Ghat in Mathura. According to police, around 25 to 27 people were on board when the accident took place. Mathura DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey said the incident occurred in the afternoon, and rescue operations are still underway. SP Rural Suresh Chandra Rawat said that 22 people have been rescued so far and were taken to the hospital. Rawat said, "Thus far, twenty-two individuals have been rescued from the water. Those rescued were immediately transported to the hospital via ambulances and eight PRV (Police Response Vehicle) units. We are currently assessing the situation to determine how many individuals are safe and how many have tragically lost their lives..." (ANI)
The museum will reopen to the public on April 13.

Dr. Barenya Senapati, Director (Finance), Ravi K, Director (Operations), M G Balasubrahmanya, Director (HR), Shri Ajay Kumar Shrivastava, Director (Engg and R&D) and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

"Established in 2001, the HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum is India's first Aerospace Museum and one of Bengaluru's iconic landmarks. With its reimagined design and immersive exhibits, the Museum has evolved beyond a display of aircraft and artefacts. It now offers a dynamic experience that brings visitors closer to the spirit of innovation, engineering excellence, and national service that defines Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. We invite the public to enjoy the new experience," said D K Sunil, CMD, HAL.

The museum showcases state-of-the-art installations, including a life-size replica of the Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE-25) and a 3D anamorphic runway featuring HAL's iconic aircraft - Prachand and Tejas. Additional highlights include kinetic installations and a hologram fan display.

At the heart of the museum is 'Wings of Bharat', a specially curated multi-sensory show set within a hangar-like space that celebrates HAL's contributions to the nation. A holobox installation introduces 'Tejasvi', a holographic avatar that presents HAL's legacy and achievements in an interactive format.

The museum also features detailed 3D models of HAL's flagship products spanning fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing platforms, civil aviation, engines, systems, and space technologies. Visitors can explore archival content and key milestones through a digital flipbook, while a Dhruv cockpit simulator offers an immersive, hands-on flying experience.

The zone includes interactive games, flying machine builders, quizzes, art and colouring stations. An immersive space shuttle module offers a glimpse into space exploration, while an AR photo booth enables visitors to capture memorable moments alongside HAL aircraft in dynamic virtual environments.

The outdoor aircraft park features life-sized displays of iconic platforms, including the HF-24 Marut, Ajeet, Lakshya Pilotless Target Aircraft, LCA Tejas, Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter, MiG 21 and more.

The museum is located on Old Airport Road, Marathahalli, Bengaluru, and is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, all days of the week.

The Museum also houses a souvenir shop and a cafeteria.(ANI)
US President Donald Trump said there are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz and warned Tehran against it. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait -- They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" In another post, Trump accused Iran of "doing a poor job" at allowing oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, reminding Tehran of the temporary ceasefire agreement. "Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!" he said. This puts the already fragile ceasefire in jeopardy as the disagreement between both parties continues to widen before the negotiations in Islamabad begin. Earlier, Tehran had accused Israel of violating the agreement by attacking Lebanon, as it stated that the ceasefire in Lebanon is part of the truce. However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that there is "no ceasefire in Lebanon" and vowed to continue military operations with "full force" against Hezbollah. "I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said. Netanyahu further stated that he has instructed the Cabinet to open direct negotiations with the Lebanese government to achieve "disarmament of Hezbollah" and "historic peace agreement". "Following repeated requests from the Lebanese government, last night I instructed the Cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon to achieve two goals. First, the disarmament of Hezbollah. Second, a historic peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon," he said. (ANI)
Israel on Thursday put Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif in his place, strongly objecting to the latter's statement and questioning Pakistan's neutrality as a mediator in US-Iran negotiations. In a statement, Israel's Prime Minister's Office rebuked Khwaja Asif, stating that his "call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous" and slammed Pakistan's government over its conduct. "Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," Israel's Prime Minister's Office said. This comes after Khwaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway. "Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," he said. "I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he added. The Pakistan Defence Minister's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad. This adds more embarrassment after Pakistan's fumble in clearly defining the terms of the two-week ceasefire. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal--a claim firmly dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Netanyahu again asserted that there is "no ceasefire in Lebanon" and vowed to continue military operations with "full force" against Hezbollah. "I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said. (ANI)
Israel has responded with fury to Pakistan Defence Minsiter Khawaja Asif's statement, denouncing Islamabad's mediation pitch and vowing to defend itself against "terrorists" who want Tel Aviv's destruction. In a strong-worded response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rebuked Pakistan over its Defence Minister's statement, calling jewish state "cancerous", which Sa'ar said is "calling for Israel's annihilation." "Israel views very gravely these blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to "mediate peace". Calling the Jewish state "cancerous" is effectively calling for its annihilation. Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar said in a post on X. This comes after Khawaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway. "Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," he said. "I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he added. The Pakistan Defence Minister's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad. This adds more embarrassment after Pakistan's fumble in clearly defining the terms of the two-week ceasefire. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal--a claim firmly dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Netanyahu again asserted that there is "no ceasefire in Lebanon" and vowed to continue military operations with "full force" against Hezbollah. "I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security," he said. (ANI)
The consultations was co-chaired by Secretary (West) Sibi George from the Indian side and Dag Hartelius, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden from the Swedish side, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

India and Sweden enjoy longstanding, warm and friendly relations marked by regular exchanges at both political and official levels which have intensified over the last years. Sweden is a valued partner for India in the EU and the Nordic region, added the statement.

During the FOC, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including political exchanges, trade & investment, defence & security, innovation, green transition, sustainable development, emerging technologies and people-to-people ties. They noted the steady progress in India-Sweden relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in priority areas such as clean energy, climate action, digitalization, defence, and resilient supply chains, MEA said.

The sides underscored that the recently concluded India-EU FTA has opened a new chapter in economic and commercial ties and agreed to continue efforts for its early implementation to facilitate deepening the trade, investment and technology linkages. They also discussed collaboration in multilateral fora and exchanged views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Swedish side appreciated India's continued leadership in global governance and its active role in addressing contemporary global challenges. The Indian side acknowledged Sweden's contributions to innovation, sustainability, and green technologies, MEA said.

The two sides agreed to further intensify high-level exchanges and deepen institutional cooperation, including through regular consultations and dialogues across sectors.

State Secretary Dag Hartelius also called-on the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the visit and conveyed Sweden's keenness to strengthen cooperation with India in all spheres of mutual interest.

According to MEA, the sides agreed to hold the next round of FOC in Sweden at a mutually convenient date. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is on a three-day visit to Washington, had a "productive" meeting with US State Secretary Marco Rubio, who will visit India next month. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present at the meeting, during which they discussed the bilateral relationship between the two countries. "Welcome to the White House, Vikram Misri! Productive meeting with Marco Rubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Sergio Gor said in a post on X. Earlier, Misri engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior United States officials, focusing on the volatile situations in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific while reviewing strategic defence and trade relations. The Foreign Secretary's itinerary included significant talks at the Pentagon with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby. This encounter followed their recent dialogue in New Delhi during the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting, after Colby's visit to India last month to push forward the bilateral defence partnership. Commenting on the meeting, the Indian Embassy in the US noted on X that the discussion aimed at "sustaining the momentum of India-US defence exchanges." The embassy further detailed that Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri had "another wide-ranging conversation with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby at the Pentagon, covering the ongoing developments in the Indo-Pacific region and West Asia." Continuing the focus on security cooperation, Misri met with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Mike Duffey. These discussions were aimed at bolstering defence industrial ties, technology sharing, and supply chain integration, adhering to the framework of the Major Defence Partnership established last year. The embassy described this engagement as a "fruitful interaction with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Mike Duffey @USDASDuffey at the Pentagon." Beyond the Pentagon, the Foreign Secretary moved to the Department of Commerce for meetings with Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt. The talks were geared towards widening the scope of cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies, alongside the development of secure supply chains. "Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri met Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler @BISgov and William Kimmitt @TradeGov to expand cooperation in commercial and critical technologies - key to transforming the India-US partnership for the 21st century. They also discussed building resilient and trusted supply chains," the embassy stated. (ANI)
First Lady of the US, Melania Trump, has denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein, stating that the stories are false and clarified that she has never had any relationship with Epstein or his accomplice. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect... I have never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach. I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice," Melania Trump said. Backing her statement, the First Lady of the US said that her name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews linking her to Epstein. "Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false. I am not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter," she said. The first lady has never spoken publicly on the issue prior to Thursday's remarks, ignoring a shouted question about Maxwell during an unrelated event in February. She has, however, filed lawsuits over past efforts to tie her to Epstein, countering what she characterised Thursday as "smears" that were "mean-spirited and politically-motivated," CNN reported Epstein, who had previously pleaded guilty to charges involving the procurement of a minor, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died by suicide in prison weeks later while awaiting trial. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held several high-level interactions aimed at deepening the India-US ties during his visit to Washington. He met FBI Director Kash Patel and discussed cooperation in countering terrorism. During his meeting with Allison Hooker, the Foreign Secretary discussed working closely on security, defence and economy. Sharing the details of the meeting in a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US said, "Vikram Misri met Director FBI Mr. Kash Patel today. Both had a useful exchange of views on the robust India-U.S. cooperation in countering terrorism, organized crime, and narcotics." https://x.com/IndianEmbassyUS/status/2042420630897803551?s=20 Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, wrote on X, "Met with @VikramMisri Indian Foreign Secretary Misri to discuss how we can work closer together on security, defense, and the economy. We are finding practical ways to make both Americans and Indians safer and more prosperous, including through the Quad." https://x.com/UnderSecStateP/status/2042376654153028038?s=20 Earlier, he also met the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present at the meeting, during which they discussed the bilateral relationship between the two countries. "Welcome to the White House, Vikram Misri! Productive meeting with Marco Rubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Sergio Gor said in a post on X. Earlier, Misri engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior United States officials, focusing on the volatile situations in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific while reviewing strategic defence and trade relations. The Foreign Secretary's itinerary included significant talks at the Pentagon with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby. This encounter followed their recent dialogue in New Delhi during the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting, after Colby's visit to India last month to push forward the bilateral defence partnership. Continuing the focus on security cooperation, Misri met with the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Mike Duffey. These discussions were aimed at bolstering defence industrial ties, technology sharing, and supply chain integration, adhering to the framework of the Major Defence Partnership established last year. Beyond the Pentagon, the Foreign Secretary moved to the Department of Commerce for meetings with Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt. The talks were geared towards widening the scope of cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies, alongside the development of secure supply chains. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday came down heavily on several right-wing media figures after a dissonance in their views with him on the US operations in Iran. In a lengthy social media post on Truth Social, he lashed out at former allies, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, labelling them "NUT JOBS" and "TROUBLEMAKERS." Trump attacked several of them personally in a post on Truth Social and accused the pundits of abandoning him for "cheap publicity" and suggested they are secretly supportive of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. He revisited his long-standing feud with Megyn Kelly, referencing her "nasty" questions from his 2016 campaign. He mocked Tucker Carlson for his educational background and Candace Owens regarding recent controversies involving the First Lady of France. He stated that Alex Jones "deserved to go bankrupt" following his legal battles over the Sandy Hook shooting. In the sharply worded post, POTUS said, "I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon -- Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs. They're stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too! Look at their past, look at their record. They don't have what it takes, and they never did! They've all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren't even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they're NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some "free" and cheap publicity. Now they think they get some "clicks" because they have Third Rate Podcasts, but nobody's talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA -- Or I wouldn't have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE." Trump called them "losers" and also took a dig at several US broadcasters for giving them "positive press for the first time in their lives". Disassociating them from the MAGA, he slammed the conservatives by saying that they are trying to "latch on to MAGA" , and added, "I only care about doing right for our Country. MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons. MAGA is about MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and these people have no idea how to do that, BUT I DO, because THE UNITED STATES IS NOW THE "HOTTEST" COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!" https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2042339245587833115?s=20 These commentators have accused the President of breaking his "America First" campaign promises by entering a high-cost conflict they claim is being driven by pressure from Israel. Conversely, the President and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have maintained that "Operation Epic Fury" was a "Total and Complete Victory" that decimated Iran's military capabilities, even as a fragile two-week ceasefire is currently being tested. Trump's statement quickly drew reactions from Candace Owens and Alex Jones. Owens' remark was a direct rebuttal to a massive, multi-paragraph rant by Donald Trump on Truth Social. Rather than a lengthy defense, Owens simply posted: "It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home." The feud is deeply personal. Owens has recently accused the administration of "sacrificing" the legacy (and, in her more conspiratorial posts, the life) of Charlie Kirk to pursue a pro-Israel war agenda. https://x.com/RealCandaceO/status/2042360318085456268?s=20 Following the President's unprecedented Truth Social attack on his "Original MAGA" base--which included Jones, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens--Jones used his latest broadcast to frame the fallout as a battle for the President's "soul." Rather than attacking the President directly, Jones has adopted a strategy of "sympathetic intervention," claiming that the Donald Trump the public sees now is not the "real" Trump. Jones has repeatedly stated that Trump is under a "mind control spell" or "neoconservative trance" induced by advisors like Mike Pompeo and foreign leaders, specifically naming Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Jones argued that the President's current aggression toward Iran was "scripted" by deep-state actors to intentionally destroy the MAGA movement from within. https://x.com/RealAlexJones/status/2042383085539307902?s=20 This comes shortly after Trump had earlier lambasted the media on the Iran war and claimed they circulated the "wrong" ten points issued by Iran. "The Failing New York Times and Fake News CNN each reported a totally FAKE TEN POINT PLAN on the Iran negotiations which was meant to discredit the people involved in the peace process. All ten points were a made up HOAX - EVIL LOSERS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," he said in a post on Truth Social. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday also cautioned the media against running false news. "I've seen a lot of inaccurate coverage today from the media about these negotiations and these plans already, so let me be clear and correct the record. 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 in this room have falsely reported on that plan as being acceptable to the United States, and that is false," she said. Leavitt said that the media must not run false news and propaganda. "I would strongly advise the media against running with narratives that have no basis in fact. What Iran says publicly or feeds to all of you in the press is much different from what they communicate to the United States, the President, and his team privately. Never underestimate President Trump's ability to successfully advance America's interests and broker peace," she said. (ANI)
Former US National Security Advisor General Mike Flynn on Friday raised questions on Pakistan's ability to serve as an "honest mediator" for peace talks between Iran and the US in light of the purported claims of Islamabad's role in providing Chinese-supplied missiles to Iran. General Flynn served as the National Security Advisor to Donald Trump during his first tenure as the US President. Flynn was reacting to a news commentary account on X that claimed that missiles used by Iran to target a US aircraft carrier were Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-supplied and sent by Pakistan. Responding to an X post by Mossad Commentary, Flynn wrote, "If this report about CCP supplied missiles through Pakistan to Iran is true, this is an act of war and China (and Pakistan) should be put on notice immediately and the CCP should NOT be allowed to send another 500K students to attend our U.S. colleges and universities, never mind all the other deals our USG makes with the CCP." "And, if true, what does this say about Pakistan being the honest broker in negotiating a cease fire or longer term peace deal between Iran and the United States? Someone needs a reality check." General Flynn's remarks come amid the two-week ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran. He added that while US is deeply engaged in West Asia now, it must "win decisively". "All wars, but especially costly wars suck, but once engaged, and we are clearly and deeply engaged, we MUST now either win and win decisively, or we must extract our way out of this mess allowing the time necessary to reset ourselves in America for what could be a long, hot summer", General Flynn said. He noted that the way out would not be possible until all parties are clear on the position. "Don't kid yourselves, this is not over until all sides say it is and all sides respond accordingly. All sides are clearly and obviously not just the United States and Iran." Earlier this week, leading US military think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that Communist China is reportedly providing military assistance to the embattled Iranian regime. "China is helping Iran reconstitute the Iranian missile program amid US-Israeli efforts to degrade it. Western media reported that China has sent multiple shipments of missile fuel precursor to Iran since the start of the war," the institute said in a post on its social media platform. The former US National Security Advisor Flynn brought attention to internal security of US and said that the foreign threat to US from Iran is "very real" and hoped the authorities were actively engaged on that front. "Keep homeland security in mind too, because the foreign threat here in America from Iran (and others) is very real and it is not activated to the level required until our enemies say so. I pray our federal law enforcement are on top of this issue." According to the Institute for the Study of War, "Western media reported that China has sent multiple shipments of missile fuel precursor to Iran since the start of the war." The institute said that, "China's efforts to help Iran reconstitute could undermine the combined force efforts to degrade or destroy the supporting elements of the ballistic missile program." Iran's military forces have reportedly been working to rebuild their missile apparatus after US and Israeli airstrikes since the start of the war on February. 28. Last month Iran's army claimed that it targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier with coastal cruise missiles. Iranian media Press TV published a video stating that armed forces fired missiles at the US carrier, while the state-run IRNA news agency cited naval officials describing the operation. According to the the US think tank ISW, "Iran has been digging out underground missile bunkers and silos struck by the combined force, in some cases returning them to operation hours after strikes, according to recent US intelligence assessments. Iran may be reestablishing access to their launchers hours after strikes, but these launchers are components of a larger system that has been degraded. Reported fear and lack of coordination across some Iranian forces mean that medium-range missile systems are still functioning sub-optimally." (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Japanese counterpart on Friday to discuss the developments in West Asia and international shipping via the Strait of Hormuz. The call between the leaders lasted for approximately 20 minutes. Sharing the details of the conversation in a post on X, EAM also appreciated the message of condolence for the lives of Indians lost in the conflict during his call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. "Good to speak with FM Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan. Discussed developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Appreciate his condolences for the Indian lives lost in the conflict", EAM wrote on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2042493174338207858?s=20 Sharing the details of the call, the Japanese Foreign Ministry noted that the leaders appreciated the recent announcement by US and Iran. The Japanese Foreign Minister called for closer coordination with the international community and EAM Jaishankar noted that Delhi and Tokyo would continue to work closely with each other. The two leaders underlined the need to promote multilateral cooperation to enhance energy resilience and resource supply "In light of the current situation in the Middle East, Minister MOTEGI expressed his condolences regarding the casualties among Indian nationals. In addition, Minister MOTEGI stated that Japan welcomes the recent announcement by both the United States and Iran as a positive development. He also stated that what matters most is that de-escalation, including the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, is steadily achieved, and expressed his hopes that a final agreement will be reached promptly through the negotiations between the United States and Iran. He further stated that he would like to closely coordinate with the international community, including India", the statement said. "In response, Minister Jaishankar stated that India will continue to work closely with Japan so that de-escalation of the situation would be realized, including the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Both Ministers concurred that Japan and India will continue to communicate closely with each other. Furthermore, both Ministers concurred on promoting multilateral cooperation, including Japan and India, to enhance the resiliency of energy and resource supply", it added. The call between the leaders comes after US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire following weeks-long conflict that impacted several countries in West Asia and Gulf in light of US-Israeli military operations in Iran. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that Pranay Verma, who is currently serving as India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Belgium and the European Union. Sharing the details in an official statement, the MEA said, "Pranay Verma (IFS: 1994), presently High Commissioner of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union." He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. India and the European Union concluded negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement on January 27 this year. The agreement aims to boost bilateral trade in goods, services and investment, and is expected to come into force by early 2027. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the FTA is designed to create a future-ready trade framework that supports next-generation sectors of the Indian economy. A key focus area of the agreement is engineering and manufacturing, where India is targeting USD 300 billion in engineering exports. By enabling greater access to the USD 2 trillion European market, the agreement is expected to enhance India's global competitiveness and integrate Indian manufacturers more closely into European supply chains. The framework also places special emphasis on MSMEs and regional industrial clusters, helping them scale up operations and access global contracts. The European Union is among India's largest trading partners. In FY 2024-25, bilateral trade in goods stood at Rs 11.5 lakh crore (USD 136.54 billion), with exports at Rs 6.4 lakh crore (USD 75.85 billion) and imports at Rs 5.1 lakh crore (USD 60.68 billion). Trade in services between India and the EU reached Rs 7.2 lakh crore (USD 83.10 billion), reflecting the growing economic engagement between the two sides. Together, India and the European Union represent the fourth and second largest economies globally, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and one-third of global trade. The government said the agreement is expected to further strengthen economic ties and create new opportunities for growth, innovation and sustainable development. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday called on the President of Mauritius, Dharambeer Gokhool, during his two-day visit to the island nation, reaffirming the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries. In a post on X, Jaishankar said he conveyed warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Gokhool and noted that their conversation reflected the warmth of bilateral ties and a shared commitment to further strengthening the India-Mauritius partnership. "Honoured to call on President Dharambeer Gokhool of Mauritius. Conveyed warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our conversation reflected the warmth of our friendship and the steadfast commitment to further advancing India-Mauritiaus partnership," the EAM stated in his post. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2042533358232539406?s=20 EAM's visit to the island nation, scheduled for April 9-10, is the first leg of a four-day diplomatic tour that includes the UAE. In Mauritius, Jaishankar is set to participate in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, themed 'Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance'. This flagship event, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the India Foundation, serves as a platform for regional leaders to deliberate on maritime security and economic sustainability. Jaishankar also held multiple high-level engagements with leaders from neighbouring and Indian Ocean region countries following his meeting with President Gokhool. Sharing updates in a series of posts on X, the EAM stated that he met the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Nepal, Shishir Khanal and congratulated him on his appointment. "Glad to meet FM Shishir Khanal of Nepal this afternoon. Congratulated him on his appointment. Discussed realising the full potential of the India-Nepal partnership by deeper collaboration in different sectors," the post read. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2042556462111547557?s=20 He also held talks with his counterpart of Bhutan, DN Dhungyel, describing the India-Bhutan relationship as "unique and time-tested" and noting its continued progress and prosperity. "A warm conversation today with Foreign Minister of Bhutan D.N. Dhungyel in Port Louis. Our unique and time-tested partnership continues to progress and prosper," the EAM stated in a separate post. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2042548816470065664?s=20 On the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference, Jaishankar also met the Foreign Minister of Seychelles, Barry Faure and reiterated India's commitment to supporting Seychelles in addressing its current economic challenges. He also welcomed steps taken towards implementing a Special Economic Package. "Great meeting FM Barry Faure of Seychelles on the sidelines of 9th Indian Ocean Conference. India is committed to supporting Seychelles in meeting current economic challenges. Welcomed the steps in implementing the Special Economic Package," the EAM stated in his post. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2042537240056709145?s=20 Additionally, the External Affairs Minister met former Mauritius Prime Minister and leader of the MSM Party, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, appreciating his continued commitment to strengthening India-Mauritius ties. Following his engagements in Mauritius, the minister will travel to the United Arab Emirates on April 11 to review the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UAE leadership. (ANI)
The Taiwanese President cautioned that engaging with authoritarian regimes like China could erode both sovereignty and democratic freedoms. His remarks came ahead of a high-profile meeting between the Chinese President and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) figure, as reported by The Taipei Times. According to The Taipei Times, in a social media post, Lai highlighted China's increasing use of "grey zone" tactics and military pressure in the Taiwan Strait, warning that such actions threaten regional stability. He reiterated that Taiwan's democratic system and open society stand in stark contrast to authoritarian governance, making Taiwan a vital pillar of freedom in Asia. Marking the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, Lai highlighted its enduring significance alongside the Six Assurances in shaping US-Taiwan ties. He described the partnership as grounded in shared democratic values and human rights, adding that it remains central to maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific. Lai emphasised that support for Taiwan in the United States continues to enjoy a rare bipartisan consensus. He argued that safeguarding Taiwan is essential for protecting democratic ideals globally, reinforcing the island's strategic importance along the First Island Chain. Meanwhile, Cheng's visit to China, framed by her as a "peace mission", has drawn scrutiny. Lai countered that peace cannot be achieved through concessions, stating that history shows compromise with authoritarian powers often results in diminished sovereignty rather than stability. The president stated that true peace depends on strength, which in turn requires sustained investment. Taiwan has increased its defence budget beyond 3 per cent of GDP and aims to raise it further to 5 per cent by 2030. Plans include a proposed US$40 billion defence package to develop a multi-layered air defence system, as highlighted by The Taipei Times. However, Lai criticised opposition lawmakers for stalling the proposal in the legislature, warning that delays could weaken Taiwan's defences and undermine international confidence. Calling for unity, he urged all political factions to prioritise national security and demonstrate Taiwan's resolve to defend its democratic system, as reported by The Taipei Times. (ANI)
US Vice President JD Vance on Friday departed for Pakistan's capital of Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran, expressing optimism about the negotiations while warning against any lack of sincerity from Tehran. Addressing reporters before departure, Vance said the United States is open to constructive engagement if Iran approaches the discussions in good faith. "We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," he said. However, he cautioned that Washington would not respond favourably if Iran attempts to act in bad faith during the talks. "If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance added. Vance will be leading the US delegation to Islamabad for talks this weekend. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation. The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time. The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks. 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. However, Iran's state media is yet to confirm if senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States. Meanwhile, Pakistani media confirmed the arrival of the Iranian delegation for the talks to be held tomorrow. (ANI)
The Iranian Embassy in India on Friday deactivated the accounts previously designated for receiving monetary contributions in appreciation of the "commendable" support and solidarity of the Indian citizens. The Embassy further requested to refrain from transferring any funds to the accounts or to any other accounts presented as belonging to it. In a post on X, the Iranian embassy in India said, " In appreciation of the commendable support and solidarity of the noble people of India, it is hereby informed that the Embassy accounts previously designated for receiving monetary contributions have now been deactivated." https://x.com/Iran_in_India/status/2042490865596486061 It added, "Accordingly, you are kindly requested to refrain from transferring any funds to these accounts or to any other accounts presented as belonging to the Embassy." Earlier, the Iranian Embassy in India March 22 thanked the "kindness" and "humanity" of Indians for donating money and jewellery to rebuild Iran. The Embassy said they will remember India's kindness forever. "We will never forget your kindness and humanity. Thank you, India," the embassy said. "With hearts full of gratitude, we sincerely thank the kind people of Kashmir for standing with the people of Iran through their humanitarian support and heartfelt solidarity; this kindness will never be forgotten. Thank you, India," it further said. The embassy also noted the sacrifice of a woman who donated the momento of her husband, who passed away 28 years ago. "A respected sister from Kashmir donated the gold kept as a memento of her husband, who passed away 28 years ago, with a heart full of love and solidarity for the people of Iran. Your tears and pure emotions are the greatest source of comfort for the people of Iran and will never be forgotten. Thank you, Kashmir. Thank you, India." Locals in Budgam had donated gold, silver, and cash to support Iran in the wake of the Gulf War crisis, showing their solidarity with the country. Speaking to ANI, Mohsin Ali from Budgam said a stall has been set up at Masjid Imam Zaman with the sincere purpose of collecting donations. "At Masjid Imam Zaman, we have set up a stall with the sincere purpose of collecting donations. Our mothers and sisters are contributing jewellery, copper, and cash so that we can support Iran in its current situation," Mohsin Ali said. He said that since they cannot go to Iran to support, they can at least provide financial aid to support Iran and to serve humanity.(ANI)
Union Minister Manohar Lal on Friday highlighted the strength of India-Bhutan ties during his visit to key hydropower projects in Bhutan, including the Punatsangchhu-I and II hydroelectric projects, and stressed their role in clean energy generation and bilateral cooperation. In a post on X, the Union Minister said, "Visited the powerhouse of the Punatsangchhu-II HEP and reviewed its operational performance. The project has emerged as a key contributor to Bhutan's energy sector, generating substantial power and revenue while enabling clean energy exports to India." https://x.com/mlkhattar/status/2042565985593626758 He added, "Appreciated its efficient execution and operations and reaffirmed India's continued commitment to supporting Bhutan's sustainable energy development." The minister also visited the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project and reviewed the facilities and interacted with workers. He said, "Visited the powerhouse of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project and reviewed the facilities, along with an interaction with the workforce on site." https://x.com/mlkhattar/status/2042545319926468970 Underscoring the importance of bilateral collaboration, the Union Minister said, "Hydropower cooperation continues to be a cornerstone of India-Bhutan relations, advancing sustainable energy generation while strengthening economic ties and deepening our enduring partnership." Marking a key milestone, he participated in the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project alongside Bhutan's Energy Minister Gem Tshering. He said, "Today, on the occasion of the foundation stone laying for the dam construction work of the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, I had the privilege of participating alongside Bhutan's Minister of Energy, Hon'ble Lyonpo Gem Tshering ji." https://x.com/mlkhattar/status/2042524793979965447 Highlighting the broader significance of the projects, the Union Minister added, "The Punatsangchhu-1 and 2 Hydroelectric Projects form the strong bedrock of India-Bhutan energy cooperation, reinforcing trust, mutual progress, and long-term strategic partnership between the two countries, alongside the production of clean energy." He further emphasised their mutual benefits, stating, "These projects not only accelerate Bhutan's economic prosperity but also provide stability to India's energy needs." https://x.com/mlkhattar/status/2042524798899851710 Earlier on Thursday, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal met Bhutan's Energy Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering and planned to hold discussions on deepening the energy partnership between New Delhi and Thimphu. The Union Minister is on a three-day visit to Bhutan. Sharing the details in a post on X, the Union Minister on Thursday informed that he also met the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Sandeep Arya. He added, "During this visit, detailed discussions will be held on further strengthening India-Bhutan energy relations." (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the expulsion of Spanish representatives from the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, following strong criticism from Spain over Israeli military strikes in Lebanon. In a strongly worded statement, Netanyahu accused Spain of defaming Israeli soldiers and taking a hostile stance against the country. "Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us. Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world. Therefore, I have instructed today to remove Spain's representatives from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel," he said. He further warned that countries criticising Israel instead of what he termed "terrorist regimes" would not be considered partners in shaping the region's future. "Those who attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes will not be our partners regarding the future of the region. I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price," Netanyahu added. The move comes after Spain sharply criticised Israel's recent military actions in Lebanon despite the announcement of a ceasefire deal. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, speaking during a session of the Foreign Affairs Committee, described the situation as dire. "The situation in Lebanon is critical, extremely serious, and a disgrace to the conscience of humanity. The attacks must cease immediately. Spain supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, the Lebanese government, and UNIFIL," Albares said. Earlier this week, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez also condemned the strikes in a post on X, calling for urgent international action. "Just today, Netanyahu launches his harshest attack against Lebanon since the offensive began. His contempt for life and international law is intolerable. It's time to speak clearly: Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire. The international community must condemn this new violation of international law. The European Union must suspend its Association Agreement with Israel. And there must be no impunity for these criminal acts," Sanchez stated in his post on X. According to The Jerusalem Post, the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), operating under US Central Command (CENTCOM), was established in October 2025 to coordinate and streamline the delivery of humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from the international community into the Gaza Strip as part of Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan. (ANI)
Uncertainty surrounds the prospects of talks between Iran and the United States to find a complete solution to end the conflict in West Asia after Tehran reiterated that key preconditions must be met before negotiations can begin. Speaker of Iran's Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, in a post on X, said that two measures agreed upon between the parties remain unfulfilled, stressing that progress on these issues is essential before any dialogue can take place. According to Ghalibaf, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets are set as the preconditions before negotiations can take place in Islamabad. "Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," Ghalibaf said in his post. The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah targets, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, earlier in the day, departed for Pakistan's capital of Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran, expressing optimism about the negotiations while warning against any lack of sincerity from Tehran. Addressing reporters before departure, Vance said the United States is open to constructive engagement if Iran approaches the discussions in good faith. "We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," he said. However, he cautioned that Washington would not respond favourably if Iran attempts to act in bad faith during the talks. "If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance added. Vance will be leading the US delegation to Islamabad for talks this weekend. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation. The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time. The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks. 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. Iran has yet to confirm if senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States, as reported by the state media. (ANI)
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday said that the US must adhere to its commitments under the two-week ceasefire deal to halt the hostilities in West Asia, asserting that Lebanon remains an integral part of the agreement, as reported by Iranian state media outlet Press TV. According to Press TV, Araghchi made the remarks during a phone conversation with Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani, in which he was briefed on the latest developments in Lebanon. Sheibani provided a detailed update on the "battlefield and political developments" in Lebanon following what Iran described as recent Israeli aggressions. During the call, Araghchi condemned what he termed "brutal crimes" committed by Israel against Lebanon and reiterated Iran's political support for Beirut, Press TV reported. "Abbas Araghchi condemned the brutal crimes committed by the Zionist regime against Lebanon, and emphasised the full support and solidarity of the people and government of Iran for the resistance of Lebanon against the Israeli occupation regime," the statement read, as quoted by Press TV. He further stressed that Lebanon is an essential component of any ceasefire arrangement, adding that hostilities must cease immediately. "Abbas Araghchi states that Lebanon is an integral part of the ceasefire agreement, adding that the Zionist entity must stop its attacks and emphasising the need for the US to adhere to its commitments in this regard," the statement added, as quoted by Press TV. This comes amid uncertainty surrounding the prospects of talks between Iran and the United States to find a complete solution to end the conflict in West Asia after Tehran reiterated that key preconditions must be met before negotiations can begin. Speaker of Iran's Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, in a post on X, said that two measures agreed upon between the parties remain unfulfilled, stressing that progress on these issues is essential before any dialogue can take place. According to Ghalibaf, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets are set as the preconditions before negotiations can take place in Islamabad. "Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," Ghalibaf said in his post. The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon as US officials travel to Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran aimed at completely ending the hostilities in West Asia. However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah targets, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing. (ANI)
Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met with Myanmar's President U Min Aung Hlaing, reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with the country. During the meeting, Singh handed over a letter of felicitations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Aung Hlaing, congratulating him on assuming office. In a post on X on Friday, Singh said he "handed over a letter of felicitations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him (Min Aung Hlaing) on his assumption of office as the President of Myanmar today," Singh said. https://x.com/KVSinghMPGonda/status/2042601917373911201 Singh emphasised India's age-old ties with Myanmar, citing their shared land and maritime borders, and expressed India's desire to further strengthen multifaceted bilateral cooperation. Reaffirming India's regional approach, Singh emphasised that New Delhi remains committed to expanding cooperation across sectors. "Myanmar and India are close partners with age-old ties, as well as land and maritime neighbours. India remains committed to further strengthening its multifaceted bilateral cooperation with Myanmar under its 'Neighbourhood First', 'Act East' and 'MAHASAGAR' policies, and to extending developmental assistance for the benefit of the people of Myanmar," the post said. MoS Singh embarked on a four-day visit to Myanmar from April 8 to April 11 to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new President in Nay Pyi Taw. According to a release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Singh is scheduled to hold meetings with key officials of the Myanmar government to discuss ongoing trade, economic, and developmental cooperation initiatives. The MoS will also engage with members of the Indian diaspora and Friends of India in Yangon, highlighting India's continued commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. According to Global Times, Min Aung Hlaing was officially sworn in as president earlier in the day during a ceremony held before the Speaker of the Union Parliament, Aung Lin Dwe. The oath-taking took place during the sixth-day session of the first regular sitting of the Third Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament). U Nyo Saw and Nan Ni Ni Aye were also sworn in as vice presidents, alongside several senior officials, including members of the judiciary, cabinet, and key national institutions. Min Aung Hlaing, who previously served as commander-in-chief of Myanmar's armed forces, was elected president by the Presidential Electoral College on April 3, formalising his hold on power nearly five years after leading a military coup. His transition from military leader to civilian president follows an election victory by the army-backed party, widely criticised by opponents and Western governments as lacking credibility and aimed at entrenching military rule under the guise of democracy. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his high-level visit to Mauritius, handed over 90 electric buses to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, emphasising New Delhi's push for sustainable transport and deepening bilateral cooperation through a green partnership initiative. In a post on X on Friday, Jaishankar said the buses symbolise a shared commitment to eco-friendly mobility and reflect the growing Green Partnership between the two nations. "Handed over 90 electric buses to PM of Mauritius @Ramgoolam_Dr, reaffirming our shared commitment to sustainable public transportation. These buses will be a moving symbol of Green Partnership," his post read. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2042646400618410121?s=20 Further strengthening ties beyond infrastructure, the visit also marked a significant step in healthcare cooperation. Jaishankar inaugurated Mauritius's first dedicated renal transplant unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Port Louis, a project seen as a milestone in the island nation's medical capabilities and India's long-standing development partnership. Jaishankar described it as a transformative moment for patients and families in Mauritius, calling it both a medical and humanitarian achievement. In a post on X, he said, "Delighted to join PM @Ramgoolam_Dr in inaugurating the Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. The new facility will improve tertiary healthcare access for kidney patients and add to the stellar health partnership." Speaking at the inauguration of the Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Mauritius, the EAM said, "The inauguration of Mauritius' first dedicated Renal Transplant Unit is indeed a landmark achievement. It is not just a medical milestone, it is a moment of hope," he said. Emphasising the practical benefits for patients, he added, "It means that treatment can now happen closer home, closer to near and dear. It means less anxiety, it means less financial burden, and it means greater comfort for families. And most importantly, it means a second chance for life for many." Jaishankar participated in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, a key platform convened to discuss maritime security, regional stability and sustainable economic development in the Indian Ocean region. The conference, jointly organised by India, serves as an important forum for Indian Ocean littoral states to strengthen cooperation on shared challenges, including climate change, maritime security, and trade connectivity. (ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held separate virtual meetings on Friday with Bahrain's Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, focusing on regional stability, supply chain resilience, and strengthening economic ties, according to the official press releases by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. According to the release, in his interaction with Bahrain, Goyal welcomed the recently announced ceasefire in the region and expressed optimism about long-term peace. He said he hoped the ceasefire "would be enduring" and that countries in the region, including Bahrain, would "recover swiftly from the disruptions faced since the onset of conflict." Emphasising the importance of uninterrupted trade, Goyal underlined the need for stable logistics networks. He highlighted "the need to ensure predictable trade flows through maritime and other modes in the region." The minister also conveyed India's strong support for Bahrain's security, stating solidarity in the wake of recent attacks. He "condemned the recent attacks on vital installations in the country and reiterated support for its security and stability, including maritime safety." Goyal appreciated Bahrain's support for the Indian diaspora and acknowledged efforts made to ensure their welfare. He thanked Bahraini authorities for "its efforts to ensure the well-being of Indian citizens." Both sides emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to ensure smooth trade flows. The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to further strengthening India-GCC economic partnership in a spirit of cooperation and mutual support. In a separate meeting with the GCC leadership, Goyal reiterated India's consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy. He expressed hope that the ceasefire in the region would "pave the way for lasting peace and stability" and stressed that "differences can be resolved only through mutual dialogue." Highlighting the importance of India's ties with the Gulf region, he noted that strong people-to-people connections remain central to economic relations. He said these ties " form the core of strong economic and commercial relations with countries of the Region." Goyal also conveyed India's "solidarity with GCC countries and reiterated support in addressing any supply chain challenges faced for essential food items". He appreciated measures taken to "strengthen logistics and explore alternate routes to maintain resilience." Both sides emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to ensure smooth trade flows. The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to further strengthening India-GCC economic partnership in a spirit of cooperation and mutual support. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that large-scale coordination efforts are underway to ensure the safety and movement of Indian nationals across the Gulf and West Asia region amid ongoing airspace restrictions and operational disruptions. Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing, Additional Secretary (Gulf) Aseem R Mahajan said that "Since February 28, around 8,43,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India", reflecting sustained evacuation and travel facilitation efforts coordinated by Indian missions abroad. Mahajan said the government continues to closely monitor the evolving situation across the Gulf and West Asia, with a dedicated mechanism in place for rapid coordination. He stated, "We continue to monitor developments in the Gulf and West Asia region. Our special control room within the Ministry is operational and is working in tandem with our Missions abroad." He added that MEA is maintaining continuous coordination with state governments and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure smooth information flow and assistance to returning citizens. "We are in regular contact with the State Governments and Union Territories to share information and coordinate our efforts. Our efforts remain focused on ensuring the safety, security, and welfare of the large Indian community residing in the region," he said. Mahajan highlighted that Indian missions are operating 24x7 helplines and actively assisting citizens across affected countries. "Our Missions and Posts are operating round-the-clock helplines and are proactively assisting our citizens. Updated advisories are being issued, including information related to local government guidelines, flight and travel situations, and consular services," he said. He also noted that Indian community associations, professional groups, and companies are being engaged to ensure real-time dissemination of information. He said, " Our missions remain actively engaged with Indian community associations, organizations, professional groups, Indian companies, and other stakeholders, providing updates on the status of flights." Despite regional disruptions, Mahajan said, limited commercial and non-scheduled flights continue to operate across several Gulf countries to facilitate the movement of Indian nationals. "Airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled commercial flights based on operational and safety considerations between India and the UAE," he said. Mahajan said that approximately 95 flights from the UAE to India are expected to operate in a single day, while services also continue from Saudi Arabia and Oman to multiple Indian destinations. "Today, around 95 flights are expected to operate from the UAE to India. Flights are operating from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to different destinations in India, with Qatari airspace partially open. Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 8 to 10 flights to India today," he said while adding that Qatari airspace remains partially open. However, Kuwaiti airspace remains closed, and airlines including Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways are operating non-scheduled services via Dammam in Saudi Arabia. He said, "Kuwaiti air-space remains closed. Jazeera Airways of Kuwait and Kuwait Airways continue to operate non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to various destinations in India. Due to the airspace closure, we continue to facilitate the travel of Indian nationals from Kuwait, via Saudi Arabia, to India." He added, "Bahrain's airspace is open. Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has announced that it plans to commence limited flight operations from Bahrain to India. Gulf Air is currently operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to various destinations across India. We continue to facilitate the travel of Indian nationals from Bahrain, via Saudi Arabia, to India. " The MEA also continues evacuation assistance from conflict-affected parts of West Asia. He said, " Our Embassy in Tehran has, thus far, facilitated the movement of 2180 nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. This includes 981 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen." He further said that in Israeli airspace remains partially open while Iraqi airspace is open. He added, "Israeli airspace is partially open, with restricted flight operations. We continue to facilitate the travel of Indian nationals from Israel, via Georgia and from Egypt to India. Iraqi airspace is open, with restricted flight operations." He added, "We continue to facilitate the travel of Indian nationals from Iraq--via Jordan and Saudi Arabia--back to India." (ANI)
Return on investment (ROI) remains one of the most important considerations for homeowners planning renovation projects in Jacksonville. While aesthetic upgrades improve day-to-day comfort, strategic remodeling decisions can also significantly influence resale positioning, appraisal outcomes, and overall property competitiveness.

Understanding how different renovation categories perform within Jacksonvilles housing market allows homeowners to allocate capital more effectively.

When evaluating Jacksonville home remodeling services, property owners often balance immediate lifestyle improvements with long-term financial objectives.

Why ROI Matters in Jacksonvilles Market

Jacksonvilles residential landscape includes a mix of historic districts, mid-century neighborhoods, and newer suburban developments. Market performance varies depending on location, school zoning, and proximity to employment hubs.

Well-executed renovations often:

Improve listing presentation

Increase buyer confidence

Reduce days on market

Strengthen appraisal outcomes

In competitive neighborhoods, updated homes frequently command stronger offers compared to properties requiring modernization.

High-Impact Remodeling Categories

While nearly any renovation can improve functionality, certain categories historically demonstrate stronger ROI performance.

1. Kitchen Modernization

Kitchen remodels consistently rank among the most influential upgrades. Layout optimization, island expansion, cabinetry replacement, and updated countertops significantly impact buyer perception.

Structural reconfiguration that improves workflow often yields stronger value than surface-only updates.

2. Bathroom Renovation

Modernized bathrooms featuring walk-in showers, updated vanities, and improved ventilation enhance both comfort and marketability.

In many Jacksonville neighborhoods, homes with outdated bathrooms face pricing pressure during resale negotiations.

3. Layout Reconfiguration

Removing non-load-bearing walls to create open-concept living spaces frequently improves visual flow and usability.

Homes that feel brighter and more connected often perform better during showings.

4. Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Energy-conscious buyers increasingly prioritize efficiency. Improvements such as upgraded HVAC systems, impact-rated windows, improved insulation, and LED lighting systems contribute to long-term cost savings.

In Floridas extended cooling season, energy efficiency becomes a meaningful selling point.

Cosmetic vs. Structural ROI Differences

Not all remodeling projects carry equal financial impact.

Cosmetic Improvements:

Paint updates

Flooring replacement

Fixture swaps

These upgrades improve presentation but may not significantly increase appraisal value.

Structural Modernization:

Wall removal

Plumbing relocation

Electrical system upgrades

Foundation reinforcement

Structural improvements often enhance long-term durability and functional appeal, which can influence buyer confidence.

Balancing both categories strategically tends to produce stronger results.

Neighborhood-Specific Considerations

ROI performance may vary by neighborhood type.

Historic areas such as Riverside may reward preservation-focused modernization that maintains architectural character.

Suburban communities may place greater emphasis on open-concept layouts and kitchen expansion.

Understanding neighborhood buyer expectations helps homeowners align renovation scope with market demand.

Timing and Market Conditions

Local housing supply, buyer demand, and mortgage rate environments can influence ROI realization.

During strong demand cycles, updated homes often experience competitive bidding. In slower markets, renovation quality may differentiate listings more clearly.

Strategic planning that accounts for broader economic conditions improves long-term investment positioning.

Over-Improvement Risk

One common mistake in remodeling strategy is over-improving beyond neighborhood comparables.

If surrounding homes feature mid-range finishes, installing ultra-luxury materials may not yield proportional resale returns.

Comparative market analysis helps ensure renovation spending aligns with local pricing ceilings.

Long-Term Occupancy vs. Short-Term Sale Strategy

Homeowners planning to remain in their property long-term may prioritize comfort and durability over immediate resale performance.

Conversely, those preparing to list within several years often emphasize buyer-facing improvements such as kitchen and bathroom modernization.

Aligning renovation decisions with ownership timeline prevents mismatched investment allocation.

Jacksonvilles Ongoing Growth and Remodeling Outlook

As Jacksonville continues to attract new residents and expand economically, demand for modernized housing remains steady.

Properties that combine structural integrity, contemporary design, and energy efficiency are positioned competitively within the evolving local market.

Rather than viewing remodeling solely as an expense, many homeowners approach strategic renovation as a method of strengthening both property utility and financial resilience.

Thoughtful planning, neighborhood awareness, and balanced scope execution remain central to achieving meaningful ROI in Jacksonvilles residential remodeling sector.
King Mohammed VI chaired in Rabat on Thursday a Council of Ministers that approved an ambitious reform of territorial governance, based on a local and participatory approach, backed by an investment program of nearly 210 billion dirhams over eight years.

The Council of Ministers actually approved a draft organic law amending and supplementing the organic law relating to regions, the Royal Office said in a statement.

This draft is fully in line with the Kings vision aimed at establishing strong and effective advanced regionalization, capable of addressing development challenges and remedying the various aspects of unequal development and spatial disparities.

It also seeks to establish a legal and institutional framework capable of ensuring the optimal and effective implementation of the new generation of integrated territorial development programs, through three main pillars relating to implementation mechanisms, regional competencies, and financial resources.

With regard to implementation mechanisms, regional project execution agencies will be transformed into joint-stock companies (SAs), in order to reconcile the requirements of governance and public oversight with management flexibility and performance efficiency, the aim being to improve the quality of project delivery and accelerate the pace of execution.

Concerning competencies, this reform represents a timely opportunity to clarify and redistribute the regions own and shared responsibilities, with a focus on the regions role as a primary driver of economic development.

As for financial resources, this project aims to strengthen the financial capacities of the regions by increasing the ceiling of state transfers to their budgets, enabling them to fully exercise their competencies, enhance their financial autonomy, and ensure their effective and consistent contribution to the financing and implementation of integrated territorial development projects.

Before adopting the draft organic law, the Minister of the Interior made a presentation outlining the governance framework for the new generation of integrated territorial development programs, based on a new approach setting program priorities according to the needs expressed at the local level by citizens, in accordance with the Kings guidelines, as set forth in several Royal Speeches.

The overall design of this major reform project reflects the royal will to make the improvement of citizens living conditions and the safeguarding of their dignity the ultimate goal of all public policy, through enhancing the attractiveness of territorial areas, stimulating economic growth and creating jobs.

The minister noted that these programs were developed following extensive consultation and feedback sessions across all prefectures and provinces of the Kingdom, as a territorial assessment was conducted for each prefecture and province based on an analysis of various socioeconomic indicators, and the identification of strengths and weaknesses in terms of the populations access to employment, education, healthcare, water and territorial development programs.

He emphasized that initial estimates of the total budget for implementing these programs amount to nearly MAD 210 billion over an eight-year period and that a comprehensive plan has been established, setting out the governance, implementation, and evaluation mechanisms for this new generation of programs, as well as the related communication devices.

In terms of governance and steering, a locally driven approach has been adopted, responsible for planning and monitoring, while the national level ensures overall coordination and mobilizes necessary funding.

Thus, a committee will be established at the local level, chaired by the governor of the prefecture or province and composed of elected officials and representatives of decentralized State-affiliated services. Its mission will consist in developing programs and monitoring project execution, as well as consulting the target populations to address their needs, while ensuring that the potential of the regions concerned is fully upheld.

A committee, chaired by the Wali of the region, will be tasked with enshrining integrated territorial development programs for the regions prefectures and provinces, while ensuring alignment of projects.

At the national level, a national committee chaired by the Head of Government will be established. It will be composed of the relevant ministerial departments and will be responsible for program validation, ensuring their integration and coordination, and establishing monitoring and assessment indicators to measure their impacts.

Regarding oversight and accountability, the implementation of these programs will be subject to an annual audit conducted jointly by the General Inspectorate of Finance and the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration to assess performance and ensure compliance with the execution procedures.

Meanwhile, a dedicated digital platform will be set up to ensure widespread communication regarding integrated territorial development programs, to enable all citizens and institutional stakeholders to access comprehensive information on program planning, work progress and the achievement of projects, thereby ensuring maximum transparency and regular monitoring of the actions undertaken.

At the onset of the Councils proceedings, the King asked the minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests for an update on the progress of the current agricultural season.

The minister explained that this season has been marked by very heavy rainfall, which has contributed to the revival of various agricultural activities, pointing to promising prospects for the harvest.

The rains fell over all regions of the Kingdom, with an annual average of 520 millimetersa 54% increase compared to the annual average of the past thirty yearswhich positively impacted dam reservoir levels, now standing at 12.8 billion m3, with a 75% fill rate. These reserves will help the country meet the irrigation water needs of spring and summer crops, as well as those at the start of the next agricultural season.

Regarding fruit trees, Morocco recorded significant production of olives, citrus fruits, and dates, with a record production of 2 million tons of olivesan increase of 111% compared to the previous year a production of 1.9 million tons of citrus fruits (25% increase), and a production of 160,000 tons of dates, standing for a 55% increase compared to last season.

In accordance with the royal instructions regarding the replenishment of the national livestock, the minister emphasized that rain has contributed to abundant pastures and an improvement of livestock conditions.

The Ministers council approved, besides the reforms, a draft decree relating to military affairs, as well as a set of international agreements and appointments to senior positions.
Moroccos National Observatory for Childrens Rights (ONDE), chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO aimed at advancing the right to education in the country, the two institutions said.

Under the agreement, ONDE will support the implementation of the project titled Assess to Transform: The Right to Education in Morocco, a flagship initiative aligned with the Kingdoms strategic education reforms and the vision and directives of King Mohammed VI.

The project seeks to carry out a systemic analysis of the alignment between Moroccos legal framework and public policies and its international commitments on the right to education.

It also aims to strengthen national capacities in rights-based analysis and to develop a coherent, prioritized and operational roadmap to support ongoing reforms in the education sector.

According to the partnership framework, the projects implementation may be further enhanced through complementary actions, including training sessions for national stakeholders involved in education and child rights.

Through this collaboration, ONDE and UNESCO aim to promote the effective realization of the right to education by placing a child rights-based approach at the heart of public policymaking. The initiative also seeks to position Morocco as a pilot country for self-assessment of the right to education at the regional level.
The Policy Center for the New South this week unveiled The Oxford Handbook of the Moroccan Economy, a new reference work that provides a comprehensive analysis of Moroccos long-term economic transformation, as policymakers, researchers and academics gathered in Rabat for a two-day conference marking the books publication.

Published by Oxford University Press and edited by Karim El Aynaoui and Arkebe Oqubay, the handbook brings together 53 contributors across 34 chapters to examine the evolution of Moroccos economy from 1960 to 2025. The book was presented on April 910 at the Policy Centers headquarters on the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) campus, with sessions dedicated to the main themes and findings of its chapters.

Designed as a core reference manual, the volume offers a structured analytical framework grounded in historical data, long-term trends and stylized facts, covering sectoral transformations and major public policy challenges shaping Moroccos economic trajectory.

Speaking at the launch, El Aynaoui said the handbook aims to renew and consolidate existing knowledge on Moroccos economy through a rigorous and accessible synthesis for researchers, students, public decision-makers and practitioners.

The editors point to significant progress over recent decades. Between 1971 and 2024, Morocco recorded average annual GDP growth of 4.13%, while GDP per capita grew by an annual average of 2.33%.

Life expectancy rose from 47 years in 1960 to 73 years in 2025, alongside a sharp narrowing of the ruralurban life expectancy gap.

Beyond headline indicators, the handbook argues that Moroccos development path must be assessed through deeper structural lenses, including productivity dynamics, diversification of the productive base, job quality, technological capabilities and institutional reforms.

It documents how, between 2000 and 2025, Morocco strengthened its global economic integration, developed new industrial hubs and built a more resilient export base, supported by trade agreements with the European Union and the United States and an active economic diplomacy in Africa.

The book highlights Moroccos growing integration into global value chains, particularly in the automotive and aerospace sectors, underpinned by sustained foreign direct investment, large-scale infrastructure spending, regulatory improvements and stronger public policy coordination.

It also underscores the countrys demonstrated resilience to repeated shocks, including the 2008 global financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine, recurrent droughts and the Al Haouz earthquake.

At the same time, the handbook identifies persistent challenges. Aggregate productivity gains remain limited, spillovers to the broader economy are uneven, and impacts on domestic private investment, local innovation and quality job creation have fallen short of expectations.

According to the editors, Moroccos central challenge now lies in a new phase of transformation focused on upgrading productive capabilities, strengthening domestic spillovers, investing in human capital and research, and broadening the reach of structural change.

Freely available through the Policy Center for the New South and Oxford University Press websites, the handbook presents what its authors describe as a balanced, evidence-based assessment intended to inform teaching, research and public debate on Moroccos economic future.
Morocco is set to become AI gateway for Africa, Europe, and beyond thanks to the Nexus AI Factory to be built in the Kingdom, the first sovereign AI infrastructure platform of its kind in Africa.

South Africa and other African countries were competing for this major project, but the international investors and technology giants selected Morocco, a reliable partner with political stability, strategic location, world-class infrastructure

An initial investment of $1.2 billion will be injected in this landmark digital project unveiled at GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakesh. The 500-megawatt renewable energy-based data centre will be built by a consortium composed of US AI infrastructure specialist Nexus Core Systems, AI tech giant Nvidia, Koreas Naver, leader in AI & cloud computing and global investment firm Lloyd Capital.

The next-generation AI data centre will be located in Casablanca suburbs. It will operate sovereign AI computing services across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.

In its first phase, the Data Center will start operating with a 40-megawatt AI supercomputing infrastructure, powered with American with Nvidias latest Blackwell (GB200) GPUs. It is expected to expand to a maximum of 500 megawatts in stages thereafter.

The consortium has secured a sustainable and stable power infrastructure by signing a strategic renewable energy supply contract with UAE-headquartered international power producer TAQA.

According to experts, the transition of data economy into the intelligence economy pushes computers, power, cooling and connectivity far beyond the limits of traditional data centres.

The creation of new AI factories with strong connectivity, renewable energy access and sovereign data aims to sustain the intelligence economy for decades to come.
Mali announced this Friday that  following a thorough review of this important issue (the Sahara), which has an impact on sub-regional peace and security, the Republic of Mali has decided, as of today, to withdraw its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

This position was expressed in a statement by the Malian Government delivered by Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, following a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, who is paying a visit to Bamako at the instructions of King Mohammed VI.

Mali supports the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as the only serious and credible basis for resolving this dispute and considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most realistic solution, the statement added.

Mali also expressed its support for the efforts of the United Nations and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, as well as for the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, particularly Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, the statement said.

The Malian minister further stated that this decision will be shared with the regional and international organizations of which Mali is a member, as well as with the diplomatic corps accredited in Bamako.
Morocco is among the priority countries for the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Food for Progress program in FY 2026, aimed at bolstering agricultural productivity and trade.

For FY 2026, Food for Progress anticipates awarding up to $226 million in new cooperative agreements for up to five-year projects ranging from $28 to $35 million each. Priority countries for Food for Progress include Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Morocco, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand

The US funding will support Moroccos agricultural, economic, and infrastructure development, particularly focusing on sustainable farming, technology, and improving value chains to enhance food production.

The United States supports Moroccos agriculture through the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program which seeks to enhance the productivity and income of smallholder farming households, aiding in economic growth and the development of local agricultural associations.

The United States also backs the agricultural sector in Morocco through a combination of trade agreements, technical assistance, and investment programs aimed at promoting economic growth, sustainability, and regional stability.
Morocco, France and the European Union have jointly launched two new programs at a ceremony in Rabat on Thursday 9 April, marking a significant step in the trilateral effort to build structured, rights-based pathways for legal labor mobility between North Africa and Europe. The two initiatives  THAMM+ Equipe France and the second phase of the Regional Migration Initiative Program (PRIM2)  are designed to complement each other: the former creates supervised professional mobility pathways, while the latter embeds migration governance into Moroccos regional institutional architecture.

THAMM+ Equipe France  the Franco-Moroccan bilateral arm of the broader EU-funded THAMM program  focuses on establishing durable, sector-specific mobility channels between the two countries, with particular emphasis on agriculture and hospitality and catering. The program covers the full migration cycle from pre-departure preparation and skills validation through the mobility period itself to a structured return phase. Its institutional backbone is a strengthened partnership between ANAPEC  Moroccos national employment agency  and French counterpart bodies, supported by Expertise France as the lead implementing agency.

PRIM2, financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), builds on the first PRIM phase launched in 2020 and takes a territorial approach to migration governance. Working alongside the Souss-Massa and Oriental regions, PRIM2 supports regional authorities in translating national migration policies into locally owned and operationally grounded strategies. This decentralization of migration governance reflects Moroccos broader model of advanced regionalization and its ambition to manage migration as a development tool rather than a security problem.

EU Ambassador Dimiter Tzantchev, French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier and senior Moroccan government officials addressed the launch. Lecourtier situated the initiative explicitly within the decades-long Franco-Moroccan partnership, describing the programs as concrete expressions of a shared vision in which migration is a triple win  for the individual, for Morocco and for France. Tzantchev underlined the EUs framing: that THAMM+ is a direct implementation of the EU Talent Partnerships framework, committing the bloc to safe, legal and mutually beneficial migration as a bridge between European and Moroccan societies.

The launch is timely. Morocco has long been recognized as a model for migration governance in the region, owing to its 2013 National Immigration and Asylum Strategy developed under Royal impetus. THAMM+ and PRIM2 operationalize that strategic positioning by converting partnership declarations into funded, monitored and accountable programs. In a European context marked by growing pressure on irregular migration routes, the ability to demonstrate that legal, structured mobility works  and works at scale  carries considerable political significance for both sides of the Mediterranean.
Despite the ongoing escalation in the Middle East, crude heads for its biggest weekly loss in months.

Friday, April 10, 2026

Is there a ceasefire or not? That is the ultimate question asked by the oil markets as the Strait of Hormuz remains open, strikes on energy infrastructure in the Middle East continue unabated (one could even say the damage reported by Saudi Arabia should be a turbocharger for prices) and the Lebanese issue continues to escalate. Nevertheless, oil is set to post its largest weekly loss since July 2025, with ICE Brent closing this week around $96 per barrel.

Ceasefire Or Not, the Hormuz Is Still Closed. Despite the oil markets hopes for a gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz, commercial navigation through the waterway remains dominated by Tehran with Iranian cargoes accounting for all crude and refined product transits over the past two days.

Saudi Admits Substantial Damage to Fields. Saudi Arabia reported that this weeks attack on its 7 million b/d East-West pipeline led to a loss of 700,000 b/d in throughput capacity, whilst a separate drone strike on its Khurais facility curbed Aramcos crude output capacity by 300,000 b/d.

OPEC+ Output Collapses in March. According to S&P Global, members of OPEC+ slashed their combined production by 8.11 million b/d last month, seeing total output drop to 34.78 million b/d due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iraq cutting the most as it shut in some 2.75 million b/d.

China Allows State Refiners to Draw SPRs. The Chinese Energy Ministry has given state-owned refiners such as Sinopec and CNPC the approval to tap strategic oil reserves held in commercial storages, allowing the drawdown of up to 1 million b/d of crude from the 1.4 billion barrels of SPR inventories.

Rare Russian Tanker Bursts into Gulf. A Russian-flagged VLCC tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf, a rare move as ships usually seek to escape the blocked waterway, considering the ships history hauling Venezuelan oil it would most probably sail to Iran.

Japan Releases SPR for Struggling Refiners. Japans government plans to release 20 days worth of oil reserves to ensure stable domestic supply, tapping into its strategic petroleum reserves since March 16, with the public inventory of available crude currently totalling of 143 days of consumption.

Brazil Fights Its War on Oil Export Tax. Brazil will appeal a federal court ruling that suspended the governments recently announced 12% crude oil export tax for foreign investors such as TotalEnergies, Sinopec or Equinor, with Brazilian judges claiming such a windfall levy would be unconstitutional.

Shell Aims for Venezuelan Gas in 2027. Energy major Shell (LON:SHEL) announced it plans to commission the Loran-Manatee offshore field straddling the border between Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago next year, building up 1 Bcf/d of takeaway pipeline capacity to feed its gas to Atlantic LNG.

China Issues Additional Import Quotas. China has granted private refiners  the so-called teapots operating in the northeast of the country  additional import quotas totalling almost 55 million tonnes (402 million barrels) to guarantee high run rates as Beijing seeks to ensure stable fuel supply.

Mexico Makes U-Turn on Fracking. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has hinted at a potential government approval for fracking, marking a departure from her previous support for a full ban on hydraulic fracturing, as PEMEX seeks to lower its dependence on US natural gas imports.

US Tests Market Appetite for Sour SPR Barrels. The US Department of Energy is offering 30 million barrels of crude oil from its West Hackberry storage site, with proposals for potential oil swap deals expected until April 13, the third solicitation so far from Trumps 172-million-barrel SPR pledge.

Libya Rejoices as New Discoveries Abound. Libyas National Oil Corp. announced the discovery of three new oil and gas fields in the Ghadames and Murzuq basins, with the finds coming on the back of NOC teaming up with Eni, Repsol and Algerias Sonatrach on the three respective exploration areas.

Indonesia Diverts LNG for Domestic Use. Indonesian authorities have issued a directive to defer 9 LNG export cargoes from the countrys 11.5 mtpa Tangguh facility and instead use them domestically, adjourning prospective delivery dates to 2027 as Southeast Asia faces a gas supply crunch.



Relief in Sight for Japans Struggling Reactor. Japans leading generation company Tokyo Electric Power (TYO:9501) expects the worlds largest nuclear reactor in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa to start commercial operations on April 16, providing a massive boost to the countrys costly dependence on LNG imports.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices have declined by the biggest margin since the Iran war began in late February, with Brent crude for June delivery and WTI for May delivery retreating to the mid-$90s per barrel, alongside falling refined product prices. The United States and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, with Tehran allowing safe passage for shipping vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The two weeks are intended as a window to finalize a permanent settlement, with formal talks scheduled to begin in Pakistan. However, oil and commodity analysts at Standard Chartered have argued that the oil price correction could prove too deep, and oil prices could spike on any reports of escalation or re-emerging war rhetoric. Previously, StanChart had issued a second-quarter oil price forecast for Brent crude at $98/bbl, and WTI at 92.50/bbl. Brent crude for June delivery was trading at $95.57 per barrel at 14.30 pm ET, while WTI crude for May delivery was trading at $96.99/bbl

StanChart notes that near-term price movements continue to take direction from escalation and de-escalation in the Middle East conflict, which has triggered several regional flashpoints, reduced transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and shut-in production from Gulf countries. The analysts note that Brent is in backwardation along the forward curve, with the back of the curve stabilizing at $67-70 per barrel; however, they have predicted that oil prices are likely to remain $10-20/bbl higher than pre-conflict levels, supported by purchasing for strategic reserves and the logistical lags caused by the disruption.

Related: At Least 10 Countries Still Sending Ships Through Strait of Hormuz

StanChart expects this trend to continue even when OPEC attempts to resume maximum production capacity. While most Gulf production is from reservoirs with sufficient pressure to restart quickly, transit through the Strait of Hormuz has not suddenly become risk-free, with oil flows largely remaining at Irans discretion. The uncertainty regarding technical details on how vessels can transit safely remain unclear, something that will continue to weigh on vessel spot rates and insurance policies. The possibility of transit fees for passage also remains uncertain, although the Omani Minister of Transport has announced that the country has signed all agreements related to marine transport, stipulating that no fees will be imposed for passage. There are media reports that ships still require permission from the Iranian navy or risk being destroyed.

According to StanChart, Irans ability to exert such a high level of control over global energy supplies is unlikely to be acceptable to other Gulf producers in the long term, even if it is tolerated for a brief period to clear the vessel backlog. StanChart estimates that there are 426 tankers, 34 LPG carriers and 19 LNG carriers stranded at the Strait of Hormuz, with LNG cargoes likely to be among the first to transit. Recently, two Qatari vessels carrying LNG were forced to abandon an attempt to exit the Strait of Hormuz in what would have been the first export of Qatari LNG in more than a month. The tankers loaded their cargoes in late February just before hostilities began, before moving toward the eastern opening of the strait near Oman on Monday morning. However, they were forced to perform a U-turn on Monday morning. Iran had effectively choked off the waterway, allowing only approved or non-hostile vessels to pass.

That said, the natural gas outlook is not as bullish, with StanChart noting that the market is coping remarkably well with the near-term loss of the majority of Middle East gas supply. After all, disruption to Qatari LNG and UAE LNG cargoes is being broadly balanced by expected LNG supply growth in 2026, most notably from the United States.

Indeed, LNG production by the worlds largest LNG exporter could be enough to offset Middle Eastern volumes: U.S. LNG exports are expected to rise by ~13% in 2026, driven by new capacity from Venture Global LNG's Plaquemines and Cheniere Energy's (NYSE:LNG) Corpus Christi Stage 3. Port Arthur LNG (Texas) and Rio Grande LNG are scheduled to begin operations between 2027-2028, with further projects expected to come online in 2030/2031.

U.S. LNG export capacity is projected to more than double between 2024 and 2028, with exports expected to rise from 11.9 Bcf/d in 2024 to 21.5 Bcf/d by 2030, reinforcing the countrys position as the top global exporter. The rapid expansion requires significant new infrastructure to transport the feedgas. Thankfully, the startup of projects like the Matterhorn Express Pipeline is expected to mitigate takeaway capacity constraints, helping to stabilize Waha Hub prices.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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It all seemed pretty chaotic at the time, with Trump making seemingly contradictory statements every day and Iran, with its leaders killed and its infrastructure largely destroyed, making often empty but still worrying threats. However, the chart for oils rise is actually quite orderly, with a clearly defined Elliott Wave type pattern of three distinct

Of course, that wasnt the case. Whether it was in response to a clear and present danger from Irans nuclear program, a desperate attempt to deflect from news that the President would rather not have front and center, or as a favor to Benjamin Netanyahu, the bombs started to fall. Oil responded as you might expect, jumping sharply.

The last month or so has been a wild ride for those who trade oil futures or invest in energy stocks, which presumably describes pretty much everyone reading this. In the last few days of February, just before Israel and the US attacked Iranian targets, WTI futures were bouncing around the $65 level. That represented a five-month high but was still well within the range that seemed reasonable at the time. Presumably, at that point, the market generally agreed with my view that Donald Trumps stated opposition to wars and entanglements outside of the US and his oft-repeated vow to bring oil prices down made any attack on Iran unlikely. Yes, we had seen what had happened with Venezuela, and we heard the tough talk on Iran, but military action in the Middle East just looked extremely unlikely.

The last month or so has been a wild ride for those who trade oil futures or invest in energy stocks, which presumably describes pretty much everyone reading this. In the last few days of February, just before Israel and the US attacked Iranian targets, WTI futures were bouncing around the $65 level. That represented a five-month high but was still well within the range that seemed reasonable at the time. Presumably, at that point, the market generally agreed with my view that Donald Trumps stated opposition to wars and entanglements outside of the US and his oft-repeated vow to bring oil prices down made any attack on Iran unlikely. Yes, we had seen what had happened with Venezuela, and we heard the tough talk on Iran, but military action in the Middle East just looked extremely unlikely.

Of course, that wasnt the case. Whether it was in response to a clear and present danger from Irans nuclear program, a desperate attempt to deflect from news that the President would rather not have front and center, or as a favor to Benjamin Netanyahu, the bombs started to fall. Oil responded as you might expect, jumping sharply.

It all seemed pretty chaotic at the time, with Trump making seemingly contradictory statements every day and Iran, with its leaders killed and its infrastructure largely destroyed, making often empty but still worrying threats. However, the chart for oils rise is actually quite orderly, with a clearly defined Elliott Wave type pattern of three distinct moves up, each establishing a higher high, separated by two textbook retracements, forming progressively higher lows.

If you look at the far right-hand side of the above chart, you see what is starting to look like evidence of that pattern reversing itself. There has been a sharp move down, and it could be the beginning of a retracement of that move. So, logically and from a purely technical analysis perspective, we might expect to see that retracement continue to around 50% of the original move, followed by another move down.

However, as we all know, the moves over the last month have not been driven by technical factors. They have come as the war started, then there have been reactions to the flip-flopping comments of the President as to how long it will last and what the end goal of the operation is.

The sharp move down over the last couple of days (up until the time of writing here, which is Thursday PM) is a response to the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran, with the retracement following news that Israel is still attacking what it considers to be legitimate targets in Lebanon, and that Iran is still launching missiles at its Arab neighbors. The big questions, then, are whether the ceasefire will hold, whether it will give time for a negotiated, lasting peace, and whether that peace will include the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Those are things we cannot know at this point. Nor can we really trust the evidence of our ears should announcements about any of them be forthcoming. It is often said that the first casualty of war is truth, and this conflict certainly seems to prove that point. It is not that either side is necessarily deliberately lying; it is just that they are both, quite understandably, saying what suits them at any given time and viewing things from their own perspective.

So, given that we can expect no reliable indication of an outcome, we are left with the chart, and following what that suggests may not be a bad idea.

The reason Elliott Wave and other momentum and retracement models work is that the initial market move following dramatic news is almost always overdone, or at least looks that way after a few days, resulting in a retracement. Then, with sober reflection, traders decide that the news is significant after all and the initial move continues. Rinse and repeat

That is why I will be trading on the assumption that we are now seeing the beginning of a downward Elliott pattern, albeit with quite tight stops and an eye on my news feed. Any kind of ceasefire is a good sign, and nobody benefits from a long, drawn-out war, no matter how the rhetoric may indicate otherwise. That makes an agreement of some sort the most likely outcome from here, even if there are a few stumbles along the way.

And all of that suggests a move down in crude, back to somewhere around the end of February levels, maybe with a ten percent or so fear premium bringing the price to somewhere in the $70-75 range. Along the way, though, the stumbles will cause retracements of that drop, giving the classic zigzag look of an Elliott Wave formation.

That is my starting point for how to approach the next few weeks. Trust the relative order and predictability of the chart, rather than trying to react to news that may or may not tell you what the future will bring.
Chinese independent refiners are buying Iranian crude at a premium to Brent crude, for the first time in years, Reuters has reported, noting prices were driven higher by anticipated increases in Indian purchases of Iranian oil.

At least two so-called teapot refiners had bought cargoes of Iranian Light at premiums of between $1.50 and $2 per barrel to Brent crude this month, two unnamed trading sources told the publication, after the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on the commodity to manage international 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.

As a result, reports emerged earlier this week that India was expecting its first cargo of Iranian crude in seven years, set to arrive by the end of the week. 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.

Chinese refiners, meanwhile, just got new crude import quotas from Beijing and rushed to utilize them as global benchmarks dipped below $100 per barrel amid attempts to secure a ceasefire between the U.S. and Israel, and Iran.

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, despite refiners higher costs that are eroding their margins.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Japan will release additional volumes of crude oil next month, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said today, confirming earlier reports about more releases from inventories to handle the supply squeeze resulting from the war in the Middle East.

Last month, Japan began releasing oil from stockpiles, with plans in place to release a total of 50 days worth of demand. Japan is releasing a total of 80 million barrels of oil stocks, including 54 million barrels of crude and 26 million barrels of oil products, as part of the International Energy Agencys planned 400-million-barrel release from OECD stocks to tackle the shortages.

The May release in Japan will secure another 20 days of oil supply as Japan looks for alternatives to Middle Eastern oil, Reuters noted in a report on the news about the second release of oil from stockpiles.

The resource-scarce Asian nation is one of the biggest energy importers globally and relies on the Middle East for as much as 95% of its oil imports. The disruption in the region has spurred Japan into action that is reportedly already bearing fruit: the government says that by next month, it will have secured half of its imports from suppliers outside the Middle East.

The biggest among these alternative suppliers is bound to be the United States, according to a government document that Reuters cited this week and that says Japanese imports of U.S. crude oil for May will be four times higher than they were a year earlier. The publication recalled that Japans U.S. oil imports in May 2025 averaged 189,000 barrels daily, representing about 8% of the countrys total imports that month.

In addition to U.S. barrels, Japan is also seeking crude oil supply from Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Angola, the industry ministry said, as quoted by Reuters.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices could spike and hit again their peak Iran-war levels at nearly $120 per barrel if a full recovery of vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz takes until July, according to JP Morgan.

Despite the ceasefire announced earlier this week, traffic through the critical oil chokepoint remains severely restricted and under supervision and approval by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"The ceasefire has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and transit remains tightly controlled," maritime intelligence firm Windward said on Thursday.

"Transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted, coordinated, and selectively enforced," the firm said, noting that "There has been no return to open commercial navigation."

The market hopes that the Iran-U.S. negotiations this weekend could further de-escalate the situation and lead to a faster re-opening of commercial navigation at the Strait of Hormuz.

However, huge risks and uncertainties remain, including whether Iran would be willing to give up the Hormuz leverage in talks.

At any rate, the immediate optimism after the ceasefire that the Strait of Hormuz would quickly reopen to tanker traffic has faded, and analysts have started to calculate the timelines and potential renewed upward pressure on oil prices.

JP Morgan's analysts said in a Friday note that the market expects half of the normal flows to be restored by May and the traffic to be fully restored by June.

However, "a more gradual resumption to 100% of pre-war levels by July might introduce $15-to-$20-a-barrel upside risk to prices," JP Morgan's experts wrote in the note carried by Bloomberg.

Early on Friday, both international benchmarks traded at $95-97 per barrel.

On Thursday, Goldman Sachs analysts warned that Brent Crude is expected to average above $100 per barrel this year if the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly shut to tanker traffic for another month.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Chinese electric vehicle exports soared by 140% to a record high in March as the fuel price shock drove consumers back to EVs.

China exported as many as 349,000 electric vehicles last month, a record high number of any month ever, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association cited by Bloomberg.

Drivers in Asia Pacific, Europe, and the United States started searching for EVs and hybrid options amid soaring fuel prices, following the war in the Middle East. The conflict has trapped more than 10 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude supply at the Strait of Hormuz and hiked international oil prices to $100 per barrel and above, up from $70 before the conflict began.

As a result of the rapidly rising fuel prices, consumers are increasingly exploring EV options.

Showrooms across Asia, where the fuel crisis was first felt, are bustling with interest from consumers willing to buy EVs.

In Australia, the wait times for EVs have soared to by several months, the Australian Financial Review reports.

BYD, China's biggest EV manufacturer and top exporter, has said that the average wait time for its top-selling Sealion 7 and Atto 2 models has blown out to between two and three months, up from two to three weeks.

Autotrader, the UK's largest automotive marketplace, reported a surge in EV interest since the first bombing on Iran on February 28.

Our data shows a sharp rise in both new and used EV leads since the war began at the end of February, with used EV enquiries hitting record levels on the Autotrader marketplace, Ian Plummer, Chief Customer Officer at Autotrader, said at the end of March.

When people feel that traditional fuel is vulnerable to global events, the appeal of electric becomes far stronger so the conflict is acting as a significant catalyst for EV interest across the UK market.

Interest in EVs in the United States is also rising, as gasoline prices topped $4 per gallon nationwide. Yet, Morgan Stanley expects that an actual increased demand for EVs and hybrids in the U.S. could take place after about six consecutive months of high gasoline prices.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices were climbing back toward the $100 mark in early Asian trade on Friday as traders weighed fresh attacks across the region and doubts over whether the already-fragile Iran ceasefire will hold.

At the time of writing, WTI was trading at $99.17, up 1.33%, while Brent had climbed 0.92% to $96.80.

On the supply side, Saudi Arabias energy ministry has confirmed that recent attacks on the Kingdom have cut its oil production capacity by roughly 600,000 bpd and reduced flows through the East-West pipeline by around 700,000 bpd. The Kingdom also confirmed that a Saudi national had been killed in recent attacks on its energy infrastructure.

Elsewhere, Kuwait reported a new wave of drone attacks targeting vital infrastructure, although Iran denies launching any missiles toward any country since the ceasefire.

Israels Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted there is no ceasefire in Lebanon, but said direct peace negotiations have begun with the Lebanese government. This statement came after a wave of attacks across Lebanon on Wednesday led to at least 303 people being killed, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains very fragile, with President Trump claiming on social media that Iran was doing a very poor job of allowing oil through the Strait and it was not the agreement we have!

Irans President, Masoud Pezeshkian, claimed that Israels attacks on Lebanon represent a breach of the ceasefire terms.

Only a handful of ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire took effect, undermining hopes that supply might return to markets quickly.

Pakistan is set to host peace talks this weekend, but it may struggle to secure a durable agreement based on the signals coming from both Iran and the U.S. The most notable disagreements include ongoing attacks on Lebanon, Iran imposing a toll on tanker traffic, and nuclear enrichment.

For oil traders, sentiment continues to drive price swings, but the broader upward pressure on prices will continue to rise until oil flows and production return.

By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com

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An empty supertanker flying the flag of Russia has transited the Strait of Hormuz and moved into the Persian Gulf with Irans Kharg Island broadcast as its initial destination, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing vessel-tracking data.

The very large crude carrier (VLCC) Arhimeda, built in 2000, moved into the Gulf from the Strait of Hormuz late on Thursday, as the market and analysts are focusing on monitoring how traffic through the chokepoint is now faring after the ceasefire announced on Tuesday night.

Arhimeda took the flag of Russia in January this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The last known cargo the vessel has moved was a shipment of Venezuelas Merey crude in August 2025, months before the U.S. took control of Venezuelas oil exports.

Arhimeda, under its previous name Vizuri, was blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department, due to its links to trade with Iranian oil.

While the Arhimeda made a rare trip into the Strait of Hormuz, traffic has remained at a virtual standstill even after the ceasefire.

Iran continues to control the transits through the Strait of Hormuz and is publicly indicating it would charge toll fees for vessels using the chokepoint.

Contrary to market expectations of quick resumption of vessel traffic, The ceasefire has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and transit remains tightly controlled, maritime intelligence firm Windward said in a note on Thursday.

About 3,200 vessels remain stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, including about 800 tankers and cargo ships, the firm said.

Part of the traffic flows have restructured across Oman and the east coast ports of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in recent weeks, instead of returning to normal, according to Windward.

Transit volumes remain low and highly selective, said the intelligence firm, adding that No major operators or oil majors have resumed activity.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabia's SATORP refinery, jointly owned by Aramco and TotalEnergies, was shut down after one of two refining units was damaged by incidents earlier this week, the French supermajor said in an update to the market on Friday.

The SATORP site was affected by incidents that occurred during the night of April 7 to 8, causing damage to one of the refinerys two processing trains, TotalEnergies said today.

No casualties were reported. As a safety precaution, the units were shut down. An assessment of the consequences for the refinerys operations is currently underway, said the French group, which owns 37.5% in the refinery.

Saudi state oil giant Aramco holds the other 62.5% of the refinery, whose total processing capacity is 460,000 barrels per day (bpd). SATORP is located in the city of Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) confirmed late on Thursday that several energy facilities, including the SATORP refinery, had halted operations due to recent attacks.

Important energy facilities in the Kingdom have recently been subjected to multiple attacks, including oil and gas production, transportation, and refining facilities, as well as petrochemical facilities and the electricity sector in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City, the press agency reported, citing an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Energy.

The attacks included one at the pumping stations on the East-West Pipeline, leading to a loss of approximately 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) in throughput. The pipeline has been Saudi Arabias main route for crude exports since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively blocked to traffic at the beginning of the war.

The attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure have also extended to major refining facilities, including SATORP in Jubail, the Ras Tanura refinery, the SAMREF refinery in Yanbu, and Riyadh refinery, directly affecting exports of refined products to global markets, Saudi Arabia said.

The hits to energy facilities in Saudi Arabia are reducing the potential to export crude and fuels even if the Strait of Hormuz re-opens to some semblance of normal traffic. As of early Friday, Iran remains in control of the critical oil and LNG chokepoint, where transits continue to be highly selective and subject to prior Iranian approval.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Ukraine will complete in the spring repairs on the damaged oil pipeline Druzhba, which carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

At the end of January, the Druzhba oil pipeline was damaged in what Ukraine said was a Russian drone attack.

Supplies of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, the last two remaining EU member states dependent on Russian crude flows via Druzhba, have been halted since January 27.

We will complete the repairs because that is the agreement. I told them we would finish this spring, Zelenskyy said on Friday in remarks to reporters carried by Reuters.

A lot has already been done there... Of course, destroyed storage tanks cannot be repaired quickly, the Ukrainian president added.

Hungary and Slovakia, which have kept close ties with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, have accused Ukraine of delaying the repair works.

Hungary, whose top officials have remained in contact with Russias leadership, including Vladimir Putin, has continuously clashed with its fellow EU member states over plans to ditch Russian gas by 2027 and cut off oil supply from Moscow as soon as possible.

Earlier this year, Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a previously agreed EU loan of $105 billion (90 billion euros) to Ukraine, due to the dispute over the Druzhba oil pipeline repairs and oil supplies to Hungary.

Hungary last month moved to phase out natural gas supplies to Ukraine in the third quarter, in a Hungarian move to retaliate for the halted oil flows from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline.

Hungary has banned its gas operator from holding auctions for supply to Ukraine in the third quarter, after Orban threatened several times that Budapest would cut off gas deliveries to Ukraine until oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline resume.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

A decade-long meth addict and shoplifter Joshua Merkel is suing for $10,000 for injuries he faced when he was caught and repeatedly hit by the store clerk for shoplifting at a Beaverton area Albertsons. A previous criminal case of assault was charged against the store clerk but failed to convince the jury. Now it is going to a civil case.

Merkel said he was hungry, but he had money in his pocket.

Sometimes stopping a thief can be aggressive. The recent closure of the Portland NE Grocery Outlet revealed that if stores do not intervene on shoplifting, the word spreads among the homeless and addict community like lightning and then the store faces a flood of shoplifters. That outlet store, as said, closed over shoplifting. These criminals are destroying the jobs of the employees. These clerks are not just stopping a crime, but they are trying to stop their livelihood from being dismantled.

Liberal judges, prosecutors and defunding police have caused shoplifting calls to go unanswered. This has turned our grocery stores into the wild west. This is unfair to our grocery stores.

In this case, Merkel had a near full shopping cart. When caught, he showed resistance. This creates a dangerous situation.

Follow more here.
I recently read former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudds book on U.S. China relations, titled The Avoidable War. He notes how many American policymakers have seen Communism as an aberration in Chinese history, and that mistaken assumption leads to unwarranted expectations that engagement with Beijing can be transformative to Chinas political culture.

Good luck with that. Rudd has a nice passage reminding us how centralized state authority in China goes back thousands of years.

In addition to Marxist-Leninist ideology, Chinese nationalism also became a mainstay of the partys continuing claim to domestic political legitimacy. This began soon after Tiananmen in 1989 and accelerated after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But Xi Jinping made cultivating nationalism an even stronger priority, leveraging an increasingly sophisticated propaganda apparatus that has seamlessly fused the imagery of the modern CCP with the national mythology of a proud and ancient Chinese civilization.

This has included the rehabilitation of Confucianism, once dismissed by the CCP as reactionary and anticommunist, as part of the restoration of the partys emphasis on the uniqueness of Chinas national political philosophy. According to the official line, a long-standing continuity of benign hierarchical governance (as represented by Confucianism) is what differentiates China from the rest of the world. The shorthand form of Xis political narrative is simple: Chinas historical greatness, across its dynastic histories, always lay in strong, authoritarian, hierarchical Confucian governments. By corollary, Chinas historical greatness was never the product of Western liberal democracy or any Chinese variation of it. By extension, Chinas future national greatness can lie only in the continued adaptation of its indigenous political legacy, derived from the hierarchical tradition of the Confucian/communist state.

We should manage expectations that the right foreign policy can change China.

Eric Shierman lives in Salem and is the author of We were winning when I was there.
Trump "optimistic" on peace deal with Iran despite strained ceasefire: report

Xinhua) 10:41, April 10, 2026

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was "very optimistic" a peace deal with Iran was within reach as Vice President JD Vance is prepared to head to Pakistan for talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to an NBC News report.

Iran's leaders "talk much differently when you're at a meeting than they do to the press. They're much more reasonable," Trump said during a phone interview with NBC News.

"They're agreeing to all the things that they have to agree to," he claimed. "If they don't make a deal, it's going to be very painful."

Trump said he had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and noted that the Israelis were "scaling back" operations in Lebanon.

"I spoke with Bibi (Netanyahu) and he's going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key," he said.

Israel and Lebanon will start their first round of direct negotiations next week in Washington, D.C., with the United States, Israel and Lebanon represented at the ambassadorial level, online U.S. media outlet Axios reported Thursday, citing a senior Israeli official.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf have stressed that stopping attacks on Lebanon is an integral part of the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Again, Governor Kotek signs a massive tax bill. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed into law SB 1507, which will increase taxes on Oregon businesses by $311 million.

It raises the money by stealing some of the tax breaks from the 2025 Congress Tax Cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill by disconnecting from the state savings from the car interest deduction and the business depreciation deduction.

Last year, nine states cut their income taxes.

As states cut their taxes, Oregon is raising the tax burden by passing higher taxes and fees. This is a path to tax revenue decline.

Businesses often rate their number one priority in savings is to deduct expensive new investments immediately and not slow rolling the savings over many years.

Our CPA Chair, Hon. Tom Butler, shared this warning over the bills impact of splitting depreciation reporting;  Oregon has previously disconnected from federal tax law regarding accelerated depreciation. It became the Tax Preparers Full Employment Act! It requires businesses to file separate Oregon depreciation schedules for the life and holding periods of new assets. In some cases, were talking about thousands of assets with multiple Oregon depreciation adjustments. When those assets are eventually sold or abandoned, additional reconciliations are required. In addition to discouraging capital investment in Oregon, the Oregon DORs administration of these adjustments can be extremely costly.

 Was this article helpful? If yes, please contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Namibias Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi will pay an official visit to China from April 11 to 18.

CCTV: The U.S. House select committee on China has recently published a so-called whistleblower email account on its website, asking academics, researchers, and university faculty and staff to report research partnerships involving entities tied to Chinas defense or industrial base. What is Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: Apparently, this so-called select committee has no scruples whatsoever in its attempt to suppress and contain China. In recent years, the U.S., by overstretching the concept of national security, has deliberately disrupted normal China-U.S. sci-tech exchanges and cooperation, and wantonly gone after Chinese students and scholars. Such practices will only backfire and dampen the U.S.s own innovation dynamism.

Nippon TV: This is the second day of Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting the DPRK. Will he meet General Secretary Kim Jong Un? Also is there any information that the foreign ministry could share?



Mao Ning: Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting the DPRK and the Chinese side has released some readouts on the visit. If there is more information, we will release it in a timely manner. Please check back for updates.

Anadolu Agency: Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire reached between the U.S. and Iran, which the mediator country Pakistan especially said will cover all conflict zones including Lebanon. The violation of the ceasefire also brings an uncertainty on prospective peace talks between the U.S. and Iran as the Iranian side said they will not participate in peace talks until a ceasefire is also established in Lebanon. Whats Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: The ceasefire arrangement should help put an end to the fighting and restore peace and stability in the region. We call on relevant sides to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means, remain calm, exercise restraint and work for deescalation in the region.

The Paper: The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) entered into force in January this year. China has applied to host the secretariat in Xiamen. As the United States has yet to ratify the agreement and is cutting support to the UN budget, some media see this as China taking advantage of the situation to expand its influence in ocean governance. How do you respond to this?



Mao Ning: What lies at the heart of multilateralism is the approach of seeking solutions through consultations by all stakeholders, confronting challenges together and sharing opportunities and prosperity, rather than a zero-sum game mentality. The conclusion and entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is a triumph of multilateralism and a significant milestone in global ocean governance. The full and effective implementation of the agreement bears on the common wellbeing of humanity. China, committed to true multilateralism, attaches high importance to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and stands ready to make new contributions to global ocean governance.

Belteleradio Company: How does the Chinese side assess the current state of Belarusian-Chinese relations, and do the economic ties correspond to the political ones?



Mao Ning: China and Belarus are all-weather comprehensive strategic partners. Over recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, bilateral relations have achieved sound and steady development, and cooperation in various fields has continued to deepen. In 2025, bilateral trade reached US$ 8.86 billion, up by 5.5 percent year-on-year. China stands ready to work with Belarus, under the fundamental guidance of the important common understandings between the two presidents, to promote the steady growth of bilateral relations.

NHK: The Japanese government published its annual diplomatic bluebook today. Compared with last year, its description of China has changed from one of the most important bilateral relations to an important neighbor. How does the foreign ministry view this change in the wording?



Mao Ning: The root cause for the current situation in China-Japan relations is that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made the erroneous remarks on Taiwan and breached Japans commitments, which erodes the political foundation of China-Japan relations and challenges the postwar international order. The Japanese side needs to abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments, reflect on and correct its wrongdoings, and take concrete actions to uphold the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

Prensa Latina News Agency: We see the international campaign for Cuba is growing. Recently, U.S. Congress members spoke against the blockade and asked for better relations with the island. They want to prevent and speak out against any U.S. military action against Cuba. What is Chinas opinion on this?



Mao Ning: We noted some U.S. lawmakers have visited Cuba recently and expressed opposition to the U.S.s hostile policy against the country. The U.S. government needs to listen to the just calls and immediately stop the blockade and sanctions as well as coercion and pressuring of any form against Cuba. China stands ready to work with the international community to firmly support Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security and opposing external interference.
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Any story about the Democrats social media strategy is practically required to begin with Michelle Obamas famous 2016 declaration that when Republicans go low, Democrats should go high. The former first lady was talking specifically about the cruel bullying that had come to dominate Donald Trumps first run for president, but a lot has changed since then. Now not only are Democrats more than happy to go low to fight social media fire with fire, but theyre also happy to get down and dirtywell, freaky, if were being honest.

Its hole filling season, the official X account for the state of New York tweeted on Wednesday in a missive that to innocent eyes presumably concerned pothole-repair efforts. But to those in the know, it signaled a craven horniness that can come only after a long, brutal winter, both literally and politically. A similar message was also shared on the official state Instagram channel, where it no doubt immediately showed up in countless gay mens Close Friends stories. Oh  well thats one way to put it, I suppose, the Utah Department of Transportation account wrote in the comments.

To be on social media lately is to be swimming in innuendo and bawdy humor from official liberal channels, particularly when it comes to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 16 INCHES, read a caption plastered over an image of Mamdanis smirk, which some have dubbed a hung smile, shared by the official Democrats account on Instagram in February, ostensibly to update residents on winter snowfall. Every street across all 5 boroughs PLOWED, read another posted that same month, again over a smoldering photo of the new mayor. And just in case you missed the message, the party followed it up again last month with a post letting us know that the number of HOLES FILLED under Mamdanis tenure so far had toppedto use an appropriate term66,000 so far. (There was also a rather ill-advised post in February comparing a Mamdani meeting with President Donald Trump to the gay lovers on Heated Rivalry.)

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Certainly, its rather galling to see Democrats lean so heavily into suggestively promoting Mamdani as a pinup after power brokers worked so hard to stymie the democratic socialists stunning political ascent last year, but the partys risque posts arent just about him. When Kristi Noems husband was outed earlier this month as having a cross-dressing kink, Democrats tweeted images of Noem wearing different outfits shed sported during taxpayer-funded stunts and wrote, Thats cute. They both like to dress up. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, taking a leaf out of the Trumpian Burn Book, has also been repeatedly mocking, to the displeasure of some on the left, Sen. Lindsey Graham and far-right commentator Benny Johnson as being secretly gay by referencing the hookup app Grindr. And last year, when Elon Musk was thought to have poached Katie Miller on his way out of the White House, the Democrats responded by sharing an image of a cuck chair and tagging her husband, Trump official Stephen Miller. We were all kind of talking about it, and all of us really wanted to do it, Democratic National Committee digital content and creative director Paulina Mangubat told Slate last year of the cuck-chair tweet. Were kind of fighting the same demons and doubts about it, but ultimately, the post it side won.

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Its not just Mangubat pursuing this sex-sells strategy. Amid discussion from top Democrats about whether the party needs to focus on nominating a hot candidate in 2028, strategist Monica Venzke has made headlines for starting an Instagram account, Boyfriends We Deserve, to share Valentines-themed photos of candidates surrounded by love hearts (including one of Jack Schlossberg that was shared by his campaign), as well as thirsty fancams of Sen. Jon Ossoff that evoke this years Wuthering Heights movie. Venzke told USA Today she wants to try to make it sexy to be a Democrat again.

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Putting aside how weird it feels to see political parties, let alone official government social media accounts, get horny on main, there is some strategy hereone that Democratic social media players like Mangubat are evidently proud of. On LinkedIn last month, she detailed how the 16 INCHES and PLOWED messages had gone viral, describing her excitement at seeing what were essentially notifications about city services turn up on non-DNC accounts as reaction memes. Ive also learned that in the ~attention economy~, political messaging has to be memetic. Content needs to be easily repeatable and addictive to share, otherwise its not really worth posting, Mangubat wrote. In sum: New York City took 16 INCHES and subsequently got PLOWED by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Dems deliver!

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Lets be frank: Mangubat is right. My social media feeds were awash with those suggestive Mamdani pictures, and I know its not just because my friends are especially freaky. (Although they are.) Wednesdays tweet from New York state, for example, was also picked up by the prudish New York Post and reshared by Pop Crave, an account not typically concerned with municipal public works. After all, we are living in an era when people are creating fake social media accounts for our national parks to share spicy videos as part of efforts to shine a light on Trump administration cuts. Hell, one of the most viral tweets from this week was a post using the presidents words to describe a gay bareback orgy. Evidently, deep down, we are all slutty little piggies.

To be clear, this isnt the be-all-and-end-all solution to the Democrats many problems. For one, these lewd, sexualized posts can only really be made about male politicians (and with good reason). Moreover, the 2025 Democratic National Convention was teeming with jokes and innuendo about J.D. Vance supposedly making love to a couch, and look where that got them. And yes, these posts require us to read them in the squeaky voice of a snickering teenage boy. But since the party is trying to win back young men, is that really such a bad thing?

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Given the Trump administration has made racist shitposting their entire social media strategy in order to prop-up a party full of anti-sex figures, its not unreasonable for the Democrats to be seen to be having a little fun when it comes to sex. They wontand shouldntmake posting like Trump their lodestar, but not everything needs to feel focus group-tested or vetted by 100 party officials. Indeed, a party trying to tone down its stuffiness and abandon the perception of being scolds could do much worse than engaging in a little smut from time to time.
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Our first lady has established herself as a queen of lying low, so after Melania Trump strutted into a White House summit with a robot a couple weeks ago, I assumed that would be a wrap on her for a while. She got her time sheet stamped for the spring and was free to retreat back to New York or Palm Beach until she had some new NFTs to sell, I assumed. Instead, Melania is back on our screens already, and, whats more, she has a lot to say about Jeffrey Epstein and how much she doesnt know him. Confused? Youre not alone. Heres a rundown of what exactly is going on with the first lady and the notorious convicted sex offender.

What did Melania Trump say about Epstein?

On Thursday, she surprised the press by delivering a six-minute statement at the White House denying that she knew or had any relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today, she said. In the statement, she acknowledged that she had met the two, attended events where they were present, and had emailed with Maxwell, but apparently, none of that constitutes a relationship. She added that it was not Epstein who introduced her to President Donald Trump, she was not a victim of theirs, and she had no knowledge of their crimes. She also called on Congress to give a hearing to Epsteins victims.

Seems kind of out of nowhere. Was anyone even thinking about her and Epstein?

Yes and no. The Epstein scandal has been Topic A in the news at several points since Trump came back into office, and Melania has taken umbrage before at the suggestion that she has anything to do with it. But Epstein talk has definitely been on the back burner in recent weeks, with the war in Iran especially taking precedence.

Was she telling the truth about not knowing Epstein and Maxwell?

After the statement, a well-known photo of Donald Trump, Melania, Epstein, and Maxwell together at an event in the year 2000, standing close and looking awfully cozy, began to circulate online once again. In it, they definitely look like people who know one another, to say the least. The email Melania referred to in the statement, sent by her to Maxwell in 2002, also isnt hard to find. In it, the first lady complimented Maxwell on a recent profile of Epstein that had appeared in New York magazine and invites her to call her when she is back in New York.

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Melania dismissed it as casual correspondence, but she also signed it Love, Melania. Even if they werent the best of friends, its hard to believe that they had zero relationshipclearly, there was some connection there, even if it was just at an acquaintance level. The president, meanwhile, had a much deeper relationship with Epsteina real friendship. In trying to disassociate herself from the scandal, Melanias lack of acknowledgment of her husbands ties to Epstein stands out as a confusing, but increasingly familiar, bit of cognitive dissonance.

Did President Trump know she was going to do this?

Its unclear. According to the New York Times, a spokesperson for Mrs. Trump said the president knew that the first lady planned to make a statement, but later said it was not clear if Mr. Trump was aware of the topic of her remarks. In a phone call with an MS Now reporter, Mr. Trump said he had no prior knowledge of what she had planned to say. I certainly dont have any trouble believing Trump has no idea whats going on in his wifes mind or his administration. If its not the ballroom redesign, hes pretty over it.

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How has the reaction to the statement been? Do we think this is going to go well for Melania?

It definitely was unexpectedCNN called the statement stunning, and so did the New York Post. I think what was so shocking is that Melania rarely speaks, first of all, but also how comparatively little people have been talking about her and the Epstein filesthere has been much more focus on her husband. Bringing it up kind of seems like an unforced error and invitation for a Streisand effect.

Jimmy Kimmel suggested that the only explanation for Melania bringing it up is that she hates her husband, but Im not so sure about that. While its certainly possible, I go back to the cognitive dissonance thing. Whether or not she hates him, I know that she cares a lot about what people think about her and has an askew, inflated idea of how much theyre doing it, without her husbands innate sense for reputation management. This is a woman who thought the movie Melania was a great representation of her imagean astute communication strategist with a coherent viewpoint she is not.

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So why did she feel so moved to give this statement, and why now?

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Some have suggested that the reason behind the timing must be that something else incriminating for Melania is about to break. Less likely seeming is the notion that the statement is an attempt to distract the press and public from the warits not like getting everybody foaming at the mouth over Epstein again is going to make the administration look good, considering how deeply implicated the president is.

My bet is that Melania has been nursing a weird grudge about all this and simply felt compelled to say something. Shes done it before: Recall that in 2024, we learned that the reason Melania wore her infamous I Really Dont Care, Do U? jacket in the first Trump term was to stick it to her stepdaughter, Ivanka, for the sin of pulling focus away from Melania, a grievance that absolutely no one else was aware of or cared about but that apparently drove the first lady insane. Im telling you, one way that she and Trump are actually well-matched is in how egotistical they are. It is not at all hard to believe that Melania would make a statement designed to salvage her own reputation, even if it simultaneously sells out her husbands. She has a history of completely ignoring national and international crises because she is too wrapped up in her own petty dramas. Lets not forget her failure to condemn the Jan. 6 rioters because she was too busy with a rug photo shoot, or her complaints that the media needed to give her a fucking break about migrant children separated from their families because she was working  [her] ass off on the White House Christmas decorations. She will absolutely be pissed about people bringing up her name in the same sentence as Jeffrey Epstein until the end of time. Unfortunately for her, her decision to speak out about it has all but ensured that no ones going to forget it anytime soon.
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Justice Sonia Sotomayor is taking direct aim at Kavanaugh stops, the race-based detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection that Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority blessed last year. At an event on Tuesday, Sotomayor rebuked Kavanaugh for his now-notorious opinion declaring that immigration agents may detain Latinos based, at least in part, on their apparent ethnicity. Kavanaugh was attempting to justify his support for a 63 Supreme Court decision effectively green-lighting overt racial profiling in immigration enforcement. Critics quickly dubbed these detentions Kavanaugh stops, thus forever associating the justice with the persecution of Latinos. Reflecting on his opinion this past Tuesday, Sotomayor stated: I had a colleague in that case who wrote, you know, these are only temporary stops. This is from a man whose parents were professionals. And probably doesnt really know any person who works by the hour.

On this weeks Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed Sotomayors blunt, public reproach of her colleague and the tactical considerations that may lie behind itespecially in light of a brand-new legal challenge to Kavanaugh stops just filed in New York. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: Justice Sotomayor usually goes out of her way to compliment her colleagues when she does these talks, including those on the right. She focuses on collegiality and how they all respect each other. Shes made headlines for lavishing praise on Clarence Thomas in the past. So why did she aim this dagger at Kavanaugh?

Mark Joseph Stern: Well, I think this was almost certainly intentional and preplanned. When Justice Sotomayor does these public events, she generally seems to plant questions with her interlocutor that will allow her to make a statement. She knows shes going to make news. So no one should think this was just Sotomayor riffing off the cuff. I believe its something she wanted both us and Kavanaugh to hear.

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The same is probably true of her comments at a different eventlater in the weekon Thursday, when she said of her colleagues: I dare say that with virtually all of them, I certainly have a civil relationship. And with many of them, I think I dare say that I have a friendship. For years, she used to say the Supreme Court was a family and that they all got along greatthey were all friends who worked together, ate together, and liked each other. Shes not saying that anymore. If she has a civil relationship with virtually all of them, that means not all of them. And based on her remarks, its not difficult to guess with which justice she might not have a civil relationship: Brett Kavanaugh.

When you look at the substance of what she says, she doesnt just say he got the law wrong. She wants him to know what he doesnt understand. She said: Those hours that they took you away, nobodys paying that person. And that makes a difference between a meal for him and his kids that night and maybe just cold supper. And he doesnt understand that because his parents had white-collar jobs. He doesnt have that life experience. He doesnt know what its like to be a day laborer who gets scooped up by masked agents outside a Home Depot then held for hours.

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Thats a different kind of critique. But she also said that she wrote her dissent not as a Latina whos insulted, but to convince Kavanaugh he was breaking with precedent. So this is just an interesting turn for her. Shes not just saying: Im not talking as a Latina whos pissed off because he doesnt know what hes wrought on the people of my community. Shes saying that he maybe wants to think again. That does lead me to question whether shes perhaps trying to subtly convince him that he should change his mind. She may actually be strategically laying the groundwork for him to think about doing this right next time.

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Its almost like were seeing interpersonal deliberations that usually go on behind the curtain boiling over into public talks, which is extraordinarily unusual. I do think shes trying to give Kavanaugh a second bite at the apple. She didnt just say: Hes wrong and hes bad. She suggested that he just didnt really understand what was involved with these detentions because hes sheltered and privileged. And that leaves open the possibility that if he did understand what they entailed, he would understand that precedent doesnt actually allow them. So in the future, that precedent could be restored.

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That would be a smart play, because Kavanaugh himself has indicated that he might regret his Kavanaugh stop opinion. In Decembers Trump v. Illinoiswhich was not directly about this issuehe dropped a random footnote declaring that immigration stops must be brief and based on reasonable suspicion of illegal presence, and cannot be based on race or ethnicity. Thats not what he said in his earlier opinion, when he insisted that its OK for federal officers to make immigration stops based on race or ethnicity. So I think that hes given a sign that he might be willing to walk that back. And maybe Justice Sotomayor is taking him up on it. I dont know why this conversation didnt happen over a collegial lunch at the court, but Im glad it didnt, because Kavanaugh is pretty responsive to public pressure. We know he feels the need to protect his reputation and defend his votes. I wonder if Justice Sotomayor is trying to signal that the pressure is working and hes changing his mind.

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It could be that she didnt bring this up over lunch at the court because the way to talk to Kavanaugh is through the people, right? Because he craves their approval. So shes laid out the steps: One, he had absolutely no idea what he was talking about in terms of what those stops are like. Two, hes privileged and he has never experienced working by the hour and what those losses are like. Three, now that hes disgraced himself and severely harmed people around the country, hes got a chance to redeem himself. Its all of those moves. Shes being tactical in a way Justice Kagan is often credited with.

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That takes us right to a new class action lawsuit filed this week by immigration advocates seeking to end Kavanaugh stops in New York. It argues that ICE and CBP are unconstitutionally detaining people based solely on their perceived Latino ethnicity and asks for a classwide injunction against racial profiling in immigration enforcement throughout the state. This is essentially an opportunity to give Kavanaugh a vehicle for a do-over and a chance to correct an opinion that I think he genuinely had no idea would inflict such enormous harms, or would look this bad for him.

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Thats right, and it also forces him to confront those harms head on. One plaintiff in this suit, who lives here lawfully, thought he was being robbed because an unmarked black SUV almost hit him in a crosswalk, then agents leapt out and kidnapped him. He was illegally detained for two days. Another plaintiff was abducted while driving his daughter, a minor, to school, and the agents left his terrified daughter alone in the car when they took him away. These facts are nauseatingly familiar at this point. And the suit cites Kavanaughs previous effort to walk back Kavanaugh stops to tell him: You said immigration stops cant be based on race or ethnicity. Well, every single day, New York residents are being detained simply because theyre Latino. That is the policy of ICE and CBP under Donald Trump. And this suit is an opportunity to make that stop.

If the lower courts grant this injunction, the Trump administration will almost certainly take it to SCOTUS. And it really does fold in nicely with Justice Sotomayors possible pressure campaign on Kavanaugh. This could be the case that undoes some of the harms of Kavanaugh stops and imposes real, enforceable limits on racial profiling by immigration agents. We need that badly, because right now in this country, you are subject to being stopped, arrested, abducted, and imprisoned if you look Latino.
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There are Supreme Court cases that arrive draped in abstraction. Their stakes are real, but the dispute comes to the court in such rarefied doctrinal form that the underlying injury almost disappears. Then there are cases like Pitchford v. Cain, in which the doctrinal maze is itself the story. By the time Terry Pitchfords claim reached the justices last week, the central question was no longer simply whether racial discrimination had infected the selection of the jury that convicted him and sent him to death row. It was whether federal courts, hemmed in by the modern law of habeas corpus, are permitted to say anything meaningful about that possibility at all.

That is what made last weeks Pitchford arguments so revealing. On one level, the case concerns a familiar constitutional principle. Batson v. Kentucky holds that prosecutors may not use peremptory strikes to exclude prospective jurors on the basis of race. On another level, though, Pitchford is about what happens when that principle collides with the punishing procedural architecture of modern postconviction review. A court can believe that racial discrimination in jury selection is intolerable. It can say, correctly, that such discrimination degrades the defendant, the excluded jurors, and the legitimacy of the justice system itself. But if the claim reaches federal court through habeas, after state review, and under the command of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 that federal judges defer unless a state court is not just wrong but unreasonable, even a serious equal protection claim can be reduced to a narrower and more desiccated inquiry: Did the defendants lawyer say enough, precisely enough, quickly enough, at exactly the right moment, to preserve the argument?

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Pitchford was tried in Grenada County, Mississippi, in 2006 for a capital murder committed when he was 18. The county was about 40 percent Black. The jury that convicted him included one Black juror. According to Pitchfords briefing, the prosecutor, Doug Evans, marked prospective jurors by race, using W and B, then struck each of the first four qualified Black jurors while accepting 16 of the first 18 qualified white jurors. Three of the Black jurors Evans struck were never asked any questions during voir dire. The prosecutor and the trial judge were not unfamiliar names. They were the same prosecutor and judge who later appeared in Flowers v. Mississippi, the 2019 Supreme Court decision condemning Evans pattern of striking Black prospective jurors in each of the six trials in which Curtis Flowers faced the death penalty.

At trial, after the state struck four Black prospective jurors, defense counsel raised a Batson objection. She argued that there appeared to be a trend of striking almost all of the available Black jurors and reminded the court that the jury had already become disproportionately white because of cause challenges, including death qualification. She also invoked Miller-El v. Dretke, another Supreme Court case involving racial discrimination in jury selection. The trial judge then asked the state for race-neutral reasons for the strikes. The judge accepted each explanation as race neutral and moved on.

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That last sentence is where the law starts to split into two narratives. Pitchfords narrative is that the trial court conducted only the first two steps of Batson and skipped the third. Under Batson, the first step asks whether the defendant has made a prima facie showing of discrimination. The second asks whether the prosecutor can articulate a race-neutral explanation. The third, and most important, requires the court to decide whether the explanation is credible or instead pretextual. That is the stage at which the court is supposed to look at the whole picture: patterns of strikes, lack of questioning, disparate treatment of similarly situated white jurors, implausible justifications, the prosecutors history, the texture of the voir dire, the common sense of what unfolded in the room. Pitchford says that never happened here. Mississippis courts, then the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, answered that whatever more detailed pretext arguments Pitchford later developed on appeal were waived because his defense attorney did not present them to the trial judge at the crucial moment.

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The court granted review on a narrow question: whether, under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, the Mississippi Supreme Court had unreasonably determined that Pitchford waived his right to rebut the prosecutors asserted race-neutral reasons. It did not grant review to decide the Batson claim in the first instance. And that limited grant shaped the oral argument from the opening minute.

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Joseph Perkovich, arguing for Pitchford, tried to do two things at once. He wanted to convince the justices that this was not merely a preservation dispute but a case in which the trial court had fundamentally failed to carry out Batsons third step. And he wanted to show that the state Supreme Courts ruling that Pitchfords lawyer had waived relief was not merely debatable but unreasonable even by the AEDPAs demanding standards. His opening was carefully built around that distinction. The trial court, he argued, grasped and conducted just two of Batsons three steps. According to Perkovich, the judge never determined the credibility of the prosecutors explanations; had the judge done what Step 3 requires, Perkovich asserted, the court would have considered the absence of meaningful questioning, the lack of record support for several explanations, and the irrelevance of some proffered reasons to the case. He also invoked Evans history, including prior Mississippi capital reversals finding serious prosecutorial misconduct.

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But the justices were not inclined to let him remain at that altitude for long. Justice Clarence Thomas cut immediately to the heart of the states position: Did trial counsel make those arguments? Did she offer argument or evidence that the prosecutors reasons were pretextual? Perkovichs answer was telling. He did not say yes in the straightforward sense. He said that counsel had timely made the Batson objection and attempted to engage the three-step process but that the third step never occurred. When Thomas pressed again, noting that trial counsel later submitted an affidavit seemingly acknowledging that she had not raised those objections, Perkovich tried to cabin the affidavit as a later document that mirrored the Mississippi Supreme Courts ruling rather than independently describing what the law required.

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That exchange exposed Pitchfords core problem. The court is not writing on a blank slate. It is reading a cold transcript under a regime of extreme deference, where a claim that feels powerful can still founder if the justices conclude that Mississippis reading of the record was at least reasonable. Chief Justice John Roberts pursued that point by focusing on defense counsels statement that at some point the defense is going to want to reserve both its Batson objection and a 14th Amendment racial discrimination argument. Roberts wondered whether that phrasing itself suggested confusion, either by counsel or by the trial judge, about whether the objection was then being made or merely marked for later elaboration. Roberts concern went to what several justices seemed to view as the cases central interpretive challenge about how much an appellate court should infer from the supposed ambiguity of a lawyer saying at some point and the judge replying that the objection is already in the record.

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Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan seemed the most willing to read that colloquy in Pitchfords favor. Jackson suggested that defense counsels words could fairly be understood to mean she was prepared to make the showing and asking for the opportunity to do so. It sounded to Jackson as though the trial court was cutting counsel off, perhaps mistakenly saying the work had already been done. That theme drew its clearest support from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who seemed deeply troubled that the trial judge had never actually performed Step 3 at all. Kagan approached the case by focusing on the structure of Batson itself. The rule, she suggested, does not end once a prosecutor offers a race-neutral explanation. The trial court must still determine whether that explanation is credible or merely a pretext for discrimination. In declaring that defense counsel did not waive her argument, Kagans questions returned repeatedly to that point.

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Justice Amy Coney Barrett, however, supplied the arguments most exacting skepticism, and likely the cleanest window into which a center-right majority might land. She kept pressing on what the trial judge should have done, and what, specifically, defense counsel was required to do. Barrett accepted that Batson has three steps. She accepted that the trial judge must make the ultimate determination. But she was not willing to elide the defendants burden. If the prosecutor offers race-neutral reasons, and the defendant bears the burden of proving purposeful discrimination, does counsel not have to say why those reasons are pretextual? Does the judge have an obligation to solicit rebuttal, or is it counsels job to insist on giving it? To Barrett, lawyers still have to make their record, and under the AEDPA, the question is not whether the Supreme Court would prefer a cleaner colloquy, but whether Mississippi acted unreasonably in deciding that defense counsel had not done enough.

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Justice Samuel Alito honed that skepticism into something sharper, deeming defense counsel the most timid and reticent he had ever encountered, observing that any competent defense attorney he knew would have stood up and said, in substance, that the states explanation was pretext. He acknowledged that the judge should have handled the process differently and ideally would have invited a response. But he seemed unwilling to transform that imperfection into a constitutional defect in which counsel, in his view, still had every opportunity to make the point and did not. Justice Neil Gorsuch reached a similar place by a more doctrinal path, noting that the applicable AEDPA standard strips the case of some of its moral heat and forces it into the precise grammatical directives Congress imposed on habeas review.

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The states argument, led by Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart and supported by the United States, leaned hard into that narrowing move. Mississippis position is that the state Supreme Court accepted that Pitchford made a prima facie Batson showing, accepted that the prosecutor had to provide race-neutral reasons, and concluded that Pitchford failed to preserve later-developed pretext arguments because he did not present them to the trial judge. The state also pointed to later postconviction filings and defense counsels own affidavit suggesting that she had not in fact preserved the fuller pretext theories subsequently pressed on appeal.

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A ruling for Mississippi would do more than reject one prisoners appeal. It would further expose a structural weakness in Batson itself. Batson already places extraordinary weight on the quick instincts of trial judges and the exactitude of trial lawyers in the compressed theater of jury selection. The AEDPA then adds another filter, demanding deference to a state courts retrospective account of what occurred. The result is a system in which a constitutional prohibition on racial discrimination can become almost entirely dependent on whether the transcript captures the right verbal choreography. If the judge moved too fast, if counsel assumed she would be allowed to respond after the prosecutor finished, if the court declared the objection preserved while simultaneously foreclosing fuller argument, all of that may still amount to nothing on habeas if a later court can plausibly describe the problem as forfeiture rather than truncation.

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That is why the case matters so much in both the Batson and habeas worlds. In Batson doctrine, the danger has always been that Step 2 becomes the whole game. Almost any explanation can be labeled race neutral in the abstract. The only meaningful safeguard is Step 3, when courts test those explanations against reality. In habeas doctrine, the danger has always been that federal review becomes so deferential that even substantial constitutional claims are transformed into sterile questions of state-court reasonableness. Pitchford sits exactly where those two dangers meet. If Step 3s pretextual jury-striking analysis can be skipped in practice and insulated on review, Batsons promise becomes thinner still. If on the other hand the court insists that a trial court cannot collapse the inquiry into a quick exchange of neutral reasons followed by an immediate return to jury striking, then the decision could modestly strengthen both Batson enforcement and the possibility of federal review in which state courts mischaracterize the record.

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The justices did not make the outcome of this case obvious. It is possible the court will find a narrow way through, perhaps saying little about Batsons substance while resolving the waiver question on technical grounds. But even if the opinion is written in the clipped vocabulary of habeas review, the stakes are larger than that language suggests. The Constitution forbids racial discrimination in jury selection not because jury service is symbolic, but because it is civic power. To exclude Black citizens from that role is to say something corrosive about who counts as part of the machinery of judgment and who is entitled to full citizenship. Batson was supposed to prevent that. Habeas was once supposed to provide a federal backstop when state courts failed. Pitchford asks whether either promise still has real force when the record is messy, the procedure rushed, and the law of review designed to look away.
Shenandoah Downs will open its 11th season of pari-mutuel harness racing this Saturday, April 11 with an 11-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m.

The opener will celebrate driver/trainer Roger Hammer's distinguished career, his impact on Virginia racing over two-plus decades and his 80th birthday as well  with a commemorative t-shirt giveaway and celebratory birthday cake. The Bedford, Pa. native has horses in the first, fourth, and 10th races on Saturday.

The featured race on the card is a $10,000 USD Open Handicap Pace with seven entrants that have combined purse winnings of over $3.5 million. Dan Chansky's Lous Starr, who has won eight times at Shenandoah and is the 2-1 morning-line favourite, will leave from the outside post seven with Corey Braden in the bike. The four-year-old Sweet Lou-Amantha Starr horse competed in the $694,444 Little Brown Jug final last September. He is 14-for-46 lifetime with $214,431 in the bank.

Noblesville is the early second choice at 5-2 and will depart from post six with owner-trainer-driver Gerry Longo in the bike. The five-year-old gelding has banked $801,387 and won 17 times in 76 career starts, including a triumph in the a $337,838 Indiana Sire Stakes Super Final as a three-year-old.

Rebellious, owned by P T Stable, is the third pick at 4-1 odds with William Carter in the sulky. The 12-year-old Bryson Dunning trainee has 88 career wins in 275 outings and boasts $754,182 in earnings.

Johns Dream, the winningest horse in Shenandoah Downs history with 33 local victories, has the rail for owner-trainer-driver Chuck Perry. The 13-year-old gelding has 54 overall wins and $429,718 in earnings in 157 starts.

Others in the elite field include Cathy Dessert's Imoutthedoor ($308,308), Steve Wetzel's Sea Of Life ($473,951) and Joe Chindano's Villiam ($573,011).

Opening weekend festivities continue on Sunday with an 11-race card starting at 1:05 p.m. The seven-week campaign will continue every Saturday and Sunday afternoon through May 24. Shenandoah Downs' simulcast signal is available via all major ADW outlets and many tracks and OTBs around the country. Free TrackMaster programs and tip sheets are available at shenandoahdowns.com.

(Shenandoah Downs)
If you have yet to hear of the EvilTokens multi-factor authentication device code attack campaign, consider yourself lucky and start preparing right now. Microsofts vice president of security research has gone on the record, stating that the campaign is ongoing: "We continue to observe high-volume activity, with hundreds of compromises occurring daily across affected environments." Heres what your business needs to know and do.

MORE FROM FORBES1 Billion Microsoft Users Warned As Angry Hacker Drops 0-Day Exploit By Davey Winder

EvilTokens: An AI-Driven Device Code Attack Compromising Microsoft Businesses On The Daily

The Microsoft Defender Security Research has warned, in an April 6 posting, that a widespread phishing campaign leveraging the Device Code Authentication flow, is already compromising organizational accounts at scale. A scale that equates to hundreds of Microsoft customer organizations every day, courtesy of being driven by automation and dynamic code generation, Microsoft said, that circumvents the standard 15-minute expiration window for device codes.Pointing the finger of blame firmly in the direction of the EvilTokens Phishing-as-a-Service kit, Microsoft went on to warn that this campaign has moved away from static scripts and adopted an AI-driven infrastructure with multiple end-to-end automations.

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The Microsoft vice president of security research, Tanmay Ganacharya, told The Register that, beginning in the middle of March, there have been as many as 15 new and distinct campaigns launched every single day. "Each campaign is distributed at scale, targeting hundreds of organizations with highly varied and unique payloads, Ganacharya warned, making pattern-based detection more challenging."

According to Quentin Bourgue, part of the Sekoia Threat and Detection Research Team, confirmed that the turnkey EvilTokens Microsoft device code phishing kit has been advertised since the middle of February. EvilTokens has, Bourgue said, been rapidly adopted by cybercriminals specializing in Adversary-in-the-Middle phishing and Business Email Compromise. Of even more concern is that the cybercriminal developers of EvilTokens are, Bourgue warned, looking to extend support to Gmail and Okta phishing pages in the near future.

MORE FROM FORBESNew Fortinet Zero-Day WarningUpdate Now, Attacks Underway By Davey Winder

Microsoft has recommended that organizations employ the following mitigations against EvilTokens attack:

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Only allow device code flow where necessary

Educate users about common phishing techniques.

Sign-in prompts should clearly identify the application being authenticated to.

Configure Anti-phishing policies.

Configure Safelinks in Defender for Office 365.

Consider setting a Conditional Access Policy to force re-authentication for users.

Implement a sign-in risk policy to automate response to risky sign-ins.

Configure Microsoft Entra IDs device code flow in your Conditional Access policies.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Breanna Olson's live performance in Amsterdam saw her guide the movements of a mixed-reality avatar with her brainwaves, through using an EEG-based device, alongside other dancers [Dentsu]

A ballerina with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) says she was able to dance again after her brainwaves were used to power an avatar live on-stage in Amsterdam.

Breanna Olson, a mother of three, found out two and a half years ago she had ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND) and which, with no known cure, weakens muscles and over time affects speech, swallowing and breathing.

However, using sensors to measure the electrical activity transmitted from her brain, her motor signals could be converted into an digital avatar.

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In an interview with BBC News, Breanna said it was "exhilarating" and "magical" to see herself, in virtual form, take to the stage again.

Breanna lives in Tacoma, Washington state, in the US and has trained in ballet, contemporary, and jazz dance since childhood.

MND affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, controlling muscle movement. As these weaken and stiffen over time it can affect walking, talking, eating and breathing.

"I never dreamed that I would be able to dance on stage again," she said.

"It was just a beautiful and memorable moment I will remember for the rest of my life."

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The performance, held at the OBA Theatre in Amsterdam in December, was described at the time as the "first of its kind".

It saw Breanna use an electroencephalogram (or EEG) headset, developed by Japanese tech firm Dentsu Lab in collaboration with data company NTT, to capture her brain activity and specific motor signals associated with imagining certain dance movements.

A brainwave interface translating these signals into computer instructions then allowed her to convey which of these movements she wanted her mixed-reality avatar to dance in real-time.

Breanna said receiving a standing ovation in Amsterdam when she performed in front of a live audience was "incredible" [Dentsu]

It forms part of a wider landscape in which scientists are exploring technological solutions to help people with deterioration of physical or mental abilities enjoy their hobbies and participate in physical environments.

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Noland Arbaugh, the first human to receive a brain chip implant by Elon Musk's Neuralink, previously told the BBC the device has allowed him to play games again.

Meanwhile 58-year-old Yvonne Johnson, who has MND, recently said AI voice tools had helped her to regain a part of her identity.

Breanna said after exploring solutions allowing her to determine the movements of a dancing avatar, she believes such technology "definitely has a place for those with disabilities".

'A new way of expression'

Dentsu Lab researchers say they created a new brain computer interface for the Waves of Will project in which Breanna took part [Dentsu]

Breanna told the BBC she got to know the "unique" but "quite challenging" technology during the project.

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"You have to isolate your muscles and the noise around you... and really focus inward," she said.

But despite its challenges, Breanna said the experience had helped re-establish a sense of expression and connection eroded by her condition.

"This is a new way of expression," she said. "To be able to move in a new way and a different way is just freeing."

The project, called Waves of Will, is part of a wider initiative which aims to explore how innovation and technology can help restore personal expression, identity and participation for those living with motor-degenerative diseases such as ALS.

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"There are many brainwave technologies and research all over the world, but most of them are very expensive and not accessible to everyone," Dentsu Lab chief creative officer Naoki Tanaka told the BBC.

"This is exactly why we started Waves of Will - to make a new brainwave interface."

Mariko Nakamura of NTT said she believed the tech could be developed for other devices like wheelchairs or remote controls.

Breanna hopes her experience will help people with disabilities be viewed "less as sick people or that something is wrong with us, but more like we have value and talents and wisdom" [Dentsu]

Breanna also wants to leave her mark on the world, telling the BBC she wants to be able to help others with ALS and give them "hope".

Her experience, she said, has shown her just how powerful the mind can be.

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"We can do more than we think we can," she said.

[BBC]

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Rohan Dickson is the first Super 6 Jackpot winner from St. Vincent and the Grenadines for 2026.

A resident of the Central Leeward town of Barrouallie has emerged as a shared winner of the Super 6 Jackpot from the March 31 draw.





Rohan Dickson became the first Super 6 jackpot winner from St. Vincent and the Grenadines for 2026, sharing the XCD $403,000 jackpot with a player from Grenada.





Dickson received his portion of the prize  XCD $201,500  during a handing-over ceremony held on April 7 at the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) in St. Vincent.





The winning numbers for the draw were 1, 9, 14, 20, 23, and 25.





Speaking about his win, Dickson said he purchased two quick pick tickets while on his way to play dominoes the day before the draw. He explained that he did not give the purchase much thought at the time. The following morning, after dropping someone at the hospital, he checked his ticket and discovered he had won. He described the experience as a great feeling that still had not worn off.





General Manager of the National Lotteries Authority, Mac Gregor Sealey, congratulated Dickson and encouraged him to use the winnings wisely, particularly as he is a young man starting a family. Sealey suggested investing in property and prioritizing family needs, but accepted that the final decision rests with the winner.
Dr. Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), has issued a clear challenge to commercial banks in the region to get their act together.

Commercial banks across the Eastern Caribbean are holding billions in excess liquidity while businesses and entrepreneurs continue to face barriers to accessing credit.





This is the indication coming from Eastern Caribbean Central band (ECCB) Governor  Dr. Timothy Antoine, and he has warned that is constraining economic growth across the region.





While delivering the ECCBs 2026 2031 strategic plan, the Governor disclosed that banks and other financial institutions were holding deposits of E28 billion while their loan portfolio stood at $16 billion.





Clearly, funds were available, said the Governor, but were not being effectively availed to businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.





This Dr. Antoince declared was evidence enough that there were structural weakness in the regions financial system.





He noted that a situation of excess liquidity exist but there was an inability to lend for productive purposes, productive investments.





But the ECCB was not sitting on its laurels and in an effort to "unlock credit, improve financial access and modernize financial infrastructure, it was expanding its partial credit guarantee programme and will offer reduced lending risks for banks so as to encourage them to lend to underserved sectors.





Under the programme, the ECCB provides guarantees of up to 7580 percent on qualifying loans, significantly lowering the exposure for financial institutions.





The initiative has already supported more than 300 loans valued at approximately $30 million, targeting farmers, fishers, creatives, and small businesses. Antoine said the programme will now be scaled up to reach a wider cross-section of the economy.





He also noted that while the banking system is liquid, there remains a shortage of "bankable projects, suggesting that both the public and private sectors must work together to generate viable business opportunities that can absorb available financing.





The governor said the ECCBs role is to create the conditions for growth  including maintaining a stable currency, safeguarding the financial system, and improving access to finance  but emphasized that sustained expansion must ultimately come from businesses, governments, and citizens working together.
Kenroy Grants relatives and relevant authorities await the results of a post-mortem which will determine the cause of his death.

Police have confirmed the discovery of a lifeless body in the North Leeward community of Richmond, on Tuesday morning.





The deceased has been identified as Kenroy Grant, a 29-year-old male, said to be a labourer of Fitz Hughes, but who was also said to have some connection to a quarrying undertaking in Richmond.





Reports indicate that his body was discovered in bushes along the side of a roadway by workers in the area, around 9:20 a.m. on April 7, 2026.





A District Medical Officer visited the scene and officially pronounced Grant dead.





In a statement, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. Preliminary findings suggested that there were no immediate signs of foul play; however, a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.





Grant is described as a twin whose (twin) brother died in a drowning incident in Rose Bank several years ago.





While authorities have not confirmed the cause of death, some residents of the Richmond community speculate that it may be alcohol-related. Police have not commented on these claims.





Further updates are expected as investigations continue.
These deportees are part of a contingent who were sent to Costa Rica as part of the US Deportee Plan.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has signaled it will not participate in a controversial United States initiative aimed at encouraging Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to accept deportees from the U.S., even as several regional states move toward joining the programme.





Reports indicate that for much of the past year, the Trump administration has been urging Caribbean governments to accept deportees who are unwilling to return to their countries of origin or whose home nations have declined to receive them. The proposal has drawn mixed reactions across the region, with countries such as Guyana, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis reportedly preparing to sign on in the coming weeks. These governments are said to be considering the arrangement as part of broader efforts to maintain strong diplomatic relations with Washington.





However, Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock stated that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has no intention of accepting deportees under the initiative. Speaking on Boom 106.9 FM earlier this week, Leacock said the administration of Prime Minister Dr. Goodwin Friday  which secured 14 of 15 seats in last years general election  has decided to distance itself from the proposal.





"The plan is not to have any, Leacock said, citing national security concerns and public unease about the arrangement. "I dont think our people want to be exposed in that way.





He added that the government is prepared to formally communicate its policy position and maintain closed borders to the specific categories of deportees being proposed. According to Leacock, Vincentian authorities have also been reassured that countries declining to participate will not face penalties.









"If you dont want them, they will not force you, and there will be no penalties for not accepting, he explained. "That came out very clearly. In the end, it would be up to the Caribbean countries to accept or reject deportees coming from the U.S.





Meanwhile, Dominica has reportedly finalized an agreement to accept seven deportees per quarter, with financial and logistical support from the United States and a United Nations agency. Other nations, including Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana, have indicated interest in participating, pointing to potential benefits such as addressing skills shortages in key sectors.





The differing responses highlight a growing divide within the Caribbean as governments weigh security concerns, economic opportunities, and diplomatic considerations tied to the U.S. proposal.
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60 Minutes: April 12

Nick McKenzie speaks with an SAS veteran who saw Ben Roberts-Smith in action in Afghanistan.

60 Minutes is certainly making the most of news events this week with Nick McKenzie speaking with an SAS veteran who saw Ben Roberts-Smith in action in Afghanistan.

The Rules of War

In any war, the battle to defeat the enemy is obviously paramount. But theres something equally important thats often forgotten. It might be an oxymoron, but for civilized combatants, how the fighting is conducted is as significant as any victory. War is not a free-for-all. It has rules and if theyre broken, there are consequences. For instance, a soldier cannot kick an unarmed, handcuffed civilian off a cliff and then order his execution. However, thats one of the allegations facing Victoria Cross hero, Ben Roberts-Smith. On Tuesday he was charged with five counts of war crime murder, arising from his multiple tours of duty during the Afghanistan war. Predictably, Roberts-Smiths arrest created worldwide headlines, but of all the commentary since, nothing has been heard from the soldiers who fought alongside him. Until now. On 60 Minutes Nick McKenzie speaks with an SAS veteran who saw Ben Roberts-Smith in action in Afghanistan.

Reporter: Nick McKenzie

Producer: Garry McNab

Looksmaxxing

For people who dont already know what looksmaxxing is, their first reaction might be to laugh when they see it in action. But that would be wrong because this phenomenon, not surprisingly born from the internet, is not only non-sensical, its incredibly dangerous. And its causing damage to Australian adolescent boys and young men. On the face of it, looksmaxxing is just that, a kind of self-improvement that comes from maximising appearance. But as Adam Hegarty reveals, how its done defies belief. Looksmaxxers advocate drugs, surgery and even self-harm, often in the form of using a hammer to smash their faces to try to re-align their bone structures.

Reporter: Adam Hegarty

Producers: Sammi Taylor, Serge Negus

8:50pm Sunday on Nine

Language
The proposed project integrates rooftop solar power, energy storage and thermal energy storage (TES)-based air conditioning systems. It will be implemented through cooperation between Kansai Energy Solutions Vietnam Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Kansai Electric Power, and AEONMALL Vietnam.

Hirohito Oba, General Director of Kansai Energy Solutions Vietnam, said Kansai is among Japans leading enterprises with extensive experience in power supply and energy projects. He expressed confidence that the project would contribute positively to Can Thos future development.

Through the initiative, the company expects to help stabilise electricity consumption, reduce pressure on the power grid during peak hours and minimise environmental impacts. It also hopes the project could serve as a reference model for sustainable urban development in Vietnam.

The project is currently at an early stage and will be implemented in line with existing legal regulations. The company is preparing documents to apply for financial support from the Japanese government.

Le Thanh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Can Tho Department of Industry and Trade, said the proposal aligns with the citys orientation to develop solar power combined with battery storage systems and promote clean energy development.

To accelerate project implementation, the department suggested that the municipal Peoples Committee issue an official letter of support, enabling the investors to apply for a Japanese government grant expected to open around May 2026.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Vuong Quoc Nam described the interest from Kansai Electric Power and its partners as a positive signal that could help strengthen investment cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy and sustainable urban development.

Can Tho considers energy efficiency, renewable energy development and the application of advanced technologies as key pillars of its development strategy, he said.

The city supports the project in principle and will facilitate its study and implementation in accordance with the law. It also pledged to accompany investors and create favourable conditions in terms of administrative procedures and investment environment for foreign enterprises, including Kansai Electric Power and AEONMALL Vietnam, to achieve sustainable investment in the locality.

Under the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII, the total rooftop solar power capacity in Can Tho is expected to reach 462 MW by 2030 and 1,405 MW by 2050./.VNA
The Ministry of Finance has recently released the draft for public feedback, with the decree expected to take effect from July 1. The draft specifies 21 categories of tax-exempt income, adding five, aimed at encouraging individuals working in priority sectors aligned with national development strategies.



Notably, the proposed exemptions cover high-value fields such as science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Income from salaries and wages earned through scientific research, technological development, and innovation activities would be exempt from PIT. High-quality human resources in the digital industry, as well as professionals engaged in high-tech research and strategic technologies, would enjoy tax exemptions for up to five years.



The policy is designed to operationalise the Politburos Resolution No.57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation, and Resolution No.68-NQ/TW on private sector development, while creating stronger incentives for experts and scientists to contribute to national competitiveness in the digital era.



In addition, the draft proposes exemptions on overtime pay, night-shift wages, and payments for unused annual leave compensation so as to support workers and enhance labour productivity.



In the agricultural sector, tax exemptions are extended to income from cooperative members and partnerships in large-scale farming, forestry, and aquaculture, with the goal of attracting investment and promoting sustainable, modern agricultural production. The decree also amends regulations on tax exemptions on pension payments made by the social insurance fund; income paid by supplementary pension funds and voluntary pension funds (including both monthly and lump-sum payments) to encourage the development of retirement programmes.



It expands tax incentives to support financial market development. These include exemptions on interest from local government bonds, similar to government bonds, and preferential treatment for green finance instruments such as green bonds and carbon credits. A 50% reduction in PIT is proposed for individual investors income from certain investment funds over a five-year period, alongside exemptions on long-term holdings of open-ended fund certificates.



According to Dang Van Cuong, a legal expert, the draft reflects a significant shift in tax policy thinking, from tax collection to revenue nurturing. By accepting short-term reductions in tax revenue, the State aims to stimulate economic growth, attract high-quality human capital, and broaden the tax base in the long run.



However, he also cautioned that clearer criteria are needed to define eligible beneficiaries, particularly in areas such as high-tech human resources and innovation. Over-expansion of tax exemptions, if not carefully designed, could risk eroding the tax base and undermining equity among taxpayers.



Importantly, the decree is expected to enhance transparency, standardisation, and digitalisation in tax administration. Clearly defined exemption categories will provide a stronger legal foundation for tax authorities in processing, monitoring, and enforcement, while reducing inconsistencies across localities.



For individuals and businesses alike, the policy promises tangible benefits. Workers may see higher post-tax income and improved living standards, while enterprises can better design remuneration packages to attract and retain talent. Ultimately, the draft decree marks a critical step toward building a modern, transparent, and development-oriented tax system in support of Vietnams knowledge-based economy./.VNA
According to an official statement released on the afternoon of April 10, the provincial polices investigation agency issued an emergency detention order and warrant against Hoang Trong Loi on April 9.

Authorities also conducted searches at his residence and workplace, seizing multiple documents related to the case.

Investigators said Loi committed the alleged offenses while serving as vice chairman of the Peoples Committee of Phuc Yen City in the former Vinh Phuc Province. Prior to his arrest, he was serving as vice chairman of the Peoples Committee of Phuc Yen Ward in Phu Tho Province.

The Investigation Police Agency of Phu Tho Provincial Police executes an arrest warrant against Hoang Trong Loi. Photo: CACC.

The arrest marks a new development as police expand their probe into criminal groups operating under business cover in the locality.

Earlier, on March 31, Phu Tho police launched the case and detained 15 suspects linked to organized crime groups, including both current and former state officials.

Among them, nine individuals are under investigation for multiple offenses, including environmental pollution, abuse of influence for personal gain, violations of accounting regulations, harboring prostitution, illegal possession of military-grade weapons, illegal trading of invoices, and violations related to natural resource exploitation.

The remaining six suspects include Hoang Van Thien, a forestry official; Nguyen Lam Toi, head of a local forest protection unit; Luu Van Cuong, a former land official; Luu Tien Chung, a former commune vice chairman; Hoang Chi Thanh, a former land officer; and Nguyen Van Thang, a business executive.

This group is being investigated for offenses such as violations of resource exploitation regulations, abuse of power while performing official duties, and lack of responsibility causing serious consequences.

The case is part of a broader crackdown, in which more than 200 police officers previously raided 28 locations and dismantled three major criminal groups operating in the province.

Duc Hoang
A court in Ho Chi Minh City has sentenced 22 defendants in a high-profile case involving the illegal transfer of a prime land plot at 39-39B Ben Van Don, with former acting chairman of the Vietnam Rubber Group, Le Quang Thung, receiving the heaviest penalty.

The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court handed down a total of 14 years in prison to Thung, identifying him as the mastermind behind the violations.

Illegal transfer of state assets

Defendant Le Quang Thung. Photo: Nguyen Hue

According to the court, the land plot, located in Ward 12, District 4 (now Xom Chieu Ward), spans more than 6,201 square meters and was originally allocated by the State for production and business purposes.

The Vietnam Rubber Group later assigned portions of the land to Dong Nai Rubber Company and Ba Ria Rubber Company under annual lease arrangements, though no land-use rights certificates had been issued.

During a restructuring process involving state-owned assets, the group proposed merging and converting the land into residential use for building apartments for staff. This plan was approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee and the Ministry of Finance.

However, during implementation, Thung and several associates unlawfully transferred the land from state ownership to private entities without proper valuation or public auction, causing losses exceeding VND542 billion (US$22 million).

Roles of key defendants

The defendants at the trial. Photo: TP
The announcement was made on April 10 by OKX founder and CEO Star Xu, confirming that the company will join CAEX as a strategic partner alongside domestic founding shareholders including VPBank Securities (VPBankS), LynkiD, and international investor HashKey Capital.

Supporting Vietnams pilot crypto framework

OKX Ventures will invest in CAEX in April 2026. Photo: TN.







Through its investment arm, OKX Ventures, the company will contribute capital in April 2026 to help CAEX meet the minimum charter capital requirement of VND 10 trillion ($380 million). This is a key condition for participating in Vietnams pilot program for regulated digital asset trading.

The partnership aims to support CAEX in developing critical areas such as infrastructure, regulatory compliance, security, risk management and liquidity - ensuring sustainable growth within Vietnams evolving legal framework.

Star Xu said the move reflects OKXs long-standing strategy of proactively working with regulators, rather than operating outside formal oversight.

Betting on Southeast Asias growth

OKX expects that by 2030, most Southeast Asian markets will have completed legal frameworks and licensing systems for digital asset companies.

The region is already one of the worlds most active crypto trading hubs. The next phase, according to the company, is to bring these activities into a regulated, transparent and high-trust environment.

Founded in 2017, OKX (formerly OKEx) is one of the worlds leading centralized crypto exchanges and Web3 technology platforms, serving over 50 million users across more than 100 countries with services including spot trading, derivatives, staking and decentralized wallets.

CAEX, backed by VPBanks ecosystem, is among five companies identified by Vietnams Ministry of Finance as having complete and valid applications to participate in the countrys pilot crypto exchange program.

The investment underscores growing global interest in Vietnams digital economy and signals increasing momentum toward a regulated and scalable crypto market in the country.

Le My
Irans Charge dAffaires in Vietnam Mohammad Mirali Mohammadi. Photo: Phan Nhung

Speaking at a press meeting in Hanoi on the morning of April 10, Mohammadi said the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran appreciates Vietnams steady stance in the current context.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Vietnam would like to express sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Vietnam for adopting a responsible and humanitarian position, stressing the need to avoid war, refrain from the use of force, and promote peaceful solutions based on the Charter of the United Nations, he said.

According to the Iranian representative, such views not only safeguard the interests of nations but also contribute to strengthening global peace and security.

Vietnam has repeatedly reaffirmed its consistent position of resolving disputes through peaceful means, without the use or threat of force in international relations.

At regular press briefings, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang has emphasized that Vietnam opposes acts of force against sovereign states, particularly attacks targeting civilian infrastructure that result in casualties. Vietnam has also called on all relevant parties to act responsibly, comply with international law, the UN Charter, and relevant resolutions.

Vietnamese citizens in Iran remain safe

Regarding the situation of Vietnamese citizens in Iran, Mohammadi said the Iranian government is closely coordinating with the Vietnamese Embassy in Tehran to ensure their safety.

According to the latest information, all Vietnamese citizens in Iran are safe. Some have moved to neighboring countries for temporary shelter, while others have returned home. Those remaining in Iran continue to receive support for daily life and study, with students resuming their education online after disruptions.

Developments in the Strait of Hormuz

Addressing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Mohammadi noted that the area falls under Irans sovereignty and has historically remained open to international maritime traffic.

However, recent security developments, including attacks targeting Iran, have prompted Tehran to consider necessary measures related to activities in the strait.

He added that Irans parliament is currently discussing the possibility of imposing fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Previous reports about Tehran collecting such fees are unfounded. No final decision has been made. If approved, the fees will be based on the cost of ensuring maritime security and safety, as well as environmental protection, he said.

Iran outlines conditions for talks with the US

Responding to a question about potential negotiations between Iran and the US in Pakistan, Mohammadi said Tehran maintains a consistent stance regarding negotiation terms.

Accordingly, recognition of Irans legitimate rights under international law, along with compensation for damages suffered by its people, are considered essential conditions for achieving sustainable peace.

The conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has now entered its fifth week, causing significant damage and spreading across several Gulf countries. On April 7, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire. The US and Iran have also agreed to hold talks through mediation by Pakistan.

Tue Minh
In recent years, thanks to sustained attention and investment from the Party and State through ethnic minority policies, the socio-economic conditions in Khmer communities across southern Vietnam have improved significantly. As a result, this years Chol Chnam Thmay festival is filled with renewed confidence and optimism. New year celebrations with growing prosperity The new rural landscape in Hung Hoi commune, one of the localities with a large Khmer population in Ca Mau province. (File photo)







In Ca Mau province, home to 26,832 ethnic minority households with 116,319 people, accounting for 5.04 percent of the population, living standards have steadily improved. The number of poor households among ethnic minorities has dropped to 550, or 2.05 percent, while near-poor households total 850, or 3.17 percent.

Infrastructure in these areas has also been upgraded. With financial support for production development, many effective livelihood models have emerged, helping residents increase income and stabilize their lives.

At Soc Don hamlet in Hung Hoi commune, where more than 70 percent of over 700 households are Khmer, targeted policies have helped complete essential infrastructure for both daily life and production, giving the rural area a more vibrant appearance.

According to Thach Son, a local resident, his family was able to access loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies and the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to invest in production.

By combining crop cultivation, livestock farming, and rice production, his family now earns more than VND300 million per year (US$12,300). Their living conditions have improved markedly, allowing them to build a solid home and purchase necessary household items.

Khmer people in the hamlet are very happy with the care and support from the Party and the State. This years Chol Chnam Thmay is more complete than ever. I hope there will be more supportive policies to help us further develop our livelihoods and improve our quality of life, he said.

In Can Tho City, a joyful and vibrant atmosphere is spreading across villages and hamlets as Khmer families prepare for their traditional New Year.

Kim Thi Chuong, a Khmer resident in An Khuong hamlet, Ke Sach commune, shared that her family recently received VND45 million (US$1,845) in support to build a solidarity house, along with a breeding cow to develop livestock farming.

Beyond housing and livestock support, local Party members have also provided ongoing assistance to help her family improve their livelihoods.

Standing beside her newly completed house of nearly 50 square meters, she said: My husband and I used to rely on temporary jobs to raise our children. Last year, we were supported with a solid house and a breeding cow. Life is less difficult now. This year, our family celebrates the biggest Chol Chnam Thmay we have ever had.

Comprehensive support for Khmer communities

Ngo boat racing - a distinctive cultural activity that fosters a joyful and united atmosphere during festivals and holidays among the Khmer community. (Illustrative photo)







According to Truong Canh Tuyen, Chairman of the Can Tho Peoples Committee, activities during the 2026 Chol Chnam Thmay are not only about celebration but also about providing comprehensive care for the material and spiritual well-being of Khmer communities.

The city has prioritized programs such as medical check-ups, visits, and gift-giving for religious dignitaries, reputable community members, retirees, and policy beneficiary families. It has also strengthened support for Khmer students through scholarships, bicycles, and learning equipment.

A notable highlight is the expansion of community-connecting activities, including large gatherings and live television programs at Khmer pagodas, combined with communication efforts highlighting the citys development achievements. Social welfare policies are being implemented in a focused manner, targeting poor and near-poor households as well as vulnerable groups.

Looking ahead, Can Tho will continue to effectively implement national target programs, particularly those aimed at developing ethnic minority areas, enabling Khmer communities to expand production, increase income, and improve living conditions. These efforts are expected to gradually narrow development gaps, enhance human resources, and promote the active role of ethnic minorities in the development process.

The socio-economic life of the Khmer community in southern Vietnam has seen positive changes, with traditional cultural values preserved and promoted. (File photo)
On the afternoon of April 9, the National Assembly held group discussions on a supplementary report assessing the implementation of the 2025 socio-economic development plan and state budget, as well as the situation in the early months of 2026.

Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa, a delegate from Hai Phong, praised the achievements recorded in early 2026, particularly in culture, education, and social welfare.

However, she noted that while cases of child sexual abuse declined by 2.2% in 2025, the situation remains complex. Violence among school students, especially outside school settings, continues to show alarming severity, while abuse at social protection centers and private care facilities still occurs.

Delegate Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa

She cited incidents at a social work center in Quang Ninh and other private care institutions that have seriously affected childrens health and even their lives.

Referring to a recent case involving 300 tonnes of food supplied to schools in Hanoi that sparked public concern, she urged the Prime Minister to strengthen food safety management in schools, ensure strict control over food origins, and impose higher standards for food supplied to educational institutions.

Children are an extremely sensitive and vulnerable group. Without long-term, strict management solutions, this will significantly affect their physical and mental health, as well as the stature of future generations, she said.

The delegate emphasized the need to enhance inspection, supervision, and prevention of child abuse in cyberspace. She pointed out that online abuse is becoming increasingly sophisticated, including forms such as online grooming, cyberbullying, and exploitation.

We propose studying solutions to ban or restrict childrens use of social media on certain popular platforms, along with accompanying conditions and measures, she suggested.

She noted that some countries have already implemented such policies. Australia banned users under 16 from social media platforms from December 2025, while Indonesia and France introduced similar measures from March 2026. The UK is also piloting restrictions on certain platforms. Other countries are considering or implementing regulations to limit access for those under 16 to protect children from harmful content and smartphone addiction.

No adult has enough time to constantly monitor their childrens use of social media, and not all children are guided on how to use these platforms properly and effectively. Meanwhile, childrens awareness is still developing, making them more susceptible to inappropriate and harmful content, she added.

Questions over nationwide health screening implementation

Tran Thi Nhi Ha, Deputy Chair of the National Assemblys Committee for Public Petitions and Oversight

At the Hanoi delegation group, Tran Thi Nhi Ha raised concerns that the impact of the two-tier local government model on the healthcare sector had not been sufficiently highlighted in the report.

From July 2025, commune and ward health stations will become public service units managed by local Peoples Committees, rather than district health centers as before - a significant organizational shift.

She questioned how responsibilities would be coordinated for key functions such as disease prevention, vaccination, management of non-communicable diseases, school health, food safety, emergency referrals, and responses to public health events.

Although the Ministry of Health has moved to deploy 1,000 doctors to grassroots facilities to prevent service disruptions, she stressed the need to assess the effectiveness of this measure and strengthen actual capacity at the local level.

The government, she said, should present clear solutions to the National Assembly regarding professional coordination mechanisms and operational supervision under the new model, to avoid gaps or disruptions in healthcare service delivery.

Regarding the policy of nationwide periodic health check-ups starting in 2026, she noted that Resolution 72 of the Politburo outlines that citizens will receive at least one free annual health screening and have electronic health records for lifelong monitoring.

By 2030, basic medical fees are expected to be waived, and all commune-level health stations will be equipped with adequate infrastructure. While describing this as a progressive vision, she emphasized the need for effective implementation for a population of 100 million.

She also highlighted the importance of synchronizing electronic health records, classifying risk groups such as the elderly, the poor, patients with chronic diseases, pregnant women, and children, and establishing a clear framework for who will manage follow-ups, reminders for re-examinations, and monitoring of abnormal cases after screening.

Tran Thuong
At the conference, Deputy Head of the Central Organization Commission Nguyen Thanh Binh announced the Politburos decision to approve Le Ngoc Chau, a member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee, Chairman of the Hai Phong Peoples Committee, and Head of the citys National Assembly delegation, to serve as Party Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term.

Le Ngoc Chau, born in 1972 and originally from Dai Thanh commune in Hanoi, holds a doctorate in law.

Before assuming his new role, he held various positions, including Head of the Personnel Organization Division under the Department of Security Protection and Judicial Support Police, General Department of Police under the Ministry of Public Security; Deputy Commander of the Mobile Police High Command; Director of Hai Phong City Police; Director of Hai Duong Provincial Police; Commander of the Mobile Police High Command; Chairman of the Hai Duong Provincial Peoples Committee; and later Chairman of the Hai Phong Peoples Committee.

Earlier, on April 8, during the first session of the 16th National Assembly, Le Tien Chau, then a member of the 14th Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee, was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for the 2026-2031 term.

Hoai Anh
Recent speculation on social media suggested that civil servants, public employees, and workers could enjoy a continuous nine-day break in 2026 by rearranging working days.

Responding to the claims on April 10, the ministry stated there is no plan to adjust the official holiday schedule, nor any proposal to swap working days to extend the break.

Authorities emphasized that all ministries, sectors, and localities should continue implementing the holiday calendar in line with current regulations, while also ensuring clear communication to avoid public misunderstanding.

Earlier, on April 9, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour released the results of a survey seeking opinions from union members, civil servants, and workers regarding a possible adjustment to the holiday schedule.

The survey, conducted from April 8, gathered more than 70,000 responses by 7am on April 9. Around 62 percent of respondents supported the idea of swapping days off to create a longer holiday, including 47.04 percent who expressed strong support and 14.82 percent who said they were in favor.

Many respondents believed that extending the holiday would allow workers more time to rest, recover, and better take care of their families.

Vu Diep
Vietnams auto market, especially the pickup segment, is facing difficulties. On major auto forums, concerns are rising as popular models such as Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max are now classified as pickup trucks under the new regulation.

Nguyen Quoc Binh, admin of the OF.FB user forum, said: Based on the new calculation using the ratio of payload to total weight, I believe up to 99 percent of double-cabin pickups in the market do not meet the criteria for passenger pickup vehicles. As a result, they are classified as pickup trucks.

The majority of current pickup trucks have a total mass of over 2 tons, which means they are banned from inner Hanoi circulation during peak hours and are only allowed to run from 9pm at night to 6am the following morning.

Many customers have been taken aback to learn that their vehicles, worth billions of dong, are now banned from entering inner Hanoi and can only operate from night to morning, except for some extremely expensive high-performance pickup lines like the old Ford Ranger Raptor or the new Ram TRX 1500, which are classified in the passenger car group.

Used car market "shaken"

The new regulation has quickly impacted the used car market. In just a few days, the number of pickup trucks for sale at a "loss-cut" price skyrocketed. Used car showrooms in Hanoi and HCMC recorded a sudden increase in customers wanting to sell their cars, while buyers hesitated.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, a used car dealer on Trinh Van Bo Street (Hanoi), said "In just the past 2-3 days, the volume of customers calling to sell pickup trucks has increased dramatically. Mainly customers in Hanoi, most of whom cite the reason of restricted hours, being inconvenient for work or picking up children from school, so they want to sell quickly to switch across to other 7-seater CUV/SUV lines. The supply of used pickup trucks is plentiful, but the number of customers asking to buy is showing signs of stalling."

Phan Thanh Tu, Director of the Carpla HCMC branch specializing in used cars, said the purchase price for used pickup trucks has decreased by VND 30-50 million compared to the previous period. Because many pickup models are in stock and cannot be sold, the dealer has already lost about VND 30 million per vehicle.

Meanwhile, people with a genuine need to buy pickup trucks are now demanding that shops reduce prices even further before they dare to spend money. In that context, used car shops are forced to retrench and limit stocking goods for fear of prolonged inventory and stagnant capital. Sellers are in a weak position, while buyers wait to "hit the bottom," making this once-vibrant segment gloomy.

Car dealers on tenterhooks

Not only used cars, but dealers of brand-new car are also struggling. The pickup segment, which once brought in significant revenue, has suddenly become a constant concern for sales consultants.

A salesperson at a Toyota dealer in the Northern region said: "There were contracts where the deposit was finalized, but when customers read the information classifying pickup trucks as trucks, they immediately called to request a deposit refund or asked to switch to buying other high-clearance SUV lines with equivalent prices."

Tu confirmed that since the Traffic Police Department provided clear instructions on how to distinguish pickup types according to registration records, in the new car market, many customers have temporarily suspended further transactions, while others have stopped their plans to choose this vehicle line.

The true nature of pickup trucks

Many experts believe that clear vehicle classification is necessary for management, but applying the same for pickup trucks and common trucks needs to be reconsidered more carefully.

In Vietnam, double-cabin pickup trucks have long been used as multi-purpose personal vehicles, serving needs for work, leisure, and carrying light items. They do not operate with the frequency and purpose of specialized goods transport like pure trucks.

With the current vehicle classification regulations in circulation, hundreds of thousands of pickup truck owners will suffer a great disadvantage, having to pay taxes and fees like passenger cars but being limited in urban circulation like cargo trucks. At the same time, the pickup truck segment, which is growing strongly, will decline sharply, significantly affecting automobile manufacturers.

Hoang Hiep
Vietnam is a unified nation comprising 54 ethnic groups, among which the Khmer community, with its distinctive cultural heritage, forms an inseparable part, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said in a letter sent on April 10 to the Khmer people, officials and Buddhist monks on the occasion of their traditional New Year festival, Chol Chnam Thmay.



In his message, the Government leader highlighted that with their strong patriotic tradition, the Khmer people have consistently placed their trust in the leadership of the Party and State, joining hands with people nationwide to contribute to the cause of national construction and defence.



He reaffirmed that ethnic and religious affairs hold strategic importance and remain the responsibility of the entire Party, people, army and political system. Strengthening and promoting the great national unity bloc, with religious harmony as a key factor, is essential to advancing the country into a new era of prosperity, strength, civilisation and happiness.



In recent years, thanks to the attention of the Party and State, living standards in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in general, and among the Khmer community in particular, have steadily improved. Infrastructure has been significantly upgraded, rural areas have seen positive transformation, and cultural values have been preserved and promoted, contributing to the consistent implementation of policies on equality, solidarity and mutual support among ethnic groups, while reinforcing public confidence in the Party and State.



The PM noted that 2026 marks the beginning of a new development phase for the country, accompanied by a number of major events such as the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. It is also the first year of implementing the national target programme on new-style rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions for the 20262035 period. He called on ministries, sectors and local authorities to continue implementing Party and State policies, particularly Directive No. 19-CT/TW dated January 10, 2018, of the Party Central Committees Secretariat on strengthening work in Khmer-populated areas in the new context.



He urged relevant stakeholders to mobilise all available resources to promote comprehensive socio-economic development, with particular attention to healthcare, education and training, as well as the preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural identity. Emphasis is also placed on building a contingent of capable and dedicated ethnic minority officials, PM Hung added.



At the same time, authorities at all levels were asked to improve communications to foster social consensus, while promoting the role of reputable individuals, religious dignitaries, intellectuals and exemplary figures.



The PM further stressed the need for ministries, sectors and localities to fully and promptly implement social welfare policies, improve living conditions, and provide care for policy beneficiaries, disadvantaged households and vulnerable groups, while ensuring that the Khmer community celebrates Chol Chnam Thmay in a spirit of unity, joy, safety and thrift, in line with civilised practices and traditional cultural values.



Looking ahead, as the country enters a new phase of development with both opportunities and challenges, the leader expressed confidence that the Khmer people will continue to uphold their patriotic tradition and spirit of solidarity, preserve and spread their cultural and spiritual values, and join the entire nation in overcoming difficulties, advancing reform and integration, and successfully implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, contributing to improving living standards and social welfare, ensuring that no one is left behind, and striving towards a strong, prosperous and happy Vietnam./. VNA
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has made clear that economic growth must go hand in hand with stability and the ability to maintain key economic balances, stressing that Vietnam will not accept overheating or high growth achieved at the expense of macroeconomic stability.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung delivers remarks.







On the morning of April 10, the National Assembly discussed socio-economic developments in group sessions. The Prime Minister noted that Vietnam has set a target of achieving double-digit growth during the current term, calling for unified thinking and coordinated action.

He acknowledged this as a significant challenge but emphasized that determination is essential. With strong alignment between the National Assembly, government agencies, ministries, local authorities, the business community and citizens, he expressed confidence that the target is achievable.

The Government has reported to the National Assembly specific targets across sectors, industries and localities. To realize these goals, the Prime Minister highlighted three strategic breakthroughs outlined in the resolutions of the 13th and 14th Party Congresses.

On institutional reform, he described it as a roadway that creates a clear corridor for Vietnams economic engine to move forward. The Party Central Committee and the Politburo have tasked the Central Policy and Strategy Commission with preparing a resolution on renewing the growth model for submission to the third plenum.

Even before that resolution is issued, the economy continues to move. It is still the same vehicle, but with a synchronized institutional framework, like an upgraded highway, we can accelerate further. Therefore, institutions are the most decisive factor, he said.

Addressing concerns raised by National Assembly deputies over bottlenecks in the operation of two-tier local governments, the Prime Minister stressed the need for decisive solutions to ensure an effective and seamless administrative system.

For localities to achieve double-digit growth, the development-oriented role of commune, ward and special-zone authorities is critical. The year 2026 will focus on the grassroots level, with improving the quality of local officials as a central mission, he noted.

Regarding stalled projects, the Prime Minister affirmed that solutions must be finalized within the second quarter. Local Party secretaries and standing committees have been instructed to directly oversee the resolution of obstacles in projects within their jurisdictions.

Before speaking of new growth drivers, we already have vast resources tied up in thousands of projects and land assets. If these are unlocked, they will become a major source contributing to current growth, he said.

On special mechanisms proposed by some deputies, he remarked that just as people wear different sizes, localities are not the same. A uniform legal framework cannot fully accommodate every locality, and policies suitable for Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City may not apply elsewhere.

The legal system, he said, should provide flexible frameworks, allowing localities that meet specific criteria to apply corresponding policies.

He also called for a firm reduction in administrative procedures and business conditions, aiming to cut both compliance time and costs.

The cost of overheating growth

On infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that beyond roads, airports and seaports, energy infrastructure will also be expanded. The national power development plan (Power Plan VIII) will be revised and supplemented to reflect changing international and regional conditions.

Alongside building national reserves of fuel and essential goods, he emphasized the development of power plants and baseload energy, applying new technologies to meet environmental standards.

On human resources, the Ministry of Education and Training has been tasked with developing programs to train a high-quality workforce capable of meeting the demands of innovation and technological advancement.

Regarding resource allocation, the Prime Minister noted that total social investment for the next five-year period is projected at 40% of GDP, equivalent to VND38.5 quadrillion (US$1.5 trillion), compared to about 33% in the previous term - highlighting the scale of the challenge.

Public investment alone is expected to exceed VND8 quadrillion (US$310 billion), up from VND2.87 quadrillion in the previous term. State budget mobilization is projected to reach VND6.5 quadrillion (US$250 billion), 2.7 times higher than before.

About 80% of public investment capital will be mobilized from other sources, including domestic enterprises, social investment and foreign capital, both direct and indirect. The Prime Minister stressed the need for concrete solutions to mobilize these resources and channel them into production and business activities through transparent and supportive legal frameworks.

He reiterated that Vietnams development rests on a solid foundation of macroeconomic stability, likening it to the foundation of a building.

To build higher, the foundation must be reinforced. Growth must go hand in hand with stability and control of major economic balances. We do not accept overheating or high growth that compromises macroeconomic stability, he said, warning that the cost of instability would be far greater.

It is possible to pursue short-term growth through aggressive investment, but that may lead to medium- and long-term instability. The price the economy would pay is enormous, he added.

The Government, he affirmed, is fully aware of the need to maintain macroeconomic stability and is implementing measures accordingly. In recent days, it has held frequent meetings to direct ministries and agencies in coordinating the management of fuel and monetary markets, aiming to control fluctuations and mitigate external impacts.

Tran Thuong
Authorities of Jinan county in North Jeolla province of the Republic of Korea (RoK) announced on April 10 that it has received an additional 65 seasonal workers from Vietnams central Quang Ngai province under a local-level cooperation agreement aimed at easing labour shortages in the agricultural sector.

The new Vietnamese workers will undergo initial training on human rights protection and compliance with the Korean law before being assigned to farms across the county.

The group will join 187 seasonal workers from other countries to support agricultural production in Jinan. The county also plans to receive around 130 additional workers from the Philippines in the near future to supplement its farm labour force.

To help foreign workers adapt to living and working conditions, the local authorities, in coordination with the Staff and Rural Workforce Support Centre, is providing interpretation services in Vietnamese and English, as well as initial settlement support.

As scheduled, in 2026, Jinan is expected to receive a total of 987 foreign seasonal workers, who will play a key role in maintaining agricultural production activities in the locality.

The RoKs seasonal foreign worker programme is an important policy tool to address labour shortages in agriculture, driven largely by population ageing and rural workforce decline. The scheme has been implemented since around 2015 through cooperation between Korean local authorities and partner localities in countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

Workers typically enter the RoK on short-term visas (C-4 or E-8) for periods ranging from 3-8 months, mainly during peak farming seasons. Unlike the Employment Permit System (E-9), seasonal workers are not allowed to transition to long-term residency, helping authorities manage immigration levels.

Recruitment is handled directly by local administrations, reducing reliance on private brokers and minimising risks of illegal employment. Upon arrival, workers will receive training on labour laws, workplace safety and human rights protection before starting work on farms.

The RoK has strengthened protections for migrant workers, including minimum wage guarantees, basic insurance coverage and medical support. Many localities additionally provide interpretation and daily assistance services to reduce language barriers./.VNA
Export turnover in March alone was estimated at around 927 million USD, increasing more than 5% compared to the same period last year. However, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) noted that growth slowed considerably from the roughly 20% expansion recorded in the first two months, reflecting rising volatility in global seafood demand.

China remained Vietnams largest seafood importer during the quarter, with export value reaching approximately 764 million USD, surging nearly 45% year-on-year. In March alone, shipments to the market exceeded 250 million USD, marking growth of more than 50%.

The strong performance in China played a decisive role in maintaining overall sectoral growth as exports to several traditional markets, including the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK), declined.

According to Le Hang, Deputy Secretary General of VASEP, China emerged as the main growth driver thanks to seasonal consumption, stable demand and favourable logistics conditions. Lunar New Year consumption boosted imports of whole shrimp, live seafood and premium products from late 2025 through early 2026, contributing to sharp increases in high-value items such as lobster.

Demand in Chinas mid- and high-end segments also remained resilient. Shrimp imports rose by about 18% in the first two months of the year, while tariff changes and supply disruptions affecting Canadian lobster created opportunities for alternative suppliers, including Vietnam.

Vietnamese exporters also benefited from geographic proximity and flexible supply chains, enabling them to respond quickly to short-term demand surges during peak consumption periods.

However, Hang cautioned that part of the strong growth reflected seasonal factors rather than long-term structural recovery. Increased exports were partly driven by stockpiling and festive demand, meaning growth could moderate in the coming months.

Chinas growing influence also reshaped the industrys export structure. In the shrimp segment, growth was largely driven by lobster, while whiteleg shrimp, Vietnams key product in the US and EU markets, remained largely flat, highlighting uneven recovery among product segments. Pangasius exports also relied heavily on China, which continued to serve as the largest consumption market for the product.

Other seafood categories, including crab, swimming crab and molluscs, benefited from rising demand across Asian markets. Meanwhile, tilapia exports maintained strong momentum following gains in 2025, with Q1 export value estimated at 35 million USD, soaring about 190% year-on-year.

Despite positive results, VASEP warned that heavy reliance on a single market carries risks. Changes in Chinas import policies, border controls or quality regulations could quickly affect trade flows and lead to short-term export fluctuations. In addition, the markets strong seasonality means demand may slow after the early-year peak, particularly if inventories rise.

Competitive pressure is also intensifying, especially from major suppliers such as Ecuador, reinforcing the need for Vietnams seafood industry to diversify export markets to ensure sustainable growth.

Meanwhile, recovery in other major markets remained limited. Seafood exports to the US fell by more than 10% in Q1, continuing to face weak demand and technical barriers, including Certificates of Analysis (COA) requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and anti-dumping duties on shrimp. Exports to Japan and the RoK also declined by around 10%, reflecting subdued consumption.

Exports to the EU were largely unchanged, indicating stable but insufficient demand to drive growth, although opportunities remain for whitefish and sustainably certified products. On a positive note, ASEAN, Australia and several emerging markets maintained growth momentum, helping diversify export destinations.

VASEP forecasts seafood exports will continue to expand in the second quarter, though growth is expected to vary across markets and product categories. Shrimp and pangasius are likely to remain key growth pillars, while China, including Hong Kong, is expected to continue contributing significantly to export expansion.

In the context of persistent challenges in traditional markets, exporters are encouraged to diversify customers, prioritise nearby markets with logistical advantages, and maximise tariff incentives from free trade agreements (FTAs) to sustain growth momentum./.VNA
Ho Chi Minh City will set off fireworks at seven locations for the April 30 holiday. Photo: Nguyen Hue

Ho Chi Minh City will host a series of fireworks displays at seven locations, alongside a wide range of cultural and artistic activities, to mark the 51st anniversary of national reunification on April 30, 19752026, and the 140th anniversary of International Workers Day.

According to a plan issued by the municipal Peoples Committee, the fireworks will include three high-altitude and four low-altitude sites, all scheduled for the evening of April 30.

The displays will run for 15 minutes, from 9pm to 9:15pm, under the direction of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command, in coordination with the Department of Culture and Sports.

Three high-altitude locations are set at the entrance of the Saigon River tunnel in An Khanh Ward, the central area of the new urban zone in Binh Duong Ward, and Ba Ria Park Square in Ba Ria Ward.

The four low-altitude displays will take place at Dam Sen Cultural Park in Binh Thoi Ward, the Saigon Marina IFC tower in Sai Gon Ward, the Kim Long villa area near Rach Dia Bridge in Nha Be Commune, and the Can Gio coastal urban tourism area - Vinhomes Green Paradise in Can Gio Commune.

Beyond the fireworks, the city will organize a wide array of cultural and sporting events for both residents and visitors. A major highlight is a large-scale art performance scheduled from 7:30pm to 9pm on April 30, held simultaneously at Nguyen Hue Street, the central park of the new urban area, and Ba Ria Park Square.

Photo exhibitions will run from April 23 to May 12 along key central streets such as Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi, as well as at traditional cultural venues.

Sporting activities will include the 50th edition of the traditional April 30 cross-country race, expected to attract a large number of participants.

From April 26 to May 1, rotating cultural performances will be staged across wards, communes, and towns throughout the city.

Commemorative ceremonies, including visits and offerings of incense and flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and President Ton Duc Thang, will take place on April 29.



Tuan Kiet
Tourism has become a way for them to share their lives in an intimate and open way.

When people think of Son La, they often imagine pristine highland villages, vibrant fruit-covered hillsides, and the rich cultural space of ethnic minority groups. In recent years, this province has made a mark by developing tourism linked to agriculture and indigenous culture, opening new livelihoods for highland people.

At Hang Tau, known as the "primitive village" in Moc Chau, life is transforming in its own way. Once famous for having "three nos" (no grid electricity, no mobile signal, and no Wi-Fi), this village of 21 households has become an experiential destination attracting tourists with its rustic authenticity.

Pham Thi Tra and her family members, who previously relied solely on farming, now use their firewood kitchen as a rest stop for visitors. While income has improved, Tra especially values the fact that tourists recognize and respect the village's cultural heritage.

Similar models are emerging throughout Moc Chau. Nguyen Van Binh, the owner of the Thanh Binh orchards, shifted barren rocky slopes to planting plums, persimmons and oranges while renovating the landscape to create tour paths.

Over time, farm areas once used only for production now attract hundreds of visitors daily during blossom and harvest seasons. Binh said: "When switching to the tourism model, I taught myself filming, editing, and media skills to promote our image and expand market reach."

The appeal of experiential tourism in Son La did not come by chance, but from a shift in farmers mindset. From pure production, they gradually integrated tourism services, leveraging landscapes and existing cultural values.

At the same time, local authorities provide clear direction, encouraging agricultural tourism models linked with indigenous crops and building a sustainable development mindset.

According to local leaders, research is underway on infrastructure investment and the development of cultural experience products of Thai, Mong, and Dao ethnic groups to create a long-term foundation for tourism.

The transformation of Son La farmers from agriculture to tourism reflects the internal vitality of the Northwest region but also demonstrates a development approach based on identity and local resources. It is a quiet yet persistent journey, contributing to a new rural landscape in mountainous areas within the countrys broader development process.

Heritage becomes toutism focus

A key point in the approach of ethnic minority provinces is identifying the community as both the owner of heritage and the center of tourism development. Through community-based tourism models linked with preserving architecture and local culture, heritage has been awakened to create livelihoods: homestays in traditional stilt houses, festival experiences, folk performances, handicraft production and sales, and local cuisine.

Tuyen Quang is gradually affirming its position as a culturally rich destination, where heritage is not only preserved in memory but is vividly present in community life. What creates its distinct appeal is a diverse system of cultural heritage of ethnic minorities, from traditional architecture to intangible cultural treasures, being activated as a resource for tourism development, contributing to improved livelihoods and sustainable poverty reduction.

Many visitors wish to return to Tuyen Quang multiple times due to the richness and diversity of its local cultural heritage. Tuyen Quang has long been home to many ethnic groups such as Mong, Dao, Lo Lo, Pu Peo, Tay, and Nung. Over hundreds of years, each community has created its own cultural space, reflecting the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, and between material and spiritual life.

Ly Ta Quan, the owner of a homestay in Nam Dam village, Quan Ba commune, said: We only use wood, earth, and stone to build traditional houses passed down from our ancestors. This is how we preserve cultural identity and attract tourists.

The development of community-based tourism has brought positive changes to Nam Dam. People are more aware of preserving cultural identity for tourism development, and household incomes have improved.

Compared to farming, community tourism brings much higher income. Since we started tourism, the village has transformed, houses are better, and poverty has decreased rapidly, he said.

Currently, Tuyen Quang has 54 cultural and community tourism villages. Many models have received international recognition, such as Nam Dam village winning the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Award, and Lo Lo Chai village being honored by UN Tourism as one of the Best Tourism Villages in the World.

Ha Nguyen
Feedstock supply remains unstable



According to the Vietnam Biofuels Association, the country currently operates six fuel ethanol plants with a combined designed capacity of approximately 600,000 cubic metres per year. At full capacity, these facilities could meet around 40% of the demand for E10 RON95 blending. However, securing sufficient feedstock to operate at full capacity continues to face considerable difficulties.



In practice, most domestically produced ethanol is derived from cassava, a feedstock with limited availability and relatively low efficiency, leading to higher production costs.



Associate Prof. Dr. Chu Tien Quang, former head of the rural development policy department at the Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies, noted that local cassava cultivation areas have been shrinking due to declining yields, rapid soil degradation and environmental impacts. In addition, fragmented farming and limited mechanisation have kept productivity low and harvesting costs high. Farmers also lack incentives to cultivate cassava due to low purchase prices and the absence of stable off-take contracts.



Sharing a similar view, Nguyen Tri Ngoc, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam General Council of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that cassava cultivation linked to ethanol feedstock supply has been promoted for years. However, ensuring sustainability requires appropriate policies and technical processes, as cassava is both a valuable raw material for biofuel production and a potential source of environmental overexploitation.



From a business perspective, Pham Van Tuan, Director of the Nha Xanh Vietnam One-Member Ltd. Co., stated that his firms ethanol feedstock is primarily sourced from cassava and maize. Cassava is entirely procured domestically, while maize is sourced both locally and imported from South American markets such as Argentina and Brazil, as well as from the US.



He added that maize offers a more stable supply and consistent quality in terms of starch content, impurities and technical specifications for ethanol production. By contrast, cassava is highly seasonal, with abundant supply and low prices during harvest periods, followed by sharp price increases in the off-season.



Developing integrated value chains



To ensure the sustainable development of feedstock areas, it is essential to build strong linkages between farmers, cooperatives and processing enterprises. In particular, companies must guarantee off-take agreements and offer sufficiently attractive purchase prices to sustain raw material zones, Quang underlined.



Alongside value chain development, better utilisation of existing agricultural by-products, such as bran, straw and corn cobs, should also be considered a key solution for ensuring feedstock supply for ethanol production. This approach would help reduce environmental pollution, minimise waste and prove far more cost-effective than establishing new cultivation zones, he added.



Similarly, Ngoc proposed that farmers should be placed at the centre of feedstock development, with mechanisms ensuring stable income per unit of land.



According to Do Van Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Biofuels Association, it takes several years to develop an ethanol production industry. In Vietnam, stronger linkages within the ethanol supply chain will be a key driver for expanding production.



Drawing on industry experience, Tuan stressed that additional policy support is needed to foster the sustainable development of the biofuels sector. This includes clearly zoning off key cultivation areas for maize and cassava to supply ethanol plants, alongside investment in transport and irrigation infrastructure to reduce logistics and procurement costs.



Furthermore, the Government should consider granting corporate income tax exemptions or reductions for a period of 510 years for ethanol production projects in order to encourage long-term investment. With the current import tariff on ethanol set at 5%, businesses have called for this level to be maintained to provide reasonable protection for domestic production./.VNA
According to the Vietnam News Agency, the meeting took place on the afternoon of April 9 in Vientiane. The Lao leader highly appreciated the significance of the visit, which comes as both countries have successfully held their respective Party congresses and elections for the National Assembly and Peoples Councils, and as Laos prepares to celebrate its traditional Bun Pimay New Year.

Standing member of the Party Secretariat Tran Cam Tu meets with Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith.

Thongloun Sisoulith extended warm congratulations to Vietnams leadership, including General Secretary To Lam being elected State President, Le Minh Hung as Prime Minister, and Tran Thanh Man as Chairman of the National Assembly, expressing confidence that Vietnam will enter a new phase of development with an enhanced international standing.

He also conveyed deep gratitude for Vietnams consistent and wholehearted support for Laos throughout its development journey, while praising Vietnams comprehensive achievements in recent years.

Tran Cam Tu expressed his pleasure at returning to Laos during the festive season and conveyed greetings and congratulations from Vietnams senior leaders, including General Secretary and State President To Lam, to Thongloun Sisoulith on his re-election as President of Laos for the 2026-2031 term.

He voiced strong confidence that under the leadership of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, Laos would continue to achieve significant successes in its renewal process.

On this occasion, Tran Cam Tu briefed his host on the outcomes of his earlier meeting with Lao Standing Secretary of the Party Secretariat Vilay Lakhamphong, reaffirming that Vietnam consistently places the highest priority on its unique and special relationship with Laos and remains committed to supporting Laos in its national development.

Both sides exchanged updates on their respective Party and national situations following recent elections, as well as major orientations in Party building, socio-economic development, national defense, security and international integration.

Standing member of the Party Secretariat Tran Cam Tu meets with Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA.



The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the continued development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, noting the growing political trust reflected in frequent high-level exchanges.

Vietnamese leaders also highly valued the Lao leaders state visit to Vietnam in January 2026 and the reciprocal visit by To Lam to Laos in February 2026, which have created strong momentum for deepening bilateral relations in the new phase.

Looking ahead, both sides agreed to intensify high-level exchanges, effectively implement existing agreements, and strengthen cooperation in defense and security, including combating transnational crime, drug trafficking and cybercrime.

They also emphasized the need to enhance economic connectivity, particularly infrastructure links, and to promote trade and investment, encouraging Vietnamese enterprises to expand operations in Laos in areas of mutual interest.

Cooperation in education and training, especially in developing high-quality human resources, will be further strengthened, alongside closer ties between localities, particularly border provinces.

Both sides agreed to coordinate closely in preparing for major anniversaries in 2027, marking 65 years of diplomatic relations and 50 years of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, reaffirming their commitment to coordination in both bilateral relations and multilateral forums amid a rapidly changing global landscape.

Earlier the same day, Tran Cam Tu also met Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Standing member of the Party Secretariat Tran Cam Tu meets with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA.

Standing member of the Party Secretariat Tran Cam Tu meets Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA.

At the meeting, the Lao Prime Minister stressed the importance of the visit in further strengthening the special relationship between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Tran Cam Tu congratulated Laos on its recent achievements, including the successful organization of the 12th National Congress of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and the elections for the 10th National Assembly and 5th Peoples Councils, as well as the consolidation of its leadership for the new term.

He reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently gives top priority to its unique and special relationship with Laos.

Both sides agreed to further enhance coordination among ministries, sectors and localities, improve the effectiveness of economic, trade and investment cooperation, and better leverage each countrys strengths, with the aim of raising bilateral trade turnover to US$10 billion in the coming years.

They also emphasized the importance of boosting strategic connectivity, especially in transport and energy infrastructure, while promoting cooperation in education, training and human resource development.

The leaders underscored the need to strengthen unity not only in bilateral relations but also at multilateral forums, expressing confidence that with strong determination and joint efforts, Vietnam - Laos relations will continue to deepen in a practical and effective manner.

Ngan Anh
Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man will attend the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-152) in Istanbul, Turkey, and pay an official visit to Italy, in a trip carrying special significance for both multilateral and bilateral relations.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse during a working visit. Photo: VNA.

At the invitation of IPU President Tulia Ackson and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, the Chairman, accompanied by his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will attend IPU-152, conduct bilateral activities in Turkey and officially visit Italy from April 11 to 17.

This marks his first official overseas trip since the 14th Party Congress, the election of the 16th National Assembly and the consolidation of the state apparatus for the new term.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang described the visit as highly significant on both multilateral and bilateral fronts.

Vietnams National Assembly has consistently taken a proactive role within the IPU framework, proposing initiatives and making substantive contributions, while working alongside member parliaments to implement resolutions aimed at maintaining peace and promoting sustainable development globally.

The National Assembly has also participated in key leadership mechanisms within the IPU, earning strong confidence from member parliaments for its leadership capacity. These factors provide a solid foundation for Vietnam to further assert its role and position at IPU-152.

The theme of the assembly - Harnessing hope, ensuring peace and promoting justice for future generations - reflects core concerns of the international community and serves as a fundamental basis for addressing shared challenges and shaping a sustainable future.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man is expected to deliver a keynote speech outlining Vietnams perspectives on global and regional issues, while proposing concrete measures to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity.

On the sidelines, he will hold meetings and exchanges with parliamentary leaders, IPU officials and representatives of international organizations. These engagements will help highlight Vietnams development achievements, vision and aspirations in a new era, while conveying its foreign policy orientation to the international community.

Strengthening ties with key partners

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary General Martin Chungong. Photo: QH.

Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang emphasized that the trip is expected to generate new momentum in Vietnams relations with important partners.

For Turkey, this is the first visit by a Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman in eight years, providing an opportunity to enhance political trust and deepen parliamentary cooperation, thereby promoting substantive bilateral relations.

For Italy, the visit aims to implement the joint declaration between the two countries senior leaders on strengthening their strategic partnership, as well as the agreed action plan for cooperation. It is expected to bring bilateral relations into greater depth, effectiveness and substance across all fields.

During the visit, Chairman Tran Thanh Man is also scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

Italy and Turkey are both longstanding and important partners of Vietnam in Europe and the Middle East. In recent years, traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the two countries have continued to grow steadily and effectively.

Both countries are key economic and trade partners of Vietnam, with significant untapped potential for further cooperation.

Vietnam aims to elevate its partnership with Italy through enhanced collaboration in key areas such as the economy and science and technology. With Turkey, the focus will be on strengthening cooperation in legislation, security, trade and Halal agriculture.

The visit is expected to deliver positive outcomes, contributing to the consolidation and expansion of cooperation between Vietnam and its partners, while opening new opportunities and mobilizing resources to support the countrys development ambitions in the years ahead.

Tran Thuong
The individuals, identified as Park Gyoungmo (29) and Cho Wooseok (28), had been wanted since February 26, 2026, on charges related to organized crime and fraud. Another suspect, Hansaem (31), had been on the wanted list since January 5, 2026, also for fraud.

The group had been hiding in Khanh Hoa Province.

Earlier, during routine residency inspections, police in Nam Nha Trang Ward discovered nine foreign nationals staying in a rented apartment in the An Binh Tan urban area, displaying suspicious behavior.

Further verification revealed that three of them were South Korean citizens subject to Interpol red notices, prompting authorities to carry out their arrest.

Following the detention, Vietnamese authorities completed the necessary procedures to transfer the suspects to South Korean law enforcement for further investigation and handling.

Xuan Ngoc
Additionally, 340 infrastructure projects serving land subdivision and sales are underway, providing more than 103,700 plots.

In the segment of projects eligible to sell off-plan housing, the country recorded 74 projects with over 34,300 units, marking a strong increase compared to the same period last year. A total of 51 projects were approved for investment policy during the quarter.

For social housing, there are currently 737 projects under development nationwide, totaling more than 701,000 units, achieving about 70.1% of the target of 1 million units.

In the first quarter alone, 66 projects were assigned investors, 33 were licensed and started construction, and four projects were completed with 578 apartments.

The total number of social housing projects completed and commenced so far accounts for approximately 0.18% of the target set for 2026.

Prices remain high, transactions decline

Despite improved supply, property prices have generally remained high.

According to Hoang Thu Hang, Deputy Director General of the Housing and Real Estate Market Management Agency under the Ministry of Construction, housing prices in the first quarter were largely stable but stayed at high levels, with slight increases in some localities.

Specifically, prices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Khanh Hoa rose by about 2%, while Da Nang and Dong Nai saw increases of over 1%.

Some market reports also point to early signs of cooling in Hanois apartment segment. The average primary price stands at around VND100 million per square meter (US$4,100), down slightly quarter-on-quarter, while secondary prices remain at about VND82 million per square meter (US$3,300).

In terms of transactions, market liquidity has shown a downward trend. In the first quarter of 2026, total transactions reached approximately 115,650, down nearly 24% compared to the previous quarter and 14% year-on-year.

The apartment and individual housing segment recorded more than 25,600 successful transactions, dropping over 30% quarter-on-quarter. Land plots also saw nearly 90,000 transactions, down more than 10% compared to the same period last year.

A representative of the ministry noted that continued supply additions will play a key role in stabilizing the market.

Improved supply will help stabilize the overall price level, limit unreasonable increases, and create more favorable conditions for genuine housing demand, Hang said.

Looking ahead, demand is expected to concentrate on affordable housing in major urban areas, along with land plots in areas with well-developed infrastructure and stable populations.

The ministry also noted that as new legal regulations are implemented in a synchronized manner in 2026, the market will become more clearly segmented.

Brokerage activities are expected to become more professional as management is tightened and standards are raised. At the same time, speculative behavior and price manipulation will be more strictly monitored and controlled, reducing abnormal fluctuations.

Notably, a strong filtering process is expected to continue across the market. Weaker developers lacking financial capacity or legal compliance will gradually be eliminated, while those with clean land banks and well-structured projects will have greater opportunities to recover and grow.

Hong Khanh
The event, part of the Vietnam Expo 2026, was co-hosted by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE), Industry Agency and Vietnam Institute of Strategy and Policy for Industry and Trade of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and VINEXA National Trade Fair & Advertising JSC. It pulled in regulators, investment promotion bodies, industry associations and businesses from Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) in both in-person and online formats.

VIETRADE Director Vu Ba Phu said Vietnam - RoK economic, trade and investment ties have been growing in recent years, with the RoK remaining one of Vietnams top important partners, especially when it comes to foreign direct investment. Both sides now want to balance out trade and climb higher up the regional supply chain.

The RoK stood as Vietnams largest foreign investor with more than 95.2 billion USD in registered capital as of February 2026, or about 18% of all foreign cash flowing in, with thousands of active projects. In January-February alone, the RoK led the pack with nearly 2 billion USD in pledges, grabbing a whopping 32.7% of total registered capital and showing no signs of slowing down.

More than 73% of that Korean capital has gone into manufacturing and processing, including major hi-tech projects. Korean companies have supercharged Vietnams auto parts production, sped up tech transfers, and tightened up management and quality standards, contributing to shaping industrial clusters in hot spots like Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, and Ho Chi Minh City, Phu said.

He pointed out that with the global auto world racing toward green, electric, and smart vehicles, Korean cash pouring into auto parts is laying critical groundwork for Vietnams automotive sector and letting local players hook deeper into global and regional supply chains. Still, Vietnams auto parts industry remains at an early stage, hampered by low localisation rates, limited tech know-how, and underdeveloped linkages between local and Korean enterprises.

The dialogue also rolled out a new joint Vietnam-RoK project to map the entire auto parts value chain. Led by KOTRA and Vietnamese agencies, the goal is to spot the weak points and get firms and policymakers working together.

Koo Bon-kyung, KOTRAs Regional Director General for Southeast Asia and Oceania, said Vietnams automotive market has been growing rapidly, with vehicle sales rising more than 10% year-on-year through 2025. Thanks to local automaker VinFast and global players such as Hyundai-Kia and Toyota, Vietnam is emerging as a new automotive production hub in Southeast Asia.

But even with the fast growth, localising key components and building full supply chains is a major headache. Creating a rock-solid industrial chain from raw materials all the way to finished cars will be the real ticket to lifting Vietnams global competitiveness, Koo added.

At the event, companies discussed investment and operational hurdles and proposed concrete steps to improve policies and business environment, with emphasis on greater transparency and policy stability./.
AI to power 25% of economy



The Vietnam AI Economy 2025 report, released by the National Innovation Centre, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Boston Consulting Group, puts hard numbers on the opportunity for the first time. It forecasts that AI could add up to 130 billion USD to Vietnams GDP by 2040, equivalent to roughly 25% of the countrys current economy.



Vietnam has moved faster than most in Southeast Asia, issuing a national strategy for AI research, development, and application. In a new decision, the Prime Minister listed 11 strategic technology groups and 35 priority tech products, with AI ranked at the very top.



Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung called AI the best shot for Vietnam to break into the high-income nation on par with major powers.



CMC Executive Chairman Nguyen Trung Chinh said achieving sustainable growth and escaping the middle-income trap demands a powerful new engine underpinned by sci-tech, innovation, and sharp gains in labour productivity. Against such a backdrop, AI stands out as the foundational technology capable of reshaping production, governance, services, and the entire economy.



Call for a national AI strategy



As suggested by Chinh, the Government will approve and roll out a national AI strategy that runs to 2045.



The CMC proposed building an action plan for the AI-X programme this year. complete with a detailed roadmap and clear responsibilities. It also called for establishing a National Council on AI led by a Government leader to coordinate AI adoption nationwide, pooling all possible resources for 2026-2028, while introducing special mechanisms on financing, land and workforce to accelerate AI infrastructure buildout



The company also suggested incorporating AI indicators in socio-economic performance evaluation criteria and running pilots in selected localities before scaling countrywide.



Strategy for AI infrastructure needed



Minister Hung said Vietnam must build infrastructure for AI, and could come a long way thanks to national AI computing power, robust data ecosystem, homegrown Make in Vietnam tech firms, start-ups and a young, digitally fluent workforce.



Chairman and CEO of Viettel Tao Duc Thang declared AI as the groups fifth pillar, vowing to study, develop and commercialise AI-powered technologies and apps till 2040, contributing to realising Vietnams AI strategy, especially the Politburos Resolution 57.



Executive Chairman of the VNG Corporation Le Hong Minh pushed for sovereign AI, including practical business apps and foundational models developed in Vietnam. He noted that current investment levels lag behind peers and called for building a critical mass of researchers and developers who truly master core AI technologies.



Domestic tech players, he added, must shift focus from hype to concrete product development and real commercial opportunities.



Taken together, AI is Vietnams single biggest strategic opportunity that will largely determine the countrys global standing till 2045./. VNA


The revised plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to transform tourism into a key economic sector that plays an important role in the countrys economic structure, while promoting sustainable and high-quality growth across the industry.

Under the new orientation, Vietnams tourism sector is expected to develop in a professional and modern direction, with a stronger focus on depth, quality and efficiency. Rather than focusing solely on increasing visitor numbers, the industry aims to enhance value-added services, increase its overall economic contribution and generate broader spillover effects that support the development of other sectors such as transport, hospitality, culture, retail and creative industries.

Vietnams tourism sector is gradually strengthening its role as a key economic driver. (Photo: VNA)

The adjusted planning framework highlights the importance of developing both international and domestic tourism markets simultaneously. International tourism will continue to serve as a major growth driver. Meanwhile, the domestic tourism market, which has demonstrated strong resilience and stability in recent years, will remain an important pillar of the industrys development.

The plan also stresses the importance of strengthening linkages between tourism and other economic sectors, promoting regional and interregional connectivity, and forming tourism corridors connected with domestic and international economic corridors.

Tourism development will be guided by green growth and the circular economy, aiming to maximise contributions to global sustainable development goals. As a result, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and the maintenance of social stability and security are identified as key requirements throughout the development process.

One of the most notable elements of the revised planning is its strong environmental commitment. By 2030, all tourist destinations, accommodation establishments and coastal tourism services nationwide are expected to eliminate the use of single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags. Tourism businesses are encouraged to adopt environmentally friendly practices and gradually transition toward circular economy models that emphasise reuse, waste reduction and sustainable resource management.

Vietnam lure foreign tourists (Photo: VNA)

In terms of concrete targets, Vietnam aims to welcome between 45-50 million international tourists by 2030, representing an average annual growth rate of 16-19%. In addition, it is projected to generate approximately 12 million jobs nationwide, including around 4 million direct jobs. Accommodation infrastructure will also expand significantly to meet growing demand from both international and domestic travellers. The country aims to develop about 2.5 million guest rooms across hotels, resorts and other forms of lodging by 2030.

Regarding spatial development, the revised plan emphasises tourism development linked with major urban centres such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, and Can Tho, along with specialised tourist destinations like Hoi An, Hue, Sa Pa, Ha Long, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, and Phu Quoc. These locations will become hubs for high-quality tourism products, closely associated with cultural industries and the night-time economy.

Tourists enjoy sightseeing while contributing to environmental protection. (Photo: VNA)

Regional linkages and development corridors, including NorthSouth and EastWest tourism corridors, will connect localities within the country as well as with neighbouring countries. This aims to maximise advantages in tourism resources and infrastructure, while expanding cross-border tourism development space.

Within the development structure, several tourism centres and growth poles have been clearly identified. Da Nang is oriented as a growth pole for the Central and Central Highlands regions, while Ho Chi Minh City serves as the core driver for tourism development in the Southeast and the Mekong Delta. The plan also sets a goal of forming seven key tourism development zones nationwide. By 2030, focus will be placed on developing five priority areas. After 2030, additional development zones will be expanded in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous regions, as well as the Northwest.

Green tourism is seen as the key to sustainable tourism development. (Photo: VNA)

In addition, ten major tourism centres associated with urban areas with outstanding advantages will be prioritised for development. The focus will be on diversifying tourism products, particularly those linked to the night-time economy, high-end resorts, and cultural experiences. Regarding resources, the plan identifies the private sector as playing a leading role in tourism investment and development. The state budget will focus on key tasks such as digital transformation, promotion and marketing, human resource training, and environmental protection, thereby creating a foundation and driving force to attract social investment.

Vietnam focuses on developing tourism linked with major urban centres, offering high-quality tourism products. (Photo: VNA)

At the same time, improving institutions and policies is considered an urgent requirement. Relevant laws such as the Tourism Law, the Land Law, and the Investment Law will be reviewed, amended, and supplemented to create a more favourable legal framework for tourism development.

Special mechanisms for developing the night-time economy, supporting businesses, streamlining immigration procedures, and expanding visa exemption policies will also be promoted to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnams tourism industry in the international market.

Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City serve as gateways and key drivers of Vietnams tourism development. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnams tourism sector in 2025, for the first time in its history, served around 135.5 million domestic tourists and welcomed nearly 21.2 million international arrivals, up more than 20% year-on-year and exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels, while total revenue surpassed 1 quadrillion VND (about 38 billion USD).

The rice harvest season in the highland commune of Xim Vang. (Photo: VNA)

With national GDP growing by 8.02% in 2025, the service sector was assessed as recording strong expansion and contributing more than half of overall economic growth, with tourism identified as a key driving force.

Looking ahead to 2026, the tourism sector targets about 25 million international arrivals, 150 million domestic holidaymakers and total revenue of around 1.12 quadrillion VND (approximately 43 billion USD), reflecting its ambition to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector in line with the Government's goals.

Major cities are focusing on tourism linked to the night-time economy, high-end resorts and cultural experiences. (Photo: VNA)

According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the sector will focus on key product lines such as cultural tourism, nature-based tourism, marine and island tourism, and urban sightseeing.

Alongside these traditional products, localities and businesses are stepping up investment in creative, smart and green tourism products, including volunteer tourism, environmental protection tours, film set experiences, agricultural and rural tourism, street music activities, educational tourism linked to military experience, as well as virtual reality applications and automated guiding systems./.VNA
AI drives high-quality development of cultural tourism across China

People's Daily Online) 13:31, April 10, 2026

In recent years, artificial intelligence has been playing an important role in driving the transformation of cultural tourism across China, making it more immersive, intelligent and tailored to individual preferences.

At Chuanshan Academy in Hengyang, central China's Hunan Province, visitors wearing augmented reality glasses are transported back in time to interact with Wang Fuzhi (1619-1692), a prominent Chinese philosopher.

Founded in 1878, Chuanshan Academy is dedicated to preserving and promoting Wang's philosophy.

In the past, the academy's static exhibits struggled to fully capture the depth of Wang's ideas for visitors.

Photo shows a 360-degree immersive panoramic screen at Chuanshan Academy, Hengyang city, central China's Hunan Province. (Photo/Luo Maomeng)

In 2025, the academy launched an AI-powered "digital human" project, which uses AI technology to bring Wang's voice and likeness to life. Visitors can engage in virtual conversations with the philosopher and use gesture-based interactions to access AR annotations of his works.

Data show that in 2025, visits to Chuanshan Academy rose by 110.84 percent year on year, with study tour groups accounting for 59.26 percent of total visitors. Many parents say the immersive, interactive experience has sparked their children's interest in learning.

Flowers are in full bloom at the West Lake scenic area in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. At a tourism information kiosk by the lake, visitor Yuan Meng takes out her phone and taps a blue tag on the booth. Instantly, a virtual guide appears on her screen. The AI-powered digital tourism assistant offers real-time guidance, information and travel support.

"Is the Leifeng Pagoda crowded right now?" Yuan asks in a voice message. Within seconds, she receives up-to-date visitor flow data for popular spots around West Lake.

"This is so much easier than searching on my own. It's like having a free personal tour guide," she said.

The digital tourism assistant enables both tourism authorities and businesses to better serve visitors while gaining valuable insights into their preferences, said Bo Wen'gan, deputy director of the city's culture and tourism development center. The data helps enhance service quality and broaden offerings, he said.

Zhou Jiayi, curator of the Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion in Hangzhou, said the pavilion, located near the Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum complex, has long faced the challenge of attracting visitors. "Recently, quite a few people told me they found us through the digital tourism assistant," Zhou said.

Authorities in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, have developed a mini program that uses large AI models to help travelers plan their itineraries.

"It's like a thoughtful travel assistant that saves us from having to switch back and forth between multiple apps to look up transportation, accommodation and dining options," said a tourist named Song Yao. She said the platform can generate a set of recommendations based on her needs. "If something catches my interest, I can then ask follow-up questions."

Song used the platform to quickly settle on the specific places she wanted to visit in Dalian. She then asked it to design a two-day itinerary covering several scenic spots. Within seconds, the platform generated a detailed, personalized itinerary.

The mini program has served nearly 430,000 users to date, according to Shan Meina, director of the Dalian Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Amkor Technology seeks LPG priority for semiconductor plant

Kim Sung Hun, CEO of the groups subsidiary Amkor Technology Vietnam, requested a meeting on April 6 with Bac Ninh authorities.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is emerging as a critical contingency fuel for semiconductor factories facing energy shortages, specifically as a reliable backup to power production facilities when electricity grids or natural gas supplies are disrupted.

The semiconductor industry, which requires massive, uninterrupted power for advanced wafer fabrication, is increasingly exploring LPG to prevent high-cost production shutdowns during energy crises, such as those impacting Asia in March-April 2026.

Hun also suggested that Vietnam should provide support at 3 per cent of the capital investment for semiconductors to boost production sustainability and efficiency.

Besides that, the company expects the local authorities to help train and retain talent for the sector.

Nguyen Hong Thai, Secretary of Bac Ninh Party Committee said, We will instruct the provincial people's committee and relevant departments and agencies to consider and resolve them within their authority, with the view that the province always accompanies and effectively supports businesses investing in the province, and the success of the business is also the success of the province.

The provincial people's committee will host a specific working session with the company; for issues beyond its authority, the provincial leadership commits to closely coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to advise and submit them to the government for consideration and resolution in accordance with regulations, ensuring a balance of interests for the business, he said.

Amkor Technology opened its factory in Bac Ninh in October 2023. The factory, covering 23 hectares at Yen Phong 2C Industrial Park, offers turnkey solutions from design to electrical testing.

The venture had an initial investment of $530 million. In July 2024, Amkor received an investment certificate for additional investments of $1.07 billion, 11 years earlier than its original plan. The plant has an annual capacity of 420 million items, while Amkor is seeking permission to increase the output to 3.6 billion items annually.

Vietnams semiconductor industry has so far recorded foreign direct investment of $14.2 billion across 241 projects, according to the government. The country now has 166 universities offering semiconductor-related courses, enrolling 134,000 students annually.

National steering committee on semiconductor industry development established Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed a decision on August 8 to establish a national steering committee for the semiconductor industry's development.

Amkor Technology in negotiation to export semiconductor products Amkor Technology, which operates a mega factory for semiconductor assembly and testing in the northern province of Bac Ninh, is in negotiation with an additional six partners to export semiconductor products.

Amkor Technology to triple factory output in Vietnam Amkor Technology Vietnam, under US-headquartered semiconductor giant Amkor Technology, is planning to triple the capacity of its semiconductor factory in Vietnam from 1.2 billion to 3.6 billion items.
Leaders of An Giang People's Committee held a field survey at Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone on March 31

The committee stated that the province has just submitted a report on the implementation of several power grid projects in Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone.

As of March 30, the 110kV Phu Quoc - South Phu Quoc power line project has a total length of over 19km (79 tower locations), and the land area to be acquired for this initiative is over 37,700 square metres. The locality handed over the land for 70 out of 79 towers.

The Phu Quoc - North Phu Quoc 110kV power line project has a length of nearly 20km (75 tower locations), with a land area of over 13,000 sq.m. To date, only 19 out of 75 towers have been handed over.

The Phu Quoc 220kV substation undertaking has a land area of over 49,500 sq.m. The local authorities completed the handover of 4.6ha of forest land and finalised the land compensation plan for 12 affected households.

Along with the achievements, the above projects still face some difficulties, such as the long power line route, which significantly affects organisations and households; the extensive field surveying and mapping work, while the land clearance workforce is limited.

Some households have not yet agreed to hand over their land. At the same time, the local authorities have not been able to review, adjust, and update land use changes on time, leading to many complications.

The An Giang provincial leadership has requested the government consider applying a special mechanism for implementing certain measures to expedite the project serving APEC 2027.

The province has committed to ensure the progress of land clearance by the deadline and to resolve any obstacles. The locality will coordinate with the electricity sector and relevant units to complete the projects on schedule to provide electricity to the island and welcome APEC 2027.

Long Thanh Airport at risk of delays due to slow land clearance Long Thanh International Airport is facing a very real risk of falling behind its construction schedule as land clearance and relocation is only half completed against the deadline at the end of June.

Dak Nong to accelerate land clearance for wind power projects Dak Nong Peoples Committee has promised to thoroughly deal with bottlenecks in land clearance to unlock wind power project development.

$1.8 billion Quang Trach power plant faces land clearance issues Quang Trach 1 thermal power plant, which is invested by EVN, is facing difficulties in land clearance.

Dong Nai hands over ground-phase 1 to develop Long Thanh International Airport On August 25, Long Thanh Peoples Committee organised a ceremony to hand over ground-phase 1 for the construction of Long Thanh International Airport and the two road routes connecting the T1 and T2 terminals, to investors.
At a meeting held in Hanoi on April 8, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) chairman Dang Hoang An chaired a review of the implementation progress of battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects within the national power system.

EVN board member Dang Huy Cuong highlighted the rapid global expansion of energy storage, noting that total installed BESS capacity worldwide is expected to reach around 300,000 MW in 2025. This scale underscores the technologys increasingly vital role in the global energy transition.

"In Vietnam, as renewable energy continues to account for a larger share of the power mix, BESS is expected to play a critical role in enhancing system stability," he said.

Battery storage can help meet peak demand, potentially reducing or partially replacing the need for traditional peaking power plants. It can also support electricity supply and mitigate overload risks during high-demand periods.

Following directives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, EVN has since 2025 instructed its subsidiaries and affiliated units to prepare for investing in and installing battery storage systems across the grid. The move aims to ensure sufficient power supply to meet peak demand in 2026 and beyond.

At the distribution level, Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC) has conducted initial surveys of 110 kV substations suitable for BESS deployment. Preliminary calculations suggest that total installable capacity across its network could reach approximately 530 MW, with a storage duration of two hours, equivalent to 1,060 MWh.

EVNNPC has been working closely with National System and Market Operation Company (NSMO) to determine appropriate scale and deployment objectives. In the first phase, the corporation is implementing BESS projects with a combined capacity of 305 MW, expected to be completed by the end of June 2026, while subsequent phases are planned.

Meanwhile, Hanoi Power Corporation has been tasked with developing BESS projects with a total capacity of 275 MW. During the pilot phase, the corporation is deploying 50 MW of battery storage at five substations across the capital.

In southern Vietnam, Southern Power Corporation is exploring the feasibility of deploying BESS on Phu Quy Island. According to its leadership, integrating battery storage into the islands power system is expected to deliver clear economic benefits.

On the transmission side, National Power Transmission Corporation is also pushing forward with BESS deployment, aiming to complete the installation of its first 100 MW of battery storage at substations by January 2027.

In parallel, Power Project Management Board No.1 is looking at investment options for BESS projects with a total capacity of between 300 MW and 500 MW. Initial surveys have identified four potential sites in northern Vietnam, located near major power sources, for future development phases.

Under the revised National Power Development Plan VIII, Vietnam aims to achieve between 10,000 MW and 16,300 MW of energy storage capacity by 2030, reflecting the growing importance of BESS in the countrys long-term energy strategy.

Despite the momentum, EVN acknowledged that BESS deployment still faces several challenges that require resolution. These include issues related to planning frameworks, investment mechanisms, site selection, and the development of technical standards and regulations.

In addition, fire safety in the installation and operation of battery systems remains a critical concern, requiring stringent technical requirements and careful risk management.

Addressing the meeting, An emphasised that BESS should be viewed as a key solution in both the operation and development of the power system.

"One of the main advantages of battery storage, is its relatively short deployment time," he said. "While investment costs remain relatively high, BESS can still offer competitive advantages when assessed alongside traditional power sources, particularly in terms of flexibility and system efficiency."

He also stressed that BESS should not be limited to peak shaving and overload reduction, but rather considered across multiple roles within the power system.

"EVN has been instructed to develop a comprehensive and synchronised roadmap for BESS deployment, ensuring effective investment and implementation. In particular, northern Vietnam has been identified as a priority area for accelerating battery storage development," An said. "The selection of locations, scale, and technologies for BESS projects will need to be carefully calibrated on a yearly and phased basis, aligned with actual system demand and technical requirements."

To address existing issues, EVN will work with relevant agencies, including the Institute of Energy and NSMO, to propose solutions to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

EVN signs power deal for 1,200 MW LNG plant in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Electricity has signed an agreement for the Hiep Phuoc Liquefied Natural Gas Power Plant  Phase I, marking a step forward for the project.

EVN and PV GAS agree to supply LNG for Quang Trach power plants Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and Petrovietnam Gas (PV GAS) signed a framework agreement on the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Vung Ang LNG terminal in Ha Tinh to the Quang Trach II and III power plants on April 3 in Hanoi.
Sarah Hooper, Australias consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the green transition had evolved from a policy discussion into a fundamental business requirement.

Opening remarks by Sarah Hooper, Australias consul general in Ho Chi Minh City

Current disruptions in energy supplies and shifting global trade requirements are reshaping industrial sectors faster than anticipated, Hooper said. This presents a unique prospect for Australian financiers to partner with the country in its next development phase.

Vietnam currently ranks among the top 20 global economies for trade volume and foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, with a strategic vision to achieve high-income status by 2045.

To reach its net-zero commitments, Can Van Luc, member of the Policy Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, noted that the country required an estimated $368 billion for climate-related action, placing significant pressure on the private sector to adapt to increasingly stringent global market standards.

Prof. Andrew Blakers of the Australian National University, co-inventor of the PERC solar cell, argued that the single most important step for the nation was deregulating the market to allow private capital to flow freely into rooftop solar.

It unleashes millions of private panels and allows the energy transition to take off quickly while scaling up, said Blakers, noting that Vietnam was starting from a position of advantage because it is a few years behind Australia, the costs of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries have fallen substantially, making the path forward both technically straightforward and more affordable.

On energy storage, Blakers said Vietnam had approximately 6,000 potential off-river pumped hydro sites, of which it needed only six to 12.

Pham Tien Dac from the Strategy Department at the Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC), said the scale of the net-zero financing needs made green finance one of the VIFCs most critical focal areas. He noted that VIFC had built a range of investor-friendly measures into its framework.

Overseas funders can choose their own arbitration methods, receive an enterprise registration certificate in as little as five to seven days, and access a 10 per cent corporate income tax rate for 10 years on priority sector projects. We are also developing dedicated carbon and green credit trading platforms to ensure transparent pricing, he said.

The forum brought together representatives from the government, businesses, investors, and research institutes of both countries

However, the gap between high-level policy and on-the-ground readiness drew pointed commentary from the private sector.

Ellen Van, investment director at fund manager Mekong Capital, acknowledged that the nation consistently ranked at the top of international backer watch lists, yet much of that capital had not been deployed.

Overseas financiers are cautious because there is often a disconnect between their high-level strategies and the realities on the ground, Van said.

"Companies seeking private equity must come prepared with financial transparency, proper audits, and data-backed ESG claims," she added, noting that the industry needed to rid itself of jargon that creates a communication barrier between funders and businesses.

Nguyen Quang Thuan, executive chairman and CEO of credit rating agency FiinRatings, urged businesses not to treat the green transition as a public relations exercise.

View the green transition as a long-term strategic initiative rather than a short-term operating expense, he said.

Thuan cautioned that owning a green asset did not automatically guarantee cheaper borrowing, as financial providers price on risk-adjusted terms.

He pointed to transition finance, which includes incremental improvements such as more efficient industrial heating systems, as a legitimate and underutilised pathway for manufacturers not yet positioned to pursue fully green projects.

International backers expect VIFC to deliver on four fronts: clear tax incentives, well-defined legal frameworks, alignment with common law, and, most critically, free capital control, Thuan said.

Academic-policy network planned to support VIFC development Vietnam is working to establish a nationally recognised academic-policy forum in finance, aimed at strengthening policy advisory capacity and supporting the development of its International Financial Centre.

Vietnam-US forum advances strategic technology collaboration A high-level innovation and investment forum in California has strengthened Vietnam's push to become a key node in global technology supply chains.
FPT Corporation and CAC Holdings - one of Japans leading IT service providers - has recently announced a joint venture (JV) to establish UPSTRIDE JSC focusing on building, operating, and monitoring IT infrastructure, as well as deploying and developing technology products.

The collaboration is expected to leverage the combined strengths in technology, expert workforce, product-service ecosystems, and global partner networks of both parties to effectively capture opportunities in Japan and the ASEAN region.

Under the agreement, FPT and CAC Holdings will establish UPSTRIDE JSC in Tokyo, Japan, with CAC Holdings and FPT holding 51 per cent and 49 per cent stake, respectively.

FPT and CAC Holdings establish UPSTRIDE JSC to drive regional digital transformation.

This model maximises the complementary strengths between FPTs deep technological capabilities and large-scale engineering resources, and CAC Holdings more than 60 years of experience in the Japanese market.

UPSTRIDE will focus on three strategic pillars: expanding and commercialising FPTs products and solutions in Japan; building and delivering comprehensive IT infrastructure services (including operations, monitoring, and technical support) leveraging combined resources from Vietnam and Japan; and developing new areas such as GPU cloud services and semiconductor-related businesses, aligned with FPTs long-term technology strategy.

Ryota Nishimori, president and representative director of CAC Holdings, described UPSTRIDE as a global circulation of technology and talent'

Ryota Nishimori, president and representative director of CAC Holdings Corporation, expressed pleasure over the establishment of the joint venture in partnership with FPT Corporation.

"Over the past 60 years, the CAC Group has built a strong technological foundation and customer base in Japans IT market. This joint venture represents a global circulation of technology and talent, combining our accumulated business expertise with FPT Groups strength in its abundant IT human resources. With the aspiration embodied in the name UPSTRIDE, we look forward to working together with the FPT to create new value, he said.

Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation, expressed his expectations for their deal

Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation, stated that after more than two decades of presence in Japan, FPT had become one of the largest foreign-invested technology enterprises in the market, affirming its pioneering position in Japans technology value chain.

I believe that with our capabilities in research, development, and mastery of strategic technologies, the Made-by-FPT ecosystem addressing diverse digital transformation needs across key sectors, combined with CAC Holdings deep understanding of the Japanese market and global partner network, we will jointly deliver internationally standardised technology products and services to Japan and ASEAN, he said.

The partnership between FPT and CAC Holdings aims to meet the growing demand for digital transformation in Japan and ASEAN.

According to Mordor Intelligence, Japans digital transformation market is projected to reach $236.48 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 24.9 per cent from 2025-2030.

As IT systems become increasingly complex, Japanese businesses are shifting from self-operated models to managed services to ensure performance, security, and cost optimisation.

At the same time, Japan considers semiconductors a strategic pillar of its digital economy and technological security.

The Japanese government aims to increase domestic chip revenue to approximately $250 billion by 2040, multiple times its current level, to meet growing demand from AI, data centres, and smart automotive industries.

Meanwhile, IT infrastructure management services, semiconductor ecosystem development, and AI are among FPTs core strengths.

In IMS, FPT provides end-to-end monitoring and management services across IT infrastructure, application platforms, and information security, serving hundreds of large enterprises and multinational clients in Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, China, and the United States.

In response to cloud computing trends, FPT has also launched Cloud Managed Services to help businesses build secure, internationally standardised cloud operating platforms.

FPT has established two AI factories in Vietnam and Japan. The Made by FPT AI ecosystem currently includes more than 80 products.

In semiconductors, FPT has over a decade of experience, developing a comprehensive ecosystem covering design, packaging, testing, and training, with a focus on power and power management chips.

At the end of 2025, FPT delivered its first commercial batch of power chips to a leading Japanese electronics company through Restar, a major electronics distributor in Japan.

Recently, FPT also established Vietnams first semiconductor testing and packaging factory, fully operated by Vietnamese engineers.

Founded in 1966, CAC Holdings is a leading technology group in Japan with 22 member companies and nearly 5,000 employees. The company has expanded internationally to markets including the United States, Europe, China, and across Asia.

FPT is a global technology corporation, actively investing in five strategic technologies: Quantum AI, cybersecurity, UAV, data, and railway technologies.

In 2025, FPT recorded revenue of $2.66 billion, with over 54,000 employees across 30 countries and territories. In Japan, FPT currently has 5,000 employees working at 18 offices and R&D centres nationwide, along with more than 15,000 global experts dedicated to the Japanese market, providing technology services and solutions to over 450 clients.

FPT exports first chip shipment to Japan Tech major FPT Corporation has delivered its first commercial shipment of power chips to a Japanese electronics corporation through Restar Corporation, a Japanese trading company for semiconductors and electronic components.
Each year, more than 200,000 Cambodians travel abroad for medical treatment, with over 70 per cent choosing Vietnam, yet many still face a complex journey  from finding reliable information and selecting the right provider to navigating language, procedures, and travel barriers.

Representatives from Metfone and FV Hospital signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Photo: FV

According to the agreement signed on April 3, FV and Metfone will jointly implement a closed-loop healthcare model on a digital platform. This is a comprehensive, integrated solution that includes remote consultation, appointment scheduling, transportation assistance, accommodation, interpretation, and payment.

One of the most obvious benefits of this collaborative programme is that it helps Cambodian patients access accurate and reliable health information right from the start.

Through Metfones platform, patients can receive online consultations with the FV medical team, enabling them to make appropriate treatment decisions before travelling to Vietnam.

A Metfone representative stated that the selection of FV as a partner was not accidental, but stemmed from the hospitals international reputation and treatment capabilities, particularly its years of experience in receiving and caring for Cambodian patients.

The combination of Metfones telecommunications infrastructure and FVs internationally standardised healthcare system is expected to create a modern healthcare ecosystem where patients not only receive treatment but also receive companionship throughout their journey.

A Cambodian male patient and his family thank Dr. Phan Van Thai for successfully treating his rare giant duodenal dilation. Photo: FV

FV Hospital: A trusted destination for Cambodian patients for two decades

In fact, for many Cambodians, FV Hospital has been a familiar address for almost 20 years. Each month, the hospital receives approximately 1,000 patients from neighbouring countries, demonstrating a growing level of trust.

Not only does FV possess a team of experienced doctors from both within and outside the country, but it is also a multidisciplinary hospital that meets international JCI standards  one of the worlds leading and most stringent standards for patient quality and safety.

Thanks to its multidisciplinary collaboration, the hospital has successfully treated many complex and rare cases. One such case involved a patient with idiopathic megaduodenum, an extremely rare condition that had left them debilitated for years. Following digestive system reconstruction surgery at FV, the patient made a remarkable recovery.

Or consider the case of a Cambodian woman who experienced severe postpartum haemorrhage, seemingly beyond saving. With the collaboration of over 40 doctors from various specialities, FV identified the cause as a rare blood clotting disorder and successfully treated it promptly, helping the patient recover after more than 30 days.

These stories not only demonstrate professional competence but also reinforce Cambodian patients trust in an international hospital right here in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Le Thu, Marketing and Business Development director at FV Hospital, stated that FV has had a presence in Cambodia since 2006 with a representative office in Phnom Penh, receiving approximately 1,000 Cambodian patients for examination and treatment each month.

In addition, the hospital also focuses on the patient experience through specialised support services. At FV, Cambodian patients are served at a private counter with a team of Khmer interpreters, ensuring smooth communication and treatment.

At the same time, FVs representative office in Phnom Penh acts as a bridge, providing counselling and preparation before patients travel to Vietnam.

FV Hospital has a dedicated consultation desk for Cambodian patients. Photo: FV

Alongside service development, FV continuously invests in modern medical technology to improve treatment effectiveness.

Advanced systems such as the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, Interventional Catheterisation system (Cathlab), and Brain Navigation have helped increase surgical accuracy, reduce invasiveness, and shorten recovery time.

This is a crucial competitive advantage, enabling FV not only to meet domestic treatment needs but also to become a destination for international patients, especially from Cambodia.

The collaboration between FV and Metfone is not just a single strategic agreement, but a long-term step in building a cross-border healthcare ecosystem.

In the context of increasing international treatment needs, the health corridor model is expected to reduce geographical distance, making it easier for Cambodian patients to access high-quality healthcare services, while also easing the burden on the domestic healthcare system.

In the long term, the combination of digital technology and modern medicine will open up new avenues for medical tourism in the region. With its established foundation, FV Hospital  an internationally accredited hospital trusted by a large number of Cambodian patients  is likely to continue playing a pioneering role in this trend.

This signing ceremony therefore not only signifies cooperation between the two organisations, but also represents an important step in the journey to improve the quality of healthcare for communities in Southeast Asia.

FV Hospital's integrated care model proves comprehensive and effective The intensive care unit (ICU) is often seen as the frontline in the battle for patients' lives, where the collaboration between multiple specialities determines success. At FV Hospital, a multidisciplinary, comprehensive care model has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in treating critically ill patients.

Robotic surgery proves effective for complex thoracic case at FV Hospital Doctors at FV Hospital have used the da Vinci Xi robotic system to successfully remove a large esophageal tumour from a patient while preserving the oesophagus, demonstrating the growing role of robotic surgery in treating complex thoracic conditions.
Nguyen Thanh Binh, head of the Division of Construction and Planning at Hepza, spoke at the conference

On April 8, Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Management Authority (Hepza) held a conference on 'strengthening the leadership role of the party committee in administrative reform, digital transformation, and enhancing the competitiveness of departments at the provincial level.'

According to the latest regulations, investors may choose to register their investment under the special investment procedure for projects in industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech zones.

Regarding the process of issuing investment registration certificates under the special investment procedure, investors will submit one set of documents to Hepza. Within 15 days of receiving the documents, the agency will evaluate the documents and issue the investment registration certificate. As the project is implemented under the special investment procedure, the investor is responsible for the contents of the documents, Nguyen Thanh Binh, head of the Division of Construction and Planning at Hepza, spoke at the conference.

Hepza will strengthen inspection and supervision of the entire implementation process to promptly notify and handle any arising issues. In addition, the management of construction order, environmental protection, and fire safety, strict inspections and monitoring will be implemented to prevent the occurrence of unauthorised or illegal constructions, as well as prolonged violation.,

In addition, Hepza will utilise the application of IT, building a data system to serve the management of industrial parks and export processing zones, especially in the fields of environment, planning, construction, and fire safety.

Hepza aims to process 100 per cent of applications on time this year, eliminating delays while expanding end-to-end online public services and increasing digitalisation and data reuse in administrative procedures.

To achieve this, it will streamline internal processes to align actual handling with system updates, clarify the role of the document management unit, particularly in digitalisation, issuance, and result attachment, and strengthen monitoring of application progress to ensure accurate tracking of completion times.

In addition, digitalisation is carried out throughout the entire process from receiving applications to delivering results, and data is standardised for reuse.

Hepza identifies administrative reform as a key factor in the goal of attracting $4.25 billion in investment into industrial parks and export processing zones this year, Binh said.

HEPZA proposes 30 per cent slash on CIT to relieve burden on businesses Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zone and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) has made a number of proposals to the municipal Peoples Committee to support businesses and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including reducing corporate income tax (CIT).

Vietnam eases policy approval requirements, simplifies foreign and outbound investments The amended Law on Investment, passed by the National Assembly on the morning of December 11, introduces remarkable changes to investment procedures, particularly those related to investment policy approval, procedures for foreign investors, and the management of foreign investment activities.

Unlocking capital flows for strategic and suitable projects The new Law on Investment, which was approved by the National Assembly in December, focuses on increasing decentralisation, standardising authority and procedures, and promoting the shift from pre-inspection to post-inspection, among others, helping to unlock quality capital influx.
Nguyen Xuan Tho, deputy director general of the APED

The programme, jointly organised by the Agency for Private Enterprise and Collective Economy Development (APED) under the Ministry of Finance and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Vietnam, seeks to enhance the capacity of small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and support institutions to boost productivity improvements and decent work.

Hanoi, home to more than 210,800 active SMEs, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the countrys total, was selected as the venue given its role as Vietnams political, economic, and cultural centre, as well as a hub for dynamic manufacturing firms.

The training focuses on equipping participants with practical tools, knowledge, and advisory skills to help SMEs adapt to evolving market demands, particularly in the context of sustainability and global integration.

Key topics include the interlinkages between productivity, digital transformation, green transition, and working conditions; the importance of needs assessments in designing SME support programmes; and the introduction of assessment toolkits.

Participants are also being introduced to emerging market trends and new requirements related to green growth and sustainable development, including compliance with legal frameworks, supply chain standards, and international integration commitments.

In addition, the programme highlights practical and feasible green transition solutions that can help enterprises optimise resource use, reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and adopt cleaner production practices.

The training also presented the ILOs Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises methodology, along with guidance on mobilising resources, ranging from finance and human capital to technology, and addressing challenges in building local enterprise networks.

Beyond technical content, the programme provides a platform for dialogue and networking among business support organisations, enterprises, and experts, fostering greater collaboration within the SME ecosystem.

Speaking at the opening session, Nguyen Xuan Tho, deputy director general of the APED, underscored the comprehensive scope of the training.

He noted that the programme covered critical areas such as enterprise diagnostics and needs assessment; sustainable market trends and greening requirements for manufacturing firms; and impact assessment and advisory solutions for dual transformation through the application of environmental, social, and governance reporting frameworks and tools such as the Basic Sustainability Assessment Tool.

These tools will help enterprises enhance transparency, accountability, and strategic orientation in their sustainable development efforts, he said.

Tho added that the training adopts flexible and interactive delivery methods, including moderated discussions, case study analysis, and multi-stakeholder exchanges among enterprises, experts, and local support organisations.

The programme also serves as a channel to disseminate key policies and resolutions issued by the Politburo and the National Assembly on private sector development, as well as information on available resources to support SMEs.

We hope the training will help address practical challenges faced by participants and enable them to better support enterprises, he said.

Mette Mglestue, Deputy Ambassador of Norway to Vietnam

Sharing international perspectives, Mette Mglestue, Deputy Ambassador of Norway to Vietnam, highlighted the importance of cross-sector and cross-institutional dialogue.

From Norways experience, strong collaboration across stakeholders is essential, she said. This programme brings together the right ecosystem, government agencies, experts, business associations, and enterprises, to generate meaningful progress.

She emphasised that such cooperation was key to scaling up digital and green transitions effectively, while ensuring they are tailored to local conditions.

Meanwhile, Sinwon Park, ILO country director in Vietnam, stressed that transformation processes must remain people-centred.

Technology and greener production methods should not be seen as ends in themselves, she said. They must help enterprises improve competitiveness while enhancing working conditions, occupational safety and health, workplace cooperation, and development opportunities for both workers and managers.

This approach reflects the ILOs Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work framework, which links productivity gains with improved working conditions and responsible business practices.

The Hanoi training is part of a broader series of five capacity-building programmes being rolled out across northern provinces. The initiative targets hundreds of participants, including officials from business support organisations, consultants, and representatives of manufacturing SMEs.

These activities fall under the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work project, an ILO initiative funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the government of Norway. The initiative aims to support Vietnam in achieving sustainable productivity growth alongside the promotion of decent work, with the APED serving as the implementing agency.

Through such collaborative efforts, stakeholders expect to strengthen Vietnams SME support ecosystem and accelerate the transition towards a more inclusive growth model.

New tax incentives to benefit startups and SMEs Newly-issued Decree 20 introduces a package of tax exemptions and reductions, creating a more favourable legal and financial environment for startups and small and medium-sized businesses.
This years Vietnam International Tourism Market (VITM) will be held on April 9-12 by the Vietnam Tourism Association at the International Centre for Exhibition in Hanoi, bringing together a wide range of domestic and international tourism stakeholders. The event gathers 450 booths, with participation from numerous tourism promotion agencies, airlines, international representatives and travel enterprises.

VITM 2026, expected to attract representatives from 15 countries and territories, along with 34 provinces and cities across Vietnam, will welcome approximately 80,000 visitors in total, creating a dynamic platform for tourism promotion, business networking, and market stimulation.

The event will also feature conferences and thematic seminars focusing on key industry trends, including digital transformation, green tourism development, and the application of technology in tourism management and business operations. Via these seminars, representatives of businesses will share the role of digital tools in creating new opportunities to promote products, reach customers, manage bookings, and improve customer care.

As most tourism enterprises are small and medium-sized, digital transformation serves as a lever to help them access markets, enhance management efficiency, and strengthen competitiveness.

Tourism companies and agencies have designed their booths to match the fairs digital transformation and green growth theme.

Muong Thanhs booth is an example: at VITM 2026, its booth is designed in an open style, inspired by the fusion of modernity and the essence of pure Vietnamese culture. Beyond simply providing service advice, it creates an interactive space where travellers can touch culture through experiential activities, live games, and receive souvenirs bearing the unique mark of Muong Thanh.

Through the event, Muong Thanh seeks to cement its position as a top domestic brand by providing customers with new digital experiences and implementing sustainable green operational solutions in terms of reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment.

Vietnams tourism sector has received strong support from the government through favourable policies in recent years. In 2026, the country aims to welcome 25 million international visitors, a target that presents both significant opportunities and challenges, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourisms vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa.

Local authorities and businesses, alongside the strategic guidance of government agencies, play an important role in driving tourism development. Besides that, VITM is expected to promote Vietnams tourism image globally, while future editions of the fair will continue to attract more businesses and international partners, contributing to the sectors sustained growth, Hoa said.

Notable events include tourism promotion programmes for Gia Lai and Lai Chau provinces, a joint promotion conference for Ninh Binh, Hung Yen, and Ca Mau, and a presentation on Ho Chi Minh Citys 2026 tourism event calendar.
Held in collaboration with the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, the award ceremony marked the culmination of a five-month competition that drew more than 200 entries across three categories, including emerging artists, artists with disabilities, and participants under 18.

Building on previous themes Inspiring Tradition (2024) and What A Wonderful World (2025), this years edition focused on future-oriented perspectives, exploring human aspirations amid technological, social, and environmental change. Organisers also introduced a new recognition category for artists with disabilities working in handicrafts, reflecting a broader push towards inclusivity and diversity in artistic expression.

Trinh Phan Anh receives first prize at the 2026 Pan Pacific Hanoi Art Award ceremony. Photo: Pan Pacific Hanoi

A total of 13 winners were honoured at the ceremony for works highlighting social themes and personal resilience. In the 18-30 category, Trinh Phan Anh won first prize with Connection, followed by Ngo Vinh Thuan and Phan Sy Thang. In the painting category for artists with disabilities, Hoang Thi Thuy took the top award, while Nguyen Thi Dieu Han received the Outstanding Concept Prize in the newly added handicrafts segment.

Among participants under 18, Nguyen Thai An secured first prize with I Cherish.

Wee Wei Ling, executive director of Sustainability Partnerships, Lifestyle and Asset at Pan Pacific Hotels Group and a member of the jury, said the expanded categories aimed to bring more voices into the platform.

This year, we received over 200 entries, significantly higher than in previous editions. The theme Horizons of Tomorrow invites audiences to reflect on the future through each artists perspective, particularly in a time of uncertainty, she said.

The judging panel included representatives from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, Hanoi University of Architecture, the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, and international experts. Entries were assessed based on content, form, creativity, and technical execution.

Photo: Pan Pacific Hanoi

The event also featured a performance titled I Am Beautiful. You Too!, a collaboration with the Will to Live Center and Chula Fashion, highlighting inclusion through music and fashion. The programme incorporated performances by visually impaired artists and a fashion showcase featuring models with disabilities.

According to the organisers, the competitions outcomes were supported by sponsors including Singapore Airlines, which awarded cultural experience trips to top winners.

Winning artworks are on display at Pan Pacific Hanoi through the end of May.

Pan Pacific Hanoi Art Award 2025 kicks off with painting competition The Pan Pacific Hanoi Art Award 2025 has officially been launched with the painting competition What A Wonderful World.

Pan Pacific Hanoi launches painting contest in collaboration with Vietnam University Fine Arts The Pan Pacific Hanoi introduces 2024 Art Award along with the launch of the "Inspiring Tradition" painting contest, in collaboration with Vietnam University of Fine Arts, aiming to recognise and celebrate the talents of Vietnamese artists with special needs aged 19 to 35.
The Royal College of Nursing Wales has warned that up to half of all nursing graduates in Wales may not have a job to go to when NHS recruitment opens.

RCN Wales says current indications point to a serious shortage of Band 5 posts for newly registered nurses, with the college blaming financial constraints and the freezing of vacant posts within health boards.

For north Wales, that means Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which oversees NHS services across Wrexham and the wider region.

The college is demanding urgent clarity from the Welsh Government on the scale of the shortfall, credible long-term workforce planning, and immediate action to recruit, retain and deploy the nursing workforce Wales needs.

RCN Wales has received assurances that students will not be penalised where posts are unavailable.

That includes being released from any work-in-Wales obligations and not being required to repay tuition fee support where workforce shortages prevent them finding employment.

Professor Sandy Harding, Associate Director of Nursing at RCN Wales, said: The situation facing newly registered nurses is deeply concerning and exposes serious failures in workforce planning.

It is becoming increasingly clear that this situation is being driven by financial constraints, including the freezing of vacant posts within the local health boards.

Our NHS is under intense pressure, yet hundreds of newly qualified nurses may have no posts to enter.

This is simply unacceptable. These students stepped forward for Wales, trained through immense challenges, and now face uncertainty at the very moment the system needs them most.

They deserve far better. Every newly qualified nurse will be vital to meeting Waless care needs.

The RCN will continue to demand transparency, accountability and long-term planning from the system.

We will not stop speaking up for students, for our safety critical nursing workforce, and for the people who rely on safe, high-quality care.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
A Wrexham bakery is exporting its signature Welsh Cakes to Japan for the first time after being contacted by a Tokyo-based British importer.

The Jones Village Bakerys traditional treats  along with its Welsh Batch, seeded loaves and white barms  are on sale at the British Shop in the Japanese capital, marking another milestone in the companys expanding export operation.

The move came after the firm was contacted by ex-pat Mark Spencer who fell in love with the Welsh Cakes after tasting them at a trade show in Singapore.

The launch in Japan follows a string of overseas successes for the bakery which was honoured with a Kings Award for Enterprise after achieving record export growth.

Village Bakery Commercial Controller Glen Marriott said: Mark Spencer and his family have lived in Japan for years and he has a retail shop in Tokyo where he sells British products..

Japan was a country that we were looking to target as we continue to expand our export operation so this is very timely.

As well as being aimed at ex-pats, hes aiming to introduce Welsh products to Japanese people who have a liking for quality UK brands. Within Asia generally, there is a demand for products with a UK provenance.

Having a Kings Award helps us because it links back to the monarchy and has that prestige attached to it.

According to Village Bakery CEO Simon Thorpe, their growing success abroad was testament to their constant quest to make the best products on the market.

He said: Were delighted that we have broken into a new market  who would have thought wed be selling Welsh Cakes in Japan!

I think its amazing really and hats off to the team  yet again it speaks volumes about the quality of the product and that desire to enjoy something that is traditionally Welsh.

Our Welsh Cakes are a real signature product for us at the Village Bakery and are made using on a traditional recipe.

Its always been the hero product within our portfolio  almost like a talisman which marked our growth into the retail sphere.

The quality of our Welsh Cakes is something that has always run very deep at the Village Bakery, its something we are all very, very proud of.

There is a definite momentum building in terms of export and the team have done extremely well to get into some new markets.

It just shows there is a demand out there for artisan products which are made properly in a way that is true to their roots and there is clearly an appetite for quality British products which have a certain cachet in Japan.

The company is now also making Japanese milk bread for the UK market, as well as possibly Australia and the Middle East.

We have been making traditional Japanese-style milk buns using the traditional tangzhong method, essentially using boiled milk to produce a beautifully soft eat, he continued.

Its a process that is adding another dimension to our range from a quality perspective and I want to pay tribute to our new product development team who have excelled themselves once again.

They are already available in M&S stores in the UK and have done extremely well proving very popular with customers which is the ultimate test.

One day, you never know, we might even be able to export them to Japan which would be the culinary equivalent of selling coal to Newcastle. Watch this space.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
It is part of an effort to inspect freeway bridges bi-annually.
To artist Chiharu Shiota, yarn is a connective tissue. She uses it to string together opposing forcespast and present, the internal and externalin webs that appear delicate and fluid but are, in fact, steely and immobile.

Like arteries, the work in the new Asian Art Museum exhibition Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries pulses somewhere between the grotesque and beautiful, the unfathomable and the quotidian.

Japanese German artist Chiharu Shiota (Sunhi Mang, 2024)

In Shiotas work, theres a recurring theme of the way in which we perceive memory and traumatic experience, and how each of us grows from that experience, explains chief curator Robert Mintz. Its a theme that Diary, the womb-like immersive installation that opens the show, thrusts visitors deeply inside.

Shiota used 20 miles of red yarn to weave together Diarys tunnels. In its latticework, she suspended historical ephemera like snowflakespages from the diaries of fallen Japanese soldiers in World War II combined with personal objects from the same era found at flea markets in Berlin. Collected together, they become a profoundly intimate archive of human experience that reveals what happens when memories are untethered from those who made them.

Chiharu Shiota describes her signature style as three-dimensional drawing, a medium she invented after becoming disillusioned with the restrictions of painting. Over her nearly thirty-year career, it's allowed the artist to confront the contradictions and tragedies of life while simultaneously drawing out their universality.

My work is about birth and life and death, the artist has said, a deeply personal approach that Mintz says is somewhat unusual among artists from the Japanese diaspora.

Shiota was born in Osaka in 1972 but has spent most of her adult life in Berlin. It was there that she gave birth to her daughter, there that she lost an unborn child, there that she survived two bouts of ovarian cancer. In the exhibition, she captures those experiences in thread and wire and rope and leatheralways in red, a color of significance in many East Asian cultures: Beyond My Body encapsulates the feeling of being physically stuck by illness with an active mind that is still able to disconnect and reach outside; in the Cells series, she imagines the alien entities of the cancerous bodies inside of her.

Installation view of 'Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries' at Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2026. ( Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, photograph by Kevin Candland)

Several examples of Shiotas work as a performance artist explore similar themes, revealing publicly whats more often kept hidden on the inside. In Wall, the artist lies on the floor wrapped in vein-like plastic tubing that fills and empties of blood, a substance that contains everything from heritage and nationality to identity and personality, says Mintz.

In the black-and-white Bathroom, Shiota sits in a tub as mud dribbles down her face and neck, communicating the sense that we can never be completely cleansed of what came before. Your skin always remembers the dirt, Mintz explains.

At the exhibitions center is its namesake Two Home Countries, two houses without walls in which wire fistulas are coiled like the organs of the body, one representing Shiotas native country of Japan, the other her adopted country of Germany. The two houses are separated not just by geographical distance; they illustrate the alienation of missing one home while visiting the other, of never fully belonging or feeling whole.

She revels in the disruption, says Mintz. Joy and sorrow are always embedded in her work.

That eternal juxtaposition is not cathartic; its not meant to be. Shiota offers no answers to soothe or explain the highs and lows of the human condition. Instead, her work embodies the uncertainty of life and the pain of remembering.

As she herself puts it: fear is necessary to make art.

// Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries' is on display at the Asian Art Museum through July 20th; 200 Larkin St. (Civic Center), asianart.org
3D MODELLING OF HIGH-GRADE ANTIMONY-SILVER VEINS EXPOSED IN PAST MINING PITS DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANT SIZE & EXPANDING SCALE



Antimony Ridge Model Shows Extensive Antimony Vein Swarms

Adelaide, April 10, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resolution Minerals Ltd ( ASX:RML ) ( NC3:FRA ) ( RLMLF:OTCMKTS ) reported that results of recent 3D modelling of the numerous Antimony and Silver-bearing veins and vein swarms that are exposed over a large area (1000m x 700m) in past mining pits, reveals the potential for a significant size Antimony-Silver deposit at Antimony Ridge, with an open-ended target and expanding scale potential.



HIGHLIGHTS



3D Modelling: Three-dimensional ("3D") modelling of numerous known Antimony and Silver bearing veins, veins swarms and stockworks, over a large area (1000m x 700m), reveals significant size and expanding scale potential at the Antimony Ridge Mine Project ("Antimony Ridge"), within Resolution's Horse Heaven Antimony-Tungsten-Gold-Silver Project ("Horse Heaven").



High Grades, Historical Mining: The Antimony-Silver-bearing veins, mined historically during World War I &II and the Korean War, have returned exceptionally high-grade Antimony (Sb) consistently above 30% up to 50% Sb and Silver (Ag) grades above 250 g/t Ag up to 1,420 g/t Ag (ASX announcement 15 September 2025).



Numerous Vein Swarms: 3D modelling and ground mapping has identified more than 100 highgrade veins, modelled as 30 mineralised vein swarms, fault breccias and stockworks.



Large Area: 3D modelling demonstrates that the mineralised vein swarms are arranged in en echelon clusters extending over a large area of approximately 1,000m x 700m (170 acres) and have a vertical range of 250m as indicated in outcrop elevations.



Large Lower Grade Halo: Prior rock chip and soil sampling results show that the high-grade en echelon vein swarms occur within a broader zone of lower grade veinlets and stockworks with 0.5% to 2% Sb.



Metallurgy Results Soon: Preliminary metallurgy test results are in process over a 100kg mini bulk-sample collected of representative high-grade stibnite material.



FAST-41: Horse Heaven was selected for the U.S. FAST-41 Transparency Coverage by the US-based Permitting Council, expected to accelerate permitting timelines with an application for 250 drill holes and large-scale bulk sampling (ASX announcement: 8 April 2026).



Antimony Ridge forms part of Resolution's broader Horse Heaven strategy, which includes recently acquired processing infrastructure, tungsten stockpiles and a major 2026 drilling program at Golden Gate starting in May.



This result follows the selection of Antimony Ridge for FAST-41 Transparency Coverage from the US Permitting Council, announced on 8 April 2026. Selection reflects the strategic importance of Antimony Ridge as a potential source of U.S. domestic antimony supply, a critical metal essential for defence, energy, and industrial applications.



Antimony Ridge is located within Resolution's Horse Heaven Antimony-Tungsten-Gold-Silver Project in Idaho, USA, and immediately adjacent to Perpetua Resources' Stibnite Gold Project, a large, recently permitted Antimony-Gold project.



Craig Lindsay, CEO of US Operations, stated: "Antimony Ridge hosts an Antimony-Silver vein and vein swarm system comprising high grade large veins, stacked "en echelon", within a broader system of mineralised stockworks with a total strike length of 1,000m, open-ended in all directions.



Such is the consistency of the vein frequency, and the vein swarms, that there is a high probability that future work will uncover more veins and extend the length and width of the vein system.



The modelling has revealed significant size potential which demonstrates the strategic importance of Antimony Ridge as a potential source of U.S. domestic antimony supply."



Historical Mining at Antimony Ridge by the US Government as Key Antimony Source for US Military Historical mining occurred at Antimony Ridge by the US Government during World War I, WWII and the Korean War. During World War II, the local District, including the adjoining Stibnite mine (Perpetua Resources), is estimated to have produced more than 90% of the US Antimony (Source: Perpetua Resources Stibnite Feasibility Study, Jan 2021). Antimony Ridge was a key source of Antimony for the US military.



Ore was processed offsite at third party mills. As a result, other than underground adits and surface open pits and trenches, there are no environmental liabilities requiring clean-up.



Mapping and Sampling Identifies Mineralised Vein Swarms, Fault Breccias and Stockworks Over a Large Area.



More than 100 high-grade stibnite veins, vein swarms, fault breccias and stockworks have been defined in several phases of detailed mapping and sampling at Antimony Ridge (see Figure 5*). The stibnite vein frequency is high and some veins are quite long, over 100m in length.Open-ended vein swarms have been mapped extending off the ridgeline from the past open pits.



Detailed 3D analysis and modelling of mapping data have led to the recognition of 30 discrete zones of SbAg veins, vein swarms, fault breccias and stockworks.



3D modelling also demonstrates that the mineralised vein swarms are arranged in en echelon clusters extending over a large area of approximately 1,000mx 700m (170 acres) and have a vertical range of 250m (as indicated in outcrop elevations) and are exposed in past open pits and in more recent trenches.



Each discrete zone of Sb-Ag veins is up to 100m in strike length with the highest grade veins up the 1m thick (true thickness). More mineralised zones and clusters are expected to be defined as exploration in all direction is incomplete.



Assays Support High-Grade Antimony - Silver Grades in Stibnite Veins in Prior Open Pits Assays and sample product support the high-grade Antimony veins and vein swarms with results from two independent labs (ALS, KPM). Exceptional high-grade Antimony and Silver results were returned from a large volume rock sampling program within the prior open pits of Antimony Ridge. Antimony grades varied from 31.7% Sb to 48.7% Sb from five (5) large rock samples, with grades averaging 39.2% Sb, 430 g/t Ag and 0.92 g/t Au. These large volume samples confirmed the presence of exceptionally high-grade mineralisation. All rock samples, which are significantly larger than rock chip samples and having an average weight of 3.6 kg per sample (ASX announcement 14 January 2026, 24 September 2025).



Large Lower-grade Antimony Halo surrounds High-Grade Stibnite Veins and Vein Swarm Clusters A large lower grade Antimony-Silver halo surrounds the higher-grade stibnite veins and vein swarm clusters. Comprising zones of veinlets and stockworks, the Antimony-Silver halo has a grade consistently between 0.5%Sb to 2% Sb, 5 g/t Ag to 60 g/t Ag within a broad Antimony-Gold-Silver soil geochemical footprint (ASX announcement 24 September 2025).



Antimony-Gold-Silver soil geochemical anomalies represented a series of mineralised NE-SW zones that sub-parallel the main trend of mineralised en-echelon structures that traverse Antimony Ridge. These repeated (or "stacked") NE-SW vein swarms, clusters and mineralised zones form a broad corridor of mineralisation approximately 1,000m long and 700m wide (170 acres).



Thirty-six (36) rockchip samples (channel and grab) were collected in the 2022-2023 program with results averaging 0.7-1.9 % Sb, 31-60 g/t Ag and 1.9 g/t Au, with peak values of 19% Sb, 367g/t Ag and 5.9g/t Au (ASX announcements 11 June 2025 and 24 September 2025).



Initial Metallurgy Test Results to be released soon



Initial metallurgy test results are in process and expected to be released soon from two different processing options, based on ~100kg of samples collected of representative high-grade stibnite material. The samples were submitted to Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) for pyrometallurgical flowsheet validation, ANSTO Minerals (Sydney, NSW, Australia) for hydrometallurgical flowsheet validation and Independent Metallurgical Operations Pty Ltd (Perth, WA, Australia) for preliminary mineral processing metallurgical test work and mineralogical characterisation studies.



An end-product of antimony trioxide is expected soon for pre-qualification with potential US end users.



Fast-41 Transparency Coverage Project



The Antimony Ridge Mine Project is a high-priority development project for antimony, a key critical mineral, located in a friendly, tier-one jurisdiction in the centre of Idaho, USA. Antimony Ridge was recently selected for the U.S. FAST-41 Transparency Coverage by the US-based Permitting Council which is expected to accelerate permitting timelines (ASX announcement 8 April 2026).



Future Plans



Resolution plans to commence a significant bulk sampling program of high-grade Antimony ore and conduct an extensive drilling program up to 250 drill holes, once a Plan of Operations is approved (ASX announcement 8 April 2026).



Antimony Ridge is expected to be a cornerstone of Resolution's strategy to supply critical metals, including Antimony, Tungsten and Gold, from central Idaho in the USA.



Resolution is initiating a major Phase 2 drilling program in May 2026, at the Golden Gate Project, located within the Company's larger Horse Heaven Antimony-Tungsten-Gold-Silver Project. The program comprises up to 45,000 ft (13,700 metres) of diamond core drilling across up to 45 holes and represents a substantial expansion of the Company's successful 2025 drilling campaign at Golden Gate, where all holes intersected gold mineralisation and remain open at depth. Drilling is designed to define the scale of gold and tungsten mineralisation at Golden Gate and Golden Gate South and support progression toward a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate. Importantly, FAST-41 selection supports Resolution's broader strategy to develop a U.S.-focused critical mineral platform. Antimony Ridge is one of several advancing components within Horse Heaven Project.



Antimony Ridge is expected to be a cornerstone of Resolution's strategy to supply critical metals, including Antimony, Tungsten and Gold, from central Idaho in the USA.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/8U96OHEL





About Resolution Minerals Ltd





Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML) (OTCMKTS:RLMLF) (FRA:NC3) is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and battery metals - such as antimony, gold, copper, and uranium.

Resolution Minerals Ltd Listed on the ASX in 2017 and has a broad portfolio of assets, such as the Drake East Antimony-Gold Project in north-eastern NSW and George Project prospective for silica sand and uranium.

Related Companies
Beetaloo Energy completes strongly supported A$66.3M Placement and launches Share Purchase Plan



Beetaloo Energy completes $66M placement and launches SPP

Sydney, April 10, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited ( ASX:BTL ) ( EEGUF:OTCMKTS ) announced that it has received binding commitments to raise $66.3 million (before costs) via placement of new fully paid ordinary shares (New Shares) to institutional and sophisticated investors at $0.28 per New Share (Placement).



- Binding commitments received from existing and new institutional and sophisticated investors for a $66.3 million single-tranche placement



- Directors continued to provide capital support to the Company, investing an additional $0.43 million subject to shareholder approval



- A non-underwritten Share Purchase Plan ("SPP") to raise up to $5 million to provide eligible shareholders an opportunity to participate at the same price as the Placement, subject to shareholder approval



- Upsized $45 million Midstream Infrastructure Facility to finance refurbishment and construction of the Carpentaria Gas Plant and associated infrastructure available for drawdown



- Beetaloo Energy fully funded through to first pilot gas sales expected in Q4 2026



"This Placement marks a pivotal moment for Beetaloo Energy. The participation by existing and new investors reflects genuine conviction in the potential scale of our Beetaloo Basin acreage and projects in the Northern Territory.



The Placement received strong support from a broad range of existing and new shareholders including several Australian and international institutional investors.



The Beetaloo Basin represents one of the most significant hydrocarbon opportunities in the world.



Recent capital initiatives and commitments by Beetaloo Energy, Tamboran, Formentera Partners, Inpex and Santos will see approximately $1 billion invested in the basin over the next 18 months, representing a significant ramp up in activity.



With this raising, combined with the upsized $45 million Midstream Infrastructure Facility (undrawn), we are now fully funded through to first pilot gas sales expected in Q4 2026, a milestone that we believe will be transformational for Beetaloo Energy and for Australia's domestic gas supply.



The Carpentaria Pilot Project is not just about proving up resources. It is about demonstrating that the Beetaloo Basin can be developed responsibly, efficiently, and at scale and delivering a clear signal to the broader market of the enormous value potential that sits within our tenure.



We are pleased to offer eligible shareholders the opportunity to participate in the capital raising via a Share Purchase Plan - subject to shareholder approval - at the same price as institutional and sophisticated investors in the Placement.



We are grateful for the continued support of our shareholders and look forward to keeping the market updated as we advance toward first pilot gas sales and expand our broader Beetaloo Basin operations with the proceeds of this raise."



- Alex Underwood, Managing Director



PLACEMENT DETAILS



Beetaloo Energy will issue a total of 236,835,714 New Shares at an issue price of $0.28 per New Share to raise $66.3 million (before costs) under the Placement. The issue price represents a discount of:



- 18.8% to Beetaloo Energy's last traded share price on 7 April 2026.



- 17.5% to the 5-day Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP) (including trade on 7 April 2026) prior to the trading halt; and



- 6.7% to the 15-day VWAP (including trade on 7 April 2026).



The Placement was backed by strong demand from local and international institutional and sophisticated investors. The continued support of existing shareholders was particularly notable.



The Directors of the Company have committed to subscribe for 1,535,714 New Shares under the Placement (representing $0.43 million), which is subject to shareholder approval.



Funds raised from the Placement together with the upsized $45 million Midstream Infrastructure Facility and existing cash on hand will be applied towards:



- Completion of Carpentaria Gas Plant works



- Continuation of flow testing at Carpentaria-5H



- Future work program long lead items



- Western Beetaloo seismic acquisition and interpretation



- Territory Sands Investment



- Corporate G&A & NT Operations to first gas



- Partial repayment of R&D Credit Facility with Macquarie Bank



- Additional working capital



- Costs of the Placement



The New Shares will be issued under Beetaloo Energy's existing placement capacity, with 112,106,668 New Shares to be issued under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 124,729,046 New Shares to be issued under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A. It is anticipated that settlement of the Placement will occur on Friday, 17 April 2026 with the New Shares being allotted on Monday, 20 April 2026. All New Shares will rank equally with existing shares on issue.



Blue Ocean Equities Pty Ltd and Morgans Corporate Limited have been appointed as Joint Lead Managers to the Placement and Baker McKenzie is acting as legal advisor to Beetaloo Energy.



SHARE PURCHASE PLAN



Beetaloo Energy also intends to launch a non-underwritten Share Purchase Plan (SPP) to raise up to $5 million, which will give eligible shareholders the opportunity to apply for New Shares on the same terms as the Placement, without incurring brokerage fees. Given the SPP is being undertaken within 12 months since the previous share purchase plan announced on 16 May 2025, the SPP will be subject to shareholder approval as required under the ASX Listing Rules.



Shareholders on Beetaloo Energy's register with a registered address in Australia and New Zealand as at 7.00pm (Sydney time) on Thursday, 9 April 2026 will be eligible to participate in the SPP. The SPP will provide each eligible shareholder with the opportunity to apply for up to $30,000 worth of New Shares at the offer price of $0.28 per New Share. An eligible shareholder's $30,000 maximum subscription under the SPP is reduced by any amount that eligible shareholder subscribed for under Beetaloo Energy's previous share purchase plan announced on 16 May 2025 as required under the ASX Listing Rules.



The terms and conditions of the SPP will be set out in an SPP Offer Booklet which Beetaloo Energy expects to release on the ASX on Monday, 27 April 2026, being the date on which the SPP will open.



UPSIZED CREDIT FACILITY



Beetaloo Energy is also pleased to announce it has executed an amendment to its existing credit facilities with Macquarie Bank announced on 27 November 2024.



The amendment includes an increase in total facility availability under the Midstream Infrastructure Facility from $30 million to $45 million. Proceeds can be applied to the refurbishment and construction of the Carpentaria Gas Plant and associated infield infrastructure development and is available for Beetaloo Energy to drawdown.



Together with existing cash on hand and proceeds from the Placement, the Midstream Infrastructure Facility fully funds the Carpentaria Pilot Project through to first pilot gas sale expected in Q4 2026.



Repayment of the Midstream Infrastructure Facility will be via a tolling fee of $0.70-$1.05/GJ x 25,000 GJ per day for drawdowns between $30-45 million. Beetaloo Energy will issue an additional 25 million options to Macquarie with an exercise price of $0.35 per share and expiry date of 31 December 2029.



All other key terms of the Midstream Infrastructure Facility remain substantially the same and are included in Appendix A* to this announcement.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/CW0I67MR



To view the Capital Raise Presentation, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/73411J86





About Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited





Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited (ASX:BTL) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds 28.9 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur Basin and Beetaloo Sub-basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds around 80%, has enormous conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo Sub-basin, in which Beetaloo Energy holds a substantial position, has world-class hydrocarbon volumes in place and a ramp up in industry activity to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators is ongoing.

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From collaborators to enemies: The $10k debt that led to a shooting. Explore the full story of Lil Tjay and Offset's feud.

AceShowbiz - Lil Tjay and Offset were once on friendly terms as collaborators back in 2021, but their relationship has dramatically deteriorated over time. The main cause of their falling out appears to be a financial dispute.

In early 2025, Lil Tjay publicly accused Offset of owing him $10,000, money he claimed to have lent the Migos rapper during a casino outing. This accusation sparked tensions, leading to a war of words on social media where Offset even challenged the Bronx rapper to a physical fight.

Things escalated further in April 2025 when Offset was shot outside the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida, following an altercation in the valet area on Monday, April 6. Lil Tjay was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct related to the incident.

A representative from the Seminole Police Department explained that the situation began as a physical fight. Lil Tjay was booked into the Broward County Jail later that same day.

Offset was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood with a gunshot wound but was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. He remained hospitalized as of Tuesday, April 7.

After posting a $500 bond on Tuesday, Lil Tjay gave an explosive interview to reporters upon his release from jail, where he labeled Offset a "rat" and recounted details of the shooting while disparaging the Atlanta rapper.

However, Lil Tjay's lawyer, Dawn Florio, distanced her client from the shooting incident, calling any contrary reports "false rumors." She stated, "Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting." Florio urged the public to rely on verified news sources before spreading unsubstantiated claims.

Offset responded on social media, signaling that this feud is far from over. Below is a timeline of their relationship highlighting key moments.

April 2021: Collaboration on 'Run It Up'

Back in 2021, things appeared amicable between Offset and Lil Tjay when they teamed up with Moneybagg Yo on the track "Run It Up." Produced by Josh Petruccio, the song was featured on Lil Tjay's sophomore album, Destined 2 Win, and reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Although the official music video has amassed over 60 million views, it notably does not show Offset and Lil Tjay appearing together in any scenes.
Diddy's appeal hearing: His lawyers fight to overturn his 50-month prison sentence as judges question their arguments. Latest legal battle updates.

AceShowbiz - The legal battle surrounding Sean Diddy Combs continues as his defense team and prosecutors faced intense questioning on Thursday before a panel of three judges from the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. The hearing focused on Diddy's effort to overturn his 50-month prison sentence and conviction related to prostitution charges.

During the session, Diddy's attorney, Alexandra Shapiro, opened with a statement emphasizing the importance of respecting jury verdicts and maintaining public trust in the justice system. She argued that Manhattan Federal Court Judge Arun Subramanian had imposed an unjustly harsh sentence by factoring in violent conduct for which Diddy was not convicted.

The panel, however, was quick to challenge Shapiros position. Judge William Nardini cited prior rulings from the Second Circuit that permit sentencing judges to consider conduct acquitted by juries. "What remedy do you expect this court to provide given established precedent allowing judges to consider such conduct?" he asked sharply.

Nardini also took issue with Shapiros phrasing, particularly her use of the expression make weight concerning sentencing factors. He described it as "a rather disparaging characterization," prompting Shapiro to clarify her intent immediately. The back-and-forth continued as Nardini questioned whether Shapiro was implying the district court judge failed to exercise independent judgment. Shapiro firmly denied any such suggestion, but the judge pressed her repeatedly on the matter.

Despite the rigorous scrutiny faced by Diddy's defense, the panel directed similar tough questions toward prosecutor Christy Slavik. At one point, a judge remarked on Slaviks evasiveness after an unsatisfactory answer, stating, "You're very good at evading my question." The appeals judges will now weigh the arguments from both sides before issuing a ruling.

In the original trial, which lasted nine weeks and concluded in July, Diddy was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of more serious allegations, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His defense has consistently disputed the prosecutions portrayal of his actions, highlighting that encounters described by ex-partners Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and "Jane" were consensual and denying coercion allegations.

Diddy's lawyers argue that since he was acquitted of the more severe charges, Judge Subramanian should not have considered the accusers claims of abuse during sentencing. They accused the judge of acting as a thirteenth juror by overriding the jurys verdict and labeling Diddy as having coerced and exploited his former girlfriends. The defense also noted that the sentence handed to Diddy was the longest ever imposed in cases with similar prostitution-related charges, contrasting it with other defendants who operated prostitution rings exploiting vulnerable women.

Before Thursdays hearing, prosecutors maintained in court documents that they had demonstrated Diddy supplied Ventura and Jane with drugs and engaged in physical violence, including hitting, kicking, and punching, around the times of these encounters. They dismissed claims that the 50-month sentence was excessive as baseless.

Judge Subramanian delivered the sentence on October 3, 2025. Although Diddy faced up to 20 years in prison, the prosecution sought a 135-month term, while the defense requested a much shorter 14-month sentence, which would have largely been considered time served since Diddy had been in custody since his September 16, 2024, arrest.

While Diddys charitable efforts were acknowledged during sentencing, Subramanian stressed that the court must consider the full scope of his conduct and history. The judge referenced the allegations of physical, psychological, and financial abuse levied by Ventura and Jane to illustrate the power dynamics Diddy allegedly exploited to control his former partners.

A history of good works can't wash away the record in this case, which showed that you abused the power and control you had over the lives of women, Subramanian stated during sentencing. You abused them.

He further emphasized the profound impact of the alleged abuse, saying, This was subjugation, and it drove both Ms. Ventura and Jane to thoughts of ending their lives. That is the reality of what happened.

As the appeals process moves forward, both the defense and prosecution await the courts decision, which will determine whether Diddy's sentence will be upheld or reduced. The case continues to draw attention for its complex legal arguments and the high-profile nature of the defendant.
Kanye West sued by former bodyguard for $850,000 in unpaid wages and damages. Lawsuit details unpaid overtime, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

AceShowbiz - Kanye West is facing escalating legal troubles as his former bodyguard Jonathan Monroe has filed a lawsuit demanding nearly $850,000 in unpaid wages and damages.

The suit claims that Monroe was hired in 2021 to provide security for Kanye West's Malibu estate at a rate of $30 per hour, working between 36 to 50 hours a week. Despite months of service, Monroe alleges he was never compensated for his work.

According to court documents, Monroes financial claim includes $7,725 for unpaid overtime, $37,620 for lost wages, and a staggering $500,000 in lost earnings. Additionally, he is seeking $100,000 for pain and suffering and another $100,000 in punitive damages.

The situation reportedly worsened when Monroe attempted to collect his pay. TMZ reports that at one point, Kanye West asked Monroe to fill up his Lamborghinis gas tank, but when Monroe requested payment via cash or credit card, Kanye West allegedly walked away without any response. This incident allegedly signaled to Monroe that he would never be paid.

This is not the first legal conflict involving Kanye West and employee disputes. Earlier in the year, he was ordered to pay $140,000 to another former employee, Tony Saxon, further highlighting ongoing issues with managing business obligations.

The mounting legal and financial troubles come at a difficult time for Kanye West. His scheduled headline performance at Londons Wireless Festival was canceled after major sponsors including Pepsi, Diageo, PayPal, and Rockstar Energy withdrew their support. Furthermore, the British government denied him entry to the UK, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling the booking "deeply concerning."

These developments have effectively doomed the festival before it began, adding to the public and professional challenges currently facing Kanye West. As his legal battles and business setbacks accumulate, there is no indication that these issues will subside anytime soon.
Natasha Lyonne responds to reports she was escorted off a flight after allegedly not complying with crew requests. Details on the Euphoria star's airport inc...

AceShowbiz - Natasha Lyonne responded publicly after reports surfaced that she was escorted off a flight following the launch of the third season of Euphoria, in which she appears as a guest star. The incident allegedly took place on a redeye flight from Los Angeles to New York.

According to Page Six, Lyonne appeared unresponsive to flight attendants' requests in the first-class cabin. Reports state she did not comply when asked to close her laptop and fasten her seatbelt. Sources told the outlet that she was wearing dark sunglasses and seemed to be asleep. At one point, she reportedly said "Ah, you scared me" to the crew members.

The flight staff reportedly took her laptop and continued taxiing for takeoff but then returned to the gate. Airport personnel assisted Lyonne in deplaning after about an hour-long delay. Page Six also noted that she "coolly shushed" a gate agent who boarded to check on the situation.

In response to the coverage, Lyonne posted on social media an apology of sorts, expressing sympathy for TSA agents with the message: "My heart is with all the unpaid TSA agents at our airports." She also referenced missing an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, which was scheduled for the day following the incident, writing, "Sure was looking forward to speaking honestly with Drew Barrymore yesterday but guess wasn't in the cards."

She questioned the ownership of Page Six and the New York Post, which are under the Murdoch family's News Corp, implying skepticism about the nature of the report. The incident and her social media remarks have drawn attention amid the ongoing promotion of Euphoria's latest season.
Dax Shepard reveals how Kristen Bell's support was crucial during his father's final days, sharing an emotional story of grief and love.

AceShowbiz - Dax Shepard recently opened up about a deeply emotional moment during his fathers final days in the hospital, highlighting the extraordinary support he received from his wife, Kristen Bell. Speaking with Anderson Cooper on the CNN podcast All There Is With Anderson Cooper, Dax Shepard recounted how Kristen Bell's unexpected presence helped him through an overwhelmingly difficult time in 2012.

Dax Shepard described the hospital room where his father, Dave Shepard, was gravely ill as a place filled with a continuous stream of visitors. While everyone was kind and well-meaning, the constant presence of mourners meant Dax Shepard found himself in the exhausting role of comforting others rather than being able to grieve privately with his father. His room was an unending parade of many, many people, and they were all lovely and well intentioned, but it put me in the position of them grieving and me having to comfort them, he explained.

Feeling overwhelmed, Dax Shepard stepped out to his car for some solitude and called Kristen Bell to vent his frustration. What happened next left him deeply moved. I was complaining, and she said, Its okay, Im here. Look to the left, he recalled, his voice thick with emotion. Although they lived apart  he was in Detroit and she in California  when he looked to his left, there stood Kristen Bell, seven months pregnant.

Dax Shepard described how Kristen Bell had flown across the country without telling him, tracking down the hospital, and quietly showing up to support him. She had flown, she knew I was struggling, and she had flown and not told me and figured out where this hospital was. Was standing next to the car, he said, visibly emotional. What a champ, you know?

Following this touching reunion, the couple visited with Dax Shepards father together. At the time, Kristen Bell was pregnant with their first daughter, Lincoln. Despite his condition, Dave Shepard was able to feel his future granddaughters baby bump, creating a poignant moment of connection.

During the interview, Anderson Cooper also read aloud a 2013 blog post Dax Shepard wrote after his fathers passing. In it, Dax Shepard reflected on the bittersweet joy his father experienced meeting the new family member he would never see born. He was smiling from ear to ear, sitting contentedly, unable to put together a sentence, but still capable of connecting to the new family member we were creating, Dax Shepard wrote. He wasnt going to make it to the birth, but that didnt get in the way of him meeting the new baby. It was an emotional and triumphant moment, one I will never forget.

Dax Shepard went on to express his enduring gratitude to Kristen Bell for giving his father that final thrill. If I live to be 1000, I will still be in debt to my wife for giving him that one last thrill. Despite the heaviness of the memory, he ended on a lighter note, calling his wife a gangster.
Scarlett Johansson & Sam Rockwell reunite in Ray Gunn, a new Netflix sci-fi detective film from Brad Bird. A murder mystery with alien twists in futuristic M...

AceShowbiz - Scarlett Johansson is set to return to the science fiction genre in an exciting new Netflix animated film titled Ray Gunn, which reunites her with fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) star Sam Rockwell. This marks a notable collaboration between two actors who previously worked together in the MCUs Iron Man 2 and Taika Waititis Jojo Rabbit.

Ray Gunn is a science-fiction detective story set in a visually stunning futuristic city called Metropia. The film features Johansson voicing Venus Nova, a popular multimedia star who becomes involved in a mysterious murder case entangled with alien elements. Sam Rockwell voices the titular character, Ray Gunn, a detective tasked with solving the case. Tom Waits also joins the cast, lending his voice to a character named Eyera.

The movie is directed by Academy Award winner Brad Bird, known for his work on beloved Pixar films such as The Incredibles and Ratatouille. Bird has described Ray Gunn as a project that has been over 30 years in the making. It combines influences from classic 1940s detective movies with sci-fi elements reminiscent of Buck Rogers, creating a unique blend of genres designed to push the boundaries of animation as an art form.

Brad Bird shared, "Ray Gunn has been in my mind for over 30 years. The film is a blend of sci-fi and classic detective movies from the '40s... it's Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers." He emphasized his desire to attract audiences who typically do not watch animation by showcasing its artistic depth and narrative possibilities.

Scarlett Johansson expressed her enthusiasm about collaborating with Bird, calling it a "career milestone" and praising Ray Gunn as a full realization of Birds current artistic vision. She said, "I can't wait for audiences to see this extraordinary animation that looks like nothing else out there."

The screenplay for Ray Gunn was co-written by Brad Bird and Matthew Robbins. The film is produced by Bird alongside former Pixar veteran John Lasseter, Lisa Beroud, and David Ellison and Dana Goldberg from Skydance Animation. The official logline describes the setting as Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, which explains the films unique mash-up of classic detective noir and futuristic elements.

This movie will be another addition to Netflixs growing slate of original animated features, following the success of titles such as KPop Demon Hunterswhich became the streaming platforms most-watched movie of all time and won two Academy Awardsalong with acclaimed films like Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio, The Sea Beast, Nimona, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Klaus, and The Mitchells vs. The Machines.

Sam Rockwell, who voices the lead detective in Ray Gunn, is well known for his Academy Award-winning performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and his Emmy-nominated role in The White Lotus. Most recently, Rockwell starred as The Man from the Future in Gore Verbinskis Good Luck, Have Fun, Dont Die. Rockwells previous MCU role was as villain Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2, where Johansson also made her MCU debut as Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow.

Beyond Ray Gunn, both Johansson and Bird have upcoming high-profile projects. Johansson is starring in Mike Flanagans reboot of The Exorcist and is reportedly involved with The Batman  Part II. Meanwhile, Bird is writing the screenplay for The Incredibles 3. However, the directing duties for that sequel will be handled by Peter Sohn, known for directing Pixars The Good Dinosaur and Elemental.

The release date for Ray Gunn on Netflix is scheduled for later in 2026, though an exact date is yet to be announced. The film promises to deliver a fresh and visually distinctive animation experience that blends noir and sci-fi in a way that has rarely been seen before.

With a talented voice cast and visionary direction from Brad Bird, Ray Gunn is poised to be a standout addition to Netflixs animation lineup, appealing to fans of both classic detective stories and futuristic sci-fi adventures. The reunion of Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell adds a compelling draw for audiences familiar with their prior work in the MCU and beyond.
Spot a viral editing mistake in the final trailer for Devil Wears Prada 2, where a fan films Andy Sachs on a NYC street.

AceShowbiz - Devil Wears Prada 2 recently released its final trailer on Monday, April 6, and amid the buzz surrounding the highly anticipated sequel, fans quickly noticed a subtle editing mistake that has sparked widespread attention online.

The brief error occurs during a street scene showcasing Anne Hathaway as her character, Andy Sachs, confidently walking through New York City. In the background, an onlooker leaning out of a taxi is seen holding a cellphone, clearly filming Andy. This small detail caught viewers off guard because, within the films context, Andy is a magazine editor going about her daynot a celebrity being filmed by strangers.

Social media users shared their amusement and surprise after one fan captured this moment and posted it on X, formerly Twitter. The post quickly went viral, racking up more than 200,000 views. Many found the inconsistency amusing, with one comment stating, "This girl having her phone just wide out the window in the trailer is frying me."

Other viewers chimed in, appreciating the irony given Andys prestigious status in the movies world. "Because that's Andy Sachs. A million girls would kill for that job!" one user replied, while another admitted, "The way my eyes don't catch this stuff is crazy!" A third added simply, "I mean, we all would...."

Anne Hathaway reprises her role as Andy Sachs in the sequel, joining returning cast members Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. The original film's screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna, who crafted the 2006 fashion comedy, is back working on the script for this Disney-produced follow-up. Producer Wendy Finerman will also return to the project.

While fans are excited to see the familiar faces back, one notable absence is Adrian Grenier, who played Andys boyfriend Nate in the original film. Grenier revealed in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly on March 13 that he was not contacted to reprise his role. Despite the disappointment, he expressed happiness for the cast and crew and said he is still looking forward to the sequels release.

"I would be bitter if I wasn't so absolutely thrilled for Anne and the crew, and excited for the sequel myself," Grenier shared. "I'm a fan of the movie, and so I look forward to seeing the sequel as well." When asked about not returning, he acknowledged it with good humor: "Obviously, I was disappointed [to not return], but you know, I can't be in everything."

He even joked about the situation in a recent Starbucks commercial released on April 7, referencing headlines about being left out of the sequel. Holding a cup of coffee, he quipped, "You might have seen the headlines - I wasn't asked to be part of a certain sequel. But I'm good. Really. It's all good energy." He toasted to his character with, "So a toast to Nate!"

Meanwhile, Emily Blunt has been spotted on set in New York City filming her role as Emily Charlton. On July 29, Blunt turned heads by sporting a refreshed red hairstyle reminiscent of her characters signature look, paired with a chic black-and-white outfit and sunglasses, signaling a stylish return as the former assistant to Miranda Priestly.

Fans eager to catch every detail of the upcoming movie continue to dissect trailers and on-set photos, fueling excitement for the official release. Despite the minor editing hiccup, anticipation remains high for what promises to be a compelling continuation of the beloved fashion saga.

As the release date approaches, audiences can look forward to seeing Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci bring their iconic characters back to life, navigating the glamorous and demanding world of high fashion once again.
Experience Christopher Nolan's epic "The Odyssey," shot entirely in IMAX. Tom Holland calls it a masterpiece. In theaters July 17, 2026.

AceShowbiz - There are many highly anticipated films each year, but few generate the kind of buzz that surrounds The Odyssey, the upcoming historical epic directed by Christopher Nolan. The movie has already sparked considerable excitement months before its scheduled release, as fans eagerly await what promises to be a major cinematic event slated for theaters on July 17, 2026.

The buzz around The Odyssey is not just hype; it stems from the ambitious scale of the production, the impressive cast, and Nolans bold choice to shoot the entire film using IMAX cameras. This commitment to grandeur is characteristic of Nolans work, but The Odyssey is described as an especially monumental undertaking, even by his exacting standards.

Among the leading actors, Tom Holland has publicly expressed his admiration for the film, describing it as "an absolute masterpiece" and highlighting its uniqueness. Holland revealed in a recent interview that some sequences in the film were so astonishingly realistic that he initially assumed they must have been created through computer-generated imagery (CGI). To his surprise, Nolan confirmed that those moments were achieved entirely through practical effects and careful, in-camera techniques.

Hollands praise underscores the meticulous preparation that went into the films production. He said, "There were certain sequences in the movie where I'm watching it and I'm just sort of thinking like, 'How on earth has he done that? That has to be CG.' And then after [watching] the movie [I asked Nolan], 'That was definitely CG, right?' And he's like, 'No, no, no, that's all in camera effects. Very planned, very prepared.'"

For an actor known widely for his role as Spider-Man, Holland considers The Odyssey one of his proudest achievements. This speaks volumes about the films impact on him personally, as well as its significance within his career. His enthusiasm reflects the confidence the cast and crew have in the project, and it has only intensified anticipation among audiences.

The Odyssey is shaping up to be a major cinematic milestone of 2026, combining a star-studded cast, revolutionary filmmaking techniques, and Nolans signature storytelling prowess. The films commitment to using IMAX cameras exclusively suggests that audiences can expect an immersive visual experience unlike any other on the big screen.

While details about the full cast have not been exhaustively revealed, the involvement of top-tier talent like Holland and Nolans reputation for assembling compelling ensembles indicates a production of exceptional quality. Fans and critics alike await the films release, eager to see how this epic tale will unfold.

In summary, The Odyssey has managed to build excitement and expectations that place it among the most anticipated movie releases of the year. The combination of Nolans visionary direction, Hollands heartfelt endorsement, and the films technical innovations promises a cinematic experience that could redefine epic filmmaking.

As July 17, 2026 approaches, moviegoers worldwide will be watching closely to witness the arrival of what many are already calling a landmark film. The Odyssey stands poised to deliver a blend of historical grandeur and modern filmmaking mastery that could resonate for years to come.
Doechii & Lady Gaga drop "Runway" for The Devil Wears Prada 2. A fierce fashion anthem celebrating style from Monday to Sunday.

AceShowbiz - Doechii and Lady Gaga have teamed up to release Runway, the latest single from the highly anticipated film The Devil Wears Prada 2. The song debuted on Thursday, ahead of the movies official release on May 1, 2026.

The track captures the essence of fashion and style that the film embodies. On the song, Gaga warns listeners, "You gonna burn your tongue on this tea," while Doechii confidently delivers lines like, "Got the front row screaming, 'Okay, okay'/ Do a little twirl/ Let 'em know I'm that girl." The songs chorus emphasizes a weeklong celebration of style: "Monday through Sunday, I can turn the dancefloor into a runway."

Runway features songwriting contributions from a powerhouse team including Bruno Mars, Jaylah Hickmon, Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Henry Walter, Dernst DMile Emile II, and Jayda Love. The production was handled by Mars, Watt, Cirkut, and DMile. Notably, Gaga and Mars have previously collaborated on the Grammy-winning track Die With a Smile.

The song was first teased in the final trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2, building excitement for the films release. The sequel reunites the original cast, including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. It also features new cast members like Simone Ashley, Caleb Hearon, and special appearances by fashion icon Donatella Versace.

Back in October, Gaga was spotted filming scenes in Milan shortly after Versaces presence on set was reported, highlighting the films authentic fashion world setting. The collaboration between Doechii and Gaga perfectly complements the movies stylish narrative, promising to energize fans both on screen and through the soundtrack.
Prince Harry and Meghan's tour of Australia faces backlash. Their PR chief responds to funding criticism and "publicity stunt" claims.

AceShowbiz - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's close associate has responded strongly to the backlash surrounding the couples upcoming tour of Australia. This visit, scheduled to include stops in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, has drawn considerable public attention and mixed reactions.

Liam Maguire, a longtime friend of Harry and their newly appointed public relations chief, emphasized that the trip will not be financed by Australian taxpayers. This statement responds directly to a petition signed by over 43,000 people opposing the use of public funds for the visit.

Critics have labeled the tour as a mere "publicity stunt," especially in light of the Sussexes recent loss of their Netflix deal. However, Mr. Maguire clarified, "The programme is rooted in long-standing areas of work for the Duke and Duchess, with a clear focus on amplifying organisations delivering measurable impact." He added that the couples visit aims to listen, learn and support communities rather than promotion.

This statement was provided in a Q&A section of a document released to the press, which offers new details about the itinerary commencing next Tuesday. The four-day trip will see the couple engage with a variety of community groups and organizations.

According to the document titled "Operational Planning Notes," the Sussexes will jointly participate in events centered on veterans and mental health. This includes visits to a childrens hospital and an Invictus Australia event on Sydney Harbour. Meghan will also make a solo appearance at a womens homelessness shelter, while Harry plans to attend an AFL club event in Melbourne and a rugby union match in Sydney. Additionally, Harry is expected to visit Canberra briefly without Meghan.

Since leaving the UK for the United States in 2020 and stepping back from official royal duties, the couples trip shares several similarities with traditional royal tours. However, royal experts have cautioned that the Sussexes may face opposition and will require "thick skins" due to potential hostility in some areas.

The document also notes that the couples presence in Australia is the result of invitations from multiple groups, ensuring a packed schedule. Unlike customary royal tours, this visit will not feature "walkabouts"  public greetings with citizens  due to the high security costs and the need to maintain public order.

Mr. Maguire confirmed that Harry and Meghan will be traveling without their two children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. This contrasts with previous royal tours, such as the 2014 visit by Prince William and Kate Middleton, during which then one-year-old Prince George was photographed meeting a bilby at a Sydney zoo, a moment cherished by royal enthusiasts worldwide.

As the Sussexes prepare for their Australian engagements, the focus remains on their advocacy work in mental health, veterans affairs, and community support, with the couple aiming to make a meaningful impact during their visit rather than seeking publicity.
Estranged siblings reunite to save their sister from a cult. A journey across the South tests their fractured bonds in this film about family, confrontation,...

AceShowbiz - The Seekers of Infinite Love panel at SXSW offered an in-depth look at the films focus on fractured family ties. Directed and written by Victoria Strouse, the narrative centers on three estranged siblings whose vastly different personalities challenge their ability to reconnect. The siblingsa claustrophobe, a compulsive gambler, and a controlling lawyerare compelled to reunite when their sister becomes involved with a doomsday cult.

As the trio embarks on a journey across the South, guided by an unpredictable cult deprogrammer, the film explores themes of reconciliation and shared struggle. The story reflects a complex dynamic where confrontation and compassion coexist, ultimately bringing the siblings closer together.

Joining Victoria Strouse on the panel were actors Hannah Einbinder, Justin Theroux, Griffin Gluck, and filmmaker John Reynolds, all of whom discussed their experiences working on the film. A notable moment came when Hannah Einbinder described the connection formed with their onscreen sister, actress Justine Lupe, who joins the story near its conclusion. Einbinder explained that the casts search for Lupe during filming mirrored the films narrative, creating a genuine bond among the actors.

The films sales are handled by the UTA Independent Film Group, and it premiered on March 12, 2026, as part of the Narrative Spotlight at SXSW. The festival presentation was supported by Redbreast Irish Whiskey, providing a platform for the filmmakers to discuss the creative process and the films emotionally charged story.

Seekers of Infinite Love delves into sibling relationships complicated by personal struggles and external threats, emphasizing the power of unity in adversity. The movie blends sharp character work with an emotionally resonant journey, promising an engaging experience for audiences interested in family dramas and psychological narratives.
A girl's coming-of-age journey blends documentary & fiction. Whispers in May premieres at CPH:DOX.

AceShowbiz - Whispers in May is a film that blends documentary and improvised fiction. Directed by Dongnan Chen, this is her second feature following Singing in the Wilderness.

The narrative centers on one of the girls, Qihuo, who has recently experienced her first menstruation. This signals readiness for the traditional "Changing Skirt" ceremony. With her parents away as migrant workers, Qihuo sets out with her two closest friends to purchase a skirt. The film intertwines real-life documentary footage with improvised scenes.

Whispers in May is set to premiere on March 15 at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX). The production is a collaboration involving Jia Zhao of Muyi Film, Chens own Tail Bite Tail Films, Her Film from Sweden, and Seesaw Pictures in South Korea. The genesis of the film began when Chen met Qihuo during a trip to Liangshan. Chen recalls that at 14, Qihuo was at a pivotal moment where childhood was slipping away and societal expectations were beginning to define her future.

When asked about the casting process, Chen explained that her initial visit to Liangshan was for a short film project. During that trip, she discovered essays written by local schoolchildren. One essay, penned by Qihuo, contained a line that lingered with Chen: "I've made many wishes, but none has ever come true." This line drew Chen to Qihuo, who quickly became a constant presence. Chen learned that Qihuo was living in a state of temporary homelessness, as her parents worked far away and her grandfather, who had raised her, had recently passed. She kept her menstruation a secret due to cultural implications.

The films form intentionally blends documentary and fiction. Chen describes it as a "dream running parallel to reality," where the realities of the Liangshan Mountains, parental absence, and the weight of tradition provide the foundation. Onto this, the filmmakers and the girls themselves planted the imaginative and improvised elements of their journey.

The girls were invited to treat the film as a space where they could be the protagonists and co-creators of their story. Chen notes that this approach dissolved the boundaries between scripted and spontaneous moments. She believes that by playing themselves, the girls conveyed a truth beyond mere facts.

Collaboration with the young cast was based on mutual respect and protection. Chen emphasizes that the production functioned as a playground rather than a traditional film set. The girls agency was central to the project. Without a set script, the team worked from a shared outline of possibilities, reviewing footage during filming to spark conversations about the direction of the story.

Throughout the journey, the girls revealed a quiet, fierce resistance to the constraints of childhood and societal fate. Moreover, the filmmakers maintained open communication with the girls parents and schools to build trust while preserving a private space for the girls to share their stories.

Ultimately, Whispers in May is an exploration of a pivotal moment in young lives. Its blend of documentary and improvised storytelling creates a portrait of growth.

As the film prepares for its world premiere, it promises to offer a cinematic experience.
True crime doc My Brother's Killer uncovers a brutal 1990 murder, exposing systemic injustice against LA's queer community during the AIDS crisis.

AceShowbiz - My Brother's Killer, directed by Rachel Mason, is a true crime documentary that initially appears to follow the familiar formula of cold case investigations: suspenseful twists, archival footage, expert interviews, and atmospheric music. However, as the narrative unfolds, the film reveals itself as a deeper exploration of a marginalized community grappling with bigotry, the AIDS crisis, and a haunting unsolved murder.

The film centers on the 1990 murder of William Arnold Newton, known professionally as Billy London, a 25-year-old gay adult film actor whose decapitated head and dismembered limbs were found in a dumpster in West Hollywood. This brutal killing shocked Los Angeles underground queer community, which had already endured decades of homophobic violence and the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS. Despite years of investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department eventually shelved the case, leaving it unresolved.

Rachel Mason first became interested in this story after her 2019 documentary Circus of Books chronicled the Los Angeles porn shop her parents rana sanctuary for many gay individuals escaping oppressive small-town America. Many patrons, like London, arrived in the city seeking freedom and survival, often turning to sex work or adult films, which were operated covertly to avoid legal consequences. Their lives were fraught with danger, but they found a rare sense of liberation in Los Angeles.

Intrigued by Londons unsolved murder, Mason joined forces with former homicide detective John Lamberti and sociologist-turned-amateur investigator Clark Williams, who shared a Wisconsin hometown with London. Over several years, the trio pursued leads, encountered false trails, and uncovered startling connections, providing a profound look into the gay community that Masons parents had served for decades.

Among the suspects explored is Londons former porn partner, Marc Rabins, who offers candid recollections of their wild lifestyle marked by rampant sex, drugs, and the constant threat of violence from anti-gay mobs. Another suspect considered was the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, whose known method of victim dismemberment closely resembled the way London was killed. This possibility prompted the investigative team to examine Dahmers whereabouts during the time of the murder.

Without revealing the documentarys unexpected conclusion, it suffices to say that the final revelation shifts the narrative from a sensational crime story to a poignant reflection on the eras pervasive homophobia and the systemic violence faced by gay men. The murder of London emerges less as an isolated horror and more as a tragic product of its time.

What sets My Brother's Killer apart from typical true crime documentaries is its refusal to simply sensationalize. Instead, it offers a sobering glimpse into the neon-soaked world of 1980s Los Angeles, where many young gay men sought to escape their pasts and forge new identities. While none met Londons gruesome fate, a spreadsheet compiled during the investigation reveals a grim pattern: many of these men died prematurely due to drug overdoses or AIDS-related complications.

The documentary poignantly illustrates that the real crime extends beyond the brutal murder of one promising individual. It highlights the broader injustices endured by a community that lived under a shadow of fear, prejudice, and epidemic disease in the California sun.

My Brother's Killer premiered in the Documentary Spotlight at the SXSW Film Festival and runs 1 hour and 36 minutes. The film features key contributions from Marc Rabins, John Lamberti, Clark Williams, Sabin Grey, Christopher Rice, and Rachel Mason. It was produced by FutureClown Productions with editing by Dion Labriola and cinematography by Michael Pessah. The score was composed by Bruno Coviello, and executive producers include Penelope Spheeris, Josh Braun, and Ben Braun.

Through its meticulous investigation and compassionate storytelling, My Brother's Killer goes beyond the conventions of cold case documentaries to shed light on a forgotten chapter of LGBTQ+ history. It is a testament to the resilience of a community that endured unimaginable hardships while striving to live authentically.
Dive into the chilling soundscape of A24's Undertone. A paranormal podcaster receives terrifying audio files, blurring reality in this immersive psychologica...

AceShowbiz - Undertone offers a chilling dive into the horror genre with a fresh and immersive storytelling technique centered around sound. The film, produced by A24, features Nina Kiri as Evy, the lead and sole speaking on-screen character, who hosts a paranormal podcast that becomes entwined with unnerving audio recordings. The movie draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, from creepypastas to unexpected places like Sesame Street, blending a unique audio experience with intense psychological horror.

In Undertone, Evys life is in turmoil as she cares for her ailing mother, portrayed silently by Michele Duquet. This dynamic creates an intimate yet isolating atmosphere, setting the stage for the films narrative. Evy and her longtime friend Justin, played by Adam DiMarco, co-host the eponymous podcast and face a turning point when they receive a series of ten mysterious audio files. These recordings, made by a young couple named Mike and Jessa to capture sleep-talking, gradually trigger a series of haunting hallucinations and paranormal events for Evy, suggesting the presence of a malevolent entity.

The cast also includes Keana Lyn Bastidas and Jeff Yung, supporting the films tight, intimate setup. Directed and written by debut filmmaker Ian Tuason, Undertone premiered at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival to largely positive critical reception, earning a 77% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. To celebrate the films wide release on March 13, 2026, ScreenRants Grant Hermanns spoke with Tuason, Kiri, and DiMarco about the movies innovative production and the challenges and rewards of its audio-centric format.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Undertone is its minimal cast and the reliance on sound to convey terror. Nina Kiri carried the films on-screen presence almost single-handedly, with her mothers character remaining silent throughout. Initially, Kiri expressed concerns about managing the films technical demands and memorizing her lines given the sparse cast. However, as she dove deeper into her character, Evy, and collaborated with Tuason, her apprehension turned into excitement.

"I was worried about technical things," Kiri recalled, "like whether I would be able to have everything memorized." But she soon found the experience rewarding, especially because the small crew and cast created a shared sense of responsibility. "The burden was shared by everyone, not just on me," she explained, emphasizing the collaborative spirit on set.

Filming scenes without other actors meant that Kiri had to generate energy and emotion independently. She described the experience as creating a "cycle of energy" alone and then projecting it outward to the camera. Despite the isolation, the production team supported her by providing energy and occasional eye contact to maintain connection during takes.

Meanwhile, Adam DiMarco contributed entirely through voice recordings as Justin, Evys podcast co-host. Though his character never appears on screen, DiMarco had the opportunity to record much of his dialogue on location. He described how recording in the directors adolescent bedroom, equipped with a live audio feed to Kiri, helped him fully inhabit his role.

"I did feel like I was actually running my own podcast with the mic," DiMarco said, describing the setup that included two laptops, one glowing red with the films key art to set a mood. The physical environment and sound booth pickups allowed him to explore the characters voice deeply, enhancing the authenticity of the audio performance.

The films core horror element is built around the mysterious audio files at the heart of the story. Both Kiri and DiMarco found these recordings deeply unsettling. Kiri called them "really unsettling," while DiMarco praised their texture and realism, noting he deliberately waited to hear them for the first time during recording to capture a genuine reaction.

Director Ian Tuason explained the raw quality of the audio files was intentional. They were recorded using an actual iPhone, with actors moving naturally around to create a sense of immediacy and authenticity. This method gave the recordings an intimate feel, as if someone had just sent them directly to listeners, heightening the immersive experience.

Kiri reflected on the impact of sound in the film, emphasizing its intimacy, especially when heard through headphones. She said, "It feels like someone just sent it to you, and then that's unsettling, because it enters yoursound is so intimate, especially if you're listening with headphones. It's just something as if it's happening right beside you or around you." This approach allows the film to linger in the viewers imagination long after the credits roll.

Undertone runs 84 minutes and is now playing in theaters. Its innovative use of sound as a storytelling device sets it apart from typical horror fare, offering audiences a fresh way to experience fear. The films tightly focused cast and production create an intimate yet unsettling atmosphere that draws viewers directly into Evys terrifying world.

The creative team behind Undertone includes producers Cody Calahan and Dan Slater, with executive producers such as Al Akdari, Anthony Eu, Brit MacRae, Chad Archibald, Charles Bern, Daril Fannin, David Sproat, Douglas Lee, Ian Tuason, Mathew Sterling, Melodie Austria, Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, and Thomas W. Choong. The film represents a notable achievement in horror cinema, combining a minimalist cast with a unique audio-driven format to craft a deeply immersive experience.

In summary, the cast and crew of Undertone embraced the challenges of its singular format with creativity and dedication. Nina Kiri carried the emotional and visual weight on screen, while Adam DiMarco brought his character to life through voice alone. Their combined performances, supported by Ian Tuasons direction and the films innovative audio recordings, deliver a haunting and original horror experience that resonates with both critics and audiences alike.
Over $116M already wagered on the Oscars. See the top prop bets and which stars are favored to attend. Betting expected to surge this weekend.

AceShowbiz - As of 1 p.m. ET on Friday, March 13, more than $116 million had already been wagered on the upcoming Academy Awards across two major prediction platforms. On Kalshi, bettors had placed $54.8 million, while competitor Polymarket saw $61.4 million in bets. According to a Kalshi representative speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, betting activity is expected to increase exponentially Over the weekend leading up to the ceremony.

One of the most popular prop bets on Kalshi is on the question of who will actually attend the Oscars. Some of the favorites include Hudson Williams, star of Heated Rivalry, who has reportedly confirmed attendance for unexplained reasons. Other top picks are Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his role in One Battle After Another, and Kylie Jenner, who is partnered with Timothee Chalamet, the lead of Marty Supreme.

Speculation also surrounds Zendaya, who is widely expected to attend either as a presenter or to support her partner Tom Holland during his Marvel Cinematic Universe reunion, or perhaps both. Other possible attendees include Sean Penn (also from One Battle After Another), Olivia Jade (partner of Jacob Elordi), Hailee Steinfeld (a star in the heavily nominated Sinners though not a nominee herself), Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Connor Storrie (from Heated Rivalry), Kevin Hart, and Taylor Swift. These names are ranked from more to less likely in that order, but none are considered guaranteed attendees.

A newer betting market has emerged on Kalshi regarding which topics Academy Awards host Conan O'Brien will mention during his opening monologue. The most likely words to be referenced are Hollywood and Timothee Chalamet. Other terms with high probabilities include Netflix, Warner Bros., and AI. Less likely but still possible mentions include Hulu, podcast, Jeffrey Epstein, President Trump, ICE, and Will Smith. The mention of Will Smith remains prominent, reflecting past controversies that tend to resurface each Oscars season.

In the acting categories, Sean Penn seems poised for a strong showing in the best supporting actor race on both Kalshi and Polymarket, to the detriment of Stellan Skarsgard, who stars in Sentimental Value. Although Skarsgard was once considered a solid contender, his odds have weakened significantly in recent days.

The best supporting actress category is currently highly competitive. Amy Madigan for Weapons holds the lead but without a commanding margin. Close behind is Teyana Taylor from One Battle After Another, who actually swapped odds positions with Madigan on March 1 after Madigans win at the Actor Awards (formerly known as the SAG Awards). Another contender gaining ground is Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, who has improved her standing notably since her BAFTA win three weeks ago.

Most new bets are flowing into the best actor category, followed by best picture, where One Battle After Another is the clear favorite. In the best actor race, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners has moved ahead of Timothee Chalamet, driven largely by recent awards results. Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio has become a distant long shot, with his odds steadily declining.

How reliable are these prediction markets? Their scale lends some credibility, as the large number of bettors tends to balance out individual errors. Many participants conduct thorough research and follow expert analysis, including insights from The Hollywood Reporters Scott Feinberg.

So far, bettors on both Polymarket and Kalshi have been quite accurate in predicting this years Oscar nominees. There were some misses, such as overlooking supporting actor nominee Delroy Lindo for Sinners in favor of Paul Mescal for Hamnet. In the best actress category, Kalshi users incorrectly favored Chase Infiniti from One Battle After Another over nominee Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue.

In supporting actress, Polymarket bettors leaned toward Ariana Grande for Wicked: For Good, while Kalshi users backed Odessa A'zion from Marty Supreme. Critics suggest both missed Elle Fannings acclaimed performance in Sentimental Value. Despite these exceptions, the major categories have been largely well predicted across both platforms.

The final verdict awaits the Oscars ceremony on Sunday night, which will reveal if the bettors confidence translates into success when the stakes are highest.
See Willie Nelson live on his 2026 US tour with Drayton Farley. Get ticket info, sold-out date tips, and secure resale options before the final show in Birmi...

AceShowbiz - Country music fans have an exciting opportunity this spring and summer as Willie Nelson embarks on his 2026 tour across the United States. The tour will continue through April 22, with a final scheduled date at Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham, Alabama. Supporting Willie Nelson as the opening act throughout the tour will be recording artist Drayton Farley.

Tickets for the tour initially went on sale through major platforms such as Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Notably, Ticketmasters Face Value Exchange program allows fans to resell their tickets at the original purchase price, offering a secure option for those who can no longer attend.

Many dates on the tour are either sold out or nearly so, which makes finding tickets through alternative reliable online marketplaces a smart choice for fans. Popular third-party sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, Event Tickets Center, and Gametime offer verified authentic tickets with delivery guaranteed in time for each concert.

One advantage highlighted by Billboard is that all tickets on these platforms are delivered digitally, enabling buyers to receive them instantly via smartphone or email. This digital delivery ensures a smooth entry process at venues and flexibility for fans. However, ticket prices on these sites can fluctuate, sometimes going above or below face value depending on demand.

Where to Find Willie Nelson Tour Tickets Online

For those searching for affordable seats to see Willie Nelson live in concert, here are some of the best online options where tickets remain available:

StubHub stands out as a top choice for Willie Nelson tickets. The site offers a Fan Protect Guarantee, which promises valid tickets or your money back. Additionally, if the event is canceled and not rescheduled, customers will receive 120% in credit or be given the option for a full refund. This policy provides peace of mind for ticket buyers.

Vivid Seats is another excellent platform to consider. Fans can search tickets by price, location, and even select from "Super Sellers," who are trusted vendors with the best deals. Vivid Seats is especially beneficial for group purchases, as it offers a rewards program where customers earn a free ticket credit after buying 10 tickets online. Plus, using the exclusive promo code BB30 saves $30 on purchases.

SeatGeek often features some of the lowest prices for Willie Nelson tickets, with stubs available starting at $50. Shoppers can also apply the discount code BILLBOARD10 for an additional $10 off at checkout, making this platform a budget-friendly choice for many concertgoers.

TicketNetwork provides straightforward, all-in pricing so buyers see the full cost upfront, including fees. Exclusive promo codes such as BILLBOARD150 and BILLBOARD300 can save you $150 on purchases over $500 and $300 on orders over $1,000, respectively, offering substantial discounts for larger ticket orders.

Willie Nelson Tour 2026 Dates

Below is a list of confirmed tour stops where fans can find tickets online:

Apr. 22: Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham, AL

Apr. 23: Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park in Atlanta, GA

Apr. 25: Asheville Yards Amphitheater in Asheville, NC

Apr. 27: Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, NC

Apr. 28: Live Oak Bank Pavilion in Wilmington, NC

May 2: Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, TX

July 3: The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, TX

July 4: Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin, TX

July 5: Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX

Aug. 18: Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, MO

Aug. 19: Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee, MN

Aug. 21: Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI

Aug. 22: Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI

Aug. 23: Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN

Aug. 25: Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, IL

Aug. 28: Northwell Health at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY

Aug. 29: Bethel Woods in Bethel, NY

Aug. 30: Albany Med Health System at SPAC in Saratoga Springs, NY

Fans looking to secure their spot at any of these venues can purchase tickets directly through Ticketmaster, where availability may vary by date.

For those eager to stay updated on the latest deals and concert news, signing up for weekly newsletters from trusted music and ticketing sources can be a helpful resource. These updates often include exclusive promo codes and early ticket alerts.

Overall, attending a Willie Nelson concert in 2026 offers an unforgettable experience for country music lovers. By utilizing the recommended ticket platforms and promo codes, fans can find authentic tickets at competitive prices and enjoy the legendary artists live performances nationwide.
Sean Penn's Kubrickian performance as Colonel Lockjaw could win him the Oscar. Discover the key scene echoing Barry Lyndon.

AceShowbiz - One Battle After Another features Sean Penn delivering a performance as the cartoonishly villainous Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw that echoes the distinct style of legendary director Stanley Kubrick. This Kubrickian influence might be a key factor in Penns potential to clinch an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor this year.

One of the films most striking moments is a speech delivered to Sean Penns character, Lockjaw, by another figure in the story about the exclusive Christmas Adventurers Club. The speech emphasizes superiority, not in intelligence or sophistication, but in a vague sense of being superior to other human beings with promises of wealth and friendship. The tone and delivery strongly recall a similarly crafted speech from Kubricks Barry Lyndon, where Lord Wendover describes his protective role over Redmond Barry. Wendovers assurance that his friends are unquestionably the best people resonates with the manner in which the Christmas Adventurers rhetoric is delivered.

Lockjaws confrontational outburst later in the film, where he screams at Willa Ferguson, a character played by Chase Infiniti, further channels Kubricks cinematic style. The blend of desperation, entitlement, and a clash between professional and personal duties echoes the famous rage of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) toward Wendy (Shelley Duvall) in Kubricks The Shining. The shrill, intense delivery captures the same psychotic energy that made Jack Torrance unforgettable, underscoring Lockjaws unraveling psyche.

Sean Penns Lockjaw even echoes the paranoia and obsession with purity found in Kubricks Dr. Strangelove. Lockjaws explanation of how he was drugged and taken advantage of during an intimate encounter mirrors the character Colonel Jack D. Rippers theory about losing essence after sex. The way Lockjaw speaks about his power being drained is a direct thematic nod to Rippers fixation on purity and vulnerability to deception.

This strong Kubrickian vibe is reinforced by director Paul Thomas Andersons visual and narrative choices. Anderson frames Lockjaw centrally, often using symmetrical shots that recall Kubricks meticulous compositions. The cameras fluid tracking of Lockjaws movements signals his dominance, contrasting with the more chaotic camera work following Leonardo DiCaprios character, Bob Ferguson. The settingswood-paneled rooms, antiseptic domestic spaces, and sterile office environmentsevoke the unsettling atmospheres of Kubricks Eyes Wide Shut and The Shining. The final scenes, where Lockjaw meets his quiet demise, visually recall the eeriness of the Overlook Hotels early sequences.

Early in his career, Anderson faced criticism for being derivative, accused of borrowing heavily from masters like Scorsese, Altman, Demme, and especially Kubrick. While those critiques were shortsighted, it is true that Andersons cinephilia informs his work. Over time, he has refined his homages into clearer, more integrated references. The Kubrickian elements in One Battle After Another focus mainly on Lockjaws story, which is fitting given Kubricks fascination with how power structures can mask underlying violence and moral corruption.

Kubricks films often feature characters discussing horrific acts with unsettling calmness and rationality. This theme is evident in One Battle After Another, where polite conversations mask cruelty and destruction. Whether its a speech calculating nuclear megadeaths in Dr. Strangelove or the cold praise of a marksman in Full Metal Jacket, Kubricks outrage at normalized violence permeates the narrative, and Lockjaw fits comfortably within this tradition.

Lockjaw embodies the archetype of the institutionally empowered madman, a figure driven to ascend social and military ranks while desperately trying to secure acceptance among an elite class. His transformation from a macho military officer to a servile follower of wealthy business owners reflects the fascist undertones often explored by Kubrick. This tension humanizes Lockjaw, making him more than a mere cartoon villain. His aspirations to join the Christmas Adventurers, enjoy their camaraderie, and claim a place of honor demonstrate a genuine yearning for belonging.

However, Lockjaws ambitions are doomed from the start, a common Kubrickian motif where the very forces that promise success ultimately ensure downfall. His pursuit of a peerage, symbolized by the coveted French 75 cocktail and the Christmas Adventurers club, leads to his tragic end. His relentless chase of the Ferguson family leads to his destruction by the same establishment he sought to join, illustrating the double-edged nature of power and ambition.

This layered, Kubrick-inspired characterization makes Penns role one of the most compelling in a year filled with exceptional performances. The Best Supporting Actor category at the upcoming Oscars is highly competitive, featuring notable contenders such as Benicio del Toro, Delroy Lindo, Stellan Skarsgard, and Jacob Elordi. Unlike many years, this roster is remarkably strong, with no clear weak link.

Sean Penns portrayal of Lockjaw stands out for its deliberate exaggeration and theatricality, which might seem out of place in a film otherwise grounded in realism. Yet this over-the-top approach is intentional, as Anderson constructs a Kubrickian mini-world around Lockjaw. The characters tight clothing, bombastic speeches, and erratic behavior create a caricature that fits perfectly within the films thematic framework.

Ultimately, One Battle After Another is both a tribute and a reinterpretation of Kubricks legacy, filtered through Andersons unique cinematic voice. For Penn, this means that if he does take home the Oscar, he will owe a debt to the visionary filmmaker whose influence shaped his characters essence. The Kubrickian spiritmarked by meticulous composition, psychological complexity, and a dark view of powerinfuses Penns performance, making it a standout in this awards season.

As the Oscar race continues, audiences and critics alike are invited to appreciate the nuanced homage embedded within Sean Penns character. Paul Thomas Andersons film not only entertains but also challenges viewers to recognize the deep cinematic lineage that informs contemporary storytelling. Whether or not Sean Penn wins, his portrayal of Lockjaw remains a testament to the enduring impact of Stanley Kubricks artistry on modern cinema.
Apollonia Kotero settles lawsuit with Prince's estate, securing her right to use the iconic name from 'Purple Rain.' Terms are confidential.

AceShowbiz - Apollonia Kotero has reached a confidential settlement with the estate of Prince, resolving a legal conflict concerning her right to use the name he gave her during their collaboration on the iconic 1984 film Purple Rain.

The lawsuit, initiated by Apollonia in August, sought a judicial declaration protecting her use of the "Apollonia" name and related trademarks, including "Apollonia 6." The dispute arose after the estate challenged her trademark registrations, filing to cancel them before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

On Wednesday, both parties filed a joint notice of dismissal, announcing the case was settled but keeping the terms confidential. Importantly, the estate also withdrew its attempt to cancel Apollonia's trademark for "Apollonia 6," signaling that she will continue to use the name publicly.

Daniel M. Cislo, Apollonia's attorney, expressed satisfaction with the resolution in a statement to Rolling Stone. He said, "We are pleased to report that the case has been settled and that our client, Apollonia, is very pleased with the outcome." He added that the settlement allows both sides to honor Prince's legacy and musical genius, emphasizing the positive nature of resolving disputes amicably.

In her original lawsuit, Apollonia (legal name Patricia Kotero) accused the estate of "attempting to steal" her name. She argued that Prince never trademarked the name prior to his death in April 2016 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. She asserted that the estate's actions last June to claim control over the "Apollonia" trademark and seek cancellation of her registrations were improper.

The Prince estate, through a statement on its official Instagram account, acknowledged its responsibility to protect and preserve Prince's assets and legacy. The estate also expressed a willingness to work cooperatively with Apollonia and noted prior efforts to resolve the matter privately, including invitations for her to perform at Paisley Park.

Lawyers representing the estate did not immediately comment on the settlement when contacted on Thursday. The confidential agreement came shortly before a scheduled hearing on the estate's motion to dismiss the case.

In court filings earlier this year, Apollonia stated that Prince would have been dismayed by the conduct of his estate in the dispute. She recalled a meeting in February 2016, two months before Prince's passing, during which he encouraged her to continue using the "Apollonia" name for performances. She emphasized that the litigation would not have occurred had Prince still been alive.

Apollonia expressed concern that losing control over the name could damage both her personal identity and livelihood, underscoring the significance of the trademark to her career.

The estate's October motion to dismiss the lawsuit argued that it never threatened to sue Apollonia and maintained that any ownership disputes over the trademark should be settled through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rather than through the courts.

The settlement brings a close to a high-profile legal battle between two parties closely linked through one of the most memorable collaborations in music and film history, allowing Apollonia to continue honoring the name bestowed upon her by Prince during their work on Purple Rain.
Nicole Eggert regrets quitting Baywatch when the lifeguard drama was at its peak.

Former Baywatch star Nicole Eggert

The blonde bombshell played Summer Quinn on the hit series, which made global stars of the likes of Pamela Anderson as C.J. Parker, David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon and Yasmine Bleeth as Caroline Holden.

Baywatch - which ran for 11 seasons from 1989 to 2001 - became a worldwide television phenomenon and was one of the most-watched shows of the 1990s.

Eggert joined the cast as Summer at the beginning of Season 3 but walked away after Season 4 ended, after being promised a leading role in spin-off that ultimately never materialised.

Eggert now can admit it was an impulsive decision which she regrets to this day.

Speaking on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, she said: I had some crazy idea in my head that if I left the show, I would be able to detach myself from the stigma that the show had given all of us as actors, which is now a thing.

Eggert explained that the original plan had been for her to lead a proposed spin-off, which was described to her as a "Beverly Hills, 90210-esque beach-based series focused on lifeguard training and younger characters.

Eggert had been approached through industry connections while working on Charles in Charge, with early discussions involving producers who were keen to build the new project around her and a fresh ensemble cast of new lifeguards.

However, as Baywatch continued to grow into a global phenomenon, the network shifted direction and the spin-off plans were ultimately shelved.

She recalled: They were like, Spin-off? Nothing! This is whats working, and we want it to stay like this!

So after two seasons, I politely bowed out, because it wasnt really what I signed up for. .

Looking back on her younger self, Eggert admitted the decision was made without fully understanding how the shows success would continue to grow.

She added: At 20 years old  if I could go back and talk to that 20 year old  wild ideas."

Baywatch is being rebooted by Fox for a new series.

The show focuses on a grownup Hobie Buchannon  who will be played by Stephen Amell  who has followed in the footsteps of his legendary father Mitch to become Baywatch captain.

His life is thrown into chaos when Charlie, the daughter he never knew existed, arrives determined to carry on the Buchannon legacy.

Other cast members include model Brooks Nader, Jessica Belkin, Hassie Harrison, Thaddeus LaGrone, Shay Mitchell, Noah Beck and Livvy Dunne.
New crime thriller from the creators of Hunters. A violent drug deal ignites a deadly chain reaction in a small Texas border town. Premiering on Prime Video.

AceShowbiz - Prime Video is expanding its original content with a new crime thriller titled Calamities, set in Texas. The streaming platform has issued a straight-to-series order for this gripping drama, which marks a collaboration between David Weil, creator of the acclaimed series Hunters, and executive producer Glen Powell.

Calamities is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and brings Weil back to the Prime Video family, where he has previously contributed to projects such as Hunters, Citadel, and the 2021 limited series Solos. The upcoming series will also be produced by Weil and Natalie Laine Williams under their Please Enjoy banner, alongside Powell and Dan Cohens Barnstorm company.

The story of Calamities is described as a tense and character-driven thriller, unfolding in a small Texas border town. The plot ignites when a drug deal spirals into violence, setting off a deadly chain of events involving a small-town sheriff haunted by her past, a sociopathic hit woman, an eager FBI agent, and a dangerous cartel faction. This complex collision sets the stage for a riveting narrative exploring crime and personal vengeance.

David Weil serves as creator, writer, and showrunner for Calamities. The series promises a fresh take on the crime thriller genre, with Amazon MGM Studios Peter Friedlander praising Weils storytelling for its intensity and emotional impact. Friedlander expressed enthusiasm about supporting Weil, Williams, Powell, and Cohen in bringing the story to life exclusively on Prime Video.

Besides his producing role on Calamities, Glen Powell continues to expand his involvement in high-profile projects. He is also working on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre series with A24, executive producing the film How to Make a Killing, and serving as an executive producer for his Hulu series Chad Powers. Additionally, Powell is co-writing an upcoming comedy feature titled The Comeback King with Judd Apatow, set for release in 2027.

Representation for the creative teams includes CAA and Jackoway Austen for Weil and Please Enjoy, while Powell and Barnstorm are represented by CAA, Johnson Shapiro, and Initiative PR. This new series is set to contribute to Prime Videos slate of original content, highlighting a dynamic mix of crime, suspense, and richly drawn characters.
A sci-fi road trip drama exploring memory and digital immortality. Premiered at SXSW. A poignant story of connection set just minutes in the future.

AceShowbiz - Anima takes a familiar cinematic frameworkthe odd-couple road tripand infuses it with a delicate, soulful science-fiction premise to explore profound questions of memory, legacy, and connection. Directed by Brian Tetsuro Ivie, the film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in the Narrative Spotlight section and runs for a concise 1 hour 30 minutes. While the template of two strangers thrust together in a car is tried-and-true, Ivie gently twists it with a dash of icy futurism and a deep, retro yearning, creating a poignant drama that rewards patient viewers with its emotional depth and inventive storytelling.

The story is set about five minutes in the future and revolves around a company called Anima Technologies. This firm sells a cloud-based version of the dearly departed, a service that promises to preserve "the deepest part" of a client's identity after physical death. Into this world of digital immortality steps Beck, played with superb unsentimentalism by Sydney Chandler. Recently laid off from a company that makes robot pets, Beck is hired by an Anima executive, portrayed by Marin Ireland, for a critical assignment. Despite her personal skepticism and her mother Jo's (Maria Dizzia) dismissal of the company as "death capitalists," Beck cannot afford to turn down the job.

Her mission is to ensure that an important, deep-pocketed client named Paul (Takehiro Hira) arrives for his scheduled "asset transfer." Paul is a dying, emotionally isolated man who made his fortune manufacturing buttons, an fittingly analog trade. The screenwriterly symmetry that pairs Beck and Paul is present but not overly obvious, setting the stage for a journey that is as much about confronting the past as it is about reaching a final destination. Paul insists they travel in his vintage Nissan and dictates a route that includes several personal stops, immediately complicating Beck's directive to deliver him to Anima ASAP.

The dynamic between the two leads is the film's core strength. Chandler and Hira masterfully portray a relationship that begins at an impasse, defined by his boss-level standoffishness and her Gen Z stare. Matheus Bastos's camerawork captures their southward trek through Connecticut on I-95, attuned to the rich greens of the woodsy Northeast and an evocative assortment of locations. The production design by Katie Rose Balun is expressively detailed, from kitschy themed motel interiors to jam-packed stores, creating a tangible world that feels both familiar and slightly off-kilter.

As they travel, the film reveals itself to be steeped in an angsty appreciation for indie pop culture of a 1990s vintage. Crucial references to Twin Peaks and the bands Morphine and Sparklehorse are not mere decoration but are woven into the narrative's fabric. A stop at a used record shop, the real-life Connecticut store Merle's Record Rack, introduces Morphine's song "In Spite of Me," which later resurfaces in a showstopper of a scene. In this powerful moment, lyrics transform into a form of dialogue and melody becomes a balm, with the charged mix of deadpan detachment and naked ache in Chandler and Hira's faces proving an eloquent match for the killer song.

Music is essential to Beck's character, though it's something she has pushed aside due to her complex history with her late father, a touring musician who prioritized his art. When Paul offers Beck a small fortune to accompany him to a club concert, she is unaware of his true motive: he is searching for Ryan (Maximilian Lee Piazza), the teenage son he has never met. The evening, set against the lo-fi electronica of Yummy Bear (a version of Montell Fish's DJ Gummy Bear project), turns disastrous, but it serves as a catalyst, breaking open something between the two travel partners.

The emotional colors of Anima deepen significantly with the introduction of Ryan, played by Piazza with vulnerable, resilient perfection. Ryan works in a pet store that specializes in virtual birds, a detail that adds another poignant facet to the movie's overarching theme of death-defying connection in a digital age. The location of Ryan's mother, Julia, brings Lili Taylor into the film, and her performance unleashes a wary bitterness long contained, confronting Paul with the tangible consequences of his life choices.

Working from a story he wrote with Brev Moss, director-writer Brian Tetsuro Ivie demonstrates a keen ability to infuse familiar movie tropes with fresh angles and involving energy. The editing, by Ivie and Sam Kuhn, finds the precise pulse of every scene, allowing quiet moments to resonate and emotional breakthroughs to land with authentic impact. The music, fittingly, is a vital element beyond the source tracks. Montell Fish's original compositions provide a dream-state propulsion, and the film incorporates a fine selection of vintage Japanese folk-rock, further enriching its textured soundscape.

The supporting cast is uniformly excellent, with indispensable indie actors like Maria Dizzia, Lili Taylor, and Tom McCarthy contributing well-etched turns that flesh out the world. McCarthy appears in a sequence edged with comic absurdity as a garrulous former employee of Paul's, sharing a secluded home with his wife, played by Aya Ibaraki. These detours from the main road never feel like mere digressions; instead, they accumulate into a richer portrait of Paul's life and regrets.

Certain aspects of Beck's own backstory, particularly the dynamics with her mother Jo, could be clearer. However, this narrative vagueness works, to an extent, as a reflection of how Beck has pushed aside her grief over her father. The raw wounds of that loss are palpable, even if every detail isn't explicitly spelled out. As Paul's painboth physical from his illness and emotional from his lifetime of isolationbecomes more apparent, Beck gradually finds her bedside manner, her gallows humor notwithstanding.

Anima grows more lucent and powerful as it proceeds. The visual and thematic contrast is stark between the artistic, colorful vibes of Jo's home and the cool, antiseptic geometry of Anima's offices, a striking 21st-century building on the Bard College campus that serves as the company headquarters. This dichotomy underscores the film's central inquiry: what constitutes true immortality? Is it the preservation of data in a cloud, or is it the messy, imperfect, and resonant connections we forge with others in life?

The film's final act is a testament to its nuanced approach. Without resorting to easy sentimentality, it allows its characters, who have spent much of their lives shut down to protect themselves, to tentatively open up. They discover a form of continuity that money cannot buy and technology cannot truly replicate. The journey transforms from a simple transport mission into a mutual excavation of loss, regret, and the possibility of redemption.

In conclusion, Anima is a quietly ambitious drama that puts a sharp, thoughtful spin on a well-traveled genre. It is a film about endings that is fundamentally concerned with what makes a life meaningful. Sydney Chandler and Takehiro Hira deliver beautifully modulated performances that anchor the film's speculative elements in genuine human emotion. Brian Tetsuro Ivie announces himself as a director with a distinct visual eye and a gift for eliciting subtle, powerful work from his cast. For those willing to take this detour-filled road trip, Anima offers a rewarding, poignant, and ultimately transcendent viewing experience that lingers long after the credits roll, much like a favorite song or a cherished memory.

The film's technical credits are consistently strong, supporting its artistic vision. The costume design by Emily Costantino subtly defines character, from Beck's contemporary Gen Z attire to Paul's more timeless, formal wear. The visual effects work by supervisor Kyle Zemborain is seamlessly integrated, never overpowering the human story at the film's core but effectively establishing its near-future setting. Casting by Rebecca Dealy is impeccable, ensuring that even the smallest roles feel fully inhabited.

Ultimately, Anima succeeds because it understands that the most profound science fiction is not about flashy gadgets or distant galaxies, but about the human heart. Its exploration of virtual reality and digital afterlife serves as a mirror to our own contemporary anxieties about legacy and remembrance in an increasingly digital world. The film asks whether we can ever truly capture the essence of a person, and in doing so, it celebrates the imperfect, beautiful, and fleeting moments that define our shared humanity. It is a thoughtful, artful meditation that earns its emotional payoff, proving that the oldest storiesof love, loss, and connectioncan always find new life when told with sincerity and invention.
Gucci Mane fires back at Pooh Shiesty & Big30 in new diss track "Crash Dummy" after alleged kidnapping & robbery incident.

AceShowbiz - Gucci Mane has responded decisively through music, targeting Pooh Shiesty and Big30 just days after their arrests relating to an alleged kidnapping and robbery involving the rapper.

On Friday, April 10, Gucci Mane dropped a fiery new single titled Crash Dummy, where he directly addresses the incident with the Memphis artists who reportedly ambushed him at gunpoint earlier this year. The track features signature trap beats produced by Zaytoven, evoking the sound reminiscent of Gucci Mane's mid-2000s era.

In the song, Gucci Mane raps pointedly: "Tell the truth, you went out like a real crash dummy / And after all that, boy, you still signed to me? / I'm like Birdman and n*gga, this my Cash Money / And your fat-ass flunkie, he a stone-cold junkie." These lines reflect the tension and betrayal felt by the rapper following the alleged attack.

Gucci Mane also recounts the events of January 10, when he met with Pooh Shiesty at a Dallas recording studio. According to the rapper, what was supposed to be a routine business meeting turned into a setup, as Shiesty allegedly pulled a gun on him, forcing him to sign paperwork that would terminate his contract with the 1017 label.

The lyrics detail the pressure and deceit: "I thought it was a business meeting, but it was a set up / I walk in the room, you can feel the pressure building / N*gga dapped me up, the whole time they plotting against me," and later, "Pressure on my chest, but I still ain't pressed / Pen to the paper, but it's under duress."

Further addressing Pooh Shiesty, who had been released from prison in October 2025 after serving time on unrelated gun charges, Gucci Mane raps, "You learn from your daddy, so I guess that it's hereditary / I'm that same n*gga that put money on your commissary." This line highlights the complex personal and professional relationship between the two artists.

Despite the betrayal and legal turmoil, Gucci Mane maintains a defiant tone throughout Crash Dummy. He asserts his ownership over the 1017 label with, "This 1017 the label, I built this shit from the ground / And I be damned if I let a n*gga take my shit down." He closes the song emphasizing his hardened resolve: "I done been betrayed, now my heart turned cold."

Last week, Pooh Shiesty and Big30 were among nine individuals arrested in connection with the kidnapping and robbery allegations targeting Gucci Mane. The rappers father, Lontrell Williams Sr., was also taken into federal custody.

The charges stem from the incident where Shiesty and his associates reportedly forced Gucci Mane to sign contract termination papers at gunpoint while robbing him and two music industry associates. One victim was allegedly choked nearly unconscious during the ordeal.

During court proceedings, Pooh Shiesty was denied bond, with the judge noting he was already on home confinement for a previous gun-related case at the time of the incident. Judge Renee Harries Toliver stated, "I can't find any conditions to offer that haven't already been granted to you."

Big30, accused of blocking the studio door to prevent Gucci Mane and his companions from leaving, was granted a $100,000 bond. However, this was immediately stayed at the prosecutors request. Both rappers now face the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted.

Adding to the public scrutiny, an FBI agent testified during Pooh Shiestys court hearing that Gucci Mane cooperated with authorities. FBI Special Agent Pamela Hanson revealed that investigators relied on statements made by Gucci Mane and other alleged victims after police were called to the studio by a member of the rappers security team on the night of the incident.

The ongoing legal battle and the release of Crash Dummy highlight the complicated and volatile situation unfolding between Gucci Mane, Pooh Shiesty, and Big30. As the case proceeds, fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely how these developments will impact the careers and reputations of those involved.
Sebastian Stan transforms in 'Fjord,' a suspenseful drama about a family suspected of strange behavior in a remote Norwegian village. Co-starring Renate Rein...

AceShowbiz - Fjord introduces a striking new look for Sebastian Stan, who has shed his iconic Winter Soldier hairstyle for a bold transformation in this upcoming drama. Alongside Oscar-nominated actress Renate Reinsve, Stan stars as part of a European couple navigating life in a remote Norwegian village.

In Fjord, Stan and Reinsve portray Mihai and Lisbet Gheorghiu, a Romanian family who relocate to a secluded community in Norway. The story focuses on their interactions with the local Halberg family and takes a suspenseful turn as their children come under suspicion for unusual behavior, making them the center of attention in the small town.

Snowglobe has released the first official image from the film, showcasing Stan and Reinsve with their four children posed against the stunning backdrop of Norwegian mountains. The photo highlights Stans dramatic new appearance as the family patriarch.

The film is directed and written by Cristian Mungiu, the acclaimed filmmaker who earned the Palme d'Or in 2007 for his film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Fjord has been selected to compete in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

This movie adds to Stans growing list of roles that demand significant physical transformations. Recently, he portrayed Donald J. Trump in the 2024 film The Apprentice, where he gained at least 15 pounds and adopted a distinct blonde hairstyle. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Other notable transformations include his portrayal of Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee in Pam & Tommy, where he underwent multiple piercings and tattoos, and his role as Jeff Gillooly in I, Tonya, where he sported a distinctive mustache. Despite these varied looks, Stan is best known for his role as the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he frequently appeared with long hair.

Stan is set to reprise his role as the Winter Soldier in Avengers: Doomsday. Beyond Marvel, he is expanding his presence in Hollywood by stepping into the DC universe, having been cast in The Batman: Part II. Rumors suggest he may play the villain Harvey Dent/Two-Face, reuniting him with fellow Marvel star Scarlett Johansson.

With Fjord expected to premiere, Stan will likely attend Cannes to promote the film. While an official release date has not yet been announced, Neon holds the U.S. distribution rights.
Kathleen Kennedy reveals her biggest Star Wars regret. Explore Disney's divisive era, from acclaimed hits like Andor to the lessons of Solo.

AceShowbiz - Disneys stewardship of the Star Wars franchise has been a rollercoaster, marked by both celebrated successes and contentious releases. When the company acquired George Lucas iconic saga, anticipation was high, riding the wave of Kevin Feiges Marvel Cinematic Universe triumphs. Fans eagerly awaited fresh narratives set within the beloved galaxy far, far away, hopeful that Disneys involvement would usher in a new golden era for the franchise.

However, reinvigorating Star Wars for contemporary audiences proved more complicated than expected. While projects like Andor garnered acclaim for their depth and innovation, other efforts divided longtime fans. As Kathleen Kennedys tenure at Lucasfilm drew to a close, she openly reflected on her time overseeing the franchise, candidly revealing one major regret connected to the 2018 film Solo A Star Wars Story.

In a 2026 interview with Deadline, Kathleen Kennedy acknowledged that although she stood by the decisions made during her leadership, the execution of Solo: A Star Wars Story presented challengesprimarily behind the scenes rather than within the film itself. She highlighted the difficulty of placing Alden Ehrenreich in the daunting role of Han Solo, a character so closely associated with Harrison Ford. Kennedy admitted, conceptually, we did it too soon, suggesting the timing of the films release was a key misstep.

Released in May 2018, Solo: A Star Wars Story was the franchises second standalone anthology film following Rogue One. Directed by Ron Howard after original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller departed mid-production, the film was caught up in a wave of high-profile creative disputes that affected several blockbuster movies at the time. As a result, fans were left with a single theatrical cut, while alternate versions remained unseen, adding to the films complicated legacy.

The movie served as an origin story for Han Solo, exploring his early adventures and relationships. However, Kennedys regret centered on the decision to introduce a young Han so soon after Fords iconic portrayal ended tragically in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Given the character and actors beloved status, audiences were still mourning the loss, and Ehrenreichs portrayal unintentionally reminded viewers of that grief rather than offering a joyful new chapter.

Despite the challenges, Kennedy praised Ehrenreichs performance, noting that it was one of the films strongest elements. She emphasized that while the narrative and pacing had issues, the casting and acting were not among them. This recognition sets the stage for potential future use of Ehrenreich as Han Solo, especially now that the Star Wars franchise is entering a new creative phase under different leadership.

With Kennedy having stepped down, the current heads of Lucasfilm, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, have an opportunity to revisit the character and storylines introduced in Solo. The original film explored the darker, less-charted territories of the Star Wars underworld, focusing on Han and Chewbaccas adventures away from the Jedi and Sith conflicts. It introduced characters like Woody Harrelsons Tobias Beckett, Donald Glovers young Lando Calrissian, Paul Bettanys Dryden Vos, and Emilia Clarkes Qira, enriching the galaxys tapestry.

Recent and upcoming projects such as Andor, Maul: Shadow Lord, and Star Wars: Starfighter are expanding the franchises focus on the galaxys fringe elements and morally complex stories. A sequel to Solo would fit organically into this evolving direction, offering fresh narratives with minimal risk of contradicting established canon. It would also provide a chance to build upon Ehrenreichs praised performance in a context better suited to exploring Han Solos character growth.

The potential for a Solo sequel represents a way to address one of the most significant regrets of Kennedys tenure while aligning with the franchises current creative vision. By revisiting Han Solos story under new stewardship, Lucasfilm could deliver a more timely, resonant chapter that honors the characters legacy and satisfies fans eager for compelling Star Wars tales beyond the Skywalker saga.

As the franchise continues to evolve, the idea of giving Alden Ehrenreich another opportunity to portray the beloved smuggler gains traction. With improved timing and narrative support, a follow-up film could transform the perception of Solo and enrich the Star Wars universes growing exploration of its underworld and anti-hero characters.

Fans and observers alike await announcements on whether Lucasfilm will embrace this direction, potentially turning a past regret into a new success story. The foundation laid by Solo: A Star Wars Story and Ehrenreichs commendable portrayal could finally reach its full potential in the near future, bringing fresh energy and depth to one of the galaxys most enduring figures.
Will Smith's iconic film I Am Legend surges in streaming popularity. Explore the $585M sci-fi thriller's legacy, record-breaking scenes, and why it's captiva...

AceShowbiz - Will Smith has returned to major projects, starring in the Oscar contender Emancipation and the successful $400 million-grossing Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Now, attention has turned back to one of his most iconic films, which has recently experienced a resurgence in streaming popularity nearly two decades after its original release.

The film in question is I Am Legend, a 2007 sci-fi thriller directed by Francis Lawrence. Based on a novel by acclaimed sci-fi writer Richard Matheson, I Am Legend grossed an impressive $585 million worldwide against a production budget of $150 million. The movie is set in a post-apocalyptic New York City and follows the story of the last human survivor, a character portrayed by Will Smith. The film is also notable for reportedly featuring a scene that cost $5 million alone, highlighting the scale and ambition of the production.

I Am Legend holds a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising the film primarily for Smiths captivating performance despite some questionable special effects. The critics consensus states, "I Am Legend overcomes questionable special effects and succeeds largely on the strength of Will Smith's mesmerizing performance."

Interestingly, the film contains a subtle Easter Egg that has attracted attention from fans in the streaming era. A billboard visible in a scene set in Times Square advertises a Batman versus Superman movie, a reference made nearly ten years before the actual release of Zack Snyders Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The 2016 superhero film featured Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman and went on to gross over $800 million worldwide, making the Easter Egg a fascinating piece of cinema trivia for fans and critics alike.

According to FlixPatrol data, I Am Legend was one of the most-watched movies on the domestic iTunes charts recently, highlighting the enduring interest in the film well after its theatrical run. This resurgence comes as Will Smith prepares to reprise his role in a highly anticipated sequel. The upcoming project will be directed by Steven Caple Jr., known for his work on Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and is expected to feature rising star Michael B. Jordan.
Sean Combs appeals prison sentence, arguing his "freak-offs" were protected amateur pornography under the First Amendment.

AceShowbiz - Sean Combs, known as Diddy, is currently appealing his prison sentence by arguing that his so-called freak-offs were simply amateur pornography protected under the First Amendment.

On April 9, the United States Court of Appeals reviewed a motion filed by Sean Combss legal team seeking his release. According to TMZ, his attorneys maintained that the freak-offs did not violate any laws. They described these events as highly choreographed sexual performances featuring costumes, role play, and staged lighting, all recorded for Sean Combs and his girlfriends to watch later as amateur pornographic material.

The defense emphasized that the production and viewing of such content fall within constitutional protections and therefore cannot be legally prosecuted. This argument challenges the convictions Sean Combs received last July, where he was found guilty on two counts of violating the Mann Act, related to transporting individuals for prostitution purposes.

His lawyers also brought up Cassies drug use during the hearing, a topic that was barred from being introduced during the original trial. They argue that Sean Combs was given an excessively harsh sentence; while the typical punishment for these charges is around 15 months, he has already served 19 months behind bars.

Originally, Sean Combs was set to be released on June 4, 2028. However, after receiving 40 days off his sentence in March, his current projected release date is April 25, 2028. The timing for a ruling on this appeal remains uncertain.

XXL has reached out to Sean Combss representatives for comment regarding the ongoing appeal and legal arguments presented.
Jada Pinkett Smith moves to dismiss $3M lawsuit from Will Smith's friend, who alleges emotional distress over memoir threats.

AceShowbiz - Jada Pinkett Smith is requesting a court to dismiss a lawsuit filed against her by Bilaal Salaam, a former friend of her husband, Will Smith. The lawsuit alleges that ongoing disputes with Pinkett Smith caused him significant emotional distress.

According to the legal complaint, Salaam claims that Pinkett Smith triggered severe anxiety, depression, and weight gain after people close to the Smith family allegedly threatened him in connection with a memoir he is writing. He is pursuing $3 million in damages. Furthermore, Salaam states he temporarily left the United States because he feared for his personal safety. The filing also notes that the conflict harmed Salaam's romantic relationship and led to persistent sleeplessness and fear.

This lawsuit follows a previous attempt by Salaam to obtain a restraining order against Pinkett Smith, which was denied by a judge who ruled there was insufficient evidence to support his claims.

Pinkett Smith categorically denies all allegations. In her court documents, she argues that Salaam has failed to provide proof linking her to the distress he reports. She states there is no evidence that she was involved in any threats, his decision to leave the country, or the breakdown of his relationship.

She further contends that Salaams claims are "false, uncorroborated," and part of an "ongoing public campaign of harassment" against her family. According to TMZ, Salaam also accused Pinkett Smith of targeting him after he declined to publicly support Will Smith during the backlash following the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

The legal dispute remains active, with Pinkett Smith seeking to have the case dismissed. Meanwhile, Salaam maintains his allegations and continues to pursue the lawsuit for the alleged emotional and personal harm he claims to have suffered.
Janel Parrish of 'Pretty Little Liars' and husband Chris Long have split after nearly eight years of marriage. Get the details on their separation.

AceShowbiz - Janel Parrish, best known for her role in Pretty Little Liars, and her husband, Chris Long, have ended their marriage after nearly eight years together, a source with knowledge confirmed to E! News.

The couple has reportedly been separated for several months, though this development had not been publicly disclosed until recently. E! News reached out to Janel Parrish's representatives for comment but had not received a response at the time of reporting.

Janel Parrish and Chris Long tied the knot in 2018 during a ceremony held in Hawaii.

In September of the previous year, Chris Long celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram post, which was later deleted, according to TMZ. Meanwhile, Janel Parrish had not posted about their relationship for over a year before the news of their separation surfaced.

During the earlier years of their marriage, Janel Parrish shared joyful memories and moments, including a touching tribute on their third anniversary in 2021. The post featured photos from their wedding day and a caption expressing deep love and commitment: "Three years ago today, I married you. Still the easiest and best decision I ever made. I love you."

That same year, she also posted playful selfies of the couple celebrating Chris Long's birthday, affectionately calling him her "hunky hubby." Alongside these images, she noted how well the years had treated him, describing him with warmth and admiration.

Despite the couples tendency to share limited glimpses of their private life, Janel Parrish once opened up about their relationships beginnings. In a 2018 interview with US Weekly, she described their union as a dream come true, emphasizing how fortunate they felt to have found each other in a chaotic world.

Reflecting on their wedding day, she said, "Marrying my dream man in my home of Hawaii surrounded by family and friends was a dream." The sentiment highlighted how deeply connected she felt to Chris Long, whom she called her soulmate and best friend.

Janel Parrish further emphasized the emotional support they provided each other, saying, "No matter what, if Im having the worst day ever, I feel like I have somebody who understands me." Even when immediate understanding wasnt possible, she appreciated his effort to empathize, which brought her comfort.
Nicolas Cage returns as arms dealer Yuri Orlov in the Lord of War sequel. His son, a ruthless mercenary (Bill Skarsgard), aims to surpass his father's dark ...

AceShowbiz - Lord of War is set to return with a highly anticipated sequel, as Vertical has secured U.S. distribution rights through an early presale agreement. This new installment continues the story from the 2005 original, which starred Oscar winner Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov, a notorious global arms dealer.

The film is produced and financed by the Oscar-winning studio Vendome Pictures, known for their work on CODA. Vertical plans to showcase exclusive footage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas next week, building anticipation ahead of the movies planned theatrical release in 2027.

In this sequel, Nicolas Cage reprises his role as Yuri Orlov. The story intensifies when Yuri discovers he has a son named Anton, portrayed by Bill Skarsgard. Anton is a ruthless mercenary mastermind determined to eclipse his fathers legacy by assembling a private army and exploiting ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

The narrative centers on a fierce and deadly rivalry between father and son, driven by ambition, betrayal, and the struggle for control over the international arms trade. What begins as a shocking family revelation escalates into a power struggle that threatens to reshape the global landscape of warfare and commerce.

This sequel promises to delve deeper into the complex dynamics of family legacy within the shadowy world of arms dealing, offering a blend of intense drama and high-stakes action.
Dax Shepard broke down in tears as he recalled Kristen Bell's moving surprise for his dying dad.

Dax Shepard has shared a special moment with his wife Kristen Bell

The 51-year-old actor/comedian opened up about the final days he spent with his dad Dave before he passed away in 2012 after a battle with cancer and he's revealed his pregnant wife made a surprise trip to the hospital because she knew her partner was struggling and she wanted Dave to meet their inborn child.

During an appearance on the All There Is with Anderson Cooper podcast, Dax explained he felt "overwhelmed" as visitors flocked to his dad's hospital room as he neared the end of his life and Kristen laid on an emotional surprise, saying: "She's done so many incredible things over the 19 years we've been together but she's intuitive like crazy.

"So I was there [in Detroit] and I was growing really, really upset with the amount of people visiting my dad and they were all really well-intentioned ...

"His room was an unending parade of many, many people and they were all lovely and well-intentioned but it put me in the position of them grieving and me having to comfort them and I was starting to resent that I couldn't just be in there with my dad. And I was really starting to get quite overwhelmed with that and I went outside to sit in the car to get a breather and I called Kristin to just vent about it ... I mean this is unbelievable this story."

He went on to add: "I was complaining and she said: 'It's okay. I'm here. Look to the left.'

"Mind you, we live in California and I'm in Detroit. And I look to my left and she's 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 and was standing next to the car. What a champ, you know?

"So then we went and visited my dad ... She came in and he got to feel her belly."

During the podcast, which was recorded at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, Anderson then went on to read a passage written by Dax after the moment at the hospital with his wife and his father: "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 member we were creating.

"He wasn't going to make it to the birth but that didn't get in the way of him meeting the new baby. It was an emotional and triumphant moment and one I will never forget ..."
New audio reveals Desiigner's frantic 911 call during his arrest, alleging car theft, his son's safety, and a suspected tainted substance.

AceShowbiz - Sidney Selby III, known professionally as Desiigner, made a frantic 911 call on the night he was arrested on domestic violence charges in South Carolina, according to newly released audio obtained by TMZ.

In the recording, Desiigner urgently tells the dispatcher that a woman was allegedly attempting to steal his car while their young son was with her. He states, "She's trying to do grand theft auto on my car," and adds, "She has my son, I need my son." Throughout the call, the rapper sounds distressed and repeatedly argues over the car keys.

During the conversation, Desiigner also mentions his suspicion that "somebody put something bad in my weed," implying he was under the influence of an unknown substance. Additionally, he admits to struggling emotionally and expresses suicidal thoughts. When the dispatcher inquires about weapons, he reveals he has an Airsoft gun with him, clarifying it is "just to have one."

At one point in the call, Desiigner can be heard repeatedly telling the dispatcher, "Go k*ll yourself," and expresses hope that she dies. He claims the woman "bothers him every day" and says he has "receipts" from surveillance cameras to prove his side of the story.

According to police reports, the woman involved, who is said to be the mother of Desiigners child, told officers that the argument escalated into a physical altercation. She alleges that Desiigner grabbed the car keys from her, tearing her sweatpants in the process. She also claimed he threw her to the ground when she tried to prevent him from placing their child into a car seat. Officers noted minor scratches on her arm and back.

Desiigner was later released on a $1,500 bond following his arrest in South Carolina.

This is not the first time Desiigner has faced legal troubles. In April 2023, he was charged with indecent exposure after reportedly exposing himself multiple times on a Delta flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis. Desiigner pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced to community service, a fine, and two years of probation.

Earlier in his career, Desiigner was involved in a 2016 road rage investigation in New York. Police initially accused him of possessing a loaded firearm and drugs, but those charges were eventually dropped. His attorneys later stated he had been exonerated.

The newly released 911 call and arrest highlight ongoing personal and legal challenges for Desiigner as he navigates these serious allegations involving domestic violence and emotional distress.
Dive into Thrash: A shark-filled hurricane floods a town. Phoebe Dynevor stars in this pulpy, humorous horror thrill ride with outrageous twists.

AceShowbiz - The shark-themed disaster movie Thrash offers a blend of horror, humor, and pulpy thrills as it plunges viewers into a coastal South Carolina town flooded by hurricane waters teeming with aggressive sharks. Featuring Phoebe Dynevor in the lead role, the film embraces outrageous plot points, including a harrowing water birth amid rising floodwaters filled with hungry predators.

Every shark movie carries the legacy of the iconic film Jaws, but Thrash draws more direct comparison to Alexandre Ajas tense thriller Crawl. Instead of alligators trapped by a hurricane in Florida, this story focuses on bull sharks and a pregnant great white shark invading a town after levees break and floodwaters surge. The movies title, spelled with an extra h, might benefit from a trim, but the film itself is a fun, if disposable, addition to the shark subgenre.

Directed and written by Tommy Wirkola, known for mixing horror and humor in projects like Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Thrash leans into absurdity while also attempting to touch on real-world issues such as the increasing frequency and severity of Atlantic hurricanes and the dangers posed by storm surges. The result is a movie that straddles the line between self-aware camp and disaster thriller, running just under 90 minutes to deliver a fast-paced, action-filled experience.

The story unfolds as Hurricane Henry approaches, with on-screen timers counting down to landfall. The central character, Lisa, played by Dynevor, is a pregnant woman working at McKays Meats, a nod to producer Adam McKay. She has recently moved from New York and is now alone after her fiance abandoned her. Lisas mother repeatedly pressures her over the phone about considering a water birth, an element that gains significance later in the film. As Lisa drives through the town, she notices residents scrambling to evacuate, but finds herself trapped when the interstate closes, leaving her no escape.

Another key character is Dakota, portrayed by Whitney Peak, an 18-year-old coping with trauma and severe anxiety that makes her agoraphobic. She refuses to leave her home until her uncle Dale, a marine biologist played by Djimon Hounsou, arrives by boat two hours away. When a fallen tree traps Lisa in her car just as she begins labor, Dakota must overcome her fears to help her.

Meanwhile, a subplot follows a group of foster childrenRon, Dee, and Willwho are left to fend for themselves after their negligent foster parents prioritize their own comfort over the kids safety. Their adoptive father, Billy Olson (played by Matt Nable), is confident that his reinforced home will withstand the storm, dismissing it as a little bit of weather. However, when floodwaters breach their house, turning the living room into a shark-infested pool, the childrens survival skills are put to the ultimate test.

Much of the movie was shot on a studio lot and in a specially constructed tank in Melbourne, Australia. Wirkola manages to convincingly portray the hurricanes destructive power by mixing practical effects with stock footage and occasional CGI. Scenes of trees snapping, cars being swept away, and buildings collapsing are effectively realized, despite some moments where the visual effects are noticeably artificial.

The film populates its world with numerous minor characters who serve as shark victims, keeping tension high as the main cast battles both the elements and the relentless predators. A memorable detail is a McKays Meats tanker truck that splits open, spilling tons of chum into the floodwatersan ironic touch that boosts the sharks appetite.

While Wirkola previously balanced horror and comedy more skillfully in his Dead Snow films, Thrash sometimes struggles with tonal consistency. Forced humor, such as Dynevor soothing herself with Vanessa Carltons music during contractions or quips about Shark Week, occasionally fall flat. Similarly, Hounsou delivers a cringe-worthy backstory about surviving a hippo attack thanks to intervention by bull sharks, which he narrates with admirable seriousness despite the scenes absurdity.

Critically, the films plot logic is elastic, and its spectacle is unlikely to impress major filmmakers. However, as a bloody, campy shark thriller with a natural disaster twist, it is more successful than recent shark survival films like The Requin or The Black Demon. Its mix of thrills, gore, and occasional humor makes it an enjoyable watch for fans of the genre, especially given its brisk runtime and pulpy style.

Produced by Sony Pictures and HyperObject, and distributed by Netflix after Sony shelved its theatrical release plans, Thrash is rated R with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. The cast includes Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, Djimon Hounsou, Matt Nable, Andrew Lees, Stacy Claussen, Alyla Browne, and Dante Ubaldi. The films production team features producers Adam McKay, Kevin Messick, and Tommy Wirkola, with Matt Weston as director of photography and Dom Lewis and Daniel Futcher composing the score.

Ultimately, Thrash offers a fast, pulpy shark survival story that doesnt take itself too seriously but still delivers enough tension and spectacle to keep viewers entertained. Its mix of disaster movie elements and shark attack thrills makes it a notable, if somewhat silly, addition to Netflixs growing catalogue of genre films.
Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies at 68. Remembering the legendary DJ's foundational role in shaping the genre's sound and culture.

AceShowbiz - The hip-hop community mourns the loss of Afrika Bambaataa, the legendary rapper and DJ who passed away at 68 due to complications from prostate cancer. His death was confirmed on Thursday in Pennsylvania, according to TMZ.

Afrika Bambaataa, born Lance Taylor, was a foundational figure in hip-hop culture, credited with shaping the genres early sound and social impact. His contributions extended beyond music, as he was also a pivotal organizer within the community.

The news of his passing was shared by Mick Benzo, a close friend and fellow member of the Zulu Nation, via Instagram. Benzo described his last interaction with Bambaataa, saying, Two days ago, I spoke with Afrika Bambaataa and found him in high spirits. Today, however, I began receiving calls about his passing. He went on to explain how his attempts to reach him were unsuccessful, leading to the heartbreaking confirmation that Bambaataa had peacefully passed away in his sleep.

In his tribute, Benzo referred to Bambaataa as a pioneering architect and global ambassador of Hip Hop culture. This recognition underscores the significant role Afrika Bambaataa played in establishing hip-hop not just as a musical genre but as a cultural movement.

Bambaataas last public social media post was on March 18, when he honored the late Sly Stone by wishing him a happy heavenly birthday.

Growing up in the Bronx, Bambaataa gained prominence in the 1970s by hosting influential parties that helped define hip-hops early sound and community spirit. In the late 1970s, he founded the Universal Zulu Nation, a collective of socially conscious rappers and artists dedicated to promoting peace, unity, and positive cultural expression.

His 1982 release, Planet Rock, remains one of the most iconic singles in hip-hop history, reaching No. 4 on the US R&B chart and helping to popularize the genre worldwide. Over the years, he continued to perform and influence generations of artists.

Despite his many achievements, Bambaataa faced serious allegations later in life. Multiple men accused him of sexual abuse occurring in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2016, he publicly denied these claims, telling Rolling Stone that the accusations were baseless and are a cowardly attempt to tarnish my reputation and legacy in hip-hop at this time.

The Hip Hop Alliance, an organization led by rap legends Kurtis Blow, Chuck D, and KRS-One, issued a statement acknowledging the complexity of Bambaataas legacy. They praised his role as the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation and credited him with helping to shape hip-hop into a global movement based on peace, unity, love, and fun.

However, the statement also recognized the serious conversations around the allegations and the impact they have had on the community. The Hip Hop Alliance extended condolences to all affected by Bambaataas life, work, and presence, reflecting the nuanced position he holds in hip-hop history.

Afrika Bambaataas influence on the culture is undeniable. His pioneering vision transformed the Bronx into the birthplace of a worldwide phenomenon that continues to thrive today. While his legacy is complicated, his imprint on hip-hops origin story remains a significant chapter in music history.
Offset shares first message after Florida casino shooting, focusing on recovery, family, and music. Read his handwritten note of gratitude.

AceShowbiz - Offset was discharged from the hospital and is currently concentrating on his recovery following a shooting incident outside a Florida casino, a representative confirmed to Rolling Stone.

The rapper, born Kiari Cephus, shared his first personal message since the incident on Friday. In a handwritten letter posted on Instagram, he expressed gratitude to fans for their support and well-wishes. "I'm good.... but I'm planning to be better," he wrote.

Offset added, "I'm focused on my family, my recovery, and getting back to the music. Realizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses... Life's a gamble and I'm still playing to win."

The shooting occurred on Monday outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Fortunately, Offset sustained non-life-threatening injuries and has since been seen walking and recovering.

Local authorities have yet to file any formal charges related to the shooting. However, rapper Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt, was arrested on Tuesday near the scene and charged with disorderly conduct. He was released the same day, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Lil Tjay's attorney, Dawn M. Florio, addressed rumors regarding his involvement in the shooting. She described such speculation as "false" and "baseless rumors." Florio emphasized, "Lil Tjay [has not] been charged with any shooting. Any reporting to the contrary is false." She encouraged the public to rely on verified news sources for accurate information.

The Seminole Police Department confirmed that their investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

There is a known history between Offset and Lil Tjay. In January 2025, Lil Tjay publicly accused Offset of having a gambling problem and being financially unstable, claiming the rapper owed him $10,000 after lending him money. During an Instagram Live session, Merritt said, "I seen the n**** in the casino. He was popped, he was panicking. He was asking random people for cash apps."

As Offset recovers, fans and observers await further updates on the ongoing investigation and the rappers health progress.
Banned from UK festival, Kanye West shares Chinese schoolchildren's cover of his new song "All The Love" in response.

AceShowbiz - Kanye West did not let a travel ban from the UK stop him from reaching fans abroad on Friday.

The rapper was removed from the lineup of the Wireless Festival after the UK Home Office denied his entry application. Despite losing his headline slot, Kanye West quickly responded by sharing Instagram footage of Chinese schoolchildren performing his new track "All The Love." The song is a collaboration with Talkbox artist Andre Troutman and is featured on his latest album "Bully."

The children, led by their teacher Mihowho has gained a large online following for her students' accurate and engaging covers of modern urban songsdelivered a polished rendition of the track. Their performance was posted just hours after the festival announced Kanye West's removal.

The Home Office rejected Kanye West's travel authorization on grounds that his presence would not be "conducive to the public good," referencing his past use of antisemitic imagery and statements. This decision received strong public support from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who insisted the rapper should never have been invited.

The ban ultimately caused the full cancellation of Wireless Festival, leaving thousands of ticket holders scrambling for refunds.

While the UK government was enforcing the ban, Kanye West appeared unfazed. That same evening, he performed an impromptu set at The Lab At Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles alongside comedian Ocean Glapion and actor Deon Cole. The audience treated him like royalty, with Glapion later calling the night one of the most amazing and memorable and dubbing Kanye West a modern day Michael Jackson.
31% of savers aged 18 to 34 stated that they knew what their pension was invested in, compared to 21% in the next age bracket. The research also found that younger savers were more interested in domestic investment, something the government is actively promoting, and more likely to have made changes to their pension investment options. Stuart Price, Partner and Actuary at Quantum Advisory, said: The findings are very encouraging, and I would expect this trend of young savers actively engaging with pensions and making informed decisions regarding their pension investments to continue. With financial literacy provision improving in schools, as an embedded aspect of the Curriculum for Wales and extended provision set to be introduced in England, the next generation of savers should be equipped with a better understanding of budgeting, investment and pensions. However, financial education should not come to a halt as young employees enter the workplace. We must not allow this interest from young people to wane or for the generational divide in pension engagement to widen. From onboarding to retirement, employers can lead on support and further education for all employees in both group and one to one settings, providing clear face-to-face, written or online communications about pension scheme matters tailored to different stages of working life, and signposting to additional resources and guidance from trusted providers and organisations. In addition to facilitating career-long financial education, employers can also make a difference to their employees retirement adequacy by increasing minimum auto-enrolment (AE) contribution levels. Since 2012 employers have been required to provide a workplace pension scheme and automatically enrol employees aged between 22 and the State Pension Age who earn above 10,000 per annum. The minimum AE pension total contribution is now 8%, with an employer contribution of at least 3% of qualifying earnings, which means that contributions from both the individual and employer only start on earnings above 6,240. Polling from the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement has found that over two in five business leaders believe minimum AE contribution levels should increase, with strong support for a gradual approach to reform through a phased timetable. This proposal is more popular among larger and medium-sized employers, with 54% of businesses with more than 250 employees and 50% of employers with between 50 and 249 staff backing an increase. Stuart Price added: Auto-enrolment is one of the most effective formats implemented within the pension industry. Younger workers, combined with education and support from their employers, can form a solid foundation of saving for retirement as soon as they start their working lives. Once the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No.2) Bill is officially implemented, employees from the age of 18 will also benefit greatly. The current minimum total contribution of 8% of a salary is realistically not enough to provide recipients with a comfortable retirement, so we welcome the interest from business leaders to increase the minimum contribution levels from all employers. This could be actioned, in a phased approach as was done upon the introduction of AE, but small businesses which make up the majority of private sector businesses in the UK and who generally currently pay the minimum amount could potentially struggle, having to make sacrifices elsewhere to support their employees in this way. However, in my view this is a sacrifice worth implementing as if people do not start saving more for their retirement then as a nation we are going to have a huge problem with people not being able to afford to retire until much later in life or not even at all!
It is fantastic to see such a broad range and wealth of talent from across all our business moving into leadership this year. Their expertise is what allows us to keep being successful, evolving, growing and diversifying in a way that matters to the clients and communities we serve. The 19 new partners are: Anais Caldwell  Jones | Investment: Anais joined LCP in 2015. In addition to advising clients, Anais is a senior member of the macroeconomic research team, helping to develop LCPs latest asset views and produce insights for clients. Ivan Buzulutsky | Investment: Ivan joined LCP in 2020 and leads the Asset Modelling Team. Ivan and his team deliver bespoke modelling solutions and support for a range of clients and projects. Jacob Stevens | Investment: Jacob joined the investment team in 2014. He leads advice on a number of UK DB pension schemes and is head of LCP's investment grade fixed income research team. Jenny Harbord | Investment: Jenny joined LCP in 2024 as Head of Real Assets. She has over 25 years of investment experience, including consultancy and direct experience at property and infrastructure companies. Jenny was previously the fund manager for Lendleases flagship UK property vehicle and has a wide range of experience in creating capital solutions across the risk spectrum for private markets. Dan Marston | Pensions Actuarial: Dan joined LCP in 2013 and provides actuarial advice and DB pensions consulting to trustees. His expertise includes the new DB Funding Code, and he has advised many of LCPs first valuation submissions under the new regime. Gavin Smith | Pension Risk Transfer: Gavin joined LCP in 2025 from Legal & General. Gavin has worked with a range of our DB clients to support them in considering the full suite of potential endgame options. He has also worked with a number of clients as they approach a transaction with insurers, using his experience to maximise insurer engagement. Caroline Pearson | Pensions Actuarial: Caroline joined LCP in 2023 with a background in actuarial consulting. She now focuses exclusively on post-transaction projects, with a particular emphasis on troubleshooting stalled cases and getting complex projects back on track. Rosie Hadden | Pensions Actuarial: Rosie joined LCP in 2021 and has more than 10 years experience providing actuarial advice to DB pension schemes. Rosie splits her time between trustee advice, pensions risk transfer work and GMP equalisation projects. Ruth Ward | Pension Risk Transfer: Ruth joined LCP in 2023 and advises trustees and corporate sponsors of UK DB pension schemes on their Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) strategies, helping them identify their preferred endgames, prepare well to maximise insurer engagement, and execute successful transactions that deliver on their core objectives. Shes a lead author of LCPs flagship PRT report. Sarah Gunn | Pension Risk Transfer: Sarah joined LCP in 2012 and, after a period away, rejoined in 2024. She now focuses on PRT work and leading key strategic relationships as the Professional Trustee Engagement Lead for the PRT team. Stefan Kemp | Pensions Actuarial: Stefan joined LCP in 2015. He advises trustees on all aspects of their scheme's journey, all the way through to the finish line. Hes an author of LCPs flagship DB Pensions Priorities report, and also has a role on the contingent funding group. Katherine Davidge | Risk & Compliance: Katherine joined LCP from Deloitte in 2024 as Chief Risk & Compliance Officer. Katherine spent over 20 years working at various consulting firms assisting clients with risk and compliance matters, and she has also worked for the FCA in both supervisory and policy roles. Kevin Patterson | LCP Health: Kevin joined LCP in 2025 and co-leads the US Market for LCP Health and has more than 30 years of experience in strategic consulting and industry innovation. As a founding partner of Medical Marketing Economics, LLC (MME), he served as the head of the Oncology Division and Administrative Partner. He specialises in strategic consulting, focusing extensively on value-based decision-making, pricing and reimbursement strategies, launch prioritisation by indication and country, and market access optimisation. Lee Ann Steadman | LCP Health: Lee Ann joined LCP in 2025 and co-leads the US Market for LCP Health. She brings an extensive background in patient services and trade and channel, with experience supporting access, affordability, and evidence driven decision making across the healthcare ecosystem. Olivia Krusel | Central management: Olivia joined LCP in 2023, after working in management consulting and strategy roles across Canada and America. Olivia works with multiple departments across LCP to identify and assess growth opportunities. Stephen Harkin | LCP Delta: Stephen joined the business 18 years ago and leads the Demand Side practice within LCP Delta. Hes responsible for key client relationships across the European energy sector, advising energy retailers, investors, manufacturers, and network operators on growth strategy and proposition development in the rapidly evolving energy landscape. John Murray | LCP Delta: John leads the EV Team within LCP Delta and joined the business in 2012. He focuses on supporting clients in navigating the fast-evolving EV charging landscape. He has supported over 75 clients  including vehicle manufacturers, energy companies, investors and policy makers  through the provision of market insights, projections, advice and opinion. Tom Veli | LCP Delta: Tom leads LCP Deltas Energy Networks team, working with energy networks, policymakers and the regulator on the transition to a low-carbon energy system. His work focuses on strategy, regulation, designing and delivering innovation, and helping clients navigate change across the sector. He is particularly interested in how net zero is reshaping energy networks and what this means for planning, investment and delivery. Rachel Crowther | DC Consulting: Rachel joined LCP in 2013 and heads up the DC Corporate strategy. She provides governance advice to DC corporate clients, helping with their DC strategy, plus reviewing pension providers to ensure the best possible terms are achieved. She co-leads the master trust research, meeting providers to understand evolving propositions that feed into our research and advice.
It happened so fast, both of us are like holy shit and slammed on the brakesas close as Ive ever seen Frontier pilot tells LAX controllers late Wednesday. He reported 2 trucks essentially cut off the A321 heading to Atlanta on a taxiway.

FAA is investigating.

Listen  pic.twitter.com/yE6xGyCsrK  Kris Van Cleave (@krisvancleave) April 10, 2026 Flug F9-3216,  XSL

 aero.de | 10.04.2026 10:18

LOS ANGELES - In New York LaGuardia kollidiert eine CRJ-900 nach der Landung mit einem Einsatzfahrzeug der Feuerwehr, beide Piloten sterben. Die US-Luftfahrtbehorde FAA untersucht jetzt einen weiteren Zwischenfall - in Los Angeles."Ground, habt ihr das mitbekommen - wir wurden gerade von zwei Trucks geschnitten und mussten eine Vollbremsung machen."Ein Airbus A321neo - Frontier Airlines 3216 auf dem Weg zum Start nach Atlanta - ist am Donnerstag einer Kollision mit Fahrzeugen auf einem Taxiway am Flughafen Los Angeles gerade noch entgangen."Das war extrem knapp (...), wir haben die Flugbegleiter gefragt, ob hinten alles ok ist", melden die Piloten kurz nach dem Zwischenfall.Die Szene soll sich im Kreuzungbereich der Taxiways Kilo und Bravo abgespielt haben. Die US-Luftfahrtbehorde FAA hat Ermittlungen aufnommen.
Wayne Allyn Root  businessman and ebullient, unapologetic conservative  wrote something the other day that caught my eye. Over an article about The Great American National Divorce, his headline blared: Escape of the White People. Describing the exodus of New Yorkers to Florida and Californians to Nevada, Root noted that interstate migration across America is speeding up. Why? Because Americans who are not die-hard leftists can no longer live with radical, extreme, self-destructive, communist SUICIDE BOMBERS.

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As Root repeatedly points out, Democrat-run states are destroying themselves. By electing evil, communist madmen like LA Mayor Karen Bass, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Democrats have ensured that their cities will soon collapse and drown in a sea of crime and debt. For decades, Root argues, white Americans have left Democrat-controlled cities primarily to avoid rising crime and crippling taxes. Now they are leaving because Democrats have put targets on their backs.

White Americans, Root writes, are sick of being the target of Democrats and government; theyre sick of being attacked and demonized; theyre sick of being a piggy bank to pay for everyone elses bills  in particular, the costs for welfare, food stamps, housing, public schools, healthcare, police, courts, and prison bills for millions of illegal aliens. They are sick of absurdly high taxes; Democrats woke culture; and Democrats insistence on welcoming and subsidizing every transgender weirdo, every illegal alien criminal, and every radical Muslim who hates America, Jews, and Christians. They are sick of Democrats overt discrimination against white Americans; the massive crime wave; defunded and demoralized police; dumbed-down schools that brainwash your children to change their genders; drug dealers on every corner; homeless tents, pee, poo, and drug needles on sidewalks; and cities that look like 3rd-world s-holes. White Americans, Root concludes, have been pushed too far.

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As if to prove Roots thesis correct with several exclamation points, NYC mayor Mamdani just unveiled a new racial equity plan to solve decades of neglect and discrimination. Mamdani claims that his administration must take money from white people and hand it to non-white people in order to make up for centuries of disinvestment in black and brown New Yorkers. The mayors Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Office of Equity and Racial Justice  a Ugandan-born, Indian-descent radical socialist named Afua Atta-Mensah  promises to confront institutional and systemic racism within our city and to begin the work of dismantling it. So a couple of foreigners have taken over New York City, call it our city, and are now robbing white Americans because of the color of their skin. Theyre proving Wayne Root right in real time.

Lest any readers mistake Roots analysis as an intentionally dreary diagnosis permitting him the opportunity to propose a future cure, he has no good news to report. He says the national divorce has arrived. White people who dont enjoy being victimized must escape Democrat-run hellholes before its too late. For Democrat states, the end is near. The collapse will be fast and ugly. Get out now, while you still can. Root is willing to say out loud what others will only whisper.

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For Americans over the age of forty, this racial balkanization within the United States is particularly tragic to witness. Despite stubbornly persistent civil divisions, the post-WWII decades brought white and black Americans steadily together. Even after race-motivated murders repeatedly threatened to tear the country apart, the better angels of our nature somehow managed to carry us to better days. Several generations of Americans took Martin Luther King, Jr.s exhortation to heart, when he dreamed that his four little children would one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. So many white and black Americans have held those words dear.

Nearly sixty years after MLKs assassination, though, were right back to judging Americans by their skin color. For millions of Americans who have watched old racial wounds steadily heal from one decade to the next, it is heart-wrenching to see Democrat political leaders dividing white, black, and brown people into equity pots deserving of disparate treatment. Voters who constitute the Democrat party have preferred to call themselves progressives for most of the last century, but there is nothing progressive about dragging the country back to a time when skin color mattered more than anything else. It is particularly galling that foreigners such as Mamdani and his Chief Equity Officer  who despise Americas rich heritage and history  are in positions of power from which they can ignore Americas great triumphs while exploiting past injuries to divide and conquer Americans today.

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Weve heard the Democrats drumbeat of division for so many years now. In the late 90s, it seemed as if affirmative action programs and other unconstitutional race-based preference systems in the United States would finally come to an end. Although white Americans had tolerated these discriminatory programs for several decades as grudging recompense for the perceived harms endured by previous generations or abiding deference to MLK and his dream, the discordance of fighting discrimination by embracing discrimination appeared inherently and irrevocably unjust.

Instead of allowing the nation to fully heal by recognizing the election of President Obama as the culmination of centuries of real progress for Americans of every race, the Democrats redefined their brand of progressivism to require only more kinds of racial preferences and new kinds of discriminatory quotas. The systemic racism of affirmative action programs morphed into the systemic racism of diversity, inclusion, and equity programs. As Democrats found overt examples of racism more difficult to identify, they conjured out of thin air the new hobgoblin of white supremacy. Democrats refused to discard the discriminatory mindset of judging children by the color of their skin; in the name of progressivism, they still insist that a persons skin color determines everything.

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Democrat mayors, governors, and presidential hopefuls now explicitly tell us that they will never stop taking from white people in the name of false justice. They will never stop dividing Americans by skin color. They will never just treat all of us as unhyphenated Americans, as the late, great Lloyd Marcus used to call himself.

Marcus believed that we are ALL Americans and therefore do not need racial modifiers to define us. Is there racism in America? Lloyd rhetorically asked. Absolutely, along with every other sin in the heart of man! Is there enough racism to stop anyone from achieving the American Dream? Absolutely not! America is the greatest land of opportunity on the planet.

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If only the Democrat party would stand for that!

If only the next generation of Democrats werent so committed to defining American children by the color of their skin. If only those foreigners who have been lucky enough to become naturalized American citizens showed more respect for our country, its history, its achievements, and our peoples perseverance. If only Democrats could progress beyond the worst racial impulses of the past. Americans should dream, work, and pray for that.

Image: tomaszmichalkania via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Emily in Paris has been renewed for a sixth season.

Lily Collins will return for season six

The hit Netflix show - which stars Lily Collins as American marketing executive Emily Cooper - will head to Greece and Monaco for season six.

Looking forward to the new season, a post on Tudum reads: "Emily in Paris Season 5 culminates in a trip to Venice for Marcellos solo design debut. The fashion show goes so well that hes embraced by his critical mother, Antonia (Anna Galiena), and offered complete control of his familys historic cashmere business. Marcello asks Emily to join him at Muratori, but she declines. Emily wants her bustling career in Paris  not a quiet life in Marcellos sleepy village of Solitano.

"Although Emily and Marcello break up (for a second time), Mindy is more committed than ever. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Nicolas de Leon (Paul Forman), proposes in Venice, and Mindy accepts. The only problem is, Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) has made his romantic intentions for Mindy very clear. Ever the straight shooter, Alfie tells Mindy her engagement is a 'big mistake'.

"In the Mediterranean, Emilys ex Gabriel puts another possible shake-up into motion. Faced with a few weeks of vacation in Greece  and armed with the news of Emilys latest split  Gabriel invites Emily to join him aboard his bosss yacht.

"Will Emily accept? Will she even get Gabriels postcard? And what new surprises will Paris hold?"

Meanwhile, Lily previously revealed that she sees similarities between her Emily in Paris character and her real-life self.

The actress told Marie Claire magazine: "I'm a constant optimist, I'm a go-getter. I'm super enthusiastic about my work and about my friendships. I'm solution-driven, I'm very much that kind of optimistic, inspirational attitude that Emily Cooper has.

"I think I learned quicker than Emily about asking for help from people, that it's okay to ask for help. It's a strength, not a weakness. It's okay not to be liked by everyone. I had that knowledge and experience prior to Emily, so it was interesting to see her learn that."
I just discovered a breathtaking example of leftist bias on Google. I usually consult Thesaurus in Google if I want alternative words. If I look up a phrase Im writing, lets say breathtaking corruption, I just Google it to find a better way of expressing a phrase. Under those circumstances, youd expect several examples of something comparable to incredible corruption. But would you expect nine paragraphs about a political figure?



Bear with me. I am rereading the book, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (1979) by Edmund Morris. Im halfway through the 800 page, Pulitzer Awarded masterpiece of writing. As Im reading, there is lot going on in current politics. Ive noticed many similarities between President Trump and the young Theodore Roosevelt, a man of means in no need of corruption to gain wealth, the changing times, and the normalized corruption in New York City in the 1890s. Election fraud was rampant. It was expected. The New York Police graft ran down to the beat cop and up to chief. Organized crime worked hand in glove with the notorious, powerful Tammany Hall and its Democrat election fraud machine, as well as acting as enforcers.



Well, the arrival of TR as a reformer and the outrage and disruption it caused reminded me of Trumps arrival and DOGE attacking government fraud and the resistance from Democrats to investigating government corruption and election fraud. The recently discovered Somalia fraud came to mind, along with the California fraud amounting to billions.



But I wasnt writing an essay, I was just looking for a better way to write in my notes breathtaking corruption. (I take notes while reading. Its a long-time practice of mine to remember what I read.) On my mind was what Theodore Roosevelt saw when he became New York Police Commissioner, and the normalization of the Democrat Tammany Hall political machine he encountered. I wasnt searching for a political answer to anything.



As I searched Google I was expecting a simple thesaurus-like list of such expressions as astounding fraud, incredible graft et.al. Expressions I could come up with.

I entered breathtaking corruption in Google. Can you guess what paragraphs were chosen to explain breathtaking corruption? There were nine paragraphs the subject of which was Donald J. Trump!

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I was simply looking for a new adjective for high corruption, not political commentary!

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If Google felt the need to expand, maybe the typical non-biased response might be: Al Capone and his mob engaged in breathtaking corruption in the city of Chicago.

But, Google, when I asked a non-political thesaurus alternative to breathtaking corruption not only politicized my search inquiry, but with no substantiation indicted President Trump. Here are the Google results for breathtaking corruption:



Recent, high-level political discourse and investigations have described current American political actions as a "breathtaking" level of corruption, frequently focusing on the intertwining of private business interests with government policy.



Key Aspects of Current Allegations (20252026)

* Foreign Influence and Financial Gain: Reports have highlighted massive investments from foreign entities into business ventures linked to the Trump family, including a reported $2 billion investment by UAE-linked firms and secret investments in a cryptocurrency venture involving the Trump family.

* "Monarch-Style" Governance: Observers have described actions, such as the direct involvement of donors in overseeing government departments, as a "hostile takeover" of the US government.

* Watchdog and Institutional Dismantling:Critics allege the systematic gutting of regulatory agenciessuch as the NLRB, CFPB, and OSHAto serve the business interests of political allies.

* Monetizing the Presidency: Allegations include charging taxpayers for security at private resorts and accepting foreign government payments, leading to accusations of a "non-stop corruption machine.

Contextual Definitions of Corruption

* Abuse of Power: Transparency International defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, which erodes democratic trust.

* "Access Money": Professor Yuen Yuen Ang identifies "access money" as a modern, institutionalized form of corruption, rather than just petty theft or bribery.

* Historical Parallels: Analysts have compared the current era to the Gilded Age, characterized by elite control of public resources and "honest graft," where politicians used insider information for personal profit.

It inferred unsubstantiated allegations, so much so that the indictment ended with:

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Note: The Trump administration has denied these allegations, with White House officials stating the president complies with conflict-of-interest laws and that accusations of profiteering are unfounded.

Such unwarranted political anti-Trump, leftist political bias in a search engine is more than troubling. Its dangerously misleading. This is evidence that leftist, Democrat influence permeates not just the well-documented public universities and mainstream media, but a computer program that young people use regularly for innocent research and inquiry.

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If Google preferred a current political spin on corruption, Joe and Hunter Biden are currently under investigation for corruption of the Burisma Holdings, a major Ukrainian natural gas producer. Also, consider the billions paid to Hunter Biden and the big man (Joe Biden) by China! Then theres the 2026 corruption of Somalians in Milwaukee, and the billions in government fraud in California.



This resembles a tactic used by Soviet-style communists. As a young person, I was curious about communism. Shared wealth sounds good to young minds. I believe the book was On Dialectical and Historical Materialism (1938) by Josef Stalin, found in my university research library. The Communist text never said the word bourgeoisie without the adjective, petty bourgeoisie. Even at the tender age of seventeen, I realized the book was guiding me to how I was supposed to feel about the bourgeoisie class. Theyre petty. It was my first exposure to surreptitious propaganda, propaganda that were not supposed to notice. It put me off communism right away. I only hope American teenagers notice the way I noticed the subtle political persuasion of the Left that demonstrably permeates all our institutions.



Leftist Google bias was not entirely unexpected, as I have found Wikipedia to be consistently biased on any and all major subjects, just a couple that bothered me recently include the pages lacking any criticism of Islam, the Quran, or anything Muslim; the excessive criticism of General Douglas MacArthurs Medal of Honor, a controversial general to be sure, but one who rightfully deserved that award due to countless instances of heroism; entries on Israel and Palestine are so left-wing as to suggest they were written by Al Jazeera.

Image: Google
History often appears to repeat itself. This is not due to some mysterious, unfathomable, force. Marxists have tended to personify what we call history as if it was some sort of mysterious deity which renders judgment, which only they comprehend because they are so intellectually superior to the rest of us. One hears this belief these days with the recurrence of Communists through the phrase of, Youre on the wrong side of history! directed at their opponents.

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Rather, this seeming repetition of history is due to something much simpler. It is due to the fact that human beings remain essentially the same down through the centuries, with the same general personality characteristics and motivations being evident, though certain individuals occasionally exhibit unusual personality traits which makes them stand out. This becomes very evident when similar societal events (national or international) emerge, decade after decade, century after century.

And things that appear baffling at this time seem that way only because history is not consulted. Not having a knowledge of past historical events results in committing the same blunders again and again, or if you will, reacting the same way again and again, whether it is doing or not doing something. This has been remarked by notable persons: Otto von Bismarck observed, What we learn from history is that no one learns from history. Likewise, Friedrich Hegel stated, The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.

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Let me give an example. It is in the nature of some persons to procrastinate in carrying out a painful task until the danger increases to the point of being overwhelming, even life-threatening, at which point there is a breakneck impulse to eliminate the threat, whereupon the effort may be futile. Thus, a person who is feeling unwell with recognizable symptoms may postpone going to the doctor, terrified, to get the anticipated diagnosis as long as possible. Persons with a cancer the size of a tomato in their body will finally seek a doctors help to remove it at the stage when the prognosis is bad, whereas if they had gone to the doctor when the cancer was the size of a pinpoint it would have been removed with as little effort as trimming a fingernail. These persons prefer to stick their heads in the sand while other individuals prefer to confront the imminent threat; it depends on the different personalities of different people.

On a broader scale, we saw it in the 1930s, when removing Hitler would have been much easier than it was the following decade; yes, starting a war in the 1930s would have been terrible, but not nearly as destructive and deadly as it became a few years later. We see it today, when many are bemoaning Americas bombardment of the theocratic regime in Iran, which is hellbent on acquiring a nuclear bomb as being unnecessary. If left unmolested and the fanatics achieve putting together atomic bombs and nuking its Sunni neighbors, Europe, or Israel, then those same naysayers would be screaming why was it not done earlier. Likewise, it appears at the present time that the earth is going through one of its periodic droughts which would result in famine. Yet, no one in North America has thought of building canals from the inexhaustible Great Lakes (as was done in Sumer and the Roman Republic) to the Midwest and elsewhere, or desalination plants in other countries.

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Another example. If one reads Plutarch, in ancient Greece and Rome we encounter on the one hand, arrogance, lawbreaking, and corruption in the ruling class. On the other hand, we see envy, coveting, and resentment on the part of the subjects. We see the same pattern today.

Another example. Western Europe and North America are presently in the throes of a totalitarian movement whose goal is to destroy civilization, not to supplant it with something better, but just to destroy it, and the movement needs to be forcefully stamped out. It would surprise Americans, Canadians, and Brits to know that Russia went through the very same phase prior to the Communist takeover, the culprits being nihilists who, among other things, proclaimed that a pair of boots was more important than a painting by Raphael. In America, we have seen the overturning of statues, the decolonizing of art, history, film, and literature, as well as the condemnation of everything in society, from mathematics to traffic lights, as being racist.

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In the UK, Canada, and the USA, there is censorship by these same liberals/nihilists of saying anything derogatory, either in humor or in earnest, about homosexuals, transgenders, feminists, black criminals or Muslim savages, with the following command that we must be tolerant, that being intolerant is evil. This dogma would have sounded familiar to Dostoyevsky, who remarked, Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles.

Let me use another, apolitical, example. The Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, studied numerous cultures, both past and present. He found that there were a number of very simple, yet very potent, inherent concepts buried in the unconscious of human beings (the collective unconscious), which he named archetypes. These archetypes tend to manifest themselves in the same manner though differing in minor details, but to which people react to in a predictable manner. Along the same lines, Camille Paglia has done an exhaustive study of popular culture; she connects trivial items of popular culture as being an extension of previous high culture, the latter as precursors of present-day popular events, though I admit there are times the connection seems tenuous. The point here is that, if a person is not self-aware, he will react in a predictable manner (which brings up the question of free will, but thats a whole different debate).

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In short, similar circumstances decades or centuries apart tend to evoke similar behavior both in highly placed persons and regular citizens because of human nature (i.e., personality), and, because, they think the events are unique. This cycle can be disrupted if those persons are aware of the fact, and, of the past. Or, to use George Santayanas famous Cassandra phrase, Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Armando Simon is a retired psychologist and historian, author of Very Peculiar Stories and The Transgender Cult: Psychology, Politics, Religion and the Media.

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Image generated by ChatGPT.
The war is not over by a long shot, but theres a window open to a resolution. President Trumps temporary truce with Iran is only the next stage in what promises to be a high-risk, high-reward endeavor if a final agreement is to be reached. Many readers historically dont pay enough attention to the dynamics unfolding in Iran, Israel, and the Middle East. Those who dont, for reasons of either disinterest or because they dont believe there is a long-term solution, are witnessing a pivotal moment for all Americans. President Trump, the last President many thought would engage in a major war, had his hand forced.

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This is not a skirmish; this is a war with major geopolitical consequences that has the power to set America on a course for continued prosperity across multiple domains or, if we fail to thread the needle, to close off vital interests and advantage our enemies for the foreseeable future.

Iran is at a fork in the road, and Donald Trump is the one who put it there. Even as late as last week, Iran had no intention of negotiating with us. What changed was a recognition of Donald Trumps force of will and that Irans strategy of deceit, drawing negotiations out, and most importantly, waiting us out, allowing Americas internal and external naysayers to do their dastardly work of undermining Americas will to prosecute the war to completion, is not working fast enough. Irans leaders believed Trumps pronouncement that he would end their society in a lightning-fast four hours of utter destruction. We could do that.

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Trumps dilemma is that the best minds all agree that after killing at least 40,000 of their own people in the February uprising, the people may not have either the appetite (or the ability) to overthrow the IRGC, which today is the real power, not the theocracy at this moment. If we make a deal, its up to the IRGC to decide to take it, not the clerics, though some may dispute me on this.

Currently, the sticking point is that both sides define victory differently. You can pick any number of Democrat doomscrollers in and out of office who will tell you that Iran is winning, not us. Theyre wrong, but there is nuance here: President Trump fell through the rabbit hole, and, frankly, others did as well. The central failure is that the two sides define victory differently. For us, we think of victory as wellas President Trump expressedsurrender. But for Iran, victory means survival. Everything Iran does reflects that reality.

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Irans original, pre-war goal centered on nuclear weapons that would checkmate the West and make Iran the only hegemonic power in the Middle East. In essence, they wanted to be like North Korea and dare the West (or the Sunnis, for that matter) to screw with them. They believe, likely rightly, that the Americans and Europe will not challenge a nuclear-armed Iran, especially once Iran had mastered miniaturizing a nuclear weapon and put it on a missile that could reach Europe and eventually the U.S.

We have stopped that ambition cold, and the Iranians know it. Trump will be remembered for all time as having acted before it was too late. That should get his likeness plastered on his own mountain, not just added to Mt. Rushmore. Americans underestimate why we needed to act when we did and what it will mean to them for generations to come.

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One month of fighting is nothing in the history of U.S. warfare. Other conflicts have been measured in years, not weeks. This conflict may not be over, but its closer to the end than the beginning because the rules of engagement for our side are vastly different this time, and were dealing with an enemy with vulnerabilities that a bunch of tribal or even semi-modern warlords cant match. The big deciding difference is money!

Iran would be of little importance and would not have the ability to threaten, except that it has oil and the money that gives it the power to cause mischief. Even the Strait of Hormuz would not be an issue if Iran were powerless to buy the armaments that threaten passage goers. Cut the money off, and Iran dies.

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Estimates suggest that Iran could keep essential services running, pay salaries, and purchase essential imports for at best, three to six months with cash on hand. After that, the country begins to devolve quickly without reliable, massive oil revenue.

One other factor, in combination with not letting Iran sell oil, is that the U.S. and Israel could drop their electric grid overnight, and the Iranians know this, too. The combination of those two factors would trigger a rapid decline in civil and military authority, leading to almost certain regime change. So, why dont we do it?

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We dont know who will become Irans next leader.

A short-term consequence would be extremely high oil costs that could trigger a recession in the West and put Democrats in office.

There is a lack of consensus that Iran is the existential threat to civilization that it is in Washington.

The cost in human suffering for Iranians would be too high

Lack of will

The nature of war has changed for the West. If you look at Europe, theyve convinced themselves that war is passe and have therefore stripped their collective militaries of the ability to wage war in favor of social benefits. Putins expansionist moves in Ukraine have challenged that belief. Yet Europe has not put itself on a war footing; instead, it has decided to pull out its checkbook rather than mobilize.

You can point to various efforts to increase readiness, but its not nearly serious enough. All the proof you need is to view how Europe treated America in our current fight with Iran. Europe acted as if it had a choice on who and how to support Israel and America. They chose wrong. I expect that the folly of their actions will result in several European leaders being shown the door as the reality of their position becomes obvious to all.

Iran has not surrendered and wont surrender in the traditional sense. They believe that their defense in depth (tunnels, redoubts, defense industrial base, etc.), alongside their willingness to accept catastrophic losses that the West wont accept, will see them outlast the forces arrayed against them.

We must take away their belief system that undergirds all other strategic and theocratic doctrine. Send them back to the Stone Age if necessary (it likely will) and give Iran the chance to reconstitute itself as a nation of industrious, storied people who can join the ranks of other good nations.

The essential nature of war has not changed. You must destroy the will of your opponent, or they will break yours.

God Bless America!

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Author, Businessman, Thinker, and Strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow.
As the political chasm in America widens and deepens, Democrat professionals are weaponizing care and service. Chefs, nurses, and physicians are allowing partisan rage to eclipse basic human ethics and decency. This is more than just venting on social media  it imperils the fragile trust that underpins society and can pose real threats to health and safety. Three recent cases expose this danger, while suggesting an even stealthier threat from those who keep their biases private.

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Consider Veronica Kapralov, a California transplant now cooking at Lessings Pelican Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. She recently posted a video explicitly calling for the assassination of President Trump. Conservative social media users quickly shared the footage, sparking outrage and boycott calls. Commenters warned that a chef harboring such hatred might not hesitate to tamper with meals served to perceived political opponents. The episode fueled resentment among Floridians toward out-of-state arrivals who bring their coastal extremism into service roles. A single unhinged post turned a routine dining experience into a potential vector for harm.

Health care settings reveal an even more intimate betrayal. Again in Florida, registered nurse Erik Martindale posted on Facebook that he would forbid anesthesia to MAGA patients. He voluntarily surrendered his nursing license after the post went viral rather than face discipline. A separate Florida labor and delivery nurse was fired after posting a grotesque video wishing physical harm on a Trump administration official during childbirth. These episodes signal a willingness to weaponize clinical authority. Health care workers screening for political affiliation before administering care injects loyalty tests into doctors offices.

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Across the country, pediatrician Christina Propst in Houston demonstrated how ideology can poison compassion during tragedy. Amid catastrophic floods in Kerr County that killed over 100 people  including dozens of children  she publicly suggested that MAGA voters got what they voted for. Her employer terminated her, and the Texas Medical Board launched an investigation. Its astonishing and terrifying that a doctor who treats children has implied that some deserved suffering based on their parents politics. This is who the left has become.

These documented cases may represent the tip of the iceberg. Far greater danger lurks among those whose contempt remains unspoken. A silent anesthesiologist who subtly adjusts dosages for the wrong patients, a mechanic who accidentally leaves a critical bolt loose on a conservative customers vehicle, or a chef who undercooks or otherwise tampers with food for known Republicans  these actors evade detection. Without public statements, no viral outrage or license review occurs. Patients, clients, and customers suffer in ways that are impossible to prove: slower recovery, unexplained mechanical failures, or a sudden case of food poisoning. Covert bias is harder to police precisely because it masquerades as clinical judgment or professional discretion, eroding trust more insidiously than any tweet.

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Restoring ethics demands zero tolerance for overt violations and proactive safeguards against hidden ones: mandatory ethics training that treats political neutrality as a core competency, anonymous reporting systems for patients and clients, and swift professional reviews when ideology surfaces.

Society cannot afford professionals who view half the population as unworthy of competent service. When the person holding the scalpel, the spatula, or the wrench sees you first as a voter rather than a human being, basic decency dies.

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There is a frightening similarity between the mindset of the mullahs in refusing to accept an unconditional surrender to end the war in Iran and the mindset of the Japanese leadership also unwilling to initially accept such a surrender towards World War IIs end.

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Unbeknownst to the Japanese, the U.S. had developed a never-before used weaponthe atomic bombas we knew enemy incalcitrance might well leave us with no other option than to launch a costly invasionin terms of American livesof the islands. Fortunately for us, however, the shock of dropping two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6, 1945 and August 9 respectively and the horrific devastation left by a technology Japan had never seen before was sufficient to force Tokyo to capitulate, accepting an unconditional surrender.

But this raises a question as to what may currently be needed and available to similarly convince the mullahs any continuing resistance by them is senseless. Is there any new technology of which the U.S. may now be in possession that can be held over the mullahs heads to show them they are playing with fire? The answer is twofold: yes to the first and maybe to a second, with neither technology involving a nuclear capability.

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One has already been battle-tested earlier this year. It was used on January 3, 2026, enabling a relatively small U.S. force to access a very secure base in Venezuela, plucking its president out from among a cast of thousands of defenders who were protecting him, and transporting him to the U.S. to stand trial for drug-related charges. What incredible technology allowed this to happen?

While bits and pieces of the technology used in Venezuela have been sharedmostly by those who were exposedit is described as a secret sonic or directed-energy weapon. Those who were impacted claimed it resulted in their immediate immobilization. Symptoms included bleeding from the nose, experiencing intense sound waves as if ones head was exploding from within, vomiting blood, and creating a loss of ones ability to stand. It also had the additional capability to render radar systems and missile equipment inoperable. President Donald Trump says it is an advanced weapon that nobody else has.

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Experts suggest that, while Trump may claim it is a new weapon, it sounds similar to existing weaponry such as high-output Acoustic Hailing Devices (LRD); however, its reported severity is nothing near as impactful as what was used in Venezuela. Nonetheless, introducing such technology into Iran might well get the mullahs to toe the line.

There is another technology about which the exact status of its development remains unknown. However, if it does exist, as some claim, it would definitely be a game-changer in Iran.

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Vice President JD Vance, referencing our weapons capability, announced we have tools in our toolbox that no one has ever seen before. And, he makes it clear, President Donald Trump is prepared to use these weapons. Unlike the nuclear weaponry introduced firsthand to Japan at the end of World War II, this weapons technologywhile just as devastatingis non-nuclear.

Whether theoretical or a reality, could this weapons system be what is known as Rods from God, which is a kinetic bombardment weapon system that was actually first conceived during the Cold War? It involves launching dense tungsten rods from an orbiting satellite to strike targets on Earth at hypersonic speeds. In so doing, it causes massive destruction created by means of kinetic energy rather than by explosives.

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A gun system using this same kinetic energy conceptknown as the railgunalready exists. Accordingly, the Rods from God technology may not be a pipe dream. And, for all we know, there may be even more tools available inside the U.S. tool box.

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In the wake of President Trumps decisive second-term victory, the Democrat party finds itself in full retreat mode. The old playbook, full of shoving Woke extremism, drag queen story hours, and open borders down Americas throat  backfired spectacularly. So now theyre trying a new tactic: pretending to be one of us. No more rainbow flags and defund the police chants in public. Instead, theyre courting centrists, independents, and  most brazenly  the very heart of the MAGA base: churchgoing white Christians, Baptists, Evangelicals, and everyday folks who still believe in the God of the Bible.

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Nowhere is this deception more obvious than in the 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race. Texas hasnt sent a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, yet the party is all-in on James Talarico, their freshly minted nominee for the Class II seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn. Talarico, a 36-year-old state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, is being sold as a man of deep faith  a Lord-begging, Scripture-quoting Texan who supposedly shares the values of Sunday-morning pew-sitters across the Lone Star State. Dont buy it. This is classic wolf-in-sheeps-clothing territory, straight out of Matthew 7:15.

Talarico doesnt hide his church membership. Hes been at St. Andrews Presbyterian in Austin since he was a toddler, and he frames every policy through a distorted Christian lens. Love thy neighbor becomes his justification for open borders and taxpayer-funded abortion. He preaches that Jesus was a feminist and twists the Annunciation story to claim Marys consent somehow endorses abortion rights. Hes called God non-binary, insisted trans kids are Gods children, and defended access to abortion for transgender minors. His home church flies rainbow flags, pushes reproductive justice, and has a long track record of ordaining gay clergy and sheltering illegal immigrants.

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This is not the Christianity that built Texas or America. Baptists and Evangelicals  the most populous faith groups in the country  overwhelmingly reject these positions. They believe life begins at conception, marriage is between one man and one woman, and biological sex is not a social construct. Talaricos brand of faith is mainline Presbyterian progressivism: heavy on social justice rhetoric, light on actual biblical orthodoxy. He rails against Christian nationalism while hijacking Jesuss words to bless every item on the Democrat wish list  from gender ideology to wealth redistribution.

The broader Democrat strategy is clear. After years of alienating religious voters, party operatives have decided to faith-wash their agenda. Theyre flooding church-adjacent spaces with talk of compassion and neighborly love while quietly advancing policies that shred the family, redefine human dignity, and mock traditional morality. In Texas, this isnt subtle. Talaricos viral clips quote Scripture to defend LGBTQ+ causes and abortion access  exactly the issues ordinary believers see as direct assaults on Gods design. Its lip service wrapped in a seminarians collar.

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Make no mistake: this is a trap. Democrats arent converting to traditional values  theyre co-opting the language of faith to peel off just enough church voters to flip a red state purple. They know Texas remains a GOP stronghold. They know the Christian base decides elections here. So theyre donning the sheeps clothing, hoping believers wont notice the ravenous policy wolf underneath.

Texas Christians have seen this movie before. Progressive faith leaders have spent decades whitewashing tombs  beautiful on the outside, full of dead mens bones inside (Matthew 23:27). Talaricos campaign is the latest chapter: a Trojan horse rolled straight into the sanctuary, promising higher values while delivering the same radical agenda that lost them the White House.

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The 2026 Senate race is still months away, but the warning lights are flashing. Real faith doesnt bend Scripture to fit the latest Woke fad. Real American Christian heritage  forged by Baptists, Evangelicals, and generations of believers  defends life, family, and liberty without apology. Dont let the Democrats new church tour fool you. They arent coming to pray with you. Theyre coming to convert you  to their side.

Texas voters, keep your eyes open. The wolves are in the flock, and theyre wearing clerical collars this time.

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Mike Robertson is a contributor to American Thinker. Follow him on X at @Mike_for_MAGA and Reddit.

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When three separate people send you something political, you know its struck a nerve. Thats the case with a video from GB News, in which Alex Armstrong gives a five-minute statement about how Donald Trump, facing an ungrateful world, is ending the Pax Americana and opting for a Fortress America mode of politics.

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As far as hes concerned, the US is reshaping the global world order, and its going to be an order that is bad for Europe and China, and very good for America. In one blow, hes destroying an imminently existential threat in the form of a nuclear Iran, while severely weakening two geopolitical enemies: China and an increasingly Islamic Europe. And as Armstrong realizes, the UK is definitely in the crosshairs.

Although the video was recorded before the current ceasefire, the points Armstrong makes remain completely relevant, given that Iran immediately violated it. As Pete Hegseth said, Trump is aiming for a Greater North America, one that puts American interests first, rather than a self-sacrificing America putting its interests behind those of the rest of the world.

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Heres how Armstrong sees that map:

By essentially controlling Venezuelan and Iranian oil that once flowed to China, even as hes levying tariffs on China, which has always relied heavily on the American marketplace, Trump has given himself the upper hand in any negotiations with that dangerously rising nation.

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You can make exactly the same case for what Trump has done with Europe, which cant buy Russian oil, doesnt have access to Gulf Oil, and, in the case of Britain, has sacrificed its own oil production. America, an oil-exporting country, will suddenly become very important to Europe.

And dont believe that Trump has forgotten Greenland. What he envisions, and what Pete Hegseth is working on with him, is that Greater North America, one that stretches from Greenland to the Panama Canal. (And dont forget that Marco Rubio managed to kick China out of the all-important Panama Canal. And no, Ill never forgive Jimmy Carter for giving it away.)

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Finally, the special relationship with Britain is over, and thats what concerns Armstrong, who contends that Britain is staring down the barrel of a dark age we haven't seen for over a thousand years. Britain, along with most of Europe, refused to answer the call when Trump asked for help. Says Armstrong,

Trump can now point to our allies and say, You all let us down. And in his own words, as he said, We won't forget it. Advertisement It is the perfect reason for America to withdraw from the global stage. So, no more global policing, no more endless foreign commitments, just a fortified, resource-rich power base that others have no choice but to rely on.

The consequences for Britain will be especially catastrophic. In pursuit of Net Zero, it stopped its North Sea oil flow, it imports 60% of its food, it let its major industries die, and its military is dysfunctional. Meanwhile, its fractured politically, and even culturally, we are crumbling at the seams, dominated by global political issues, like climate fanaticism, and movements like BLM that frankly have nothing to do with the state of play in Britain.

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No wonder then that, with Starmer having destroyed the relationship, Armstrong ends the monologue as he began it: Unless we act quickly and decisively, Britain risks entering a dark age as America retreats, one that we haven't seen for over a thousand years.

Britain risks entering a dark age as America retreats, one we havent seen for over a thousand years.@Alexarmstrong warns that Britain is dangerously exposed by not being part of US President Donald Trumps plans, emphasising the growing global dependence on the US. pic.twitter.com/GUG17PvVRX  GB News (@GBNEWS) April 5, 2026

Header image: X screen grab.
Leave it to Charles Dickens to describe the state of the UK Navy: Dead as a door nail. Thats about it.

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UK PM Starmer is going through difficult times. They call him an utter disgrace because some of his constituents arent happy with his response to the Iran War:

Keir Starmer was torn apart by a former advisor to NATO, who condemned his recent actions regarding the conflict in the Middle East. Gwythian Prins, also a former adviser to NATO, the UN, and British Chiefs of the Defence Staff, called out the prime minister for destroying the UKs relationship with the US, going as far to describe his behaviour as traitorous in a furious rant. Advertisement

The criticism is fair and NATO may not survive. The state of the UK Navy is more permanent and nothing to cheer about. In other words, the once mighty UK Navy is now nothing but a small collection of ships, and there is nothing royal about it. Lets check this out:

2026 has been a horrible year for Britains Royal Navy, whose strength has now  depending on how it is calculated  fallen to historic lows. Advertisement The issue has caused a serious political flare-up after it emerged that the navy could not send an advanced destroyer for the defense of Cyprus after a UK air base came under drone attack on March 2. HMS Dragon finally sailed on March 10, some days after an 11-ship French fleet headed for the Mediterranean. Commentators declared a national scandal. Many say the Royal Navy has been found wanting. The new First Sea Lord, Royal Marine General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, has staked his reputation on regenerating a capability to meet its NATO commitments in the North Atlantic by 2029, but this has involved cutting back the navys capability for global operations, only to be exposed by a crisis in the Mediterranean and Gulf. Advertisement Right now, the Royal Navy fleet looks like a construction site. All of the major classes of warships and support ships, without exception, are in various states of retirement, repair, construction, training, or crew regeneration. Some relatively new ships are tied up alongside but uncrewed as they await sufficient trained manpower and funding to be used operationally. Its thought that of the force of just 13 destroyers and frigates, only around four are at sea. Its the same story with attack submarines, where only one of the five vessels is known to be operational.

Only 5 vessels are known to be operational? Is Argentina thinking about going after Las Malvinas? I mean The Falklands, or that island way down there that the UK fought for in 1982. Could they do that today? I dont think so. Could PM Starmer count on President Trump, like PM Thatcher counted on President Reagan? I dont think so. We had a different relationship back then because the UK was also a different country, i.e. it was more British, as I heard a visitor say!

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So how does this happen? How does a naval power destroy itself like this? I dont know for sure, but relying on the U.S. for your defense is my explanation for this sad state of affairs. You let defense budgets plummet, offer generous benefits, and stop projecting maritime power, and the UK Navy is suddenly a joke.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

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As is so often the case, the greatest threat to any institution comes from within. Currently, a Groyper movementthat is, a movement built on mindless isolationism, hardcore antisemitism, coy pro-Naziism and Islamism, huge pockets of misogyny, and a barely hidden dislike for Americais trying to co-opt MAGA and the Republican Party. Its leaders are podcast hosts Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, all of whom once claimed to be straight-talking conservatives. Now, they just engage in crazy talk.

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Trump tried to ignore them, but he seems to have realized that the GOP risks going down the same path as the Democrat party. The Democrats could have rejected its fringe, a crazed Marxist, anti-American, heterophobic, anti-Christian, antisemitic, racially obsessed group. Instead, it embraced it. Crazed radicals are now at the heart of the party. Although dressed in more subdued clothes and toning down the worst rhetoric, people like Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Gavin Newsom are now top presidential contenders for the Democrat partyand each of them espouses what were once fringe ideas.

Trump, however, is determined not to go down that path. As long as hes in charge, the Groyper fringe is going to remain on the fringe. He will defend his MAGA movement, one based on core American values, to his last breath.

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To that end, yesterday afternoon, Trump put out a truly epic Truth, one long paragraph excoriating the Groyper leaders. Although he reserves special insults for each of them, the overarching message about all of them is that they areand this is one of Trumps worst insultslow IQ people, who are so stupid that everyone can see it. Theyre dumb hustlers who will say anything for the clicks.

Trump also reminds his audience that this Groyper group truly is a fringe. Barring Alex Jones, who never had that big an audience, Carlson, Owens, and Kelly were never strong Trump supporters, so they had a small role in creating the MAGA movement or putting Trump in office. Now, they are bad people with a touch of evil.

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And honestly, beyond that, I cant even summarize what he said. You have to see it for yourself. Its classic Trump. Theres not an ounce of statesmanlike language in it. It is a brute force attack on people who threaten to destroy the MAGA movement and the Republican Party, and who Trump has realized must swiftly be consigned to the dustbin of history:

I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon  Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs. Theyre stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too! Look at their past, look at their record. They dont have what it takes, and they never did! Theyve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and arent even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, theyre NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some free and cheap publicity. Now they think they get some clicks because they have Third Rate Podcasts, but nobodys talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA  Or I wouldnt have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE. MAGA agrees with me, and just gave CNN a 100% Approval Rating of TRUMP, not Hand Flailing Fools like Tucker Carlson, who couldnt even finish College, he was a broken man when he got fired from Fox, and hes never been the same  Perhaps he should see a good psychiatrist! Or Megyn Kelly, who nastily asked me the now famous, Only Rosie ODonnell, question, or Crazy Candace Owens, who accuses the Highly Respected First Lady of France of being a man, when she is not, and will hopefully win lots of money in the ongoing lawsuit. Actually, to me, the First Lady of France is a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, its not even close! Or Bankrupt Alex Jones, who says some of the dumbest things, and lost his entire fortune, as he should have, for his horrendous attack on the families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, ridiculously claiming it was a hoax. These so-called pundits are LOSERS, and they always will be! Now Fake News CNN, The Failing New York Times, and all of the other Radical Left News Organizations, are hailing them, and giving them positive press for the first time in their lives. Theyre not MAGA, theyre losers, just trying to latch on to MAGA. As President, I could get them on my side anytime I want to, but when they call, I dont return their calls because Im too busy on World and Country Affairs and, after a few times, they go nasty, just like Marjorie Traitor Brown, but I no longer care about that stuff, I only care about doing right for our Country. MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons. MAGA is about MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and these people have no idea how to do that, BUT I DO, because THE UNITED STATES IS NOW THE HOTTEST COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! President DONALD J. TRUMP Advertisement

Trump was right to do this. Being a big tent is one thing. Allowing entry to people whose ideology is deadly to that big tents core values is a level of suicidal stupidityand Trump is not a low IQ individual.

Its time for JD Vance to stop ignoring the Groyper movement, with which hes too closely associated. He needs to have a Sister Souljah moment, just as Bill Clinton did long ago to secure the White House. With every day that Vance is silent about those toxic people, he is damaging (a) the Republican Party and MAGA movement and (b) his own chances of winning the White House. Fortunately for constitutional conservatives, we have the best backup in the world: Marco Rubio, who grows more impressive by the day.

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In reports picked up by left-leaning outlets such as the Daily Beast and New Republic, Vatican-oriented freelance journalist Christopher Hale has tweeted that President Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, has met in a private audience with Pope Leo XIV.

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NEW: Pope Leo XIV met with David Axelrod this morning.



Axelrod was chief strategist for President Obama in his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaign.



As I reported last month, there are early talks between Vatican officials and President Obamas circle about a meeting between  Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) April 9, 2026

Axelrod, really?

What kind of message does that send? The pope has declined an offer to visit the U.S. for its 250th anniversary in favor of a trip to visit the illegal migrants on Lampedusa (which might bring him an unexpected round of protests from angry locals sick of being robbed and raped by them) on the grounds that he doesn't want any trip to be political. But meeting the most political of political operatives, an absolute political manipulator and operator like Axelrod, reeks of political plotting. Axelrod doesn't go to the Vatican to chew the fat with the pope and buy souvenir rosaries. What really is this meeting about and why is the pope now openly meddling in U.S. politics? What does he want, other than to oust Trump?

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While it's true the pope schedules his meetings in advance, it's simply too strange of timing to think it could be anything but political coming as it has on the heels of a Free Press report which claimed that the Vatican's papal nuncio, or ambassador, had a confrontational meeting at the Pentagon where "Avignon," a state takeover of the Church, was supposedly brought up as happened centuries ago.

Now the pope's meeting with Trump's top opposition, Obama's strategic operative, the guy who engineers Democrat victories?

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It looks like the pope is playing politics now, U.S. politics, even though his Vatican and Peruvian citizenship ought to make him irrelevant to U.S. internal and external political matters.

He's been first obliquely, and then more directly complaining about the U.S. and Israeli military action in Iran, calling for an "offramp" for Trump, which was the language others used on Putin earlier in the now-largely ignored Ukraine war, even though a successful U.S.-military operation would free the Iran's nationals to become Christians in a striking instance of the Vatican working against its own interests.

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The entire focus (or at least media coverage) of his papacy seems to be on countering the U.S. no matter what it does despite everything else going on in the world.

He's been gradually attempting to micromanage U.S. internal policies as well as foreign policy that the voters (including the majority of Catholic voters) voted for, first obliquely, and then more directly in favor of the actual enemies of the Catholic Church, the party that persecutes the Little Sisters of the Poor for not paying for abortion pills.

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After the reported Pentagon spat, which I can't say is true or not, now he's meeting with Axelrod? I wonder what the two of them are talking about. Hale seems to think it's a photo op with Obama ahead of any meeting with President Trump, but if so, big deal, I doubt there will ever be a pope-Trump meeting, and I also doubt that Axelrod would preoccupy himself with something so small. Axelrod is a man focused on taking full power.

The one thing the pope has in common with Axelrod is that both come from Chicago, so the pope seems to have gone down into the Chicago Way with this encounter. Perhaps he is trying to spook Trump and nothing of importance will be discussed.

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What the heck would the pope have to say to Axelrod, an avowed atheist from a bona fide communist background that would merit a minute of his papal time? The two do not intersect. While Axelrod is more commonsensical than the Squad arm of Democrat politics, he's also a guy who engineers political elections to win those elections for the left, his latest strategy being the Spanbergerization of the Democrats, running as moderates but governing as extremists.

Axelrod is all in for promoting abortion, euthanasia, socialism, global warming myths and money extraction, high taxation (which reduces charitable and religious giving), state power to persecute religions, as well as doing what the European Union, Soros, and United Nations dictate to preserve the globalist status quo, reducing the U.S. standard of living and ultimately forcing us to eat bugs, even as a party elite remains intact and untouched by such privations. He's all in for appeasing foreign dictators to end American power as we know it, which is what the Iran deal and Obama's 'wave' with Cuba's military dictator indicate. That a weak America taking orders from eurotrash is his idea of a good thing.

Chris is a nice guy and I like him personally, but he's very left-wing, and there are many occasions in which his analysis and sometimes information from Vatican sources has been wrong. I always read his reports with caution. But for a long time he has held the view that Pope Leo was elected to confront President Trump. While I've always thought of that as lefty wishful thinking, a meeting like this suggests he could be right, even though as Catholics, we expect our pope to stay out of political matters and focus on salvation of souls.

If he's right, what a shame. I hope he's wildly wrong. We don't need a pope who treats the Church and his papacy like an activist NGO.

Image: Rawpixel montage // CC0 1.0 public domain
Harrison Ford's acting ambitions helped him to overcome depression.

Harrison Ford managed to overcome depression

The 83-year-old star is one of the biggest names in the history of Hollywood, but Harrison has recalled finding himself at a particularly low ebb before embarking on a college course in drama.

During an appearance on the Awards Chatter podcast, Harrison shared: "I had a single room and I had classes to go to, but I rarely ventured out. And on the rare occasion I did go to the classroom, I would often touch the door on the outside of the building, and turn around and walk back.

"I was more than depressed. I think I was ill. I was socially ill, psychologically not well."

Harrison's outlook on life was transformed by his drama course.

He said: "I was surprised that the people that I had considered to be fellow geeks and misfits were, in fact, some of the most interesting people I knew.

"They were doing something that I hadnt really understood, and they were telling stories about life, and some of them were exceptional in their capacity to understand human behaviour. And so I think I simply found my place amongst storytellers. It really changed my world, changed my life."

Meanwhile, Anthony Mackie previously admitted to being surprised that Harrison is so "normal".

The actor starred alongside the Hollywood icon in Captain America: Brave New World, and Anthony confessed to being surprised by his co-star.

Asked what surprised him the most about working with Harrison, the actor told E! News: "I was surprised at how normal he was."

Anthony explained that he expected his co-star - who has appeared in some of the biggest film franchises of all time, including Star Wars and Indiana Jones - to be more aloof.

He said: "Usually you have a big star in a movie, they go sit off by themselves with their friends and won't talk to you.

"But whenever the cast and crew got together Harrison would come and just chill with us like a regular person and eat those awful peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."
Four visits in four years  why are China-Spain relations so resilient?

15:33, April 10, 2026 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will pay an official visit to China from April 11 to 15. This marks his fourth visit to China in four years; coming shortly after the visits by both the Spanish King and the prime minister last year, it represents yet another significant high-level exchange between China and Spain within a relatively short timeframe, underscoring the continuity and stability of Spain's policy toward China. At a time when the global landscape is undergoing profound changes and China-Europe relations face complex challenges, China and Spain - guided by political resolve and strategic foresight - vividly exemplify the true meaning of a "resilient partnership."

Prime Minister Sanchez has stated that a visit to China should be an annual undertaking. Underlying this stance is the Spanish government's profound commitment to China-Spain relations and a testament to the political mutual trust between the two sides. The two nations engage in continuous high-level strategic dialogue, ensuring that they can conduct in-depth and direct exchanges on major international and bilateral issues.

From the frequent meetings held between their heads of state and government to the signing of the Action Plan for Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Spain (2025-2028), the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership continues to advance steadily in the right direction.

Active and pragmatic cooperation serves as the "ballast" of China-Spain relations. In 2025, the bilateral trade volume in goods between China and Spain exceeded $55 billion - a year-on-year increase of 9.8 percent - firmly cementing China's position as Spain's largest trading partner outside the European Union. This cooperation has moved beyond the traditional complementarity of agricultural products, extending into fields of "new quality productive forces," such as green energy, electric vehicles, and the digital economy. Iconic projects, such as the battery plant jointly built by CATL and Stellantis in the Aragon region of Spain and Chery's new-energy vehicle production line in Barcelona, stand as prime examples of Chinese technology "going global," while also representing Spain's strategic choice to realize its own green industrial transformation.

During his visit to China accompanying the King, Spain's Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo stated unequivocally that China is an undeniable priority for Spain. This pragmatic policy is, in essence, a responsible approach toward the development of the nation's industries and the well-being of its people. Experience has proven that cooperation with China is by no means a so-called "risk," but rather an opportunity to foster economic growth and safeguard employment.

While some countries still waver between "de-risking" and cooperation in terms of their China policy, Spain demonstrates foresight that goes beyond short-term fluctuations. This stability is rooted in the two countries' mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their shared commitment to multilateralism and international law. Spain's international outlook of opposing bullying and seeking cooperation aligns closely with China's. At a time marked by frequent regional conflicts and heightened geopolitical tensions, Spain, together with China, has upheld the purposes of the UN Charter, injecting much-needed positive energy into a turbulent world.

The stability and deepening of China-Spain relations have long surpassed the bilateral scope, increasingly serving as a model for China-EU relations. Spain tends to view China's development as an opportunity rather than a challenge. On sensitive issues such as the EU's "anti-subsidy investigation" into Chinese electric vehicles, Spain has consistently played a "lubricating" role between Brussels and Beijing, easing tensions and seeking consensus.

Against the backdrop of diverging voices within the EU on China policy and a rising trend of protectionism, Spain's attitude and action toward rational cooperation with China is particularly valuable.

A recent commentary in Spain's El Pais highlighted a key point: Prime Minister Sanchez is the first Spanish prime minister to visit China so frequently, but this is not particularly unusual in Europe.

In recent months especially, Western leaders have made frequent visits to China, making cooperation with China a common diplomatic priority amid global turbulence. El Pais noted that former German chancellor Angela Merkel visited China 12 times; French President Emmanuel Macron made his fourth official visit last December; and in January this year, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer became the first British leader in eight years to visit China. From this perspective, Sanchez's four visits in four years are far from exceptional. His upcoming visit reflects a trend among Western countries to strengthen engagement with China and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation.

An ever accumulating public support provides the deeper driving force behind the steady and long-term development of China-Spain relations. Data from an authoritative Spanish polling institution show that over 74 percent of Spanish respondents hold a positive view of bilateral ties. How to align with the high-quality development of China during its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) to support the upgrading of Spain's key industries has become a recurring topic in Spanish media. In 2025, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Spain approached 800,000, while business travel from Spain to China has also grown rapidly. These growing people-to-people exchanges are converging into a powerful current of public support against "decoupling" and supply chain fragmentation.

More than two decades of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain have demonstrated that countries with different histories, cultures, and social systems can coexist amicably and pursue common development on the basis of mutual respect and equality. We look forward to and appreciate Spain continuing to serve as a rational force within the EU, using strategic autonomy and pragmatic cooperation as a "warm breeze" to dispel the shadows of geopolitical rivalry, and to translate the stability of China-Spain relations into greater certainty for China-EU relations.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Jonah Hill thinks it's hard for the public to "relate" to movie stars.

Jonah Hill has discussed his experience of fame

The award-winning actor has reflected on his experience of fame, suggesting that only a select group of people can truly relate to him and his colleagues.

Jonah, 42, told Martin Scorsese for Interview magazine: "Not many people can relate to a movie star, but the way I view it is, weve all turned ourselves into scorched, middle-aged movie stars by putting our lives up for judgment on social media every second of every day.

"You go through the same exact feelings being Tom Cruise as you do being a mom in Salt Lake City putting her kids up online for public judgement."

Jonah explained that he feels pressure to "live up to the packaging".

He said: "You build an identity just like a famous person does.

"Look at me, or you. 'Martin Scorsese. World-renowned director.' 'Jonah Hill, great actor, moron.' Then you have to live up to the packaging youve put out into the world. I started noticing it with younger people, where they have the same feelings I felt as a public person."

Jonah made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age comedy-drama Mid90s.

But the movie star previously admitted to underestimating the challenge of directing.

He told W magazine: "I think all of your human experiences add up to the person you are now, and all your film experiences add up to the actor, writer, director, whatever else it is that you are.

"So, yeah: I've picked up so much from all these amazing people I've worked with, whether Gus, the Coen brothers, Martin Scorsese, Bennett Miller, Quentin Tarantino, Spike Jonze, or Judd Apatow.

"But you know, in the beginning, I thought, 'Okay, this is going to be simple because I know how I'd like to be spoken to as an actor, so that's what I did.'

"But then you realise, 'Oh, Lucas Hedges is totally different than Katherine Waterston is totally different than...'"
Presenter Amol Rajan has questioned whether England is the best place for his children to grow up because of the big problems in the country.

The University Challenge presenter, who was born in Calcutta and grew up in London, said he is very worried about the country as it is no longer making history.

Rajan, 42, called the country of his birth exciting and energetic in a way that Britain doesnt always feel, and said he wants his children to visit India and make up their own mind about where they want to live.

Speaking to Gyles Brandreth on his Rosebud podcast, he said: I cant tell you how much I love my country, by which I mean England, and I mean a very particular thing, which is the idea of England.

But Im very worried about it.

Im very, very worried about the state of things in my country.

I think weve got some big, big, big problems that really need addressing.

One of the things that I worry about in that context is whether or not this is the best place for my four kids to grow up.

The broadcaster added: My worry is, I mean, this is a wonderful country.

Gyles Brandreth spoke to Amol Rajan on his podcast (Andrew Matthews/PA) (Andrew Matthews)

And I love this country.

Im not sure that it is still a place where, as was the case five or six decades ago, history is being made.

Rajan continued: In the 1960s and 70s, I think you could say that about England.

The extraordinary cultural infusion, that demographic dividend of the baby boomer years, relative peace.

After reflecting on different countries across the world that he has travelled to, he said: India is definitely somewhere where history is being made.

India is the young country, 1.4 million people, adds a million workers to the workforce every single month.

Its extraordinarily exciting and energetic in a way that Britain, at the moment, doesnt always feel.

Amol Rajan said he hopes his children fall in love with India (Matt Crossick/PA) (Matt Crossick)

When asked whether he wishes his children would end up in India, the former Independent editor said: Id like them to experience it and make up their own mind.

My youngest is two and when shes a bit older and the long haul flights are a bit less perilous, Id like to go to India frequently and invite my children to fall in love with the civilisation thats in their blood.

In January, Rajan announced that he would be leaving BBC Radio 4s Today programme, after almost five years, to set up his own production company.

He started working for the corporation in 2016 as its first ever media editor, leading its coverage of global technology and media, and has also presented many documentaries for the BBC.

Before joining the broadcaster, Rajan was the editor of The Independent, where he was the youngest ever editor of a broadsheet title at the age of 29 and the first from an ethnic minority.
Irelands Defence Forces have been put on standby to assist with clearing blockades outside some of the countrys major fuel depots.

With the nationwide fuel protests entering a fourth day on Friday, here is an explanation of some of the key points.

Petrol and diesel prices on Thursday at a service station in Co Kildare (Cillian Sherlock/PA) (Cillian Sherlock)

 What is the reason for the protests?

The cost of petrol, diesel, and marked gas oil (green diesel) has soared as a result of the war in the Middle East and impacts on supplies out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Currently, filling stations are selling petrol for around 193.9 cent while diesel is available for around 218.9 cent.

Protesters say the Government needs to take action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

A man sits in a tractor wheel as vehicles are parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

 Who is behind them?

Several distinct but co-ordinated protests manifested on Tuesday and have largely been organised through social media channels and messaging apps.

One Facebook page with almost 60,000 followers states that it is made up of professional drivers, farmers, and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

John Dallon emerged as one spokesman for the Dublin protest (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

It has been difficult to single out specific organisers for the nationwide effort.

In Dublin for example, participants have been reluctant to identify an organiser but several spokespeople have emerged  often under the proviso that they have little influence over the actions of their fellow demonstrators in the capital or other locations.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan (Niall Carson/PA) (Niall Carson)

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan claimed on Thursday that protesters are being manipulated by outside actors who want to advance their own political measures or really want to damage our country.

Representative bodies recognised by the Government including the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association are not officially involved in the protest.

Vehicles on the M50 Northbound (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

 What do they want?

The haulage operators and professional drivers want reductions in the cost of fuel, with differing solutions offered.

Some have called for the price to come down through cuts of excise or measures like reductions on carbon tax or VAT.

Vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

Others want a cap on fuel prices (with different rates quoted across protest sites) while the war in the Middle East is impacting supplies.

Protesters have also sought commitments from senior Government figures that they will meet representatives to hear their concerns, often as a prerequisite for any dispersal of a blockade.

An ambulance drives past vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

 What areas have been impacted?

The protests have seen widespread disruption on Irelands major motorways as participants engaged in slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages across the initial three days of action.

Dublins city centre was also brought to a standstill on multiple occasions as tractors blocked the busiest routes around the capitals main thoroughfare OConnell Street.

Others blocked the countrys only oil refinery at Whitegate, Co Cork as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes in Co Limerick  with the three sites responsible for providing fuel to roughly half the country, according to an industry expert.

Protests have been organised at other sites, including near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublins M50 Northbound (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

There have been manifold effects of the combined actions including some filling stations running out of petrol and diesel, concerns over the availability of fuel to emergency-service vehicles, and members of the public missing scheduled medical appointments.

Concerns have also been raised about time-sensitive delivery of key medicines as well as the availability of water-treatment chemicals and the vital farm supplies such as animal feed.

Traffic disruption on Dublins M50 ring road, which feeds access to the countrys largest airport, also saw some passengers walking in the hard shoulder with their luggage.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking to the media (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

 What has been the response from the Irish Government?

The Government said it is aware of the cost-of-living pressures arising out of the war in the Middle East and senior ministers have said the concerns of protesters have been heard.

Two-and-a-half-weeks ago, it signed off on a 250 million euro package of measures to reduce fuel 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 17 cent for petrol, 22 cent for diesel, and five cent for green diesel  but the savings were largely eroded as the war waged on.

Senior figures have appealed for protesters to call off their action, stating that their concerns have been heard and that the protest had now gone too far by causing damage to the wider public.

Vehicles parked on OConnell Street in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

The Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, has been monitoring the protest action across the country and officers were present at blockades.

On Thursday, the force said it would enter an enforcement phase of its response to the disruption, after Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Whitegate blockade was an act of national sabotage.

The Defence Forces are on standby to assist with the removal of heavy vehicles engaging in blockades of critical infrastructure.

Government leaders and relevant ministers had not accepted requests to meet with protesters by Thursday evening, instead stating that the best approach was to engage with recognised representative bodies.

Mr OCallaghan expressed concern over the message it would send that anyone who blockades critical infrastructure could expect a meeting with Government.

The Defence Forces are on standby to use heavy-duty recovery trucks capable of towing large vehicles (Defence Forces/PA) (Defence Forces)

 What is likely to happen next?

Organising groups have vowed to continue the protest on Friday and  if not carrying through the weekend  stated they intend to return to action when Irelands parliament, the Dail, returns to session on Tuesday.

An industry expert has warned that the number of filling stations running dry is going to increase if longer blockades of the major fuel suppliers continue.

Garda next to vehicles parked on OConnell Street (Brian Lawless/PA) (Brian Lawless)

With the knock-on impacts that entails, pressure will increase on Government and State authorities to respond.

Ministers and An Garda Siochana have urged protesters to end the blockades or face the full rigours of the law 

Participants have said they will not move until their concerns are heard by Government  or they are forced away  with gardai instructing demonstrators to disperse from a protest near Rosslare Europort late on Thursday.

Representative organisations are due to have a meeting with Government on Friday  with the possibility of protesters also attending if they are brought by official groups.
Irelands Defence Forces have been placed on standby as nationwide fuel protests, now in their fourth day, continue to cause significant disruption and threaten critical supplies across the country.

The militarys potential involvement comes as blockades outside major fuel depots intensify, prompting a government shift towards an enforcement phase in response to the escalating crisis.

The protests stem from soaring petrol and diesel prices, which have reached approximately 193.9 cents and 218.9 cents respectively at filling stations. Demonstrators, primarily professional drivers, farmers, and hauliers, attribute the sharp price hikes to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on supplies from the Strait of Hormuz.

They argue that without immediate government intervention, their businesses and livelihoods are at severe risk.

People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublins M50 Northbound (PA)

Organised largely through social media channels and messaging apps, the movement has proven difficult to attribute to specific leaders. A Facebook page with almost 60,000 followers claims to represent professional drivers, farmers, hauliers, as well as taxi and bus operators.

Participants have often been reluctant to identify organisers, though several spokespeople have emerged, frequently under the proviso that they hold little influence over the actions of their fellow demonstrators in Dublin or other locations.

Justice minister Jim OCallaghan, however, suggested on Thursday that outside actors seeking political gain or aiming to damage our country might be manipulating protesters. Notably, government-recognised bodies like the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association are not officially involved in the protest action.

Protesters are demanding significant reductions in fuel costs, proposing various solutions such as cuts to excise duty, carbon tax, or VAT. Others advocate for a cap on fuel prices for the duration of the Middle East conflict. A key demand is also for senior government figures to meet directly with representatives to hear their concerns, often presented as a prerequisite for lifting any blockade.

Vehicles take part on the third day of a National Fuel Protest against rising prices in OConnell St, Dublin (PA)

The widespread action has led to significant disruption across Ireland. Major motorways have seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages. Dublins city centre experienced multiple gridlocks, with tractors blocking the busiest routes around the capitals main thoroughfare, OConnell Street.

Crucially, blockades have targeted the countrys only oil refinery at Whitegate, Co Cork, and fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick  sites collectively responsible for supplying roughly half of Irelands fuel, according to an industry expert. Protests have also occurred near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

The consequences have been severe and far-reaching: some filling stations have run dry, concerns have mounted over fuel availability for emergency services, and members of the public have missed scheduled medical appointments.

There are also worries about the timely delivery of essential medicines, water-treatment chemicals, and vital farm supplies such as animal feed. Traffic chaos on Dublins M50 ring road, which provides access to the countrys largest airport, even forced some passengers to walk with luggage on the hard shoulder.

The Irish government acknowledges the cost-of-living pressures linked to the Middle East conflict and insists protesters concerns have been heard. Two-and-a-half weeks ago, a 250m package was approved, including a temporary excise duty reduction of 17 cents for petrol, 22 cents for diesel, and five cents for green diesel, alongside an expansion of the diesel rebate scheme.

However, these savings were largely negated as the war waged on. Senior officials have appealed for an end to the protests, stating they have gone too far and are causing damage to the wider public.

Heavy traffic on Dublins M50 (PA)

An Garda Siochana, the Irish police service, has been monitoring the situation and announced an enforcement phase. Taoiseach Micheal Martin described the Whitegate blockade as an act of national sabotage, leading to the Defence Forces being put on standby to assist in removing heavy vehicles from critical infrastructure.

Government leaders have so far declined direct meetings with protesters, preferring engagement with recognised representative bodies, a stance justice minister OCallaghan defended to avoid setting a precedent that anyone who blockades critical infrastructure could expect a meeting with the government.

Organising groups have pledged to continue protests on Friday, with intentions to resume action when Irelands parliament, the Dail, reconvenes on Tuesday, should the blockades not extend through the weekend.

An industry expert warns that the number of filling stations running dry is going to increase if longer blockades of the major fuel suppliers continue, thereby increasing pressure on government and State authorities to respond.

While ministers and An Garda Siochana have urged protesters to end blockades or face the full rigours of the law, demonstrators insist they will not move until their concerns are addressed, or they are forcibly dispersed, with gardai instructing demonstrators to disperse from a protest near Rosslare Europort late on Thursday. Representative organisations are scheduled to have a meeting with the government on Friday, with the possibility of protesters also attending if they are brought by official groups.
More than two dozen British tourists were hospitalised and one killed after the bus they were travelling in rolled down a ravine in La Gomera - Alberto Valdes/EPA/Shutterstock

A 77-year-old British man has been killed and 27 other people injured after a bus crashed into a ravine in the Canary Islands.

The tour bus, carrying 27 Britons and a driver, veered off the road at a hairpin bend on the Spanish island of La Gomera at around 1.15pm on Friday.

The driver, who was among the injured, phoned police to say his brakes were failing before the bus careered out of control, according to reports.

He veered on to a dirt track in an attempt to bring the vehicle to a stop but lost control, and the bus fell 10m down the ravine.

The crash happened at around 1.15pm on Friday afternoon

Spanish police confirmed that a British pensioner, who has not been named, had died.

A total of 27 people, including three children, were taken to hospital following the accident, with images showing the bus on its side after rolling down the ravine. Four are in serious condition, the Canary Islands emergency service said.

The bus was midway through a 19-mile journey from the southern resort of Playa de Santiago towards San Sebastian de la Gomera, the islands capital, when it crashed.

Juan Luis Navarro, La Gomeras director of general state administration, told local reporters that the driver tried to fight to control the vehicle after detecting the malfunction in the moments before the crash.

Mr Navarro said the incident could have been far more serious if it were not for the drivers actions.

The bus belonged to Gomera Tours, a holiday firm that offers excursions around the Canary Islands as well as airport and hotel transfers.

Gomera Tours said all of its vehicles were up to date with inspections as it responded to news of the crash.

A receptionist at the resort where the tourists on board were believed to have been staying confirmed that all the passengers were from the UK.

They had left the hotel to head to Tenerife on the ferry. They were all British, a staff member at El Balcon de Santa Ana said.

Emergency services in the Canary Islands confirmed that a 77-year-old British man was killed, four people were seriously injured and 23 others sustained minor injuries.

Two men, aged 73 and 42, were airlifted to hospitals in Tenerife, the largest and most populous island in the Canaries, after they sustained multiple severe injuries.

The older victim was treated at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands in San Cristobal de La Laguna. The younger of the two men was treated at Nuestra Senora de la Canarias University Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The two other passengers seriously injured in the crash were taken to the Hospital Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe in San Sebastian de La Gomera, the capital of La Gomera. One of them was later transferred to the University Hospital of the Canary Islands on Tenerife.

A total of 23 others who suffered minor injuries in the incident were also treated at the hospital on La Gomera.

By Friday night, 21 had been discharged, leaving three patients  one with serious injuries, two with minor ones  under observation there.

The Canary Islands security and emergency department said two helicopters and three ambulances were deployed to the scene.

Hector Cabrera, the chief of emergency services on La Gomeras island council, said that the coach driver suffered minor injuries.

The Guardia Civil police force has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands, said: I am following the accident of a bus reported in La Gomera and the work of the emergency teams who are intervening at this moment. My support to the victims and their families.

Angel Victor Torres, the minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, said: Tragic news in La Gomera, with the confirmation of one person deceased.

Very attentive to the actions in these first moments of the emergency services and the healthcare personnel. With a heavy heart. May there be no more victims.

The bus was owned by Gomera Tours, a holiday firm

A spokesman for the British embassy in Spain told The Telegraph: Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic incident. We are aware of the situation, and we stand ready to support British nationals. We are also in touch with local authorities on the ground.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: We are supporting the family of a British man who died in the bus accident in the Canary Islands and are in contact with the local authorities.

La Gomera is among the smallest of the Canary Islands, with steep terrain marked by volcanic mountains, dense forest and cliffside villages. The islands are popular holiday destinations for many Britons and Europeans.

Additional reporting by James Badcock.
A Philz coffee shop in Emeryville, California, on 29 July 2024. Photograph: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images (Photograph: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Philz, a popular coffee chain with locations across California, is facing growing criticism after news broke that the San Francisco-based company planned to remove Pride flags from its stores.

The move is part of an effort to [create] a more consistent, inclusive experience across all our stores, including removing a variety of flags and other decor, Mahesh Sadarangani, the companys CEO, said in a statement to the Guardian.

Our longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged, Sadarangani said. This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are.

But the backlash for Philz, which has 17 locations in San Francisco alone, has been swift. By Friday morning, more than 4,000 people signed a petition urging the business to reconsider its decision, citing the deep meaning and value the flags hold for staff and visitors as a symbol of safe and welcoming spaces.

Related: Trump administration ends some civil rights settlements backing trans students

Removing these flags risks alienating a core group of team members and loyal customers who see Philz not just as a coffee shop, but as a place where they are embraced and celebrated for who they are, the petition states.

Supporters of the petition expressed deep frustration and outrage.

Philz has made their branding and fortune off of supporting the LGBTQ community, one person said in a comment on the petition, adding that they worked as a barista for the company for years. This is a slap in the face to all of your employees.

The company has long been viewed as an inclusive coffee shop with its display of Pride flags and an annual fundraiser to support LGBTQ+ organizations, which the CEO said it plans to continue.

Philz said it remains committed to serving as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. The company has not announced when the change would take effect. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Wednesday that Pride decorations were still in place at Philz shops in downtown and the Castro, a longtime center for the LGBTQ+ community in the city. The shop in the Castro had a sign reading: Welcome to the Queerest coffee shop in town. Period, the newspaper reported.

The controversy comes as LGBTQ+ people across the US face an increasingly hostile political climate, and the removal of Pride flags from schools, businesses and government buildings. In February, the Trump administration removed a Pride flag from the Stonewall national monument.
The government's Chagos Island deal has been pulled after US President Donald Trump branded it an "act of great stupidity".

Under the terms of the agreement, Britain would cede sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius, but continue to lease the largest island, Diego Garcia - which hosts a joint US-UK military base.

Now the bill underpinning the deal has been pulled from the upcoming King's Speech, where the government's agenda for the coming parliament is revealed, it is understood.

The US president initially supported the agreement, but changed course in January and branded it "an act of great stupidity" during a dispute with his NATO allies over Greenland.

The British government stands by the deal and will attempt to persuade Mr Trump to change his mind but has acknowledged that it cannot proceed without his backing, The Times has reported.

A government spokesperson said: "Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US.

"Ensuring its long-term operational security is and will continue to be our priority - it is the entire reason for the deal.

"We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support.

"We are continuing to engage with the US and Mauritius."

It's a 'humiliating U-turn', says Badenoch

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said Number 10's decision is "yet another humiliating U-turn for a government that just has no strategic direction".

Speaking to Sky News security and defence editor Deborah Haynes, Ms Badenoch said: "That deal should never have been on the table.

"Paying 35bn to give away territory we already own, at a time when so many people in this country are dealing with the cost of living, just shows that they were not in any way thinking clearly."

"This has also happened because Conservatives have been fighting every step of the way in the Commons, in the Lords, making it very difficult for them to pass this legislation," she continued.

"So I welcome the news. We've won. We've got a U-turn. We're really pleased."

Read more:

What's in the Chagos Islands deal criticised by Trump?

Ban on living on the outer Chagos Islands overturned

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office's former top civil servant has defended the government, saying it had "no other choice" but to pause the deal.

Lord Simon McDonald, who served as the department's permanent secretary from 2015 to 2020, told the BBC: "The UK had two objectives, one was to comply with international law, the other was to reinforce the relationship with the United States.

"When the president of the United States is openly hostile, the government has to rethink, so this agreement, this treaty will go into the deep freeze for the time being."

It comes after Mr Trump repeatedly criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his stance on the war in Iran.
Xi Jinping, right, told Cheng Li-wun that reunification was inevitable - Xie Huanchi/Xinhua/AP

Xi Jinping has told Taiwans opposition leader that people on both sides of the strait are Chinese.

During a meeting in Beijing, the Chinese president warned Cheng Li-wun that China would absolutely not accept Taiwanese independence.

He said that reunification was inevitable between people of one family who want peace, development, exchange and cooperation, in comments broadcast by Taiwanese television stations.

When the family is harmonious, all things will prosper, he added.

Ms Cheng, the Kuomintang (KMT) chairman, is the first leader of Taiwans main opposition party to visit China in a decade, fuelling domestic criticism that she is too close to Beijing.

Cheng Li-wun, pictured in Beijing on Friday, has positioned herself as a promoter of peace between Taiwan and China - Ng Han Guan

Chinese activity around the island has intensified in recent weeks.

Wellington Koo, Taiwans defence minister, told legislators on Thursday that China was expanding its military capabilities continuously and that the threat to the island was becoming increasingly severe.

Two Taiwanese security officials told Reuters that China had deployed nearly 100 naval and coast guard vessels across the South and East China seas this week, roughly double the usual figure of 50 to 60 ships.

One official described the surge as very rare, noting that this time of year is not typically associated with major Chinese naval exercises.

The KMT party has historically favoured closer economic and political ties with Beijing, positioning itself as the party most willing to engage with China.

This stance puts it at odds with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which leans toward formal independence.

Relations across the Taiwan Strait have deteriorated sharply since President Lai Ching-tes election in 2024.

His administration called on Ms Cheng to use her access to push back against Chinas military threats, arguing that Beijing should be talking to Taiwans democratically elected government, not its opposition.

Lai Ching-te, the Taiwanese president, has voted to protect the island from Beijings influence - Ann Wang/Reuters

Mr Xi told Ms Cheng during their meeting on Friday that reunification between China and Taiwan was an inevitable part of history.

He expressed confidence that people on both sides of the strait were moving closer together and said Beijing was willing to deepen dialogue with Taiwanese groups  including the KMT  on the shared basis of opposing independence.

Ms Cheng told Mr Xi she hoped the strait would no longer be a focal point of potential conflict.

Both sides should transcend political confrontation... and seek a systemic solution to prevent and avoid war, so that the Taiwan Strait can become a model for peaceful conflict resolution in the world, she said.

Ms Cheng has previously described herself as a promoter of peace between Taiwan and China.

Cheng Li-wun visits the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China in Shanghai and meets Song Tao, right, who is director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China - Johnny Chiang/AFP

Beijing has never renounced the use of force to take Taiwan. It has steadily intensified military pressure on the island in recent years, conducting near-daily deployments of fighter jets and warships and regular large-scale drills in surrounding waters.

Taiwans parliament, controlled by the KMT, has stalled the governments plan to spend $39bn (29bn) on defence, leaving the islands military modernisation programme in limbo for months.

Ms Chengs visit comes just a month before Donald Trump is due in Beijing for a summit with Mr Xi.

Washington has been leaning heavily on Taiwanese opposition politicians to back the stalled defence budget, which includes purchases of American weapons designed to deter a Chinese attack.

Ms Cheng has pushed back against the governments spending proposal, insisting that Taiwan isnt an ATM and putting forward a rival KMT plan to allocate $12bn for US weapons, with room for further purchases.

While KMT members regularly travel to China for official exchanges, the last party leader to make the trip was Hung Hsiu-chu in 2016.

Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, when the Communist Partys victory in Chinas civil war forced the defeated Kuomintang to retreat to the island and establish a rival government there.
Orla Wates was fatally injured while riding as a motorbike passenger on the popular Ha Giang loop in the mountains of north Vietnam. Photograph: Family Handout (Photograph: Family Handout)

The recent death of a British gap-year student on the Ha Giang loop, a popular motorcycle tour through the mountains in north Vietnam, has heightened concerns about a trail reputed to be one of the most dangerous in the country.

Orla Wates, 19, from Surrey, was riding as a pillion passenger when she fell off and was hit by an oncoming truck, according to local media. She was taken to hospital in Hanoi, where she died from her injuries last week.

Wates was travelling in Vietnam before starting a degree course at Durham University this autumn, and had probably seen some of the many social media posts about doing the loop.

Winding along narrow mountain roads near the border with China, through jungle and rice terraces, the Ha Giang loop has become a must-do adventure for young, thrill-seeking backpackers in south-east Asia.

Online reviews describe it using terms such as the best four days of my life. Nevertheless, doing the loop, especially by motorbike, is not without risk. People who live and work in Ha Giang cite the rugged road conditions, unpredictable weather, rockslides and occasional loose livestock.

Travellers depart from Ha Giang city, riding pillion on motorbikes driven by local guides employed by tour companies. Foreign visitors riding solo must have a full motorcycle licence to ride the route, and face a fine if caught without one.

The loop, previously a network of dirt trails for farmers and pack horses before reconstruction in the 1960s, is more than 220 miles (350km) long and takes three to four days to complete. A days ride often ends with a visit to a waterfall to cool off, followed by food and corn wine at a homestay.



Ha Giang is one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam, and an estimated 200,000 tourists go there every year, mostly to do the loop.

Elle, who requested that her surname was withheld, is a 23-year-old Australian who splits her time living between Australia and Vietnam and has done the Ha Giang loop 16 times. She said its popularity had led to levels of congestion that the roads werent ready for.

She added that she had seen tourists ask their guides to go faster to overtake slower groups, or so they can film more exciting social media content. She advised visitors to choose their tour company carefully  some genuinely prioritise safety, whereas others just prioritise numbers.

In recent years, there have been local reports of a tourist dying after a 100-metre fall from a mountain pass, and of two visitors involved in a fatal head-on collision with a truck. Locals who know the roads also fall victim to accidents, with the lack of medical facilities in the secluded mountains adding to the danger.

Matt Struthers, a co-owner of Road Kings, a tour company that has offered Ha Giang loop tours for several years, said: Yes, were trying to provide a trip of a lifetime, but more importantly, people are putting their trust in us to do the right thing. There are ways to make the trip much safer, [for example] having proper safety equipment and a team that drives carefully.

Asked whether he thought Watess death should serve as a wake-up call in Ha Giang, Struthers said: I really hope it does. Safety has always been our main focus. When something like this happens, it impacts the industry as a whole. I hope it encourages everyone to raise their standards.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, accompanied by his wife, first lady Lis Cuesta Peraza, greets relatives of Cuban officers killed during a US operation in Venezuela in January. Photograph: Adalberto Roque/AP (Photograph: Adalberto Roque/AP)

The Cuban president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, said he would not resign under US pressure in his first television interview with an American broadcaster, while Russia insisted it would never abandon or betray its ally.

Diaz-Canel told NBC News on Thursday: We have a free sovereign state, a free state. We have self-determination and independence, and we are not subjected to the designs of the United States.

The US government that has implemented that hostile policy against Cuba has no moral to demand anything from Cuba, the 65-year-old said in remarks that were translated to English. The concept of revolutionaries giving up and stepping down  its not part of our vocabulary.

Related: Is Cuba Trumps next target?  podcast

Washington has waged a pressure campaign on communist-ruled Cuba, imposing a virtual oil blockade on the island by threatening tariffs on any country that attempts to sell oil to the island.

An energy crisis has crippled Cuba since January when its main supply from Venezuela was cut off after the US seized Nicolas Maduro.

Trump has openly floated the idea of taking Cuba and his administration labels leaders in Havana a threat to US national security.

As the tensions simmer between Washington, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov visited Cuba on Thursday, holding talks with Diaz-Canel.

Quoted by Russian news agencies, Ryabkov said Moscow had no intention of walking away from its interests in the western hemisphere no matter what the US might say.

Ryabkov said Moscows help for Cuba would go beyond the large shipload of oil it had sent to the island last month.

I am certain that the events of recent weeks in our relations will have us moving forward to find solutions to the toughest problems  emerging from the illegal and absolutely unacceptable blockade of the island by the US, Ryabkov was quoted as saying.

We cannot betray Cuba. That is out of the question. We cannot leave it on its own.

It is too early to say what the next steps will be. But it is clear we will not be limiting our supplies to the load that was aboard the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin.

Russia has no plans to walk away from the western hemisphere, no matter what Washington might say.

In late March, the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil reached Cuba, marking its first oil delivery in three months.

Despite threatening tariffs in early January on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, the Trump administration allowed the tanker to proceed.

Cubas finished, Trump said at the time. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, its not going to matter.

Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it consumes, and it stopped receiving key Venezuelan oil shipments after the US attacked Venezuela in early January and arrested Maduro.

With Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Associated Press
Keith Brackett allegedly conducted several Google searches regarding how long DNA remains on rope following the 2016 disappearance of Robert Bee, according to a court affidavit (Illinois Department of Corrections)

A suspect has been arrested over the 2016 disappearance and murder of 13-year-old Robert Bee, a case that has remained unsolved in Illinois for nearly a decade.

Keith Brackett was taken into custody Wednesday morning and faces multiple counts of first-degree murder, according to the Pekin City Police Department. The arrest follows years of investigation into the death of Bee, who vanished from his home on November 18, 2016.

According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators focused on Brackett after learning he maintained a close relationship with the teenager despite their age difference.

Bee reportedly skipped school frequently to spend time at Bracketts residence, according to authorities. While Brackett initially told police he had last seen the boy during a gathering with Bees mother, Lisa, digital forensics and physical evidence later contradicted his account.

Bees skeletal remains were discovered in July 2017 in a wooded area behind a property owned by Bracketts aunt. An autopsy determined the cause of death was homicidal violence, likely caused by asphyxiation.

Keith Brackett allegedly conducted several Google searches regarding how long DNA remains on rope following the 2016 disappearance of Robert Bee, according to a court affidavit (Illinois Department of Corrections)

Detectives found several types of rope and tape at the site where the remains were recovered, later discovering matching materials during a search of Brackett's home.

According to the affidavit, digital data also allegedly placed Brackett near the crime scene multiple times between the boys disappearance and the discovery of his body.

The affidavit also detailed a series of internet searches allegedly conducted by Brackett, including inquiries regarding how long DNA remains on rope and what actions to take if named a suspect in a murder investigation.

Brackett was eventually found in Maine during a separate burglary investigation. Police believe he planned to flee the country, but he was arrested at a playground and extradited to Illinois.

The arrest comes nearly a decade after the 13-year-old boy vanished from his Pekin home, sparking years of community-led searches (Dignity Memorial)

"The murder of a child is obviously going to be something that our community, our county and our citizens take great interest in," Tazewell County States Attorney Kevin Johnson said during a press briefing.

Johnson said his office was restricted in what details could be shared as the case proceeded through court.

Ash Patino, a filmmaker who produced a documentary on the disappearance, said that Brackett had long been a person of interest due to his proximity to the victim.

Robert Bee was way too young to be hanging out with somebody at that age, Patino said.

Brackett is currently being held in custody pending further court proceedings.
Maya Hawke has landed her first TV role since Stranger Things ended.

Maya Hawke has landed a new Netflix role

The 27-year-old actress - who played Robin Buckley in the hit sci-fi series - has been cast alongside Kerry Condon in Netflix's haunting new drama The God of the Woods.

The upcoming show, which is based on Liz Moore's 2024 novel of the same name, stars Maya as Judy Luptack, the first female investigator in the male-dominated Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

She is tasked with looking into the mysterious disappearance of a 13-year-old girl from a summer camp.

Condon, who has appeared in F1 and Train Dreams, will play the teen's mother, Alice Van Laar.

Moore is serving as co-showrunner, writer and executive producer alongside Liz Hannah.

The pair said in a joint statement: We love making TV and cant wait to bring The God of the Woods to life with our partners at Sony and Netflix.

We hope everyone falls in love (and hate) with these characters as much as we have.

Netflix noted there is currently no release date for The God of the Woods, but more details will follow.

They teased: "Based on The New York Times bestselling novel, The God of the Woods is a multigenerational drama series set in the Adirondacks.

"It explores the Van Laar familys dark secrets, class tensions, and the mysterious disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar from her familys summer camp  in the wake of an earlier family tragedy that may be related. "As the past and present collide, the Van Laars wealth and influence unravel, revealing the damaging consequences of privilege and the abuse of power."

Maya spent six years on Stranger Things, appearing in a main role in the third, fourth and fifth season.

This year, she is set to star in movies Wishful Thinking, One Night Only and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

However, The God of the Woods is her first major TV role to be announced after Stranger Things ended with its final episode on December 31, 2025.
Washington and European capitals are watching with nervous anticipation as the U.S., Israel and Iran prepare for peace talks over the weekend aimed at ending a month-long war that has caused shockwaves through the global economy and left thousands dead.

But even as the first hours of the ceasefire ticked by earlier in the week, Donald Trumps warmaster Pete Hegseth delivered a diatribe to members of the media that some could take as creating a permission structure to ease the acceptance of future operations  including, possibly, the deployment of a ground force  in the weeks to come.

Hegseths press conference on Wednesday was the usual mix of bluster and flag-waving that the defense secretary has fallen back on since taking the job. As he addressed the recent rescue of U.S. service members from Iran after their F-15 was downed by air defenses, U.S. officials claimed are now virtually nonexistent, he noted that the recovery mission was made possible by ground forces.

Boots on the ground. A midnight raid right in the middle of their country. Boots...on...the...ground, the defense secretary stressed.

He was far from alone in the sentiment. Over Tuesday and Wednesday, a procession of top officials, led by the president and JD Vance, has issued a wave of threats about what will happen if Iran violates the ceasefire agreement or a deal is not reached to end the war within two weeks. Trump, in his own comments on Truth Social, wrote that U.S. military forces would remain in the region at the ready until further notice.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reminded reporters that a rescue mission conducted within Iran was aided by boots on the ground (Getty)

All U.S. ships, aircraft, and military personnel  will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with, wrote Trump.

Much remains to be hashed out over the course of the next two weeks, and the extent of the U.S. success in achieving Trumps war goals is not yet determined. In particular, control of the Strait of Hormuz continues to be an open question for Washington as oil and natural gas shipping traffic through the key waterway has yet to resume at pre-war levels and reports suggest that Iranian officials are considering demanding a toll of $1 per barrel of oil that travels through the strait, which typically sees millions pass by per day.

Whether the U.S. will accept such a prospect seems highly unlikely. The administration is made up of many conservative Iran hawks whove for years accused the Obama administration of unfreezing Iranian assets tied up in U.S. financial systems and, in effect, allowing Iran to finance its nuclear ambitions and regional military alliances.

Donald Trump now risks being unable to sell mission accomplished to MAGAworld and the nation (Getty)

It would also have a direct effect on an oil economy already spun into a frenzy by the war and still leaving American consumers feeling helpless as they see prices tick up.

Trump seemed to cut off any possibility of that idea on Thursday, while also drawing into question the strength of the ceasefire agreement: There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait  They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!, he wrote on Truth Social.

In short, the realities on the ground make it seem as if Washington and Tehran are still far apart on the issues that have come to define a war the U.S. and Israel maintain was begun to end the threat of Irans nuclear and ballistic weapons programs.

One Republican member of Congress, Pat Fallon, told the Military Times hours before Mondays ceasefire was announced that the ground deployment of special operations forces may be required to secure victory and prevent the regime from regrouping in the weeks ahead. Fallon serves on both the Armed Services and Intelligence committees in the House, where the administration regularly briefs lawmakers.

Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly told her viewers on Wednesday that she refused to call the ceasefire a victory for the U.S. (Getty Images)

And on the right, Trump is still facing massive pressure from his more hawkish advisers to remain until the job of forcing Iran into submission is complete.

One of those advisers is columnist Marc Thiessen, who wrote in The Washington Post on Wednesday that Trump should use U.S. ground troops to invade Irans Kharg Island port if his 2-week deadline to reach a full peace agreement isnt honored by Tehran.

This will give Trump a stranglehold on Irans economy, which he can leverage to force the regime to allow the U.S. to come in and remove all of the countrys enriched uranium. If Iran does not agree, he can destroy the export infrastructure on the island, eliminating the regimes ability to earn hard currency to rebuild its military and spread terror across the region, Thiessen wrote.

Another is Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the wars biggest cheerleaders in Congress, who is urging Trump not to leave until U.S. forces extract 100% of Irans stores of enriched uranium.

Theres no segment of Trumps base that currently views this ceasefire as a victory for the U.S., and that was obvious as the reaction spread across the MAGAsphere. On conservative podcaster Megyn Kellys show on Tuesday, Kelly and her guest, Curt Mills of The American Conservative, expressed relief that the presidents threat to annihilate Irans entire civilization hadnt been carried out, but stopped there.

Im glad its coming to an end, dont get me wrong, stated Kelly. But Im not willing to pretend that this is some huge victory for us...the strait is now controlled by Iran, it wasnt before. It now costs a toll potentially to get through; it didnt before.

Even with polls showing that Americans broadly disapprove of the war and do not believe the White House has a plan to achieve its objectives, the drumbeat of war is roaring across much of MAGA and seems unlikely to be dissuaded by half measures or really anything short of Irans total pacification.

With 12 days left for Iranian and U.S. officials to reach a deal to avoid more violence, the world is anxiously waiting for the results of Saturdays peace talks. In the end, having failed to instigate the collapse of the Iranian government, push Iranian forces out of the Strait of Hormuz, or end the threat of Irans ballistic missiles and drones, the ability of Trump to sell mission accomplished to Republicans who love him but hate Iran may be the deciding factor in those negotiations.
Airports across Europe could face systemic jet fuel shortages within three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, an airport industry group has warned.

Airports Council International Europe, which represents more than 600 airports in 55 countries, sent a letter to the European Commission, stating that a fuel crunch would significantly harm the European economy.

The group said the impact of military activity on demand was further straining supplies, and its concerns had been intensified by the approach of the peak summer season.

Fuel shortages have prompted fears of delays and cancellations as millions of Britons prepare to travel for the May half-term school break.

In the letter seen by the Financial Times, EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas was warned of increasing concerns of the airport industry over the availability of jet fuel as well as the need for proactive EU monitoring and action.

If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU, the letter said.

Ryanair is urging travellers to book early (Getty/iStock)

Ryanair said it could not rule out risks to fuel supplies at some airports if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed into May or June.

The airline urged people to book their flights as soon as possible to avoid increases in airfares.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: We dont expect any near-term fuel shortages, but the situation is fluid. At present our fuel suppliers can guarantee supply to mid-end May. If the Iran war finishes soon then supply will not be disrupted. If the closure of the Hormuz Straits continues into May or June then we cannot rule out risks to fuel supplies at some airports in Europe.

With jet oil prices doubling during March we expect all airlines will pass on these higher costs in the form of higher air fares post Easter and later this summer.

We urge all passengers to book their flights (and holidays) as soon as possible and then they will be insulated from inevitable airfare and accommodation cost increases after Easter and later this summer.

Jet fuel shortages could hit the summer holiday season (PA Archive)

With a large amount of the worlds jet fuel supply trapped in the Gulf, fuel prices have risen sharply, with the price of a barrel of crude oil hovering near $100.

ACI Europe said it was especially concerned about what it could mean during the holiday season, when air travel enables the whole tourism ecosystem upon which many [EU] economies rely.

It urged the EU to introduce immediate policy interventions, including the temporary lifting of import restrictions on jet fuel, which it said was discouraging third-country fuel sellers from signing supply contracts for this summer.

According to a study from the group, air connectivity contributes 851bn (741bn) in gross domestic product for European economies each year and supports 14 million jobs.
Eerily odourless: A pool of rainwater sits in front of the sealed bulkhead door at the Malabar wastewater treatment plant. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian (Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian)

Good morning. This selection from around the Guardian has a tragic mystery, an underground door, two quite different leaders and a new body part to worry about  so, something for everyone?

Whatever story you choose to dive into this weekend, enjoy the read.

1. The mystery Patrick Radden Keefe couldnt ignore

When 19-year-old Zac Brettler jumped to his death in London, the coroner recorded an open verdict, admitting: I dont know what happened. The American writer and journalist Patrick Radden Keefe (pictured) spoke to Anna Moore about his search for answers  now a new book.

How he heard about the story: Keefe was on set in London for the filming of Say Nothing, the television adaptation of his feted account of a Northern Ireland Troubles murder. He got talking with a visitor, who happened to mention friends of his, the Brettler family, who had experienced something tragic, strange and terrible.

This was that rare case where, within minutes, I knew that if this family was ready to talk, this would be how Id spend the next year of my life, Keefe says.

How long will it take to read: five or six minutes

2. On the trail of Sydneys huge fatberg

A charming acronym resurfaced this week, courtesy of NSW reporter Penry Buckley: congealed FOG  or fats, oils and grease.

Buckley toured the problematic Malabar wastewater plant, where some accumulated FOG cant be accessed, let alone cleared, and has formed a fatberg that keeps depositing poo balls on Sydneys beaches.

Youre either built for sewage, or youre not: The area at the bulkhead door in front of the fatberg is eerily odourless. Not so in Sedimentation Room Area 4, however. As we step inside, the smell matures quickly from a seaside pong to a meaty fug which opens up the nostrils. Its a pandemonium of aromas so bad they seem to cancel each other out.

None of the staff, Buckley notes, wear anything to cover their noses. I reckon youre either built for sewage, or youre not, the hub manager tells him.

How long will it take to read: three minutes

3. In a war with no winners, Netanyahu looks like the biggest loser

This analysis from senior international correspondent Peter Beaumont suggests the Israeli presidents massive gamble with his war on Iran is not paying off, to put it mildly.

In his failure to secure the fall of the theocratic regime, the seizure of Tehrans stockpile of highly enriched uranium, or meaningful state degradation, Israels global standing  already massively tarnished by its actions in Gaza, where it has been accused of committing a genocide  has been damaged.

What happens next? The fallout in public opinion, especially as Israels horrific and unwarned-of mass airstrikes on Lebanon continue, is likely to be serious, Beaumont writes. And not only globally  in Israel, its an election year.

How long will it take to read: three minutes

Further reading: Yesterday, Beaumont asked if Israels attack on Lebanon was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the Iran war ceasefire.

4. Was Bob Hawke our best PM?

Gareth Evans thinks so  though he freely admits his bias as someone who was very much part of the action. The former attorney general has laid out six reasons the Hawke government of 1983-91  and the Keating government that came after it  should be held as a gold standard.

***

A high level of mutual respect between cabinet members and commitment to the common cause  [always operated] as a brake on self-indulgent personality politics.  Gareth Evans

Why does it matter now? With regular debate over the current Labor governmentss ability  or will  to push for meaningful change, a look back at (one mans view of) what factors fed unparalleled reformist momentum.

How long will it take to read: four minutes

5. A kind of facialisation of hand care

I have mixed (read: mainly bad) feelings about this story on the industry boom in anti-ageing care for hands.

The scientific reason some people may worry about the appearance of their hands is that the skin there is thinner, has fewer oil glands and is more prone to dryness. The beauty reason is harmony, an aesthetic doctor informs Paula Cocozza.

What? We have four faces: face, neck, chest and hands, he elaborates. Theres no point just working on one. If its not matching and theres no harmony, then we pick up on something else, which is a lack of authenticity. I liken it to a car. You wouldnt clean the front half of your car and leave the back half. I  guess so?

That said  the idea of a hand-care ritual recommended by one brand founder here (so not exactly a disinterested party) sounds nice enough.

How long will it take to read: five minutes

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Eric Adams attends a press conference on gun violence prevention and public safety on 31 July 2023 in New York City. Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images (Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

Eric Adams has obtained citizenship and a passport from Albania, the Balkan country which received effusive compliments from the former New York City mayor during a visit there relatively recently.

The Albania Daily News first reported on Friday that Adams had requested both and was granted them by a special decree from the republics president, Bajram Begaj. A spokesperson for Adams then confirmed that development in a statement distributed to the news media, and it was evidently chronicled in Albanias official government journal.

I decree granting citizenship  upon  Eric Leroy Adams, read an English translation of the journal entry, signed by Begaj. This decree shall enter into force immediately and shall be published in [the] official gazette.

Adams had previously earned news headlines by travelling to Albania for four days in October toward the end of his time as mayor of one of the worlds largest, most important cities.

During the trip, Adams and Edi Rama, Albanias prime minister, spoke of collaborating more strongly in the fields of tourism and technology.

Adams also said he would champion a direct flight from New York to Albania, as the Associated Press noted. And he lavished compliments on Albanias capital, Tirana.

Youre seeing a thriving community and city moving in the right direction, Adams remarked at the time, on what was one of several international trips he took in his final months in office.

A former New York police department (NYPD) captain, Adams was the citys mayor from the start of 2022 to the end of 2025.

The Democrat bowed out of seeking his partys nomination while running for re-election amid a federal corruption case that was ultimately dismissed after an extraordinary intervention from US president Donald Trumps administration. He tried campaigning as an independent but then dropped out of the mayoral contest, endorsed former New York state governor Andrew Cuomo and attacked the progressive Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

Adams at one point seemingly suggested  without explanation  that Mamdanis election would make a terror attack in New York more likely.

I dont know what is wrong with people, Adams said at a campaign event where he endorsed Cuomo. Citing recent instances of terrorism in Europe and Africa, Adams added: You see whats playing out in other countries because of Islamic extremism.

Mamdani ultimately defeated Cuomo decisively in November, and he succeeded Adams to become New York Citys first Muslim mayor.

In March, Mamdanis administration moved to stop representing Adams in a lawsuit that alleges the ex-mayor sexually assaulted a woman more than three decades earlier. The suit was filed while Adams was still mayor under a state law that extended the time limit to bring sexual assault lawsuits.

Adams has vehemently denied the allegations made against him in the lawsuit. The plaintiff, who has publicly identified herself as Lorna Beach-Mathura, claims he demanded a sexual favor in exchange for his help in advancing her career while they worked together in New York Citys transit police bureau in 1993.

According to the website of Shehu & Partners, a legal services office in Tirana, Albania allows foreign adults to acquire immediate citizenship when it is considered to be in the national interest of the country  provided they do not pose a public safety threat.

Adamss spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, said in a statement reported by New York television station WABC that Albanias decision to make his client a citizen reflects [an] enduring relationship and mutual respect.

Leaders around the world  have historically been recognized with honorary or dual citizenships as a symbol of international partnership and shared values, Shapiros statement continued, in part. This recognition [for Adams] further strengthens the bond between New York and Albania.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
A destructive, invasive giant rodent may have been deliberately reintroduced in California, posing a serious threat to the states fragile wetlands, wildlife officials said.

The species, known as nutria, is a large semi-aquatic rodent native to South America that can weigh up to 20 pounds and consume vast amounts of vegetation.

A first-of-its-kind genomic study found that nutria discovered in Merced County in 2017 are genetically linked to a population in central Oregon - which suggests the invasive rodents were illegally reintroduced to California by humans decades after being eradicated in the 1970s, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday.

Given where nutria were rediscovered in California, it is nearly impossible that they could have migrated there on their own, Michael Buchalski, Fish and Wildlife's wildlife genetics research lead, told SFGate. Its too far of a distance and we dont find any nutria in the areas in between. That makes human introduction the most likely scenario.

The motive behind the suspected reintroduction remains unclear, officials say. Some believe the nutria may have been released as a misguided attempt at vegetation control, while others suspect possible environmental sabotage, SFGate reports.

Nutria found in California are genetically linked to a population in central Oregon, suggesting they were illegally reintroduced by humans decades after being eradicated in the 1970s, officials said this week (Getty Images)

Someone may have thought they could be an effective natural way to manage aquatic vegetation on their private property, Buchalski said. Also, some people just really like nutria...Or it could have been malicious in hopes that they would cause environmental damage. Its hard to know.

Regardless of intent, the consequences could be severe. Nutria are known for aggressively feeding on aquatic plants, often consuming up to a quarter of their body weight daily, which can devastate marsh ecosystems and destroy habitats for native species. Their burrowing behavior also weakens levees and irrigation systems, increasing the risk of flooding and infrastructure failure.

Since 2017, the state has removed thousands of nutria and spends about $5 million each year to control the population, while also setting up inspection stations at key entry points as a first line of defense against further introductions.

Officials say the motive behind the suspected reintroduction is unclear, with theories ranging from a misguided attempt at vegetation control to possible intentional environmental sabotage (AFP via Getty Images)

Despite those efforts, officials warn that preventing additional human-assisted spread remains critical. The introduction and transport of nutria into California is illegal, and authorities stress that continued vigilance is necessary to protect the states ecosystems.

The results of this study additionally will benefit future national and global genetic research on nutria, Buchalski said in a statement.
Zack Polanski has admitted vetting its candidates will be a challenge, but insisted the party could not be complacent (PA)

The Green Party has been accused of supporting crackpot conspiracy theorists after a number of its local elections candidates appear to have made antisemitic remarks.

A dossier seen by The Independent showed that several prominent Green candidates have made such comments in social media posts. One candidate previously resigned from the Labour Party following allegations of antisemitism, while another argued that the October 7 attack on Israel, during which more than 1,200 were killed, was justified.

Leader Zack Polanski has previously admitted that his party may have to distance itself from the odd candidate as it seeks to vet them all in time for the elections on 7 May.

Mark Adderley, who is standing for Croydon Council, posted in February a conspiracy theory that Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu works for Jeffrey Epstein, the dead paedophile financier.

Commenting on a visit to the White House by the Israeli PM on his Instagram account, he said: Benjamin Netanyahu is doing Jeffrey Epsteins work as we speak. Jeffrey Epsteins blackmail, honey trap operation is being run right now by Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC.

Its no coincidence that every time there is a major flare-up, if you like, of the Epstein files or major moment where it is felt America could, or maybe will, attack Iran, he pops up back in Washington DC to make sure he gets the result he wants.

The Greens are expected to make hundreds of gains in council seats, as well as devolved parliament seats in Wales and Scotland, mostly at Labours expense.

Mr Polanski previously told The Independent that he hopes his party will replace Labour, and the by-election victory in the previously safe Labour seat of Gorton and Denton appeared to confirm that the partys momentum is growing.

Hannah Spencer won the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, becoming the Greens newest MP (PA)

But Labour chair Anna Turley warned that electing Green candidates could open the door to crackpot conspiracy theorists and called on Mr Polanski to take action.

She told The Independent: Its truly astounding that the Green Party is standing crackpot conspiracy theorists peddling rotten antisemitism.

Rather than throwing his arms open and welcoming them into his party, Zack Polanski should act. He must urgently withdraw his partys support for all of these candidates and make clear that these views are abhorrent.

Chandni Chopra, who is standing for Newcastle City Council, argued that the October 7 attack on Israel, which saw at least 828 civilians, including 36 children, murdered, was justified.

Days after the October 7 attack, Ms Chopra posted on Instagram: In the face of the biased mainstream media, it is apparent that the Palestinians' legal right to resist is being portrayed as barbarism and unwarranted.

Another candidate in West Sussex, Karen Sudan, resigned from the Labour Party following allegations of antisemitism.

Among her posts on X, formerly Twitter, was one in August 2018 where she accused the mainstream media of being too busy making up and/or exaggerating stories about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party to raise an outcry over other forms of racism.

Aziz Hakimi, a Green Party candidate for Camden Council, shared a post on Facebook claiming that the Golders Green attack on Jewish ambulances was a false flag and has also used his account to share a conspiracy theory on 9/11, blaming Zionists for the attack.

Speaking at the launch of his partys local elections campaign in Lewisham, southeast London, on Thursday, Mr Polanski was challenged about its vetting process following earlier claims of antisemitism.

He told PoliticsHome: I recognise were dealing with an immense amount of people very quickly, and so I wont be surprised if we have the odd candidate where we have to distance [ourselves] from them.

He continued: Im not planning to do that. But also, Im recognising up front that it is a challenge that you suddenly accept thousands of people and you say, OK, were putting your name on a ballot paper.

So were doing everything we can to make sure were doing due diligence. Well continue to do that. Were not being complacent about it for a second and recognise the scale of the task thats in front of us.

Earlier, the Green Party leader, who is Jewish, had used the launch to attack Israel again.

He said: Israel are behaving in a completely uncontrolled way, in a way that they seem to believe they have complete immunity to any kind of sanction or any kind of criticism."

He called for sanctions on Israel and a weapons sales ban.

Commenting on the dossier of candidates, a Greens spokesperson said: The deadline for candidate nominations has just closed and we will be investigating anything brought to our attention that doesnt fit with Green Party values and views.
Were working flat out, says Defence Secretary John Healey over the spending plan delay - Yui Mok/PA

Sir Keir Starmers spending plan to rearm Britains military will not be ready for months following almost a year of delay.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, repeatedly failed to confirm when the long-awaited defence investment plan would be unveiled.

The document will spell out exactly what the Government will spend on the military over the next decade. It was due last autumn, but is now unlikely to be published until June at the earliest, nine months late.

A funding dispute between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury is thought to be behind the delays, which industry insiders say have paralysed British defence firms while they wait for news on future investment contracts.

Asked on Friday about the timeline for the investment plans publication, Mr Healey told Sky News: Were working flat out. Were close to finalising it. You heard the Prime Minister last week saying hes personally giving his full attention. I know its a high priority for him, just like it is for me.

This is a 10-year plan. Its important we get it right. But most importantly, its not stopping us making some of the investment decisions we need.

John Healey, seen visiting Colchester Garrison in December, says the MoD is close to finalising the spending plan - Rosie Hallam

Challenged that he had not answered the question, the Defence Secretary said: Well, as the Prime Minister said, you know, were working flat out on this, will publish it as soon as possible.

Pushed on whether the timeline was days, weeks, months, Mr Healey refused to say but insisted: Its not stopping us making the big decisions necessary.

He was speaking during the opening day of the London Defence Conference.

Sir Keir has repeatedly been criticised over Labours handling of military spending and sluggish response to the crisis in the Middle East, which has provoked the fury of Donald Trump, the US president.

Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has rejected requests to increase spending on the Armed Forces amid fears of a 28bn funding shortfall in the defence budget over the next four years.

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said the investment plan delay was now beyond a joke and accused the Government of failing to prioritise military spending.

Healey promised the DIP to Parliament last autumn and it isnt good enough to keep repeating the working flat out mantra, he told The Telegraph.

The reality is that on Monday, Labour handed out billions more in benefits, scrapping the two-child limit. By prioritising welfare, Starmer is starving defence of the cash it needs and this is paralysing the MoD.

In a speech on Saturday, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, is expected to pile further pressure on the PM, demanding answers on when the defence investment plan will be published.

She is expected to tell the London Defence Conference: 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.

Kemi Badenoch and James Cartlidge have hit out at the delays to the defence investment plan - Peter Byrne/PA

Labour has accused the Tories of hollowing out Britains military during their 14-year stint in power. Mr Healey said the resulting problems were now deeply baked and that dealing with them would take time, adding on Friday: We wont fix those overnight.

The defence investment plan is meant to provide the blueprint for how the military will spend its budget and deliver the strategic defence review, unveiled last June, amid the increasing threat posed by Russia, China and Iran.

The delay has left defence companies demanding clarity. Last month, the boss of BAE Systems, Europes biggest defence contractor, urged ministers to publish the plan.

Meanwhile, a bill to put Britains industries on a war footing has also been delayed by a year.

The defence readiness bill, which would require key industries to prepare their workforce for the event of a conflict, was set to be laid before Parliament in this years Kings Speech. The legislation has been pushed back because preparation needed to make it work had not been done, The Times reported.

Industry bodies are concerned about the long-term impact of the delays, which could kill off many small or medium-sized businesses reliant on military contracts.

The MoD said 1,200 major defence contracts had been signed since July 2024 and that a new dedicated defence office for small business growth had been launched to boost small businesses.

This Government has overseen the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War, with 270bn investment across this Parliament. We are working to finalise the defence investment plan and will publish it as soon as possible, a spokesman said.
Everyone at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Georgetown, Texas, is in shock after a miraculous reunion six years in the making. It all began in spring 2020, when a tabby cat named Kitkat snuck out of her home and broke her mom's heart. Angelique Wetherelt spent months scouring the neighborhood, posting missing pet posters, and sharing her cat's picture online, but to no avail.

On March 25, six years later, everything changed. Kitkat arrived at the animal shelter, where they reunited her with her mom thanks to one important tool. Even though over half a decade had passed, Kitkat greeted her mom with all the love in the worldas if she'd never left!

Pass the tissues, please! The poor rescued cat looked so tired, but so relieved to see a familiar face. Still, I can only imagine how emotional the reunion must've been for Angelique!

It still doesnt feel realIm still in shock, she told WCRAS while at the shelter. The grieving cat mom had spent over five years missing her fur baby, so it could take a few days, or even weeks, before her return truly sinks in.

Related: Awestruck Man Reunites With Beloved Cat Over 10 Years After She Disappeared

It's unclear what Kitkat was up to during the years she was missing, but as soon as she saw her mom, it was like she never even left. "Even though its been a very long time," Angelique shared on Facebook, "she remembered us by greeting us with hugs and kisses."

But how did she find her way back to Angelique after so long? The shelter didn't share how she came to be at the shelter, but one important tool helped shelter staff reunite Kitkat with her worried mom.

Microchip Your Pets

Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter found Angelique's contact information through Kitkat's microchip! Contrary to popular belief, pet microchips can't locate animals as a GPS tracker can, but they can ensure a pet's true family is connected to it wherever it goes. Once someone finds the lost pet and scans the microchip, they can call the registered number and schedule a reunion!

This lost cat's story is an inspiring reminder to get pets microchipped and to update the chip's information regularly. If your cat or dog ever goes missing, as Kitkat did, whoever finds them will have a way to help them get back home.



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 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Inverness wages war on seagulls after coordinated attacks on children at Easter egg hunt

An Easter egg hunt was blighted by a string of seagull attacks, which reportedly saw a large group of the birds swoop on and strike children.

Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid) said its team witnessed 16 gull attack incidents during a city centre Easter egg hunt the organisation had put on last Friday and Saturday.

Bid ambassador Janice Worthing told The Telegraph: This included frequent and coordinated behaviour from adult gulls, watching for opportunities, calling others in, and repeatedly swooping at and, in some cases, striking members of the public, including young children.

Gulls are really quick and can strike suddenly and decisively.

Residents have now been urged to report further gull attacks. The behaviour of the birds has long been an issue in the city on the northeast coast of Scotland, where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth.

Gulls are really quick and can strike suddenly and decisively, says Janice Worthing (Getty/iStock)

As such, the Bid has a gull management strategy, which offers proactive steps for businesses, residents, and visitors to reduce problems associated with gulls in the city centre.

About the issues, it says: These birds have adapted to city life, using rooftops as nesting sites and scavenging for food from litter and waste.

While they are a natural part of our environment, their presence can lead to issues such as noise, mess, and aggressive behaviour, particularly during breeding season.

The organisation asks people not to feed the birds, to ensure rubbish is disposed of properly and to report any gull issues via its online portal.

Gulls cause noise, mess, and aggressive behaviour, particularly during breeding season in Inverness (Getty/iStock)

Highland Council said it will undertake an Inverness Gull Management Plan pilot project, which is designed to improve understanding of the gull population in and around Inverness and Nairn, and to identify the impacts gulls are having on our community.

This will involve a link on its website for people to provide and record Gull Impact Data, but a spokesperson stressed the local authority does not undertake gull control activities in public areas and has no statutory duty to do so.

The spokesperson told The Independent: The introduction of a dedicated gull impact reporting system is intended to identify locations across The Highlands where gull behaviour is affecting communities.

The data collected will help determine whether patterns or hotspots exist, and whether certain impacts are more prevalent, such as aggressive gull behaviour related to chick protection, or behaviours associated with food scavenging.

As different behaviours require different mitigation approaches, meaningful and reliable data will support a targeted and proportionate approach to advising on appropriate mitigation measures to reduce negative interactions between gulls and people.

The birds have adapted to city life, using rooftops as nesting sites and scavenging for food (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP)

Last year, the Scottish parliament was warned a nationwide summit to tackle Scotlands seagull population must be held before someone is seriously hurt or killed.

Former Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross called the debate in Holyrood, arguing the threat posed by nuisance gulls has escalated to a deadly level, with peoples lives now at risk.

Last September, the Scottish government announced 100,000 funding for communities across the country to tackle disruptive urban gull populations.
Irelands fuel supplies are facing critical shortages as a days-long blockade of major depots by hauliers and agricultural contractors continues to escalate.

The widespread action, now entering its fourth day, has prompted warnings of severe disruption to essential services and potential animal welfare issues across the country.

Protests, which began on Tuesday with slow-moving convoys and restricted access to Dublins streets, have intensified into blockades of key fuel distribution hubs, including a major oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, and depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick. Demonstrators are demanding further government action to address soaring fuel costs.

The Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, has announced it is entering an "enforcement" phase of its response, supported by the military. Social media footage from Thursday evening showed gardai warning protesters near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford that they faced arrest if they did not disperse peacefully.

Defence Minister Helen McEntee and Defence Forces Chief of Staff Rossa Mulcahy (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan and Defence Minister Helen McEntee confirmed that the Defence Forces "remain on standby" to assist police in clearing heavy vehicles.

The blockades have already led to forecourts running dry and widespread panic buying. Kevin McPartland, chief executive of Fuels For Ireland, warned that the number of affected service stations, currently in the "low double digits", would get "much, much worse".

He added that "panic buying has absolutely taken hold" and that "real significant life-death problems are going to be caused" due to threats to emergency service vehicle fuel supplies.

Vehicles take part on the third day of a National Fuel Protest against rising prices in OConnell St, Dublin (Bairbre Holmes/PA)

Irelands emergency planning group echoed these concerns, highlighting potential impacts on vital services, supply chains, and public transport.

While the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) stated that overall fuel supplies remain "robust and resilient", it cautioned that the obstruction of key routes is threatening the provision of animal feed, fertiliser, and other vital materials, risking animal welfare issues and agricultural livelihoods.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has also reported significant disruption, with people missing medical appointments and impacts on home care and critical treatments such as dialysis and cancer care.

People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublins M50 Northbound (Brian Lawless/PA)

The HSE further warned that the blockades could impede the time-sensitive delivery of essential medicines and medical devices. Some protesters may attend a meeting with the Government on Friday, originally scheduled for national representative bodies.
Steven Spielberg has insisted Christopher Nolan was the "better" choice to direct Interstellar.

Steven Spielberg worked on Interstellar for a year

The iconic filmmaker, who is set to return with Disclosure Day in June, has opened up about the work he did on the 2014 sci-fi epic for a year before Nolan's name was floated as a potential replacement at the helm.

Speaking to Empire magazine, Spielberg explained: I was involved with Interstellar for a year and I became fascinated with it.

I spent a lot of time at the [Jet Propulsion Laboratory] in Pasadena, California, talking to the scientists there and the aerospace engineers.

I actually hired Chris Nolans brother [Jonathan] to write the first and second draft for me, but it didnt stick.

Jonah actually said, If there comes a point where you decide not to make this movie, I can tell you whos gonna grab it. Hes already bugging me about it. And thats my brother Chris."

Spielberg admitted Nolan's brother was "absolutely right", and it was the best call for the movie.

He added: "He was absolutely right. The second I decided not to make it, Chris jumped on board, probably the next day.

"Interstellar was a much better movie in Chris Nolans hands than it would have been in mine.

The movie stars Matthew McConaughey as a NASA pilot on a space mission to save the planet from dying.

Last month, Nolan appeared at a screening of Interstellar with actor Timothee Chalamet - who worked on the film with the likes of Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastaine and Michael Caine - and opened up about being brought on board.

He told Chalamet: Right after we collaborated on Dark Knight, my brother got the job and went to work with Steven. I get to call him Steven. Hes Mr. Spielberg to you.

He worked on it for a lot of years. It had incredible ideas and moved through all these different iterations, but until Steven was ready to make it, whatever it is, it never quite got that momentum. Steven went off to do another film, so it became available.

He admitted he was "excited" by the project, and he was delighted to get to put his spin on the film.

He explained: I had a lot of conversations with Jonathan over the years and what he was doing and what his ambition was. I was excited by it.

"I was incredibly struck by his first act. I had been working on a time travel idea things looking at time. I had half-baked projects that I hadnt committed to.

"When it became available, it was a case of me saying to Jonathan, How would you feel if I took this and tried to combine it with some of my ideas and change a bit with what it was?

"He was fine with it. He could tell the spirit of what I was trying to do was to get to what he was initially excited about it.
Israels attack on Lebanon included strikes with heavy munitions in densely populated areas. Photograph: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images)

Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is no ceasefire in Lebanon and Israel would continue to strike Hezbollah with full force as the countrys military launched fresh strikes.



The Israeli prime ministers remarks and latest attacks on what the IDF called Hezbollah launch sites came shortly after Donald Trump said he had asked Netanyahu to be more low-key in Lebanon.

Later on Friday, a US state department official said Israel and Lebanon will hold talks in Washington next week. The announcement came as Netanyahu ordered his ministers to seek direct talks with Lebanon focused on disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Neither Israel nor Lebanon have publicly confirmed the US talks for next week.



Earlier, the Lebanese government had said a ceasefire must be agreed before any talks could begin.

In a written message, Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said the Islamic republic did not want war with the US and Israel, but would protect its rights as a nation, state television reported on Thursday.

We did not seek war and we do not want it, he said. But we will not renounce our legitimate rights under any circumstances, and in this respect, we consider the entire resistance front as a whole, he added, in an apparent reference to Lebanon.

More than 300 people were killed by Israeli bombing in the 24 hours after the announcement of a ceasefire in the Iran war on Tuesday night. The bombardment, ostensibly aimed at Hezbollah targets, included strikes with heavy munitions on densely populated areas, which drew outrage from the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international humanitarian organisations.

The ferocious attack on Lebanon threatened to derail hopes of a negotiated end to the war in Iran, which began with a US-Israeli attack on 28 February. Despite claims by the US president, Donald Trump, that the Pakistani-brokered ceasefire had marked significant progress towards bringing a durable peace to the Middle East, the truce looked in danger of collapsing on its first day.

Iran warned that, in response to the Israeli attacks after the ceasefire, it would once more close the strait of Hormuz, the economically critical waterway it had agreed to open for the two-week duration of the ceasefire. The countrys president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said negotiations were meaningless as long as Israel continued to bomb Lebanon, placing in doubt US-Iranian talks in Pakistan scheduled for Saturday. Pezeshkian vowed Iran would not abandon the Lebanese people.

According to Irans deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran had been held back from responding forcefully to Israels escalation in Lebanon by Pakistani intervention urging restraint in the interests of a broader peace agreement. Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned Israels ongoing aggression against Lebanon.

Netanyahu had insisted Lebanon was not included in the Tuesday night ceasefire agreed by Donald Trump, and vowed the Israeli military would continue to strike Hezbollah targets wherever necessary. The Israeli prime minister said his forces had killed the secretary of Hezbollahs leader, Naim Qassem.

Related: Did Israel attack Lebanon to spoil Iran war ceasefire as soon as it began?

Trump himself backed Netanyahus version, telling the public broadcaster PBS that Lebanon was not included in the deal because of Hezbollahs role. He referred to the conflict in Lebanon as a separate skirmish from the Iranian war and added: Thatll get taken care of, too. Its all right.

CNN reported that Netanyahus announcement of peace talks with Lebanon had come at the urging of the US president, who is keen to extricate the US from a war that he was persuaded to join by Netanyahu, according to multiple accounts of the lead-up to the conflict.

The US vice-president, JD Vance, assigned to lead the US delegation to peace talks in Pakistan, suggested there had been a legitimate misunderstanding on the geographic reach of the ceasefire deal.

Pakistan, which accelerated its mediation efforts after Trump threatened a civilisation-ending onslaught, has said Lebanon had been part of the agreement.

Robert Malley, a former American envoy who led earlier US-Iranian negotiations, said: I would trust the Pakistani mediator that Lebanon was included. They put out a statement that it was included and we did not hear any American correct the Pakistani version for many hours.

It looks like a case of the US reneging and giving the Israeli prime minister some more time [to bomb] before they are restrained.

Malley said the best-case scenario for peace talks in Pakistan was that the region was returned to the status quo before the US-Israeli attacks began on 28 February, with the strait of Hormuz open, and options for limiting Irans nuclear programme on the table along with some form of financial compensation for Tehran.

Authorities in Islamabad began implementing strict security measures in anticipation of the arrival of delegations for talks, expected to begin on Saturday.

As the future of the ceasefire looked in peril, Trump issued his latest ultimatum on social media, vowing a return to US attacks (as he put it, the Shootin Starts) if Iran failed to comply with the real agreement. He made clear that Tehran had to reopen the strait of Hormuz fully to international shipping, and that it should have no nuclear weapons. He did not mention Lebanon.

US allies have insisted the ceasefire should be comprehensive. A joint statement by the UK, EU countries, Canada and Japan called on all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon, where Israel is seeking to destroy the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement.

Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said on Thursday: Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the war, but Israels right to defend itself does not justify inflicting such massive destruction. Israeli strikes killed hundreds last night, making it hard to argue that such heavy-handed actions fall within self-defence.

Frances foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, condemned the Israeli strikes as unacceptable and his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, described them as deeply damaging, adding that failure to include Lebanon in the ceasefire would destabilise the whole region.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Keir Starmer spoke to Trump on Thursday about the next stage of finding a resolution for reopening the strait of Hormuz.

The prime minister set out his discussions with Gulf leaders and military planners in the region on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz, as well as the UKs efforts to convene partners to agree a viable plan.



They agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution.

Diplomatic efforts worldwide have focused on reopening the strait of Hormuz, the gateway to a fifth of the global flow of oil and liquefied natural gas. Only 11 ships  four Iranian, four Greek, one Chinese, one Omani and one unknown  were allowed to pass through the strait in the 24 hours after the ceasefire, less than a tenth of the prewar flow.

About 1,400 ships remain anchored in the Gulf, trapped first by the war then the uncertainty that has accompanied the vague and shaky truce. After an initial plunge in the global oil price after the announcement of the ceasefire, it began to creep up again towards $100 a barrel on Thursday.
JD Vance addresses reporters before flying to Pakistan via joint base Andrews near Washington DC on Friday. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Getty Images (Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Getty Images)

JD Vance has warned Iran not to try and play the US at talks planned for Saturday in Islamabad, while Tehran said it would not take part until Israel stopped its bombing of Lebanon.

The US vice-president made the comments as he boarded a plane to Pakistan for negotiations that could determine whether a ceasefire holds or the war on Iran resumes with grave implications for the global economy.

With hours to go before the talks were scheduled to start, doubts remained as to whether they actually would.

Meanwhile, it was announced Friday that Lebanon and Israel had agreed to meet in Washington DC on Tuesday to discuss a ceasefire and to set a date to begin talks. The date of the meeting was set during a phone call between Lebanons ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad; Israels ambassador to the US, Yehiel Leiter; and the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa. The conversation on Tuesday will be mediated by the US and take place at the state department.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans parliamentary speaker and the co-leader of the countrys delegation, said on X on Friday: Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Irans blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.

It was unclear on Friday evening whether Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, were still planning to fly to Islamabad to lead their delegation. It was reported last month that Israel had taken Ghalibaf and Araghchi off the target list of its bombing campaign at Washingtons request.

Donald Trump fuelled the uncertainty by saying US forces were rearming and ready to return to the attack if the negotiations failed.

We have a reset going. Were loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made  even better than what we did previously and we blew them apart, the US president told the New York Post. And if we dont have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.

Later on Friday, Trump followed up his threats with a post on his own social media site declaring: The Iranians dont seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!

The Iranians and the Pakistani mediators say the two-week ceasefire agreement struck by the US and Iran on the night of 7 April included Lebanon. Trump and Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, say this is not the case, and Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon in its offensive against Hezbollah, Irans closest ally in the region, even after Netanyahu said he was ready to start peace talks with the Lebanese government.

More than 300 Lebanese citizens have been killed by Israeli bombing since the ceasefire started. The countrys president, Joseph Aoun, said on Friday that 13 state security personnel had been killed in an Israeli strike on a government building in the southern city of Nabatieh.

Trump has accused Iran of doing a very poor job of allowing oil to go through the strait, adding in an overnight social media post: That is not the agreement we have!

Related: Explainer: What is in Irans 10-point ceasefire plan and will the US agree to it?

The oil price spike caused by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February, and Irans response by closing the strait of Hormuz to oil tankers and other shipping, is a direct political threat to the president before congressional elections in November.

Despite the uncertain outlook for the ceasefire, Vances tone was generally optimistic as he boarded Air Force Two. Were looking forward to the negotiation. I think its going to be positive, Vance said. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, were certainly willing to extend the open hand.

But, he added: If theyre going to try and play us, then theyre going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

Trumps all-purpose international negotiator, Steve Witkoff, was also expected to be in the US delegation, as was the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Witkoff and Kushner took part in talks with Iranian negotiators prior to the US-Israeli attack, which had been focused on Irans nuclear and missile programmes.

The Omani mediators of those talks, as well as UK government observers, believed meaningful progress had been made and were expecting another round of negotiations when the US and Israel launched their surprise attack on 28 February.

After more than five weeks of bombing, the campaign has killed Irans supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, but failed to dislodge the Islamic regime in Tehran. It has also inflicted heavy losses on Irans armed forces but they were still able to threaten shipping in the Hormuz strait and cut off the flow of a fifth of the worlds oil and liquified fossil gas.

The Islamabad talks are expected to focus on the reopening of the strait, as well as the future of Irans nuclear programme and the prospect of sanctions relief. Iran says it will also demand reparations for war damage. According to the Washington Post, Vances delegation intends to demand the release of Americans detained in Iran.

Advance teams from the US and Iran reportedly began to take up rooms on Friday in the five-star Serena hotel in central Islamabad, with Pakistani officials relaying messages between the two camps. Officials from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries were also arriving to represent their interests.

A 2-mile (3km) security perimeter was set up around the hotel by Pakistani security services, the city centre was locked down and a public holiday declared for Pakistans highest-level mediation effort on the world stage in recent times.

Hezbollah did not comment on news of the direct negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli governments, despite the groups historical opposition to any contact with Israel. The head of the armed group, Naim Qassem, in a written statement published on Friday afternoon, called on the Lebanese government to cease making gratuitous concessions, without making explicit mention of the negotiations.

We will not accept a return to the status quo, and we call upon those in authority to cease making gratuitous concessions, Qassem said, vowing to keep fighting and to expel the occupier.

The Lebanese army deployed additional soldiers across Beirut, with a strong presence by the prime ministers office, as the government sought to implement its decision to allow no arms outside state control in the countrys capital city. The decision was taken after Israels attack on Wednesday, which left at least 303 people dead.

Fighting has continued in south Lebanon despite the upcoming negotiations and Hezbollah claimed to have struck Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of Bint Jbeil.

Bint Jbeil carries historical and strategic significance because Hezbollah managed to keep Israeli forces out of the town in the 2006 war  earning it the moniker of the capital of resistance. The area is also key to controlling the central area of southern Lebanon because it sits at the crossroads of neighbouring towns and hills.

Hezbollah launched volleys of rockets at Israel throughout Friday.

Israel carried out airstrikes across Lebanon, killing 13 government security officers in an attack near the provincial governments headquarters in Nabatieh, according to Lebanons state security agency. It was the highest number of Lebanese security forces killed by Israel so far.

Lebanons government is not a party to the Hezbollah-Israel war but Israeli strikes have killed Lebanese soldiers over the course of the conflict.
Kamala Harris speaks at the National Action Network convention in New York on Friday. Photograph: Kyle Stevens/Shutterstock (Photograph: Kyle Stevens/Shutterstock)

Kamala Harris said she is thinking about running in the 2028 presidential election.

I might, I might. Im thinking about it, the former vice-president and 2024 candidate told the crowd at a gathering of the National Action Network (NAN), a civil rights organization founded by Al Sharpton, on Friday in New York City.

Expanding on her response to Sharptons question about a potential presidential bid, she added: I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States  I know what the job is and I know what it requires.

She said: Ive been traveling the country the last year, spending a lot of time in the south and many other places, and the one thing Im really clear about is  the status quo is not working and hasnt been working for a lot of people for a long time.

Speaking about the presidency, Harris added: Its got to be about the American people and thats how I think of it. I am thinking about it in the context of  who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people. Ill keep you posted.

Related: We cant lose: all eyes on potential 2028 Democratic contenders at big party gathering for this years midterms

Harris, who lost to Donald Trump, also criticized the president and the increasing erosion of the USs global alliances, saying he was the first president of the United States since world war two who does not believe in the alliances that we have with friendly nations  and the importance that that relationship bears on our standing around the world.

Addressing the USs war on Iran, Harris called it a war of choice, adding: While he struts around boasting about how he will annihilate a whole people, what he is in fact doing  is making us weaker, unreliable and less influential.

Harris also warned against the erosion of voting rights across the US, saying: They have been doing the work for years of building a supreme court that is configured as we now have it, and theyre about to make a decision on section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. She was referring to the clause requiring lawmakers to consider race when necessary to ensure fair representation of racial minorities.

I am sad to say, I do believe they are going to kill it, and that will mean that the legal tool that we have to be able to litigate in a court what are clearly racist-influenced laws to prevent certain people from voting  were going to lose the tool that we have had before, she warned.

Harris went on to urge voters to make sure that they check right now their voter status, adding: Dont wait until election day to see if, for example, your name got purged from the rolls.

She continued: Ask today for folks to check on their polling location, because part of this shell game theyve been playing includes closing the place where your mother and your grandmother always voted, so that on election day shes going to that local elementary school to find out its not a polling place any longer  so lets do some of the work right now.

In interviews since leaving office, Harris has not ruled out another presidential bid. Sharpton recently told Politico that Harris is an absolutely a potent force in the Black community and that he believes that she has been ignored, and were going to raise that at our convention.

Harris is also set to appear at a fundraiser for the South Carolina Democratic party next week.

Harriss appearance came as several of the Democratic partys most prominent figures  and potential 2028 presidential contenders  have also taken the stage alongside Sharpton at the NANs annual multi-day convention this week, where they have participated in discussions around the upcoming midterms, the issue of affordability, the war in Iran and the future of the Democratic party.

Elected officials who have spoken so far this week include Marylands governor, Wes Moore; Illinoiss governor, JB Pritzker; Pennsylvanias governor, Josh Shapiro; the California representative Ro Khanna; the Arizona senator Ruben Gallego; the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries; the Massachusetts representative Ayanna Pressley; and others.

Following Harris on Friday morning, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg suggested that he would be running in the 2028 election, too.

During their conversation, Sharpton asked Buttigieg: When you ran for president, you met me and we went up  to lunch at Sylvias restaurant in Harlem. Just so my calendar is clear, should I be reserving a table at Sylvias?

In response, Buttigieg said: You save your seat. Ill be there.

Like Harris, Buttigieg also lambasted the Trump administration and warned of the threat against voting rights across the country, saying: This administration has adopted a seek-and-destroy approach to anything that even looks like it might have something to do with helping disadvantaged communities.

He also urged stronger leadership across the Democratic party, saying: Nothing is stopping us but ourselves in our leadership. Thats why we need better leadership. Of course the other guys are bad but thats not all there is to it.

Maryland representative Glenn Ivey, the South Carolina representative Jim Clyburn and the New York district attorney, Alvin Bragg, are scheduled to speak. On Saturday, attenders are expected to hear from the Arizona senator Mark Kelly, the Florida representative Maxwell Frost and Kentuckys governor, Andy Beshear. (It has been reported that Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, and the New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were unable to attend.)
A sanctioned Russian tanker passing through the Channel - Julian Simmonds

Sir Keir Starmers empty words have laid bare the pitiful state of Britains defences more adeptly than any stinging barb from the White House ever could. Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister announced that Britain would be going after Vladimir Putins shadow fleet, with Downing Street insisting that UK waters, including the Channel would be closed off to sanctioned vessels.

Yet when two such shadow-fleet ships entered the Channel in the company of the Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, Britain did not interdict the vessels. In fact, it turns out that the Government fears such an action would have breached international law.

But it seems vanishingly unlikely the Navy would have been able to do so even if Lord Hermers legal advice had permitted such a basic act in defence of the nation. Britain can call upon the services of seven frigates and six destroyers in total, and not all are ready for action.

HMS Dragon was brought out of maintenance to defend Cyprus on March 10: it was announced this week that it would again be going into port for a short maintenance period. HMS Daring has largely been laid up since 2017. In their absence, Britain despatched a tanker from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).

It is hard to think of a more humbling state of affairs for a once-great military. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is taking on duties the Royal Navy apparently cannot perform; the RFA itself is facing a strike from its sailors in a long-running row over pay.

The journey of the Admiral Grigorovich through the Channel passed, on this occasion, without incident without incident. But it is a sobering thought that, if it had arrived with hostile intentions, we would have had limited capacity for intervention. For all the grand talk about Britains blue-water navy and our ambitions in defence of our allies in Asia, it is unclear that we can adequately defend the Channel.

We are an island nation, and our security rests first and foremost on the control of the waters that surround us.

It seems highly likely that Sir Keirs bold claims have made a bad situation even worse. Putin has called his bluff in the most humiliating fashion, demonstrating that the Prime Minister is incapable of translating his words into action. More than that, the Russian dictator has made the UK look ridiculous, calling into question the deterrent power of the few remaining military assets that the country still possesses.

The case for rebuilding the countrys Armed Forces was already urgent. Now it is even more pressing that the Government restore credibility to British defence.
A Sahrawi refugee girl picks-up the laundry in the Boujdour refugee camp, Algeria, Oct. 15, 2021 (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Mali has officially backed Moroccos plan to grant autonomy to Western Sahara while asserting sovereignty over the disputed region. The Malian transitional government announced its decision on Friday, endorsing a proposal aimed at ending the decades-long conflict between the Moroccan government and the indigenous Sahrawi people.

This shift includes Mali withdrawing its recognition of the separatist Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The move aligns with growing international support for Morocco's plan, which has found favour among African allies, the Trump administration in the U.S., and most European Union members.

In a statement, the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared: "the Republic of Mali supports the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as the only serious and credible basis for resolving this dispute and considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most realistic solution."

Western Sahara, a phosphate-rich coastal desert comparable in size to Colorado, was under Spanish rule until 1975. The territory is claimed by both Morocco and the Polisario Front, which operates from refugee camps in southwestern Algeria and claims to represent the Sahrawi people indigenous to the area.

A Sahrawi refugee woman stands at the door of her home in the Boujdour refugee camp, Algeria, on Oct. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File) (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

In October of 2025, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution placing Moroccos proposed autonomy plan for Western Sahara at the center of efforts to resolve the conflict. The resolution does not determine the territorys final status, but describes the Moroccan initiative as a serious, credible, and realistic basis for reaching a political solution.

The resolution referred to Moroccos plan as a basis for negotiation. As with similar resolutions in previous years, the text made no mention of a referendum on self-determination that includes independence as an option, which is the solution long favored by the pro-independence Polisario Front and its allies, including Algeria, Russia, and China.

After years of conflict, Western Sahara has recently emerged as a hot spot for investment, drawing European and American firms interested in fishing, agriculture and infrastructure projects that would allow for the transmission of wind and solar power.
Melania Trump has denied she ever had a relationship with or was a victim of Jeffrey Epstein in an unprecedented speech at the White House on Thursday.

The US first lady distanced herself from the late paedophile, denying any prior knowledge of his crimes and calling on Congress to uncover the truth about his associates.

It is unclear precisely why Mrs Trump, 55, decided to make her intervention now, with her speech coming with little explanation or context from the White House.

She rarely speaks to the media and has taken a relatively low profile for a first lady. It is the first time she has addressed her relationship with Epstein, which has long been the subject of rumour and speculation.

To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, [Ghislaine] Maxwell, Mrs Trump said.

She had, until now, avoided commenting on Epstein, whose scandal has dogged Donald Trump throughout his second term.

The US president has faced accusations about their 15-year friendship and has been forced to release documents held by the US government on the paedophile, known as the Epstein files.

Mr Trump denies having any prior knowledge of the financiers criminality and insists that he ended their friendship years before Epstein was first investigated by police in 2005.

Mr Trump and Epstein were friends, but the president maintains he cut off all contact before 2005

Mrs Trump said: Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now, adding that they were completely false.

She continued: I have never had any knowledge of Epsteins abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epsteins plane, and never visited his private island.

I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epsteins sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behaviour.

Later on Thursday, a group of Epsteins victims accused Mrs Trump of shifting the burden onto survivors to protect those with power.

Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice, they said in a joint statement, demanding the Trump administration release the remaining Epstein files.

The first lady has taken an uncompromising stance against those who make claims about her association with Epstein, repeatedly threatening legal action through her lawyers.

Michael Wolff, the author, who has written four books about Mr Trump and was given almost unfettered access to the White House in his first term, suggested she was introduced to her husband by Epstein.

Mr Trump and Epstein in a picture released in the Epstein files

Mrs Trump vehemently denied claims she met her husband through the paedophile. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998, she said.

The first lady said she had never been friends with Epstein, although they attended similar parties in Palm Beach and New York, and had overlapping social scenes.

Mrs Trump continued: The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000. At an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings.

Mrs Trump appeared to be referring to an event at which she was pictured alongside Epstein, Maxwell and her husband at a party on his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Donald and Melania Trump with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000. Mrs Trump insisted she only ever had a casual correspondence with Maxwell

She blamed the false smears on mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals, directly naming The Daily Beast, a US news outlet, and HarperCollins UK.

In July 2025, Wolff suggested on a Daily Beast podcast that Mrs Trump may have met her husband through the financier, saying Epstein was integral to her social circle.

The news website subsequently published an article based on the remarks. It was removed following legal action from Mrs Trumps team, and The Daily Beast published an apology in its place.

In October last year, HarperCollins UK issued an apology after the Andrew Lownie, the publisher and author, had to remove several passages of unverified claims about the first lady from Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, his book about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The passages made claims that Epstein facilitated a meeting between Mr and Mrs Trump before they married.

Mrs Trump denied meeting Epstein in any capacity other than through overlapping social scenes

In August, Mrs Trump threatened to sue Hunter Biden, the son of Joe Biden, the former US president, for $1bn when he repeated Wolffs claims in an interview.

The same month, James Carville, a former strategist for Bill Clinton, apologised and removed a YouTube video in which he said Mrs Trump met the president through the paedophile.

Unverified rumours have swirled on social media that Mrs Trump was in a relationship with Epstein.

In November, Congress passed legislation to force the US justice department to publish the documents it holds on Epstein.

Mr Trump fiercely resisted the move and only gave in when facing a rebellion from Republicans in Congress.

A spokesman for the president told The New York Times that he knew his wife was going to make the statement. However, speaking to MS Now shortly after the speech, Mr Trump claimed he did not know anything about it, a reporter posted to X.

Only three million of the Epstein files six million documents have been released, and many of them have been heavily redacted. Critics claim the justice department is trying to protect the late financiers conspirators.

Documents released from the files in January appeared to show that in 2002, Mrs Trump emailed Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking girls to the paedophile, praising an article about Epstein.

Nice story about JE [Jeffrey Epstein] in NY mag. You look great on the picture, she wrote.

The email from Mrs Trump to Maxwell which the future first lady, signed Love, Melania

In her speech, Mrs Trump insisted she never had a relationship with Maxwell beyond casual correspondence.

The first lady urged Congress to uncover the truth about Epsteins associates and to provide his victims with a hearing where they could tell their stories under oath if they wished to.

Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone, she said.

Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicised. Of course, this doesnt amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.

Why Mrs Trump has chosen now to lend her backing to the congressional investigation is unclear.

The committee has already secured testimony from prominent figures, including Mr Clinton, and Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and secretary of state.

Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, will give evidence next month.

Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral. She is serving a 20-year sentence prison for facilitating his sex trafficking - PA

Mrs Trumps call was welcomed by Democrats, including Robert Garcia, the ranking member on the House of Representatives oversight committee.

We agree with First Lady Melania Trumps call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, he said, calling for it to be scheduled immediately.

Mr Trumps administration has been accused of blocking the investigation into Epstein and his alleged conspirators.

Pam Bondi, the former US attorney general who has faced fierce criticism over the files, had been subpoenaed to appear before the congressional investigation, but will no longer do so after she was sacked by Mr Trump last week.

Her firing is understood to have been linked, in part, to what Mr Trump viewed as her poor handling of the Epstein saga.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson, the former ambassador to the US, have both declined summons from Congress.

Hunter Biden, HarperCollins UK, Wolff and Mr Carville have been approached for comment.
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U.S. service members are increasingly looking for ways to leave the military early rather than participate in President Donald Trumps Iran war, a report has alleged.

Almost 3,600 people, including at least 1,665 civilians, have been killed so far by the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Tehran that began on February 28, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Many soldiers have taken to calling the 24-hour GI Rights Hotline run by the nonprofit Center on Conscience and War to express their concerns and frustration, NPR reports.

Counseling director, Bill Galvin, told NPR he has noticed a sharp uptick in calls over the past month.

Serving members of the U.S. military are increasingly anxious about the Iran war and many are seeking means of ducking out early, rather than fight in a conflict they do not believe in, says the the Center on Conscience and War (Reuters)

The bombing of a girls' school on the first day of the war, which left 165 civilians dead, many of them children, was frequently mentioned by Galvins anonymous callers, he said. It comes up almost always. Its like, I cant be a part of something that's doing that.

It has been a mess, and many individuals feel frustration throughout the ranks, Galvin added.

An anonymous member of the Ohio Air National Guard told NPR he had been particularly incensed by the death of three members of his old base in a refueling plane accident over Iraq last month that claimed six lives.

I think it was the most angry I've ever felt in my life, he said. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to just leave and wash my hands of that place and just be done.

According to the broadcaster, a number of other commonly cited issues raised by callers predate the Iran war, including Trumps deployment of the National Guard to cities, deadly attacks on alleged drug trafficking boats, U.S. support for Israels actions in Gaza, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths anti-woke purges.

Rescue workers search through the rubble in the aftermath of the airstrike on a girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, an incident regularly mentioned on calls to the GI Rights Hotline (Mehr News Agency/AP)

As a result of the discontent, some are choosing to retire early or opt out of reenlisting when their contracts are up, NPR says, while others are applying for medical separation or are simply breaking their contracts with little regard for the consequences.

Still others are seeking advice about becoming conscientious objectors, a point of inquiry that has spiked 1,000 percent since the start of the war, the CCW says.

Applying to become a recognized objector to a war on moral grounds is a protracted process that requires a written statement, a psychological evaluation, an interview with a military chaplain and an investigating officer assigned to each case, but entering the process is enough for an active-duty recruit to be removed duties to which they object with immediate effect.

Weve had a lot of calls from people who dont identify as nonviolent or pacifists, said Steve Woolford, who also helps run the GI hotline.

They identify as everyday service members who are willing to defend the country but feel very unsettled and suspicious about the ways the military is being used now.

To date, 13 U.S. service members have been killed in the war with Iran (AFP/Getty)

People are very, very confused. The suspicion or distrust of the government seems to be much higher right now.

Mike Prysner, the CCWs director, said: When Iran hit, I think it was kind of like a detonator for all of those things that had been building.

Like Galvin, he noted that the line had received calls from people of all ranks: People with really accomplished careers, people in very elite jobs, people who are in Special Forces, people who are Top Gun fighter pilots, physicians, surgeons... Our highest-ranking CO client right now is a major in the military.

Speaking previously to The Virginian-Pilot, Prysner said: I havent heard from a single caller who said, Im scared of dying in a war I dont believe in. All of them are scared of killing people in a war they dont believe in.

For its part, the Pentagon has denied having any problem retaining troops, pointing out that the U.S. military has 1.3 million people enlisted and has ridden out a post-pandemic recruitment slump, with the Army, Navy and Air Force all meeting their targets in 2024.

There are zero retention concerns for Fiscal Year 2026, said Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson. Every service is meeting its targets, and any suggestion otherwise is completely false.

Leadership matters and men and women are excited to serve under the strong leadership of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said: President Trump has restored readiness, lethality and a focus on warfighters at the Department of War.
Travel presenter and former Monty Python star Sir Michael Palin is to visit the Philippines for a new 5 series.

The three-part Michael Palin In The Philippines, will see the 82-year-old explore the Asian countrys history and its present reputation as a tourist location, despite many in the country being in poverty.

Sir Michael said: I find these journeys for 5 irresistible and revealing. Rarely does anyone have the chance to get as close to the great issues of a country as we did in the Philippines.

The series is the latest in a line of travel shows Sir Michael has presented on 5 (Victoria Jones/PA) (Victoria Jones)

I was a little nervous of taking on yet another journey, especially one so testing on the energy levels, but what we heard and saw was extraordinary and very different from any of the journeys weve done so far.

A cracker, though I say it myself.

The show will see Sir Michael visit the countrys capital, Manilla, and the militarised island of Pagasa in the middle of the contested South China Sea, where finds himself in the middle of a conflict between Philippine and Chinese coastguard ships.

He will also visit beach camps in El Nido, travel through the underground rivers of Moalboal and see the destroyed city of Marawi.

Guy Davies, consultant editor for commissioning at 5, added: Michaels new series for 5 is as challenging, insightful, and visually stunning.

He is energetic and interested in peoples stories as ever. I still cant believe hes on his fifth consecutive journey for us, and hes as energetic, funny, and warm-hearted as ever.

The series will be accompanied by a book of the same name published by Hutchinson Heinemann, with a release date for the show yet to be announced.

Sir Michaels previous travel shows for 5 have seen him visit Venezuela, Nigeria, Iraq, and North Korea.

Having starred in Monty Pythons Flying Circus from 1969 to 1974, Sir Michael moved into travel programmes for the BBC with his Around The World In 80 Days With Michael Palin in 1989.
This handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA) shows Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf chairing a session in Tehran on February 1, 2026,

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved plans for Israel and Lebanon to hold peace talks in Washington next week which will be overseen by US Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

 Despite the ceasefire, Israel's military claimed that Hezbollah had launched a missile at Israel, triggering air raid sirens in parts of the country, including in Tel Aviv.

 Trump warned Iran against charging fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and said on social media that oil would flow "with or without" Iran's help.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
Cards close to his chest: Mikel Arteta wasnt giving much away on the Arsenal injury front (Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has hinted at more potential injury boosts for Arsenal against Bournemouth to go along with the return of Eberechi Eze.

England midfielder Eze is back in contention for Saturdays lunchtime clash in the Premier League after returning to training this week earlier than expected following a calf issue that has seen him miss the last three matches and withdraw from England duty.

He's available, Arsenal boss Arteta said of Eze at his pre-Bournemouth press conference on Friday. My first conversation with him after he felt a niggle, he wanted to be available the next week.

We knew that was impossible but the recovery, the will he's shown from day one to get back as quick as possible, how hes pushed the medical staff and himself to be there tomorrow. Its great to watch.

While Eze trained on Thursday, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were all absent, along with Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino.

Gunners captain Odegaard has endured an injury-hit season and only returned from a six-week absence with a knee problem last weekend when he started against Southampton.

Odegaard was in the starting lineup again in midweek for the win over Sporting, but went down off the ball in the second half and was replaced shortly afterwards.

Saka has not played since the Carabao Cup final, after which he pulled out of the England squad after initially joining up.

Saka was not involved against either Southampton or Sporting, but Arsenal had been hoping he would return in time for the resumption of the Premier League campaign.

Timber, meanwhile, has not played since he went off in the first half against Everton before the international break. It is believed to be a groin injury that the Dutch defender has been contending with.

Asked about Odegaard, Saka, Timber and Calafiori not training on Thursday, Arteta replied: Yeah have been changes since yesterday.

Pressed on if all four players would now be available for the visit of Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium, he said: I don't know, some of them.

On Hincapie, who was injured playing for Ecuador against Morocco last month, the manager responded: There will be changes tomorrow. Good try.

Arteta also offered a new update on Merino, who has been out since undergoing surgery on a rare and serious foot injury in early February.

He's going to push every boundary, Arteta said. He's out of his boot, doing quite a lot of exercises already.

He reacted really well to the surgery and he's got no pain. I'm sure there is a chance to make that period shorter - if there is a person that can make that shorter, it's Mikel.
A Metal Gear Solid movie is in development.

Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky will direct the Metal Gear Solid movie

Sony Pictures have tapped Final Destination: Bloodlines filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein to helm an adaptation of the pioneering Konami video game series that was created by Hideo Kojima.

It marks the first time that the video game title, a stealth combat game containing sci-fi and spy features, will be brought to the big screen.

The picture will be made as a part of Sony Pictures' first-look deal with Lipovsky and Stein's newly-launched company Wonderlab and is being produced by father-and-son duo Avi Arad and Ari Arad.

Lipovsky and Stein  who first met as competitors on Steven Spielberg's filmmaking reality show On the Lot - are already developing multiple projects for the studio, including an animated Venom movie and sci-fi epic The Earthling.

The pair said in a statement: "We are honoured to be partnering with the incredible executive team at Sony.

"While working with several Sony teams in the last year, we've been blown away by the level of creativity, thoughtfulness, and passion we felt in every conversation.

"We share the vision that the whole Sony team have for creating theatrical event films that entertain the world."

The filmmakers added of Metal Gear Solid: "Metal Gear Solid was nothing short of a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that forever revolutionised video games. We are thrilled and honoured to bring Hideo Kojima's iconic characters and unforgettable world to life."

Sony Pictures' Motion Picture Group President Sanford Panitch said: "Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive director/producers working today.

"With projects across all the company's film labels, we are so happy to create a home for them, and proud to have them as part of the Sony family."

A Metal Gear Solid movie has been in the pipeline for several years and filmmaker Jordan Vogt-Roberts  who was previously attached to helm the picture  revealed that it was hard to convince Hollywood studios to make the film because of the complex storyline and the patchy record of video game franchises being adapted for cinema.

The 41-year-old filmmaker said back in 2020: "Look, this is my baby. I've been working on this thing for six years, trying to make it so it is the disruptive, punk-rock, true to Metal Gear, true to Kojima-san version of what this is. I will continue to fight for it every day.

"It's a difficult thing, getting any movie made in Hollywood is hard. Getting something like Metal Gear made ... it is so complex (so) it's even harder. That's why I'm trying to make it for a budget where you can do crazy s***, where you can do the Metal Gear version of it where it isn't neutered."
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is more than a place to look at cool fish and marine life. It's a nonprofit public aquarium that aims to inspire ocean conservation and amazement in visitors of all ages. Best of all, it provides rescue, rehabilitation, and even a permanent home for ocean animals who may not survive in the wild.

Because of its role in animal rescue and rehab, many of the aquarium's most exciting residents are only there temporarily. This is why visitors have been flocking to Monterey ever since the California aquarium announced the addition of a brand new resident! This massive fish is one of the ocean's strangest creatures, and it's now available to visit on a temporary basis.

Meet the mola mola! These odd fish are also known as ocean sunfish because of the way they 'sunbathe' at the surface of the water, but they're normally found below the surface in tropical and temperate climates. Even so, many people never get to see these strange animals with their own eyes.

Related: Diver Absolutely 'Dwarfed' by Massive Ocean Sunfish in Jaw-Dropping Video

I have been lucky enough to see ocean sunfish several times at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The first time I saw one as a child, I was obsessed! These fish don't look like they should be able to swim, let alone thrive, in the vast ocean, but they somehow always find a way. I was also lucky enough to see the aquarium's newest resident for myself the day after this video was posted, though the fish was very shy and didn't come too close to the glass.

Ocean Sunfish at Monterey Bay AquariumImage via Gabrielle LaFrank (Image via Gabrielle LaFrank)

It was heartwarming to know I wasn't the only person fangirling over this special animal. Another person commented, "I went to your aquarium when I was a teen and was completely mesmerized by them! I sat on the stairs and watched them for like well over an hour. You had, I think, 3 or 4 of them at the time."

It's hard to forget such a memorable fish! The mola mola may not be as well-known as sharks, dolphins, or even angler fish, but they make an impact on those who notice them. They even make an appearance in the Animal Crossing video games alongside a cheesy joke: "I caught an ocean sunfish! Good thing I'm wearing ocean sunscreen!"

Sunfish Facts

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's informational video about their newest resident was chock-full of interesting facts, but it only scratched the surface of sunfish knowledge. Did you know that the mola mola is the largest bony fish in the entire ocean? With a weight up to 5000 pounds and a size over 10 feet long, these sea pancakes can grow to behemoth sizes.

If you're hoping to see a record-breaking mola mola in Monterey, however, you might be disappointed. Not only do the sunfish off the coast of California only grow to around 1000 pounds, but they're also returned to the sea when they grow to a certain size. One commenter learned this at their recent trip to the aquarium when a staff member explained that a recent sunfish resident got airlifted out.

That gives a whole new meaning to 'flying fish!' These bizarre critters couldn't be more fascinating, so be sure to visit them at the Monterey Bay Aquarium while you still can!



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What does the EUs new entry-exit system mean for British travellers?

The EU plans to take fingerprints and facial biometrics from British travellers to Europe are supposed to be complete  but there are many teething problems. The long-awaited entry-exit system (EES) was due to be rolled out over the course of 180 days from 12 October 2025 to 9 April 2026. It applies to all third-country non-visa nationals including UK passport holders.

The aims of the EES are:

To identify suspected criminals.

To combat identity fraud.

To police the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days that applies to UK and other nationalities.

The entry-exit system was initially developed while the UK was a member of the EU. After Brexit, Boris Johnsons government negotiated for British travellers to become third-country nationals, and therefore subject to the EES.

The entry-exit system applies to the Schengen Area, comprising all EU nations except Ireland plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

UK visitors to the Schengen area should see an end to entry and exit passport stamps (Charlotte Hindle)

British travellers, like other third-country nationals who enter without a visa, are restricted to 90 days stay in any 180 days within the Schengen area. But enforcement previously depended on checking passport stamps and is applied haphazardly.

The entry-exit system is supposed to connect every frontier in the Schengen area with a central database.

Any UK citizen with the good fortune to have an Irish (or other EU) passport can use that document: skip the queues, swerve the fingerprinting.

The procedure for Irish citizens has not changed. When entering or leaving the Schengen Area, they will simply be matched with their passport or passport card  no fingerprinting or facial biometric, and fast-track processing.

What is the entry-exit system?

The most modern digital border management system in the world, according to the European Commission. An automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals who are travelling to the EU for a short stay.

The system aims to capture data from all third-country nationals when they either enter or leave at an external Schengen border  such as flying from the UK to Spain or crossing by road from Greece to Turkey. It is not used at internal frontiers within the Schengen Area.

EES registers the date and place of entry or exit. The first time a traveller encounters the entry-exit system, they are supposed to provide fingerprints and a facial biometric. But as The Independent revealed, demands for biometrics at every frontier have been quietly dropped by Brussels.

This procedure, says the European Union, replaces the current system of manual stamping of passports, which is time-consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings, and does not allow a systematic detection of overstayers.

How do the border checks work?

Inbound and outbound passengers go through the formalities at airports, land borders and ports in the Schengen area on arrival and departure.

Three locations in the UK have juxtaposed border controls, with French frontier police conducting checks on British soil: at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnels Folkestone terminal and the Eurostar hub at London St Pancras.

There is a supposed to be a difference between the first time you cross a Schengen area frontier where entry-exit system is in operation and subsequent entries and exits.

Initial crossing: Registration of your personal details, including fingerprints (not for under-12s) as well as a facial biometric.

Subsequent entries and exits: Facial biometric only.

But many British travellers report being asked for both face and fingerprints on multiple occasions.

How long does registration last?

Each new visit triggers another three years of validity of the initial registration. In other words, if you dont cross a Schengen area frontier for three years, you will need to register again. It has been suggested that registration runs out when your passport does, but my reading of the legislation indicates that is not correct.

Unlike many border arrangements, the entry-exit system is concerned with the person, not the passport. The EES database has a record of Simon Peter Ritchie Calder, born in Crawley on Christmas Day 1955, with fingerprints and facial biometric ascribed to that person. The biographical information is extracted from whichever passport I happen to provide at the moment of registration.

On subsequent visits, the EES is agnostic about the passport I provide with name plus place and date of birth, so long as the biometric (overwhelmingly likely to be face rather than fingerprints) matches the record of that person.

This makes sense as it should end an illicit practice. At present people with two passports (whether both UK, or one British and one Australian, Canadian, etc) can stay more or less permanently  making judicious side-trips out of the Schengen area on one passport and back again on the other. Truck drivers in the Balkans have reportedly been caught using such techniques.

There are also reports of multiple registration being required in locations including Spain, Greece. Belgium and Switzerland.

Do I need to pay anything to use EES?

No, payment starts, in theory, later in 2026 with the Etias permit (see more below). Etias is dependent on the entry-exit system running smoothly.

When I get a new passport, must I register again?

Not according to the official Procedures for entering data in the EES. It says that if the third-country national presents a valid travel document which differs from the one that was previously recorded (ie a new passport), the individuals online file will be updated with the fresh details.

I am only changing planes at an EU airport. Must I go through the entry-exit system?

It depends on your routing and final destination, and also on the way you have booked the travel.

You will not need to go through the entry-exit system if the answers to the following are both affirmative:

Flying from the UK into Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris CDG or another hub, and connecting straight to a destination outside the Schengen area.

Travelling on a through ticket, eg Manchester-Munich-Mumbai on Lufthansa or Bristol-Paris-Dubai on Air France.

But you will need to go through EES if any of the following applies:

You are connecting to a final destination in the Schengen area, eg KLM from Newcastle via Amsterdam to Rome.

Your routing involves a segment wholly within the Schengen area, eg Edinburgh-Frankfurt-Munich-Seoul (where the Frankfurt-Munich leg triggers the entry-exit system).

You are self-connecting, eg flying London-Lisbon on easyJet and transferring onwards to the Cape Verde islands, also on easyJet. You must go through Portuguese immigration, including EES, before beginning the departure process again.

I am on a cruise from a British port. When do I register?

If you are returning on the vessel to the UK, probably never. The Home Office says: Sailings that start and finish their journey outside of the Schengen area (for example, at a UK port) will generally be exempt from EES checks, including for any day trips into the Schengen area that are part of their itinerary.

If you leave the ship in a Schengen area port, you will need to go through the entry-exit system at that location.

Is it all going according to plan?

No. The Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar have invested heavily and now believe they can handle outbound passengers without undue delay. Eurotunnel expects the procedure to add two minutes per traveller using LeShuttle between Folkestone and Calais, and that it can process 700 cars per hour. But motorists and passengers at these departure points are being processed manually, rather than using the kiosks.

At London St Pancras International, three locations have been set up with EES kiosks for registration of passengers documents. But none of these facilities is currently being used.

Across the Schengen area, biometric checks can be suspended if queues build up. Greece has gone one better (or, from Brussels point of view, worse) by declaring British passport holders are now exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.

Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, says this unilateral move, is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.

Must I provide proof of travel insurance?

The standard Schengen area requirements are unaffected by the introduction of the entry-exit system. A third-country national must:

Justify the purpose of the intended stay (for example tourism, business or a family visit).

Demonstrate sufficient means of subsistence for their stay.

Provide evidence that they will return to their country of origin  or continue to a third country where they are sure to be admitted.

Each member state can set its own criteria for the amount of funds the traveller must have available. France has chosen to resurrect a dormant demand for travellers to possess medical insurance. It is the only Schengen area country that requires insurance.

What is Etias and when does it start?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) is the next step in tightening frontier controls. It is an online permit, price 20 (17), for third-country nationals who do not require visas. It is similar to the US Esta scheme, but valid for longer: three years. While those under 18 or over 70 will still need to apply for and hold an Etias, it will be free.

In order to work, Etias requires EES to be fully operational. Once the entry-exit system is completed and is running smoothly, Etias is set to follow six months later.

But initially a six-month grace period will be granted  so it will not be mandatory for prospective UK visitors to apply online for permission to enter the Schengen Area for at least a year after the complete introduction of EES, which may be some time in 2027.

Is Etias a visa?

Officially, no. Europe says that Etias is a pre-travel authorisation system. It is a similar concept to the US Esta, the Canadian eTA and the British ETA, which are not technically visas. They are issued to international travellers who do not require a full visa.

But as Etias requires visitors to apply in advance, provide lots of personal information, pay money and be issued with a permit to cross a border, it is not surprising that it is commonly termed a euro-visa.

How will I apply?

When finally the EU is ready, at the heart of the system is an Etias app and website.

You must provide all the usual personal details: name, date and place of birth, gender, home and email addresses, phone number(s), passport number and expiry date.

In addition you must give:

Your parents names.

Your level of education.

Your current occupation (including job title and employer, or educational establishment if you are a student).

The reason for the journey (holiday, business, visiting family, etc)

The country, and specific address, of your first nights stay in the Schengen area.

(On the last point, the European Union helpfully points out that you are not bound to stick to that nominated location: Once you have your travel authorisation in hand, you can change your plans.)

You are required to reveal:

Any criminal convictions

Past travels to war or conflict zones

Whether you have recently been deported from the Schengen area.

I have a criminal conviction from long ago. Will I face problems?

Nothing will change with the entry-exit system. The EES is nothing more than the long-overdue digitisation of frontiers of the Schengen area, and personal background is not relevant. But in October 2026, if all goes according to plan, ones history becomes of interest with the introduction of Etias.

It will be incumbent on the prospective visitor to answer truthfully on details about any past criminal convictions. But every indication is that only serious crimes (which I infer as those with a substantial prison sentence attached) and terrorist offences could result in an application for Etias being rejected. This is in marked contrast with the US Esta, for which convicted criminals cannot register.

What happens to the information I provide?

Every Etias application will be checked against EU and relevant Interpol databases, as well as a dedicated Etias watch-list.

The system will be tuned to pick out individuals suspected of being involved in terrorism, armed robbery, child pornography, fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, people smuggling, trafficking in endangered animal species, counterfeiting and industrial espionage.

Is Etias going to be the next online scam?

Yes, As with other online travel permits, commercial intermediaries are allowed  but according to Frontex, the EU organisation implementing Etias, there are many scam sites out there that are likely to apply fees way above the basic 20.

Any site other than europa.eu/etias is unofficial and should not be trusted.

One imposter site, based in California, claims Etias will be operational from 2025.

Another site offers a 40 per cent discount for early applications. Some use the EU logo, which is illegal.

Frontex, the EU border control agency, also warns about the risk of identity theft if you provide personal information to an imposter site.

How far in advance must I apply?

The European Union says: We strongly advise you to obtain the Etias travel authorisation before you buy your tickets and book your hotels.

The aim is for an Etias to be granted within minutes, though even a straightforward application could take up to four days.

If an application is flagged (ie there is a hit with one of the databases) the applicant may be asked to provide additional information. Alternatively, says the EU, the applicant may be asked to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to additional 30 days.

Assuming yours is granted, there is no certificate issued, and nothing needs to be printed. The frontier guard will get the information he or she needs from the passport you used to apply.

In a case of mistaken identity, will I be able to appeal?

Yes. Details of how to appeal will be included with the notice of rejection.

Once I have an Etias, am I guaranteed admission to the Schengen Area?

No. Mere possession of a travel authorisation does not confer an automatic right of entry, says the EU. As with the US, travellers can be turned away for any reason.

There is likely to be a mechanism in place for an Etias to be rescinded.

Do I need to apply for an Etias every time I travel to Europe?

No. The permit will be valid for three years, or until your passport runs out, whichever is the earlier.

Will I need an Etias to travel to Ireland?

No. The Common Travel Area incorporating the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands transcends European Union rules, and in any event, Ireland is not in the Schengen area.

If I have a long-stay permit from one of the EU nations, must I obtain an Etias?

No.

How are people without internet access supposed to apply?

They will be expected to get a friend, a family member or a travel agent to make the application for them, in the same way as the US Esta and similar schemes.

Just remind me about the 90/180 day rule?

This rule, to which the UK asked to be subject after leaving the European Union, means that British travellers cannot stay more than 90 days in any stretch of 180 days.

As an example of what it means: were you to spend the first three months of 2026 in the Schengen area, you would have to leave on 31 March and could not return until 90 days later, ie 30 June.

Is the UK being punished because of Brexit?

No. Work on strengthening the European Unions external border began a decade ago. British officials participated in initial planning for the entry-exit system and online registration for third-country nationals.

The UK asked to be subject to all the extra red tape that everyone already knew was on the horizon. The EU agreed. So Brussels is delivering exactly what the British asked for.

Had we remained in the EU but outside Schengen, would we still be subject to all the new red tape?

No. Were the UK still in the EU, neither EES nor Etias would affect British passport holders.

Citizens of Ireland, which is in the EU but outside Schengen, need not go through the entry-exit rigmarole nor get an Etias. They simply have their passport/ID checked on arrival and departure, usually via a fast-track line.

Thats what the UK chose to give up.

Whats the back story behind the delays?

Originally the entry-exit system was due to start in 2021. But the body responsible for implementation  the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (EU-Lisa)  has repeatedly pushed back the date because the database was far from ready.

In August 2024, the EUs Home Affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, said: I have decided that the entry/exit system will enter into operations on 10 November. That will be a great day  entry-exit system day. But a month before the big day, ministers decided to postpone the introduction.

Many airports, ports and railway stations have already installed expensive equipment, which has been lying unused. Officials in Brussels then kicked the can down the road to October 2025  with a full roll out due to be completed by April 2026. But this latest deadliine has also been missed, with 7 September 2026 the new latest date for 100 per cent EES compatibility.

This piece was first published in August 2025 and is kept updated with the latest information

Additional research by Dr Nick Brown
FILE - President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla.

Israel and Lebanon will hold talks in Washington next week, a State Department official said Thursday, amid mounting international concerns that Israel's bombing campaign could shatter an already fragile US-Iran ceasefire.

Israel's heaviest strikes on Lebanon since Hezbollah entered the Middle East war in early March killed hundreds on Wednesday, rattling the uneasy truce between Washington and Tehran less than 48 hours after it came into force.

Read moreIran-US truce on brink as Israel pounds Lebanon, Tehran warns of escalation

"We can confirm that the Department will host a meeting next week to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon," the US official said.

The announcement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his ministers to seek direct talks with Lebanon focused on disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah.

But a Lebanese government official told AFP that Beirut required a truce before entering any negotiations with Israel.

Neither Israel nor Lebanon have publicly confirmed the US talks for next week, and Israel's latest strikes drew sharp rebuke from Iranian and Pakistani officials ahead of talks in Islamabad that are expected to focus on a key US demand: reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Hezbollah said it was engaged in close quarters combat against Israeli forces on the ground in southern Lebanon on Thursday, a day after Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes killed at least 303 people and wounded 1,150.

Israel's army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited ground troops inside Lebanon on Thursday, telling them Hezbollah had suffered a "heavy blow" from the strikes a day earlier.

In a sign that the violence could continue, Israel's military on Thursday issued a new evacuation order for Beirut's southern suburbs and said it was striking Hezbollah launch sites in Lebanon.

Theyre wrong

Israel's refusal to halt operations in Lebanon has cast a shadow over expected peace talks in Pakistan.

The two-week truce was agreed to allow negotiations between US and Iranian officials aimed at ending a conflict that has already killed thousands and plunged the global economy into turmoil.

Iranian officials said Israel's strikes had rendered the Pakistan talks "meaningless" and that Lebanon was an "inseparable part of the ceasefire."

Tehran's ambassador to Pakistan meanwhile deleted a social media post saying an Iranian delegation would arrive in the country on Thursday, and an official at the Iranian embassy in Islamabad told AFP the post was removed "because of some issues," refusing to say whether the delegation was still expected.

Still, Vice President JD Vance is due to lead the US delegation on Saturday, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Fresh fractures in the mediation process emerged when Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif posted a sharp criticism of Israel's strikes on Lebanon Thursday evening.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity  while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon," he wrote on X, adding that he hoped "people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land" would "burn in hell."

The Israeli Prime Minister's office called the remarks "outrageous," saying: "This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace."

Pakistan does not formally recognise Israel  a fact that could complicate its mediatory role  and has insisted the ceasefire includes Lebanon, which Israel disputes.

Fearing the truce may be in jeopardy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz  echoing worries in other capitals  warned that the destruction in Lebanon could cause "the peace process as a whole to fail."

"Let's be really clear about it, they're wrong," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV News when asked about Israel's insistence that Lebanon was not covered by the ceasefire.

Netanyahu, who insists Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire, said his message was clear: "Anyone who acts against Israeli civilians, we will strike them. We will continue to hit Hezbollah wherever necessary."

Trump told NBC News that Israel was "scaling back" strikes in Lebanon and that Netanyahu had assured him its attacks would become more "low-key."

Poor job

If the Pakistan talks go ahead, a key point of contention remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil as well as vast quantities of natural gas and fertiliser pass in peacetime.

Trump on Thursday accused Iran of doing a "very poor job" of allowing oil through the strait and of breaching the terms of their ceasefire agreement.

In a barrage of social media posts that sparked fresh fears for the shaky truce, he also warned Tehran against imposing a toll on ships passing through the crucial waterway.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonourable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said on Truth Social. "That is not the agreement we have!"

MarineTraffic data showed that the Gabon-flagged MSG passed through the strait on Thursday, the first non-Iranian oil tanker to do so since the ceasefire was announced.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Nicola Sturgeon has revealed that the dissolution of her marriage involved factors beyond the alleged crimes of her husband.

The former first minister of Scotland also alluded to a potential secret rendezvous that may have recently occurred.

Speaking on ITVs The Assembly, Ms Sturgeon shared her feeling that her miscarriage happened because she did not want her baby enough. indicating she is still grappling with the emotional aftermath.

She also described her arrest by Police Scotland in 2023 as horrible, explaining that she entered a shutdown state and continues to try and block the experience from her memory.

The 55-year-old also reflected on her late predecessor, Alex Salmond, expressing a hope that he would have acknowledged the breakdown in their relationship wasnt your fault.

Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell announced their intention to divorce in 2025 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Ms Sturgeon, who has just stepped down as an MSP ahead of the Holyrood election in May, faced questions from an audience of autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled people on the hit programme.

Asked how it felt being separated from Peter Murrell, who was the SNPs chief executive for more than two decades, Ms Sturgeon said: Theres been a lot of public coverage of my husband being accused of crime and stuff, and so that is what everybody thinks it will be.

Im not saying thats not a factor, because when youre faced with something like that, it completely blows your world.

But I think, if Im being honest, I think it was probably more than that.

Ive been this very career-focused politician all my life, and now Im going into a new phase of life where I want to find out a bit more about who I am as a person, not just as a politician. You change.

Sturgeon says the end of her marriage was probably about more than Murrells arrest (PA Wire)

Asked if she had had any secret rendezvous lately, Ms Sturgeon said: I hope in this whole recording that Im going to do a politician answer, which is, maybe.

This is one of these moments where youre going to have to judge from my body language and read between the lines.

Ms Sturgeon announced in January 2025 that she and Mr Murrell had decided to end their marriage after being separated for some time.

Mr Murrell has been charged with embezzling 460,000 of SNP funds and is due to face trial in late May.

In June 2023, Ms Sturgeon was arrested by police in Operation Branchform, which looked into the SNPs finances. But she was released without charge.

It was a horrible thing, she said, reflecting on her arrest. It was not good. I would not recommend it.

I think I sort of put myself into some kind of shutdown state, and since then Ive just tried to blank it out of my head.

Ms Sturgeon, Scotlands longest-serving first minister, also opened up about her experience of miscarriage when she was 40.

She began to tear up as one member of The Assembly mentioned the name of Ms Sturgeons miscarried baby, Isla Margaret.

The mention of her name just got me, she said, holding back tears. I think at the time, I didnt want people to say anything to me, because I didnt really know how I felt about it.

The thing I felt most was guilt, because at first, I hadnt been sure that I wanted to have the baby and I was really worried that it would get in the way of my career and everything.

Then when I lost her, I dont know if she was a girl, I always decided, I always thought she was a girl.

When I lost the baby, I just had this overwhelming feeling that it was my fault because I hadnt wanted her enough.

Ms Sturgeon added that it was the kind of thing you thought you got over and then suddenly, sitting on television, somebody mentions her name, and you realise deep down inside you kind of havent.

Sturgeon pictured with the late Alex Salmond in 2014 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Turning to her political career, she named Mr Salmond, her former mentor, as the person in politics she had learned the most from.

The pair formed one of the most successful political partnerships in UK history, winning every election campaign led by one or both of them north of the border since 2007.

But after allegations of harassment were made against Mr Salmond by two women during his time as first minister, their relationship began to deteriorate before severing completely.

Mr Salmond was cleared of a number of charges of sexual misconduct, including attempted rape, following a trial in 2020.

He died suddenly of a heart attack in October in North Macedonia at the age of 69.

Ms Sturgeon said she felt really sad when he died, saying she had a real sense of grief which was made worse because she could not attend his funeral.

She went on: The thing I wished, which I think I also knew would never, ever happen, is that he would say to me, Yeah, it wasnt your fault what happened?

Even if he wasnt going to admit that it was his fault, that he would say, Look, I know it wasnt you that did this to me, and Im sorry for suggesting that it was.

I think I would have loved at some point for him to say that, but I knew he wasnt the type of person who would ever do that.

The Assembly continues at 10pm on Friday on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Afghan women Faryal Ghaznawi, Sakina Yousufi and Farida Hamidi are studying in Britain as part of the Chevening scholarship, a masters programme funded by the British Government

It has been an interesting first year for the Cambridge University Society of Women. Ive been branded a Terf (trans-exclusionary radical feminist); gender-obsessed critics have tried to shut us down and members of our group have faced persistent hostility online.

All of this hatred stems from the fact that we believe in the reality of biological sex and define a woman in those terms. Before Easter, when we hosted three incredible Afghan women who have lived under the Talibans misogynistic rule, it was hard not to notice the stark contrast. As I expected, none of our fierce critics attended the Afghans talk. They missed out.

Faryal Ghaznawi, Farida Hamidi and Sakina Yousufi, who spoke to an intimate audience of around 30 people, are here on the Chevening scholarship, a one-year masters programme funded by the Government, aimed at outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world. These are women who understand, in the most concrete terms, what biological sex means  because it is precisely on that basis that they are oppressed.

Thea Sewell (centre) co-founded the Cambridge University Society of Women with friends Maeve Halligan (left) and Serena Worley (right) after being hounded for their views about sex and gender - John Lawrence

All three of our speakers know what it feels like to really struggle. Sakina had to lie to the Taliban, surrender her passport at gunpoint, and persuade a stranger to pose as her male guardian so she could get to Britain. When she was stopped and questioned, she said she was travelling abroad for medical treatment. Had the truth emerged, she might have been imprisoned or killed.

After the bans on female education, Faryal worked undercover as a mental health and psychosocial support officer. She travelled across provinces to provide therapy for women who had experienced rape and forced marriage. Faryal told us about a 13-year-old girl sold into marriage to a much older man. The girl was beaten, subjected to sexual abuse and forced to do domestic labour.

Just thinking about it refreshes the wounds on my heart, she confided.

Farida meanwhile trained women to run small, home-based businesses in a system that permits little else. Under Taliban rule, women are largely prevented from working at all. Entire households are left without income, particularly those with no adult males. Without her efforts, many would have had nothing.

As for Sakina, she delivered humanitarian support to impoverished families, using technology to connect them with food and other basic resources. At the same time, she mentored more than 60 girls in coding, equipping them with the skills needed to pursue remote work. She did all this while living under the same restrictions that continue to oppress women.

The Taliban banned women from training as nurses and midwives in Afghanistan - SAMIULLAH POPAL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Equally striking was how the these three heroines spoke about education. It was not an abstraction or a luxury. It was a lifeline; a condition of survival. One of them put it simply: When the body is trapped, the mind has to become a palace.

And it was, in part, through the contrast with that mental refuge that the freedoms of Britain came into focus. Farida arrived in England in the evening. She had never been outside at night. She stood there, realising she could do so without fear, and thought: This is life, this is peace.

The morning after the talk, we went punting through Cambridge. It was fun, but the day kept catching on small things: the ease with which they walked through the streets, the fact that they could speak freely.

The night before, over dinner, we had laughed over mispronounced words as we compared languages. We also debated what counted as good British food.

There was a lightness to it, but it sat alongside something else  a kind of contained grief that surfaced every now and then. We cried more than once. Not because of any one moment, but because of everything that had led to them being there.

Now, partway through their masters programmes, what does the future hold? It is surely unthinkable that they should be forced to return to imprisonment whether figurative or literal  in Afghanistan.

And yet, during the talk, they told us that the Foreign Office suspended Afghan participation in the next round of the Chevening scheme following the Home Offices blanket ban on student visas for Afghans. It means that the latest cohort are now trapped in Afghanistan, having been told they cant come. What will happen to them?

I am truly afraid for these women. Having survived fanatics waving guns, they might fall victim to the soft malice of political indifference.

Ms Mahmood justified the ban on the grounds that Afghan students (as well as those from Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan) have shown a high propensity to claim asylum once in the UK, describing this as an abuse of the system.

It is true that many do. But the number of Afghan Chevening scholars is negligible, and excluding them does nothing to relieve wider pressures. Including them in the ban is not a serious intervention; it is political posturing.

Chevening admits only around ten Afghan candidates each year through rigorous academic and leadership criteria. When arguing that Britain should keep its doors open, it is this group I have in mind: students selected under the most exacting standards, not opportunists seeking entry by other means.

The scholarship recognises more than academic success; it identifies individuals who have continued to work, study and lead under conditions designed to prevent precisely that. These are not typical visa applicants. Excluding them is not preventing abuse.

As for those at Cambridge who targeted me simply for believing in the reality of biological sex, where have your strident voices gone? Real women need your help.

Thea Sewell is a second-year philosophy undergraduate at Cambridges Christs College

Are you a student with a story to tell Telegraph readers about university life? Email harry.howard@telegraph.co.uk
Relegation dogfight: Nuno Espirito Santo (Getty Images)

Nuno Espirito Santo has admitted that West Ham got lucky despite thrashing Wolves 4-0 at the London Stadium to move out of the relegation zone.

Braces for Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos ensured the Hammers moved out of the bottom three for the first time since November at the expense of Tottenham.

However, despite the scoreline, it was a far from comfortable evening before Mavropanos headed home in the 42nd minute to give West Ham the lead.

Wolves were the better team for much of the first half, as the hosts toiled on a night of high expectation, and Nuno acknowledged his side were fortunate to be leading at the break.

The first half was tough, we lost a lot of time possession of the ball, we didn't close the lines, we were lucky the moment that we scored, everything changes, the dynamic changes, Nuno said afterwards.

In the second half, our work off the ball was good, we were really compact, aggressive, we still had the ball and we played forward.

West Ham scored four times in a game for the first time since October 2024 to intensify the pressure on the teams around them, with Spurs dropping into the bottom three for the first time this season.

Nuno, though, maintains that tonights result changes nothing in their bid for Premier League survival.

It doesn't change anything, next week we play after all the opponents. So we have to focus on ourselves, and today we did the job. This is what we have to do.

It's going to be a long week, a good week in terms of energy, and then prepare for Crystal Palace.
The accident happened on a highway near the town of San Sebastian de La Gomera. Photograph: @112canarias (Photograph: @112canarias)

A man has died and 27 people are in hospital after a bus carrying British passengers crashed in the Canary Islands, local officials have said.

The incident happened at 1.15pm local time on Friday when the vehicle veered into a ravine on the GM-2 highway near the town of San Sebastian de La Gomera.

Local media reported the bus was transporting a British group for a boat tour and four of the injured were in critical condition.



Officials said: Emergency health services attended to the 28 occupants of the bus  27 tourists of British nationality and the driver.



We can confirm one man has died and 27 injured of varying degrees of severity, three of them serious, have been transferred to the Hospital Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.

There are understood to have been 25 adults on board including the driver, and three children.



The most seriously injured passenger was transferred to hospital on the neighbouring island of Tenerife with the rest of the injured being treated at La Gomera hospital.

Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands, said: I am following the accident of a bus reported in La Gomera and the work of the emergency teams who are intervening at this moment. My support to the victims and their families.

The British embassy in the Spanish capital, Madrid, said: Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic incident. We are aware of the situation and we stand ready to support British nationals. We are also in touch with local authorities on the ground.

Spanish police have launched an investigation but the cause of the crash has not yet been established.

Last year, one woman died and 10 people were injured in a traffic accident on the same road.

The UK foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said her thoughts were with those affected by the tragic crash and that the Foreign Office was ready to support the British tourists involved and their families.
Sam Altman testifies during a Senate hearing in the Hart building in Washington DC on 8 May 2025. Photograph: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images (Photograph: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images)

A 20-year-old man allegedly tossed a molotov cocktail at the home of Sam Altman, OpenAIs CEO, before the sun rose on Friday, according to statements from San Francisco police.

The suspect, who allegedly threw the fire bomb at the $27m Russian Hill residence around 4.12am, has been arrested but not identified. The same person allegedly threatened to torch OpenAIs headquarters in the city. No injuries were reported.

The San Francisco police wrote in a statement on X on Friday morning that the agency responded to a fire investigation after the man allegedly threw a molotov cocktail at Altmans residence. Law enforcement said there was a fire to an exterior gate, after which the suspect fled on foot. There were no injuries, the agency said.

About an hour later, just after 5am, police responded to reports from a business in the Mission Bay neighborhood, where OpenAIs headquarters are located, about a man threatening to burn down the building. Officers said they recognized the man as the suspect from the earlier incident and immediately detained him.

OpenAI, best known for making the popular ChatGPT chatbot, confirmed the incident in an emailed statement. Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altmans home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt, a spokesperson said. We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and were assisting law enforcement with their investigation.

OpenAI sent a note informing employees on Friday morning about the incident, and told them there was no immediate threat to them or other offices. The note also mentioned that there would be increased police and security presence around its Mission Bay offices.

Last year, OpenAI locked down its San Francisco office after the company reported a threat from a person once affiliated with an anti-AI activist group.

 This article was amended on 11 April 2026. An earlier version said Sam Altmans residence was in North Beach, not Russian Hill.
Peter Magyar, 45, has built an opposition movement at amazing speed. Photograph: Bernadett Szabo/Reuters (Photograph: Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)

As a child growing up in Budapest, Peter Magyar had a poster of Viktor Orban  at the time a leading figure in the countrys pro-democracy movement  hanging above his bed. Orban was one of several political figures that adorned his bedroom, Magyar told a podcast last year, hinting at his excitement over the changes sweeping the country after the collapse of communism.

Related: Hungary elections: what is at stake and who is likely to win?

Now Magyar, 45, is the driving force behind what could be another momentous political change in Hungary: the ousting of Orban, whose 16 years in power has transformed the country into a petri dish for illiberalism.

Few could have predicted the meteoric rise of Magyar and his Tisza party. He has built an opposition movement at amazing speed, said Gabor Gyori of Policy Solutions, a Budapest-based political research institute. Never, since the history of this post-transition Hungary, have we seen a party rise this quickly.

Conversations with those who know Magyar often alternate between admiration and antipathy. Many praise the tremendous movement he has built and the discipline he has shown as he crisscrosses the country, giving up to six speeches a day, while also describing him as someone with a short temper and a style that can be abrasive at times.

Others see him as the perfect fit for the magnitude of the moment. I think, like all politicians, he can be a difficult person, said Tamas Topolanszky, a film-maker who was part of a team that spent the past 18 months following Magyar for a film on the wider change sweeping Hungarian society.

Topolanszky described Magyar as authentic and passionate, but also someone who could be impatient at times. I think that this is something that we Hungarians now see was necessary to get us to this point.

From behind his lens, Topolanszky tracked Magyar as he began turning up in villages and towns across Hungary, steadily chipping away at the apathy that had long characterised Hungarian politics. The energy at these rallies was something Ive never experienced before, he said.

Adding to Magyars singular rise are his deep entanglements with Orbans Fidesz party. Much of his life has been spent hobnobbing among its elite inner circles. His close friends have included Gergely Gulyas, Orbans chief of staff, and in 2006 Magyar married Judit Varga, a former justice minister for Fidesz. He served as a Hungarian diplomat in Brussels and held senior positions in state entities.

Magyar catapulted into the limelight in 2024 after it emerged that Orbans government  which for years had built its brand on defending Christian families and protecting children  had pardoned a man convicted of helping to cover up a sex abuse scandal at a childrens home. Varga, who by then was Magyars ex-wife, resigned, along with Hungarys president, Katalin Novak.

Magyar responded to the news with a blistering post on social media accusing Fidesz officials of scapegoating the two women, or as he wrote: hiding behind womens skirts.

Related: Feels like history is being made: will young Hungarian voters oust Orban?

He then continued to speak up, rattling Hungarian society as a prominent insider who was now laying bare the working of what he described as a rotten system. In Magyars telling, Fidesz was a political product that had been marketed to citizens while officials expanded their power and wealth at the expense of ordinary Hungarians.

The message resonated strongly, landing as many in the country were grappling with the soaring cost of living, fraying public services, and salaries that had long been stagnant. After an estimated 35,000 people turned up to a protest helmed by Magyar in March 2024, he launched his movement.

While his status as a former Fidesz member had grabbed peoples attention, it proved complicated for his new political life. In Topolanszkys documentary, Spring Wind, Magyar was asked: Who are you friends with now? After a pause, he answered: Thats a good question. Its hard to say whether you have real friends in a situation like this.

While many across the country have enthusiastically rallied behind Magyar and his Tisza party, a segment of his own voters continue to view him with scepticism.

Magyar is not a saint, but Fidesz needs to go, said Anita, 33, as she walked her dog in a park in Kecskemet, a small city about 50 miles south of Budapest. She readily admitted that her vote for Tisza was a gamble, one born out of desperate hope that Magyar would prove to be fundamentally different from the other members of Fidesz.

But she saw no other choice, she said, given the rampant graft that had resulted in the country becoming the most corrupt in the EU, clawing away funds for public services and leaving ordinary Hungarians such as herself struggling to make ends meet. Anything is better than this quiet death, she said.

Topolanszky sees Magyars unusual background as an asset, as it makes him relatable in a country where the governments deep reach into local politics, culture and universities has made many fearful of speaking out. Hes an inside man who gave up everything  all the benefits  of going along with Fidesz, the film-maker said.

Despite more than two years of campaigning and a 240-page election manifesto, the details of what exactly Magyar will do if he gains power remain vague. Much of this is by design: he has run a tight campaign, staying on-message as he has sought to avoid providing fodder for the estimated 80% of Hungarys media that is controlled by Fidesz loyalists.

He is very much a dark horse, said Gyori. We dont know much about him.

With the exception of migration, where he has vowed to take a harder line than Orban by scrapping the countrys guest worker scheme, Magyar has committed to doing away with many of the most problematic parts of Orbans programme.

He has vowed to restore democratic checks and balances, repair relations with the EU to unlock frozen EU funds, and crack down on corruption. He has promised to end the dependence on Russian energy by 2035 while striving for pragmatic relations with Moscow.

When it comes to Ukraine, Magyar would continue Orbans opposition to sending arms to the country and fast-tracking EU entry for Kyiv. Even so, it would not take much to reset Hungarys relationship with the bloc, said Gyori. I think what people underestimate is that if Hungary stops vetoing vital EU action in the European Council, thats a major breakthrough, he said. You dont have to have Peter Magyar go out and say: Were enthusiastic about helping Ukraine or everything the EU does.

When it comes to other key issues, such as the efforts by Orban and his government to ban Pride events, Magyar has steered clear. So gender and sexual minorities, he just doesnt address, said Gyori. Everybody assumes that he will be a lot friendlier on these issues than the Fidesz government was, and its probably true, but he just doesnt talk about them. So this is speculative.

Looming over the campaign is the question of what a Tisza-led government would realistically be able to do, were it to win the election. During Fideszs 16 years in power, the party stacked the Hungarian state, media and judiciary with loyalists; how they would respond to a potential change in government remains up in the air.

And then there is the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution and key laws, meaning Tiszas ability to change Hungary could be limited if the party wins but falls short of a supermajority.

Despite all this, Hungarians had rallied around Magyar in huge numbers, said Akos Hadhazy, a Hungarian independent MP and longtime critic of Orban. For many in the country, Magyar  flaws and all  was now the best hope of dismantling the deep changes wrought by Orban and his Fidesz party.

When it comes to Peter Magyar, there are both question marks and exclamation marks, he said. But Hungarian society has accepted this.
A parrot has gone viral after appearing to explore the Bahamas in a miniature submarine.

Bebes owner took the bird scuba diving in a custom-built vessel designed for the underwater trip.

The video, which has amassed more than 4 million views, shows the white-winged parakeet drifting beneath the surface inside a hand-built mini submarine.

In a follow-up clip, the parrots owner addressed speculation surrounding the footage, confirming its authenticity and sharing the story behind the so-called Bebesphere, a custom plastic chamber fitted with a controlled oxygen system.
The Nintendo Switch lineup in 2026 delivers a mix of sequels, remasters, and new entries for both the original console and the shiny Switch 2. Gamers can expect upcoming Nintendo Switch games 2026 to fill the year with action, RPGs, and platformers that leverage backward compatibility. These Nintendo Switch releases keep the momentum going strong after the Switch 2 launch.

Titles like enhanced editions and cross-gen support mean original Switch owners won't feel left out. Developers spread launches across months, giving players steady reasons to power up their handhelds.

What Nintendo Switch Games Are Coming Out in 2026?

Early 2026 kicks off with heavy hitters among upcoming Nintendo Switch games 2026. "WWE 2K26" lands on March 13 exclusively for Switch 2, packing updated rosters, smoother animations, and online multiplayer modes that wrestling fans crave. Just two weeks later, "Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" drops on March 26, introducing fresh levels like the vibrant Bellabel Park alongside improved visuals and Wonder Flower effects optimized for the new hardware.

April brings a diverse batch of Nintendo Switch releases. On April 7, "People of Note" offers a narrative-driven adventure where players uncover stories through music and memory. "Demon Castle Story" and "Pokemon Champions" both hit April 8 the former a pixel-art Metroidvania with castle sieges, the latter a competitive PvP Pokemon title focused on global trainer showdowns. Wrapping the month, "MIO: Memories in Orbit" (April 10) delivers emotional sci-fi storytelling, while "The Rogue Prince of Persia" blends roguelite combat with Persian mythology on the same day.

Summer months feature standouts. "Hollow Knight: Silksong - Sea of Sorrow" expands the beloved Metroidvania world with new abilities and haunting boss fights. "Enter the Gungeon 2" ramps up the bullet-hell chaos, and "Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave" weaves tactical depth with branching narratives. Nintendo Life has been tracking these closely, highlighting how they bridge Switch 1 and 2 libraries seamlessly.

Later in the year, expect "Professor Layton and The New World of Steam" for brain-teasing puzzles, "Human Fall Flat 2" for physics-based laughs, and "Phasmophobia" for chilling co-op ghost hunts. These span genres, ensuring something for every player diving into upcoming Nintendo Switch games 2026.

When Are the Next Nintendo Switch Games Coming Out?

Nintendo Switch releases in 2026 start rolling from March and pace out through December, with many windowed for summer and later months. March packs punches: "WWE 2K26" (March 13), "Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition" (March 26), "Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection" for monster-taming RPG action, and "Legacy of Kain: Ascendance" on March 31a gothic revival with soul-reaping combat.

April stays busy:

"People of Note" (April 7): Rhythm-infused storytelling.

Rhythm-infused storytelling. "Pokemon Champions" (April 8): Arena battles with meta-shifting mechanics.

Arena battles with meta-shifting mechanics. "MIO: Memories in Orbit" (April 10): Orbiting satellites and personal tales.

Orbiting satellites and personal tales. "The Rogue Prince of Persia" (April 10): Time-rewind platforming.

Summer is filled with tentpoles like "Hollow Knight: Silksong", "Enter the Gungeon 2", "Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave", "Minecraft Dungeons II", and "Turok: Origins"a primal FPS reboot. IGN recently updated their list, noting how Switch 2's power elevates these ports.

Original Switch holds its own with "Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta", "Dragon Quest VII Reimagined", "DECAPOLICE" (detective thriller), "Wandering Sword" (wuxia RPG), and "Shenmue III Enhanced". Switch 2 exclusives shine brighter, but cross-compatibility lets everyone join in. Game Informer calendars confirm most dates, with flex for Nintendo Direct surprises.

Here's a quick release calendar for upcoming Nintendo Switch games 2026:

March: "WWE 2K26" (13th), "Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Ed." (26th), "Monster Hunter Stories 3", "Legacy of Kain: Ascendance" (31st).

"WWE 2K26" (13th), "Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Ed." (26th), "Monster Hunter Stories 3", "Legacy of Kain: Ascendance" (31st). April: "People of Note" (7th), "Pokemon Champions"/"Demon Castle Story" (8th), "MIO"/"Prince of Persia" (10th).

"People of Note" (7th), "Pokemon Champions"/"Demon Castle Story" (8th), "MIO"/"Prince of Persia" (10th). Summer: "Hollow Knight: Silksong", "Fire Emblem", "Minecraft Dungeons II", "Turok: Origins".

"Hollow Knight: Silksong", "Fire Emblem", "Minecraft Dungeons II", "Turok: Origins". Later/TBD: "Professor Layton", "Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter", "Overwatch".

Nintendo Switch Games Releasing in 2026 Confirmed?

Plenty of Nintendo Switch releases stand confirmed for 2026, backed by publisher announcements. April locks in "Pragmata" (cyberpunk action), "Darwin's Paradox" (eco-thriller), "Outbound" (space survival), and "Mouse: P.I. for Hire" (noir detective platformer). These come straight from Nintendo Life previews.

Switch 2 gets "Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter" (summer epic JRPG), "Overwatch" (hero shooter refresh), "Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault" (roguelite shopkeeping), and "MotoGP 26" (racing sim). Original Switch titles like those keep libraries robust.

Wikipedia's Switch 2 games list verifies ongoing support, with no major droughts. Casual checks on YouTube roundups echo the hype around March-April clusters. Delays happen, but these hold firm as of April 2026.

Top 15 Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games 2026 Ranked

Diving deeper into upcoming Nintendo Switch games 2026, here's a numbered top 15 based on buzz, gameplay innovation, and fan demand:

"Hollow Knight: Silksong - Sea of Sorrow" (Summer, Switch 2): Expansive world, silk-weaving combatyears in the making. "Pokemon Champions" (April 8): Pure PvP, custom teams, ranked ladders. "Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave" (Summer): Strategy layers with fate-altering choices. "Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition" (March 26): Elephant Mario upgrades, new worlds. "Enter the Gungeon 2" (Summer): Infinite guns, deeper runs. "Professor Layton and The New World of Steam" (TBD): Steampunk riddles galore. "WWE 2K26" (March 13): Universe mode revamp. "Minecraft Dungeons II" (Summer): Bigger biomes, enchantments. "Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection" (March): Kinship evolutions. "Legacy of Kain: Ascendance" (March 31): Vampire saga returns. "Pragmata" (April): Moon-base chases. "The Rogue Prince of Persia" (April 10): Acrobatic escapes. "Turok: Origins" (Summer): Dinosaur hunts reloaded. "Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault" (TBD): Dungeon profits. "Darwin's Paradox" (April): Evolution sim-action.

Essential Nintendo Switch Releases to Pre-Order in 2026

Upcoming Nintendo Switch games 2026 shape up as a banner year, blending nostalgia with next-gen polish across platforms. Pre-orders open soon for March titles, and watching Nintendo Directs catches any shifts. Dive into these Nintendo Switch releases to build your backlogplenty awaits discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Nintendo Switch games are coming out in March 2026?

March features "WWE 2K26" on the 13th, "Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition" on the 26th, "Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection", and "Legacy of Kain: Ascendance" on the 31st. These kick off the year with wrestling, platforming, RPGs, and gothic action.

2. Which games will be released in April 2026?

April includes "People of Note" (7th), "Demon Castle Story" and "Pokemon Champions" (both 8th), plus "MIO: Memories in Orbit" and "The Rogue Prince of Persia" (both 10th). Additional confirmed titles: "Pragmata", "Darwin's Paradox", "Outbound", and "Mouse: P.I. for Hire".

3. What are the top summer 2026 Nintendo Switch games?

Summer highlights "Hollow Knight: Silksong - Sea of Sorrow", "Enter the Gungeon 2", "Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave", "Minecraft Dungeons II", and "Turok: Origins". These bring Metroidvanias, roguelikes, tactics, and FPS action to Switch 2 with backward compatibility.
Illustration: James Kerr / Scorpion Dagger (Illustration: James Kerr / Scorpion Dagger)

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Nine months and six days before a Tomahawk missile tore through the gaily decorated classrooms of the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran, ripping apart the bodies of schoolchildren, teachers and parents, the personal pastor of the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, delivered a sermon at the Pentagon.

Theres a temptation to think that youre actually in control and responsible for final outcomes, especially for those who issue the commands and do the aiming and the shooting, preached Brooks Potteiger, Hegseths closest spiritual adviser, at the first of what have become monthly Christian worship services at the Department of Defense. But you are not ultimately in charge of the world.

Citing a verse from Matthew 10, Potteiger told the gathered leaders of the US military: If our Lord is sovereign even over the sparrows fallings, you can be assured that he is sovereign over everything else that falls in this world, including Tomahawk and Minuteman missiles 

Jesus has the final say over all of it.

Related: A very dangerous person: alarm as Pete Hegseth revels in carnage of Iran war

The available evidence and a preliminary investigation by the US military all suggest that the US was responsible for the 28 February school bombing that killed more than 175 people, most of them children, but neither Donald Trump nor Hegseth has taken any responsibility, nor have they expressed any remorse.

Instead, Hegseth has persisted in framing the war in Iran, which reached a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday after six weeks of fighting, as divinely sanctioned, repeatedly invoking Gods almighty providence and expressing certainty that God is on the side of the US military. Amid boasts about the USs superior firepower and theatrical disdain for stupid rules of engagement, the defense secretary has promised to give no quarter to the barbaric savages of the Iranian regime and called on the American people to pray for victory in the name of Jesus Christ.

Hegseths distinct combination of piety and bloodlust was most prominently on display at the 25 March worship service at the Pentagon, the first since the war in Iran began, when he prayed for overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. The prayer was so shocking that it appears to have provoked a direct rebuke from Pope Leo, who preached on Palm Sunday that God ignores the prayers of those whose hands are full of blood from making war.

Hegseth will hardly mind harsh words from the head of the Catholic church, however. The 45-year-old US army veteran and former Fox News host is a member of an obscure, deeply Calvinist wing of evangelical Christianity  John Calvin broke from the Catholic church during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation  that rejects the popes authority and is rooted in a belief in predestination.

They believe that nothing happens that isnt in Gods will, said Julie Ingersoll, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Florida, who researches this branch of Reformed Christianity. They believe that God directs everything that happens.

Even a bomb falling on an elementary school full of children?

If God would order a genocide in Deuteronomy 20, Ingersoll said, citing a passage in which God instructs the Israelites to destroy every living thing in certain cities, what makes you think he wouldnt cause a girls school to be attacked?

The Iran hawks in the US foreign policy establishment have never lacked for material and geopolitical justifications for wanting to go to war, but the sheer recklessness of the prosecution of this war raises questions about what other factors may be at play. The US has long managed to pursue its interests in the Middle East without bombing Tehran, and the entirely predictable consequences  deadly attacks on US bases and allies, the global economic fallout from the closure of the strait of Hormuz, and the consolidation of power by the Iranian regime  provide an object lesson in why restraint prevailed for 47 years.

Why take such a risk now? Could the bellicose, belligerent and braying Hegseth  with his Crusader tattoos, his disdain for diplomacy, and his evident taste for violent domination  have convinced Trump to start a war to complete the unfinished business of the Crusades?

On Monday, at a news conference touting the rescue of a crew member from a downed F-15 fighter jet in southern Iran, Hegseth once again invoked his religious beliefs to justify events as they transpired. Shot down on a Friday, Good Friday, hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday and rescued on Sunday, he said. Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday, a pilot reborn.

Its not exactly the son of God dying for humanitys sins, but it at least provided a positive spin to some inconvenient facts: a fighter jet felled weeks after Hegseth claimed that the US had achieved total air dominance; a rescue mission that resulted in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars of military aircraft; and all within the context of a war in which the US appears headed for a straightforward strategic defeat.

Deus Vult, reads the tattoo inked across Hegseths right biceps. Its a Latin phrase meaning God wills it that is believed to have been chanted by the Christian warriors who responded to Pope Urban IIs call in 1095 to march to the Holy Land and reconquer it for Christendom. As the American and Iranian people remain trapped in this deeply unpopular war, its vital to understand what God wills it means to Hegseth, and what that might mean for the rest of us.

***

Hegseth has described his early life as having a a Christian veneer but a secular core. Born and raised in Minnesota, he pursued officer training while at Princeton and served multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. (A longtime reservist, he left the service after being reported by fellow service members in 2021 for his Crusader tattoos, which have been associated with white supremacist and extremist groups.)

He was elevated to leadership roles at two different advocacy groups for veterans only to be forced out over what the New Yorker called serious allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety, and personal misconduct. Twice divorced due to reported infidelity, he is now raising seven children with his third wife, whom he married in 2019. He paid $50,000 to a woman who accused him of rape in 2017, though he denies the allegation.

In 2016, Hegseth landed a hosting chair at Fox News. With his telegenic coif, square jaw and slightly too-tight suits, he caught the attention of Trump with his aggressive and successful campaign to win presidential pardons for convicted war criminals.

Related: Masquerading as a university: inside the brazen rightwing plan to conquer American schools

Hegseths pivot to religion began in 2018, when he and his current wife joined an evangelical church in New Jersey and faith became real, he told a Christian publication in 2023. Already an enthusiastic proponent of the rightwing culture wars against secular public education, he ended up co-writing a 2022 book arguing that the survival of Western civilization depends on the reintroduction of Christianity to American schooling. Hegseths co-author, David Goodwin, was a leader of the movement for classical Christian education (CCE), and Hegseth was an enthusiastic convert, describing the writing process as a red pill.

On Goodwins advice, Hegseth moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee, in order to send the children to a CCE school. We thought we were moving to a school, but we moved to a church and a community and a whole view of the world that has changed the way we think too, he said.

That church was Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship, led by pastor Potteiger, who would go on to preach about Tomahawk missiles at the Pentagon, and Hegseths involvement with it is by no means casual.

Its not the kind of church that you can just show up on a Sunday and go to worship and sing songs and then go home, said Ingersoll. Its part of a denomination called the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) in which there is a strong hierarchy and church elders hold significant power over congregants, including by running a court system that can excommunicate and shun.

[Communion of Reformed Evangelical Church folk] dont believe in social equality among people Julie Ingersoll

To join, Hegseth would probably have had to attend a session with the churchs board of elders, during which new converts make a profession of faith and agree to certain covenants, Ingersoll said. The key thing is that you commit yourself to be in submission to the elders for church discipline, which means that you are accountable to the elders of the church for everything you do and everything you believe.

If that sounds a bit concerning for someone holding a leadership position in a government founded on the separation of church and state, it is.

[CREC] folks dont embrace democracy particularly, Ingersoll said. They dont believe in social equality among people. They think that God created the world and that some people are destined to have authority and to rule over other people, and other people are destined to be followers.

When we talk about legitimate government having its authority coming from the consent of the governed  they dont believe that at all. To Hegseths ilk: legitimate authority comes directly from God.

That much is clear in the sixth week of a war that was launched without congressional approval and is broadly opposed by the American people. But if Hegseth doesnt care about the people, whose opinion does he value?

***

The whole view of the world adopted by Hegseth after he joined Pilgrim Hill was crafted by Douglas Wilson, a 72-year-old pastor who has spent the last 50 years attempting to establish a theocracy in the small college town of Moscow, Idaho.

Religion was a family business for Wilson. His father, a retired navy officer and full-time evangelist, moved to Idaho in the 1970s to set up a Christian bookstore. Both Wilson and his brother Evan followed, and found themselves drawn into the somewhat hippy Jesus People movement of the 70s. They began studying theology together and helped to found a church, but had a falling-out when Doug got interested in Calvinism, and Evan couldnt give up his belief in free will. (Calvinists are a very small minority within Protestantism.)

After Evan left the church (the brothers remain estranged), Doug continued exploring niche theological movements, taking a particular interest in a fundamentalist Calvinist movement that seeks to establish theonomy, a kind of Christian governance. His fiefdom in Idaho now counts about 3,000 people across three churches, and his followers  known as kirkers  are increasingly flexing their muscle in local politics and land-use disputes, and CREC has grown to 150 churches worldwide. Meanwhile, Wilson built a business empire promoting CCE books, schools and home-schooling materials that grew his influence in the more mainstream evangelical world.

Wilsons views are extreme, even for the Christian right. A staunch proponent of biblical patriarchy, he advocates for wives to submit to their husbands, for parents to inflict painful discipline on children, and for boys to be taught the theology of fist fighting.

Wilson is opposed to womens right to vote. He is not opposed to the death penalty for homosexuality. He describes himself as a Christian nationalist and wants to take over the world for Christ, Ingersoll said. The whole world is going to become Christian, and that version of civilization is filled with all kinds of really powerful, strong punishments for people who dont agree or go along.

His praise of the Christian governance of the Confederate States of America has led some critics to call him a neo-Confederate, but he prefers the term paleo-Confederate. In 1996, he co-authored an apologia for the antebellum south that characterized slavery as a relationship based upon mutual affection and confidence and abolitionists as being driven by a zealous hatred of the Word of God. The book was withdrawn over allegations of plagiarism, but Wilson returned to the topic in 2005s Black and Tan, in which he argued that southern slavery was far more humane than that of ancient Rome and that southern Christian enslavers were on firm scriptural ground.

But where Wilsons ideas were once on the fringe of rightwing evangelicalism in the US, recent decades have seen a change.

In the aftermath of the second world war, a culture of militant masculinity developed among white evangelicals in the US, according to historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez. A professor at Calvin University who frequently comments on Hegseth, Du Mez traced the emergence of this strain of evangelicalism in her 2020 book Jesus and John Wayne.

Whereas in the 19th century, the ideal of Christian manhood would have been focused on virtues such as honor, dignity and gentlemanliness, by the early 21st century, the ideal evangelical man had morphed into something that looks a lot more like Hegseth.

You could not get a better embodiment of that ideology, that particularly militaristic conception of Christianity and ends-justifies-the-means mentality that baptizes violence and cruelty in the name of righteousness than Hegseth, said Du Mez.

Du Mez argues that the transformation of the evangelical masculine ideal grew out of a sense of embattlement. Facing threats to their status from feminism, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war, and broad economic shifts, evangelicals invested psychically in a kind of chauvinistic religiosity that allowed them to reassert their dominance, at the very least within the home. Cheerleading the cold war and post-9/11 wars in the Middle East provided another realm to act out these fantasies of domination, usually without needing to get their own hands dirty. Any enemies of America  foreign or domestic  and any enemies of their particular agenda are also enemies of God, Du Mez said.

The perverse moral consequences of combining militant masculinity with religious certainty can be seen in the way this movement consistently supported the most questionable uses of American military power. During the second world war, Du Mez writes, white evangelicals defended the firebombing of German cities. During the Vietnam war, they rallied behind the perpetrators of the My Lai massacre. And during the global war on terror, they were the Americans most likely to support the torture of prisoners.

As evangelicalisms culture shifted in his direction, Wilson became less of a pariah. He built ties with more respectable leaders and showed a knack for generating attention and publicity. In the past few years, hes been featured on Tucker Carlsons podcast and shared a stage with the Southern Baptist Convention leader Albert Mohler.

Wilsons greatest coup has been the recruitment of Hegseth by way of Potteiger. The attention has expanded Wilsons access to megaphones such as the New York Times, and he appears intent on maintaining influence: since Hegseth was named secretary of defense, Wilson has announced that Potteiger will move to Washington DC to establish a new CREC church for Hegseth to attend.

Wilson does not seem particularly interested in the day-to-day minutiae of governance or war-fighting. When he was invited to preach at the Pentagon on 17 February, his sermon largely stayed above the fray, though he mused about whether the invitation itself could be a sign of a black swan reformation  an unexpected revival of Christianity in the US.

What were living through now is seeing what happens when this ideology becomes national policy Kristin Kobes Du Mez

For his part, Hegseth has shown an unprecedented willingness to incorporate his personal beliefs into the official workings of the Department of Defense.

To Du Mez, Hegseths role atop the Pentagon  and apparent enthusiasm for starting conflicts  is alarming.

For a long time, a lot of this seemed like bluster, said Du Mez, noting that the leading lights of the militant masculinity movement, such as Billy Graham, Ronald Reagan and John Wayne, tended not to have actually served in the US military themselves. But with Hegseth, you have the bluster, you have the rhetoric, you have that underlying ideology, and hes been handed the reins of power, Du Mez said. What were living through now is seeing what happens when this ideology becomes national policy.

With Hegseth, that doesnt just mean waging war abroad, much as he seems to enjoy it. It means attempting to fulfil Wilsons vision of a world governed by biblical law, a global Christendom. For that, the first step is establishing Christendom at home.

***

When Hegseth is trying to make the case that the US is a Christian nation  something he does often  he likes to tell a story about the countrys first president, George Washington.

Just as George Washington knelt in the snow at Valley Forge, appealing to heaven for guidance and protection, so too our warriors do today, he said at the National Prayer Breakfast on 5 February.

The problem with the story is that it didnt happen, said Brian Kaylor, the editor-in-chief of the Baptist publication Word&Way, who has closely followed (and criticized) Hegseths promotion of Christian theology in the government. It was made up decades after Washingtons death, by the same guy who made up the story about Washington cutting down the cherry tree.

Nevertheless it has been embraced by the Trump administration as a kind of absurd alternate origin story for the United States, in which the country was founded not by deists who enshrined the separation of church and state in the constitution, but by Christian patriarchs establishing a Christian nation.

Several of the original 13 colonies had officially established religions, Kaylor pointed out, and the founders chose not to emulate that system when they drafted the new constitution. Moreover, the only references to religion in the text of the document, in article VI and the first amendment, serve to protect the separation of church and state by barring religious tests for public office, banning the establishment of a state religion, and protecting the right of individuals to worship as they choose.

Its the exact opposite of creating a Christian nation, Kaylor said.

Related: Theyre doing to America what they did to Christianity | Bill McKibben

There have been moments in US history when Christian nationalist ideas were broadly embraced. One is the Confederate States of America, which was conceived of as a Christian nation, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God in its constitution. (The Southern Baptist Convention, today the largest evangelical denomination in the US, was formed in 1845 when it broke from northern Baptists in order to continue to support slavery.) When Wilson calls himself a paleo-Confederate, he appears at least in part to be referring to his desire for an explicitly Christian government.

The other was in justifying the genocide of American Indians; early settlers often framed violent aggression against the native population in terms of bringing salvation to the savage. By the 19th century, this tendency had evolved into manifest destiny, a belief that white settlers were fated by God to conquer all of North America. The Trump administrations promotion of the painting American Progress by John Gast  it depicts a white woman clad in robes sweeping across the continent, bringing light and technology to the dark and fearful natives  has indicated its desire to revive this way of thinking as well.

At another violent time in US history, Christian nationalism is enjoying a strong baseline of support among Americans  about one in three are either sympathetic or strong believers in the idea of the US as a Christian nation, according to a recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. But the real strength of the Christian nationalist movement in the US now comes from its access to power. The second Trump administration is rife with Christian nationalists in leadership positions.

The contemporary Christian nationalist movement in the US unites Christians from disparate denominations. Hegseth represents the Reformed/Calvinist wing, which is distinct from the charismatic evangelicalism practiced by figures such as the White House faith office adviser, Paula White-Cain. A third camp are Catholic Integralists, who want to integrate church and state; adherents include Steve Bannon and the Project 2025 architect Kevin Roberts.

While these groups may all be able to agree on domestic policy priorities  including dismantling public education and using government policy to promote traditional family structures  things are more complicated when it comes to foreign policy, especially as regards the Middle East.

Reformed evangelicals like Hegseth are post-millennialists, Ingersoll said, which means that they believe its the job of Christians to build the kingdom of God on Earth first, before Jesuss return. Hegseths enthusiasm for the Crusades fits into this broader sense of purpose: he might actually believe it is his mission to re-establish Christendom across the Middle East, starting with Iran, in order to pave the way for Jesuss return.

But premillennial dispensationalists, such as White-Cain and the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, believe that they must bring about the end times on Earth now, so that Jesus can return to Earth and establish the Kingdom of Heaven himself. They are avid Christian Zionists and see Jewish control over Israel as crucial to fulfilling these prophecies, rather than wanting to re-establish Christian control over the Holy Land now.

Such wholly irreconcilable visions for the Middle East do not appear to matter that much, however. Both camps have a religious justification for supporting the war, and both can use the war to promote the idea that religion has a place in the business of the state in the first place.

Speaking about the ceasefire at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Hegseth said: Our troops, our American warriors, deserve the credit for this day, but God deserves all the glory.

If the ceasefire holds, Hegseth may have to relinquish any fantasies he had of planting a cross in newly conquered land, but that doesnt mean he  or Wilson  will view this as a defeat.

***

At the National Prayer Breakfast on 5 February, after sharing his apocryphal tale of Washingtons supposed prayer, Hegseth appeared to channel Urban II, the pope who launched the Crusades in 1095 with the promise that those who fought would receive remission of all sins  a promise that has since became controversial given the brutal massacres and wanton destruction of the Crusades.

[Hegseths comments were] not just Crusader theology but something that would be considered heretical in most of Christianity today Brain Kaylor

The willingness to make sacrifices on behalf of ones country is born in one thing: a deep and abiding belief in Gods love for us and his promise of eternal life, Hegseth said. The warrior who is willing to lay down his life for his unit, his country, and his Creator, that warrior finds eternal life.

To Kaylor, who is a Baptist minister in addition to a journalist, the statement was beyond shocking. This is not just Crusader theology but something that would be considered heretical in most of Christianity today, he said. Its really dangerous and scary. It makes his comments about the religious fanaticism of Irans regime ironic at best, if not downright hypocritical.

The Crusades, like the Confederacy, ended in ignominious defeat. But as with other lost causes, they maintain a powerful appeal to reactionary minds who luxuriate in grievance and take comfort in glorious hypotheticals. Trumps return to the White House in 2025 was propelled in large part by the cult of grievance he built around his loss in the 2020 election. He quickly moved to empower Hegseth to restore the names and statues of Confederate generals to military installations.

With the Iran war seemingly headed toward a resolution that will see Iran significantly better off than it was before, and the USs geopolitical standing and moral reputation in tatters, its possible another rightwing lost cause will emerge. Already, some Maga figures are laying the blame for the USs strategic failures on Israel. Trump himself has aggressively promoted the idea that Nato is at fault. Hegseth has continued to purge military leaders, and he may lay blame at his usual targets (woke generals and rules of engagement).

Leaders of Christian nationalism are operating on timelines in the hundreds of years, Ingersoll said, and they are enjoying real success. The campaign to get rid of the Department of Education has been going on since it was established in 1979, and now appears to be heading toward fruition. The movement did not give up after the supreme court legalized abortion in 1973, waging a 50-year battle to take down Roe v Wade, and they are now setting their sights on overturning Obergefell as well.

That kind of long-term planning and patience is part of why Ingersoll thinks that Christian nationalism is on the ascendancy, historically speaking. Im not optimistic, she said.

What seems impossible to imagine, at this point at least, is any kind of honest reckoning with the religious modes of thinking that may have fanned the flames of war in the first place. If you are waiting for Hegseth to concede that perhaps God wasnt on our side this time, dont.

Related: Historians alarmed as Trump seeks to rewrite US story for 250th anniversary

There is an American leader who reckoned with that question, however. In 1865, after four years of bloody civil war, the Confederacy was on its last legs and victory was within reach. When Abraham Lincoln made his second inaugural address on 4 March, he did not speak to the country about the unions superior military capacity, nor did he draw conclusions about Gods support of the winning side. Instead, he acknowledged that both sides believed themselves to be acting according to Gods wishes, and that he, as a man, was in no position to know who was correct.

Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other, he said of the two sides. Let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes.

Looking to the future, Lincoln forecast neither triumph nor domination, but the slow and difficult work of learning once again to live with one another: Let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

In a year that will be dominated with invocations of US history due to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, let us also take a moment to commemorate that moment: the nations second founding. After the rupture and carnage and emancipation of civil war, a leader was willing to say that we cant know whose side God is actually on  but that we owe it to ourselves and each other to attempt to make peace just the same.
A charity co-founded by Prince Harry is suing the British royal for defamation at the High Court in London, a court record shows.

Sentebale was founded by Harry in 2006 to help young people with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, but he resigned as a patron in March 2025 after a public falling-out with the chair of the board, Sophie Chandauka.

According to a record made public on Friday, Sentebale lodged a defamation claim last month at the High Court against Harry and Mark Dyer, who was also a trustee of the charity.

No documents are currently available in the claim, which was originally filed on 24 March.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Mr Dyer said the pair "categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims", after the legal action was launched.

Sentebale said it lodged a defamation claim following what it called a "co-ordinated adverse media campaign" which it said had damaged its reputation.

In a statement, its board of trustees and executive director said: "The charity seeks the court's intervention, protection and restitution following a co-ordinated adverse media campaign conducted since March 25 2025 that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership and its strategic partners.

"The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership.

"Sentebale has experienced the adverse media campaign as false narratives circulated through the media about the charity and its leadership, attempts to undermine its relationships with staff, existing and prospective partners, and the forced diversion of leadership time and resources into managing a reputational crisis not of the charity's making."

Harry co-founded the charity, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, which was aimed at enhancing the lives of vulnerable children in the southern African country.

The pair both stepped down last year in a dispute with chairperson Dr Chandauka.

The initial rift emerged in 2023 after trustees began plans for a new fundraising strategy in the US.

Read more from Sky News:

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The "serious dispute" was exacerbated by strategic and financial difficulties for the charity following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from The Charity Commission (CC).

The CC criticised both sides for allowing the dispute to be played out in public.

Commission CEO David Holdsworth said they enabled the rift to "harm the charity's reputation", which in turn jeopardised its "ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve".
Starmer with Qatars minister of state, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, at the end of his trip to the Gulf on Friday. Photograph: Alastair Grant/PA (Photograph: Alastair Grant/PA)

Keir Starmer has said it is in the best interests of the US to stay in Nato and that Europe must do more to support the alliance in light of the war in Iran.

The British prime minister, speaking at the end of a multi-stop trip around the Gulf to discuss the tentative ceasefire and options to fully reopen the commercially vital strait of Hormuz, pushed back against Donald Trumps threats to leave the defence alliance.

The US president has repeatedly criticised European members of Nato, which largely disagreed with the attacks on Iran, for not participating more fully in the strikes. He included a threat to pull Washington out of the alliance altogether.

Related: Nato chief says Trump clearly disappointed by US allies refusal to join Iran war

Starmer, speaking in Qatar at the end of a trip during which he also met leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, agreed with Trumps calls for European members of Nato to spend more on defence, while insisting it was in the interests of the US to stay in the alliance.

Were very strong supporters of Nato and Ive been making the argument for some considerable time that we need to do more, he said. Its the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known.

Do we Europeans need to do more? Yes. Ive been making that argument for the best part of two years, to our European partners as much as anybody else. We continue to make that case and we will make that case.

He added: It is in Americas interests; its in European interests. Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been.

Do I think this will be a stronger European element to Nato? Yes, and I think we should step into that space. Were already doing it, which is why were coordinating strategically with our partners in Nato.

Starmer and Trump spoke on Thursday night. Talking to broadcasters in Doha, Starmer said much of the call was spent discussing how to ensure ships could safely pass through the strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas as well as other goods, which Iran in effect blocked after attacks by the US and Israel.

As well as ensuring the sea route is safe, Starmer has stressed the need to avoid the potential scenario of Iran charging levies on ships passing through. Earlier this week Trump mooted the idea of a joint venture between the US and Iran to set tolls.

Starmer, setting out his talks with the various Gulf leaders, said they shared this view and were concerned about the ceasefire, which is under threat from continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Iran warning it could retaliate.

Obviously, the discussion moved very quickly to the ceasefire, a sense that its fragile, that more work is needed, that the strait of Hormuz has to be part of the solution, a very strong sense that there cant be tolling or restrictions on that navigation, he said.

Related: Can Trump pull the US out of Nato  and why is he considering it?

Trump has appeared volatile and irascible as the Iran war has failed to produce regime change in Tehran or achieve any other tangible US goals. He has expressed this in insults to other world leaders, including Starmer, and threats to Iran, including threatening before the ceasefire that the countrys whole civilisation [would] die if it did not meet US demands.

John Healey, the UK defence secretary, said on Friday that rather than poring over Trumps social media posts, those in the US should instead examine the UKs actions in the Gulf, saying these spoke for themselves.

While the UK refused to participate in attacks on Iran, it contributed significantly to efforts to defend Gulf states from Iranian attacks, with UK planes and ground gunners shooting down a number of Iranian drones and missiles. UK bases were also available to US planes, if only for missions seen as defensive.

Even in this current conflict, the basing permissions that we in the UK have agreed with the US have been invaluable to their military operations, Healey said, adding: If we focus on our actions rather than just simply the exchange of words and social media posts, then the fundamentals for me remain.
Paolo Zampollis comments came a day after Melania Trump delivered an unprecedented White House speech to deny rumours about her - Evan Vucci/Reuters

A former model scout and close friend of Donald Trump has said he is willing to testify that he introduced the president and the first lady  not Jeffrey Epstein, as has been claimed.

Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American businessman who now serves in the Trump administration, told Sky News he was ready to go before Congress to correct the totally nonsense rumours.

His comments come a day after Melania Trump, the first lady, made an unprecedented White House speech denying ever having had a relationship with the late paedophile or being one of his victims.

The 55-year-old former model also denied being introduced to her husband by Epstein.

In the surprise televised address, Mrs Trump said: I have never had any knowledge of Epsteins abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epsteins plane, and never visited his private island.

I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epsteins sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behaviour.

Paolo Zampolli said the first lady had nothing to do with Epstein - Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Like Mr and Mrs Trump, Mr Zampolli was reportedly part of Epsteins social circle.

He ran ID Model Management, a modelling talent agency in New York. He and Epstein were allegedly involved in plans to purchase another such agency, but the deal never materialised. Mr Zampolli has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Mr Zampolli told Sky News that Mrs Trump had nothing to do with this criminal Epstein, adding: I am willing to testify in front of Congress if I am asked and say the truth.

His comments came ahead of the publication of an interview that Amanda Ungaro, Mr Zampollis ex-girlfriend, gave to El Pais, a Spanish newspaper.

Ms Ungaro, a Brazilian model, was deported to her home country last year. Mr Zampolli is alleged to have brought her to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers amid a custody battle over their son, according to The New York Times. Mr Zampolli denies the claim.

The interview is expected to be published this weekend, but it is unknown whether she discussed the Trumps or Epstein.

Doesnt bother me, says Trump

The president addressed his wifes speech on Friday, telling The New York Times that she had a right to address the rumours.

It doesnt bother me. I didnt know what the statement was, but I knew she was going to make a statement, he said.

Mr Trump added that she found the rumours insulting and, although he did not recommend that she do it, he told her: If you want to do it, do it.

It wasnt a big discussion. Id say it lasted for about two minutes. I had no problem. I thought she actually did a good job, he said, adding that he was not bothered by the story being brought back into the news cycle because I never get upset.

When asked if he would have done the same, Mr Trump said that he did not know.

Michael Wolff, an author who claims to have recorded more than 100 hours of conversations with Epstein during research for a book about the US president, has insisted there is more to know about the Trumps dealings with the late financier.

In a post on Substack on Friday, he vowed to fight to the end to force the first lady to answer questions about her relationship with Epstein.

He took Mrs Trump to court in October after she threatened to sue him for more than $1bn if he did not retract his claim that she and Mr Trump had met through Epstein.

Her lawyers said the allegation was false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory.

Wolff wrote on Friday: The first lady does not believe she will have to sit through a deposition conducted by my lawyers and answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein.

But the race is long, and the question is clear and important: What can Melania Trump tell us about her and her husbands relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and what does that say about the kind of people they are? They have set this in motion, and we are in it to the end.

Michael Wolff has vowed to fight to the end to force the first lady to answer questions about Epstein - Sky UK

Wolff also speculated what might happen if his lawsuit against the first lady were allowed to proceed.

The Trumps friends from the 1990s; Melanias fellow models; the modelling agents who hired her and others; Epstein friends and victims  all of these people speaking under oath, forced to describe a world and life that would be incomprehensible, unimaginable, and abhorrent to the American people, he said.

Mrs Trumps address on Thursday was not only surprising for its content, but also for its timing.

She has, until now, ignored questions over her association with Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence for trafficking girls to the paedophile.

Included in three million Epstein files released by the US department of justice this year was an apparent exchange between Mrs Trump and Maxwell, in which she emailed Epsteins fixer: Nice story about JE [Jeffrey Epstein] in NY mag. You look great on the picture.

Mr and Mrs Trump with Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 - Davidoff Studios Photography/Getty

Apparently addressing the email, sent in 2002, Mrs Trump said in her speech on Thursday that she had never had a relationship with Maxwell beyond casual correspondence.

Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false, she added.

In private, the first lady has reportedly become increasingly frustrated by online chatter about her ties to Epstein, according to CNN.

Her statement caught many in the administration by surprise, including possibly even the president.

Mr Trump claimed he knew nothing about his wifes statement during a brief phone interview with a reporter from MSNOW on Thursday.

White House officials were absolutely stunned by the timing, CNN said on Thursday, prompting rumours that the first lady may have been trying to get ahead of a story that has yet to come out.

Mrs Trump also lent her voice to Epsteins victims in her speech, urging Congress to release the names of powerful associates who were redacted from the released Epstein files.

Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone, she said.

Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicised. Of course, this doesnt amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.
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Scott Mills will no longer work in panto that earned him a staggering 190,000 a year after being fired from the BBC.

The former BBC Radio 2 DJ was sacked last month after it emerged he was investigated over alleged serious sexual offences against a boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.

The 53-year-old allegedly remained in contact with the boy for years until around 2006. The investigation was dropped due to lack of evidence.

Now, it has been revealed he will no longer appear in pantomime this winter, despite becoming a regular over the past few years, The Sun reported.

Mills is thought to have banked 600,000 in the past three years appearing as Mayor Mills in Jack And The Beanstalk shows in Leicester, Swansea and High Wycombe thanks to his 190,000 fee, according to reports.

Imagine Theatre, which produces the shows, said it has no plans to work with Mills for the 2026 to 2027 season.

Scott Mills has lost his pantomime job (PA Archive)

The decision was reportedly taken before the presenter was sacked by the BBC.

There were no plans to work with him this year. This decision was taken prior to this news, an Imagine Theatre spokesperson said.

Sources said rival production companies dont want to go near him after his exit from the BBC.

The panto world is really small, and everyone knows everyone. As soon as the news broke about Scott, it was all anyone was talking about, especially given hes been so popular since his debut in 2023, an insider told The Sun.

Scott is really close with the team at Imagine and was already in talks about taking a break, despite openly telling people about how much he loves the silliness of pantomime.

Normally he would have been courted by other production companies but in light of developments, no one wants to go near him.

The Standard has contacted Mills representative for comment.

Mills was taken off the radio by the BBC last month before his firing over allegations related to his "personal conduct".

The BBC confirmed it knew in 2017 about the police investigation into one of its biggest stars, but said it acted decisively to sack him after receiving new information in recent weeks.

It is not clear whether bosses knew of the alleged victims age in 2017, but current managers took the decision to sack Mills after learning they had been under 16, BBC News reported.

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into Mills in 2016.

He was questioned in 2018 and the case was closed in 2019 after prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

Since his firing, he has lost a series of job opportunities including being replaced as the host of the Race Across The World podcast and removed from episodes of Top Of The Pops.

He was also pulled from supporting Boyzones concerts this summer and a Great British Bake Off celebrity episode featuring him has been removed.

Mills has said of his firing: Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter.

I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.
Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills has been removed from the line-up of the Ibiza Symphonica summer concert because of the serious nature of allegations against him.

The 53-year-old was sacked by the BBC shortly before it emerged the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into him in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.

Mills was due to perform a DJ set at the event at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on August 15.

An Ibiza Symphonica statement read: We have carefully considered the serious nature of matters in the public domain concerning Scott Mills and have decided to move forward without Scott as part of our line-up.

We feel this is the most appropriate way to maintain the focus on the spirit of Ibiza Symphonica which is an event rooted in enjoyment, celebration and positivity.

We cannot wait to welcome audiences to what promises to be a joyful and memorable evening on august 15th.

Further line-up announcements will be made in due course.

It comes after Channel 4 announced it would not show the final episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer, which features the DJ as a celebrity contestant, because of allegations against Mills  saying the show would be replaced by an alternative episode.

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.

On Wednesday 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.
Suella Braverman visited Hastings to make her case ahead of May 7 - Geoff Pugh

The shops and restaurants that line the seafront can still pull in the tourists on a sunny day  but Hastings feels like a town in decline.

One street back, the shine of the seafront fades into the gloom of boarded-up windows and vape shops that have replaced once-thriving family businesses.

It is one reason why voters are looking for change, But exactly how to improve the town  and the country  is now a more complex debate than ever before.

An exclusive poll for The Telegraph this week revealed the scale of division and disaffection in modern Britain.

Three-quarters of voters said they believed politics was broken, and that no politician could fix it. Most people said Westminster was not on their side.

The national political malaise has caused a fracturing of Britains traditional two-party system, with the rise of populists on the Left and Right.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in Hastings, a town known for warfare, where traditional and insurgent parties are battling for control of both county and borough councils at this years local elections.

East Sussex county council, which runs across the south coast from Brighton to Rye and covers Hastings, has been a Tory stronghold for 25 years. It is now a key Reform UK target.

From having just two county councillors, Reform thinks it could end up with an overall majority or run a minority administration from the county hall in Lewes.

Its main rivals could be the Liberal Democrats, who serve as the opposition in both East and West Sussex.

At a parliamentary level, Hastings was represented by Amber Rudd, a Conservative MP, before Labour swept to victory in 2024 and elected Helena Dollimore, the partys first MP there since 1997.

Now the area is showing how the Green Party is eating away at Labours Left flank.

Hastings borough council is a splintering of the Left. The Greens  now tied in national polls with both the Tories and Labour  run a minority administration with 12 councillors, opposed by nine Labour councillors and six defectors to Jeremy Corbyns Your Party.

Five Conservative councillors remain the voice of centre-Right opposition.

Mr Corbyns outfit, which sprang from an internal faction within the parliamentary Labour Party, has more councillors in Hastings than anywhere else in the UK.

Nonetheless, Reform has made gains in the area. Last year, Aidan Fisher became the partys first county councillor when he was elected in the Ashdown and Conquest ward, just three miles from the site of Harold Godwinsons battle with William of Normandy.

Suella Braverman, Reforms newest MP, visited the town in March to make the case for the party before May 7. She echoed its national message that Britain is broken, which The Telegraphs poll shows is almost a national consensus.

Its really easy to see why people will be very disillusioned with the status quo, she said.

A rise in house prices in Hastings means locals feel priced out. Meanwhile, deprivation remains high, with the number of people claiming unemployment benefits up almost 50 per cent in the last decade.

Weve got what used to be a majestic seafront, which is run down because theres lack of investment, said Mrs Braverman. Weve got people and businesses who are really struggling in what was once a thriving coastal community.

At a business event in a grand hotel on the seafront at nearby St Leonards-on-Sea, the former home secretary was collared by a publican from Rye, who complained that tax rises and a lack of government support had driven customers away and raised staffing costs.

People cant afford to come out for a pint any more  its ridiculous, she said. Were going to have another [minimum wage] rise in April. I just dont know what the future will look like.

Suella Braverman speaks to residents at a hotel in St Leonards-on-Sea - Geoff Pugh

Frustrations with Whitehall are intense and varied. A working fisherman complained that the Governments lack of understanding about fisheries had led to an explosion of the local seal population, which threatened his catch.

Weve got over 200 seals under that cliff, he said, pointing across the promenade to the sea. They eat two tons of fish a year.

Turning to Sir Keir Starmers fishing deal with the EU, which has handed licences to French fishermen in British waters, he said the industry had been misled by both Labour and the Tories over Brexit.

Are we going to be lied to again to get the vote? he asked. I say, sod you. Ill never vote again.

The Governments approach to these issues is a common theme in The Telegraphs poll, conducted by JL Partners this week.

Asked whether the tax, housing and benefits systems were on their side, only a small minority of English, Welsh and Scottish voters agreed.

Sluggish growth, low productivity and a stagnation in real household incomes have left voters looking elsewhere for political solutions. Since the last election, the Greens and Reform have divided the voter base of the traditional parties.

Both challengers are expecting significant gains next month, while Labour campaign headquarters is braced for a drubbing that could force Sir Keir from office.

The picture is no better for the Tories. Mrs Braverman said: After May 7, if Reform does as we hope, and as the polls are predicting, the Conservative Party will cease to be a national party.

They will have been reduced to a kind of rump in the South East. They will have very little, if not zero, representation in Wales and in Scotland, and I think it will establish Reform as the Right-wing party of British politics.

Mr Fisher, who won his seat on the county council in November, said the scale of illegal migration on the south coast had driven voters away from Labour and the Conservatives and fuelled a sense of unfairness in politics.

These people have not been asked to come, he said. They have just shown up, and yet are given priority for housing, for health. Theyre given mobile phones. Theyre taken to the theatre.

But some people have been paying their taxes all their lives, and now have an elderly mother who needs care and is not getting the care that she deserves.

The Telegraphs polling this week showed that Britain was most evenly divided on immigration. Half of voters said they no longer recognised their own country, while the other half said the UK was better for its rich mix of communities.

Reform UK will be hoping to convert the unease caused by rapid change into gains in East Sussex county council on May 7.

Meanwhile, the Green Party will hope to strengthen its grip on Hastings borough council with support from voters in favour of Britains diversity.
Sir Keir Starmer has held discussions with Donald Trump, emphasising the need for a "practical plan" to resume shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the Middle East ceasefire.

The call between the two leaders took place shortly after the prime minister criticised the US president over the economic fallout from the Iran conflict, saying that he was fed up with rising UK bills because of the actions of Putin or Trump.

Sir Keir is visiting Gulf allies  Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates  to support the ceasefire and secure the strait's permanent reopening. He returns to the UK on Friday.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the call on Thursday. They said the prime minister spoke to Mr Trump from Qatar this evening, and detailed Sir Keirs discussions with Gulf leaders on restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Both leaders agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution, and discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible.

Sir Keir earlier appeared to blame Mr Trump for rising bills, alongside Russian president Vladimir Putin, telling ITVs Talking Politics podcast: Im fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump.

File. Donald Trump and Keir Starmer depart from a news conference in the East Room at the White House in February, 2025 (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

He added that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must have toll-free navigation as part of the ceasefire amid reports that Iran wants to charge for passage.

Asked whether he viewed the critical strait as now being open, he said: There are a lot of things being said  they need to be tested and that the UKs position is that open means open for safe navigation.

That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through, he told Talking Politics.

Speaking in London, the foreign secretary Yvette Cooper also called for toll-free travel through the strait, warning that trading routes from Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman were all hijacked by Iran so that they can hold the global economy hostage.

Ms Cooper said: The fundamental freedoms of the seas must not be unilaterally withdrawn or sold off to individual bidders and nor can there be any place for tolls on an international waterway.

The US president later posted on his Truth Social platform: There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait  They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now! President DONALD J. TRUMP.

He added, in a separate post: Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!

Mr Trump agreed a two-week truce earlier this week with the reopening of the strait a key condition.

But the agreement soon came under strain as Israels bombardment of Beirut prompted Iran to close the shipping lane again amid disagreement over whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire.

However, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he had authorised direct talks with Lebanon as soon as possible aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbours.

Sir Keir said Israeli strikes on Lebanon are wrong and that it should be included in the ceasefire.

Prime minister Keir Starmer arrives at an airport in Bahrain on Thursday (Alastair Grant/PA)

His call with Mr Trump also came hours after he was asked about the US presidents language in his posts on Iran and said they were not words I would use.

Let me be really clear and blunt about this  theyre not words I would use or would ever use because I come at this with our British values and principles foremost and uppermost in my mind, he said.

The US leader has repeatedly lashed out publicly at Sir Keir in recent weeks over his refusal, initially, to allow Washington to use UK bases.

He reiterated on Thursday that the US is only authorised to use UK bases for collective self-defence and said the UK is monitoring to make sure that is the case.

Elsewhere, Sir Keir wrote in The Guardian that Iran must now become a line in the sand.

He said: How we emerge from this crisis will define all of us for a generation.

And, instead of hoping to return to the world of 2008, we will forge a new path for Britain  one that strengthens our energy, our defence and our economic security in a new age.

A Downing Street spokesperson said that during his Middle East tour, Sir Keir discussed the need to push to restore the free flow of goods to support global supply chains with UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The prime minister also expressed solidarity with the people of the UAE and his condolences for the lives lost as a result of Irans reckless bombardment, according to No 10.

In talks with leaders from Bahrain, Sir Keir reiterated the importance of ensuring the ceasefire is upheld in order to pave the way for lasting peace.
Starmer fed up with Iran war impact and says it is proof UK must reinforce European ties

Sir Keir Starmer has urged European allies to back Nato in the wake of Donald Trumps threats to withdraw from the alliance, declaring that he is fed up with bills going up because of the US presidents war on Iran.

The prime minister said his government must remake our country to ensure that Britain is not at the mercy of events abroad as the economic and diplomatic fallout continues.

The conflict has placed Nato under increasing strain, with the US president accusing allies of not being there when we needed them and repeating his threat to walk away.

But speaking on the final day of his visit to the Gulf on Friday, Sir Keir insisted that maintaining the alliance is in Americas interests and called for European members to strengthen their commitment.

It is in Americas interests, its in European interests. Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been, he said.

Its the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known. Do we Europeans need to do more? Yes, Ive been making that argument for the best part of two years, to our European partners as much as anybody else. We continue to make that case, and we will make that case, he added.

Prime minister Keir Starmer is visiting allies in the Middle East (PA)

His comments came as US vice-president JD Vance warned Tehran not to play us as he left for Islamabad, where crucial negotiations between the US and Iran will take place this weekend. Were looking forward to negotiation. I think its going to be positive, said Mr Vance.

Earlier, the president accused Iran of doing a dishonourable job of adhering to a fragile ceasefire agreement made earlier this week by failing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which remains blocked, meaning that crucial supplies are unable to pass through.

Sir Keirs warning about Nato follows the US presidents online rant against the alliance on Wednesday evening after his meeting with its general secretary, Mark Rutte.

NATO WASNT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WONT BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!! wrote Mr Trump on Truth Social.

The president has previously raised the possibility of the US quitting Nato, branding the alliance a paper tiger after countries including the UK refused to get involved in the war launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, or to answer Mr Trumps call for help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Sir Keirs stance was echoed by UK defence secretary John Healey, who insisted on Friday that the US remains absolutely locked into Nato. He added that it would be better to focus on our actions than pay attention to the presidents outbursts.

He told the London Defence Conference: You know, if we focus on our actions, rather than just simply the exchange of words and social media posts, then the fundamentals for me remain that America is absolutely locked into  with benefits as well as massive contributions  to Nato.

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump discussed the need for a practical plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (PA)

Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump on Thursday night about the need for a practical plan to get ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz after a two-week conditional ceasefire was announced.

It came shortly after the prime minister criticised the US president over the knock-on effects of the Iran conflict, saying he was fed up with bills going up in the UK because of the actions of Putin or Trump.

Keir Starmer said Europe must do more to support Nato (PA)

Irans blockade of the key shipping route in retaliation for US strikes on Tehran has prompted oil prices to soar, and sparked wider fears about the impact on the cost of living in the UK. The International Monetary Fund has already warned that it will be forced to downgrade its economic growth forecasts because of the conflict, and said that the impact on global fuel supplies because of the closure of the strait will be felt for some time.

Sir Keir said the outbreak of war should serve as a warning to Britain to build resilience both at home and with European allies.

Britain has been buffeted by crises for nearly two decades now, he said, referring to the 2008 financial crash, austerity, Brexit, Covid, the war in Ukraine and Liz Trusss disastrous mini-Budget.

This time, it will be different. The war in Iran must now become a line in the sand, because how we emerge from this crisis will define all of us for a generation. And instead of hoping to return to the world of 2008, we will forge a new path for Britain  one that strengthens our energy, our defence and our economic security in a new age.

He added that resilience has been at the heart of his approach to the war as he has tried to cushion families from economic pressure.

That is why, alongside our actions in the region, weve capped energy bills and invested heavily in the homegrown energy that can free us from the tyrants who manipulate gas prices.
Sudanese migrant arrested in UK after four people die trying to cross the Channel

A Sudanese migrant has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four people died attempting to cross the Channel in a small boat.

Two men and two women died on Thursday when they tried to board a water taxi, a type of dinghy used by smugglers to pick up migrants off the coast of France.

The 27-year-old man was arrested on Friday morning at Manston immigration processing centre in Kent on suspicion of the new offence of endangering others during a journey to the UK by sea.

Thirty-eight people were returned to France after the incident on Thursday morning, with one person suffering hypothermia and two children among those taken to hospital as a precaution.

However, 74 migrants sailed on to the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. The incident happened off the coast of Saint Etienne au Mont, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais.

Rescue vehicles and medical units gather on the beach to treat victims after an attempt to cross the English Channel illegally turned tragic with several migrants found in cardiac arrest, in France's Pas-de-Calais northern coastal city of Equihen-Plage on April 9, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)

Francois-Xavier Launch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, told reporters that the four who died were attempting to board a taxi-boat.

He added: They were already quite far into the sea. The currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away.

The NCA said that the 27-year-old suspect remained in police custody to be interviewed by officers. Investigators are also interviewing others who made the journey to the UK.

French authorities are leading an investigation into the circumstances of the launch and the four deaths.

Rescue units handle victims after an attempt to cross the English Channel illegally turned tragic (AFP via Getty Images)

Craig Turner, NCA Deputy Director, said they were determined to do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these four tragic deaths.

The new offence of endangering others during a sea crossing was introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act and came into force on 5 January.

Minister for migration, Mike Tapp, said: Every death in the Channel is a tragedy. Our experienced law enforcement teams will continue working relentlessly with international partners to prevent these perilous journeys and bring those responsible to justice.

"Through our Border Security Act, officers now have stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt, intercept and take down the operations of criminal smuggling gangs who bring illegal migrants to our shores."
HAWTHORNE, Calif.  Elon Musk has long promised that SpaceX's massive Starship could one day whisk passengers from Tokyo to New York in about 30 minutes, turning intercontinental travel into a suborbital hop that skips the jet lag and endless airport lines. As of April 2026, however, that futuristic vision remains firmly in the conceptual stage, with no firm timeline for the first passenger-carrying Earth-to-Earth flight and significant technical, regulatory and safety hurdles still ahead.

Musk first unveiled the ambitious "Earth-to-Earth" or point-to-point transportation concept in 2017 during a presentation in Adelaide, Australia. He described using a variant of what was then called the BFR  now Starship  to launch passengers from floating offshore platforms near major cities, accelerate to suborbital velocities, and land vertically at the destination. The pitch included eye-popping examples: Los Angeles to New York in 25 minutes, London to New York in 29 minutes, and routes like Tokyo to New York or similar long-haul pairs in roughly 30 minutes.

SpaceX's own early graphics showed Tokyo-to-Singapore shrinking from more than seven hours by plane to 28 minutes by rocket. For Tokyo to New York  a distance of approximately 6,700 miles (10,800 km)  the flight time would align with the company's broader claim of anywhere on Earth in under an hour, often cited around 30-40 minutes depending on exact routing and great-circle paths.

The physics are straightforward on paper. Starship, powered by its Super Heavy booster and six Raptor engines on the upper stage, would blast off, reach space briefly, and re-enter the atmosphere for a powered landing. At peak speeds approaching Mach 20 or more on longer routes, the journey becomes a ballistic arc rather than a traditional airplane flight. Musk has repeatedly said the same vehicle designed for Mars missions could double as a high-speed global transport system, potentially carrying up to 1,000 passengers per flight in a future configuration.

Yet as Starship racks up test flights in 2026, the focus remains squarely on orbital capability, reusability and NASA's Artemis lunar program  not ticketed passengers between cities. The next major milestone, Flight 12  the debut of an upgraded Version 3 Starship and booster  is now targeted for early to mid-May 2026 after multiple delays, according to Musk's April updates on X. Previous targets for early 2026 slipped due to ongoing vehicle refinements and testing.

SpaceX has completed 11 Starship flight tests through late 2025, with a mix of successes and explosive setbacks that are typical for such a complex, fully reusable system. Recent flights have demonstrated heat shield improvements, booster returns and in-flight engine relights, but catching the booster with the launch tower's "chopsticks" and achieving rapid turnaround remain works in progress. Orbital refueling demonstrations, critical for deep-space missions, are eyed for mid-2026.

For point-to-point travel, the challenges multiply. Passenger versions would require human-rating the vehicle to aviation-level safety standards  far stricter than cargo or uncrewed test flights. Regulatory approval from the FAA and international aviation bodies, environmental impact studies for coastal or offshore launch sites, noise concerns, and emergency abort systems all stand in the way. Insurance and liability for flying civilians at hypersonic speeds add another layer of complexity.

Musk has been characteristically optimistic. In late 2024, responding to a post about the concept, he stated "This is now possible," hinting that regulatory shifts under a new U.S. administration could accelerate progress. Former SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell once suggested Earth-to-Earth services could begin as early as 2025 in the most bullish scenarios, but that timeline has quietly faded as Starship's development priorities centered on Moon and Mars goals.

Industry analysts and space experts say a realistic target for initial uncrewed or limited passenger demonstration flights on suborbital routes might slip into the early 2030s. Full commercial operations with regular Tokyo-New York service could be even further out  perhaps mid-to-late 2030s  depending on how quickly reusability drives down costs. Early estimates pegged ticket prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, though Musk has envisioned eventual fares competitive with premium airline tickets as flight rates increase.

A Japanese travel agency made headlines in late 2025 by announcing plans for its own rocket-powered service in the 2030s, targeting Tokyo to U.S. cities including New York in about 60 minutes using space technology. The proposed round-trip fare: around 100 million yen, or roughly $657,000. The company cited SpaceX's vision as inspirational but operates independently.

SpaceX itself has scaled back visible promotion of the Earth-to-Earth concept in recent years, removing some dedicated pages or de-emphasizing it on its website as Starship's role in Artemis lunar landings and potential Mars cargo missions took center stage. Offshore platforms once discussed for launches and landings were reportedly sold or repurposed. The company's current public roadmap highlights lunar cargo flights starting in 2028 and uncrewed Mars missions possibly in late 2026 during the next Earth-Mars transfer window.

Still, the idea captivates the public. Social media frequently recirculates SpaceX animations showing sleek Starships departing from platforms near Tokyo Bay or landing dramatically in New York Harbor, passengers stepping off just half an hour after departure. Aviation enthusiasts note that such a system could slash long-haul travel times dramatically, open new business models, and even serve emergency or military logistics.

Engineers point out that while the rocket technology is advancing rapidly, the infrastructure is not. Major cities would need dedicated spaceports  likely floating platforms far enough offshore to meet safety and noise regulations  plus high-speed ferry or hyperloop connections to city centers. Medical screening for g-forces, zero-gravity effects during the brief coast phase, and rapid decompression risks would differ from commercial aviation.

Environmental groups have raised concerns about the carbon footprint of frequent methane-fueled launches and the potential for sonic booms over populated areas during re-entry. Proponents counter that Starship's full reusability and methane fuel (which can be produced with renewable energy) could make it cleaner per passenger-mile than today's long-haul jets on certain metrics.

As Starship Flight 12 approaches in May 2026, Musk continues to push an aggressive cadence. He has spoken of dozens of flights per year once the system matures, which could eventually create the flight heritage needed to certify a passenger variant. In the meantime, the company's primary customers for Starship remain NASA and, potentially, the Department of Defense for point-to-point cargo demonstrations.

For travelers dreaming of sushi in Tokyo for breakfast and Broadway in New York for dinner the same day, the wait continues. Musk's track record shows that timelines often shift, but Starship's rapid iteration  from steel prototype explosions to increasingly successful high-altitude flights  suggests steady progress toward the day when rockets might indeed replace airplanes for the longest routes.

Until then, the 30-minute Tokyo-to-New York journey exists as a powerful vision of what's possible when reusable rocketry meets bold imagination. SpaceX insists the technology is coming; the question is when regulators, safety standards and economics will allow it to carry paying passengers across the Pacific in record time.

For now, most passengers will still board conventional jets for the 13-plus-hour journey, while engineers in Texas and California keep iterating on the stainless-steel behemoth that could one day make the oceans feel a lot smaller.

Originally published on ibtimes.com.au
Eghosa Ogbebor, 14 was gunned down on Lord Warwick Street, Woolwich (GoFundMe )

A teenage boy has been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Eghosa Ogbebor who was shot dead in Woolwich.

The 16-year-old, of Romford, was charged on Friday and will appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was first arrested last Saturday and released on bail. He was re-arrested on Thursday.

Schoolboy Eghosa was going out to film a music video with his friends when he was shot dead last Thursday, his family said.

An investigation was launched after police were called at 3.40pm to Lord Warwick Street following reports of a shooting.

Officers attended the location in southeast London with the London Ambulance Service and found Eghosa Ogbebor, 14 with serious injuries. He sadly died at the scene.

Eghosas family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

His mother is living in fear after her son was killed just weeks after his birthday, friends revealed.

An investigation launched after the fatal shooting continues and a 19-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and a 46-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender both remain on police bail.

Two boys, aged 14 and 16 and an 18-year-old man, who were arrested on Friday, 3 April in connection with Eghosas death have also been bailed while enquiries continue.

On Friday a further 16-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.
A teenage boy was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound after a shooting in Camberwell.

Police were called to reports of gunshots and a fight at around 9.35pm on Denmark Road on Wednesday night. Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service (LAS) and a 17-year-old boy was treated for a gunshot wound on nearby Carew Street.

The boy was taken to hospital by paramedics. His injuries were confirmed to be non-life-threatening and not life-changing.

Police also said two men, aged 25 and 19, presented themselves at hoaptial later that evening. Their injuries were also confirmed as non-life-threatening or life-changing.

The Metropolitan Police said no arrests have been made. A spokesperson said the Met was working at pace to trace those responsible and it understood the concern of local residents.

The LAS said it was called to reports of a shooting at 9.44pm on Wednesday and sent a number of resources to the scene, which included ambulance crews, an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic and another paramedic from the tactical response unit (TRU).

TRU members are paramedics with additional training and equipment to work as part of a multi-agency team to respond to specific firearms and other incidents, should the need arise, according to the NHS.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD8317/08APR26.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: We were called at 9.44pm on Wednesday 8 April to reports of a shooting at the junction of Carew Street and Denmark Road, Camberwell

We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, a paramedic from our tactical response unit and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from Londons Air Ambulance. Our first crews arrived in approximately three minutes. We treated a patient for a gunshot wound and took him to a major trauma centre as a priority.

A Met Police spokesperson said: We understand the concern caused by incidents of this nature and want to reassure the community that detectives are working at pace to trace those responsible. On Wednesday, 8 April at around 21:35hrs, police were called to reports of gunshots and fighting on Denmark Road, Camberwell.

Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a 17-year-old boy for a gunshot wound on nearby Carew Street. He was taken to hospital by paramedics and his injuries were later confirmed as non-life-threatening or life-changing.

A 25-year-old man and a 19-year-old man, who are believed to have been injured as part of the incident, also self-presented at hospital later that evening. Their injuries were confirmed as non-life-threatening or life-changing. No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation continues.
Its always special anytime someone finds a lost puppy. But its arguably more special, if not more memorable, when an abandoned puppy is found on top of the chimney stack on a crumbled building.

On the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, someone spotted this poor little pup in this precarious situation and promptly called the Michigan Humane Society and the Detroit Fire Department to rescue this poor little canine.

With some great teamwork from these firefighters, they were able to rescue this little puppy, who has been appropriately named Stack. While no one has any idea how this precious little pup ended up at the top of the chimney like that, it is a relief knowing that he is now safe. The rest of the video shows Stack getting cleaned up and taken care of at Michigan Humane, where he is being nursed back to health.

No One Knows How This Puppy Ended up There

A close-up of a puppy sleeping in someones arms. Image via Shutterstock/sophiecat (Image via Shutterstock/sophiecat)

Viewers on social media had a lot to say about this one. Some people could not believe that this puppy was found on top of a chimney stack: OMG! How did this happen? Just makes you wonder Im SO grateful to the person who noticed him up there and called it in. A HUGE thank you to you, in addition to the firefighters and humane society. Now I pray he gains weight and gets adopted by a loving family.

Related: Adorable Farm Dog Puppy Learning How To Socialize With His Animal Siblings Is Simply Irresistible

The nature of how Stack got stuck at the top of the chimney was really concerning for some commenters: OMG, thats such a tiny puppy, too how did he get up there?!

While other viewers on social media were just happy to know that he is now safe: Wow! Thank you to the brave firefighters who rescued this cutie. Hope this pup gets healthy and finds their forever family soon. A few commenters thought that the Detroit Fire Department should adopt him: Looks like a new station pup in the making... just saying. It doesn't get more D-town than that!

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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The US president has implied that Nato is useless - AP

The current rule of thumb is that one should not begin a newspaper column with the words Sir Keir Starmer. The phrase encounters reader resistance. I shall obey. The Prime Ministers entry will be delayed for a few hundred words.

But I fear my alternative opening words are little more alluring. They are JD Vance.

Amid the tumult of the Iran war this week, the US vice-president flew to Europe on a mission. There is a general election in Hungary on Sunday, and Mr Vance wants the veteran anti-Ukrainian prime minister, Viktor Orban, to win again. Before an adoring Orbanist crowd in Budapest, Mr Vance telephoned Donald Trump on his mobile and put it on speaker mode for all to hear. I love that Viktor, cried the US president.

JD Vance joins Viktor Orban at a rally ahead of Sundays Hungarian election - Getty Images

In his own remarks, the vice-president told students that Volodymyr Zelensky had made a completely scandalous attack on Orban by inciting Ukrainian soldiers to give him a piece of their mind. Vance also accused the EU of foreign influence operations to affect the Hungarian election.

How strange. Here was the American vice-president conducting his own foreign influence operation in a faraway country of which he knows little. Here was the No. 2 of Natos dominant partner supporting a government which colludes with Vladimir Putins Russia, Natos main enemy.

A recent phone leak shows Orban telling Putin that he (Orban) is the ingenious mouse assisting Putin the lion. The Hungarian foreign minister has allegedly leaked secrets of EU meetings to his Moscow counterpart.

Yet, to the US administration, Orban is a hero. Vance never admits that Russia invaded a sovereign country to change the borders of Europe by force. To the Hungarians, he described the war in Ukraine as haggling over a few hundred square kilometres of territory.

In the same week in which the vice-president was supporting Putins most assiduous mole (or mouse) within the EU and Nato, President Trump declared, in relation to Iran, that NATO WASNT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WONT BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN, thus implying the alliance is useless and America isnt in it.

By contrast, Trump seems content that Russia actively helps Iran. He happily lifted sanctions on Russian oil when the conflict began. President Zelensky tweeted on Friday: Now a ceasefire is beginning in the Middle East and the Gulf. And I am waiting for sanctions on Russian oil to be fully reimposed. He speaks out because he fears Trump will not reimpose them.

All the above serves to prove that this American administration is an impossible ally. It will never properly consult you in advance. If you disagree with it, you will be publicly denounced. If you do what it wants, you will probably be unpopular at home; you will certainly be embarrassed when, not much later, the President reverses whichever decision you had supported.

You will become more bewildered still when you notice that Trump is pursuing a Right-wing version of Barack Obamas Left-wing policy of being much nicer to the enemies of the United States than to its friends.

Under Trump, Russia and China are respected; Nato members are trashed. If the Iranian situation becomes trickier for him in the coming weeks, one could imagine him suddenly claiming that the Tehran regime is being reasonable and denouncing his closest ally, Israel, instead.

And yet, you cannot just give up and seek other allies. After all, from January 2029, Donald Trump will have left the White House. America will still be the top nation and better, from a Western point of view, than any likely global rival.

Even at the current nadir, Britains military, intelligence and cyber services and nuclear capabilities are closely entwined with America. Roughly 100,000 US service personnel remain in Europe. Our cultural, scientific, business and educational links are incalculably stronger than those with Russia or China. An alliance of freely trading Western democracies, keeping the sea-lanes open, dominated by the English language, Judaeo-Christian traditions and the rule of law, continues to be the most rational political, military, economic, commercial and human option.

So what can we do? How can we try to look through smoke of battle and find a clearer direction? By now, I feel, this column has kept Sir Keir waiting too long. It hereby invites him in.

On Friday, in The Guardian, he wrote, The war in Iran must now become a line in the sand  forgetting, presumably, that a line in the sand is the sort of line which is most easily effaced  because how we emerge from this crisis will define all of us for a generation.

The answer lies, says the Prime Minister, in every element of our security. While staying out of the conflict, weve rebuilt our European alliances (note the plural, which is code for trying to rejoin the EU). Resilience is at the heart of my governments approach  in defence, energy, public finances, economic stability and long-term growth  creating a country where people are not at the mercy of events abroad.

The emphasis on security is welcome, but what is energy security based on renewables alone? And what does security mean in Britain when we spend roughly six times more on social security than on national security? When national security fails, those proportions can reverse. Ukraine has to spend about 35 per cent of its GDP on defence. Under Sir Keirs plan, our own defence spending will not hit even 3 per cent until the 2030s.

Our weakness in defence means that our Navy could make little difference to the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz  evidence that we are indeed at the mercy of events abroad.

Sir Keir also promised last month that we would go after Putins shadow fleet of sanction-busting tankers in the Channel, but this papers reporting on Wednesday proved otherwise. We dont have the ships and the kit to risk confrontation.

The sanctioned Russian oil tanker Universal is shadowed by the Admiral Grigorovich in the Channel - Julian Simmonds/The Telegraph

This papers reporting on Thursday added a further factor: that we did not have clear legal sanction, at least in the opinion of Lord Hermer, whose job as Attorney General to the Government of the United Kingdom always comes second to his status as a panjandrum of international law.

Legal considerations also continue to impede our attempts to cut migrant Channel crossings, even though those are themselves against the law. History shows that the English Channel has repeatedly deterred or prevented successful invasion, yet today illegal entrants can cross it and Putin can pass through it. That is a weaker position than at any time since 1066.

Grotesque as is the behaviour of the Trump administration, we should try to see why many Americans look at us and our neighbours today and say things like: Europes gone What they see is not a collection of free, prosperous, culturally self-confident nations, but what the Trump National Security Strategy last December called civilisational erasure.

They see unstoppable  or at least, unstopped  immigration, the spread of Islamism, the suppression of free speech, welfare dependency, sclerotic public services, the loss of national independence and the elevation of LGBT rights as the highest goal of humanity. They see a culture which has lost its courage and does not believe in its own future.

Yes, their picture is too lurid, but not flat wrong. Sir Keir seeks a sort of doctors mandate to put things right, but he has hardly begun to diagnose our infirmity. Indeed, his Government is a symptom of it.
Melania Trump arrives to speak with reporters on 9 April in the grand foyer of the White House. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP (Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Melania Trump stood at a podium in the same room Donald Trump used to address the nation on the war in Iran last week to make an announcement: she never had a relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

It was unclear which specific accusations spurred Trump to respond publicly. The first lady went on to say that she and the president were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time as overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach.

That claim is undermined by the fact that the most well-known images of the two couples together were taken at Trumps own club, Mar-a-Lago, on 12 February 2000.

Adding to the swirl of confusion over the reasoning behind the first ladys statement are reports the president has been telling reporters he had no idea his wife would give them. A spokesperson for the first lady initially told the New York Times the president knew his wife planned to make a statement. That report was later updated to note that the spokesperson later said it was not clear if Mr. Trump was aware of the topic of her remarks.

Melania Trump says she did not have relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

US congressional leaders seized on the first ladys call for Congress to take sworn testimony in a public hearing from Epstein victims.

We agree with First Lady Melania Trumps call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, said Robert Garcia of California, ranking member of the House committee on oversight. We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the first ladys request and schedule a public hearing immediately.

Read the full story

US judge rules Pentagon has violated his order in press access case

A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Pentagon has not complied with a March order that undid much of a restrictive new press pass policy implemented by the Department of Defense, and ordered the return of credentials to seven New York Times reporters.

Read the full story

Exclusive: US defense official overseeing AI reaped millions selling xAI stock after Pentagon entered agreement with company

A high-profile US Department of Defense official who oversees the agencys artificial intelligence efforts made a profit of up to $24m selling a private investment he held in Elon Musks AI company earlier this year, according to government ethics records released this month. The value of his stake totaled a maximum of a million dollars when he joined the department.

Read the full story

George Clooney calls Donald Trumps a whole civilization will die tonight threat to Iran a war crime

The long-running war of words between George Clooney and the White House has ignited again after the Oscar-winning actor criticized Trumps threat to Iran that a whole civilization will die tonight.

On Wednesday, in a speech to 3,000 high school students in Cuneo, Italy, Clooney said the US president had committed a war crime with his threat.

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Republicans block Democrats push to curb Trumps war powers over Iran

An attempt by House Democrats to pass a long-shot resolution on Thursday curtailing Trumps war powers over Iran failed after the Republican pro forma speaker, Chris Smith, did not recognize lawmakers from the opposite party on the floor.

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What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened Thursday 9 April.
Tyrrell Hatton made his move on the second morning of the Masters with four birdies on the front nine to get to two under par.

The Englishman had gone nine holes without picking up a shot since his three on the 10th on Thursday afternoon, failing to take advantage of both par fives on the back nine.

But the Ryder Cup winner wasted little time in generating some momentum on his return to the course the following morning.

Tyrrell Hatton's exacting approach on No. 7 leads to his third birdie today. #themasters pic.twitter.com/imsXhbfks3  The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2026

He chipped to seven feet at the second and 10ft at the third to get back to level par and then holed an eight-footer at the seventh for his third birdie of the round.

Hatton again failed to take advantage of a par five, the eighth, but then pitched to eight feet from 113 yards to pick up another shot and turn in 32.

At two under he was still three off the lead held by defending champion Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns, not out until after lunch, and two behind Wyndham Clark who was four under after an impressive second-round 68.

The 2023 US Open champion had begun level par but three birdies in succession from the second got him moving and, although he bogeyed the 10th, successive birdies at 15 and 16 put him into contention.

Hattons compatriot and Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose, runner-up to McIlroy last year, struggled to generate his own momentum, having finished his first round with successive bogeys.

He dropped another shot at the first but clawed it back at the difficult seventh and then birdied the ninth to get to three under.

Wyndham Clark produced an impressed second round of 68 (Matt Slocum/AP). (Matt Slocum)

That elicited a wry response from the 45-year-old after a disagreement with caddie Mark Fulcher over shot selection from 142 yards out, with his bagman standing his ground and ultimately being proved correct.

Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was also struggling for inspiration, with back-to-back bogeys at the fourth and fifth seeing him slip to two over.

Two groups ahead, however, Brooks Koepka had four birdies and three bogeys in an outward nine of 35 to leave him one under.
Tyson Fury offered his future son-in-law marriage advice when he was nervously asked for permission to tie the knot with his daughter Venezuela.

Fury was paid a visit by amateur boxer Noah Price after he got engaged to Venezuela in September and the former world heavyweight champion gave his approval  but only after a man to man chat.

He did ask for my permission. He came in and sat down and I explained that marriage is not an easy thing and they are only young kids, Fury said.

Fury (pictured) gave his approval after a man to man chat with Noah Price (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer)

I asked if this is what they really want? He said yes and I gave him my blessing. Fair play, he wasnt shaking but I could tell he was nervous. Fair play to him.

Hes a heavyweight boxer and they say that a daughter always goes for someone like her dad and she definitely has!

I dont know if hes had a stag do yet  if he does, Ill be there and Ill bring the strippers.

A date has yet to be revealed for the wedding and Fury has left all the planning to his wife Paris while he focuses on his comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Im looking forward to it, but that will have to wait until after Saturday night, Fury said.

Fair play to Paris and Venezuela, theyve actually done this wedding without my input at all. Ive had zero to do with it. Im away doing business.

Im not thinking about domestic stuff at home. Im thinking about the fight and thats it. Im out of bounds. Dont tell me about anything like that.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces shot down Shahed drones for the US and its allies in the Middle East after they launched a war against Iran, in a rare disclosure of Kyivs involvement in the conflict.

Mr Zelensky said the anti-drone operations were a part of a broader effort to help partners counter similar weapons as those used by Russia in Ukraine.

This marks the first public acknowledgement of Kyivs assistance to the US and its allies in the region. It comes days after the US and Iran reached a tentative ceasefire.

Ukrainian forces, Mr Zelensky said, took part in active operations using domestically produced, battle-tested interceptor drones.

He did not disclose which nations the operations were conducted in. This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defence system that can actually work, he said.

He claimed the Middle East nations opened up their defence systems to Ukrainian experts, who then advised them how to make them stronger.

We also shot down drones with jet engines. This is a very good signal, I think. We showed that this works. Now it is only a matter of time before we begin mass production of interceptors that will destroy drones with jet engines, Mr Zelensky said.

Rocket trails are seen in the sky during an Iranian missile attack on Israel (AFP/Getty)

Earlier in March, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was assisting five Middle Eastern countries in countering Iranian drone attacks.

He claimed that the US and European countries had requested similar support, owing to Kyivs growing expertise in drone defence, acquired over more than four years of war against Russia attacks.

Ukraine says it is now a leading producer of cheap, effective, battle-tested drone interceptors, among a range of aerial defence systems, which are crucial to its defence against Russian attacks.

Ukraine reportedly deployed 228 drone and military defence specialists to the Middle East after the US and Israel attacked Iran, helping out countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.

In return, Ukraine sought agreements with the Gulf nations to bolster its energy stability.

We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our countrys resilience, Mr Zelensky said. This is far more than simply receiving money.

The Ukrainian leader made a surprise visit in late March to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar just as they were fighting off Iranian drone and missile attacks.

Volodymyr Zelensky met Qatars leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha (AFP/Getty)

Mr Zelensky said Kyiv had locked 10-year agreements with the three countries. He was looking to build long-term strategic ties with the Gulf nations, including joint production, investment, energy cooperation, and the sharing of battlefield experience.

Ukrainian companies will work with the armed forces of these countries to protect specific facilities. My task is to negotiate volumes, services, and types of weaponry. Security talks are currently underway with Oman, and we are also in discussions with Kuwait and Bahrain  this is in addition to the countries we have already reached agreements with, which everyone has seen, he said on social media.

Mr Zelensky detailed the support Ukraine would receive in return. In some cases, it involves interceptors to protect our energy infrastructure, in others there are financial arrangements, he said. All of this will strengthen our energy stability  we have agreements in place for a year. There are also supplies of oil and diesel for Ukraine.

In some cases, we receive crude oil that will be delivered to refineries in Europe for processing. In others, we are talking about finished products  diesel, he added. So in essence, we are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our countrys resilience  and this is far more than simply receiving money.
Considering the Trump administrations repeated and lengthy courting of Putin to no avail over the past year, the Easter truce appeared to come about with minimal US involvement as the US president and his officials remained preoccupied with the Iran war and their own tenuous ceasefire. Zelenskyy did say in recent days that he had transmitted his truce offers to Russia via the US. Reuters said that according to its sources, Putins special envoy Kirill Dmitriev was in the US as of Thursday. Putin may be looking for a reprieve as successful strikes by the Ukrainians have dealt a heavy blow to Russias oil export industry, which earns revenue for the war; while Ukraine itself has been struggling with the impact of Russian strikes on its civilian energy grid.
JD Vance, the US vice-president, prepares to board Air Force Two to fly to Pakistan for talks with Iran - Jacquelyn Martin/AP

JD Vance warned the Iranians not to attempt to play the US on the eve of their first direct peace talks to end the Iran war.

The US vice-president, a firm critic of forever wars, said his team was hoping to extend an open hand to the Islamic Republic, but only if it was willing to negotiate in good faith.

Mr Vance will lead the American delegation in Pakistan on Saturday alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law. They will attempt to solidify a temporary ceasefire agreed this week.

The two-week truce, announced on Tuesday, is under immense strain as the Strait of Hormuz remains all but shut and Israel continues air strikes against Lebanon. Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, said the talks were make or break to achieve a permanent ceasefire.

Before boarding Air Force Two to fly to Islamabad, Mr Vance said Mr Trump would not be at the talks but had set pretty clear guidelines for his team.

He said: As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, were certainly willing to extend an open hand. If theyre going to try to play us, then theyre going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, is to lead the Iranian delegation at the talks - AFP via Getty

Shortly after Mr Vances remarks, Iran demanded the release of tens of billions of dollars of blocked assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon before peace talks could proceed.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans parliament speaker, who is leading Tehrans delegation, claimed the two measures had been agreed with the US previously.

Iran has been unable to obtain tens of billions of dollars of assets in foreign banks, mainly from oil and gas exports, because of US sanctions on its banking and energy sectors.

In a sharp rebuke, Mr Trump wrote on social media: The Iranians dont seem to realise they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!

But the mood at the White House is one of scepticism, according to a senior official. In recent conversations, Mr Trump appears to have conceded that the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to reopen fully any time soon.

The spat has cast doubt on whether the talks will go ahead. If they do, they will be the first meeting between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime since the US and Israel started strikes on Feb 28.

Mr Vance faces major hurdles because of the chasm between the two sides publicly stated demands, including over the strait, Irans uranium stockpile and a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The potential 2028 presidential candidate, who served in Iraq as a US Marine Corps press officer, has long been sceptical of US foreign military interventions, calling them forever wars.

Yet Mr Trumps decision to send him to Pakistan marks a rare moment of high-level US government engagement with the Iranian government.

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the most direct contact between the US and Iran was in 2013, when Barack Obama called the then-Iranian president for talks on the countrys nuclear programme.

Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff, seen meeting Omans foreign minister Badr Albusaid in February. The US pair will join Mr Vance in negotiations with Iran - AFP via Getty

Mr Trump usually entrusts Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner with negotiations, but both appeared to be making insufficient progress.

Mr Vances involvement  and the political heft he brings  suggests Washington is serious about bringing the war to a permanent end. It is also understood that Iran and Pakistan, which is mediating the talks, asked for Mr Vance because of his scepticism about the war.

As part of the negotiations, the Trump administration intends to request the release of Americans detained in Iran, according to the Washington Post.

However, people briefed on the plans told the newspaper the request could be delayed if the negotiations prove difficult. This week, two French citizens charged with alleged espionage were allowed to leave the country.

Also on Friday, Lebanon agreed to attend direct negotiations with Israel in Washington next week, although officials argued that a ceasefire must be in place beforehand. The talks would be the second direct meeting between Israel and Lebanon in 40 years.

On Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, under pressure from the White House, said he was ready for negotiations as soon as possible, despite continuing strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

Israel insisted Lebanon was not covered by the temporary truce, and carried out a major bombardment across the country hours after it was imposed, killing more than 300 people.

Senior Iranian figures said Saturdays peace talks in Islamabad would be meaningless if Israel continued to attack Lebanon.

Yet the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) continued to attack Hezbollah on Friday morning, snubbing pleas from the US to scale back its military operations.

It is another significant hurdle that risks the US-Iran peace talks failing before they start.

The White House is under intensifying political and economic pressure to secure a quick  but permanent  end to the fighting.

Mr Trumps approval ratings fell sharply during the 40-day war, and support for Operation Epic Fury has cratered among parts of his non-interventionist base.

Mr Vance, who sits squarely in that flank, remained notably absent during most of the campaign, until it was announced he would lead negotiations to end it.

On Friday, the price of oil edged higher to around $96 a barrel, although before the truce it traded at around $110 a barrel. Europes airports have warned they could soon run out of jet fuel, raising the prospect of severe disruption to air travel.

ACI Europe, which represents European airports, told the EU on Friday it expected kerosene reserves to run out within three weeks unless shipping is allowed to pass through the strait.

The UK is expected to convene further talks with allies next week on how to ensure oil tankers could pass through the strait without paying tolls to Iran. The discussions are expected to cover economic and political measures, including possible sanctions.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving to tighten restrictions on major Chinese telecom companies, citing growing national security concerns in a proposal that could reshape how global networks connect inside the United States.

The agency said it is considering rules that would block US telecom carriers from linking with companies on its "Covered List," including China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom.

These firms have already faced limits in the US, but the new plan would go further by restricting how data flows between networks.

If approved, the proposal would also stop these companies from operating data centers or "points of presence" that connect to major internet exchange hubs in the US Regulators say these connections could pose risks if left unchecked.

The FCC is also reviewing whether to extend restrictions to companies that use equipment from Chinese tech giants like Huawei and ZTE, Reuters reported.

Officials worry that such infrastructure could expose sensitive data or create vulnerabilities in critical systems.

An initial vote on the proposal is scheduled for April 30, marking the next step in a broader effort to limit foreign influence in US communications networks.

US considers new crackdown on Chinese telecom companies https://t.co/f4a6DqK5Z0 https://t.co/f4a6DqK5Z0  Reuters (@Reuters) April 10, 2026

US Moves to Block More Chinese Tech

The move follows years of escalating action by US regulators. In past decisions, the FCC blocked new telecom services from these companies and revoked existing authorizations.

For example, China Telecom's US operations were shut down in 2022, while China Unicom and related firms lost approval earlier.

The FCC has also expanded its focus beyond telecom services.

It is now considering banning Chinese labs from testing electronic devices like smartphones and computers for use in the US This would widen earlier restrictions aimed at keeping certain foreign technologies out of American markets.

Officials say the goal is to protect national security and prevent potential threats tied to foreign-owned infrastructure. However, the proposal has drawn criticism from China.

According to US News, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the country "consistently opposes the overstretching of the concept of national security," arguing that such actions unfairly target Chinese businesses.

Despite the pushback, US regulators appear determined to move forward.

The latest proposal builds on previous bans, including limits on importing certain Chinese-made equipment, drones, and internet routers.

Originally published on vcpost.com
What, it should be asked, does Vladimir Putin see when he peers across at the British armed forces? It cannot be claimed that they fill him with dread. All agree  and it is not unpatriotic, or disrespectful to service personnel, to say so  that for all the professionalism and bravery of HM Forces, their capacity has been hollowed out over a very long time. Britain is vulnerable. It has been for years.

Long after the post-Cold War peace dividend had ceased, and Russias rampant revanchism became clear, the British government clung to the convenient pretence that Russia could still be deterred, and that, in any case, Nato and the US security guarantee would forever protect our continent.

As a result, our forces are understaffed, and equipment needs replacing. But the time to make a start in such investment was about a decade ago, when David Cameron was still running his austerity-driven government.

Britains defence deficiencies, which date back at least that far in their origins  especially in the Royal Navy  have been embarrassingly obvious in Cyprus and the Persian Gulf. Our forces are well behind in the new drone technology that threatens to make older methods of European warfare obsolete. The UK should be good at intelligence and cybersecurity, but then again, so is the enemy. It is difficult to see any areas of clear advantage.

It is becoming impossible to ignore. All the complacent illusions that have cocooned policymakers since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990 have now been dispelled, either by President Putin or, more recently, by Donald Trump, and sometimes by both. The Kremlins ambition to rebuild the empire built by the Romanovs and Josef Stalin could hardly be more evident.

Nor could Washingtons desire to allow it to do so. Americas membership of Nato is now explicitly in doubt. Whatever the Atlantic Treaty may say, and however the US Congress tries to restrain its president, it is apparent that the sacred all for one and one for all commitment  Article 5  has become conditional and doubtful with President Trump as commander in chief of the US armed forces. In short  and he has almost said as much  if Russia invaded Estonia, the US would not come to the rescue.

Recent events in Iran have only served to embitter Mr Trump even further, so far as his allies in Europe are concerned. Reportedly, the Trump administration is conducting an audit of European countries responses to his pleas for help in the Persian Gulf. The results will determine whether the US retains bases in the relevant territories. If these are withdrawn, that in turn will crucially weaken the deterrent presented to an aggressor  which risks emboldening the territorially ambitious President Putin. Crucial aid for Ukraine is also being held up again, as an act of spite by Washington. Worse could follow.

So what Putin sees across whats left of the West is weakness. He sees the most successful alliance in the history of the world dissolving in real time, and all of its European members being cut adrift by America.

There is no unity among the Europeans. The European Union is not cut out to be a defence community, not least because some of its members, notably Hungary (at least for the time being), act as Russian agents. That feebleness would be fatally complete should one or more of the militarily significant EU powers  France, Germany and Poland  also fall to the populist hard right. The same goes for a Reform UK takeover in Britain. In a few years time, we could all be run by Viktor Orbanites, even if the Hungarian people eject their leader this weekend.

Unlike Nato, which has kept the peace for 77 years and won the Cold War, there is no new permanent European security architecture built on shared values and interests. There is not even much coordination on defence procurement and planning beyond some ad hoc initiatives and Sir Keir Starmers coalition of the willing. The most militarily formidable European nation today is Ukraine, and that is not how it should be.

When Putin sees the state of Nato and the West today, he smiles the smile of a man who has won a battle without firing a shot. The deeply uncomfortable truths facing the British government are as follows: first, that the UK can no longer necessarily rely on the US, and second, that it cannot depend in the long term on its closest European allies, even if they are loyal and reliable now.

The upshot is that Britain will increasingly have to rely on its own resources, and its own determination, to develop its armed forces to such an extent that they can at least defend the homeland and deter missile, drone and cyber attacks. That should be the theme of the (overdue) Defence Investment Plan. The political message should be that we cannot assume that Reform UK will defend Britains national interests. That is why the prime minister is right to call for the country to invest in credible defence.

The defence minister, John Healey, and his colleagues tell us that Britain is ready to defend itself; his immediate predecessor, Ben Wallace, says that this is palpably untrue ... it doesnt in any way deter or con the Russians. Sadly, that is nearer the mark.

Despite having the right instincts, and an outstanding naval success in recent weeks against Russian espionage, Mr Healey has not yet proved that Britains defences are safe in Labours hands. Nor, more importantly, has that been shown, forcefully or consistently, to the Kremlin.
Changing broadband providers might be a fight, but its good for your wallet

Switching my broadband was something I had on my to-do list for years. I signed up to Sky when my husband and I moved into our first flat together 15 years ago, and when we moved house seven years later, I stuck with the same provider.

Fast forward another eight years, and here I was, still with Sky (I had apparently achieved something called Platinum VIP status by this stage), accruing year-on-year price increases every April.

But after receiving an email from them, thrilled to be promising me faster speeds for the same price I was already paying, the penny finally dropped. I was actually getting a rubbish deal, and I think even Sky knew it. It was time to switch, but I wasnt prepared for the ordeal that was to come.

What I was (over)paying for

The Superfast package I was on was super expensive

I finally put aside some time to research and Im embarrassed at how little effort it took to discover how much I had been overpaying. I was on what Sky calls Superfast Broadband 80. This package gave me average download speeds of up to 67Mbps, which is frankly far too slow by modern standards  especially for my four-person family.

What do broadband speeds mean?

The email was offering me an upgrade to Full Fibre 100, with speeds of up to 100Mbps for the same price. This package was costing me 53.50 a month, and if you think that sounds expensive, you would be correct.

A quick browse on rival Virgin Medias website revealed that I could get Gigabit speeds, ten times as fast as what Sky was offering me, for 30.99 per month  increasing to 35.99 next year.

Im a writer, not a mathematician, but it doesnt take a genius to figure out that Skys 53.50 for 67Mbps (or 100Mbps if I upgraded) was a worse deal than Virgins 30.99 for ten times the speed.

In Skys defence, every broadband and mobile provider is guilty of this loyalty penalty. While there are consumer protections in the UK for home and car insurance, preventing companies from offering better deals to new customers than existing ones, this doesnt apply to broadband or mobile networks.

Ill also say that I received an email from Sky prior to them telling me about the speed boost, which said I was going to be out of contract soon. So the company did at least try to warn me.

A warning to all  expect a lot of calls

Only a few spam calls

Now armed with the figures, I entered my address on Virgins site to confirm I could get the fastest speed (Gig1) in my area, closed my laptop and made a note to sort it out before the annual price increase on April 1st.

That was where I went wrong. In the four days that followed, I had six missed calls from Sky, presumably hoping to convince me to sign a new contract, and 12 from Virgin hoping to seal the deal. These came every couple of hours until I got so fed up, I blocked the number.

By the fourth day I was so angry that I contemplated no broadband at all just for some peace. Instead, I did what Virgin was no doubt hoping I would do: I opened my laptop back up and completed the switch. It took 10 minutes.

Before doing this, I rang Sky to see if it was able to match Virgins price for a similar speed. Id always recommend this. Sadly, it came out 11 a month more expensive, despite my years of loyalty. I hung up, a little disappointed my 14-year relationship was resulting in divorce without so much as a trip to the couples counsellor.

I learned a hard lesson  but I saved 250 a year

By kicking the can down the road for 14 years, I wound up spending at least 250 per year more than I should have for broadband.

So whatever you do, please look at how much youre paying and consider switching. Loyalty is no longer rewarded: less than 10 minutes of my time saved me money and Im now getting a much faster service than what I was offered with my previous provider.
West Ham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December with a 4-0 win over Wolves at the London Stadium that dropped Tottenham into the bottom three.

Taty Castellanos struck twice inside two minutes midway through the second half to add to Konstantinos Mavropanoss first-half header before the defender volleyed in again late on.

Nuno Espirito Santos team shrugged off early nervousness to blow away the leagues bottom side and push their rivals from north London closer towards the unthinkable.

Come on you Irons  pic.twitter.com/wSujrLn0OI  West Ham United (@WestHam) April 10, 2026

The Hammers had looked buried after losing at home to Nottingham Forest in January. Defeat to their relegation rivals left them winless in 10 and seven points adrift of safety, but five victories in the 11 games since, together with Spurs apparent free fall, have put a radically different complexion on the picture at the bottom.

Against Wolves, they were wasteful in the first half. Mavropanoss opener, headed in from Jarrod Bowens cross three minutes before the break, lifted the atmosphere at a crucial moment and set the second-half stage for Castellanos to double his tally for the club and inch West Ham towards survival.

It meant Wolves brief revival after three games unbeaten was ended. Relegation for them could now be confirmed as early as next week away to Leeds.

Crysencio Summerville had wasted a golden chance to give West Ham the lead after 14 minutes, staying onside to receive Mateus Fernandess pass before leaning back and scooping his finish high over the crossbar.

Good work from Pablo to dance his way into the box set up Bowen with a chance he ought to have buried. Instead the shot was tame, bounced into the ground via a mistimed swing of the leg and into the arms of Jose Sa.

Konstantinos Mavropanos celebrates scoring (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (Jordan Pettitt)

West Hams wastefulness in front goal and carelessness on the ball were doing little to calm a restless atmosphere.

El Hadji Malick Diouf drew howls of exasperation from home fans when he needlessly gave the ball away in his own half, letting in Adam Armstrong for a chance that whistled just over.

Armstrong then had Wolves best chance of the half with a flicked header that was well-held by Mads Hermansen.

Ladislav Krejci blocked from Bowen following Mavropanoss knock-down. Wolves had now been warned amply of West Hams growing threat but they were breached before the interval.

Their defence failed to clear properly from a corner, the ball was sent back out wide to Bowen who crossed for Mavropanos to rise and plant his header into the corner.

"We've got Taty, we've got Taty Castellanos"  pic.twitter.com/PSRHEiCyaH  West Ham United (@WestHam) April 10, 2026

Only a fine low save from Sa kept Pablo from sending a buoyant West Ham in two up at the break.

A wild two-minute spell at the start of the second half saw both sides hit a post, Wolves from Angel Gomess free-kick, then Bowen drove inside from the right and smacked the upright.

Castellanos settled home fans nerves with a finish into the corner that owed to a wonderfully inventive back-heel by Pablo to set up the chance.

Wolves gave the ball away almost immediately from the kick-off to Bowen, and he fed Castellanos to take a touch and roll in his second and West Hams third via a post.

Mavropanos volleyed in a late fourth for West Ham, whose momentum showed no sign of abating.
Pakistan has established itself as a key player in bringing Iran and the United States to the negotiating table after initially being seen as an unexpected mediator.

Now, it is awaiting representatives from both countries to meet in Islamabad as the world watches to see whether the talks could lead toward an end to the war.

Since Washington and Tehran agreed to an initial 14-day ceasefire Tuesday, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the powerful army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have been sharing messages about conversations with world leaders, highlighting their role as mediators.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to Munir as my favorite field marshal since last year, when he helped mediate a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.

Pakistans role in Iran-U.S. negotiations surfaced a few weeks ago (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Islamabad isn't often called on to act as an intermediary in high-stakes diplomacy, but it's stepped into the role this time for a number of reasons, both because it has relatively good ties with both Washington and Tehran and because it has a lot at stake in seeing the war resolved.

Pakistani government officials have said that their public peace effort follows weeks of quiet diplomacy, though they have provided few details. The talks are expected to take place in Islamabad on Saturday following the arrival of both delegations. Pakistan ramped up security across the city with additional troops and police.

Here's what to know about Pakistan's mediation effort:

Pakistan helped US deliver an initial 15-point plan to Iran

Pakistans role in Iran-U.S. negotiations surfaced a few weeks ago following media reports. Officials in Islamabad later acknowledged that a U.S. proposal had been conveyed to Iran.

It remains unclear who has served as Irans point of contact in the indirect talks.

According to Pakistani officials, U.S. messages were being passed to Iran and Iranian responses relayed to Washington, though they did not specify how the process was being handled or who was directly communicating with whom.

Pakistan said that Turkey and Egypt were also working behind the scenes to bring the sides to the negotiating table.

A final US ultimatum and an announcement of an agreement

But days passed with no indication of progress. Last weekend, Trump escalated his threats and issued what seemed like a final deadline to Iran, saying that if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, the entire country can be taken out. That same day, he also said that a whole civilization will die tonight, adding, I dont want that to happen, but it probably will.

Pakistan and other countries were already working behind the scenes to reach an agreement and avoid an escalation.

JD Vance warned Tehran not to play us as he left for the high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad (AP)

Then, before the deadline, Sharif tweeted: 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. The U.S. and Iran also confirmed it.

Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, said that Pakistan can show to the world it is an influential regional actor thanks to its work as mediator.

Islamabad can also enjoy a measure of vindication: for having defied the skeptics who didnt think it could pull off such a feat, he wrote in Foreign Policy magazine this week.

Ties with both US and Iran set Pakistan up for new role

Previous U.S.-Iran negotiations have been facilitated mainly by countries in the Middle East, including Oman and Qatar, but as they came under Iranian fire, Pakistan stepped into the role.

Analysts say Pakistans geographic proximity to Iran  its one of its neighbors  coupled with its longstanding ties with the U.S., gives it a unique position at a time when direct communication between the two sides remains constrained.

Islamabad also has close strategic ties with Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, with which it signed a defense cooperation agreement last year. However, Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel because of the lingering issue of Palestinian statehood.

Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have improved since last year, with increased diplomatic engagement and expanding economic ties. Islamabad also joined Trump's Board of Peace, which aims to ensure peace in Gaza, despite opposition from Islamists at home.

Pakistan has a lot at stake in ceasefire talks

The conflict poses some of the biggest economic and energy security challenges in Pakistans history, said Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Mohammad Ali.

The country gets most of its oil and gas from the Middle East  and, he said, the 5 million Pakistanis working in the Arab world send home remittances each year roughly equal to the countrys total export earnings.

Rising tensions have already contributed to higher global oil prices, forcing Pakistan to increase fuel prices by about 20% and putting pressure on Sharif's government.

The war is also adding to domestic turmoil, even as Pakistan has been grappling for months with its own conflict with neighboring Afghanistan. Islamabad has accused the country's Taliban government of tolerating militant groups that are behind attacks in Pakistan.

Earlier this month, protests erupted across the country following U.S. strikes on Iran, with demonstrators clashing with security forces in several cities. At least 22 people were killed and over 120 injured in clashes in Karachi a day after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Another 12 people were killed after a mob tried to storm the U.S. Consulate in Karachi on March 1.

Khamenei was a central religious and political figure for Shiites worldwide, including in Pakistan.

Pakistan has a record as a mediator

Pakistans then-President Gen. Yahya Khan facilitated back-channel contacts that led to U.S. President Richard Nixons historic 1972 visit to China. That paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic ties between Washington and Beijing in 1979.

Since then, Pakistan has played a role in several other complex regional conflicts, most notably during the 1988 Geneva Accords that paved the way for the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Acting as a front line state and key interlocutor, Islamabad participated in U.N.-brokered negotiations while working closely with the United States and other stakeholders and helped increase pressure on Moscow to pull out its forces.

More recently, Pakistan facilitated contacts between the Afghan Taliban and Washington that led to talks in Doha that culminated in a 2020 agreement and set the stage for the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO troops and the Talibans return to power in 2021.
Thick smoke billows from the roof of the Kimberly-Clark paper products facility in Ontario, California. Photograph: VCG/Getty Images (Photograph: VCG/Getty Images)

An employee who allegedly burned down a California warehouse compared himself to Luigi Mangione in a message to co-workers after setting the fire, according to authorities in a Friday press conference, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, has been charged with several counts of felony and state arson after a massive fire destroyed the Kimberly-Clark paper products warehouse in Ontario, California, about an hour outside of Los Angeles.

The warehouse fire broke out at 12.30am on Tuesday, with police arresting Abdulkarim shortly after. The fire quickly progressed into a six-alarm blaze, with about 175 firefighters responding to the emergency. The blaze resulted in more than $600m in damage, with $500m in paper products destroyed as well as the $150m warehouse.

Fire investigators said Abdulkarim texted a co-worker after the blaze, comparing himself to 27-year-old Mangione, who is facing charges for the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.

Look, America is founded on free enterprise and capitalism, said Bill Essayli, the first assistant United States attorney for the central district of California, during the press conference. Anyone who attacks our values, our way of life, our system, which provides the best goods and services to the most people, were gonna come after aggressively.

Police said on Friday that video footage posted on social media also shows Abdulkarim setting fire to toilet paper and other combustibles in the warehouse. In the same video, the individual is heard saying that he does not make enough money to live on.

Other small fires were seen burning in the background of the video.

A co-worker told KABC that Abdulkarim was not initially a suspect in the arson. There was no suspicion that it was him  actually he was missing. So everyone was trying to find him. Everyone was blaming the robots at first. We were almost 100% sure it was the robots until the action in the video of course, said Alex Montero, a resident of San Bernardino.

Abdulkarim faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, with state charges set to be ruled on first.
KMT chair Cheng Li-wun in Nanjing, China, on Wednesday. The Taiwanese opposition leader met Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. Photograph: AP (Photograph: AP)

In a rare meeting with Taiwans opposition leader, Chinas president, Xi Jinping, declared that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were Chinese and wanted peace.

The meeting in Beijing between Xi and Cheng Li-wun, the chair of Taiwans Kuomintang (KMT), is the first such contact in a decade. The visit has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with Chengs critics accusing her of being too close to China, a country that many in Taiwan see as a threat.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Cheng said that if the KMT took power in Taiwan, she would like to invite Xi to visit. Taiwans next general election is in 2028.

Cheng has previously said that it was a very natural thing to identify as Chinese  a stance that is increasingly at odds with mainstream opinion in Taiwan where polling suggests two-thirds of people see themselves as being primarily Taiwanese.

Meeting Xi in Beijing, Cheng said that Taiwan should no longer be a flashpoint for potential conflict and should instead become a symbol of peace jointly safeguarded by Chinese people on both sides of the strait.

Related: Trumps show of force in the Middle East creates a weakness China can exploit

Cheng arrived in China on Tuesday and has visited several cities on her way to Beijing, including Nanjing, a former capital of China when it was ruled by the KMT before the Chinese Communist party (CCP) took power in 1949.

After their defeat by the CCP, the KMT fled to Taiwan. The self-governing island has since been the subject of intense debate between its local rulers and the CCP in Beijing, which claims it as part of Chinese territory.

The visit comes as China has increased military pressure around Taiwan. Xi sees reunifying China and Taiwan as an important part of his legacy and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve that aim.

Cheng, who was elected as KMT chair last year, is a divisive figure in Taiwan. She has advocated much closer ties with Beijing and has even been nicknamed by some Chinese internet users as the goddess of unification.

Taiwans last three elections have been won by the Democratic Progressive party (DPP), a pro-sovereignty outfit detested by Beijing. The CCP has particular disdain for Lai Ching-te, the DPPs leader who was elected as Taiwans president in 2024. Chinese state media has portrayed Lai as a parasite being roasted over a flaming Taiwan.

Cheng has argued that Lais strained relationship with Beijing creates more risk for Taiwan than her approach.

Since the DPP took power in 2016, China has increased its military activity around Taiwan, including excursions that look like rehearsals for a blockade.

Before she departed for China, Cheng described her tour as a peace trip and said that it would show the sincerity and determination of the Chinese Communist party to engage in peaceful dialogue and exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

The trip comes at a time when Taiwans domestic politics is bogged down in a quagmire over a $40bn special defence budget that Lais party is trying to push through the legislature. Opposition parties including the KMT have blocked the budget, saying that it is too big and too vague.

Cheng has denied accusations from the DPP that her party tried to block the budget ahead of her meeting with Xi. The KMT has proposed a smaller special defence budget of $12bn that is focused on specific military items approved for sale by the US.

In hosting Cheng, Beijing seeks to cast doubt in Taiwan over the Lai administrations focus on self-defence and to strengthen voices in Taiwan calling for closer cross-strait ties. Beijing seeks to keep Taiwan divided over the question of how best to secure its future, said Amanda Hsiao, China director at the Eurasia Group thinktank.

Hsiao added that growing scepticism of the US in Taiwan may bolster Chengs argument that the KMT, which leans towards Beijing more than Washington, is better equipped to maintain cross-strait peace.

China strongly objects to US arms sales to Taiwan. Xi told US president Donald Trump in a phone call in February to be prudent about such deals.

William Yang, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said that China hoped to use Chengs meeting with Xi to show Trump that its ally in Taiwan is in lockstep with Beijing when it comes to key policies. Beijing could potentially use this impression to influence Trumps position on US arms sales to Taiwan, which is one of the major issues that Xi will likely put on the table when the two leaders meet, Yang said.

Xi and Trump are expected to meet in Beijing next month in a highly anticipated summit that was delayed from April because of the war in Iran.

Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, and a former US defence official responsible for China and Taiwan, said that Chengs position does not represent the majority viewpoint in Taiwan. Taiwanese people are clear that the source of military threats is not emanating from the DPP or President Lai. Its emanating from Beijing, Thompson said.

Additional research by Yu-chen Li and Lillian Yang

 This article was amended on 11 April 2026. The S Rajaratnam School of International Studies is in Singapore, not Taiwan as a previous version said.
Amit Kshatriya, the Nasa associate administrator, Jeff Radigan, the lead flight director for Artemis II and Branelle Rodriguez, the Artemis II vehicle manager. Photograph: Danielle Villasana/Getty Images (Photograph: Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)

With the crew of Artemis II set to return to Earth on Friday following its historic 10-day lunar flyby mission, the astronauts celebrated their lunar expedition and hailed the golden age of space travel, saying they hoped the historic mission would inspire the next generation.

Speaking from onboard the Artemis II on Thursday evening, the crew fielded questions from members of Congress as they prepared for their return to Earth.

The mood of Thursdays press conference was jubilant as politicians from both sides of the aisle congratulated the astronauts on their trip while asking questions about their experiences and its ability to inspire others.

The record-breaking nature of the mission was also on the minds of several crew members. It is unbelievable to think that we could build an international team led by the United States of America and set our sights out on a sustained presence on the moon and onto Mars and then we can go and achieve it, said Commander Reid Wiseman, calling the mission incredible. There is nothing this nation cannot do when it has a vision.

Related: Artemis II crew to end record-setting mission with Pacific Ocean splashdown

We are in the golden age of space travel right now, added Wiseman. Theres just limitless potential here.

Several congresspeople asked how the Artemis II trip could serve as an inspiration, especially to younger generations. Zoe Lofgren, a congresswoman from California, called the expedition unifying in so many ways, asking the four-person crew what they hoped the public took away from it.

I hope that we connect back to when we went to the moon the first time and we started calling big things humanity accomplished moon shots and we take ownership of this moonshot, said pilot Victor Glover, the first Black man to travel beyond low-Earth orbit. Theres nothing that we cant accomplish when we pull all of our differences together  and when we work on something big for the good of everyone.

Artemis II crew members have already begun repacking for their re-entry to Earth following their lunar expedition. Earlier on Thursday, Nasa leaders described the precise logistics needed to get the crew home.

The return will see the Orion capsule traveling at nearly 24,000mph (38,600km/h) before making a final splashdown several miles off the coast of San Diego. The operation requires multiple teams and careful coordination to safely extract the crew from the spacecraft.

Speaking at a press conference, Nasa associate administrator Amit Kshatriya said: To every engineer, every technician thats touched this machine, tomorrow belongs to you. The crew has done their part. Now we have to do ours.

Jeff Radigan, lead flight director of the mission, emphasized the precision required for re-entry, noting the team has less than a degree of an angle to hit the correct flight path. Lets not beat around the bush. We have to hit that angle correctly  otherwise were not going to have a successful re-entry, he said.

Radigan outlined the timeline for the spacecrafts return. The Orion crew module and service module are set to separate at 4.33pm PT (7.33pm ET, 12.33am UK time), with the service module burning up in Earths atmosphere. This will be followed by a crew module raise burn at 4.37pm PT, and Orions entry interface at 4.53pm PT, which will cause a brief blackout. Drogue parachutes are set to deploy at about 5.03pm PT, followed by main parachutes, before a final splashdown at 5.07pm PT.

He added that the splashdown will occur far off the southern California coast. The path that were coming in, I dont expect it to be visible from the folks in California  Were working with the Department of War to recover the capsule out there and it is a fairly large exclusion zone so I would caution folks  please avoid the area, Radigan said.

Theres a lot of debris that comes down and we work with our recovery forces in order to ensure that it doesnt hit them, he added.

The USS John P Murtha is ready to assist with recovery operations, which will unfold in several stages and are expected to take between an hour and an hour and a half. Theres a number of systems that we have to begin an orderly shutdown, and the crew then has to orient themselves and begin safing the spacecraft so they can open the hatch, and that takes a little bit of time, Radigan said.

Related: Artemis II crew describe overwhelming emotions after soaring past the moon

He added that recovery teams must initially remain at a safe distance because of the debris. Once we confirm that theres no risk  which takes a matter of minutes, then theyre able to approach the spacecraft and begin the process of extracting the crew, Radigan said.

After extraction, the crew will undergo post-mission medical evaluations before being flown to Nasas Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Back on board Thursday night, the crew members spoke directly to their children and other young people interested in space exploration.

Glover said that he and his wife look forward to chasing and catching [the] dreams of his four children. Speaking to the future citizens, Glover said: I hope this mission is giving you something you can take and put in your pocket or in your heart or mind, that you keep with you  we want you to take this and build a vocabulary to explain the world to us.

One of the most striking experiences, according to multiple crew members, was seeing the eclipse of the moon in person. Christina Koch, mission specialist in the Artemis II crew, said that the sight rendered us speechless. Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian Space Agency mission specialist, seconded Kochs remarks, adding: I know you saw some pictures, referring to images captured of the moon, But it really was something.
Signal jamming devices that allow shoplifters to disable security tags and burglars to steal cars are set to be banned.

The jammers, which block GPS, mobile phone and radio signals, are often hidden within devices such as smartwatches and can be bought online for as little as 20.

Ministers fear that signal jammers have helped fuel Britains shoplifting epidemic, which has seen offences rise to their highest level since 2003.

The Government has started a four-week consultation on a ban.

Under current law, it is illegal to use equipment that deliberately interferes with wireless communications, but the law does not specifically rule out owning radiofrequency jammers for illegitimate use. The consultation seeks to close that loophole.

The consultation says jammers are increasingly used in vehicle theft, shoplifting and home burglaries and organised crime groups exploit jammers for large-scale fraud and theft.

It adds: We want evidence of the harms caused by illegal use and possession of radiofrequency jammers, how effective current laws and regulations are in terms of deterrence and enforcement and whether changes, including around possession, may be needed.

Shoplifters are able to evade security scanners by using handheld jammers, which block radio frequency and acoustic signals on security tags. This allows criminals to walk out of shops without triggering an alarm.

In recent months, Labour has come under intense criticism for its failure to tackle a proliferation of shoplifting. More than 530,000 offences were reported last year, amounting to nearly three offences per minute.

Marks & Spencer has urged Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, to come clean on the true scale and impact of shoplifting and warned staff were facing more brazen, more organised and more aggressive attacks.

On Wednesday, Sarah Jones, the policing minister, said store security guards would not be allowed to carry truncheons or pepper spray to combat shoplifters. It followed calls by Labour peer Lord Walker, who is also the chief executive of Iceland, for Britain to copy Spain, where supermarket security guards are allowed to use them.

Signal jammers, which block GPS, mobile phone and radio signals, can be bought online for as little as 20

Ministers also want the proposed tightening of the law to stop criminals using jammers to hack video doorbells.

Known as deauthers or deauths, short for deauthentication, these devices temporarily disconnect the link between a video doorbell and the homes wireless internet connection. This prevents home break-ins being captured on camera, along with thefts of parcels left at the front door.

The use of jamming devices has also become commonplace for car thieves, who are able to scramble the radio signal from remote locking devices on modern cars, giving them access to the vehicle without a key.

Last year, it was estimated that four in 10 car thefts nationwide were carried out using signal jammers and six in 10 in London.

Research by Gloucestershire-based Chronos Technology found more than 100 example websites  many of them run by Chinese companies  where car jammers were sold for delivery to Britain.

It led to Yvette Cooper, the then home secretary, announcing that people caught with electronic devices used to steal cars would face up to five years in jail and unlimited fines. The new law is expected to come into effect later this spring when the Police and Crime Bill is passed.

Liz Lloyd, the telecoms minister, said: We are stepping up efforts to stop the illegal use of jamming devices which are threatening not only our daily lives, but also our vital public services across the country.

This is an opportunity for the public and industry experts to have their say on how we safeguard our homes, businesses, transport networks and more from those seeking to exploit these technologies.

By gathering a broad range of informed opinions, we can make sure any future measures we introduce are rooted in evidence and address the real issues people are facing.

William Wright, of Closed Door Security, a cybersecurity consultancy, previously told The Telegraph he had seen a rise in criminals discussing the use of jammers and deauths on the secure messaging app Telegram.

Mr Wright said: I would say maybe a two or three-fold increase of these types of devices being available and discussed.

The government is also being blamed for a sharp increase in shoplifting after it scrapped short-term sentences.

The Sentencing Act passed last year states judges and magistrates should only impose a custodial sentence for shoplifters in exceptional circumstances.

Ministry of Justice data show that 98 per cent of shoplifters currently in jail would qualify for alternative community punishments under the new law, which took effect last month. That would equate to 12,000 shoplifters avoiding jail in a year.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has said the public has a role in combatting shoplifting by taking appropriate action when they can.

Mrs Badenoch said she would confront a shoplifter, provided they were not too big, and urged the public not to look away when crimes were committed.
Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale two decades ago to help young people with HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana - Aaron Chown/PA Wire

The Duke of Sussex is being sued by Sentebale, his former charity, for defamation.

The charity has accused the Duke and Mark Dyer, a close friend and former charity trustee, of being the architects of an adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership.

The lawsuit, whose claims were described as offensive and damaging by the Duke, follows his resignation as Sentebales patron last year, a move he made in support of several of the charitys trustees who had resigned en masse.

A charity watchdog investigation later criticised both sides for conducting a war of words in the media.

The Duke of Sussex and Mr Dyer are now being sued for defamation by Sentebale, according to High Court records.

The Duke co-founded the charity in 2006, in memory of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to help young people with HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana.

Online court filings show the men as defendants in a libel or slander claim. No documents are currently available in the claim, which was originally filed on March 24.

The Duke of Sussexs resignation as patron came after a group of trustees stepped down in March 2025, saying they had lost trust and confidence in the leadership of Sophie Chandauka, the charitys chairman.

The Duke and other trustees at Sentebale accused Ms Chandauka of creating an untenable situation at the charity - Matt Jelonek/Getty Images for Sentebale

Trustees had moved forward with a vote to remove Ms Chandauka, but she blocked the process by filing a case at the High Court and has continued in the role.

A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex and Mr Dyer said: As Sentebales co-founder and a founding trustee, they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims.

It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organisation for nearly two decades, rather than being directed to the communities the charity was created to serve.

A source said: The irony that Sentebale should release a proactive media statement stating that there is a coordinated adverse media campaign against the charity is, I dont think, lost on anyone.

In a new statement explaining the 2026 legal action, Sentebales current board of trustees and its executive director denied charitable funds were being used to support it.

It said the charity had experienced false narratives circulated through the media about the charity and its leadership, attempts to undermine its relationships with staff, existing and prospective partners, and the forced diversion of leadership time and resources into managing a reputational crisis not of the charitys making.

It added: The charity seeks the courts intervention, protection, and restitution following a coordinated adverse media campaign conducted since March 25, 2025 that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners.

The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership

The charity should not continue to use its resources to manage and address the damage this adverse media campaign has caused to its operations and partnerships. This must stop. The board and executive director have taken this legal action to secure that protection. The costs of doing so are met entirely by external funding and no charitable funds have been used.

It is not yet clear which statements made by Prince Harry or Mr Dyer are considered defamatory.

Prince Harry and Mark Dyer attend a Sentebale concert at Kensington Palace in 2016. Both men are now being sued by the charitys chairman - DOMINIC LIPINSKI/AFP via Getty Images

When he resigned last year the Duke issued a joint statement with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, another charity patron, saying: With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same.

It is devastating that the relationship between the charitys trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.

Mr Dyer and other former trustees Timothy Boucher, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West also released a statement saying their decision to resign was devastating.

They had attempted to remove Ms Chandauka from her position, citing a loss in trust and confidence.

In an interview after the Dukes statement was made public, Ms Chandauka claimed she had experienced disrespect, bullying and intimidation and misogyny and misogynoir in her role.

Of the Duke, she said: The number one risk for this organisation was the toxicity of its lead patrons brand.

Last year, the Duke of Sussex confirmed that he had resigned as a patron in support of Sentebales trustees - Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale

The Charity Commission investigated the allegations and found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny, but concluded that all parties were to blame for starting a public row that harmed Sentebales reputation.

The commission also said Ms Chandauka should be allowed to stay on in her role.

After the report, Sentebale said: The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the commissions responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes. This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir etc.

The issues not investigated by the commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the commission.

In August last year, a source said that Prince Harry had been left devastated by the events after 19 years of working with the charity.

The most recent filing, in which he is named as a defendant, follows multiple High Court claims filed by the Duke of Sussex.

A judge is currently considering his claim against the publishers of The Daily Mail, which he has accused of unlawful information gathering.

He has previously attempted to sue the publishers of The Sun and The News of the World, and eventually settled the claim. In 2024, he was awarded damages after a High Court judge found his phone was hacked to a modest extent by Mirror Group Newspapers between 2003 and 2009.

Last year, he lost a Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements.
RFA Tideforce tracking RFN Admiral Grigorovich, which is part of Russias Black Sea Fleet - MoD

Sailors tracking Russian warships through the Channel are to go on strike next week.

Personnel from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the civilian support wing of the Royal Navy, are set to walk out on Thursday in a long-running row over pay.

The Telegraph revealed on Wednesday that seafarers on RFA Tideforce, a 39,000-ton tanker, were deployed to follow a heavily armed Russian frigate off the south coast instead of a British warship.

Union bosses have warned that staff have endured years of substandard wages while the demands facing crews continue to increase.

Pressures on the Navy have led to the RFA filling some gaps left by a lack of available vessels to track Vladimir Putins warships as they menace the UKs coastline.

It is unclear whether the walkout will affect Britains ability to shadow Russian warships if Putin sends more through the Channel.

Before next weeks industrial action, Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), warned that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) needed to offer more than a 4.5 per cent pay rise if it wanted to avoid civilian staff quitting the Armed Forces.

They have made their position clear, Mr Dempsey said. They will not accept substandard pay offers and are prepared to take further strike action if necessary to get the pay rise they deserve.

Our members play a vital role in supporting the Navy, often in some of the most demanding and dangerous working conditions.

But they have faced years of below par pay and unresolved concerns about conditions.

HMS Somerset (front) and HMS St Albans tracking Russian vessel RFN Severomorsk in the North Atlantic - Ministry of Defence

Mr Dempsey said: The Ministry of Defence and the employer now need to come forward with a serious, long-term commitment to improving pay and conditions, including ensuring they comply with national minimum wage legislation, if they are serious about retaining staff.

The MoD offered workers a 4.5 per cent pay rise earlier this year, but they rejected it overwhelmingly. The RMT previously said wages had reduced, in real terms, by about 30 per cent over the last decade while seafarers were working up to 12 hours a day.

The RFAs role in the military has grown increasingly significant as the Navys power has diminished.

Traditionally, the Navy would have used vessels such as Type 23 frigates to escort Moscows warships through British waters.

However, the fleet is under immense pressure having shrunk to its smallest size in living memory, with Britain now operating just seven frigates, most of which are alongside in port undergoing maintenance.

As a result, civilian sailors tracked the Admiral Grigorovich, which is part of the Black Sea Fleet, through the Channel.

The warship accompanied a pair of sanctioned shadow fleet tankers which fund Putins war against Ukraine by exporting oil across the globe, in defiance of the UK, European Union and United States.

Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly faced criticism regarding the state of the Navy and the Armed Forces, which was exposed on the world stage as the war in Iran broke out.

After an Iranian-made drone hit RAF Akrotiri, HMS Dragon, the UKs 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 suffered water-supply issues.

At the same time, the Navy has only been able to deploy one of its six Astute-class nuclear attack boats to Australia, with the others left in port at HMNB Clyde, in Faslane, Scotland.

HMS Somerset (left) and HMS St Albans with a Merlin helicopter between them as they monitor a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic - Ministry of Defence

Donald Trump, the US president, previously described Britains two aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, as toys while Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, mocked Britains big, bad Royal Navy.

Last month, the Prime Minister gave Special Forces the authority to capture the armada of rusted ships illegally ferrying oil for the Kremlin. He said 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 RMT insisted that during strike action, RFA members would continue to ensure the safety of vessels is maintained at all times, including the management of moorings and gangways.

0904 Russian boats English Channel [LEAD]

Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, told The Telegraph on Thursday that Sir Keir had to stop the shadow fleet and recover some of the respect Britain has lost recently over its military response to the war in the Middle East.

Mr Johnson said: I think its pathetic. I dont know why we dont board these sanction-busting ships. They are fuelling Putins war machine and funding his slaughter of innocent Ukrainians and we have a golden opportunity to stop it.

I think if we did, it would do a lot to recover some of the respect Britain has lost recently for our inability to defend our friends in the Gulf and use our bases in Cyprus.

Mr Johnson added: Putin is breaking the law  he knows he is, and he is laughing at us. Its important to choke off Putins income. They need to restore a bit of pride in the British Armed Forces. This is not the fault of the Armed Forces  its the abysmal leadership of the government.

The Navy announced on Thursday that it had been involved in a 10-day operation to track Russian vessels around the UK, adding fresh pressure on the fleet.

Naval helicopters and ships, including the frigates HMS Somerset, HMS St Albans and the patrol ship HMS Mersey, were called to shadow four Russian navy vessels, including a surfaced submarine, in the English Channel and North Sea.

Portsmouth-based HMS Mersey was scrambled three times between March 29 and April 7, working with a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and RFA tanker Tideforce, to report on the movements of Admiral Grigorovich.

Ropucha-class landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin and Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar have also been actively shadowed by the Navy.

As the Admiral Grigorovich sailed towards the Strait of Dover, Mersey monitored the frigate as it sailed west, battling high winds and seas from Storm Dave, to meet Krasnodar and accompanying salvage tug Altay near Ushant.

Days later, on Wednesday, RFA Tideforce took over and followed the Russian frigate through the Channel as it escorted two sanctioned oil tankers.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, also revealed on Thursday that Russia had run a secret submarine operation in British waters that threatened vital energy and data cables.

An MoD spokesman said: There will be no operational impact on wider Royal Navy operations or the ability to shadow Russian warships.

We recognise the decision by some members of the RMT union in favour of industrial action and we are continuing to collaborate closely with all stakeholders, including trade unions.
A New York woman has admitted to stealing nearly $10 million from an elderly couple she worked for, using the money to fund a lavish lifestyle filled with designer goods and personal expenses.

Catalina Corona, 62, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court in Brooklyn this week.

Prosecutors said she abused her role as a trusted personal assistant to a former Salomon Brothers banker and his wife, taking money from their accounts over several years.

According to court filings, Corona worked for the couple starting in 2017. Soon after, she began writing checks from their accounts and making them payable to "cash."

She then deposited the funds into her own accounts and used the money for personal spending.

Authorities said the scheme lasted until 2024, when a bank employee flagged a suspicious $1,500 check and contacted the victim, NY Post reported. That alert helped uncover years of unauthorized transactions.

During that time, Corona allegedly spent large amounts on luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Cartier.

Personal assistant pleads guilty to swindling $10M from Salomon Brothers partner, wife#forex https://t.co/0NECoGJzLH  Forex Factory (@ForexFactory) April 9, 2026

Ex-Assistant Faces 30 Years After $10M Theft

According to TotalNews, prosecutors said she spent more than $1 million at Louis Vuitton alone, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars at other high-end stores. She also used the stolen money to pay off credit card bills and book flights.

"Catalina Corona stole nearly $10 million from an elderly couple who entrusted her with their care to fund her lavish shopping habits," an FBI official said in a statement.

The victims included Richard Schmeelk, a longtime banker who worked for Salomon Brothers for four decades, and his wife, Priscilla.

Schmeelk died in 2022 at the age of 97, but prosecutors said the theft continued even after his death.

Court records also show that Corona sometimes contacted banks pretending to be one of the victims in order to access account details. This allowed her to continue moving money without raising early suspicion.

Corona now faces up to 30 years in prison. She may also be ordered to repay the stolen money and pay additional fines.

The sentencing date has not yet been announced.

Originally published on vcpost.com
by Card Dominique Joseph Mathieu*

In a reflection sent to AsiaNews on the eve of the prayer vigil for peace called for tomorrow by the Pope  which coincides with the anticipated start of talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan  the cardinal recalls that peace is not an external matter, but arises from within and becomes word, gesture and way of life. If conscience is silenced, aggression grows. The cross shows that true power is not that which crushes, but that which remains faithful to the truth.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The ceasefire poses a personal question to us: what am I nurturing in my heart? Peace or resentment? Truth or expediency? Because peace is not merely an external, political or international matter. It is born within, and then becomes word, gesture and way of life and when truth itself is set aside, peace weakens. When conscience is silenced, aggression grows both within families and in society. This is what Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan for the Latin Rite, writes in a reflection sent to AsiaNews in the wake of the fragile truce reached between the United States and Iran and on the eve of the peace talks in Islamabad mediated by Pakistan (and China) this weekend. Also tomorrow at 6 pm, the special prayer vigil for peace presided over by Pope Leo in St Peters Basilica will take place. The cardinal, who in recent weeks had to leave the Iranian capital due to the conflict, recalls the practicality of the Christian faith: We must do everything possible, he emphasises, to avoid war, and even in conflicts the moral law remains valid. Not everything is permissible, ever. Peace requires consistent choices, not just good intentions. Reflecting on the meaning of Easter, and on the eve of talks that might quell the winds of war that have blown fiercely across the Gulf in recent weeks, Cardinal Mathieu recalls that the peace of the Risen One is not naive but resists violence without imitating it. It is a humble and persevering force, which rejects the logic of fear and intimidation. And the cross shows that true power is not that which crushes, but that which remains faithful to the truth and thus saves. From this, he concludes, Christian peace is born.

Below is Cardinal Mathieus reflection sent to AsiaNews:

In a time marked by wars and ceasefires, uncertainties and divisions, the cross reveals to us that peace is not a mere ideal: it is a Paschal path, which passes through the truth.

The truth is seen in the life of Jesus: in silence, in obedience, in self-sacrifice even unto the cross. The cross shows us that true power is not that which crushes, but that which remains faithful to the truth and thus saves.

From this springs Christian peace. Not as a mere desire, but as a real gift: Peace be with you. It is the peace of the Risen One, capable of transforming the heart and, through the heart, the world too.

This is the peace we are called to understand today: a peace that is unarmed and disarming. It does not arise from a calculation of strength, but from God. It is a gift from above, yet not a passive one: it must be welcomed, cherished and lived out.

For this reason, it is not naive. It is a peace that resists violence without imitating it. It is a humble and persevering force, which rejects the logic of fear and intimidation.

And yet the Gospel warns us: when truth is set aside, peace grows weak. When conscience is silenced, aggression grows  in relationships, in families, in society  until it seems normal.

So the ceasefire poses a personal question to us: what am I nurturing in my heart? Peace or resentment? Truth or expediency?

For peace is not merely an external matter, political or international. It is born within, and then becomes word, gesture, way of life.

The Christian faith is very clear on this point: we must do everything possible to avoid war, and even in conflicts the moral law remains valid. Not everything is permissible, ever. Peace requires consistent choices, not just good intentions.

And so we understand: truth is not a mere detail. It is what prevents justice from becoming revenge and peace from becoming an empty compromise.

Moreover, this peace concerns not only relationships between people, but all of life: peace with God, peace among people, peace with creation. It is a reconciliation that embraces everything.

How, then, can we live it out in a concrete way?

First of all: to welcome peace as a gift. We cannot build it on our own. It must be sought, received,

and safeguarded.

Next: seek the truth without giving in to vengeance. Justice without reconciliation becomes harshness; peace without truth becomes an illusion.

Finally: practise concrete disarmament. In words, in judgements, in reactions. Sometimes this means listening more, speaking with greater truth, breaking a chain of aggression. And, as far as possible, supporting what prevents conflict and builds bridges.

These are simple choices, yet demanding ones. For the temptation is always that of half-measures: distancing oneself in words, without truly changing. But conscience does not wash its hands of the matter.

But Christ does not break. His faithfulness opens a path: a humble, persevering, unarmed and disarming peace, capable of overcoming evil without reproducing it.

Let us therefore ask for the grace to truly listen to his voice, not to be part of the lie, and to become  in our own small way  peacemakers: a peace founded on truth, justice and mercy.

*Latin Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan

(Photo taken from Vatican media)
by Joseph Masilamany

Kuala Lumpur calls on the UN to review the peacekeeping mission, concerned for its 500 troops (Malbatt Battalion) on the ground. Meanwhile, patrols have been suspended. Jakarta calls for a thorough investigation into the deaths of three soldiers in March. A joint statement with 73 signatories was submitted to the Security Council.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews)  Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said that the deteriorating situation in Lebanon is no longer conducive to peacekeeping operations by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), raising concerns over the safety of the 500-strong Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-13, stationed in the south of the country.

Malbatt is a peacekeeping force, but there is now a war taking place, the minister told reporters today. In such circumstances, we want to request the UN to review the terms or the duration of the mission, as we do not want our peacekeeping personnel to be exposed to danger or be injured.

Mohamad, who is the MP for Rembau, noted that the current mission is scheduled to end at the close of the year. However, Malaysia cannot unilaterally withdraw its troops as the deployment falls under a UN mandate.

Malaysia has instructed its permanent representative to the United Nations to engage with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and coordinate with other troop-contributing countries to prepare a memorandum urging a reassessment of the mission.

As a precautionary measure, the Malaysian cabinet directed the Defence Ministry to suspend patrol operations by Malbatt personnel, ordering them to remain at base to ensure their safety.

In a related development, Mohamad said Malaysia is closely monitoring the movement of six Malaysian oil tankers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to regional tensions.

Malaysias concerns over the safety of its troops come against the backdrop of a distinguished history in international peacekeeping. The countrys involvement began in 1960 with the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC), marking its first contribution to global peace under the UN flag.

Malaysias presence in Lebanon dates back to 2007, when it joined UNIFIL following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Malaysian peacekeepers have played a vital role in maintaining stability, providing humanitarian assistance, rebuilding infrastructure, and fostering goodwill with local communities.

Kuala Lumpurs call for a review of the UNIFIL mandate underscores the delicate balance between fulfilling international obligations and ensuring the safety of its troops.

While awaiting the UNs decision, Malaysia remains steadfast in its commitment to peace  tempered by prudence and a duty to protect those who serve under its flag.

Meanwhile, Indonesia today called for a thorough investigation into the deaths of three UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, killed in two separate explosions in southern Lebanon at the end of March.

Indonesia presented a joint statement to the United Nations on the safety of peacekeepers, signed by dozens of countries. In it, the signatories urge the UN Security Council to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents in southern Lebanon, which also resulted in injuries to peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Nepal, and Poland.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said that 73 countries and UN observer members supported the statement, which was read in New York by Indonesia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Umar Hadi.

Troop-contributing countries also call for an end to violence in Lebanon, de-escalation of tensions, and encourage all parties to return to the negotiating table to achieve a peaceful settlement," the ministry quoted Umar as saying.

For his part, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto strongly condemned every heinous act that undermines peace and causes the deaths of our nation's soldiers.
The government gave its green light recently, without much fanfare, just as settler violence was escalating. Since the start of the current legislative session, 103 settlements were approved, on top of 127 already existing settlements. Settlement procedures have also changed, showing a desire to accelerate the process of seizing land. Polls show Likud decline, but the country's majority opposes the ceasefire with Iran.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews)  In the shadow of wars in the Middle East, from Iran to Lebanon, and amid the silence of the international community, Israel's far-right government is promoting a systematic policy of expropriation and occupation of Palestinian lands.

This involves dozens of new settlements in the West Bank and a rise of attacks by Jewish settlers in the Occupied Territories, which have not spared Christians, as the parish priest in Taybeh has repeatedly lamented.

The latest green light was given on 1 April, but remained secret for several days, Peace Now reports. According to the Israeli peace movement, the government have approved at least 34 new settlements, most of them outposts in remote areas of the mountainous territory, bringing the total number of settlements approved since the current government took office from 69 to 103.

Furthermore, some sources indicate that the Israeli government has planned to build energy, water, and electricity infrastructure even before completing the process of seizing the land on which the new settlements will be built.

This procedure appears decidedly unusual compared to the past and demonstrates a significant shift in planning, experts note, aimed at accelerating the establishment of the settlements and ensuring their immediate survival in a disputed area.

According to activists, the government refrained from making the news public so as not to anger its US ally during the war against Iran, but now that a ceasefire has been reached, it has rushed to make it public.

This approach also contradicts the calls for caution from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) leadership, who have reportedly expressed firm opposition to the plan for new settlements on security grounds. Indeed, an expansion would entail greater security burdens, adding to those already present and active.

The [Israeli] government has gone into a frenzy ahead of the elections, seeking to create as many facts on the ground as possible and leave Israel with scorched earth, reads a statement issued by Peace Now.

Today it is already clear to everyone  and the IDF emphasizes this again and again  that the establishment of settlements harms security, places an abnormal burden on the IDF, and undermines the possibility of resolving the conflict and achieving any future security and peace.

The 34 approved settlements join the 68 settlements previously approved by the government, bringing the total number of new settlements recognised by the current government to 103.

This is an unprecedented number, as official statistics indicate. Before the current government (which includes pro-occupation and pro-settler leaders), 127 official settlements existed in the West Bank. The addition of another 103 settlements in recent years represents an increase of approximately 80 per cent.

A map of the new development plans published by i24news shows settlements around Jenin, south of Nablus, in the area between Bethlehem and Hebron, and in other areas without any prior Israeli presence.

These include both completely new settlements and existing illegal outposts that will be recognised as official settlements (like Yishuv Hada'at, north of Turmusaya).

According to Peace Now, this decision does not concern the establishment of settlements in Areas A and B, as some sources claim, but places in rather Area C, adjacent to Areas A and B.

Some of the settlements already existed as "neighbourhoods" of other settlements and have been granted independent settlement status; others were illegal outposts that began the process of legalisation as independent settlements; still others are new settlements.

In fact, some sources suggest, a new one will be built in almost every settlement bloc in the West Bank as part of this unprecedented decision, including points close to the Green Line and settlements that will create a separation between Beitunia and Modi'in Illit.

Six new settlements are planned for northern Samaria, considered among the most sensitive: Noa (the most significant), Emek Dotan, Alone Shomron, Ta'anakh, Rom Gilboa, and Ma'ayanot.

The construction of the "walls" around Jericho is also being sped up with three new settlements to complete the encirclement of the Palestinian city on all sides: Tzuri, Elisha, and Dia. The latter is planned to "be built on the mountain ridge to the west, on state lands.

Dias location, at a point overlooking the entire area of the city, allows control of the eastern border region, this according to a government paper. Furthermore, the new settlement is intended to create territorial continuity between Mevo'ot Yericho and Tamra to the north and Vered Yericho and Mitzpe Yericho to the south."

The Israeli far-right government's territorial expansion plan does not just concern the West Bank. Recently, speaking at the inauguration ceremony for the Maoz Tzur settlement, pro-settlement Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the border expansion will also include Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

In his view, there will be a political leg in Gaza that will expand our borders, there will be a conclusive political leg in Lebanon that will expand our borders to the Litani on defensible borders and there will be a conclusive political leg in Syria with the Hermon crown and the buffer zone at least. That's what they respect in our neighborhood and that's what is needed to secure our security.

While the cabinet is accelerating its territorial expansion plan, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's Likud party is losing support among voters, a series of recent polls suggest.

At the same time, some reports show that Israelis are overwhelmingly in favour of the policy of permanent war, and are opposed to the ceasefire with Iran (and Lebanon), a sign of a growing obsession with security despite the consequences of the conflict.

In the first place, although Likud is losing ground, anti-Netanyahu Zionist parties would not win a majority in the 120-member Knesset if a vote were held now, Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), Channel 12, and Channel 13 report. Israels next elections are set for October.

The KAN poll gave the anti-Netanyahu Zionist parties 59 seats; Channel 12, 60; and Channel 13, 55. KAN gave the Likud 25 seats, down from 28 last week, while the far-right Otzma Yehudit party of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir would take 10 seats, up from eight last week.

The Sephardic ultra-Orthodox Shas party held steady at nine seats, while the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party is at seven, down from eight last week. Likud's last coalition partner, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party, failed to clear the electoral threshold.

KANs poll gave 19 seats to the right-wing party of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the same as last week. Another 14 seats, up from 13 last week, would go to the centrist Yashar party of former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot.

The Democrats, a left-wing alliance led by former IDF Deputy Chief of General Staf Yair Golan, would win 11 seats, up from nine last week, while the Yisrael Beytenu party led by hawkish and longtime MK Avigdor Liberman would win nine (up from eight at the last count).

Completing the Zionist opposition parties, the centrist Yesh Atid party led by opposition leader Yair Lapid is at six seats, down from nine, while the other centrist party, Blue and White, led by Benny Gantz, failed to clear the threshold.

In total, KANs poll attributes 51 seats to Netanyahu's coalition and 59 seats to the Zionist opposition parties, meaning each bloc would have to rely on defectors from the other bloc or the support of Arab parties to reach the 61 seats needed for a majority government.

Majorities in all three polls disapproved of the ceasefire with Iran, with 56 per cent of respondents in the KAN poll, 53 per cent in the Channel 12 poll, and 51 per cent in the Channel 13 poll opposed to the two-week ceasefire.

Channel 12 also asked respondents whether Israel should continue attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon. A large majority, 79 per cent, support continuing the war.

(Photo credit: Peace Now)
After liberation from Japanese rule, Chinese characters were dropped in favour of Hangul, the Korean writing system; nevertheless, 57 per cent of the Korean vocabulary is derived from them. At present, due to overuse of smartphones and video games, two out of ten students struggle to understand words in textbooks; for this reason, some educators are pushing for the reintroduction of Hanja to improve literacy. But the issue remains politically divisive.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies)  South Koreas National Education Commission (NEC) has announced that it is evaluating possible steps to improve knowledge of Hanja, Chinese characters, as part of a broader plan to improve student literacy.

One of the options under discussion is the introduction of Hanja annotations in textbooks. However, given the strong political sensitivities surrounding the issue, the debate will focus only on reading, writing, and vocabulary, said Kim Kyung-hoe, chairman of the NECs special committee on literacy.

The proposal stems from growing concerns among educators, many of whom report a significant decline in students' language skills.

Many students have difficulty understanding especially Korean words of Chinese origin, which constitute a significant part of the vocabulary. Not everyone, however, is in favour of a reintroducing Hanja in school materials.

Some NEC members and union representatives fear that this could revive past controversies, like during the Park Geun-hye administration, when a similar project was abandoned due to strong opposition from the school community.

Historically, Hanja is the first writing system introduced in Korea, and was used for centuries even after the introduction of the Korean alphabet (Hangul or Hanguel).

After liberation from Japanese rule in 1945, the South Korean government promoted the exclusive use of Hangul to strengthen national identity and improve administrative efficiency. Hanja teaching was gradually reduced until it became optional in the 1970s.

Today, the topic remains highly divisive. Supporters believe that studying Hanja is essential for a thorough understanding of the Korean language and improving literacy.

Critics fear that it could weaken national linguistic identity and increase educational inequalities, favouring students with access to greater resources.

Even those who recognise the potential benefits urge caution, stressing the need to establish adequate study loads to avoid negative effects.

The debate over Hanja falls into a broader context, characterised by some as a veritable literacy crisis.

A 2024 survey revealed that 92 per cent of teachers believe that students' language skills have deteriorated compared to the past.

Furthermore, some two in ten students cannot understand textbooks without significant help, and a similar percentage exhibits skills below the expected level for their grade.

Overuse of smartphones and video games is cited as one of the main causes, but some believe a lack of knowledge of Hanja also plays a role.

Approximately 57 per cent of Korean vocabulary derives from these characters, and many students struggle to grasp their meaning.

Teachers report examples of frequent lexical confusion due to ignorance of the root words: words with similar sounds are misunderstood or associated with incorrect meanings.

The problem is not limited to schools, but extends to universities as well, where some students misinterpret complex terms for the same reason.
Hundreds of Venezuelan workers and students clashed with security forces in Caracas this week as authorities blocked marches toward the presidential palace. The incidents reflect continued unrest and police repression in the country after the shift in power that resulted in Delcy Rodriguez's U.S.-backed tenure.

Demonstrators attempted to march toward the Miraflores presidential palace but were blocked by police units using barriers, riot gear and, in some cases, tear gas.

Protesters said economic conditions remain unchanged under interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed control after Maduro's capture by U.S. forces in January. "We demand a living wage," protesters chanted, El Pais reported, reflecting widespread frustration over salaries that remain below $1 per month at the official rate, far short of the estimated $650 needed to cover basic food costs.

While government bonuses can raise monthly income to around $150, workers say it is insufficient to sustain a household.

Security forces prevented demonstrators from reaching central government buildings, dispersing the march into smaller groups across Caracas. According to El Pais, police and intelligence units blocked key routes and redirected crowds into narrower streets, effectively fragmenting the protest.

Some demonstrators reported being pushed or injured during the confrontations. "They didn't let us pass... they showed their true face," said union leader Yuxil Martinez.

Journalists covering the demonstrations were also targeted. Venezuela's National Union of Press Workers reported that at least 10 reporters were assaulted, with equipment damaged or confiscated, es El Debate points out.

ULTIMA HORA | Trabajadores se movilizan a Miraflores para exigir aumento de sueldos



Manifestantes y policias siguen forcejeando en el centro de Caracas https://t.co/OTPcr3vdGE pic.twitter.com/9vsH1gCpWL  AlbertoRodNews (@AlbertoRodNews) April 9, 2026

The protests brought together labor unions, public sector workers and retirees, many of whom were previously aligned with the ruling movement. Their demands extended beyond wages to include calls for new presidential elections and institutional reforms. "That increase is a mockery," said Mauricio Ramos, a 71-year-old retiree quoted by France 24, referring to the government's recent wage adjustment announcement.

The unrest comes amid broader criticism that the political transition has not resulted in structural change. Although Rodriguez has introduced limited reforms and pledged salary increases, opposition groups argue the current arrangement prolongs the existing system without addressing underlying issues.

At the same time, concerns persist over political repression. According to rights groups cited by CNN last week, hundreds of political prisoners remain in detention despite the passage of an amnesty law earlier this year. Organizations say the pace of releases has slowed and that the process lacks transparency.

Originally published on Latin Times
10 April 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

At the recent G20 summit held in New Delhi in September 2023, when the leaders announced the formation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), they were very much aware that they were sending a message that this would be a geopolitical strategy for the West to counter China's BRI. As six weeks have passed since the conflict in Gaza, and the IMEC project has lost all momentum, it felt like the entire concept just evaporated overnight. Now, with the Iran war, which has been going on for six weeks, and Tehran having control over part of the Strait of Hormuz and missiles raining down on Haifa, it has done the rest.

In the meantime, some 3,500 kilometers northward, another equally vital passageway is slowly being developed. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, commonly referred to as the Middle Corridor, connects China to Europe via Kazakhstan, through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, then Georgia, and finally Turkiye. In 2025, container traffic through this corridor amounted to 76,900 twenty-foot equivalent units, representing a 36 percent growth over 2024. Freight operators and insurance carriers who had begun diverting shipments from the Red Sea, now threatened by the ongoing Iran war that started in late February, have quickened this process even more. The corridor serves as an insurance policy against any additional disruption of the regular maritime routes.

The problems that IMEC faces are not accidental to the ongoing situation. They are inherent in the very design of the project. The first leg of the corridor from the west demands an operational port of Haifa as an entrance point in the Mediterranean Sea, which is currently under attack by Iranian missiles. The first leg of the corridor from the east demands Saudi-Israeli normalization for land transit through the Arabian Peninsula, a process that has been frozen since October 2023. The first leg of the corridor demands an open-door policy of Jordan, which has become politically impossible due to popular hostility towards Israel.

Not even the most hopeful planners of the corridor itself can deny that these are issues that will be resolved in the long term. According to Egypt's foreign minister, present at meetings between India and the country in October 2025, the resolution of "the Palestinian issue" is "essential" to IMEC's success - a requirement that, given the ongoing extension of the conflict into Lebanon, Syria, and now Iran, has become further away from reality than ever. In addition, the war with Iran has brought an extra element of danger to the equation, in the form of increased insurance costs for shipping goods across the Gulf, as well as the mobilization of the port facilities in Haifa to wartime status.

Factor IMEC Middle Corridor Current operational

status Western leg non-operational Fully operational, accelerating Conflict exposure Direct (Haifa, Hormuz, Houthis) Bypasses all active conflict zones Regional peace

conditions Saudi-Israel normalisation stalled Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreed

Aug 2025 Infrastructure readiness Eastern leg functional; western leg

paper-only BTK modernised 2025; Poti

terminal opened Insurance environment Prohibitive in the Gulf/Red Sea/Israel Stable; Caspian/Black Sea route

unaffected Political backing US, EU, India committed;

implementation fragmented US, EU, China, UK all invested;

joint venture operating

The distance between the Barents Sea to the north and the Arabian Sea to the south is around 5,000 kilometers. However, only 190 kilometers of the total distance  a land route called the Ganja Gap located in Azerbaijan  can accommodate transportation from one point to another without passing through either Russia or Iran. Azerbaijan plays a pivotal role in one of the worlds most significant but unknown logistic chokepoints.

Indeed, the security profile of this route corridor has significantly improved since last summer. Thanks to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement initialled in the White House back in August 2025, the only serious source of potential conflict for the South Caucasus has been eliminated. This is why Aliyev stressed in his recent Tbilisi speech that "the South Caucasus is becoming a region of peace, calmness, security and cooperation." According to Kobakhidze, "global geopolitical changes have further strengthened the significance of the Middle Corridor" and made the Black Sea and South Caucasus "a strategically important space." While the wars rage in Ukraine to the north and in Iran to the south, the territory that links China's supply chains with Europe has been consciously protected from military interference. Indeed, wars continue to the north of Azerbaijan, as well as to its south. In this case, the international cargo carriers cannot help choosing the Middle Corridor, as it is their safest way of transportation.

The constraint within the corridor is currently on the supply side rather than on the demand side. The pressure is greatest on ports in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, where ferry capacity on the Caspian Sea has failed to keep up with booking requests due to the ongoing Iran war. KTZ Express plans to purchase six new ferries, while the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company is commissioning a new Ro-Pax ferry and considering two new container vessels. A new multimodal terminal was inaugurated in Poti, Georgia, in June 2025, with the capability of handling 120 wagons and 200,000 twenty-foot equivalent units per annum. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, a 826-kilometre route between Azerbaijan and Turkiye through Georgia, finished upgrading its Georgian segment in 2025, increasing its line capacity considerably. The World Bank and EBRD have concluded that investments worth 18.5 billion in infrastructure would be necessary in Central Asia alone to unlock the corridor's full potential until 2030.

TRIPP Corridor (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), which entails the construction of a railway line and oil/gas pipeline along the southern part of Armenia from mainland Azerbaijan, passing Nakhchivan to Turkiye, will create an additional layer to the capabilities of the Middle Corridor. Azerbaijans section will be almost complete soon, while Armenias part is scheduled to start in the latter half of 2026.

In operation, TRIPP would practically turn Armenia into a transit state in the very same corridor network that had never included it before, expanding the Middle Corridor and bringing in redundancy along the route. Azerbaijan has spent $21bn on OTS countries, including Turkiye, where work on the Kars-Igdr-Aralk-Dilucu railroad line, which runs 224km from the Turkish border down to the border of Nakhchivan, is underway. The Iran conflict has certainly delayed TRIPP, but it hasnt changed the rationale behind it.

The fight between IMEC and the Middle Corridor has, over the last three years, been seen as a fight between two equally grand plans. Its no longer as such. While one corridor cuts through active battlegrounds, relies on normalizing relationships that are not progressing, and moves cargo via a sea dominated by Iranian naval strategy, the other one avoids Russia and Iran altogether, has settled down its most serious regional conflict, and sees growth rates not seen before in its history.
10 April 2026 16:58 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

On April 8, less than two hours before the deadline for the ultimatum issued by the United States against Iran, an interim agreement on a ceasefire for two weeks was signed. This agreement, which came into being after several weeks of military activity in the region, is aimed at temporarily halting the conflict, which could turn into a full-scale regional war.

Pakistani mediation is considered a key aspect in the signing of the interim agreement. Official reports indicate that the efforts made through the diplomatic engagement campaign launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, along with the army chief Gen. Asim Munir, have been pivotal in arriving at this compromise agreement.

However, at the very outset, it seems that the ceasefire agreement is fragile.

Questions over its durability emerged almost immediately, with reports suggesting that implementation is uneven and trust between the parties remains limited. Signals of uncertainty became more visible when an earlier social media post by Irans Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, announcing an upcoming Iranian delegation visit to Islamabad, was later deleted. The post had indicated that ceasefire talks with US representatives were scheduled in Pakistans capital.

Shortly after, Iranian state-linked media reported that the delegation did not travel to Islamabad as planned. Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to the diplomatic team, confirmed the absence of Iranian negotiators on the scheduled day of talks. Meanwhile, earlier reporting by the Wall Street Journal was dismissed by Iranian sources as completely false.

According to the same source, Tehrans participation in negotiations is conditional:

As long as America (The United States) does not fulfil its commitment to the ceasefire in Lebanon and the Zionist (Israel) regime continues its attacks, negotiations will be suspended.

The result is a ceasefire that exists on paper, but remains politically contested in practice.

What can we expect from all these initiatives? How will this war continue?

In his statement to AzerNEWS, independent geopolitical risk-analyst and expert on the South Caucasus region and Iran, Alihuseyn Gulu-Zada, argues that Pakistans role has been both timely and strategically significant, preventing what could have become a far more destructive regional escalation:

"As has been aptly observed, the active and unprecedented role of Pakistan, and personally of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has indeed played a decisive part in securing the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. At the same time, it must be noted that Islamabads proactive mediation efforts have effectively prevented far greater destruction, which could otherwise have resulted not only in a humanitarian catastrophe for Iran but also in profound and far-reaching negative consequences for the entire region of West Asia, including the Arab monarchies of the Gulf. Pakistans contribution is therefore invaluable."

Looking ahead to the supposedly planned negotiations in Islamabad, he suggests that both Washington and Tehran may now be shifting toward a more pragmatic phase of engagement:

"I believe that, overall, despite the persistent threats of breakdown, contradictions, misunderstandings, and mutual accusations, both the United States and Iran will approach the diplomatic agenda with greater seriousness and rationality. This implies that the parties have essentially passed the so-called crisis threshold and now clearly understand their respective positions on the ground. The time has come for concrete proposals at the table. In this context, I personally expect that both sides will be prepared to make certain compromises, and I consider that the central focus of the negotiations will not be the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which could simply revert to its pre-conflict operational status, but rather the issues of uranium enrichment and Irans missile (ballistic) programme."

He also notes that despite continued risks of breakdown, early indicators suggest limited but meaningful movement toward compromise:

"Naturally, one should not anticipate any major breakthroughs from the upcoming meeting of the American and Iranian delegations in Islamabad. It is more probable that several rounds of talks will be conducted over the course of these two weeks, yet they are expected to yield tangible progress. Certain positive signals are already discernible. For example, in his statement on the conclusion of the two-week ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump noted that many of the 15 points of the agreement with Iran  previously a source of contention and disagreement on the part of Tehran  have now been reconciled. He also indicated that uranium enrichment will not be permitted and that the United States is working closely with Iran on the easing of tariffs and sanctions. This constitutes only one indicator of constructive shifts. Consequently, although the risk of another negotiation collapse remains ever-present, there are nevertheless solid grounds to suppose that Washington and Tehran may finally conclude the long-awaited agreement."

A different angle is offered by Moscow-based analyst Andrew Korybko, who frames the ceasefire as a temporary pause in a much broader geopolitical confrontation with global implications. He says, the dark scenario Trump threatened, destroying Iran's power plants, bridges, and oil infrastructure, is still in the cards and cannot be ruled out:

"He threatened to destroy Irans power plants, bridges, and oil infrastructure, in response to which Iran threatened to destroy the Gulfs, and this sequence could have immediately taken the regions energy exports offline indefinitely. Afro-Eurasia would have been thrown into chaos and likely a series of never-ending resource wars Roo while the US could relatively (key qualifier) insulate itself by retreating to Fortress America, which refers to the US newly restored dominance over the Western Hemisphere upon which it can rely for resources, markets, and labor without having to deal with the Eastern Hemisphere if circumstances required it. The radical global changes that would have occurred could be described as a Great Reset initiated by the US out of desperation to derail Chinas superpower rise. This dark scenario has been averted for now since the US hopes to end Irans petroyuan experiment and oil exports to China through diplomatic means, but can still be returned to if talks fail."

At the core of his analysis is the strategic importance of energy markets and global currency systems, including the reported use of yuan-based transactions in Iranian oil trade, which he argues could challenge established financial structures if expanded further:

"Regarding the petroyuan, this refers to reports that Iran had begun charging tankers in yuan for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and, if true and left to become the new normal, the petrodollar - one of the pillars of the US global power - would be threatened. Similarly, the US sought, unofficially, to replicate Venezuela's scenario of obtaining proxy control over Irans energy industry to blackmail China into a lopsided trade deal during Trumps upcoming (previously postponed) visit, thereby solidifying the restoration of its unipolar hegemony that his administration has sought to achieve. Therefore, the US is expected to, more or less, request Irans strategic surrender through these talks, albeit in a face-saving way that wouldnt formally confirm Iran's capitulation to the US. Likewise, hardliners like those in the IRGC would literally rather die (embrace martyrdom as they see it) than have that happen, so the outcome of their talks is unclear. Israel also dislikes the ceasefire, so it has the same interests as its IRGC enemies do in subverting the US-Iranian talks in Islamabad. These factors, therefore, make it extraordinarily difficult to predict whatll happen, but suffice to say, the dark scenario that Trump threatened is still in the cards and cannot be ruled out."
10 April 2026 10:42 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene visited the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum in Baku on April 9, AzerNEWS reports.

During the visit, it was highlighted that Azerbaijan's traditional carpet-weaving art was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva.

At the museum, the Prime Minister explored an extensive collection showcasing Azerbaijan's rich carpet-making traditions. She observed rare examples of pile carpets representing the country's seven major weaving schools: Guba, Baku, Shirvan, Ganja, Gazakh, Karabakh, and Tabriz. She also watched a live demonstration of the carpet-weaving process.

In addition, Ruginiene learned about traditional Azerbaijani attire, including the kelaghayi, a silk headscarf worn by women. She viewed the Victory carpet, created to commemorate Azerbaijan's success in the 44-day Patriotic War, and concluded her visit by signing the museums guestbook.
10 April 2026 15:46 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A play "Aliqulu Is Getting Married Today" (liqulu bu gun evlnir) has been staged at the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theater to mark the 85th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding composer and Honored Art Worker Ogtay Rajabov (19412022), AzerNEWS reports.

The production, which was also attended by members of the composer's family, was met with prolonged applause from the audience.

People's Artist and Professor Ilham Namig Kamal, along with Honored Artist Akbar Alizade, addressed the audience, speaking about the master's life and creative journey, as well as his invaluable contribution to the development of national musical culture. They paid deep tribute to the bright memory of the composer.

In his speech, Ilham Namig Kamal noted with gratitude that he was proud to have been the stage director of two out of the three productions created at the Academic Musical Theater based on the music of Ogtay Rajabov, including "lin cibind olsun" and "Seytann yubileyi" based on works by Agshin Babayev, as well as " liqulu bu gun evlnir" based on the play by Sabit Rahman. He added that it had been a great honor for him to work with such an outstanding personality.

The production's musical director and conductor is Honored Art Worker Fakhraddin Atayev, the choirmaster is Honored Artist Vagif Mastanov, the choreographer is Honored Artist Nigar Shahmuradova, the set designer is Honored Artist Nabat Samedova, the costume designer is Nubar Huseynova, and the concertmaster is Fidan Aliyeva.

The performance featured People's Artist Ilham Namig Kamal, Honored Artists Akbar Alizade and Igrar Salamov, Presidential Award laureate Samedzade Hasiyev, as well as actors Zemfira Abdulsamadova, Rasmia Nurmammadova, Gulchohra Abdullayeva, Alimammad Novruzov, Gulnara Azizova, Ruslan Mursalov, Boyukhanim Mammadova, Mehriban Rajabova, Azizakhanim Kazimova, along with the theater's choir and ballet artists.

Ogtay Rajabov was a prominent Azerbaijani composer, Honored Art Worker (2019), Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, and professor (since 1995). He was also a presidential scholarship recipient, an academician of the Russian Academy of Pedagogical and Social Sciences, and an Honored Teacher of the Azerbaijan SSR (1987).

Born in Baku on April 5, 1941, Rajabov initially pursued higher education at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute, where he studied physics and the fundamentals of production from 1958 to 1963. He later continued his postgraduate studies at the Institute of Physics of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. Demonstrating a deep passion for the arts, he went on to graduate from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in 1969, marking a decisive turn toward a distinguished musical career.

Ogtay Rajabov began his professional path as an educator, teaching physics at Evening School No. 116 and music at Music School No. 1. He subsequently held various academic and research positions at the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Pedagogical Sciences, where he worked as a junior researcher, senior researcher, and head of department.

A respected academic, Ogtay Rajabov served as a professor in the Department of Azerbaijani Folk Music at the Baku Music Academy. His creative legacy is remarkably rich: he composed four operas, three musical comedies, three symphonies, two oratorios, one cantata, and over 500 songs.

In addition to his contributions to music, Ogtay Rajabov was a prolific scholar. He authored 10 monographs on pedagogy and music, 70 textbooks, teaching aids, and curricula, as well as more than 100 academic articles.

A special place in his  was devoted to children's music. His songs for children were published in six collections and often explored themes such as patriotism, flora and fauna, numbers, and multiplication tables, blending education with artistic expression.

Ogtay Rajabov passed away on December 15, 2022, leaving behind a great legacy in both Azerbaijani music and education.
10 April 2026 18:23 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

An event dedicated to the 80th anniversary of prominent film director and actor Jeyhun Mirzoyev has taken place at the Azerbaijan State Film Fund, AzerNEWS reports.

As part of the evening, a photo exhibition was opened, reflecting the life and creative path of the film director.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the Azerbaijan State Film Fund, Honored Art Worker Jamil Guliyev, spoke about Mirzoyev's life and career, recalling the numerous events organized by the Fund in honor of the distinguished filmmaker.

Jeyhun Mirzoyev was born on April 9, 1946, in the village of Abdal-Gulably in the Aghdam district. In 1969, he graduated from the directing faculty of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts.

He first appeared in a film at the age of nine in Tofig Taghizade's "Meeting." At the age of twelve, he portrayed the character Ismail in Habib Ismayilov's film "Stepmother," which remains beloved by millions of Azerbaijanis to this day. He also acted in such iconic films as "Signal from the Sea," "The Groom Was Kidnapped," "The Unyielding Battalion," "In the Name of the Law," and "The Unruly Kura," among others.

In addition to acting, he worked as an assistant director. As a director, he co-directed "The Groom Was Kidnapped" with Vagif Mustafayev and also directed "Signal from the Sea."

In total, he participated in the production of 86 films. He served as artistic director and stage director of the film magazine "Mozalan," creating more than 60 segments.

A particularly significant achievement was his cult feature film "The Cry", shot in 1993, based on a screenplay by Vagif Mustafayev. The film represents a major contribution to the history of Azerbaijani cinema.

The tragic events of that period had a severe impact on Mirzoyev's healthhe never lived to see the premiere of his film. It was shot during the height of the Karabakh war, amid the occupation of Azerbaijani cities and villages, just months after the Khojaly genocide.

These events deeply affected the director, who also played the leading role in the film. His heart could not withstand the strain. Jeyhun Mirzoyev passed away on March 5, 1993, at the age of just 46, without seeing the premiere of his final work.

The event featured speeches by People's Artists Vagif Mustafayev, Haji Ismayilov, Khalida Guliyeva, Shamil Suleymanli, Honored Art Worker Javanshir Guliyev, Honored Artist Sugra Bagirzade, as well as Sevinj Akhundova, who had also acted in "Stepmother"as a child. They shared their memories of the filmmaker. A video address by Honored Art Worker Kenan Mammadov was also presented.

During the event, a video dedicated to Mirzoyev's legacy was shown, along with Tofig Taghizade's feature film "Matteo Falcone."

Vahid Mustafayev, head of the National Digital Restoration Studio Balans, spoke about the restoration of "Matteo Falcone" (2019), originally filmed in 1960 with the participation of Jeyhun Mirzoyev, as well as the release of commemorative gifts in honor of the filmmaker.

These gifts were presented to cinema figures who had worked with him.

The Azerbaijan State Film Fund regularly hosts events dedicated to prominent figures of national cinema, preserving and promoting the country's rich film heritage.

Established in 1993, the institution operates in accordance with international standards and the recommendations of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).

In 1999, the Fund was elected a member of FIAF, marking an important step in its integration into the global archival community.

The fund houses an extensive archive of more than 64,000 film materials, around 20,000 photographic documents, and over 14,000 original archival items, including scripts, editing sheets, awards, and personal collections of filmmakers.

Its collection spans early cinema to contemporary works and includes rare footage tracing the origins of Azerbaijani filmmaking back to the late 19th century.

The institution operates across several key : restoration and preservation of films, collection and study of archival materials, promotion of national and world cinema, scientific research, and the development of international cooperation.

Equipped with modern laboratories, specialized storage facilities, and screening halls, the Fund ensures the safe conservation of fragile film formats, including historically significant nitrate films that require highly controlled conditions.

A museum also operates within the Fund, showcasing unique exhibits from the history of cinema, including early projection equipment, personal belongings of renowned filmmakers, and archival memorabilia.
10 April 2026 16:35 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenia will require international partners during the construction phase of the Trump Roadmap for Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Friday, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkna, Mirzoyan highlighted the next steps in the implementation of the initiative, which is being developed in cooperation with the United States.

We hope that soon we will move on to the next stage, the construction phase. At this stage, we will need partners from third countries, he said.

According to Mirzoyan, while the agreement itself will remain bilateral between Armenia and the United States, broader international involvement will be necessary during construction and potentially in the management of infrastructure systems.

The remarks follow a statement by the US State Department regarding Armenias cooperation with Washington and other international partners on the project.

Mirzoyan noted that work on the TRIPP initiative is progressing intensively and is currently at the stage of negotiating an intergovernmental agreement. He added that the project has attracted interest from a wide range of countries, spanning from the Middle East to Europe and Asia.

The development comes in the context of recent diplomatic progress between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 8, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration in Washington with the participation of US President Donald Trump.

The document provides for the commissioning of the Zangezur corridor, also referred to as the Trump route, as part of broader efforts to restore regional connectivity. In addition, the foreign ministers of both countries initialed a draft Agreement on Peace and Interstate Relations.
10 April 2026 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The leadership of Azerbaijans Ministry of Defense has inspected the progress of a live-fire tactical exercise conducted at a military unit, AzerNEWS reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

According to the ministry, Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov was briefed on the topic, stages, and sequence of the exercise using operational maps.

The drills, held in line with the current years training plan and incorporating modern combat methods, aim to enhance commanders ability to make rapid decisions in accordance with updated operational concepts. The exercise also focuses on improving coordination between units and strengthening both theoretical knowledge and practical skills of personnel.

The ministrys leadership highly rated the tactical performance of the participating units and the overall combat readiness of the personnel.
10 April 2026 12:40 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan is set to expand following discussions between officials of the two countries, AzerNEWS reports.

The talks took place during a meeting between a Kyrgyz delegation led by MP Medina Kayrylbekova and Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Sultan Akhmatov, and the Chairman of the Board of Small and Medium Business Development Agency Orkhan Mammadov.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the current state of business relations and discussed opportunities for further cooperation in the business sector. They highlighted the importance of organizing joint events to strengthen ties between SMEs in both countries.

The Kyrgyz delegation was also informed about SMEDAs readiness to share Azerbaijans experience in establishing SME Houses, as well as the broader activities of the institution.

As part of the visit, the delegation got acquainted with the conditions created at the Baku SME House, where G2B and B2B services are provided to entrepreneurs in a unified space.
10 April 2026 15:07 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

On April 10, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene visited the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Baku, AzerNEWS reports.

The Lithuanian premier was briefed on the history of Icherisheher, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as ongoing restoration, conservation, and improvement works carried out in the area.

Officials noted that the area of Icherisheher preserves rare architectural monuments dating back to various centuries, reflecting Azerbaijans rich cultural heritage.

During the visit, the Prime Minister was introduced to the iconic Maiden Tower, where she received detailed information about its construction. It was noted that the foundations of the tower date back to the 7th6th centuries BC, while it was reconstructed in the 12th century. The structure stands 28 meters tall, with a diameter of 1616.5 meters, consisting of a cylindrical main tower and a large supporting structure attached on the southern side.

The delegation also toured the Bukhara Caravanserai, a 15th-century architectural monument of national importance. Ruginiene was informed about its historical role as a shelter for Central Asian merchants along ancient trade routes, as well as its recent restoration. The project, implemented under a decree by Ilham Aliyev, has restored the caravanserai to its former grandeur while preserving its architectural and engineering features.

Visitors to the site can also observe traditional craftsmanship processes, explore the creation of national art pieces, and purchase unique souvenirs.

As part of the cultural experience, the Lithuanian Prime Minister was treated to traditional tandoor bread.

The visit concluded with a tour of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a masterpiece of medieval Eastern architecture and a monument of global historical significance. Built in the early 15th century, the complex is situated at the highest point of one of Icherishehers hills, offering clear views of the Caspian Sea and the surrounding elevations. It continues to retain its historical and architectural prominence to this day.
President Donald Trump went after Candace Owens, Alex Jones, Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly in a furious Truth Social post, calling them "losers" and "stupid people," which ignited a nasty wave of reactions from the MAGA influencers and detonated the already fragile alliance between the media personalities that helped to return him to the White House.

Owens fired back with the line that spread fastest, writing, "It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home." Jones called Trump's outburst "crazy," and Tucker Carlson responded by saying he "loves" Trump "more than ever" before adding, "I feel sorry for him." The Israelis have him in a hammerlock."

The exchange exposed the widening split inside the MAGA coalition. In the post, published April 9, Trump called the four commentators "losers," "stupid people," and "NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS," while accusing them of failing to understand that MAGA is about "WINNING and STRENGTH" and preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

His words came after days of criticism from conservative influencers who had broken with Trump over his Iran rhetoric and war posture.

He also mocked Carlson's career, took aim at Kelly's history with him, insulted Owens while also referencing her feud involving France's first lady, and blasted Jones over his Sandy Hook lies and legal ruin. The result was less a normal Trump clapback than a full family brawl, only with podcasts, ego, and Iran policy thrown into the same blender.

Candace Owens responded fastest and most cleanly, as she wrote on X, "It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home."

It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home. pic.twitter.com/ruBJFA3RZw  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 9, 2026

Alex Jones also answered publicly, calling Trump's rant "crazy," while broader coverage of the MAGA split noted that Jones had already been among the loudest anti-war voices on the right during the Iran escalation, at one point even floating the 25th Amendment.

I have made it very clear that I no longer support Trump and Im very thankful to him for making it clear that I have nothing to do with him. The new Trump is a rotting husk of the old Trump.



I hope 47 enjoys Mark Levine being his spirit animal.. https://t.co/qXbHtR0sFB  Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) April 10, 2026

Tucker Carlson's direct reply came slightly later, but it added even more drama. Carlson responded by saying he "loves" Trump "more than ever," before adding, "I feel sorry for him. The Israelis have him in a hammerlock," reframing the president he helped to get elected twice as weakened and captured by foreign policy pressures. A very Tucker way of saying, "Nice rant, still wrong."

Megyn Kelly decided to take another route and went after Fox News and it's owner Rupert Murdock, an essential part of the Trump coalition. "He will be dead soon," she said about her former boss.

"After 14 years inside Fox News, I'm exposing what viewers refuse to seehow the network morphed from news into a propaganda machine designed purely to cheerlead wars, worship Trump, and feed you manufactured rage instead of facts," she said.

Originally published on Latin Times
10 April 2026 15:59 (UTC+04:00)

A group of employees of the State Housing Construction Agency of Azerbaijan has been awarded, AzerNEWS reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

According to the decree, the following employees of the agency were awarded the "Taraggi" medal for their services in improving the housing supply of citizens:

Chingiz Gadimov

Elshad Mammadov

Azer Salmanov

Rizvan Sharifov

Kamala Shiriyeva
10 April 2026 16:22 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijan has strongly denied circulating claims that missiles were launched from its territory toward Gulf countries, describing the reports as unfounded and misleading, AzerNEWS reports.

In a statement, the Media Development Agency said that completely unfounded and untrue information has recently spread across some social media platforms regarding alleged missile launches:

Against the backdrop of existing tensions in the region, the dissemination of unverified and inaccurate information on social networks serves to create false perceptions in public opinion and carries the nature of deliberate disinformation. We strongly condemn such attempts.

Such claims either have a provocative intent or are the result of a completely irresponsible and unfounded approach. Given modern technological capabilities, it is not difficult to determine the direction from which missiles or other aerial vehicles are launched.

The region and Gulf countries possess modern radar and monitoring systems, through which the origin and trajectory of objects can be clearly determined.

We state that the Republic of Azerbaijan remains committed to the principles of international law, the sovereignty of states, and the preservation of regional stability. We call on all parties to rely only on verified and reliable sources and to refrain from spreading unconfirmed information.

We urge media entities and social media users to demonstrate high professionalism and responsibility in disseminating information, to rely only on official and credible sources, and to avoid spreading suspicious and manipulative content, the statement said.
10 April 2026 17:38 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene visited the Heydar Aliyev Center on April 10 as part of her trip to Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.

Director of the Center Anar Alakbarov briefed the guest on the building, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of contemporary world architecture. It was noted that the Centers activities are focused on studying and promoting the statehood philosophy, ideology of Azerbaijanism, and the legacy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

At the Heydar Aliyev Museum within the complex, various aspects of the National Leaders workboth during the Soviet era and throughout Azerbaijans independenceare presented through interactive and virtual exhibits.

Prime Minister Ruginiene first viewed a collection of official vehicles used by Heydar Aliyev during his leadership from 1969 to 2003. Exhibits, photographs, and multimedia displays reflecting different stages of his political career attracted considerable interest.

During her visit to the Pearls of Azerbaijan exhibition, she was informed about the countrys rich natural resources, centuries-old history, and cultural heritage. The exhibition features rare artifacts related to traditional crafts, including examples from Azerbaijans carpet-weaving schools, as well as ancient musical instruments presented in their authentic sound formats. Visitors can also explore displays of national costumes, ancient coins, and sacred books in various languages.

The Prime Minister also toured the Dolls in Art exhibition, which showcases both traditional dolls made of porcelain, paper, plastic, wood, and fabric, as well as modern pieces created using contemporary technologies.

Following a visit to the Musical Instruments: Unity and Diversity exhibition, Ruginiene viewed the Dance of Patterns carpet exhibition, highlighting Azerbaijans rich carpet-making traditions.

She also explored the Classic Cars Exhibition before signing the Centers guest book.

At the end of the visit, the Lithuanian Prime Minister was presented with a commemorative gift and left the Center with a positive impression.
10 April 2026 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, AzerNEWS reports via Xinhua.

This visit marks the first time a KMT chairperson has visited mainland China in a decade. Xi stressed that the meeting is an important milestone in relations between the KMT and the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The president also noted that, no matter how the global situation evolves, "the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum for the Chinese on both sides of the Strait to come together will not change."
10 April 2026 11:17 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Kyiv is ready to take symmetrical steps following Russias announcement of an Easter ceasefire, while urging Moscow not to resume attacks once the holiday ends, AzerNEWS reports.

In a statement shared on X, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine has repeatedly stated its readiness for reciprocal measures and confirmed that it would act in line with its own ceasefire proposal during the Easter period. People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well, he said.

The ceasefire comes as Orthodox Christians in both Ukraine and Russia mark Easter according to the Julian calendar, with Good Friday on April 10 and celebrations culminating on April 12.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the temporary truce on Thursday, stating that hostilities would be paused from the afternoon of April 11 until the end of April 12. The Kremlin said Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov had been instructed to halt combat operations during this period, while maintaining readiness to respond to potential violations.

Moscow expressed the expectation that Ukraine would follow suit, framing the ceasefire as a humanitarian gesture tied to the religious holiday.

The announcement underscores a recurring paradox in modern conflicts, where intense hostilities can be briefly suspended for symbolic or political reasons. Similar patterns have emerged in other conflicts, including the recent IsraelIran tensions, where escalation remained largely contained without direct attacks on Arab states despite regional volatility.

Even within the RussiaUkraine war, temporary pauses tied to religious observances highlight the contrast between moments of restraint and prolonged periods of heavy fighting. Analysts note that such short-term ceasefires, while offering limited relief, rarely translate into sustained de-escalation, often giving way to renewed hostilities once the symbolic window closes.
10 April 2026 12:19 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Israel has strongly criticised remarks made by Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, calling them outrageous and raising doubts over Islamabads credibility as a neutral mediator in ongoing Middle East tensions, AzerNEWS reports.

In a statement, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office said that calls for Israels annihilation are unacceptable from any government, particularly one positioning itself as a facilitator of peace. The response followed controversial comments by Asif on social media, in which he referred to Israel in highly critical terms, drawing widespread condemnation.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also denounced the remarks, describing them as blatantly antisemitic and stressing that Israel would continue to defend itself against threats to its security.

Pakistan has recently been credited with mediating a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran and is expected to host further talks in the coming days. However, the latest statements have cast uncertainty over its role in the diplomatic process.

In his comments, Asif also referenced ongoing conflicts involving Israel in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon. The development comes amid heightened tensions across the region, as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilise the situation and sustain a fragile ceasefire.
10 April 2026 13:03 (UTC+04:00)

By Ulviya Poladova

US President Donald Trump said that the Iran must stop charging fees to tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded since the start of the war in Middle East, AzerNEWS reports.

"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait - They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

According to the Financial Times (FT) Iran will require shipping companies to pay a $1 per barrel duty in cryptocurrency for the passage of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has declared that the nation will escalate its control over the Strait of Hormuz and will demand compensation for damages incurred during military conflicts.

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.

Credit: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
10 April 2026 16:03 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Negotiations on ending the ongoing conflict are contingent upon the United States adhering to its ceasefire commitments across all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, AzerNEWS reports, citing Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.

Speaking to journalists, Baghaei strongly condemned what he described as Israels actions in Lebanon.

The cessation of the war in Lebanon is an integral part of the ceasefire agreement proposed by Pakistan. As clearly stated by the countrys prime minister, the United States has committed to halting hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. Any action or position contrary to this commitment will be regarded as a failure by the United States to fulfill its obligations, he noted.

Baghaei also addressed the timing and location of the anticipated negotiations.

The government of Pakistan has invited both sides to visit Islamabad for talks. This matter is currently under review and planning. However, it is clear that any negotiations will depend on obtaining guarantees that the United States will honor its ceasefire commitments across all fronts, he added.

It should be noted that on February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes targeted major cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats allegedly originating from the Islamic Republic.

As a result of the strikes, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other key figures were reportedly killed. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel.

Iran has also targeted U.S. facilities across the region with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, including sites in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transport routes at significant risk. Heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have driven a sharp increase in global oil prices.

On April 7, the United States and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks in an effort to prevent further military escalation and create space for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was brokered by Pakistan.
10 April 2026 15:25 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Southern Lebanon has become the main combat zone for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to IDF Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, who on Friday said the military is in a state of war in the area, explicitly excluding the northern front from the recent ceasefire agreement with Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking from the outskirts of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, Zamir said the region remains the IDFs central battlefield. The statement comes despite a US- and Pakistan-brokered truce reached on April 8 between Israel and Iran aimed at halting direct hostilities. However, fighting with Hezbollah has continued and intensified.

Lebanese officials report that since the start of the campaign on March 2, 2026, more than 1,800 people have been killed, including over 300 in a single wave of strikes earlier this week.

Israeli operations in southern Lebanon have expanded in scope, with military officials stating the objective is to remove a direct threat to northern Israeli communities. Zamir said Hezbollah has been isolated within Lebanon and claimed its supply lines from Iran have been significantly disrupted.

We are not just fighting a militia; we are dismantling a threat that has loomed for decades, he said, describing the militarys progress as historic.

Beyond the battlefield, analysts say the conflict is increasingly shaped by competition over Eastern Mediterranean energy resources. A strategic briefing from the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (TESPAM) highlights that offshore reserves in Lebanese waters are becoming a central geopolitical factor.

Lebanons offshore Qana Prospect in Block 9 is estimated to contain nearly 2 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, making it one of the regions most significant undeveloped energy assets. Control over these maritime zones, analysts argue, could reshape long-term economic influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The report also suggests that Israels forward military posture is aimed at establishing a de facto security buffer extending toward the Litani River in southern Lebanon, pushing rocket systems further from Israeli territory while increasing strategic oversight of Lebanese energy corridors.

The continued state of conflict has also discouraged international energy investment. Companies such as TotalEnergies and Eni have previously been linked to offshore exploration projects in Lebanon, but analysts note that sustained hostilities make large-scale drilling operations unlikely.

Israel has meanwhile resumed production at the Karish gas field, which had been halted for 40 days at a reported cost of 1.7 billion shekels.

In Lebanon, however, energy development remains stalled amid ongoing military escalation and deteriorating economic conditions.
10 April 2026 19:13 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Lebanon risks sliding into a severe food crisis as escalating tensions in the Middle East disrupt supply chains and strain already fragile markets, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), AzerNEWS reports.

The WFP warned that ongoing military operations by the Israeli army against the militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon are significantly hindering the delivery of essential goods across the country.

What we are witnessing is no longer just a displacement crisisit is rapidly evolving into a full-scale food security emergency, said WFP Lebanon Director Allison Oman.

Rising prices and the growing needs of displaced families are making basic food items increasingly unaffordable, Oman added, underscoring the compounding pressures on vulnerable communities.

Lebanon now finds itself grappling with a dual crisis. In the south, more than 80 percent of commercial establishments have ceased operations, effectively crippling local markets. Meanwhile, markets in the capital, Beirut, are coming under mounting pressure as demand surges and supply remains constrained.

Logistical challenges are further exacerbating the situation. A recent WFP convoy dispatched to southern Lebanon took more than 15 hours to reach its destinationan ordeal that would typically require only a few hours under normal conditions.

The deteriorating humanitarian landscape comes despite a broader regional development: on the night of April 8, 2026, Iran, the United States, and their allies agreed to a two-week ceasefire. However, Israel has continued strikes on Lebanon, arguing that the ceasefire does not apply to its operations there.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf later stated that a ceasefire in Lebanon had been a primary condition in the broader agreement between Tehran and Washington, highlighting the fragile and contested nature of the truce.